MMJ Business Daily

FL calls special legislative session, but MMJ not on initial agenda

Florida Gov. Rick Scott has called for the Legislature to reconvene for a special session next week, but medical marijuana isn’t on the agenda – at least not currently.

However, the Miami Herald reported that lawmakers intend to add MMJ to the agenda once they reunite.

Scott’s instructions for the June 7-9 session include rewriting parts of the state budget – but not drafting regulations governing the state’s new full-strength medical cannabis program.

The state health department would use the rules as a blueprint for writing its MMJ regulations.

In the Legislature, a key

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FL calls special legislative session, but MMJ not on initial agenda is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Maryland court: Medical marijuana licensing process to continue

The Maryland Court of Appeals put a stop to a scheduled legal hearing Friday regarding a lawsuit attempting to overturn provisional medical cannabis cultivation licensing.

The end result: The state’s oft-delayed MMJ program will move forward as planned. For now.

The order from the Court of Appeals put a stay on a prior order from the Baltimore Circuit Court, which last week issued a temporary restraining order that prevented the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission from issuing final cultivation permits to license winners, The Baltimore Sun reported.

The order from the Appeals Court halts 

Maryland court: Medical marijuana licensing process to continue is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Washington state MJ regulator fired for conflict of interest

A marijuana licensing employee in Washington state is out of a job after leasing 25 acres of land to a cannabis cultivator planning to transform the site into a grow and processing facility.

Grant Bulski – who has been issuing marijuana business licenses for Washington’s Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) since 2012 – violated the agency’s ethics code forbidding employees from having a direct or indirect stake in the MJ industry, The Spokesman-Review reported. Bulski’s termination is effective June 9.

An LCB spokesperson told the newspaper Bulski began leasing land in October to Jeff Montgomery for $2,834 per month.

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Washington state MJ regulator fired for conflict of interest is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Vermont governor hopeful about marijuana legalization deal

Vermont Republican Gov. Phil Scott says he believes it’s still possible to pass a marijuana legalization bill in what’s expected to be the upcoming two-day veto session of the state Legislature.

Scott says negotiations have been taking place to address his concerns with the legalization bill he vetoed last month.

The Republican leaders in the Legislature have said they wouldn’t allow a parliamentary maneuver that would be needed to pass a revised marijuana bill during the session, due to begin June 21.

Scott said Wednesday if his public safety concerns about the marijuana legalization proposal can be met, he’d reach out to

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Vermont governor hopeful about marijuana legalization deal is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Week in Review: Florida acts on MMJ rules, Michigan picks board & Canada eyes more cannabis production

By Bart Schaneman, Omar Sacirbey and John Schroyer

The Florida health department plans to establish the state’s medical marijuana rules without legislative input, Michigan appoints a five-member board to set MMJ regulations, and Canada aims to boost cannabis production.

Here’s a closer look at some notable developments in the marijuana industry over the past week.

Florida ‘gray area’

All eyes are on Florida’s Department of Health now that the agency has assumed the job of writing medical marijuana regulations without guidance from state lawmakers. The rules will govern Florida’s full-strength MMJ program.

The move comes after

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Week in Review: Florida acts on MMJ rules, Michigan picks board & Canada eyes more cannabis production is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Maryland MMJ commissioner targeted by lawsuits from ex-cops

A Maryland police chief who is also a member of the state’s medical cannabis commission is the target of multiple lawsuits – all filed by former police officers who worked for him – who allege a pattern of sexual harassment, racism, and workplace misconduct.

According to a report by WUSA 9, Police Chief Harry Robshaw III from the town of Cheverly stands accused of sexual assault and of ordering his officers to use racial profiling, specifically on African-Americans.

Among the orders Robshaw gave his subordinates, WUSA 9 reported, was that “if there is

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Maryland MMJ commissioner targeted by lawsuits from ex-cops is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Washington state gives Franwell initial OK for seed-to-sale contract

Washington state has tentatively picked Franwell to replace the state’s marijuana seed-to-sale tracking system, paving the way for both parties to hammer out a final contract covering one of the nation’s largest MJ markets.

The contract has been given an initial value of about $3 million. Franwell would replace the provider of the state’s current seed-to-sale system, BioTrackTHC.

BioTrackTHC first won Washington state’s contract in 2013. But the company did not bid for the new contract, saying it was uncomfortable with some specifics of the state’s proposal.

According to the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis

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Washington state gives Franwell initial OK for seed-to-sale contract is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Colorado hikes retail marijuana sales tax from 10% to 15%

In a move that will affect hundreds of marijuana businesses in the state, Colorado’s governor signed a bill into law that will raise the retail cannabis sales tax from 10% to 15%.

The tax hike – which potentially could damp retail cannabis sales – is part of a broader legislative package to fund Colorado’s rural hospitals, schools and roads, Colorado Springs TV station KRDO reported.

Under the new law, Colorado cannabis retailers must now charge a 15% sales tax for MJ products on top of a 15% marijuana excise tax, a 2.9% “tangible personal property” sales tax as

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Colorado hikes retail marijuana sales tax from 10% to 15% is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Colorado hikes retail marijuana sales tax from 10% to 15%

In a move that will affect hundreds of marijuana businesses in the state, Colorado’s governor signed a bill into law that will raise the retail cannabis sales tax from 10% to 15%.

The tax hike – which potentially could damp retail cannabis sales – is part of a broader legislative package to fund Colorado’s rural hospitals, schools and roads, Colorado Springs TV station KRDO reported.

Under the new law, Colorado cannabis retailers must now charge a 15% sales tax for MJ products on top of a 15% marijuana excise tax, a 2.9% “tangible personal property” sales tax as

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Colorado hikes retail marijuana sales tax from 10% to 15% is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Investors buy High Times, Cannabis Cup in $70M deal

A group of investors led by a Los Angeles investment firm have purchased a controlling stake in the oldest cannabis-centric magazine in the United States, High Times – along with its signature event, the Cannabis Cup – in a transaction valued at about $70 million.

The new owners have rebranded the company as High Times Holding Company (HTHC), according to a news release. Adam Levin, founder of the L.A. investment firm Orvea Capital, will serve as the interim CEO and chairman until a permanent chief executive is brought on.

While specifics of the sale to Oreva were not disclosed, Levin

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Investors buy High Times, Cannabis Cup in $70M deal is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs