Hemp Businesses Fight For Survival In Maryland, NY Senators Spar Over Public Consumption And More Regs

Washington State Introduces Online Portal For Refunding Unconstitutional Drug Prosecution Fees

Washington now has an online portal for the thousands who face legal fees due to their prosecution under drug criminalization laws, which were subsequently deemed unconstitutional by the state's Supreme Court in 2021. They can use the portal to request a reimbursement of the funds, reported Marijuana Moment.

On Saturday, the state Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) launched the Blake Refund Bureau website. The platform enables easier coordination with courts, county clerks, public defenders, prosecutors, advocates, and other individuals involved in the process.

"If you have a Blake-impacted criminal record, you must first have your Blake-related convictions vacated and refund eligibility determined by the court or courts where your convictions were issued," AOC said. "Once your convictions have been vacated, you can apply for reimbursements on your paid Blake-related [legal financial obligations]."

New York Senators Spar Over Public Cannabis Use Bill

Meanwhile, in New York, fellow senators are not on the same page regarding cannabis use.

On the heels of state Senator George Borello's (R) push to ban cannabis smoking and consumption in public, his Chamber colleague Senator Jeremy Cooney called Senate Bill 7604 a step in the wrong direction.

Under the legislation, cities and towns could enact special ordinances for places they wish to enable weed use. The measure is now pending in the Senate Rules Committee.

"I think it's absolutely regressive," Cooney told 13WHAM. "It's kind of going away from the spirit that the legalization legislation had in the first place. We're not here to recriminalize, especially recriminalize populations that we know were disproportionately impacted by the failed war on drugs."

The Assembly version of the measure from Republican Assemblyman Michael Novakhov seeks to apply similar rules to cannabis use as those in effect for tobacco.

Maryland Hemp Businesses Fight For Survival Against New Laws

A group of hemp businesses led by the Maryland Hemp Coalition Inc. has taken legal action recently against the governor and various state officials, claiming that the regulatory blueprint approved by legislators for the recreational marijuana sector is poised to force them into closure, reported The Herald-Mail.

Why?

In a lawsuit filed against Gov. Wes Moore, the Maryland Cannabis Administration and the Maryland Alcohol, Tobacco and Cannabis Commission in Circuit Court in Washington County on July 24, the Maryland Hemp Coalition is addressing the language of the new framework that seeks to cap the level of THC in hemp-derived products that could be sold without a recreational marijuana license.

More precisely, plants with a THC content lower than 0.3% are classified as "industrial hemp," while plants exceeding this threshold are classified as "cannabis" and fall under the purview of the newly implemented legislation as of July 1.

"Almost all of the products sold by the Plaintiff retailers, while being derived from hemp and not considered unlawful marijuana under the previously existing law and therefore previously lawful to distribute without a license, cannot meet the new standard," attorneys for the hemp growers said last week.

Additionally, the group raised concerns surrounding the licensing process.

High Expenses and Low Diversity, Headset Takes A Closer Look At Illinois

The cannabis market is both costly and scarce in available brands, but, according to the Seattle-based Headset, it offers plenty of opportunity for entrepreneurs.

Some of the key takeaways from the report are:

• The Prairie State has 118 brands, while 68% of sales come from the market's top 10 brands.
• The state plans to issue 55 new retailer licenses to expand its program, which has roughly 120 licensed retailers currently operating.
• In Illinois, 27% of total sales come from vertically integrated products, representing the third highest, following Colorado (28%) and Massachusetts (44%).
• Cannabis prices statewide are 89% higher than the rest of the US market.
• Consumers over 42 account for over 42% of total cannabis sales.

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Photo: Benzinga edit of photo by Shutterstock