When the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission announced the start date for recreational marijuana sales in the Garden State last week, you could almost hear the collective frustrated sigh of thousands of cannabis consumers: Why not 4/20? So close, yet so far. New Jersey will start adult-use cannabis sales Thursday — just one day after the unofficial marijuana holiday of 4/20. Adult marijuana users will be able to purchase up to an ounce of cannabis at dispensaries, without a medical marijuana card. With that, any hopes of lighting up in celebration on 4/20 with legal weed were stubbed out like a spent joint on the pavement on the lot at a Camden Phish show. And all because of logistical concerns, a CRC spokesperson told The Inquirer. “Selecting 4/20 for the opening day would have presented unmanageable logistical challenges for patients and other buyers, surrounding communities, and for municipalities,” said Toni-Anne Blake, communications director for the CRC.

Cannabis Business Executive – Cannabis and Marijuana industry news, 04/20/2022 09:03:00

Open article: https://www.cannabisbusinessexecutive.com/2022/04/why-new-jersey-isnt-starting-legal-marijuana-sales-on-4-20/

The Louisiana House Health and Welfare Committee advanced legislation on April 19 to expand medical cannabis access in the state. The committee approved Rep. Joe Marino’s House Bill 758, which would expand the number of medical cannabis pharmacy licenses in the state from 10 to 25, according to the Associated Press. The legislation would set aside 30% of the new licenses for minority- and women-owned businesses, the news outlet reported. H.B. 758 would also give preference to Louisiana pharmacists for the new licenses, according to a News Star report. A separate proposal from Marino, House Bill 135, would allow patients from other states to access medical cannabis at Louisiana’s pharmacies, the news outlet reported. H.B. 135 would also transfer medical cannabis regulation from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture to the Department of Health and add the University of Louisiana at Monroe to the list of institutions that can research medical cannabis, according to the News-Star.

Posted Melissa Schiller, Cannabis Business Times, 04/20/2022 12:13:00

Open article: http://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/article/louisiana-house-committee-advances-legislation-to-expand-medical-cannabis-access

Ohio state Reps. Casey Weinstein, D-Hudson, and Terrence Upchurch, D-Cleveland, are already sponsoring an adult-use legalization bill, but that didn’t stop them from filing similar legislation on behalf of those whom they represent. The northeast Ohio Democratic duo filed bill language on April 20 to formally introduce the initiated statute sponsored by the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol (CRMLA), a citizen-led effort that met a 132,877-signature threshold to put its petition before state lawmakers, the Ohio Secretary of State announced on Jan. 28. The coalition’s proposed statute seeks to allow adults 21 and older to buy and possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis (or 15 grams of extract) and grow up to six plants per person or 12 plants per household. In addition, the proposal aims to impose a 10% tax on cannabis sales, with revenue going toward state costs to run a legalized program; substance abuse and addiction treatment programs; supporting municipalities with dispensaries, and social equity and jobs programs.

Cannabis Business Times, 04/20/2022 16:40:00

Open article: http://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/article/ohio-lawmakers-bill-coalition-regulate-marijuana-alcohol-petition