WH Press Sec. Sean Spicer Hints at Trump Admin. Stance on Cannabis

During a press conference on Thursday, February 23rd, White House press secretary Sean Spicer made a number of comments hinting at the Trump administration’s stance on legal cannabis. He identified a clear distinction that he makes between medical and recreational cannabis laws, while mentioning President Trump’s previous statements on medical cannabis. Roby Brock, a journalist at Arkansas news […]

White House Press Secretary Hints Federal Marijuana Crackdown May Be Forthcoming

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer today said that the Trump administration may engage in “greater” efforts to enforce federal anti-marijuana laws in jurisdictions that have legalized and regulated its adult use. In response to a question regarding how the administration intends to address statewide marijuana legalization laws, Spicer indicated that the administration views the […]

Breaking: White House Plans ‘Greater Enforcement’ Against Legal Cannabis

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer sent a jolt through the cannabis world on Thursday, suggesting at a media briefing that the Trump administration could take actions to crack down on state-legal cannabis programs. “I think you’ll see greater enforcement,” Spicer said, according to The Hill. He added that precisely what that means will be […]

Maximizing CBD’s Effects and Benefits: 5 Experts Weigh In

This article is sponsored by Firefly, a San Francisco-based technology company that specializes in the research, design, and manufacturing of vaporizer hardware. Is CBD the magic cannabis molecule, or a misleading fad? There’s certainly a major trend toward CBD-only products on the cannabis market, and a push in some states leery of medical marijuana to legalize […]

Take A Peek Inside This San Diego Marijuana Lab

As the cannabis industry continues to be legalized and regulated, the need for analytic laboratories to test marijuana products is a growing business opportunity. PharmLabs, an accredited analytic laboratory in San Diego, California, has been testing the waters of this emerging market since 2011 and is poised to expand substantially now that Prop. 64—which legalizes personal […]

Polling: Voters Support Marijuana Law Reform By Record Numbers

by Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director February 23, 2017 Record numbers of voters support regulating the marijuana market and oppose federal efforts to interfere or undermine state laws permitting the plant’s use or sale, according to nationwide polling data released today by Quinnipiac University. Ninety-three percent of voters — including 96 percent of Democrats and […]

The Oscar-Nominated Shorts, Ranked by How Great They Are While High

It’s Oscar season, and chances are you’ve been hearing a lot about La La Land lately. Certainly go see it; just keep in mind that with its 128-minute run time, you could also see an entire separate category of Academy Award-nominated films – the live-action shorts – in exactly the same number of minutes. And […]

Trump Considers Eliminating the Drug Czar Position

After President Trump’s new budget director was sworn in last week, the White House Office of Management and Budget immediately set to work, proposing the government cut nine popular government programs, including the Office of National Drug Control Policy. The move took many by surprise, especially following statements by the president decrying international drug cartels […]

Efficacy of a Therapeutic Combination of Dronabinol and PEA for Tourette Syndrome

National Institutes of Health Medical Cannabis Research

Verified February 2017 by Yale University Sponsor: Collaborator: Therapix Biosciences Ltd. Information provided by (Responsible Party): Yale University ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03066193 First received: February 23, 2017 Last updated: February 23, 2017 Last verified: February 2017 This is an investigator-initiated proof of concept study with the purpose to examine the safety, tolerability and feasibility of Dronabinol […]

Record Numbers of Voters Support Marijuana Law Reform

NORML | February 23, 2017 HAMDEN, CT — Record numbers of voters support regulating the marijuana market and oppose federal efforts to interfere or undermine state laws permitting the plant’s use or sale, according to nationwide polling data released Thursday by Quinnipiac University. Ninety-three percent of voters — including 96 percent of Democrats and 85 percent […]

How Strong Is Today’s Pot Compared to Back in the Day?

If you’ve ever smoked up with someone who lived through the 1960s, you may have heard them remark that marijuana is much stronger than it used to be. But is that actually true, or just a hippie myth? Here’s the straight dope. How we measure marijuana strength Because it’s too difficult to ask Willie Nelson, we’re forced to measure weed’s potency the only way we […]

What Researcher’s Found in California’s Marijuana

Medical Cannabis

Researchers in Northern California have delivered some unsettling news for marijuana users: It turns out, a sizeable amount of the pot sold in California’s medical marijuana dispensaries test positive for mold and bacteria that could be dangerous for patients with compromised immune systems. Though the study only looked at cannabis sold in Northern California dispensaries, […]

Psychedelics Help Reduce Opioid Addiction, According to New Study

February 21, 2017– By Jag Davies The criminalization of people who use psychedelics is rooted in myths that are the vestiges of colonialism and the drug war – and, one by one, those myths are crumbling down. We’ve learned in recent years that people who use psychedelics are significantly *less* likely to end up developing […]

Australia Loosens Cannabis Import Rules to Speed Patient Access

Australian medical cannabis patients and advocates notched a big win this week as the federal government loosened strings on the country’s cannabis-importation laws. The changes will allow overseas suppliers of medicinal cannabis to import into Australia in bulk, store a surplus, and ship directly to patients as doctors prescribe. Despite progress made in licensing and […]

GW Pharma Responds: ‘Not Creating a Monopoly’

British drug manufacturer GW Pharma and its American subsidiary, Greenwich BioSciences, have responded to Leafly’s report last week about the company’s attempts to move proprietary cannabidiol (CBD) bills through at least two state legislatures. GW/Greenwich says it is not opposing medical marijuana or CBD access. That report noted that the company’s lobbyists were moving in […]

State of the Leaf: South Africa Approves MMJ Production

US News Updates National US Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), a longtime champion of cannabis reform, introduced a House resolution that would amend the Controlled Substances Act to protect state cannabis programs and businesses that comply with state and local laws. House Resolution 975 has already gained 14 co-sponsors so far and has been referred to […]

Ask a Budtender: What Makes for Good Cannabis Packaging?

In any retail industry, the way an item looks on the shelf has everything to do with its sales. With cannabis, the product should not only appeal to consumers aesthetically, it also needs to maintain freshness, flavor, and potency. In legal adult-use states such as here in Washington, it’s taken a good deal of time […]

Cannabis Opposers Call for Boycott of T-Mobile Over Martha Stewart/Snoop Dogg Ad

T-Mobile is getting called out by the organization Parents Opposed to Pot, an emerging group determined to “burst the bubbles of the marijuana industry, marijuana lobbyists and marijuana activists,” for its sly cannabis-alluding advertisement during this year’s Super Bowl. The outrage sparked an online petition whose main priority is to boycott T-Mobile. RELATED STORY Atlanta vs. New […]

Houston is Getting a New Cannabis Decriminalization Policy

A new marijuana policy from Harris County could set the tone for Texas to pass more widespread decriminalization at a state level. Newly elected District Attorney Kim Ogg ran on a campaign platform of reducing penalties for low-level, nonviolent drug offenses, and she is sticking to her word. She announced the new policy during a […]

Marijuana Industry Projected to Create Nearly 300,000 Jobs by 2020

Hawaii Cannabis Organization

With a majority of states now enjoying legal weed in some form, we try to be optimistic in the hope that the federal government will respect states’ rights. This begs an obvious question: How could the current administration not see the benefits of legal marijuana, one of the fastest growing industries in the country that […]

Spring 2017 Missouri Cannabis Conference in Kansas City

In 2010, I helped co-found the organization Show-Me Cannabis in my home state of Missouri (the show-me state).  This came on the heals of our move to Oregon after we experienced a para-military style home invasion for growing a small amount of cannabis in our home in Columbia, Missouri.  It was severely traumatic, and made me realize […]

Hawaii Medical Marijuana Moves Forward with Cultivator Licenses

Hawaii Cannabis

Hawaii medical marijuana moves forward with cultivator licenses as the state just named it’s third cannabis cultivator, Manoa Botanicals. The company got the green light from officials to begin growing the plant in their production center on Oahu. That means the state of Hawaii says they can obtain seeds, and grow clones and marijuana plants – […]

Arkansas Medical Marijuana Laws See Amendments to Original Legislation

While Arkansas remains the first state in the Deep South to approve medical marijuana, obstacles remain as Arkansas medical marijuana laws see amendments to the original legislation being debated. This month, two such medical marijuana-related bills were finally approved. They bring with them amendments to the original version, passed by 53 percent of Arkansas voters. Thursday afternoon […]

I Doobie Doobie Doo: Inside Colorado’s Cannabis Wedding Expo

Colorado celebrated the second annual Cannabis Wedding Expo in style at The Falls Event Center in Littleton. Model bride-to-be’s walked around in cannabis themed accessories – including, of course, a pot bouquet. The event brought together cannabusinesses and new-to cannabis companies. From transport and venues, to jewelry and food – it was a one-stop-shop for […]

Fact Checking the DEA

Medical Cannabis

By Vince Sliwoski for the Portland Mercury Was the DEA forced to remove “alternative facts” about cannabis from its website? YES! IN DECEMBER, the medical marijuana advocacy group, Americans for Safe Access (ASA), formally requested that the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) remove or correct a cluster of misinformation on medical cannabis from its website. Shortly […]

‘Up in Smoke’: How the Original Stoner Comedy Changed History

Back in September 1978, when Up in Smoke enjoyed its original theatrical run, I was 12 years old—far too young to buy an R-rated ticket. Only in the nicest of dreams might I have slid past an usher, crept behind the multiplex door, and taken in the unfathomable: Cheech and Chong smoking weed on the big […]

rTMS Treatment for Cannabis Use Disorders in Psychosis

National Institutes of Health Medical Cannabis Research

Verified February 2017 by Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Sponsor: Information provided by (Responsible Party): Mera Barr, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03069612 First received: February 22, 2017 Last updated: February 27, 2017 Last verified: February 2017 Cannabis use during adolescence represents a significant risk factor for the development of psychosis […]

Implementing Real Science in Cultivation and Extraction

Formed in 2015, Outco is a vertically integrated, licensed producer of medical cannabis in Southern California. Outco manages Outliers Collective, the first licensed dispensary continually operating in San Diego County. They operate the first licensed cultivation on Native American land in Southern California, the first cultivation building permit in Southern California and the first licensed […]

CO Dept. of Revenue Reports $1.3 Billion From Marijuana Industry in 2016

The Colorado Department of Revenue’s announcement that $1.3 billion in regulated marijuana sales took place in calendar year 2016, generating nearly $200 million in state tax revenue. These figures do not include millions of dollars in revenue generated by local taxes on marijuana. The Cannabist reports: To put the state’s third year of regulated recreational […]

Lollipop or edible?

Pot brownies may be a thing of the past as there are new edible marijuana products, or edibles, on the market, including chocolates, candies, and cookies. These products are legally sold in Colorado and Washington, and according to a new study conducted by RTI International, changes to their labels are needed to ensure people know […]

Marijuana Delivery Could Be up Next in Colorado

A bill introduced in the Colorado Senate last week would allow you to get weed delivered to your house. If the measure passes, dispensaries could apply for a delivery endorsement, then have an employee or approved contractor drive recreational or medical cannabis or cannabis products right to your door. The daily purchase limits would still […]

Netherlands Approves Bill to Allow Cultivation of Marijuana

Medical Cannabis

Dutch MPs have narrowly approved a bill that would permit the growing of cannabis, removing a legal grey area that left “coffee shops” able to sell the drug but unable to supply themselves without fear of prosecution. The measure passed on Tuesday would create a regulated cannabis supply chain, with some suppliers permitted to cultivate […]

Report: America’s Marijuana Industry Headed for $24 billion by 2025

The latest gaze into the crystal ball puts the U.S. marijuana industry north of $24 billion by 2025. New Frontier Data, a cannabis market research and analytics firm, gave The Cannabist a first look at its 2017 annual report, which aims to track the long-term potential for the industry. The report acknowledges external factors such […]

QuEChERS 101

Sample preparation experts and analytical chemists are quick to suggest QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) to cannabis laboratories that are analyzing both flower and edible material for pesticides, mycotoxins and cannabinoid content. Besides having a quirky name, just what makes QuEChERS a good extraction technique for the complicated matrices of cannabis products? […]

Pesticide Analysis in Cannabis and Related Products: Part 3

As mentioned in Part 1, pesticides residue analysis is very challenging especially considering the complexity of cannabis and the variety of flower, concentrates and infused products. In addition, pesticides are tested at low levels typically at parts-per-billion (ppb). For example, the food safety industry often uses 10 ppb as a benchmark limit of quantification. To put that in perspective, current pesticides limits in cannabis range from 10 ppb default (Massachusetts Regulatory […]

Hawaii Might Create Medical Cannabis Sales Tax to Help Fund the Program

To help offset some of the cost of operating the Hawaii medical marijuana program, lawmakers are considering adding a tax to purchases. Hesitance comes from those fearing that it will make the medicine too expensive for patients. Chair of the House Health Committee, State Representative Della Au Belatti, supports the proposed “Use Tax.” Lawmakers have […]

Members of Congress Form Cannabis Caucus

Medical Cannabis

By Aaron G. Biros for the Cannabis Industry Journal Members of Congress last week announced the formation of a ‘Congressional Cannabis Caucus’ in order to organize and affect cannabis policy at the federal level. Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Jared Polis (D-CO) and Don Young (R-AK) announced the creation of the caucus on […]

When Retirement Comes With a Daily Dose of Cannabis

Medical Cannabis

By Winnie Hu for The New York Times While there is no shortage of research on marijuana, relatively little of it has focused explicitly on older users even as their numbers grow — and not just in the United States. In Israel, for instance, older people have been treated with medical marijuana for years. And […]

Post-prandial Glucose Response From Phytochemical Rich Potato Products

National Institutes of Health Medical Cannabis Research

Verified February 2017 by Purdue University Sponsor: Collaborator: USDA Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center Information provided by (Responsible Party): Richard Mattes, Purdue University ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03066713 First received: February 21, 2017 Last updated: February 23, 2017 Last verified: February 2017 Assess the impact of high antioxidant potato products on postprandial glycemic response and subsequent appetite […]

Medical Marijuana Sees Popularity Increase in Retirement Communities

Medical Cannabis

Ruth Brunn finally said yes to marijuana. She is 98. She pops a green pill filled with cannabis oil into her mouth with a sip of vitamin water. Then Ms. Brunn, who has neuropathy, settles back in her wheelchair and waits for the jabbing pain in her shoulders, arms and hands to ebb. “I don’t […]

Hefty new tax on medical marijuana would help pay for pot program

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Lawmakers are looking to add a new tax on medical marijuana to help cover some the of costs associated with setting up Hawaii’s program, but many are concerned that it will just make pot more expensive for patients.  State Rep. Della Au Belatti, chair of the House Health Committee, supports a new […]

Conquering the Hurdles to Operating a Legal Cannabis Business

Medical Cannabis

By Craig Smalley Personally, I feel when legalizing marijuana, states removed the prohibition of cannabis only to create a system with the potential to be riddled with crime and tax fraud.  Yet we are required to operate under the rules at present.  For instance, those in the cannabis business can attest to the vacuum created […]

Colorado Is Soon to Have Their First Marijuana Drive-Through

Medical Cannabis

In just a few months, Parachute will be home to Colorado’s first drive-through marijuana shop. Tumbleweed, owned by Green Cross Colorado LLC, has won approval for drive-up sales out of a former carwash, across the street from Tumbleweed’s primary location. While the decision to repeal Parachute’s ban on marijuana establishments in June 2015 stirred months […]

Online Dispensary Cannabiscare Offers Lab-Tested Cannabis & Guaranteed Delivery Throughout Canada

Online dispensary CannabisCare.ca is setting itself apart in the marketplace as one of Canada’s best online dispensaries, with potency-guaranteed, triple lab-tested cannabis products, delivered quickly and discreetly throughout Canada. In addition to testing their Sativa, Indica, and hybrid cannabis strains, Cannabis Care also tests their extracts and edibles, from cannabis oil and hash to weed […]

LA Prop M Puts Minorities First and Provide a Foundation for Cannabis Businesses

LA Prop M puts minorities first and is a new measure being considered in Los Angeles, California that aims to regulate, tax and enforce medical and recreational marijuana – order that’s much needed to bring order in the quasi-legal Los Angeles dispensaries. The choice turns to the voters with Proposition M on March 7. Voting ‘yes’ […]

OK May Finally OK Medical Marijuana

Oklahoma may finally OK medical marijuana and patients may have access a year or so earlier than expected, if Representative Eric Proctor (D-Tulsa) gets his bill passed before voters get to decide on State Question 788. The big difference is the breadth of ailments covered – critics of the new bill complain that the scope is too […]

Governor Walker Still Thinks Marijuana is a Gateway Drug

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker tells reporters that he would support a CBD oil bill with his signature, but remains opposed to any measure that would bring cannabis into his state. Governor Walker still thinks marijuana is a gateway drug. He was visiting Western Technical College in La Crosse on Thursday, promoting his new budget package when […]

Michigan NORML: Presidents’ Day Letter To Congress From The Front Lines

by NORML February 20, 2017 Read the letter here: MI Federal Legislator Letter 2017 By: Matthew AbelExecutive DirectorMichigan NORML Today, on the occasion of President’s Day, and in the spirit of the President’s heralded as “leaders of the free world”, the Michigan Affiliate of NORML participated in a national campaign to contact our members of Congress by […]

Exclusive: Marley Natural herb collection elevates artistic connection

Published: Feb 20, 2017, 6:20 am • Updated: Feb 20, 2017, 2:24 pm By Katie Shapiro, The Cannabist Staff Herb is the word today here at The Cannabist – not cannabis, marijuana, pot and certainly not weed – as we exclusively unveil Marley Natural’s Neville Garrick-designed Anniversary Herb Collection. The official Bob Marley cannabis brand […]

Weekly Legislative Roundup 2/18/2017

by Justin Strekal, NORML Political DirectorFebruary 18, 2017 Welcome to this week’s edition of the marijuana legislative roundup! So here is a first: their is a Federal Cannabis Caucus! In case you missed it, Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Jared Polis(D-CO), and Don Young (R-AK) have formed the Congressional Cannabis Caucus to promote […]

New Strains Alert: Ecto Cooler, Tillamook Strawberry, Lee Roy, and More

This week’s New Strains Alert brings together a heavyweight from Mr. Mack’s Snacks, a crown jewel suitable for a princess, two user submitted strains from a Facebook comment (believe me, we hear you and we are listening), and many more sticky flowers stemming from legal cannabis lands. For fruit fanatics, snap off a piece of […]

Calif. Bill Would Make Underage Sale Violations Sting

As California gears up to open retail cannabis stores next year, one state lawmaker is proposing a stiff penalty for a business caught selling cannabis to underage buyers: the loss of its state license. Assembly Bill 729, introduced this week by Assembly Member Adam Gray (D-Merced), would establish penalties and practices designed to limit access […]

What Budtender Qualities Make You Turn Away From a Shop?

Budtender etiquette can easily make or break a visit for a customer or patient. As a recreational adult consumer, a bad experience with staff often means losing a customer and in an industry where every sale counts, losing a repeat customer means losing a valuable source of revenue. For those who rely on cannabis as […]

The Evolution of an Industry: Cannabis Companies You Should Know

Hawaii Cannabis Organization

2016 was a great year for the legal cannabis industry. States that legalized recreational cannabis prior to 2017 saw a huge increase in tax revenues, job creation and local economic activity. And this has resulted in a sort of “green rush,” where we’re now seeing dozens of other states begin the process of legalization in some […]

Leafly Exclusive: GW Pharma is Moving CBD Bills on the Down Low

In news that could have profound implications for the legality and availability of cannabidiol (CBD) products, Leafly News has learned that the British pharmaceutical company GW Pharma and its American subsidiary Greenwich BioSciences are quietly moving proprietary CBD bills through at least two U.S. state legislatures, and could have plans for similar bills in other states. […]

House Republicans Vote to Expand Drug Testing

The US House of Representative approved a resolution this week to expand drug testing for people who apply to receive unemployment benefits. House Joint Resolution 42 would repeal a Labor Department rule that limits drug testing to two circumstances. Currently, benefits applicants can be tested if they were terminated from their previous job due to illegal […]

Load Up on Your Favorite Strains Because ‘Planet Earth II’ Finally Debuts in the U.S.

It’s an indisputable fact that, regardless of our differences, all cannabis consumers collectively and universally love the following things: There’s nothing quite like packing a bowl of your favorite strain, kicking your feet up onto the coffee table, cocooning yourself in your softest blanket, and cuing up a gorgeous high-definition nature program that blows your […]

Choosing Fertilizer for your Marijuana Plants

Choosing Fertilizer For Your Marijuana Plants Sometimes new marijuana growers will focus a lot on aspects such as soil, strain, and lighting setups, but equally important to the success of their plants is the type of fertilizer they decide to use. Every grower wants their plants to be healthy and productive, and choosing the right […]

Cannabis, Drug Policy Reform Advocates Commend Congressional Members on Formation of Congressional Cannabis Caucus

Medical Cannabis

WASHINGTON, DC, Feb. 16, 2017— Joint statement below from The National Organization For the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), the Drug Policy Alliance, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Americans for Safe Access, Marijuana Policy Project, the National Cannabis Industry Association, Law Enforcement Action Partnership, Doctors for Cannabis Regulation, and Clergy for a New Drug Policy. […]

SF honors Peron for medical cannabis work

Medical Cannabis

By Sari Staver for The Bay Area Reporter “Dennis is one of my heroes, he has been a guiding light in the medical marijuana movement and many of us have counted on him to lead the way.” – Brent Saupe, who worked with Dennis Peron as an ASA volunteer More than 100 friends of Dennis […]

Federal Marijuana Policy – “Respect State Marijuana Laws Act”

An Epic Bill Introduction by Congressman Rohrabacher from California for the newly introduced “Respect State Marijuana Laws Act” (also see 2015 version) Visit Mr. Rohrabacher’s website for more links and articles to Cannabis legislation. From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office FEDERAL MARIJUANA POLICY The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker’s announced […]

4 Things Reporters Get Terribly Wrong About “New” Drugs

February 16, 2017– By Stefanie Jones and Sara Qureshi In recent years, there has been increasing media attention on drugs known as “K2”, “bath salts”, fentanyl, “molly”, and others. Unfortunately, much of the coverage – even by some of the most well-meaning journalists – contains misinformation and inaccurate or misleading terminology. This all serves to […]

White Faces, Black Lives

February 16, 2017– By Dionna King In October, the New York office of the Drug Policy Alliance and the Office of Academic Engagement hosted an influential conference, entitled White Faces, Black Lives: Race and Reparative Justice in the Era of A “Gentler War on Drugs.” Scholars and advocates – some of the most prominent thought […]

Press Resource: Everything You Need to Know about “Spice”, “Bath Salts”, Fentanyl, “Molly” and More

In recent years, there has been increasing media attention on drugs like “Spice”, “K2”, “bath salts”, “flakka”, fentanyl, “molly”, and others. Unfortunately, much of the coverage – even by some of the most well-meaning journalists – contains misinformation or inaccurate or misleading terminology. It is often difficult to find reputable sources for information on newer […]

Colorado Warms to Cannabis Clubs

DENVER (AP) — Colorado is on the brink of becoming the first state with licensed cannabis clubs. But the details of how these clubs will operate are as hazy as the underground clubs operating already. Denver officials are working on regulations to open a one-year pilot of bring-your-own marijuana clubs, while state lawmakers are expected to […]

2017’s Hottest Cannabis Technology Innovations

There simply isn’t a better way to get your finger on the pulse of what’s hot in innovation than to get out and go see what’s going on at the trade shows. With cannabis trade shows, expos, and conferences beginning to circulate in the new year, the latest products and innovations are revealed to consumers […]

Cannabis Now Has Its Own Congressional Caucus

Amid widespread uncertainty about how the Trump administration will handle state-legal cannabis, a group of federal lawmakers on Thursday announced the formation of a Congressional Cannabis Caucus. The bipartisan group hopes to validate the nation’s burgeoning cannabis industry and encourage a more harmonious relationship between states and the federal government. With dozens of issue-specific caucuses […]

Medical Marijuana Bill Introduced in Kansas

A proposal to make Kansas the 29th medical marijuana state has been introduced by Senator David Haley (D-Kansas City), and it’s supported by local advocacy group Bleeding Kansas. SB 155, the Kansas Safe Access Act, would allow seriously ill Kansas residents with certain qualifying conditions to access medical marijuana with a doctor’s recommendation. Sixty-eight percent […]

Minnesota Lawmaker Introduces Marijuana Regulation Bill

Minnesota House Deputy Minority Leader Rep. Jon Applebaum (DFL-Minnetonka) has filed a bill to end cannabis prohibition and regulate marijuana like alcohol for adults ages 21 and up. If passed, bill HF927 would go into effect on January 1, 2018. It would allow adults to possess and purchase up to an ounce of marijuana, and […]

Trump: Cartel Drugs are ‘Cheaper Than Candy Bars’

In a confusing and rambling press conference this afternoon, President Trump used the introduction of Alexander Acosta, his latest nominee for Labor Secretary, to double down on his determination to stop the flow of cartel drugs across the US–Mexico border. “We’ve ordered the Department of Homeland Security and Justice to coordinate on a plan to […]

Snider Family Business Looks to Build Medical Marijuana Facility in Pennsylvania

Medical Cannabis

A 125,000-square-foot facility for growing medical marijuana would be built in the Far Northeast under a proposal detailed Wednesday by a company founded by two children and a grandson of Ed Snider, the late founder of the Flyers. Representatives of Snider Health made a presentation to the Parkwood Civic Association to explain the state’s new […]

Want to Learn How to Make Distillate?

Did you ever want to find out how you can take that leap of faith into one of the biggest growing industries in the United States? Are you are trying to invest the the “Green Rush?” Look no further than Elevated Research Solutions based in Colorado. If you can sit in a classroom for about […]

A Congressional Cannabis Caucus Is Born

by Justin Strekal, NORML Political Director February 16, 2017 With public support for reforming marijuana laws at an all time high, Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Jared Polis (D-CO), and Don Young (R-AK) have formed the first-ever Congressional Cannabis Caucus to promote sensible cannabis policy reform and to ease the tension between federal […]

Hawaii Approves 3 Dispensaries to Begin Cultivating Medical Marijuana

Aloha Green Holdings, Inc. has sewn its first seeds. The approval was given to this dispensary and two others to begin cultivating medical marijuana. By early summer, patients should be able to visit Aloha Green Holdings to purchase their medicine. The Hawaii Department of Health approved three dispensaries to acquire seeds to begin cultivating, according to West […]

Colorado Harvest Company’s Operation TransparenC Will Combat Black Market Cannabis

Medical Cannabis

DENVER, Feb. 15, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  The Colorado Department of Agriculture has, once again, validated the purity of Colorado Harvest Company cannabis for the second consecutive year, by awarding perfect scores on hundreds of samples of cannabis taken between Nov. 2016 and Jan. 2017. To celebrate, Colorado Harvest Company is launching Operation TransparenC SM, […]

Vermont Police Major Claims Governor Opposed to Non-Commercial Legalization

A Vermont state police major claimed to be speaking on behalf of Governor Phil Scott’s administration while testifying in opposition to H. 170, a bill that would eliminate penalties for adults’ possession of two ounces or less of marijuana and two mature plants. An administration official later backed the major’s statement. This would appear to […]

Colorado Eyeing Pot-Clubs to Keep Smoke off the Streets

Medical Cannabis

DENVER — At risk of raising the ire of the White House, Colorado is on the brink of becoming the first state with licensed pot clubs. But the details of how these clubs will operate are as hazy as the underground clubs operating already. Denver officials are working on regulations to open a one-year pilot […]

Nightclub & Bar Show in Vegas to feature panel on cannabis

Published: Feb 16, 2017, 7:14 am • Updated: Feb 16, 2017, 9:49 am By Alicia Wallace, The Cannabist Staff Cannabis will get some time in the Vegas spotlight next month. “Monetizing Cannabis” will be a featured panel discussion at the 2017 Nightclub & Bar Show, running March 27-29 in Las Vegas. “There’s cannabis tourism, but […]

Advocates Push for a 2017 Texas Medical Marijuana Bill in Austin

Advocates push for a 2017 Texas medical marijuana bill during a Constituent Advocacy Day that brought a few hundred cannabis supporters to the state capitol, in Austin. The effort to galvanize support for cannabis in the southern state was organized by a coalition of groups including chapters of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana […]

Study: Medical Marijuana Patients Reduce Their Use of Opioids

Paul Armentano | February 16, 2017 VICTORIA, BC — Patients with legal access to medical cannabis reduce their use of opioids, benzodiazepines, and other prescription drugs, according to data published online ahead of print in The International Journal of Drug Policy. Researchers at the University of Victoria and the University of British Columbia assessed the […]

Colorado warms to pot clubs, despite federal uncertainty

By KRISTEN WYATTAssociated Press DENVER (AP) – At risk of raising the ire of the White House, Colorado is on the brink of becoming the first state with licensed pot clubs. But the details of how these clubs will operate are as hazy as the underground clubs operating already. Denver officials are working on regulations […]

How to Cultivate Loyal Facebook Fans for your Cannabis Business

Medical Cannabis

By Celeste Miranda Without a community, all you have is a space on the Internet. The days are no longer when you do a post to a blog and get 150 comments. Communities are no longer as visible or close, having given way too many social platforms in existence. Conversations that were in blogs have […]

The Nearest Dispensaries to the Airports in Legal States

Ever since Colorado and Washington state first implemented legalization of recreational cannabis, searches for “What’s the closest dispensary to the airport?” in legal states have skyrocketed. We’re here to answer that question. RELATED STORY The 10 Most Beautiful Cannabis Dispensaries in America Whether you’re a curious tourist just touching down in a state with legal […]

The ‘Respect State Marijuana Laws Act’ Reintroduced In Congress

NORML | February 16, 2017 WASHINGTON, DC — United States Representative Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), along with six other Republicans and six Democrats, has reintroduced bipartisan legislation, ‘The Respect State Marijuana Laws Act,’ to prevent the federal government from criminally prosecuting individuals and/or businesses who are engaging in state-sanctioned activities specific to the possession, use, production, and […]

Leafly Investigation: California Has a Dirty Cannabis Problem

There’s no hard data available, but a survey of industry insiders contacted for this article suggests that fewer than half of California dispensaries and delivery services lab test the marijuana they sell. The actual figure could be even lower. After all, testing isn’t currently required under state law. In 2015, lawmakers passed a measure to […]

US: OPED: LSD To Cure Depression?

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v17/n067/a08.htmlNewshawk: JimVotes: 0Pubdate: Mon, 13 Feb 2017Source: New York Times (NY)Copyright: 2017 The New York Times CompanyWebsite: http://www.nytimes.com/Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298Author: Richard Friedman LSD TO CURE DEPRESSION? Psychedelics, the fabled enlightenment drugs of the ’60s, are making a comeback – this time as medical treatment. A recent study claimed that psilocybin, a mushroom-derived hallucinogenic, relieves anxiety […]

State of the Leaf: Peruvian President Wants to Legalize MMJ

U.S. News Updates National Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL) has introduced a resolution that would acknowledge the devastating effects the war on drugs has had on the black community and determine which private corporations benefited from the nation’s mass incarceration crisis. House Resolution 1055 is aimed at remedying some of the those historical harms. Black Americans […]

Guam Health Officials to Begin Licensing Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

Paul Armentano | February 16, 2017 MANGILAO, GUAM —  Health Department officials in Guam are accepting applications from those seeking to become licensed medical cannabis cultivators or providers. Voters in the US territory decided in the 2014 general election to establish regulations governing the licensed production and distribution of medicinal cannabis to qualified patients. Lawmakers […]

7 Gluten-Free Infused Edibles Actually Worth Eating

The pot brownie might be the quintessential classic cannabis-infused edible, but it’s no good if you can’t eat gluten. That doesn’t mean you have to go hungry—or sober. The growth of commercial cannabis is making a wider array of edibles available for patients and consumers. Whether you have celiac disease (like my mom and me) […]

Colorado Governor Talks Cannabis Challenges in California Capitol

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper told California state senators Tuesday to set standards for edible marijuana goods and driving under the influence of cannabis as soon as possible to avoid repeating mistakes his state made when it legalized recreational cannabis. The senators heard from Hickenlooper as the Legislature prepares to regulate sales […]