24 articles tagged with "legalization"
CulturePolitical TV dramas from The West Wing to Veep document cannabis's journey from political scandal to routine policy debate, mirroring real-world legalization and shifting public opinion over three decades.
LegislationGov. Josh Shapiro includes adult-use cannabis in his budget for the second year, projecting $729 million in first-year revenue. The proposal faces Republican opposition in the state Senate.
LegislationDemocratic voters in Texas are weighing in on marijuana legalization through a non-binding ballot question during the state's March 3 primary election, though the outcome won't directly change state law.
LegislationHawaii's Senate advanced two marijuana legalization bills with different approaches—one tied to federal reform, another excluding retail sales—while House leaders say reform won't happen in 2026.
LegislationSmart & Safe Florida has petitioned the state Supreme Court to restore 71,000 ballot signatures rejected by election officials, attempting to salvage its November legalization initiative as deadlines approach.
LegislationVirginia's Senate committee advanced a bill to legalize recreational marijuana sales after removing criminal penalties, setting up negotiations with the House over competing versions of the legislation.
LegislationVirginia's Assembly Appropriations Committee approved legislation establishing legal marijuana sales and resentencing past cannabis convictions, advancing the bills after years of stalled reform efforts.
LegislationNew Hampshire's Senate Judiciary Committee rejected HB 186, a House-passed marijuana legalization bill, keeping the state as New England's only prohibition holdout despite surrounding legal markets.
LegislationFlorida officials confirmed a cannabis legalization campaign failed to collect the required 880,062 signatures by Sunday's deadline, preventing the adult-use amendment from reaching the 2024 ballot.
LegislationFlorida's MSO-funded cannabis legalization campaign is disputing state officials' declaration that the ballot initiative has ended, saying it can still qualify for the 2026 ballot despite failing to meet 2024 requirements.
LegislationFlorida law enforcement has launched a criminal investigation into the Smart & Safe Florida campaign backing Amendment 3, which would legalize adult-use cannabis. The probe comes days before a voter registration deadline.
LegislationCannabis reform pioneer Dana Beal faces life in prison in Idaho, highlighting the legal divide as 24 states legalize adult-use while holdout states maintain felony prosecutions.
LegislationA state-commissioned study projects Hawaii could see $90 million in monthly cannabis sales if legalization passes, though the same report warns recreational marijuana might deter some international tourists from visiting the islands.
LegislationFive states are preparing cannabis legalization ballot measures for 2026, but advocates face steeper challenges in a midterm election cycle with fewer voters and tighter campaign budgets than previous reform efforts.
LegislationA Florida court has allowed election officials to invalidate tens of thousands of cannabis legalization petition signatures, while state law enforcement continues arresting campaign workers gathering signatures.
CultureWoody Harrelson shared stories of getting kicked out of bars twice for smoking cannabis with Matthew McConaughey's mother, highlighting how dramatically social attitudes and laws around marijuana have shifted.
LegislationNew Hampshire senators heard testimony on adult-use legalization Thursday, with the bill's sponsor citing federal rescheduling efforts as reason to act. The state remains one of four New England holdouts without a recreational market.
Industry NewsNew research shows state-level cannabis legalization significantly increases participation of women and older adults in the industry, with comprehensive legal reforms driving demographic diversification.
LegislationHawaii legislators introduced bills to put marijuana legalization on the ballot after years of failed legislative attempts, requiring voters to decide the issue through a constitutional amendment referendum.
LegislationCampaign finance records show an anti-marijuana organization has spent over $11 million backing ballot measures to restrict legal cannabis in multiple states, marking a coordinated push to roll back legalization.
LegislationNew voter verification directives from Florida's Secretary of State could complicate efforts to place cannabis legalization on the 2026 ballot, raising concerns about procedural barriers to ballot access.
InternationalThe U.S. has replaced the Netherlands as Ireland's primary cannabis source, with Canada and Thailand also emerging as major suppliers—a shift driven by North American and Asian legalization creating spillover into European prohibition markets.
LegislationSupport for Florida adult-use cannabis legalization has declined in recent polls as Gov. DeSantis intensifies his campaign against 2026 ballot measures, raising questions about the future of reform efforts.
LegislationVirginia Del. Paul Krizek has filed legislation to establish recreational marijuana sales and increase possession limits, three years after the state legalized personal use without creating a retail market.
