After an adult-use cannabis legalization proposal failed in Delaware earlier this year, the lawmaker behind the push for policy reform has split his legislation in half in a move that is gaining some traction in the statehouse.

The House Health and Human Development Committee voted May 3 to pass Rep. Ed Osienski’s House Bill 371, which now heads to the full House for consideration, according to Time Square LIVE.

H.B. 371 would legalize the possession of an ounce or less of cannabis, while a separate bill from Osienski, House Bill 372, would allow cannabis to be grown and sold in the state for adult use, Time Square LIVE reported.

H.B. 372 has been released from the House Revenue and Finance Committee and now awaits a hearing in the House Appropriations Committee, according to the news outlet.

Osienski filed a more traditional adult-use cannabis legalization bill, House Bill 305, earlier this year, but the legislation ultimately died last month when it was defeated in the House.

The New Mexico Cannabis Control Division (CDC) has lifted a cease and desist order from a producer that was involved in a medical cannabis recall last month.

Regulators allowed Santa Fe-based Sacred Garden to resume operations April 27, after the operator remedied or initiated plans to remedy violations previously cited by the CDC, according to NM Political Report.

The CDC issued the cease and desist order and a product recall March 24, after investigating patient complaints about mold found on Sacred Garden’s products.

RELATED: New Mexico Issues Recall of Medical Cannabis Products from Sacred Garden

The investigation uncovered conditions at Sacred Garden’s that regulators said would pose a risk to the public, according to NM Political Report.

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE) -- PRESS RELEASE --WM Technology, Inc., a technology and software infrastructure provider to the cannabis industry, today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022.

“Our first quarter results demonstrate how we’re playing offense and continuing to drive outsized growth as well as creating distance from the pack as the leading cannabis technology provider and commerce-driven marketplace. We grew our revenue 40% year-over-year to reach $57.5 million for the quarter, which was above the top end of our guidance, as we continued to grow our user and client base,” said Chris Beals, CEO of WM Technology. “We continue to deliver what we believe is outsized value to our clients and this allows us to grow faster than our end markets as businesses rely on our marketplace and solutions to grow their own businesses. At the same time, we are accelerating the pace of new features and integrations throughout our WM Business software platform. We are driving innovation in ways that will be more visible over the course of this year as we invest in large opportunities designed to accelerate growth. Our team remains hard at work and focused on executing against driving deep client engagement, establishing Weedmaps as the center of commerce for Cannabis consumers and expanding the adoption of our products.”

First Quarter 2022 Financial Highlights

Revenue increased to $57.5 million, up 40% from the first quarter of 2021.Monthly active users (“MAUs”) increased to 16.4 million at March 31, 2022, up 52% compared to the prior year period.MAU growth of 73% when adjusting the current period to exclude the MAUs attributed to the Learn section of weedmaps.com that we were not able to track during the prior period.Average monthly revenue per paying client increased to $3,810, a 9% increase compared to the prior year period.Average monthly paying clients increased to 5,026, a 28% increase compared to the prior year period.Gross Profit was $53.7 million implying a 93% margin rate, which reflects a 200bps margin reduction from the prior year given previously discussed growth investments and initiatives.Net loss was $(31.2) million as compared to net income of $7.7 million from the prior year period.Adjusted EBITDA(5) was $(1.0) million as compared to $9.0 million from the prior year period.Basic and diluted net loss per share was $(0.19) based on 72.5 million of Class A Common Stock weighted average shares outstanding.Total shares outstanding across Class A and Class V Common Stock is 144.3 million.Cash totaled $55.9 million as of March 31, 2022 and the Company remains debt-free.

First Quarter 2022 Operational Highlights

Added over 250 Average Monthly Paying clients in the quarter including in new states like Montana, which opened for recreational sales in January.Completed the roll-out of our Admin 2.0 portal. This surface includes a data and analytics dashboard to help our paying clients understand the significant value they derive from their spending on Weedmaps as well as local market trends. Admin 2.0 also lays the groundwork for future updates like our self-serve toolset, which will automate onboarding of new clients onto our marketplace and enable cross-product adoption and purchase upsell opportunities.Continued to improve our Deals offering with new enablement features to allow clients to publish deals at scale across their listings. We also created a new “Promotions Hub” within Admin 2.0, allowing clients to create and manage all promotions including online promo codes, in-store deals, and online deals from one place. We also rolled out new Promotions features within our WM Store eCom embed allowing clients to showcase promotions more easily on their own channels powered by WM Store.Completed the acquisition of Eyechronic, LLC. Enlighten’s ‘SmartHub’ subscription offering powers in-store digital menus and kiosks, and its ‘AdSuite’ in-store digital solution allows brands to reach consumers at the point of purchase. Enlighten adds to the value included in our WM Business platform.Expanded our available Menu and Order integrations. We now have Menu integrations in live or beta state with the key point-of-sale systems serving Cannabis and are continuing to roll-out Orders integrations with these same partners.Piloted several promising new user enhancements, including ‘express reorder’ and ‘order again’ features, along with ‘order-type’ preferences, allowing users to more easily filter through available delivery versus pickup options. We also continue to test menu personalization leveraging our first-party user affinity data.As part of our efforts to stitch our solutions more closely together, we launched an in-app messaging feature beta where businesses using our Sprout CRM solution are able to directly reach and message their followers on the Weedmaps marketplace.Continued to invest in headcount, with over 150 new hires in Q1, mostly in our Engineering, Product & Design teams as well as across our regional go-to-market teams.

Second Quarter Business Outlook

Based on current business trends and conditions, our outlook for the second quarter ending June 30, 2022, is as follows:

PRESS RELEASE - The list for pesticides that can be used on cannabis without being a violation of the Pesticide Applicators' Act has been updated. Please note the following products have been added:

IsaridGargoil

To view the updated list, click here for a pdf or click here for an Excel form. For questions regarding this change, contact Jolynn Morris at (303) 869-9060 or email jolynn.morris@state.co.us.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) is currently reviewing pesticide labels upon request and maintaining a list of products whose label it has reviewed that it believes could be used on marijuana without violating 35-10-117(1)(i), as long as the applicator follows the label directions.

Please be sure to review the list; pesticide products may be removed from the allowed products list if the registrant has not renewed their pesticide product with the department. Use of unregistered pesticides on cannabis would be a violation of the Pesticide Applicators' Act.

Stay Informed

South Carolina will remain one of 13 states where medical cannabis is illegal in 2022 following a bill’s demise May 4 on the House floor.

The legislation, the SC Compassionate Care Act, passed the Senate by way of a 28-15 vote in February, after a marathon that included seven floor sessions: More than 65 changes were considered during a three-week period in the upper chamber.

RELATED: South Carolina Medical Cannabis Marathon Finds Senate Approval

But Rep. John McCravy, R-Greenwood, challenged the bill’s constitutionality Wednesday on the House floor, arguing that the legislation creates a new tax and that revenue-raising bills must originate in the lower chamber.

The bill’s language states that all sales of cannabis products are subject to a 6% sales tax at the point of sale. After covering regulatory costs, the bill aimed to distribute revenue from the tax as follows: 3% for research and training to improve detection of impaired driving; 10% for alcohol and drug abuse prevention, education, early intervention and treatment; 5% to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED); 5% to medical cannabis research; 2% for drug safety education; and 75% to the general fund.

House Pro Tempore Tommy Pope, R-York, agreed with McCravy, reiterating that the 6% sales tax in the bill does involve a new revenue raise, and it is therefore unconstitutional because only the House holds that power.

Aurora, IL – PRESS RELEASE – May 4th, 2022: Spectrum Technologies, Inc., expands their broad product offering with the release of the WatchDog Wireless Plant Growth Station. Through the single portable station, growers can now receive real-time, crop-specific environmental data on their smartphone including

Indiana has had a rough past few years despite a strong start in the hemp and cannabinoid industry. After a pandemic, a smokable flower ban in 2019, and two attempts to ban delta-8 THC, business owners feel defeated, isolated, and hesitant to talk about cannabinoid legislation for fear of inciting bans on popular products including delta-8, which remains unregulated in the state.

In response, Indiana cannabinoid businesses and advocacy organizations are getting creative—showing up at the statehouse and bringing immersive educational experiences to those who want to learn more. Indiana businesses show how they can support each other through cooperation and networking to create a path to a strong cannabinoid culture and economy, unlike any other state, in true Hoosier fashion.

Indiana Businesses Roll With the Punches

In 2021, after two years of litigation, H.B. 1124, which sought to retract the ban on smokeable hemp flower in Indiana, died in the statehouse In the same session, a bill to criminalize delta-8 was blocked—a win for many Indiana cannabinoid businesses that thrive on delta-8 sales, a retail industry that exceeded $10 million in sales in 2020, according to New Frontier Data.

Business owners say that the back-and-forth struggle to keep cannabinoid businesses afloat in the state is exhausting. Minority businesses, especially, are scared to talk about legislation, fearing retaliation if they speak out.

“It’s difficult to have a conversation about cannabinoids because everyone is super secretive about it,” says LeShauna Carr-Kennedy, co-founder and owner of Dr. Blunt CBD + Apothecary. If Indiana doesn’t take steps forward, she’ll have to consider moving her business. “I’m doing research and data-gathering for myself to know what lies ahead of us. What obstacles will there be? We can’t say what Indiana will do. We’ve seen so many different bills on the table that have been shut down. If we don’t legalize [cannabis] in five years, I’ll be leaving. It just stunts our growth.”

An attempt to ban delta-8 in Indiana came after an article about an Indiana University student who allegedly attempted to rape a female resident assistant. The young man cited his recent consumption of delta-8 gummy bears for his behavior.

2022 isn’t shaping up to match the highs of 2021 for Oregon’s adult-use cannabis retailers.

Through the first four months of the year, the state’s adult-use dispensaries have sold $319.7 million in products, a 14.4% decrease from the $373.7 million sold during the same time period last year, according to statewide sales data from the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC).

The 2022 retail troubles come as OLCC regulators recently implemented a licensing moratorium in response to a “crowded marketplace,” including 771 adult-use retail licenses, or roughly 18.3 dispensaries per 100,000 residents—the highest rate among continental adult-use markets in Western states.

RELATED: Oregon Regulators Implement Cannabis Licensing Moratorium

But there is hope.

Adult-use sales totals jumped to $83.7 million in April—Oregon’s largest grossing month since October 2021.

Applicants for Vermont’s adult-use cannabis cultivation, testing and retail licenses will have to wait a little longer to hear back about the status of their applications after the state’s Cannabis Control Board missed a May 1 deadline to begin issuing the licenses.

The state had received more than 400 prequalification applications as of March 29, and Cannabis Control Board Chairman James Pepper told the Brattleboro Reformer that regulators have prequalified roughly 80 applicants from that pool.

No actual licenses have been issued yet, however, despite the May 1 deadline laid out in the legislation regarding the rollout of commercial adult-use sales in the state.

RELATED: Vermont Becomes Eleventh State to Legalize Adult-Use Marijuana Sales

“This is due to the fact that we don’t have a licensing staff here at the board,” Pepper told the Brattleboro Reformer. “We don’t have our compliance team in place. We thought it would be prudent to have those in place before we start issuing those licenses.”

During a Monday hearing, the Colorado Senate Business, Labor and Technology Committee voted 4-0 to pass an amendment to legislation that would regulate intoxicating hemp or THC products sold at unregulated retail stores.

Senate Bill 205, as introduced, would have required the "Marijuana Enforcement Division in the Department of Revenue to come up with rules that set limits for the amounts of THC and intoxicating cannabinoids in adult-use cannabis products, as well as establish procedures for designating and transferring an adult-use cannabis product as a retail marijuana product," The Gazette reported. 

Peter Marcus, communications director for Terrapin Care Station, a multi-state cannabis company, stressed the importance of regulating all psychoactive cannabinoids during Monday’s hearing, adding that the measure as introduced would have done exactly that, The Gazette reported.

But many in the hemp industry disagreed, arguing that the legislation as introduced would have hurt hemp farmers and given the state's cannabis industry too much control over the production of intoxicating hemp products, according to the news outlet. 

During Monday's hearing, Samantha Walsh, vice chair of the Colorado Hemp Association, said that the legislation would have hurt hemp farmers and disrupted the industry's supply chain, the news outlet reported.

Due to pushback from the hemp industry, one of the bill's co-sponsors, Sen. Steve Fenberg (D), amended the original bill for the Monday hearing, according to The Gazette.

Nepra Foods of Colorado, a plant-based and allergen-free food company, is introducing beef, chicken and pork made from its textured hemp protein (THP) to its product line.

In October, the company introduced its THP, stating that it would use it as a key ingredient in its future product development.

Nepra's plant- and hemp-based meats will be available for purchase by restaurant chains, institutions and private retailers seeking to add substitute meat options to their menus, according to a Nepra press release.

"Customers will be amazed by the authentic tastes and textures of our new lineup of allergen-free plant-based meat analogs," said Chadwick White, Nepra Foods co-founder and chief innovation officer. "We are convinced that the nutritional and environmental advantages of hemp protein will revolutionize the food industry and [are] proud that Nepra is taking a leading role in bringing healthy and sustainable options to restaurants.”

The company has also ventured into other hemp-based food products.

In late April, Nepra introduced egg-free vegan mayonnaise made with hemp heart protein, virgin hemp oil and lemon, according to a press release.

Surrounded by five states that have yet to legalize adult-use cannabis, non-resident purchases continue to drive retail revenue at dispensaries in Illinois.

In April, more than $40.8 million, or roughly 31% of the state’s $131.8 million in adult-use cannabis sales, came from out-of-state shoppers, according to recently updated sales figures from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).

As of last month, there were 110 licensed adult-use dispensaries serving the state, which sold more than 3.1 million cannabis items in April. With a state population of roughly 12.7 million, that means Illinois has fewer than one adult-use dispensary per 100,000 residents. By comparison, Oregon’s more mature adult-use market has roughly 18.3 dispensaries per 100,000 residents.

While IDFPR awarded 185 additional adult-use dispensary licenses in a three-part lottery last July and August, the department cannot issue those licenses until the latest lawsuit in a string of legal battles is settled.

In the meantime, the 110 active dispensaries banked $1.2 million apiece, on average, last month.

The $131.8 million in total sales in April represents a 14.6% increase from the nearly $115 million in sales from last April.

SARASOTA, Fla., May 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PRESS RELEASE -- Grower's Ally, a producer of safe and effective pesticides for cannabis and hemp, today announced the appointment of Brian Keenan as Director of Cultivator Partnerships.

"I'm excited about the impact Grower's Ally products can have on our industry," said Brian Keenan, Director of Cultivator Partnerships. "After using Grower's Ally in my operation and recommending it to commercial operations, I saw firsthand how clean and effective the formulas are."

Keenan is an industry veteran with over three decades of experience in cannabis, including roles in retail hydroponics, facility design and plant cultivation. Keenan is a proponent of education, committed to the highest levels of customer service for both cultivators and retail partners.

"Grower's Ally is positioned for growth as the cannabis industry continues to evolve," said Scott Allshouse, CEO and President of Grower's Ally. "Brian brings a deep understanding of plant cultivation, including IPM processes, as well as first-hand knowledge of the challenges faced by hydroponic stores and experience working with distributors."

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The Colorado Department of Revenue (DOR) and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) issued a health and safety advisory May 3 over flower potentially contaminated with mold.

The affected products, produced and sold by Canna Meds Wellness Center LLC, contained total yeast and mold levels above the acceptable limits established by the state.

The affected harvest batches were not properly submitted for testing before hitting dispensary shelves, according to the state’s advisory.

RELATED: Colorado Issues Advisory Due to Potential Lead Contamination in Adult-Use Cannabis Products Sold at Leadville Dispensary

Medical cannabis products derived from the affected batches were sold to patients at Canna Meds Wellness Center retail locations at 506 North Chelton Road and 2218 North Academy Place in Colorado Springs between May 2, 2021, and April 6, 2022.

LONG BEACH, Calif. and TORONTO, April 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PRESS RELEASE -- Glass House Brands Inc., one of the fastest-growing, vertically-integrated cannabis companies in the U.S., and Plus Products Inc. have announced that Glass House has completed the acquisition of the business of PLUS, a leading cannabis edibles company based in California. The company acquired PLUS for approximately US$25.6 million through a combination of unsecured convertible debt and equity, plus additional performance-based consideration.

"With a mission to create the largest cannabis brand-building platform in California, we are thrilled to announce the closing of our PLUS acquisition, positioning Glass House as the only company with a top 5 position in both the Flower and Edibles segments in the California market," said Kyle Kazan, Glass House's chairman and chief executive officer. "Edibles are a key component of our growth strategy as we further expand our product portfolio and build stronger brand awareness. We are incredibly excited to begin our work with the PLUS team to expand the presence of their premium products in our own retail stores and across our distribution network. The combination of our existing brand platform with PLUS will result in a substantial increase in our Total Addressable Market opportunity in California and, eventually, across the U.S. The overlap between Glass House Brands' active accounts and those of PLUS was less than 25% in the first quarter, with Glass House being stronger in Southern California and PLUS stronger in Northern California. Additionally, we aim to grow the PLUS brand nationally, which would expand its TAM by roughly 550% versus operating in California alone."

Kazan added, "The upside of the current struggle in the California market is that we believe we will find more attractively valued acquisition targets that are win-win propositions for all parties including the consumer. We look forward to entering this new stage of growth by executing on PLUS' and Glass House's shared vision of bringing innovative, high quality cannabis products to consumers."

The company's house cannabis brand, Glass House Farms, was the No. 1 ranked flower brand by sales in California in Q1 2022. PLUS is a leading edibles brand in California and was the No. 4 ranked edibles brand in California by sales in Q1 2022. Based on top-of-mind brand awareness, a common CPG metric measuring brand strength, PLUS is the No. 1 ranked brand in California in the gummy segment, the largest segment of the edibles category.

SARASOTA, Fla.-- Grower's Ally, which specializes in pesticides for cannabis and hemp, has appointed cannabis industry veteran Brian Keenan as Director of Cultivator Partnerships.

Keenan has more than three decades of experience in cannabis, including roles in retail hydroponics, facility design and plant cultivation. 

"I'm excited about the impact Grower's Ally products can have on our industry," Keenan said in a May 2 press release announcing the appointment. "After using Grower's Ally in my operation and recommending it to commercial operations, I saw firsthand how clean and effective the formulas are."

Keenan is a proponent of education, committed to the highest levels of customer service for both cultivators and retail partners, according to the press release.

Michigan cannabis company SKYMINT Brands announced in April its acquisition of retailer 3Fifteen Cannabis is complete, further expanding SKYMINT, one of the largest vertically integrated operations in the state. 

With the agreement, SKYMINT nearly doubles its retail presence with 29 active locations and has another 15-plus planned over the next year, according to a press release. SKYMINT operates two indoor cultivation facilities with a total of 77,000 square feet with a third indoor cultivation facility—totaling 184,000 square feet—due to come online this year.

May 3 marked the deadline for counties and municipalities to decide whether they would host medical cannabis businesses within their jurisdictions, and 10 counties and 17 cities ultimately opted out, according to the Clarion Ledger.

Mississippi’s medical cannabis law, which Gov. Tate  Reeves signed into law in February, allowed counties and municipalities to opt out within three months of the legislation being signed into law, setting the opt-out deadline as May 3.

RELATED: First Two Cities Opt Out of Mississippi’s Medical Cannabis Program

Residents can then petition for a local election to overturn their city’s decision, and the Mississippi Cannabis Trade Association has been holding signature drives in municipalities that have opted out of the program to give voters a chance to opt back in.

City and county leaders can also choose to opt back in at any time.

SANTA ROSA, California, May 4, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE - STIIIZY, a Los Angeles-based, vertically integrated cannabis company, is opening its first retail location in Santa Rosa, Calif. STIIIZY Santa Rosa is fully equipped with a comprehensive collection of in-demand products, available for the first time in Sonoma County, creating a one-stop-shop for all things cannabis.

"We're excited to expand our retail footprint in Northern California, and specifically in the city of Santa Rosa," said Tak Sato, president of STIIIZY parent company Shryne Group Inc. "The first time I visited Santa Rosa was to attend the Hall of Flowers trade show, one of the biggest industry events of the year. I knew we had to have a STIIIZY store here as Santa Rosa is one of the most influential cities for cannabis culture."

In addition to creating unionized job opportunities at its newest retail location, STIIIZY will bring its philanthropic project "Joint Efforts" to the Sonoma region. STIIIZY employees will be able to participate in impactful community service projects focused on sustainability, public safety and other improvements around the store's Russell Creek adjacent neighborhood.

STIIIZY Santa Rosa is Shryne Group's 11th location in Northern California and 21st location in the state. The newest STIIIZY store features visual art installations and exclusive STIIIZY merchandise including apparel and accessories. The modern retail space spans 3,500 square feet and includes STIIIZY products such as the STIIIZY extracts, flower, edibles and more, alongside other quality brands.

Now open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., STIIIZY Santa Rosa offers a clean, safe and compliant retail experience with 24-hour security and monitoring, as well as advance order pick-up options for consumers of legal age. Introducing a new generation of cannabis, STIIIZY always offers customers amazing deals and savings with specials regularly announced on social media.

More STIIIZY brick-and-mortar stores are planned to open soon throughout the state and beyond. STIIIZY Santa Rosa is conveniently located off Redwood Highway 101 at 3175 Range Avenue, Santa Rosa, Calif. 95403. More details are available by emailing santarosa@stiiizy.com.

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MIAMI, May 04, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PRESS RELEASE -- Ayr Wellness Inc., a vertically integrated U.S. multi-state cannabis operator (MSO), today announced it has expanded its extensive product portfolio available in Massachusetts with the addition of its premium flower brand, Kynd, and the launch of Entourage vapes in Ohio.

Sales of Kynd began in Massachusetts on April 29, exclusively at Sira Naturals dispensaries. Each unique strain included in the initial launch, “Mr. Nasty,” “Orangutan Zkittlez,” and “Fresh Squeezed,” are new to Ayr’s offerings in the Massachusetts market and boast a premium genetic profile. These offerings will be made available through third party dispensaries and the broader adult-use market in the near future.

Entourage vapes begin sales in Ohio today, launching with six strain-specific offerings, including “Skywalker OG,” “OG 1 Kenobi,” “Yoda’s Alien Cookies,” “Blue Dream,” “Champagne Kush,” and “Jack Herer.” The initial drop can be purchased by Ohio medical patients in 28 dispensaries throughout the state.

“Quality and genetics are hugely important to our consumers, and Kynd and Entourage deliver in both of those categories,” said Jonathan Sandelman, founder, chairman and CEO of Ayr. “With Kynd, we have invested in building a cutting-edge genetic library, which allows us to produce innovative strains that are backed by the quality of the plants that we grow. Entourage is crafted by extraction experts who use proprietary techniques to emphasize rich, unique terpenes for an elevated vape experience. We look forward to continuing to build both brands in Massachusetts, Ohio and throughout the rest of our footprint.”

“Kynd flower is crafted by highly-skilled cultivators who consistently deliver premium quality to our patients and customers,” said Jeff Finnerty, SVP of Marketing at Ayr, “and Entourage’s carefully-crafted, broad-spectrum cartridges provide a unique flavor profile of optimal quality, without a steep price tag. We are particularly excited to introduce this new collection of products, which collectively demonstrate superior flavor, potency, and experience, to customers and patients in Massachusetts and Ohio.”