Jan 27 2025

WA Senate Committee Holds Public Hearing on Bill to Allow Direct-to-Consumer Sales for Marijuana Producers and Processors

A public hearing was held today in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce for Senate Bill 5403, a measure designed to bolster the sustainability of Washington’s marijuana industry by authorizing direct-to-consumer sales of certain marijuana products.

The bill, introduced on January 21, 2025, is sponsored by State Senators Rebecca Saldaña (D), Deborah Krishnadasan (D), and T’wina Nobles (D).

The legislation would allow licensed marijuana producers and processors to sell marijuana flower directly to consumers, provided the products are limited to those produced by the licensee. These direct sales would need to comply with existing purchase limits for adults 21 and older, which include up to one ounce of usable marijuana or seven grams of marijuana concentrate, among other restrictions.
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Jan 27 2025

These States Have the Lowest Average Cost Per Gram of Legal Marijuana Flower

Across the United States, prices for legal marijuana flower vary widely depending on factors like supply, taxes, and market maturity. In this article we break down the states with lowest average cost per gram.

Data from state regulatory agencies, cannabis commissions, and the research firm Headset reveal which states currently offer the lowest average prices for dried marijuana flower.

Oregon continues to lead the way with the cheapest marijuana flower, boasting an average price of $3.51 per gram as of the start of January, according to the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission. This is a dramatic drop from the $10.50 per gram price seen when retail sales began in 2016.
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Jan 27 2025

New Florida Bill Would Legalize Personal Marijuana Cultivation for Patients, Restricts Hemp Industry

New legislation filed today by State Senator Joe Gruters would allow registered medical marijuana patients in Florida to grow up to two marijuana plants at home for personal use, while also placing restrictions on the state’s hemp industry.

Under the proposed law (Senate Bill 334), medical marijuana patients would be authorized to grow up to two plants, with more allowed per household if there’s more than one patient living their. Plants must be cultivated in areas hidden from public view, including neighboring properties, and kept in locked, enclosed spaces to prevent access by unauthorized individuals or anyone under the age of 21. Violating these rules could result in a first-degree misdemeanor, which carries penalties of up to one year in jail, a $1,000 fine, and probation.

The proposal would apply to both homeowners and renters, though tenants would need explicit permission from their landlords to participate.
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Jan 27 2025

Trulieve to Open its 230th U.S. Cannabis Dispensary on January 31, in Palm Coast, Florida

Trulieve Cannabis Corp., a leading cannabis company in the U.S., today announced the opening of a new medical cannabis dispensary in Palm Coast, Florida.

The new location will be Trulieve’s 162nd dispensary in Florida, and their 230th nationwide. A grand opening celebration will be held Friday, January 31, beginning at 9 a.m., featuring music, specials, discounts, and opportunities to register for upcoming patient education sessions.

“We are proud to expand access to medical cannabis in Flagler County with this new, convenient location,” said Trulieve’s Chief Executive Officer Kim Rivers. “We look forward to providing Palm Coast patients affordable, high-quality products and world-class customer service.”
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Jan 27 2025

Study Highlights Cannabis’s Potential in Combatting Alzheimer’s Disease

Cannabis’ chemical diversity and its potential as a multi-target treatment for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are at the center of a new review published in IBRO Neuroscience Reports.

The review categorizes the compounds found in cannabis into cannabinoids and non-cannabinoids, exploring their roles in combating AD-related pathological features. With AD’s complexity often rendering single-target therapies insufficient, researchers propose that a multi-target approach utilizing cannabis-derived compounds may offer more effective alternatives.

By synthesizing existing research, the study identifies knowledge gaps and facilitates comparative analysis to advance future studies. It highlights cannabis’s potential to address multiple facets of AD pathology, suggesting that the plant’s therapeutic compounds could provide valuable contributions to neurodegenerative disease research.
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Jan 25 2025

Washington Bill to Legalize Personal Marijuana Cultivation Scheduled for Public Hearing on January 28

House Bill 1449, which would legalize the personal cultivation of marijuana in Washington State, has been scheduled for a public hearing in the Consumer Protection & Business Committee on January 28 at 1:30 PM.

The bill, filed by a group of 16 state representatives, would allow those 21 and older to grow up to six cannabis plants at their housing unit, with a maximum of 15 plants allowed per household. Although the current possession limit for cannabis in Washington is one ounce, HB 1449 would allow those who grow marijuana to possess whatever is harvested from those plants.

Under the proposed law, cannabis plants visible from public spaces or neighboring properties, or with odors detectable outside the home, would result in a Class 3 civil infraction. Exceeding the household limit of 15 plants would carry harsher penalties, with possession of 16 or more plants classified as a Class C felony.
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Jan 25 2025

In 2024, 11 States Generated Over $1 Billion in Legal Marijuana Sales

In 2024, 11 states surpassed $1 billion in legal marijuana sales.

Collectively, these states accounted for a large majority of the $23.2 billion sold across the 21 states with operational recreational markets.

California led the pack with $4.2 billion in sales, followed by Michigan, which brought in $3.1 billion. Illinois ($1.8 billion) and Massachusetts ($1.75 billion) also contributed significantly to the billion-dollar club. Other high-performing states included Colorado ($1.35 billion), Missouri ($1.36 billion), and Arizona ($1.21 billion).
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Jan 25 2025

Florida Bill to Protect Parental Rights of Medical Marijuana Patients Receives Committee Assignments

Yesterday, Senate Bill 146, which would protect the parental rights of qualified medical marijuana patients in Florida, was officially assigned to three Senate committees.

If enacted, the legislation filed by State Senator Tina Polsky (D) would amend section 39.806 of the Florida Statutes to ensure that a parent’s status as a medical marijuana patient cannot be used as grounds to deny or restrict custody, visitation, or parenting time. Additionally, the bill would prevent such status from being presumed as evidence of child neglect or endangerment.

SB 146 has been assigned to the Rules Committee, the Judiciary Committee and the Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee. If passed into law, the measure would take effect on July 1, 2025.
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Jan 25 2025

Study: Coaching Program Shows Promise in Optimizing Cannabis Use for Veterans With Chronic Pain

Researchers from the University of Michigan have conducted a feasibility pilot study on a novel coaching intervention aimed at helping Veterans optimize their use of medical cannabis products for managing chronic pain.

(Photo credit: GETTY Images).

The study, published in the Journal of Cannabis Research and available online via the U.S. National Library of Medicine, involved Veterans with chronic pain who were currently using or interested in using cannabis for pain relief.

The intervention was developed using insights from existing scientific literature, consultations with cannabis experts, input from Veterans through a Community Advisory Board, and principles of motivational interviewing. Participants were provided up to four individual coaching sessions via videoconference over the course of approximately eight weeks. Feasibility was assessed through adherence, satisfaction, and acceptability metrics, with preliminary effects on pain symptoms evaluated 14 weeks after baseline.
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Jan 25 2025

The Best Cannabis Strains for Fighting Anxiety

Anxiety is challenging condition experienced by millions of people every day, but many marijuana strains are known for their calming, anxiety-fighting effects.

Blue Dream/

Among the hundreds if not thousands of marijuana strains on the market, some are notably better than others in terms of their ability to combat anxiety.

The following list of the top strains for fighting anxiety was compiled using data from our readers and insights from the cannabis review sites Leafly and WeedMaps.
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