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West Virginia Treasurer to Release Medical Cannabis Tax Revenue

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West Virginia Treasurer to Release Medical Cannabis Tax Revenue

West Virginia’s treasurer has indicated that he will release $38 million in medical funds derived from cannabis, In the center of attention of the mountain state reports. The release of the funds comes after Republican Gov. Patrick Morrisey last week vetoed a bill that would have required their distribution.

In the veto letter, Morrisey said the state “needs to do better at planning for the future and can’t completely predetermine future revenue streams like this if it’s going to have the reserves to invest more in roads, water, sewer, site selection, rail and tax cuts in the future.”

Treasurer Larry Pack said the funds will be disbursed under the state’s medical cannabis law — half will be used by the Office of Medical Cannabis, with the remainder split between a substance abuse treatment grant program and law enforcement grants.

Pack initially expressed concerns about the state’s use of the funds because of the federal designation of cannabis as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act. Lars Dalseide, a spokesman for the governor’s office, told Spotlight that the issue was not whether the funds should be used, but “how they are used” and whether the state was using the funds “in a responsible and sustainable manner.”

TG joined Ganjapreneur in 2014 as a news writer and began hosting the Ganjapreneur podcast in 2016. He is based in upstate New York, where he also teaches media at a local university.

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Pennsylvania Senate Committee Gives Approval to Bill to Create Cannabis Control Board 

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Pennsylvania Senate Committee Gives Approval to Bill to Create Cannabis Control Board 

Center Square reports. If approved, the board would regulate the existing medical cannabis program and an adult-use program if reforms occur in the future.

State Sen. Dan Laughlin (R) said the Cannabis Control Board would allow an adult-use cannabis program to be carried out “in a professional manner” if it were ultimately legalized in the state, the report says. He added that legalization of adult use is “probably on the horizon.” Pennsylvania.

Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) has repeatedly called for adult-use legalization in his executive budgets. This year, Shapiro’s estimated budget that an adult program would bring $729.4 million into state coffers in the first year of implementation.

Last year, the House passed a bill legalizing cannabis for adult use for sale in state liquor stores; however, the Senate Law & Justice Committee – the same committee that approved the Cannabis Control Board bill – .

The bill to create the board will then be considered by the full Senate. Një punonjës për Demokratët e Senatit tha për The Center Square se ata vazhdojnë të konsiderojnë legalizimin e përdorimit të të rriturve si një prioritet.

TG joined Ganjapreneur in 2014 as a news writer and began hosting the Ganjapreneur podcast in 2016. He is based in upstate New York, where he also teaches media at a local university.

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Investigation Deems Kentucky Medical Cannabis Licensing Process ‘Transparent and Fair’

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Investigation Deems Kentucky Medical Cannabis Licensing Process ‘Transparent and Fair’

The Kentucky Office of the Inspector General announced Thursday that it has concluded an investigation into the medical cannabis licensing process implemented by the state’s Office of Medical Cannabis (OMC).

“After an independent review of the program, the licensing process it established in the regulations, and related regulations and statutes, this office found that the OMC created an effective program that was fully transparent and fair to all license applicants.” – Excerpt from REPORT

The report comes a year after the OMC requested an investigation into the process.

Gov. Andy Beshear praised the program during a recent Kntucky Team Update, stating that “The Office of Medical Cannabis stated that the regulations and licensing processes were designed with two goals in mind—fairness and transparency—and the OIG report clearly acknowledged that those goals were met.” WHAS11 reports.

Meanwhile, Kentucky’s medical cannabis program began last December, serving registered patients diagnosed with conditions including cancer, chronic pain or nausea, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Based in Portland, Oregon, Graham is the editor-in-chief of Ganjapreneur. He has been writing about the legalization landscape since 2012 and has contributed to Ganjapreneur since our official launch in…

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FBI Raids Dispensary Co-Owned By Virginia State Senator

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FBI Raids Dispensary Co-Owned By Virginia State Senator

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents on Wednesday raided a medical cannabis dispensary owned by Virginia state Sen. Louise Lucas (D). Virginia Mercury reports.

Conducted by SWAT teams and federal FBI agents, the raids targeted the senator’s Portsmouth-based cannabis retailer, The Cannabis Outlet, as well as the senator’s office, which is adjacent to the business. Officers entered the store with guns drawn, ordered everyone out and arrested three people, according to the report.

Lucas initially told reporters that she had no idea why she was targeted in the raid, but that she suspected it was an act of political intimidation that reflected “a clear pattern from the (Trump) administration,” the report said.

Lucas later suggested the executive action was related to his redistricting referendum Virginia voters approved it last month, which was seen as a major political victory for Democrats.

“I will not back down and will continue to fight for the people of Portsmouth and the Commonwealth of Virginia.” – Lucas, in a statement, via Wednesday

Meanwhile, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger (D) is currently considering legislation to set up an adult-use cannabis market. The governor has already passed the proposal once this year, sending it back to lawmakers with specific requests, but the Legislature voted to reject its changes and sent their original proposal for consideration.

Now the governor must decide whether to sign, veto, or allow the cannabis sale proposal to become law without her signature.

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