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Marijuana

Posted inBy The Numbers

Mass. residents don’t support hemp THC loopholes 

Headshot of Jennifer Smith, reporter at CommonWealth Beacon. by Jennifer Smith April 25, 2024April 26, 2024

Those who say they have used or purchased marijuana are slightly more likely to support the sale of the hemp-based products outside of the dispensary system, but more say they still want it to be limited to dispensaries. A substantial majority – 65 percent of respondents – said that legalizing marijuana broadly was the right thing to do in the state. 

Posted inMarijuana

After long delay, cannabis social equity fund starts up

Headshot of Bhaamati Borkhetaria, reporter at Commonwealth Beacon. by Bhaamati Borkhetaria April 16, 2024May 20, 2024

The Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund was signed into law in 2022 to steer a portion of marijuana tax revenues to “entrepreneurs from communities that have been disproportionately harmed by marijuana prohibition and enforcement.” The fund sat empty for many months, largely because of the way the law was drafted.

Posted inOpinion

About those beverages with THC from hemp

by Adam Terry April 6, 2024June 13, 2024

Hemp and marijuana are both the same cannabis plant, but with the key distinction that hemp is federally legal and marijuana is not.

Posted inMarijuana

Healey makes history with marijuana mega-pardon

by Sam Doran | State House News Service March 13, 2024March 13, 2024

Healey said her move makes Massachusetts “the first state to take action” since President Joseph Biden in 2022 asked the nation’s governors to follow his lead on pardoning simple cannabis possession convictions.

Posted inDrugs

THC-infused hemp products getting Beacon Hill’s attention

Headshot of Bhaamati Borkhetaria, reporter at Commonwealth Beacon. by Bhaamati Borkhetaria February 28, 2024February 29, 2024

The products are technically illegal in Massachusetts, but neither the Agricultural Department, which regulates hemp, nor the Department of Public Health, which regulates food products, has stepped up with any enforcement. The agencies have left that job to under-resourced local boards of health which have taken no action.

Posted inCourts

O’Brien’s lawyer says he’s ‘unaware’ of probe behind subpoena report

by Colin Young | State House News Service February 1, 2024February 1, 2024

A lawyer for suspended cannabis regulator Shannon O’Brien said he’s not aware of any federal investigation into his client and has not the subpoena that the Boston Globe reported was sent to state officials last fall.

Posted inMarijuana

Lawyer for Goldberg says O’Brien appeal delayed sharing results of new investigation

by Colin Young | State House News Service January 29, 2024January 31, 2024

There’s been a delay in handing the results of second probe of her conduct to suspended cannabis commission chair Shannon O’Brien because of a new appeal O’Brien filed.

Posted inMarijuana

Hemp-based THC products are showing up all over

Headshot of Bhaamati Borkhetaria, reporter at Commonwealth Beacon. by Bhaamati Borkhetaria January 23, 2024January 24, 2024

The reason hemp is treated differently is because the 2018 federal Farm Act removed hemp from the definition of marijuana, which is considered a controlled substance under federal law.

Posted inMarijuana

Judge sides with Goldberg in dispute with O’Brien

Headshot of Bhaamati Borkhetaria, reporter at Commonwealth Beacon. by Bhaamati Borkhetaria December 22, 2023December 22, 2023

A state judge sided with Treasurer Deborah Goldberg in her dispute with Shannon O’Brien, ruling that the suspended cannabis commission chair is not entitled to the public, name-clearing hearing she has been seeking.

Posted inOpinion

Creating opportunities for those most impacted by the war on drugs

by Nurys Camargo and Ava Callender Concepcion December 14, 2023December 15, 2023

A legislative update enacted last year may provide the greatest opportunity for individuals directly impacted by the war on drugs.

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