Unlicensed Cannabis Dispensary on Tribal Land Raided by Minnesota Police
Tribal police on the White Earth reservation and sheriff’s deputies with Mahnomen County raided an unlicensed marijuana store on the reservation. Last Friday, the White Earth Nation’s tribal council voted in favor of legalizing cannabis on their land, and the state of Minnesota legalized possession of marijuana beginning August 1st. Asema Tobacco and Pipe, a tobacco store owned by a White Earth band member, announced via Facebook that cannabis would be sold at the store beginning August 1st. Law enforcement seized cannabis during the raid, as the tobacco store was not legally licensed to sell it. However, no charges have been filed and a task force commander said that the Mahnomen County attorney will determine what charges those involved will face. The task force commander noted that marijuana is not usually a target for raids, but the “blatant disrespect for the law” warranted action.
Temporary Injunction Prevents NY Cannabis Officials from Issuing Social Equity Licenses
On Monday, a temporary injunction was granted to stop New York’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) from issuing or approving any retail cannabis licenses for social equity applicants. The injunction was issued by the New York State Supreme Court and will remain in effect until at least Friday. At that time, the court will hear arguments for a longer injunction. If a longer-term injunction is granted, it would prevent numerous conditional adult-use retail dispensary (CAURD) businesses from opening for several months. The lawsuit behind the injunction was filed on August 4th by a group of disabled military veterans. It claims that the OCM overstepped its authority under the state’s cannabis legalization law by opening the application window to individuals with cannabis offenses (and their immediate family members) first, instead of allowing all applicants to apply for licensing at the same time.
Law Permitting Online Marijuana Sales in Colorado Takes Effect
As of Monday, the state of Colorado now permits online marijuana sales. Two months ago, Governor Jared Polis signed the legislation allowing online sales into law. The bill strikes language from the state statute that barred the online sale of cannabis and adds a regulatory framework for that form of commerce. The new law will allow adults 21 and older to browse available cannabis products online and make their purchase electronically. But, the cannabis will still need to be picked up at retail locations. Retail dispensaries will be required to verify the name and age of consumers purchasing online, and their ID must match that information when they pick up their cannabis products. Retailers will also be required to provide consumers with “digital versions of all warning or educational materials that the retail marijuana store is required to post and provide on its licensed premises.”
