Recreational Marijuana

After more than eight years of debate, Connecticut has legalized recreational marijuana. The bill that Governor Ned Lamont just signed legalizes recreational marijuana for anyone over the age of 21 beginning next Thursday, July 1. “It’s been a long time coming,” Lamont said. An adult can have up to one and a half ounces of marijuana on them and can…

The Connecticut Senate has passed legislation for the second time in about a week that would legalize the recreational use of cannabis for adults

It’s been a debate in Connecticut for years now, but recreational marijuana could soon be a reality. The legislation is another step closer to becoming law after the 19 to 17 Senate vote earlier this morning. It now heads to the House for a vote. Here’s what you should know about the bill: State leaders are looking to allow those…

Under pot prohibition, Vladimir Bautista and Ramon Reyes had to operate in the shadows. As co-founders of a cannabis speakeasy called Happy Munkey, they dodged law enforcement, throwing indoor cannabis parties several times a week in Times Square. NBC New York’s Chris Glorioso reports.

As marijuana legalization spreads across U.S. states, so does a debate over whether to set pot policy by potency.

New Jersey’s new Cannabis Regulatory Commission inched toward setting up the recreational marijuana market, holding its first meeting, at which it picked a vice chair and picked a logo

New Jersey’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission will hold its first public meeting on Monday.

It may now be law, but don’t expect to be able to shop at any New York marijuana dispensaries any time soon — lawmakers said it could be more than a year before that’s possible. NBC New York’s Chris Glorioso reports.

New York is set to allow recreational use of marijuana. Tracie Strahan reports.

After years of back-and-forth, recreational use of marijuana for adults finally got the green light in New Jersey — but what does legal weed look like in practice? Massachusetts can serve as an example. NBC New York’s Sarah Wallace reports.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont’s effort to legalize recreational marijuana for adults received criticism Friday from two completely different fronts: people who outright oppose legalization and those who support it, but believe the Democrat’s bill falls short in addressing racial inequities. Multiple members of Lamont’s administration tried to assure the General Assembly’s Judiciary Committee that the 163-page bill — which creates a...

Gov. Phil Murphy’s deadline to act on legislation setting up New Jersey’s recreational marijuana market has been extended a second time.

New Jersey has loosened the penalty for anyone in possession of psilocybin, a psychedelic better known as magic mushrooms. Gov. Phil Murphy signed the bill into law on Thursday, downgrading possession of one ounce or less from a third-degree crime to a disorderly persons offense. New Jersey is the latest state that has moved to lessen the penalty for psilocybin,…

Legislation to set up New Jersey’s recreational marijuana industry is getting fast-tracked in the Democrat-led Legislature, with Assembly and Senate committees set to take up legislation on Thursday.

After about two-thirds of New Jersey voters approved legalizing recreational marijuana, what happens next? A lot depends on how fast dispensaries can ramp up their production. NBC New York’s Brian Thompson reports.

In the 2020 election year, Garden State voters went to the polls – and the mailbox – and supported the legalization of recreational marijuana, a drug already legal in 10 U.S. states but still outlawed by the federal government. In a teleconference with fellow Democrats Wednesday, Gov. Phil Murphy once again stressed that the legalization of recreational marijuana will be a…

New Jersey has become the 12th state to legalize recreational marijuana. NBC New York’s Brian Thompson reports.

Mainers are getting their first opportunity to legally buy marijuana for adult recreational use, but a supply shortage is a potential buzzkill. Retailers blame the pandemic and a limited number of licensed manufacturers for reducing the variety of products available on Friday, the opening day. Licenses were issued only a month ago. That didn’t dampen Matt Bourgeois’ enthusiasm for...

Pennsylvania’s governor is urging lawmakers to legalize recreational marijuana and spend down much of the remaining $1.3 billion in federal coronavirus relief funds

Disagreements over revenue and reparations have held up proposals to legalize recreational marijuana in New York, but opportunities for compromise could come up in the weeks ahead