NewsRoom Articles - Page 24 of 602

FridayFeb 14, 2025 10:00 am

Illinois Recorded $2bn in Cannabis Sales in 2024

The Illinois Department of Revenue has revealed that the Buckeye State generated over $2 billion in legal cannabis sales and almost $500m in tax revenue last year. Illinois legalized recreational cannabis use on January 1, 2020, becoming the 11th state to allow adult-use cannabis and the first state to legalize the controversial drug via a state legislature instead of a ballot initiative. Recreational cannabis operators in Illinois earned $1.72 billion in total last year, with over $153 million worth of sales occurring in December. Medical marijuana sales for the year 2024, on the other hand, reached $285 million. Illinois earned…

ThursdayFeb 13, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Latest Poll Shows Most Texans Want Marijuana Legalized

A recent survey conducted by the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs revealed that a significant number of Texans are in favor of legalizing cannabis for recreational use. The poll, which gathered responses from 1,200 adults across Texas and has a margin of error of 2.38%, found that over 60% of Texans support permitting recreational cannabis sales and consumption. Texas lawmakers passed HB 1325 in 2019, which permitted industrial hemp cultivation as long as the concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the crop was below 0.3%. This created a loophole that some businesses used to introduce THC marijuana products…

ThursdayFeb 13, 2025 10:00 am

Prohibitionists, 2 American Senators Work to Block 280E Relief for Marijuana Companies

Two U.S. Senators have teamed up with prohibitionists to work on legislation that would block marijuana firms from receiving potential tax relief under Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. Senators Pete Ricketts and James Lankford are working with Smart Approaches to Marijuana to block 280E relief for state-sanctioned cannabis companies in the U.S. As marijuana remains a Schedule I controlled substance at the federal level, cannabis firms cannot function as effectively as businesses in other industries. For instance, they lack access to most banking services and cannot receive any kind of financial relief from the federal government even though…

WednesdayFeb 12, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — State Report Shows Oregon Has a Marijuana Oversupply

Oregon’s recreational cannabis market continues to struggle with an oversupply issue, causing consumer prices to drop to record lows while businesses face shrinking profit margins. This challenge, outlined in a recent Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) report, has made it increasingly difficult for many operators to stay afloat. The report states that in 2024, Oregon’s marijuana harvest reached nearly 12.3 million pounds, reflecting a 4% rise from 2021. Favorable growing conditions in southern Oregon contributed to this increase. However, demand only accounted for 57% of the available supply, creating an imbalance in the market. The report highlights the difficulty…

TuesdayFeb 11, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — The US is Awash with Black Market Marijuana

More than a decade after states began legalizing recreational cannabis, the U.S. marijuana industry remains complex. On one side, marijuana has become as common for some as a cold beer or a glass of wine, with regulated companies offering products that meet government standards. Yet, a significant portion of cannabis sales in the country still comes from illegal operations. Even experienced law enforcement officers sometimes struggle to differentiate legally sourced cannabis from black-market products. For the average consumer, identifying the difference is nearly impossible. Supporters of cannabis legalization had hoped that the legal industry would quickly dominate, overtaking criminal producers.…

TuesdayFeb 11, 2025 10:00 am

Report Finds Marijuana Dispensary Warning Signs to Pregnant Women Ineffective

A recent report has revealed that signs at cannabis dispensaries warning about the potential effects of using marijuana while pregnant are ineffective. The report was conducted by Rutgers University and published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. It found that pregnant cannabis users may even be distrustful of the contents of these warning signs. According to lead researcher and University of California Professor Sarah C. M. Roberts, the mandatory warning signs posted at cannabis dispensaries aren't working as intended. She says some of the participants involved in the study view the warning signs as stigmatizing pregnant women…

MondayFeb 10, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Ohio GOP Measure Seeks to Change Voter-Approved Marijuana Legalization Terms

An Ohio Republican senator has put forward a new measure that seeks to limit the amount of homegrown cannabis, lower the permitted THC levels in recreational cannabis, raise taxes, and reroute how the revenue is allocated. SB 56, introduced by Senator Steve Huffman, would reduce the allowable THC concentration in recreational cannabis extracts from 90% to 70%. The proposal also includes merging the state’s recreational and medical cannabis programs under the state’s Cannabis Control Division. Huffman explained in his testimony that combining both programs would lead to more uniform regulations on product testing, labeling, advertising, and packaging with a particular…

FridayFeb 07, 2025 4:20 pm

420 with CNW — Patchy Marijuana Laws Could Expose Consumers to Contaminants

A recent Gallup survey indicates that marijuana use in the U.S. has doubled over the last ten years. In several states, cannabis is legal, and most Americans now consume it as often as they would wine or beer. However, finding safe and properly regulated marijuana products can be a challenge. While marijuana carries health risks regardless of contamination, researchers warn that its increasing potency and widespread use can negatively impact mental health and brain function. An additional concern for users is the presence of harmful substances such as pesticides, heavy metals, and molds in vape products and edibles. Although state…

FridayFeb 07, 2025 10:00 am

Authorities Point to Cartel-Linked Cannabis Grows as Oklahoma Market Experiences Glut

Authorities in Oklahoma are worried that the state’s booming medical marijuana industry may be fueling the growth of the illicit cannabis market. Oklahoma legalized medical cannabis in 2018 and by 2021 there were over 9,400 registered grow operations competing to fulfill the state’s demand for cannabis. While the number of licensed growers had fallen to over 2,200 by December 2024, Oklahoma’s illegal cannabis market seems to be growing in leaps and bounds. The market has become so prolific that experts have raised questions about the integrity of Oklahoma’s legal systems and the state’s public safety. Like every U.S. state with…

ThursdayFeb 06, 2025 11:25 pm

420 with CNW — New Hampshire House Committee Discusses Measure to Legalize Recreational Cannabis

A House committee in New Hampshire recently convened to discuss one of three different proposals aimed at legalizing recreational cannabis in the state. The committee reviewed House Bill 186, introduced by Representative Jared Sullivan. The proposal would permit adults from age 21 to possess up to ten grams of concentrate and two ounces of cannabis flower. It would also allow individuals to cultivate up to six marijuana plants for personal use at home. Consumers would have the opportunity to purchase lab-tested and labeled products from stores regulated by the state. HB 186 is one of two legalization measures that Representative…