WeedLife News Network

By building a positive presence on social media, stock traders may unwittingly become attracted to a company.

Can a social media profile improve a company’s stock performance? The market saw what happened on Reddit boards with GameStop stock as traders chatted with each other about shorting the stock. Could a company that is active on social media, without any specific call to action regarding the stock, influence the interest in the company’s stock?

“If investors are looking to determine the popularity of a company or demand for its product, they can analyze the brand’s social media. If they see great engagement on posts, high account following, or virality, high re-share of a brand’s content, they may make an assumption that this company will be even a greater hit with consumers in the future,” said mega influencer Amra Beganovich.

“Investors can use software to track social media performance and reveal organic growth giving them greater confidence to invest in an expanding brand visibility and product popularity.” Beganovich has built from scratch over two million followers on social and is one of the founders of A&E, a digital agency ranking #1 on Google for competitive keywords like “top 100 tech influencers.”

Awesomepova recently issued a social media traction report that specifically looked at cannabis companies. Four companies were listed as top performers in December and they were Trulieve (OTC:TCNNF), Canopy Growth (NASDAQ: CGC), Charlotte’s Web (OTC: CWBHF) and cbdMD (NYSE: YCBD). Two companies were listed as having an honorable mention and they were Aurora Cannabis (NYSE: ACB) and Harvest Health & Recreation (OTC: HRVSF).

As a dispensary builder, one of the most common questions we’re asked is: How much does it cost to build a cannabis dispensary? We usually answer that question with about 20 questions of our own, because no two cannabis retail stores are the same.

Even when we build dispensaries for national companies that specify the same design and finishes, we face unique circumstances in each state that affect overall project costs. Ultimately, that cost can range anywhere from $350,000 to $3.5 million.

Medical cannabis legalization can come in many forms, and as such, not all medical cannabis programs, like dispensaries, are created equal.

On one end of the medical cannabis policy spectrum are countries that only permit limited use of CBD medicines/products.

Technically those countries have legalized medical cannabis, however, only in an extremely limited fashion.

On the other end of the spectrum are countries that have fully embraced cannabis as a medicine and patients have safe access to it, complete with the legal right to cultivate cannabis at home.

One component of a medical cannabis program is particularly important at least when it comes to fighting the opioid epidemic.

Legalizing and taxing commercial cannabis sales in Virginia could generate between $154 and $308 million by the fifth year of sales. Here’s what else you might find interesting.

On February 5th, state lawmakers voted to legalize cannabis in Virginia and establish a recreational market. Both chambers’ initiative would legalize possession of an ounce of marijuana or less, and begin the process of expunging certain cannabis-related misdemeanors on July 1st. Retail sales are predicted to start in 2024, per the plans of both the House and Senate.

Virginia already has a medical marijuana program, but it’s limited compared to most states. Even so, the medical program is expected to be valued at $50 million in sales by 2024, and the adult-use market is poised to grow even bigger.

Here’s what you need to know about the newly introduced adult-use legislation in Virginia:

The vote passed through the Virginia General Assembly on February 5th

Both chambers passed the bill to legalize cannabis for adult use at the beginning of February. The bill was introduced by Senator Adam Ebbin, who said “I think that Virginia is on a path to an equitable legalization plan for marijuana. There have been a few bumps, but I’m hopeful that we’ll have a polished bill we can agree upon in the next few weeks,” said Sen. Ebbin.

The House passed the bill 55-42

House Democrats were in favor of the bill, while Republicans were opposing it. The House’s version of the bill would maintain all cannabis criminal penalties until January 1st, 2024, when the first adult-use retail sale is set to take place.

This Valentine’s Day, expensive dinners at fancy restaurants are out, and sexy, stoned nights at home are in—and that’s fine with us. For couples who enjoy using cannabis together, the possibilities are endless. Plus, let’s be real: plenty of us would rather receive something weed-related instead of a cliché heart shaped box of chocolates from the drug store.

Whether you’re planning on indulging in some serious self-love on Valentine’s Day or looking to spoil your lover, we’ve got you covered with gift ideas ranging from tame to…definitely not so tame.

Kush Queen Love Potion No. 9 CBD Bath Bomb, $20.00

The Kush Queen bath bomb is jam-packed with 200mg of CBD, sure to melt any aches and pains away to gear you up for sexy time. The aromas will get you in the mood, too. It contains a range of essential oils for the perfect scent: Bergamont, sweet orange, ylang-ylang, cedarwood, patchouli, and lavender. If you want to take your gift to the next level, you can get The CBD Love Kit, which includes the bath bomb along with CBD lube and massage oil.

More than half of North Carolinians who responded to a recent survey said that they supported the legalization of recreational marijuana in their state, according to a poll conducted by Elon University. The survey found even stronger support for reducing penalties for marijuana offenses and the legalization of cannabis for medicinal purposes.

The survey found that 54% of adults in North Carolina supported the legalization of recreational marijuana, while about a third (34%) were opposed. The remaining 12% said that they didn’t know. The results showed a marked increase in support compared to 2017, when about 51% said that they were opposed to recreational marijuana legalization and 45% said they supported the move.

“Opposition to recreational marijuana legalization fell substantially over the last three years,” said Jason Husser, director of the Elon Poll and associate professor of political science. “I suspect this is due in large part to the wave of states that have passed legalization measures. Medical marijuana legalization remains broadly supported in every demographic group we examined.”

Support Varies By Age, Political Party

Support for legalizing recreational marijuana varied significantly among different age groups and by political party affiliation, with younger respondents, Democrats, and those associated with neither major party showing a greater likelihood to approve the change.

“We found a major generational gap for recreational marijuana legalization with those under 44 being about twice as likely as those 65 or older to support legalization,” Husser said. “Notably, these large generational differences do not extend to support for medical marijuana and lowering criminal penalties. Most Republicans also supported reducing penalties and legalizing medical marijuana.”

New York legislators have introduced a bill that would legalize smokable hemp flower, something that was conspicuously left out of the state’s recent suite of hemp regulations. 

Earlier this week, A2682/S4340 passed the state legislature’s Health Committee and advanced to the Codes Committee. The bill, introduced by State Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo and State Sen. Michelle Hinchey, proposes direct sales of hemp flower from producers to consumers. 

Last fall, we spoke with Empire Standard CEO Kaelan Castetter, who said that much of the backlash against the state’s hemp and CBD regulations was focused on the flower ban. “It’s a bright spot in the marketplace,” he said, “and many people have been setting up to grow [flower].”

Allan Gandelman, president of the New York Cannabis Growers & Processors Association provided the following statement:

“The New York Cannabis Growers & Process Association is a coalition of New York based hemp growers and processors who actively advocate for laws and regulations that support and encourage a vibrant, diverse, and sustainable cannabis industry. We express our strong support for the passage of A-2682/S-4340 and our members recognize the urgent need to repair harmful regulations proposed by the NYS Department of Health that would prohibit the sale of hemp flower to the consumer.

Momentum is building towards a decision concerning legalising medical cannabis and industrial hemp in The Bahamas.

The Bahamas is a country within the Lucayan Archipelago of the West Indies in the Atlantic, north of Cuba. Home to around 389,000, it consists of more than 700 islands and cays.

The Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Minnis  said last week that his Government is in the process of completing legislation for the legalization of medicinal marijuana in the country to table in Parliament. The comments were made at the commissioning ceremony for the Hope Town Shoreline Stabilization Project according to the Office Of The Prime Minister’s Facebook page.

Legalising medical cannabis has strong support in the island nation, including from the Caribbean Association of Pharmacists (CAP).

“Now, we feel that cannabis is a medicine; that all the scientific data going back decades has already proven this,” said CAP President Dr Marvin Smith.

Sales of marijuana concentrates shot up more than 40 percent last year and accounted for a larger share of the overall cannabis market, as consumers became more comfortable with the intricate process of dabbing and new technology has made the products easier to use.

In addition, some consumers are moving away from vape products because of respiratory-related health concerns and turning to concentrates such as wax, hash and shatter, according to industry insiders.

State Rep. Yadira Caraveo says her proposal to limit the potency of marijuana sold recreationally in Colorado was just in its beginning stages. But when draft legislation was recently leaked and prominent figures in the state’s cannabis industry created an uproar, the measure started unraveling. 

Now, Caraveo, a Thornton Democrat and pediatrician, is backing off parts of the measure and loosening the restrictions in what’s left.

“Given the pushback that we’ve had overall on the bill,” she said, “we really want to streamline it and focus it on the things that we think absolutely need to happen this year.”

A new study that looks at blood pressure in older adults with hypertension saw a connection between cannabis use and a reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, findings that are significant for those who suffer from the two ailments. 

The study, titled “Cannabis is associated with blood pressure reduction in older adults – A 24-hours ambulatory blood pressure monitoring study” carried out by Ran Abuhasira, M.D., of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and his team, located in Israel, and published in the European Journal of Internal Medicine in January of this year, looked at patients 60 or older with hypertension and medical cannabis prescriptions. The study then monitored their rates of use and their blood pressure. The patients then underwent blood tests, monitoring, and other medical procedures during the course of three months, as they actively used cannabis to manage their conditions. 

The researchers looked at a total of 26 cannabis patients, of which exactly 53.8 percent were female. The findings showed that, while no big changes were seen in the ECG exam results of the patients study, blood pressure was overall lower in those with hypertension who were consistently using medical cannabis. 

“The proportion of normal dippers changed from 27.3 percent before treatment to 45.5 percent afterward,” the study said regarding the percentage of people whose blood pressure levels dipped. “No significant changes were seen in the different metabolic parameters assessed by blood tests, anthropometric measurements, or ECG exam.”

“Medical cannabis use is increasing rapidly in the past several years, with older adults being the fastest growing group,” it continued. “Nevertheless, the evidence for cardiovascular safety of cannabis use is scarce. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of cannabis on blood pressure, heart rate, and metabolic parameters in older adults with hypertension.”

Will These 3 Cannabis Stocks Give Investors More Market Value

Currently, in 2021, there has been more money invested in marijuana stocks and the industry as a whole. As the cannabis industry gears up for the potential of federal cannabis reform there is great excitement behind it. Because of this investors have been making sure they don’t miss a good opportunity. This positive sentiment has created some more upward momentum causing some marijuana stocks to reach new all-time highs.

A study found that cannabinoids have the potential to be used as an effective antibacterial agent against dental plaque-associated bacteria.

A January 2020 study published in the Cureus Journal of Medical Science found something remarkable about marijuana’s effect on oral health. The study looked at the effect of marijuana or THC on dental plaque, a film that forms on the teeth and gums that can lead to heart disease. Examining the efficacy of multiple oral care products and cannabinoids together, researchers wanted to gauge which reduced plaque bacteria better.

Featuring 60 adults 18- to 65-years-old, individuals were screened for gum health and placed into six groups, based on their level of gum disease. Researchers scraped each individual in the six groups and placed the samples within individual petri dishes by type.

Photo by Peter Kasprzyk via Unsplash

Petri Dish A included:

Petri Dish B included:

Valentine’s Day is upon us. Here are some gift ideas, from chocolate boxes to fun and relaxing cannabis products.

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and while you won’t be able to comfortably dine out in a restaurant along with other mushy couples, you may still be able to get something good out of Cupid’s day.

February 14 is not really a holiday; it’s more of a glorified occasion where you can have a high stakes date, eat good food, go HAM on a lot of chocolate and spend some time with your partner. Recently, Valentine’s Day has expanded itself; it’s now nice to give gifts to friends and family members, who may be feeling especially more lonely this year. While presents aren’t expected, they’re a thoughtful gesture that can range in price and functionality since V-Day is pretty loose in terms of expectations.

You could go the traditional route with chocolates and flowers, or you could try something new. Here are just a few ideas.

For those who want something relaxing

Everyone wants to relax right now, but sadly it’s becoming increasingly difficult, so we need all the help we can get. There’s tons of stuff that can help you feel relaxed, at least, momentarily. You can gift some regular bath bombs or some with CBD if you want your gift to be extra relaxing, like Vertly’s bath salts. Nourish Mantra makes some great mud masks that contain different products and that feel thick and pleasant on your skin, resulting in a face that feels and looks smooth and clear. Products like Saint Jane look and feel fancy, and can help treat eye bags and while reviving your skin. Before you use, remember to test the product in a small patch of skin.

For those who are all about food

Valentine’s Day is a great day to indulge in your oral senses, whether someone’s cooking for you, take-out is ordered in, or chocolates is consumed. Cookbooks make for great gifts, provided that you don’t imply that your significant other should cook more or cook better, because then you’re just asking for a fight. If you’re interested in wine pairings and food recipes, you can try Washington Wine + Food. If you want something sweeter, you can try Dessert Person. You can also try meal prep kits, such as Hello Fresh and Blue Apron.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem announced on Wednesday that she is seeking to delay the implementation of a successful voter initiative to legalize medical marijuana. The state’s voters approved Initiated Measure 26 (IM 26) to allow qualified patients to use cannabis medicinally in the November general election with nearly 70% of votes cast.

Under South Dakota law, initiatives and amendments are supposed to go into effect on July 1 of the year following passage. But Noem announced this week that she is seeking to delay the implementation of the medical marijuana initiative by one year, with the support of fellow Republicans in the South Dakota Senate and House of Representatives.

“We are working diligently to get IM 26 implemented safely and correctly,” Noem said in a statement released by her office on Wednesday morning. “The feasibility of getting this program up and running well will take additional time. I am thankful to our legislative leaders for helping make sure that we do this right.”

To effect the change, lawmakers introduced House Bill 1100 in the House State Affairs Committee on Wednesday morning. The measure amends a pending state statute prompted by the passage of IM 26 and replaces several instances citing the original start date of the measure with the date “July 1, 2022.” The bill also creates a legislative task force to draft legislation legalizing medical marijuana while addressing issues left unclear in the initiative, such as which methods of consumption should be allowed to comply with a requirement that schools accommodate medical marijuana use by qualified patients.

Consulting Firm Cited To Justify Delay

To justify the delay, Noem cited a letter from Cannabis Public Policy Consulting (CPPC), a firm that has assisted state and local governments across the country and in Canada with the implementation of cannabis legalization measures. According to CPPC, creating a safe, efficient, and effective medical marijuana program takes an average of 14 months.

With its neighboring states embracing marijuana legalization, Connecticut is now ready to get in on the act.

The state’s governor, Ned Lamont, outlined his plan to bring recreational pot to Connecticut in his budget address on Wednesday.

“Now our neighboring states are offering recreational marijuana on a legal and regulated basis,” Lamont, a Democrat, said in a pre-recorded address. “Massachusetts dispensaries are advertising extensively here in Connecticut. And, rather than surrender this market to out-of-staters, or worse, to the unregulated underground market, our budget provides for the legalization of recreational marijuana.”

“These additional revenues will go to distressed communities, which have been hardest hit by the war on drugs,” he continued. “Half the tax revenues should be allocated to PILOT payments, in addition to a three percent local excise tax option. And importantly, my proposed legislation authorizes the automated erasure of criminal records for those with marijuana-related drug possession, convictions, and charges.”

As Lamont noted, Massachusetts voters passed a measure legalizing recreational marijuana for adults in 2016. And his call for Connecticut to end prohibition comes a month after New York’s own Democratic governor, Andrew Cuomo, offered up his own legalization proposal. 

At the behest of the Idaho Farm Bureau, the House Agriculture Committee has voted unanimously to introduce new legislation to legalize industrial hemp in Idaho, for production, processing, transportation and research. The vote clears the way for a full hearing on the bill, which supporters said they hope will settle years of debate about how to allow for industrial hemp production by Idaho agricultural producers without running afoul of concerns about hemp’s psychoactive cousin, marijuana.

Idaho is the last state in the nation to take this step; industrial hemp already is legal in 49 states and at the federal level. You can read my full story here at idahopress.com.

Braden Jensen, lobbyist for the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation, told the lawmakers, "Throughout the country, there are 49 states, two territories and 48 tribes that have legalized industrial hemp in some form or fashion. The Idaho Legislature has considered the issue over the past couple of years, and we bring before you today a new proposal for your consideration."

Jensen said the Farm Bureau worked with stakeholders on the issue including the agriculture industry, the trucking industry, state agencies and law enforcement.

"Our first goal is to legalize the production of industrial hemp in the state," he said. "Second, our goal is to maintain a strong and enforceable drug policy; and third, to work to ensure all stakeholders are comfortable with the proposal that we've developed. ... I do not pretend that everybody will love every aspect of the proposal that is before you. Nevertheless, it does represent a certain level of consensus among the stakeholders."

About $31 million from adult-use cannabis taxes is going to nonprofits in Illinois as part of the Restore, Reinvest and Renew, or R3 program, and it’s not all going to Chicago.

Cannabis sales for January neared $90 million. Since adult-use sales began in January 2020, nearly $757.9 million in cannabis has been sold. The taxes on that can be more than 40%, depending on the potency and whether a local sales tax is added on to the state taxes.

For the state’s taxes, the total collected from January 2020 through last month totaled more than $205.4 million dollars.

Floridians said they believe hemp businesses will boom this year and are hopeful about it.

“It’s just everything we worked on for two years is now in front of you. It’s very exciting,” said Holly Bell, the Director of Cannabis for the Florida Department of Agriculture.

Bell said she could barely contain her excitement looking at all the harvested plants in the middle of a greenhouse in Central Florida. 

Bell said she knows that 2021 is the year for hemp to take over.

“What we’re seeing in our preliminary numbers from our economists in our groups is tax revenues in the first full 12 months around $17 million,” Bell said.

Marijuana’s slow but steady movement towards federal legalization has been heavily documented, gaining support across the nation and with more and more medical and recreational programs gaining approval. But there remains a lot of mystery in the purchase process, with many turning to black market marijuana because it seems simpler and less intimidating than legal weed.

Legal marijuana still has some growing pains, but it has slowly become a simple and more intuitive process. Now, depending on the state where you live, you’re able to purchase marijuana online, at times having it delivered or scheduled for pick-up. Here’s how to buy weed on the web.

Do Your Research

When ordering marijuana flower and marijuana products, it’s important to account for where you live, since you won’t have access to these services if you live in an illegal state.

Your second step is to get very informed and to be sure that you’re not falling for any scams or sketchy websites. The website you’re ordering from should look legitimate, like it was designed in this century, and should also have recommendations from publications and reviews from different customers. When scrolling through these reviews, make sure they use different words and ways of expressing themselves; this suggests they’re not a bot.

While there are websites out there where you can purchase marijuana products directly, there are others that can connect you with dispensaries. This latter option might be better for someone who wants to talk to a budtender regarding their marijuana purchase, who can make recommendations on the types of products that work best for them.