Author: Brandon Soderberg
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Washington D.C. Cannabis Arrest Data Finally Released, Reveals Racial Disparities
According to data released by Washington D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), even into Washington D.C.’s era of cannabis legalization, racially disproportionate arrests continued. The data, which can be found here was released last month. According to the data, in total (excluding juvenile arrests, which do not reveal race) there were around 11,700 cannabis-related charges between…
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Virginia’s Expansive Cannabis Reform In 2020—and Who It Leaves Behind
Last week, Virginia’s decriminalization of cannabis possession of up to an ounce became official—it goes into effect on July 1. It is the most notable legislation amid a number of cannabis bills that passed in what was a legislative session of sprawling reform regarding cannabis in the state. 18 bills succeeded in passing both the…
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Cannabis and Washington D.C.’s Primary Election
Tuesday June 2 is Washington DC’s primary election. With ongoing concerns about COVID-19’s spread and now, what appears to be a growing uprising against police violence nearly at the door of the White House—President Trump is reportedly hiding in a bunker underground—it will surely be an especially complicated election. There are six council seats on…
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Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission Policy Committee Meeting Puts Pause On Adjusting Out of State Regulations
Last month, in preparation for the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission’s Policy Committee meeting on May 27, the MMCC introduced the regulatory proposals it would consider and asked for public comment. Those proposals are described in detail here, but more briefly they were: adjustments to the regulations regarding ancillary businesses to cannabis such as security; creating…
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Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission Finance Committee Meeting Considers COVID-19’s Impact
Last week, the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission (MMCC) held its Finance Committee Meeting where it reviewed its 2020 fiscal year performance so far and wrestled with the devastating economic effects of COVID-19. The commission’s budget is a special fund and is mostly funded by licensing fees, rather than the state’s general fund. The meeting about…
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Proposed D.C. Budget Could Help Commercial Cannabis Happen Sooner
Washington, D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser released the 2021 budget plan last week and amid the hundreds of pages of adjustments, new investments, and proposed cuts about the proposed $16.7 billion budget is some language that as Marijuana Moment reported, “sets the stage” for the commercial cannabis industry that has eluded the District since legalization. Through…
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Virginia Cannabis Decriminalization Is Official; ACLU Explains How Cops Can Still Bust You For Weed
Last week, Virginia’s decriminalization bill allowing possession of up to an ounce of cannabis, was officially signed into law. For readers of The Outlaw Report, this is fairly anticlimactic given Virginia governor Ralph Northam’s public support of decriminalization for quite some time including during the 2017 election. Back in February, the Virginia Senate approved Senator…
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‘Cannabis’ 68 Times: Debunking a Republican Talking Point
Earlier this month, the expansive COVID-19 relief bill, the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act (or The HEROES Act) was approved by the House Of Representatives. For those in the cannabis industry, the HEROES Act was especially welcome because it included The Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act (or The SAFE Banking Act)…
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A Rundown of the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission’s Regulatory Proposals
The Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission (MMCC) will hold its Policy Committee meeting on May 27, 2020, where it will introduce, amend, and codify a number of regulatory proposals. These proposals have to do with businesses related to the cannabis industry, eliminating potential corruption between medical providers and cannabis companies, physicians and caregivers, licensing, and out-of-state…
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Richmond Will No Longer Drug Test City Employees For Cannabis
Last week, Richmond’s City Council approved a resolution that would stop the city from drug testing employees for cannabis. Currently, Richmond drug tests for cannabis for pre-employment and randomly drug tests current city employees. But now, with Virginia getting ready to institute its medicinal cannabis program—as well as decriminalization of up to an ounce and…
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Dispensary Sales In Maryland Nearly Double Since April 2019
The Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission recently released a graph detailing dispensary sales of medicinal cannabis in Maryland between April 2019 and March 2020 and what it shows says a great deal about the robust industry in Maryland and how patients have responded to COVID-19. The chart shows that total sales over the past year are…
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COVID-19 Relief Bill Passed By House Allows Cannabis Banking
The Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act (or HEROES Act), the latest legislation to provide economic support during the COVID-19 pandemic, was approved by the House of Representatives last week. It provides $3 trillion for COVID-19 relief and includes local and state government funding in the billions, extended unemployment benefits, assistance for farmers…