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Rhode Island, Mississippi, Maryland lead 2022 marijuana legalization via legislatures

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(This story has been updated to correct the number of dispensary licenses that can be owned by one entity in Mississippi.)

Marijuana legalization advocates have had mixed success so far this year in statehouses across the country.

They’ve scored legislative victories in Rhode Island, Mississippi and Maryland, laying the groundwork for hundreds of millions of dollars in combined sales for recreational and medical cannabis companies in those states.

At the same time, however, industry advocates have suffered defeats in several states, including Kansas, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Those losses underscore the hurdles cannabis industry advocates face in states where Republicans control one or both houses of the legislature and/or the governor’s mansion.

Now that more state legislatures have adjourned for the year, here’s a summary of the industry victories as the first half of 2022 winds to a close:

  • Rhode Island became the 19th state to legalize recreational marijuana. The market is expected to launch Dec. 1, with existing medical cannabis operators getting the first crack at sales.
  • Mississippi became the 39th state to legalize medical marijuana, a year after the state’s highest court voided a voter-approved referendum. The state opened its licensing-application process earlier this month and is on track for sales to start by the end of the year or early 2023.
  • Maryland lawmakers referred the issue of recreational marijuana to voters, who are expected to approve a legalization initiative in November. Assuming the measure passes, lawmakers will need to agree on a licensing and regulatory structure. Sales are expected to start in 2024 or 2025.

Elsewhere, Pennsylvania’s Legislature remains in session, and the state faces increasing pressure to legalize adult-use sales to match neighboring New Jersey.

But Senate Republicans in Pennsylvania remain a formidable obstacle, and legalization this year would be a big surprise.

While legalization bills failed in a number of other states, they did advance further along than previously in Delaware (recreational), North Carolina (medical) and South Carolina (medical).

slim chance remains that North Carolina lawmakers could approve a medical marijuana measure. But experts don’t expect it to pass this year.

“Almost all of the states that have not yet legalized have GOP control over one or both chambers and/or the governor’s mansion,” Karen O’Keefe, state policies director for the Washington DC-based Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), told MJBizDaily.

“Delaware and Hawaii are the only two states with a Democratic trifecta that haven’t legalized (recreational marijuana) yet, and both states’ governors are opposed,” O’Keefe added in an email.

In short, O’Keefe wrote, “the low-hanging fruit has been picked, and more challenging states remain. And even in states with Democratic trifectas, it took years of organizing and work to get legalization past the finish line.”

O’Keefe added that while states continue to legalize marijuana in some form, lawmakers in most states continue to lag far behind their constituents when it comes to supporting legalization.

She also noted that, for the first time, a Democratic governor actually spiked a legalization bill.

Delaware Gov. John Carney vetoed a bill that would have legalized marijuana possession and gifting. The measure would not have established a commercial marijuana market.

In addition to legislative activity, as many as five marijuana legalization measures could be on state ballots this fall.

South Dakota already has qualified an adult-use measure, and Arkansas, Missouri, North Dakota and Oklahoma remain possibilities, O’Keefe wrote.

South Dakota’s is a narrow referendum that would legalize possession and home cultivation. But it would not pave the way for a commercial marijuana market.

Here’s a more detailed look at the three states where legalization legislative victories have been secured this year:

Rhode Island 

Existing medical cannabis dispensaries, called compassion centers in Rhode Island, will be able to obtain a hybrid license on Dec. 1 to begin adult-use sales.

Medical marijuana operators will need to pay $125,000 into a social equity fund, according to a bill summary from MPP.

The existing industry is small. The state issued five additional medical marijuana dispensary licenses last October, but that will increase the number of retail outlets across the state only to nine.

Here are some other key business details involving the legalization bill:

  • New retail licensing: In addition to the existing MMJ operators, 24 new retail recreational marijuana licenses will be issued across six geographic regions. That will include at least one social equity permit and one worker-owned cooperative license in each geographic region. Retailers will be required to establish a so-called labor peace agreement with a union.
  • Cultivation: While Rhode Island doesn’t have many retail outlets, the state has more than 60 MMJ cultivators. They will be granted adult-use licenses provided they are in good standing. The state will have a moratorium on issuing new cultivation licenses for two years after adult-use rules and regulations are finalized.
  • Local bans: Municipalities can opt out of the adult-use industry, except in areas that currently have medical cannabis dispensaries.
  • Taxes: A retail excise tax of 10% will be implemented in addition to the current sales tax of 7%. A local tax of 3% also may be implemented.

Mississippi 

Medical cannabis regulators in Mississippi opened the licensing application process in June for growers, processors, testing facilities and transporters, but it could be year-end or early 2023 before sales start.

There is no cap on the number of licenses the state can issue, but the law allows municipalities to opt out.

Eighty municipalities and 19 counties had decided to ban dispensaries as of May 23, according to state Department of Revenue data. Residents in those municipalities could petition for a referendum on the issue.

The most restrictive provisions involve purchase limits and product-potency caps.

Patient purchases will be limited to about 3 ounces of marijuana a month. That’s lower than the 5-ounce-a-month limit in the 2020 referendum that was passed but later thrown out by the courts.

Lawmakers also imposed a potency cap of 30% THC for flower and 60% for concentrates, oils and tinctures.

Other key business elements include:

  • Cultivation: MMJ must be grown indoors. There will be six cultivation tiers, ranging from a micro-cultivator capped at 1,000 square feet to a Tier 6 grower with 100,000 square feet or more.
  • Seed-to-sale: A tracking system will be created, and the new law calls for criminal penalties for violations.
  • Ownership: No individual or business will be allowed to have more than a 10% ownership interest in more than one cultivation license, one processing license or five dispensary licenses.
  • Taxes: A 5% excise tax will be imposed on wholesale in addition to the state sales tax (currently 7%) for retail sales.

The 2022 MJBizFactbook projects that Mississippi medical marijuana sales will reach $80 million to $97.5 million in the first full year and as much as $627 million by 2026.

Maryland 

Lawmakers in Maryland referred recreational marijuana legalization to the voters in November. The resulting ballot measure is expected to pass.

It won’t be such a quick process to market launch, however.

Assuming voters approve legalization, lawmakers will need to agree on a licensing and regulatory structure.

That process could be completed in the 2023 legislative session, but some final details might extend into 2024.

That’s because lawmakers are hesitant to act before the expected release in mid-2023 of a so-called “disparity study” that will help determine how to develop a diverse, equitable recreational marijuana industry.

Once a regulatory structure is in place, it will take another year or so for final regulations to be developed, licensing to take place and businesses to build their operations.

Some industry officials say that could push a market launch to 2025.

Source: https://mjbizdaily.com/rhode-island-mississippi-maryland-lead-2022-cannabis-legalization-efforts-via-legislatures/

Corruption

Vigilance Arrests Officials After Bribery Complaints at Supply Office

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HARIDWAR, Uttarakhand — Officials from the Dehradun-based Vigilance Department have arrested Haridwar District Supply Officer Shyam Arya and two other employees on charges of accepting a bribe of ₹50,000, authorities confirmed. The arrests took place during a planned operation after investigators laid a trap at the District Supply Office in response to repeated complaints from the public.

According to vigilance sources, the accused were caught “red-handed” while receiving the alleged bribe, reportedly demanded in exchange for official services within the department. The operation, coordinated from the state capital of Dehradun, underscores the department’s commitment to tackling corruption.

Complaints That Triggered the Operation
The arrests followed months of complaints alleging that officials at the Haridwar District Supply Office were routinely soliciting illegal payments for government services. These included the issuance of ration cards, approvals for licenses, and other administrative clearances under the public distribution system.

Vigilance officials said preliminary verification of the complaints indicated a recurring pattern rather than isolated incidents. Following this assessment, the department used a standard anti-corruption tactic of laying a trap to obtain direct evidence of bribe solicitation and acceptance.

Inside the Supply Office
After the arrests, vigilance teams established a presence inside the office, sealing parts of the premises while examining files and records. Investigators are reviewing documentation related to recent approvals and transactions to determine whether the alleged bribery was systemic.

The accused are also being questioned to identify potential accomplices and to ascertain whether accepting bribes was a routine practice. Officials noted that the investigation could expand depending on findings from the document review and interrogations.

A Broader Anti-Corruption Push
The case has drawn attention across Uttarakhand’s administrative machinery, particularly within the Supply Department, which plays a vital role in delivering welfare services. Vigilance officials said the arrests reflect a “zero-tolerance” approach toward corruption and warned that similar operations will continue wherever credible complaints arise.

The state’s anti-corruption drives have intensified in recent months, emphasizing both deterrence and accountability. While the investigation in Haridwar remains in its early stages, officials say it highlights the risks faced by public servants accused of exploiting their positions and the growing willingness of enforcement agencies to act on citizen complaints.

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A Tipping Point for Cannabis: President Trump Champions CBD & Cannabis Science on Truth Social

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When the President of the United States shares a video about the life changing potential of hemp derived CBD on his personal social media platform, it is more than news, it is a cultural shift.

For decades our government lied to us about cannabis. It demonized the plant, waged war on its users, and filled prisons while allowing pharmaceutical companies to flood the nation with addictive and deadly drugs. For over a century we have been fighting uphill, not just for legalization, but for truth, for science, and for the right to heal ourselves naturally.

Now in 2025, the most powerful political figure on Earth is using his own voice and platform to talk about the endocannabinoid system and the science backed benefits of CBD. That is monumental. It is validation for everyone who has fought, been arrested, been silenced, and been dismissed for telling this truth. The President’s video post is already being described as a pivotal moment in cannabis history, and President Trump CBD Cannabis Science Truth Social is trending across platforms as advocates celebrate the breakthrough.


The Science Behind the Endocannabinoid System

The video begins by introducing something most people, including many doctors, still know little about, the endocannabinoid system. Discovered in the 1990s, the ECS is a network of receptors and signaling molecules that works as the body’s master regulator, coordinating communication between major systems like the nervous, immune, cardiovascular, and digestive systems.

The roots of this discovery go back much further. CBD was first isolated in 1940 by American chemist Roger Adams, but it was Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, an Israeli organic chemist, who fully elucidated the chemical structure of CBD and identified its stereochemistry in the 1960s. His pioneering work not only opened the door to modern cannabinoid science but also earned him the title “Godfather of Cannabis Research.” It was this foundation that led to the identification of the endocannabinoid system itself decades later, revealing how cannabinoids interact with our physiology on a fundamental level.

The ECS is now widely recognized as a vital part of human biology, with extensive research supported by the National Institutes of Health. When functioning properly, the ECS acts like the conductor of an orchestra, ensuring every section plays in harmony. As we age, the system weakens. That imbalance is linked to inflammation, chronic pain, cognitive decline, sleep problems, and many other conditions associated with aging.

Mainstream medicine often addresses these issues with pharmaceutical band aids, dangerous and addictive drugs that treat symptoms rather than root causes. Lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise help, but they only partially support the ECS and do so slowly over time.


Hemp Derived CBD: A Game Changer for Aging

Here is where the science gets exciting. As the video explains, the ECS can be restored much more quickly with hemp derived CBD. Strengthening this system naturally helps the body regain balance, reducing pain, improving sleep, lowering stress, slowing disease progression, and even extending healthy lifespan.

It is not theoretical. One in five seniors is already using CBD to manage pain, arthritis, cancer symptoms, sleep disorders, Alzheimer’s, and more. Despite decades of research and acknowledgment from institutions like the National Institutes of Health, most physicians receive no training on the ECS. There are still no FDA standards for CBD products on the market. If that were the case for any other class of medicine, it would be considered malpractice.

The World Health Organization has confirmed CBD’s excellent safety profile and non addictive nature in its critical review report. The result is that millions of older Americans are suffering unnecessarily when a safe and natural solution exists.

Hemp derived CBD is a powerful first step in restoring balance to the endocannabinoid system, but it is only part of the picture. Research shows that full spectrum cannabis extracts, which include a broader range of cannabinoids and terpenes, can work even more effectively. Complete concentrated cannabis oil, containing the full spectrum of natural endocannabinoids, may deliver the most profound results for certain patients. Expanding access to these therapies will be essential if we want to unlock the full healing potential of this plant.


The Economic and Social Impact

The video cites a powerful figure. A PricewaterhouseCoopers analysis estimates that fully integrating cannabis into the healthcare system could save the United States nearly 64 billion dollars annually. These savings reflect reduced pharmaceutical dependency, fewer hospitalizations, improved chronic disease outcomes, and enhanced quality of life for aging Americans. You can read more about PwC’s research on healthcare innovation here.

It is a financial argument, but it is also a moral one. Why should our elders endure pain, anxiety, and cognitive decline when nature has given us tools to help them live longer, happier, and healthier lives?


A Call to Action: Finish What the Farm Bill Started

The message concludes by crediting the 2018 Farm Bill, championed by President Trump, for legalizing hemp and laying the groundwork for today’s CBD market. The Farm Bill was just the first step.

Now the call is for bold next moves.

  • Educate doctors about the endocannabinoid system
  • Include CBD under Medicare coverage
  • Provide clear federal standards for CBD quality and dosing

These steps would constitute the most significant senior health reform in modern history, one that would transform aging and cement a powerful legacy for any administration that makes it happen.


What This Means for Future Cannabis Medicine

For those of us who have been in the cannabis community for decades, this is not just another news story. It is a signal that our movement is winning. A conversation that was once criminalized and censored is now being amplified by the President of the United States on his own platform.

It means the science is undeniable. It means the truth can no longer be buried. It means the wall of prohibition is cracking, not just legally, but culturally, scientifically, and politically.

It also means that everything we have been fighting for at 420 Magazine since 1993, education, access, healing, and justice, is finally moving full steam ahead. The President Trump CBD Cannabis Science Truth Social moment is proof that science and policy are finally converging.

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New Mexico cannabis operator fined, loses license for alleged BioTrack fraud

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New Mexico regulators fined a cannabis operator nearly $300,000 and revoked its license after the company allegedly created fake reports in the state’s traceability software.

The New Mexico Cannabis Control Division (CCD) accused marijuana manufacturer and retailer Golden Roots of 11 violations, according to Albuquerque Business First.

Golden Roots operates the The Cannabis Revolution Dispensary.

The majority of the violations are related to the Albuquerque company’s improper use of BioTrack, which has been New Mexico’s track-and-trace vendor since 2015.

The CCD alleges Golden Roots reported marijuana production only two months after it had received its vertically integrated license, according to Albuquerque Business First.

Because cannabis takes longer than two months to be cultivated, the CCD was suspicious of the report.

After inspecting the company’s premises, the CCD alleged Golden Roots reported cultivation, transportation and sales in BioTrack but wasn’t able to provide officers who inspected the site evidence that the operator was cultivating cannabis.

In April, the CCD revoked Golden Roots’ license and issued a $10,000 fine, according to the news outlet.

The company requested a hearing, which the regulator scheduled for Sept. 1.

At the hearing, the CCD testified that the company’s dried-cannabis weights in BioTrack were suspicious because they didn’t seem to accurately reflect how much weight marijuana loses as it dries.

Company employees also poorly accounted for why they were making adjustments in the system of up to 24 pounds of cannabis, making comments such as “bad” or “mistake” in the software, Albuquerque Business First reported.

Golden Roots was fined $298,972.05 – the amount regulators allege the company made selling products that weren’t properly accounted for in BioTrack.

The CCD has been cracking down on cannabis operators accused of selling products procured from out-of-state or not grown legally:

Golden Roots was the first alleged rulebreaker in New Mexico to be asked to pay a large fine.

Source: https://mjbizdaily.com/new-mexico-cannabis-operator-fined-loses-license-for-alleged-biotrack-fraud/

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