Category: Outlaw Report
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Advocates Push For Cannabis Legalization in Annapolis With a 51-Foot Joint
A 51-foot long inflatable joint with the words “Maryland Pass The Joint!” and the logo of Maryland Marijuana Justice (MDMJ) stamped on the side of it appeared near Annapolis’ State House earlier today, Mar. 18, as part of a protest pushing the cannabis reform-averse legislators in Maryland towards passing a legalization bill. “Some legislators won’t…
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Majority of Maryland Republicans Support Cannabis Legalization, Goucher Poll Finds
Two-thirds of Marylanders support legalizing cannabis for adult-use—including a majority of Republicans—according to a recent Goucher College Poll. 66 percent of Maryland residents support legalizing cannabis for adult-use while 29 percent are in opposition. Support for cannabis legalization among Maryland residents has grown since 2019 when the Goucher Poll found 57 percent of residents supported…
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The Outlaw Report Podcast: Queen’s Gambit
The Outlaw Report podcast host Scott Cecil is joined by Queen Adesuyi, the Policy Manager for the Drug Policy Alliance, the leading drug policy reform advocacy organization in the United States. Queen updates Scott on what’s happening in Congress and when we can expect movement on The MORE Act. Then they turn to D.C. policy…
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Following MedMen Debacle, TheraTrue Applies to Launch in Staunton, VA
In late February, the medical cannabis company TheraTrue submitted license applications in Virginia and its current home state of Georgia. The 2-year-old company announced the double license application, a new CEO—Victor E. Mancebo—with ties to the industry, and $50 million in funding commitments. In Virginia, TheraTrue seeks a Pharmaceutical Processor License in Health Service Area…
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A Tale of Two Bills: Md. Lawmakers Continue to Discuss Specifics of Cannabis Legalization
Maryland legislators continue to deliberate on the merits of two largely similar cannabis legalization bills—one in the House, one in the Senate—which differentiate in ways that will determine how accessible the adult-use cannabis industry is to those most harshly impacted by racist prohibition of cannabis. SB 708, sponsored by Sen. Brian J. Feldman and other…
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Amid Dueling Adult-Use Bills, Medicinal Cannabis Expands in D.C.
Last year, when the Alcohol Beverage Registration Administration (ABRA) took over Washington D.C.’s medicinal cannabis program, it was framed as a step that would make commercial, regulated cannabis easier to enact once lawmakers were ready to enact it. But a recent announcement suggests ABRA has a concerted effort in expanding the medical cannabis program as…
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How Should Virginia Spend Its Cannabis Profits?
Virginia’s plan for adult recreational cannabis use was approved in February, with a major bill review scheduled for 2022 and legalization set for 2024. When it comes to the use of cannabis taxes, the pro-legalization community is split. Governor Ralph Northam, the mayor of Richmond Levar Stoney, and some other Democrats support using the largest…
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The Outlaw Report Podcast: Virginia Punts & DC Hunts (for Equity)
The Outlaw Report podcast host Scott Cecil is joined by D.C. entrepreneur and advocate, Caroline Phillips, the creator of the National Cannabis Festival and board member of Supernova Women, a non-profit whose mission is to bring racial equity to the cannabis industry. Scott and Caroline discuss the top stories of the week, including VA lawmakers’…
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Quick Hit: Final Rule For Domestic Hemp Production Published
Back in January, the United State Department Of Agriculture (USDA) published its final rule on establishing its Domestic Hemp Production Program, as enabled in the 2018 Farm Bill. The rule allows both individual states and Indigenous tribes to begin domestically producing hemp and explains the requirements for record-keeping regarding hemp production, testing, plant disposal, hemp…
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Buds Ready to Bloom in Virginia’s Medical Program: Flower Is Approved
The final 2021 version of Virginia’s recreational cannabis legalization was approved in both houses in late February and now heads to the desk of the largely pro-cannabis Governor, Ralph Northam. Meanwhile, to less fanfare, Virginia’s medical cannabis program is taking a major step forward by allowing the sale of unprocessed flowers or smokable buds. With…
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Baltimore Nurse Destigmatizes Medical Cannabis in Schools With Children’s Books “Asa’s Medicine”
In her new book Asa’s Medicine, Baltimore nurse Ashley Wynn-Grimes, R.N. teaches children and their parents about why some students are administered medical cannabis in school following the passage of H.B. 617 by the Maryland General Assembly in 2020. H.B. 617, “Conner and Raina’s Law” went into law without the governor’s signature last year permitting…
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Virginia Lawmakers Vote to Legalize Cannabis in 2024 in Last Minute Compromise
On Feb. 27, in the waning hours of a busy session, the Virginia General Assembly approved legislation to legalize adult recreational cannabis use. After working to resolve differences between two complex bills from Democrats, the legislature accepted a compromise that will allow recreational pot possession when the commercial market launches in 2024. Some advocates criticize…