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New Governor Campaigned To Legalize Marijuana

IncSmart New Jersey (Small Business and Startups) - New Jersey could be the next state to legalize recreational marijuana.  Phil Murphy, the next governor of New Jersey, vowed on the campaign to legalize marijuana.  State regulators are looking at $300 million a year in tax revenue by the year 2020.  Medical marijuana is already legal, but there are only six dispensaries serving the entire state of nine million people. Eight states and the District of Columbia, have legalized recreational marijuana.  The new law could also provide savings for law enforcement and courts, and may even expunge marijuana convictions and clear pending charges for low-level drug arrests.      

Tribal Lands Opt in for Marijuana Boom
  

IncSmart Nevada (Small Business and Startups) - Nevada opens it's first recreation marijuana drive through window dispensary in the nation.  The drive thru is on tribal land near downtown Las Vegas at 1235 Paiute Circle, located near Main Street and Washington Ave,  is the first of its kind in the country.  Nuwu Cannabis Marketplace offers 15 popular flower, edible and concentrate products at the window.  The goal is to serve customers in less than a minute after an order is placed.  Orders can even be placed while customers are in line.

Atlanta City Council Votes 15-0 To Decriminalize

IncSmart Georgia (Small Business and Startups) - Georgia marijuana laws are changing.  Atlanta City Council members voted 15-0 to pass a ordinance to decriminalize marijuana.  This ordinance would eliminate prison for possession of less than an ounce and would reduce any potential fine to a maximum of $75.  The current law now has possession of pot within the city limits punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and imprisonment for up to six months.  

Maui Grown Therapies Receives Approval

IncSmart Hawaii (Small Business and Startups) - Hawaii has Opened its first marijuana dispensary.  Maui Grown Therapies has received approval from the Hawaii Department of Health to sell medical marijuana.  The dispensary sold marijuana to patients for two hours on Tuesday.  Hawaii was one of the first states to legalize medical marijuana in 2000, but didn't legalize any dispensaries until 2015.  The Department of Health has granted eight medical marijuana dispensaries licenses last year.  Many dispensaries have already began growing medical marijuana, but they were unable to sell in dispensaries until recently.  The delay was not having a certified lab to test the marijuana.

Senate Committee Rejects Request from Sessions

IncSmart Washington DC (Small Business and Startups) - The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved an amendment to protect a state's medical marijuana program from federal government interference.  This amendment is introduced despite a written request from Attorney General Sessions that wants to crack down on marijuana use.  In May, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions sent a letter to Congress asking them not to extend the protections. 

60 Dispensaries to be Licensed

IncSmart Ohio (Small Business and Startups) - The Ohio medical marijuana program is shaping up as guides for cultivation and dispensaries.  The state is required by law to have the program operational by September 2018.  Ohio regulators are on track to meet the deadlines.  60 Pot Dispensaries will be licensed in Ohio.  The Board of Pharmacy is one of the three state regulation agencies rolling out the program.  The Board of Pharmacy said the proposed dispensary placement,  depends on metro population, the patient population and access.

Oakland Permits to Ex Convicts to Sell, Grow and Transport

IncSmart California  (Small Business and Startups) - Oakland is changing the rules for the cannabis industry.  The California city is starting by giving permits to ex convicts.  Ex convicts with a twist - they were arrested for marijuana.  Oakland has received 72 applications for pot permits.  Half of the applications are equity permits that will provide reparations for the war on drugs.  The city must give at least half of cannabis permits to people who were convicted of a marijuana related laws, and earn an income less than 80 percent of the city average.  These Equity Applicants must prove they lived in an Oakland neighborhood for 10 of the last 20 years. 

Law Allowing Tourists and Locals to Smoke in Retail Shops

Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program  Applications

IncSmart Ohio (Small Business and Startups) - The state Department of Commerce has received over 185 applications for just 24 cultivation licenses throughout the state.  The Ohio medical marijuana industry is ready to grow it's new business.  The Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program will be up and running and operational by Sept. 8, 2018.  The deadline to apply for 24 grow licenses was Friday, July 7, more than a year after Governor John Kasich signed Ohio's medical marijuana law. The regulations and fees are keeping many people away from the license process.  Larger cultivators paid $20,000 nonrefundable application fee and will also pay $180,000 license fee if selected, renewable for $200,000 a year. The state application requires businesses to get permission from a local the local city laws that the business have a zoning approval.

Authorized Dispensaries Running out of Pot

IncSmart Nevada (Small Business and Startups) - Just days after legalization, Nevada pot shops are running out.  Within days of recreational use of marijuana being legal,  Nevada has an emergency.  It's low on bud.  The shortage is so dire, that Governor Brian Sandoval has endorsed the state tax department to fast track the approval of more recreational marijuana distributors.  The money flowing into the tax coffers is overwhelming.  47 authorized retail stores in Nevada saw over 40,000 purchases last weekend. 

Nevada Fifth State Selling Pot to Public

IncSmart Nevada (Small Business and Startups) - Long lines of locals and tourists alike great the owners of dispensaries on the first day of recreational marijuana sales.   Saturday, June 1st, Nevada joined five other states to sale marijuana. It still remains illegal to consume it in public, including the Las Vegas Strip, hotels and casino floors, but this did not stop consumers in the entertainment capital of the world.  Marijuana is expected to generate $60 million in tax revenue the next two years. Voters approved legalization in November 2016, making Nevada’s the fastest turnaround ballot box to retail sales in US history.

Anchorage Marijuana Sales Tax Revenue Continues Steady Climb

IncSmart Alaska (Small Business and Startups) - Alaska become the forth state to legalize marijuana.  Anchorage marijuana sales tax revenue continues on a steady climb.  $70,000 in marijuana sales taxes in April has been collected in Anchorage.  The marijuana sales tax of 5 percent was approved by Anchorage voters in April 2016.  There are 9 stores that paid taxes to the city.   The Department of  Program Taxes and Tax Collection with Anchorage's Treasury Department reported last week. 

Expansive Rewrite of Voter Approved Marijuana Law

IncSmart Massachusetts (Small Business and Startups) - House of Representatives in Massachusetts pass a bill that would change the referendum backed by 1.8 million voters seven months ago.  The new bill was 126-to-28 vote.  This is in opposition to the Senate, which has a much more modest recreational pot law. The new House bill would increase pot taxes to 28 percent 12.  In conjunction with the tax increase, the new bill will grant local county and city officials the ability to ban marijuana stores and farms from their communities.

Michigan Marijuana Legalization Petition Drive Very Soon.

IncSmart Michigan (Small Business and Startups) - The Marijuana Policy Project, a Washington DC group, is behind the advisory committee in Michigan to start working with the state to draft a proposal to legalize marijuana.  The petition drive could land on the Michigan ballot in 2018.