Switzerland to launch adult-use experiment

If there is one word to describe the European approach to cannabis generally, it has been so far, caution. If there was another, it would be regulation. There is nothing “casual” or indeterminate in every European national approach to a conversation that is now so overdue it is burning its way into…

US (MT) Bill to allow cannabis cultivation only indoors

Some proposed legislation could limit the business model for companies growing cannabis in Montana, restricting them to growing their product exclusively indoors. Proponents of the bill say this law would also protect the state's growing hemp industry. Senate Bill 209 is not a shock to the cannabis…

US (OR): Unlawful irrigation uncovered on Oregon hemp farms

Suspicions about unlawful hemp irrigation in Southwest Oregon proved to be well-founded after an audit uncovered violations at one-third of the grow sites visited. Officials from the state’s Water Resources Department reviewed 187 hemp farms in the region last year and determined nearly 33% ran afoul of…

US (NJ): Bills signed into law to permit and regulate adult-use cannabis

After years of false starts and failed attempts, Gov. Philip D. Murphy on Monday signed into law three bills that effectively permit and regulate the use of recreational cannabis in New Jersey, making it the most populous state in the Northeast to fully legalize the drug. New Jersey is now one of 14…

Thailand to buy cannabis and hemp from growers in Buriram for medicine production

The Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) has officially signed a purchase agreement with a community enterprise consisting of cannabis growers in Buriram province, securing local supplies for the agency to begin production of cannabis and hemp-infused medicine. Dr. Sopon Mekthon, Deputy Public…

US (MA): Hindsale grants special permit for cannabis cultivation

Leaders in a small Massachusetts town have granted a special permit for a 91,000-square-foot outdoor cannabis farm in the community after the company's president promised that neighbors’ concerns about odors, heavy water use and road dust would be unfounded. The Hinsdale Select Board granted the special…

US (MO): Missouri medical cannabis lawyers worry about discipline

Attorneys who represent clients in the medical cannabis industry are concerned they might face discipline under a state Supreme Court directive that appears to put federal law in conflict with state law. The directive, which took effect July 1, says attorneys cannot participate in — or advise clients how…

Jamaica to finalize cannabis export agreements

Last summer, big players in cannabis agriculture, like the Canadian conglomerate Aphria Inc. (NASDAQ: APHA), couldn’t take the Caribbean heat and got out of the kitchen. Aphria, who acquired a Jamaican licensed cultivator in 2018 to get ahead of an expected production boom in Jamaica, left the island in…

US (MT): Hemp, cannabis growers speak on indoor grow bill

ASenate committee Thursday tried to hash out whether to approve a bill that would require cannabis growers to keep their grow operations indoors and reserve the outdoors for hemp farmers. Sen. Tom Jacobson, a Great Falls Democrat, told the Senate Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Committee his Senate…

US (NJ): State to resume issuing MMJ licenses

The state can resume its review of nearly 150 medical cannabis license applications that have sat untouched for more than a year, thanks to a ruling from a state appellate court Thursday. The court ruled against all but one medical cannabis license applicant rejected by the Department of Health in 2019.…

US (CA): California officially joins national Cannabis Regulators Association

The Bureau of Cannabis Control (Bureau) announced today that California has officially become the newest member of the Cannabis Regulators Association (CANNRA), a non-partisan organization created to facilitate information sharing amongst state regulators, develop more uniformity across state frameworks…

US (MI): Michigan cannabis may be contaminated with mold, testing labs warn

Cannabis for sale in Michigan is contaminated with mold and yeast, a group of cannabis testing labs is warning.  Moreover, the state is no longer allowing a specific cannabis testing method. But the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association said Wednesday it disagrees with the lab group's findings, saying the…

Assessing the shelf life of cannabis dried flowers

Every agricultural product is characterized by its shelf-life, which represents the time during which the quality remains intact. After this threshold, a given product starts deteriorating, resulting in a number of consequences. When it comes to cannabis, however, there isn’t still a commonly accepted…

US (PA): Agriculture Secretary seeks proposals for grants to boost hemp sales, exports

Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding called for proposals from nonprofit marketing and promotion organizations for projects aimed at increasing sales, export or consumer awareness of Pennsylvania hemp products. The department will award $253,000 in matching funds to reimburse up to half of project…

US (CA): Sen. Skinner announces bill to expand access to legal cannabis

State Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, announced the introduction of new legislation today designed to expand California’s legal cannabis market. Currently, many cities and counties have no legal cannabis businesses operating in their jurisdictions because those local governments don’t have the resources…

CAN: The AGCO now issuing 30 cannabis Retail Store Authorizations per week

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has continued working with the Government of Ontario to increase the number of cannabis Retail Store Authorizations (RSAs) that are issued each month. Effective today, February 16, 2021, the pace of store authorizations has increased from 20 to 30 RSAs…

Barbados locals to have a stake in cannabis industry

Officials are said to be considering ways of raising funds through the Barbados Stock Exchange (BSE) to help fund development and innovation in the burgeoning medicinal cannabis industry. Word of this has come from Shantal Munro-Knight, Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Medicinal Cannabis Licensing…

Thailand encourages villagers to grow medical cannabis in Buriram

The Ministry of Public Health has delivered cannabis sprouts to a community enterprise in Buriram for cultivation and sale for medical use, as part of a campaign to kick start medical cannabis cultivation by villagers. The Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul delivered the cannabis sprouts to…

"Now, also for Italy important possibilities are opening up in an increasingly strategic international market"

The therapeutic potential of cannabidiol (CBD), one of the main phytochemicals found in cannabis, has been largely ignored by doctors and scientists for decades. But in recent years, its ability to treat rare seizure disorders has come to light, leading to the first approval by the FDA, and later also by…

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Mississippi medical cannabis regulations to take effect in July

Regulations for a medical marijuana program in Mississippi will be in place by a July 1 deadline, members of the state Board of Health said last week. But they cautioned that it’s unclear how soon marijuana might be available to patients. Aug. 15 is the deadline for the state to begin issuing licenses…

US (RI): Cannabis legalization bill to be filed this month

A top Rhode Island senator says a bill to legalize cannabis in the state will be introduced this month, possibly as early as next week. Rather than wait until later in the session for budget negotiations, Senate Majority Leader Michael McCaffrey (D) told The Public’s Radio that he wants to put the…

CAN (BC): Cannabis facility proposed in Enderby

After a shaky start to the rezoning process, a local man’s application to house an indoor cannabis facility on his property is growing support within the Regional District of…

Pakistan to establish cannabis farms as alternative to cotton

Federal Minister for Science and Technology Chaudhry Fawad Hussain has said that farms for cannabis production are being established in Jhelum, Peshawar, Chakwal and Islamabad, highlighting that cannabis was an alternative to cotton and its production would immensely benefit Pakistan’s economy.…

US (CA): Humboldt County supervisors ban industrial hemp

The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a permanent ban on industrial hemp cultivation on Tuesday replacing the temporary moratorium that was set to expire May 10, 2021. Though the ban is “permanent,” the ordinance passed by supervisors will likely be amended at a future date to allow…

US (CA): 3-acre outdoor grow approved in San Luis Obispo County

A large cannabis farm proposed near San Miguel overcame a neighbor's appeal on Feb. 9—earning a 3-2 vote of support from the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors—but words exchanged during the hours-long hearing indicated a lawsuit may be coming next. SLO County supervisors narrowly denied Kenneth…

US (CA): Lawsuit by grower may be dismissed as cannabis is still federally illegal

Among the endless questions facing cannabis growers — or at least those who’ve actually made it through the regulatory tangle — is what rights they have to compensation if their product is seized and destroyed? And as with many things in this industry in flux, the answer is still being defined in the…

US (GA): State medical cannabis program working to license manufacturers

Nearly 70 businesses have applied for licenses to produce low-THC cannabis oil for medical use in Georgia, the commission in charge of the state’s medical cannabis program announced Wednesday. The companies are seeking either Class 1 or Class 2 licenses. Under legislation the General Assembly passed in…

US (DE): Three new medical cannabis production licenses issued

Three new companies will be entering Delaware’s medical cannabis industry as early as this year after state regulators recently issued additional licenses. Valor Craft…

US: Bipartisan cannabis research bill reintroduced in the senate

A bipartisan coalition of senators has reintroduced a bill that’s meant to promote research into cannabis. The Cannabidiol and Marihuana Research Expansion Act, which unanimously passed the Senate in identical form last year, would streamline the application process for researchers who want to study the…

Armenia plans to legalize industrial hemp cultivation

Armenia plans to allow cultivation of industrial hemp as a part of the recently announced ‘Economic Response’ programme. The recreational use of cannabis will remain illegal. ‘This will significantly activate the use of agricultural lands,’ Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan said during a government…

US (CA): State cannabis authorities receive approval for regulations to facilitate financial services for cannabis businesses

The Office of Administrative Law (OAL) approved the proposed emergency regulations, 2021-0122-01E, to implement processes for cannabis businesses to authorize release of information to financial institutions. Text of the Adopted CDFA Regulations The regulations were filed with the Secretary of State on February 1,…

US (VA): House and senate lawmakers approve cannabis legalization measures

Members of the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate, for the first time ever, separately approved a pair of adult-use cannabis legalization measures today. Senate Bill 1406 and House Bill 2312 legalize the responsible use and personal cultivation of cannabis by adults ages 21 and older, provide for the…

US (CA): Department of Health clarifies Coronavirus vaccine eligibility for cannabis industry workers

California has finally clarified that cannabis industry workers are generally eligible for the first round of coronavirus vaccines. At the same time, San Diego County is…

US (RI): Office of Cannabis Regulation has a new chief

The state Office of Cannabis Regulation, which is spearheading the effort to add six new medical cannabis dispensaries in Rhode Island, has a new chief, Matthew Santacroce, a former policy director for Gov. Gina Raimondo. Santacroce, who left the Raimondo administration in 2018 and most recently worked…

US (MI): Cannabis regulators warn licensee over scammers

Cannabis regulators in Michigan are warning stakeholders in the state’s medical and recreational cannabis industries to remain vigilant and be wary of suspicious, potentially…

US (MO): Administrative hold placed on harvests

Two facilities have received notice from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to hold product after a cultivation licensee failed testing for heavy metals. The Section for Medical Marijuana Regulation advised that the cultivator’s harvest was placed on administrative hold after test…

US (CA): Desert Hot Springs reduces cannabis cultivation tax

Desert Hot Springs officials have voted to lower the city's cannabis cultivation tax rate in an effort to keep the city's competitiveness as the cannabis industry expands throughout California.  It was one of the first cities in California to allow medical marijuana cultivation within its limits, but other…

US (NM): Department of Health seeks to revoke license of medical cannabis producer after fire

The New Mexico Department of Health is considering revoking the license of a medical cannabis producer over an October fire that seriously injured two employees at one of its…

US (MN): State's hemp industry still waiting to gain momentum

Six growers helped launch Minnesota’s hemp industry in 2016, through a pilot program that prioritized study alongside cultivation. Since then, that program is no longer…

US (WV): Medical cannabis program still needs testing lab

Growers, processors and dispensaries for West Virginia’s long-awaited medical cannabis program have been selected with patients able to register for the program as of Wednesday, but the state still needs a lab partner to test the product. A list of approved medical cannabis growers was released in…

CO: Cannabis producers ask govt to allow export of dried flowers

Producers of medical cannabis in the country ask the Government to allow the export of the dried flower of the product. Seven unions in the sector remind the Government of the urgent need to allow the export of dried flowers of medicinal cannabis for commercial purposes.  But they also ask the president, Iván…

US: Biden’s USDA takes first meeting with hemp industry to learn about market needs

Representatives of the new Biden administration’s U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) held their first meeting with hemp industry stakeholders last week to learn about the market’s needs. During the meeting, National Industrial Hemp Council (NIHC) board chair Patrick Atagi talked to Acting Agriculture…

CAN: Cannabis business still having difficulties with banks

It appears as though Canadian banks missed the memo on cannabis legalization in 2018. Numerous cannabis-based businesses have expressed difficulty applying for and maintaining…

US (NM): Judge invalidates last year's medical cannabis rules

A New Mexico state district court judge ruled on Thursday that rules adopted by the state’s Medical Cannabis Program last year are effectively invalid.  In his ruling, First Judicial District Court Judge Bryan Biedscheid repeatedly wrote that rule amendments promulgated by the Medical Cannabis Program last…

GR: Greece to move towards increasing cultivation and export of MMJ

Growing cultivation of medical cannabis and exports will be bolstered by the New Democracy government keen to get the economy going after after being driven down hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. A proposal presented by Development and Investments Minister Adonis Georgiadis at a cabinet meeting showed the…

US (IL): State to resume issuing cannabis licenses

After being stifled by the coronavirus outbreak and a series of lawsuits from jilted applicants, state officials confirmed Tuesday that the process for issuing the next round of highly sought-after cannabis licenses is again moving forward. The Illinois Department of Agriculture issued the latest round…

TH: Public and private companies can now apply to grow hemp

Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will allow government agencies, private companies, farmers and the public to apply to grow hemp from January 29 after the Public Health Ministry removed the plant species from the category V narcotics list in November. According to ministerial regulations,…

US (CA): San Diego County to allow cannabis sales and cultivation in unincorporated areas

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 on Wednesday to adopt a policy that would permit regulated cannabis retail sales, cultivation and manufacturing in the county's unincorporated areas, board chair Nathan Fletcher announced. Voting for approval were Fletcher and Nora Vargas, who…

US (UT): Cache County Council looks to limit areas MMJ can be grown

There are currently no licenses for a medical cannabis growing operation in Cache County, and some County Council members want to keep it that way — or at least restrict it as much as possible. When asked by Council Member Dave Erickson at Tuesday’s Cache County Council Meeting if it was possible to not…

US (MA): Northampton drops controversial 'community impact fee' on cannabis companies

Northampton has become the first municipality in Massachusetts to stop charging local marijuana operators an annual “community impact fee,” after Mayor David Narkewicz said his community has seen few negative effects after years of hosting cannabis companies. The city has so far collected over $2.6…

US (NV): Regulators accuse cannabis lab of manipulating microbial, THC results

A cannabis testing lab was intentionally passing tainted cannabis products that should have failed and inflating THC results for clients, state regulators said in a new complaint Tuesday. The Cannabis Compliance Board filed the complaint against Cannex Nevada LLC (also known as RSR Analytical…

US (MI): Shelby ordinance forces large-scale cannabis growers into industrial districts

Shelby Township has formally adopted new ordinances governing zoning requirements for patient-caregiver operations and restrictions on cannabis cultivation for qualified patients and individuals over the age of 21 wishing to grow cannabis for personal use within a residence. The new ordinances empower…

Barbados MMJ licensing authority reassures small farmers to join medical marijuana industry

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Barbados Medicinal Cannabis Licensing Authority (BMCLA), Dr Shantal Munro-Knight, has given the assurance that small farmers will be…

TH: Govt sets up legal cannabis business registration guide

Parties interested in producing, selling or owning cannabis and hemp will be able to register to do so from Jan 29 when certain parts of the plant are due to be removed from the Type 5 narcotics list. Leaves, stalks, stems and roots of the plants will be expunged from the list, Food and Drug…

NL: Cannabis growers lose court case over license lottery

The growers who would have liked to participate in the experiment for legal cannabis cultivation, but lost in the draw, also lost in court. According to the judge, the…

US: Federal agency says USDA’s final hemp rule is positive step, but concerns remain

The federal Small Business Administration (SBA) says it’s pleased with the final rule for hemp that was recently released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)—but…

"The bylaw could be a win-win for everyone"

As Leamington’s recently enacted Greenhouse Light Abatement Bylaw comes into effect, the municipality is facing widespread criticism from the horticultural industry for seemingly pandering to the community while ignoring growers’ needs. The main point of contention is the bylaw’s requirement that ceiling…

Parliament of Isle of Man approves new cannabis cultivation and exportation laws

The production and exportation of cannabis products from the Isle of Man is to be legalised after politicians approved a change in the law. Tynwald unanimously backed the new rules, which would permit a licensed person to produce cannabis-based products, including for medical use. But using the drug on…

Eastern Europe's evolving turn toward legal cannabis

Much of the discussion about the legal cannabis industry in Europe revolves around the dominant Western European states, such as France, Germany, Spain, or the U.K. But there…

US (SD): Lawmakers off to slow start in regulating cannabis, but industry ramping up

Entrepreneurs across South Dakota are already taking steps to claim a share of the state’s soon-to-be-legal cannabis market, but legislators and regulators are off to a slow start in crafting laws and rules to govern the controversial new industry.  The sale, possession and use of recreational and medicinal…

US (UT): Cache County to consider local cannabis cultivation

The Cache County Council is contemplating changes to local ordinances that would allow cultivation of cannabis in Cache Valley. A public hearing on the proposed change to…

US (CA): Licensing authorities notice proposed regulations to provide greater access to financial services for licensees

The California state cannabis licensing authorities – the Bureau of Cannabis Control, California Department of Food and Agriculture and California Department of Public Health – provided notice to the public of proposed emergency regulations to implement the provisions of Assembly Bill 1525 (Jones-Sawyer,…

US: USDA releases final rules for domestic hemp production

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the final rule regulating the production of hemp in the United States. The final rule incorporates modifications to regulations established under the interim final rule (IFR) published in October 2019. The modifications are based on public…

US: Wildland fire subcabinet established

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today issued a statement celebrating the establishment of the Interagency Wildland Fire Subcabinet. Executive Order on Establishing…

US (NY): Hemp growers say new statewide regulation would hurt farms

Hemp farmers across the state say a proposed ban on the sale of hemp flower could mean financial ruin for growers. "The state really needs the money now, so it makes zero sense to ban smokable hemp flower at this time," said Jason Minard, general counsel at Hempire State Growers. Regulations proposed by…

US (MD): Cannabis workers eligible for Coronavirus vaccine

Maryland medical cannabis industry workers are eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine under a directive issued by the Medical Cannabis Commission (MCC) on Monday.…

US (NM): Motion filed to enforce plant count lawsuit

Nicole Sena, a medical cannabis caregiver to her young daughter with a rare form of epilepsy, and Ultra Health have reopened their lawsuit against the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) to ensure an adequate supply of medicine. The original lawsuit, filed in August 2016, contended the plant cap…

US: USDA announces grant to collect 'superior performing' hemp seeds

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced that it will be making grant money available to support the “breeding, testing and development” of “superior performing” hemp varieties. Under the agency’s Supplemental and Alternative Crops (SAC) competitive grant program, one task for hemp…

US (MA); Cannabis testing lab shut down for operating without a license

A Portland medical marijuana testing lab has been shut down for operating a marijuana business without a permit or a license, according to city officials. ProVerde Laboratories, a Massachusetts-based cannabis, hemp and medical marijuana testing facility, was cited by the city’s permitting and inspection…

US (CA): Humboldt County to permanently extend ban on industrial hemp cultivation

On Thursday, the Humboldt County Planning Commission unanimously voted to indefinitely extend the county’s industrial hemp moratorium, which has been in effect since May 2019, and to forward an ordinance to the Board of Supervisors that would make the prohibition permanent.  There are a couple of exceptions…

US (IA): State of Iowa selects software for managing registration and oversight of hemp crops

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has licensed AgEagle Aerial Systems' proprietary HempOverview platform to manage the state’s online registration, payment processing, comprehensive data collection and compliance oversight of hemp cultivation for the 2021, 2022 and 2023 planting…

MX: Mexico publishes MMJ regulation

Mexico’s health ministry on Tuesday published rules to regulate the use of medicinal cannabis, a major step in a broader reform to create the world’s largest legal cannabis market in the Latin American country. The new regulation was signed off by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, and will now allow…

US: USDA approves hemp regulatory plans for Rhode Island and another Native American tribe

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved hemp regulatory proposals from one additional state and one tribe. Rhode Island and the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians are the latest to have their plans accepted, raising the total number of federally approved hemp proposals to 72. Since the crop…

US (OR): Licensing Commission provides update on process streamlining

Early in 2020 because interest to enter Oregon’s expanding recreational cannabis market continued to grow, it became clear that we needed a new approach for processing…

First licenses to grow MMJ issued in Jersey

Licenses for the commercial growing of medicinal cannabis have been issued by the government – the first of their kind in the Channel Islands. Economic Development Minister Lyndon Farnham hailed the move as the ‘birth of a new economic sector’ for the Island. The government has previously indicated its…

US (CA): Nevada City could expand cannabis businesses

The Nevada City Council on Wednesday will discuss possible amendments to its cannabis ordinance that could allow indoor commercial cannabis cultivation and additional types of…

US (CO): Governor requests $5M to support cannabis entrepreneurs and social equity businesses

Colorado’s governor is looking to further assist the cannabis industry and entrepreneurs from communities most impacted by the drug war through a proposed program to provide businesses a pool of resources that they are currently ineligible for. The state’s Office of Economic Development & International…

US (CA): Coalition of companies say cannabis workers should be prioritized for COVID vaccine

A coalition of cannabis businesses is asking California policymakers to specifically include cannabis workers in the next phase of COVID-19 vaccine distribution. Cannabis companies have been deemed essential services throughout the pandemic, and the group argues that there are unique risks in the…

US (CA): Cannabis licensing authorities consolidation part of Governor’s proposed State budget

Governor Newsom’s fiscal year 2021-2022 budget proposal released today includes a proposal to consolidate the three state licensing authorities into a single Department of Cannabis Control. This proposal was first announced in January 2020 but was delayed due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. If…

US (MO): St. Louis company granted license to begin manufacturing MMJ

A St. Louis company is now the first in the state to be granted a license to both cultivate and manufacture medical cannabis and be able to do it under one roof. The state…

US (IL): State to add 75 cannabis licenses to allow more minority ownership

Illinois lawmakers plan to create 75 new cannabis store licenses to give poor and minority applicants another chance at entering the billion-dollar industry after being excluded by the current system. The proposed law would double the number of new retail licenses created last year but not yet issued for…

US (VT): New labeling standards governing hemp seed sales in Vermont

Hemp is an agricultural commodity that became legal at the federal level just over two years ago. This recent decriminalization launched hemp seed research and breeding, but it can still be challenging to find seeds that meet a grower’s needs in terms of consistency, suitability for cultivation in a…

Guam cannabis board continues to work on cannabis rules

The Cannabis Control Board met for about an hour Wednesday afternoon to discuss changes to the proposed rules and regulations for the recreational cannabis industry. Board…

US (ME): Hope-based grower seeks cannabis ordinance change

Seth and Ashley Haskins met with the Select Board in December asking for an amendment to a town ordinance prohibiting recreational cannabis cultivation. Seth Haskins explained…

US (MI): First applications arrive for Port Huron cannabis facilities

Chris Aiello said you’ve “got to really be careful” in opening up a cannabis establishment. There’s a lot of application requirements under the permit ordinance approved by…

IE: Ireland not ready to legalise cannabis next year, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan claimed

Earlier this month, PBP TD Gino Kenny said his party will bring forward legislation to try end the prohibition of cannabis in Ireland. Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has previously called for the introduction of Dutch style smoking cafes in Ireland which would make cannabis legal under certain conditions.…

CH: Switzerland eases hemp seed rules

From the beginning of 2021, hemp will no longer be subject to Switzerland’s agricultural seed legislation. In Switzerland, only quality- and identity-assured seeds from performance-tested plant varieties are made available for agricultural purposes for important crops. Testing required under the…

US (SD): South Dakota lawyers cannot serve cannabis businesses while sale remains federal crime

The State Bar of South Dakota ethics committee says a South Dakota lawyer may not ethically provide legal services to a client engaged in cannabis activities when sale of…

US (TX): Smokable hemp ban hearing pushed back

On Jan 5, 2021, Travis County District Court Judge Livingston rescheduled the smokable hemp ban hearing back to March 22, 2021. Originally the hearing was set for Feb 1, 2020. Honorable Judge Livingston of the Travis County District Court ruled back in September on the smokable hemp ban. The temporary…

US (ME): Draft changes to state’s medical cannabis program would require track-and-trace system

The state Office of Marijuana Policy released a set of draft rules and requirements for medical cannabis caregivers this week that officials say is meant to align the program with state law governing recreational cannabis, but that some providers say is a “blatant slap in the face” that will push them…

US (IL): Dispute over cannabis license heads to Illinois Supreme Court

The stage is set for a decisive legal battle in Illinois’ highest court between a large, well-established company and a far smaller upstart over a cannabis-growing license…

LK: Indigenous Medical Association calls on Govt. to allow growing cannabis for medicinal purposes

The Samastha Lanka Indigenous Medical Association (SLIMA) says the Government must consider reviewing regulations on cannabis plantations to promote its use for medicinal purposes and for export growth.  Addressing a media briefing held in Colombo yesterday, SLIMA Advisor and former Member of the Ayurveda…

US (OK): Statewide seed-to-sale cannabis tracking system coming to Oklahoma early this year

The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority expects to have a statewide seed-to-sale tracking system rolled out early this year. OMMA announced a contract with national company…

US (VI): U.S Virgin Islands industrial hemp committee grants the first cultivation license

America’s VIIHPC (Virgin Islands Industrial Hemp Committee) has granted the first commercial hemp cultivation and hemp seed distributor license under a measure passed in early 2020 by the country’s Agriculture Department. Crucian Hemp Farms LLP, the licensee, disclosed that it would cultivate five hemp…

US (RI): 2021 license lottery will select six new cannabis providers

The rules say that you don’t have to know a guy to enter Rhode Island’s multimillion-dollar medical cannabis business. All you have to do is get lucky and be one of six nonprofits to win a lottery that will take place sometime next year. But that didn’t stop 28 entities from enlisting a sitting mayor,…

US (CA): No enforcement against nearly 60 marijuana firms with expiring permits

Los Angeles marijuana industry regulators have given at least 57 companies a new lifeline, only days after saying the licensed businesses in question won’t be allowed to…

US (CA): Hayward looks to be more inclusive with cannabis business permits

The city could require half of any future cannabis businesses to be minority-owned as part of an overhaul of how the industry operates in Hayward. Other changes could include…

IE: Irish political party plans to introduce cannabis legislation next year

An Irish political party has announced that it will bring legislation before the Government next year that, if passed, would end the prohibition of cannabis in Ireland.  Gino Kenny of Solidarity - People Before Profit announced on Twitter on Monday, December 14, that the party would bring the legislation before…

US (MO): Judge tosses lawsuit challenging Missouri medical cannabis license caps

A Cole County judge on Monday threw out a lawsuit alleging limitations on the number of medical cannabis licenses issued by the state were unconstitutional.  Cole County Circuit Judge Patricia Joyce ruled that the regulations at the heart of the lawsuit were “properly promulgated and are in compliance with…

US (RI): On the path to 2021 legalization, Senate leaders back private sales model

With Rhode Island’s governor and legislative leaders all expressing interest in legalizing cannabis next year, one big remaining sticking point is where cannabis products…

MT: Malta issues first license for production of medicinal cannabis

Malta has just issued the first license for the production of medicinal cannabis. In a statement on Monday, the government said the license was issued to a Canadian company, Aphria, a global leader in the sector.  The first products that will be manufactured, packaged and tested by the company will be dried…

Barbados MMJ industry to start on January, Minister of Agriculture says

Barbados’ medicinal cannabis industry will get underway in January. And, interested persons have been given the assurance that people will be allowed to enter, but not at the…

US (UT): Cannabis growers' licenses renewed a month after critical audit

Questions raised in a critical state audit partially focused on the selection process for the firms tabbed last year to get cannabis growing licenses didn’t keep them from…

US: DEA issues final rule for more cannabis research licenses

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on Thursday revealed a long-awaited final rule aimed at expanding the number of authorized growers of cannabis to be used in scientific research. In a notice set to be formally published in the Federal Register on Friday, the agency said it made “minor…

US (MA): Former city official pleads guilty to bribery and extortion charges in cannabis licensing investigation

A third chief of staff of former Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correira on Monday pleaded guilty to charges of extortion, bribery, and making false statements in connection with…

US (CA): Bureau Of Cannabis Control announces grant solicitation for cannabis equity grants program

The Bureau of Cannabis Control, in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), is pleased to announce that the fiscal year 2020-2021 Grant Solicitation for the Cannabis Equity Grants Program for Local Jurisdictions is now available. The Grant Solicitation, link…

US (CA): California growers seek cheaper mixed-light license fees

A group of cannabis industry executives representing hundreds of California cannabis growers are urging state regulators to overhaul current licensing fees, arguing they create unsustainable costs for growers who rely on light-deprivation cultivation practices. Under current regulations, a license for a…

Costs for investing in medical cannabis in Lebanon under the new medical cannabis law

In April of 2020, the Lebanese Government legalized the use of cannabis for medical purposes. In this article, we discuss some of the practical expectations regarding the investment dynamics in the current Lebanese environment and under the new Law. The currently fertile land in Lebanon for the growth of…

US (MO): Lawsuit targets residency requirement for Missouri medical cannabis licenses

A federal lawsuit filed last week seeks to strike down a Missouri requirement that medical cannabis licenses go to businesses owned by residents of the state. A constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2018 that legalized medical cannabis requires facilities to be “majority owned by natural persons…

MX: Cannabis legalization bill delayed due to mistakes in text, Mexican President says

A vote to pass a bill to legalize cannabis nationwide in Mexico was delayed due to minor “mistakes” in the legislation, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Tuesday.…

US (WA): Cannabis testing lab shut down for falsifying test results

The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) issued a summary suspension of Praxis Laboratory’s certification to conduct quality assurance testing on cannabis. Located…

US (MA): Budget amendment would create new market for hemp growers

After two dismal seasons that saw the market for their crop sharply curtailed by conflicting regulations, Massachusetts hemp farmers and their supporters are cheering a new state budget amendment that would extend a lifeline to the promising agricultural sector. The provision would allow hemp farmers to…

US (OK): OKCFD shuts down medical cannabis lab as OMMA investigates

A medical cannabis lab has been shut down by the Oklahoma City Fire Marshal for not having the proper permits and violating fire code.  “My greatest fear is that kids are going…

US (SC): Lawmakers will push to legalize medical cannabis in 2021

South Carolina lawmakers are slated to consider multiple bills next year that could legalize cannabis for either recreational or medicinal use. Though some Democrats are…

MX: Supreme Court of Justice grants forth extension to enact cannabis legalization reform

Mexico's Supreme Court of Justice has extended the deadline to give lawmakers more time to legalize cannabis in the country, even though last month the Senate passed a bill to legalize cannabis nationwide ahead of the previous deadline of December 15th.  "Said declaration indicates that the absolute prohibition…

US (CA): Banning approves one cannabis facility, denies another

In two separate public hearings, Banning’s city council unanimously turned down approval for one company to improve a 4,000 square-foot building to turn it into a commercial cannabis cultivation facility on Lincoln Street, but the majority of the council gave a nod to a 13,000 square-foot commercial…

PH: Lawmakers push medical cannabis bills

The decision of the United Nations to remove medical cannabis from the list of what it considers as “dangerous drugs” has been welcomed by some members of the House of Representatives. “This is a major breakthrough since many critics have been using this provision as their reasoning to stop the passage…

Barbados to begin medicinal cannabis industry in January

The Barbados government says the medicinal cannabis industry will get underway in January next year, giving the assurances also that interested persons will be allowed to enter the sector, but not at the same time. Agriculture and Food Security Minister, Indar Weir, also made it clear that when the…

US (NM): Advisory board recommends to raise MMJ plant count

An advisory board recommended Wednesday that New Mexico clear the way for licensed medical marijuana producers to grow more plants amid persistent concerns about the high costs of cannabis and the lack of variety for patients across the state. The board during an online meeting voted to recommend that…

FJ: Lawmaker suggests to replace the sugar industry with industrial hemp

Opposition Whip, Lynda Tabuya, thinks that Government should invest in Industrial Hemp to replace the sugar industry as the backbone of the economy. Delivering her response to the President’s speech yesterday, she said if there was no money or knowledge to invest in the flailing sugar economy then an…

IE: Minister of Health says MMJ can now be accessed in Ireland

The Department of Health has announced that it is to allow the direct distribution of medical cannabis to patients in Ireland. The new measure will expand the limited reach of…

US (NM): MMJ business wants cap on plants increased

The demand for medical marijuana products continues to grow in New Mexico. Rachael Speegle, CEO of the Verdes Foundation, says she's reminded of the demand every day. "We're seeing close to 800 patients a day between both of our locations," she said. "We sell out almost every day, and we don't have the…

US (OR): Department of Agriculture withdraws state hemp plan

The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) recently sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary, Sonny Perdue, to withdraw the state’s Hemp Plan. The letter is in response to the passage of the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act. President Trump signed the…

US: House of Representatives passed cannabis research bill

Just days after voting to federally legalize marijuana, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a separate bill meant to promote research into the plant, in part by…

US (MA): Hemp growers now allowed to sell their plants to dispensaries

After two dismal seasons that saw the market for their crop sharply curtailed by conflicting regulations, Massachusetts hemp farmers and their supporters are cheering a new state budget amendment that would extend a lifeline to the promising agricultural sector. The provision would allow hemp farmers to…

CAN (BC): MMJ indoor facility proposed in Castlegar

A Castlegar property owner would like to build a micro-cannabis cultivation facility at the edge of the Forest Road/Grosvenor Place neighbourhood. A zoning amendment request related to the project came before Castlegar city council for the first time Dec. 7. The owner of 1370 Forest Rd. is seeking to…

Legal way opened for cannabis cultivation in Nepal

Legal way has been opened for cannabis cultivation in Nepal. As a member of the Secretariat of the UN Commission on Narcotics, Nepal has also voted in favor of opening up cannabis cultivation. According to Sher Bahadur Tamang, an MP from the ruling Communist Party of Nepal (CPN), Ambassador to Geneva…

CAN (BC): Langely-based MMJ grow was found with more plants than they were licensed to grow

A second search of a licensed medical cannabis facility in Langley found more illegal cannabis being grown and packaged for distribution. On Tuesday, Langley RCMP announced a…