BudDigest

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — A new recreational cannabis dispensary in the Rochester area will open Tuesday evening!

MJ Dispensary, located on Jefferson Road, announced via social media that the dispensary will open on December 12 at 4:20 p.m.

In their post, the owners of the dispensary said that customers do not need a medical ID — all they need is to be 21 years or older and to have a valid driver’s license or passport.

This announcement comes after the Cannabis Control Board approved to settle a lawsuit that led to an injunction against processing and sending out cannabis licenses. If the agreements are approved, that injunction will be lifted.

Read More Here...

HENRIETTA, N.Y. — A dispensary in Henrietta is opening on Tuesday afternoon after months of waiting due to legal challenges against the state’s rollout of cannabis licenses.

MJ Dispensary on Jefferson Road says it will be the first recreational dispensary in the Finger Lakes region when it opens on 4:20 p.m.

Dispensary owner Ryan Martin says it has been a constant back-and-forth between being allowed to open and not. The dispensary was open for a few months in 2021 when the state approved recreational marijuana use.

The New York State Office of Cannabis Management granted MJ Dispensary its license in June after the office settled a federal lawsuit filed by a Michigan company. The lawsuit blocked the state from issuing licenses in the Finger Lakes region. That’s because it claimed that New York discriminated against out-of-state businesses by prioritizing dispensary licenses for people who have marijuana convictions within New York.

Martin spoke with News10NBC about why he’s opening a dispensary and what to expect for the state-licensed cannabis products:

Law enforcement officials in Colorado last week announced the arrest of 23 individuals for their alleged involvement in more than 40 cannabis dispensary burglaries in the Denver metropolitan area.

Denver District Attorney Beth McCann said in a statement on Friday that the 23 defendants are members of two separate organized crime groups. The arrests came following a lengthy investigation by several law enforcement agencies including the Denver District Attorney’s Office, Denver Police Department, Aurora Police Department, the FBI, ATF, the Regional Anti-Violence Enforcement Network (R.A.V.E.N.) and the Violent Criminal Enterprise Task Force (V.C.E.T.F.).

“These arrests send an unmistakable message that law enforcement agencies throughout the Denver metro area are committed to working together to disrupt and disband dangerous criminal organizations,” said McCann. “The streets of Denver are safer today because of these two investigations and I am grateful to the many law enforcement officers who have worked so hard on these cases to get us to this point.” 

The defendants are accused of stealing or carjacking vehicles and using them to burglarize marijuana dispensaries, federal firearms licensees and other businesses in the Denver metropolitan area between September 2022 and November 2023, according to the district attorney’s office.

“Criminal networks don’t

Read More Here...

The sign on the building said Jerry’s Liquor, but inside, Compton code enforcement inspectors found a cannabis dispensary called Fly High 20 Collective.

The discovery of the black market dispensary in 2019 wasn’t unusual in a city plagued with them. But when authorities looked deeper into the property on Rosecrans Avenue, they found something startling: It was owned by Tony Huang, the man behind one of the cannabis industry’s biggest and most successful companies.

After co-founding Stiiizy in 2017, the San Gabriel Valley native and his partners created a vertical enterprise that grows, distributes and sells marijuana legally throughout California. More than just a company, Stiiizy markets itself as a “lifestyle brand” that sells clothing, hosts live events and donates money to social justice causes. But in a pending abatement suit, Compton’s lawyers claimed Stiiizy’s co-founder “is also known for his serial operations of various illegal cannabis dispensaries.” The city said in the lawsuit it believes that Huang, as the landlord, “controlled the illegal sale of marijuana from the property.”

Tony Huang, co-founder of the cannabis brand Stiiizy, in an undated photo from an application he submitted to operate a dispensary in Pasadena.

(City of Pasadena)

Huang’s holding companies

Read More Here...

Law Director John Hatcher will research the legality of local recreational marijuana dispensaries. Scott Truxell/Van Wert independent

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

Will recreational marijuana dispensaries be legal in Van Wert? That’s a question to be answered sometime in 2024.

During Monday night’s meeting of Van Wert City Council, Mayor Ken Markward noted medical marijuana dispensaries were deemed off-limits in the city limits several years ago, after Ohio voters approved the use of medical marijuana in the Buckeye State.

While it failed locally, the majority of voters statewide approved the legalization of recreational marijuana last month, and Markward said it’s time to determine if recreational marijuana dispensaries will be allowed in Van Wert. If the next council eventually decides to ban such establishments, they’ll have to pass an ordinance to that effect.

Markward told council he asked Law Director John Hatcher to look into the matter.

“Anything that is not medical marijuana wouldn’t fall under (ordinance) 150.95 at least the way you read it so that will have to be reviewed,” Hatcher said. “One thing that I’m looking for in the legislation that’s going through the Statehouse is what kind of prohibitions local government can put in on placements and whether or

Read More Here...

Denver District Attorney Beth McCann announced that, as the result of two comprehensive law enforcement investigations, 23 members of two separate organized crime groups will be charged with stealing or carjacking vehicles and using them to burglarize marijuana dispensaries, federal firearms licensees, and other businesses in the Denver metro area between September 2022 and November 2023.

The defendants allegedly burglarized more than 40 marijuana dispensaries, resulting in the theft of approximately $780,000 in cash and property. In addition to motor vehicle theft and burglary, the defendants will face numerous other charges, including aggravated robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, illegal possession of firearms (including a firearm linked to an open murder investigation), and violations of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act (COCCA).

The arrests were the result of lengthy, multi-agency investigations conducted by the Denver District Attorney’s Office, Denver Police Department, Aurora Police Department, FBI, ATF, the Regional Anti-Violence Enforcement Network (RAVEN), and the Violent Criminal Enterprise Task Force (VCETF).

LP Solutions

“These arrests send an unmistakable message that law enforcement agencies throughout the Denver metro area are committed to working together to disrupt and disband dangerous criminal organizations,” said DA McCann. “The streets of Denver are safer today

Read More Here...

Embracing Growth: PACKS Leads the Way in El Monte’s Flourishing Cannabis Market

EL MONTE, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES, December 12, 2023 /EINPresswire.com/ — PACKS Weed Dispensary San Gabriel Valley has emerged as a prominent player in the dynamic cannabis industry of El Monte, California, offering a distinctive dispensary experience. Since its establishment in 2014, PACKS has played a pivotal role in the evolution of the local cannabis market, contributing to the community’s well-being and economic growth.

El Monte’s progressive stance and regulatory frameworks have provided an environment conducive to the success of dispensaries like PACKS, transforming the city into a hub for cannabis enthusiasts. The industry’s growth has not only stimulated job creation but also fostered ancillary businesses, contributing to a vibrant economic ecosystem.

PACKS Weed Dispensary has been a key contributor to this transformative journey, transcending traditional retail by serving as an educator and advocate for responsible cannabis use. Their commitment to excellence, extensive knowledge, and adaptability have established them as industry leaders with a dedicated customer base.

Conveniently located at San Gabriel Valley, PACKS is a premier destination for both seasoned cannabis connoisseurs and newcomers. Operating seven days a week from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM, PACKS ensures patrons have ample opportunities

Read More Here...

Unveiling a distinctive Cannabis Shopping Experience in the Heart of Michigan

LANSING, MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES, December 11, 2023 /EINPresswire.com/ — In recent years, Lansing, Michigan has witnessed a significant transformation in its cannabis industry. The past five years have been pivotal, marking a period of robust growth and dynamic change. This transformation mirrors the broader acceptance and legalization of cannabis across various states, with Michigan being at the forefront of embracing this shift.

The cannabis landscape in Lansing has evolved from a niche market to a burgeoning industry, contributing significantly to the local economy. The city has seen an influx of dispensaries, cultivation centers, and a diverse range of cannabis-related businesses, creating jobs and fostering community development. Consumer preferences have also matured, with a growing demand for quality, variety, and accessibility in cannabis products.

Regulatory changes have played a crucial role in shaping the industry. The state’s progressive policies have allowed for the expansion of both medical and recreational cannabis, providing a framework for safe and regulated access. This regulatory environment has encouraged innovation and investment, leading to advancements in product quality and variety.

The economic impact of the cannabis industry in Lansing is evident. It has generated substantial tax revenue, which has

Read More Here...

The fight isn’t over for Michigan cannabis operator 3Fifteen Cannabis, which was supposed to have been acquired by financially troubled Skymint.

Then Skymint became mired in its financial problems, and the owners of 3Fifteen sought to terminate the deal and have their assets returned to them. But even though Skymint hadn’t actually paid for the acquisition, a judge told 3Fifteen no.

Mitch Baruchowitz of Merida Capital, an investor in 3Fifteen, told Green Market Report that his group’s appeal of the judge’s initial decision against them has now been granted. Because of that, that the receivership status is now frozen for four months and on hold until 3 Fifteen’s appeal can be heard, he said.

Background

In September 2021. Skymint agreed to acquire 3Fifteen, which ha 12 dispensaries in Michigan. That deal would have given Skymint a dominant role in the state’s new adult-use market.

In April 2022, Skymint announced it had closed on the deal with 3Fifteen, and Skymint appointed Baruchowitz to the company’s board of directors.

Less than a year later however, Skymint was drowning in debt and burning through $3 million in cash per month. The company couldn’t declare bankruptcy because of the federal illegality of cannabis, and instead

Read More Here...

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – Two years ago, 21 business owners filed a total of 79 applications to attain one of five medical marijuana dispensary licenses in the city of Sioux Falls.

A ping pong ball lottery at city hall determined which five businesses would garner the coveted licenses. A packed room watched in palpable anticipation. One of the “winners” yelped in jubilant glee.

“I still can’t believe it,” East River Farms LLC co-founder Josh Winter said after the event, laughing and smiling. “I’m high — on excitement.”

Winter admitted part of that elation came from the possible windfall from operating one of the city’s first places medical patients could access legal cannabis.

Two years later, the one dispensary license for Minnehaha County was up for grabs. Over the course of a month, only one group applied.

Shangri-La LLC — a multi-state operation based out of Missouri that already has a cultivation center in Brandon where marijuana buds are grown and then sold to local dispensaries — has signed up to set up its own shop in the Pyro Fireworks facility on East Arrowhead Parkway on the far east side of Sioux Falls, just outside the city limits. The company is waiting for

Read More Here...