Global Advocacy & Policy

Press Release: The Color of Cannabis to Kick Off Black History Month with Social Equity Lobby Day and Rally Support around HB 23-1020

Published

1 year ago

February 1, 2023

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Entrepreneurs of Color Rally for Equal Access to Colorado Cannabis Market

DENVER, CO (January 27, 2023) – The Color of Cannabis (TCC) the largest marijuana Social Equity organization in Colorado, is behind a bill to level the playing field in the industry for newly minted licensees of color. House Bill 23-1020, “Social Equity Licensees in Regulated Marijuana,” seeks to strengthen the cannabis Social Equity program implemented by the Colorado legislature in 2020. The bill also includes a provision to allow Social Equity Delivery companies to operate independently from the dispensaries. “Unfortunately, less than 12% of Social Equity businesses are operational,” says TCC founder Sarah Woodson. “Because delivery when first conceived four years ago, was not meant to be a successful model – too much of the established industry is invested in a brick and mortar model so they won’t partner with delivery companies.”

Why won’t retail stores and medical centers partner with third-party Social Equity transporters? The answer from most stores and centers is that the model creates a financial burden on businesses and is not profitable. Social Equity transporters believe that retail stores and medical centers do not want to partner with them because they are Social Equity business owners. “The reality is there is truth to both views,” says Woodson. “The current laws create an undue burden on both parties. Our bill will create fair competitive model that is inline with modern economics while strengthening and promoting equity in Colorado’s cannabis industry.”

“This is our second annual Social Equity Lobby Day and I am so excited!” says Woodson. “People are starting to understand that we have to always be educating and advocating for our livelihoods and businesses. And being able to do this during Black History month just emphasizes the importance of economic justice and representation not only in Cannabis but the business community in general.”

Shanda LeCompte with Canna Couriers sees this bill as turning point for her start up. “This lobby day and this bill is helping with the emotional damage inequity in cannabis has caused. It’s not easy to have to do an interview with the news and explain how your business is failing. Never being able to operate no matter how hard you have worked. The feeling of rejection,” she explains. “This change will give us chance to succeed.”

HB 1020 enjoys strong support from a broad coalition ranging from established legacy marijuana businesses, new social equity licensees and even the NAACP. The bill is scheduled to be heard in the House Business and Labor committee on February 15.

https://www.thecolorofcannabisco.org/

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Global Advocacy & Policy

New Brunswick says it is unable to enforce its provincial cannabis laws on First Nations land, while other provinces take a different stance.

Published

2 weeks ago

April 2, 2024

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https://stratcann.com/news/new-brunswick-says-it-cant-enforce-its-cannabis-laws-on-first-nations-reserves/StratCann

The new comments come following proposed changes to the province’s Cannabis Act and stand in contrast to statements and actions taken by other provincial governments.

The province’s Public Safety Minister, Kris Austin, reportedly told media recently that there is nothing the province can do to enforce its provincial cannabis rules on businesses operating on First Nations reserves. She instead argues the issue is up to the federal government to enforce.

The comments from Austin came following the introduction of new legislation in New Brunswick meant to give officers from the Department of Justice and Public Safety (JPS) more power to deter illicit stores in the province.

The provincial government recently introduced Bill 29 , which will, if passed, create amendments to its Cannabis Control Act with the goal of increasing compliance with provincial rules, reducing the sale of illegal cannabis, and preventing young people from consuming the drug.

As reported by the Telegraph-Journal, Austin said: “you can’t seize property on First Nations reserves … unless you’re talking about a property that would be involved in violent crime.”

“Our understanding is when it comes to cannabis … that we’re not able to do that.”

The Telegraph-Journal went on to report that Austin made similar statements about jurisdiction in 2023, passing the buck to the federal government.

New Brunswick says it can’t enforce its cannabis laws on First Nations reserves

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Global Advocacy & Policy

1,500+ Pending Cannabis Cases Dropped by Connecticut Chief State Attorney’s Office

Published

1 year ago

April 6, 2023

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Ganjapreneur reports

In a follow-up to the state’s recent cannabis legalization policy, Connecticut’s chief state attorney’s office has dropped 1,562 possession charges as state lawmakers draft legislation to halt cannabis-specific prosecutions moving forward.

Connecticut’s chief state attorney’s office has dropped 1,562 cannabis possession charges following a review of more than 4,000 pending cases, CT Insider reports. The review and dismissal of cases came as state lawmakers are drafting a bill to order the state Division of Criminal Justice to stop prosecuting cannabis-only cases. The proposal is part of the follow-up to the full legalization of cannabis in Connecticut.

Another 624 cases reviewed by Chief State’s Attorney Patrick J. Griffin’s prosecutors will be modified to drop cannabis from the overall charges.

“It has been the shared position of this committee and the division that persons charged with a possession of a cannabis-type substance offense that has subsequently been decriminalized should not be prosecuted for that offense. Thus, identifying these cannabis cases could not be accomplished merely by conducting a computerized review of pending cases. The 4,248 cases statewide including 2,139 pending and 2,109 in re-arrest status. This was no small task and quite labor intensive.” — Griffin in a letter to the General Assembly’s Judiciary Committee via CT Insider

In an interview with CT Insider, State Rep. Greg Howard (R), who is also a police officer, called the review “remarkable.”

“…When the chief state’s attorney testified, he assured us that while the statute doesn’t specifically say that it was retroactive to pending cases, he understands the legislative intent,” Howard said, “he accepts that, and he has made that clear to all of his state’s attorneys and obviously they have been hard at work about that.”

The bill ordering the criminal justice division to stop prosecuting cannabis cases last week passed the committee 27-10 along party lines. It moves next to the full chamber for consideration.

Source: https://www.ganjapreneur.com/1500-pending-cannabis-cases-dropped-by-connecticut-chief-state-attorneys-office/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=millennials_and_gen_z_make_majority_of_legal_cannabis_purchases_new_mexico_first_year_cannabis_sales_hit_300k_and_more&utm_term=2023-04-05

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Global Advocacy & Policy

Media Report: More than 15k marijuana convictions expunged since recreational legalization

Published

1 year ago

March 22, 2023

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Since legalizing recreational marijuana, the state of Missouri has granted more than 15,000 expungements at the misdemeanor and felony levels for nonviolent marijuana offenses.

That includes 65 in St. Louis City, 304 in St. Louis County, 55 in Jefferson County, and six in Franklin County. The Supreme Court of Missouri tells News 4 that St. Charles and Lincoln Counties had not reported any expungement data as of Tuesday morning.

More at

https://www.kmov.com/2023/03/21/more-than-15k-marijuana-convictions-expunged-since-recreational-legalization/

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