Author: News Room

Five of the oldest cannabis markets in the U.S. are facing declining year-over-year sales figures for the first time since launching their respective commercial retail programs for adult use. After pandemic peaks equated to record growth across much of the industry in 2021, Colorado and Oregon dispensaries are now facing the brunt of 2022’s correction, while Nevada and Washington retailers also are on track to report double-digit downturns in terms of percent decreases to their sales totals this year. And California, which began adult-use retail more recently, on Jan. 1, 2018, also is amidst a shrinking regulated market (as far…

Congressional researchers have released a new report that outlines a number of ways that stakeholders hope to see federal hemp laws revised to better support the industry through the next Farm Bill. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) said that while hemp was federally legalized through the most recent 2018 Farm Bill, “Congress may consider further amendments as it starts to debate” the next iteration expected in 2023, including policy changes related to THC limits and laboratory testing. One of the major, unique problems that the market faces is the fact that any hemp that contains more than 0.3 percent THC…

The Minnesota Medical Association (MMA) is endorsing broad drug decriminalization, expungements for low-level possession and the promotion of statewide harm reduction programs. A resolution approved this month by the association recommends the “removal of criminal penalties for the possession of a small quantity of illicit drug for personal use and/or the possession of drug paraphernalia.” It also calls for the “creation of administrative panels which may render treatment referrals and civil penalties to offenders of simple possession.” The dual approach of decriminalization with treatment referral closely models the harm reduction policy that’s been in place in Portugal, for example. The…

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is making a “pledge” to keep working on federally decriminalizing marijuana in 2023 after advocates faced a series of reform setbacks this month. Speaking on the Senate floor on Thursday, Schumer acknowledged the work of a key staffer, Reggie Babin, who is departing from his office after spearheading legislative efforts to advance cannabis reform. “There are a couple of things that he didn’t get done—his goal to help us decriminalize marijuana, one of his passions because he had seen how badly it had hurt communities throughout the country,” the majority leader said. “We came…

Texas activists have turned in more than enough signatures to put a local measure on the May ballot to overturn lawmakers’ repeal of a voter-approved marijuana decriminalization initiative. But they’re also facing another legal challenge in a different city where voters passed a similar reform last month. The response from lawmakers and prosecutors to the multiple reforms that was approved during the November election has been a source of frustration for advocates, including those who were part of the main organizing group Ground Game Texas. But they’ve shown that they won’t back down and are prepared to fight to defend…

Google will no longer ban the advertising of certain hemp and CBD products in select parts of the U.S. starting next month. The internet giant announced last week that it would be updating its “Dangerous Products and Services and Healthcare and Medicines” to permit the cannabis advertising in California, Colorado and Puerto Rico. As of January 20, 2023, Google said that Food and Drug Administration- (FDA) approved pharmaceuticals that contain cannabidiol—as well as “topical, hemp-derived CBD products with THC content of 0.3 percent or less—can be advertised in those jurisdictions. “Certain formats, including YouTube Masthead, will not be eligible for…

“The budget proposal is derived from the hemp task force’s recommendations to coordinate cannabis regulation/enforcement and eliminate intoxicating cannabis-derived products from unregulated channels in Virginia.” By Graham Moomaw, Virginia Mercury As Virginia policymakers consider ways to exert tighter control over intoxicating hemp-based products like delta-8 THC, Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) is proposing $2.1 million to fund a new hemp registration and inspection program staffed by 15 people. The new funding is part of the governor’s budget plan for the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and is tied to upcoming legislation the General Assembly will take up early next…

Only, unlike the rest of those shackled in servitude, I’d venture to say that my job probably doesn’t suck nearly as bad. I am a freelance writer, the smut and weed correspondent for various national publications across the country, including this one. There’s no one at the office where I work to hassle me if I show up late, walk around without pants or use the crapper eight times before 9 am. In other words, I am the king of the castle. This also means that I am fully responsible for the whole damn kingdom: Rent, bills, and any legal…

California, the tastemaker of the U.S. cannabis landscape, has once again given us a robust top-10 list of best-selling flower cultivars. According to Headset data, the largest cannabis market in the world leaned heavily on sweet flavor profiles and recognizable genetics. Wedding Cake, Blue Dream, Gelato, Runtz, Durban Poison, GG4 found comfortable spots among the top 10 best-selling strains this year. One could argue as 2022 ticks into 2023, that these cultivars have become household names.At the top of the list, based on sales from January through November, was Wedding Cake. California consumers purchased more than $35 million of this…

Posted By: HempToday® December 26, 2022 Like HempToday? How you can support us Your donations help us to keep HempToday open for all readers, regardless of what they can afford to pay. Through this “information equality” we’re able to support hemp entrepreneurs and stakeholders all over the world by keeping a spotlight on hemp and all the promise it offers for economic development and healing our planet. Read the full article here