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 Mexico House Committee Approves Marijuana Legalization Bill
On Wednesday February 24th, New Mexico’s Taxation and Revenue committee approved a bill to legalize adult-use cannabis. The bill’s sponsor, Democrat Rep. Javier Martinez, granted New Mexico its long-awaited first step towards legalization. According to Marijuana Moment, the bill would allow adults 21 and over to have “at least 2 ounces of cannabis,” and grow “six mature and six immature plants for personal use. It would also create a system of regulated and taxed cannabis sales.” New Mexico is not the only one trying to create a system of regulated and taxed cannabis. California also passed S.B. 398 in February. S.B. 398 aims to crack down on the illegal cannabis market as well, according to Emerald.
Illinois Public Schools Supplied $858,000 from Cannabis Taxes
On Wednesday February 24th, Peoria County, Chicago announced it’ll get $858,000 in cannabis-derived money from medical and adult use sales. The state will allocate the funds mainly to the public schools in Peoria County. The Peoria Public Schools (PPS) superintendent Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat describes the system as “one of the most distressed” in the nation, reports JournalStar. PPS plans to use the funds for a variety of programs. For example, those include “legal aid for students, helping incarcerated individuals successfully re-enter society, mental health and substance abuse treatment programs, career coaching for students, and reproductive health education,” according to Ganjapreneur.
Cannabis Legalization Bill Approved by North Dakota House
On Tuesday February 23rd, a proposal to legalize cannabis was advanced by the North Dakota House of Representatives. Republican Rep. Jason Dockter brought forth the bill. Moreover, HB 1420 would legalize adult-use cannabis, according to Marijuana Moment. With South Dakota voting in November in favor of legalization, the bill, “would legalize cannabis for adults 21 and older and calls for a regulated cannabis marketplace but would not allow for cannabis home grows,” Ganjapreneur reports. The bill is still pending approval in the state senate. Although, there is still some resistance surrounding the bill. Dockter said in a report published by Marijuana Moment, it’s not a question of “if” legalization is coming, “it is coming in —its already here.”
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