August 2018

WA OR ● ■ NV AZ MT WY NM ND SD ID UT NE KS OK TX MN WI IA MO IL IN MI OH PA NY KY WV VA TN NC SC GA AL MS AR LA FL CT MA RI VT NH ME NJ MD DC CO ● ■ ● ■ DE AK ■ HI - States that have passed medical marijuana laws - States that have passed both medical marijuana & recreational cannabis laws - States with operating medical marijuana dispensaries - States with planned medical marijuana dispensaries - States with operating recreational marijuana shops - States with planned recreational marijuana shops Note: This map does not include states that have legalized only CBD-based oils. Medical marijuana dispensaries in Nevada started early recreational sales in July but licensed rec shops have not yet opened. ■ ■ ● ◆ ■ ✶ © 2018 Marijuana Business Daily, a division of Anne Holland Ventures, Inc. All rights reserved. Data is current as of July 12, 2018 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ● ✶ ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ■ ● ✶ ● ◆ ● ● ● CA ● ■ State News Developments Alaska The state Department of Revenue is mulling a third tax tier for cannabis cultivators in an apparent bid to make the state’s legal marijuana prices more competitive with the black market. Ken Alper, director of the state’s tax divi- sion, announced the proposal at Alaska’s Marijuana Control Board in June. The state’s current excise tax per wholesale ounce of cannabis bud or flower is $50. That rate – equiva- lent to $800 per pound – is decimating profit margins and boosting black-market activity, Alaska’s legal cultivators argue. A second tax tier – $15 per wholesale ounce – is levied on what’s commonly called trim. Cultivators pay that tax when wholesale cannabis is sold to retailers. Arkansas The state Supreme Court cleared the way for Arkan- sas to launch its medical marijuana program, reversing a lower court ruling that prevented officials from issuing the first grower licenses. Pulaski County Judge Wen- dell Griffen ruled in March that the state’s process for awarding MMJ cultivation licenses was unconstitutional, and his order had prevented the state’s Medical Mari- juana Commission from awarding cultivation licenses to five businesses it identified as the top-scoring firms among 95 applicants that sought the permits. The Arkansas Supreme Court ruled in June that Griffen did not have jurisdiction to halt the licenses. 20 • Marijuana Business Magazine • August 2018