Cannabis Concentrates in Washington State: Production, Types, Techniques, and Legality

Table of Contents

Cannabis concentrates have become a cornerstone of modern cannabis consumption, offering a potent, clean, and diverse way to experience cannabinoids and terpenes. These products, ranging from shatter to wax and live resin, are derived through sophisticated extraction methods that deliver enhanced flavors and intensities for consumers. For both seasoned cannabis users and industry professionals, understanding the nuances of concentrations is essential.

However, questions are frequently entertained as to whether high potency concentrates are safe for consumers, and what if any action Washington lawmakers (as well as lawmakers in other states) will take. Until then, it is business as usual for cannabis concentrate producers, and business is booming. So, let’s take a look at what concentrates are, how they are made, and what products consumers enjoy as a result of this innovative technique for cannabis enjoyment.

What are cannabis concentrates?

Cannabis concentrates are products derived from the cannabis plant that are rich in cannabinoids (such as THC or CBD) and terpenes. These are the components that have psychoactive qualities and make you feel good. By extracting and isolating these compounds from plant material, producers create a variety of potent and flavorful products seen in retail stores

Read More Here...

Cannabis Legalization Bill Introduced in Texas

A broad cannabis legalization bill has been introduced in Texas. The measure, proposed by Democratic State Rep. Jessica González, would legalize cannabis for adult use, create a licensing system for businesses, and impose a 10% excise tax on sales.

The bill was introduced last month, before the recent campaign by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) to push lawmakers to ban all THC products in the state next year, including hemp-derived intoxicating THC such as delta-8 and delta-10 products.  

The bill introduced by González includes personal possession limits higher than those in states that have already passed similar reforms, allowing possession up to 10 ounces of cannabis at individual residences as long as it is stored in a secure location.  

Cannabis possession of personal amounts is legal in a handful of Texas cities – including Austin, Bastrop, Dallas, Denton, Elgin, Killeen, and Lockhart – due to ballot initiatives; however, state Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed lawsuits against several of the cities saying the measures violate state law.   

Medical cannabis is legal in Texas but only for a very limited number of medical conditions and only

Read More Here...

Average Price Per Ounce of Cannabis in Ohio Falls $50; Sales Hit $215M+ Through Four Months

The average price for an ounce of legal cannabis in Ohio has fallen about $50 since the launch of adult-use sales four months ago, MI Tech News reports. In August, the average price for an ounce of cannabis in Ohio’s legal marketplace was $261.50; the price as of December 16 was $211. 

Adult-use cannabis sales have also dominated medical cannabis sales, with adult-use sales nearly doubling medical cannabis sales in the state since the launch of the adult-use program. Nonmedical cannabis sales totaled $215,274,782 during the first four months of the program, according to Division of Cannabis Control (DCC) data outlined by MI Tech News.  

According to DCC data, adult-use sales are nearly twice as common as medical sales, but nonmedical sales have also comprised 5% more of total sales each month by receipt data than they have in total sales by dollar amount. Nonmedical sales in August, for example, made up 58% of total sales and 63% of total transactions, and the trend continues almost to the exact percentage – in November, adult-use sales comprised 65% of total sales in dollars and 70.5% of total transactions. This trend is despite adult-use

Read More Here...

Study: CBD Reduces Alcohol Cravings Among Addicts

A recent study published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry found that cannabidiol (CBD), a cannabinoid abundant in cannabis and hemp plants, could be effective at reducing alcohol cravings among individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD).

For the study, which was conducted at the Central Institute of Mental Health in Mannheim, Germany, researchers recruited 28 non-treatment-seeking individuals with mild to severe AUD via online portals, social media, and newsletters. Participants were aged between 18-60 years old, and they were randomly assigned to receive either 800 mg of CBD or a matching placebo for the study. Participants were asked to abstain from drinking for 24 hours beforehand and, upon arrival, they were given either the CBD or the placebo capsule. After some time, the participants were exposed to stress tests and “alcohol cue exposure in a bar laboratory setting, which has been established and validated in previous studies as an experimental intervention for the induction of alcohol craving,” the authors wrote.

Participants who were given the CBD capsules reported “significantly lower alcohol cravings,” the researchers said.

The study authors cited “preclinical data suggesting that CBD is effective in targeting AUD symptoms and disease processes that drive alcohol use and relapse, due to its

Read More Here...

Oklahoma Lost One-Third of Its Medical Cannabis Business Licenses This Year

The number of medical cannabis business licenses in Oklahoma fell by a third in 2024 as the industry experienced its second year of downturn after lawmakers passed a bill in 2022 to rein in the state’s initially rampant cannabis sector, The Oklahoman reports.

Data from the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority shows that the total number of cannabis business licenses in the state — including dispensaries, cultivators, processors, and transporters — dropped from about 8,700 a year ago to just 5,811 by the end of 2024.

Lawmakers set a moratorium on the licensing of new medical cannabis businesses in 2022, which will expire in 2026. While the moratorium is in effect, anyone wishing to acquire a medical cannabis license in Oklahoma will need to purchase one from an existing licensee, and regulators must approve the transaction, the report said.

Oklahoma’s initially lax medical cannabis rules did not include a licensing cap and, with a fairly low barrier to entry, the industry quickly ballooned to become far larger than what Oklahoma patients require.

Earlier this year, the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority announced layoffs for 10% of its employees to match the industry’s continued downturn.

Get daily cannabis business news updates. Subscribe

Have

Read More Here...

Cannabis Paraphernalia: Protecting Your Brand Amid Federal Prohibition

Table of Contents

The days of smoking cannabis out of apples is over. Smoking devices are readily accessible in tobacco shops and cannabis retailers, and their production and sale are big business. Creative shapes and sizes impress and create unique smoking experiences. However, as states across the U.S. continue to legalize cannabis for medical and recreational use, the legal status of cannabis paraphernalia—such as bongs, pipes, and rolling papers—remains a gray area due to ongoing federal prohibition of these devices. However, that does not mean that companies producing these products cannot seek protection of their intellectual property on the state and federal levels. And with a little creative tact, companies can find ways to federally protect their brands.

What are drug paraphernalia?

The term “drug paraphernalia” refers to any equipment used to produce, conceal, or consume illicit drugs. Under federal law, this encompasses:

“any equipment, product or material of any kind which is primarily intended or designed for use in manufacturing, compounding, converting, concealing, producing, processing, preparing, injecting, ingesting, inhaling, or otherwise introducing into the human body a controlled substance.”

Examples of paraphernalia include:

Pipes: Made from various materials such as metal, glass, wood, or ceramic. Water

Read More Here...

Ohio Cannabis Rules Update Would Allow Pre-Rolls

Ohio cannabis manufacturers and retailers could soon begin offering pre-roll products under new industry rules recently unveiled by the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control, WCPO reports.

The proposal, currently under review by the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program, would permit licensed processors to manufacture and sell pre-rolled cannabis joints. Advocates argue that pre-rolls offer convenience for patients and recreational users, while regulators are focused on ensuring product safety and compliance. The move reflects a broader trend in cannabis markets across the U.S. to diversify product offerings and enhance consumer accessibility.

Supporters of the proposal emphasize that pre-rolls are a widely popular product in other legal cannabis markets, often serving as an affordable, ready-to-use option for consumers. For patients with limited mobility or dexterity, pre-rolls can eliminate barriers to access by simplifying the consumption process. Additionally, dispensaries could benefit from increased sales and an expanded product portfolio.

Opponents, however, have raised concerns about potential regulatory challenges and the risk of inconsistent quality. Critics argue that strict oversight will be needed to ensure that pre-rolled products meet Ohio’s testing standards and labeling requirements. Regulators are expected to weigh these considerations as part of the approval process.

“This change would represent a step

Read More Here...

Tennessee to Pay $735k Settlement Over Hemp Seizures

Tennessee state officials and city officials in Spring Hills have agreed to pay a $735,000 settlement to two hemp companies over the contested seizure of their products earlier this year, WKRN reports.

The lawsuit stemmed from the May 2023 seizure, during which authorities allegedly confiscated legal hemp products without proper justification. The case highlighted ongoing tensions between law enforcement and hemp operators over product legality and regulatory understanding. As part of the settlement, officials did not admit wrongdoing but agreed to the payout to resolve the dispute.

“This settlement is more than a financial recovery — it’s a critical statement about law enforcement’s responsibility to understand and respect the law. Hemp is a legal agricultural product, and businesses should not live in fear of arbitrary seizures based on ignorance.” — Litson PLLC attorney Alex Little, in a statement

The settlement marks another win for Tennessee hemp operators after a Nashville judge this week blocked the rollout of new hemp products restrictions, which had been challenged by two industry groups.

Get daily cannabis business news updates. Subscribe

Have an additional perspective to share? Send us a message to let us know, and if your comment is chosen by

Read More Here...

Tennessee Judge Delays New Hemp Product Regulations

Tennesse’s new hemp product regulations were blocked from taking effect this week in a last-minute ruling by Davidson County Chancellor I’Ashea Myles, who ordered a temporary injunction Monday on the new rules, Tennessee Lookout reports.

The rules were set to take effect Thursday, December 26, but under the injunction are now delayed until February 18.

Judge Myles said the delay gives her more time to consider legal challenges brought by two hemp industry organizations, Tennessee Healthy Alternatives Association and Tennessee Growers Coalition, the report said. The plaintiffs claim the rules would amount to state agency overreach, as officials would be prohibiting a substance that was not addressed by lawmakers in their 2023 law to regulate the state’s hemp industry.

“The Department of Agriculture wants to unilaterally outlaw the most popular legal hemp products in Tennessee, those containing THCa. The Tennessee Healthy Alternatives Association did not want to sue the Department, but it could not stand by in the face of such a decision. The Department’s rules outlaw products our elected officials in the General Assembly expressly legalized and would force mass layoffs and business closures among our members.” — Tennessee Healthy Alternatives Association, via Tennessee Lookout

The Department of Agriculture

Read More Here...

Poll: 59% of German Citizens Back Broad Cannabis Legalization

Nearly 60% of German citizens support broad cannabis legalization in the nation, according to a German Hemp Association poll published last week. The poll found 59% of respondents backed the reforms, the highest level recorded by the organization in the 10 years it has polled German citizens on the legalization question.  

The German government had initially put forth legislation to enact adult-use cannabis possession and sales reforms; however, the law that took effect April 1 allows only personal cannabis use. 

The German Hemp Association poll, conducted by market research and polling company Infratest Dimap, asked: “In Canada and many US states, adults can legally purchase cannabis in specialty stores. Do you tend to agree or disagree with the following statement? ‘Cannabis should be available to adults in Germany legally and in a regulated manner, for example in specialty stores like in Canada or the USA.’”  

Support was highest among Green Party (78%) and Social Democratic Party (SPD) voters (63%) – the left-wing political parties in Germany – while only 46% of supporters of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU) backed the reforms.  

Read More Here...