marijuana

Sanctuary Cannabis, one of 24 medical marijuana operators in the state, filed a challenge arguing that the health department's $1.33 million biennial fee is “wholly without logic or reason.”

The National Cancer Institute award will fund a five-year study that will include 300 medical cannabis users and 300 non-medical users. Researchers hope to learn who would benefit most from cannabis.

An administrative law judge issued an order allowing a challenge by Sanctuary Cannabis to proceed and granted an emergency motion to force health officials to provide info used to calculate the new fee.

Some justices appeared skeptical of arguments that the court should reject a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow recreational use of marijuana by people 21 or older.

The state adopted a rule creating a formula that set the renewal fee at $1.33 million every two years — more than 22 times the $60,000 biennial operators had been paying.

It will likely take a few weeks before medical marijuana is available in pharmacies. After they submit applications, inspections will be required before approval is granted.

The proposed ballot summary, in part, says the measure would allow “adults 21 years or older to possess, purchase, or use marijuana products and marijuana accessories” for non-medical consumption.

If the DEA decides to reclassify marijuana to Schedule III, it wouldn't legalize recreational use nationwide. But it would have some impact, particularly on research and pot business taxes.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the Department of Health and Human Services had recommended that marijuana be moved from a Schedule I to a Schedule III controlled substance.

A loophole in the farm bill allows for the sale of hemp products that include a form of THC. North Carolina is one state where stores selling intoxicating hemp products have popped up.