Insights
Exploring the Rise of Vape Pens in the Cannabis Industry and the Challenges Ahead
LOS ANGELES-- Cannabis vape pens have emerged as one of the most popular cannabis products due to their convenience, ease of use, and discreetness. According to a report by Headset, vapes were the second-most popular cannabis category, behind only flower, accounting for 23.6% of total sales in 2022. Among US states, Illinois had the largest ...
Colorado’s Psychedelics Advisory Board Faces Challenges in Establishing Regulated Access Scheme
LOS ANGELES-- Colorado's first-ever psychedelics advisory board meeting took place last week to establish a regulated access scheme for mind-bending therapeutics, which were approved by voters in November. The board's initial focus, however, is on questions rather than answers, with the advisory board having until Sept. 30 to make its initial recommendations. The Natural Medicine ...
”Lab-Shopping” Is Holding Back The Cannabis Industry
LOS ANGELES- In recent years, the cannabis industry has experienced tremendous growth, with more and more states legalizing both recreational and medical cannabis use. With this growth, there has been an increasing demand for cannabis products that are potent and reliable. As a result, many cannabis brands have turned to lab shopping, a practice in ...
Barky AI and Highten Launch Canna-GPT: World’s First Cannabis AI Chatbot
LOS ANGELES-- Barky AI and Highten have joined forces to launch Canna-GPT, the world's first Cannabis AI chatbot. With a goal of democratizing cannabis education, the new AI chatbot interface makes it easier for users to ask questions and obtain information about cannabis. Users can simply type their cannabis-related questions into the app and receive ...
Finnish Survey Reveals Changing Attitudes Towards Cannabis and Drug Decriminalization
LOS ANGELES -- A recent survey conducted by Finland's Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) revealed that attitudes towards cannabis use and possession are changing among the Finnish population. According to YLE News, 53% of respondents said that cannabis use and possession should not be considered a criminal offense. This is a considerable increase from ...
Vertical Disintegration – Who Eats Who?
Vertical Disintegration - Who Eats Who? Young America Capital’s investment bankers Jon Lunsford and Sean Santa have published the first of three articles examining vertical disintegration from the standpoint of those raising private capital for cannabis firms and advising them on mergers and acquisitions. The term is counterintuitive, they write, especially to those who appreciate ...
Trump Claims ”Genetically Engineered” Cannabis Causes Mass Shootings
NEW YORK - In a recent speech for the National Rifle Association, former U.S. President Donald Trump made a controversial claim that genetically engineered cannabis is the cause of mass shootings in the United States. Despite the lack of any scientific evidence to support this claim, Trump's words carry weight among his followers and serve ...
Navigating the Challenges of the Booming Cannabis Industry
LOS ANGELES-- As the stock market struggles, the cannabis industry is booming with higher than ever consumer demand. Industry leaders gathered at the recent Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference in Miami to discuss strategies and insights for success. To capture a variety of consumers, companies need to understand their audience and offer a diverse range of ...
New Report Finds Cannabis Industry Reaches $35 Billion in Legal Markets Globally
LOS ANGELES-- According to the latest report from New Frontier Data, the cannabis industry in legal markets reached $35 billion in 2022, while total demand in both legal and illicit markets was estimated to be closer to $460 billion. The Cannabis Capital: 2023 Industry Market Report also found that the North American market is still ...
Curaleaf’s New Jersey Adult-Use Licenses Renewal Temporarily Denied
LOS ANGELES--Curaleaf Holdings, an international provider of consumer cannabis products, has expressed its disappointment with the decision made by the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission's Board (CRC Board) to deny the renewal of its cultivation and retail licenses for adult-use. The CRC Board's decision overruled the Commission's own staff recommendation that Curaleaf's licenses be renewed. ...
Curaleaf’s New Jersey Adult-Use Licenses Renewal Denied
LOS ANGELES-- Curaleaf Holdings, an international provider of consumer cannabis products, has expressed its disappointment with the decision made by the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission's Board (CRC Board) to deny the renewal of its cultivation and retail licenses for adult-use. The CRC Board's decision overruled the Commission's own staff recommendation that Curaleaf's licenses be ...
New Nonprofit Organization Aims to Enhance Standards for Cannabis Education and Employment
LOS ANGELES-- A group of cannabis institutions, programs, and educators have teamed up to establish The National Association for Marijuana and Cannabis Educators (NAMCE). The nonprofit organization's primary goal is to strengthen the quality and standards of cannabis educators in order to create safer outcomes for consumers and promote employment within the industry. NAMCE's founder, ...
Portland Named America’s Most Weed-Friendly City According to New Survey
LOS ANGELES-- Portland, Oregon has been named America's most weed-friendly city, according to a new survey by online publications Real Estate Witch and Leafly. The report analyzed various factors, such as the legality of weed, dispensary data, and prices to rank the best places for cannabis in 2023. Portland boasts the most affordable cannabis prices ...
Maryland Lawmakers Pass Bill to Launch Recreational Cannabis Market with Existing Medical Operators Getting First Access
MARYLAND-- Maryland lawmakers have passed a bill that will legalize recreational cannabis sales starting on July 1, 2023. The new law will allow the state's existing 102 medical cannabis operators to have first access to recreational sales, but hundreds of other businesses will also be allowed to enter the market. The Baltimore Banner reported that ...
Vangst Jobs Report Shows a Surprising Drop in Employment for US Cannabis Industry
LOS ANGELES-- The legal cannabis industry in the United States generated over $26 billion in sales last year, according to the 2023 Vangst Jobs Report. The report, released by Vangst, a leading cannabis industry jobs platform, found that there are now 417,493 full-time equivalent jobs supported by the legal cannabis industry in the country. This ...
MJ Unpacked Takes Proactive Approach to Addressing Social Equity and Inclusion in Cannabis Industry
NEW YORK--As MJ Unpacked, the premier event for the cannabis industry, gears up to take the stage in New York City from April 26-28, the East Coast cannabis market is poised for massive growth. However, despite the exciting prospects ahead, the industry faces significant challenges, particularly when it comes to issues of social equity and ...
ACT and SC Labs Introduce “Trust in Testing” Certification for Safer Cannabis Products
LOS ANGELES-- ACT Laboratories and SC Labs, two of the largest cannabis testing labs in the United States, have joined forces to introduce the Trust In Testing Certification. This initiative establishes a national set of strict quality standards for cannabis testing, which will help operators unify their testing protocols across their multi-state footprints and provide ...
Kentucky Gov. Beshear Signs Bill Allowing Medical Cannabis Sales By Private Industry in 2025
KENTUCKY-- Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear signed Senate Bill 47 into law on Friday, allowing private industry to sell cannabis beginning in 2025. This move puts Kentucky on the map in the modern cannabis industry, and it was hailed as a win for cannabis reform by cannabis advocates. The bill, which passed in the state House ...
New York Cannabis Retailer Adds THC Potency Disclaimers Due to Flaws in Lab Testing System
NEW YORK-- One of the few legal cannabis retailers in New York state, Union Square Travel Agency, has added THC potency disclaimers to its products due to inaccuracies in the current lab testing system. The flawed system is responsible for determining cannabis product potency, which is displayed on labels for customers to see. The disclaimers ...
Missouri Cannabis Sales Skyrocket, Causing Shortages and Price Hikes as Demand Surges
MISSOURI-- Since the launch of recreational cannabis sales in Missouri, the state has experienced a surge in demand that has caused prices to skyrocket. Within two months of the launch, cultivators have struggled to meet the overwhelming demand, resulting in higher production costs for manufacturers and steeper prices for consumers at dispensaries. As a result, ...
Andira Pharmaceuticals Has Announced A Collaborative Research Program With The University of British Columbia
VANCOVER-- Andira Pharmaceuticals has partnered with the University of British Columbia (UBC) to conduct a pharmacologic characterization of its lead compounds for metastatic breast cancer. The collaborative research program will be headed by Dr. Karla Williams, PhD, Canada Research Chair in Oncology, Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Scholar, and Assistant Professor at the UBC ...
Heroes of cannabis legalization
Hui-lin Lifrom 100 AD The Chinese botanist noted the medical properties of the plant for inducing sleep in pained patients, paving the way for surgical anesthetic. The chinese term for anesthesia- mázui- literally means ‘cannabis intoxication.’ Nicholas Culpeper 1616-1654 "The British herbalist Nicholas Culpeper (1616–1654) wrote ‘The English Physitian’ that hemp extract can assist ...
Mississippi’s Medical Cannabis Industry Sees New Bill
MISSISSIPI-- Mississippi’s medical cannabis industry is set to see some changes, following the final approval of a new bill that aims to make life easier for the state’s medical cannabis operators. House Bill 1158, passed by both chambers as of last week, now awaits Governor Tate Reeves’ signature. The bill comes less than three months ...
Politicians Discuss Narrow Window for Federal Cannabis Legalization at SXSW Conference
AUSTISN-- The SXSW conference in Austin, Texas, known for its focus on cutting-edge tech, music, and film, also hosted a cannabis track of sessions this year, along with a psychedelics track for the first time. During the cannabis track, consultant Andrew DeAngelo challenged his panelists for answers on why federal legalization had not seen any ...
Disproportionate Cannabis Drug Testing Among Black and Hispanic Mothers During Labor and Delivery
LOS ANGELES-- A recent study published in the journal Hospital Pediatrics has revealed that a disproportionate number of Hispanic or African American patients are subjected to Cannabis-specific drug screening during the labor and delivery process. The study, conducted by researchers from Harvard Medical School, analyzed the characteristics of 1,924 patients who underwent peripartum toxicology testing ...