WeedLife News Network

Steve Cantwell has been cultivating cannabis for the past seven years through Green Life Productions, his Pahrump-based farm, and had no problems with state regulators when Nevada’s health and taxation departments oversaw the industry.

But that all changed when the Cannabis Compliance Board took over two years ago. At a recent routine visit, Cantwell said, the inspector raised a litany of concerns about the company’s organic growing methods, kicking off an ongoing tug-of-war that’s forced the company to pay nearly $30,000 for regulators to carry out their oversight duties.

“He came in … really just guns a blazing,” he said. “They told us everything that we were doing, literally everything we were doing, was wrong, which was a huge surprise to us.”

Cantwell and his wife have been receiving monthly invoices from the agency, including some billing them for 75 hours of state worker research time, at a cost of $111 an hour. Because the situation is unresolved, they don’t know how many more months of bills are in the future, or if the agency will tack on a hefty fine at the end of the research process. 

But he and his wife pay all the so-called “time and effort” charges in full, he said. They need to renew their license, after all, and new regulations carry the business-killing penalty of license revocation for companies that don’t stay current.

Time and effort charges have rankled members of the industry and surfaced as a sore spot in numerous recent meetings of the Cannabis Compliance Board. Copies of time and effort invoices reviewed by The Nevada Independent generally show short descriptions such as “routine audit … work ongoing” or “spot check” on line items that can be hundreds or thousands of dollars.

Kush.com is crowning itself king of Florida's cannabis scene.

Driving the news: Just ahead of putting on the state's biggest cannabis-centric trade show, the wholesale cannabis and hemp marketplace tells Axios it's moving its company headquarters from Seattle to Tampa's Embarc Collective. Kush recently acquired Tampa-based TradeCraft Origin, a cannabis brand strategy firm, and named its founder, John Lynch, Kush's new CEO.

Tech entrepreneur and investor Steve MacDonald, the company's new board chairman and a general partner in the Florida Funders VC, gave $2 million to Kush's ongoing funding round, the company tells Axios.

Why it matters: Kush will have a major grip on Florida's market if recreational marijuana becomes legal in the state. The company, founded in 2014, already claims to be the country's largest business-to-business network of cannabis products and now it has TradeCraft's network of restaurant chains, beverage companies and retailers.

State of play: Florida has the country's largest medical cannabis market, with industry publication MJBiz projecting $1.3 billion-$1.5 billion in sales this year. More than 700,000 medical marijuana patients are registered in the state as of April — more than double the number in early 2020.

What they're saying: "We think Tampa is the ideal choice now and for the future," Lynch told Axios. "Florida's role in the global cannabis industry will only become more significant. "Kush.com will be the most efficient, reliable route to market for CBD now, and a turnkey path to future THC market authority," MacDonald added.

While possessing certain amounts of cannabis is now okay, legal stores have not yet opened.

Justice-involved applicants vying for a license can submit their information by the end of August. New Yorkers are expected to be able to purchase legal recreational cannabis by the end of the year.

When can a consumer shop?

Buying cannabis is still illegal, something that’s confusing for anyone living in New York and witnessing the number of retail shops that are around. Still, this is about to change, with the first recreational dispensaries expected to open by the end of the year.

Who gets a license?

The first licenses to be handed out will be the ones belonging to the conditional adult-use retail dispensary (CAURD) program. These are 150 licenses provided to “justice involved” applicants, who must also have experience owning and running a business. Applicants can submit their information by the end of August. 

What if a person doesn’t qualify for a license just yet?

More licenses are expected to come out soon, with different requirements for different businesses, which range from weed bars to regular dispensaries. This will all be revealed in the coming months, with applicants only able to apply for one license at a time.

Earnings season is just getting started for the cannabis sector and we hope to see a positive response from the market to company results.

Last week, Statistics Canada announced that $292.1 million (USD) (C$375.8 million) of recreational cannabis was sold in May. This amount is less than 1% higher than the amount of sales in April and we are favorable on the increase. Statistics Canada also updated the amount of recreational cannabis sales from April to be CA$373.3 million, which is slightly higher than the amount that was previously reported. (Technical420)

Breaking Down Performance by Province

Functional health and medicinal products containing CBD (cannabidiol) are growing in popularity, and the UK market is now worth £690 million a year according to trade association ACI, making it the second biggest market in the world after the United States. However traditional extraction processes do not always capitalise on the latest evaporation technology.

In fact, current growth in the market is exceeding even industry predictions, and has been estimated that with suitable policy support, the European market for legal cannabis products could be worth a massive €3.2 billion by 2025.

What is CBD?

CBD is a chemical extracted from hemp and marijuana plants, and while it an active ingredient in the cannabis drug, it does not cause the psychoactive effects associated with THC which is also found in the plants. Although medical studies are inconclusive, some of the claimed benefits of CBD include reducing inflammation, improving relaxation and focus, and slow down digestion. As such, it is often used to treat issues such as anxiety and insomnia, as well as some types of seizure and some digestive complaints.

How is CBD extracted?

There are a number of different techniques for extracting the CBD from the hemp plant, although most of these require the use of solvents which are effective at separating the CBD from other chemical compounds found in the plant. Once the CBD has been extracted, the solvent is evaporated off leaving pure CBD oil.

 Tennessee’s first cannabis restaurant — “Buds & Brews” — will officially open its doors in Germantown. 

The bar and restaurant serves elevated classic American dishes, and if you wish, with a side of special sauce.

“You can get chicken tenders and then you can order some THC ranch,” said Mike Solomon part owner of Buds & Brews. 

The secret here is in the sauce. 

“What is infused is the condiments. We have the 25 most common used condiments from ketchup, honey mustard, ranch dressing, steak sauce,” Solomon went on to explain.  

Legal, hemp-derived THC-infused condiments, desserts and mocktails are what make Buds & Brews a one-of-a-kind high.

An IT programmer was allegedly forced to store £225,000 worth of herbal cannabis at his home in Belfast to pay off a personal drug debt, a court has heard.

Peter Renshaw claimed he had acted under duress after police seized the haul - some of which was in packaging with images of Winnie the Pooh.

The 36-year-old civil servant, of Willowbank Park in the city, is charged with possessing Class B drugs with intent to supply.

He was arrested following searches carried out at his home on Tuesday.

Belfast Magistrates' Court heard officers discovered 15kg of herbal cannabis with a potential street value of £225,000 in an upstairs bedroom.

"This was found in a variety of packages such as cardboard boxes, suitcases or holdalls, giving the impression that it had not all arrived at the location at the same time," an investigating detective said.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) remains firm in his stance that cannabis reform doesn’t lead to an increase in crime or drug use. (Benzinga)

“The overwhelming evidence from the states that have legalized cannabis is there has not been an increase in crime and has not been an increase in drug use,” Schumer said at a recent press briefing. The comments came on the heels of his introducing long-awaited U.S. Senate legislation that would decriminalize and deschedule cannabis on the federal level. 

The nearly 300-page Cannabis Administration And Opportunity Act (CAOA), from Schumer and Senators Ron Wyden and Cory Booker, was presented last week. Two more Senate Democrats, Assistant Democratic Leader Patty Murray (D-WA) and Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), also agreed to cosponsor the measure.

Schumer’s Latest Cannabis Legalization Efforts

Meanwhile, despite an overall pessimistic sentiment regarding the passage of the legislation in the Senate, as it needs a 60-vote threshold to get approved, Schumer continues to advocate for the broad reform proposal.

Last month the senator convened with GOP House Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) on several occasions to discuss possible bipartisan cannabis reform steps that can be taken ahead of the finalization of a separate comprehensive legalization bill that would include much more than just banking and expungements reforms.

CBD gummies are now a mainstream phenomenon, and there are tons of different kinds of CBD gummy products available online. Why have CBD gummies become so popular, though, and what benefits can they offer if you suffer from chronic pain or inflammation? Discover the benefits of CBD gummies, and find out why you should try CBD gummies for pain and other purposes.

What are CBD gummies?

CBD gummies are delicious, chewable CBD-infused treats that are often fruit-flavored. There are lots of different ingredients you can use to make gummies, but the best CBD gummies only contain simple, natural ingredients with no artificial sweeteners, flavorings, or coloring agents.

What do CBD gummies do?

Designed to make it easy and tasty to take CBD anytime and anywhere, CBD gummies deliver this cannabinoid into your system efficiently and without any unpleasant hemp taste. While you’ll still taste the CBD oil in your gummy to some degree, the flavor will be masked under fruity sweetness.

Why do people use CBD gummies?

“There are a bunch of us in Hollywood that smoke weed and get shit done.”

Kevin Smith. Such an ordinary name for such an extraordinary man. For almost 30 years we’ve looked to him for comedy, podcasts, and comic books, while also admiring his acting and filmmaking in movies like Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, and the movie that started it all, Clerks.

Kevin may have become a stoner later in life, but the wisdom he carries regarding it reads like a positive affirmation we should all ingest. Turned on to using cannabis for a higher good by his pal Seth Rogan, Kevin’s take on living a stoner lifestyle gives us one more reason to admire this multi-talented, ordinary name having man.

Coming off the heels of Comic-Con, and before Clerks 3 makes it’s anticipated debut on September 13th, we attempted to get some spoilers (Spoiler: we didn’t), discussed the sweetest currency, his strains with Caviar Gold, and cannabis being a running theme in his life, even when it was just for show. 

Do you ever sit there at Comic-Con and revel in your head like, oh my god I did this?

Kevin Smith: Like, literally. Revel is the right fucking word. I’ve been going to Comic-Con since 95’ and when I first got there the dream was like, this is where I wanna be accepted. I wanna be as integral to this institution as Stan. This is worth all the effort. Some people got lucky early, like I did with my career, and all they wanted to do was party, do drugs, and get fucked. All I wanted to do was become the King of Comic-Con. It took decades, and I don’t know if I’m the king, but I’m definitely Comic-Con royalty. So, I do revel in it because I think back to the conscious effort I put into getting here. The kids today would call it, “thirsty.” I’m sure the kids would also say that was cringe, but whatever. I do revel in it. It’s so gross to admit!

Yes, consuming cannabis has gotten the green light in New York for people over 21 years old. But let’s clear the air: It is not legal to grow your own marijuana plants in New York — yet.

That hasn’t stopped at least one budding cultivator from raising several of the herbs in a community garden, nearby the more typical basil, sunflowers and tomatoes.

The plants lacked any discernible flowers, and their musky smell was mostly masked by other floral aromas; on a recent July day, they went unnoticed by nearly all of the garden’s visitors. Yet with telltale serrated leaves sprouting in hand-like clusters and stalks that climbed to nearly chest height, they seemed as inconspicuous as the vendors now selling unregulated cannabis products in Washington Square Park. 

When I pointed to the plants and asked, “Are these…?” their caretaker simply smiled and put a finger to his lips. 

While the plants are illegal, they are sure signs that connoisseurs and tycoons alike will try their hands at raising cannabis in the city. 

Although cannabis is legal to consume and possess in small amounts in New York, the state is still crafting the regulations that will allow businesses to cultivate, process and sell marijuana products. Experts, however, say that within a couple years we can expect the city to have its fair share of grow operations.

New findings presented at the 2022 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting.

As the cannabis derivative delta-8-THC grows in popularity, it's important for drug tests to be able to detect and differentiate it from delta-9-THC—the primary psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. Breaking research showcased at the 2022 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo demonstrates that common drug testing methods can do just that.

Unity Rd., the national cannabis dispensary franchise from Item 9 Labs Corp., is opening medical cannabis establishment, in South Dakota on July 27 with local entrepreneurs, B.J. Olson and Adam Jorgensen.

The new shop is located in the Sioux Falls suburb of Hartford at 404 West Opal Lane. (Benzinga)

Multiple economic missions had booths at the conference last week – the beginning of an international trend

While the scale of the event rivaled any corporate conference – as did the exhibit booths – one thing stood out clearly this year at the Berlin International Cannabis Business Conference last week: The arrival of cannabis missions from international locales.

Last year, both Zimbabwe and New Zealand sent economic trade envoys to the conference. This year, both New Zealand and Thailand had their own booths, promoting their country’s cannabis exports.

It is, clearly, the beginning of a wave. The International Cannabis Business Conference has, since its beginning in 2017 been the most international, high-level business conference in the world. From now on, governments will be taking notice.

It is obviously now a relatively fast-changing world. One where the governments of three European countries (Malta, Germany, and Luxembourg) met last week to begin a series of high-level meetings on changing cannabis regulation across the region.

Unprecedented Market Access

One of the most important reasons for foreign producers to work with their governments to send trade mission presence to the International Cannabis Business Conference conference is that the access created by the International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin is unprecedented, globally. Attended by all the major producers across Europe and in Germany, along with representatives of what are now believed to be the 187 distributors across Deutschland, the conference is an unparalleled opportunity to gain market access to the cannabis market in the world’s fourth-largest economy.

Dispensaries have many challenges in managing inventory for amnesia autoflower and other cannabis products.Hence, the current technology is not designed for the scale and complexity of this industry.

A restaurant may have 30 menu items to manage; a dispensary may have hundreds or even thousands. The amount of data to track requires extensive attribution and data capture. Blockchain technology offers a solution. The cannabis industry is ripe for this kind of technology. Flowhub, Outlaw Technology, and Releaf app are all examples of these solutions. 

Flowhub is a technology that can be used to streamline cannabis business transactions. Flowhub’s POS system can automatically report information to state compliance tracking systems, replacing a laborious manual process. In addition, the system can be customized to fit the needs of specific cannabis businesses. Flowhub has partnered with other technology companies, including Aeropay, to provide its services to the cannabis business industry.

Flowhub is a software provider for the cannabis industry, which can help dispensaries manage their point-of-sale, inventory tracking, and more. It connects cannabis retailers with leading data analytics, helping dispensaries make better business decisions. Flowhub is a founding member of the U.S. Cannabis Council, and has given away more than $3 million in free software through its social equity program. The company is privately held and focuses on remote operations and is committed to helping cannabis businesses thrive.

Outlaw Technology

As the cannabis business industry continues to expand, the need for advanced technology is becoming even more important. Blockchain, access control, AI, and IoT have all found application in the cannabis business. These new innovations help businesses streamline their operations while keeping costs low and the end product quality high. The industry has seen many technological advancements over the last decade, including better harvests and increased production efficiency. These new technologies help businesses associate with their customers and guarantee quality safety standards. They also give consumers a variety of cannabis products to choose from.

One of the latest developments in the cannabis industry uses artificial intelligence (AI). This technology can help growers and processors automate data entry, reducing inventory and harvest time. AI is also being used to track consumer data. Startups like Eaze, which developed an app for marijuana delivery, are leveraging AI to predict demand and supply. They then adjust inventory accordingly. Outlaw Technology can help the cannabis business industry.

The use of medical cannabis is rapidly rising in the United States. Of the 50 states, 37 have legalized medical marijuana and 19 have legalized recreational use. This has resulted in a total of $3.7 billion in cannabis tax revenue and increasingly widespread awareness of the plant’s pain-relieving qualities and potential to treat other illnesses and conditions.

According to a study published in Annals of Internal Medicine, the number of registered U.S. medical cannabis patients quadrupled between 2016 and 2020 to nearly 3 million total. This supports statistics from cannabis health technology company Veriheal, which reported 170,000 newly enrolled Florida patients in 2020 alone.

Medicinal Marijuana as an Alternative to Pills

The cannabis plant can assist in alleviating various conditions, from insomnia and Crohn’s disease to PTSD and depression. Considering that over 20% of Americans suffer from chronic pain—historically the most common reason people opt for medical cannabis—researchers have homed in on the potential of cannabis as a safer alternative to addictive opioid-based painkilling medications. Opioids have claimed hundreds of thousands of U.S. lives since the 1990s.

A study published in 2015 found that the use of medical cannabis “was associated with improvements in pain, function, quality of life and cognitive function.” The efficacy of cannabis as pain treatment has led to significant decreases in opioid use. According to a study, opioid overdose deaths were reduced by 25% in states that enacted medical cannabis programs.

Millennials were the biggest demographic of medical marijuana cardholders in 2020, followed by Generations X and Z. Statistics indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic combined with heavy political tension in 2020 caused these groups to experience depressive episodes, stress, and anxiety. Instead of seeking out traditional medications that often come with severe side effects, these groups chose cannabis as a tool for improving their mental health.

Is there a relationship between cannabis use and outcomes in spinal surgery and other procedures?

While there is limited literature examining the potential connection, a team of orthopedic specialists sought further answers. They ultimately found that patients with a history of cannabis use are indeed less likely than non-users to experience adverse medical outcomes after thoracolumbar (lower back) spinal fusion (TLF) surgery. The study, “The Impact of Isolated Baseline Cannabis Use on Outcomes Following Thoracolumbar Spinal Fusion: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis” was recently published in The Iowa Orthopedic Journal.

The orthopedic specialists, affiliated with the State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn, analyzed the relationship between cannabis use and surgical outcomes with a 704-patient cohort, all undergoing TLF surgery for adult spinal deformity (ASD). Researchers queried the New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System database between January 2009 and September 2013 to identify all patients who underwent TLF for ASD. To be included, individuals were over the age of 18 and had either minimum 90-day or two-year follow-up surveillance.

According to the researchers, ASD is a spectrum of disorders presenting in late adolescence or adulthood and includes adult spinal scoliosis, iatrogenic spinal deformity and primary degenerative sagittal imbalance. The authors note that, as life expectancies increase, the prevalence of ASD is rising and more surgical corrections are expected to occur in the future.

“With shifting public sentiment, expanding decriminalization, and a lack of objective data on the potential consequences of cannabis use, it is imperative to identify how baseline cannabis use impacts postoperative outcomes of patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD) undergoing thoracolumbar fusion (TLF),” the study reads.

Half of the sample identified themselves as cannabis consumers and the other half did not. The study looked to compare 90-day complication, 90-day readmission, and two-year revision rates between cannabis users and non-users.