Articles By Nushin Rashidian

Global

United Nations’ Narcotics Board Report Reckons With Cannabis Legalization Trend

The International Narcotics Control Board’s latest report, launched Thursday, for the first time devotes its first chapter to cannabis legalization.

United States

Cannabis Pardon Process Moves Forward 

Pres. Biden announced the pardon of low-level federal cannabis possession convictions. After getting slowed by “concerns regarding the verification of the applicants’ immigration status,” the application for those seeking proof of pardon certificates is now live.

United States

A Cannabis Tipping Point Is Possible in 2023

This may be the year in which adult use cannabis becomes legal in more than half of the U.S., adding pressure on Congress to consider reforms. Here are the bills in play.

United States

U.S. Sentencing Commission Proposes New Approach to Cannabis Offenses

Should federal courts consider cannabis possession when calculating someone’s criminal history? This and other questions are up for debate.

Connecticut

Connecticut Adult Use Cannabis Sales Will Start in January

In neighboring Rhode Island, adult use sales began in early December, and New York’s first adult use sales are expected by the end of 2022, too.

Congress

Missed Moments: How Congress Almost Decriminalized Cannabis

President Biden’s reforms are significant, but they highlight other leaders’ fumbled opportunities to change course through the decades.

Nevada

Nevada Selects Cannabis Lounges to Open in 2023

Gov. Steve Sisolak signed a bill into law in mid-2021 that paved the way for dozens of lounges to open across the state in the coming months.

New York

New York Regulators Set to Propose Adult Use Cannabis Rules, Approve First 36 Shops

Ahead of Monday’s Cannabis Control Board meeting, regulators released hundreds of pages of proposed rules for the adult use industry, and the first batch of shops set for approval.

Congress

“The Dam is Starting to Break:” Cannabis Research Bill Headed to Biden’s Desk Is a First

The bipartisan bill, albeit incremental, would start to streamline cannabis research and is also symbolic of the momentum toward cannabis reform in Congress.