The Mississippi House of Representatives passed an amended medical marijuana legalization bill on Wednesday on a 104–14 vote, making changes aimed at addressing concerns raised by Gov. Tate Reeves (R). If the Senate approves the changes and Reeves indeed signs the bill, a system to regulate and sell cannabis to registered patients could launch later this year. Mississippi’s full Senate passed a version of the legalization measure last week, rejecting amendments from liberals and conservatives alike. And although the governor has remained skeptical of the bill—threatening a veto of a draft version circulated late last year—he said earlier this week that it’s getting “better” with every revision. Rep. Lee Yancey (R), who chairs the House Drug Policy Committee, and who’s been working with the bill’s lead sponsor, Sen. Kevin Blackwell (R), said before the House floor vote that he never imagined he’d be in the position to legalize cannabis. But he said a voter-passed legalization initiative in 2020 showed strong support for compassionate use. Since then, proponents in the legislature have worked to balance the earlier initiative’s proposals against demands from the governor and other critics for tighter restrictions.

Ben Adlin, Marijuana Moment, 01/19/2022 18:29:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/mississippi-house-approves-medical-marijuana-bill-with-amendments/

Todd Smith, a top political consultant to Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, was indicted Tuesday on felony charges of theft and commercial bribery related to taking money in exchange for state hemp licenses that are doled out through Miller’s office, according to Travis County district attorney José Garza.Smith was arrested in May, accused of taking $55,000 as part of the scheme, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. Smith and others were accused of soliciting up to $150,000 to get an “exclusive” hemp license from the Texas Department of Agriculture. Smith allegedly said $25,000 would be used for a public poll on hemp. A hemp license from the state costs $100, according to the arrest warrant. “We are holding accountable powerful actors who abuse the system and break the law,” Garza said. “Our community needs to know that no one is above the law and will face justice.” Smith could not immediately be reached for comment but his attorneys said in a statement that their client has not broken any laws. “We are disappointed that the Travis County District Attorney has obtained an indictment against Todd Smith, he was not invited to address the grand jury. He is not guilty of these charges and intends to vigorously defend himself against the allegations made by the Travis County District Attorney’s Office,” attorneys Sam Bassett and Perry Minton said in a statement.

Marijuana Moment, Marijuana Moment, 01/19/2022 16:14:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/texas-agriculture-commissioners-consultant-indicted-in-hemp-license-bribery-scandal/

A bill to legalize medical marijuana in South Carolina will get priority status and be taken up on special order next week, the measure’s sponsor said at a rally in the state Capitol on Wednesday. Sen. Tom Davis (R) said that he’s spoken to Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey (R) about his bill, the South Carolina Compassionate Care Act, and received a commitment that it would be “one of the very first things we take up” in the chamber this session. Importantly, he said that there was an agreement to consider the legislation on special order, which means that once it’s taken up, senators will have to vote on it before they move forward with any other piece of legislation. Davis gave an impassioned speech at the rally alongside patients and advocates. He brought out a large binder that he said contains eight years of research into the issue that he will use to “take on every single argument that has been raised in opposition to this bill, and I’m going to show that they cannot stand in the way of facts and evidence.” He also said that he’s spoken to House Speaker Jay Lucas (R), who agreed that if the measure advances through the Senate, he will “allow the bill to go to through the House process.”

Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 01/19/2022 13:55:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/south-carolina-medical-marijuana-legalization-bill-will-be-on-senate-floor-next-week-sponsor-says/

An expansion to Utah’s medical cannabis program has officially launched, allowing more health care workers to recommend marijuana to qualified patients. The program allows any licensed physician, physician’s assistant, nurse or podiatrist with a controlled substance license to recommend cannabis to up to 15 patients. There are more than 21,000 medical providers who can now recommend medical cannabis, the Utah Department of Health said. “This program expands access to medical cannabis for qualifying patients by increasing the number of clinicians who have the option to recommend medical cannabis. In the past, adult patients had to obtain a recommendation from one of the 800 medical providers who were registered with the Utah Department of Health but that is no longer the case,” Richard Oborn, Utah Department of Health’s Center for Medical Cannabis director, said in a statement. FOX 13 first reported in 2019 about problems qualifying patients were having to get a physician willing to recommend. The Utah State Legislature created the “limited medical provider” option to get health care workers more comfortable with cannabis.

420 Intel – Marijuana Industry News, 01/19/2022 19:00:00

Open article: https://420intel.com/articles/2022/01/20/medical-cannabis-expansion-launches-utah

Mexico News Daily Reports A chain of cannabis stores part-owned by former president Vicente Fox is pursuing an aggressive expansion strategy: it intends to open 130 additional outlets by the end of the year. Paradise, which sells products such as CBD (cannabidiol) oil, hemp oil, bongs, pipes, marijuana grinders, and papers, currently has about 70 stores in 28 states, according to operations chief César Escalante. He told the newspaper El Universal that the chain’s goal is to have 200 stores across all 32 states by the end of the year. One location where a new store is set to open soon is San Luis Potosí city. Among the cities where Paradise already has stores are Monterrey – where the company was founded, Mexico City, Ciudad Juárez, Saltillo, Mazatlán, Culiacán, Aguascalientes, Pachuca, Tijuana, Guadalajara, Playa del Carmen and Querétaro. Fox, president from 2000 to 2006 and an outspoken supporter of marijuana legalization, is not the only high-profile investor in Paradise. Actor Roberto Palazuelos, a telenovela (soap opera) star, is also a partner in the company founded by Fernando Carcamo, Fernando Espinobarros and Guillermo Palau.

Cannabis Law Report, 01/19/2022 21:55:00

Open article: https://cannabislaw.report/former-mexican-president-vincente-fox-plans-to-have-130-cannabis-dispensaries-open-by-end-2022/