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MjLink Cannabis Business News and Press

Cannabis Industry Business Professionals Blogs, Press Releases and News Articles from the best journalist in the industry. Stay updated on all news from many online cannabis news outlets, on MjLink.com

Sanctuary Medicinals Opens Medical Dispensary in Greenacres, Florida, the Company's Ninth Location in the State

APOPKA, Fla., June 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --PRESS RELEASE-- Sanctuary Medicinalstoday announced the opening of its ninth medical cannabis dispensary inFlorida.

Located just 10 miles southwest of the recently opened West Palm Beachlocation, Sanctuary Greenacres will be holding its Grand Opening celebration onJune 10. As the third operational Sanctuary dispensary in Palm Beach County,Greenacres brings the number of Sanctuary locations in Florida to nine, four ofwhich are in southeast Florida. Formerly a bank, the 3,000-square-footdispensary underwent a full renovation executed by Vantage Builders. Situatedon the westbound side of Lake Worth Rd., Sanctuary Greenacres is located nearthe center of the city in the Poinciana Plaza complex and just to the east ofFlorida's Turnpike.

"As the summer begins, our Florida expansion efforts are really gettinginto gear," said Jason Sidman, CEO of Sanctuary Medicinals."Greenacres brings our complement of southeast Florida dispensaries tofour, and the next opening will finally get the Sanctuary Florida locationcount into double digits."

Sanctuary is continuing to extend its footprint further south, reachingpatients across much of Saint Lucie, Martin and Palm Beach counties whileoffering increased access to its ever-expanding menu of products. With pectinfruit chews and new flower strains now on shelves, Sanctuary's productdevelopment efforts will extend to hash, full-spectrum edibles and more in thecoming months.

"It's nice to leverage the momentum gained from opening in West PalmBeach into the launch of Greenacres" said Bill Dewar, Chief OperatingOfficer. "Three of our next five planned openings are in this region, sowe're excited to start the summer on the right foot and continue building fromthere," Dewar added.

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Lantern Announces Delivery Partnership With Doobie In Massachusetts

BOSTON, June9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --PRESS RELEASE-- Lantern, the on-demand cannabis e-commercemarketplace and home delivery platform in the U.S., today announced apartnership with Doobie in Massachusetts. Founded in 2020, Doobie is a customercentric cannabis delivery service operating in markets throughout the UnitedStates, including Missouri, California, Arizona, and now Massachusetts, whereit is one of the first Delivery Operator licensees.

Doobie is a women-owned platform and Certified Economic Empowerment PriorityApplicant through Massachusetts' Cannabis Control Commission (CCC). Throughthis partnership, Doobie will directly fulfill delivery orders placed on LanternNow.com through its licensed depot.Customers in 150 zip codes throughout Massachusetts will have access to qualitynational and local brands including Cookies, High Supply, Mile 62, Kiva,Fernway, Southie Adams, and Dogwalkers. Lantern will also offer dedicatedmarketing services to expand Doobie's consumer reach and enable the deliveryoperator to provide seamless cannabis experiences along with high-touchcustomer service.

"Working with an innovator such as Ericca Kennedy of Doobie is truly aprivilege and we are excited to see how we can expand delivery service withinthe Massachusetts area," said Meredith Mahoney, Co-founder and CEO ofLantern. "Doobie is an ideal partner as we expand our presence throughoutthe state because of its commitment to improving the communities it serves.Every purchase of its diverse product offerings is used to support Doobie's positiveimpact plan, which supports local communities who have been disproportionatelyharmed by the War on Drugs."

"Lantern has redefined cannabis e-commerce in Massachusetts, and we arethrilled to partner with a team that consistently uplifts local businesses andcommunities," said Ericca Kennedy, Doobie Massachusetts Co-Founder andEconomic Empowerment Applicant. "Joining forces with Lantern allows us tofollow through on our mission to deliver happiness as far and as wide aspossible. Through our extensive delivery zone which reaches over three millionlocal residents, we are ready and excited to bring exceptional cannabisexperiences to new and returning customers."

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Zoning Ordinance Halts Ascend Wellness Dispensary Sales in New Jersey

As New Jersey’s adult-use cannabis retail footprint expands beyond the original 12 dispensaries that opened when the state launched commercial sales April 21, one facility got going a little too quickly.

Ascend Wellness Holdings, one of seven companies that opened the original dozen adult-use facilities on launch day seven weeks ago, attempted to open another retail store to adult customers earlier this week in Montclair Township, in North Jersey. In fact, the New York-based multistate operator let adult-use patrons inside its Montclair dispensary from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on June 7, believing it had the green light to do so.

But less than four hours into serving adult-use customers at the location, township officials informed the company it was in violation of a zoning ordinance for the new clientele base—Ascend’s Montclair location is an existing medical cannabis retail operator—NJ Advance Media reported.

Ascend officials were under the impression that they had dotted the i's and crossed the t’s on all their paperwork and had the final approval from state and local regulators to serve adult-use customers, Caitlin Fleishman, the company’s director of public affairs and communications, told the media outlet.

“We stopped adult-use sales at 1:30 p.m.,” Fleishman said. “The town said they will send code enforcement/police [if adult-use sales did not cease].”

On New Jersey’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission’s (CRC) website, Ascend’s Montclair location was still listed as a medical-only dispensary when this article was published June 10.

Colorado to Create Task Force to Regulate Hemp-Derived Products Like Delta-8

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed legislation May 31 to regulate intoxicating hemp products, such as those that contain delta-8 THC and delta-10 THC.

Under Senate Bill 22-205, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is permitted to “prohibit the chemical modification, conversion or synthetic derivation of intoxicating THC isomers that originate from industrial hemp or may be synthetically derived,” the measure states. 

The legislation also requires the Colorado Department of Revenue’s state licensing authority, the Colorado Department of Agriculture and CDPHE to work together to create a 20-member task force by Sept. 1, 2022, to study intoxicating hemp products and make rule recommendations, the measure states.

The 20-member task force, which would be made up of several officials and stakeholders from the hemp and cannabis industries, would be required to submit a report to the General Assembly by Jan. 1, 2023, that includes rule recommendations for intoxicating hemp products and analysis on the effectiveness of each recommendation. Furthermore, nearly $600,000 will be used to focus on consumer protection.

As initially introduced, the measure “aimed to ban any intoxicating cannabis product that isn’t produced by a state-licensed cannabis business or sold at a licensed dispensary,” Forbes reported.

However, the measure received pushback from Colorado hemp business leaders, who argued that it was too strict and would have given the state’s cannabis industry too much control over the production of these products, Cannabis Business Times previously reported

Sweetleaf Collective's Patient Network to See $5 Million Product Donation by Pro Farms, Almora and Deibel Bioscience

SANTA BARBARA,Calif., June 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --PRESS RELEASE-- Pro Farms, Almora and DeibelBioscience of California have teamed up to donate over $5 million worth ofcannabis products to Sweetleaf Collective's patient network. SweetleafCollective is a nonprofit assisting low-income patients in gaining access tomedical cannabis. Affected groups include veterans, people of color, as well asHIV and cancer patients. Pro Farms and Almora are set to donate over a ton of state-tested and approved high-quality, California sun-growncannabis. Deibel Bioscience of California has donated its testing services tothe cause. According to Sweetleaf Collective founder "Sweetleaf" Joe,this is the largest cannabis donation for compassionate use in Californiahistory.  

"With thegrowth of the retail cannabis industry and rising costs of regular goods suchas groceries and gas, access to cannabis for low-income patients is harder thanever. We need corporate donations in addition to individual donations if we'regoing to meet growing demand," said 'Sweetleaf' Joe, founder of SweetleafCollective. "This donation will serve thousands of patients in California.There are currently over 1,000 patients on the waiting list to access medicalcannabis and this donation will service those on Sweetleaf's list and more.Sweetleaf is accepting financial donations to help organize patients throughPayPal as well as cryptocurrency."

"We're inbusiness to grow great crops and do great things. We've become a renowned,family-owned, California sun-grown cannabis farming company because of this andnow we're in partnership with Almora and Sunsmoke, which are fantastic,affordable and compassionate brands with a variety of excellent products,"said Wil Crummer, CEO of Pro Farms. "Meaningful, philanthropicdonations are a foundational aspect of our overall company ethos and incollaboration with Sweetleaf Collective, we're immensely proud to be donatingso much high-quality cannabis to so many patients in such need," Crummer concluded."It just feels so right."

Access tohigh-quality cannabis is necessary for medical patients, which is why DeibelBioscience of California is donating tens of thousands of dollars in testingservices to ensure high product quality and standards are met. "DeibelBioscience of California is a family-owned company committed to providingaccurate, independent, and compliant testing; so we felt it was important tosupport and partner with this cause to ensure that patients receive the safestproducts possible," said CT Deibel, CEO for Deibel Bioscience ofCalifornia.

"The teamat Almora couldn't be more excited to be a part of this donation that is sodesperately needed in our communities throughout California. We believe inradiating love through our products and our people, and we hope that love willfind its way to the patients these products will serve," said KristenEverhart, Almora Brand Director.

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Ayr Receives Final License to Sell Adult-Use Cannabis in Watertown

MIAMI, Florida, June 10, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE - Ayr Wellness Inc., a vertically integrated U.S. multi-state cannabis operator, announced that the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) has granted a final license for the sale of adult-use cannabis at its AYR Watertown dispensary in Greater Boston. The CCC voted to grant the final license at its meeting on June 9, 2022.

“With our approval today to open our Watertown dispensary, Ayr will soon have two adult-use dispensaries serving Greater Boston, which has historically been under-served in access to adult-use cannabis,” said Jonathan Sandelman, Ayr founder, chairman and CEO. “The upcoming openings of our Watertown and Back Bay locations represent a huge step forward for our company, and we could not be more excited to introduce these communities to Ayr’s high-quality and unique product offerings, with a customer experience that delivers on the wonder of cannabis."

"Ayr looks forward to establishing itself as a Force for Good within Watertown, as we have done throughout Greater Boston for the past few years," he adds. "Our team is committed to using our platform to enact positive change, and we look forward to further demonstrating that promise.”

 

 

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Parallel Announces Opening of Third Surterra Wellness Dispensary in Miami to Meet the Community's Growing Demand

MIAMI, Florida, June 9, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE - Parallel, a multi-state medical cannabis operator, announced today the opening of a new Surterra Wellness (Surterra) medical cannabis dispensary in Miami, Florida, becoming the third Surterra location in the Magic City. The dispensary is located at 10755 Southwest 72nd Street, known locally as Sunset Drive. The grand opening celebration and ribbon cutting ceremony will take place Thursday, June 16, 2022, with the unveiling of a special art creation for Surterra by internationally known, local artist Douglas Hoekzema, aka Hoxxoh.

"As Surterra continues to expand its dispensary locations across Florida, we're excited to increase our presence in the sunny home to hundreds of thousands of Miami residents who seek high-quality medical marijuana products, which we're proud to provide," said Parallel CEO James Whitcomb.

The new Surterra dispensary is conveniently located among the suburbs of Kendall, Pinecrest, The Hammocks and South Miami, and is easily accessible to the I-95.

Surterra is committed to wellness, providing medical marijuana to patients in need, and bringing people together to celebrate the arts–showcasing both emerging and established artists. Hoxxoh, who will create a special work of art on location, the day of the new dispensary opening, started his career in Miami, where he continues to create today. Internationally known for his murals and spray work, he weaves his paints like a human loom to chronicle the passage of time, using nontraditional tools to push boundaries to find equilibrium. Surterra embraces his talent and artistic message, understanding the deep connection between art and wellness.

"We're thrilled to open a third Surterra location in Miami, complimented by the meaningful artwork from a local artist. Our new dispensary increases access to the world-class products and service for which Surterra has become known," said Zack Fleming, Surterra president. "We welcome all registered patients and also look forward to assisting in the qualification process for new patients."

In celebration of the store's grand opening, patients will enjoy 42% off all items (excludes accessories) and double loyalty points for the entire day of the grand opening. Loyalty rewards allow shoppers to save more when they spend, with 1 point awarded for every $1 spent and at 500 points members receive a 10% discount, which can be stacked for more savings. They will also have branded giveaways for early shoppers. Surterra welcomes anyone 18 and older in its stores so that they can ask questions and learn more about products directly from their highly educated staff.

Thailand Legalizes Cannabis, a First in Asia; Public Use Prohibited

Thailand officially legalized the cultivation, sale and possession of cannabis June 9, joining the likes of Canada and Uruguay to fully reform its drug policy for adult use at the federal level.

The end to prohibition comes nearly six months after Thailand began the shift toward becoming the first country in Asia to decriminalize cannabis: Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced Jan. 25 that Thailand’s Narcotics Control Board approved dropping cannabis from the ministry’s list of controlled drugs. He signed the measure in early February.

RELATED: Thailand Moves to Decriminalize Cannabis, Setting Bar in Asia

Thailand’s parliament voted to approved cannabis for medical use in 2018—also a first in Asia. The loosening of those restrictions has since attracted tourism from its Southeast Asia neighbors, The Associated Press reported.

“We should know how to use cannabis,” Charnvirakul said recently, the AP reported. “If we have the right awareness, cannabis is like gold, something valuable, and should be promoted.”

With full legalization taking effect Thursday, the government’s plan to distribute 1 million cannabis seedlings to its citizens will begin Friday. In a tropical region with its capital city of Bangkok within 1,000 miles of the equator, Thailand’s shortest day of the year still receives more than 11 hours of sunlight while average temperatures range from 82 degrees to 89 degrees throughout the year—an ideal climate for outdoor cultivation.

Hempcrete Demonstration, ‘Canna Bus’ Featured in Cleveland School of Cannabis Hemp Day

Mixing hemp hurd, lime and water in a kiddie pool isn’t the way hempcrete is usually created, but that’s how Homeland Hempcrete did it at the Cleveland School of Cannabis’ (CSC) Hemp Day June 7.

In front of an audience, husband-and-wife duo Matt and Sam Marino of North Dakota-based Homeland Hempcrete deconstructed the mixing process in the pool, then poured the hempcrete into a short wall frame as the material solidified.

Matt, Homeland Hempcrete’s founder and president, said hempcrete serves as an insulative infill in buildings.

“This wall is framed very similarly to how a traditional wall would be framed,” he said. “So, it's just a microscale of a standard hempcrete install.”

Nicole Fenix, CSC’s director of education, said a conversation with Matt on LinkedIn led to Homeland Hempcrete’s visit and the larger, three-hour, hemp-focused open house of CSC’s new Independence, Ohio, campus.

At Hemp Day, various hemp, cannabis and agriculture professionals provided demonstrations, such as the hempcrete one and another on composting from the Rid-All Green Partnership; educational material; hemp-derived products; and networking opportunities with current and prospective CSC students and alumni, and the public.


D.C. City Council Approves Bill to Prohibit Employers From Firing Workers for Failed Cannabis Tests

The Washington, D.C. City Council unanimously approved a bill this week that would protect employees who use medical and adult-use cannabis.

The Cannabis Employment Protections and Amendment Act of 2022 would prohibit employers from firing workers for failed cannabis tests, as well as bar employers from firing or refusing to hire workers due to their use of medical or adult-use cannabis, according to NPR.

The legislation carves out exceptions for employers acting under federal guidelines, as well as for employees who consume cannabis at work or while performing work-related duties, the news outlet reported.

In addition, the bill does not cover employees in “safety-sensitive” occupations, including police, security guards, construction workers, those operating heave machinery and health care workers, as well as those who work for power and gas companies, according to NPR.

The legislation also exempts employees of the federal government and D.C.’s courts, although other D.C. government employees would be protected under the bill, the news outlet reported.

Hemp-Derived THC Could Soon be Allowed in Food and Beverage Products in Minnesota

Hemp-derived THC could soon be allowed in food and beverage products in Minnesota, while the sale of inhalable products containing more than 0.3% THC could be prohibited.  

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is expected to sign legislation recently passed by the state Legislature that would regulate and create prohibitions for cannabinoid and hemp-derived THC products currently sold in the state. 

According to Hellmuth & Johnson (HJ) Law Firm, this measure would allow for the use of CBD, CBG and THC in food and beverage products for adults 21 years and older. However, THC added to a food or beverage product must “contain no more than 5 mg of THC in a single serving and [a] total of 50 mg per package, and the food product cannot contain more than 0.3% weight by volume of any THC,” the law firm reported. 

However, the measure also defines products containing more than 0.3% THC as an adulterated drug, which would “prohibit THC vape cartridges and flower, including delta-8 and delta-10 products, from being sold in Minnesota,” HJ Law Firm reported.

The measure also includes a list of labeling and packaging restrictions for CBD and THC products. Edibles would need to be sold in child-resistant packaging and include the statement “Keep this product out of reach of children” on the label. The serving size would also need to be clearly listed on the label, StarTribune reported

In addition, product packaging would be prohibited from containing any characteristics or designs that could be appealing to children. 

Delaware House Upholds Governor’s Veto on Cannabis Decriminalization

On May 5, the Delaware House voted, 26-14, to pass legislation that would allow adults 21 and older to legally possess up to 1 ounce of cannabis.

On June 7, that same chamber voted, 20-20, on the same legislation.

The only thing that changed between those two votes was Democratic Gov. John Carney’s veto, which was enough to sway six representatives from honoring what  most Delawareans support. That legislation, House Bill 371, and the hopes for broader reform via a regulated and taxed industry are now dead for the year.

The Delaware General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn June 30 without a meaningful path forward on cannabis reform, a defeat that comes after the bicameral Legislature originally sent H.B. 371 to Carney’s desk with supermajority support in both chambers—the Senate passed the bill on a 13-7 vote on May 12.

House Assembly members who voted no on June 7, after previously voting yes on May 5, include Democratic Reps. Andria Bennett, William Carson and Sean Matthews, and Republican Reps. Michael Ramone and Jeffrey Spiegelman.

Meanwhile, Democratic Rep. Valerie Longhurst did not vote June 7, after previously voting yes. And Democratic Rep. Stephanie Bolden voted no June 7, after previously not voting.

Los Angeles Approves ‘Cannabis Emblem’ Program for Dispensaries

Competition with the illicit market remains one of the largest obstacles for California’s cannabis businesses, prompting the Los Angeles City Council to take action to protect consumers from untested and unregulated products at unlicensed retailers.

City Council members approved the "Emblem Program for Authorized Cannabis Stores" June 7 to allow licensed retailers to apply for an emblem that can be displayed on their storefronts to help differentiate legal and illegal dispensaries, according to the Los Angeles Daily News.

Licensed cannabis dispensaries and delivery services are eligible to apply for the emblem, and after a requisite inspection, the businesses can place the emblem on their premises so it is visible from outside the building, the news outlet reported.

“The item we have before us today is an important step towards making it easier to differentiate between legal and illegal dispensaries, but there’s a lot more to it than that because the conversation is often couched in terms of dispensaries simply operating as unpermitted or illegal without considerations of the larger issues, which are health and safety impacts that come from these illegal operations,” Councilman Paul Koretz, who co-introduced the motion with Councilman Curren Price, said during Tuesday’s City Council meeting, according to the Los Angeles Daily News.

Now that City Council has approved the motion, the Los Angeles City Attorney's office must draft an ordinance to implement the emblem program, which will launch later this year upon final adoption of the ordinance, the news outlet reported.

North Carolina Senate Gives Final Approval to Medical Cannabis Legalization Bill, Sending It to House

The North Carolina Senate signed off on a medical cannabis legalization bill June 6, sending the proposal to the House for consideration.

Senate Bill 711, called the Compassionate Care Act, passed the Senate in a 35-10 vote last week, but the chamber was required to take a second vote Monday before the legislation could advance to the House.

The measure cleared its final hurdle in the Senate with a bipartisan vote of 36-7, the Associated Press reported.

S.B. 711 will likely face more opposition in the House, where Speaker Tim Moore has said the issue may have to wait until next year, according to AP.

The legislation has already been postponed once; S.B. 711 was initially introduced in April 2021 and cleared several Senate committees last summer before lawmakers ultimately decided to hold off on a full floor vote until 2022.

Virginia Budget Proposal Would Regulate Delta-8 Sales; Restrict Purchasing Age to 21

The Virginia General Assemblypassed a two-year state budget proposal June 1, which includes regulations onhemp-derived THC products, like delta-8.

Senate members passed theirversion of the budget bill in a 32-4 vote, while the House voted 88-7 ontheirs, WHSV reported

The proposal, which nowawaits Gov. Glenn Youngkin's approval, includes language that would implementregulations for hemp-derived THC products.

The budget would restrict thesales of such products to individuals 21 years and older and would placerestrictions on product packaging, which lawmakers claim is appealing tochildren, ABC 13News reported

The proposal would requirepackaging to state that the product "cannot be sold to anyone under theage of 21, and [the label must] include a list of ingredients and the amount ofTHC," ABC 13News reported.

Del. Sam Rasoul (D) told thenews outlet that while these restrictions are a good first step, he thinksthere needs to be further regulations on the actual products inside thepackaging.

'Embrace Data and Technology': Q&A With Harborside's Angela Pih

Angela Pih cites herself as a "data-led marketer." With decades of experience in the cannabis, retail and consumer packaged goods space, Pih has helped accelerate brands to the next level.

Pih previously served as the chief marketing officer for California-based cannabis companies Papa & Barkley and CannaCraft. Most recently, she was named the vice president of marketing for Harborside, a California-based vertically integrated cannabis company with 16 retail locations and eight brands.

RELATED: Harborside Inc. Expands Leadership Team; Kavi Bhai Named Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis; Angela Pih Named Vice President of Marketing

In this Q&A, Pih provides her top insights into how businesses can implement marketing trends and use them to boost their bottom line.

Editor's note: Angela Pih will speak at Cannabis Conference from 1:30 p.m. to 2:20 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 24 on the "How to Use Today's Marketing Trends To Boost Your Bottom Line" session alongside LOWD Founder Jesce Horton. In this session, experts will provide their top lessons learned, share regulatory considerations and explain how to evaluate the success of any marketing campaign. Visit www.CannabisConference.com for more information and to register.

Andriana Ruscitto: What are some of the best strategies businesses can implement to stay on top of marketing trends?

Want to Intern For the White House? Prior Cannabis Use Remains a Deal Breaker

The application window to be a White House intern this fall opened June 6 and will close June 24, but prior cannabis use—even under state-legal circumstances—is a likely disqualifier.

Under the frequently asked questions section of the White House’s application website, President Joe Biden’s administration offers some insight for potential candidates: What are the eligibility requirements for the program?

The answer: Information requested on a Standard Form (SF) 86 that could affect security eligibility requirements “includes, but is not limited to, an applicant’s … prior drug use (including marijuana, regardless of whether the marijuana use was permitted under state law).”

Applicants who advance to further stages of the intern vetting process are required to complete the SF 86, which also instructs candidates to disclose their connections to foreign governments, criminal history, and financial debts and tax compliance, among other items on Biden’s security clearance checklist.

The president’s anti-cannabis use stance for interns is a continuation of his employment policies that came under the scope last year, following alleged reports that dozens of young White House staffers were suspended or asked to resign due to past cannabis use. 

In addition, the Biden administration released new employee conduct guidelines earlier this year, which stated that individuals who have invested in cannabis companies—including stocks or business ventures—can also be denied security clearance.

New Study Finds Cannabis Products Provide Short-Term Reduction in Chronic Pain; More Research Needed on Long-Term Effects

Researchers involved in a federally funded review of scientific literature on the effectiveness of cannabis products to treat chronic pain found evidence to support short-term benefits.

The review, which will be updated on an ongoing basis, was conducted by researchers from the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and published June 6 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. It was funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, one of 12 agencies within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Specifically, OHSU reviewers found evidence to support that two FDA-approved synthetic products made of 100% THC provided interim benefits in treating neuropathic pain—caused by damage to peripheral nerves, such as diabetic neuropathy resulting in pain described as burning and tingling, according to an OHSU news release. Those products were dronabinol (under the trade name Marinol) and nabilone (Cesamet).

Dronabinol and nabilone are used to treat nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH).

Another product, nabiximols, which was approved in 2010 as a botanical drug in the United Kingdom (and is not available in the U.S.), also showed evidence of some clinical benefits for neuropathic pain, according to OHSU reviewers. Nabiximols (Sativex) is an extract sold as a mouth spray and contains a 1-to-1 ratio of THC and CBD. It’s used for treatment of neuropathic pain from multiple sclerosis and for intractable cancer pain, according to NIH.

Nabiximols was developed by GW Pharmaceuticals, a manufacturer that also developed Epidiolex. When Epidiolex was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in June 2018 for the treatment of seizures associated with two rare forms of epilepsy that affect young children, it became the first plant-derived cannabinoid prescription medicine.

Mississippi’s Online Medical Cannabis Licensing Portal Has More Than 1,800 Users

Mississippi launched its online medical cannabis licensing portal for patients, physicians and businesses June 1, and already, the platform has more than 1,800 users.

Roughly 85% of those who have registered for accounts on the new portal are patients looking to enroll in Mississippi’s medical cannabis program, according to Mississippi Today. Fifteen businesses and nine medical practitioners have also signed up, the news outlet reported, and a dozen people have submitted applications for work permits, which the state requires for those seeking work in the medical cannabis industry.

Mississippi’s medical cannabis program is expected to launch later this year, Mississippi Today reported, and creating an account in the state’s licensing portal is the first step for patients, physicians, businesses and workers to participate in the industry.

“I know everyone would love for it to be up in running,” Jim Craig, director of the Office of Health Protection, told Mississippi Today. “It looks like it will be the end of the year that we see products.”

The portal allows businesses to submit applications for medical cannabis cultivation, processing and testing licenses, but it does not handle the applications from those seeking dispensary licenses. The Mississippi Department of Revenue will oversee the retail segment of the market, Mississippi Today reported, and those applications will be accepted starting on July 1.

Traverse City to Provide Cannabis License Applications For Up to 24 Dispensaries

Traverse City, Mich., officials are moving forward on plans to opt into the state’s adult-use cannabis program and allow up to 24 dispensaries to operate in their municipality. Commercial adult-use cannabis sales first launched in Michigan in December 2019.

The city of roughly 16,000 people in the northwestern part of the state will have adult-use cannabis retail applications available beginning June 13, and officials will accept those applications from Aug. 22-26, 2022, according to a press release from the Traverse City Clerk’s Office. The online application will be required to be submitted electronically.

The announcement comes two months after the city’s planning commission reviewed policy proposals to allow adult-use retailers in nine commercially zoned districts.

RELATED: Traverse City Drawing Up Zoning Plans For Adult-Use Cannabis Retail

The municipality’s adult-use cannabis licensing and zoning ordinance, as well as a scoring rubric for its limited license structure, were approved by city commissioners at their May 16 regular meeting. The ordinance includes an overlay district of subareas throughout Traverse City, which allows for a maximum number of licenses in each subarea, with the total number of retail licenses not to exceed 24.

If Traverse City regulators license the maximum in the ordinance, Michigan’s cannabis retail footprint would grow by roughly 5% from the 500 active adult-use retail licenses in the state as of April 30, according to Michigan’s Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA). 

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