No other state is licensing businesses where people can buy and consume recreational cannabis products, a fact that legalization advocates say merely forces the clubs underground.

The legalization referendum narrowly endorsed by Maine voters in November includes references throughout the ballot initiative to “social clubs” where adults age 21 and over buy and consume recreational marijuana on premises. The fully licensed social clubs were envisioned as places where users could legally gather – similar to a bar or smoking lounge – to use marijuana in a carefully controlled and monitored atmosphere.

Lawmakers are debating whether to delay licensing of marijuana “social clubs” in Maine, following the lead of other legalization states facing concerns about public health or unwanted scrutiny from federal officials.

Source: Lawmakers mull delaying marijuana ‘social clubs’ in Maine – Portland Press Herald

A fascinating study in Health Affairs last year by a father-daughter pair of public policy researchers found that Medicare prescriptions for things like painkillers, antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications dropped sharply in states that introduced a medical marijuana program.

Source: Study: Nationwide medical marijuana laws would save lives — and a billion taxpayer dollars – The Washington Post

Colorado lawmakers back off plans to regulate “Amsterdam-style” marijuana clubs.

“Given the uncertainty in Washington, this is not the time to be trying to carve off new turf and expand markets and make dramatic statements about marijuana,” Hickenlooper told the Denver Post last month.

Sponsors of the club bill said that they had little choice but to back off, leaving Colorado with its current spotty club landscape.

Colorado already has about 30 private pot clubs, according to legislative analysts, but they operate under a patchwork of local regulations and sometimes are raided by law enforcement.

The House amendment passed Thursday effectively removes club regulations, and the remaining bits of the bill are relatively minor. The bill could face yet more changes before a final vote. Lawmakers who bemoaned the club bill’s demise cited U.S. Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions, who has hinted that states violating federal drug law won’t be tolerated.

Source: Colorado backs off plans for ‘Amsterdam-style’ marijuana clubs – LA Times

This morning law makers finally approved the much anticipated medical marijuana initiative. There are still several steps before the drug will be for sale.

After 67 days in the legislature and over 40 pages of legislation, the compassionate care act is finally being written into law. The department of health already hired new staff members to take over as implementation proceeds.

Arvy Smith is the Health Department’s deputy state health officer. She says it will take anywhere from 12 to 18 months before medical marijuana will be available for purchase.

Source: Senate Bill 2344 – the Medical Marijuana Bill – has one last step

The Pennsylvania Department of Health issued draft regulations on Tuesday that would govern how doctors become registered to prescribe medical marijuana and certify patients to receive the drug when it becomes available.

Source: Pa. releases draft medical marijuana regulations for doctors

Several proposals to loosen New Hampshire’s regulations on the use of marijuana got hearings at the Statehouse Tuesday.

Source: N.H. Senate Weighs Whether to Loosen State’s Marijuana Laws | New Hampshire Public Radio

“A draft set of rules for social consumption areas is expected to be released by April 25. Before they’re finalized, people will be able to weigh in May 25 at a public hearing, according to Denver Excise and Licenses.

The department responsible for licensing Denver’s pot shops hopes to start approving businesses to open social consumption areas as early as July.

Proposed rules would have businesses with social consumption permits display a sign or placard when customers are using marijuana inside. They also would have security checking IDs at entrances to usage areas. The city’s also looking at making people sign waivers or notices before entering. Those guidelines were generally accepted.”

Read more including thoughts on “vaping in doors” and more from the Source: Social marijuana could hit Denver by July: Everything you need to know about the draft rules for businesses – Denverite

AL.com found that Alabama courts are not sending many people to prison for marijuana possession anymore, although police are still making arrests and most of the remaining prison inmates are black. As of October 2016, more than 80 percent of the 220 state prisoners convicted of first-degree marijuana possession were black, according to the Alabama Sentencing Commission.

Source: Marijuana in Alabama debate strikes a chord with AL.com readers | AL.com

Colorado has legalized pot but appears set to make it a crime to grow marijuana in operations run by co-ops.

Colorado legalized recreational marijuana in 2012, but it has a nagging black-market problem. Law enforcement and state lawmakers attribute the black-market problem in part to weak restrictions on who can grow pot.

Source: Colorado set to prohibit marijuana co-op growing operations

Legislation that would increase the number of licenses to grow medical marijuana and Gov. Larry Hogan’s proposal to give a tax break to manufacturers top the list of unresolved issues as the General Assembly heads into the final day of its 2017 session.

Source: Marijuana, manufacturing top list of unresolved issues for Maryland General Assembly finale – Baltimore Sun