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California’s path to cannabis social equity: from arrests to advocacy

Data from the California Department of Justice reveals that nearly half a million individuals were arrested on cannabis charges in the state between 2006 and 2015. Even after Governor Schwarzenegger authorized a statewide decriminalization program in 2010, thousands continued to face serious misdemeanor charges related to cannabis. Despite California’s pioneering legalization of cannabis through Proposition 215 in 1996, just two years after the 1994 Crime Bill, the state legislature’s approach to cannabis legal reform was not as progressive as one might expect. The impact of the War on Drugs during this period was profound, with marijuana possession arrest rates increasing by 124% in 2010, even as rates for other serious crimes decreased significantly.

Proposition 64, passed a few years later, lacked any discussion addressing the damage caused by past policies. However, with social equity becoming a prominent topic in the cannabis industry, California officials have started investing significantly in social equity policies. Initiatives like the California Cannabis Equity Act of 2018 and the Budget Act of 2019 reflected this shift, aiming to support the economic development of communities and individuals adversely affected by previous harsh

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marijuana buds on white background. Close up of a marijuana flower

Blossom Dispensary, a destination dispensary for cannabis connoisseurs in Jersey City, opened its doors in the Heights section of the North Jersey city. As an accredited Minority and Women Business Enterprise in New Jersey, Blossom Dispensary underscores its commitment to diversity, quality and community involvement.

Blossom Dispensary, which offers easy access to Routes 1&9, opened April 19 at 746 Tonnelle Ave., marking a significant milestone in New Jersey’s growing cannabis market.

Blossom Dispensary is set to become the travel destination for the premium recreational cannabis experience in Jersey City, as it is situated just 15 minutes from New York City, the American Dream mall and MetLife Stadium and conveniently situated in between the Lincoln Tunnel and Holland Tunnel with ample parking.

Bina Bhatt, a Jersey City resident of over 25 years, infuses Blossom Dispensary with her wealth of experience in management, operations and compliance. Her deep local ties underpin the commitment to surpassing expectations, delivering invaluable services to both customers and the community. She has partnered with Parvinder Kaur, who contributes extensive cannabis expertise from Massachusetts, further enhancing the establishment’s offerings.

“Upon the opening of Blossom Dispensary, we’re not

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Medical cannabis is at odds with adult-use cannabis industries in most states where recreational cannabis is legal. This is also the case for New Jersey, where its medical cannabis program patient numbers have decreased significantly.

According to a recent report published by the New Jersey Monitor, patients believe that the medical program isn’t being maintained. The news outlet spoke with Michael Wiehl, a local patient, about his concerns. “It’s like they’re not even faking an effort anymore, like feigning interest in saving the program. It just seems like there’s so much more they can do, and I don’t understand why they stopped caring about the medical program,” Wiehl said. “They just did.”

New Jersey’s medical cannabis program (established by the law also called the Jake Honig Compassionate Use Medical Cannabis Act) went into effect in January 2010, and later adult-use cannabis sales began in April 2022. Data reported on April 15 shows that there are roughly 80,000 medical cannabis patients in New Jersey, although at its peak, the state had more than 129,000 registered patients as of May 2022.

Medical cannabis sales have also decreased in recent years as well. Once at a height of $226 million brought in in

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For the 10 years the Thomas C. Slater Compassion Center has operated, it, like other marijuana dispensaries, has confronted a significant economic challenge: the federal government considers cannabis on par with society’s most dangerous drugs. 

Being classified as a “Schedule 1” substance – in the same category as heroin and LSD – has meant dispensaries are prohibited from taking ordinary business tax deductions. And most banks have been unwilling to do business with dispensaries, afraid they’ll be charged with illicit drug activity. 

But now the Justice Department is considering reclassifying marijuana as a “Schedule 3” drug, a category shared by less-dangerous drugs like Tylenol with codeine, although marijuana would remain illegal on the federal level. 

The value of hemp produced in the U.S. totaled $291 million in 2023, up 18% from 2022 totals, according to an April report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS).  

In 2023, there were 27,680 acres of industrial hemp planted outdoors — or “in the open” — for all utilizations, down 2% from 2022, according to NASS statistics. The value of hemp production in the open totaled $258 million, up 22% from last year, while the area harvested for all purposes in the open totaled 21,079 acres in 2023, up 15% from the year prior. 

Floral hemp production grown in the open in the U.S. last year was estimated by the agency at 8.03 million pounds, up 18% from 2022. In the open area harvested for floral hemp was estimated at 7,383 acres, up 4% from last season, the report says. The average yield for 2023 floral hemp in the open was estimated at 1,088 pounds per acre, up 134 pounds from 2022. The value of floral hemp grown in the open totaled $241 million in 2023, up 35% from the year prior. 

National production of hemp grown

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A St. Louis, Missouri County Circuit judge last week ruled that municipalities can add – or stack – additional sales taxes on cannabis sales in the state, St. Louis Public Radio reports. The lawsuit was filed by Robust Missouri 3 LLC, which saw the tax rate at its Florissant dispensary rise to 14.988% after both the city and St. Louis County approved 3% sales taxes on adult-use cannabis in April 2023. 

The constitutional amendment that legalized adult-use cannabis sales in the state included a 6% statewide excise tax while also authorizing “any local government” to charge a sales tax of up to 3%.

In its lawsuit, Robust questioned whether the law intended for local governments to be able to impose a maximum of 3% sales combined, or if they can each impose a 3% sales tax.

Judge Brian May ruled that both of the taxes are valid and that if the company’s “interpretation were accepted, then a municipality or city would essentially be given carte blanche to ignore any county ordinance or regulation, including those related to public health and safety wholly unrelated to the taxing issue.”

In the ruling, May noted that there is no court

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Connecticut employers have the right to terminate employees who come to work impaired by medical cannabis, a state Appellate Court judge ruled this month, according to an Insurance Journal report. The court upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit brought against a nonprofit pre-school that had fired a teaching assistant after she showed up to work under the influence of medical cannabis, which violated the school’s drug-free workplace policy.

The court ruled that despite the state’s medical cannabis law, employers “may prohibit qualifying patients from being under its influence in the workplace” and that employees who make claims under the law must prove they were terminated solely because they are a medical cannabis patient.

The court also affirmed the right of employers to seek drug tests for employees when the employer has a “reasonable suspicion” that an employee is violating its drug-free workplace policy.

The case dates back to 2019 when the employee, who is a registered patient for epilepsy under the state’s medical cannabis program, called a child by the wrong name, which led to her behavior being questioned by a colleague, the report says. The employee responded that “her head was just not

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New Jersey recreational dispensary sales for the first quarter of 2024 increased 38% over the same time last year. But local ownership questions remain.

Sales from January 2024 to March 2024 totaled more than $201million. From last January to March 2023, sales were generated by 24 licensed NJ recreational dispensaries.

The number increased by 96 to 130 licensed dispensaries open by the end of Q1 2024.

The pace of openings has become so quick that sometimes multiple dispensaries open on the same day.

“The significant growth in sales year over year is an indication of the strong potential of New Jersey’s cannabis market,” declared New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJCRC) Executive Director Jeff Brown.

“We anticipate that as even more dispensaries open across the state, new brands are introduced to the market, and cannabis becomes less stigmatized, sales numbers will continue to go up,” he argued.

4/20 Helps New Jersey Dispensary Sales

New Jersey recreational dispensary sales also hit historical highs the weekend of the cannabis holiday, 4/20. On Friday, April 19, New Jerseyans bought $4,028,365 in recreational cannabis flower and other products. New Jersey cannabis consumers then topped that figure on Saturday, 4/20, with $5,219,294.

In addition,

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A Missouri circuit court judge ruled that cities and counties can both levy sales taxes on dispensaries on top of the state excise tax.

The ruling was in response to a lawsuit brought by Robust Missouri 3 LLC, which saw the tax rate at its dispensary in Florissant jump to nearly 15% after the city and St. Louis County each approved 3% sales taxes on adult-use marijuana in April 2023, on top of the state’s 6% excise tax, The Missouri Independent reported.

The company questioned whether the constitutional amendment legalizing recreational cannabis sales intended for local governments to be limited to a combined maximum of 3% in sales taxes or if each could impose a separate 3% tax.

St. Louis County Circuit Judge Brian May sided with the local governments, finding that both the city and county taxes are valid. He interpreted the law’s intent “as a whole and not in isolated parts,” emphasizing that the law intended for local governments to be able to “protect public health,” according to The Independent.

Steve Hobbs, executive director of the Missouri Association of Counties, supported the ruling, noting that most counties had voter approval for the taxes.

“The bulk of the counties around

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The Plant, a premium cannabis dispensary located in Yonkers near the Scarsdale line at 2595 Central Park Ave., will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, May 9 at 3:30 p.m. 

The new business seeks to provide residents in the area with high-quality cannabis brands that will fit their needs and help direct customers who aren’t quite sure what they are looking for to the products that will provide their desired effects. 

Products sold by the business will include flower, edibles, vapes, pre-rolls, and more. 

The dispensary’s owner, Anthony Bannister, said the business’s opening is a longtime goal for him.

“Opening The Plant is the culmination of a lifetime dream. The Plant is more than just a retail location, but a way to use cannabis to bring together people, culture, and community,” Bannister said, adding, “Our neighbors can look to The Plant not just for high-quality, tested cannabis products, but for a forum to learn more about cannabis and explore the multitude of benefits it can have on individuals and society.” 

Those interested in stopping by can click here to view products offered by the dispensary. 

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