420 with CNW Archives - Page 47 of 308

ThursdayFeb 01, 2024 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Cannabis MSOs Set Sights on Growing Wholesale Divisions

A top cannabis executive recently revealed that several cannabis multistate operators (MSOs) intend to prioritize their wholesale divisions in 2024. Jamie Mendola, the national head of wholesale/purchasing, western region regional manager and chief business development officer at Florida-based multistate operator Ayr Wellness, says that while MSOs focused on wholesale last year, the division will become an even greater priority this year. Mendola notes that reduced capital will decrease the odds of company growth through mergers and acquisitions or by obtaining more licenses, forcing MSOs to turn their focus to wholesale. He adds that with many vertically integrated cannabis businesses in…

ThursdayFeb 01, 2024 4:20 am

420 with CNW — Federal Judge Upholds Medical Cannabis Advertising Restrictions

A lawsuit filed against the state of Mississippi by a medical cannabis dispensary owner has been dismissed. The lawsuit challenged Mississippi’s laws, which the plaintiff said placed restrictions on marijuana businesses by forbidding them from placing advertisements on a majority of media platforms. In a decision issues last week, Federal District Judge Michael P. Mills agreed with the state’s stance that such operations do not benefit from the constitutional protections afforded to certain types of commercial speech because marijuana possession is still prohibited under federal law. Clarence Cocroft II, the plaintiff, founded Tru Source Medical Cannabis in 2022 following Mississippi’s…

WednesdayJan 31, 2024 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — DOJ Says Federal Government Will Ask Court to Throw Out Case Challenging Prohibition

The U.S. Department of Justice has revealed that it will ask a federal court to dismiss a lawsuit seeking to block the federal government from enforcing cannabis prohibition in state-level cannabis markets. Several industry stakeholders and cannabis businesses teamed up in May 2022 to sue the federal government over what they said were unconstitutional policies harming their operations. The group was represented by two leading law firms, including Boies Schiller Flexner LLP, which has represented clients such as former Vice President Al Gore and the Justice Department. According to the lawsuit, enforcing cannabis prohibition in state markets is unconstitutional and…

WednesdayJan 31, 2024 4:20 am

420 with CNW — DeSantis Hints Cannabis Ballot Measure Will Appear on State Ballot

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis anticipates the inclusion of the marijuana legalization proposal on the November ballot. DeSantis expressed optimism that proponents of marijuana legalization would prevail in the Supreme Court, despite resistance from Ashley Moody, the state’s attorney general, who is attempting to stop the vote. The Florida Supreme Court has not yet rendered a decision, which is expected by April 1, 2024, in the lawsuit against the Smart and Safe Florida campaign, despite hearing oral arguments in November. It’s unclear if DeSantis is merely forecasting based on the difficulties at hand or if he has heard back from the…

TuesdayJan 30, 2024 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Ukraine Could Rely on Marijuana Imports While Awaiting Local Production

Cannabis experts in Ukraine suggest that it might take several years before the domestic cultivation of cannabis is operational within the country. The Ukrainian Parliament, Verkhovna Rada, recently granted approval for a draft law, marking a crucial step toward establishing a legal framework for the medical cannabis industry. The legislative action could open up import-export prospects for foreign and local companies looking to balance supply and demand, especially in the early phases of the Ukrainian market. However, despite Verkhovna Rada’s approval of the legislation, significant groundwork remains before medical marijuana can be legally sold in Ukraine. This is because the…

TuesdayJan 30, 2024 4:20 am

420 with CNW — Restrictions Imposed on New Recreational Marijuana Markets Could Stifle Business

America was one of the first countries on the globe to adopt cannabis reform and repeal prohibitionist cannabis laws, at least at the state level. The country is now home to the largest cannabis markets on the globe and earns billions of dollars annually from fees and cannabis sales. Twenty-four states already allow recreational cannabis sales, but several of them passed adult-use cannabis policies in the past couple of years and are still working out the kinks in their markets. However, players in some of America’s youngest recreational cannabis markets are grappling with increasingly stringent rules and regulations that have…

MondayJan 29, 2024 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Missouri Legislators Hesitant to Add Cannabis to Workers’ Comp Law

Missouri voters approved a recreational cannabis measure in 2022, joining the growing number of states with adult-use marijuana markets. However, the legalization measure did not address how employers would handle compensation for employees who sustain workplace injuries while under the influence of cannabis. Currently, employees may have their compensation and death benefits cut by up to 50% even if they hadn’t consumed cannabis for days but still tested positive for THC. This mostly stems from the fact that existing cannabis tests aren’t accurate and cannot properly connect blood THC levels to actual intoxication. Worker compensation attorney Bradley Young says this…

MondayJan 29, 2024 4:20 am

420 with CNW — CDC Study Shows Major Drop in Teen Cannabis Use in Washington’s Largest County Post-Legalization

A recent federal study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has shown a notable decline in cannabis use among teenagers in King County, Washington State’s largest county, following recreational use legalization in 2012. The study indicates a substantial decrease in both frequent and current cannabis use among 8th, 10th, and 12th-grade students, according to data from 2008 to 2021. According to researchers, the legalization of marijuana combined with related rules and age restrictions may have made it less available to minors. They do, however, concede that the COVID-19 epidemic may have contributed to more recent drops…

FridayJan 26, 2024 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Several Bills to Legalize Cannabis Filed in Indiana

The potential legalization of cannabis in Indiana is expected to be a prominent issue in the upcoming legislative session. In previous years, legislators have pointed to the proximity of neighboring states with legalized cannabis as a driving force behind Indiana’s consideration of the matter. The allure of increased tax revenue, witnessed in nearby states such as Michigan and Illinois, serves as a persuasive incentive for lawmakers to contemplate legalization. Currently, nine measures in both the Indiana senate and house have been proposed, with each incorporating “marijuana” in their titles. SB 99, sponsored by Senators Rodney Pol and Fady Qaddoura, proposes…

FridayJan 26, 2024 4:20 am

420 with CNW — Ohio Governor Urges Lawmakers to Enable Adult-Use Cannabis Sales

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has urged state lawmakers to enable recreational marijuana sales before the end of the year. During a recent interview with newspaper editors, Gov. DeWine said that although Ohio voters approved a measure to legalize recreational cannabis in late 2023, recreational sales won't begin until the end of 2024. The governor noted that Ohio is in a sort of “goofy situation” where recreational cannabis consumption and cultivation are legal, but the state still hasn’t approved retail locations to sell adult-use marijuana. As a result, black-market sellers are stepping in and taking advantage of the market gap to…