A top Republican Kentucky senator says he knows that his constituents support legalizing medical marijuana—but he won’t vote for it because he fears it will lead to recreational legalization. The senator, who profits from sales of another recreational substance as the owner of a bourbon distillery, said people can go ahead and try to vote him out if they’re upset about it. Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer (R) was asked about the issue during a panel discussion with other legislators on 2022 legislative priorities that was hosted by Kentucky Educational Television (KET) on Monday. Prompted with polling that shows the state’s voters strongly back medical cannabis, Thayer acknowledged that the policy “does enjoy broad support in Kentucky. I’m just not for it.” “Are you hearing from your constituents that they want it to be considered?” the moderator asked. “I’ve been hearing about it for years. I know my constituents are for it,” Thayer said. “But this is a republic, and they elect us to go to Frankfort and make decisions on their behalf—and if they don’t like it, they can take it out on me in the next election.” It’s a brazen statement from an elected official, effectively telling the people he represents that he knows better than them and then daring them to unseat him if they don’t like his position. The GOP leader did say that there may be the votes to advance reform legislation like a medical marijuana bill from Rep. Jason Nemes (R) that soundly passed the House in 2020 and has continued to be workshopped. Nemes “has been working hard to improve his bill. He’s told me a little bit about it,” Thayer said. “I’m just not going to be for it. That doesn’t mean others won’t and that we won’t have the votes to pass it. Right now, I don’t really see the energy for it.” “Everybody gets to decide on their own what they’re for and what they’re against in our caucus, and I’m not going to try to persuade them one way or the other on that issue,” he said. The reason for Thayer’s opposition is somewhat ironic. The senator said he thinks medical cannabis is “a slippery slope for recreational marijuana.” But he doesn’t seem to have a problem with other, arguably more dangerous, recreational products. The senator owns a whiskey distillery.

Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 01/04/2022 12:00:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/gop-kentucky-senator-who-sells-bourbon-invites-voters-to-unseat-him-over-medical-marijuana-opposition/

Nearly three years after Gov. Jared Polis signed House Bill 1090, opening up Colorado’s cannabis market to outside investment, publicly announced merger and acquisition activity is picking up steam. And Canada is playing a big role in the consolidation of Colorado’s cannabis businesses. In 2021 alone, Boulder-based edibles manufacturer Wana Brands announced a major acquisition by publicly traded Canadian cannabis giant Canopy Growth (Nasdaq: CGC); Livwell Enlightened Health, the region’s second-largest cannabis company, struck a deal with Chicago-based multistate operator PharmaCann; and Green Dragon, the metro’s sixth-largest cannabis chain, announced its acquisition by California cannabis-delivery company Eaze. In November, New York-based multistate operator Columbia Care completed its purchase of the four-store Medicine Man chain a little over a year after completing the acquisition of Denver’s largest retail chain, The Green Solution. And it’s not just cannabis companies that are being snapped up by other cannabis companies. Breckenridge Distillery was just bought by Canadian Tilray Inc. (Nasdaq: TLRY), the world’s largest company focused on the plant, in its first major Colorado move that opens the door to widespread distribution of cannabis-infused beverages — someday.

Biz Journals, Marijuana Retail Report – News and Information for Cannabis Retailers, 01/03/2022 16:05:00

Open article: https://marijuanaretailreport.com/canada-plays-big-role-in-colorados-cannabis-ma/

Legislation permitting licensed retailers to sell marijuana products to those ages 21 or older took effect on Saturday, January 1. Under the new law, customers may purchase up to one ounce of marijuana per transaction, or the THC equivalent in other forms: 800 milligrams of edibles or eight grams of concentrate. Cannabis products are subject to a 20 percent tax rate. The use of cannabis in public is punishable by a civil fine. Marijuana possession or use on federal parklands is subject to criminal penalties. “Adults in Montana voted to regulate the retail marijuana marketplace so that these transactions can be above-ground and transparent, and so that consumers can have access to lab-tested, quality-controlled products,” NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano said. “Such a system is certainly preferable to the status quo of marijuana prohibition, which is why no state to enact legalization has ever moved to repeal these policies.” Montana voters initially passed a pair of initiatives legalizing the adult-use marketplace in November 2020. Provisions permitting adults to possess and grow personal use quantities of cannabis without penalty took effect one year ago. Eighteen states and the District of Columbia have legalized adult-use marijuana possession.

NORML, 01/02/2022 19:00:00

Open article: https://norml.org/blog/2022/01/03/montana-era-of-adult-use-marijuana-sales-begins/

At a crowded rally in downtown Austin, Beto O’Rourke ticked off his usual laundry list of campaign promises: stabilizing the power grid, rolling back the state’s new permitless carry law, and expanding health care access. But the El Paso Democrat got some of the loudest cheers of the night when he promised to legalize marijuana in Texas, something he said: “most of us, regardless of party, actually agree on.” “I’ve been warned that this may or may not be a popular thing to say in Austin, Texas,” O’Rourke said to the crowd gathered in Republic Square Park in December. “But when I am governor, we are going to legalize marijuana.” The support is nothing new for the gubernatorial candidate. O’Rourke has championed legalization efforts throughout his political career, ever since his time as a member of the El Paso city council. He also nodded at the policy throughout his failed campaigns for U.S. Senate and for president. But in his early run for governor, O’Rourke, who declined to be interviewed for this story, has repeatedly mentioned legalizing marijuana on the campaign trail across Texas. Advocates hope the increased attention will give momentum to legalization efforts in a state with some of the harshest penalties and highest arrest rates for marijuana possession. O’Rourke’s advocacy around the issue dates back at least to his time on the El Paso City Council in 2009 when he pushed for a resolution calling on Congress to have “an honest, open national debate on ending the prohibition” of marijuana. Despite unanimously passing the city council, then-Mayor John Cook vetoed the nonbinding measure. Cook got some help from then-U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, who warned council members the city could lose federal funds if they continued with their effort.

Marijuana Moment, Marijuana Moment, 01/03/2022 08:55:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/beto-orourke-touts-texans-marijuana-legalization-support-on-gubernatorial-campaign-trail/