Denver city officials rejected a would-be “cannabis spa and lounge” because it would have been 19 feet too close to a child care center. The decision reflects how unbending Denver’s rules are for its new marijuana social-use business permits – and it’s a sign that MJ business owners will need to follow the letter of […]
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Michigan extends medical marijuana license deadline by three months
Michigan extended the deadline for medical marijuana licenses by three months, until Sept. 15, providing relief to businesses that have been waiting to receive approvals under a new regulatory regime. The process of restructuring Michigan’s MMJ industry has been slow going. Concerns had been building that application reviews wouldn’t be finished by the original June […]
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Feds team with California officials to combat illegal cannabis grows
One of California’s U.S. attorneys is joining forces with the state attorney general in a renewed effort to crack down on illegal cannabis growers while allowing licensed marijuana companies to continue doing business as usual. McGregor Scott, the U.S. attorney for the eastern district of California, announced this week that his office will be bringing […]
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Fierce, last-minute attempt fails to keep medical cannabis measure off Utah ballot
An initiative to legalize medical marijuana in Utah has been certified for the November ballot. And it comes after a well-funded opposition effort fell just short of persuading enough people to drop their support. If approved by voters, The Utah Medical Cannabis Act would open up one of the country’s most conservative states to a legal MMJ […]
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California marijuana dispensary fined $40K for insufficient cancer warnings
The local district attorney’s office in Santa Rosa, California, fined an 11-year-old medical cannabis dispensary $40,000 for failing to adhere to state-required warnings about potentially cancer-causing substances, which include marijuana. The case is a reminder to California companies that failing to follow the most stringent letter of the law can prove costly, especially in the […]
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Key California marijuana bills face June 1 hurdle at state Capitol
The California marijuana industry suffered a significant setback in the statehouse last week when a bill to reduce a statewide excise tax died in committee.
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Florida ban on smokable medical marijuana ruled unconstitutional
In a move that could provide an even bigger boost to growers and retailers in one of the country’s fastest-growing markets, a Florida judge ruled the state’s ban on smokable medical marijuana is unconstitutional. For now, though, nothing changes. The state department of health has appealed, and that automatically stays the decision. Leon County Circuit […]
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New Hampshire to boost number of medical marijuana dispensaries by 50%
New Hampshire is on the verge of expanding its medical marijuana program from four to six dispensaries – a move that will add two businesses to an industry that’s been struggling financially but may be turning the corner. Lawmakers this month passed legislation that calls for the two additional dispensaries in sparsely populated regions of […]
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Week in Review: Ohio cannabis real estate woes, Missouri ballot measures & Oregon legal jitters
Ohio medical marijuana companies spend thousands on real estate while awaiting licenses, Missouri MMJ businesses eye ballot measures that would prove most business-friendly, and Oregon’s top federal prosecutor calls out the state’s excess cannabis output. Here’s a closer look at some notable developments in the cannabis industry over the past week. Waiting for Godot No […]
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City’s ruling may set up clash between Weedmaps execs, California marijuana agency
A California city’s approval of a marijuana distribution company’s business plan may set up a showdown between a state licensing agency and one of the MJ industry’s leading tech companies. The West Sacramento City Council on Wednesday night approved DICA Distribution’s business plan and awarded a development agreement to the company, which has ties to […]
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New Zealand voters soon will weigh in on cannabis legalization
A measure to legalize recreational cannabis will be on the ballot in New Zealand in 2019 or 2020, a government official said this week. Lawmakers are deciding whether to hold a stand-alone referendum next year or concurrently with the country’s elections in 2020, according to Radio New Zealand.
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What you need to know about California’s updated marijuana rules
When California released its latest marijuana industry regulations on Friday, the response from cannabis businesses in the state was largely muted. This perhaps indicates that the most disruptive changes are farther down the road before the rules are finalized later this year.
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How to stake a claim in a multibillion-dollar international cannabis market