Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana.

Maine began sales of adult-use cannabis.  The Supreme Court declined to hear a case concerning marijuana rescheduling.  New Zealand will vote on recreational cannabis on Saturday.  Hemp growers are unhappy over the DEA’s hemp rule.  And finally, marijuana made an appearance on The Family Feud.

maine

Maine legalized recreational cannabis in 2016.  The roller coaster ride to selling cannabis ended last Friday.  Sales have been brisk, to say the least.   The six stores open for business brought in almost $100,000 the first day.  Sales for the long weekend were over $250,000. Clearly, there was a lot of pent-up demand.

supreme court

The nation’s highest court (no pun intended) refused to hear a case on cannabis scheduling.  The case challenged marijuana’s Schedule I designation, arguing that medical marijuana’s widespread use proves it does have a medical purpose.

new zealand

Saturday‘s the big day for cannabis in New Zealand.  Voters will head to the polls to decide if those 20 and older can purchase and consume marijuana.  The Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill would require the legislature to enact rules for sales, allow adults to buy up to 14 grams of marijuana per day and permit home cultivation of up to four plants per household.

dea hemp rule

The Hemp Industries Association and RE Botanicals are back in court, still unhappy over the DEA’s interim final rule on hemp.  Regular readers will doubtless recall that they petitioned the DC Circuit Court for review last month.  That case is still on-going.  Now they’re suing the agency in DC District Court, citing regulatory overreach.  Further bulletins as events warrant in both cases.

and finally

Yet more proof that cannabis consumption is getting more and more mainstream.  Marijuana recently appeared as a question on The Family Feud.

Stay safe and be well everyone – we’ll see you next week!