Tennessee State Senator Raumesh Akbari (D) has filed legislation that would legalize and tax marijuana for those 21 and older, making the state the 12th in the U.S. to do so.
Akbari says that if the measure is passed, it would take effect on July 1st and would be an economic boon for the state, and a victory for justice.
Read moreBill to Legalize Marijuana Filed in Tennessee Senate
Marijuana arrests dropped significantly in the largest suburbs in Illinois, according to the Associated Press.
Arrests for marijuana-related crimes plummeted by a range of 63% and roughly 80% from 2015 to 2018 in the five largest suburbs: These include Aurora, Naperville, Elgin, Joliet and Waukegan. The state had deemed most of these communities as neighborhoods with high numbers of such arrests, the Aurora Beacon-News reported. The numbers through October are expected to show another decrease in 2019.
Read moreMarijuana Arrests Drop Rapidly in Illinois’ Top 5 Largest Suburbs
According to the Associated Press Missouri health officials on Friday posted the list of recipients of the first 192 licenses to operate medical marijuana dispensaries, “bringing the state closer to joining the many others that allow at least some form of marijuana use.”
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is giving 24 licenses in each of Missouri’s eight congressional districts. Officials say recipients were the top-scoring applicants that met the program’s eligibility requirements., and the state received nearly 1,200 applications for dispensary licenses.
Read moreAlaska Will Become First State to Have On-Site Consumption at Marijuana Stores
Read moreAustin City Council Unanimously Approves Marijuana Decrim Bill
Legalization to legalize hemp was filed this week in the Idaho Legislature by sponsor State Representative Dorothy Moon (R). The Senate Health and Welfare Committee quickly voted to clear the way for a public hearing.
According to the Associated Press, the legislation aims to align state law with federal law contained in the 2018 Farm Bill, changing Idaho law to allow the growing and selling of hemp products containing 0.3% or less of THC. Moon said the legislation has an emergency clause that would allow Idaho farmers to grow hemp this year if signed into law.
Read moreHemp Legalization Bill Filed in Idaho, Committee Votes to Approve Hearing
Mexico Senate published a draft of legislation that would legalize marijuana, including allowing marijuana retail outlets to sale the plant to anyone 21 and older. The proposal was put forth by members of the justice and health committees. The Senate hopes to debate and pass the legislation during its next session, according to a High Times report, which will take place from February to April.
Read moreMexico Senate Announced Draft Marijuana Legalization Bill
In a decision that has massive, long-lasting implications Italy’s Supreme Court has ruled that growing a small amount of marijuana for personal use is legal.
As reported by Reuters, the Court of Cassation decreed that the crime of growing narcotic drugs should exclude “small amounts grown domestically for the exclusive use of the grower”.
Read moreItaly’s Supreme Court Rules Personal Marijuana Cultivation Legal
In the United States, stress is one of the most common mental health problems. In 2017, more than 77 percent of American citizens reported feeling stressed on a regular basis, and a third said they were living with extreme stress every day. Unfortunately, the future outlook isn’t much better, nearly half the nation said they believed their stress had increased significantly over the last five years.
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum announced on Friday that he has officially pardoned 16 people convicted of low-level marijuana crimes. The Associated Press is reporting that these are just the first wave in what may be thousands under a new policy the first-term Republican said gives former offenders a second chance.
Read moreNorth Dakota Governor Pardons 16 Cannabis Convictions, Potentially Thousands More Coming