Dec 07 2024

Arizona Marijuana Tax Revenue Passes $1 Billion Following $23 Million Garnered in November

In November, Arizona’s marijuana industry generated $23,747,808 in tax revenue, pushing the state’s all-time marijuana tax revenue total to $1,017,451,675.

According to the Arizona Department of Revenue, the $23.7 million in tax revenue for November included $14,557,014 from the state’s 16% recreational marijuana excise tax, $7,684,178 from the 5.6% adult-use tax, and $1,514,285 from medical marijuana tax revenue. November marked the 36th consecutive month of marijuana tax revenue exceeding $20 million.

Arizona voters approved recreational marijuana legalization in November 2020, allowing adults 21 and older to purchase up to one ounce of marijuana and up to five grams of concentrates from licensed dispensaries. Since legalization, the tax revenue has been used to benefit various programs:
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Dec 06 2024

2024 Canadian Cannabis Survey Highlights Shifts in Use, Attitudes, and Access

Health Canada has released the results of the 2024 Canadian Cannabis Survey, providing key insights into how Canadians are consuming and thinking about marijuana.

Conducted over the course of two months, the survey collected responses from over 11,600 individuals aged 16 and older across Canada, offering a comprehensive look at trends in use, access, and public knowledge.

While smoking remains the most popular method of cannabis consumption, its prevalence is decreasing. According to the survey, 69% of users reported smoking cannabis, a significant drop compared to previous years. Other methods, such as eating (57%) and vaporizing with a vape pen or e-cigarette (37%), continue to gain traction.
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Dec 06 2024

Washington State Marijuana Sales Top $100 Million in November, $1.1 Billion in 2024

In November, licensed marijuana stores in Washington State generated $100.41 million in sales, which included a range of marijuana products such as concentrates, edibles, tinctures, and topicals.

According to data from the Seattle-based research firm Headset, this represents a modest 0.1% increase from November 2023 and is roughly consistent with October’s $101 million in sales. Year-to-date marijuana sales have now surpassed $1.1 billion, demonstrating the sustained strength of the state’s legal marijuana market. This puts the state on track to roughly match the $1.25 billion in sales in 2023.

Washington first legalized marijuana in November 2012, becoming one of the initial states, along with Colorado, to approve adult-use sales. The law allows individuals aged 21 and older to possess up to one ounce of marijuana, seven grams of concentrates, and up to 72 ounces of marijuana-infused liquids. A 37% excise tax, the highest in the nation, is applied at the point of sale.
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Dec 06 2024

North Carolina Marijuana Megastore Celebrates Three Months Open

The Great Smoky Cannabis Company in Cherokee, North Carolina, will mark three months of operation as of tomorrow, December 7.

Located at 91 Bingo Loop Rd on the tribal land of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the store has become the first and only place in North Carolina where anyone 21 and older can legally purchase marijuana and marijuana products.

Since it opened its doors to nontribal members on September 7, the store has attracted tens of thousands of patrons. It offers a wide array of marijuana products, including dried flower, prerolls, concentrates such as wax and live resin, topicals like body creams and pain salves, and various edibles, including gummies, brownies, chocolate bars, cookies, and drinkable shots.
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Dec 06 2024

Kentucky Governor Keeps Medical Marijuana Dispensary Applicants Secret, Exempting Them From Open Records Requests

The Kentucky Office of Medical Cannabis has chosen not to release a list of applicants for its recently concluded dispensary lottery in nine regions, citing exemptions from open records laws.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.

This decision by Governor Andy Beshear’s administration comes despite the announcement of 36 winners last month.

The Cabinet for Health and Family Services and the Office of Medical Cannabis rejected a public records request from Kentucky Public Radio for details on applicants in regions 3 through 11. Officials argue the information is part of a “master list” that includes applicants for the final two regions, whose lottery results will be determined on Dec. 16. General Counsel Matthew Lynch stated the list remains “preliminary” and therefore exempt from disclosure.
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Dec 06 2024

Missouri: November Breaks Monthly Marijuana Sales Record With $128 Million Sold

Missouri’s legal marijuana market continues to set milestones, with November breaking the monthly sales record.

According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, $128.07 million worth of marijuana and marijuana products were sold in November, surpassing all previous monthly totals. Of this, $113.03 million came from recreational sales, while medical marijuana sales accounted for $15.04 million.

With November’s figures included, year-to-date sales for 2024 have reached approximately $1.23 billion. Cumulative all-time marijuana sales in Missouri now total $3,150,040,000, underscoring the strong demand in the state since the legalization of recreational marijuana.
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Dec 06 2024

Illinois’ Most Popular Marijuana Strains as of December 2024

As Illinois’ recreational marijuana market continues to thrive, certain strains have emerged as clear favorites among consumers.

Runtz.

Below is a list of the ten most popular marijuana strains in Illinois as of December 2024, using data compiled by our readers, Leafly and the Illinois Cannabis Regulation Oversight Office. Although the list is similar to the most popular strains in other states like Ohio and New York, there are a couple strains whose popularity seems to be exclusive to Illinois.
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Dec 06 2024

United Nations Human Rights Chief Says “War on drugs has failed, completely and utterly”, Endorses Decriminalization

The United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, highlighted the urgent need for a human rights-based approach to drug regulation, saying the war on drugs has been “completely and utterly” a failure.

Volker Türk.

Speaking at the ‘Dealing with Drugs II’ conference in Warsaw on Thursday, Türk said “Criminalisation and prohibition have failed to reduce drug use and failed to deter drug-related crime. These policies are simply not working – and we are failing some of the most vulnerable groups in our societies”.

The High Commissioner’s address comes amid a surge in illicit drug production and distribution.
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Dec 05 2024

Louisiana: Good Day Farm Opens the South’s Largest Medical Marijuana Dispensary

Good Day Farm has unveiled the largest medical cannabis dispensary in the Southern United States.

Good Day Farm’s flagship store located in Lake Charles, LA.

Located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, the nearly 10,000-square-foot flagship store represents a significant expansion for the company and a milestone for the region’s cannabis industry.

The dispensary, situated at 3005 L’Auberge Boulevard, combines an extensive product selection with a modern shopping experience that the company says is tailored to both first-time users and seasoned consumers. According to a press release, “Good Day Farm is Louisiana’s largest medical cannabis grower and most trusted brand, well known for its award-winning gummies, premium flower, flavorful vapes and convenient, bestselling pre-rolls.”
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Dec 05 2024

Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission Outlines Vision for Marijuana Social Consumption Venues, Including Cafés and Tasting Rooms

Members of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) are exploring the possibility of allowing public marijuana consumption in designated settings, similar to alcohol consumption in bars.

The CCC has been collecting input from local governments and stakeholders on the idea of establishing cannabis cafes.

“This is exciting. This is a massive opportunity in a lot of areas,” said Commissioner Kimberly Roy during today’s meeting, which focused on proposed concepts for marijuana-friendly cafés , tasting rooms, and events.
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