© Kmiragaya | Dreamstime.com

US: Senator says ‘patchwork’ of cannabis laws allows big business to exploit industry

The “patchwork” of state cannabis laws being enacted across the country while federal prohibition remains unchanged is enabling large corporations to dominate the industry, harming communities that have been “decimated” by the drug war and underscoring the need for federal reform, a Democratic senator…

© Ryland Zweifel Dreamstime.com

CAN: "Cannabis price race to the bottom hurts market's future"

The head of Ontario’s cannabis distributor says the “race to the bottom” happening with cannabis prices risks hurting the market’s future.“Once you condition consumers to certain prices, it may take a generation to change perceptions and price tolerances,” David Lobo, Ontario Cannabis Store president and…

"Particularly high demand for tracked machines with slewing ring and pipe rail carts at the moment"

What do you do when you notice that, as a fitter, you are increasingly asked whether you also rent out your machines? You run with it, of course. "We saw that there was a great need for renting work equipment but that the supply in this area was quite small." This is how Rimini Rental came about. "About 25…

© Sunan Wongsa Nga | Dreamstime.com

US (MD): Applications open for Cannabis Business Assistance Fund

The Maryland Department of Commerce today announced that applications are now open for the first round of funding available through the Cannabis Business Assistance Fund. The fund, which will offer both grants and loans, will help increase small business and entrepreneur capacity to participate in…

© Andrii Zorii Dreamstime.com

US (MO): Where does the revenue from cannabis sales and license fees go?

Since Missouri’s cannabis sales began in 2019, the state has collected nearly $100 million in revenue from taxes and program fees, according to state authorities.  Etched in the state’s constitution is a road map for where the revenue can go.  The first stop is operational costs. By law, any expense it takes to…

© Pornsawan Baipakdee | Dreamstime.com

New York cannabis board votes to settle license-blocking suit

Members of the New York State Cannabis Control Board recently voted to allow the state Office of Cannabis Management to reach a settlement in a federal suit that's prevented the opening of retail dispensaries in half the state — contributing to a sluggish industry rollout. A preliminary injunction has…

© Chimpinski Dreamstime.com

US (NY): MMJ sellers suffer as adult-use market grows

Everyone in New York’s medical cannabis industry knew things were going to change rapidly after the state legalized adult recreational use of cannabis two years ago. Even though the first legal retail pot shops have yet to open in this area, MMJ dispensaries and other cannabis clinics saw the number of…

© Zlikovec | Dreamstime.com

US (MI): More cannabis companies expected to come under receivership control

Michigan cannabis companies have faced a challenging environment in the past year, with the price of cannabis flower rapidly declining, causing margins to narrow at a time when competition is increasing. As a result, some cannabis companies have struggled to pay their bills, and some are now under the…

CAN: Delta cannabis grower responds to proposed rule changes

It’s a good start, but more is needed to help the viability of the legal cannabis industry in Canada. That’s the reaction from Pure Sunfarms, a large-scale cannabis greenhouse operation in Delta, regarding last week’s release of recommendations from the Competition Bureau to Health Canada. Tasked with…

© Zerbor Dreamstime.com

US (CA): Officials award more than $50M In cannabis tax-funded community reinvestment grants

California officials have awarded more than $50 million in cannabis tax-funded community reinvestment grants, the state announced on Thursday. The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) said that the funds are being distributed to 31 different local health departments and…

US (MO): As cannabis costs skyrocket, St. Louis retailers resist raising prices

Since Missouri's recreational cannabis market launched in February, its backers have touted lower prices and better availability than other states in the early days of a new…

Will Waldron/Times Union

US (NY): Thousands of pounds of cannabis available, but not enough stores to sell it

Farmers who received conditional licenses to cultivate the first crops for New York’s retail cannabis market are sitting on thousands of pounds of product they grew last year but have been unable to sell, in part, because of the state’s languishing rollout of the industry. The situation has been…

US: Cannabis companies fight over whether to ban or regulate intoxicating products like delta-8-THC

Intoxicating cannabis products like delta-8-THC would be banned in Illinois under a proposal in Springfield — prompting cannabis companies to fight for their survival. “Big Cannabis has no interest in regulations for cannabis companies like mine,” Charles Wu, CEO of Nexem hemp grower and Chi’tiva stores…

drea

US (CA): Just out of prison, Beverly Hills con artist launches $9-million cannabis scam

Mark Roy Anderson of Beverly Hills collected $9 million over four years from investors in his cannabis farm on the outskirts of Bakersfield, but there was one problem, the FBI says: The farm did not exist. Anderson, the investors discovered, is a convicted con artist who started swindling people at least…

Photo 245262475 © Mr.siwabud Veerapaisarn | Dreamstime.com

Thai cannabis sector spooked as election winner mulls reversing legalization

A proposal by Thailand's election-winning Move Forward party to reclassify cannabis as a narcotic a year after it was made legal is sowing panic in an industry that is projected to be worth up to $1.2 billion over the next few years. Thousands of businesses have sprung up since the legalization of the…

Photo 69520327 © minnystock | Dreamstime.com

Iceland: Proposed pilot project could permit use of medical cannabis

A four-year pilot project, which would permit the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes in Iceland, has been proposed by policymakers.Following a debate in Alþingi [Icelandic parliament] last week, officials have proposed a four-year pilot project to permit the use of medical cannabis, as well as the…

Paul Galinski

CAN (AB): Cannabis company 'building roots in Powell River'

After receiving its license from Health Canada, Meridian 125 W Cultivation is now in the throes of cultivating cannabis.  Joe de la Plante, vice president of operations and marketing, said the company, with its plant in the old mill office in Townsite, received its license in mid-February, which switched the…

Cresco Labs' merger with Columbia Care poses challenges

Cresco Labs has set its sights on the multibillion-dollar merger with Columbia Care, with a goal to finalize the process by the end of June. But even with the summer deadline around the corner, challenges in the planned consolidation remain, according to Cresco’s management on a call to discuss the…

© | Dreamstime.com

Cannabis tax boom: States collect $15.1 billion in revenue since cannabis legalization

In a stunning display of the financial potential of legal cannabis, states across the U.S. have collected a combined total of more than $15.1 billion in tax revenue from adult-use cannabis sales since 2014. As cannabis business owners navigate regulations that can change by state and face growing…

© Fukume Dreamstime.com

Colorado’s cannabis industry has fallen on hard times. What does the future hold?

The heyday of cannabis sales in Colorado — back in 2020 when recreational and medical sales topped out at a combined $226 million — is a distant memory, as the state’s dispensaries struggle through an economic downturn, with sales plummeting and small businesses foundering. “The market’s just bad. It’s…

CAN: Travel not being booked for SAWP Mexico workers

All SAWP Mexico workers who have a work permit must have their travel booked within 30 days of the requested arrival date, or Mexico may cancel the request and reassign the…

Trade mission explores Indian horticulture

Dutch Greenhouse Delta looks back on a successful HortiRoad2India trade mission to Hyderabad and Delhi, which took place from 23rd to 30th April. During this mission, the public-private partnership seized valuable opportunities to promote the Dutch horticulture sector and establish collaborations with…

© Arunee Thornpho | Dreamstime.com

US (CA): More than 60 migrant families found living in dilapidated greenhouse

A dilapidated greenhouse at a Northern California nursery was home to dozens of farmworkers and their families who were living in tiny and unsafe dwellings without ventilation, authorities said. Officials found 62 makeshift dwellings inside the greenhouse on a property in rural Monterey County that were…

© | Dreamstime.com

Isle of Man to grow cannabis business to diversify economy

The Isle of Man has for decades been dominated by offshore financial services, but now its government is planning a push for a new kind of economic growth: medicinal cannabis. The British crown dependency is hoping to license as many as 10 firms by the end of 2025 to grow and export medicinal cannabis…

© Jeremynathan Dreamstime.com

US: States that legalize cannabis see reduced tobacco use, study finds

While some public health experts have expressed concerns that the legalization of cannabis could fuel a rise in the use of tobacco products, a new study instead concludes that state-level cannabis reforms are mostly associated with “small, occasionally significant longer-run declines in adult tobacco…

© Mikhail Primakov | Dreamstime.com

"A state-owned cannabis bank could solve the industry’s growth challenges"

The legalization of cannabis sales in Arizona, both medical and recreational, has been a boon to local and regional Arizona banks and credit unions. Unlike many nationally chartered banks, the local and regional banks have taken some risk in helping to bankroll Arizona’s growing cannabis industry,…

© Sunan Wongsa Nga | Dreamstime.com

Teamsters raise the bar for Chicago cannabis industry

Teamsters Local 777 members working at five different dispensaries owned by Verilife, a subsidiary of PharmaCann, have overwhelmingly voted to ratify their first collective bargaining agreements. The collective bargaining agreements combined will cover more than 100 workers upon ratification.…

© Tatiana Golmer | Dreamstime.com

State controled: Legal cannabis cultivation in the Netherlands

Greenhouses for cannabis are being built on two hectares of land in Bemmel near Nijmegen, and supply chains are finally becoming more transparent. However, there will be no on-site sales to customers. Paul Wilhelm has been selling cannabis since he was 22 years old. In 1985, the Dutchman started a coffee…

© Tomas Hajek Dreamstime.com

Emerging trends in cannabis litigation: 2023 update

As the cannabis industry continues to mature, both in New York and in the United States more broadly, litigation is becoming both more common and varied in the industry. Last year, Carter Ledyard & Milburn analyzed cannabis-related cases filed within the first half of 2022, specifically focusing on civil…

© Jan Mika | Dreamstime.com

US (MO): Regulators at odds over rules targeting packaging aimed at kids

The labels and packaging for cannabis-related products “shall not be made to be attractive to children,” the Missouri constitution states. That’s why state regulators are proposing requiring “plain or uniform labeling,” similar to those of cigarettes or medicines, said Amy Moore, director of Missouri’s…

© Viktar Lameika | Dreamstime.com

US (MO): Sales top $350 million during first 3 months of legalization

Hippos Cannabis has a 40,000-square-foot production facility in Vienna, Missouri, a town of 600 people that’s just 30 minutes north of Rolla. Since Missouri’s recreational cannabis sales began in February, it has added 25 workers, bringing the total number of employees to 70. “A lot of the employees were…

© Atomazul Dreamstime.com

US (NJ): MMJ patients number going down

New Jersey spent more than a decade growing its medical cannabis community — slowly at first, and then all at once. But one year after recreational marijuana sales began, those patients are starting to fall off the rolls at a quickening, snowballing pace. In the year since New Jersey dispensaries began…

Zina Seletskaya | Dreamstime.com

US (NY): Cannabis market sees new advertising rules

New York's legal cannabis market is growing up. And it with? More regulations. The Cannabis Control Board, a subset of the Office of Cannabis Management charged with overseeing marijuana regulations statewide, approved a set of labeling, packaging, and advertising regulations. These new rules are part of…

US: Teamsters Union Labor Practice strike forces GTI to raise wages by 50%

A 13-day Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike led by Teamsters Local 777 members at two Rise Cannabis dispensaries in Joliet, Ill. and one in Niles, Ill. has forced the parent…

© Ryland Zweifel Dreamstime.com

US (CA): Amid cannabis glut, licensed growers are pulling out of Santa Barbara County

In a sign of the economic times, four growers who had obtained zoning permit approvals to plant 163 acres of outdoor cannabis in the North County recently withdrew their applications for business licenses, effectively abandoning their operations, county officials said. Supervisor Steve Lavagnino of Santa…

Wes Moore

US (MD): About 46% of Gov. Wes Moore’s blind trust in cannabis stock

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s administration announced Monday he has formally created a blind trust for his assets, which include nearly $1.2 million in shares of stock in a cannabis company — or about 46% of his assets outlined in the trust. Moore, a Democrat who worked as an investment banker, declared…

Syracuse

US (NY): Cannabis Workforce Initiative' launches new certificate program

The Cannabis Workforce Initiative celebrated a major milestone on April 20, when it released its first partially in-person certificate program in partnership with Lehman College. Earlier this year, the Cornell University School of Industrial & Labor Relations and the Workforce Development Institute…

Dreamstime

US (AL): Medical cannabis industry taking shape in Alabama

The medical cannabis industry in Alabama is slowly getting off the ground with the first round of licensed growers expected to be approved by mid-summer, according to the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission. Once it’s up and running, we wanted to find out how the process then works between the physician…

© Andrii Zorii Dreamstime.com

US: States surpass $15B in tax revenue from legal, adult-use cannabis sales

On May 1st, the Marijuana Policy Project released a new report on tax revenue generated from state-legal, adult-use cannabis. As of the end of 2022, states have reported a combined total of more than $15.1 billion in tax revenue from legal, adult-use cannabis sales since 2014 when sales began in Colorado…

© Danaan Andrew Dreamstime.com

India: Himachal plans to legalize cannabis cultivation for economic benefits

Growers in Himachal Pradesh have been demanding the cultivation of cannabis as an alternative crop should be legally allowed as fruit crops have been facing weather vagaries every year. Also, the stiff competition from the imported cheaper apples has severely hit their earnings. Due to the 'high-pitch'…

© Elantsev Dreamstime.com

US (MN): Hemp growers worry about State legalizing cannabis

Minnesota is on the verge of legalizing adult-use cannabis, sparking a lucrative new recreational marketplace, but supporters are cautioning lawmakers not to inadvertently snuff out a widely popular hemp industry. Legislation to legalize adult-use cannabis and regulate its cultivation, processing and…

© CannabisPic | Dreamstime.com

US (MO): Dispensaries experience 'dramatic increase' in out-of-state customers

Adult-use has been legally available in the Show-Me State for almost three months and in Springfield dispensaries, sales remain steady. Operators say a driving factor in the consistently high demand has been an influx of out-of-state customers who cross the border to purchase Missouri cannabis. Flora…

© Eric Limon Dreamstime.com

US: "Growth of cannabis industry brings added exposures"

The cannabis industry and the commercial insurance markets for it have seen substantial growth over the past decade, although some insurance issues persist, according to Ian Stewart, chair of the national cannabis and hemp law practice at Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP in Los Angeles. That…

© Andrii Zorii Dreamstime.com

US: Cannabis sales to hit $71 billion in 2030, report says

Cannabis analytics firm New Frontier Data sees brighter days for the U.S. pot industry, projecting $71B of legal marijuana sales in 2030 if the current trend in state-level legalization continues even without legal immunity at the federal level. While 21 U.S. states and the District of Columbia have…

Photo 74509974 © Openrangestock | Dreamstime.com

US (CA): McKinleyville biz park considered for cannabis cultivation and housing

Humboldt County will consider a zoning change to allow indoor cannabis cultivation in business park areas and perhaps other uses like housing. At its April 18 meeting, the Board of Supervisors green-lighted an application process for the change, which would affect two areas in the county with business…

Austrian Parliament amends seed patent law

The Austrian Parliament (Nationalrat) has passed an amendment to national patent law that excludes, in particular, random genetic mutations from patent protection. It means…

US: Medical cannabis sales up 7.1% in the first quarter

Medical cannabis sales in Arkansas during the first quarter of the year totaled $70.5 million, up 7.14% compared with sales in the same quarter of 2022, according to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA). There were 13,804 pounds sold in the first quarter, up 19.5% compared with the…

Swiss cannabis pilot projects as a guide for Germany's model projects?

Germany plans to legalize cannabis in a two-pillar model, including the introduction of regional model projects. In January 2023, similar projects in Switzerland have already started in Basel, with two further projects being approved in Zurich and Lausanne, starting at the end of summer. "The…

© Stefan Malloch Dreamstime.com

US (NJ): Cannabis users buy on the illicit market because of lack of nearby dispensaries, poll finds

Despite the relatively high price of recreational cannabis in New Jersey, most dispensary customers are satisfied with being able to purchase cannabis legally. But for those who turn to the black market for cannabis, price is not the only thing keeping them out of state-run dispensaries. Since the launch…

© Zerbor Dreamstime.com

Why it’s a tough time for California’s cannabis industry

The California Cannabis industry is going through it. Since 2021, the wholesale price for cannabis is down over 50%, the state has seen a significant drop in active growers, and legal establishments are still fending off competition from illegal sellers. On top of all of that, the winter weather has been…

© Chimpinski Dreamstime.com

US (AR): MMJ sales up 7.1% in the first quarter

MMJ sales in Arkansas during the first quarter of the year totaled $70.5 million, up 7.14% compared with sales in the same quarter of 2022, according to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA). There were 13,804 pounds sold in the first quarter, up 19.5% compared with the 11,555…

US (CA): Santa Barbara County reports declining cannabis tax revenue

Santa Barbara grows more weed than any county in the state, making up 22% of all active cannabis cultivation licenses issued by the California government. Since Santa Barbara County imposed its cannabis operations tax in 2018, the program has generated over $50 million in government revenue since its…

© Sasi Ponchaisang | Dreamstime.com

Oklahoma's cannabis companies look to become forerunners in growing business

About the same time Oklahoma voters were walking up to voting booths and rejecting the State Question 820 recreational marijuana referendum, Arshad Lasi was celebrating new licensing for his Oklahoma-based marijuana company in New Jersey. Lasi, the 20-something CEO of the Tulsa-based Nirvana Group, had…

Jamaica advocates for inclusion in cannabis industry

The ministry of industry, investment, and commerce continues to advocate for the inclusion of more Jamaican farmers in the cultivation of ganja as part of efforts to develop…

© Feelgoodsk Dreamstime.com

US (VT): Cannabis sales ahead of long-term projections

Vermont’s retail cannabis sales continue to remain strong, according to the cannabis control board. The board has issued just shy of 300 cultivator licenses—77% of those are considered small-scale cultivators in the state. There are also 53 retail licenses in the state, and the number of retailers and…

USDA

US: Major decline for hemp industry in 2022, USDA report shows

The hemp industry took a major plunge in 2022, a new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) shows, and stakeholders say the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) refusal to issue regulations for CBD products is largely to blame. USDA’s National Hemp Report shows significant losses in the…

© Sasi Ponchaisang | Dreamstime.com

CAN (BC): Province supports opportunities for Indigenous entrepreneurs in cannabis industry

The Province is providing additional funding to the B.C. Indigenous Cannabis Business Fund (ICBF) to support Indigenous participation in the regulated cannabis industry. Launched in December 2022, the ICBF supports First Nations communities and Indigenous businesses in British Columbia that want to…

© CannabisPic | Dreamstime.com

New standard defines labeling specifications for cannabinoids-containing products

ASTM International’s cannabis committee (D37) has approved a new standard that defines labeling specifications for consumer products containing cannabinoids. According to ASTM member Darwin Millard, the new standard (D8449) is the first set of internationally harmonized label content specifications for…

Germany: “Adult-use legalization will be a great opportunity for medical cannabis companies”

"We have set our sights on the German market, which is currently the largest legal medical cannabis market in Europe. With adult-use legalization around the corner, we will be able to serve both markets and are expecting a major increase in demand," says Önder Sarak, CEO/Managing Director and shareholder…

© Kmiragaya | Dreamstime.com

US: Craft growers head to the Capitol to ask lawmakers to relax regulations

The cannabis industry in Illinois is expanding, with more dispensaries set to open, but some workers are asking lawmakers to fix some of the rules. Representatives of Illinois’s small craft cannabis growers industry came to the Capitol Tuesday, asking for lawmakers to loosen some regulations previously…

© Atomazul Dreamstime.com

US (OR): MMJ business growing says grower

“Overall, good,” said Daniel Kessler, CEO of Riviera Creek, on the performance of the only MMJ cultivation facility in the Mahoning Valley. “We’ve continued our growth in terms of continuing to add capacity to our facility, really, since we started,” Kessler said. “Our overall strategy has been to start…

© Openrangestock Dreamstime.com

US: Uneasy cannabis industry seeks broader trade amid vast glut

The email went out to legal cannabis growers around Washington state. Another of their colleagues had gone under. 'Liquidation sale,' it said. Attached was a spreadsheet of items for sale: LED grow lights for $500 apiece. Rotary evaporators for hash oil, $10,000. Across the Columbia River in Oregon,…

"The market lost a bit of momentum last year, but now the mood is a lot more optimistic"

As the week comes to an end, our 4/20 stories do too. In our last special today, we focus on Europe. There have been many developments in the European cannabis market recently. So where are the biggest opportunities and challenges? Today, we hear from a cannabis breeder and a post-harvest equipment…

© Kirill Vasilev Dreamstime.com

Cannabis growers and regulators confront Michigan’s oversaturated market

Michigan has a weed problem, and consumers are loving it. More than three years after legal recreational cannabis sales began in the state, the market is saturated with cannabis at bargain-basement prices. The average price of an ounce of adult-use flower dropped from $512 in January 2020 to $80 today,…

© Nehru Dreamstime.com

US: Report finds decline in commercial property purchases by cannabis industry, increase in leasing activity

Realtors are seeing a decline in commercial property purchases by cannabis industry-related businesses and a corresponding increase in leasing activity, according to a new study from the National Association of Realtors. The 2023 Marijuana and Real Estate: A Budding Issue report examines the effects of…

"Some stray away from entering new cannabis markets, but they hold major growth potential"

Happy 4/20! In today's special, we hear from a Colombian grower. What markets do they think have the most potential? In addition, we have insights from a greenhouse designer. While they see a major demand for their greenhouses, there have also been some challenges along the way."Having a low-cost base is…

© Atomazul Dreamstime.com

US (AL): MMJ products expected late this year or early next year

Licensed cultivators could start growing marijuana for Alabama’s new medical cannabis industry in greenhouses or warehouses before the end of the summer. The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission will issue licenses to as many as 17 companies to raise the plants, which will be grown in enclosed facilities…

© Prathan Chorruangsak | Dreamstime.com

58% of cannabis companies didn't meet board expectations in 2022, survey finds

The EY Global Cannabis CEO Survey reveals that over half of the cannabis companies underperformed relative to their board's expectations in 2022, given the lasting impact of external forces such as intense competition, price and margin pressures, and complex regulations. Despite the adverse challenges,…

"Cannabis lenders are now primarily looking for 'shovel-ready' projects"

With just one more day left until we can celebrate 4/20, we continue with part 3 of our 4/20 special series. Today, let's go back to the North American market, as we have insights from a Canadian aquaponics grower and a CEA design company."Lending is different now"When it comes to the current market…

© Tinnakorn Jorruang Dreamstime.com

CAN (BC): Indigenous-owned All Nations Cannabis steps onto world stage with first overseas export

All Nations Cannabis is ready to step out on the world stage. Indigenous-grown All Nations Cannabis just sent its first-ever shipment of product to Israel from its growing facility on Shxwhá:y First Nation, near Chilliwack. “All Nations has grown substantially over the last year,” said Darwin Douglas,…

© Atomazul Dreamstime.com

Where do MMJ issues stand in the Oklahoma Legislature?

Oklahoma lawmakers are pushing through legislation aimed at Oklahoma's medical cannabis industry. These efforts come after Oklahomans voted down recreational cannabis last month. GOP leaders had said perhaps the industry is in for a reckoning because of the results. But Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat said…

© Openrangestock Dreamstime.com

US (PA): Oversupply has Pennsylvania cannabis store owners not feeling the buzz

Medical cannabis users in Pennsylvania have been enjoying a two-year high, with prices falling as much as 62%, but store owners are not feeling the buzz. Balance sheets are awash in red ink for multistate operators that run the dispensaries where cannabis products are sold, and the development of two big…

NZ: "There will be an increased consumer appreciation for sustainable and organic cultivation"

We continue with our 4/20 special series with insights on the cannabis industry's developments and prospects. Today, we take a closer look at the New Zealand market, as we have insights from two local growers. The country's demand for medical cannabis is quickly increasing, but there are still some…

© Tinnakorn Jorruang Dreamstime.com

Zimbabwe: Cannabis growers underestimated costs involved

Zimbabwe Industrial Hemp Trust (ZIHT) founder and chief executive officer Zorodzai Maroveke says cannabis returns can only be determined after a cost analysis because many licensees underestimated the expense of growing the green leaf. In an effort to capitalize on the economic opportunity created by the…

"There may be fewer total projects, but quality and scale have increased"

It is that time of year again: the cannabis industry is getting ready for 4/20. In honor of the cannabis holiday, we bring back our special article series to take stock of what is happening in the industry. Every day this week, industry experts, growers, and suppliers will share their insights on their…

© Prathan Chorruangsak | Dreamstime.com

US (MI): Cannabis industry employment age lowered to 19 under bill

Rep. Kevin Coleman (D-Westland) bill expanding the minimum age for cannabis industry employees from 21 to 19 heard testimony before Tuesday’s House Regulatory Reform Committee. Currently, the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act allows individuals 21 years of age or older to acquire,…

Jamaica Gleaner

Jaimaica: Business path being cleared for medicinal cannabis industry players

The Ministry of Industry, Investment, and Commerce is moving to make doing business within the medicinal cannabis industry easier. Speaking at a press conference held at Jamaica House today, portfolio minister Senator Aubyn Hill said efforts would be made to ensure that the Jamaican market has all the…

© Augustas Cetkauskas Dreamstime.com

US: "2023 Farm Bill set to break down barriers for growers"

The 2023 Farm Bill has been the topic of discussion as it is set to break down barriers for farmers interested in participating in the hemp industry. The “carbon-sequestering plant has the potential to reshape U.S. agriculture” so it’s on legislators’ minds as to how to handle the production of…

US (NJ): These four people will have a big say in who can sell legal cannabis in Red Bank

The Borough Council will create a cannabis review board to vet incoming cannabis applications and limit the number of licenses the borough can award.  The review board passed by a vote of 5-1, with Councilwoman Kate Triggiano voting against the creation of the review board, citing it as an added layer of bureaucracy.…

"Modern farming techniques are now increasingly being used by Indian growers"

Manpreet Malanch has joined Biogrow India as the new Head of Sales, recently. "Thanks to my mother, who was a farmer in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, I became interested in agriculture early on in my life, and for me, it was a logical next step to pursue a career in this sector. I did my postgraduate studies…

© Atomazul Dreamstime.com

US (CT): Medical cannabis prices increase

Since the start of the recreational market at the beginning of the year, the Department of Consumer Protection has tracked prices in the medical market inching upward.  The Department of Consumer Protection data shows that the price of medical marijuana has increased by 3.8% from $35.68 per product in January…

© | Dreamstime.com

US: "Pricing for flower decreased by approximately 50%"

LeafLink released its annual Wholesale Cannabis Pricing Guide, providing national and state-level pricing insights for the legal B2B cannabis community of buyers and sellers. The guide thoroughly analyzes pricing and market data from 13 U.S. adult-use and medical cannabis markets across five product…

© Andrii Zorii Dreamstime.com

US (MO): Strong cannabis sales in February despite supply hurdles

Missouri dispensaries sold a little more than $126 million in recreational and medical cannabis in March, eclipsing the $103 million figure the state posted in February. March's numbers break down to $93.5 million in adult-use cannabis sales and $32.7 million in medical sales and put Missouri on track to…

US (OH): Tornado lays waste to Ohio tomato greenhouse

Devastating images from Ohio show a high-tech tomato greenhouse collapsed due to an EF1 tornado, which occurred near Wapakoneta in Auglaize County, Ohio, during the early morning hours of April 1, 2023 "The first sign of visible damage associated with this tornado occurred on Owl Creek Road. The tornado…

© Charnsitr | Dreamstime.com

US: Legal cannabis industry shows job drop for first time ever, report finds

Vangst has released released the annual 2023 cannabis industry jobs report. This year's report found there are now 417,493 full-time equivalent jobs supported by the legal cannabis industry in the U.S. That's a surprising result—a 2% drop in employment. It's the first time legal cannabis jobs have…

© Ryland Zweifel Dreamstime.com

US: California is losing legal cannabis farm licenses by the hundreds

California’s legal pot market has lost hundreds of pot farms a month as farmers opt to quit the legal market. And signs indicate the industry is only continuing to shrink. The state has lost 1,766 cultivation licenses since the beginning of last year, according to data reported by the California…

© Roxana Gonzalez Dreamstime.com

CAN: “Consumers are selecting what contains the boldest lie, rather than the highest THC content or quality”

We have all heard the reports of THC inflation occurring in the industry. Rob O’Brien, CEO of Supra Research and Development, decided to do his own research. He purchased 46 products from the BC Cannabis store system and tested them for potency. “The total THC values in all of the tested samples were…

© Atomazul Dreamstime.com

Why haven't Ohio's new medical cannabis dispensaries opened?

Ohio was set to expand its medical cannabis dispensaries after more than 70 licenses went to companies looking to set up shop. But nearly one year after the state awarded those licenses, only 14 dispensaries have opened their doors. The rest say they've been mired by problems with construction and…

© Ryland Zweifel Dreamstime.com

New Mexico cannabis industry marks one year, more than $300 million in adult-use sales

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that the state saw $300 million in adult-use cannabis sales in its first year, which began in April 2022. In one year, the state has issued around 2,000 cannabis licenses across New Mexico, including 633 cannabis retailers, 351 producers, 415 micro-producers, and 507…

© Andrii Zorii Dreamstime.com

US (CT): $59 million paid so far in cannabis license and lottery fees

The state has so far made more than $59 million in cannabis license fees, according to state data. The majority of that will pay for as-yet-undefined social equity initiatives.  According to data provided by the state Department of Consumer Protection, the state received a total of $59,606,895 as of Wednesday.…

© Stefan Malloch Dreamstime.com

US (NY): Adult use cannabis sales expanding across New York State

With the legal cannabis business in New York ramping up, vendors and regulators alike are working overtime to prepare for what the state hopes will be an important new industry. At this Capital Region networking forum hosted by non-profit NY Small Farma, industry movers, and shakers share information and…