Marijuana legalization in New York seemed impossible this year. Recently, Governor Cuomo said the pandemic is the state’s main priority right now. He also said that a decision like marijuana legalization shouldn’t be made quickly. As a result, delaying marijuana legalization was a wise decision. However, lawmakers have been looking at other options. They want to discuss and make the legalization decision remotely through online discussions.
Marijuana legalization in Mexico looks hazy this year. While the country planned to legalize marijuana in October 2019, issues came up. After a lot of deadline extensions, the country was ready to legalize marijuana by the end of April 2020. However, the Mexican Supreme Court has extended the deadline again. The new deadline is partially due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Efforts to put recreational marijuana on the ballot in Missouri were suspended Wednesday because of the coronavirus, but the state says it still hopes to meet its goal of having medical marijuana available by this summer.
"We had hoped that it might be possible to persuade the state of Missouri to allow online signature gathering under the extraordinary circumstances we find ourselves in this spring," said Dan Viets, coordinator for Missouri NORML.
The Florida Supreme Court for the first time will hear arguments via teleconferencing as a precaution because of the coronavirus outbreak, the court announced Tuesday.
The arguments scheduled for May 6 include an advisory opinion on whether a recreational marijuana ballot proposal can go before voters in 2022. Justices will also hear arguments on whether the state's tight regulation of the medical marijuana industry violates the state constitution.
The cannabis lobby is flexing its muscle in Washington and seeking aid for small businesses in the next coronavirus relief package.
The marijuana industry has already found help at the state level. Twenty states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are allowing medical cannabis dispensaries to remain open during the pandemic, and eight states allow both licensed recreational and medical cannabis dispensaries to operate. Cannabis groups are pushing for more states to allow legal marijuana markets to remain open and are seeking funds in state aid packages.
Democratic Governor Ralph Northam has approved legislation (Senate Bill 2 | House Bill 972) decriminalizing marijuana possession offenses. Northam also recommended technical amendments which must be approved by the legislature before the new law takes effect July 1, 2020.
What was supposed to be a banner year for marijuana legalization is becoming a bust.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that legalizing recreational marijuana likely won't be included in the state's budget, dealing a blow to the cannabis industry companies that have invested a significant amount of time, money, and resources preparing for the rush of the state's millions of adult consumers into the legalized market.
Marijuana sales are rising in the US amid the coronavirus pandemic. Many states announced that marijuana is an “essential item.” As a result, many medical dispensaries can stay open along with pharmacies. The pandemic, which is eating away at the global economy, gives the marijuana sector an advantage.
As Illinoisans are ordered to hunker down to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, calls to allow legal marijuana deliveries have increased.
State Rep. Sonya Harper (D-Chicago) introduced legislation last month that would allow cannabis dispensaries to deliver marijuana to both medical pot patients and recreational customers. Now, she’s calling on Gov. J.B. Pritzker to take immediate action amid the rising public health crisis.
