EMAIL: [email protected]
PHONE: 720.213.5835

John Schroyer

A Sacramento-based journalist, John had focused on Colorado politics for most of his career, which included covering the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver. In 2012, he covered the Amendment 64 campaign to legalize recreational marijuana for The Colorado Springs Gazette. As then-video editor for The Gazette, he was on hand for the first-ever legal recreational marijuana sale in Denver on Jan. 1, 2014. He’s been writing about the cannabis industry since joining Marijuana Business Daily over the summer of 2014.

California cannabis companies will have to pivot, again, under new stay-at-home order

Published December 5, 2020

Facing the prospect of a new stay-at-home order, California marijuana businesses might have to scramble yet again to stay in compliance with business restrictions designed to combat a surge in coronavirus infections. The new order takes effect Saturday, and its restrictions will be implemented only if any of five specific California regions see ICU bed […]

Los Angeles selects 200 social equity cannabis retail license finalists

Published December 3, 2020

Los Angeles regulators issued the much-anticipated list of 200 finalists in the contentious battle for social equity marijuana retail permits. But it’s unclear when any of those businesses might be able to open their doors to customers. The L.A. Department of Cannabis Regulation issued the list of 200 license finalists after a settlement over the […]

Pennsylvania medical marijuana research venture gets OK from state

Published December 1, 2020

Pennsylvania regulators gave the green light to a company that intends to delve into medical marijuana research, potentially opening the door for much more industry product development. Organic Remedies has been cleared by the state health department to start growing, producing and experimenting with medical marijuana at its facility in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, according to Harrisburg […]

California judge rules against cannabis billboard ads on interstate highways

Published November 24, 2020

Billboards for marijuana companies are commonplace in California, but that advertising option for cannabis businesses is about to shrink based on a district court judge’s ruling. According to TV station KSBY, San Luis Obispo Superior Court Judge Ginger Garrett ruled on Nov. 20 that billboards on interstate highways are illegal under Proposition 64, the 2016 […]

Appellation program, cooperatives might give small California cannabis farmers a boost

Published November 23, 2020

Small marijuana farmers in California who’ve struggled in recent years – either to launch their own brands, expand their businesses or survive the transition to the new legal market – might have a brighter future, thanks in part to various programs and ventures now in the works.

Longtime California cannabis czar Lori Ajax is stepping down

Published November 20, 2020

After nearly five years of overseeing the rollout of California’s statewide marijuana regulatory system, Lori Ajax is retiring. Alex Traverso, spokesman for the California Bureau of Cannabis Control, confirmed Ajax’s resignation on Friday to Marijuana Business Daily. Ajax informed the agency’s staff this past week of her departure, he said. “She didn’t really give a […]

Rhode Island grappling with model for adult-use marijuana legalization

Published November 20, 2020

Lawmakers in Rhode Island met this week to begin debate on how – not if – they will legalize adult-use recreational marijuana in 2021, but a consensus appears a long ways off. According to East Providence TV station WPRI, one of the fundamental questions is whether the state will establish a government-run industry – which […]

Industry reacts to California cannabis delivery lawsuit outcome: ‘It’s not a win’

Published November 20, 2020

As news spread of an important ruling in a lawsuit over California’s statewide cannabis delivery policy, industry executives’ initial impression of a victory gave way to the reality that more legal battles are likely.

Court rules in favor of California’s statewide cannabis delivery policy

Published November 19, 2020

A California judge threw out a legal challenge to a controversial policy enacted in 2018 by marijuana regulators that allows cannabis products to be delivered anywhere in the state, regardless of local bans on the industry. In a ruling issued late Wednesday, Fresno County Superior Court Judge Rosemary McGuire sided with the California Bureau of […]

Two more lawsuits filed over L.A.’s social equity cannabis licensing

Published November 18, 2020

Lawsuits filed by two former social equity applicants brings the total to at least six that have been filed against Los Angeles regulators over the city’s social equity licensing for cannabis businesses.

Judge hears arguments in California cannabis delivery case

Published November 16, 2020

Learn more about state programs at MJBizCon 2020. A Fresno County Superior Court judge heard oral arguments Monday in a long-awaited case that could have major ramifications for California’s legal cannabis businesses. At issue is a policy enacted by the state Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC) in July 2018 that allows state-licensed marijuana delivery […]

Investors awarded restitution of $2.5M in Colorado marijuana fraud case

Published November 16, 2020

Learn more about state programs at MJBizCon 2020. Four investors who were defrauded by an illicit marijuana scheme in which a Colorado businessman illegally distributed MJ into various states have been awarded a total of $2.5 million in restitution by a district court judge. According to a news release from Colorado’s 18th Judicial District […]