INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS State by State WA VT NH MT OR ID WY NV UT CA CO KS MO KY NC TN AZ NM TX OK AR MS LA FL AK AL GA SC NE IA OH IL IN WV VA DE MD DC SD ND MN MA WI MI PA NJ NY RI CT ME HI ■ Medical ■ Recreational Note: This map does not include states that have legalized only CBD-based oils. State News ©2022 MJBizDaily, a division of Emerald X. All rights reserved. Data is current as of Feb 10, 2022. Alaska The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved a new hemp-production program in Alaska. Current hemp permit holders must apply for new licenses. Alaska Agriculture Division Director David Schade said hemp holds economic promise for the state. " The goal is diversification of Alaska's economy with the addition of a new crop for our farmers, " he said in a news release. " Industrial hemp is one crop where Alaska is not years behind the Lower 48 in development. " Arizona A lawsuit that attempted to keep coveted social equity marijuana business licenses in Arizona out of the hands of big companies has been dismissed, with the presiding judge ruling that state regulators have acted in keeping with the law. The suit was filed in November by the Greater Phoenix Urban League and social equity company Acre 41. A spokesperson for the plaintiffs said in a news release that a second suit might be filed in the coming months. Acre 41 Principal Celeste Rodriguez said that unless the applicant pool is culled to include only " true social equity applicants " -and not those backed by multistate operators-her group would file a second suit and identify MSO-connected applicants by name. 20 March 2022 | MJBizMagazine