TG Branfalt

The Canadian government spent $153 million in fiscal year 2021-2022 to reimburse medical cannabis purchases by more than 18,000 veterans.

The campaign for legalizing cannabis in Arkansas filed a lawsuit in the state Supreme Court last week after the Board of Election Commissioners rejected the initiative’s name and title, effectively blocking it from ballots.

Commissioners in Athens-Clarke County, Georgia approved an ordinance to reduce the penalty for possession of less than an ounce of cannabis to a $35 fine, the lowest in the state.

Brittney Griner was sentenced to nine years in a Russian penal colony for cannabis possession.

In a recent podcast interview, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers credited the psychedelic ayahuasca for what he called “the best season” of his career.

New Mexico set yet another new cannabis sales record in July, totaling $40.3 million in the combined medical and adult-use markets.

Berner, CEO of Cookies, is the first cannabis industry executive to grace the cover of Forbes magazine.

Arkansas’ election officials rejected the state’s cannabis legalization initiative ballot name and title, effectively blocking it from November ballots; advocates behind the proposal are planning to appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court.

The Minority Cannabis Business Association is partnering with cannabis education company Green Flower to provide members with four free training courses.

Michigan is giving $12.5 million to two universities to facilitate research into the potential therapeutic benefits of cannabis for veterans suffering from PTSD.

The two-year moratorium on new Oklahoma medical cannabis licenses is set to begin on August 26; the moratorium does not affect license transfers, license renewals, or patient licenses.

The class action lawsuit in New Mexico seeking to make health insurance companies cover medical cannabis costs has been moved to federal court.

The Illinois Equal Justice Foundation has awarded $1.4 million in grants to 18 organizations to help expunge cannabis-related criminal records.

The U.S. House Agriculture Committee held a hearing last week to discuss the state of the hemp industry and how the government can continue to support the crop.

Louisiana’s new medical cannabis laws are now in effect, including provisions for protecting state employees who use medical cannabis, putting the Department of Health in charge of the state’s cannabis program, and prohibiting police from searching homes without a warrant based on the odor of cannabis.

Officials in Massachusetts passed a package of cannabis reforms including the reduction of ‘impact fees’ charged to cannabis businesses, the retooling of the state’s expungement process, and more.

New York officials shut down a private cannabis consumption club in Cheektowaga for operating without a license but the company says no license exists for its business model.

The health insurance providers in New Mexico who are being sued for not covering the costs of medical cannabis have filed a motion to move the case to federal court.

Boston Red Sox legend and MLB Hall of Famer David Ortiz is launching his cannabis line Papi Cannabis; the products should be available in Massachusetts dispensaries this month.

The Great New York State Fair will allow cannabis consumption in areas where tobacco smoking is allowed. 

The veteran advocacy group Weed for Warriors Project is running campaign ads calling out California politicians for not supporting the legal cannabis industry.

The Biden Administration is proposing a prisoner swap for Americans Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan in exchange for Viktor Bout, a Russian who was convicted in the U.S. of arms dealing.

Rapper and actor Ice-T and Playboy Playmate Charis Burrett received approval on Monday from the New Jersey Cannabis Control Board to open a dispensary in Jersey City. 

Almost two years after South Dakotan voters approved medical cannabis reforms, the first licensed dispensary opened on Wednesday in Hartford.