RI leaders close to legalization deal; Bourbon-selling KY senator worried about medical marijuana; Record IL cannabis sales<\/em><\/p>\n Subscribe<\/a>\u00a0to receive Marijuana Moment\u2019s newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. It\u2019s the best way to make sure you know which cannabis stories are shaping the day.<\/p>\n Your support makes Marijuana Moment possible\u2026<\/b><\/p>\n Your good deed for the day:<\/b> donate to an independent publisher like Marijuana Moment and ensure that as many voters as possible have access to the most in-depth cannabis reporting out there.<\/span> The <\/span>Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation<\/span><\/a> reported that marijuana businesses set a sales record in December, closing out a year with nearly $1.4 billion worth of legal cannabis products sold\u2014more than doubling 2020\u2019s total.<\/span>
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<\/span><\/a>\/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW<\/b>
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<\/span>The <\/span>federal monopoly on growing cannabis for research<\/span><\/a> has officially ended, with two companies telling Marijuana Moment that they\u2019ve harvested their first Drug Enforcement Administration-approved crops in recent weeks.<\/span>
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<\/span>Rhode Island\u2019s House speaker and Senate president<\/span><\/a> indicated in opening remarks at the start of the legislative session that they are nearing a deal on how to regulate the marijuana industry in a new legalization bill expected to be filed this month. But Gov. Dan McKee (D) might not be on board with a key detail.<\/span>
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<\/span>Kentucky\u2019s Senate majority floor leader<\/span><\/a>\u2014who owns a bourbon company called \u201cKentucky Senator\u201d\u2014said he opposes medical cannabis despite strong support from his constituents.<\/span><\/p>\n\n
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<\/span>\/ FEDERAL<\/b>
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<\/span>Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)<\/span><\/a> tweeted, \u201cThe War on Drugs has been a war on people\u2014particularly people of color. I\u2019m working to pass our bill to end the federal marijuana prohibition, enact criminal justice reforms, and ensure equity for those impacted by the War on Drugs.\u201d<\/span>
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<\/span>Pennsylvania Democratic Senate candidate <\/span>John Fetterman<\/span><\/a>, currently the lieutenant governor, tweeted about a local move to reduce some marijuana charges, saying, \u201cLebanon \ud83d\udd34\u00a0 is one of Pennsylvania\u2019s most conservative counties. I commend the DA for adopting these common sense changes to marijuana charges. Legalization is \u201cinevitable\u201d in PA. Those aren\u2019t my words. They belong to a Republican state Senator.\u201d<\/span>
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<\/span>Kentucky Democratic Senate candidate <\/span>Charles Booker<\/span><\/a> tweeted, \u201cThere is overwhelming bipartisan support to legalize medical cannabis in Kentucky. The politicians blocking it know that very well.\u201d<\/span>
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<\/span>Texas Democratic congressional candidate <\/span>Coy Branscum<\/span><\/a> tweeted, \u201cI support federal efforts to legalize adult use marijuana. This will be a boon for investment in our country and will provide much needed criminal justice reform for our country.\u201d<\/span>
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<\/span>\/ STATES<\/b>
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<\/span>Mississippi\u2019s<\/span><\/a> lieutenant governor pushed back against Gov. Tate Reeves\u2019s (R) criticism of pending medical cannabis legislation, while the <\/span>House speaker<\/span><\/a> said it is \u201cnot the top issue\u201d for the session. Separately, a <\/span>senator<\/span><\/a> is proposing a medical marijuana bill that would ban smoking.<\/span>
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<\/span>Tennessee<\/span><\/a> Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jason Martin tweeted that voters told him it\u2019s a priority to work on \u201cupdating Tennessee\u2019s antiquated marijuana laws.\u201d<\/span>
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<\/span>The <\/span>Louisiana<\/span><\/a> legislature\u2019s Industrial Hemp Advisory Committee met.<\/span>
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<\/span>An <\/span>Indiana<\/span><\/a> representative said he doesn\u2019t think there\u2019s enough support in the legislature to pass marijuana reform.<\/span>
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<\/span>A <\/span>Wisconsin<\/span><\/a> senator applauded Gov. Tony Evers (D) for pardoning people with marijuana convictions.<\/span>
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<\/span>Montana\u2019s<\/span><\/a> Supreme Court has been slow to set up a specialized court to handle marijuana expungements.<\/span>
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<\/span>Massachusetts\u2019s<\/span><\/a> top marijuana regulator said implementing delivery services can \u201ctake a big chunk out of\u201d the illegal market.<\/span>
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<\/span>Virginia<\/span><\/a> regulators are considering amending rules for marijuana field tests and are accepting comments on proposed changes to rules on medical cannabis product labeling and access to facilities.<\/span>
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<\/span>Illinois<\/span><\/a> regulators are beginning rulemaking on changes to the medical cannabis program.<\/span>
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<\/span>The <\/span>New York<\/span><\/a> Department of Agriculture and Markets tweeted, \u201cWe\u2019re proud to announce that our Hemp Program Plan has been approved by @USDA. All growers who were licensed under our former Industrial Hemp Agricultural Research Pilot Program need to reapply under this new program in order to grow hemp this year.\u201d<\/span>
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<\/span>Colorado<\/span><\/a> regulators gave an update on the marijuana program in the Department of Revenue\u2019s annual report.<\/span>
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<\/span>Oklahoma<\/span><\/a> regulators sent an update about a switch to new medical cannabis licensing software this month.<\/span>
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<\/span>The <\/span>Idaho<\/span><\/a> Global Entrepreneurial Mission reported on hemp projects it is funding.<\/span>
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Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 800 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills<\/a> in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters<\/a> pledging at least $25\/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don\u2019t miss any developments.<\/strong>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/MM_Bill_Tracker_V5_blank.jpg\"){kind=tracking}