From Our Writers

Minnesota House lawmakers last week passed social equity cannabis licensing provisions and other adjustments to the state’s upcoming adult-use cannabis program.

The first medical cannabis dispensary in North Carolina opened for business on 4/20, serving patients registered with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ Cannabis Control Board and cardholders from other state or tribal programs.

Kentucky will hold a lottery for the state’s initial medical cannabis business licenses in October, keeping the state on track for the medical cannabis program’s anticipated launch on January 1, 2025.

Just weeks after the federal legalization of adult-use cannabis in Germany, officials in the southern state of Bavaria have passed rules banning the consumption of cannabis at Oktoberfest and in outdoor beer gardens.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey awarded grants totaling $2,350,000 to 50 cannabis social equity businesses in the state through the state’s Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund.

Cannabis advocates in North Dakota submitted a petition to put an adult-use cannabis question before voters this November; the campaign needs to collect 16,000 valid signatures by July 8 to qualify.

Kentucky hemp and vape companies have filed a lawsuit against a new state law that limits the sale of vape products to only those approved by the FDA or those with a “safe harbor certification.”

Combined medical and adult-use cannabis sales totaled just under $125 million in March, setting a new monthly cannabis sales record for the state.

In a recent poll of more than 1,000 Florida adults, just 49% of respondents said they would vote “yes” on the state’s upcoming cannabis legalization amendment. The results suggest a tough road ahead for the legalization campaign as constitutional amendments in the state require 60% supermajority support.

Jimmy John’s is tapping into 4/20 culture with its Deliciously Dope Dime Bag promotion, offering a curated meal perfect for those looking to satisfy their munchies.

New York cannabis regulators have issued more than 400 adult-use licenses this year in an effort to counteract the state’s rampant unlicensed sales amid the slow roll-out of its cannabis program.

European law enforcement officials say they coordinated the takedown of a cannabis investment Ponzi scheme affecting at least 186,000 victims last week with a law enforcement action that included more than 400 officers in 11 countries.

The S2 Mulholland electric motorcycle by LiveWire demonstrates the engineering and mechanical possibilities of industrial hemp with front and rear fenders made from hemp bio-composites, among other sustainably produced components.

The largest cannabis trade association in Illinois is calling for lawmakers to ban the sale of hemp-derived delta-8 THC products as the products — which are currently unregulated — compete directly with the state’s cannabis operators.

Lawmakers in the New Hampshire House of Representatives have voted for the third year in a row to legalize adult-use cannabis. The governor said he will not support the bill, however, unless changes are made in the Senate.

FDA Commissioner Robert Califf said during testimony before a House committee this week that there’s “no reason” for the DEA to “delay” its cannabis rescheduling decision.

The annual Vangst Jobs Report found that U.S. cannabis jobs increased by over 5% in 2023, with the industry currently supporting 440,445 “full-time equivalent” positions.

A recent study found that some 60% of Utah’s registered medical cannabis patients still obtain products from unregulated sources despite the existence of state-licensed retailers.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed a bill to protect state employees including firefighters, emergency service providers, teachers, and civil servants from medical cannabis-related discrimination.

Colorado-based Sun Theory Holding Co. announced it has acquired Terrapin Care Station, which operates five retail cannabis dispensaries in the state.

Federal agents with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection have seized more than $300,000 in state-legal cannabis products via traffic checkpoints in New Mexico.

A recent study found that non-medical cannabis use is “significantly associated with 96% decreased odds” of experiencing cognitive decline in adults aged 45 and older.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Records indicated that the state will be ready to expunge more than 60,000 misdemeanor cannabis convictions in May under last year’s adult-use legalization law.