In today’s HK Cannabis Law Newsletter, we present articles and information covering: the U.S. House of Representatives passing of the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement Act (“MORE Act”); an important change of leadership at the California Bureau of Cannabis Control (“BCC”); and California’s likely cannabis tax windfall.
On December 4, 2020, the House approved the MORE Act to remove cannabis from the list of federally controlled substances. This marked the first time in 50 years that a chamber of Congress has revisited the federal classification of cannabis.
The passage of the MORE Act will likely remain a symbolic victory for those seeking to decriminalize cannabis federally because of the U.S. Senate’s opposition to decriminalization.
The election in Georgia is being closely-watched by the cannabis industry because flipping this state blue would have important consequences for federal legalization.
Lori Ajax, dubbed the first “Cannabis Czar” of California, retired from her position as the head of the Bureau of Cannabis Control on December 2, 2020.
Despite a tumultuous year, California cannabis sales have surged, creating $306.7 million in revenue from the state-cannabis taxes alone, not including local taxes.
Plaintiffs requested that their case against CV Sciences, a CBD company based out of San Diego, be allowed to move forward, and have the stay on their case removed. The U.S. District Court of the Central District of California stayed the case to allow the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to release its rules regarding CBD products.