Colleen Bydick Archives

On Tuesday, the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) released their voter guide to 2022 governors’ races and cannabis policy reform. In 36 states, voters will be choosing their next governor on Election Day.

Green Thumb Industries Inc., a leading national cannabis consumer packaged goods company and owner of RISE Dispensaries, today announced plans to expand its medical retail footprint in Florida through a lease agreement with Circle K, the global convenience store retailer.

Missouri AFL-CIO president Jake Hummel on Thursday announced his organization was endorsing the proposal, which will appear on the Nov. 8 ballot as Amendment 3, calling it a “huge step forward for criminal justice reform in Missouri.”

Black Minnesotans are nearly five times as likely to be arrested on marijuana charges as white ones, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. It’s a disparity that has persisted for years, despite data showing that Black and white residents use cannabis at similar rates.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers and activists are calling for Missouri Gov. Mike Parson to include marijuana legalization on the agenda of the legislature’s upcoming special session.

The Minority Cannabis Academy graduated its first class of 25 students in September. The Academy’s goal is to take advantage of the social equity atmosphere in New Jersey to help those most harmed by prohibition.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman announce the PA Marijuana Pardon Program, offering expedited pardon reviews to people convicted of only minor cannabis possession for personal use.

“No one seems to have gotten it right.” Mayor Eric Adams told a Friday afternoon crowd, of legal cannabis in America. “This is our chance to get it right.” New York City’s mayor addressed attendees of the 2022 Cannabis World Congress & Business Expo (CWCBExpo) on the second day of the three-day event. Adams stressed the social equity focus of New York’s cannabis program.

“It really remains a fundamental injustice,” said Stephen Post, of America’s criminalization of cannabis. “We’re really helping to try to turn around those injustices.” Post works as a campaign manager for Last Prisoner Project (LPP), a nonprofit assisting cannabis prisoners.

Bryan Buckley founded Helmand Valley Growers Company (HVGC) out of a desire to share healing through cannabis. The chief executive told Profiles in Legalization how the cannabis industry found him during a February interview. He saw the damage being done by inadequate treatment of his fellow veterans.

The Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office has agreed to take another look at signatures submitted by a group seeking legalization of medical marijuana to determine if they should have been counted.

Keep Reading

Profiles in Legalization

News Posts

Marijuana Policy Project Releases Voter Guide to 2022 Governors’ Races and Cannabis Policy Reform Ahead of Midterm Election

Green Thumb to Launch “RISE Express” Dispensaries in Florida

Missouri AFL-CIO endorses cannabis legalization constitutional amendment

Minnesota’s Black cannabis users far more likely to face arrest than white ones

Lawmakers ask MO governor to add cannabis legalization in special session

Blog Posts

Minority Cannabis Academy: Social Equity in Practice

In Brief: Pa. Governor Accepting Cannabis Pardon Requests in Sept.

Big Apple Cannabis: CWCB Returns to New York City for Eighth Year

Last Prisoner Project: Taking Real Action to Help Cannabis Prisoners

Veteran-owned and operated cannabis company on a mission to heal

Tag: Colleen Bydick

Signatures on Nebraska medical cannabis petitions to get another look