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Legalization Advocates in Missouri, South Dakota Turn in Signatures for November Ballot Campaigns

State officials must now conduct an official assessment of the signature petitions and verify their authenticity before determining whether the two measures will appear on the November ballot.
The post Legalization Advocates in Missouri, South Dakota Turn in Signatures for November Ballot Campaigns appeared first on NORML.

Cal NORML Legal Webinar: Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Cal NORML Board Members and California cannabis policy experts Lauren Mendelsohn and Hirsh Jain will be hosting a webinar to discuss the most critical issues facing the California cannabis industry. The webinar will be held on Wednesday, June 15, 2022 from 4:20 – 6 pm.
Lauren and Hirsh will be providing updates and their commentary on five key topics:
• Tax reform efforts at the state and local level
• The expansion of retail licensing across the state
• The impact of the provisional license deadline / CEQA compliance
• Growth in California’s illicit market
• The impact of new DCC regulations
Lauren and Hirsh will also field questions on, and lead an interactive discussion about, these five issues and how they might impact the trajectory of the California cannabis industry in the years ahead.
The suggested donation for those attending is $50, which will go to support Cal NORML’s efforts to promote cannabis access and protect the rights of cannabis consumers in California.
Lauren Mendelsohn is a Senior Associate at The Law Offices at Omar Figueroa, one of the leading cannabis law firms in the California cannabis space. Lauren focuses on cannabis permitting and licensing, regulatory compliance, intellectual property, government affairs (including drafting local ordinances and citizen initiatives, lobbying decision-making bodies, and appearing for clients at administrative hearings), and post-conviction relief.
Hirsh Jain is the Founder of Ananda Strategy, a consultancy that serves many of California’s leading cannabis brands and retailers, helping guide their competitive licensing efforts, expansion strategy, regulatory compliance and M&A activity within California.
Get tickets to the webinar.
The post Cal NORML Legal Webinar: Wednesday, June 15, 2022 appeared first on CaNorml.org.

Cal NORML Legal Webinar: Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Texas: Austin Voters Decide in Favor of Municipal Ballot Initiative Eliminating Local Cannabis Penalties

Austin voters passed the proposition by a margin of 85 percent to 15 percent.
The post Texas: Austin Voters Decide in Favor of Municipal Ballot Initiative Eliminating Local Cannabis Penalties appeared first on NORML.

State Policy Weekly Update 5/6/2022

This week’s update highlights legislative advancements in several states, including Colorado, Delaware, Louisiana, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, and South Carolina.
The post State Policy Weekly Update 5/6/2022 appeared first on NORML.

Cannabis Consumers Call for Tax Relief

With California’s legal cannabis industry in dire straits due to high taxes and regulatory costs, California NORML called on legislators to pass a tax relief bill by Sen. Bradford (SB 1281) at a hearings before the State Senate Governance and Finance Committee on May 4. The Bradford bill would eliminate the state cultivation tax, which was designed to increase retail prices and reduce consumer demand. SB 1281 would also reduce the state’s excise taxes to make legal retailers more competitive with California’s underground market.
It’s estimated that only one-third of cannabis sold in California currently comes from the legal market. By reducing burdensome taxes, SB 1281 would expand the legal industry, producing enough revenue to boost the state’s total cannabis tax receipts in coming years, according to a new report from the Reason Foundation on the economic impact of California cannabis taxes on the legal market.
“Cannabis is grossly overtaxed in California,” says Cal NORML Director Dale Gieringer. “The state collects twice as much in excise taxes from cannabis as from alcohol, even though alcohol is more widely consumed and causes more societal harm.”
State and local cannabis taxes currently amount to some $735 – $1,000 per pound, more than the wholesale prices that farmers receive, which range around $550 – $300 per pound or lower. As a result, California’s legally licensed industry is hard pressed to compete with the untaxed illicit market.
“Cal NORML hears countless consumer complaints about the high cost of cannabis in our state,” says Gieringer. “Many low-income and medical users tell us they can’t afford buy on the legal market. SB 1281 would provide the kind of meaningful, permanent tax cuts that are needed to foster a viable legal industry in California and assure safe access to regulated and tested cannabis products for our state’s consumers.”
Californians can write to their legislators in support of SB 1281 here.
Cal NORML and Americans for Safe Access will be bringing citizen lobbyists from around the state to Sacramento in support of cannabis users’ employment rights, pain patients’ rights, tax relief and more at its Lobby Day on Tuesday, May 10. Senator Bradford will stop in at Lobby Day at 10 AM to talk about his legislative efforts, which also include an bill aimed at tax relief for equity businesses.
The post Cannabis Consumers Call for Tax Relief appeared first on CaNorml.org.

New Hampshire: Senate Rejects House-Backed Bills Legalizing Marijuana Possession and Sales

“The majority of the New Hampshire Senate is clearly out of step with the will of the voters,” said NORML’s State Policies Manager Jax James. “The continued failure by the Senate to advance House-passed cannabis reform legislation should not go without response from voters.”
The post New Hampshire: Senate Rejects House-Backed Bills Legalizing Marijuana Possession and Sales appeared first on NORML.

Spring 2022 NORML Interns Answer Questions About the Job

Clear communication and task division were critical to handling a busy work day with ever-changing priorities. Our teamwork and adaptability made this experience all the more productive, rewarding, and enjoyable.
The post Spring 2022 NORML Interns Answer Questions About the Job appeared first on NORML.

Cal NORML 50th Anniversary Specials for Businesses

Celebrate Cal NORML’s 50th Anniversary with These Specials:
Cal NORML is celebrating our 50th anniversary in 2022. We have been successfully advocating for the rights of cannabis consumers in California since we were founded in 1972. To celebrate, we’re offering business membership specials.
Help us keep up the momentum with our essential legislative campaigns like Employment Rights and Pain Patients Rights. Now is not the time to stop the fight!
Join Cal NORML as a business member and get a free listing in the Cannabis Marketplace on CaNORML.org.
Other membership benefits include a guest blog post on CaNORML.org, ability to sponsor our eblast and discounts on NCIA membership. Read about business membership here.
Sign up using this link by May 20th to receive $50 off your year membership.
Increase your support and expand your presence on CaNORML.org with a Banner Ad
Banner ads are available on all Cal NORML pages. See the list of the most popular placements here.
Sign up by May 20th and receive $50 off your first two months
Email today to reserve your spot!
For more information on how supporting Cal NORML supports your business, see our media kit.
Contact kharla@canorml.org or 707-337-9747 with questions or for assistance.
The post Cal NORML 50th Anniversary Specials for Businesses appeared first on CaNorml.org.

State Policy Weekly Update 4/29/2022

This week’s update highlights legislative advancements in several states, including Kentucky, Virginia, Vermont, Tennessee, and Kansas.
The post State Policy Weekly Update 4/29/2022 appeared first on NORML.