Cannabis Regulatory Update: South Dakota, Colorado, Tennessee, Connecticut, D.C.

The First State-Licensed Medical Marijuana Dispensary is Now Open in Hartford, South Dakota

Unity Rd., South Dakota’s first state-licensed medical marijuana dispensary, opened for business on Wednesday. The dispensary is co-owned by B.J. Olson and Adam Jorgenson. Unity Rd. is the product of joint investments with Dakota Natural Solutions Grow, a medicinal cannabis cultivator.

South Dakota legalized medical cannabis in 2020. Although Native Nations Cannabis has sold medical marijuana in Flandreau since July 2021, patients with cards issued by the state haven't had access to state-licensed products. Most products will be available in the fall, reported sdpb.org

Lawful Residence Is Not a Requirement To Own Cannabis Businesses In Denver

Denver no longer requires marijuana business applicants to prove they're lawful residents of the United States, reported Westword. The Denver Department of Excise and Licenses announced on July 5 that lawful residency was no longer required to own a cannabis business, after Senate Bill 21-199 removed proof of lawful residence as a requirement to receive public benefits.

“Our immigrant community plays a critical role in our economy,” Excise and Licenses Executive Director Molly Duplechian said in a statement announcing the move. “We’re pleased to see our state lawmakers end the outdated anti-immigrant requirement that often limited an immigrant’s ability to pursue their dream of starting a business. An individual’s immigration status will no longer be a barrier to starting a business in the Mile High City.”

Buds & Brews: The First Hemp-Derived THC Restaurant Opens in Nashville, TN

Tennessee’s first bar and restaurant to serve THC opened on Thursday. Located at 1246 3rd Avenue in the Germantown neighborhood, Buds & Brews features a menu of “upscale bar fare” paired with a line of “delicious cannabis-infused sauces.” The THC in the products derives from hemp, making it legal at the federal level, according to the company and reported by High Times. The restaurant provides the patrons with over 25 THC-infused condiments for common dressings like ketchup, honey mustard, and ranch dressing. Also, steak sauce infused with hemp-derived THC in 1-5 mg servings.

Police Trained On New Marijuana Laws In Connecticut

The Police Officer Standards and Training Council, or POST, which oversees the training of police officers in Connecticut, issued a bulletin to all departments informing them that Gov. Ned Lamont has signed into law the bill that legalizes marijuana. Police officers no longer have "probable cause" permitted to pull over a vehicle based solely on the odor of cannabis. Chief John Rich of the Ledyard Police Department said he's working with his officers to make sure they understand it, reported theday.com

"That's one area that's a little bit concerning. You're not supposed to be driving around and smoking marijuana, yet the odor of burning marijuana is not probable cause for a stoppable offense," he explained. "But if you see a person using marijuana while driving, that's illegal. That's where we come into a kind of a gray area."

D.C.: Biden Is Still Evaluating Marijuana Clemency

President Joe Biden is continuing to “evaluate further uses of clemency powers,” according to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. On Thursday, New York Post reporter Steven Nelson asked Jean-Pierre if the president believes that people with federal convictions for selling marijuana should qualify for relief and whether the crime bill that Biden referenced “rules out potential mass clemency.”

Jean-Pierre noted that the president granted relief to 78 people in April. She added that is “more grants of clemency at this point in the presidency than any of his five recent predecessor."

“He continues to evaluate further uses of clemency powers. We just don’t have any additional announcement to make at this time—but I can tell you that’s what he’s been doing during his administration,” she said.

Photo by Roman Kraft on Unsplash.