Cultivation

Vermont Lt. Gov. John Rodgers (R) has called on lawmakers to protect small businesses in the state by letting licensed cannabis cultivators sell their products directly to consumers.

A recent survey found that 54% of Americans believe that store-bought cannabis contains pesticides, with 62% saying they are concerned about not knowing exactly what is in the cannabis products they consume.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed a bill into law to include cannabis as an official crop under the state’s agricultural law. The change will afford cannabis farmers additional protections under state law.

Armed robbers last week held at gunpoint five cannabis workers at a licensed California cannabis farm, making off with more than 150 pounds of processed cannabis that officials estimated to be worth about $150,000.

The New Hampshire House this week voted overwhelmingly to override the governor’s veto of a proposal to let medical cannabis dispensaries build and grow cannabis inside of greenhouses, but state Senators blocked the effort.

The Maine Public Utilities Commission has rejected a proposal to proactively report high electricity consumption to police; the proposal was meant to detect the unlawful cultivation of cannabis.

The Association of American Feed Control Officials this week is considering allowing chicken feed producers to include hemp seed as an ingredient, so long as the hemp seed only constitutes a maximum of 20% of the product.

Tilray Brands, Inc. said its Germany-based cannabis cultivation facility, Aphria RX GmbH, has received a cultivation license under Germany’s new adult-use cannabis legalization law.

Police officers in Fairfield, California last month raided three indoor illegal cannabis grows and officials issued fines totaling $1,313,000 related to the enforcement actions. Meanwhile, state officials also recently took down multiple illegal outdoor grow sites located near two state parks.

South Dakota farmers are producing more hemp fiber than farmers in any other U.S. state, according to recent data.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) signed into law a bill to award some cannabis cultivation licenses earlier than expected so operators can be better prepared for next year’s industry launch.

Recent USDA data shows that the value of hemp produced in the U.S. in 2023 reached $291 million, up 18% from the year prior.

As Minnesota’s adult-use cannabis regulations come together, lawmakers are considering giving some cannabis cultivators an early start to avoid potential delays to the state’s cannabis program.

Cannabis workers at the Cresco Labs cultivation site in Fall Rivers, Massachusetts have voted to de-unionize ahead of their contract’s expiration date this summer.