Catch the Smoke: Dec. 26, 2023
This will be our last newsletter of 2023. I wanted to thank everyone of our readers for making The Outlaw Report part of your week. Please continue to share with your colleagues and friends. Wishing you and your communities peace and wellness this New Year – LJ Dawson, Editor in Chief
D.C. sales continue to slow
November sale metrics for D.C.’s medical cannabis program showed a continued drop in dispensary sales since the March’s record high. Out-of-state and non-resident temporary patient registrations continue to decline, eclipsing the slight growth in D.C. medical patient registrations. Read more here.
Maryland weed taxes balloon
Maryland consumers generated over $12 million in taxes in the first three months of adult use in the state. The half of the revenue goes into the state’s general fund and another 35% is directed to the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund which funds community programs in areas hard hit by the war on drugs. Total medical and adult-use sales were almost $90 million in November.
East Coast Round Up
New York’s governor put out another announcement about the shutdown of unlicensed cannabis shops. 13 new dispensaries opened this month.
New York officials will hand out nearly 1,500 business licenses in the next weeks with at least 500 for dispensaries.
Variscite Four LLC and Five LLC who already sued New York to delay the cannabis social equity program sued again (this time about residency requirements) which could delay the licensing process again.
A Delaware organization is giving away joints for trash cleanups.
A new Pennsylvania bill could open up the medical market by increasing permits available by 20%
Stiiizy reiterated that it had no connection to illegal business practices recently detailed in a lawsuit and a published report.
State regulators are lagging behind questionable THC lab data, leaving consumers in the lurch.
Legal cannabis workers who are immigrants are still considered “drug traffickers” by the feds. They face numerous consequences for working in legal weed at the state level including lifetime bans from lawful permanent residency, denial of citizenship and deportation.
From the Swamp
Last Friday, President Biden pardoned thousands of people convicted of marijuana charges on federal lands or in D.C., but this leaves thousands still feeling the impact of state level convictions or charges. Biden also commuted 11 nonviolent drug offenders.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer reiterated prioritizing cannabis banking in 2024, but we have heard this before. It still faces challenges in gaining Republican support.
Shrooms
Bucking party lines, a New Hampshire lawmaker prefiled legislation for the next session seeking to legalize three psychedelic drugs for therapeutic use with a doctor’s recommendation.
Don't miss this week
Maryland Cannabis Industry Symposium – Elements for Success: CannabizMD will host a discussion focused on success with cannabis entrepreneur Tahir Johnson and other leading cannabis industry experts at 337 Brightseat Road Suite 220 Hyattsville, MD (Feb. 24, 12-5 P.M.; $75)
Please submit your upcoming cannabis event here.