Kush. Bud. Herb. Who knows what to call marijuana these days? Born of the need for secrecy, slang has long dominated pot culture. But as entrepreneurs seek to capitalize on new laws legalizing recreational and medical marijuana, they too are grappling with what to call it. Heading to the dispensary to buy a few nugs […]
cannabis
How About a Holiday?
The concept of a drug holiday is standard medical practice for chronic users of pharmaceutical medications. Physicians use this abstinence tactic for a variety of reasons, including: limiting side effects of a medicine or allowing a patient to maintain sensitivity to a drug’s effect. When using cannabis, we often talk about tolerance: the need for […]
Illinois House approves marijuana legalization bill backed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker
Illinois is one signature away from joining the 10 other states that have legalized recreational use of marijuana. With a bipartisan vote of 66-47, the House approved a bill Friday that had been passed by the Senate Wednesday. Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who campaigned for office on a promise to legalize pot, almost immediately issued a […]
The impact of the next recession on cannabis
By David Traylor In 2019, warning signs have been intermittently flashing red for a potential economic downturn. The indicators, which include forecasted lower GDP numbers in China, falling U.S. Manufacturing PMI, some slowing economies around the world and ongoing Brexit uncertainty, are some of the issues giving investors concern. Cannabis investors should monitor the potential for a recession […]
What You Should Know Before Leasing Property For Cannabis and Hemp Use
When the City of Huntington Beach imposed a fine on a landlord in excess of $150,000 for allowing a cannabis dispensary to operate out of his property, the landlord was surprised to learn that while cannabis has been legalized by California, each city has the right to regulate, restrict and prohibit commercial cannabis operations within […]
Market Confusion on CBD and Hemp; FDA Commissioner Resigns amid Congressional Pressure for Federal Guidance
By Ian Stewart & Neil Willner The Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Scott Gottlieb MD, who has received high marks for his leadership of the agency since May 2017, announced his resignation on March 5, 2019, stating that he wants to spend more time with his family. His resignation came only days following […]
Look to the Combination of Extraction Processes for Your Ingredients
By John A. MacKay, Ph.D. There are many ways to extract and separate the compounds that the cannabis plant produces during its life cycle. At Waters Corporation people assumed that Waters instruments focused solely on supercritical fluid (SCF) technology. The manufacturing facilities that were appropriate for SCF were the main customers, however the analytical tools […]
Impact of Wayfair on the Cannabis Industry
On June 21, 2018, the United States Supreme Court decided South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc., 585 U.S. __ (2018). In a 5-4 decision, the Court found in favor of the State of South Dakota and overturned its prior holdings in Quill Corp. v. North Dakota, 504 U.S. 298 (1992) and National Bellas Hess, Inc. v. […]
States Hold Breath as Trump’s Attorney General Nominee Says He Won’t Prosecute Pot in Marijuana-Legal States
Marijuana companies operating legally according to state laws where the cultivation and sale of the drug is allowed will not face action by the Justice Department, nominee for Attorney General William Barr said in testimony to the Senate on Jan. 15. If Barr is confirmed and follows through, this would reverse a decision made by […]
Will California’s Section 5032 Disrupt the Cannabis Market?
By Ian Stewart On December 7, 2018, California’s three cannabis licensing authorities submitted final versions of the state cannabis regulations scheduled to be approved by January 16, 2019. California’s Bureau of Cannabis Control (Bureau) submitted a final version of Section 5032 of the regulations that substantially limits commercial cannabis activity between licensed and unlicensed entities. […]
A Toxicologist’s Look at Cannabis vs. Alcohol: Why the US Government is Focusing on the Wrong Recreational Drug
Sometimes we observe a car wreck and rubber neck our way until it is out of our sight. I had that feeling during the hearings for Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh. As I listened to the testimony, it surfaced repeatedly that the incidents in question revolved around heavy drinking. The presumed assault was not committed by […]
Holiday Security for Dispensaries
Since the cannabis holiday season operates differently from the rest of the year, you need to understand exactly how your current programs handle security and safety. After you understand your current programs, you need to plan what would be an efficient way to manage these programs when there are a lot more people in your […]
Cannabis Executives, Investors See Asia Saying ‘Yes’ to Pot
The cannabis investor conference in Hong Kong this week started with some stern warnings against smoking pot in the city, which can land you in prison. Then folks got down to talking business. The Hong Kong Cannabis Investor Symposium on Thursday drew executives from some of the world’s hottest cannabis firms together with more than […]
The Ultimate Guide to Marketing Your CBD Start Up Without a Big Budget
Let’s face it, as much as we all wish it was so, starting out really isn’t as easy as becoming an overnight sensation, especially with such a new industry. That simply doesn’t happen. When it comes to getting your name out there, startup marketing is a huge deal. But what can you do when you […]
New Mexico Moves Closer To Allowing Hemp Cultivation
The state Department of Agriculture is proposing rules that would allow the growing of hemp in New Mexico – a key step in carrying out a 2017 law that Gov. Susana Martinez opposed. The rules outline licensing and testing requirements to ensure that hemp – a relative of marijuana – doesn’t have high levels of […]
Utah Officials Give Green Light For Industrial Hemp Production
Utah Farmers now have the rules and regulations in place to grow industrial hemp. Lawmakers in this year’s legislative session passed two bills giving the Department of Agriculture and Food the task of organizing an industrial hemp program for local producers. Three years ago the farm bill allowed pilot programs to grow industrial hemp for […]
Since marijuana legalization, highway fatalities in Colorado are at near-historic lows
Since Colorado voters legalized pot in 2012, prohibition supporters have warned that recreational marijuana will lead to a scourge of “drugged drivers” on the state’s roads. They often point out that when the state legalized medical marijuana in 2001, there was a surge in drivers found to have smoked pot. They also point to studies showing that […]
The Science of Forgetting: Good Thing I Remembered my Cannabis!
Every day we are bombarded with new information, often too much at once. We try to process it all, but, we may beat ourselves up when we forget something like a friend’s birthday or a deadline at work. As we age forgetfulness seems more common. People worry that they will lose their memory with age. […]
