Category: Marijuana News

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The U.S. Bankruptcy Appellate Panel has found that an employee of a state-licensed cannabis business could not avail himself of Chapter 13 protection.

The debtor, Scott Blumsack, is a full-time employee of Society Cannabis Co., a Clinton, Massachusetts-based retailer, wholesaler and producer of cannabis products. He manages one of its retail operations and supervises 19 other employees.

When Blumsack petitioned for bankruptcy under Chapter 13, he sought to fund his plan with income from his $75,000-a-year job with Society.

A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge dismissed Blumsack’s petition, finding that because the sale of cannabis is still illegal under the federal Controlled Substances Act, or CSA, Blumsack’s plan should not be confirmed and his petition should be dismissed.

While finding that the Bankruptcy Court erred in fashioning a rule that employees in the cannabis industry are flatly barred from seeking Chapter 13 relief, the BAP affirmed dismissal of Blumsack’s petition.

“[T]he nature of the debtor’s employment, by itself, does not render him ineligible to file a chapter 13 petition in good faith [but] his Plan would have funneled his income from the dispensary into the chapter 13 trustee’s office, and from there to creditors, bringing the proceeds

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The New York State Cannabis Control Board voted last week to award licenses to 114 new cannabis companies and waive all conditional cannabis cultivator licensing fees for the next two years. The waiver covers fees for dispensaries transitioning to non-conditional license types including cultivation businesses and microbusinesses, which can range from $4,500 to $40,000 depending on the license’s canopy size.

With the new licenses, there are now 88 licensed and operational dispensaries in New York, according to a press release from the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul (D).

“Farmers are the backbone of our State, and we’re making sure the family farms across New York that are building our cannabis industry have a real chance to succeed. I have made it clear that New York State needs to issue more dispensary licenses and kickstart cannabis sales in New York, and this two-year promise to Adult-Use Conditional Cultivators will make sure these farmers can reap the benefits of this growing industry.” — Hochul, in a statement

The governor has heavily critiqued the state’s adult-use cannabis roll-out and recently ordered an audit of the entire program, tasking a commissioner from the Office of General Services and other state officials to embed with

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California lawmakers could roll back the state’s policy protecting legal, off-duty cannabis use for law enforcement-related positions following new amendments to legislation currently sitting before the Senate Rules Committee, Marijuana Moment reports.

Sponsored by state Sen. Shannon Grove (R), the newly amended SB 1264 seeks to remove protections for “employees in sworn or nonsworn positions within law enforcement agencies” who consume cannabis while off-duty.

Currently, state law prohibits most California employers from terminating, refusing to hire, or otherwise penalizing employees for off-duty cannabis consumption. The cannabis employment protections — which stem from an amendment to California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act that just took effect this year — already did not apply to workers “in the building and construction trades” nor applicants for federal positions that require clearance from the U.S. Department of Defense.

Specifically, the legislation carves away the cannabis protections for workers with the following law enforcement-related responsibilities, according to the report:

The apprehension, incarceration, or correction of criminal offenders. Civil enforcement matters. Dispatch and other public safety communications. Evidence gathering and processing. Law enforcement records. Animal control. Community services duties. Public administrator or public guardian duties. Coroner functions.

California voters opted to legalize cannabis for

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In a shift reflecting America’s changing attitudes towards cannabis, the number of cannabis dispensaries has surpassed that of McDonald’s Corp. MCD restaurants, showing an evolution in consumer trends and legal frameworks. With a majority of the U.S. population now living in states where recreational marijuana use is legal, the industry’s expansion is now noticeable.

A Nationwide Transformation

Recent analyses by the Pew Research Center highlight that over half of Americans reside in areas permitting recreational cannabis use, a mere twelve years following Colorado and Washington’s leading legalization efforts. 

Additionally, an overwhelming 74% of Americans are in states where marijuana use, whether for recreational or medical purposes, is lawful. This surge has led to the establishment of nearly 15,000 cannabis dispensaries nationwide, outstripping the approximate 13,500 McDonald’s locations in 2023.

California boasts the highest number of dispensaries, contributing a quarter to the nation’s total, whereas Oklahoma has emerged with the highest density of dispensaries per capita.

Challenges And Opportunities In Retail Cannabis

Joe Lustberg, managing partner at Upwise Capital and upcoming Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference speaker, brings an optimistic yet pragmatic perspective to the burgeoning retail cannabis market. 

“It’s all about location and good capitalization,” Lustberg told Benzinga, stressing the role of retail in the cannabis ecosystem, especially as cultivators and processors seek viable outlets for

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BRAINERD — With last year’s legalization of recreational marijuana in Minnesota, Brainerd officials are looking to get ahead of demand and create citywide guidelines for cannabis dispensaries in the city.

While city staff have not yet heard from anyone with intentions of opening a dispensary, they’d like to have regulations in place if and when the time comes.

Planning Commission members reviewed proposed language for an ordinance during their meeting Wednesday, March 20. Community Development Director James Kramvik said he reviewed legislation from other municipalities when drafting the language for Brainerd.

Commission Chair Don Gorham asked if there was any guidance from the state Office of Cannabis Management, and Kramvik said it sounds like the department is understaffed at this time and doesn’t plan on issuing statewide regulations on dispensaries any time soon.

Kramvik’s proposal states cannabis dispensaries would only be allowed in six of the city’s zoning districts — General Commercial, Commercial Corridor, Main Street, Town Center, Makers and Employment, and General Industrial. While the Traditional Neighborhood 2 district also allows for commercial use, Kramvik said those areas are excluded from the ordinance, as they are lower traffic areas where a developer is unlikely to spend the $500,000 to $1 million needed

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Former Medford, New Jersey mayor and former New Jersey General Assemblyman Scott Rudder is opening a dispensary in Riverside in his home state. Riverside, a suburb in the greater Philadelphia-Camden area, is a prime location for growth in the cannabis sector.

Rudder, who is Republican, founded the New Jersey CannaBusiness Association in 2016, a leading cannabis trade industry association. He’s also a veteran and helped organize and was a top consultant to statewide campaigns to legalize adult-use cannabis in New Jersey in 2020, and also that year, NJ.com named Rudder the “Mayor of Cannabis.” 

Township Green will hold its grand opening today with local officials and dignitaries, including State Senator Troy Singleton, who will take part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the state’s most recent cannabis dispensary to open. 

“Township Green exemplifies what we hoped to achieve by legalizing cannabis in New Jersey,” said Rudder. “We’re focused not just on providing a great product but on building a sense of community and bringing commerce to downtown Riverside. Please join us on March 25 as we start this new and exciting chapter for the community.”

The reasoning behind the opening of this retail location is to help revitalize and bring more

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Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes recently clarified the legality of hemp-derived substances in Arizona via an official opinion.

The AG was asked: “Does Arizona law permit an entity that is not appropriately licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services (“Health Services”) to sell products containing hemp-synthesized intoxicants like delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (“THC”), delta-10 THC, or any other product that has been synthetically converted from naturally occurring cannabidiol (“CBD”) or other cannabinoids into intoxicating substances?”

AG Mayes’ response to the question was: “No, Arizona law does not permit the sale of delta-8 and other hemp-synthesized intoxicants by entities that have not been licensed by [Arizona Department of] Health Services. Irrespective of delta-8’s arguable federal legality under the 2018 Agriculture Improvement Act (“Farm Bill”), Arizona continues to define and regulate “industrial hemp” in a manner that precludes the sale of hemp-synthesized intoxicants in convenience stores, smoke shops, and other unlicensed locales.”

Read the AG’s full opinion here.

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Home » Home » Is Your Cannabis Dispensary Optimized for Local Search?

In today’s digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial for any business, including cannabis dispensaries. With the increasing legalization of cannabis across various regions, the competition among dispensaries is growing rapidly. 

To stand out and attract more customers, optimizing your dispensary’s online visibility is essential. You can increase traffic by doing cannabis dispensary local SEO. One of the most effective ways to do this is by ensuring that your dispensary is optimized for local search. But what exactly does this entail, and why is it important? Let’s explore the details.

The Importance of Local Search for Cannabis Dispensaries Targeted Traffic: By optimizing for local search, you can attract highly targeted traffic from users in your area who are actively seeking cannabis products or services. This targeted approach increases the likelihood of converting online searches into actual customers. Competitive Advantage: With the increasing number of cannabis dispensaries, standing out from the competition is crucial. Local search optimization allows you to outrank competing dispensaries in local search results, giving you a competitive edge and attracting more customers to your business. Enhanced Visibility: When your dispensary

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – After a stabbing on West Central left one man dead in January, the second victim is speaking out about what happened. 

“It’s something I wish never would happen to nobody,” expressed Jose Solis, a stabbing victim and survivor. 

Jose Solis said 73-year-old Fred Tapia was like a father to him. They were neighbors and inseparable, often grabbing something to eat or going to the racetrack together. However, on January 27, a normal trip to a cannabis shop on Central near Unser completely changed everything. 

Valencia County Animal Services hires first full-time veterinarian

“There’s two guys and a girl walking in the middle of the road, and I, kind of, swerved around them and drove on the gravel on the side,” recalled Solis. 

Jose Solis, 37, said the two men later confronted him and Tapia in the dispensary’s parking lot with knives. 

“Just starts telling us, we tried to run them over, you know, and we tried to de-escalate it, and tell them, ‘I’m sorry. We don’t know what you’re talking about,” stated Solis.        

The two men were later identified as brothers, Antonio and Jesus Secatero. Solis said the argument turned physical after

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – After a stabbing on West Central left one man dead in January, the second victim is speaking out about what happened.

“It’s something I wish never would happen to nobody,” expressed Jose Solis, a stabbing victim and survivor.

Jose Solis said 73-year-old Fred Tapia was like a father to him. They were neighbors and inseparable, often grabbing something to eat or going to the racetrack together. However, on January 27, a normal trip to a cannabis shop on Central near Unser completely changed everything.

Valencia County Animal Services hires first full-time veterinarian

“There’s two guys and a girl walking in the middle of the road, and I, kind of, swerved around them and drove on the gravel on the side,” recalled Solis.

Jose Solis, 37, said the two men later confronted him and Tapia in the dispensary’s parking lot with knives.

“Just starts telling us, we tried to run them over, you know, and we tried to de-escalate it, and tell them, ‘I’m sorry. We don’t know what you’re talking about,” stated Solis.      

The two men were later identified as brothers, Antonio and Jesus Secatero. Solis said the argument turned physical after one of the brothers kicked Tapia in the chest, knocking him

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