Missouri circuit courts have cleared more than 100,000 marijuana charges from the criminal records of individuals according to the Missouri Independent. In order to address the burden of expungements mandated by law, state lawmakers set aside $4.5m to cover overtime expenses and temporary staff wages. The state county courts have had $4.2m in total funds from the Circuit Court Budget Committee, however, Betsy AuBuchon, a clerk of the Missouri Supreme Court, has requested an additional $3.7m for the next fiscal year. The source of the money is taxes levied on recreational marijuana and fees from cannabis businesses. The deadline for expunging all misdemeanour cannabis charges was 8 June with felony charges necessary by 8 December 2023. Speaking to a state representative, AuBuchon said the courts are "doing our best" to clear the backlog.
Maryland residents spent a record $96.5m on cannabis products in December, according to data from the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA). Of that total, $61.5m came from recreational cannabis sales, while medical sales totaled around $35m for the month. Maryland has seen booming sales since the launch of the recreational market last summer. At the time, existing cannabis companies in the state switched to adult-use shops by paying an 8% one-time fee of their 2022 dispensary revenue not exceeding $2m. Licensed stores took in $20.9m in the first week of legal sales. In total, Maryland recorded $787.5m in sales of legal marijuana products in 2023. Over the same period, Rhode Islanders spent more than $107.8m on combined cannabis sales.
Nearly 800,000 people will face arrest this year due to the use of field drug tests, known for their well-known accuracy issues. Out of that number, approximately 30,000 arrests will include individuals falsely accused by color-based presumptive tests, despite not possessing illegal substances themselves. That's according to researchers at the University of Pennsylvania Penn Carey Law School's Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice. Their recent study was based on a comprehensive survey conducted across the nation, revealing roughly 773,000 out of over 1.5 million drug-related arrests every year involving the application of presumptive tests. Ross Miller, Quattrone Center Assistant Director and lead author of the report said presumptive field drug test kits often produce ‘false positives,' adding their primary objective was never to yield definitive proof of drug presence.
New York is starting off 2024 with the opening of several cannabis shops, demonstrating the growth and diversification of the state's industry. The Flowery on Staten Island is set to open on 17 January and will offer recreational cannabis in collaboration with local cultivators and brands. Meanwhile, The Herbal Care in New York City and Verona Collective in Verona have already begun selling cannabis, with both outlets exclusively featuring products from New York farmers. Orange County Cannabis in Wawayanda has also begun sales as the 45th adult-use dispensary in the state. In addition to New York, three other US states have seen new cannabis stores open. Ascend Wellness Holdings has set up its flagship store next to the Hard Rock Casino in Cincinnati, Ohio. Jushi Holdings has relocated its Beyond Hello Hazleton dispensary in Pennsylvania, while Verano Holdings has opened its 74th Florida dispensary, MÜV Yulee.