XPost: alt.drugs.psychedelics, alt.drugs.pot, alt.hemp.politics

Drug War Chronicle, Issue #1186 -- 5/6/23
Phillip S. Smith, Editor, psmith@drcnet.org https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/1186

A Publication of StoptheDrugWar.org
David Borden, Executive Director, borden@drcnet.org
"Raising Awareness of the Consequences of Drug Prohibition"

Table of Contents:

1. MARYLAND GOVERNOR SIGNS LEGAL MARIJUANA COMMERCE BILL INTO LAW [FEATURE] Maryland will see legal adult marijuana sales begin July 1. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2023/may/05/maryland_governor_signs_legal

2. MEDICAL MARIJUANA UPDATE
Senate Republicans play politics with veterans' medical marijuana bill,
and more. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2023/may/03/medical_marijuana_update

3. BIDEN COMMUTES 31 DRUG SENTENCES, MN SENATE APPROVES LEGAL MJ,
MORE... (5/1/23)
Three Colorado Senate Democrats joined with Republicans to kill a safe injection site bill, a Texas bill to impose harsher penalties on
fentanyl dealers has passed both chambers, and more. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2023/may/01/biden_commutes_31_drug_sentences

4. CA NATURAL PSYCHEDELIC BILL HEADS FOR SENATE FLOOR VOTE, GERMAN LEGAL
WEED PLAN, MORE... (5/2/23)
An Ohio signature-gathering campaign to put marijuana legalization on
the November ballot is about to get underway, Wisconsin Republicans kill
the governor's marijuana legalization proposal and a whole bunch more,
and more. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2023/may/02/ca_natural_psychedelic_bill

5. LUXEMBOURG UNVEILS MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION PLAN, WA GOVERNOR CALLS
SPECIAL SESSION ON DRUG CHARGING, MORE... (5/3/23)
A Maryland bill implementing legal marijuana commerce is signed into
law, an Oklahoma bill cracking down on illicit medical marijuana grows
is signed into law, and more. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2023/may/03/luxembourg_unveils_marijuana

6. SAFE BANKING ACT HEARING LOOMS, FL LAWMAKERS APPROVE FENTANYL TEST
STRIP BILL, MORE... (5/5/23)
A Vancouver man's experiment with "safe supply" drug sales is quickly
ended by police, a Pennsylvania marijuana legalization bill is filed,
and more. https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2023/may/05/safe_banking_act_hearing_looms

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1. MARYLAND GOVERNOR SIGNS LEGAL MARIJUANA COMMERCE BILL INTO LAW [FEATURE] https://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2023/may/05/maryland_governor_signs_legal

Last November, Maryland voters made it abundantly clear that they wanted marijuana legalization by approving a referendum to that effect. On
Wednesday, with the signing of enabling legislation by Gov. Wes Moore
(D), the legislature and the executive branch have enacted the expressed
will of the voters, laying the groundwork for a state system of taxed
and regulated marijuana sales.

They had to hustle to get something in place before the legalization of marijuana possession goes into effect in July, and with the passage of
Senate Bill 516 (https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0516)/House
Bill 556
(https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb0556),
they have done so. It did not happen without a bunch of wrangling at
state house, as the House and Senate modified the bills and then had to compromise to reach agreement, but now it has happened.

"The criminalization of marijuana harmed low-income communities and
communities of color in a profound way," Moore said at a signing
ceremony Wednesday. "We want to make sure that the legalization of
marijuana lifts those communities now in a profound way." The new law
will "ensure that the rollout of recreational cannabis in our state
drives opportunity in an equitable way," he added.

Here are key provisions of the new law:

* A new, independent Maryland Cannabis Administration will be
responsible for regulating the program.
* Sales will begin on July1, with existing medical marijuana
dispensaries being licensed to sell to the adult recreational market.
Licensing of additional marijuana businesses will come no later than
July 1, 2024.
* Licenses will be capped at 300 retail shops, 100 processors, and 75 growers. Additionally, there will be 10 retail, 100 processor, and 100
grower licenses for "microbusinesses."
* Retail marijuana sales will be taxed at 9 percent, with 35 percent
of those revenues going to a community reinvestment fund. Counties, the Cannabis Public Health Fund and the Cannabis Business Assistance Fund
will each get five percent of revenues. Localities cannot impose
additional taxes.
* Applicants claiming social equity status will have to have 65
percent ownership by people who lived at least half of the last decade
in disproportionately impacted areas or who attended public school in
one of those areas for at least five years. Social equity applicants
will be eligible for a Capital Access Program to provide low interest
loans and promote industry opportunities. Additionally, beginning in
2025, existing medical marijuana dispensaries that form "meaningful partnerships" with social equity applicants will be eligible for grants
for which $5 million will be appropriated each year.
* Delta-8 hemp products will no longer be sold in the open market, but
will have to be sold through licensed marijuana businesses.
* Medical marijuana patients will see the number of plants they can
grow double from two to four, but only patients will be able to grow
their own.
* New marijuana retailers will face geographic restrictions. They will
have to be at least 1,000 feet apart from each other and cannot be
within 500 feet of a school, childcare facility, playground,
recreational center, library or public park.
* To avoid monopolization, a single business will not be able to
operate more than four retail shops.
* Marijuana smoking will not be allowed indoors at consumption
lounges, but only outdoors.
* Smoking will not be permitted indoors at on-site consumption
facilities, but people could do so on outdoor patios at licensed facilities.

And Maryland now hops with both feet on the legal marijuana bandwagon.

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___________________

It's time to correct the mistake:
Truth:the Anti-drugwar
<http://www.briancbennett.com>

Cops say legalize drugs--find out why:
<http://www.leap.cc>
Stoners are people too:
<http://www.cannabisconsumers.org>
___________________

bliss -- Cacao Powered... (-SF4ever at DSLExtreme dot com)

--
bobbie sellers - a retired nurse in San Francisco

"It is by will alone I set my mind in motion.
It is by the beans of cacao that the thoughts acquire speed,
the thighs acquire girth, the girth become a warning.
It is by theobromine alone I set my mind in motion."
--from Someone else's Dune spoof ripped to my taste.

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