BudDigest

Hopes that Gov. Glenn Youngkin might sign a bill legalizing retail sales of marijuana in Virginia faded fast this week as Democrats blocked one of the governor’s top priorities: the plan to bring a professional sports arena to Northern Virginia.

As recently as Wednesday, according to multiple Capitol sources, the cannabis bill was being raised in closed-door budget talks with the governor as one of several Democratic priorities that could conceivably have been part of a package deal with the arena.

Youngkin: legislature flouting ‘broad bipartisan support’ in excluding arena from state budget

But the prospects of a grand policy bargain appeared to collapse Thursday as Democrats revealed a budget proposal without Youngkin’s arena plan, prompting the governor to say he was less inclined to look favorably on Democratic priorities. In a news conference on the Capitol steps, Youngkin said the arena deal Senate Democrats rejected involved up to 30,000 jobs and $12 billion in economic impact.

“And, bluntly, you want to talk about putting a cannabis shop on every corner?” Youngkin said. “I don’t quite get it.”

The governor said several other topics had been part of an “overall discussion” with Democrats. However, he suggested the rejection of an

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Years in the cannabis industry have shown me how adaptable this community is and how important it is to maintain a connection between budtenders, customers, and the cannabis they consume. As the world moves from the illicit market to the legal market, the nature of the communication between grower and consumer has changed. Today, I want to share three elements that should become standard for selling cannabis flower in all dispensaries. 

How Dispensaries Have Adapted To The Legal Marketplace

When medical cannabis started in California, there were few regulations and cannabis was sold with customers able to see, smell, and inspect the cannabis they were buying. Dispensary customers were typically able to interact closely with the cannabis flower they were considering purchasing. Consumers could smell and handle the bud to evaluate its quality and decide instinctively if a cultivar appealed to them. This was a continuation of the way consumers bought in the illicit market. But with new state-by-state regulations, restricting how cannabis can be sold, consumers are rarely able to interact meaningfully with flower before purchase. Instead, they are faced with making a buying decision based on labels, testing information, and budtender recommendations.

This disconnects customers from the cannabis they purchase, and

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Leaf Haus, Holistic Solutions, and Voltaire Cannabis are delighted to announce their International Women’s Day celebration on March 8th at the Trappy Hour Lounge in New Brunswick.

They are three distinguished women-owned cannabis dispensaries proudly rooted in New Jersey.

This free event welcomes the public to an evening filled with live entertainment, free giveaways, and an unparalleled vibe filled with camaraderie and empowerment. Attendees can expect an exhilarating lineup featuring renowned artists and notable guests, including Lil Cease, DJ Sophia Body, DJ Blue Diamond, Prisilla CEO, Alicia Lena, and more.

“Leaf Haus, Holistic Solutions, and Voltaire Cannabis are thrilled to come together. And raise a toast celebrating the contributions of women throughout history,” said Shani Madaminova, owner of Leaf Haus. “Our aim is not only to celebrate women’s achievements. But also to highlight the importance of diversity and inclusivity across all industries and communities.”

The event is hosted by NJ Smokers Club. It will begin at 9:00 pm at the Trappy Hour Lounge in New Brunswick at 342 George St in New Brunswick in Middlesex County. Guests must be 21 or older to participate in the festivities. To learn more about the event or RSVP, please go here.

Leaf Haus

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After his controversial split from Nicki Nicole, life goes on for Peso Pluma. However, he is once again in the headlines after being accused of stealing marijuana from a dispensary located in the United States.

Through a video, the Mexican singer, one of the most important and acclaimed artists in the world today, is shown leaving without paying. The video is from a security video from the marijuana store in California.

Peso Pluma leaves a marijuana dispensary without paying and is exposed on video

How did Peso Pluma leave without paying at a marijuana store?

It was Jacqueline Martinez, a showbiz news content creator, who revealed that Peso Pluma did not want to pay after acquiring marijuana, so the owners of the establishment shared the video as evidence.

In the viral video, the so-called ‘Double P‘ is seen in the dispensary, but he continues when he has to pay and leaves the establishment, while there is a video of what happened. But so far the performer hasn’t spoken on this or other issues, such as what happened with Nicki Nicole and their split.

Peso Pluma considers himself a musical revolutionary

In addition to this, in an interview with El País, the so-called ‘Double P‘ assured that he

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SOUTH SHORE — Neighbors can learn about a South Shore dispensary plan being pitched by a minority-owned cannabis company at a community meeting this weekend.

The 1937 Group will host a public info session noon-1:30 p.m. Saturday on its plans to open a dispensary near 71st Street and Yates Boulevard. Saturday’s meeting will be held both virtually and in-person at the proposed dispensary, 7105 S. Yates Blvd., chief integration officer Eric Ice-Gipson said in an Instagram post.

For a link to attend virtually, email message@the1937group.com.

The 1937 Group’s proposed South Shore location has not received a license to open as of Tuesday, according to the Illinois Cannabis Regulation Oversight Officer. The company, which lists its headquarters in South Shore, operates Helios Labs, a manufacturing facility in west suburban Broadview.

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The 1937 Group — named after the year in which the U.S. government essentially outlawed marijuana via the Marijuana Tax Act — produces cannabis flower, vapes and pre-rolled blunts and joints.

Its products are available in 15 Chicago dispensaries, according to the company’s website. That

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Beer sales in Canada fell by 96 hectoliters per 100,000 population immediately after adult-use cannabis legalization and by 4 hectoliters per 100,000 population each month thereafter, resulting in an average monthly reduction of 136 hectoliters per 100,000 population post cannabis legalization in the nation, according to a study published last month in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence. All provinces except the Atlantic provinces experienced a decline in beer sales. 

Using data on beer sales between January 2012 and February 2020 and spirits sales between January 2016 and February 2020, the researchers found no change in spirits sales or sales of bottled beer but found reductions in the sales of canned and kegged beer. Canada legalized cannabis for adult use nationwide in October 2018. 

“Although the magnitude of decline in beer sales appears to be modest, it is economically meaningful. Compared with the total beer sales in September 2018 (before the legalization) of 4,842 hectoliters per 100,000 population, the average monthly decline of 136 hectoliters per 100,000 population by February 2020. represents a 2.8% decline in sales.” — Association Between Non-Medical Cannabis Legalization and Alcohol Sales: Quasi-Experimental Evidence from Canada, Drug and Alcohol Dependence,

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Authored By:

LJ Dawson

LJ Dawson is the Editor in Chief for The Outlaw Report, a cannabis publication focusing on the DC, Maryland, and Virginia markets.

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A group of medical cannabis operators in Florida has formed a cannabis trade association dedicated to promoting medical cannabis research and the “research and advancement” of medical cannabis, Health News Florida reports.

The Florida Medical Marijuana Trade Association (FMMTA) represents many of the state’s top medical cannabis companies including AYR Wellness, Curaleaf, Fluent, Green Thumb Industries, Surterra, The Cannabist Company, and Verano, the group said in a press release. The state’s largest medical cannabis operator, Trulieve — which is leading the state’s current adult-use legalization ballot campaign — is not an FMMTA member.

FMMTA’s executive director Shamarial Roberson, an epidemiologist, said the association’s goal “is really to foster a thriving medical marijuana industry.”

“There’s a need for a coordinated effort on medical marijuana to look for those options for research. Having a trade association really helps to push out the message to make sure education is there.” — Roberson, via The News Service of Florida

“Our members look forward to leveraging our deep collective experience on critical legislative and regulatory issues, including the proposed THC potency limits, in service of the state’s medical cannabis patients and operators,” FMMTA President Chris Ferguson, who is the current vice president at Verano, said

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Table of Contents

Our cannabis team has performed due diligence on countless business purchases, investments, loans, and just about every other kind of transaction you can imagine. As you can imagine, we’ve seen some pretty bad and even sketchy things over the years. With rescheduling on the horizon (see here and here), we expect to see an increase in loans, investments, and other transactions. And so we thought it might be time to look at five of the biggest due diligence red flags.

#1 No cooperation in due diligence

Hands down, the biggest red flag in due diligence is when the seller, borrower, etc. refuses to participate in the process. I don’t mean getting fatigue when the buyer or investor’s lawyers ask too many questions – I mean refusing to participate in the basic process. We’ve seen people refuse to provide basic information. Or walk away from a deal when basic questions were asked. Or say that other people did similar deals without information, so you should too.

This is all incredibly suspect behavior. Someone who is selling a business or seeking a loan or investment needs to be completely open. Obviously, diligence periods can get off the rails

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Medical stethoscope lying on green leaves of marijuana closeup. Use of hemp based drugs in medicine concept

Cranford-based Bennabis Health recently announced a significant expansion of its dispensary network by partnering with the Cannabist Co. The Bennabis Health dispensary network continues to grow, as this expansion brings Bennabis Health’s membership benefits to six states plus the District of Columbia — New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York and Washington, D.C.

This network extension highlights the commitment of both organizations to support medical cannabis patients by increasing affordability and providing reliable cannabis resources.

The Bennabis Health Premium Membership program is designed to alleviate out-of-pocket costs for medical cannabis patients, and those enrolled can gain access to a 15% discount on medical cannabis purchases at network dispensaries. This reduction in costs not only makes treatment more accessible, but offers significant long-term savings for patients who rely on medical marijuana for consistent care. By extending its network, Bennabis Health aims to enhance accessibility and affordability for individuals and employer groups seeking alternative care options.

Don Parisi, president of Bennabis Health, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration with the Cannabist Co., stating: “Working with the experts at the Cannabist Co. has been fulfilling.

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