Guest Post: How Home Grow Can Help Boost Dispensary Revenue – Heady NJ

Governor Phil Murphy said he does not support legal cannabis home grow in NJ because he wants to give the new market time to flourish. But is this even a logical and valid point?

Or is it the case that, once again, lawmakers are so completely out of touch with reality and information, knowledge, science, and wisdom about cannabis that they’re leading us from a place of utter blindness?

Sativa Cross, along with other New Jersey cannabis advocates and professionals, held a protest for legal home growth last week at the State House to get their attention.

There is zero evidence to support the claim that home grow damages the conventional markets. Some people suggest it’s quite the opposite.

See Legal NJ Cannabis, Buy More Legal NJ Cannabis

A cannabis plant is truly free advertising for dispensaries. A beautiful plant in a friend’s yard is the billboard for cannabis products that reminds shoppers they need to swing through the dispensary on the way home.

Live plants are especially educational. They convey harmlessness. This can stimulate curiosity in dispensary products and convert the wary into shoppers.

Home grows help spread awareness about cannabis plants in a different way than cannabis marketers

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Breaking News; Dispensary Openings; Legal Wrangling; Cannabis Licensing – Rockland County Business Journal

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New Lawsuit Challenges Licensing and Fee Schedule Advantages For Women and Minorities; Claims White Men Denied Equal Protection

January 25, 2024 – A lawsuit filed yesterday in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York challenges the advantages given to women and minority applicants in retail licensing by the Office of Cannabis Management. The plaintiff, Valencia AG, LLC, based in Jamesville, NY is owned by “males of light pigmentation who might best be described as Caucasian or white men,” according to the complaint. Valencia filed an application with OCM on October 12, 2023 seeking a microbusiness cannabis license. Not falling into any of the categories for SEE status, Valencia was unable to request any sort of priority status in its application.

Believing that priority would be given to applicants that attested they either owned or rented space that was immediately ready to open, and relying

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Florida House advances more restrictive dispensary, vape shop proximity rules – Green Market Report

With hopes high for an adult-use vote this fall, the Florida Legislature advanced a bill to limit where new dispensaries can set up shop.

House Bill 1053, which unanimously cleared committee on Thursday, proposes to increase the minimum distance required between cannabis cultivation, processing, and dispensary centers from the existing 500 feet to 1,500 feet, while also extending the buffer zone from K-12 schools to daycare centers, churches, and post-secondary educational institutions.

Sources in the state told Green Market Report that the implications of such a modification are far-reaching, as it imposes far stricter zoning regulations than those currently in place. The rules could derail plans for numerous applicants set to launch operations in the state this July.

More specifically, the expansion of proximity rules would severely impact site selection for new applicants and even newer license holders who are in the process of expanding their retail presence, especially in densely populated areas.

“It’s going to be hard pressed, especially in populated areas, to find locations,” said Matthew Ginder, a partner in the cannabis law practice group at Greenspoon Marder.

According to Sally Peebles, a Jacksonville-based attorney with Vicente, the bill would particularly affect the slew of new licensees looking to

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Connecticut ‘Loophole’ Allows THC Beverage Sales In Liquor Stores

Some Connecticut liquor stores and other markets have started selling THC-infused seltzers under a “loophole” relating to product serving sizes, according to a CT Insider report.

Under state law in Connecticut — where cannabis was made legal in 2021 and later became available for purchase by adults in January 2023 — cannabis consumables including flower products, concentrates, and infused edibles and beverages are only available for purchase via state-licensed dispensaries. But lately, some THC-infused seltzer products are also being retailed in other markets including convenience stores and state-licensed liquor stores following adjustments to the products’ listed serving sizes in what insiders are calling a “loophole” in state law, the report said.

Per a Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection spokesperson, “a package containing less than 1 milligram of THC per serving and less than 5 milligrams per package is not considered cannabis, and may be produced and sold without a license.”

Some manufacturers, according to the report, are taking advantage by creating products that contain fewer than five milligrams of THC overall and labeling them as being more than five servings, regardless of the product’s volume (typically 7.5 or 12 ounces).

State Rep. Michael D’Agostino (D) said that lawmakers are planning

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Delaware House Votes for Medical Cannabis Program Expansions

Lawmakers in the Delaware House of Representatives voted this week in favor of a proposal that would expand the state’s medical cannabis program by letting patients aged 65 or older self-certify for the program, Marijuana Moment reports. The self-certification process would not require a doctor’s input.

The bill would also remove the program’s medical condition-based eligibility requirements in favor of allowing doctors to certify for medical cannabis access anyone that they believe would benefit from the program.

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Ed Osienski (D), said that the bill was crafted according to feedback from the state’s cannabis patients.

“Drawing from their insights, we identified numerous ways to improve our medical marijuana program. HB 285 recognizes the need to remove outdated restrictions and breaks down the barriers that hinder patients who could truly benefit from improved access to medical marijuana.” — Rep. Osienski, via Marijuana Moment

The bill passed the House in a 22-10 vote on Thursday and moves next to the state Senate for consideration, where a companion version of the bill has been sponsored by Sen. Kyra Hoffner (D).

“…It is time to update our medical marijuana law and make it easier for the people who rely on these

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FREE Cannabis Loans and Investments Webinar: February 28th

Register Here

Please join us for our latest cannabis business webinar, focused on “Cannabis Loans and Investments”.

In 2024, a constellation of factors makes things very interesting for both cannabis industry investors and businesses:

More states are open for business and investment than ever before In the macroeconomic environment, interest rates are high (especially compared to a few years back), but rates are projected to come down again Many cannabis businesses are struggling, but marijuana may move to Schedule III at some point this year, increasing margins

Whether you’re an investor eyeing favorable debt or equity terms, or a cannabis entrepreneur seeking to secure finance, this webinar has you covered. Equip yourself with financial insights that can help you stride confidently in this ever-evolving industry.

Topics of focus:

The intricacies of the cannabis financial landscape Risk management Navigating lending complexities Capitalizing on investment opportunities Potential impacts of the proposed re-scheduling of marijuana

We’ll also tackle some of the pressing issues such as regulatory challenges and how to navigate the cannabis industry with secure financial strategies.

Don’t miss out: this is your step towards becoming a well-informed player in the world of cannabis loans and investments.

Register

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THC-infused buffalo wing sauce coming to Chicago-area dispensaries – Chicago Sun-Times

Watching the Super Bowl with a few buds? A new twist on a big game staple is sure to spark up some conversations.

Good News cannabis brand and Chicago sports bar the Fifty/50 have teamed up to create THC-infused buffalo wing sauce, according to a news release from Cresco Labs, which is behind several weed brands, including Good News.

“The Fifty/50 is all about bringing people together around sports and great food, and our hope is that the new Big Game wing sauce will foster a sense of camaraderie among Super Bowl fans — regardless of who wins or loses,” said Matt Miller, head of operations at the Fifty/50. “Whoever you host at your house this Super Bowl will definitely be talking about your buffalo wings for years to come.”

The Big Game sauce will be available for purchase starting Friday while supplies last at Sunnyside dispensaries in River North, Wrigleyville, Buffalo Grove and Schaumburg, Cresco said.

Each 10-ounce container features the Fifty/50’s mild buffalo sauce infused with 100 milligrams of THC. It sells for $30 and is for adults 21 and over.

Buffalo wings are the most popular Super Bowl food in Illinois, according to an analysis

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Dispensary owners defend employee who is facing incarceration for probation violation – The Journal News

When Christopher Weldon and his wife Shirley Xu-Weldon decided they wanted to hire Moises Reynaga full time for their planned cannabis dispensary in White Plains, they did what they do with all prospective employees: they ran a background check.

That turned up a 2016 arrest warrant for Reynaga, a 33-year-old Stamford, Connecticut man who skipped out on probation following his convictions on drug charges in White Plains and Connecticut.

The Weldons, whose Cat Rock CAURD LLC, is the first Westchester business awarded a Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary license by New York State, weren’t surprised or bothered by the probation violation.

They went to bat for Reynaga, saying he was a changed man, a talented, compassionate young businessman who had been forthcoming about his legal troubles. They urged Westchester Judge George Fufidio to show Reynaga leniency as he weighs the probation violation.

“Moe is not a violent criminal,” Xu-Weldon told the judge in a letter last month, adding that he was eager to make up for his mistakes of a decade ago. “He is a sweet, kind-hearted teddy bear who always has a smile on his face.”

But Fufidio countered at a court hearing that such advocacy was misplaced and did not adequately address that Reynaga

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Meriden’s second cannabis dispensary opens on Broad St – CT Insider

Mark Rubie, state manager for Rejoice, adds an “Open Now” sticker to a sign in front of the new cannabis dispensary at 834 Broad St. in Meriden, Monday, January 29, 2024.

Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media

Budtenders Nick Dionne, left, and Connor Pollick, right, assist customer Francisco Santiago, of New Haven, at Rejoice, a new cannabis dispensary at 834 Broad St. in Meriden, Monday, January 29, 2024.

Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media

Mark Rubie, state manager for Rejoice, adds an “Open Now” sticker to a sign in front of the new cannabis dispensary at 834 Broad St. in Meriden, Monday, January 29, 2024.

Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media

Mark Rubie, state manager for Rejoice, helps a customer at the new cannabis dispensary at 834 Broad St. in Meriden, Monday, January 29, 2024.

Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media

A cannabis flower display stacked behind the counter of Rejoice, a new cannabis dispensary at 834 Broad St. in Meriden, Monday, January 29, 2024.

Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media

FILE PHOTO: Rejoice cannabis opened last week in Meriden. 

Dave Zajac / Hearst Connecticut Media

MERIDEN — The vacant former Webster Bank building off the I-691 eastbound ramp has new life with the opening of the city’s second hybrid cannabis dispensary to medical and recreational customers.

Rejoice cannabis store

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Legally Rooted celebrates 1 year of business in Meridian – WTOK

MERIDIAN, Miss. (WTOK) -Legally Rooted celebrates its one-year anniversary of opening here in Meridian.

The cannabis dispensary shop, located here in Meridian, is one of Mississippi’s first medical cannabis dispensaries and the first dispensary in Lauderdale County.

They’re open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 8 pm and 12 pm to 6 pm on Sundays.

“It’s amazing, I would not have ever thought that Mississippi would be offering the ability to offering to sell medical cannabis, much less being a year into it. It has been an amazing year, we’ve helped so many patients, it’s been a life lesson for me seeing all these patients that are going through troubles, and I’m just so happy we can be here for everyone it’s just a blessing,” says Partner of Legally Rooted Wayne Williams.

Wayne says he cannot wait to see what the rest of the future holds for Legally Rooted, as he is very excited to continue to help those who are in need.

If you have any questions, you can call 601-512-2140.

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