Cannabis delivery and curbside pickup could soon become a reality in Maine.

On April 13, the Maine Senate advanced House Bill 1827 in a 19-14 vote—sponsored by Rep. Joseph Perry—which would allow certain licensed cannabis retailers to deliver adult-use products to residential buildings. In addition, the measure would also allow licensed cannabis retailers to engage in curbside pickup.

The legislation now heads to Gov. Janet Mills’ desk for approval.

The launch of New Jersey’s long-awaited adult-use cannabis market is set for April 21, Gov. Phil Murphy announced April 14 on Twitter.

“Starting on April 21st, adults ages 21+ will be able to legally purchase cannabis and cannabis products without a medical card,” Murphy tweeted. “This is a historic step in our work to create a new cannabis industry.”

Murphy’s announcement came just three days after the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) approved seven medical cannabis dispensaries to serve the adult-use market.

Those seven retailers—Acreage, Curaleaf, Columbia Care, Verano, Ascend Wellness, GTI and TerrAscend—had to agree that the surge of adult-use customers would not interrupt access for medical cannabis patients, according to the Associated Press, and they must reserve parking spaces and maintain operating hours specifically for patients.

The dispensaries must also meet social equity standards outlined in New Jersey’s cannabis law, the news outlet reported, such as providing technical knowledge to new cannabis businesses, especially social equity applicants, which are defined as those located in economically disadvantaged parts of the state and those with past cannabis-related offenses.

Charleston, S.C., April 18, 2022 – To drive the impact of a circular economy, driven by cutting-edge research, financial equity, and cooperation, BrightMa Farms will break ground on The BrightMa Innovation Center (“The BIC”) in Orangeburg, S.C., on April 29, 2022. The center is the result of a new collaboration between two industrial hemp pioneers, BrightMa Farms and Puregene AG, to pave the way to greater diversity and sustainability on a global scale and creating a space where science, technology, community, and education truly combine to impact the realization of end-product application. Rooted in history, infused with rich culture and propelled by scientific discovery, with large-scale technological backing, The BIC (the name which signifies the venture led by BrightMa and supported by Puregene) is establishing a world where literally anything is possible.

RELATED: South Carolina Grower BrightMa Farms Builds Genetics Partnership With Swiss Hemp and Cannabis Research Company Puregene AG

Puregene has been able to harness the power of the adaptive range of hemp. In fact, hemp`s ability to grow from the arctic circle to the tropics is simultaneously one of its biggest challenges and its biggest strength. To date, global breeding programs have only existed in a few small locations, and current elite varieties are not broadly adapted to multiple climate zones or latitudes. By testing genetically diverse material in diverse environments, Puregene can rapidly select and incorporate highly beneficial environmental response traits into future varieties. With genomic prediction, breeding is literally flipped on its head, as diverse material is tested directly where it will be produced by stakeholders. Ultimately, the realization of breeding advances in real time benefits both producers and stakeholders.

BrightMa Farms is working for the immediate benefit of minority farmers, and ultimately, the industry at large. The aim was to expand territories and bridge the gap for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) talent to be engaged with deliverable supply chains using industrial hemp. The unique positioning of HBCUs offers an opportunity to rapidly accelerate Black economic mobility. The support from BrightMa and the 1890 Research Extensions has increased the impact of the HBCU footprint substantially. In addition, the first-of-its-kind initiative of BrightMa and Puregene increases its scientific significance and magnifies its scope dramatically. Puregene, a Swiss company that performs genomic-based predictive breeding, are adding its extensive expertise and ground-breaking technological advancements to amplify the venture to new levels of realization, as it accelerates hemp applications by implementing its proper vertical integration strategy. Every stage of the production process is optimized, ensuring innovation is directly implemented in the market.

RELATED: How BrightMa Farms is Striving to Create Opportunities in Hemp

Cannabis retailers in Michigan found out on a whim last week that certain gummies and vape products in their inventory were put on a do-not-sell list by state regulators.

The products in question are from processor Sky Labs, a Mount Morris-based company that specializes in making edibles, MLive.com reported.

Certain gummies and vaping products sold under a brand often produced by Sky Labs were placed on administrative hold April 14 by the Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA), formerly the Marijuana Regulatory Agency, rebranded last week under an executive order.

A CRA spokesperson told MLive the agency could not comment on or confirm the investigation—no products were place on recall—but licensed retailers continued to receive updates to the do-not-sell list throughout the day on April 15, including blue-raspberry gummies and other flavors of THC-infused edibles from Sky Labs.

Denise Pollicella, a founder and managing partner of Cannabis Attorneys of Michigan, who represents Sky Labs, told MLive the administrative hold was placed on more than $5 million worth of the company’s products with no explanation from state regulators.

“At 4 p.m. [April 14] they received a call from a client and literally all of their product started going on administrative hold,” she said. The CRA “said it’s related to an investigation. It does not appear to be a public health or safety matter, but I’m speculating, because they didn’t issue a recall.”

Good Feels is releasing its line of cannabis-infused seltzers in dispensaries throughout Massachusetts.

The company will offer four different cannabis-infused seltzers—Black Cherry, Blood Orange, Grapefruit, and Raspberry Apple—and will also offer two beverage enhancers (flavorless and lemon-lime). Each 12-ounce seltzer contains a blend of 3 milligrams of THC and 2 milligrams of CBD while the beverage enhancers contain 4.5 milligrams of THC and 3 milligrams of CBD per serving (20 servings, 150mg total), according to the company.

Good Feels says all its products are manufactured with infinitely recyclable glass bottles in a carbon-neutral facility powered by 100% renewable energy. Furthermore, the minority-owned cannabis brand says it purchases 25% of its materials from cannabis businesses with social equity or economic empowerment license types.

“I started this company because there was no solution to my problem,” said Jason Reposa, founder and CEO of Good Feels. “I had to create my own solution. We took an aggressive approach to launch these products as quickly as possible so that people can have access to them. They really are revolutionary in that the innovation didn’t exist, so we had to create it. I needed to create something for myself, and I knew if I did, others would love it as well.”

The “problem” for which Reposa sought a solution was his own personal health challenges. Reposa says he developed temporomandibular joint disorder—otherwise known as lockjaw—in 2019 due to stress from selling his former company at the time, combined with other life events.

“I was on a liquid diet, basically. I couldn’t open my mouth an inch,” Reposa said. “Typically, it’s attributed to a lot of inflammation, and the mechanics of my jaw just weren’t working correctly. I went to the doctors, went to the dentists, [and] I got a needle in my head—they were squirting into my temple to relieve all the inflammation—and it wasn’t really working. And like many people in my situation, as a last resort, I was like, there’s got to be a different way.

The regulation of Michigan’s cannabis and hemp industries has been consolidated under the Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA), effective April 13, according to a WLUC report.

The new regulatory body officially replaced the Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA), which previously oversaw Michigan’s medical and adult-use cannabis markets.

Hemp regulation previously fell under the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), and while the department will continue to oversee hemp cultivation in the state, the CRA will regulate the processing, distribution and sale of hemp going forward, according to WLUC.

“Given the multiple scenarios where hemp processing crosses over to the regulatory authority of the CRA, this move certainly makes sense, particularly for cannabinoid production,” MDARD Industrial Hemp Program Manager Molly Mott told the news outlet. “The majority of Michigan’s licensed hemp processors perform cannabinoid extraction and have no route to handle temporarily concentrated THC and residual THC. CRA has the staff and expertise to help address those issues.”

The CRA now also has authority over Michigan’s hemp processors and handlers under the Industrial Hemp Research and Development Act, the news outlet reported.

Dubbed “highway robberies,” sheriff’s deputies in San Bernardino County, Calif., performed two traffic stops of armored vehicles last year that led to the federal seizure of roughly $1.1 million in licensed cannabis proceeds.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) agreed April 13 to return that money to Denver-based Empyreal Logistics, the cash management company whose vehicles were targeted Nov. 16 and Dec. 9 in San Bernardino, according to an Institute for Justice press release.

Providing cash logistics solutions in 28 states, Empyreal transports bank deposits for state-licensed medical cannabis businesses as a financial infrastructure for those businesses. Large sums of cash are often related to the lack of safe banking for the cannabis industry.

As a result of the settlement, Empyreal Logistics will drop its federal lawsuit against the DOJ, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and FBI that alleged the government entities acted beyond their legal authority, which plaintiffs claimed is limited by the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment.

Named after former U.S. Reps. Dana Rohrabacher and Sam Farr, both of California, the amendment was an appropriations rider that prohibits the DOJ from spending funds to interfere with the implementation of state medical cannabis laws. It became law in December 2014 after six previously failed attempts.

The Empyreal lawsuit also alleged that the San Bernardino County Sheriff and federal law enforcement agencies violated Fourth, Fifth and Fourteenth amendments of the U.S. Constitution.

New York Sen. Jeremy Cooney introduced the first of two bills April 12 that are meant to address banking in the state’s cannabis industry.

S8758, the Cannabis Banking and Disclosure Act, would authorize the New York Office of Cannabis Management to share information about an applicant or licensee with a financial institution that is interested in providing banking services to the industry, according to a Syracuse.com report.

“Allowing financial institutions access to verified information will improve efficiency and compliance in cannabis banking assisting with ‘Know Your Client’ and reporting requirements,” Cooney’s office told the news outlet.

Cooney previously told Syracuse.com that he was working with U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter to identify a banking solution for New York’s cannabis industry and financial institutions. Perlmutter’s SAFE Banking Act cleared the U.S. House for the sixth time via an en bloc amendment package to the America COMPETES Act in February, although the legislation has failed to make any meaningful progress in the Senate.

RELATED: UPDATE: Rep. Perlmutter Makes Final Push on SAFE Banking

A trio of U.S. Representatives introduced bipartisan legislation April 14 to prepare for the federal legalization of cannabis.

The Preparing Regulators Effectively for a Post-Prohibition Adult Use Regulated Environment (PREPARE) Act, introduced by Reps. Dave Joyce (OH-14), Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08) and Brian Mast (FL-18), aims to set up a “fair, honest and publicly transparent process for the federal government to establish effective regulation to be enacted upon the termination of its 85-year prohibition of cannabis,” according to a press release from Joyce’s office.

The legislation is meant to provide lawmakers an opportunity to engage in federal cannabis policy reform, “paving the way for more comprehensive reform down the road,” according to the release.

“With 91% of Americans supporting either medical or recreational cannabis legalization, it’s time for the federal government to respect the will of our voters—both Democrat and Republican alike—and begin a serious conversation about what a post-prohibition America should look like,” Joyce said in a public statement. “No matter their opinion on descheduling, most lawmakers agree that the federal government cannot continue to interfere with the rights of the 48 states that have legalized cannabis to some degree. The PREPARE Act will give my colleagues on both sides of the aisle the answers they need to effectively engage on cannabis reform so that Congress can develop a federal regulatory framework that ensures not only a responsible end to prohibition, but also a safe future for our communities.”

The PREPARE Act would direct the U.S. attorney general to establish a new commission, called the Commission on the Federal Regulation of Cannabis, which would be tasked with advising on the development of a regulatory framework for cannabis based on the federal and state regulations that govern alcohol.

The Pennsylvania Senate approved legislation April 13 that would authorize financial institutions and insurers to provide services to the state’s medical cannabis businesses.

Senate Bill 1167, introduced by Sens. John DiSanto and Sharif Street, would allow, but not require, banks and insurance providers to serve Pennsylvania’s state-legal cannabis businesses.

The legislation would protect financial institutions and insurers that provide services to the cannabis industry from state penalties, essentially codifying the state’s existing climate of regulatory nonenforcement.

RELATED: Pennsylvania Cannabis Banking Bill Receives Unanimous Committee Support

“Improved access to financial and insurance services is vital for protecting public safety and is essential to operate any legal business,” DiSanto said in a public statement. “Banking this cash safely in Pennsylvania will grow our economy and lower costs for medical cannabis consumers.”

Ahead of 4/20, new cannabis products are hitting the market for an eager and growing consumer base. That includes new, intriguing entrants in all product categories—but also new product delivery methods, like Helmand Valley Growers Co.’s new refillable glass prerolls in California. 

Consider this new product line a prepacked twist on the classic chillum. Helmand Valley’s glass prerolls come with a half-gram of diamond-infused cannabis flower and artful designs that turn the glassware into a bit of a collector’s item. The idea is to provide a discreet and low-stakes option for those customers wishing to take their flower consumption on the go.

Bryan Buckley, president and CEO of Helmand Valley Growers Co., which is based in San Diego, says that the idea came from an auspicious meeting at Hall of Flowers in 2021. He met the team from Pre-Packs, a company based in Massachusetts which had been eyeing a launch in California. Buckley says the two teams really connected and found a set of shared values between them. The Pre-Packs team had identified Helmand Valley Growers Co. as the company with just the right sort of ethos to help along a launch in the biggest cannabis market in the world. 

“It's a very conveniently sized product,” Buckley says. “You can stash it in your pocket. And we just like how it's recyclable and reusable and made in America. It just made sense.” Helmand Valley Growers Co. has strong roots in the veteran community. Its name derives from Buckley’s time serving as a U.S. Marine Raider. He served in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan; Raiders who’ve also served in the province will know the sense of unity that came from the Helmand Valley Gun Club: HVGC. Each Raider who served in the province was a member of that group, and each one has an HVGC tattoo. “We really wanted to pay a tribute to those who went there,” he says.

The new preroll product line has made such a splash among the Helmand Valley team that fellow Marine veteran Joe Brennan, owner of MindRight, a dispensary business in Michigan, is planning to launch them in that marketplace by summer. What makes the refillable glass preroll launch all the more timely is that profits from sales will be funneled toward the company’s charitable foundation, Battle Brothers. 

It is through Battle Brothers that Buckley and his team have secured approval to launch a study on the use of medical cannabis to help combat PTSD in veterans. Better yet: Battle Brothers will be allowed to use Helmand Valley Growers Co.’s own cannabis—rather than obtaining plant material through the National Institute of Drug Abuse and the University of Mississippi. 

The patchwork of state regulations that govern cannabis businesses often means that each state tackles the industry’s problems with different solutions, but a cannabis-focused committee within ASTM International aims to standardize as many aspects of the industry as it can.

Committee D37, the cannabis committee within ASTM International, a century-old organization that has released tens of thousands of global standards for a wide range of industries, announced last month that it has released a new standard that provides an international symbol for intoxicating cannabinoids.

The standard, D8441/D8441M, called the International Intoxicating Cannabinoid Product Symbol (IICPS), will apply to all finished cannabis products intended for consumer use.

ASTM International member David Nathan co-designed the symbol in collaboration with his son, Eli Nathan, and Doctors for Cannabis Regulation (DFCR), an organization made up of physicians and other health professionals working to advance cannabis legalization and regulation.

David Vaillencourt, vice chair of the D37 committee, which has over 1,100 members across 36 countries, says Montana, New Jersey, Vermont and Alaska are all considering adopting the symbol.

Among 700 bills Virginia first-year Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed into law April 11 was legislation that eliminates the requirement that medical cannabis patients register with the state’s Board of Pharmacy.

The provisions under that signed legislation will take effect July 1. Until then, patients are still required to register with the Pharmacy Board after receiving their written certification from a registered practitioner in order to purchase cannabis at a state-licensed dispensary.

Currently, there are more than 47,000 program registrants with an estimated 8,000 applicants still awaiting approval, according to reform group NORML.

“These legislative improvements will bring great relief to the thousands of Virginians waiting to access the medical cannabis program,” said JM Pedini, NORML’s development director and the executive director of Virginia NORML. “We hear from dozens of Virginians each week who are struggling with the registration process and frustrated by the 60-day wait to receive their approval from the Board of Pharmacy.” 

After July 1, patients who still wish to receive a physical medical cannabis card can do so through a request to the Board of Pharmacy.

Other medical cannabis program changes in the bill include the removal of mandatory active ingredient ratio mandates for product formulations, expanded technology that may be used in processing, and additional modifications that clarify the scope of producing and dispensing medical cannabis.

April 20, typically known as "420" amongst cannabis consumers, is quickly approaching, and with the holiday comes an opportunity for cannabis businesses to score big with sales.  

As one Wisconsin state lawmaker plans to host a public hearing April 20 on a medical cannabis bill she authored, another lawmaker is warning legalization advocates not to get their hopes up.

Sen. Mary Felzkowski, R-Tomahawk, announced April 11 that Wisconsinites who have an interest in medical cannabis legalization will be able to share their views on legislation she sponsors during a committee hearing later this month, WisPolitics.com reported.

Felzkowski’s bill, also sponsored by Rep. Patrick Snyder, R-Schofield, intends to legalize and create the framework for medical cannabis use by those in the state who have any of eight qualifying conditions: amyotrophic later sclerosis, cancer, Crohn’s disease, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, post-traumatic stress disorder, and seizure disorders.

In addition, other qualifying conditions could be added by unanimous approval of a Medical Marijuana Regulation Commission, housed under the Department of Revenue, created under the bill.

RELATED: Wisconsin Lawmakers Reintroduce Medical Cannabis Legalization Bill

“I am excited for the opportunity to facilitate this discussion,” Felzkowski said in press release Monday, announcing the April 20 public hearing to be held by the Insurance, Licensing and Forestry Committee, which she chairs.

New legislation in Baton Rouge would allow Louisianians to expunge cannabis-related crimes from their records.

House Bill 774, filed by Rep. Cedric Glover, the former mayor of Shreveport, would allow those convicted of misdemeanor charges involving cannabis possession to have their records expunged and the fees waived, according to a FOX 8 report.

In August 2021, a decriminalization law took effect in Louisiana that removed the threat of jail time and reduced the maximum penalty to a $100 fine for first-time offenders convicted of possessing up to 14 grams of cannabis.

Glover also sponsored the legislation behind that law, House Bill 652.

The Legislature has also been working to expand the state’s medical cannabis program; a new law took effect Jan. 1 that allows patients to access flower, while lawmakers are currently considering legislation that would increase the number of cultivation and pharmacy licenses, as well as allow nurse practitioners to recommend medical cannabis to patients.

GATINEAU, Quebec, April 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PRESS RELEASE -- HEXO Corp., a producer of high-quality cannabis products, has announced that the company has taken a significant step forward in executing on its strategic plan--The Path Forward--by entering into definitive agreements with Tilray Brands, Inc., as well as entering into a definitive equity purchase agreement with an affiliate of KAOS Capital Inc., further to the company’s press release of March 3, 2022. Closing of the transaction with Tilray Brands and the Standby Agreement is expected to occur by the end of May 2022, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of closing conditions.

The definitive agreements with Tilray Brands solidify the strategic partnership between HEXO and Tilray Brands and, on closing, will provide HEXO with a recapitalized balance sheet and the enhanced financial flexibility critical to accelerating its transformation into a cash flow positive business within the next four quarters. The terms of the transaction are set out in a transaction agreement entered into among HEXO, Tilray Brands and HT Investments MA LLC (HTI) providing for the amendment to the terms of the outstanding senior secured convertible note originally issued by HEXO to HTI and the execution of an amended and restated Note with HTI that will be immediately thereafter assigned to Tilray Brands pursuant to the terms of an assignment and assumption agreement. 

HEXO and Tilray Brands have also committed to work together to evaluate cost saving synergies as well as other production efficiencies and to set out the terms of such arrangements in certain commercial agreements to be entered into upon the closing of the transaction. The Commercial Agreements are expected to create significant efficiencies, with a target combined cost savings of up to U.S.$80 million within two years to be shared equally between the two companies.

“Since I arrived, HEXO’s balance sheet has been the biggest impediment to unlocking shareholder value in this tremendous business. This strategic partnership with Tilray both significantly improves our capital structure in the near- and longer-term, but also allows the company to re-focus on its Path Forward strategic growth plan,” said Scott Cooper, president and CEO of HEXO. “The alliance will lower costs, take advantage of cost synergies and build shareholder value.”

“We believe that finalizing this agreement not only will significantly improve HEXO’s capital structure but also creates substantial cost and market advantages. It’s an ideal outcome and one we’re exceptionally pleased with,” said Mark Attanasio, executive chairman of the Board of Directors of HEXO. “This arrangement with Tilray will place HEXO on a solid path for the future.”

WAKEFIELD, Mass., April 12, 2022 – PRESS RELEASE – Curaleaf Holdings Inc.,a leading international provider of consumer CBD and hemp products, announcedthat its Select CBD and Curaleaf Hemp products will become available for thefirst time in the Caribbean market thanks to a new distribution agreement withWB Canna Co. & Wellness. This agreement will bring Curaleaf's lineup ofproducts from its eponymous Hemp and Select CBD product lines to customers in,and traveling throughout, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Aruba, Bermuda,Barbados, Cayman, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Jamaica, and Saint Maarten, as well asadditional markets in Latin America, travel retail, and the cruise anddiplomatic channel.

WBCanna Co. & Wellness is a wholly owned subsidiary of Miami-based WEBBBanks, the leading premium wine and spirits distributor in the Caribbeanand one of the first companies in the region focused on distribution oftop-quality CBD and wellness products. The distribution relationship combinesCuraleaf's expertise in creating high-quality non-psychoactive hemp productswith WB Canna Co.'s ability to navigate the legal and compliance needs acrossthe fragmented geography of the Caribbean, bringing operating efficiencies thatwill drive further accessibility to Curaleaf's family of CBD products.

CuraleafHemp offers a broad range of CBD products with consumer-friendly formats andprice points to select retailers throughout the U.S. A collection of all-newSelect CBD products that feature minor cannabinoids like CBN and CBG, areslated to debut in April. All Curaleaf and Select CBD products are subjected tostringent industry testing practices.

"Weare committed to setting the highest possible standards for product quality andaccessibility at Curaleaf, and we are thrilled to expand the reach of ouraward-winning CBD products to retail stores in the Caribbean through adistribution partner like WB Canna Co. It continues to be of utmost importancethat we're able to provide consumers with reliable access to the products they knowand love," said Patrick Larkin, senior vice president of sales atCuraleaf.

"Webelieve that consumer demand for high-quality CBD products will continue togrow year-over-year, and we remain laser-focused on building brand recognitionand brand loyalty," said Joseph Gennaro, VP of CBD, Health & Wellnessat Curaleaf. "Consequently, our agreement with WB Canna Co. marks a keyinflection point in the go-to-market strategy for our CBD business and showsour commitment to achieving international growth."

"Inthe short time since launching WB Canna Co. and Wellness early last year, we'veseen incredible interest and excitement for high-quality CBD and wellnessproducts throughout the Caribbean and Latin America," said PhillipJarrell, chief operating officer of WB Canna Co. & Wellness. "We'revery proud to add Curaleaf to our growing portfolio and introduce their popularand innovative products to consumers across the region."

The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) at its April 11 meeting approved seven medical cannabis dispensaries that can now serve the state’s long-awaited adult-use market.

With regulators giving this handful of retailers the green light, commercial adult-use sales are expected to launch soon, perhaps by the end of the month, according to an NJ.com report.

“This is good news,” John Fanburg, co-chair of the Cannabis Industry Law Practice at Roseland, N.J.-based Brach Eichler said in a public statement. “Cannabis prohibition is finally coming to an end. Currently, the black market controls 100 percent of adult recreational cannabis sales. This will bring the purchase and sale into the open, outside of the black market, in a safe and quality-controlled market. It’s not just about the tax revenue; it’s about social justice and safety.”

The commission’s vote means that Acreage, Curaleaf, Columbia Care, Verano, Ascend Wellness, GTI and TerrAscend may all begin selling adult-use cannabis at their medical dispensary locations, formerly known as alternative treatment centers, the news outlet reported.

“Over the last year we hit many milestones and all strengthened us to getting to this point,” CRC Executive Director Jeff Brown told NJ.com.

In a move to have less cash on hand, one Tacoma, Wash., cannabis dispensary is now accepting cash-free transactions through an alternative payment system.

Mary Mart, a family-owned and operated adult-use retailer, launched the contactless AeroPay payment platform April 7 at every one of its registers, KOMO News reported.

To use the Chicago-based software company’s payment platform, customers can go to register.aeropay.com to create an account and link their bank account to start paying with their phones, according to Mary Mart’s website.

The rollout comes weeks after a male worker at the World of Weed dispensary in Tacoma was fatally shot during an attempted robbery involving a pair of teenage suspects on March 19. That was the third fatal incident involving a dispensary robbery in less than a week in the western part of the state.

RELATED: Washington Dispensary Worker Fatally Shot During Robbery

Mary Mart’s new cashless payment system is convenient for customers and safer for dispensary staff members, the store’s general manager, Billy White, told KOMO News.