From Our Writers

A coalition of multi-state operators, tech firms, investor groups, and cannabis advocacy groups announced the formation of the U.S. Cannabis Council, an organization that will push for the federal descheduling and legalization of cannabis.

A Minnesota state Rep. has proposed reclassifying medical cannabis as a Schedule 2 substance so patients would be able to legally keep their firearms under federal law.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has signed legislation reducing the penalties for the possession of psilocybin mushrooms from a third-degree crime to a disorderly person offense.

Cann Group Limited in Australia said last week it lost $3.6 million when payments meant for an overseas contractor were, “received by an unknown third party as a result of a complex and sophisticated cyber fraud.”

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) revealed his anticipation of cannabis legalization in the state after including revenue from legal cannabis taxes in his 2021-2022 budget proposal.

Former NFL running back and Super Bowl champion Marshawn Lynch has launched a new premium product line called Dodi Blunts, which features products infused with highly potent THCa diamonds.

Legal adult-use cannabis sales in Canada finally outpaced the unregulated market during the third quarter of 2020, over two years since the country passed legalization.

The Idaho Senate approved a measure to constitutionally ban any statewide legalization of non-pharmaceutical psychoactive drugs (including cannabis). The proposal still has to pass the House in a two-thirds vote and would then move to voters via a ballot initiative next year.

A bill to legalize medical cannabis in Alabama has advanced from the state’s Senate Judiciary Committee.

Q13 Fox Seattle, a Fox Broadcasting Company affiliate, botched its coverage of former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch’s new Dodi Blunts product line, mistakenly reporting that the blunts were infused with actual 24-carat diamonds.

A group of Oregon activists, business owners, and lawmakers have put forward the Oregon Cannabis Social Equity Act, which aims to use cannabis tax dollars to help repair damage done by the racist drug war.

Black people in Montana are 9.6 times more likely to be arrested for cannabis possession than their white counterparts — it is the country’s biggest racial disparity for cannabis arrests. Colorado, at 1.5 times more likely, has the lowest racial disparity among cannabis arrests.

Minnesota Democrats are cranking up their efforts to enact sensible cannabis reforms with Democratic House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler calling adult-use legalization a “mainstream, bipartisan, broadly supported issue.”

Springbig, a Florida-based cannabis loyalty marketing company, has acquired Canada’s BudTender, giving the company full access to cannabis retailers across the Great White North.

The maker of Kool-brand cigarettes has sued cannabis company Capna Intellectual, which does business as Bloom Brands, alleging logo infringement and violations of trademark law.

GW Pharmaceuticals, creator of the first FDA-approved medication made from cannabis, is set to be purchased by Jazz Pharmaceuticals in a $7.2 billion cash-and-stock deal.

New Mexico lawmakers have pre-filed two cannabis legalization bills for the coming session. Each measure would essentially do the same thing but differ on operational and enforcement details.

Cannabis grow tech company Agrify began trading on the Nasdaq last week; the company is not a plant-touching business but provides cultivation solutions for professional indoor cannabis growers.

Kansas Gov. Kelly Chambers (D) has proposed adopting medical cannabis legalization in the state and using funds from the program to pay for expansions to Medicaid.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sens. Cory Booker and Ron Wyden have announced the forming of a Senate coalition dedicated to legalizing cannabis at the federal level.

The Society of Cannabis Clinicians is set to release new medical cannabis training curriculum for medical professionals on February 8.

A judge has ruled in favor of New Mexico medical cannabis businesses who sued the state over its burdensome product safety and testing protocols.

Data recently released by Michigan’s Marijuana Regulatory Agency shows that applications for cannabis business licenses by white people outnumber applications from people of color by a ratio of 16 to 1.

Pennsylvania has awarded nearly $19,000 in grants aimed at improving the hemp agriculture industry in the state.