Call for Removal of House Lawmakers After Killing Cannabis Unionization Bill by Oregon Workers
Oregon’s cannabis industry is mired in a series of controversies. Following Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s acknowledgement that she knew about former Secretary of State Shemia Fagan’s consulting contract in connection with a cannabis business before the release of an April audit, Oregonian workers are now demanding the removal of House lawmakers for blocking a bill meant to help cannabis workers unionize easily, as per Oregon Live.
On Monday, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555 announced its drive to recall Rep. Paul Holvey (D), a state House speaker pro tempore.
Union President Dan Clay said, “Oregon workers are calling for the removal of Representative Holvey after his repeated attacks on their livelihoods. He has shown that his allegiance lies with large corporations and not with Oregonians.”
California Earns Over $200M in Cannabis Tax Revenues in Q1 2023
According to data from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, California has earned over $216 million in cannabis tax revenue thus far in 2023, as per KTLA.
The total figure includes $104.3 million from the cannabis excise tax and $111.9 million in sales tax revenues, which is a slight drop from Q4 2022.
Jersey City Limits Number of Marijuana Operators with a Cap on Cannabis Licenses
The City Council is proposing a cap on cannabis licenses for dispensaries and other firms, limiting the number of weed shops in the city to 48 dispensaries or eight per ward, as per KTLA.
The latest proposal ends the Jersey City Cannabis Control Board’s meetings to approve new dispensaries, limits the number of cannabis consumption lounges to 12 or two per ward, and proposes that three cultivators, manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors will be allowed to operate in the city.
GOP-Led Marijuana Proposals Rejected in Key House Committee
During Monday’s hearing, the House Rules Committee rejected two GOP-led proposals that aimed to legalize marijuana and carry out a federal study into “the prevalence of fentanyl-tainted” cannabis, as per Marijuana Moment.
The Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act amendment from Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) intended to federally deschedule marijuana, while a proposal from Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) would have required the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to check marijuana tainted with fentanyl.
Critical Deadline Looms for Medical Cannabis Expansion in Texas Senate
If a Texas Senate committee does not approve the legislation to expand access to medical cannabis for Texans enduring chronic pain by Wednesday, the bill will die, as per CW39 Houston News.
Rep. Stephanie Klick’s HB 1805 passed the Texas House 127-19 in April and has been awaiting action for weeks in the Texas Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs. Under the measure, doctors could suggest medical cannabis instead of opioids to patients suffering from chronic pain caused by various conditions.
New York Senate Committee Sanctions Legalization of Safe Consumption Sites for Drug Abuse
The Senate Health Committee has allowed for a state-sanctioned overdose prevention center proposed by Sen. Gustavo Rivera (D) by voice vote on Tuesday, according to Marijuana Moment.
The bill would permit users of illicit drugs to do so in a medically supervised environment and is now headed to the Finance Committee for consideration.
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