Anthony Martinelli is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Marijuana Herald. He previously founded and served as Editor-in-Chief of TheJointBlog.com, a cannabis news site he launched in 2011 and sold in 2019. He has also worked as a campaign manager and communications director for multiple political campaigns and elected officials. Anthony can be reached at Info@TheMarijuanaHerald.com.
Anthony Martinelli
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Illinois Launches $40 Million Round 3 of Cannabis Social Equity Loan Program
Applications for Round 3 of Illinois’ Cannabis Social Equity Loan Program opened today. This round of funding includes $40 million, which will be available through Direct Forgivable Loans fully financed by the State. This round of funding includes $40 million, which will be available through Direct Forgivable Loans (DFL) fully financed by the State, according to …
Sheriff of Suffolk County, Massachusetts Charged With Extorting Boston Marijuana Company
Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Tompkins has been indicted on federal charges accusing him of extorting an executive from a Boston-based marijuana company in connection with its efforts to operate a retail store in the city. Federal prosecutors say Tompkins, 67, of Boston, used his position to pressure the executive for a pre-IPO equity stake …
New Jersey Marijuana Market Surpasses $1 Billion in Sales Between June 2024 and June 2025, Exceeds Diversity and Equity Benchmarks
New Jersey’s cannabis market continued to grow in the second quarter of 2025, with regulators reporting increases in sales, strong participation from minority- and woman-owned businesses, and a licensing process that is surpassing state equity benchmarks. According to the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission’s Q2 reports (found here and here), total adult-use marijuana sales from …
President Trump Says Decision on Marijuana Reclassification Will Come in “Next Few Weeks”
At a press conference today, President Donald Trump confirmed that his administration is actively weighing whether to reschedule marijuana under federal law, saying a decision could come soon. “We’re looking at reclassification [of marijuana] and we’ll make a determination over the next few weeks. And that determination will hopefully be the right one,” said Trump. …
Avicanna Secures U.S. Patent for Topical Cannabinoid Gel Targeting Skin Conditions
Avicanna Inc., a Toronto-based biopharmaceutical company specializing in plant-derived cannabinoid products, has been awarded a U.S. patent for its topical cannabinoid gel designed to address a range of skin conditions. The newly issued patent, No. US 12,343,315 B2, covers a formulation that combines cannabinoids with antioxidants, anti-microbial agents, and anti-inflammatory agents. According to Avicanna, the …
Study Finds No Link Between Marijuana Use and Hypertension, Even After 35 Years of Follow-Up
A new analysis published in the journal Hypertension found no association between cumulative, long-term marijuana use and the risk of developing hypertension, even after 35 years of follow-up. The work draws on the CARDIA cohort (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults) and was conducted by a team from UC San Diego, Wake Forest University …
Florida Senator Joe Gruters, Who Supports Cannabis Legalization, Will Be Selected August 22 to Lead RNC, Running Unopposed
State Senator Joe Gruters is set to become chairman of the Republican National Committee later this month, with a vote scheduled for August 22 during the RNC’s summer meeting in Atlanta. Gruters is the only candidate to file by the deadline, meaning he will be selected unopposed. Gruters, who currently serves as RNC treasurer, was …
Montana Marijuana Sales Hit $29.4 Million in July, Second-Highest Monthly Total Ever
Montana’s legal marijuana market posted its second-highest monthly sales total ever in July, bringing in $29,459,277—just shy of the $29,716,881 record set in August 2024. The strong showing underscores the continued strength of the state’s marijuana industry. Of the July total, $3,153,494 came from medical marijuana sales, while adult-use sales accounted for $26,305,782.
Study: Inhalable CBD-Vancomycin Blend Rapidly Kills MRSA in Lab Tests With Sustained Effects
Researchers from the University of Sydney have developed inhalable powders combining cannabidiol (CBD) and vancomycin that demonstrated strong, sustained bactericidal activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in laboratory tests. Published in the International Journal of Pharmaceutics, the study found that pairing the two drugs eliminated three clinical MRSA strains more effectively than either treatment alone. …
Texas Now Accepting Applications for 12 New Compassionate Use Marijuana Dispensing Licenses Through September 15
Texas officials are now accepting new applications for the state’s Compassionate Use Program dispensing organization licenses, as part of a recently approved expansion of the program. The Texas Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) Regulatory Services Division (RSD) is now accepting new and updated applications for the Texas’ Compassionate Use Program (TCUP). New applications can be …
