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US (OK): Thousands of medical cannabis companies facing fines for seed-to-sale noncompliance

Oklahoma's medical cannabis industry is grappling with seismic changes following the state's implementation of a "seed-to-sale" tracking system, leaving thousands of licensees facing fines and the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority locked in multiple lawsuits over the matter. The legal challenges and…

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"Alaska’s new adult-use cannabis task force could set things right"

Under Alaska’s current adult-use cannabis tax structure, businesses are being run into the ground due to delinquency on payments despite operators pouring in their life savings in some cases.On September 20, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy issued Administrative Order No. 339 to establish an advisory task…

© Jose Manuel Gelpi Diaz | Dreamstime.com

Australia: "Adult-use cannabis could be legalized by federal parliament"

Federal parliament could override state laws to legalize adult-use cannabis, according to new constitutional advice obtained by the Greens. As the minor party ramps up its campaign to legalize cannabis ahead of a planned private member’s bill to be introduced next year, the Greens’ justice spokesperson,…

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Cannabis is staying on the banned substances list for international athletes

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has officially decided to keep cannabis on the list of banned substances for international athletes following a scientific review and a determination that cannabis use “violates the spirit of sport.” Advocates strongly urged WADA to enact a reform after U.S. runner…

© Jose Manuel Gelpi Diaz | Dreamstime.com

Grenada appoints commission on cannabis legislation and regulation

The Grenada government has named businesswoman Rolanda McQueen as chairman of a 12 -member Commission on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation, whose task includes holding broad-based consultations and engaging in public awareness on the policy decision to legalize cannabis within a legal and regulatory…

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South African protesters: "Government needs to speed up cannabis law reform"

"We've been given the constitutional right to grow and consume it, but we haven't been given the right to trade with it," says Linda Siboto. Various groups protested on Saturday, the 17th of September, on the lawns of the Union Buildings over the slow pace and haphazard approach to cannabis law reform…

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US (NY): Medical cannabis patients allowed to grow their own cannabis

As New York cannabis regulators continue to accept applications for the first adult-use cannabis retailer licenses from people directly impacted by the drug war, officials on Tuesday, the 20th of September, voted to adopt home grow rules for medical cannabis patients, as well as another round of…

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"Ending cannabis testing could help resolve labor disputes and supply chain issues"

A railroad workers' strike may have been averted following news of a tentative deal between unions and railway companies this week, but a congressman says the conflict also speaks to the broader need to address labor and supply chain issues, including ending employment-related cannabis testing policies.…

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Nevada judge rules cannabis can no longer be classified as a schedule 1 drug

A Nevada judge has ruled on a closely-followed lawsuit that could have a precedent-setting influence on a federal level. He determined that the Nevada Board of Pharmacy can no longer list cannabis as a schedule one drug. It was a clear victory for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Nevada,…

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US: New poll finds 73% of GOP votes support cannabis banking

Support for legal cannabis, including companies having access to banking services and U.S. capital markets, reached a new high among Republican voters, according to a new national poll released today. Most Republicans agree that the federal government shouldn't interfere in state legalization and…

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Governor Newsom signs 10 bills to strengthen California’s cannabis laws

Governor Gavin Newsom announced that he has signed several measures to strengthen California’s cannabis laws, expand the legal cannabis market and redress the harms of cannabis prohibition. Though the state has made significant progress since the legalization of cannabis, local opposition, rigid…

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US: "Cannabis banking bill will help lightbulb manufacturers and others outside of cannabis industry"

It’s not just cannabis businesses that stand to benefit from a bipartisan cannabis banking bill, a senator and top insurance official said on Thursday, September 8. It’s also about safeguards for ancillary companies that serve the industry—like a lightbulb manufacturer whose product malfunctions in a…

© Jose Manuel Gelpi Diaz

US: Small cannabis growers could sell directly to consumers across state lines under new congressional bill

A pair of congress members filed a bill on Wednesday that’s intended to help small cannabis growers compete against large corporations when cannabis is federally legalized, proposing to give them the ability to ship and sell products directly to consumers within and across state lines. Rep. Jared Huffman…

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US (FL): Agriculture Commissioner criticizes new medical cannabis dosage limits

Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is urging Florida health officials to roll back an emergency rule that creates new restrictions on medical cannabis doses, a big issue for more than 700,000 patients that use medical cannabis. “The rule change is unnecessary, its implementation poorly notified, and…

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Costa Rica's hemp licenses will be free

The Costa Rican Executive Power signed the first of the Regulations to Law No. 10113 related to the use of hemp or non-psychoactive cannabis for food and industrial use. Said regulation was signed by President Rodrigo Chaves Robles and by the heads of the Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) portfolios, Laura…

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US (DC): Lawmakers demand congress end local cannabis sales prohibition as part of 2023 spending bill

Washington, D.C. lawmakers are demanding that congressional leaders finally remove a provision from an annual spending bill this year that has blocked the District from implementing a commercial, adult-use cannabis market. In letters to the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate…

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US (WV): Medical cannabis advocates concerned by proposed THC cap

West Virginia's medical cannabis program is designed to treat a specific list of chronic and terminal conditions, but a proposed limit could significantly curb the plant's strength. On September 8, the Medical Cannabis Advisory Board will hear a proposal to cap the THC in the state's medical cannabis…

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US (MO): Court hearing scrutinizes unprecedented signature process

The unprecedented steps Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft took to verify signatures to place a cannabis legalization initiative petition on the ballot were outside the scope of his authority, attorneys for an anti-drug activist argued Thursday, September 8. Cole County Judge Cotton Walker faces a…

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US (CA): Partnership to bring policy and implementation expertise to cannabis regulation

Cannabis Public Policy Consulting (CPPC) and California Cannabis Authority (CCA) have launched a partnership to bring expert consulting, data analytics, and comprehensive and current datasets to cannabis regulation in California. CPPC is the only independent consultancy in cannabis focused exclusively on…

Fadel Senna / AFP

Moroccan farmers irked by law delay to govern cannabis production

Morocco has long been ranked as one of the world's largest cannabis producers. In June last year, Parliament adopted a law to regulate the plant's production for medical, cosmetic, and industrial purposes, while production and consumption for adult-use purposes remained strictly prohibited. The new…

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US: Top federal health official blasts cannabis research barriers

A top federal health official says cannabis research is “fraught with hurdles,” including its continued prohibition under federal law, that need to be addressed in order to unlock studies on areas such as how cannabinoids can serve as “safer tools” than opioids in managing pain. National Center for…

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SA: Cannabis grow club model goes up in smoke

While it’s legal in Cape Town to grow cannabis in your garden and light up a smoke at home, it is a definite no-no when it comes to a grow club. People involved in this model lease a patch of land alongside other like-minded people and have it taken care of by those with the know-how. The High Court…

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Panama regulates the medicinal use of cannabis

"I signed the Executive Decree that regulates Law 242 of 2021, which regulates the medicinal and therapeutic use of cannabis and its derivatives; one of the most solid regulations at the regional level, to allow the consumption of processed cannabis and give relief to thousands of patients," wrote…

Reef Dispensaries / Jeff Scheid

US (NV): "Quirks of cannabis tax formula mean heavy burden for cultivators as prices drop"

In Reno cultivator Sarah Rosenfeld's recent experience, the top dollar a pound of cannabis bud or flower might fetch at wholesale prices is about $1,800 to $2,000, and that's if it's packaged and has a high concentration of the active ingredient THC. Something in bulk with less potency might be closer to…

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Dr. Oz: "Cannabis is a safer solution than prescription drugs"

Dr. Oz again took aim at his U.S. Senate opponent over his support for cannabis legalization, but, after being pressed on his past comments on the issue, he conceded that, yes, he’s personally in favor of medical cannabis, saying that it’s a “safer solution” compared to certain prescription drugs like…

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Estonia: Regulatory amendment to allow farmers to grow higher THC cannabis crops

The Ministry of Social Affairs is drawing up a regulatory amendment that will allow for varieties of Cannabis sativa with a higher tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content to be grown in Estonia. The change will significantly increase the number of varieties hemp farmers can choose from to grow.Currently,…

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CAN: City of Winnipeg enacts new licence requirement for medical cannabis growers

Medical cannabis growers in Winnipeg will need a license to grow starting Tuesday, the 6th of September. The Designated Growers Licence program will apply to those authorized by Health Canada who supply a prescribed amount of medical cannabis to those who need it. Additionally, the growing site has to be…

© Chimpinski Dreamstime.com

US: Florida sets dosage and supply limits for medical cannabis

Florida health officials have released a highly anticipated rule setting THC dosage amounts, and supply limits on products doctors can order for medical cannabis patients. The emergency rule sets a 70-day total supply limit of 24,500 mg of THC for non-smokable cannabis and establishes dosage caps for…

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US: Alabamians can apply for a medical cannabis business license starting today

On September 1, the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission will allow interested Alabamians to download the forms to apply to be a licensed medical cannabis grower, transporter, processor, dispensary operator, or vertical integrator. Alabama Today spoke with Antoine Mordican, who hopes to be one of the…

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"Metrc compliance just got easier with this free tool"

Metrc users now have a free solution available to simplify and improve their experience with the compliance system. After years of successfully reducing complexity and data-entry time for growers in California, Colorado, Oregon, Michigan, and other Metrc states with their full cultivation management…

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US (AL): City authorizes medical cannabis sites in city limits

The city of Cullman is preparing to authorize medical cannabis growing, processing, and dispensing locations. A resolution passed this week by the city council states the city "does hereby authorize the operation of medical cannabis dispensing sites by dispensary licensees and integrated facility…

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US (CA): "Cutting cannabis taxes will cost city, but can save the industry"

Long Beach may look at lowering taxes on some cannabis businesses, but how big the cuts end up being will have a big impact on the city’s annual budget, which is projected to receive about $12 million in taxes from the industry.The City Council’s Budget Oversight Committee heard potential options for…

dpa / Kay Nietfeld

German Health Minister discusses next steps for cannabis legalization

On a special episode of Germany’s popular satirical “Heute Show,” Karl Lauterbach admitted to having smoked cannabis and came out personally in favor of legalization - having previously spoken out against it. “It was pleasant, I have to say. It brings back pleasant memories,” the Health Minister said,…

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Malaysian researcher highlights legal hurdle to cannabis research

For the past four years, local researchers from public universities have failed to study cannabis due to legal restrictions imposed by the Dangerous Drugs Act (DDA) 1952. Nur Azzalia Kamaruzaman, director of the National Poison Centre at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), said according to the narcotics…

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US: Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission approves rules for cannabis operators

Last week, following a six-week notice and comment period, the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission voted to approve the previously released proposed rules. This is an important step in keeping the program on the timetable set by the commission. One caveat: We don’t know what the commission approved.…

© Jose Manuel Gelpi Diaz | Dreamstime.com

US: Nebraska medical cannabis initiatives will not appear on November ballot

A pair of medical cannabis legalization initiatives will not appear on Nebraska’s ballot in November, the state announced on Monday, the 22nd of August. But while advocates are disappointed, they’re already turning their attention to 2024 for another push. While activists with Nebraskans for Medical…

© Jose Manuel Gelpi Diaz | Dreamstime.com

US: Senator hopes to pass "some key reforms" on cannabis this year, but says full legalization is a "difficult feat"

A key U.S. senator is conceding that the votes may not be there to pass a wide-ranging legalization bill he’s sponsoring—but like his colleagues, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) says he remains hopeful that Congress will enact “some key reforms” on cannabis this session. This has…

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US: "Federal court’s cannabis ruling on Maine licensing rules could open door to interstate commerce"

A federal appellate court ruled on Wednesday, the 17th of August, that Maine’s law prohibiting non-residents from owning medical cannabis businesses in the state violates the U.S. Constitution. But legal experts say that the decision could have more far-reaching implications for interstate cannabis…

Moise Amisial

Bahamas: "Why is the government not prioritizing regulating medicinal cannabis?"

Free National Movement leader Michael Pintard is disappointed that the government has not prioritized regulating the use of medicinal cannabis. The move, he said, would open the door to a new industry in the country. During a press conference, Mr. Pintard addressed the issue of the government’s delay in…

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US (IL): "The zoning laws make it virtually impossible for growers to get in the community"

Despite pleas from cannabis growers, Springfield City Council voted down a proposal to let grow facilities open closer to homes and schools.  Cannabis growers said Springfield zoning ordinances are locking them out of major portions of the city. "It's virtually impossible for us to get in and make a difference…

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Costa Rica announces bill to allow adult-use cannabis

The President of Costa Rica, Rodrigo Chaves, announced a project to approve adult-use cannabis. During the official act commemorating the first 100 days of his administration, the President announced the initiative.According to Chaves, the initiative will be sent to Congress for discussion. Likewise, He…

Clean Cannabis Company

"We have to reduce the barrier to entry for growers"

“As an advocate, you’re always banging your head against the wall,” said co-owner Stephanie Waterman of White River Growpro. Before Waterman jumped in earlier this year, all tier two and above commercial cannabis facilities in Vermont were required to have UL-listed LED lights. After weeks of repeating…

Altum International

Hong Kong’s CBD industry faces wipeout as government ban looms

In Hong Kong, CBD has been sold legally in the form of oils, tinctures, and food and drinks amid a mushrooming of related businesses in recent years.CBD users, however, may soon be forced to find other outlets for their stress as the Chinese-ruled city looks to ban the compound as early as this year.In…

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US (NM): Ethics questioned as cannabis regulators join the private sector

A company working in New Mexico’s emerging cannabis market is advertising some unusual expertise. Its team includes two people who once helped regulate the new industry. “We wrote the book on cannabis compliance. Literally,” the firm’s website says. But the hiring of two of New Mexico’s top cannabis…

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US: Former cannabis regulators call for 10 equity amendments to bipartisan cannabis banking bill

With the end of the current Congress approaching, efforts to find areas of compromise on cannabis reform are increasing, with lawmakers, advocates, and stakeholders increasingly willing to set aside policy differences in the interest of getting something enacted before January. The internal debate among…

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US: New Haven cannabis business sues Connecticut over social equity rejection

CannaHealth, a medical cannabis certification company in New Haven, filed a lawsuit last week against the state Department of Consumer Protection and its Social Equity Council that oversees the rollout of Connecticut's legalized adult-use cannabis industry. The company offers disadvantaged communities…

AFP

Malaysia eyes Thailand’s medical cannabis policy

Thailand’s health minister has said Malaysia is considering studying its laws to legalize cannabis for medical use as Kuala Lumpur plans to roll out a similar measure.On Monday, the 15th of August, Anutin Charnvirakul said he shared knowledge about the herb with his Malaysian counterpart Khairy…

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US (CT): 12 companies applying for cannabis cultivation licenses suing Connecticut

The number of lawsuits challenging Connecticut’s cannabis cultivator licensing process has grown to a dozen. Earlier this summer, two Hartford County-based businesses were the first to challenge their denials for cultivator licenses by the state’s Social Equity Council that they did not meet requirements…

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"Federal cannabis bill isn't enough to fix drug war's harms without state action"

In a new review of the nation’s cannabis laws, a leading racial justice nonprofit is urging voters to turn out in Maryland, South Dakota, and other states where legalization will be on the ballot this fall. The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF) says waiting on Congress for federal reform…

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US (NY): Cannabis regulators approve first processor licenses and cannabis testing rules

New York cannabis regulators on Monday, the 14th of Augustus,  approved the first round of cannabis processor licenses, as well as additional cultivators, as the state gets closer to launching adult-use sales. Members of the Cannabis Control Board (CCB) also gave the green light to proposed laboratory and…

© Volodymyrbondarenkosound Dreamstime.com

US (NY): Court ruling boosts minority-owned medical cannabis license application

Although New York's new cannabis regulators have said they support the increasingly strong push to diversify and expand the state's medical cannabis program, they have yet to specify when and how that change will occur. But a recent court decision could force their hand. The ruling by a midlevel appeals…

© Ryland Zweifel Dreamstime.com

US (CT): Cannabis cultivation regulations amended in Beacon Falls

The Planning and Zoning Commission amended its regulations for cannabis establishments in town, making cannabis production more in line with its rules for industrial uses. The commission approved adding and modifying its regulations to allow cannabis establishments in town after it opened and closed a…

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US (CA): Los Angeles puts cannabis business tax measure on November ballot

Los Angeles County voters will be asked in November to consider a ballot measure that would impose business taxes on cannabis operations in unincorporated areas, once such businesses are permitted. The county is still developing regulations for cannabis operations in unincorporated areas, with an…

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Guyana approves legislation allowing hemp cultivation

After lobbying the two previous administrations to permit it, Guyana’s parliament this week finally approved legislation allowing local farmers to grow industrial hemp. Cultivation will begin later this year in southeastern Berbice Region near Suriname, as well as in Linden Town 65 miles south of the…

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US: Missouri cannabis legalization initiative will appear on November ballot

Missouri officials on Tuesday, the 9th of August, announced that an initiative to legalize cannabis will appear on the state’s November ballot. While early reporting from county officials had signaled that the campaign was coming up short on signatures in key congressional districts, Secretary of State…

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US: "Arizona not doing enough to ensure cannabis testing for contaminants is accurate"

Arizona cannabis consumers are at risk because of lax testing standards in the state, officials advising the Department of Health Services warned on Monday as they called for new rules on how cannabis is tested. Members of the advisory council warned that while cannabis growers are required to pay…

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US (NJ): Senate president files bill to allow interstate cannabis commerce

The governor of New Jersey would be authorized to enter into agreements for interstate cannabis commerce with other states that have legalized cannabis under a new bill filed by Senate President Nicholas Scutari (D). However, the agreements could only be forged if federal law changes, or if the Justice…

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Switzerland fully legalizes medical cannabis and allows export

Switzerland joins other European countries that have legalized cannabis for medical purposes. From last week, August 1, patients can get medical cannabis through a medical prescription. Before the new legislation, medical cannabis patients had to request a request to the Federal Office of Public Health…

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Canadian cannabis industry eyeing U.S. push for cannabis legalization

The surprise climate spending bill isn’t the only piece of marquee legislation in the U.S. Senate that’s getting a lot of Canadian attention. U.S. lawmakers are also looking at a comprehensive effort to legalize cannabis, which the legal cannabis industry north of the border would love to see become law.…

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US: Delta-8 THC declared legal in Kentucky

A judge in Kentucky has declared Delta-8 to be a legal derivative of hemp and issued a permanent injunction against law enforcement which prevents them from charging retailers and producers with criminal activity for selling Delta-8. The chemical, called Delta-8 THC, is billed as producing a milder high…

© Tomas Hajek Dreamstime.com

US (AR): Cannabis campaign files lawsuit to put legalization measure on ballot after State Board's rejection

Arkansas activists on Thursday filed a lawsuit with the state Supreme Court, seeking to secure ballot access for their proposed legalization initiative. The legal action comes a day after the state Board of Election Commissioners ruled that the measure's ballot title and popular name are misleading. Last…

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“Microbusiness” license opens pathways to growing industry

You likely have heard of a craft brewery before. But what about a craft business for cannabis and cannabis products? Enter the “microbusiness”: a unique opportunity for those without access to significant capital to enter New York’s burgeoning cannabis industry. What is a microbusiness?Think of it as a…

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US: Senate Democrats to introduce cannabis decriminalization bill against odds

Senate Democrats introduced a bill Thursday that would federally decriminalize, regulate and impose taxes on cannabis products. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senators Cory Booker of New Jersey and Ron Wyden of Oregon, the sponsors, revised the measure, which faces significant obstacles in the…

© Eric Limon Dreamstime.com

The status of medical cannabis licenses in Maryland

The Maryland General Assembly recently punted the question of whether to legalize recreational cannabis to the public to be decided in November by a referendum. However, that vote will occur at a time when many medical cannabis businesses already exist in Maryland. Accordingly, not only is there a…

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US (SD): State adds new standards for testing medical cannabis

The South Dakota Legislative Rules Committee passed new rules Tuesday that adds regulations for testing medical cannabis. The rules would also clarify tracking system requirements, and with the latest legislative changes, according to the Department of Health. Several bills related to medical cannabis…

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Florida medical cannabis business licensing expansion is on the horizon

The Florida Department of Health's Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) will soon open a general application process for additional medical cannabis treatment center licenses (MMTC Licenses). Right now, the State of Florida has 22 vertically integrated MMTCs, arguably the most valuable cannabis…

US (NY): Mayor Kraham announces plans for cannabis cultivation facility in first ward

The city of Binghamton is investing in becoming a leader in the cannabis industry in upstate New York. Binghamton's mayor Jared Kraham announced plans for a cannabis cultivation facility in Binghamton's first ward on Charles street. Mayor Kraham says Binghamton is open for business for cannabis…

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US (CO): Denver officials want to save struggling cannabis delivery businesses

Weed delivery has yet to catch on in Denver, but government officials are pushing dispensaries to drop their resistance to save the transporter businesses of marginalized entrepreneurs. “Delivery has not taken off in the way that we had hoped that it would,” said Molly Duplechian, Excise and Licenses…

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Indonesian court rejects call to legalize medicinal cannabis

Indonesia's Constitutional Court on Wednesday rejected a judicial review of the country's narcotics law that would have paved the way for legalizing cannabis  for medicinal use. Three mothers of children with cerebral palsy backed by civil society organizations filed a judicial review of the country's strict…

© Eric Limon Dreamstime.com

Barbados medicinal cannabis licensing authority approves licenses for cannabis sector

The Barbados Medicinal Cannabis Licensing Authority (BMCLA) says two local licensees with a combined nine licenses have been approved to enter the cannabis businesses. “We are excited and very happy to have the Board approve these licenses, with Cabinet’s approval. Barbados is moving towards an ambitious…

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Cannabis banking included in U.S. House-approved defense bill

The Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act, legislation that would ensure cannabis businesses have access to banking services, was approved on Thursday by the U.S. House of Representatives after it was included as an amendment to the fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).…

Why can't growers of color get medical cannabis licenses in Florida

Since 2016, the Florida Legislature - through the Florida Department of Health - has issued more than two dozen medical cannabis licenses for farmers looking to enter the MMJ…

© Jeremynathan Dreamstime.com

Germany, Luxembourg, Malta and the Netherlands discuss cannabis legalization at historic meeting

Top officials from Germany, Luxembourg, Malta and the Netherlands held a historic meeting last week to discuss plans and challenges associated with recreational cannabis legalization as a growing number of nations across Europe pursue reform. This is the first in what’s expected to be a series of…

Bosnia-Herzegovina on track to allow MMJ

The Bosnian government is taking a close look at the legalization of medical cannabis. For the use of cannabis for medical purposes to finally be legalized in Bosnia and…

© Anton Petrus Dreamstime.com

Albania may legalize export-only medical cannabis and industrial hemp

Albania may join the list of European countries that legalized the cultivation of medical cannabis and industrial. However, cultivation, production, and trade will be destined to export only. The Albanian government announced on Thursday, June 30, the plan to legalize the cultivation of medical cannabis…

© Larisa Shpineva Dreamstime.com

US (NC): Duplin farmers can continue to grow hemp

Recently the state passed legislation that will keep farmers and small business owners in the hemp industry legally in operation. “We’ve been working on this issue for a while now, and I’m happy to see it cross the finish line. There were some hiccups, but the farmers were always the top priority of the…

Thomas Bender / Herald-Tribune

"Unfortunate and discriminatory": Black farmers feel left out of Florida's medical cannabis system

Nearly six years ago, the Florida legislature set aside a medical cannabis license for a Black farmer like John Allen to join the burgeoning industry.     But the license still has not been issued by the Florida Department of Health, which regulates the industry.     Twenty-two licenses have been issued, but none so far to a Black farmer,…

© Andrii Iarygin | Dreamstime.com

US (CT): Social Equity Council votes on which businesses will grow adult-use cannabis

Connecticut’s Social Equity Council voted on whether to let more than a dozen companies start growing adult-use cannabis in Connecticut. The concern is ensuring they are the right companies to help right the wrongs of the war on drugs. “Our goal was, and is, to affirm that social equity applicants are…

© Tinnakorn Jorruang Dreamstime.com

New Jersey removes state tax on all medical cannabis sales

As of July 1, 2022, participants in New Jersey’s Medicinal Marijuana Program are no longer required to pay state sales taxes on any cannabis and related products at state-licensed medical dispensaries.   This tax cut was the final step of a three-phase plan as part of The Jake Honig Compassionate Use Medical Cannabis…

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US (NC): Senate passes bill that could legalize medical cannabis, but a long road is still ahead

The North Carolina Senate took the first steps towards legalizing the use of medical cannabis throughout the state in early June with the passing of the Compassionate Care Act.  If approved, the bill would allow physicians to prescribe medical cannabis to patients for conditions including cancer, epilepsy,…

© Atomazul Dreamstime.com

US (NY): Regulators put 52 unlicensed retailers on blast in preparation for adult-use market

New York cannabis regulators have put 52 unlicensed cannabis retailers on notice, publicizing dozens of cease and desist letters they have sent to businesses accused of illegally selling cannabis as the state prepares to launch its adult-use market. The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) said that the…

© Stefan Malloch Dreamstime.com

Comparing US state approaches to cannabis licensing

U.S. states have taken varied approaches to licensing cannabis businesses under federal prohibition, but up to now, there is limited research on cross-state licensing approaches. This paper provides a systematic analysis of the current licensing strategies taken by all states that have passed medical…

© Andrii Iarygin Dreamstime.com

US: California seeks to standardize cannabis testing to prevent THC ‘laboratory shopping’

California cannabis regulators are seeking input on proposed rules to standardize cannabis testing methods in the state—an effort that officials hope will stop cannabis businesses from "laboratory shopping" to find facilities that are more likely to show higher THC concentrations which they can then…

© Roxana Gonzalez Dreamstime.com

US (AR): Activists set to turn in double the signatures needed to put cannabis legalization on ballot

Arkansas activists say that they’ve collected more than double the required signatures to place a cannabis legalization initiative on the November ballot, with plans to submit the petitions to the state on the turn-in deadline on Friday. Responsible Growth Arkansas is seeking to place the issue on the…

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US (NE): Medical cannabis activists turn in ballot signatures after campaign suffers legal setback

Nebraska activists have turned in what they hope to be enough signatures to qualify a pair of medical cannabis legalization initiatives for the November ballot. But with an already slim margin of error stemming from a volunteer-focused petitioning effort, the campaign faced a legal setback on Wednesday…

© Darren4155 Dreamstime.com

US: Medical cannabis is now tax-free in New Jersey

Purchases of cannabis through New Jersey's Medicinal Cannabis Program are now tax-free.The Murphy administration is reminding Garden State residents that on July 1, sales tax was completely eliminated for residents enrolled in the program who purchase cannabis and cannabis products at a permitted…

© Kirill Vasilev Dreamstime.com

US: New York issues guidance for measuring flower canopy of adult-use growers

The Office of Cannabis Management in New York state has provided further guidance on how adult-use conditional cultivators (AUCCs) must measure and report the square footage of their flowering canopy to remain compliant with cannabis law. As an addition to their Site Plans, all AUCCs must submit a Plant…

© Chimpinski Dreamstime.com

US: "These legislative improvements will bring great relief to thousands of Virginians"

There are currently over 50,000 medical cannabis program registrants in Virginia. An estimated 8,000 applicants were still awaiting approval after registering with the Virginia Board of Pharmacy to obtain their medical cannabis card so they could get their medicine. Now, these patients don't have to wait…

© Palinchak | Dreamstime.com

US: Senators blast the Biden administration’s "extraordinarily disappointing" cannabis stance

A coalition of six U.S. senators are renewing their call for the Biden administration to deschedule cannabis and grant mass pardons for people with federal cannabis convictions, calling the Justice Department’s response to an earlier request for action “extraordinarily disappointing.” In a letter that…

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WNBA star Brittney Griner pleads guilty to cannabis charge

WNBA star Brittney Griner has pleaded guilty to illegally—but she says not intentionally—bringing cannabis vape cartridges into Russia. In a Russian court on Thursday, the American basketball player offered a brief guilty plea for a charge that’s punishable by up to 10 years in prison in the country,…

© Atomazul Dreamstime.com

US (NE): Activists meet ‘raw’ signature goal for medical cannabis ballot initiatives

Nebraska activists say that they’ve collected the minimum amount of “raw” signatures needed to qualify a pair of medical cannabis legalization initiatives for the November ballot—but they’re making a final push to gather about 5,000 more before the turn-in deadline on Thursday to ensure that enough of…

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US: Tax reform for California's adult-use cannabis industry leaves many unsatisfied

As California rolls out new tax cuts for legal cannabis growers to provide those who work in the industry relief, many claim the black market continues to make it difficult to survive in the business. When California voters approved Prop 46 legalizing adult-use cannabis, it came with a lot of promises.…

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Legalized cannabis sparks concern in Buddhist Thailand

Thailand’s Sangha Supreme Council (SSC) passed a decision last week banning the use and growing of cannabis by Buddhist monks and novices. The ban includes all forms of cannabis, which were legalized last month in Thailand. With the legalization of cannabis in June, many Buddhists in Thailand have…

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US: Medical cannabis advocates don't give up hope after legislative efforts fail in the Carolinas

Advocates are pushing for the legalization of medical cannabis in the Carolinas after lawmakers in both states left bills on the table that would've allowed doctors to prescribe cannabis to certain patients.The two bills could've given thousands of people across the Carolinas access to prescribed…

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US: Nebraska medical cannabis campaign says it might fall short

A campaign to legalize cannabis for medicinal use in Nebraska is in danger of missing its signature goal to qualify for the November general election ballot, organizers said. Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana still needs to gather thousands of signatures ahead of Thursday's submission deadline set by the…

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US (MS): County adopts ordinance regulating operations of medical cannabis facilities

Following the Lamar County Board of Supervisors’ decision to not opt out of the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act, board members have adopted an ordinance outlining the county’s permitting process for that measure, as well as identifying which zones within the county in which medical cannabis facilities…

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US: SAFE Banking introduced as an amendment to the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act

Shuttered for a sixth time after being stripped from the America COMPETES Act of 2022, the House sponsor of a bipartisan cannabis banking reform bill that would enable cannabis businesses to have better access to traditional banking services isn’t giving up. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, the U.S. representative…

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IT: Italian government's favorable stance on decriminalization upsets conservative parties of the coalition

The Italian government has finally taken a stance on cannabis and has stated the necessity to encourage decriminalization.  In the "Annual Report to Parliament on the phenomenon of drug addiction in Italy" by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers - Department for Drug Policies, indications that emerged…

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US: California lender license requirements

Cannabis businesses need money, and lots of it, to be operational. Being mostly startups, operating profits are not enough to sustain their business. So cannabis businesses take on outside capital generally in one of two ways: taking on debt from cannabis lenders or bringing in equity investors. Due to…

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US: Medical cannabis legal now in Mississippi

Medical cannabis is now legal in Mississippi as the state law took effect on July 1, the Oxford Eagle reports. While the program is not yet operational, Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program Director Kris Jones told the Eagle that dispensaries and other facilities would open later this year. “We…

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Opposition fury at Albanian government plan to legalize medical cannabis

The Albanian government has put a draft law on legalizing medical cannabis up for public consultation, sparking an angry reaction from opposition politicians. The news was announced shortly after the latest World Drug Report 2022 from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) revealed that…

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Isle of Man: First firm granted medicinal cannabis licence

The first licence to produce medicinal cannabis products on the Isle of Man has been approved. GrowLab Organics (GLO) has been offered a conditional licence to cultivate, extract, manufacture, import and export the drug. Chief Executive Alex Fray said the industry had the "capability to transform the…

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California ends cannabis cultivation tax

With Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signing of the $308 billion state budget Thursday evening, California’s beleaguered cannabis industry got long-sought tax relief. Advocates of the business are hailing as a victory the elimination of the cultivation tax and a cap on the excise tax at 15% for three years. Instead,…

CAN (ON): Cannabis company gets $100,000 fine for alleged infraction of advertising rules

The Registrar of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has served Crown DK CAN Ltd. with an Order of Monetary Penalty totaling $100,000 for alleged infractions…

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US (CA): LA City Council approves placard program for licensed cannabis businesses

The Los Angeles City Council approved a new ordinance on Wednesday, June 29th, that will require licensed cannabis businesses to display a placard proving they are operating legally and in compliance with public health regulations.  The required placards are meant to be an easily seen notification for both…