As poll after poll shows, an overwhelming majority of Americans support the legalization of medical cannabis. Of course, cannabis is still prohibited on the federal level, leaving it up to the states to set their own policy. As you might imagine, when each state has its own cannabis regulations, it makes coordinating between them a potentially major headache. That’s why we’re pleased to announce some truly exciting Maryland Marijuana news: The Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission (MMCC) has co-founded a new national association designed to help share resources and know-how when it comes to setting up and administering legal cannabis markets.
Comprising representatives from 19 states in total, the Cannabis Regulators Association (CNNRA) aims to make the business of cannabis smarter, more streamlined, and more consistent. It’s a truly big deal for the world of legal cannabis, and a hopeful sign that federal legalization may be closer than we think. Here’s what we know.
Maryland Marijuana News: State Co-Founds New National Organization
From a patient perspective, Maryland’s medical cannabis laws are reasonably easy to understand. As we’ve written before, we’re proud (and grateful) the MMCC has made real progress in addressing citizen concerns, supply chain and regulatory challenges, and issues of race and gender disparity in the licensing process.
But of course, the MMCC only has jurisdiction over Maryland. Each and every cannabis-legal state has to wrestle with the same questions. And while every state should have the right to tailor their cannabis policy towards their specific needs and goals, you can see how overlapping or conflicting policies between states can quickly add up to a serious problem of red tape.
That’s precisely what the CNNRA is meant to address. It brings together regulators from 19 cannabis-legal states: Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, and Washington.
You may be surprised to learn that the CNNRA’s goal isn’t actually to advocate for legal cannabis. Rather, the group’s aim is to foster communication and harmony between legal cannabis markets. By sharing resources such as access to a national registry of regulators, resources for cannabis policy tracking and development, staff training, and other organizational tools to help make the business of setting up and administering legal cannabis markets more intuitive and consistent.
That’s not to say that cannabis industry participants won’t be welcome in the new organization. As the group explains:
“Business and advocacy organizations are at the forefront of this evolving industry. We know the vital role these groups play in steering cannabis policy and the importance of understanding their unique perspective.”
It’s a hopeful sign that, as we approach the ultimate goal most industry watchers forecast—that is, federal legalization—every stakeholder in the cannabis industry will be offered a seat at the table.
Maryland Cannabis News: What Lies Ahead?
At Remedy Columbia, we generally refrain from the tricky business of making cannabis industry predictions. But while we’re on the topic of Maryland cannabis news, it’s worth taking a moment to look ahead.
Given that earlier in 2020, Maryland expanded its cannabis decriminalization efforts, many wonder if 2021 will be the year the “Free State” lives up to its name and legalizes adult-use cannabis. As an article in Marijuana Business Daily posits, Maryland is one of four states “ripe for 2021” to legalize recreational use, according to Steve Hawkins of the Washington DC-based Marijuana Policy Project. As always, we’ll keep you informed as to all relevant developments.
Do you have questions about Maryland cannabis news or policy? Don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re always here to help!
