Oklahoma MMJ Businesses Ask the Court to Repeal Law that Increased Fees
In May 2022, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed legislation that altered the fee schedule that licensed medical cannabis growers must pay the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority. The law went into effect on June 1, 2023. It raised the fee from a flat rate of $2,500 to a scale structure that is based on the square footage of the growing operation, which means the fees can be as much as $50,000. Now, three licensed medical marijuana operators and a cannabis advocate have petitioned the state’s Supreme Court to repeal the law. The petition alleges that the law is unconstitutional and is a “revenue-raising tax disguised as a fee.”
Adult-Use Cannabis Sales in Arizona Surpass $100 Million for the First Time
According to recent data from the Arizona Department of Revenue, the state’s recreational cannabis sales exceeded $100 million for the first time in March 2023. Adult-use cannabis sales launched in January 2021, and combined medical and adult-use sales reached the $100 million mark for the first time in March 2021. However, the totals for March 2023 are the first time a single segment of the state’s legal cannabis market hit the nine-figure mark. Medical marijuana sales reached their peak of $73.3 million in April 2021 and have steadily declined since then. From December 2022 to February 2023, adult-use sales figures were $93.4 million, $91.3 million, and $84.5 million respectively.
The President of Ukraine Says MMJ Legalization Could Help His Country Cope with the Trauma of War
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky addressed his country’s Parliament on Wednesday and called for medical marijuana legalization. According to a translation of President Zelensky’s address, he wants the legalization of ‘cannabis-based medicines’ to help the citizens of Ukraine so they can better cope with the stress and trauma of war. Ukrainians have been dealing with the anguish of war since Russia stormed their country in February 2022. President Zelensky was supportive of legalizing medical marijuana during his campaign. His cabinet has taken the initial steps toward legalization by approving draft legislation, but it still needs to pass Parliament.
