The Legislature’s Joint Committee on Marijuana Policy, considered a number of issues related to the implementation of recreational marijuana in Mass. on Monday.

State Rep. Shaunna O’Connell, R-Taunton proposed

 a bill, H.3194, that would add recreational marijuana to a list of items that welfare recipients are prohibited from using cash benefits to buy. That list already includes alcohol, tobacco, gambling, lottery tickets and jewelry. There would be an exemption for medical marijuana.

Source: Massachusetts state rep proposes prohibiting use of welfare benefits to buy marijuana | masslive.com

Both public officials and citizens addressed solutions for regulating driving under the influence, allowing cities and towns to regulate and restrict marijuana sales on a local level, as well as packaging and distribution concerns regarding the impact of edibles on adolescents.

A bill easing access for parents seeking medicine for their children was also discussed. One mother of an epptic child described finding a doctor who will prescribe marijuana to children in Mass is like finding “a needle in a haystack.”

Legal weed in North America is expected to reach $22.6 billion in revenue in 2021. But many won’t be spending their money on marijuana the way they do today.

Recreational cannabis spending is expected to outpace medical marijuana sales for the first time in 2019, according to a comprehensive new report from Arcview Market Research.

While recreational consumers will be spending more than medical patients, they will also be paying more in taxes. Currently, recreational shoppers in Colorado can expect to pay between 15% and 20% more than medical patients do. The state places a 2.9% sales tax (plus local taxes) on both varieties of marijuana, but it waives the 10% state marijuana tax for patients. Often, dispensaries also offer big discounts for medical patients.

When California rolls outs its recreational market in 2018, the state will impose a 15% tax on sales of the drug, but only non-medical users will have to pay it.

While many patients, will continue to seek the discounts or lower prices offered by a medical market, the ease of recreational purchases will become more appealing to many. Currently, the medical industry limits patient access to “qualified” conditions, requires patients to register and in some states, limit the amount or types of medication a patient can purchase.

Many wil likely pursue recreational purchases, although the momentum to maintain a medical market will be largely based on interest in research, development and the quality of product provided to patients vs recreational consumers.

Source: Adult-use marijuana spending will outpace medical sales in 2019 – Business Insider

NEW BEDFORD — Beacon Compassion received a provisional license for New Bedford from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health on Thursday, Stephen Angelo, the executive director of the company told The Standard-Times. Angelo described the license as “the first step” in a longer journey for the marijuana dispensary…

The next phases of the project include developing plans for the site of the building, receiving feedback from community meetings and requesting permits from the city.

From past meetings, Angelo said the most common concerns raised at the forums include security, loitering, impact on traffic and the effect the dispensary will have on property values.

Read More From The Source: Marijuana dispensary receives Provisional License – News – southcoasttoday.com – New Bedford, MA

On Wednesday, March 22, co-sponsors Sen. Heather Steans (D-Il.) and Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Il.) introduced legislation in Illinois that would legalize recreational marijuana. It should be noted that both Steans and Cassidy aren’t planning to bring their bill to vote immediately. Instead, using the move to gauge interest. They plan to hold feedback hearings later this year, with the expectation of putting a bill in front of the Illinois legislature in 2018.

Source: Surprise! A Recreational Marijuana Bill Was Just Introduced in This Midwestern State — The Motley Fool

The bill passed 28-6, and would create a state cannabis commission responsible for developing policies and regulations.

Senate Bill 386 — the West Virginia Medical Cannabis Act — would create a state cannabis commission that would be responsible for developing policies and regulations to make medical cannabis available to qualifying patients.

The bill will next be voted on in the House of Delegates. The chamber failed to pass its medical marijuana bill Tuesday, with 64 of 99 delegates voting against the measure.

Source: WV MetroNews – Senate passes medical marijuana bill

A room full of people turned out to the Hammon Senior Center Tuesday night for a workshop on how the city should respond to the passage of Proposition 64, which legalized personal cultivation and recreational use of marijuana in the state.

Source: City holds first marijuana workshop – Golden State Newspapers: Patterson Irrigator News

• Topics of conversation included:
• Businesses being heavily tracked and regulated
• Other local jurisdictions
• Sales and other taxes
• Crime, other concerns

Attendee concerns

One workshop attendee pointed out that the “huge amount of cash” involved in marijuana businesses has caused a problem for other states that have legalized commercial marijuana activity. Other comments included concerns about where potential marijuana businesses might be allowed and what percentage of the sales revenue should be allotted to increased law enforcement.

Attendee support

Supporters in attendance appeared to skew toward medical marijuana, with several making the assertion that marijuana use for severe pain is “cleaner and safer” than other (prescription) drugs. One commenter mentioned that the former mayor of Oakland is setting up dispensaries in San Francisco. She also asked whether part of the taxes collected would be earmarked for “education and outreach”; $10 million per year from 2018 to 2028 will go to California public universities to study and evaluate implementation of the law. “The tide is turning,” one woman said, mentioning that a relative’s doctor at Stanford University had recommended marijuana for him, “Eventually the government will catch up.”

Read more from the Source: City holds first marijuana workshop – Golden State Newspapers: Patterson Irrigator News

Read more about California Seed to Sale Laws & Regulations here, at Adilas420.com

Delaware took a major step Thursday toward becoming the ninth state to legalize recreational marijuana use.

Delaware legislation would also authorize dozens of stores to sell marijuana.

“We see it as a social justice issue,” Henry said, describing the legislation as an effort to reform the criminal justice system by legalizing “something that people always have done and are doing.”

The proposed Delaware Marijuana Control Act would create a commission to regulate, license and tax the state’s marijuana business. Consumers would be required to pay a $50-per-ounce excise tax, while retailers would be charged a $5,000 application fee and a $10,000 annual licensing fee.

Up to 40 retails stores could be licensed to sell marijuana under the bill, with medical marijuana dispensaries given the first opportunity to open retail operations.

Source: Delaware legislators say they have votes to legalize pot from Delawareonline.com

New legislation introduced by Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Earl Blumenauer, both Oregon Democrats, would take marijuana off the list of federally banned drugs, tax marijuana at a rate similar to alcohol and tobacco, and end the threat of federal criminal penalties for businesses operating in states that allow the use of pot for recreational purposes.

Source: Pot state Dems want federal regulation of marijuana | TheHill

The Oregon law makers, “Path to Marijuana Reform,” includes three bills written to support the marijuana industry in states with legal recreational cannabis.

Checkout out the Executive Summary of the The Small Business Tax Equity Act, the Responsibly Addressing the Marijuana Policy Gap Act and Marijuana Revenue and Regulation Act here.

Georgia House lawmakers overwhelmingly approved a compromise that would expand the list of disorders eligible for treatment under the state’s nascent medical marijuana program.

Source: Georgia House approves compromise to expand medical marijuana program

By a vote of 45 to 6, Senators approved a revised version of Senate Bill 16, now awaiting the Gov. Nathan Deal’s signature. The bill would make six conditions eligible for treatment with a limited form of cannabis oil allowed in Georgia: Alzheimer’s disease, AIDS, autism, epidermolysis bullosa, peripheral neuropathy and Tourette’s syndrome. Patients in hospice care also could possess the oil.

Read More about marijuana in Georgia at Adilas420.com

According to Marijuana Policy Project, “Even if the ordinances remain in force, they only apply locally and officers could still choose to prosecute an offender under the state law, which carries a harsh penalty of up to a year in jail and a fine of between $250 and $2,500. Thus, the controversy highlights the need for statewide reform. Please ask your legislators to support replacing criminal penalties with civil fines for simple possession.”

Source: Bill That Blocks Marijuana Decriminalization Passes | Tennessee News | US News

Source: Marijuana Policy Project