A bipartisan group of lawmakers in New Hampshire’s House of Representatives has announced plans to introduce an adult-use cannabis legalization bill.

“The House has long stood united in finding a pathway to getting this done for Granite Staters,” House Majority Leader Jason Osborne told NHPR. “With any luck, the Senate will come around to supporting the will of the vast majority of New Hampshire citizens.”

Although the legislation has not yet been formally introduced, it already has the support of the American Civil Liberties Union and Americans for Prosperity, the news outlet reported.

The proposal would allow adults 21 and older to possess or gift up to 4 ounces of cannabis, and it would ultimately set up a commercial adult-use market with state-licensed dispensaries, according to NHPR. The legislation will also include home grow provisions that allow adults 21 and older to grow up to six plants—including three mature plants.

The bill would also levy an 8.5% sales tax on retail cannabis sales, NHPR reported, and the tax revenue generated would be directed to state pensions and substance abuse prevention programs. A portion of the revenue would also be earmarked for law enforcement and municipalities that host dispensaries.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it is extending its deadline for hemp to be tested at laboratories certified by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) until Dec. 31, 2023—nearly an entire year later than its initial deadline, Jan. 1, 2023.

The USDA announced it is delaying the testing deadline due to an “inadequate” number of DEA-registered testing facilities.

“We are delaying enforcement of these requirements based on input received from State and Tribal governments and third-party cannabis testing facilities who have experienced delays in completing the DEA laboratory registration process,” the USDA wrote in its announcement.

The USDA added it is also concerned that there will not be enough hemp testing laboratories for the 2023 growing season, “which will hinder the growth of a domestic hemp market at this nascent stage. Laboratories testing hemp must comply with all other regulatory requirements.”

Following the passage of the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (the 2018 Farm Bill), which legalized hemp at the federal level, the USDA released an Interim Final Rule (IFR) in October 2019 to address issues arising under the farm bill. The IFR, among other things, clarified that all hemp testing laboratories must be registered with the DEA.

RELATED: Industry Professionals Urge Congress to Regulate CBD and Hemp-Derived Compounds in 2023 Farm Bill

In 2020, the federal agency announced it was extending some requirements outlined in the IFR, including the rule for labs to be registered by the DEA, Cannabis Business Times reported.

LAS VEGAS (Dec. 13, 2022) – PRESS RELEASE – Global Harmony LLC, the parent company of Top Notch The Health Center (Top Notch THC), was recently awarded a retail cannabis consumption lounge license by the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board. Founded in 2014, Global Harmony LLC has a cannabis cultivation license and currently operates a cannabis retail dispensary in Las Vegas that serves both medical patients and recreational customers.

“We are thrilled for this opportunity to serve the community in a new way as we evolve to include a consumption operation,” said Kema Ogden, partner of Global Harmony LLC and co-owner of Top Notch THC. “Everyone age 21 and older will be welcome to visit our consumption lounge as it’s going to be a warm and inviting place where locals and visitors might start out as guests but will quickly become friends.”

RELATED: UPDATED: Lotteries on Deck for Nevada’s Cannabis Consumption Lounges

The current dispensary operation has already made a strong connection with the local community in a busy marketplace filled with giant competitors.

“We look forward to creating a unique experience for locals and visitors to safely consume legal cannabis in Las Vegas,” said John Heishman, partner of Global Harmony LLC and CEO of Top Notch THC. “It’s been our honor and great pleasure to serve the community as our knowledgeable team will continue to provide the best customer experience around as we expand our operations in the coming months.”

Louisiana’s patients were able to temporarily access medical cannabis through telemedicine appointments during the COVID-19 pandemic, and now a lawmaker is urging the state’s attorney general to make this change permanent.

State Rep. Joseph Marino, I-Gretna, wrote a letter to Attorney General Jeff Landry, saying that the Louisiana Medical Marijuana Commission, on which Marino serves as a member, met in September to review state law regarding medical cannabis prescriptions, according to a local WDSU report.

New Orleans-based Dr. Vincent Culotta said that based on the way the law is written, an in-person visit is required for doctors to prescribe controlled substances to patients, and Culotta interprets this to also apply to medical cannabis, the news outlet reported. The commission then tried to pass an emergency rule to exempt medical cannabis from the rule requiring in-person doctor visits, but it was ultimately rejected, according to WDSU.

Now, Marino is calling on Landry to issue an opinion on the law. He said in his letter that not allowing patients to access medical cannabis through telemedicine appointments might have a “chilling effect” on Louisiana’s program, WDSU reported.

Recent tweaks to the state’s medical cannabis laws took effect Aug. 1, including a change that transferred oversight of Louisiana’s medical cannabis program from the Department of Agriculture and Forestry to the Department of Health.

BOCA RATON, Florida., Dec. 13, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE - Jushi Holdings, a vertically integrated, multi-state cannabis operator, announced the launch of a comprehensive product suite in California that includes three brands crafted to meet cannabis consumers’ preferences and price points. With the addition of Sèchè Pre-Roll Singles, Tasteology Fruit Chews and The Lab Vapes, the company brings a new selection of high-quality brands and proprietary products exclusively available at the company’s Beyond Hello retail locations in the Golden State.

“As California is one of the most competitive and mature cannabis markets in the world, California cannabis consumers have some of the most discerning tastes,” said Jim Cacioppo, Jushi founder, chairman and CEO. “They want high-quality products at a range of price points that deliver a premium consumer experience. Our diverse house of brands has been carefully crafted to meet the needs of the canna-curious and the canna-connoisseurs alike. As we expand Jushi’s branded product portfolio in key markets across the country, we look forward to exceeding consumers expectations by offering new, innovative brands and products through our digital and retail store footprint.”

Sèchè Pre-Roll Singles: Sèchè boldly invents a new category in cannabis by redefining the perception of value products like shake, popcorn, and pre-rolls. With a carefree spirit and the curiosity to uncover what’s next, Sèchè Pre-Roll Singles are packaged in environmentally sustainable ocean-bound plastic tubes and come in seven popular varieties. The new pre-roll 1g singles are now exclusively available for purchase at Beyond Hello Santa Barbara, Beyond Hello Grover Beach, and Beyond Hello Palm Springs for $9 each or five for $35.

Tasteology Fruit Chews: Jushi’s Tasteology Fruit Chews are vegan, gluten-free and available in four new varieties, including Sour Watermelon Waves, Strawberry Spirit, Blue Raspberry Bliss, and Peachy Dreams. All natural, and containing no colorings, preservatives or artificial flavors, each package of Tasteology Fruit Chews includes 10 individual chews, each infused with 10mg of THC and other minor cannabinoids. Tasteology Fruit Chews are available exclusively at Beyond Hello California retail locations for $12 each or three for $30. 

The Lab Vapes: Crafted using cutting-edge technology and equipment, The Lab’s new product line includes a 1g live resin vape cart, a 1g cured vape cart and a 1g cured rechargeable all-in-one vape pen in popular varieties. The Lab vapes are exclusively available at Beyond Hello California retail locations, bringing the unique experience of vapes to new and modern mediums.

CALGARY, Alberta, Dec. 13, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE - High Tide Inc., retail-focused cannabis company with bricks-and-mortar as well as global e-commerce assets, announced that it has begun selling cannabis seeds in the United States, initially through its wholly owned subsidiaries Grasscity and Smoke Cartel, which are e-commerce platforms for consumption accessories. The company plans to expand seed sales to additional online retail platforms within its portfolio in 2023. This launch comes on the heels of the American Drug Enforcement Agency's recent official determination that cannabis seeds fall under the legal definition of hemp and can therefore be sold openly in the United States. 

"With our entry into this new and exciting complementary vertical, we continue to extend and strengthen our integrated value chain, providing our customers with a complete cannabis experience, in addition to the opportunity to further enhance our consolidated gross margin profile. This new business venture will greatly expand our U.S. customer base, which already sits at 2.4 million through our ancillary cannabis business lines, and sets us up well to take advantage of federal legalization in the United States when it comes. This further diversification into the U.S. seeds market also strengthens our Canadian discount club model, as this new vertical is expected to generate significantly higher gross margins than our core brick-and mortar-business, which will help us continue to offer unbeatable prices to our Cabana Club members," said Raj Grover, High Tide president and CEO.

"GrassCity and Smoke Cartel, due to their top SEO rankings, organically built over the last twenty-two and eight years, respectively, generate some of the highest online traffic in the consumption accessories space, which is why it makes sense for us to leverage this strength as we launch this new vertical in the United States," Grover said. "Innovation has always been a cornerstone of High Tide's strategy, and today's announcement is yet another example of how we will never stop looking for ways to enhance shareholder value while differentiating ourselves from the competition."

Health Canada has finalized amendments to the Cannabis Act that increase possession limits for cannabis beverages, as well as ease research and testing requirements.

The amendments took effect Dec. 2, according to Health Canada’s Dec. 9 announcement.

A copy of the final regulations, as well as the Regulatory Impact and Analysis Statement, will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, on Dec. 21.

The amendments incorporate feedback from cannabis industry stakeholders, universities, researchers, health authorities, trade associations, licensees, provinces, territories and the public, according to the announcement.

The new regulations increase the public possession limit for cannabis beverages to align with other cannabis products, allowing adults to possess up to 17.1 liters (equal to 48 355-millileter cans) for non-medical purposes.

Green Thumb Industries announced Dec. 13 that the cannabis company will appoint Dawn Wilson Barnes to its board of directors and make four executive leadership position promotions effective on Jan. 1, 2023.

Barnes, the founder and president of Atlanta-based financial services firm Aurora Bay Capital, will join GTI’s board as an independent director and member of the company’s Audit Committee. The announcement comes after three former board members—William Gruver, Glen Senk and Dorri McWhorter—resigned in October over a disagreement as to the company’s policies and practices related to personal misconduct.

RELATED: Green Thumb Industries Announces Changes to Board of Directors

When GTI announced those resignations, the Chicago-based multistate operator also announced Richard Drexler and Jeff Goldman would be joining the board at that time. Now, Barnes is lined up to fill the third vacancy left by those who resigned.

In addition, GTI executive leadership team promotions include board member Anthony Georgiadis to president, Matt Faulkner to chief financial officer (CFO), Bret Kravitz to general counsel and secretary, and Rachel Albert to chief administrative officer.

“These changes reflect the natural evolution of high-performing team members to positions of greater responsibility and demonstrate our conviction in the strength of our leadership,” Green Thumb founder, chairman and CEO Ben Kovler said in a press release.

PRESS RELEASE - Helius Therapeutics will soon launch THC-containing medicines which are both grown and made in New Zealand.

This follows the country’s largest licensed medicinal cannabis company being issued a GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) certificate by MedSafe to allow it to manufacture THC medicines. 

“2022 has been a huge year for Helius. Reaching these milestones which allow us to bring more NZ grown and made products to Kiwi patients,” says Carmen Doran, chief executive officer of Helius Therapeutics. 

“Last week we were able to announce GACP certification. Now we have obtained GMP certification for four more processes at our expansive East Auckland site. Such progress is testament to the culture of teamwork Helius is building,” she says.

Helius first gained the GMP certification and a Licence to Manufacture Medicines in July 2021. Since that time, they have been the first company in NZ to launch products, and provide NZ made, NZ grown products. Now they are the first in New Zealand to gain GMP certification for THC medicines.

NORWOOD, Mass., Dec. 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PRESS RELEASE -- MariMed, Inc., a multi-state cannabis operator focused on improving lives every day, today announced with deep sadness that Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and co-founder Robert Fireman died unexpectedly on Dec. 11, 2022.

The company will provide further information on succession once the Board of Directors has had an opportunity to determine the best path forward.

"Bob Fireman worked tirelessly and passionately until his last day as Chairman and CEO of MariMed to fulfill our mission of improving people’s lives, much as he did as a philanthropist who cared so deeply about the people and community around him,” said Jon Levine, president of MariMed. “He was my business partner and dear friend, and I look forward to honoring his legacy by achieving our shared vision for the company. He was one-of-a-kind and will be deeply missed by his family, his wide circle of friends, the cannabis community that he helped build, and the entire MariMed family.”

Fireman served as CEO of MariMed since 2017 and a member of its Board of Directors since the company’s formation. An early pioneer and visionary in the industry, under his leadership the MariMed team applied for and was awarded legal cannabis licenses in several states across the United States and developed and operated state of the art, regulatory compliant cannabis cultivation, production, and retail facilities.

A practicing attorney for over 30 years, Fireman’s legal acumen and entrepreneurial experience in diverse industries served were instrumental in navigating MariMed through the complex, highly-regulated, emerging cannabis industry.

Florida-based multistate cannabis operator Trulieve laid off some of its employees in Gadsden County earlier this month, resulting in a class action lawsuit from affected workers who claim the company did not give adequate notice before dismissing them.

Trulieve, which operates in Gadsden County by way of two cultivation sites in Quincy and a processing facility in Midway, has not disclosed the number of employees who were laid off, but said the move was meant to decrease “redundancies” amid the company’s continued growth, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.

Steve Vancore, a spokesman for Trulieve, told the news outlet that affected employees were offered alternate jobs at the company’s other facilities in Jefferson and Madison counties, and that those who did not end up in other positions were given severance packages.

Vancore also told the Tallahassee Democrat that the layoffs ultimately stemmed from Trulieve’s acquisition of Arizona-based Harvest Health and Recreation.

“We merged and acquired Harvest a year ago,” Vancore told the news outlet. “This has been part of our merge while we’re continuing to grow where we have redundancies and inefficiency. When you have 9,000 employees, this was really an efficiency move.”

The New York Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) provided guidance Dec. 9 for adult-use cannabis retail licensees interested in making delivery sales but the rules for securing brick-and-mortar locations have changed. (The delivery guidelines are listed below.)

While OCM’s Cannabis Control Board approved the state’s first 36 Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) provisional licenses last month, aspiring market entrants have yet to receive the turnkey locations they were promised for their businesses.

OCM regulators plan to issue up to 175 total retail licenses—150 for individuals impacted by prohibition and 25 for nonprofits whose services include support for the formerly incarcerated—and state officials from the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) were tasked with providing fully furnished dispensaries for the 150 individuals.

RELATED: What To Expect With New York's First 175 Adult-Use Dispensaries

Now, instead of requiring retail licensees to rely on DASNY for their locations, OCM officials took a U-turn on Dec. 9 in announcing they are allowing CAURD licensees to find and secure their own retail locations ahead of the state’s sales launch.

“[CAURD licensees] can submit for approval their own proposed location for their retail store and may still qualify for financial support for renovations from the Social Equity Cannabis Investment Fund operated by [DASNY],” the office’s release read. “DASNY will continue the work of securing retail locations and locations will be matched with licensees as they become available.”

Medical cannabis legalization could become a reality in Kansas in 2023.

Sen. Rob Olson, R-Olathe, who chairs the 2022 Special Committee on Medical Marijuana, said during a committee meeting Dec. 9 that he plans to introduce medical cannabis legislation in the Senate at the start of the 2023 legislative session.

The committee has been conducting a series of meetings over the past several months to discuss drafting a medical cannabis legalization bill for 2023 and discuss what they can improve upon from this year’s failed legislation.

There were several efforts to legalize medical cannabis in Kansas during this year’s legislative session that failed, including a medical cannabis proposal that stalled in the Senate in May, a House-passed bill that never gained traction in the Senate, and a Senate bill introduced by Sen. Olson in March, Cannabis Business Times reported.

Lawmakers held two hearings in October—one to hear testimony from law enforcement, state agencies, and local governments, and another to hear public testimony on the issue, CBT reported.

During the most recent meeting Dec. 9, lawmakers discussed research on social equity, packaging and labeling, purchasing limits, local taxation and more, the Kansas Reflector reported.

Guam’s Cannabis Control Board has given the green light to 11 “responsible officials,” or government-approved business leaders that must be in place before a company receives an adult-use license, as officials await applications for cannabis business licenses.

Most recently, the board approved Trisha Blas, a responsible official for an aspiring cannabis manufacturing facility called Guahannabis LLC, and Eugene Arriola, a responsible official for a planned cultivation operation called The Heights Farm, according to the Pacific Daily News.

Nine responsible officials were previously approved and have been informed of the next steps to apply for a cannabis establishment licenses, the news outlet reported, although no one has yet applied for a license.

“They have it, they’re working on their packet, but none of them actually submitted to the office for review or consideration at this time,” Craig Camacho, compliance supervisor with the Guam Department of Revenue and Taxation, told the Pacific Daily News.

Guam legalized adult-use cannabis in 2019 and adopted regulations for the industry in May 2022. Under the regulatory framework, adults can legally grow, possess and consume cannabis, but it remains illegal to sell cannabis until the commercial market launches.

APOPKA, Florida., Dec. 12, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE - Sanctuary Cannabis is thrilled to announce the opening of Sanctuary Miami, its southernmost location to date, and the company's sixteenth dispensary in the state of Florida. 

"It's been a fantastic year for us in terms of opening new locations here in Florida, but we've all been really eager to see the Miami location open its doors," said Jason Sidman, CEO of Sanctuary Cannabis. "To have a location in Florida's most iconic city is undoubtedly thanks to tireless work of all our teams, and we're excited to begin serving patients in the area."

Located to the southwest of downtown Miami, Sanctuary Miami is located on SW 124th St. and just south of the Colonial Palms Plaza. The dispensary sits at the crossroads of the Pinecrest and Kendall neighborhoods and is just five miles south of the University of Miami campus.

"We want to close the year on the same strong note with which we started it, and opening a flagship location in Miami is a great way to do it," said Bill Dewar, chief operating officer of Sanctuary Cannabis. "We're eager to introduce ourselves to the Miami patient community and look forward to serving them with our ever-expanding selection of products and services."

CLACKAMAS, Ore., Dec. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PRESS RELEASE -- Today, Wyld, one of the top five cannabis brands in the U.S., expanded its best-selling product offerings into Illinois. Illinois joins Arizona, California, Colorado, Michigan, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Washington and Canada in offering Wyld products.

Wyld offers an expansive array of products made with real fruit flavors, high-quality ingredients and consistent dosing. Constructed using quality control processes and a high manufacturing standard, all Wyld products are designed to provide a premium cannabis experience that consumers can count on. In the state of Illinois, recreational consumers can explore Wyld's lineup of Sativa-, Indica- and Hybrid-enhanced gummies in the following flavors: elderberry, huckleberry, marionberry, peach, pear, pomegranate, raspberry, sour apple, sour cherry and strawberry.

"As we continue to introduce more people to Wyld, we're committed to putting the same level of care and attention into each gummy as we did on day one," said Aaron Morris, CEO of Wyld. "Now in Illinois, we're excited to welcome another region into the Wyld family and bring our portfolio of real fruit flavors to the cannabis consumers of this state."

In addition to Wyld's commitment to producing quality gummies, the company is dedicated to creating a more sustainable environment for both people and the planet. Wyld is Climate Neutral Certified and works with local and national partners, including NuProject, OneTreePlanted, and others, to support and uplift their work. Wyld plans to roll out fully compostable packaging in 2023. In addition, the company aims to transition to 100% plastic-free packaging in all markets by 2024.

The company's expansion into Illinois follows its launch in Oklahoma in September servicing medical patients. Additionally, earlier in 2022, Wyld launched its line of sour gummies in Oregon, California, Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan and Washington. For more information regarding Wyld's product offerings, availability and sustainability initiatives, please visit www.wyldcanna.com/.

Curaleaf’s refusal to recognize and bargain with unionized cannabis workers in Chicago was ruled unlawful by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on Dec. 5.

When Cannabis Business Times reached out to Curaleaf’s corporate communications department, a spokesperson said the company “won’t be commenting.”

The case stems from March 31, 2021, when election results revealed workers at Wind City Cannabis on Weed Street in Chicago voted, 11-10, to join the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 881 union. The dispensary on Weed Street is one of 10 Illinois retail locations owned by Massachusetts-based Curaleaf.

In April 2021, Curaleaf’s legal counsel submitted five objections to the election results, including the claim that delays in the U.S. Postal Service caused voter disenfranchisement for the mail-in election. While there were “approximately” 29 eligible voters, according to NLBR’s ballot tally, only 21 valid ballots were counted. Zero ballots were challenged.

Election Tally by Tony Lange on Scribd

According to Curaleaf’s legal counsel, “at least one voter had returned a ballot, but it had not been received by the [NLRB Region 13] as of the ballot count on March 31.”

Cannabis possession is legal in Missouri as of Dec. 8 after voters approved an adult-use legalization measure in the November election.

Adults 21 and older can now legally possess and use cannabis in the state, but commercial sales have yet to launch.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) began accepting requests Dec. 8 from state-licensed medical cannabis facilities looking to transition their operations to serve the expanded adult-use market, according to a timeline from the department.

Applications for personal cultivation will be available Jan. 7, and adult-use program rules are to be finalized by Feb. 6.

Adult-use cannabis may be available in dispensaries in February, according to the timeline, and the state will begin accepting personal cultivation licenses that month, as well.

SMITHS FALLS, Ontario, Dec. 9, 2022 – PRESS RELEASE – Canopy Growth Corporation announced that CEO David Klein and other Canopy Growth team members will ring the Nasdaq opening bell on Monday, Dec. 12, 2022.

“We are proud to be a Nasdaq-listed company, and our team is honored to be ringing the opening bell,” Klein said. “This is an exciting time for Canopy Growth as we take important steps to realize our goal of building a leading North American cannabis company. We appreciate the continued support of all of our stakeholders as we take ambitious strides towards unleashing the power of cannabis.”

The opening bell ceremony will be broadcast live starting at 9:15 a.m. Eastern Time from the Nasdaq MarketSite Tower in New York City. To view the broadcast, visit: https://www.nasdaq.com/marketsite/bell-ringing-ceremony.

***

The bell ringing will come roughly seven weeks after Canopy Growth officials announced on Oct. 25 that the company is accelerating plans to enter the U.S. market via three acquisitions with the creation of a U.S.-domiciled holding company, Canopy USA LLC, for its U.S. cannabis investments.

HED: Canopy Growth to Acquire Acreage, Wana, Jetty in US Entrance

Saskatchewan officials announced Dec. 6 that lawmakers have introduced legislation aimed at increasing First Nations self-governance, including a bill that would allow First Nations communities to regulate cannabis on reserve.

One bill, the Summary Offences Procedure Amendment Act, 2022, would create a legal framework for First Nations communities to enforce laws and bylaws.

“The Government of Saskatchewan is proud to take this important step as part of our ongoing work with the Muskoday and Whitecap Dakota First Nations,” Justice Minister and Attorney General Bronwyn Eyre said in a public statement. “These amendments will allow these and other First Nations communities in the future to use the more simplified summary offenses procedure, instead of the long-form process under the federal Criminal Code, to issue tickets and fines such as those issued for traffic violations and other provincial offenses.”

Prior to the bill’s introduction, Saskatchewan’s government signed a Memorandum of Understanding in October with Muskoday First Nation and Whitecap Dakota First Nation to address long-established issues around how First Nations laws are enforced.

“First Nations assert their jurisdiction and maintain community safety by creating laws under the Indian Act, land codes, and other federal legislation but there have been difficulties in enforcing these laws in the courts,” Chief of Whitecap Dakota First Nation Darcy Bear said in a public statement. “Through our work with the provincial government, the amendments to [the Summary Offences Procedure Act] (SOPA) will give us access to prosecution and enforcement tool that will give force to our laws in areas such as environmental protection and community safety; and strengthen the place of our laws alongside federal and provincial law.”