Month: January 2024

2024 is going to be a crazy year for cannabis businesses and investors. Among many other things, there will be a general election, possible rescheduling to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), an upcoming Farm Bill that could re-tool how hemp and hemp products are regulated, and maybe even some federal cannabis legislation. Okay, that last one is probably a longshot given how incompetent Congress has been on cannabis, but we’ll see.

Changes in law lead to a lot of predatory conduct. Even the mere possibility of changes leads to predatory conduct. This means that both existing cannabis businesses, as well as investors, have a huge amount of risk going into the new year.

Our cannabis business attorneys have been representing clients in the cannabis industry since 2010. During that time, we’ve seen the industry face a whole host of problems. Today I want to talk about some of the biggest potential risks that I think cannabis businesses and investors will face in 2024.

1. The unrelenting illegal market will get worse

I’ve been writing about the illegal market problem forever. Just look at what I’ve written about for California. The illegal market is not going away. It has

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Oneida Indian Nation Homelands — On January 3, Verona Collective will open its first dispensary with a soft opening featuring a selection of the products most desired by cannabis aficionados.

Verona Collective has prioritized the products most desired by cannabis enthusiasts for its soft opening, including cannabis flower and pre-rolls from its brands Trim & Proper, CNY Provisions and Fair Shake. Guests may purchase up to 3 ounces of cannabis flower each day, and pre-rolls will be offered in individual 1-gram and 5-pack options.

As a seed-to-sale operation, Verona Collective is committed to maintaining the highest standards and exceeding guest expectations for all of its products. Verona Collective will make available additional products, including vape cartridges and edibles, with an official grand opening and full spectrum of products anticipated early next year.

“Verona Collective’s approach to cannabis production permits an intensely hands-on quality control process that helps us offer guests an unrivaled level of quality,” Ryan Riggs, Vice President for Retail for Turning Stone Enterprises, said in a news release from OIN. “We are very excited about the high-quality cannabis our team is producing, and this soft opening provides an opportunity for guests to experience our products as we continue to

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With six marijuana dispensaries now operating in McHenry County – five opening in 2023 alone – the county and host communities have started to reap the rewards of extra tax dollars.

McHenry County received $868,190 in cannabis tax revenue during the fiscal year that ended Nov. 30, 2023, according to McHenry County communications and project manager Alicia Schueller.

Over 30% of the total tax revenue was generated between the months of June through August, collecting $273,180, Schueller said, adding the money is “placed into the general fund to reduce the need for property tax revenues.”

The expansion in McHenry County’s marijuana footprint has came with some pushback from State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally, who threatened to sue dispensaries that wouldn’t comply with posting warnings about the mental health risks of using marijuana. All the dispensaries have agreed to post the warnings, Kenneally told the Northwest Herald last week.

People look at available products during an open house Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, at the Ivy Hall Crystal Lake, a social equity-licensed cannabis dispensary that recently opened at 501 Pingree Road in Crystal Lake. (Gregory Shaver — gshaver@shawmedia.com/Gregory Shaver – gshaver@shawmed)

The signs say: “WARNING: Cannabis use may contribute to mental health problems, including psychotic disorders such

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If the history of legal weed in New Jersey is a book, we’re about to hit the climax.

The first chapter was the birth of the medical marijuana program, handed over to a governor who didn’t want it. The second chapter was the push for an eventual legalization of recreational marijuana and, in the third chapter, the creation of an actual cannabis market in the Garden State.

Now, New Jersey is sitting at the start of its next chapter: The transition of the cannabis industry from an upstart, fledgling market into a booming one.

As New Jersey enters its second full year of legal weed, it sits at the precipice of significant change. New dispensaries opened at a rate of more than one per week, as customers spent nearly $600 million on legal weed in the first nine months alone.

BRIDGEPORT — After officials’ initial hesitancy to embrace the industry, this year will be a significant one for legalized cannabis in Bridgeport, with the launch of the city’s first dispensary and a handful of other sites poised to follow.

Ray Pantalena, operator of New Haven-based Affinity, which sells recreational and medical marijuana, said last week that his Bridgeport operation, following months of preparation, is finally opening in early January. The city’s zoning commission approved his application for an existing office/industrial building at 15 Dewey St. between Interstate 95 and Mountain Grove Cemetery last February.

“We had to develop plans, had to go through the building permit process and then construction,” Pantalena said in a recent interview. 

Last on the to-do list was to obtain the state license, which online records show was issued by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Thursday and will remain active until Feb. 27, 2025.

Pantalena, who has been a pharmacist for about 30 years, refers to the Bridgeport location as a “superstore.” It is about 8,000 square feet, double the size of the New Haven-based Affinity.

“We’re excited,” Pantalena said, adding he and his colleagues have done their best to assuage any concerns locals might

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PINEVILLE, Mo. (KNWA/KFTA) — Flora Farms is closing its Neosho location and opening a new marijuana dispensary in Pineville, Missouri, on Friday, concerning police in Northwest Arkansas.

The new location at 70 Missouri Lane is less than one mile from the Arkansas border — a state that, unlike the “Show Me State,” does not allow recreational marijuana use. As a result, some Northwest Arkansas police departments are concerned about residents crossing the border to purchase marijuana to bring back to “The Natural State.”

“The state line coincides with almost our city limits, so there is a high traffic on Highway 59 that comes through,” Captain Dana Winn of the Sulphur Springs Police Department said. “So there is a little bit of concern that we’re going to be having Arkansas residents go to Missouri and purchase marijuana.”

Five new 2024 Arkansas laws worth knowing

Marijuana is legal for Arkansas residents with a medical card. The law states that medical cardholders can purchase up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana from a legal dispensary every 14 days.

Cancer, glaucoma, post-traumatic stress disorder and severe nausea are among the qualifying conditions for Arkansas residents to obtain a medical

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Just a little more than a month after opening a local recreational cannabis dispensary is closing its doors.

The owner of High Points in Geneva was one of the first in our region to receive a Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary, or CAURD, license back in June. In working to open, they obtained a permit through the state’s cannabis growers showcase — a program that expired at year’s end.

The owner says he’ll close the store Wednesday until further notice, and with no word from the state as to how to proceed.

Meantime, the Office of Cannabis management could go back into limbo, with two more companies filing a federal lawsuit last week putting the CAURD licensing process on hold once again.

We’ve reached out to the state for more details but haven’t heard back.

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Elevate Cannabis Dispensary is the first recreational dispensary to open in Westchester County, in the City of Mt. Vernon, setting the standard and leading the way in the region.

Elevate is located at 127 South Terrace Avenue, Mt. Vernon, NY 10550 and have pick up hours from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM. And from time to time we hold extended hours called “Elevate Nights”, where we remain open until 2:00 AM to support special entertainment, regional commerce, and tourism-based events daily.

Explore our ONLINE MENU to purchase recreational cannabis, featuring a comprehensive collection of top-tier products, all locally sourced and adhering to the highest quality standards.

Our commitment is to offer exceptional service, ensuring you achieve your desired state of elevation. Our diverse range includes EDIBLES, FLOWERS, VAPES, CBD products, THC-infused beverages, oils, and beauty items, all designed to cater to a variety of needs for both humans and pets.

A healthy body and mind are foundational to performing well in any endeavor, from daily life to work and play.

When considering New Year’s resolutions related to health and well-being, incorporating natural products into your lifestyle could be a beneficial strategy. Studies have shown that various natural compounds can

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A judge temporarily blocked Alabama from issuing licenses to medical marijuana dispensaries amid an ongoing legal battle over how the state selected the winning companies.

Montgomery Circuit Judge James Anderson issued a temporary restraining order late Thursday to stop the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission from issuing licenses to the four dispensaries. The licenses will be on hold while he hears a challenge to the selection process.

The court order is the latest development in an ongoing legal battle that has plagued the start of Alabama’s medical marijuana program. Alabama lawmakers voted to allow medical marijuana in the state in 2021. Commission officials are aiming to make the products available in 2024 after a series of delays.

SEE ALSO: Alabama aims to get medical marijuana program started in 2024

SEE ALSO: Alabama begins tax exemption for overtime pay with new year

The ruling affects only the dispensaries. Brittany Peters, a spokeswoman for the commission, said Friday that the commission has issued licenses to other companies that were selected to cultivate, transport, and test marijuana.

The commission next month is set to issue the coveted “integrated” licenses for multifunctional companies that grow, transport and sell medical marijuana. Anderson has not yet ruled on a

Read More Here...

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A judge temporarily blocked Alabama from issuing licenses to medical marijuana dispensaries amid an ongoing legal battle over how the state selected the winning companies.

Montgomery Circuit Judge James Anderson issued a temporary restraining order late Thursday to stop the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission from issuing licenses to the four dispensaries. The licenses will be on hold while he hears a challenge to the selection process.

The court order is the latest development in an ongoing legal battle that has plagued the start of Alabama’s medical marijuana program. Alabama lawmakers voted to allow medical marijuana in the state in 2021. Commission officials are aiming to make the products available in 2024 after a series of delays.

SEE ALSO: Alabama aims to get medical marijuana program started in 2024

SEE ALSO: Alabama begins tax exemption for overtime pay with new year

The ruling affects only the dispensaries. Brittany Peters, a spokeswoman for the commission, said Friday that the commission has issued licenses to other companies that were selected to cultivate, transport, and test marijuana.

The commission next month is set to issue the coveted “integrated” licenses for multifunctional companies that grow, transport and sell medical marijuana. Anderson has not yet ruled on a

Read More Here...