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We're back with a January 2023 Cannabis News Recap!
But first...
Wow - what a year 2022 was.
Thank goodness it's over!
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Fortunately, we made it, and we are glad you did too.
To start this year's first update, we want to thank you, our members, for being with us! In having time to reflect, it's crazy to think we've been raising awareness about cannabis together for almost ten years.
Back then, people were still hesitant about cannabis, and hardly anyone dared to talk about it openly.
Times were so different.
When we started in 2013, it's no surprise we didn't have a website, a library of educational content, or even a clue as to what we were doing. At least, not really.
We saw a dire need for education and, luckily, had three things we could bring to the table; an insatiable curiosity for cannabis, the idea that everyone should have access to this remarkable plant, and the willingness to roll up our sleeves and make it happen.
And while getting to this point has been a challenge, we have repeatedly learned from our mistakes and, today, have grown into a media-based community with over 30,000 passionate members who support us by tuning in regularly to our updates, telling people about our group, and buying products from our shop.
There's never been a greater need for education, access, and awareness across every part of the cannabis ecosystem. Federal legalization hasn't happened, consumers are becoming more sophisticated, and we're in a tough economic environment. This is why we believe our work has only begun.
So whether that's showing you how to get a card, bringing you new recipes, or advocating for more equitable policies in cannabis, we are committed to advancing the movement together by delivering you the information you need, highlighting more voices in our community, and continually pushing to improve the industry for the greater good.
Thanks again for being here. We look forward to another exciting year with you!
With appreciation,
-Abe, Becca, Roo, Penelope, Amna, Kay, Alexander, & the rest of The Cannabis Community Team |
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And now for the news!
Check Out This Month's Newest Blogs
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Empowering Women in the Illinois Cannabis Industry: Advancing Gender Equity Now
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We are pleased to announce Toi Hutchinson will be delivering the keynote speech at the Illinois Women in Cannabis Spring Conference.
"As President and CEO of the Marijuana Policy Project, Toi Hutchinson is one of the most influential voices in cannabis policy in the country, and we're proud she calls Illinois home. Don't miss the opportunity to learn from Toi and other thought leaders at this full-day conference.
Conference speaker applications are currently open until Friday, February 3, at 5:00 p.m. (CT).
The one-day in-person conference will include industry leaders and experts presenting on the evolving opportunities in the regulated cannabis industry in 2023 and beyond. We are looking for speakers to explore the latest equity and advocacy work in the industry, as well as new trends and upcoming opportunities in all facets of the industry."
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This Week's
Top Cannabis News
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In case you missed it, here are the latest updates!
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MICHIGAN
Relief — and stress — greet Detroit’s new recreational marijuana market
Detroit is hardly alone in struggling to establish a recreational weed market that allows communities that faced disproportionate policing — particularly among Black residents — to reap the potential financial benefits. States and cities as varied as Los Angeles, Illinois, and Denver have seen similar efforts struggle due to lawsuits, shoddy implementation, or both.
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ILLINOIS
Proposal would ease city cannabis, and alcohol ordinances – just a bit
The amendments would permit drivers to possess previously opened alcohol and cannabis in a motor vehicle, as long as the substances are secured in a sealed or resealable container that’s inaccessible.
Heartland Community College approves cannabis certificate program
“Other programs around the country have used tomato plants as a stand-in for learning how to handle the plant, but initially, as we launch this, we won’t have the greenhouses up and running yet, so this will be primarily academic,” Pearce said, adding Heartland would need regulatory approval to grow the plants.
New Cannabis License Process Aims to Focus on Social Equity
“This round of applications, for instance, will be online,” Johnson said. “The application period starts Jan. 30 but runs until March 3. So folks have a little bit more time to apply if they wish to. The applications are a little bit more bare-bones than they were at the last round. So we really just need the name of your business, primary ownership — those sorts of things. Most importantly, the fee has gone down to $250, as opposed to the $2,500 that it was in the last round.”
Illinois Ag Department Issues Next Round of Transporter Licenses
"The Department is pleased to see this industry continue to grow," said Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello. "They join the hundreds of Department licensees from the last two years in building the foundation of the legal cannabis industry in Illinois, and together have generated nearly 5,000 good-paying jobs. Our team remains highly focused on its core mission of developing a well-regulated and equitable industry."
Pritzker Administration Announces Record-Setting Year for Adult-Use Cannabis Sales
"When I signed the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act into law in 2019, we set out on an ambitious goal: to create the most equitable and economically prosperous cannabis industry in the nation. Our data from 2022 shows that we are well on our way towards making that idea a reality," said Governor JB Pritzker. "Not only did we break our previous sales record by more than 12% with a total of more than $1.5 billion, we also saw the first of our social equity adult-use cannabis dispensaries open their doors for business—paving the way for an even stronger 2023."
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SOUTH DAKOTA
South Dakota Senate Authorizes Lawmakers To Set Medical Pot Conditions
The legislation that was approved by the state Senate on Thursday would broaden the list of debilitating conditions to also include the following: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or positive status for human immunodeficiency virus; Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Multiple sclerosis; Cancer or its treatment if associated with Crohn’s disease; Epilepsy and seizures; Glaucoma; or Post-traumatic stress disorder.
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MISSOURI
Missouri Moves Full Steam Ahead With Automatic Cannabis Expungements As Promised In Midterms
Data shows that 25 Missouri counties have already begun expunging marijuana cases, even though they have until June 8 to expunge misdemeanors and until December 8 to expunge certain marijuana felonies. Though additional funding is not yet available from the state government nor from sales taxes from adult-use marijuana, these counties are moving forward anyway.
Medical marijuana dispensary opens in Mendenhall
To be able to buy medical marijuana in Mississippi, patients must visit a physician, nurse practitioner, or optometrist participating in Mississippi's medical cannabis program to determine if they have a qualifying medical condition. If so, they must register certification for medical cannabis use with the state's cannabis program. Within 60 days of medical certification, the patient must apply to the Medical Cannabis Program using an online form. They will receive an electronic identification card that can be used at a medical cannabis dispensary.
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OREGON
Reviewing the New Oregon Cannabis Rules
Violations of the rules governing the Oregon marijuana industry are determined by the “category” of the violation ranging from Category I to V. For several years, many of the rules did not identify the specific category for a rule violation. The OLCC has now assigned a violation category to each rule to increase transparency.
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NEW YORK
How New York’s Liberal Cannabis Smoking Laws Are Changing One Upstate Coffee Shop
The consumption area, the back deck, is the direct result of New York’s liberal public consumption rules, or lack thereof, contained in the state’s legalization bill. It’s open-air, not public-facing, and private property, which means as long as the Koffee Kat is not selling or giving away THC-rich cannabis or serving alcohol, they can allow people to bring their own cannabis products and consume them in the space – which I promptly did.
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