The head of an Oregon marijuana trade group hopes to convince state legislators to permit local cannabis companies to export crops and products to other states, but MJ attorneys said the plan faces huge legal obstacles. To shrink Oregon’s massive marijuana surplus, Adam Smith, the founder of the Craft Cannabis Alliance, is working with state lawmakers […]
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Gov says it’s still possible for New York to legalize adult-use marijuana by April
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he remains confident the Legislature can vote to legalize recreational cannabis as part of the state budget, which is due April 1. The optimistic comments came after Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, a Democrat, questioned whether lawmakers would have enough time to resolve thorny questions surrounding legalization while also working […]
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Florida judge: State’s medical cannabis dispensary cap unconstitutional
A judge has struck down Florida’s medical marijuana dispensary cap, a victory for existing operators seeking to expand locations in the fast-growing market. Second Circuit Court Judge Karen Gievers ruled Friday that the cap is unconstitutional. Gievers wrote that the dispensary cap, instituted by the Florida Legislature in 2017, “erects barriers” that increase costs and […]
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Louisiana medical marijuana sales won’t begin before May
Another delay of Louisiana’s medical marijuana program means MMJ products likely won’t be available in the state until May at the earliest, according to The Times-Picayune of New Orleans. The lack of an independent testing lab in large part has been holding up the program, which initially was expected to launch in late 2018. More […]
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Though a ‘positive step,’ WHO recommendations on cannabis fall short for some
The World Health Organization (WHO) made great strides in its recommendations on how cannabis should be scheduled, but the global industry believes there’s more work to be done. Martin Jelsma, drugs and democracy program director, at the Netherlands-based Transnational Institute, emphasized to Marijuana Business Daily that there are “very positive elements in the WHO recommendations,” including: Recognition […]
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Cannabis company lawyer convicted in connection with $12.2M securities fraud
An attorney for an ancillary marijuana business was found guilty in connection with a $12.2 million securities fraud case involving FusionPharm, a Colorado company that refurbished steel shipping containers into cannabis growing pods. Guy M. Jean-Pierre, also known as Marcelo Dominguez de Guerra, was convicted by a federal jury in Denver of 28 counts of […]
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More illicit California marijuana retailers busted by local law enforcement
Search warrants have been served at 10 inland Southern California marijuana dispensaries allegedly operating without licenses. Several enforcement actions in the Golden State have been reported in the past several months as state and local authorities continue efforts to crack down on illicit marijuana operations. It’s a development that could help some licensed MJ firms that have […]
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Doubling of IL medical cannabis users expected as opioid-option program starts
An industry observer predicted the growing Illinois medical marijuana program will see a surge in the number of MMJ patients as a result of a pilot opioid-alternative program that launched Thursday. Dan Linn, executive director of NORML’s Illinois chapter, told The State Journal-Register in Springfield that he expects the program to contribute to a doubling of the […]
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Former CFO sues cannabis firm MedMen, alleging breach of contract, other misdeeds
The former chief financial officer of MedMen Enterprises filed suit against the California-based company this week, alleging top executives forced him to “choose between complying with his fiduciary duty to the company and its shareholders or turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to improper and unlawful behavior.” James Parker, who resigned as CFO in November, […]
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Veteran marijuana advocate Steve Fox leaves NCIA to join upstart MJ trade group
Longtime marijuana advocate Steve Fox has left the National Cannabis Industry Association, which he co-founded, to join the upstart Cannabis Trade Federation to promote federal MJ reform. “It is a larger lobbying team at CTF with a lot of reach into a lot of different offices,” Fox told Marijuana Business Daily. “And, from the perspective of […]
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Audit says Oregon marijuana regulators fail to meet basic standards
A new audit released by the Oregon Secretary of State examined the state’s regulation of the cannabis market and concluded that regulators are coming up short in a number of areas. The audit is the first detailed look at cannabis regulation in Oregon since voters approved the legalization of adult-use marijuana in 2014, the Oregonian […]
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Lack of cannabis tracking data in WA sparks confusion, missed business opportunities
A dearth of comprehensive price and sales data and incorrect figures about marijuana commerce have sowed confusion among cannabis businesses in Washington state since regulators rolled out a new traceability system more than a year ago. Cannabis analytics companies that long relied on the data have watched their revenues shrink. Also, the lack of market […]
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