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| Will They? Won't They? |
| With a new year comes new hope for advancing cannabis reform throughout the U.S., and our readers at Cannabis Business Times know this all too well.
Topping the list of CBT’s most-read articles this month was our team’s annual legalization forecast: 11 States That Could Legalize Cannabis in 2024. Will they? Won’t they? It’s difficult to predict how exactly political momentum will unfold for some of our nation’s last holdouts on the reform front in 2024, but our team remains as hopeful as ever. Notably, voters in four states could potentially decide legalization matters for themselves in November.
Aside from the state-by-state patchwork, 2024 could be pivotal on the federal level should the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reclassify cannabis as a Schedule III drug. And we now know that Schedule III is indeed the actual recommendation from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services thanks to the fine reporting of Editor-In-Chief Michelle Simakis, who contributed a pair of top-10 articles on this subject this month.
Also related to rescheduling, cannabis attorney Shane Pennington’s perspective on the DEA’s potential timeline for a decision via an exclusive interview with Senior Digital Editor Melissa Schiller caught the attention of thousands of CBT readers, paving way for our No. 2 most-read article this month.
Among other articles CBT readers engaged with most this month were those that covered the trending topics of how much an ounce of flower cost in 2023; the top 10 best-selling flower strains in California in 2023; and five cannabis policy reform efforts to watch in 2024.
Catch Up on All The Top 10 Stories From January |
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No. 10: High-THC Concerns
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| Washington Bill Aims to Raise Legal Cannabis Age to 25 |
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The bipartisan legislation comes nearly a decade after the state launched adult-use sales for those 21 and older. More >>> |
No. 9: Streamlining or Shifting?
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| New York Governor Moves to Repeal Potency-Based Cannabis Tax |
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In her state budget proposal for the 2025 fiscal year, Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed that New York do away with its potency-based tax structure for licensed cannabis operators. More >>> |
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| Cannabis Rescheduling Document Details Rationale For Schedule III Recommendation |
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After multiple FOIA requests and a lawsuit, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services released more than 250 pages explaining the reasoning for recommending that cannabis be reclassified as a Schedule III drug. More >>> |
No. 7: Hemp's Future at Stake
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| Hemp Industry Organizations Unite on 7 Key Objectives for 2024 Farm Bill |
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Thirty-three nonprofit organizations representing every facet of the supply chain have revealed their top priorities for the must-pass legislation. More >>> |
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| 5 Cannabis Policy Reform Efforts to Watch in 2024 |
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From the SAFER Banking Act to state-level reform, Akerman’s Jonathan Robbins outlines the legislation and potential policy changes on the horizon for the industry. More >>> |
No. 5: 'I Do This in My Sleep'
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| DOJ Official Says HHS Will Release Unredacted Cannabis Rescheduling Recommendation Letter |
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Attorney Matthew Zorn announced that, in response to his FOIA lawsuit, an official confirmed the Department of Health & Human Services would release “the letter and its enclosures in their entirety.”
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No. 4: The Titan Stands Alone
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| How Much Did an Ounce of Cannabis Flower Cost in 2023? |
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While average prices per ounce hit rock bottom in some states this past year, prices in other markets remain relatively high despite comparable maturities. More >>> |
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| Industry Attorney Weighs in on Possible Cannabis Rescheduling Timeline: ‘It Normally Takes Years and Years for This to Get Done’ |
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Despite the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s recent response to a letter from Rep. Earl Blumenauer urging the agency to deschedule cannabis, Porter Wright Morris & Arthur’s Shane Pennington says it could be after the 2024 election before federal officials come to a decision on cannabis’s Schedule I status. More >>> |
No. 1: Legalization Prospects
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| 11 States That Could Legalize Cannabis in 2024 |
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Our CBT future tellers once again are predicting which states will reform their cannabis policies this year. More >>> |
About CBT:
Cannabis Business Times is the most trusted source of actionable intelligence for plant-touching cannabis businesses throughout North America and is producer of the industry-leading Cannabis Business Times Conference. |
