Indiana Dems' Innovative Steps To Legalize Weed, Jersey Home-Cultivation Rally & More Regulatory News

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

Indiana Democrats Get Creative In Push For Marijuana Legalization

Democratic lawmakers in Indiana are getting creative in their push to legalize cannabis as their GOP colleagues have been successfully blocking policy reform over the past few sessions.

This time, as part of Senate Bill 20 - which House lawmakers reviewed on second reading recently - lawmakers are looking to set up a regulatory distinction for "craft hemp" products that could be sold to those 21 and older, reported Marijuana Moment.

Justin Moed's (D) amendment to the measure that revolves around a regulatory framework for businesses selling alcohol and hemp products sought to remove the language from the bill that defines hemp as cannabis containing less than 0.3 percent THC by dry weight. However, the push failed in a 58-33 vote.

"We had to just basically expand what they were doing with craft hemp, as opposed to doing a direct legalization bill or amendment dealing with that because they would just rule it out of order and prevent us from having an up-or-down vote," Moed told Marijuana Moment in a phone interview last week.

New State Reform Law Brings Thousands of Marijuana Expungements to Cleveland

In January, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) signed a GOP-led bill into law that would prevent people from the burden of a criminal record for a simple marijuana paraphernalia arrest. Last week, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb (D) reiterated the city's stance on the issue, as the law recently took effect.

Implementing SB 288 would streamline the expungement process of 4,000 cannabis convictions in Cleveland, reported Marijuana Moment.

The large-scale criminal justice legislation from Sen. Nathan Manning (R) contains marijuana-specific provisions under which misdemeanor cannabis paraphernalia possession cases would not need to be disclosed "in response to any inquiries about the person's criminal record."

"The adoption of this law will make it so that tens of thousands of Ohioans are no longer stigmatized and disenfranchised by the collateral consequences resulting from a minor marijuana violation," Jax James, NORML's State Policy Manager said in January.

Home-Grow Advocates And Legacy Operators Rally In New Jersey

Last week, advocates for cannabis home cultivation teamed up with legacy market operators and held a market and protest on the lawn of the New Jersey State House, reported Heady NJ.

 John from NJ Smokers Club and Edward "Lefty" Grimes from Sativa Cross organized the event, which included planting a baby cannabis plant clone they named "Murph OG," in honor of Governor Phil Murphy (D).

The demonstration was meant to call attention to the lack of home cultivation rights in New Jersey.

California Takes Action To Prevent Mendocino Farmers From Extinction

Mendocino County marijuana growers may finally be able to breathe a sigh of relief. After an urgent letter penned by the Mendocino Cannabis Alliance to the state Department of Cannabis Control, the state has begun to intervene in the county and help farmers comply with the California Environmental Quality Act, reported Green Market Report.

This could potentially save hundreds of cannabis farms from extinction.

Genine Coleman, executive director of Origins Council trade organization for the craft growers, says she's optimistic.

"Things look like they're moving in a good direction," Coleman said. "I think that the letter from MCA did what it was intended to do, and so far, so good. The political will is all there now. Things are moving very quickly."

Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference

The most successful cannabis business event in the world, the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference, returns to Miami for its 16th edition.
This is the place where DEALS GET DONE, where money is raised, M&A starts, and companies meet investors and key partners. Join us at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel in Florida on April 11-12. Don’t miss out.
Secure your tickets now. Prices will surge very soon.

Photo: Courtesy of S.Borisov and OpenRangeStock on Shutterstock