From Our Writers

Canada’s illegal cannabis continues to outpace the legal market, with flower prices averaging $4.72 cheaper per gram on the illicit market than from a licensed distributor.

Danish cannabis company StenoCare has quarantined cannabis oil purchased from Canadian company CannTrust after Health Canada announced the grower’s commercial greenhouse was non-compliant.

A court in Florida has ruled that the medical cannabis rules put in place by lawmakers created an “oligopoly” inconsistent with the constitutional amendment that a huge majority of voters approved in 2016.

Jay-Z has been announced as the new chief brand strategist for California cannabis company Caliva.

A cannabis decriminalization law in Hawaii has taken effect without Gov. David Ige’s signature; the governor, however, vetoed a bill allowing patients to transport medical cannabis products between islands and another bill that would have made permanent the state’s hemp program.

A team of researchers looking at post-legalization high school surveys found a decline among teenage cannabis use following the local legalization of medical and adult-use cannabis.

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) is now accepting applications for hemp manufacturing licenses.

Canadian company CannTrust has put more than 12,000 kilograms of cannabis flower on hold after Health Canada ruled one of the company’s greenhouses to be non-compliant.

Emergency rules laying out adult-use cannabis regulations in Michigan have been released; under the new rules, delivery is allowed and adult-use business licenses will be cheaper and easier to acquire than medical cannabis licenses.

The Max Stern Yezreel Valley College in Israel is offering a bachelor’s degree in medical cannabis starting next year; students in the program will get hands-on experience at cannabis farms and production plants.

Early data from Arkansas’ new medical cannabis market show that cannabis sales have already topped $2.2 million since the first dispensary opened on May 10.

Canopy Growth’s long-time CEO Bruce Linton is officially out after the Canadian company saw significant losses this year. Linton says the decision stemmed from company directors that were installed by Constellation Brands, an alcohol distributor with 38 percent ownership of the company.

Recent survey data indicates that one in four Canadian medical cannabis patients say that cannabis access has become more difficult since adult-use legalization took effect last year.

More than 500 applications have been filed to sell medical cannabis in Missouri, including 175 hopeful businesses across the St. Louis metro area. At least nine of the applicants represent out-of-state entities looking to enter Missouri’s upcoming market.

A new hemp industry report from Headset indicates that the popularity of CBD products such as topicals, tinctures, and edibles is growing at a much faster rate than that of their THC-rich counterparts.

Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey has signed the state’s medical cannabis program expansions into law; the new rules will allow for more patients, home delivery, and dozens more medical cannabis operators.

Bill Levin, who founded the First Church of Cannabis in Indiana, announced he is seeking the Libertarian Party nomination for governor.

cbdMD has entered into a multi-year promotional deal with mixed martial arts company Bellator, whose events are broadcast to nearly 1 billion people around the globe.

Following a rejection by voters in 2018, legalization advocates in North Dakota are maneuvering for another ballot initiative in 2020; advocates say the 2018 initiative was “too vague” for voters.

Barry Grissom, former U.S. attorney and current corporate counsel for medical cannabis investment firm Electrum Partners, is running for a U.S. Senate seat in Kansas. Grissom has previously called cannabis advocates “patriots” who are standing up for liberty.

A Humboldt County church that uses cannabis as a sacrament is suing the state after being raided by law enforcement. During the raid, police seized property and destroyed cannabis plants that were inside of a greenhouse.

Idaho advocates are gearing up to push a medical cannabis ballot initiative to voters during next year’s general election.

Officials with New Mexico’s Health Department are refusing to qualify out-of-state residents for the state’s medical cannabis program, despite a recent rule change for the program removing the residency requirement from the definition of “qualified patient.”

Federal lawmakers from Oregon have introduced legislation to allow the state’s recently passed interstate cannabis commerce legislation to move forward; part of said state law requires federal permission before cannabis products can start shipping across state borders.