New Yorkers can now get their hands on medical cannabis flower, a bipartisan effort to legalize recreational cannabis in Pennsylvania is underway, and New Mexico is breaking ground on a research facility intended to unlock all the mysteries of marijuana.
Let’s dive into this week’s cannanews.
New York’s Cannabis Regulators Approve Medical Flower
New York’s Cannabis Control Board wasted no time in its first meeting on Tuesday, approving sales of medical marijuana (MMJ) flower and other significant changes to the state’s program. Although MMJ has been legal in New York since 2014, only edibles and extracts were available previously. The board also approved MMJ prescriptions written by dentists, podiatrists, and midwives, as well as waived the $50 patient and caregiver registration fee. Additionally, the cannabis limit was increased from a 30-day supply to a 60-day supply.
Pennsylvania Senator Announces Recreational Cannabis Bill
Pennsylvania Sen. Mike Regan announced in a memorandum on Monday that he will be introducing a bill to legalize recreational cannabis in the state, which legalized MMJ in 2016. The former U.S. Marshal voiced the concern that minor cannabis offenses are inundating law enforcement, whereas full cannabis legalization would allow the state to focus on crime associated with deadly drugs like heroin and fentanyl. Considering Regan’s status as a Republican, his move could spearhead a bigger conversation about the partisan divide that so often hinders pro-cannabis legislation. Multiple other Pennsylvania politicians have offered support for the reform.
Exclusive Cannabis Research Facility to Open in New Mexico
Construction has begun on a 115-acre research and manufacturing cannabis plant in Grants, New Mexico—one of just three in the U.S. federally approved to research a Schedule I drug. The company funding the facility, Bright Green Corp., chose the location for its climate. The company’s chairman, Terry Rafih, told media sources that he hoped the facility’s research would play a role in eliminating opioid use. The facility will have more than 100 employees and is worth more than $300 million in investments, according to KOB 4.
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