State Cannabis News Roundup for October 2024

Fall is in full swing, and before you know it, the holidays will be here. However, before we get into the holiday spirit, the U.S. will pick its next president. There is a lot riding on this election cycle, especially for cannabis enthusiasts, advocates, and researchers.

In this State Cannabis News Roundup, you can find all the latest cannabis industry news in easily digestible bites.

New York Cannabis Taxes Finally Being Put to Good Use

The New York cannabis rollout has seen its ups and downs. It has seen plenty of downs, such as significant delays, lawsuits, and competition from illegal pot shops. Now, nearly four years after the state legalized adult-use marijuana in 2021, New York’s cannabis taxes are finally on track to be reinvested in public projects.

The state’s Office of Cannabis Management announced it will accept grant proposals for a $5 million community reinvestment program funded by cannabis tax dollars. Grants will be offered to nonprofit organizations serving young people and focusing on mental health, workforce development, or housing needs.

Big Announcement from Minnesota Interim Cannabis Director

The interim director of the newly established Office of Cannabis Management in Minnesota says the state is on track to launch its recreational cannabis market next year. This announcement comes on the heels of concerns from some businesses that the process was moving too slowly and wouldn’t be ready for a 2025 launch.

The state office was given the green light in 2023 to establish an adult-use marketplace. Interim direction Charlene Briner says the agency exceeds expectations as it builds regulations and drafts rules. She says it is like “building the plane as we’re flying.”

The office has also started to process the issuing of “preapprove” cannabis licenses in a bid to give growers a head start. This would them to plant cannabis crops ahead of the market launch.

Florida Election Day Blues  

October is the home stretch up to Election Day. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) is using the time he has left before the election to dissuade voters from approving marijuana legalization in the state. The Republican governor now faces allegations that he is weaponizing state agencies, via taxpayer money, to fund ads that support his crusade to defeat an upcoming marijuana legalization initiative.

In one new ad from the Department of Transportation, three Florida sheriffs make statements about the harm and ill effects of marijuana, including one who suggests that marijuana use is linked to a greater risk of domestic violence. However, some studies indicate in states with marijuana decriminalization policies, there were fewer domestic assaults involving severe injuries.

This is not the first time Gov. DeSantis has used taxpayer dollars to fund campaigns to further his conservative political agenda in Florida. An ad that aired the previous month suggested that DUI crashes increase in states with legal, recreational marijuana. One Florida Democratic senator is suing the state over the ad, saying it unconstitutionally appropriates tax dollars for political purposes. Although none of the recent October ads directly tell viewers to vote against cannabis legalization or that legalization is on the November ballot, cannabis advocates find the timing of the new ads suspicious. Taxpayer money is also being spent on TV ad campaigns undercutting abortion rights. An abortion measure is also on the November ballot.

Kentucky Communities to Vote on Marijuana

Starting in 2025, Kentucky will give residents access to medical cannabis, but not necessarily all Kentucky residents. Yes, marijuana is now on the ballot in many Kentucky municipalities ahead of the November election cycle. Why? Kentucky’s new cannabis law allows local governments to opt out of allowing cannabis retailers via an ordinance or ballot resolutions. Nearly 100 municipalities are asking voters to decide whether they want medicinal cannabis businesses in their communities. That’s almost half the state.

In Scott County, the ballot measure reads, “Are you in favor of the sale of medical cannabis at a licensed dispensary and the operation of other cannabis businesses in Scott County, Kentucky.”

Pennsylvania Pushes for Marijuana Reform Ahead of the Election

If you are driving around Pennsylvania, you may notice some new billboards ahead of the November election. The billboards outside of Harrisburg urge Pennsylvania lawmakers to legalize recreational marijuana. The ad, created by a marijuana advocate group called Responsible Pennsylvania, features pictures of Presidential contenders Vice President Kalama Harris, former President Donald Trump, and Gov. Josh Shapiro (D).

The billboard suggests bipartisan support for marijuana legalization in the battleground state. The group hopes lawmakers will see the strategically placed billboard as they reconvene for the remainder of the 2024 legislative session. The group is also commissioning polls in the state that show broad bipartisan support for cannabis legalization among voters and residents.

Kansas Debates Marijuana Legislation

In Kansas, the back and forth over marijuana legislation continues. This month, numerous organizations for and against marijuana legalization appeared before a special committee. Kansas is now one of the small minority of states today that does not even have a medical marijuana program in place.

During one exhaustive seven-hour session in October, the legislature’s Special Committee on Medical Marijuana, cannabis advocates, medical professionals, businesses, and law enforcement organizations voiced their opinions on marijuana legislation. One top state regulator suggested that it would be simpler to implement a recreational marijuana market first. Only then would the state move forward with a medical cannabis program.

ABC Director Debbi Beavers says that starting with recreational marijuana implementation would be easier and save the state money. She argues it would reduce the number of new or modified systems needed to establish a medical marijuana program. She also told lawmakers to think about regional dynamics. Medical marijuana is on the ballot in neighboring Nebraska. If the measure passes, Kansas would be a “marijuana island,” meaning it would be the only state without any marijuana program surrounded by states with medical and recreational policies.

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