With Illinois and Michigan legalizing marijuana for recreational use in 2020, Ohio passing some medical marijuana measures, and Kentucky’s governor saying he’s open to medical marijuana legalization, Indiana may soon find itself alone if marijuana initiatives being pushed through the Statehouse by Democrats during the next legislative session don’t pan out. Where our neighboring states are signing off on marijuana legalization in some capacity, legalizing weed for certain medical use or making recreational weed legal for adults, that’s not the case in Indiana yet. A 2016 poll conducted by WTHR and Howey Politics Indiana showed 73 percent of Hoosiers supported legalizing medical marijuana. That support cut across party lines, with about 60 percent of Republican respondents and more than 80 percent of Democrats voicing approval for medical cannabis. Two years later, that number jumped to 81 percent, according to a statewide poll by Ball State University.

Cannabis Business Executive – Cannabis and Marijuana industry news, 12/21/2021 09:25:00

Open article: https://www.cannabisbusinessexecutive.com/2021/12/indiana-trails-neighboring-states-in-move-to-legalize-marijuana/

Ohio marijuana activists on Monday submitted to the state what they say are enough signatures for an initiative to force lawmakers to take up the issue of legalization. The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol (CTRMLA) said it turned in petitions with 206,943 signatures to the secretary of state’s office—more than required to get the legislature to act. This comes just four months after the campaign was initially cleared by the state to begin a signature collection. The measure that legislators would be required to consider would legalize possession of up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis for adults 21 and older, and they could also have up to 15 grams of marijuana concentrates. Individuals could grow up to six plants for personal use, with a maximum of 12 plants per household. Activists needed to collect 132,887 valid signatures from registered voters for the statutory initiative during this first phase of the effort. If the required signatures are verified by county officials, the legislature will then have four months to adopt the measure, reject it or adopt an amended version. If lawmakers do not pass the proposal, organizers will then need to collect an additional 132,887 signatures to place the proposal before voters on the ballot in November 2022.

Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 12/20/2021 14:14:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/ohio-marijuana-activists-submit-signatures-to-force-legislature-to-consider-legalization/

A New Mexico state judge ruled on Thursday that medical cannabis patients cannot purchase the same amount as non-patients when recreational-use sales begin. Second Judicial District Court Judge Benjamin Chavez, in his written ruling, dismissed a claim from a medical cannabis patient that medical cannabis patients should be afforded the same purchase limits as what is laid out in the state’s Cannabis Regulation Act, which went into effect in June. “Petitioner has failed to establish that he, as well as qualified patients, qualified caregivers, and reciprocal patients, have a clear legal right to purchase an additional two ounces of medical cannabis, tax-free, at this time, under the Cannabis Regulation Act,” Chavez wrote. Prior to the Cannabis Regulation Act, the only way to legally possess cannabis in New Mexico was to be a medical cannabis patient. The state’s Medical Cannabis Program has long allowed patients to purchase up to 230 units in a rolling 90-day period. A “unit,” a term created by the program, is one gram of cannabis flower or a quarter of a gram of concentrate or extract. That means a medical cannabis patient could buy up to eight ounces of cannabis flower every three months.

Cannabis Law Report, 12/18/2021 18:14:00

Open article: https://cannabislaw.report/nm-judge-rules-patient-cannabis-purchase-limits-consistent-with-state-law/

A former state senator who pushed to legalize marijuana in Illinois is leaving a top government post to lobby for an organization that was instrumental in cannabis legalization in the state. Toi Hutchinson, who became senior adviser for cannabis control to Gov. JB Pritzker in late 2019, stepped down from that job last week to become president and CEO of the Marijuana Policy Project. The group, known as MPP, is working to legalize cannabis in other states and at the federal level. Hutchinson, a Democrat from the Chicago suburb of Olympia Fields, served in the state Senate from 2009 to 2019. She worked with MPP while in the Senate to approve legislation that legalized the sale and possession of recreational cannabis for adults. The law took effect in 2020. Pritzker said it is “an immense honor for Illinois to have our own Toi Hutchinson leading the charge on a national scale, shaping the fight for cannabis justice not just in our state but in all 50 states,” the Chicago Tribune reported.

Chicago Tribune, stltoday.com | the #1 St. Louis website, 12/19/2021 21:03:00

Open article: https://www.stltoday.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/illinois-official-who-pushed-to-legalize-pot-leaves-post/article_e33022cc-77bb-52dd-a142-b2f8cf5be62d.html

The current cannabis law in New York gives licensing priority to women-owned enterprises and other marginalized groups affected by the War on Drugs. By Jelena Martinovic Another novelty has been added to New York’s cannabis program, just weeks following the introduction of a measure that would allow transgender and non-binary people to qualify as social equity applicants under the state’s cannabis law. This time, Senator Jeremy Cooney (D) introduced the legislation that would give the same rights to gay, lesbian, and bisexual people, Marijuana Moment reported. Cooney, who is also backing other recent marijuana reform proposals related to cannabis business tax benefits and licensing, filed the new bill last week. “When New York State legalized adult-use recreational marijuana, we made a commitment to addressing the discrimination and injustice caused by the War on Drugs,” Cooney told Marijuana Moment. “I am proud to introduce legislation to include members of our lesbian, gay and bisexual community for priority licensure in the new adult-use recreational cannabis market,” the senator said about his efforts on making equity provisions even more inclusive. The current cannabis law in New York gives licensing priority to women-owned enterprises and other marginalized groups affected by the War on Drugs.

Benzinga Staff Writer, The Fresh Toast, 12/20/2021 14:00:00

Open article: https://thefreshtoast.com/news/ny-senator-files-bill-to-include-gay-lesbian-bisexual-people-for-cannabis-equity-benefits/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ny-senator-files-bill-to-include-gay-lesbian-bisexual-people-for-cannabis-equity-benefits