Bermuda’s House of Assembly has passed a cannabis legalization bill for the second time, sending it to the Governor for Royal Assent. The Cannabis Licensing Act of 2022, passed in an 18-6 vote, would establish a regulatory framework for the cultivation and sale of cannabis in Bermuda, a British Overseas Territory. The legislation, introduced by Home Affairs Minister Walter Roban, creates a series of cannabis licenses that will be issued through a licensing authority, according to a Caribbean National Weekly report. Smoking cannabis in public will be prohibited except in designated shops, the news outlet reported. Selling cannabis to anyone under the age of 21 will also remain illegal. The House of Assembly approved the legislation last year, only to have the Senate block its passage, Caribbean National Weekly reported. Since the Senate cannot veto legislation more than once, the bill will go to the Upper House next week as a formality, but will ultimately pass and be sent to Gov. Rena Lalgie, according to the Royal Gazette. Upon the legislation’s latest passage on March 25, Roban, who was standing in for Attorney-General Kathy Lynn Simmons, repeated a speech that Simmons delivered in the House last year. He said cannabis prohibition was “an unjust colonial legacy” and evidence of “systemic, racialized disparities” where Black individuals were criminalized by a white oligarchy, according to Caribbean National Weekly.

Posted Melissa Schiller, Cannabis Business Times, 03/29/2022 16:30:00

Open article: http://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/article/bermuda-house-of-assembly-approves-legislation-to-legalize-cannabis

Investor optimism over the possibility of federal cannabis legalization has contributed to a strong rally in beaten-down pot stocks. The Alternative Harvest ETF has gained more than 10% in March, and its on pace for its best month since February 2021. The exchange-traded fund was just about flat year to date but down 50% over the past 12-months. The recent upswing in marijuana shares mirrors moves higher seen early last year on similar reform hopes. On Wednesday, the House Rules Committee is set to hold a hearing on the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act, which would decriminalize cannabis at the federal level. The bill — better known as the MORE Act — would also create provisions for banking and consumer packaged goods sales. The measure is expected to head to the full House for a vote Friday. “I’ve been very optimistic about the MORE Act passing the House.” Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-Colo., told CNBC ahead of the hearing. The bill faces an uncertain future in the razor-thin Democratically-controlled Senate. Perlmutter, a member on the Rules panel a co-sponsor of the MORE Act, has long been a supporter of legalizing cannabis.

Cannabis Business Executive – Cannabis and Marijuana industry news, 03/30/2022 10:32:00

Open article: https://www.cannabisbusinessexecutive.com/2022/03/cannabis-stocks-are-hot-ahead-of-a-house-panel-hearing-on-a-federal-legalization-bill/

After signing legislation to protect limited home cultivation for patients and legislation to protect patients’ rights, Governor Noem has chosen to veto legislation that allows the automatic removal of convictions from a person’s background check for marijuana-related offenses. In an official statement, Gov Noem lays out her reasoning for vetoing this legislation saying, “It also essentially codifies a convicted person’s ability to be dishonest about their previous arrest and conviction by not requiring disclosure of the prior drug conviction… This bill is also retroactive, which is a bad precedent for criminal justice issues where fairness is paramount. Further, even with the legalization of medical cannabis, there must remain consequences for using illegal drugs at a time when the use and possession of marijuana, even for alleged medical purposes, was illegal.” It is now up to the chambers to decide if they will uphold or overturn the Governor’s veto but with the last day of the regular session being tomorrow, time is short. “The voters of South Dakota have shown their support for comprehensive reform by voting to create regulated medical and adult-use markets, regardless of adult-use being struck down by a judge.

Cannabis Law Report, 03/28/2022 23:56:00

Open article: https://cannabislaw.report/norml-south-dakota-governor-noem-vetoes-expungement-legislation/

Amid a spike in armed robberies at cannabis shops that have resulted in at least three deaths, the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) hosted a roundtable on Tuesday during which they discussed solutions at the state and federal levels. Speakers included State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti; Sen. Karen Keiser; Michael Correia, director of government affairs for the National Cannabis Industry Association; and LCB’s Enforcement and Education Division Director Chandra Brady. LCB Chair David Postman moderated the meeting and roundtable. The discussion churned out suggestions for long-term and short-term remedies, as well as a number of calls for the passage of the Secure and Fair Enforcement Act, also known as the SAFE Banking Act, in Congress. The Act, which has strong bipartisan support, has seen more action in Congress than any other cannabis-related legislation, and it has become a frequent talking point alongside discussions about violence and theft at licensed cannabis shops. Many cannabis retailers remain primarily cash businesses because federal prohibition creates hurdles for banks wanting to work directly with cannabis businesses.

Alyson Martin, Cannabis Wire, 03/28/2022 20:00:00

Open article: https://cannabiswire.com/2022/03/29/washington-state-regulators-and-lawmakers-push-cannabis-banking-amid-violent-dispensary-robberies/