[author: Susan Ryan]

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

The USDA issued a final hemp rule. Virginia began the process of legalizing cannabis. New Mexico faces a lawsuit over medical marijuana plant limits. Governor Cuomo offers support for legalization. The road to legal marijuana in Idaho may have a new obstacle to overcome. And finally, a word to CBD companies: stop with the phony celebrity endorsements.

USDA HEMP RULE

At long last, the USDA released its final rules on hemp. The industry was less than pleased with the interim rules, as we reported here and here. The final rules don’t assuage all hemp growers’ concerns, but they are viewed as a step in the right direction. Of course, new administrations often freeze new rules, so we may not have heard the last on this.

VIRGINIA

The Virginia Senate held hearings on a legalization bill this week, with more to follow in the coming days. Discussion centered around how cannabis would be regulated and taxed in the state, along with social equity issues.

NEW MEXICO

A medical marijuana operator in New Mexico sued the state over its plant-count limit. Ultra Health, which began its court battle with the state in 2016, argues that the limit violates a court order. The medical cannabis program has grown to the point that new limits set in 2019 are no longer adequate to satisfy demand, according to the company’s latest filing.

NEW YORK

Meanwhile, in New York, a new legislative session brings with it the prospect of new legalization efforts. As we’re reported before, Governor Cuomo (D) is strongly in favor. His arguments stress the need for increased revenue, part of which would go to a social equity fund.

IDAHO

State Senator C. Scott Grow (R-Eagle) proposed an amendment to the Idaho Constitution that would make permanently illegal any drug not legalized in the state as of 2020. With Montana’s vote to legalize, the state finds itself largely surrounded by adult-use legal jurisdictions. Grow’s object is to preserve the “Idaho way of life.”

AND FINALLY

We’ve mentioned before that Clint Eastwood does not promote CBD products and will sue you if you say he does. Well, some people have not gotten that message (subscription required). And he’s not the only celebrity with this problem! Bill Maher had some choice words for a company using his name, as did Olivia Newton-John. C’mon people; if your product is that good, you should be able to find someone to actually endorse it.