Florida: Trulieve to Open Medical Cannabis Dispensaries in Cocoa, Miramar Beach, Niceville, and Tampa Next Week

Today, Trulieve Cannabis Corp. announced the opening of new medical cannabis dispensaries in Miramar Beach, Niceville, and Tampa today and Cocoa on Saturday.

Grand opening celebrations will be held at all four locations Friday, September 6, beginning at 9 a.m., featuring music, specials, discounts, and opportunities to register for upcoming patient education sessions as well as learn about #YesOn3 and the ballot initiative to legalize adult cannabis use in Florida.

“We are excited to open these new dispensaries, expanding access to medical cannabis in the panhandle, Space Coast and Tampa Bay regions,” said Trulieve’s Chief Executive Officer Kim Rivers. “We look forward to building more relationships with patients and caregivers in Brevard, Hillsborough, Okaloosa, and Walton Counties.”
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Five Statewide Marijuana Initiatives Being Considered This November

With news that Arkansas activists have submitted well more than enough signatures to place their marijuana proposal on the presidential election ballot, we now have a clear picture of which statewide marijuana initiatives will be considered this November 5.

This November, three states will vote on measures to legalize recreational marijuana, one will vote to legalize medical marijuana, and one will vote to expand their medical marijuana law while creating a federal trigger for full legalization.

Below is a look at these five measures:
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Arkansas Initiative to Greatly Expand Medical Marijuana Program to Appear on November Ballot

An Arkansas campaign seeking to expand the state’s medical marijuana law and create a trigger for the legalization of recreational marijuana has submitted well more than enough signatures to put their measure to a vote this November.

In July, Arkansans for Patient Access (APA) submitted 111,402 signatures for their initiative, with signatures spread across 62 counties. Although this was above the 90,704 signatures required across 50 counties in order to make the November Ballot, the state said that not enough of the signatures were valid. This gave APA 30 days to collect an additional 11,000 signatures.

Today, the group submitted nearly 40,000 additional signatures, bringing the total to around 150,000. This all but guarantees the initiative will be placed on the November 5 ballot, given less than half of the signatures need to be valid for the group to reach their goal.
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The Most Critically Well Received Stoner Movies of All Time

When it comes to “stoner movies”, a select set of films have not only captivated audiences and pop culture, but also earned critical acclaim.

Using data from Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 most critically well-received stoner movies of all time, ranked by their combined Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes scores.

Below are the most critically well received stoner movies of all time.
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California Legislature Approves Bill Allowing Direct Marijuana Sales at Farmers Markets, Sending it to Governor Newsom

The California Legislature has given final approval to a bill that would allow licensed marijuana growers to sell their products directly to consumers at farmers markets, moving the legislation one step closer to becoming law.

The Assembly has concurred with amendments made by the Senate to Assembly Bill 1111, allowing the bill to proceed to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk. Newsom now has the option of signing it into law, vetoing it, or allowing it to become law without his signature.

AB 1111, sponsored by Assemblymember Gail Pellerin (D), authorizes the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) to issue temporary event licenses, enabling on-site cannabis sales and consumption at designated venues within jurisdictions that permit such activities.

The measure includes specific provisions for small-scale marijuana producers, restricting eligibility to those cultivating no more than one acre or a specified square footage under varying license types. The bill also incorporates amendments from the Senate Appropriations Committee, which limit the license to “state temporary events” and delay the bill’s implementation until January 1, 2026.

For the full text of the bill, click here.

Dallas, Lockhart and Bastrop, Texas Will Vote on Marijuana Decriminalization Ordinances in November

In a little over two months, voters in three Texas cities will consider ordinances that would decriminalize marijuana possession.

On the November 5 ballot in Lockhart, Bastrop and Dallas, Texas, are ordinances that propose to reduce penalties for possessing personal amounts of marijuana. Specifically, the measures would prevent law enforcement from arresting individuals found with up to four ounces of marijuana. Instead, they would receive a citation similar to a traffic ticket.

According to Ground Game Texas (GGT), the group behind the Dallas measure, the proposal would:
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MAPS Funds Study to Test MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD, Enrollment Underway

The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) has awarded Emory University researchers a $200,000 grant for a pilot study examining MDMA-assisted Massed Exposure Therapy for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

MDMA tablets, often referred to as “ecstasy”.

The study is being conducted by Dr. Barbara Rothbaum and Dr. Jessica Maples-Keller at the Emory Healthcare Veterans Program in Atlanta, Georgia. Enrollment for this study is open to any civilian who meets the criteria, including Veterans.

“Dr. Rothbaum, known for her groundbreaking research innovating evidence-based PTSD treatments since 1986, pioneered Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) and Massed Prolonged Exposure Therapy (MPE)”, states a press release. “These two evidence-based therapies for treating PTSD provide a safe environment for individuals to approach their trauma-related memories, feelings, and situations and learn that the trauma-related memories and cues are no longer dangerous. PE, which is one of only three front-line talk therapies currently recommended for PTSD, involves weekly sessions over three months, while MPE is an intensive version that is condensed into 10 daily sessions over two weeks.
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Report: Cannabis Cultivation Market Valued at $4.15 Billion, to More than Double by 2030

According to a new report by Research and Markets, the global cannabis cultivation market, already valued at billions of dollars, is expected to grow by 120% by 2030.

The report found that the cannabis cultivation market grew from $3.64 billion in 2023 to $4.15 billion in 2024, and it’s expected to continue growing at a compound annual growth rate of 14.09%, reaching $9.17 billion by 2030.

“In the Americas, cannabis cultivation has undergone significant transformation, especially in regions where legislation has shifted towards legalization”, states the report. “Canada and certain states of the USA have established robust legal frameworks that govern the production, sale, and consumption of cannabis. These regions host some of the world’s largest cannabis companies, which are heavily regulated, publicly traded, and adhere to strict quality controls.”
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Trulieve’s Employee Training Program Earns Gold Award for “Best Competencies and Skill Development”

Trulieve Cannabis Corp., one of the leading and top-performing cannabis companies in the United States, today announced its TruU-GROW cultivation training program has received a Gold award of excellence in the 2024 Brandon Hall Group HCM Excellence Awards.

“We are proud to see our TruU-GROW program continue to be recognized for its excellence in learning and development,” said Trulieve’s Chief Production Officer Kyle Landrum in a press release sent today. “This award is a testament to Trulieve’s commitment to quality by empowering our teams to cultivate their highest potential through training and education.”

The TruU-GROW program received a Gold award for Best Competencies and Skill Development, a new category in 2024, after earning six Brandon Hall Group Gold awards for excellence in 2023.
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Americans’ Support for Marijuana Legalization Up Almost 10% Since 2015, Finds Meta-Analysis

A growing number of Americans favor legalizing marijuana, with support rising steadily over the past decade, according to a recent analysis of more than 70 public opinion polls conducted since 2015.

The analysis, referred to as The Poll of Polls and released by consumer research firm CBD Oracle, reveals that public backing for marijuana legalization has increased from 53% in 2015 to 62% today.

Support for legalization is unsurprisingly highest among Democrats, with 71.4% in favor. A strong majority of independents also back the move, though at a lower rate of 63.5%. While Republican support has not yet reached a majority, it’s close, with 47.6% in favor of legalization.
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