Today, the American Council of Cannabis Medicine (ACCM) announced that Pennsylvania is fully opening up for historic Yes We Cann! Advocacy initiative, and state-centric Elevated States program this week. “ACCM is thrilled to bring the full Yes We Cann! and Elevated States programs to Pennsylvania. We have incredible members in the commonwealth, they have a great medical-cannabis program,” says Scott Rancie, Vice President of Members Services for ACCM. “Initial outreach began, connecting with 60,000+ current medical-cannabis patients, several physicians, and dispensary managers. Like other states, people are very excited to participate in the program.” Advertisement Elevated States (state-centered program) — works with Yes We Cann!, focusing on expanding physician participation and patient access through extensive outreach and education. ACCM works closely with members in each state to help educate new patients and support existing patients. Newly expanded Elevated Membership initiative launched in Pennsylvania today. It provides extensive health and wellness programming for new and existing medical-cannabis patients. www.elevatedmembership.org/whyjoin In February, Compassionate Certification Centers of Butler (Pennsylvania) was selected as a Distinguished Physician Partner, ACCM’s highest physician group designation. To date, only eight other physician groups have received designation across the nation.

mg Magazine – Cannabis News & Information, 03/16/2022 08:49:00

Open article: https://mgretailer.com/press-releases/american-council-of-cannabis-medicine-announces-launch-of-pennsylvania-advocacy-initiatives-including-work-to-approve-delivery/

The General Assembly failed at finding a path to starting recreational marijuana sales this year, but a bill outlining stricter regulations for retailers selling what one lawmaker called “juiced-up” synthetic products made its way through the legislature last week with bipartisan support. The bill, which is now before Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R), explicitly bans sales of any substance that contains more than 0.3 percent or .25 milligrams of THC per serving or more than one milligram per package. The measurements would apply to any naturally occurring or synthetic version of THC such as delta-8, the popular synthetic substitute made from industrial hemp that producers claim is legal. “This product is dangerous because people don’t understand the impact, the safety issues,” said Sen. Emmett Hanger, R-Augusta, who introduced the legislation. Since the personal possession and home cultivation of marijuana became legal in the commonwealth last year, but not commercial recreational sales of the drug, which is currently restricted to licensed medical dispensaries, have led to a wide variety of products that may or may not be legal being sold in retail outlets. As reported by The Mercury last month, gas stations, health food stores, and marijuana retailers sold mislabeled products that contained illegal amounts of delta-9 THC marketed as the supposedly legal delta-8 counterpart. Wrangling between the Republican-controlled House and Democratic-controlled Senate this year failed to produce a solution for legalizing recreational sales.

Marijuana Moment, Marijuana Moment, 03/17/2022 08:53:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/thc-restriction-bill-on-virginia-governors-desk-would-harm-hemp-industry-advocates-say/

Some long-awaited relief through cannabis oil could be in sight for some Georgians with serious health conditions. State House lawmakers approved a do-over of the state’s medical-marijuana program, which has been stalled in court. The measure passed 169-5 Tuesday, and a separate medical marijuana measure passed the Senate unanimously. “I wish I could say we’re in a good spot, but we’re not,” said Glennville Republican Rep. Bill Werkheiser, the bill’s sponsor. “We’ve had patients now numbered 20,000—20,000families waiting for us to do something. If we do nothing, we’re in a bad position. If we do something, it’s not so great either, but I think we’ve got something that will move the process forward.” If the bill passes the Senate and receives Republican Gov. Brian Kemp’s signature, the state will be required to obtain low-THC cannabis oil “from any available legal source” by August 1 and begin providing it to patients now on the state registry by August 15. The state will also cancel the previous application process and begin anew, choosing another six providers. Companies that applied last time can apply again and will not have to pay the application fee.

Marijuana Moment, Marijuana Moment, 03/16/2022 10:24:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/georgia-house-and-senate-pass-differing-medical-marijuana-bills-to-jumpstart-stalled-program/

New York legislative leaders have filed budget proposals that include language to let marijuana businesses take state tax deductions that are available to other industries despite an ongoing federal ban. Both the Assembly and Senate budget measures that are expected to pass in advance of an April 1 deadline seek to carve out an exemption that would enable cannabis businesses to make the deductions as the state prepares to launch its adult-use market. Retailers could start opening as early as this year. This is not an issue that’s unique to New York’s marijuana industry. Medical and adult-use cannabis companies across the U.S. are precluded from making certain federal tax deductions under an Internal Revenue Code section known as 280E. Under 280E, businesses whose activities consist of “trafficking in controlled substances (within the meaning of schedule I and II of the Controlled Substances Act)” cannot make deduct most business expenses from their federal taxes or receive tax credits, even though they are still obligated to pay taxes like any other company. Because many states simply mirror federal tax policy in their own codes, the federal government’s anti-cannabis stance also blocks state-level deductions in some places.

Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 03/16/2022 11:48:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/new-york-lawmakers-seek-tax-deductions-for-marijuana-businesses-in-budget-proposals-despite-federal-ban/

A Rhode Island Senate committee on Tuesday held the first hearing on a much-anticipated bill to legalize marijuana in the state. But while activists are eager to end cannabis criminalization, the measure faced pushback over a key provision concerning the proposed process for expunging prior convictions. The bill from Sen. Joshua Miller (D), which was unveiled earlier this month, was heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee. A companion House version from Rep. Scott Slater (D) has not yet been scheduled for a committee hearing. This development also comes two months after Gov. Dan McKee (D) included a proposal to end cannabis prohibition as part of his annual budget plan. Miller, who sponsored an earlier legalization proposal that was approved in the Senate last year, told fellow lawmakers that “observing and incorporating what works best in other states has helped to guide us to what we have before you today.” Preempting concerns about expungements language that would later be voiced by advocates testifying at the hearing, Miller said “we’ve made our best attempt” to get the provisions right. “The courts have been involved, the attorney general’s been involved, many of you have been involved,” he said.

Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 03/15/2022 19:08:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/rhode-island-senate-committee-discusses-marijuana-legalization-bill-with-advocates-urging-equity-revision/