On June 20, the University of New Hampshire published the poll results of its numerous state topics such as Gov. Chris Sununu’s job performance, housing as the most important problem statewide, and cannabis legalization.

Recently, a cannabis legalization bill (House Bill 1633) which was rejected by legislators in a 178-173 vote on June 13. To date, it was the only bill to have made such progress in New Hampshire. If passed, it would have legalized adult-use cannabis by 2026, established possession restrictions, permitted up to 15 “franchises” to sell cannabis, and set the tax rate at 15%.

Despite HB-1633’s failure to pass on to Sununu’s desk, New Hampshire residents still show strong support for legalization.  “Despite broad public support, a bipartisan compromise to legalize recreational marijuana in the state was tabled by the New Hampshire House of Representatives, effectively killing the bill for this legislative session,” the report stated. “Two-thirds (65%) of Granite Staters strongly (45%) or somewhat (20%) support legalizing marijuana for recreational use, 19% are strongly (11%) or somewhat (8%) opposed, 15% are neutral on the issue, and less than 1% are unsure.”

It also mentioned that support for adult-use cannabis legalization decreased from 72% in May 2023 to 65% in 2024 and attributed this change to a decrease in support by Independents and Republicans. “Large majorities of self-described socialists (97%) and progressives (95%) and most libertarians (76%), liberals (72%), and moderates (66%) support legalizing marijuana for recreational use, but only 41% of conservatives agree,” the report continued. In February 2022, a poll found that 74% of residents approved of legalization.

Interestingly, only 16% of people polled said that they heard details about HB-1633, while only 45% had heard “some about it,” 28% had heard “not very much,” and 10% had heard “nothing at all.” Specifically among the 10% that heard nothing at all (approximately 1,060 participants), 37% said that they strongly support legalization, while only 24% “somewhat” support it, 14% are neutral. Additionally, also within the 10%, 23% said that they “strongly” oppose legalization, and 9% said that they “somewhat” oppose it, and 1% was unsure.

The poll also inquired about why those who oppose legalization choose to do so. “Among Granite Staters opposed to the bill (N=247), only 19% oppose it because they want to legalize recreational marijuana in another way while 75% oppose the bill because they do not want to legalize recreational marijuana at all,” the results stated. “Younger opponents of the bill and self-identified Democrats are more likely to want to legalize marijuana in another way while older opponents and Republicans are more likely to not want to see marijuana legalized at all.”

The House approved HB-1633 in April, and the Senate approved the bill in May before it was killed by the committee. This led to frustration on both sides, especially since in May 2023 Sununu said that he would sign a legalization bill if it contained certain restrictions. “During my years as Governor, a bill to legalize marijuana in New Hampshire has never garnered enough bipartisan support to reach my desk. I have never vetoed legislation to legalize recreational marijuana,” Sununu said at the time. “In 2017, I was proud to be the first Governor in New Hampshire history to sign legislation decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana so that no one would go to jail for simple possession. We expanded access to medical marijuana and provided a pathway to annul old convictions for marijuana possession.”

More recently in May, Sununu confirmed that his statement still stands. “I laid out the eight or 10 things that I’d like to see in that bill for it to get a signature on my desk,” Sununu told WMUR in an interview. “If they meet those stipulations, I’ll sign it. If they don’t, I won’t.”

Last week when the bill failed to pass, Rep. Jared Sullivan described the amended Senate version of the bill as “ugly” and “the most intrusive big-government marijuana program proposed anywhere in the country, one that ignores free market principles, will stifle innovation in an emerging industry and tie future generations of Granite Staters to an inferior model indefinitely.”

Sullivan also disagreed that the bill could be reapproached next year, referencing the House stance in opposition of having cannabis be a state-run franchise model. “Does anyone in here actually believe that we will be able to reel in a newly empowered government bureaucracy after they’ve spent millions of dollars?” said Sullivan. “Does anyone honestly believe it will be easy to pull back power from an unelected agency once they have it?”

Sen. Shannon Chandley spoke more positively about the bill to AP News. “This bill does address what the people of our state want,” Chandley said. “And besides being the will of the majority, it allows us to do what is really necessary, and that is to regulate.”

ACLU of New Hampshire executive director Devon Chaffee called out legislators on refusing to make choices based on their constituents. “Marijuana legalization is not just a political squabble about the economic benefits,” Chaffee said. “The war on marijuana has real-life impacts.”

The post Poll Results Show New Hampshire Support for Adult-Use Legalization first appeared on High Times.

The post Poll Results Show New Hampshire Support for Adult-Use Legalization appeared first on Paradise Found.

Anything is better than an invasion of arrogant, drunken football fans from England—including cannabis—at least according to German police who spoke out on the matter recently, as a major sporting event transforms the area.

UEFA Euro 2024 will take place in Germany from June 14 until July 14, and fans from all parts of Europe are preparing for a showdown. England and Scotland are two of 24 teams who will compete for the European Championship trophy. Around 40,000 Three Lions fans are expected to converge in Gelsenkirchen this weekend ahead of England’s opening group stage game against Serbia.

Metro.co.uk reports that an unprecedented security operation has been launched in order to prevent potential “hooliganism.” England football fans have already been warned against taking part in offensive chants in an attempt to provoke the opposing fans.

The 2024 UEFA European Football Championship is now in the 17th edition of the UEFA European Championship, the quadrennial international football (soccer) championship organized by UEFA for the European men’s national teams of its member associations. The winner of UERA Euro 2024 will later compete in the 2025 CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions against the 2024 Copa América winner. 

German police told England fans heading to UETA Euro 2024 this summer and encouraged them to smoke cannabis instead of downing pints. The Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen is set to serve low-alcohol beer in an attempt to keep potential trouble to a minimum but local police have another card up their sleeves: offering pot instead.

Instead of elevating emotions, potentially causing aggression and creating problems, pot induces a different, calmer state of mind—something that German police can deal with.

“It’s no problem for fans to smoke cannabis on the street,” a Gelsenkirchen Police spokesman told The Sun. “If we see a group of people drinking alcohol and looking a bit aggressive, and another group smoking cannabis, of course we’ll look at the group drinking alcohol. Drinking alcohol can make someone more aggressive, and smoking cannabis puts people in a chill mood. We want to prevent violence and keep people safe.”

“Our focus will be on fans who are drinking and potentially getting violent—that’s why we in place safety precautions on alcohol,” the spokesperson continued.

Chief Inspector Christof Burghardt told Sky News that he also agrees that England’s opening game will be “high-risk.”

“I think it’s a very high-risk game because of the history, because of the hooligans both sides have,” Burghardt said. “Serbia has many hooligans. The English guys, with alcohol, they are very aggressive. So it’s a great job to do this, to prepare, so that hopefully nothing will happen.’

He added: ‘The biggest challenge for us will be to identify violent, disruptive groups at an early stage, to separate them from peaceful and law-abiding fans.”

Germany Legalizes Cannabis for Personal Use

Earlier this year, Germany legalized cannabis for personal use. The German government in March adopted a bill to end the prohibition of cannabis for adults that will make possession and home cultivation of cannabis legal in the country, which began on April 1. 

The legislation, which also allows for the establishment of cannabis clubs, was given final approval in March in the Bundesrat, Germany’s legislative chamber representing the country’s 16 federal states. The bill has already been approved by the second chamber of parliament known as the Bundestag, which voted to pass the legislation earlier this year.

Under the limited legalization bill known as CanG, adults ages 18 and older will be permitted to possess up to 25 grams of cannabis and store up to 50 grams of it at home beginning on April 1. The measure also permits adults to grow as many as three cannabis plants at their residences. 

On July 1, Germany’s cannabis legalization plan kicked off, permitting non-commercial cannabis clubs, where members will have access to legally cultivated cannabis. Each cannabis club will be limited to no more than 500 members. The legislation does not include provisions that allow for-profit adult-use cannabis producers or retailers.

“The fight was worth it,” Health Minister Karl Lauterbach wrote on X, according to a translation from Politico. “Please use the new option responsibly.”

“Hopefully this is the beginning of the end for the black market today,” he added. 

 The Bundesrat then voted to approve the plan to legalize cannabis in Germany, which will join Malta and Switzerland in the small group of European nations that have approved limited cannabis legalization plans.

With legal cannabis for adults, it provides another way to get inebriated at football events without causing too many problems. It’s a chance for British football fans to reestablish their reputation.

The post German Police Encourage British Football Fans to Smoke Pot Instead of Downing Pints first appeared on High Times.

The post German Police Encourage British Football Fans to Smoke Pot Instead of Downing Pints appeared first on Paradise Found.

Michigan has overtaken California as the largest cannabis market in the U.S., at least in terms of sales volume, according to data collected by multiple market intelligence firms. Both firms show Michigan surpassing California over the winter in cannabis product units sold.

Sales volume is the total number of units sold by a business over a specific period of time, such as units sold in a month, quarter, or year. A “unit” can mean several different things but in this case, it refers to a single or multipack cannabis item that is purchased, big or small.

But this is in terms of units, and California is still a larger cannabis market than Michigan in terms of dollars sold—by billions of dollars. California sold $5.1 billion in adult-use cannabis products in 2023, while Michigan sold about $3 billion in adult-use cannabis products.

Prices for cannabis products are much cheaper in Michigan compared with California due to recent oversupply issues in the Great Lakes State. That means that even if consumers buy more products in Michigan, the total amount they spend is less than what they’re paying in California.

Detroit Free Press reports that since December 2022, Michigan has sold more total grams of flower and units of other cannabis products, called equivalent unit sales, in both the adult-use and medical cannabis markets compared with California, according to data collected by BDSA, a cannabis market intelligence firm that tracks sales via point-of-sale data from a panel of participating cannabis retailers.

But it’s not just BDSA making these claims: Headset, another cannabis market intelligence firm that’s recognized in the cannabis community, compiled data showing that Michigan sold more units than California. Headset defines units as a single item that a customer buys, such as a pre-rolled joint, a multipack of pre-rolled joints, an ounce or one gram, since June 2023. Headset’s data indicates that in May, Michigan sold 24.2 million units, compared to California selling 17.3 million units.

“There are a lot of issues on the ground in California … it’s always been expensive to do business there,” Michael Arrington, a principal analyst at Colorado-based BDSA, said on a BDSA market forecast update webinar in March.

According to BDSA data, Michigan sold 56.8 million equivalent units of cannabis products in April, compared with 44.6 million in California during the same month.

In terms of units sold, BDSA arrived at slightly different numbers than Headset, however both firms found that Michigan was selling more units of cannabis products than California in recent months, such as in February and March. Michigan’s unit sales first passed California’s in December, BDSA data shows.

This could mean more Californians are buying in bulk or in larger units while Michiganders are buying cannabis in smaller units. 

In Michigan, prices for cannabis plunged after adult-use cannabis sales started because of an oversupply problem, which led to lower prices for consumers but tougher margins for cannabis retailers. 

Michigan Sales On Steady Climb

A recent set of data released by the Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA) shows that the state has once again set a new record for adult-use cannabis sales.

According to the CRA, the state collected $286.8 million in adult-use cannabis sales in March, which made up for 99% of all sales. In terms of product popularity, flower still reigns supreme with $131.4 million in sales. A total of $54.4 million was sold in vape cartridges, as well as $33.9 million in inhalable concentrates, and finally edibles at $26.3 million.

The CRA splits Michigan up into five distinct regions: upper lower/upper peninsula, mid lower, southwest, east/southeast, and Wayne.

Among these regions, the east/southeast region collected the most in total adult-use cannabis sales with $128,929,767, followed by $79,432,048 in the southwest region, $31,845,920 in Wayne, $29,373,053 in upper lower/upper peninsula, and lastly, $17,209,468 in the mid lower area.

In total medical cannabis sales, the southwest area led with $141,535, followed by Wayne with $945,992, east/southeast with $809,515, upper lower/upper peninsula with $81,273, and finally mid lower with $79,695.

The latest figures leave more questions than answers. Michigan’s population is about a quarter of the size of California’s population, and California’s history of a medical and adult-use cannabis market stretches back further than Michigan’s. But the prices of pot play a large part in the outcome of units sold in both markets,

Michigan’s fifth anniversary of adult-use cannabis sales in the state is coming up, and the state is proving its viability, even compared to California’s enormous market.

The post Michigan Pot Market Surpasses California in Sales Volume first appeared on High Times.

The post Michigan Pot Market Surpasses California in Sales Volume appeared first on Paradise Found.

I’m a full Florida native, having been born and raised in Tampa before adventuring outside this state. When I was a younger stoner I remember visiting an “arcade” that was really just a discreet room in a shopping strip mall stacked with underground vendors – jars of edibles, mushrooms, and ounces of weed…it was the most quantity I had ever seen. 

Fast forward to a few months ago, when I noticed a recently opened Cookies dispensary ten minutes down the road from me. Florida has come a long way, but what a long and strange trip it has been down the road to legalization.

Ironing Out the Details 

In the November election later this year, Florida will have a chance to expand its billion-dollar medical market to full recreational. Amendment Three, also known as the Marijuana Legalization Initiative, would allow adults over the age of 21 or older to buy and possess up to 3 ounces of product. 

This would grant existing licensed medical operators in the state to grow, manufacture, and sell to the new adult-use market. The details don’t clarify if it will open up licenses to new businesses. 

Earlier this year, State Attorney Ashley Moody argued that the Marijuana Legalization  Initiative was misleading and detrimental to the state’s legal market. The Florida Supreme Court overruled the State Attorney’s claims, ensuring Amendment 3 a place on the ballot. 

What You Need to Know Before Voting on Florida’s Amendment 3 

A recent poll surveyed 56% of Florida voters support this recreational bill, just shy of the 60% voter approval required for this Florida Amendment to pass. Not every legal cannabis state requires this voter approval rate, but only three states have been able to exceed it – Arizona, New Jersey, and Maryland. Will Florida follow suit?

Amendment 3 makes no mention of expungement of prior cannabis records or social equity reform. Home growing is not allowed in this initiative either – which is one of the many factors in this bill that have many of us in the Sunshine State conflicted. 

1) Trulieve’s Ticket

Smart & Safe Florida is a campaign in full support of this initiative. The campaign believes cannabis legalization will bring more transparent regulations and improve quality control. 

Over the past year, the campaign raked in $39.55 million solely from the biggest multi-state operator in the FL market: Trulieve. Since the legalization of medical cannabis in 2016, this mega-corporation has grown to have a huge influence on Florida’s market, despite Trulieve CEO Kim River and her husband’s scandalous way to the top (although Florida tends to wear political corruption with style). 

With Trulieve fully funding and supporting the initiative, many consider the company’s support of Amendment 3 a step towards dominating the potential recreational market.

2) Ready to Go Recreational 

Legalizing adult use of cannabis in Florida would turn the Sunshine State’s already billion-dollar medical program into one of the nation’s largest recreational markets.

Many brands like Cookies, Jungle Boys, and Planet 13 have moved in as Florida medical dispensaries. Over the years, I’ve often seen someone walk into one of these more “cannabis-branded” stores without a medical card hoping to buy an eighth. 

The state is ready to go recreational. Whether it will be a fair playing field is truly up to Florida lawmakers – who, in all honesty, don’t have a great track record for doing the right thing. Growing a legal market in Florida will require more than policymakers presuming what’s right for our industry. We need cultivators, processors, business owners, and consumers to speak out with a higher solution. 

3) “No Home Grow, No Vote” 

The Amendment’s prohibition of home grow has been a hot debate by many in the FL cannabis community. Many see this detail solely as an advantage to the already successful medical multi-state operators in the industry. 

Florida stoners who are against the bill argue that waiting until the next election cycle to legalize will give more opportunity and time for smaller businesses to write their own counter-proposal, which can include home grow details.

Around the same time Smart & Safe Florida was collecting signatures, the Home Cultivation for Medical Marijuana Initiative was campaigning for the right for adult patients to cultivate medical cannabis. This initiative was founded by Wise & Free Florida, a group advocating for patients’ freedom in growing medicine. When a representative from Trulieve was asked about their support of this initiative, their response was a “big thumbs up.” 

4) A Disgusted DeSantis

Since Amendment 3 was announced to hit the ballot this year, Florida’s Governor has not been shy about his dislike for psychoactive cannabis and all its potential. Governor Ron DeSantis openly discourages passing the bill, predicting that voters won’t surpass the 60% threshold. 

Gov. DeSantis has made it clear on his feelings about recreational cannabis, calling the proposal “radical” and arguing that it will “reduce the quality of life” in the state – questioning why people would want to “smell it in the streets when taking your family to dinner.” 

His complaints about the plant don’t end there though– the latest calculated move from his office threw a curveball that Florida’s industry did not see coming. 

5) The Hemp Curveball 

Florida Senate Bill 1698 is a proposed measure going after the Farm Bill loophole. It would ban hemp-derived cannabinoids like Delta-8 and Delta-10 THC. This bill would restrict Delta-9 THC products to 5 milligrams per serving or 50 milligrams per package. It’s clear this bill would severely shake up Florida’s established hemp industry. 

When SB 1698 was awaiting signature from Gov. DeSantis, it was hinted that his office would unexpectedly veto the bill under a leadership strategy akin to “the enemy of my enemy is my friend,” – hoping to pit the hemp industry against Amendment 3. Interesting. 

Soon after the Governor vetoed the bill, claiming, “Small businesses are the cornerstone of Florida’s economy…the bill would impose debilitating regulatory burdens on small businesses and almost certainly fail to achieve its purposes.” 

Right on, Ron – this veto saves hundreds of mom and pop shops and hemp cultivators. But I’m personally having trouble making sense of a Governor who is in such strong support of hemp but in bold opposition of cannabis. (Does somebody want to tell him both plants come from the same Cannabaceae family?)

Dazed, Confused & in Disbelief 

I don’t care whether you are someone who consumes consistently or just ‘know a guy’ you pick up from every once in a while. Whether you smoke or you don’t, understanding what Amendment 3 could mean for Florida is important for your future, our community, and the next generation. 

If I’m being honest to myself (and publicly to you all), I’m extremely torn about my stance on Amendment 3. Of course, I want it to be legalized in the state for adult use. I would love to see all non-violent criminals and those previously charged for the plant be free with expunged records. It would be incredible to see a market expand and open up jobs and opportunities for others in the community, not just those funded with oversized pockets. Let’s see less shame in the consumer game so I can enjoy my happy hour joint instead of gin, or so my Dad could walk into a dispensary to buy pre-rolls “just for fun.” Let’s shift the negative stigma and focus on better-quality products and resources. 

Given the complicated nature of cannabis and politics, is all of that really going to happen if this bill were to pass? Or will it only directly benefit corporate cannabis? 

For many of us Floridians, this feels like our one shot at legalizing cannabis in the state. Is it better to have one foot in the door than to be locked out completely? We’ll see what November brings. 

The post WTF, Florida! first appeared on High Times.

The post WTF, Florida! appeared first on Paradise Found.

Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday announced the establishment of a new political action committee to fund a campaign to defeat a ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana in the state. Dubbed the Florida Freedom Fund, the new PAC will also raise money to help defeat a separate initiative to protect abortion rights that will appear on the ballot for the November general election.

The political committee was formed in late May, Politico reported on Monday. The group is chaired by James Uthmeier, the governor’s chief of staff who also served as campaign manager for DeSantis’ failed bid for the presidency. The move comes as the governor works to reestablish his leadership over the Florida Republican Party after his failed presidential bid caused his influence to wane.

The Florida Freedom Fund was formed to raise money for the campaign against Amendment 3, which would amend the Florida Constitution to legalize the possession and use of cannabis for adults. The political committee also has set its sights on Amendment 4, which would firmly establish the right to abortion in the Florida Constitution.

Amendment 3 Would Legalize Weed in Florida

More than one million voters signed petitions to place Amendment 3 on the ballot for the 2024 general election. If passed, the constitutional amendment initiative would allow the state’s current providers of medical marijuana, which was legalized in Florida in 2016, to begin selling cannabis to all adults aged 21 and up. Adults would be allowed to purchase up to three ounces of marijuana at a time, including no more than five grams of cannabis concentrates. The bill does not include provisions to expunge past cannabis convictions or the home cultivation of marijuana, which activists feared would lead the Supreme Court to block the measure based on state laws that limit ballot initiatives to a single subject.

The proposed constitutional amendment also allows state lawmakers to authorize additional adult-use cannabis business licenses, although there is no requirement for the legislature to do so. The initiative retains Florida’s current vertically integrated business structure, which requires operators to control the production and marketing of marijuana from seed to sale.

A source familiar with the governor’s plans but not authorized to speak about them said that in addition to the marijuana and abortion initiatives, the Florida Freedom Fund would support other races on the ballot, including seats for local school board elections. A spokesperson for the fund confirmed to Politico that the committee would target races other than Amendments 3 and 4.

“As Gov. Ron DeSantis continues to lead our great state, the Florida Freedom Fund will be championing issues and candidates committed to preserving Floridians’ freedom,” said Taryn Fenske, a spokesperson for the governor, according to a report from Politico. “From up and down ballot races to critical amendments, we’re steadfast in our mission to keep Florida free.”

After the launch of the political committee was announced, a spokesperson for Smart & Safe Florida, the group backing the marijuana legalization initiative, noted that the funds raised by the Florida Freedom Fund will be split between the two amendment initiatives and other races throughout the state. By contrast, the Smart & Safe Florida campaign has already raised more than $60 million, according to state data, with over $13 million cash on hand and a $5 million ad buy currently engaging with voters across the state.

“We are proud of the campaign we are building and the broad support we have across the political spectrum throughout Florida,” Morgan Hill, spokesperson for Smart & Safe Florida, wrote in a statement emailed to High Times. “Just last week, a new Fox News poll showed a large majority of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents support Amendment 3. It’s clear Floridians are more ready than ever to legalize recreational adult-use marijuana.”

The post Florida Governor Launches PAC To Fund Campaign Against Legalizing Weed first appeared on High Times.

The post Florida Governor Launches PAC To Fund Campaign Against Legalizing Weed appeared first on Paradise Found.

On June 6, the German Bundestag (German federal parliament) voted to adjust the currently existing adult-use cannabis law, including changes to restrictions for driving and cannabis club associations.

The driving changes were made by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport, which amended the country’s Road Traffic Act. The change included a new maximum THC blood content, which is now set at 3.5 nanograms per milliliter. Previously, the limit was set at one nanogram per milliliter. According to DW.com, this was done to create a restriction that is similar to the maximum alcohol blood content limit, which in Germany is 20 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood.

Prior to adopting this amendment, Bundestag member Kirsten Kappert-Gonther posted online about the thought behind the decision. “Today we are deciding on changes to the #Cannabis law. This was agreed with the Federal Council to prevent a blockade. The THC limit in road traffic will be set at 3.5ng/ml. This is how we create security and prevent #criminalization through the back door,” Kappert-Gonther said on June 6. “To curb the black market, competitive, legal and safe offers are needed. #CannabisClubs are essential for this. They support #health and #youth protection.”

The first time that a person is found in violation of the THC blood content maximum, they will be banned from driving for one month and receive a €500 fine. If violations continue, the fine is increased to €1,000 and individuals will receive a two-year ban on driving.

Currently, the method of testing a driver’s impairment is done through a saliva test. If a driver appears to be impaired, even if a saliva test is negative, they will be instructed to take a blood test.

Another recent amendment includes changes to rules for cultivation. Starting next month, cooperatives, or clubs, will be allowed to sell cannabis to members, and the amendment limits the canopy size of those cooperatives. “The new draft of the #CannabisLaw takes the concerns of the states into account. We are expanding the evaluation, making the control of cultivation associations more flexible, enabling adjustments to grow hubs and promoting training for addiction prevention specialists.” said Kristine Lütke, an addiction and drug policy spokesperson for Free Democrats Group. “Cannabis clubs play a central role in this. They enable legal, communal cultivation and thus contribute to the successful legalization. This ensures health and youth protection.” Cannabis clubs can have a maximum of 500 members.

Germany’s first day of legal adult-use cannabis was on April 1, which allows adults over 18 to possess up to 25 grams of cannabis in public, or 50 grams at home. Although cannabis clubs can dispense cannabis to members, cannabis sales have not yet been implemented.

In December 2023, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach told the German Bundestag that they were “currently examining” how to approach commercial sales, but there hasn’t been any solid plans announced yet. Kappert-Gonther spoke on June 7 about the necessity to get the ball rolling. “We need prevention and education instead of prohibition and ignorance!,” Kappert-Gonther said in a translation. “Unfortunately, the Union is often conspicuous by its ignorance. Criminalizing #cannabis, promoting alcohol and linking the increase in drug deaths to decriminalization lacks a clear #factual basis.”

Lütke also commented on the need to move forward. “It is now urgent that we move forward, as set out in the coalition agreement. The law on the second pillar with model projects for commercial supply chains to combat the black market and strengthen the cannabis economy must finally be presented,” Lütke said on social media. “On Sunday [June 9] there are elections to the EU Parliament: There must be a reform of EU law to enable the controlled legalisation of cannabis and independent drug policies in the member states. Freedom must apply throughout Europe!”

In April, the German state of Bavaria banned cannabis consumption at public festivals and inside beer gardens, which also extends to events like Oktoberfest. According to Bavarian Health Minister Judith Gerlach, the decision was made for public safety. “Our aim is to limit cannabis consumption in public spaces,” said Gerlach. “That is important for health protection and especially for protecting children and young people.”

Bavarian government officials have expressed their opposition to cannabis legalization. Minister-President of Bavaria Markus Söder posted online that he wouldn’t let the state turn into a “stoner’s paradise.”

Earlier this year, legislator Tino Sorge said that he doesn’t believe that cannabis legalization is a method of protecting youth. “You’re asserting here in all seriousness as health minister … that we will curb consumption among children and young people with the legalization of further drugs,” Sorge told Lauterbach. “That’s the biggest nonsense I’ve ever heard.”

Germany was the third country in the European Union to legalize cannabis. The first was Malta in December 2021, followed by Luxembourg in June 2023.

The post Germany Bundestag Votes To Make Amendments to Cannabis Law first appeared on High Times.

The post Germany Bundestag Votes To Make Amendments to Cannabis Law appeared first on Paradise Found.

Rhode Island will offer a cannabis training program that prepares workers for industry, providing the skills they will need to thrive in the workforce.

According to a May 29 announcement, Rhode Island’s labor department will fund a cannabis training program to accommodate the bustling industry. The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) is launching an eight-week Cannabis Training Program, working together with the state’s Division of Workforce Partnerships.

This 45-hour training program is free of charge, and it’s funded by the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training’s Real Jobs RI initiative. The training program begins Tuesday, July 9 at CCRI’s Liston Campus in Providence. Classes are held online and in person with curriculum taught by skilled teachers to provide students with a foundational knowledge of the entry-level jobs. The classes will provide students with the skills they need, and the applicable regulations. Students can also visit local businesses and receive employment assistance. 

The pilot cohort program will first enroll 15 students. Those interested can sign up for an interview by filling out the program inquiry form. The flexibility of the course scheduling and free tuition ensures the program is “equitable and accessible to those from communities that have been impacted by the criminalization of cannabis,” according to CCRI Director of Industry Partnerships Stacy Sullivan. 

“CCRI’s Division of Workforce Partnerships is always looking to be responsive to employer needs and we are proud and excited to create a training for this emerging industry,” said Division of Workforce Partnerships Vice President Jennie Johnson. “We look forward to having a hand in creating a robust cannabis workforce.”

More community colleges and four-year schools are offering cannabis certificates, so CCRI plans to help people interested in the state’s cannabis workforce industry. The United States’ cannabis labor market has grown exponentially each year since 2017 with the number of cannabis jobs increasing from 321,000 in 2021 to 428,059 in 2022. After adult-use recreational cannabis was legalized in Rhode Island in 2022, the number of available cannabis jobs in the state increased by 45 percent to 1,649 in 2023. There’s also 118 jobs in Rhode Island that list “familiarity with the cannabis industry” as a required skill with more than 100 cannabis-adjacent businesses, including CBD retailers, and 62 licensed cannabis cultivators currently in the market. By next year, cannabis is projected to become a $45 billion industry in the United States.

Founder and CEO of EZHire Cannabis Jacob Carlson and Certified Commercial Cannabis Expert Melissa Rutherford were instrumental in developing the curriculum and will teach courses in the program’s pilot cohort.

“Having the ability to learn job skills in a new industry is important and having CCRI embrace cannabis education is a boon to Rhode Island residents interested in determining if this emerging marketplace is right for them,” Rutherford said. “The class will introduce students to the legal cannabis industry and discuss how skills as varied as culinary, customer service, and risk management can all be applied in this growing field.”

“The question of how people are supposed to learn skills about jobs that didn’t exist legally in a highly-regulated industry always puzzled me. How are legal cannabis businesses supposed to find trained employees? That’s why this partnership with CCRI makes sense for us at EzHire Cannabis,” Carlson said. “We are seeing more need for entry-level workers, which aligns well with community college programs, both from a cost and training level.”

Rhode Island’s Cannabis Industry Grows

Adult-use cannabis sales in Rhode Island have been surging. During the state’s first year of adult-use sales, which ended last December, the Office of Cannabis Regulation says that sales “have steadily increased almost monthly over the past year, and the estimated sales for Fiscal Year 2024 is $76 million.”

“That sales estimate, if met, would translate into more than $15 million in state and local revenue: $7.6 million from the state’s 10% cannabis tax, $5.3 million from the 7% sales tax and $2.3 million from the 3% local tax,” the station reported, noting that the Office of Cannabis Regulation “estimates that, in October alone, more than $7 million worth of recreational cannabis products were sold statewide.”

Rhode Island lawmakers passed a bill in 2022 that legalized adult-use cannabis for people ages 21 and older, and it became the 19th state in the U.S. to do so.

The bill, which legalized possession of up to one ounce of cannabis for adults and also permitted possession by adults of up to 10 ounces is permitted in a private home, was approved by members of the state General Assembly in May of 2022. The measure also established the framework for legal, regulated recreational cannabis sales in Rhode Island. The new training program will help people decide where they fit in the industry.

The post Rhode Island To Offer Free Cannabis Industry Training first appeared on High Times.

The post Rhode Island To Offer Free Cannabis Industry Training appeared first on Paradise Found.

An initiative to approve adult-use cannabis will appear on the ballot in South Dakota. Is the third time the charm? South Dakota voters will have a third chance to approve a ballot initiative to legalize adult-use cannabis, this time, Initiated Measure 29, which will appear on the 2024 general election ballot on Nov. 5.

On Monday, Secretary of State Monae Johnson’s office validated a measure that will appear on the November general election ballot. The campaign collected 22,558 valid signatures, which is about 5,000 more than is required for ballot placement. 

“Secretary of State Monae L. Johnson announces that a petition submitted for an initiated measure was validated and filed by her office today,” a June 3 press release reads. “This ballot question would legalize the recreational use, possession, and distribution of marijuana. The title for the ballot question will be Initiated Measure 29.”

It will be the third time South Dakota voters have weighed in on the question to approve cannabis for adult use. The Associated Press reports that in 2020, voters passed a measure, Amendment A, to legalize adult-use cannabis. South Dakota’s voters approved an adult-use ballot initiative in November 2020 by a solid 54% margin, However, the referendum was reversed by litigation. The measure  was ultimately struck down in court. 

Voters tried once again, two years ago. The campaign’s second initiative in 2022 was rejected by voters by 52%. (A medical cannabis initiative that was also approved by voters in 2020 was not challenged.)

State leaders have stood in the way of cannabis reform, giving the agenda to legalize a fight. The push to strike down the amendment passed by voters in November was spearheaded by Gov. Kristi Noem. “South Dakota is a place where the rule of law and our Constitution matter, and that’s what today’s decision is about,” Noem said in a statement. “We do things right—and how we do things—matters just as much as what we are doing.”

If passed, the bill would legalize adult-use cannabis for people 21 and older. Adults over 21 would be able to buy and possess up to two ounces of cannabis or 16 grams of concentrate, with a limit of six plants per person with a 12-plant maximum for a single household. In addition, possession of cannabis products cannot exceed 1,600 mg of THC.

The bill imposed a limit of 2 ounces of cannabis in forms other than concentrate or flower. The measure also allows cultivation of plants, with several restrictions. Proponents plan to work with the Legislature to implement business licensing, tax and other regulations, if passed.

Proponents remain hopeful that voters will approve the bill. “We firmly believe that South Dakotans deserve to make their own choices on how they live their lives, including the freedom to responsibly use cannabis,” Zebadiah Johnson, political director for the campaign to legalize adult-use cannabis, said in a statement.

Protecting South Dakota Kids chair Jim Kinyon said the state’s voters already had a say on the issue and rejected recreational marijuana back in 2022. He criticized supporters’ repeated efforts to put the issue to a vote.

“How many times does the state of South Dakota need to reject recreational marijuana before the industry will accept the decision of the state’s citizens?” Kinyon said.

“I expect that the industry will triple down on their money to try and sway and disuade voters,” Protecting South Dakota Kids chairperson Jim Kinyon said.

The Path to the Ballot

The road to the ballot is due to the efforts of advocates and canvassers who worked tirelessly. Last May, advocates in South Dakota turned in a batch of signatures to get the adult-use cannabis initiative on the ballot in November.

South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws (SDBML) collected signatures (initially a 29,030 count) and submitted them on May 7, which was the deadline set by the Secretary of State Monae Johnson’s office. Out of that amount, 17,508 must be verified in order for the initiative to appear on the ballot. “Today is the culmination of seven months of hard work by advocates and volunteers across South Dakota,” said SDBML executive director Matthew Schweich. “We are very confident that we have collected enough signatures from registered voters to qualify for this November’s ballot.”

Achieving this goal was partially due to the secretary of state’s office approval to pay canvassers to pass out ballot material and collect signatures, in addition to the organization’s volunteers, in December 2023. The campaign material they passed out included the title and ballot description.

South Dakota voters will once again head to the polls to decide if the state will move forward and legalize adult-use cannabis. If passed, it would make South Dakota the 25th state to approve adult use.

The post South Dakota Adult-Use Ballot Initiative Approved, Giving Voters Third Chance first appeared on High Times.

The post South Dakota Adult-Use Ballot Initiative Approved, Giving Voters Third Chance appeared first on Paradise Found.

A statewide poll in Texas revealed that six out of 10 adults support legalizing cannabis in the state—the first time the poll has shown a solid majority. The issue of cannabis is gaining increasing bipartisan support, gaining support from states that typically vote blue or red.

According to results from the 18th annual Texas Lyceum Poll, 60% of adult Texans say they support adult-use cannabis—representing a 14% jump from the last time the survey asked about marijuana in 2015.

“Overall, 60% of Texas adults say that they support legalizing the use of marijuana in Texas, a 14 point increase since the question was last asked in 2015, when a majority of voters (50%) expressed opposition. Asked about expanding legal casino gambling in Texas, 57% of Texans said they would be supportive of expanded casino gambling, while 28% said they would be opposed.”

The Dallas Morning News reports that only older adults, Republicans, and self-identified conservatives were divided on support for adult-use cannabis. Among Texans over the age of 65 and Republicans, 49% said they support legalization, and among those who identified as conservative, 46% were in support, and 31% of those polled said they oppose cannabis legislation.

The questions weren’t always clear as to why people oppose legalizing cannabis. For instance, some simply want to decriminalize it instead: Among those who oppose legalization, 42% said that they would support decriminalizing possession of small amounts to a citation and fine. The poll also asked about numerous other topics such as politics, religion, housing, and space exploration. Gambling is also gaining support in Texas, according to the Texas Lyceum Poll.

In November of this year, the Texas Lyceum will hold a conference on South Padre Island entitled, “Win, Lose or Draw: The Future of Marijuana and Gambling in the Lone Star State.”

The state’s unique politics come into play when it comes to cannabis. Texans have voted Republican in every general election since 1976.  Some analysts believe that having a Bush on the ticket in every election from 1980 through 2004 (except 1996) helped cement Texas as a “reliably red state.” In 2020 however, that lead waned, and Donald Trump won the state by 6.5% over Joe Biden, the narrowest margin since 1996. But the demographics in Texas are changing quickly.

Patients who are eligible can access low-level THC cannabis under the state’s compassionate use program, established in 2015. But it only allows certain physicians to prescribe low-THC products to patients with seizure disorders, multiple sclerosis, and other conditions. The Texas Legislature expanded the program’s eligibility to include patients with all forms of PTSD and cancer in 2021.

Texas Cities Decriminalize

Decriminalization attempts at the city level have faced opposition from state leaders.

Last February, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed lawsuits against five cities that have passed cannabis decriminalization measures. The lawsuit was filed against the cities of Austin, San Marcos, Killeen, Elgin, and Denton “for adopting amnesty and non-prosecution policies that violate Texas laws concerning marijuana possession and distribution,” according to the attorney general’s office.

In 2022, the five cities enacted ordinances or civic policies that bar police officers from enforcing state laws prohibiting the possession or distribution of cannabis. 

After filing the lawsuits, Paxton said that such policies are prohibited by the Texas Local Government Code, which bars municipal and county governments from adopting “a policy under which the entity will not fully enforce laws relating to drugs.”

“I will not stand idly by as cities run by pro-crime extremists deliberately violate Texas law and promote the use of illicit drugs that harm our communities,” Paxton said in a statement on Wednesday. “This unconstitutional action by municipalities demonstrates why Texas must have a law to ‘follow the law.’ It’s quite simple: the legislature passes every law after a full debate on the issues, and we don’t allow cities the ability to create anarchy by picking and choosing the laws they enforce.”

In 2022, Denton voters approved an ordinance to decriminalize cannabis, with 71% of voters in favor, but some officers and the mayor of Denton ignored the law anyways. High Times also reported on Texas cops who essentially ignored hemp laws in Texas and the 2018 Farm Bill and raided hemp sellers anyways.

Currently, possession of up to two ounces of cannabis in most areas of Texas is a Class B misdemeanor and punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. Possession of over two ounces can result in up to a year in jail, and more than four ounces is a felony crime, with a mandatory minimum sentence of two years.

Any amount of cannabis concentrate is considered a felony in Texas punishable with a minimum $10,000 fine and 180 days in jails. In addition, paraphernalia is also illegal and can result in a $500 fine.

The post Majority of Texans Now Support Legalizing Pot for Adult Use first appeared on High Times.

The post Majority of Texans Now Support Legalizing Pot for Adult Use appeared first on Paradise Found.

In Delaware, a new bill is being proposed to allow medical cannabis businesses to also sell adult-use cannabis once the state’s adult-use sales begin.

House Bill 408 was recently introduced on May 16 by sponsors Rep. Ed Osienski and Sen. Trey Paradee. Delaware’s Marijuana Control Act was enacted on April 27, 2023 without the signature of Gov. John Carney, and went into effect starting on August 1, 2023. It created four different license types but none of which currently permit medical cannabis compassion centers to take part in the upcoming launch of adult-use sales. If passed, HB-408 would create a temporary conversion license that medical cannabis businesses can apply for in order to sell adult-use cannabis, and if the application is approved, the license would expire after four years have passed, and can then be renewed again.

“As Delaware moves closer to the launch of recreational marijuana sales, it’s important that we continue exploring and implementing policies that will bolster the program’s success and support both new and existing retailers,” Osienski said in a press release. “Our experienced compassion centers are well-equipped to navigate this transition, and the funds generated from their conversion license fees will serve as a vital funding source for social equity applicants, empowering them to kickstart their ventures.”

According to HB-408, the medical cannabis business must currently be eligible for renewal within the medical program, must be able to show that it can meet market demands (in addition to verify its plans for continued service in medical cannabis and show support for the social equity program), and have a signed labor peace agreement with a labor organization. Applicants must also pay the fee for a conversion license, which is currently set at $100,000 per license. The proceeds from the fee will be used to give financial assistance to conditional license holders who are also social equity applicants.

“For us, passing the Marijuana Control Act was always about our desire to replace an illegal market that has overwhelmed our court system and damaged lives with a legal, regulated and responsible industry that will create thousands of good-paying jobs in Delaware,” Paradee said. “We also need to protect the jobs created by our compassion centers, who have already put in the hard work of standing up an industry and have the capacity and infrastructure to meet demand on Day 1.” Paradee added that providing an avenue for medical cannabis businesses to participate in the adult-use market will aid communities harmed by the War on Drugs.

If HB-408 became law, it would require that the Delaware Office of the Marijuana Commissioner open up applications between August 1-November 1, 2024. For now, it heads to the House Economic Development/Banking/Insurance and Commerce Committee.

Earlier this year, Osienski introduced another bill, House Bill 285, which aims to expand the Delaware medical cannabis program. Medical cannabis was first legalized in Delaware in 2011 but sales didn’t begin until 2015 when the first dispensary began operation.

If passed, HB-285 would allow senior citizens to become medical cannabis patients, permit healthcare providers to determine whether or not medical cannabis could be useful for a patient, and improve the cannabis registry ID card process. “With the full legalization of adult-use recreational marijuana last year, my colleagues and I agreed that our medical marijuana law needed to be updated to help the people who rely on those products get the therapy they need,” said Sen. Kyra Hoffner, according to WBOC. “These changes will allow healthcare providers to make sound decisions about which treatments best fit their patients, and make those treatments more readily accessible to people who need them the most. I want to thank my colleagues in the General Assembly for continuing to support a responsible and reasoned approach to both recreational and medical marijuana in the First State.”

HB-285 is currently waiting on Gov. Carney’s desk for a signature or veto.

In April, Osienski and Paradee, in addition to state treasurer Colleen Davis, filed House Bill 355, which would implement state protections for banks who seek to serve licensed cannabis businesses.  This would apply to banks as well as “credit unions, armored car services, and providers of accounting services” which wouldn’t be subject to prosecution under Delaware state law. “This is really a public safety issue,” said Paradee last month. “We do not want any of the current medical cannabis providers or the coming recreational cannabis providers to struggle with that issue.”

While these bills await their respective approvals, many eagerly await the news of when adult-use cannabis sales will begin. While an official date has not yet been verified, the most recent launch estimate is currently looking toward March 2025, according to Delaware Marijuana Commissioner Robert Coupe told the Joint Finance Committee in February.

In the meantime, a slew of other bills recently headed to Gov. Carney’s desk for approval, such as House Substitute 1 for House Bill 162, which would legalize human composting. If approved, it would allow licensed morticians to care for the deceased as they decompose by mixing the bodies with wood chips, straw, and other organic materials. After fully decomposed (estimated to take approximately 30 days), the compost would be returned to the family to use as they see fit.

The post Delaware Bill Would Allow Medical Cannabis Operators To Sell Adult-Use Cannabis first appeared on High Times.

The post Delaware Bill Would Allow Medical Cannabis Operators To Sell Adult-Use Cannabis appeared first on Paradise Found.