From Our Writers

Bill Levin, who founded the First Church of Cannabis in Indiana, announced he is seeking the Libertarian Party nomination for governor.

cbdMD has entered into a multi-year promotional deal with mixed martial arts company Bellator, whose events are broadcast to nearly 1 billion people around the globe.

Following a rejection by voters in 2018, legalization advocates in North Dakota are maneuvering for another ballot initiative in 2020; advocates say the 2018 initiative was “too vague” for voters.

Barry Grissom, former U.S. attorney and current corporate counsel for medical cannabis investment firm Electrum Partners, is running for a U.S. Senate seat in Kansas. Grissom has previously called cannabis advocates “patriots” who are standing up for liberty.

A Humboldt County church that uses cannabis as a sacrament is suing the state after being raided by law enforcement. During the raid, police seized property and destroyed cannabis plants that were inside of a greenhouse.

Idaho advocates are gearing up to push a medical cannabis ballot initiative to voters during next year’s general election.

Officials with New Mexico’s Health Department are refusing to qualify out-of-state residents for the state’s medical cannabis program, despite a recent rule change for the program removing the residency requirement from the definition of “qualified patient.”

Federal lawmakers from Oregon have introduced legislation to allow the state’s recently passed interstate cannabis commerce legislation to move forward; part of said state law requires federal permission before cannabis products can start shipping across state borders.

Maine Gov. Janet Mills has signed a bill creating regulations for the state’s adult-use cannabis industry, which was approved by voters in 2016. Former Gov. Paul LePage had vetoed similar reforms, stalling the market’s launch.

Hopeful medical cannabis patients in Missouri can officially begin applying for patient cards today after state officials moved up the start date for applications from July 4.

An Arizona State Auditor Office report alleges that cannabis regulators there inadequately investigated complaints, did not conduct health inspections at edible processing facilities, misallocated funds, and more.

Robert C. Clarke recently detailed his reasons for resigning from the Phylos Biosciences Scientific Advisory Board, saying he and the company no longer share the same cannabis research goals in the wake of its controversial breeding program.

Medical cannabis products are expected in West Virginia in two or three more years; this could mean a gap of up to five years between the bill’s signing and the market’s official launch.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has signed into law several cannabis policy updates, including a bill allowing the state to export cannabis products to other states with cannabis programs.

Massachusetts state officials have banned the sale of most CBD products, including CBD-infused food and beverages, CBD flower, CBD products that make medicinal or therapeutic claims, and any dietary supplements or animal feed containing hemp.

Ireland has established a five-year pilot program for medical cannabis access, two years after the health minister first announced the program.

The legislative task force assigned to consider the logistics of adult-use cannabis legalization in Maryland has convened for the first time; the task force’s findings will influence whether or not Maryland pursues adult-use legislation next year or turns the issue over to voters via a ballot initiative.

Illinois is officially the 11th state to legalize adult-use cannabis and will be the first state to regulate cannabis sales via the legislature. The new law, signed this morning, will also set up nearly 800,000 prior cannabis convictions for expungement.

Three weeks after its first public hearing on cannabidiol, the FDA says it will apply a “rigorous and science-based approach” to devising CBD regulations; however, despite the quickly growing marketplace, the agency has not yet set any official guidelines.

Just over 19,000 cannabis plants in Siskiyou County, California have been seized by law enforcement officials in the last month. County officials there have banned outdoor cultivation but patients can still grow up to 12 plants (up to six for non-medical users) indoors.

The University of Maryland School of Pharmacy will offer the nation’s first master’s degree program in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics. Courses will take place online and at Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville, Maryland.

A team of Australian researchers says CBD could have potent antibiotic properties after lab tests showed the cannabinoid was killing bacteria, including those that are highly resistant to existing antibiotics.

Only about half of Ohio’s registered medical cannabis patients have made a purchase at a state dispensary, with most patients saying they are deterred by high prices. In fact, for many patients, it’s cheaper to drive to a dispensary in Michigan.

Pennsylvania health officials have announced the first three clinical participants for the state’s medical cannabis research program.