NewsRoom Articles - Page 15 of 602

FridayMay 23, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Nebraska Senate Rejects Law Seeking to Operationalize Medical Marijuana Program Approved by Voters

A bill in the Nebraska Legislature aimed at helping put voter-approved medical marijuana laws into action did not pass on Tuesday. Despite strong support from voters last November, lawmakers couldn’t overcome a filibuster in the chamber. Legislative Bill 677 fell short of the 33 votes needed to end debate, with a narrow 23-22 vote failing to move it forward. Senator Ben Hansen, who introduced the bill, tried to appeal to his colleagues’ compassion, arguing that medical marijuana could offer real help to suffering patients. He stressed that even if they were hesitant about marijuana, they could still support relief for…

ThursdayMay 22, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — New Delaware Bill Seeks to Regulate THC Drinks Like Alcohol

A new measure making its way through Delaware’s state legislature could change how and where THC-infused beverages are sold. House Bill 98, introduced by Representative Debra Heffernan, proposes moving these drinks out of bars and restaurants and limiting their sale to licensed package stores. The bill has already passed the committee stage, and Heffernan expects it to become law before the legislative session ends. The legislation aims to shift THC drinks into Delaware’s traditional alcohol distribution model, known as the three-tier system. This structure includes producers, distributors, and retailers like liquor stores. By fitting THC beverages into this established framework,…

WednesdayMay 21, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — New Mexico Uses Cannabis Tax to Fund Monthly Stipend for Vulnerable Families

Albuquerque, New Mexico, has launched a new basic income initiative aimed at helping families in areas with high needs. Starting this month, selected households will receive monthly payments with no strings attached. This effort is being partially funded by tax revenue generated from recreational marijuana sales. Back in March, city officials approved a $4.02 million budget for the program. Of that, over $2 million is coming directly from the city’s recreational marijuana revenue. The plan currently supports 80 families living in two school districts where students face significant academic challenges. Each family will receive $750 every month, and the program…

TuesdayMay 20, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — PA Senate Panel Rejects Provision to Sell Recreational Cannabis Using State Stores

A proposal backed by Pennsylvania Democrats to allow adults to buy recreational marijuana from state-run stores has been blocked by a Senate panel. The bill was voted down 7-3 by the Senate Law and Justice Committee, with one Democrat siding with Republicans to oppose it. State Senator Dan Laughlin, who leads the committee, supports the idea of legalizing cannabis. However, he voiced strong opposition to selling it through government-operated shops. Laughlin argued that this model would sideline small businesses and entrepreneurs, pose logistical complications, and potentially invite legal trouble given the federal ban on cannabis. What happens next in Pennsylvania’s…

MondayMay 19, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Supreme Court Ruling in RICO Suit Ups Litigation Risk for Cannabis Companies

In a closely split 5-4 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court recently sided with a commercial truck driver who sued three CBD firms under the federal RICO statute. The driver, Douglas Horn, claimed he was fired after a drug test came back positive for THC, despite using a CBD product that was labeled as THC-free. At the center of the case was a legal debate over whether people can bring civil RICO claims to recover financial damages that result from a personal injury. Some courts had previously allowed such lawsuits to move forward, while others dismissed them on the grounds that…

FridayMay 16, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Florida Advocacy Group Joins Legal Challenge to State’s Initiatives Law

Efforts to legalize recreational cannabis through a constitutional amendment in Florida are facing a new hurdle: a recently passed state law that adds major roadblocks to the citizen initiative process. The group leading the marijuana amendment push, Smart & Safe Florida, has joined a federal lawsuit challenging the new law, arguing that it undermines Floridians’ fundamental right to propose and vote on constitutional changes. House Bill 1205, passed by the GOP-led legislature and signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis, drastically alters how citizens can get amendments onto the ballot. The law introduces more red tape for signature collection, creates…

ThursdayMay 15, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — How Unchecked Credit is Putting the Marijuana Industry at Risk

The marijuana sector is facing a growing financial crisis that’s been developing quietly while many businesses ignore the signs. The core issue? An explosion in unpaid invoices that’s threatening to destabilize the entire supply chain. Despite some whispers in online forums and informal industry circles, there has been little serious discussion about the scale of the problem or the risks it poses. Currently, over $2.2 billion in unpaid invoices is circulating within the industry. This issue has rapidly expanded over the last four years, particularly in states like California, Massachusetts, and Michigan. California alone is dealing with more than $770…

WednesdayMay 14, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Governor Hochul Signs Budget, Lawmakers Exclude Marijuana Smell as Authorization for Police Searches

New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed the state’s latest budget into law on Friday, but one key proposal that had stirred significant backlash didn’t make it into the final version. Earlier this year, Hochul had proposed allowing police to use the smell of cannabis as a reason to suspect a driver of being under the influence and require them to undergo a drug test. Lawmakers removed the clause after strong opposition from dozens of advocacy groups. In a letter sent to Hochul and state leaders, over 60 reform organizations warned that such a policy would revive harmful tactics from the…

TuesdayMay 13, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Trump Announces Withdrawal of Controversial Prohibitionist Nominee for Washington Attorney

President Donald Trump has announced that he’s pulling his nomination for Ed Martin, who was set to become the U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C. This follows controversy surrounding Martin’s recent actions against a local medical cannabis dispensary that operates legally under D.C. regulations. Despite the dispensary’s compliance with local laws, Martin warned the business about violating federal marijuana laws and hinted at possible prosecution. While Trump didn’t directly link his decision to Martin’s stance on cannabis, many advocates in the District see the move as a positive sign that may ease concerns over federal interference in the city’s marijuana policies.…

MondayMay 12, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Pennsylvania House Committee Passes Adult-Use Marijuana Bill

A measure now moving through Pennsylvania’s State House could make cannabis available in stores overseen by the state. On Monday, House Democrats narrowly approved the measure in the Health Committee with a 14-12 vote. Representative Rick Krajewski, who introduced the bill, clarified that cannabis would be sold in a network of state-regulated shops, separate from those selling alcohol. However, the proposed legislation—HB1200—takes a different approach than the one Governor Josh Shapiro laid out in his budget for 2025/26. There are two major differences between the bill and the governor’s earlier plan. First, this version would place the adult-use marijuana program…