Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee wants to legalize adult-use cannabis, proposing a program that would issue 25 retail licenses per year with a market launch in April 2022. McKee included the proposal as part of his fiscal-year 2022 budget. McKee's proposal includes five retail licenses for minority business enterprises, establishing an Office of Cannabis Regulation, a retail excise tax of 10% and a weight-based excise tax on marijuana cultivation. The plan also would create a task force to make recommendations on the marijuana industry. South Dakota State lawmakers will not allow qualifying medical marijuana patients to use telehealth to consult with doctors or receive recommendations for cannabis. The move is in contrast to other states with MMJ programs that have been adding telemedicine consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic. South Dakota's House voted 38-30 against a bill that would have allowed telemedicine, even though 69% of voters approved medical marijuana in the November election. The telemedicine defeat follows other efforts to stymie or slow the rollout of medical and recreational cannabis legalization in South Dakota. April 2021 | mjbizdaily.com 33https://www.pattersonfan.com/cannabis.html http://www.mjbizdaily.com