Jul 21 2023

New York Opens Application Process for Marijuana Farmers Markets

Just two days after New York officials voted to allow marijuana farmers markets, the state has opened up the application process.

On Wednesday the state Cannabis Control Board (CCB) passed a handful of new rules including legalizing marijuana farmers markets. These are referred to as “Cannabis Growers Showcases” where growers and retailers can “bring their product to market and allow licensees to sell such products simultaneously.” Today, the application process opened for businesses wanting to take part in the new rules.

“The Cannabis Growers Showcase (CGS) initiative allows licensed cannabis growers and processors to showcase New York cannabis products to consumers at events where consumers can purchase those cannabis products from licensed retailers”, states the Office of Cannabis Policy’s website. “Licensed Adult-Use Conditional Cultivators (AUCC), Adult-Use Conditional Processors (AUCP), and Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) who have been approved for licensed activities by the Office of Cannabis Management can participate in a CGS.”
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Jul 21 2023

Minneapolis Mayor Makes Psychedelics “Lowest Enforcement Priority”

Minneapolis, Minnesota Mayor Jacob Frey has issued an executive order making the possession and cultivation of psychedelics such as psilocybin the lowest law enforcement priority for city police and officials.

Minneapolis city hall.

The city’s police chief says he will follow the mayor’s order which also prevents local resources from being used to aid in any state or federal enforcement of psychedelic laws.

The move by the mayor is reminiscent of Seattle in 2003: the city made marijuana the lowest enforcement priority almost a decade before the first states legalized the plant in 2012.
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Jul 20 2023

Marijuana Unions Notch Victories in Illinois and New Jersey

Labor unions in Illinois and New Jersey recently declared victories in contract disputes that impact dozens of employees.

(Photo credit: Teamster.org).

According to a press release Teamsters Local 777 has reached tentative agreements for cannabis consultants and agents-in-charge at Zen Leaf dispensaries in Chicago and Schaumburg, Ill. Zen Leaf’s parent company, Verano, is the third Multi-state Operator (MSO) that Local 777 has successfully bargained agreements with after launching a campaign to organize the cannabis industry less than three years ago.

Improvements included in the agreement include wage increases ranging from $17 to $20 over the next three years, paid time off, employer-funded retirement contributions, overtime allocated by seniority, and the replacement of “at-will” employment with a just process for addressing disciplinary matters.
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Jul 20 2023

Triple-Blind Trial Finds CBD Reduces Seizures in 66% of Patients With Treatment-Resistant Epilepsy

A large majority of patients with treatment-resistant epilepsy saw a reduction in seizures following four-weeks of CBD treatment, according to a new study.

Titled The effect of cannabidiol on seizure features and quality of life in drug-resistant frontal lobe epilepsy patients: a triple-blind controlled trial, the study is published in the recent issue of the journal Frontiers in Neurology. It was conducted by researchers at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and Babol University of Medical Sciences, all in Iran.

“Treatment-resistant epileptic seizures are associated with reduced quality of life (QoL)”, states the study. “Recent research showed the efficacy of add-on therapy by cannabidiol (CBD) on refractory epilepsy.” With that in mind, researchers “attempted to extend data on the efficacy and safety profile of CBD in patients with frontal lobe treatment-resistant epilepsy.”
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Jul 19 2023

Missouri: Over $121 Million in Marijuana Sold Legally in June, $629 Million Year-to-Date

Missouri marijuana retail outlets and dispensaries sold over $121 million worth of marijuana and marijuana products in June.

According to the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services, consumers purchased $95.2 million worth of recreational marijuana. This is in addition to $26 million in medical marijuana sales, bringing the total for the month of June to $121.2 million. This is roughly $300k more than the previous month, bringing in a little over $10 million in tax revenue for the state.

Accumulative marijuana sales in Missouri now stand at $1.23 billion, with year-to-date sales reaching $629 million. Year-to-date tax revenue is around $50 million.
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Jul 19 2023

New York Officials Vote to Legalize Marijuana Farmers Markets and Almost Double Retail Licenses

Officials in New York have voted in favor of rules changes that allow marijuana farmers markets to operate throughout the state, while also almost doubling the number of provisional licenses for marijuana retail outlets.

Today the state Cannabis Control Board (CCB) passed a handful of new rules, including the above-mentioned changes allowing for marijuana farmers markets. The Board also voted to regulate marijuana research and ban the sale of delta-8 THC, and they approved 212 new provisional retail licenses (bringing the state total to 463).

Specifically the Board is referring to marijuana farmers markets as “Cannabis Grower’s Showcases” where growers and retailers can “bring their product to market and allow licensees to sell such products simultaneously.” To be considered a showcase there must be at least three growers and one licensed retail outlet.
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Jul 18 2023

Report: Global Marijuana Infused Products Market Valued at $30 Billion, to Grow to $150 Billion by 2030

A new report by Data Bridge Market Research states that the global marijuana infused products market is currently valued at almost $30 billion, and is expected to see rapid growth in the coming years.

marijuana infused products market

In the report Data Bridge Market Research predicts that the cannabis infused products market which was $29.68 billion in 2022, would rocket up to $150.51 billion by 2030, and is expected to undergo a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.5% during the forecast period 2023 to 2030.

“Cannabis is increasingly recognized as an effective treatment for many conditions, including nausea and vomiting brought by chemotherapy, restlessness, muscle tightness, and chronic discomfort”, states the report, pointing out some of the key drivers of market growth. “CBD and THC-infused edibles are becoming increasingly popular in all legal states. Furthermore, customers and investors are becoming more interested in infused beverages.”
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Jul 18 2023

Marijuana Becomes Legal in Luxembourg on July 21

Last month Luxembourg’s Parliament passed legislation to make their country just the second in the European Union to legalize marijuana possession and cultivation. On July 21 the law takes effect.

“On July 17, 2023 the law amending the amended law of February 19, 1973 concerning the sale of medicinal substances and the fight against drug addiction, providing for the legalization of the domestic cultivation of cannabis under certain conditions, has been published in the Official Journal”, said the country’s Ministry of Health. “It will enter into force on the fourth day following the day of its publication, i.e. Friday, July 21, 2023.”

The Chamber of Deputies voted 38 to 22 last month to pass the bill that has been in the works for years. On July 21 Luxembourg will join Malta as the only European Union countries with legal recreational marijuana.
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Jul 17 2023

Ukraine Parliament Votes 268 to 137 to Legalize Medical Marijuana

Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) has passed legislation to legalize medical marijuana through its first reading.

The measure received a 268 to 137 vote in the parliament. It will need to be passed through one more reading before it can be sent to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for consideration. President Zelenskyy is in support of the law and says he’ll quicky sign it into law if it reaches his desk.

The measure has been stalled in the parliament for around two years, but gained momentum earlier this year as Zelenksyy increased calls for medical marijuana legalization.
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Jul 17 2023

Ohio Adds Irritable Bowel Syndrome to List of Medical Marijuana Conditions

Ohio officials have officially expanded the state’s list of medical conditions that qualify an individual to become a legal medical marijuana patient.

The State Medical Board of Ohio voted recently to add irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to the state’s medical marijuana program. Proponents of the change noted that 10% to 15% of US adults have IBS, with multiple peer-reviewed studies indicating that marijuana and its compounds may help treat the ailment or at least improve its symptoms.

The board rejected proposals that would have also added autism spectrum disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder to the list of qualifying conditions.
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