Licensing Blog

As marijuana legalization continues to blaze through the nation, a new movement has garnered significant traction due to latest research discoveries on its ability to combat the national mental health crisis – psychedelics. Psychedelic plants have been used by non-Western cultures for sacramental purposes for thousands of years. It wasn’t until 1940 that psychedelic drugs were beginning to be rediscovered …

After existing Maryland medical cannabis businesses elected to convert their licenses by July 1st to be authorized to cultivate, manufacture, or dispense cannabis or cannabis products for adults twenty-one (21) years or older, the Maryland Cannabis Administration (“MCA”) has been hard at work striving to implement a prompt timeline to begin accepting applications for the 1st round of licenses, which …

On September 7th, 2023, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians passed a referendum in favor of legalizing marijuana for adults twenty-one (21) years and older – the only jurisdiction in the “Tar Heel State” to commit to such marijuana reform. The passage of adult-use comes just two (2) years after the tribe approved medical marijuana, as well as decriminalization of …

On August 16th, 2023, the Ohio Secretary of State, Frank LaRose, announced that Issue 2 – “An Act to Control and Regulate Adult Use Cannabis” – received enough signatures from all eighty-eight (88) counties to be placed on the November 2023 ballot. If the majority of the voters vote “yes” in November, Ohio will become the 24th state to legalize …

After the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (“AMCC”) issued its stay on its issuance of licenses at their July 12th, 2023, meeting, commission members worked diligently with the third-party evaluator, KPMG, to ensure all “potential inconsistencies in the tabulation of scoring data” were reviewed and corrected. Two (2) months later, the AMCC held a meeting on August 10th, 2023, to void …

Since the enactment of section 381.986(8)(a)2.b., Florida Statutes, there have been numerous issues surrounding its verbiage and the ability to carry out such provision in line with the Florida Legislature’s intent. Such issues and concerns were further validated through the Florida Department of Health, Office of Medical Marijuana Use’s (“OMMU” or “Department”) handling of the Pigford/BFL license application round as …

House Bill 611 was signed into law by the Republican Governor of New Hampshire, Chris Sununu, bringing hope to legalization reform in the Granite State in the very near future. Sponsored by Democratic representatives Suzanne Vail, Christina Seibert, and Wendy Thomas, this new law not only addresses modifications to the qualifying medical conditions under the state’s Therapeutic Cannabis Program (“TCP”), …

The Sunshine State has been at the forefront of headlines regarding its cannabis industry not only due to the advocacy (and push back) of legalizing adult-use marijuana in the state, but also as a result of the various legal changes affecting all those in the industry from Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers (“MMTCs”) to their qualified patients. Below we will breakdown …

On July 19th, the New York Cannabis Control Board (“Board”) held their meeting to discuss several important agenda items, including the expansion of New York’s adult-use market. Once the public comment period ends on July 31st, the Board will be busy as they will have until September to not only finalize all regulations adopted, but also approve applications and respective …