POLICE SEARCHES
Smells like progress: Maryland bans police searches based on odour of cannabis
Benzinga reports that Maryland lawmakers passed a bill proposed by Del. Charlotte Crutchfield, which prevents police from searching someone solely based on possession of or odour of cannabis.
The publication highlights that the new bill will:
- Prohibit law enforcement officials from stopping or searching an individual, vehicle or vessel based solely on the scent or possession of cannabis without additional evidence of intent to distribute.
- Restricts police from searching certain areas of a car or motor vehicle during impaired driving investigations.
- Seeks to reduce the fine for public cannabis consumption from $250 to $50.
SPORTS
Nevada sports regulators move to formally stop penalizing fighters over cannabis
The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) is considering amending their rules to formally protect athletes from being penalized over using or possessing cannabis in compliance with state law, reports Marijuana Moment.
The organisation will hold a public hearing on April 24 to receive feedback on proposed changes to the regulations.
The proposed amendment states: “The Commission does not classify cannabis or cannabis derived products as prohibited or banned substances under its program of drug testing and anti-doping that are included in one or more of the publications listed in subsection 1 provided such substances are legal for use or consumption under the laws of the State of Nevada.”
LONG ISLAND
New York’s Long Island opts out of cannabis retail, limiting options for store operators
MJ Biz Daily reports that only 11 of 111 jurisdictions on Long Island are effectively open for retail cannabis business – underscoring the difficulties cannabis entrepreneurs face in New York’s potential billion-dollar cannabis market.
David Feder, a cannabis attorney in the state who represents Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) social equity applicants and other license hopefuls told the publication that Long Island’s opt-out is “ a major issue for not only the CAURD licensees who have been granted this preliminary approval because there’s limited locations to find, but it creates an even more challenging issue for the next round of licensees.”
The publication highlights that retail opt-outs are one of the reasons only five licensed dispensaries in New York are operational nearly three months after the state’s December 29 launch of recreational sales.
