Progress in Cannabis: NYC Dispensary Opens, MD Legislation Introduced, and More
On February 7, 2023, the first recreational cannabis dispensary in New York City opened its doors for business.[0] This milestone marks the culmination of a year of progress for the state of New York, which legalized marijuana for adults 21 and older in 2022.[0] Located on 6th Street, Legally Rooted is a locally-owned and operated medical marijuana dispensary that is the first of its kind in the Queen City.[1]
In addition to the opening of the dispensary, Maryland lawmakers introduced legislation on Friday, January 16, 2023 to create the framework for a legal cannabis market ahead of the July 1 start of legalization.[2] Furthermore, at the end of 2022, the President granted a half dozen additional pardons, including for a handful of people with marijuana or other drug convictions on their records.[3] This was part of a widely supported set of actions recognizing the folly of federal cannabis prohibition and granting thousands of people with federal criminal records for simple marijuana possession the opportunity to obtain employment, housing, education, and more.[3]
It's clear that the cannabis industry is continuing to make tremendous strides forward in the United States, and with the launch of the first NYC cannabis dispensary, we can only anticipate more progress and acceptance in the years to come.
0. “Cannabis News | Cannabis Blog | Herban Creative” herbancreativenj.com, 21 Feb. 2023, https://herbancreativenj.com/cannabis-news
1. “Meridian cannabis dispensary opens | Local News | meridianstar.com” www.meridianstar.com, 21 Feb. 2023, https://www.meridianstar.com/news/local_news/meridian-cannabis-dispensary-opens/article_b8071b52-5ee0-579a-b5fd-424fb4c6de79.html
2. “Cannabis regulations proposed ahead of legalization deadline …” cnsmaryland.org, 21 Feb. 2023, https://cnsmaryland.org/2023/02/03/cannabis-regulations-proposed-ahead-of-legalization-deadline/
3. “Presidential Pardons for Federal Cannabis Possession Convictions …” communitynewspapers.com, 21 Feb. 2023, https://communitynewspapers.com/featured/presidential-pardons-for-federal-cannabis-possession-convictions-still-unavailable/
