Regulations

US: Hemp rules panned by growers, lawyers, lawmakers

As of early December the USDA has received more than a thousand comments from growers, lawyers, lawmakers, processors, and the general public on their interim industrial hemp regulations. While most agree that it is important that the agency charged with regulating the emerging sector is doing its work,…

CA: Canadian facility failed inspection for EU quality certification last year

A facility operated by Vancouver-based Zenabis Global Inc. failed an inspection to receive a key European Union certification last year, hindering the cannabis producer’s ability to ship medical cannabis to the continent. Regulators in Malta published a "statement of non-compliance with GMP [good…

US (WA): Smaller operation hope to benefit from Liquor and Cannabis Board proposal

The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board is seeking to allow smaller cannabis growers to increase their size, along with proposing legislation to also help patients, and protected classes within the industry. Washington’s cannabis producers are divided into three categories, which each can…

Brazil approves MMJ rules, blocks cannabis cultivation

Brazilian pharmaceutical regulator Anvisa on Tuesday approved regulations for the roll-out of medicinal cannabis-based products but in a separate vote blocked a proposal to…

US: Federal regulators lift hemp industry banking barriers

The number of banks in the United States willing to lend to hemp producers can be counted on one hand. That is about to change. Federal and state bank regulators announced Tuesday that they were scrapping a burdensome requirement that banks said kept them away from the hemp business. Banks will no longer…

NZ: New Zealand Government will hold a referendum on cannabis legalization

The New Zealand Government will give the public the opportunity to vote on legalization of recreational cannabis. The Government has also released a draft Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill for public consideration. This draft bill will allow the public to get a better idea of what the proposed…

BR: Brazil approves medical marijuana rules, blocks cannabis cultivation

Brazilian pharmaceutical regulator Anvisa on Tuesday approved regulations for the roll-out of medicinal cannabis-based products but in a separate vote blocked a proposal to allow domestic medical marijuana plantations. Anvisa’s approval of rules to regulate the nascent medical marijuana market represents…

US: Federal hemp-growing rules under review

The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service recently released an interim final rule regarding the establishment of a Domestic Hemp Production Program. The Nevada Department of…

US (WI): Governor Evers signs legislation advancing Wisconsin hemp regulation

On Nov. 26, 2019 Governor Evers signed into law 2019 Wisconsin Act 68, taking the next step in Wisconsin’s transition from the industrial hemp pilot program to the permanent regulatory structure authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill. The new law, dubbed the Growing Opportunities Act, was approved by the…

TH: Health Minister pushes for growers to grow cannabis

Thailand’s Public Health Minister has proposed farmers be allowed to grow cannabis plants under a joint scheme with the state. Anutin Charnvirakul, who is also deputy prime minister, said he has signed a draft regulation on allowing farmers to grow cannabis. The regulation will be examined by the Council…

European Medicinal Cannabis Association

"EU should adopt German GMP standards"

The lack of commonly accepted Good Manufacturing Practices and standards within the cannabis industry ultimately damages the industry itself. On the one hand, it does not…

US (ME): Topsham selectmen to consider cannabis cultivation proposal

A medical cannabis caregiver has submitted plans to the town for growing up to 2,000-square-feet of cannabis along Route 201. Ryan Holmes, the owner of Sundog Caregiving LLC and a registered caregiver with the state, needs a cannabis business license from the town. Next week, selectmen will hold a public…

US (AR): Inactive MMJ retail licenses may be revoked

Arkansas officials say they may consider revoking medical cannabis licenses for dispensaries that aren’t open by June. Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control officials regulate…

US (WI): Growers continue to adjust to changing hemp program

While this year’s five-fold increase in hemp farmers made it clear Wisconsinites are enthusiastic about the state’s budding hemp program, the growth from 2018 created some logistical challenges for the state agriculture department — specifically when it came time to test all the crops. “I think we…

US: DEA finalizes plan to grow 3.2M grams of cannabis in 2020

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) finalized its plans to authorize the cultivation of 3,200,000 grams of cannabis for research purposes next year—a 30 percent increase from 2019’s quota. DEA initially proposed 2020 production quotas in a notice published in the Federal Register in September. This…

US (MO): MMJ producers eye Callaway County

Medical cannabis entrepreneurs are eyeing Callaway County for their next venture. Five growers and five dispensaries hoping to set up shop within Callaway County applied for licenses with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services before the Aug. 17 deadline. The evaluation period for the…

US (IA): First anniversary of Iowa MMJ sales marked with questions about future

Sunday is the first anniversary of Iowans being able to buy medical cannabis products in the state. On paper, things look promising: an expanding list of qualifying medical conditions under the program, 300 to 450 new patients each month, and more than $2 million in sales. But as stakeholders mark the…

US (IA): MMJ producer sees uncertain future without changes

Sunday marks one year since MedPharm began selling medical cannabis in Iowa, but the company says it won't survive another year unless the state expands the products it can sell. KCCI reports that MedPharm general manager Lucas Nelson said he sold about 13,500 cannabis products during the first year,…

Trinidad and Tobago govt introduces cannabis reform bill

Cannabis reform is sweeping across the globe. It wasn’t that long ago that cannabis was completely prohibited across the planet. Cannabis prohibition is still prevalent in many countries, however, some countries have either legalized cannabis for medical use and/or adult use. The latest nation to…

US (WI): Governor signs bill making hemp program permanent

Gov. Tony Evers on Tuesday signed into law a bipartisan bill that makes Wisconsin's hemp-growing program permanent as it continues to surge in popularity in just its second year. Hailed by supporters as Wisconsin's "comeback crop," hemp is seeing renewed popularity in large part because of the growth in…

US: Labor union pushes northeast governors to adopt fair cannabis worker protections

A major international union is asking governors of states across the Northeast to ensure that workers in the cannabis industry are protected when legal cannabis markets are implemented. The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) International Union sent a letter to the governors of Connecticut,…

CAN (BC): Three licenses to cultivate, process, and sell MMJ awarded

True Leaf Cannabis has secured licenses from Health Canada to cultivate, process and sell cannabis for medical purposes pursuant to the Cannabis Act for its 18,000 square foot True Leaf Campus facility in Lumby, British Columbia. "The license allows True Leaf to begin cultivating, processing and selling…

US (OH): Hemp rules may create barrier for small growers

The proposed licensing fees and planting minimums for hemp production in Ohio could create cost barriers that exclude smaller growers, farmers and industry groups said. Rules proposed by the Ohio Department of Agriculture for the newly legalized crop would require at least 1,000 hemp plants be grown on…

CAN (ON): Canopy Growth receives Health Canada license for beverage facility

Canopy Growth Corporation, on November 22, 2019, received its operating and secure storage licence from Health Canada for its 150,000 sq. ft. beverage facility located at company headquarters in Smiths Falls, ON. "The new facility is operational and will begin producing cannabis-infused beverages today,"…

US (CA): California is raising taxes on cannabis again

The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) announced yesterday that it plans to raise taxes on the legal cannabis industry once again. Increasing cannabis tax rates is considered to be another blow to an industry that is currently facing an economic downturn in a depressed market.…

US (ID): Gov. temporarily legalizes interstate transport of hemp

Gov. Brad Little on Tuesday issued an executive order that temporarily legalized interstate transportation of industrial hemp through Idaho, as a stopgap until the Idaho…

US (RI): 6 MMJ licenses to be issued through lottery

Rhode Island’s medical marijuana regulators have unveiled how they plan to issue licenses for six new dispensaries in the state and new rules that would not allow the new operations to grow their own cannabis at first. The regulations released Thursday say the new licenses will be awarded through a…

US (NJ): Lafayette greenlights MMJ growing facility

Following roughly three hours of testimony and questioning, the Township Land Use Board unanimously approved plans allowing an established medical marijuana company to operate a growing and processing facility on Route 94. The board voted 7-0 on Thursday in favor of preliminary site plan approval and…

US (WV): MMJ permit application to be accepted starting from Dec. 19

Permit applications for medical cannabis growers, processors, dispensaries and laboratories in West Virginia will be accepted beginning Thursday, Dec. 19, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources’ Bureau for Public Health announced Tuesday. Only online applications to the agency’s…

US (MA): Boston City council votes to promote equity in cannabis industry

The Boston City Council voted Wednesday to pass a bill that would change who can operate cannabis businesses in the city, specifically aiming to benefit more historically…

US (CA): State cannabis licensing authorities revoke Vertical Bliss' distributor and manufacturer licenses

The Bureau of Cannabis Control (Bureau) and California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced today that they have revoked the state commercial cannabis licenses issued…

US (CO): Colorado growers can now apply online to grow hemp

Farmers can now apply online to grow industrial hemp in Colorado. Brian Koontz, the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Hemp Program Manager, said Thursday the state already leads the country in registered land area for industrial hemp cultivation, and the new application process “will help us continue…

US (WV): West Virginia gets ready for MMJ applicants

The Department of Health and Human Resources will begin the process of accepting and evaluating applicants for a number of cannabis roles. It will allow 10 growers and 10…

CAN: Ontario to allow private sector to handle legal cannabis distribution

Ontario plans to allow the private sector to handle distributing cannabis from producers to retailers, a sign that the provincial government is beginning to reduce its legal…

US: House Judiciary Committee approves federal cannabis legalization bill

A cannabis legalization bill just got farther in the legislation process than any other such bill since prohibition. The Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement Act a.k.a. the MORE Act has passed the House judiciary committee by a vote of 24 to 10. If it is not claimed by another committee…

US (CA): City delays approval for cannabis compliance office hire

The City Council tabled a decision on creating and filling a new cannabis compliance officer position within city staff, amid debate over the need, cost and job description at the Nov. 12 meeting. When approving the 2019-2020 budget, the Council in principle approved the position of a cannabis compliance…

Why Health Canada inspectors may have missed unlicensed cannabis growing

A surge in the number of cannabis producers coupled with a large number of site-amendment requests in preparation for Cannabis 2.0 have left Health Canada “overwhelmed” over…

US (IL): Inside the union fight in Rock Island

When Devon Gamboe heard that some employees of Green Thumb Industries stormed a recent Rock Island City Council meeting to drum up support for their unionization effort, he…

US (IL): Illinois could grow over 1M pounds of legal cannabis by 2025, report says

Illinois’ budding legal cannabis industry could grow more than one million pounds of weed by 2025 to meet demand, a new report says. But the report’s lead author acknowledges the state will have to permit legal growers to vastly scale up production to reach that level, which is more than 14 times the…

US (NV): Cannabis testing lab's license suspended for 'misleading' results

Lab testing is a key factor in most legal cannabis markets. Most immediately, this is what helps ensure that the products consumers purchase are not contaminated with harmful…

US (WV): West Virginia sets start date for medical cannabis permit application

West Virginia regulators have announced that the Office of Medical Cannabis will begin accepting applications next month for permits to operate in the state’s coming legal medical cannabis industry. The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources’ Bureau for Public Health said in a press…

US: House of Representatives may vote on federal cannabis legalization this week

This week, the United States House of Representatives could be voting on the federal legalization of cannabis. Representative Jerry Nadler announced on Monday that the house judiciary committee had posted a markup for HR 3884 a.k.a. the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act —…

IL: Israeli govt in discussions on MMJ export framework

Pharmadrug has provided an update on developments from Israel's Ministry of Health regarding the export law on medical cannabis passed in January of 2019. It was revealed late last week that the Israeli Ministry of Health will soon be publishing its cannabis export guidelines, which will enable the…

CAN (QC): Hexo provides update on licensing

HEXO Corp has provided additional information about licensing at its facility in Niagara, Ontario. "In November 2018, prior to HEXO Corp’s acquisition of Newstrike Brands, the UP Cannabis cultivation facility in Niagara was licenced by Health Canada and production from that facility began shortly after,"…

CAN: Health Canada says it received no complaints for over 20 outdoor cannabis businesses

Despite the concerns of neighbours to a proposed pot farm in Merlin, Health Canada has not received any complaints about the more than 20 outdoor cannabis businesses licensed to harvest in 2019. “In addition, industrial hemp, which is a type of cannabis with very low levels of the psychoactive compound…

CAN (QC): Gatineau based producer destroying cannabis grown in unlicensed area of Niagara facility

Hexo Corp. says it is in the process of destroying cannabis that was grown without a licence at a facility it acquired in Niagara, that was part of its purchase of Newstrike…

CAN (ON): Health Canada approves 12 cultivation, processing, and extraction rooms

Pure Global Cannabis has received approvals from Health Canada to amend its existing license to add manufacturing capabilities via phase 2 of its already licensed facility in Brampton. Having completed their facility in the spring, the Company can begin cultivation and extraction immediately now that all…

US (CA): Changes to cannabis excise and cultivation taxes regulation

The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) recently adopted Regulation 3700, Cannabis Excise and Cultivation Taxes, which addresses and clarifies the Cannabis Tax Law regarding the administration of the cannabis excise and cultivation taxes. The effective date of the regulation is…

US (MD): Maryland medical cannabis commission expands compliance testing and bans vitamin E acetate in MMJ vape products

The Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission has issued a bulletin to notify licensed medical cannabis processors and independent testing laboratories of enhanced testing requirements for medical cannabis vape cartridges. Effective immediately, medical cannabis vape cartridges, including disposable vape…

US (MA): Cannabis inspectors carefully watching over the cannabis industry

On a Tuesday morning in October, two CCC inspectors pull up to the Sira Naturals Cultivation and Manufacturing facility in a pair of gray, unmarked crossover SUVs. The only giveaway? The vehicles have official state license plates. This scene plays out nearly every day as the 15 inspectors from the…

US (MI): Hermantown clears path for MMJ facilities

The City Council unanimously passed rules allowing medical cannabis distribution centers, and research and manufacturing facilities, in certain parts of the city, though…

AU: Spotlight to be placed on barriers to medicinal cannabis in Australia

Barriers confronting patients trying to access medicinal cannabis in Australia will be scrutinised in a Parliamentary inquiry into how the drug is regulated. The Greens said the medicinal cannabis system is “broken” and in urgent need of reform as their push for an inquiry into access to the drug won…

US: Vote to federally legalize cannabis planned in congress

A key congressional committee plans to hold a historic vote on a bill to end the federal prohibition of cannabis next week, two sources with knowledge of the soon-to-be-announced action. Normally when anonymous sources are presented it might not be trustworthy, but now Forbes publishes on it and the…

TH: Thailand will soon allow its citizens to grow cannabis at home to sell to the government

Thailand is ramping up medical marijuana legalization efforts that will soon allow all Thais to cultivate six cannabis plants in their homes and sell their home-grown harvest to the government, to turn into medical marijuana. “We are in the process of changing laws to allow the medical use of marijuana…

US (LA): Cannabis growers in Santa Barbara County gain political clout

For two years, pot has divided Carpinteria as Santa Barbara County officials allowed it to be surrounded by the densest concentration of cannabis farms in the nation. Residents complain the farms saturate their homes and children’s schools with the skunky smell the plant is famous for. Growers counter…

US (OH): Product recall in Ohio

The Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program (MMCP) is issuing a patient communication to alert patients about a mandatory product recall. This recall is being initiated by the MMCP due to product development using a non-compliant process. The product that is being recalled is the Pineapple Express Rosin, processed by One Orjin.…

TH: Law on importing and exporting is almost here

A new law on cannabis legalization will address two issues many foreigners want to know: roles of foreigners in production of weed-based medicine, and how international travelers may bring medical cannabis with them into Thailand for personal use. Firstly, foreigners will be able to own shares in…

CAN (ON): Paris based facility receives Health Canada approval to expand processing, sell new product formats

Aleafia Health’s wholly owned subsidiary, Emblem Cannabis, has secured two Health Canada license amendments that expand processing capacity, allowing for the sale of new product formats at its Paris processing facility. The amendments apply to the licensed and operational Paris location, which processes…

US (IL): Illinois bill would give cannabis businesses access to some banking services

An Illinois lawmaker filed a bill last week that would increase cannabis businesses’ access to some basic banking services. While a growing number of financial institutions…

CAN (BC): British Columbia based farm receives industrial hemp license

Weekend Unlimited's majority owned Northern Lights Organics farm in Fort St. James, British Columbia has been granted the Industrial Hemp Licence, from Health Canada, required to cultivate and sell industrial hemp. “Northern Lights Organics is advancing ahead of schedule, combined with the previously…

ZA: Police crack down on illicit cannabis industry

If there is a truism in the world of cannabis, it is that if you give the cannabis industry the slightest crack and it will flow through. That said for all the enthusiasm,…

US (WI): Assembly approves new hemp regulations

State Assembly lawmakers voted Tuesday to approve updates to hemp regulations in Wisconsin.  The proposal, which was approved by the state Senate last month, re-authorizes hemp growing and makes a number of other technical changes to hemp laws in the state. It now moves to Gov. Tony Evers’ desk for his signature.…

US (CA): Humboldt County supervisors to decide on hemp next week

Humboldt County’s ongoing prohibition of industrial hemp may continue for good if the Board of Supervisors decides next Tuesday that it wouldn’t be a smart move to legalize the crop. Earlier this year, the board passed a moratorium on growing hemp commercially under the premise that the county’s staff…

US (NY): Lack of regulations holding up hemp industry

Upstate New York’s first legal Hemp Harvest is in the barn! But not without some worries by farmers, like Meg Southerland, who’ve taken the Hemp Cash-Crop Plunge."Well, for me, this first year, it’s been a learning curve. And I’ve loved it.” Southerland harvested 3,000 Cherry Wine variety Hemp plants on…

US (IL): Illinois state senator's cannabis company under investigation

An Illinois state senator is the subject of an investigation by state officials who are probing her role in a cannabis company she operates. The investigation into Sen. Patricia Van Pelt by the office of Secretary of State Jesse White was reported by television station WGN on Wednesday afternoon. Van…

US (PA): MMJ sales total half a billion dollars in two years

John Collins, director of Pennsylvania’s Office of Medical Marijuana, said this week that the state’s medical cannabis program has generated more than $500 million in revenue from medical cannabis sales. A couple points of reference to underscore how impressive that figure is: Colorado only just passed…

The highs and lows of cannabis regulations in UK

The global cannabis industry is frequently characterized as a “booming market,” much to the frustration of many British businesses, which feel a lack of clear domestic regulation puts them at a disadvantage when it comes to harnessing burgeoning interest in the plant’s potential applications. While…

CAN: Cannabis industry warned by regulators to improve governance

Canadian securities regulators are calling on companies in the cannabis industry to strengthen their governance and disclosure practices to ensure investors are aware of…

Northern Macedonia: Law for exporting cannabis flowers withdrawn

The Association of Medical Cannabis Growers in Northern Macedonia, Makkanabis, through a press conference held before the Government of the Republic of Northern Macedonia, called on the executive to allow cannabis flower exports, reports Anadolu Agency (AA). Kostadin Dukovski, president of the Makkanabis…

US (MI): Portage to begin accepting MMJ business applications

The City of Portage has announced that it will begin accepting medical cannabis business applications Monday, November 18th. According to an official press release, the Portage Office of the City Clerk will begin receiving applications for Medical Marihuana Facility Provisional Permits for Provisioning…

US: A tech solution to the cannabis banking problem

Many legal cannabis suppliers and retailers are being forced to operate in a cash-intensive market due to federal laws that limit access to traditional banking. This poses…

Cannabis legalization delayed in Mexico

A year ago, the Supreme Court of Mexico ruled that cannabis prohibition is unconstitutional. However, there has been a delay in legislation that would create a legitimized market. After ruling in favor of legal cannabis, Mexico’s Supreme Court issued a deadline of one year for lawmakers to pass a…

Guam: cannabis board member says that Guam buys 3 tons of illegal cannabis each year

Three tons. That’s how much Guam’s legal cannabis industry needs to produce in a year to match what is being sold illegally on island and undercut the illegal market, said William Parkinson, the public representative on the Cannabis Control Board. “This is what I was able to crunch, with the data we have…

CAN (AB): Disappointment over Alberta new taxes on cannabis producers

If you’re a large-scale pot grower in Alberta, get ready to pay more tax. Alberta’s Minister of Municipal Affairs, Kaycee Madu, told hundreds of people who gathered in…

US (NY): New rules to allow MMJ companies to use hemp

Hemp farmers in New York are poised to get a boost from new rules allowing medical marijuana companies to use their crops to produce CBD products. Further, the rules seek to…

US (RI): Lawmakers asking judge to dismiss governor's suit over cannabis law

Rhode Island lawmakers are asking a judge to dismiss Gov. Gina Raimondo's challenge to a new medical marijuana and hemp law. The Democratic governor wants the state Superior…

CAN (BC): Metro Vancouver based greenhouse and outdoor operation receive organic certification

Emerald Health Therapeutics has received organic certification for cannabis production at its Metro Vancouver operation in British Columbia, which encompasses 156,000 square…

US (IL): Cannabis workers combatting unfair work practices in Rock Island

While unions have been part of the American conversation for decades, the rocky road for the cannabis industry is just beginning. In Rock Island, Illinois, cannabis workers are in a fight with harsh and allegedly illegal working conditions as they try to unionize. The state, which will soon be the 11th…

US: More than 500 people have commented on USDA hemp rules thus far

Less than two weeks after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) opened a public comment period on proposed hemp regulations, more than 500 people have already weighed in. USDA issued an interim final rule last month, laying out basic regulatory guidelines for hemp manufacturers. It contains…

US (MA): Cannabis Control Commission places quarantine order on most MMJ vaping products

Massachusetts' Cannabis Control Commission issued an order Tuesday to quarantine most medical-cannabis vaping products just as the items were set to become exempt from Gov.…

US (MO): Missouri wants to ban cannabis businesses from paying taxes with cash

Missouri’s health department wants to ban medical cannabis businesses from paying taxes in cash, a move that industry advocates say could shut out small businesses from the field. Missouri voters in 2018 made medical cannabis legal but sales are still prohibited under federal law. Financial institutions,…

US (MA): Resource Innovation Institute applauds new Massachusetts cannabis energy regulations

The release of Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) regulations Nov. 7 will allow for streamlined reporting for cannabis cultivators. The new reporting requirements include a benchmarking feature that will also enable Commonwealth cultivators to measure and compare their energy and water…

CAN (BC): British Columbia based operation receives expansion license for total growing area

Emerald Health Therapeutics has received from Health Canada its cultivation license amendment and has full municipal permitting for its first of two 78,000 square foot greenhouses at its organic Metro Vancouver site in British Columbia. "With an additional 50,000 square feet and seven grow areas licensed…

AU: Manufacturing permit received for Southport facility

THC Global Group Limited has been granted a Manufacture Permit from the Australian Office of Drug Control for the Company’s Southport Manufacturing Facility. "The Manufacture…

US (OH): Judge strikes down racial quotas in Ohio MMJ case

A judge in Madison County, west of Columbus, ordered that the section of Ohio medical marijuana law that requires 15% of licensed companies in the program be owned by members of “economically disadvantaged groups,” is unconstitutional. It is the second time an Ohio judge has tossed that section of…

US (AB): Medical cannabis group begins working on bill

A group studying medical cannabis heard pros and cons today at an Alabama State House hearing and began discussions of a draft version of a bill to introduce to the…

A look at heavy metal testing

Across the country and across the world, governments that legalize cannabis implement increasingly rigorous requirements for laboratory testing. Helping to protect patients and consumers from contaminants, these requirements involve a slew of lab tests, including quantifying the levels of microbial contaminants, pathogens, mold…

How LSU's MMJ grower navigates a tricky banking situation

Despite the known banking challenges facing cannabis-industry companies, LSU requires its growing partner to be backed by a financial institution. Similarly, the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy required that applicants vying for the state’s nine medical marijuana pharmacy permits be serviced from a…

US (OR): Occupational Safety and Health division issues $825,000 fine to hemp processing facility

The operators of a Southern Oregon hemp-processing facility have been fined $825,000 after they allegedly let employees live and work in a condemned building, according to the…

US (CA): Palm Springs city council passes 'zero tolerance' odor policy

Palm Springs City Council on Wednesday approved a “zero-tolerance” policy that seeks to assuage resident concerns about wafting odors generated by cannabis cultivation…

US (CO): Colorado loosens rules on investing in cannabis business

Colorado’s prohibition on publicly traded cannabis companies and limits on out-of-state investment were officially lifted at the start of this month, heralding a new era of…

CAN (BC): Health Canada says applicant in Westsyde is 'best placed to address concerns'

Westsyde residents worried about a proposed outdoor cannabis growing facility in their neighbourhood should direct concerns to the applicant, according to Health Canada. Health Canada stated the applicant is “best placed” to address individual concerns. “Health Canada does from time to time receive…

CAN (BC): Application for cannabis cultivation in city limits moves ahead to public hearing

What has long been the calling card of the region’s underground economy is now looking for above-board validation in the budding of a new industry for Nelson. Kootenay…

US (CA): California Bureau of Cannabis Control suspends nearly 400 licenses

Nearly 400 California cannabis companies had their licenses to operate suspended by regulators on Friday, pending the firms’ enrollment in a system designed to track the…

US (CA): California to launch 'organic' cannabis program

California’s cannabis industry will soon become very familiar with the term “OCal.” This will be the state’s version of the National Organic Program, which creates and enforces the rules and “uniform national standards” for any agricultural product grown for sale in the U.S. Official organic status is…

AU: Australian Office of Drug Control issued a cannabis manufacture license

MPX International Corporation wholly-owned subsidiary MPX Australia has been issued a Cannabis Manufacture Licence by the Australian Office of Drug Control. Upon receiving formal notification from ODC of the licence issuance, W. Scott Boyes, Chairman, President and CEO of MPX International, commented,…

Paraguay legalizes industrial hemp

The global industrial hemp market is currently estimated to be worth nearly five billion dollars (USD). By 2025, it is projected to be worth over $26 billion dollars (USD).…

US (PA): Pennsylvania aims to move forward on MMJ program

Article by Patrick McKnight In July, Pennsylvania significantly expanded its medical cannabis program. The state now includes anxiety and Tourette’s on the list of qualifying…

US (IA): MMJ board backs THC purchase limit

The state medical board regulating Iowa’s medical cannabis program submitted a proposal asking state legislators to remove the cap on THC in products in favor of a purchase…

US (OK): Some MMJ businesses not in full compliance in city of Tulsa

The city of Tulsa says some of the more than 700 medical cannabis businesses in the city are not in total compliance. Seed Cannabis Company opened in May before new…

CAN: Neighbor has worries about proposed cannabis farm

A Merlin woman who lives beside farmland proposed for an outdoor cannabis operation says her concerns are being ignored by all levels of government, yet the owner is moving…

US: USDA releases webinar to guide through newly proposed regulations

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a recorded webinar on Tuesday to help guide individuals through its proposed regulations on hemp. One week after USDA released its interim final rule for the crop, which was federally legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill, the department posted the video…

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley

Barbados: "Medical cannabis industry could boost economy"

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley today touted the proposed medicinal cannabis industry as a boost to the economy, as a new bill to set it up went before lawmakers. As the House…

Governors meet to coordinate cannabis reform in the Northeast

Governors in the Northeast appear to be ramping up their support for cannabis reform. On October 17th, Governor Wolf (PA), Governor Cuomo (NY), Governor Murphy (NJ), and…

US: Federal data shows that number of banks working with cannabis business has leveled off

The number of banks and credit unions that service the cannabis industry largely leveled off in the last quarter, according to new federal data released late last week. And that market trend could reflect shifting expectations among financial institutions about the likelihood of Congress approving…

US (CA): Cannabis farms dealing with fires and blackouts get tax relief

For the past few years, “harvest season” has too quickly morphed into “fire season” in Northern California. This year has been no exception, as some of the world’s best cannabis growers have faced evacuations from a huge fire in Sonoma County and days-long blackouts as the region’s largest electricity…

US: Guidance procedure 2.0 released for the US Hemp Authority Certification Program

The U.S. Hemp Authority, the mark of trust for hemp and CBD products, released its Guidance Procedures 2.0. "The U.S. Hemp Authority creates and upholds stringent regulatory standards through independent third-party auditing, certifying safe and quality-assured hemp and CBD brands," the team with the…

US (KS): Kansas takes a step toward MMJ as lawmakers recommend having a look

As a growing number of states legalized some form of medical marijuana — now up to 33 — Kansas always remained a firm opponent. Legislation to end prohibition never seemed to get very far before opposition from law enforcement and parts of the medical community brought it to a halt. Any change would have…

US (CO): In random mold tests at 25 Denver dispensaries, 80% fail

Denver recently conducted random tests of more than two dozen local dispensaries to learn more about potential yeast and mold issues with marijuana, and the results weren't good. On August 19, the City of Denver sent a notice to every licensed marijuana dispensary in the city, warning that investigators…

US (CO): State's hemp program must change to fit USDA rules

Most hemp farmers across the country got a big boost when the United States Department of Agriculture released its first round of industrial hemp regulations earlier this…

US (TX): Texas lawmaker announces cannabis legalization bill

Texas Rep. Rolando Gutierrez has unveiled a cannabis legalization proposal ahead of the state legislature’s 2021 legislative session in the hopes of gaining the support needed from lawmakers to successfully pass the legislation. The proposal, which Gutierrez has named the “REAL Cannabis Legalization…

SZ: More than half surveyed in Swaziland against legalising the growing of cannabis

More than half the people surveyed in Swaziland (eSwatini) said they were against legalising the growing of cannabis (known locally as dagga). They also said they would not report a person if they found them growing or selling the drug. At least two companies based in the United States have expressed…

and product tasting of cannabis

CAN (ON): Health Canada issues research license for human administration trials

MediPharm Labs Corp. wholly owned subsidiary, MediPharm Labs has received its Cannabis Research Licence under Health Canada’s Cannabis Act and Cannabis Regulations. "This…

US (CA): Power outage protocols for cannabis growers and businesses

For cannabis cultivation licensees impacted by public safety power outages, please remember that loss of access to the California Cannabis Track-and-Trace System–Metrc must be…

US: Senate approves bill protecting MMJ states from federal intervention

The Senate approved spending legislation on Thursday that extends a provision protecting medical cannabis states from federal interference—but the question remains as to whether a House-passed version with broader protections for all state cannabis programs could still be adopted in the final bill that’s…

US: USDA establishes Domestic Hemp Production Program

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the establishment of the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program. This program, as required by the 2018 Farm Bill, creates a consistent regulatory framework around hemp production throughout the United States. “At USDA, we are always excited when there…

together with draft Environmental Impact Report

US (CA): Proposed Yolo County cannabis land-use ordinance released

A draft Environmental Impact Report for the proposed Cannabis Land Use Ordinance in Yolo County has been released for public review and comment. If approved by Yolo County supervisors, the ordinance would apply to all unincorporated areas of the county. According to Jenny Tan, county spokeswoman, local…

MX: Mexican Senate committees agree to comprehensive cannabis legalization bill

Several Mexican Senate committees have agreed to a marijuana legalization bill that they are submitting to the full body. But while lawmakers initially said a floor vote would come this week, the proposal is now being referred to a multi-party panel for consideration as leaders work to build a consensus…

CAN (QC): Quebec passes cannabis law that will raise legal age to 21

People in Quebec will need to wait until they are 21 to legally purchase cannabis under a new law passed by the Coalition Avenir Québec government. When the age limit is raised from 18 to 21 on Jan. 1, 2020, it will become the highest in the country. Elsewhere in Canada, cannabis is permitted at age 19,…

US: Lawsuit against DEA over medical cannabis research dismissed

A federal court has tossed out a lawsuit against the Drug Enforcement Administration that claimed the agency was stalling medical cannabis research. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit dismissed a lawsuit filed in June by the Scottsdale Research Institute that claimed the DEA…

US (TX): Plano Council hears from party interested in opening cannabis cultivation center

Back in 1861, Plano was home to the reaper, a farm machine for grain harvesting. Now a new harvester for a new crop may be coming to the city. A marijuana cultivation growing center proposal was presented to eight aldermen at the Plano City Council meeting. Nicholas Mauricio of Yorkville said he is…

FR: French medical cannabis trial would initially support 3,000 patients

France is moving closer to the launch of a medical cannabis trial which could benefit 3,000 patients. The French National Assembly is expected to give approval to the two-year trial which is being backed by president Macron’s La République En Marche majority party, reports Marijuana Business Daily. The…

Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Floyd Green

Jamaica making progress on cannabis regulations

Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Floyd Green, says progress is being made in the build-out of the local medical cannabis industry, with work advanced on regulations and guidelines. He said the Ministry is in receipt of the first draft of the…

AU: Move to legalise cannabis in Australia could violate international law

A move by the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) government to legalise cannabis in Canberra has drawn a sharp response from the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) which says such a move could contravene international law. The UN narcotics agency has written to the federal government asking for…

France approves funding for two years of medical cannabis research

France is one of the least progressive countries in Europe when it comes to cannabis policy. France is one of the few remaining countries in Europe that completely prohibits medical cannabis. However, that could be changing. On Friday lawmakers in France voted to approve funding for a two-year medical…

US (IL): Proposed bill requires all CBD in Illinois to meet testing requirements

A proposed bill would require all CBD products sold in Illinois to meet testing requirements that would be developed by the state Department of Agriculture. CBD is a cannabis…

CAN: Cannabis regulations 2.0 - what you need to know

Twelve months have rolled by since legalization and October 17th, 2019 brought in regulations that allow for a new wave of products that expands legal product offerings from dried flower and oils/capsules to edibles, concentrates, and topicals. Although these new products are now legal, it’s going to be…

US: White House signs off on proposed hemp rules by USDA

The White House approved plans to regulate hemp and its derivatives on Friday, signing off on interim final rules for the crop that were submitted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA has been working to develop hemp regulations since the crop was federally legalized under the 2018 Farm…

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