Pardons, descheduling and the DEA: Making sense of Biden's weed actions
Here’s a look at what Joe Biden’s executive actions do — and don’t do — and what it could mean for America’s burgeoning multibillion-dollar marijuana markets. [POLITICO]
Courts could throw state marijuana markets into disarray
And only Congress has the power to stop it. [POLITICO]
Where cannabis legalization efforts stand across the country
Gains in state legislatures slowed down in 2022, but advocates still have the ballot. [POLITICO]
Inside Denver’s struggles to diversify its $700M marijuana market
Despite grants and training programs, social equity businesses are struggling to survive. [POLITICO]
How a Chewing Gum Heir Fell Into a Sticky Situation With Weed
Beau Wrigley’s cannabis company is beset by lawsuits filed by angry investors alleging fraud. [POLITICO]
Investor, advocates sue Florida medical marijuana regulator
Plaintiffs cite "a blatant violation of the regulations." [POLITICO]
How 'magic mushrooms' could follow in the footsteps of cannabis
A growing number of states are considering bills to expand research or access to the drugs. [POLITICO]
Get ready for the Northeast to become cannabis country
New Jersey is likely to start sales first, but New York is poised to become the nation’s weed capital. [POLITICO]
The risky financial deals that shook up one of America's most promising weed companies
iAnthus thought Gotham Green Partners was providing a financial lifeline, but the investment firm is now poised to seize control of the company. [POLITICO]
Weed lounges are coming to a city near you
Las Vegas hopes to become a pioneer in creating public consumption spaces. [POLITICO]
New GOP weed approach: Feds must ‘get out of the way’
Republicans from statehouses to Congress are pushing legalization bills. [POLITICO]
Maine’s mom and pop weed scene sweats corporate ‘gentrification’
The state has long cultivated a small business atmosphere around medical marijuana. Now, shop owners fear state rules will favor industry giants. [POLITICO]
America’s most conservative states are embracing medical pot
Despite struggles in Kentucky and Tennessee, the year looks up for medical marijuana supporters. [POLITICO]
State lawmakers warm up to weed
More than 40 percent of Americans now live in states that have embraced full legalization. [POLITICO]
Koch-backed group joins effort to push marijuana legalization
The Cannabis Freedom Alliance could change the dynamics of the marijuana legalization debate. [POLITICO]
High anxiety over federal weed loophole
A seeming loophole in federal law is allowing people to buy products designed to get them high. [POLITICO]
Same old Joe: Rebuffing staff who smoked pot fits Biden’s MO
The White House press secretary acknowledged Friday that marijuana use has led to five staffers losing their jobs. [POLITICO]
Virginia joins 15 other states in legalizing marijuana
Virginia is the 16th U.S. state to pass an adult-use marijuana legalization law, though sales would not start until 2024. [POLITICO]
Medical marijuana’s last wildernesses
Only a handful of U.S. states remain holdouts. Will 2021 change that? [POLITICO]
Virginia is for stoners? Democrats press legalization in new territory
State lawmakers are angling to pass legislation before the session ends Feb. 11. [POLITICO]
Celebrities, cash and questions: A new force roils the cannabis prisoner-release movement
The Last Prisoner Project brings fund-raising heft to a long-starved cause, but its fellow advocates say it isn’t necessarily a team player. [POLITICO]
How state marijuana legalization became a boon for corruption
By making local officials the gatekeepers for million-dollar businesses, states created a breeding ground for bribery and favoritism. [POLITICO]
House votes to expand marijuana research
The bill passed with strong bipartisan support. [POLITICO]
New Jersey’s vote for weed could kickstart legalization across the Northeast
States that struggled to pass legalization bills in the past now face losing marijuana revenue to their neighbors. [POLITICO]
States plow forward with pot, with or without Congress
November ballot measures could result in over a third of Americans having access to legal weed. [POLITICO]
Marijuana licensing woes dog Missouri’s governor
Mike Parson, who took over for a scandal-plagued predecessor in 2018, is fighting an increasingly close battle for election in his own right. [POLITICO]
Hemp was supposed to boost farmers. It’s turned out to be a flop.
Oversupply and a lack of federal rules led to trouble for the industry. [POLITICO]
Lavish Parties, Greedy Pols and Panic Rooms: How the ‘Apple of Pot’ Collapsed
MedMen was the country’s hottest pot startup—until it flamed out. Its fall has exposed the gap between “green rush” hype and the realities of a troubled industry. [POLITICO Magazine]
Cannabis employees are in high demand during economic crash
The industry is looking for thousands of workers across the country. [POLITICO]
Pandemic upends pot legalization
Ballot campaigns and cannabis bills get pushed aside during public health crisis. [POLITICO]
Cannabis finds its moment amid coronavirus outbreak
States across the country now consider pot shops "essential" services and anxious Americans are flocking to them. [POLITICO]
Marijuana legalization may hit 40 states. Now what?
Changes in state laws could usher in even more confusion for law enforcement and escalate the pressure on Congress to act. [POLITICO]
Indicted Parnas associate was set to partner with VA on cannabis research
The associate, Andrey Kukushkin, is awaiting federal trial for alleged campaign finance violations. [POLITICO]
Meet the Cannabis Lawyer Beating Trump at His Own Game
Joseph Bondy is an unusual attorney for an unusual client, Lev Parnas. His legal strategy is even more outlandish. [POLITICO Magazine]
Biden’s wariness on marijuana puts another target on his back
Biden's stance is out of step with the rest of the Democratic field. [POLITICO]
How Bernie Sanders would legalize marijuana
The presidential candidate's proposals couple legalization and criminal justice reform. [POLITICO]
How McConnell’s hemp push has made pot busts harder
Mitch McConnell’s big victory for his home state hemp industry may have made it easier for people busted for marijuana to get off the hook. [POLITICO]
Here’s why it’s so hard for small businesses to sell CBD
Payment startups have policies against selling hemp-derived products, but larger retailers are allowed to slide while smaller ones get their service pulled. [The Outline]
The Boring Narcs At YouTube Are Banning Marijuana-Related Channels
YouTube has not heard that cannabis is cool, legal in many places, and nothing like guns or conspiracy theories. [The Outline]
Cannabis Industry Could Be 'A Form Of Reparations,' Says Cynthia Nixon
The New York state gubernatorial candidate spoke in favor of legalization at the NYC Cannabis Parade. Meanwhile, incumbent Andrew Cuomo has yet to endorse adult-use marijuana. [Forbes]
Cannabis Advocates Defend Cynthia Nixon's 'Reparations' Comments
Cannabis Cultural Association's co-founders talk about the Cynthia Nixon controversy and why drug-war reparations is such a controversial subject in communities of color. "There's an intergenerational gap... dealing with black and Latino churches -- [marijuana is] a very touchy topic." [Forbes]
Groundbreaking Marijuana Media Site Loses All Its Editorial Staff
The Denver Post’s pot vertical The Cannabist made waves in marijuana journalism before laying off its editorial staffers. Now, the site’s founding editor is thinking about purchasing it. [Forbes]
How A Cannabis Company Is Taking A Page Out Of The Pharmaceutical Playbook
New York medical marijuana company PharmaCannis is bringing new technology to the cannabis world to maximize the drug’s effects without exceeding dosage regulations. [Forbes]
No, CBD Is Not 'Legal In All 50 States'
Cannabidiol is a trend taking the health-and-wellness world by storm. But contrary to many media reports, those who sell it still run the risk of prosecution. [Forbes]
Youngs don’t have to worry about smoking too much weed
A meta-review shows there are no long-term cognitive effects from using marijuana. [The Outline]
Hemp Will Save Us From Fire, Cockroaches, Heat, And Microplastics
Hemp has been illegal for decades, but it’s a huge improvement over many common materials. [The Outline]
Marijuana Dispensaries Are Keeping Cannabis Out Of The Hands Of Minors In Oregon
While the state caught dispensaries selling to minors earlier this year, the latest rounds of decoy checks saw a 100 percent compliance rate. [Forbes]
Legal Marijuana Is A Boon To The Economy, Finds Study
A new report out of Colorado State University-Pueblo’s Institute of Cannabis Research found economic benefits to legal cannabis, even when accounting for the increased costs of legalization. [Forbes]
Even Before Ruling, A Judge Gives Supporters Of Marijuana Legalization Cause For Optimism
Over the years, many have attempted to challenge the federal government’s classification of marijuana as a Schedule I substance. A hearing in a lawsuit filed against Attorney General Jeff Sessions offered an example of both how far the country has come on the issue and how far there still is to go. [Forbes]
Federal Judge Dismisses Marijuana Legalization Case, Plaintiffs Vow To Appeal
A federal judge dismissed a case that sought to challenge the federal prohibition of marijuana. "We will take this fight to the Supreme Court if necessary," said plaintiff and Army veteran Jose Belen. [Forbes]
Behind RRNY, a campaign to legalize marijuana in New York
A once-in-20-year chance to put the issue before voters. [Word on the Tree]
The Misleading Campaign For Marijuana Legalization In New York
Regardless of whether or not Con Con is a feasible avenue to pursue marijuana legalization in New York, state residents should take a closer look at the process and the campaigns involved. [High Times]
Nevada Makes $30 Million In Marijuana Taxes During First Six Months Of Sales
Nevada marijuana retailers sold about $195 million during the first six months of the state's legal cannabis market. But lawmakers should be cautious of legalizing the drug for the tax revenue. [Forbes]
Marijuana Company Donates 1 Million Meals To Needy Californians
Several charities refused to work with Bloom Farms when it started its one-for-one program. A million meals later, the company is still working towards changing that stigma. [Forbes]
Why The Canadian Marijuana Market Will Be Smaller Than Investors Think
The Canadian marijuana market is booming. But a new report suggests that the market has been overhyped. [Forbes]
FDA Is Open To Medical Marijuana For Vets, But Other Agencies Stand In The Way
The FDA is the only federal agency that seems to care about the potential of medical marijuana to help veterans with PTSD. Why can't the VA get on board? [Forbes]
'Suits' and 'Stoners' Are Fighting for the Soul of the Weed Industry
"There's no doubt that capitalism has moved the ball forward as far as marijuana legalization goes." [Vice]
Eventbrite Is Pulling Some Cannabis Events From Its Site, Leaving Organizers Frustrated
Eventbrite has locked cannabis-related event organizers out of their accounts. But enforcement is arbitrary, and many cannabis-friendly events remain listed on the platform. [Forbes]
Cannabis Industry Struggles With Hiring People With Past Pot Convictions
As the legal cannabis industry continues to grow, a debate is brewing over whether those with drug convictions from its underground days should be allowed in the industry. [Forbes]
The Crimes of Reefer Madness
Harry Anslinger was able to co-opt a number of sensational crimes and tie them to cannabis, creating an anti-cannabis campaign that left an indelible mark on the American psyche. In reality, the crimes used in furtherance of Anslinger’s crusade often had little or nothing whatsoever to do with cannabis. These are the true crimes of reefer madness. [High Times]
The HIGH TIMES Interview: Wanda James
Colorado's first black woman to own a dispensary on the challenges facing the industry, why entrepreneurs should be politically active and what she thinks of Colorado’s regulations. [High Times]
The HIGH TIMES Interview: Andrew Freedman
Colorado's first 'marijuana czar' on the challenges behind Amendment 64, and why no state should legalize cannabis just for the money. [High Times]
Mafen Madness:
Busted for
Cannabis in China
“At this time tomorrow, we’ll be smoking a lot of hash, or I’ll be in jail!” [Freedom Leaf]