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 […]
marijuana
How Legalization Changed Humboldt County Marijuana
In an isolated Northern California community, the last remnants of the counterculture are confronting the future of cannabis. For more than forty years, the epicenter of cannabis farming in the United States was a region of northwestern California called the Emerald Triangle, at the intersection of Humboldt, Mendocino, and Trinity Counties. Of these, Humboldt County is […]
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 […]
THC vs. CBD: Which Marijuana Compound Is More Beneficial?
The marijuana compound CBD, or cannabinol, is surging in popularity in the wellness community, for its alleged health benefits, without the high normally associated with pot. But a new study suggests that marijuana’s main active ingredient, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) — the one that gives users a high — may be more responsible for the plant’s therapeutic effects. The […]
Federal Courts Are Split on the Legality of Transporting Hemp and CBD in Interstate Commerce
By Ian Stewart When the 2018 Farm Bill was signed by President Trump on December 20, 2018, there was widespread optimism that hemp and hemp-derived products, including cannabidiol (CBD), soon would be freely moving in interstate commerce without interference by state and local authorities. That optimism may have been premature. State and local governments across […]
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. […]
The CBD Crackdown Has Begun
If you like cannabidiol cupcakes and live in New York City, it’s time to learn how to bake your own. The city’s health department confirmed in a statement Tuesday that it had begun a crackdown on restaurants that use the compound—better known as CBD—as a food additive, embargoing products and warning of fines to come. […]
DEA reclassifies plant-derived marijuana medicine
According to a release issued by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, Epidiolex, a prescription medicine containing a standardized formulation of plant-derived cannabidiol (CBD), has been reclassified by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to Schedule V — the lowest restriction classification available under federal law. Epidiolex is the first prescription drug derived from the marijuana plant. […]
South Africa Legalizes Private Consumption Of Cannabis
Pro-marijuana activists cheered in the public gallery and chanted “Weed are free now” when the Constitutional Court gave its landmark ruling. In a unanimous ruling, judges also legalised the growing of marijuana for private consumption. South Africa’s government had opposed its legalisation, arguing the drug was “harmful” to people’s health. It has not yet commented […]
Midterm Elections Could Be a Turning Point for Marijuana
There’s a lot riding on the results of November’s elections for the U.S. pot industry. It’s no secret that all eyes are on Canada. On June 19, after months of debate in the Senate and some quick back-and-forth between the Senate and House of Commons, Canada’s parliament passed the Cannabis Act, paving the way for […]
Mandatory Testing Costly For Colorado Marijuana Growers
New mandatory marijuana pesticide testing in Colorado is putting a financial squeeze on local cultivators to the tune of thousands of dollars in increased costs. The added expense is the latest financial blow to hit the state’s cultivators, which are already struggling with falling wholesale prices and a glut of product. Colorado’s Marijuana Enforcement Division […]
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. […]
Cannabis Conferences: Five Smart Tips for Getting the Most Out of Marijuana Trade Shows
We’re heading into trade show season. So for my latest Cannabis Business Executive column—where I regularly unpack the art of public relations in the cannabis industry—let’s dig into some smart ways to decide what cannabis conferences are worth your time and money, and how to get the most out of any event you attend. Trade […]
New Study Shows Cannabis Is Not A Gateway To Other Drugs
A new analysis finds that while marijuana legalization has led to higher rates of cannabis consumption in Colorado and other states with similar laws, there’s no evidence that it’s fueling abuse of more addictive drugs, including heroin and cocaine. That’s the conclusion of a just-issued report from LiveStories, which specializes in the analysis of civic data. LiveStories founder […]
Can Industrial Hemp Make A Comeback In Iowa?
The momentum for legalizing industrial hemp in America is building. Iowa supporters of the once-prevalent crop, though, have moved on from being eager about its possibilities to anxious to get growing. Hemp got lumped in with its infamous sibling cannabis crop, marijuana, when it was made illegal to grow in the U.S. without a permit in 1970. But hemp […]
Down to a science – why does cannabis alter my brain?
Cannabis Science Depending upon your industry perspective, when I use the term “cannabis science” you may be thinking of optimal plant growth conditions, the latest extraction techniques, or manufacturing technology. Cannabis science is broadly used and has many applications. From my perspective, cannabis science relates to the interactions that take place in the body following […]
The State of Public Relations in the Cannabis Industry
By Shawna Seldon McGregor When Cannabis Business Executive offered me a recurring column to dig into the details and the drama behind the art of communicating to targeted audiences—otherwise known as public relations—I jumped at the opportunity. I knew this would be a fun and enlightening opportunity to peel back the complex layers of publicity, […]
Is It Okay To Use ‘Marijuana’ Instead of ‘Cannabis’?
As marijuana goes mainstream, people are rethinking the term, claiming we should ditch “marijuana” because it’s racist, and instead, say “cannabis.” Individuals should say what they like, but this rule is too simplistic for such a complex drug. We should develop more, not fewer, words for what we need to say. It makes sense that some want to […]
