Oct 27 2024

UK Report: Illegal Cannabis Sales Surge 50% in Past Two Years

 Curaleaf International, a global leader in the medical marijuana market, has released a report detailing the growth of the nation’s illegal marijuana market, while calling on the government to put in place stricter regulations in order to protect consumers.

Curaleaf is “urging the UK government to take immediate action against the rapidly growing online illicit cannabis market, which is allowing street cannabis to be sold from unregulated and unpoliced websites and platforms”, according to a press release sent today.

Curaleaf’s latest report reveals that illegal online cannabis sales via the open and dark web have risen by 50% in the past two years, and increased by 67% across open web retailers.
Continue reading

Oct 27 2024

Kentucky to Hold First Medical Marijuana License Lottery on Monday, Over 100 Cities and Counties to Consider Allowing Dispensaries

Kentucky’s medical marijuana program is set to take a substantial step forward on Monday with its inaugural license lottery for cultivators and processors.

The upcoming lottery will grant licenses to those tasked with cultivating and processing medical cannabis, marking a key milestone in Kentucky’s rollout of its newly legalized medical cannabis program. A separate lottery for dispensaries is anticipated by year’s end, paving the way for retail outlets to open in communities that permit them.

Kentucky’s medical marijuana law defines cultivators as entities responsible for growing, harvesting, and curing raw cannabis, while processors handle the transformation of raw cannabis into usable products. In this first lottery, 16 cultivator licenses and 10 processor licenses will be awarded randomly, with 584 applicants vying for cultivator slots and 344 for processor slots. The lottery event, open for public viewing, will be livestreamed at 2 p.m.
Continue reading

Oct 26 2024

High-CBD Extract Shows Promise in Reducing Inflammatory Response in Asthma Patients

In a new study, researchers have identified high-CBD extract (CBD-X) as a potential game-changer for asthma treatment, especially for patients who find little relief from conventional inhaled corticosteroids.

Published in the Journal of Pharmaceuticals, the study reveals how CBD-X could disrupt key inflammatory pathways driving asthma’s chronic symptoms, potentially offering fresh hope to millions worldwide suffering from this relentless respiratory condition.

Asthma impacts over 10% of the global population and is characterized by persistent airway inflammation, mucus overproduction, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. While asthma treatments have advanced, a significant number of individuals—particularly those with “type 2-low” asthma—remain unresponsive to standard therapies, creating an urgent need for alternative solutions.
Continue reading

Oct 26 2024

Massachusetts Now Offering Over 700 Marijuana Strains at Licensed Stores

As of mid-October, over 700 marijuana strains are available at licensed stores across Massachusetts.

According to the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC), there are 709 active marijuana strains being sold throughout the state as of October 13. This is 65 more than the total number of strains reported in May, and this is more than double the number of strains reported in June 2022 (330).

Massachusetts legalized marijuana in 2016, with the first licensed marijuana store opening in 2018. The law allows those 21 and older to possess up to an ounce of marijuana and cultivate up to six plants for personal use. The first licensed marijuana store opened in 2018. Recreational marijuana purchases are subject to an excise tax of 10.75%, in addition to the standard statewide sales tax of 6.25%. Medical marijuana sales are exempt from both taxes.
Continue reading

Oct 25 2024

Arizona: Maricopa County Superior Court Ends Attempt To Take Over A Marijuana Dispensary License

A Maricopa County Superior Court judge has ruled in favor an Arizona marijuana dispensary operator, ending an attempt to take its license.

The case centered on Moe Asnani and Chip Boyden’s attempts to circumvent agreements and take over a dispensary license from Investing in the Future LLC.

Anavel Vasquez was qualified to be the majority owner of an entity applying for a marijuana establishment license, under a social equity ownership program implemented by the Arizona Department of Health Services as part of the laws legalizing the sale of recreational marijuana in Arizona in 2020.
Continue reading

Oct 25 2024

Washington State Auditor Finds Major Delays in Cannabis Industry Tracking System, Calls for Accountability

The Washington State Auditor has issued a performance audit evaluating the effectiveness of Washington’s oversight of its cannabis industry.

Released under the title “Evaluating Washington State Oversight of the Cannabis Industry,” the report outlines critical shortcomings in the state’s cannabis tracking system—a cornerstone promised to voters in 2012 with the passage of the recreational cannabis legalization initiative.

Initially, Washington State’s Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) aimed to implement a comprehensive “seed-to-sale” tracking system designed to monitor every stage of cannabis production and distribution. In 2018, the auditor’s office found this system under development, expressing confidence it would safeguard compliance, prevent illegal market diversions, and ultimately enhance transparency. However, the new audit reveals that the anticipated system has faltered, and the LCB now projects it won’t be fully functional until 2031, nearly 20 years after voters initially approved recreational cannabis.
Continue reading

Oct 25 2024

Analysis: Legal Marijuana States Generated Nearly $2 Billion in Revenue in September, $350 Million in Taxes

In September, legal marijuana states collectively generated $1.877 billion in sales, resulting in over a quarter of a billion dollars in tax revenue.

September’s total, based on an analysis by The Marijuana Herald, are slightly lower than August’s record $1.955 billion, but demonstrated market strength and consistency. The market’s monthly revenue is likely to increase in 2025, as Delaware and Minnesota plan to launch their legal marijuana markets. In addition, voters in three states —Florida, North Dakota and South Dakota— have the opportunity in less than two weeks to legalize marijuana for everyone 21 and older.

Using data from state regulatory agencies (and when that’s not available data from the research firm Headset), below is a state-by-state breakdown of September’s marijuana revenue.
Continue reading

Oct 25 2024

Massachusetts Initiative Campaign to Legalize Psychedelics Has Raised Over $7.5 Million

Massachusetts for Mental Health Options (MMHO), the group sponsoring Question 4, has raised over $7.5 million.

Question 4 would legalize the possession and personal cultivation of up to one gram of DMT, 18 grams of non-peyote mescaline, 30 grams of Ibogaine, one gram of psilocybin, and one gram of psilocin. Possessing up to twice this amount would be punishable by a fine of up to $100. According to state data, MMHO has raised $7,510,352.82 as of October 23, and increase of nearly $2.5 million since the first week of September.

The initiative aims to “expand mental health treatment options in Massachusetts by providing new pathways to access natural psychedelic medicine therapy,” including “creating access to natural psychedelic medicine therapy and removing criminal penalties for personal possession of these medicines.” The law would allow licensed service centers to supply psychedelics, overseen by a newly-created Natural Psychedelic Substances Commission, modeled after the state’s Cannabis Control Commission.
Continue reading

Oct 25 2024

$117 Million in Legal Marijuana Sold in Missouri in September, All-Time Sales Pass $3 Billion

All-time legal marijuana sales have surpassed $3 billion in Missouri, once September’s totals are added.

According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, there was a $117.43 million worth of legal marijuana and marijuana products (concentrates, edibles, tinctures, etc.) sold in September, a slight decrease from the $126 million sold in August. $103.35 of September’s sales were purchased by recreational consumers, with medical marijuana patients representing $14.08 million in marijuana sales.

The year-to-date total is now around $1.1 billion, with all-time sales now at $3,021,970,000.
Continue reading

Oct 25 2024

Maine Expands Marijuana Recall After Lab Testing Issues

Maine’s Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP) has widened a recall on recreational marijuana products from Nova Farms due to possible contamination with bacteria, yeast, and mold.

The photo above shows the product packaging for the Frosted Cookies 1-ounce pre-ground flower (batch number ending in 5189), 3-gram pre-rolls (5195), and 1/8-ounce pre-ground flower (5216). Emphasis has been added to the photo to show where on the label consumers can find the product’s batch number.

Initially issued on October 11, the recall targeted “Frosted Cookies” products sold between September 17 and October 8. Expanded on October 19, the recall now covers products sold by nine additional retailers across the state from August 30 to October 14. The OCP attributed the recall to “data irregularities” in lab testing results, emphasizing that an investigation is underway to understand the contamination’s scope and cause.

The recalled products include various forms of “Frosted Cookies,” such as flower, pre-rolls, and blunts, found at 23 retail outlets. The contamination reportedly showed elevated levels of aerobic bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, yeast, and mold. Consumption of contaminated cannabis can lead to sinus issues, headaches, flu-like symptoms, and fatigue.
Continue reading