federal

"The times they are a-changin" sang 60's icon and Nobel Prize winner Bob Dylan, but I'm not sure even he could have predicted the rapid change occurring in the United States regarding the cannabis business. While still illegal at the federal level, pot is currently legal for recreational use...

Marijuana legalization backers fear the worst for their fast-growing industry as the U.S. Senate prepares to vote Wednesday to approve a longtime pot opponent, Alabama Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions, as the nation's next attorney general. All signs indicate that Sessions, who last year said...

Even as he celebrated the end of a big year for his cannabis-focused company, Terra Tech, Derek Peterson was scrambling to cope with some bad news. On the one hand, in 2016, his Newport Beach business raised close to $20 million to produce and sell marijuana products across the country...

Colleges and marijuana may be linked in the public consciousness, but the two still don't go together in Maine — not officially, at least — despite the drug's legalization earlier this week. Colleges and universities throughout Maine have been reminding students that marijuana is still...

Honolulu, Hawaii — Bills introduced in the Hawaii legislature would legalize industrial hemp production in the state, setting the stage to nullify federal prohibition of the plant in practice. A coalition of five Democrat senators introduced Senate Bill 163 (SB163) on Jan. 20. The legislation...

A bill working its way through the New Mexico House that would remove the state ban on industrial hemp has already cleared its first committee hurdle. Passage into law would set the stage to nullify federal prohibition on the plant in practice. Rep. Rick Little (R-Chaparral) introduced House...

Salt Lake City – Utah researchers would be able study cannabis for medicinal use without federal approval under a bill that unanimously cleared a House committee Monday. "This is the first step in what I think is the right policy direction for this state," said Rep. Brad Daw, R-Orem, sponsor...

Phoenix, Ariz. — A bill introduced in the Arizona Senate would remove the state ban on industrial hemp, setting the stage to nullify federal prohibition on the plant in practice. Sen. Sonny Borrelli (R-Lake Havasu City) introduced Senate Bill 1045 (SB1045) on Jan. 10. The legislation would...

With the inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20, the United States got a new president. And with that new president comes a long list of new appointees across various federal agencies and departments. While President Trump's cabinet selection process has played out publicly, a variety of...

Colorado Springs, Colo. - A four-year dispute over medical marijuana seized by police in Colorado Springs has come to an end. The Colorado Supreme Court says police don't have to return marijuana plants to a man acquitted of marijuana-related drug crimes. Colorado police can resume destroying...

Finally, there appears to be a serious federal discussion about marijuana legalization. But it's nowhere near the Beltway. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's marijuana task force recently released a landmark report about legalizing and regulating the drug in Canada. Advocates on all sides will...

As President Obama prepares to leave the White House and make way for President Trump on January 20, many Americans fear–with good reason–that the incoming administration will effectively nullify his presidential legacy. Of all the things progressives fear about a Trump presidency, this is...

If the American people are worrying about Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions' approach to enforcing federal marijuana laws, he says they should get Congress to change them. Sessions, who President-elect Donald Trump has tapped to become U.S. attorney general, answered questions on marijuana among...

Jackson, Miss. — A bipartisan bill introduced in the Mississippi House would legalize the production and processing of industrial hemp for commercial purposes, setting the foundation to nullify federal prohibition in practice. Rep, Joel Bomgar (R-Madison) introduced House Bill 180 (HB180) on...

Fort Myers, Fla. – It's Amendment 2 versus the Second Amendment. The passage of Florida Constitutional Amendment 2 in November opened the door to widespread use of medical marijuana in the state, but a September federal court ruling bars users of the drug from purchasing guns. That leaves...

Washington - Marijuana legalization advocates struggled Tuesday to find hope in comments that Jeff Sessions, Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general, made at his Senate confirmation hearing about federal tolerance for states that have legalized pot. Sessions, who has been fiercely...

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) has outlined his stance as a firm opponent of marijuana, but during his confirmation hearing Tuesday, he offered only vague answers about how he might approach the drug should he be confirmed as President-elect Donald Trump's attorney general. Although Sessions...

Lawmakers in both parties are pressing Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions not to wipe out the booming marijuana industry in states like Colorado should he win confirmation as U.S. attorney general. Sessions could theoretically use federal enforcement power to try to cripple what is already a $6...

Concord, N.H. — New Hampshire will have several opportunities to expand its medical marijuana program, as six bills are currently active in the Live Free or Die State this year. If passed, these measures would further nullify the federal prohibition on cannabis in practice. Rep. Eric Schleien...

While some activists are planning to give away marijuana on Inauguration Day, other entrepreneurs are taking a different approach: making a ton of money from it. According to Governing.com, 29 states and the District of Columbia have or will soon have laws legalizing marijuana in some form. Use...