Global Ganja Report

In a paradox, New York authorities are finally unleashing the long-anticipated crackdown on the state’s legion and proliferating unlicensed cannabis retailers—while the licensing program continues to be slowed by obstacles, including legal challenges.

With the failure of Democratic Gov. John Carney to either sign or veto two bills on his desk, Delaware became the latest state to legalize cannabis on April 22. Carney allowed House Bill 1 and House Bill 2 to become law without his signature.

The arrival of a major US multi-state operator in Bangkok is a sign of the global cannabis industry's big ambitions for Thailand, the first Asian country to decriminalize. But with enabling legislation still pending, the regulatory environment remains uncertain.

Despite a heretofore uninspiring record, Biden is poised to complete a trifecta of long-sought reforms of federal cannabis law: giving the industry access to financial services, expungement of convictions for possession, and allowing medical research.

Legal action has blocked the issuing of several retail cannabis licenses in New York state, with a would-be entrepreneur arguing that equity measures favoring those with in-state cannabis convictions violate the US Constitution’s interstate commerce clause.

The Nov. 8 midterm elections saw mixed results for state cannabis legalization efforts. In Maryland, voters approved Question 4, amending the state constitution to permit the purchase and possession of up to 1.5 ounces. In Missouri, Amendment 3 passed, allowing adults to purchase and possess up to three ounces, with a provision for registered home cultivation. Similar measures failed in Arkansas and North and South Dakota. (Vox, CNBC)

US President Joe Biden on Oct. 6 pardoned “all prior Federal offenses of simple possession of marijuana.” Biden explained that criminal records for marijuana possession have negatively impacted “too many lives,” particularly those of black and brown people through disproportionate conviction rates.

New York state is just now accepting applications for retail cannabis licenses. But the Big Apple already sees a thriving retail trade in cannabis products, from both storefronts and street stalls—more or less tolerated by authorities. What legal rights do these unlicensed operators have, and will they survive the imposition of the licensing regime?