Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what's happening in the world of legalized marijuana.
Our first stop this week is Alabama, where the Senate Judiciary Committee has approved a bill that would revamp the state's medical marijuana program. This is only a preliminary step on the road to passage, of course; both chambers must approve the legislation and the governor must sign it for the measure to become law.
Another state looking at the idea of increasing its medical marijuana program is Texas. A new array of conditions would qualify a patient to obtain CBD oil.
In Louisiana meanwhile, sales of medical cannabis could begin as early as next month. And LSU's Manship School of of Mass Communications reports a new survey shows 55% of state residents support legalizing recreational marijuana.
In New England, Vermont's move towards legalizing adult-use sales has hit a snag. The governor is of the opinion that he should have more power over the panel charged with regulating the industry.
Even once a state has legalized recreational sales, that doesn't mean legal issues don't crop up. In California, illegal dispensaries are a problem, and Los Angeles has filed its first civil suit.
So what's happening on the federal level? You may recall from an earlier column that the Mayor of Denver expressed concern about immigrants in the marijuana industry being denied citizenship. Apparently, he was right to be concerned. U.S.C.I.S. just released new guidance stating that those involved in the cannabis industry fail to show "good moral character."
One person who's optimistic about marijuana's chances on the federal level is Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Or.). A long time supporter of legal cannabis, Blumenauer predicts that the SAFE Act will pass the House and that Congress will look at re-scheduling cannabis this year.
And the latest in our "Where Do the Candidates Stand on Marijuana" update is Newsweek's rundown of all the current candidates' positions. Of course, former Vice President Biden's entry into the race means they'll have to issue an update.
Finally, how do you know something has moved from the shadows to the mainstream? When corporations start cashing in on it.
That's all for this week – see you next Friday.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.