Bill To Legalize Cannabis Cafés In CA Returns, SC Sen. Fights To Invalidate 'Smell Of Weed' And More

Bill to Legalize Cannabis Cafés Returns, Will It Address Gov, Newsom's Concerns

A measure aimed at legalizing cannabis cafés in California is being brought back by Assemblymember Matt Haney.

Bill 374, which Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) vetoed in October, sought to allow cannabis stores to operate traditional kitchens statewide and host events on their premises. It would have also eliminated several of the state’s most notable limitations on consumption lounges, including permitting operators to offer prepared meals and drinks and host musical events.

At the time, Gov. Newsom expressed concerns around workers’ right to a smoke-free environment, Haney said in a post on X/Twitter.

This time, Haney is working on the bill with the Department of Cannabis Control and Newsom’s office to address the issue of workers' health.

South Carolina Senator Fights to Invalidate ‘Smell of Weed’

A South Carolina legislator aims to invalidate the scent of marijuana as a reason for probable cause, resulting in law enforcement losing the ability to justify a stop, search, or arrest based on reasonable suspicion, reported Live 5 News.

Senator and criminal defense attorney Deon Tedder (D-Charleston) pre-filed S. 892 recently. The measure also aims to safeguard minorities and hemp farmers.

"I can probably tell you that almost 75% of incident reports that usually lead to a search almost always have the language that an officer smelled marijuana, but then there's probably more than 50% that they don't find any marijuana at all," Tedder said.

Virginia’s Cannabis Control Authority Takes Charge Of MMJ Regulations

HB1598/SB788 recently authorized the transition of the Virginia medical cannabis program from the Board of. Pharmacy to the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority, resulting in the new regulatory body taking over regulatory oversight of the new market on Jan. 1, 2024.

Jeremy Preiss, the acting head, said the CCA is part of the Cannabis Regulators Association, writes WVTF.

“It (the CRA) is also something we hope can leverage to the best ideas out there on how to regulate medical cannabis, so it is maximally accessible to patients,” Priess said. “I think you’re going to see a greater focus on responsiveness, transparency and availability, accessibility to stakeholders in the medical cannabis space.”

Goodbye THC-A and CBD Flowers? Tennessee Considers New Ban

A potential ban of THC-A and certain CBD flower looms in Tennessee as a result of the recently proposed rule by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture that aims to broaden the definition of THC to incorporate the percentage of THC-A, reported Tennessee Lookout.

"The proposed rules establish requirements for hemp-derived cannabinoid products, as required by the legislation," Kim Doddridge, the department's spokesperson, told the news outlet. "The rulemaking for this new legislation is still underway."

Both THC-A and CBD are legally sold across the Volunteer State as smokeable flowers and in edibles.

In 2018, the federal Farm Bill legalized the cultivation of hemp plants that harbor delta-8 and pave the way for novel variants of THC-like commodities.

Under state law cannabinoid products containing 0.3 percent delta-9 THC cannot be legally sold.

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