Cannabis News

Colorado Lawmakers Reject Bill That Would Have Put Marijuana And Alcohol Tax Hike On Ballot To Fund Mental Health Treatment

Published

3 months ago

March 18, 2026

admin

Colorado lawmakers have rejected a bill that would have put a measure on the state’s November ballot that would have asked voters. increase taxes on marijuana and alcohol to support mental health treatment.

Following the recommendation of the bicameral Capital Development Committee (CDC) last week, members of the House Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday defeated the legislation in a 7-6 vote by Senators Bob Marshall (D) and Judy Amabile (D).

“We’ve made our criminal system the default mental health system for people over 18. It’s been a travesty,” Marshall said Wednesday before the panel’s vote to reject his bill. “It’s been a known plague for years and years and years, and yet nothing is happening to fix the problem.

“At the end of the day, this is something that has to be done,” the sponsor said of HB 1301, which would raise taxes on substances and raise additional revenue to create a mental health fund overseen by the state Department of Human Services (DHS). “And if we don’t do it now, the problem will only get worse.”

If it had advanced in the Legislature, voters across the state would have decided to raise the state’s retail marijuana sales and excise tax by 0.42 percentage points on the November ballot. Taxes on alcohol would also rise for the first time in more than 30 years, at varying levels depending on the type of product.

“The bill requires the treasurer to transfer to the hospital support account created in the capital building fund an amount equal to the tax revenue obtained as a result of the bill,” the summary summarizes. measure he said DHS would be able to spend the funds “in order of priority,” starting with establishing a mental health institute in Aurora, then going toward the institute’s operational costs and a “long-term civil commitment facility” in Mesa County.

Under the amendments passed in committee on Wednesday, the tax increase on alcohol would be reduced slightly, but not for cannabis. The bill’s title was also revised in response to input from the state attorney general, and a fiscal note was added to the $14,000 in programmatic costs, which the sponsor said would come out of the general fund.

At last week’s CDC meeting, Rep. Tammy Story (D), the panel’s vice chairwoman, asked Marshall’s House bill sponsor how the proposal to raise marijuana taxes reconciles the fact that the state has seen a decline in cannabis sales and resulting revenue in recent years. Marshall said he appreciated the concerns, but had no plans to decriminalize cannabis.

“In looking back maybe a the sales the tax maybe be be better,” Marshall admitted Wednesday. “But is in the year has the title now—‘the tax good harmful substances’—and we put marijuana in the year there in has the suggestion of a couple of has sheriffs, simply to share it has pain, so to talk.”

Marijuana industry representatives have it criticize The bill’s marijuana tax provision is partly because the state already imposes significant taxes on cannabis sales compared to other states and products. Making it more expensive for consumers to buy marijuana from licensed dealers could also hurt efforts to stamp out the illegal market by drawing buyers to unlicensed sources that won’t generate tax dollars for the state.

In the meantime the state is expected to exceed $1 billion in marijuana sales by 2025, a milestone the governor announced in December.—tax revenue from cannabis sales has steadily declined over the past five years as more states have implemented legalization and intoxicating hemp products have grown in popularity. However, cannabis brings in more tax dollars than alcohol or cigarettes.

Adult marijuana is currently taxed at three levels in Colorado: a 15 percent excise tax, a 15 percent excise tax, and a general state sales tax of 2.9 percent. As one of the first states to legalize recreational marijuana, Colorado’s revenue from such sales “grew steadily over the first eight years of legalization to $424.4 million by 2020-21,” according to a state report released last month.

—
It’s Marijuana Time tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelic and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters by pledging at least $25/month, you’ll get access to our interactive maps, charts, and audio calendars so you never miss a development.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracking and become a Patreon supporter to gain access
—

Meanwhile, the Colorado House of Representatives sent a bill to the governor last week allow terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana in healthcare facilities such as hospitals. Advocates have been critical of the changes made throughout the legislative process; for example, arguing that hospitals would be right to do so. option– than mandate—The use of medical cannabis in their facilities fundamentally undermines the intention of the reform.

Gov. Jared Polis (D) also said last month his state did not have to join a lawsuit supporting a federal ban on the possession of guns by people who use marijuana that recently went before the US Supreme Court, and he personally opposes the state attorney general’s “legal position on this.”

user photo Brian Shamblen.

Marijuana Moment is made possible with the help of readers. If you rely on our pro-cannabis journalism to stay informed, consider a monthly Patreon pledge.

Cannabis News

cbdMD welcomes White House call for fair treatment of hemp-derived products

Published

14 hours ago

June 29, 2026

admin

cbdMD welcomes the Administration’s call for Congress to ensure fair treatment of hemp-derived products under federal law and calls for immediate action to revise hemp regulations to ensure fair treatment of hemp products under federal law.

In a letter to congressional leadership this week, the White House Office of Management and Budget identified hemp reform as a priority strongly supported by the Administration. The petition calls on Congress to ensure fair treatment of hemp-derived products by maintaining access to appropriate full-spectrum CBD products, and by maintaining Congress’ intent to reduce products that pose health risks. The administration also urged Congress to pass a responsible federal framework or at least extend the current implementation period to give lawmakers time to get policy right. The request builds on the president’s previous public statements urging lawmakers to protect access to full-spectrum CBD products that millions of Americans rely on.

“We are encouraged to see the administration so clearly championing the responsible, scientific hemp products that consumers depend on every day,” said Ronan Kennedy, CEO of cbdMD. “cbdMD has always believed that the future of this category is built on quality, transparency, and clear rules that separate them from bad actors. A federal framework that protects consumer access, promotes safety, and provides certainty to companies that provide certainty is what this industry and the people it serves deserve. We applaud the policymakers who are working to achieve this outcome.”

“We believe CbdMD is purpose-built for this next phase of the market,” added Kennedy. “Our focus remains on serving our customers with reliable and effective products, supporting responsible regulation and building long-term value for our shareholders as the category continues to evolve. Along the way, we will continue to evaluate the opportunities this evolving environment holds.”

For more information:
cbdMD
cbdmd.com/

Cannabis News

Applications For Missouri Marijuana Microbusiness Licenses Will Open Next Month

Published

14 hours ago

June 29, 2026

admin

“We have a lot of tutorials, and we also provide a step-by-step guide. Anyone could sit down and make the app. I don’t think it’s challenging.”

By Rebecca Rivas, Missouri Independent

Application window win one of Missouri’s 77 micro-business marijuana licenses through a lottery selection it will be open from July 13 to 27.

The selection lottery is scheduled for Sept. 9, and the Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation expects to issue licenses in December, according to a press release issued Monday.

Microbusinesses are marijuana facility licenses issued to entities and individuals designed to allow marginalized or underrepresented people to legally participate in the marijuana market.

Lesley Turek, the division’s capital manager, has been traveling the state this month to educate people about the application process.

“I really feel that microenterprise graduates are, first and foremost, a community of people who help each other,” he said. “They’re the ones who are driving this program forward, so I’m looking forward to meeting new people and sharing as much as I can about the program. It’s a great program.”

Much of what is being worked on is the new rules that went into effect at the end of May…In 2024 the proposed cannabis regulators will remove a large number of licences Because of unconstitutional property deals.

The new rules, he said, allow regulators to conduct extensive scrutiny before licensing, rather than after. Furthermore, they give a more in-depth explanation of what it means to “have and operate the majority” of the License, which is a requirement in the Constitution.

Regulators are mandated to communicate directly with majority owners and require applicants to complete a compliance course before applying and after receiving a license.

The microbusiness program was passed by voters in the 2022 constitutional amendment to legalize recreational marijuana.

In Missouri, there are seven categories in which people can qualify for a micro-business license, ranging from lower income or living in an area considered poor, to past arrests or incarcerations related to marijuana offenses.

Applicants pay a $1,500 application fee if not selected. The Missouri Lottery will select 77 license applicants to open dispensaries or cultivation facilities. The goal is to fill the remaining gaps in the minimum 144 micro-business licenses mandated by the Constitution.

Turek believes the application is relatively simple and something people can complete on their own, unlike the much more complicated application for comprehensive licenses.

“We have a lot of tutorials, and we also offer a step-by-step guide,” he said. “Anyone can sit down and do the app. I don’t think it’s a challenge.”

The part that most people often don’t understand is everything that comes with owning a marijuana facility.

“It’s very expensive, it’s very regulated, and so it’s challenging,” he said. “I want to make sure people have a clear understanding beforehand so they can make a good decision whether they want to apply for this program.”

A big part of his presentation was that the majority of the licenses should be owned by and eligible people. They must have more than 50 percent of the authority to direct the decisions made with the license.

“It’s more than a percentage of ownership,” he said. “It’s really about being able to have that control over it.”

It also talks about the designated contact, and why in the new rule the regulators will require that the designated contact be the applicant or the eligible person with the majority of ownership.

The designated liaison role was conceived as a way to ensure clear communication between the state and licensees.

Instead, state regulators discovered it many named contacts have kept real applicants in the dark about business and licensing. Applicants are locked into agreements that limit their voting power and profits in the business.

That’s why the state now requires pre-application training, a three-video online course to ensure applicants understand “potentially predatory practices,” regulators said in response to public comments during the rulemaking process.

The press release It says those who need help with eligibility requirements or application forms can contact the facility’s application services (email protected).

Educational dissemination events for micro-enterprises

Personal forums:
June 22 – 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm – Kansas City

Webinars:
June 24 – from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m
June 29 – from 18:00 to 20:00

Registration is required for in-person and virtual sessions. Interested participants can register at Microenterprise education. Additional information on the microenterprise program is available here cannabis.mo.gov.

Those requiring assistance with eligibility requirements or application forms may contact Facilities Application Services at (email protected).

This story was first published by the Missouri Independent.

Marijuana Moment is made possible with the help of readers. If you rely on our pro-cannabis journalism to stay informed, consider a monthly Patreon pledge.

Cannabis News

RAND estimates Indiana adult-use cannabis could yield $180M in annual revenue

Published

2 days ago

June 28, 2026

admin

Two new RAND reports commissioned by the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation outline the policy options and financial commitments facing Indiana as the state debates whether to change its cannabis laws amid restrictions across the country.

Reports show that 44% of Indiana residents live within 50 miles of a licensed dispensary in a neighboring state, and 96% live within 100 miles, as three of Indiana’s four states have legalized adult-use cannabis. At the same time, intoxicating hemp products containing the same psychoactive compound as marijuana are available at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores throughout Indiana with limited oversight.

Cannabis use in Indiana has doubled in the past decade, with a significant increase among adults 26 and older. RAND estimates that 1.3 million Hoosiers used cannabis in 2024 and spent $1.8 billion on marijuana products that year. Indiana recorded more than 13,000 cannabis-related arrests in 2024, with more than 90% for possession and more than 75% for non-cannabis related charges. The state spends $10 million to $20 million annually on cannabis law enforcement.

Rather than recommending a specific policy, the RAND reports outline four broad options: maintaining prohibition, reducing criminal penalties for possession, legalizing medical cannabis, or legalizing the adult recreational use market. Legalizing adult-use cannabis would generate about $180 million in annual state revenue, roughly 1 percent of the state’s general fund, well below some previous projections and less than half of the $385 million in combined cigarette and alcohol tax revenue Indiana will collect in 2025, according to the Indiana Department of Revenue.

Legalization would also entail significant upfront costs, and ongoing regulatory costs could reach the low tens of millions of dollars annually, outweighing the savings from reduced criminal justice spending. RAND identifies 14 policy considerations important to establishing legal markets, each with its own public health and state economic implications.