MJBizMag March 2023 - 22

INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS State by State
Kansas
Gov. Laura Kelly said legalizing medical marijuana is one of her top priorities in 2023, despite likely
pushback from state lawmakers.
" In 39 other states, Americans with chronic pain, seizure disorders and PTSD can access medical
marijuana to relieve their suffering, " Kelly said in her State of the State address.
State Sen. Rob Olson is leading efforts to draft an MMJ bill. The measure could have support in the
Kansas House but is unlikely to pass the state Senate.
The governor said in 2020 that she would sign a bill legalizing MMJ if the Kansas Legislature got one
to her desk.
Maine
Recreational marijuana stores in Maine sold nearly $159 million in cannabis products in 2022, nearly
doubling the previous year's sales of roughly $82 million, according to data from the state's Office of
Cannabis Policy.
Maine implemented several changes to its marijuana rules in 2022, including:
* Allowing medical cannabis caregivers without storefronts to sell pre-rolls.
* Opening both medical and recreational marijuana markets to out-of-state business interests.
* Allowing curbside pickup and delivery for licensed adult-use stores.
Maryland
On his first full day in office, Gov. Wes Moore directed the state to spend $46.5 million to set up an
adult-use cannabis marketplace.
Of that amount:
* $40 million will go toward a Cannabis Business Assistance Fund that's meant to " assist small,
minority-owned and women-owned businesses entering the cannabis industry, " according to the
legislation.
* $5 million will go to a Cannabis Public Health Fund that is controlled by the state health
department and could bankroll research.
* $1.5 million will go toward the Criminal Justice Information System to fund automatic
expungements of past simple possession offenses.
Voters elected Moore at the same time they voted to legalize recreational marijuana sales in the state.
The new law does not take effect until July 1, and a legal market might not open until 2024 or 2025.
Massachusetts
Marijuana retailers in Massachusetts have sold $4 billion in product since the state launched adult-use
retail in November 2018.
The state Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) pulled the data, which was comprehensive through
Jan. 22, from 265 stores and 14 delivery businesses throughout Massachusetts.
Expanding the number of licensed dispensaries and delivery providers helped drive gains from a
year ago, when data showed sales of $2.5 billion.
Over the course of 2022, 71 retailers and seven delivery providers entered the market, generating
combined sales of $1.4 billion in the calendar year.
22 March 2023 | MJBizMagazine

https://mjbizdaily.com/kansas-governor-supports-legalizing-medical-cannabis/ https://mjbizdaily.com/maine-reverses-course-will-allow-sales-of-medical-cannabis-pre-rolls/ https://mjbizdaily.com/federal-judge-nullifies-maine-residency-requirement-for-cannabis-owners/ https://mjbizdaily.com/maryland-votes-to-legalize-adult-use-marijuana/ https://mmcc.maryland.gov/Pages/Legalization-of-Non-Medical-Cannabis.aspx https://mjbizdaily.com/massachusetts-adult-use-marijuana-sales-reach-2-54-billion/

MJBizMag March 2023

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