Debriefing the 2021 WV Legislative Session – Marijuana


Brian Skinner Legislature, marijuana
"Marijuana"

  By Brian Skinner, Esq. Even though a total of 17 bills related to marijuana were filed for introduction in the West Virginia Senate and House during the 2021 legislative session, only two received any consideration and none crossed the finish line to become law. Of those 17 bills, three would have lowered or extinguished …Read More

Federal marijuana reform momentum expected to continue despite absence from party conventions


Brian Skinner marijuana

Marijuana Business Daily – August 31, 2020 The Democratic and Republican national conventions barely touched on federal marijuana reform. The Republicans didn’t even write a new platform. And the Democratic platform fell short of supporting the efforts congressional Democrats have made in the past year toward federal marijuana legalization and cannabis banking reform. More . …Read More

US House to take up cannabis descheduling bill week of Sept. 21


Brian Skinner marijuana

  Marijuana Business Daily – August 31, 2020 The MORE Act, a bill that would deschedule marijuana and thereby legalize it federally – with massive business implications – is scheduled to be considered by the full U.S. House of Representatives the week of Sept. 21, according to an email sent by House Majority Leader Steny …Read More

The State of State (and Local) Tax Policy


Brian Skinner marijuana, Tax Policy

  By Brian Skinner, Esq. Continuing today’s theme of marijuana legalization, I thought it might be helpful to take a look at the Tax Policy Center‘s briefing on marijuana taxation policy. Although prohibited under federal law, marijuana sales are legal and taxed in nine states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. Marijuana is legal in …Read More

The Economic Benefits of Legalizing Marijuana


Brian Skinner Government & Policy, marijuana
Marijuana Economy

  By Brian Skinner, Esq. Recent news that the U.S. House of Representatives will likely vote on a bill to decriminalize marijuana and leave legalization up to the states caused me to think it might be time to share an article on the economic benefits of legalizing marijuana. As I discussed last week, despite the potential for tax …Read More

Marijuana decriminalization vote expected in House


Brian Skinner marijuana
Marijuana

  Fox News — By Paul Best — August 31, 2020  The House will likely vote on a historic marijuana decriminalization bill next month, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn said Friday. The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act, or MORE, would decriminalize marijuana by removing it from the Controlled Substances Act. States would then be free …Read More

Pennsylvania governor urges legalization of adult-use cannabis: What About West Virginia?


Brian Skinner Cannabis, Legislature, marijuana, West Virginia

By Brian Skinner, Esq. On Tuesday, Governor Tom Wolf of West Virginia’s neighbor to the north, Pennsylvania, called on state lawmakers to legalize a commercial recreational marijuana program during the fall legislative session. Pennsylvannia’s Medical Marijuana Program was signed into law on April 17, 2016, and one year and two days later, West Virginia’s Medical Cannabis Program, a virtual carbon …Read More