For those hoping to get in on the cannabis stock game, a Canadian company has gotten approval to start trading on the NASDAQ. It’s the U.S. Stock Exchange’s first listed marijuana company, according to VICE.
News
Tennessee House Speaker Helps Break Tie on Medical Cannabis Bill
Efforts to legalize medical cannabis in Tennessee have gotten some unexpected support from state House Speaker Beth Harwell. On Feb. 27, 2018, Harwell voted to break a tie in the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee in favor of HB 1749 / SB 1710, also known as the Medical Cannabis Act. Under the proposed measure, medical cannabis…
Oklahoma Lawmakers Consider Medical Marijuana Regulations
Oklahoma lawmakers are considering regulations on the medical marijuana industry before a statewide vote in June on whether to approve its use.
Michigan Lawmakers Further Delay Marijuana Transport Bill
Michigan lawmakers have delayed a promising bill that would overturn a law that declares the possession or transportation of marijuana in a vehicle a misdemeanor.
Vermont Weighs Saliva Tests to Screen Drivers for Marijuana
A bill that would allow police to test a driver’s saliva for marijuana is being considered by Vermont lawmakers as the state prepares to legalize the drug.
California City Police Continue Marijuana Crackdown
Police in California City are continuing to crack down on illegal marijuana grows in the city; in total, over 21,000 plants have been seized.
Shoppers Drug Mart Now Has Four Canadian Cannabis Suppliers
Shoppers Drug Mart may have yet to receive its medical cannabis license from Health Canada, but it is moving full steam ahead to make sure it has secured multiple Canadian cannabis suppliers to provide its customers with products.
NYPD Under Fire After Stats Reveal 86% of Marijuana Arrests Are of Minorities
NYPD officials acknowledged a “troubling” racial gap in people they’re arresting for marijuana — but defended their enforcement efforts, saying they’re responding to residents complaining about people smoking pot.
Hopefuls Await License Decision for Growing Marijuana in Arkansas
On Tuesday, the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission plans to announce the state’s first five groups that will be allowed to legally grow medical cannabis.
Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Federal Cannabis Prohibition
A United States District Judge has dismissed a lawsuit that sought to overturn federal cannabis prohibition.
CPAC 2018 Debate: Pot or Not?
Take a look this debate from this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Is legalizing marijuana a smart move for the states?
Pennsylvania Medical Cannabis Program Off to Rough Start
The Pennsylvania medical cannabis program had a rough start as retail sales began on Feb. 15, 2018. The opening weekend was marked by long lines and short supply as Cresco Yeltrah was the only medical cannabis supplier able to provide products to dispensaries during the state’s first week of sales.
Tribes Cut Out of California Pot Market Might Grow Their Own
American Indian tribes that say they have been cut out of California’s legal marijuana market have raised the possibility of going their own way by establishing pot businesses outside the state-regulated system that is less than two months old.
D.A.R.E. Unsure of How to Teach Marijuana in Legalized States
As more states legalize cannabis for both medical and recreational use, anti-drug education programs struggle to stay relevant. Particularly, Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.)—a popular school program—isn’t sure how to adapt to new, sensible drug policies across the United States.
New Hampshire Medical Marijuana Program Growing as Conditions Expand
In the nearly two years since medical marijuana dispensaries first opened in New Hampshire, the program has grown significantly, and the list of qualifying conditions is expanding.
Study Finds MMJ Laws Do Not Increase Adolescent Cannabis Use
Although a majority of Americans support medical cannabis, a small segment of the population still opposes its legalization for fear that it will lead to an increase in adolescent cannabis use; however, according to a new study published in the journal Addiction, that fear may be unfounded.
Bills Directing Cannabis Growing in Utah to Go Before Full Senate
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday approved a pair of bills promoting the growth of full-strength marijuana in the state and terminally ill patients’ right to try medicinal cannabis products.
Here’s Why McCarran International Airport Now Has Marijuana Amnesty Boxes
Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport is encouraging people not to gamble their luck when it comes to flying illegally with marijuana.
Highly Anticipated Cannabis Festival in Yolo County Canceled
A Yolo County cannabis festival was abruptly canceled after months of planning and preparation. The organizers needed the county Sheriff’s department to sign off on the event, but it refused.
Maine Committee Removes References to Cannabis Social Clubs in Implementation Bill
Maine residents and visitors looking forward to cannabis social clubs will have to wait much longer than previously expected.
WV’s Medical Marijuana Board Recommends Smokable Forms of Marijuana
West Virginia’s medical marijuana board plans to recommend to state lawmakers that patients who have met certain requirements be able to buy smokable forms of marijuana.
California Cannabis Surety Bond Program Approved by Insurance Commissioner
California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones has been on a mission to ensure state-legal cannabis businesses have commercial insurance coverage and with his announcement of the first California cannabis surety bond program on Feb. 21, 2018, he continues to make progress.
Hershey’s Renews Trademark Battles With Cannabis Businesses
Cannabis businesses, beware: The Hershey Co. is on the warpath. Perhaps the most famous confectionery peddler in the world has a well-documented history of actively protecting its trademarks, and the marijuana industry is no exception.
Alabama Bill to Lower Penalties for Pot Possession Clears Committee
A proposal to lower the penalty for possessing small amounts of marijuana cleared its first hurdle in the Alabama Legislature on Wednesday, but faces a dubious future as it heads to a possible floor vote during an election year.
Bill to Legalize Recreational Cannabis Reigniting Debate in Maryland
The debate to legalize recreational marijuana is gaining momentum across Maryland, but some are urging lawmakers to slow down the process.
Failed Applicants Sue Ohio Over Medical Cannabis Licensing Process
More strife is on the horizon for Ohio’s troubled medical cannabis program. On Feb. 20, 2018, a group of unsuccessful medical cannabis applicants, led by Jimmy Gould of CannAscend Ohio LLC, filed a lawsuit challenging the state’s medical cannabis licensing process.
Officials Meet at New Jersey Cannabusiness Association Seminar
On Feb. 20, 2018, the New Jersey Cannabusiness Association sponsored a seminar which had 250 state and local government officials in attendance.
Oregon Officials Struggle to ID Which Pot Sites Are Legal
An Oregon sheriff and district attorney on Tuesday blasted efforts to regulate legalized marijuana, saying the state is allowing black market operations to proliferate.
Province of Newfoundland and Labrador Issues RFP for Cannabis Retailers
While the province of Newfoundland and Labrador has its key policies in place for recreational legalization and has secured a supply agreement with Canopy Growth Corporation (TSX:WEED) to provide cannabis for the province, it is now ready to hear from prospective cannabis retailers.
Report: Few California Cannabis Growers Getting Licenses
More than a month after California’s regulation of marijuana began, only a small number of the tens of thousands of cannabis growers have joined the system.
Ohio Doctors Deciding Whether to Seek Medical Marijuana Certification
Ohio doctors are weighing whether to get state certification to write prescriptions for potential medical marijuana patients.
Judge Overturns Detroit Medical Cannabis Initiative
In the city of Detroit, the group Citizens for Sensible Cannabis Reform is weighing its legal options after Wayne County Circuit Judge Robert Colombo, Jr., overturned Measure B, a Detroit medical cannabis initiative aimed at relaxing local control on the city’s medical cannabis industry, on Feb. 16, 2018.
Ohio Adults Smoking More Weed While Teen Marijuana Use Remains Low
Wacky tobaccy. Weed. Dank. Hippie lettuce — call it what you want. Ohio adults are smoking more of it.
Lawmakers Consider Lowering Number of Marijuana Plants Mainers Can Grow
Maine’s recreational marijuana law allows adults to grow up to six flowering plants for personal and recreational use — but the legislative committee that’s overhauling the law is trying to cut that allotment by half.
Bill Would Reduce Alabama Penalty for Marijuana Possession
A bill that would reduce the penalty for marijuana possession in Alabama is scheduled for consideration on Wednesday by both the House and Senate judiciary committees.
Unless You’re a Citizen, Legal Marijuana Isn’t for You
Legal marijuana may be a multi-billion dollar industry in Colorado, but cannabis is still illegal federally — so any job in the industry can be considered trafficking in a controlled substance.
Canada’s Alberta Sets Out Rules for Recreational Pot Shops
Alberta said on Friday recreational marijuana will be sold in licensed private retail stores to be overseen by a government regulator, as the energy-rich province unveiled its guidelines for pot just months before it is legalized in Canada.
Doubts Raised Over Marijuana’s Medical Benefits
A new medical marijuana guideline developed by Edmonton researchers warns family doctors that the risks may outweigh the benefits for the vast majority of patients. The guideline, published Thursday in the Canadian Family Physician journal, suggests the benefits of medical cannabis may be overstated, and research on its medicinal properties is sorely lacking.
Arizona House Panel OKs Felony for Rule-Breaking Pot Doctors
An Arizona House panel on Thursday approved a proposal making doctors who sidestep rules for medical marijuana recommendations guilty of a felony.
Delaware Cannabis Task Force Poised to Vote on Final Report
A Delaware legislative task force charged with studying the effects and implications of legalizing recreational cannabis has written its final report, but the question remains whether the 25-member task force will vote to release the report.
Connecticut Lawmakers Vote on Starting Recreational Marijuana Discussions
Connecticut lawmakers have put recreational marijuana back on the table — sort of. According to the CT Post, lawmakers are curious as to how they would successfully regulate the drug if it were ever to be legalized in the New England state.
Nevada Irrigation District Fears Pot Grows Could Make Water Conservation Harder
The Nevada Irrigation District on Tuesday said it may have to re-work its master plan to account for water usage associated with legal marijuana grows.
New Brunswick Cannabis Stores to Have Refined Design Elements
While the locations for New Brunswick cannabis stores were only recently announced, the province is moving full steam ahead, completing design plans for the retail cannabis properties expected to open this summer.
Study Finds Alcohol is Worse for Your Brain Than Cannabis
Is alcohol worse for your brain than cannabis? According to a new study conducted by researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder, the answer is yes.
Medical Marijuana and Money Laundering
Medical marijuana may be legal in many states, but federally, it is still illegal. This means that banks run the risk of being charged with money laundering or other crimes for working with what the federal government considers an illicit activity. This creates a precarious situation where billions of dollars of state-licensed marijuana profits are handled almost exclusively in cash. What are the laws the set up this framework? What problems does this create? What is the solution?
Berkeley Declares It’s a Sanctuary City for Marijuana Users
Berkeley has declared itself a sanctuary city for marijuana users, a largely symbolic move that cements a policy prohibiting city employees from assisting federal officials in the enforcement of federal marijuana laws.
Here’s Why the Vermont Government Redirected Marijuana Program Revenue
It appears the Vermont government is operating smoothly thanks to some extra green, causing state lawmakers to defend the risky move.
U.S. Judge Weighs Challenge to Federal Marijuana Prohibition
The U.S. Department of Justice on Wednesday urged a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit seeking to overturn the United States’ longstanding prohibition of marijuana, the latest court battle over federal policy under President Donald Trump’s administration.
San Diego County District Attorneys Work to Overturn Marijuana Convictions
The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office and defense attorneys are working to dismiss or reduce thousands of marijuana convictions.
Detroit City Council Approves Moratorium on New Medical Cannabis Licenses
Entrepreneurs hoping to open medical cannabis dispensaries in Detroit, Michigan, will have to put their plans on hold for the time being. On Feb. 13, 2018, the Detroit City Council voted to impose a 180-day moratorium on new medical cannabis licenses and permits.