A new study found that decriminalizing marijuana not only leads to a drop in cannabis arrests overall but that “among adults, decriminalization was associated with a roughly 17 percent decrease in racial disparity” in remaining enforcement.

“Cannabis possession arrest rates declined over 70 percent among adults and over 40 percent among youths after the implementation of cannabis decriminalization in 11 states,” the study found. “Among adults, decriminalization was associated with a roughly 17 percent decrease in racial disparity in arrest rates between Blacks and Whites.”

A Delaware representative said he has spent the last few months tweaking his marijuana legalization bill in an attempt to get enough votes to pass it in 2022.

https://www.delawarepublic.org/politics-government/2022-01-01/marijuana-legalization-is-back-on-the-docket-for-state-lawmakers

Montana recreational marijuana sales began, and the state’s top cannabis regulator spoke about preparations for the launch.

CBD products were once banned, but that provision is removed, and taxes on medical will be at 4% while recreational taxes will sit at 20%. DOR will be monitoring for violations, so if you are operating in Montana, be sure only to operate between 9 AM to 8 PM and don’t sell more than one ounce per person, or you may get some investigators at your door.

https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/a-long-time-coming-recreational-cannabis-sales-go-live-in-montana/article_5e1291f9-b2fc-5577-816d-25d7d9640a38.html

The Louisiana legislature’s Industrial Hemp Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday.

Tuesday, January 04, 2022 10:00 A.M

https://house.louisiana.gov/Agendas_2022/Jan_2022/0104_22_IndHemp.pdf

Kansas’s Industrial Hemp Advisory board will meet on Tuesday.

2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 4, 2022 – Teleconference

https://agriculture.ks.gov/news-events/news-releases/2021/12/28/kda-industrial-hemp-advisory-board-to-meet-january-4

Killeen, Texas activists are seeking to qualify a local marijuana decriminalization ballot measure.

https://kdhnews.com/news/local/area-democrats-looking-to-have-marijuana-meeting-at-kids-university/article_7d49025e-6a94-11ec-8ee7-e357eef257cc.html

Irish marijuana possession prosecutions have fallen by nearly half over the past year.
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/garda-figures-show-shift-toward-cannabis-decriminalisation-as-prosecutions-halved-in-2021-41202175.html

A review concluded that “no compelling evidence was found to recommend the use of cannabis in [Parkinson’s disease] patients” but that “a potential benefit was identified with respect to alleviation of PD related tremor, anxiety, pain, improvement of sleep quality and quality of life.”

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