BudDigest

BELLVILLE — Bellville mayor Teri Brenkus said she hopes a proposed cannabis dispensary in the village goes to a referendum petition for voters to decide.

The village planning commission hosted a public forum on Thursday at the Village of Butler’s event center. Residents were invited to share their opinions on a proposed cannabis dispensary on the village’s north end near the State Route 97/ Interstate 71 interchange.

More than 150 people attended the event, with nearly 30 people speaking during the meeting’s public comment period.

@media ( min-width: 1px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-1{min-height: 1px;}}@media ( min-width: 300px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-1{min-height: 100px;}}

“I strongly feel this should go to a vote in the village,” the mayor said. “From what I heard tonight, this was a 50-50 split for and against a dispensary.

“I do not believe the planning commission or the council should be the ones to decide this.”

60% of Bellville voters opposed Issue 2 in November

The Village of Bellville makes up Jefferson Township’s A precinct, according to Richland County Board of Elections maps.

Jefferson Township A precinct.

Of 1,499 registered voters in the JEFF – a precinct — 860 voted on Issue 2. About 60% voted no, with 343 voters

Read More Here...

Listen to this article

Ahead of 4/20, an unofficial holiday celebrating cannabis culture, a South Jersey dispensary announced plans to give away a free pound of marijuana.

No purchase is necessary. Hopefuls need only stop by Brute’s Roots at 6206 Black Horse Pike in Egg Harbor, according to owner and President Kelly Gatto.

The announcement of the grand prize winner will take place in the dispensary April 20 at 4:20 p.m. They will receive 16 vouchers — each redeemable for 1 ounce of Brute’s Roots Flower at $1. There is a one-voucher-per-day redemption limit to comply with state regulations.

Brute’s Roots opened in October 2023, becoming the first independently owned adult-use cannabis grower in New Jersey to launch product. Known for its affordable pricing on in-house products, Brute’s Roots strains are also picking up industry accolades.

The company’s flagship strain, The Goodfather, was a nominee for Best Flower at the 2023 Cannademix Awards. Meanwhile, its retail storefront took home Best Dispensary honors.

Gatto believes Brute’s Roots is “poised for significant growth with the introduction of edibles, vapes, concentrates, home delivery services, and premium indoor-grown flowers” this year.

Kelly Gatto is president and owner of Brute’s Roots – the first independently

Read More Here...

Fox localFOX 9 StaffMarch 21, 2024 at 3:01 PMCannabis (FOX 9)” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/cb.gSLFvUoEV9thLx7k4JQ–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD02OTk-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/aol_fox_aggregated_articles_807/23f7c8bee700c0da5da17e6da8bb444b” data-src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/cb.gSLFvUoEV9thLx7k4JQ–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD02OTk-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/aol_fox_aggregated_articles_807/23f7c8bee700c0da5da17e6da8bb444b”>

WELCH, Minn. (FOX 9) – The Prairie Island Indian Community announced plans on Thursday to open up the closest recreational cannabis dispensary to the Twin Cities metro.

The new dispensary named “Island Peži” is set to open this summer next to the tribe’s Dakota Station gas station, which is just north of Red Wing along the Mississippi River. The gas station is about a 50-minute drive from Minneapolis and 45 minutes from downtown St. Paul.

Minnesota legalized recreational cannabis last year. But, while it’s legal to possess and grow marijuana under state law, currently only tribes can legally sell recreational marijuana in Minnesota, as the State of Minnesota works through the licensing process.

The exact opening date for the dispensary is not yet known. The tribe is working to hire workers to run the dispensary.

Read More Here...

MILAN, Mo. — The City of Milan is proposing a 3% sales tax on adult use of marijuana purchases within city limits.

This ballot measure is set to appear in front of voters during the April 2 Missouri Municipal Election.

Milan City Administrator Crystal Bupp told KTVO News that there are no current plans to bring a dispensary to the city, but Milan city officials would like the opportunity to plan ahead for when that day comes.

“This is just us being proactive, should that happen in the future,” Bupp added. “We’re in a position that we can capitalize from day one on any sales tax from that.”

If Milan gets a dispensary, the city administrator says it will be required to open up shop in the commercial district.

Bupp also told KTVO that if this proposal passes, the revenue will be used for public safety.

The money is set to go to the Milan Police Department.

Read More Here...

A new recreational marijuana dispensary is set to open this summer and it figures to be the closest yet to the Twin Cities.

Prairie Island Indian Community announced plans for its dispensary, Island Peži, on Thursday. Peži means grass.

“Island Peži is a step forward in our efforts to diversify our economy and strengthen our Tribe’s long-term financial sovereignty,” Prairie Island Tribal Council President Grant Johnson said. “We’re excited to be among the first to enter the cannabis market and create new opportunities for the future of our Tribe.”

The community says the dispensary will open next to Dakota Station, near Treasure Island in Welch.

While Minnesota legalized marijuana possession in August, recreational sales aren’t expected to start until next year, except for tribal nations, which don’t have to wait for the state’s licensing system. Red Lake Nation and White Earth Nation opened dispensaries last year, but those are both several hours and more than 250 miles north of the Twin Cities, while Island Peži will be only around 45 miles from Minneapolis.

The Prairie Island Indian Community is joining other Minnesota sovereign nations in opening an adult-use cannabis dispensary.

The dispensary is set to open this summer after getting its tribal licensure and approval.

It will join Red Lake Nation and White Earth Nation in opening a dispensary and will be the first to open in southern Minnesota.

As a sovereign nation, Prairie Island enacted its own cannabis ordinance, which allows licensing and regulation within its jurisdiction. The state’s system isn’t set to start until 2025.

The dispensary will be called Island Peži, which means ‘grass’ in the Dakota language.

“Island Peži is a step forward in our efforts to diversify our economy and strengthen our tribe’s long-term financial sovereignty,” Prairie Island Tribal Council President Grant Johnson said in a statement. “We’re excited to be among the first to enter the cannabis market and create new opportunities for the future of our tribe.”

Prairie Island also operates the Treasure Island Casino.

Your gift today creates a more connected Minnesota. MPR News is your trusted resource for election coverage, reporting and breaking news. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone – free of paywalls and barriers. Your

Read More Here...

Seventeen full- and part-time medical marijuana dispensary workers at Restore Dispensary in East Petersburg voted Thursday to join the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776 Keystone State, according to an uncertified tally.

According to Nicole Young, communications coordinator for Local 1776, 12 employees voted for the union and two voted no. Three ballots were not opened because a majority voted to be represented by the union. Three employees did not vote. The vote took place at the Manheim Township Public Library.

After certification by the National Labor Relations Board, a total of 20 employees at Restore will be the first medical marijuana dispensary workers in Lancaster County to unionize, joining a trend in the industry. There are six medical marijuana dispensaries  in the county. 

Young said the workers are seeking clearer communications from management, wage adjustments and better workplace safety that includes training for positions they already hold. 

“They don’t want to feel ignored when they bring these concerns to management,” Young said.

Young could not say how much workers are paid. The company advertisements for store associates and security guards say pay is $17 an hour. 

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776 Keystone State represents about 35,000 members who work at Pennsylvania’s Wine

Read More Here...

PRAIRIE ISLAND, Minn. — The Prairie Island Indian Community is planning to open a cannabis dispensary later this year.

PIIC has launched a new business venture, Island Peži, a Native Cannabis Company to be located near Treasure Island Resort and Casino next to the Dakota Station convenience store in Welch.

Island Peži, pay-zhee, meaning grass in the Dakota language, hopes to open a dispensary this to serve the recently legalized adult-use recreational cannabis market. They still need to obtain the proper Tribal licensing but are hopeful for a summer opening.

“When Minnesota began considering legalizing adult-use cannabis last session, the Tribal Council and supporting staff set out on a community engagement effort to listen to Tribal members and determine what it should do with the potential cannabis opportunity,” said Jessie Seim, general counsel of the Prairie Island Indian Community. “The result was support for moving forward to legalize it within the Prairie Island jurisdiction, regulate the activity, and pursue an economic development opportunity. Cannabis is from Ina Maka (mother earth) and can provide many benefits to Minnesotans, so the Community wanted to ensure that the Dakota identity in this business venture shined through.”

Island Peži’s entry into the cannabis industry hopes to create another

Read More Here...

Loading…Loading…

The Maryland General Assembly has advanced a bill designed to curtail the extent of local government’s power in dictating the placement of new cannabis dispensaries.

This legislation, aimed at forestalling excessively stringent zoning regulations by counties, marks a pivotal moment as Maryland issues the first batch of new cannabis licenses since establishing the recreational cannabis sector last year.

Interested in the future of cannabis companies and regulations? Join us at the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference in Florida, set for April 16 and 17, 2024, at the Hollywood venue. Act now to secure your tickets at bzcannabis.com – prices are set to increase soon!

License Distribution And Local Concerns

So far, the privilege to cultivate, process or sell legal recreational cannabis has been exclusive to former medical cannabis license holders. However, with 174 new licenses recently awarded, these entities are mandated to commence operations within 18 months.

Despite this progress, specific counties, including Carroll and Prince George’s, have seen local authorities attempting to restrict dispensary locations. The Senate’s plan to limit local restrictions was approved along party lines, despite resistance from some Democrats in Prince George’s County.

These opponents express apprehension about new cannabis stores. Nevertheless, amendments allowing for some local limitations swayed their vote in favor of the bill.

In 2023, county

Read More Here...

Minnesota lawmakers tweak recreational cannabis law

Minnesota lawmakers tweak recreational cannabis law 02:38

PRAIRIE ISLAND INDIAN COMMUNITY, Minn. — The Prairie Island Indian Community plans to open a cannabis dispensary as soon as this summer.

The PIIC said Thursday Island Peži will open in the next few months “subject to obtaining all necessary Tribal licensure and approval.”

The reservation is located near Red Wing, about an hour southeast of the Twin Cities. The dispensary will be located next to Dakota Station on Prairie Island, the Tribe said.

“Island Peži is a step forward in our efforts to diversify our economy and strengthen our Tribe’s long-term financial sovereignty,” Prairie Island Tribal Council President Grant Johnson said. “We’re excited to be among the first to enter the cannabis market and create new opportunities for the future of our Tribe.”

The PIIC has its own Cannabis Regulatory Commission, which will oversee the dispensary’s business activity.

Last year, Minnesota became the 23rd state to legalize recreational cannabis use. A study earlier this year found the state will need nearly 400 dispensaries to comply with state law, which requires a dispensary for every 12,500 Minnesotans.

The Red Lake Nation opened

Read More Here...