[Webinar] Cannabis Real Estate 101: A Primer for Social Equity Applicants & Entrepreneurs
The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management is set to conduct its second lottery for Minnesota Cannabis Retail Licenses. On June 5, 2025, the OCM held its first round of lotteries, conducting social equity applicant lotteries...more
On April 7, 2025, the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) received final approval from an administrative law judge (ALJ) for its comprehensive adult-use cannabis regulations. The finalized rules, which take effect...more
Today, Minnesota’s Office of Cannabis Management announced that Minnesota’s final set of adult-use cannabis rules have been approved, will be publish in the State Register, and will go into effect later this month. After the...more
Cannabis policy reform in Rhode Island has spanned nearly two decades, starting with the legalization of medical marijuana in 2006. Then, after years of determined advocacy and legislative debate, the Rhode Island Cannabis...more
Is this the year that Pennsylvania finally legalizes adult-use cannabis? While some battle-scarred skeptics remain, there is fresh optimism in the Commonwealth with both the Governor and several key legislators pushing for...more
Applications for cannabis consumption area endorsements are set to open on January 2, 2025, creating regulated spaces for adults aged 21 and older to consume cannabis products purchased at licensed dispensaries. The New...more
While the pace of adult-use applications in New Jersey has steadied from its initial peak between 2021-2023, a new wave of applications has just opened for consumption lounges in the Garden State. Who May Apply? Any...more
The Maryland Office of Social Equity (OSE) is an office within the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA). Its purpose is to promote and encourage participation in the regulated cannabis industry by communities that have...more
We have an update about the recent lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Maryland Cannabis Administration’s (MCA’s) Social Equity Program. To recap, on January 26, 2024, a California-based attorney filed suit...more
According to a Complaint filed on January 26, 2024, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Maryland's adult-use cannabis licensing program, which is currently limited to applicants who qualified for...more
On November 7, 2023, voters in Ohio approved Ohio Issue 2, the Marijuana Legalization Initiative (the Initiative), which legalizes marijuana for recreational use in Ohio. Among its key provisions, the Ohio Initiative creates...more
Maryland Releases Cannabis License Application Details and Instructions- On October 13, the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA) released some much-anticipated details regarding the upcoming cannabis licensing round. The...more
On Friday, September 8, the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA) Office of Social Equity released additional information for its upcoming initial licensing round, including the social equity verification portal, application...more
Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana. This week, we have an update on South Dakota’s ballot initiative. We note the introduction of the Stop Pot Act on the...more
Last week, New York Governor Kathy Hochul unveiled a noteworthy development regarding the New York State Cannabis Social Equity Investment Fund (the “Fund”), as it secured a substantial investment of $150 million from Chicago...more
Maryland House Bill 556 (cross-filed with Maryland Senate Bill 516), introduced on February 3, 2023, contains essential provisions for any person or entity interested in participating in the cannabis industry in Maryland....more
On February 3, 2023, the Maryland Legislature introduced cross-filed emergency bills SB516 and HB556. The proposed legislation would impart licensing and regulation duties upon a renamed Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis...more
Maryland lawmakers are considering legislation that would regulate medical and recreational cannabis in the state. Here are a few takeaways from Senate Bill 516: •Emphasis on Social Equity: Within the Alcohol, Tobacco, and...more
The Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (“CRTA”), which was enacted in 2019, legalized recreational adult use cannabis in Illinois. The CRTA also created a Social Equity Program intended to offer disadvantaged people,...more
The Cannabis Control Board (the “Board”) held a public meeting earlier today during which it advanced several key components of the innovative Seeding Opportunity Initiative, which positions individuals with prior...more
On Thursday, March 10, 2022, the New York State Cannabis Control Board (CCB) of the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) held its seventh and longest public meeting to date, during which it made significant progress in...more
Last week, the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy (the “Committee”) released a new cannabis bill (H 174/S 72, the “Bill”) through the Committee without any opposition. The bill proposes major changes to host...more
The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (“DCP”) has announced the timeline for adult-use applications, signaling that the Connecticut adult-use marketplace is ready to grow. DCP will begin accepting applications...more
On April 20, 2021, Denver Mayor, Michael Hancock, signed the Marijuana Omnibus Bill and Marijuana Hospitality Bill into law, which make significant changes to Denver’s current cannabis laws. These changes directly address...more