Following important cannabis news articles every day can be a real burn-out, we know. That’s why the Emerald rolls up a chronicle of the headiest news hits, and passes them to you at the end of each week. We Bring You: The Dime.
New York Lawmakers Make Moves to Grant Temporary Adult-use Licenses
On Wednesday, February 16th, lawmakers in New York approved a bill that allows hemp farmers to grow adult-use cannabis. The bill also allows state officials to begin granting temporary/conditional licenses to processors, reports Syracuse. Both the conditional licenses for cultivators and processors would be in effect until 2024, according to News 10. Additionally, as MJ Biz Daily explains, “the bill would help advance the adult-use program’s social equity goals by establishing mentorship programs that bring more minority farmers into the industry.” It now awaits Gov. Kathy Hochul’s signature.
San Diego Lowers Some Cannabis Taxes
This week, San Diego council members voted to reduce the tax rate for production facilities from 8% to 2%. Many are hopeful that the move will encourage more facilities to open in the area. As The San Diego Union Tribune reports, “only 19 of 40 city-approved production facilities have opened, creating a gap in the local supply chain that forces some local dispensaries to truck their cannabis into San Diego from elsewhere.” While lawmakers reduced the rate for producers, retail facilities are still expected to pay an 8% tax, the publication adds. The action comes as advocates call for lawmakers to lower taxes on the industry as operators struggle to stay afloat. In response, regions such as San Francisco and Humboldt County, California have lowered their cannabis tax rates.
Italian Courts Knocks Down Proposal to Legalize Entheogens
Earlier this year, activists in Italy were celebrating; they collected enough signatures to place an initiation to legalize cannabis and the cultivation of other substances like mushrooms on a ballot before voters. However, before that, the country’s Court of Cassation (which decides if legislation interferes with the constitution) had to approve it. This week, the court ruled that the initiative did not meet the constitution’s standards, reports Marijuana Moment. “Only the mafia wins today…. Now we’ll take a few days to figure out how to relaunch the fight for legal cannabis and we promise you: we won’t stop this time either,” states a Facebook post from ReferendumCannabis, the group behind the initiative.
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