Stay On Top Of Weed Regulations: Three States On Track To Legalize, Hemp Feed For Horses And Chickens

As the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference returns to Miami (April 11-12) bringing together top CEOs, investors, leaders, advocates and politicians, let's scroll through the latest regulatory changes in the space.

New Hampshire Moves Closer To Marijuana Legalization After House Floor Vote

New Hampshire bill to legalize the recreational use of cannabis is heading back to the House floor, reported Marijuana Moment.

A bipartisan-led bill from Majority Leader Jason Osborne (R) and Minority Leader Matthew Wilhelm (D) was already passed by a House last month in a 234-127 vote. On Monday, it was green-lighted by the House Ways & Means Committee members in a 16-4 vote.

But, before that, HB 639, which would allow those 21 and older to buy, possess and gift up to four ounces of marijuana while setting up a new market with state-approved retailers to sell cannabis, was sent back for another review by the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee regarding some of its financial provisions.

If the bill passes the full chamber yet again, it will go to the Senate for consideration.

Kentucky Gov. Pushes For MMJ Legalization Ahead Of 2023 Session End

Earlier this month, Kentucky Senate lawmakers passed Senate Bill 47, which seeks to establish a medical cannabis access program for qualified patients with authorization from their physician.

The legislation from state Sen. Stephen West (R) is now scheduled for final votes in the House of Representatives this week, and Gov. Andy Beshear (D) is pushing for the chamber’s members to give it the green light, reported Marijuana Moment.

“Legislators return on Wednesday and they will have a chance to finally pass medical cannabis. I strongly urge them to do so, and you should encourage them too,” Beshear said in a Twitter post on Monday. “Contact your representative and ask them to pass medical cannabis for Kentuckians in need.”

Under the bill, a governing body will be established to regulate medical cannabis use and distribution in the Bluegrass State. Patients will be permitted to have a 30-day supply of medical cannabis at their residence and a 10-day supply on their person.

Texas Gives Green Light for Hemp Feed For Horses And Chickens

Meanwhile, Texas state officials approved hemp and its derivative products to be used in commercial feed, reported Hemp Today.

According to a directive from The Texas Commercial Feed Control Act, Texas Feed and Fertilizer Control Service now has the task of coming up with rules for the use of hempseed meal and hempseed oil as feed for all categories of chickens and horses.

The move comes on the heels of the submission of a risk assessment by the Texas Hemp Growers Association to the Control Service in 2022.

North Carolina Bill To Legalize Marijuana and Wipe Away Past Convictions

A group of seven Democrat lawmakers is pushing to legalize marijuana in North Carolina, reported WSOC-TV.

Senate Bill 346, a separate bill that would legalize for those 21 and older to possess small amounts of marijuana, was filed last week.

“Cannabis prohibition, like alcohol prohibition before it, has been a wasteful and destructive failure,” the lawmakers behind the bill said, led by Mecklenburg County State Sen. Natasha Marcus, adding that it “has had an unfair, disparate impact on persons and communities of color” while diverting “law enforcement resources from violent and property crimes.”

In addition to creating an Office of Social Equity to “promote and encourage full participation in the regulated cannabis industry by people from communities that have previously been disproportionately harmed by cannabis prohibition and enforcement in order to positively impact those communities,” the measure would also impose the “automatic expunction of certain marijuana offenses.”

Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference

The most successful cannabis business event in the world, the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference is being held at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel in Florida on April 11-12.
This is the place where DEALS GET DONE, where money is raised, M&A start and companies meet investors and key partners  Don’t miss out.
Secure your tickets now before prices go up.

Photo: Courtesy of Ramdlon, ganjaspliffstoreuk by Pixabay