Why Is Peach The Only Legal Flavor For Gummies? Anti-Weed Group Says Banking Reform Causes Car Accidents & More

Indiana Lawmakers To Look Into Effects Of Cannabis Legalization

During the interim break, lawmakers will look into myriad topics, ranging from the effects of cannabis legalization on the workforce to the potential for tax reform, reported Indiana Capital Chronicle.

This year, legislators plan to focus on marijuana legalization's impact on the workforce and use among teens.

"I think it's just an opportunity to continue to gather information on the topic," said House Speaker Todd Huston (R). "You're starting to see real data come out across states that have legalized that I think it's important to analyze and understand."

Why Is Peach the Only Legal Flavor for Alabama's Cannabis Gummies?

On Monday, a discussion on Twitter sparked around an Alabama rule related to cannabis gummies shortly after regulators awarded the first round of licenses for medical cannabis production, testing, transportation and distribution on Monday.

Under state law, smoking and consuming medical marijuana in food remains illegal. Patients are only allowed to use it in the form of tablets, capsules, gelatins, oils, gels, creams, suppositories, transdermal patches or inhalable oils, liquids and gummies, but only peach-flavored, reported AL.com.

Why?

The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission, which will issue licenses on July 10, chose the peach following a Senate floor debate on ways to keep the gummies away from children, according to Alabama Reflector's editor Brian Lyman.

"At one point, the bill said it would have no taste, but (state Sen. Tim) Melson said that would cause people to gag. So the compromise was a single flavor," he said.

Is Cannabis Banking Reform Bill A Threat to Road Safety? Anti-Drug Group Says Yes

An anti-drug organization said that Congress' approval of marijuana banking reform would result in an escalation in traffic fatalities and hospital visits, reported Marijuana Moment.

On Tuesday, the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) sent an email asking its members to reach out to their federal representatives and senators with a pre-written letter expressing disapproval of the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act.

The legislation will "set a precedent to allow other federally illegal industries to gain access to the banking system," says the group.

"Additionally, granting marijuana businesses access to the banking system will make it easier for them to do business, exacerbating the negative consequences of marijuana proliferation, including increased traffic fatalities, youth use rates, ER visits and hospitalizations," CADCA said.

The organization recently did the same when it called on people to contact their senators and share their opposition to the marijuana decriminalization bill, Cannabis Administration And Opportunity Act (CAOA).

Cash In On The Legalization Wave: New Mexico Cannabis Workers Paid More Than Accommodation & Food Service Employees

A recent New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions report revealed that people who switched to the cannabis sector, especially former hospitality and food service workers, were paid better than in their prior work, reported High Times.

The fourth quarter of 2022 data showed there were 151 cannabis dispensaries in New Mexico, of which 112 are recreational or online. The figures showed that 21 cannabis businesses were licensed for cultivation, 10 for processing, four for wholesale trading with the remaining four listed as "all other sectors."

Within that period, there were 4,666 people employed by the state, out of which 4,122 were working in firms and the remainder, 171, in cultivation.

The agency also reported that 39.3% of New Mexico jobs during Q4 2022 were in the cannabis sector, with 35.5% of the state's job force employed in other industries.

Washington State Allocates $100 Million to Reverse Unconstitutional Marijuana/Drug Convictions

Washington State plans to invest roughly $100 million to erase approximately 350,000 prior drug convictions as well as compensate the legal fees of individuals who were prosecuted under laws previously deemed to be unconstitutional by the state Supreme Court, reported Marijuana Moment.

On Monday, the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) announced the establishment of the Blake Refund Bureau, slated to take effect next month. According to the AOC, they will work with "local courts, county clerks, public defenders, prosecutors, affected individuals, advocacy organizations, and other parties" to coordinate the reimbursement process.

Photo: Benzinga edit of photo by Shutterstock