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Trump Grants A Dozen Last Minute Marijuana Pardons
In his last acts as President of the United States, Donald Trump issued pardons and commutations that include twelve people serving time for marijuana convictions.
Lynn Barney, Jonathon Braun, Brian Simmons, Ferrell Damon Scott, John Knock, Anthony DeJohn, Corvain Cooper, Way Quoe Long, Michael Pelletier, Craig Cesal, James Romans, and Noah Kleinman have all been freed. Half of the dozen freed—Knock, Scott, DeJohn, Cooper, Cesal, and Romans—were serving life sentences, and Long at age 58 was still facing over 25 more years imprisonment.
New York Governor Reveals Marijuana Revenue Projections in Budget
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) on Tuesday previewed expected revenue from a legal marijuana program he’s proposing through his annual budget, reports Marijuana Moment.
In addition to state and local sales taxes and a 10.25 percent retail tax, Cuomo’s legalization plan would be the first in the nation to set a wholesale tax indexed to THC potency. According to the Governor’s Briefing Book, “Cannabis flower/pre-roll/shake products are taxed at a rate of 0.7 cent per milligram of THC content. Cannabis concentrates/oil products are taxed at a rate of 1 cent per milligram of THC content, while cannabis infused/edible products are taxed at a rate of 4 cents per milligram of THC content.”
Washington State Home Grow Bill Introduced
Legislative staffer Peter Klinefelter spoke during a virtual committee hearing in Washington State to introduce a bill to finally allow legal home cannabis cultivation.
According to Marijuana Moment, House Bill 1019 sets a household maximum of 15 plants and requires the logging of the producer’s name, birthdate, address and the harvest date of any plants and containers holding more than one ounce. But not everyone will be allowed to grow.
Homes used as daycares also would be banned from home growing, which must remain out of public view. In addition, HB 1019 adds a consideration for the smell of cannabis.
Arizona Could Begin Adult-Use Sales from Medical Dispensaries This Week
Marijuana sales to anyone 21 or older in Arizona could start within a day or two, with state health officials telling dispensaries they are poised to issue licenses for recreational sales, reports Arizona Central.
The first stores able to sell recreational marijuana and marijuana products, such as vape pens and gummy edibles, are existing medical-marijuana dispensaries. Some of those businesses said Tuesday they are awaiting approval from state regulators to show up online so they may open their doors to anyone with a state-issued ID.
Arizonans approved Proposition 207 in November, legalizing adult use and possession of marijuana. The measure also allowed the state’s 120 or so operating medical-marijuana dispensaries to apply for a license to sell to any adult, not just those who have a state-issued medical-marijuana card.
Recreational purchases will be assessed an additional 16% excise tax.
Maine Regulators Ban Cannabis Store’s Mermaid Logo
Claiming that “mermaids are featured in a number of stories, movies, toys, costumes and other popular culture items and marketing aimed at young children and teenagers,” regulators in the state of Maine are fining a South Portland cannabis shop $10,000 for violating rules against marketing aimed at children.
According to the rules for the state’s newly opened adult use program, packages or labeling depicting humans, animals or fruit are prohibited, as are packages or labels that would “reasonably” appear to target or appeal to anyone under the age of 21.
