A group of Colorado lawmakers wants to increase oversight of the state’s marijuana businesses, but the cannabis industry is ready to fight the proposal. Senate Bill 149, a nonpartisan bill introduced on March 7, proposes new reporting requirements for such marijuana business violations as sales to underage minors, contaminated product recalls, and black market activity. The measure also calls on the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division, the state’s regulator of marijuana businesses, to “balance the amount of influence that the marijuana industry has” on pot-related policy and rulemaking. Proponents of the bill say that it’s intended to better protect Colorado children and align state policies more closely with alcohol and tobacco enforcement, but marijuana industry stakeholders worry that it’s an attempt to push for more restrictions on the business. Colorado marijuana dispensaries passed underage sales checks at a 95 percent rate in 2021, according to the MED, slightly down from 97 percent in 2020 and 2019. But it’s not the pass-fail rate that concerns state Senator Chris Hansen. He wants more compliance checks at dispensaries, and he wants the names of offending stores to be made public.

Cannabis Business Executive – Cannabis and Marijuana industry news, 03/14/2022 10:47:00

Open article: https://www.cannabisbusinessexecutive.com/2022/03/colorado-lawmakers-want-more-marijuana-industry-oversight/

Federal marijuana taxes could hit 25% under Senator Chuck Schumer’s legalization plan. The vast majority of Americans want to have legal cannabis on a federal level, there are numerous polls that support this notion. The problem, however, comes down to “how” it is supposed to be done. For the past few years, Senator Chuck Schumer has been the most vocal about legalizing cannabis on a federal level and has been attempting to push his cannabis legalization bill which aims to remove cannabis from the controlled substance act, while also creating provisions for minority business owners to gain easier access to cannabis licensing. One would think that this would not have too much opposition, however, as of now, the bill has not gained too much traction. One of the main reasons comes down to taxes. While the senator might be well-intentioned in his approach, his proposal of high taxation got a lot of flak from cannabis reformists.

Terry Hacienda, The Fresh Toast, 03/15/2022 08:00:00

Open article: https://thefreshtoast.com/opinion/drop-the-25-cannabis-tax-senator-schumer/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=drop-the-25-cannabis-tax-senator-schumer

A key Pennsylvania Senate committee on Monday held the last of three scheduled hearings on marijuana legalization, taking testimony that’s designed to help inform a forthcoming reform bill that the panel’s chairman is actively drafting. The Senate Law and Justice Committee meeting involved testimony from cannabis reform advocates, former regulators from other states, and industry stakeholders. Sen. Mike Regan (R), who chairs the panel, circulated a cosponsorship memo last year along with Rep. Amen Brown (D) to build support for the reform, and these meetings are designed to give lawmakers added context into the best approach to legalization for the state. “Legalization of adult-use marijuana is a complex and obviously controversial issue,” Regan said at the end of Monday’s discussion. “We are grateful for the many perspectives, personal experiences and opinions we have received. To all my colleagues on the committee, thank you for your continued participation. I look forward to working together on this important issue for Pennsylvania.” At an initial hearing last month, much of the discussion focused on whether creating a regulated market would be sufficient to eliminate illicit sales, how police would be affected, and the impact on impaired driving.

Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 03/14/2022 15:48:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/key-pennsylvania-senate-committee-completes-final-marijuana-legalization-hearing-to-inform-reform-legislation/

A criminal record doesn’t always hurt New York state’s plan to let people with past convictions for marijuana crimes become the first to sell it legally is admirable but faces some major challenges. The dynamic pits what’s now referred to as the “legacy market” of once-illegal sellers against the publicly traded multi-state companies, some of whom already sell medical marijuana in the state. It’s a group that includes big players such as Curaleaf Holdings, Green Thumb Industries, and Acreage Holdings. As New York becomes one of the world’s largest legal marijuana markets, the nitty-gritty of its regulations will make or break the broader industry. Like California, where the industry is now asking for bailouts to beat back a still-thriving illicit market, New York has an entrenched network of marijuana dealers who don’t pay taxes or meet regulatory standards — helping them potentially undercut fledgling licensees. New York’s decision to set aside the first 100 to 200 licenses to sell recreational marijuana for people with past convictions may upend that dynamic.

420 Intel – Marijuana Industry News, 03/13/2022 20:00:00

Open article: https://420intel.com/articles/2022/03/14/new-york%E2%80%99s-convicts-first-approach-pot-draws-praise-questions