Marijuana

Minot charity finds marijuana among donated goodsan hour agoMINOT, N.D. (AP) — Workers sorting through donations for the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch in Minot made an unexpected discovery recently. And, the source of the donation may be even more surprising.Retail cannabis approved in at least 25 Vermont communitiesyesterdayBURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — At least 25 communities have approved Town Meeting Day measures allowing retail marijuana sales within their borders as Vermont’s first retail businesses are expected to open in the fall.Costa Rica legalizes medicinal marijuana use, hemp growingyesterdaySAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) — Medicinal marijuana was legalized Wednesday in Costa Rica with the president’s signing of a law passed a day earlier by congress.The law also legalizes the cultivation and industrial production of hemp.ADVERTISEMENTSouth Dakota House ‘smokes out’ recreational pot billBy STEPHEN GROVESMarch 2, 2022PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A bipartisan group of South Dakota House lawmakers on Tuesday mounted a last-ditch effort to resurrect a proposal to legalize recreational marijuana through a maneuver called a “smoke out.”Flowering medical marijuana now available in MinnesotaMarch 1, 2022ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesotans who use medical marijuana now have a new way of consuming the cannabis. Starting Tuesday, everyone who is registered for medical marijuana can apply to get it in its purest form, dried flower.Devotees crowd Nepal temple as COVID-19 cases declineMarch 1, 2022KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of devotees crowded a revered Hindu temple in Nepal’s capital for a festival on Tuesday as coronavirus cases decline and life returns to normal.Around a million devotees were expected to visit the temple to Hindu god Shiva on Shivaratri, one of Nepal’s most cherished festivals.41 Vermont communities to vote on retail cannabis operationsMarch 1, 2022MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — About 40 Vermont communities will be voting Tuesday on Town Meeting Day whether to allow retail marijuana operations within their borders, according to the Vermont League of Cities and Towns.House Republicans block bill to speed retail marijuana salesBy SARAH RANKIN and DENISE LAVOIEMarch 1, 2022RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Republicans in the Virginia House blocked a measure Monday that would have allowed limited retail sales of recreational marijuana to begin later this year.On a 5-3 party-line vote, the subcommittee voted to continue to 2023 the measure that had cleared the Democrat-controlled Senate earlier this month, effectively defeating it.South Dakota House committee rejects recreational pot billBy STEPHEN GROVESFebruary 28, 2022PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota House Republicans on Monday dismissed a proposal to legalize recreational pot for adults, in a major blow to a bill that aimed to honor the will of voters.Washington lawmakers urge halt to hemp-derived THC in stateBy GENE JOHNSONFebruary 26, 2022SEATTLE (AP) — Washington lawmakers are making a last-ditch attempt to block intoxicating, synthetically derived cannabis products, including gummy candies and vape oil, from being sold at gas stations, convenience stores and smoke shops after earlier bills failed.ADVERTISEMENTMaryland House approves recreational marijuana legislationBy BRIAN WITTEFebruary 25, 2022ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland voters would decide whether to legalize recreational marijuana in November, under a bill approved by the House of Delegates on Friday.The House voted 96-34 for the constitutional amendment, sending it to the Senate.House revives bill striking defense for medical pot February 24, 2022PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota House Republican lawmakers on Thursday revived a bill to rid the state’s medical marijuana law of a provision that allows patients with debilitating medical conditions to avoid criminal charges for pot possession if they have not obtained a marijuana identification card.South Dakota Senate passes bill to legalize recreational potBy STEPHEN GROVESFebruary 24, 2022PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The South Dakota Senate on Wednesday passed a proposal to legalize recreational marijuana, as Republicans reasoned they should jump ahead of a campaign to legalize it on the November ballot.Nebraska medical marijuana bill derided as ’poison pill″February 24, 2022LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A bill that would allow marijuana for medicinal use in Nebraska while imposing tight restrictions hit a wall of opposition Wednesday from both legalization advocates and opponents.Court: Medical marijuana can’t be taxed in New MexicoFebruary 24, 2022SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Supreme Court has last stand a lower court ruling that found cannabis purchases by medical marijuana patients should not be subject to gross receipts tax. The Supreme Court issued its order Wednesday, just days before parties in the case were scheduled to present arguments.Recreational marijuana bill advances in Maryland HouseBy BRIAN WITTEFebruary 23, 2022ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — The Maryland House advanced legislation Wednesday to legalize recreational marijuana in the state, if voters approve a constitutional amendment in November.The House gave preliminary approval to two separate measures.Marijuana rule changes spark criticism in New MexicoFebruary 23, 2022SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The agency charged with setting up New Mexico’s marijuana industry is proposing changes to existing rules less than a month before recreational sales are scheduled to begin, sparking criticism from some who are preparing to open new businesses.ADVERTISEMENTNY will let hemp farmers grow pot to prepare for legal salesBy JENNIFER PELTZ and KAREN MATTHEWSFebruary 23, 2022NEW YORK (AP) — New York is paving the way for hemp farmers to get a head start on growing marijuana for legal sales that are expected to begin next year.Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation Tuesday that lets hemp cultivators apply for two-year licenses to grow for the forthcoming legal recreational market for pot; like hemp, it’s a type of cannabis plant.2 firefighters injured in explosion at illegal pot operationFebruary 21, 2022ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Two firefighters were injured in an explosion during a fire at an illegal marijuana extract operation hidden at a commercial building in Southern California, authorities said.Man pleads guilty in deadly shooting during drug dealFebruary 21, 2022POLK TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) — A man involved in a drug-related robbery that ended with the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old boy in eastern Pennsylvania will now spend several decades in prison.Anthony Mitchell, 19, of Kunkletown, pleaded guilty Friday to third-degree murder, according to the Monroe County prosecutor’s office.Supporters face uphill battle to decriminalize marijuanaFebruary 20, 2022MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Supporters are continuing to push for Alabama to join states that have decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana, but the state senator behind the bill acknowledged the measure has a bleak outlook in an election-year session.Former correctional officer accused of selling inmates potFebruary 19, 2022CHESHIRE, Conn. (AP) — A former Connecticut correctional officer has been accused of selling marijuana to inmates and getting paid through a Cash App account. State Police arrested the former officer on Thursday, charging him with conveying an unauthorized item into a correctional institution.Flandreau: Tribal medical pot cards leading to arrestsFebruary 19, 2022PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — An American Indian tribe in South Dakota says police are arresting people who buy medical marijuana at the tribe’s dispensary. The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe operates the only medical marijuana dispensary in the state.South Dakota pot legalization bill cleared for Senate vote By STEPHEN GROVESFebruary 18, 2022PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A bipartisan proposal to legalize recreational marijuana in South Dakota survived its first test in the Legislature on Thursday as a Senate committee recommended the proposal for a vote in the full chamber next week.ADVERTISEMENTU.S. Coast Guard offloads $1 billion worth of narcoticsBy JOSHUA GOODMANFebruary 18, 2022FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida (AP) — A U.S. Coast Guard vessel on Thursday offloaded more than 30 metric tons of cocaine and marijuana reportedly worth over $1 billion that was seized at sea during a months-long deployment off the coast of South America.NY official: We hope to get $200M pot equity fund going fastFebruary 17, 2022NEW YORK (AP) — New York’s marijuana agency is working toward a swift launch for a proposed $200 million fund to help people of color, women and certain other groups start legal pot businesses, an official said Thursday.Key details await as NY eyes $200M pot business equity fundBy JENNIFER PELTZFebruary 16, 2022NEW YORK (AP) — In an ambitious move to make its new marijuana industry equitable, New York is proposing a $200 million fund to help entrepreneurs of color and some other groups get into the business.Marijuana bill spurs water rights debate in arid New MexicoFebruary 16, 2022ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Hispanic farmers and rural residents in New Mexico are concerned legislation that would allow small cannabis producers to significantly boost their plant counts lacks a provision to ensure the producers have valid water rights.Flurry of action as House, Senate hit legislative deadlineBy SARAH RANKIN and DENISE

LAVOIEFebruary 16, 2022RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The Virginia House and Senate churned through scores of bills Tuesday as they approached a key deadline for the year’s legislative session. Lawmakers debated topics ranging from marijuana to campaign finance ahead of what’s known as “crossover,” the point by which all legislation but the budget bills must clear its originating chamber.San Bernardino County pot cultivation raids net 31 arrestsFebruary 11, 2022SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (AP) — Search warrants served at numerous locations between Jan. 31 and Feb. 6 led to seizures of nearly 64,000 illegally cultivated marijuana plants and 2,500 pounds of processed marijuana, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said.Cannabis facility under construction in Hinds CountyFebruary 11, 2022JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A cannabis production facility is under construction in Hinds County, company officials told WJTV.ADVERTISEMENTMarijuana bills stall in Virginia’s GOP-controlled HouseBy DENISE LAVOIE and SARAH RANKINFebruary 11, 2022RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — As the Virginia General Assembly reaches the halfway point of this year’s session, one of the year’s most complicated issues — possible changes to the state’s new law legalizing recreational marijuana — has stalled in the GOP-controlled House.Police: Ex-‘American Idol’ star took marijuana before crashBy JEFF MARTINFebruary 10, 2022Marijuana was involved in a deadly South Carolina crash in which a former “American Idol” contestant has been charged with driving under the influence, according to an arrest warrant.Caleb Kennedy, 17, ran over a man with his pickup truck Tuesday after driving up a residential driveway, authorities said.Moroccan region held death recipe for boy trapped in wellBy MOSA’AB ELSHAMYFebruary 10, 2022IGHRAN, Morocco (AP) — The death of a 5-year-old boy trapped for days in the dark depths of a well symbolizes for many villagers a curse that haunts their remote mountainous region in northern Morocco: dirt poor, neglected and dependent on its illegal cannabis crop to survive.SC Senate approves medical marijuana bill, House up nextBy JEFFREY COLLINSFebruary 10, 2022COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina senators Wednesday approved the use of medical marijuana in the state on a 28-15 vote that finished a Republican senator’s seven-year quest to pass the proposal, but the legislation still has some hurdles to pass to become law.NY clamps down on businesses offering marijuana as a ‘gift’By JENNIFER PELTZFebruary 10, 2022NEW YORK (AP) — While New York works on launching a legal market for recreational marijuana, some entrepreneurs dove into a legal gray area by saying they’re not selling pot but giving it away while people buy something else.Legalizing marijuana gaining momentum in WisconsinBy SCOTT BAUERFebruary 9, 2022MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The push to legalize marijuana in Wisconsin enjoys some bipartisan support, but backers of bills that would make it legal for either medical or recreational use say it won’t happen this year.Man pleads guilty after after seniors ate his THC browniesFebruary 9, 2022TYNDALL, S.D. (AP) — A South Dakota man has pleaded guilty to a felony drug charge after his mother unknowingly served his marijuana-laced brownies to a group of seniors at the Tabor Community Center.N. Macedonia medical marijuana firm raided, 1.5 tons seized February 9, 2022SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) — Police in North Macedonia have raided a company legally growing marijuana for medicinal purposes and seized about 1.5 tons of cannabis due to “irregularities” in the firm’s operation, the country’s interior minister said Wednesday.Documents show X-ray used in border marijuana seizure February 8, 2022PEMBINA, N.D. (AP) — Newly unsealed court documents are providing details about the seizure of nearly 2,800 pounds of marijuana at the Pembina Port of Entry last year.Documents in the case have been kept sealed by a federal judge because of concerns that they would compromise the investigation into the April 2021 discovery.Thailand one step closer to decriminalizing marijuanaBy CHALIDA .Mail order weed online with worldwide shipping ,EKVITTHAYAVECHNUKULFebruary 8, 2022BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand on Tuesday moved one step closer toward being the first Asian nation to decriminalize marijuana, after its health minister signed a measure officially dropping cannabis from a list of controlled drugs.Court revives high school student’s suit over strip search February 7, 2022MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A federal appeals court has revived a lawsuit brought by an Alabama student who said she was strip-searched at age 14 by school officials who suspected her of smoking marijuana.TVA says it won’t power Mississippi medical pot businessesFebruary 7, 2022TUPELO, Miss. (AP) — One of the main suppliers of wholesale electricity in north Mississippi says it is uncertain whether it can provide power to facilities that grow marijuana for medical use.7 arrested in Salem-area illicit marijuana growing operationFebruary 6, 2022KEIZER, Ore. (AP) — Police in Oregon said Saturday they have arrested seven people in what they call an extensive illegal marijuana growing operation.The operation was growing cannabis plants in six houses in residential areas of Salem and Keizer and children were living in two of the homes, the Keizer Police Department said.SC Senate medical marijuana debate stretches to third weekBy JEFFREY COLLINSFebruary 5, 2022COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The debate over whether to legalize medical marijuana in South Carolina is extending into a third week in the state Senate starting Tuesday, with a Republican leader telling his colleagues to plan for late nights to bring the issue to a vote.Evers vetoes bill increasing marijuana penaltiesFebruary 4, 2022MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers on Friday vetoed a Republican-backed bill that would have increased the penalties for making or distributing marijuana through a process that creates a highly concentrated version of marijuana known as butane hash oil.Mississippi medical marijuana licensing set to start by JuneBy EMILY WAGSTER PETTUSFebruary 4, 2022JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Days after Mississippi became the 37th state to legalize medical marijuana, the state Health Department said Friday it is working to develop its part of the program.NY boosts medical marijuana access as legal pot market loomsBy JENNIFER PELTZFebruary 4, 2022NEW YORK (AP) — While New York’s much-anticipated legal pot shops could be a year away from opening, the state is making medical marijuana much more available now.Georgia officer arrested for selling marijuana while on dutyFebruary 4, 2022WARWICK, Ga, (AP) — A southwest Georgia police officer has been arrested on charges of selling marijuana while on duty and in uniform.The Georgia Bureau of Investigation says that agents arrested 32-year-old Leon Mitchell of Albany on Jan.Brussels drugs raid reveals trove of tarantulas, scorpionsFebruary 4, 2022BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgian police searching for drugs in a Brussels apartment have discovered 37 cannabis plants — as well as a collection of dozens of poisonous spiders, scorpions and desert-dwelling lizards.Mail order weed online with worldwide shipping