Welcome to The Week in Weed’s look back at the news of 2019; whether the year has flown by or seemed to last forever, it’s (almost) over now. In tribute to Dave Barry and his always hilarious Year in Review, we’ll organize these stories by month.
Without further ado, here’s a look at the stories that grabbed our attention in 2019.
A marijuana lobbyist became the only statewide Democrat sworn into office. Smoking medical marijuana became legal in Florida. A new hemp program gave farmers statewide the optimism for a new cash crop. On the whole, 2019 proved to be a monumental year for cannabis in the state
In February, the state hired its first “cannabis czar,” in August the Miami-Dade State Attorney announced it will no longer prosecute minor marijuana cases and in October, two associates of Donald Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani sought pot licenses in the state.
Should that marijuana joint cost more because it is higher in THC content? That’s the argument put forth in a new report by the California Legislative Analyst’s Office.
Currently, the state taxes cannabis at two points in the production cycle; cannabis is taxed by weight after it is harvested, and then taxed again as an excise tax at the retail level. The state is set to increase cannabis taxes at both levels on Jan. 1, 2020.
The Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking (SAFE) Banking Act, which would enable financial institutions to openly serve the cannabis industry, has stalled out in the Senate, to the frustration of the marijuana industry in particular.
Alabama’s Medical Cannabis Study Commission is voting by email this week whether to recommend legislation to legalize medical marijuana, a sweeping proposal that would regulate the products from cultivation to end user.
The commission’s report will not be the final say but could be a starting point for lawmakers debating the issue early next year.
Alabama would be the 34th state to allow marijuana to be used for medical purposes, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Many cannabis investors remember clearly the excitement and anticipation surrounding Canada’s initial pot legalization back in October 2018. This time around, however, the excitement seems to have died down for Canada’s 2.0 legalization, which now allows cannabinoid (CBD) derivative products such as beverages, Edibles, and oils, to be legally sold in retail shelves all across the country. While the law official passed in October, the actual date that the products themselves were supposed to start hitting the shelves was on December 17.
Cannabis may be known as the 'green industry,' but its reputation is not an exceptionally eco-friendly one.
The industry has a bad rap for its inability to rein in excessive energy consumption, water needs, and waste issues all along the production cycle.
