A new tide of craft cannabis is rising in Massachusetts this year. Five years into legalization, the big companies have shot their shot—now it’s time for smaller, more diverse, and local players to emerge.
Among them, the 9-month-old Rooted In dispensary on snooty Newbury St., off of the storied Commonwealth Ave. in Boston. It’s like the American Revolution’s Rodeo Drive out on the sidewalk, but Rooted In keeps it real with award-winning, fire flowers.
Watch the full video above to see our picks of the shop, and walk through the local, woman co-owned ‘mom and pot shop.’ Our picks include Tower Three Half-Pint, Liberty Haze, and Super Boof.
Related
The best-rated weed dispensaries in Boston for 2023
The votes are coming in, and it’s time to see what 2024 means for cannabis lovers like you. From local measures to national policies, this year’s election could be a game-changer for anyone who believes in a little herbal freedom. Whether you’re in a state where weed’s still a bit of a gray area or you’re looking to see expanded rights and better pricing, this election’s outcomes could impact everything from where you buy to how much you’ll pay—and maybe even what you can grow at home.
So, what just happened? We’re breaking down the most important wins and losses in this year’s races, focusing on the stuff that’ll actually make a difference to the cannabis community. From legalization pushes to fresh tax laws, here’s what cannabis voters need to know about the new political landscape. Will 2024 finally be the year cannabis goes fully mainstream? Let’s dig in and see what the results mean for your stash, your rights, and your next dispensary visit.
Related
Cannabis voter guide to the 2024 General Election
Florida’s Amendment 3: Not currently passing
With 52% of ballots counted at the time of polls closing, Florida Amendment 3 is not meeting the 60% threshold to pass, according to cannabis news site Marijuana Moment. Amendment 3 is losing 55 to 45% in early returns.
Related
Wiz Khalifa, Wizard Trees, Rick Steves endorse Florida legalization
South Dakota cannabis legalization: To be determined
Polls are still closing across the country and we’ll have to wait until later tonight for for more on South Dakota legalization Measure 29.
You need some weed
How to order weed delivery online with Leafly
North Dakota cannabis legalization: To be determined
Polls are still closing across the country and we’ll have to wait until later tonight for for more on North Dakota legalization Measure 5.
Nebraska medical cannabis: To be determined
Polls are still closing across the country and we’ll have to wait until later tonight for for on Nebraska medical cannabis legalization Measure 437.
Oregon pot unions: Too early to tell
Polls close on the West Coast at 8 p.m. PST, after which we’ll have the first returns on Oregon Measure 119 to force pot businesses to obtain pro-union agreements from unions.
Massachusetts psychedelics legalization: To be determined.
Polls close on the East Coast at 8 p.m. EST, after which we’ll have more on the Massachusetts psychedelics legalization Question 4.
State and local races of note
Several state and local races will play a role in spreading cannabis freedom. Among them, Marijuana Moment is tracking three cities in Texas: Dallas, Bastrop, and Lockhart. Legalizing cannabis in cities can percolate up to bigger changes in state capitols.
President of the United States: To be determined
Both candidates have expressed support for legalization, either federally or at the state level. Then again, neither expended political capital to foment cannabis law reform during their prior tenure as President, or Vice-President.
Control of the Senate: To be determined
Despite promises from Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer—the US Senate has blocked cannabis law reform passed by the House. Neither party has passed legalization in the Senate when they held power over it. It’s unclear exactly how either party controlling the Senate would result in gains for cannabis voters.
Control of the House of Representatives: To be determined
Numerous flavors of cannabis law reform have passed out of the House under both Democrat and Republican control. But they’ve died in the Senate. The parties are split on legalization over things like taxes, banking, regulations, special treatment for certain groups, and other facets of winding down the war on weed.
State lawmakers have scheduled a hearing later this month to kick start an effort to update the laws directing the embattled Cannabis Control Commission after more than a year of turbulence.
The Bay State’s Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy has scheduled an informational hearing for Wednesday, October 30, over “reconsideration” of the law which created both the state’s bustling marijuana industry and the CCC, responsible for the day-to-day business of regulating Massachusetts’ largest cash crop.
“The Committee will be inviting various Massachusetts cannabis industry stakeholders to testify. Of chief concern are the matters of responsibility for agency operations and proper channels of accountability within the agency structure,” the committee wrote in announcing the hearing.
Listen up, stoners, it’s time to register and vote. Lord knows the people that want to put you in a cage will be. If you like weed, and being left alone—you got two things to do:
Twenty-four states already have legal cannabis—three more could join them. Here’s what’s at stake.
Florida cannabis legalization
Florida Amendment 3 will need every cannabis-lover and then some to reach 60% percent of the vote—the threshold to approve weed legalization in the Sunshine State.
Amendment 3 fully legalizes holding up 3 ounces of bud and 5 grams of concentrate—ending some 66,000 arrests per year and generating hundreds of millions in court savings and tax revenue. All Florida medical dispensaries could sell to adult-use consumers.
Everyone from singer Miguel to former President Trump has endorsed the measure. But far-left and far-right extremes—from Gov. Ron DeSantis to the most conspiratorial tokers—say Amendment 3 either goes too far or not far enough.
Related
Pot prohibition costs Florida at least $200 million per year
Florida’s powerful, entrenched Republicans have also made it harder to vote.
Florida’s powerful, entrenched Republicans have also made it harder to vote. In 2022, Gov. Ron DeSantis canceled all standing vote-by-mail requests.
According to the Tallahassee Democrat, the GOP-led Florida Legislature has ripped out mail-in ballot boxes, added new voter ID rules, and deterred voter registration. For example, you must request to vote-by-mail every voting cycle, instead of once every 4 years.
“Voter rolls may now be purged annually, you should check your voter status every year well in time to address it before any voting deadlines.”
The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot is Thursday, Oct. 24. Even if you think you’re registered, check your voter status.
Related
Legalization drives down cannabis prices, analysis finds
South Dakota cannabis legalization
South Dakota will again vote on legalization. Measure 29 legalizes 2 ounces, 16 grams of hash, and 1600 milligrams of THC in edibles. You could grow up to 12 plants per household. A May poll showed Measure 29 losing with only 41.8% of the vote.
North Dakota will again vote on legalization. Measure 5 legalizes 1 ounce of cannabis, 4 grams of hash, and 300 mg edibles, plus up to 6 plants in a household. You don’t have to register to vote in North Dakota.
Nebraska could legalize medical cannabis with Initiative 438. A yes repeals medical weed prohibition in Nebraska, and regulates the medical cannabis trade. So far 38 states have medical cannabis.
The deadline to register to vote in Nebraska is October 18, so do it today.
A union-funded measure to increase unions in the Oregon cannabis industry is on the ballot. Current law already allows unions at pot businesses. Oregon Measure 119 mandates each cannabis business sign a ‘labor peace agreement’ or lose their license. The deadline to register to vote in Oregon is Oct. 15.
Psychedelics legalization
Massachusetts psychedelics legalization
Massachusetts Question 4 would legalize psychedelics for adults 21 and up, as well as tax them, and create an Advisory Board.
You could grow “any plant, fungus, or preparation containing” DMT, mescaline, ibogaine, or psilocybin. And you could possess 1 gram of DMT, 18 grams of mescaline, 30 grams of ibogaine, 1 gram of psilocybin, and 1 gram of psilocyn. You could also grow said plants or fungus in a 12 by 12-foot area.
Massachusetts ‘shroom legalization is on track to fail with 42% support.
Act and vote locally to have the most impact. Local city council members and county supervisors will decide if your town can have a dispensary, or allow licensed farms.
State representatives and state senators decide how high your taxes will be, or if you can have a cannabis lounge.
Furthermore, Marijuana Policy Project made a guide for New Hampshire voters who want to pick pro-reform candidates. New Hampshire is a prohibition state with no initiative process, so voters have to pick a governor and legislators to advance their rights.
More weed and psychedelics voter guides to check out
A raft of groups have gathered up election info for you to digest. Check out voter guides from:
Even better—ASA has a toolkit to help you track your candidates, get a meeting with them, and brief them on compassionate reforms they can pledge to uphold.
Ballotpedia—Ballotpedia does a bang-up job briefing voters on 2024 ballot measures.
OK, we’ll add more resources as we find them. Be sure to register and vote— because pot prohibitionists certainly will be.
