420 with CNW Archives - Page 71 of 297

TuesdayMay 16, 2023 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Illicit Marijuana Worsens Water Crisis in California

The illegal cannabis trade in California is so tenaciously entrenched that it not only undercuts the legal market but is also responsible for some of the most flagrant water theft in the whole world. The estimated $8 billion illegal marijuana sector uses astonishing amounts of the scarce resource, despite the state legalizing recreational marijuana in 2016. It has been reported that some individuals haul in stolen water, while others steal it from fire hydrants or dig unauthorized wells. The issue has been made worse by years of intermittent drought in the state. John Nores, the former head of the California…

MondayMay 15, 2023 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Thai Cannabis Companies Say US-Grown Marijuana Is Threatening Their Businesses

Almost a year after the decriminalization of marijuana amid hopes of a boom in the economy, Thai cannabis cultivators and sellers allege that illegal imports from the United States that sell for a much lower price than the country's buds are affecting their businesses. Thailand delisted marijuana from its list of prohibited substances in June of last year. This came about as a result of a significant effort by Anutin Charnvirakul, the health minister, to position the nation as a global powerhouse for medical marijuana. However, the long-awaited marijuana bill has not yet been approved by Thailand's parliament, which has…

MondayMay 15, 2023 4:20 am

420 with CNW — CDC Study Reports Teen Cannabis Use Decreasing as Legalization Spreads

Recent federal data reveals that rates of marijuana usage among high school students have decreased even as more states legalize the drug. The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which was released last week, indicated that teen usage of all substances tracked, including alcohol, prescription drugs and marijuana, has fallen linearly over the past 10 years. The federal analysis reveals that marijuana use among high school kids was high between 2009 and 2013 — before legal cannabis outlets began to open — but it has since been generally declining. Voters passed the…

FridayMay 12, 2023 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Labor Peace Agreements May Be Good for the Marijuana Industry

Marijuana companies operate in rapidly changing and highly competitive environments, which means that labor disputes can considerably impact their business operations, leading to reputational damage, losses in revenue and even sanctions. Labor peace agreements are agreements between bona fide labor organizations and a commercial marijuana licensee or license applicant. These agreements start a labor peace period where the employer agrees to not take part in actions that may undermine the ability of the union to organize the workforce while unions agree to not picket, strike or disrupt business operations in any other way. The agreements also help promote long-term sustainability,…

FridayMay 12, 2023 4:20 am

420 with CNW — New Bipartisan Bill to Seal Federal Cannabis Records Automatically

Bipartisan congressional legislators have reintroduced a measure mandating the automatic sealing of records for nonviolent federal cannabis convictions. The bill would also offer relief to individuals who’d been arrested for other offenses that didn’t end in conviction. Representatives Nancy Mace and Lisa Blunt Rochester filed the Clean Slate Act last week. The previous version of the bill was advanced through the House Judiciary Committee in 2022 but was never voted on. In a press release, Blunt Rochester stated that the Clean Slate Act was one of her top priorities, highlighting the importance of giving those who had paid their debt…

ThursdayMay 11, 2023 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Washington Governor Enacts Bill Authorizing Cannabis Interstate Commerce

Washington State’s governor has signed legislation allowing interstate marijuana trade in anticipation of a change in federal law. Governor Jay Inslee recently signed the bill introduced by Senator Ann Rivers into law after it passed the legislature last month. Prior to approving the legislation, Inslee pushed Congress to update the country's cannabis laws, arguing that legalization at the federal level would support the competitiveness of the highly regulated marijuana market while also upholding health and public safety requirements. Once a federal law is changed or a federal Justice Department decision authorizing cannabis trading across state lines is passed, the legislation…

WednesdayMay 10, 2023 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Oregon Secretary of State Resigns Due to Cannabis Consultancy Job

Last week, Shemia Fagan resigned as Oregon Secretary of State after receiving significant criticism for taking up a job as a consultant to a cannabis company while her office was concluding an audit of the state’s Liquor and Cannabis Commission. During her announcement, Fagan apologized for working for the business, pointing out that while she had planned to finish her term, it had been an honor to serve the people of Oregon. She also highlighted that ethics guidelines permitted outside employment, noting that consulting for La Mota wasn’t a conflict of interest as any actions taken on account of the…

WednesdayMay 10, 2023 4:20 am

420 with CNW — Marijuana Department in California Gives Universities $20M to Study Cannabis

The California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) revealed that on April 26, 2023, it had given 16 educational institutions funding totaling $19,942,918 for marijuana research. The funds will support projects researching how marijuana affects young people's psychological wellness, innovative cannabinoids such as Delta-8 and Delta-10 THC, and a groundbreaking study of California's historic cannabis genetics. The DCC expects these activities will set the standard for marijuana research and enhance scientific study to better comprehend cannabis' advantages and drawbacks. Six divisions of colleges received awards, with Cal Poly Humboldt receiving the largest award of $2,699,178 for its grassroots study on heritage…

TuesdayMay 09, 2023 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Marijuana Startups Leverage AI to Keep Competitive

The dawn of AI is here, with more and more sectors adopting the use of this technology to improve efficiency, optimize the growth process of businesses, and assist in making faster and more informed decisions. The cannabis industry has not been left behind, with more companies adopting this technology. For instance, Green Rush Consulting recently launched a chatbot that specifically caters to the needs of the cannabis industry. For more than a decade, this consulting firm helped marijuana entrepreneurs acquire licenses using human consultants. Zeta Ceti gained inspiration from ChatGPT, leading to the development of Oddysee AI, which can do…

TuesdayMay 09, 2023 4:20 am

420 with CNW — Twitter Makes Additional Concessions on Marijuana Advertising in US

Twitter has further relaxed its restrictions on marijuana advertising, allowing verified, state-legal companies to include packaged marijuana goods in their marketing campaigns and permitting ads in additional U.S. markets. According to a blog post by Alexa Alianiello, Twitter's head of partnerships and sales, certified marijuana advertisers are now allowed to responsibly link to their websites and online stores that sell THC, CBD and marijuana-related goods and services. Alianiello also stated that the platform has made changes for those with medical licenses and offered up more markets for recreational use, but there are some restrictions. Twitter's publicly available drug ad policy…