MJBizMag January 2023 - 24

INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS State by State
Oklahoma
State residents will vote on legalizing recreational marijuana on March 7, during a special statewide
election set by Gov. Kevin Still.
If voters approve adult-use marijuana, a 15% excise tax as well as a standard sales tax will be levied
on sales. The tax proceeds would be earmarked for local governments, court systems, public schools,
substance abuse treatment and the state's general revenue fund.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court in September denied a request by advocates behind State Question
820 to instruct the Election Board to include the adult-use petition on the November ballot.
Rhode Island
The launch of adult-use marijuana sales in Rhode Island was " pretty mellow " and lacking the long lines
and product shortages often associated with the opening of a new market.
The state's first legal adult-use marijuana sale happened shortly after a Rise store in Warwick
opened at 5:45 a.m. ET on Dec. 1, according to Providence TV station WLNE.
However, Mother Earth Wellness in Pawtucket might have won the honor by inviting a supplier to
make a purchase at 5:30 a.m., the Providence Journal reported.
The state's quick rollout-lawmakers approved recreational sales only six months ago-has
presented some technical challenges but also some budding opportunities for dispensaries and
suppliers to recapture business lost for years to neighboring Massachusetts.
Mother Earth co-owner Joe Parkuris told Cranston TV station WJAR that roughly 2,000 customers
came through the store during the first three days of regulated sales.
The store is one of five that transitioned from medical marijuana dispensaries to accommodate
adult-use sales in time for the December launch.
Rhode Island's adult-use market is expected to generate $80 million in sales in the first year and
$300 million by the fourth year, according to MJBizDaily projections.
South Dakota
Voters defeated a measure that would have allowed adults to possess and use home-grown cannabis,
though it would not have created an adult-use marketplace.
The measure was defeated by a vote of 53% to 47%, according to the South Dakota Secretary of
State's office.
In 2020, 54% of voters approved a measure that would have permitted commercial cultivation and
sales of recreational marijuana, but a state-sponsored lawsuit killed that measure.
At the time, South Dakota was the first state in which voters approved both medical and
recreational marijuana during the same election.
Meanwhile, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, an opponent of marijuana legalization, defeated a state
lawmaker to win reelection.
U.S. Sen. John Thune and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson also won their races in South Dakota.
Washington DC
The District of Columbia is now allowing visitors to buy medical marijuana without an out-of-state
MMJ registration, a change that could increase business for dispensaries in the district.
The move is the result of new legislation signed into law on Oct. 17 by Mayor Muriel Bowser.
Non-DC residents who don't have a valid MMJ registration from another jurisdiction may apply for
a temporary registration card from DC's Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration.
The new measure allows patient MMJ registration cards to remain valid for two years.
Note: Entries sourced from MJBizDaily and other international, national and local news outlets. These developments
occurred before this magazine's publication deadline, so some situations might have changed.
24 January 2023 | MJBizMagazine

https://mjbizdaily.com/recreational-cannabis-legalization-wont-make-oklahomas-november-ballot/ https://mjbizdaily.com/south-dakota-supreme-court-rejects-voter-approved-recreational-marijuana-market/ https://mjbizdaily.com/south-dakota-house-committee-rejects-adult-use-marijuana-bill/

MJBizMag January 2023

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