MjLink Cannabis Business News and Press
BUFFALO, New York, May 16, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE - 22nd Century Group., an agricultural biotechnology company dedicated to improving human health with reduced nicotine tobacco, hemp/cannabis and hops advanced plant technology, announced the acquisition of privately held GVB Biopharma. As a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), GVB is one of the largest providers of hemp-derived active ingredients for the pharmaceutical and consumer goods industries worldwide based on total tonnage.
GVB's strengths compliment 22nd Century's existing upstream and downstream value chains, which include expertise in cannabinoid receptor science with CannaMetrix, plant research and proprietary genetics through its KeyGene partnership, breeding expertise with Extractas and cultivation capabilities at Needle Rock Farms. The combination with 22nd Century establishes a global asset to serve the rapidly growing hemp/cannabis ingredient market.
"GVB represents a transformational acquisition for 22nd Century that will enable us to rapidly grow our hemp/cannabis franchise," said James A. Mish, 22nd Century Group CEO. "GVB is one of the largest CBD suppliers globally, possessing innovative, vertically integrated cannabinoid product manufacturing technologies driving industry-leading scale and cost-efficiency. In addition to immediately expanding our hemp/cannabis franchise capabilities, GVB represents an opportunity to double our revenue and internalize a comprehensive contract manufacturing and extraction platform which can be used to directly and exclusively monetize our differentiated and proprietary hemp/cannabis plant genetics and intellectual property. We are enthusiastic to begin working with the highly regarded and very experienced management team at GVB."
"We are excited to combine with 22nd Century group, pairing our production and manufacturing capabilities together with the best hemp/cannabis plant science in the world," said Phillip Swindells, GVB CEO. "Since 2017, we have built a loyal customer base and continue to add new, rapidly growing customers as demand in our industry accelerates. We sold more than five billion doses of CBD in 2021, and we look forward to further scaling our business as a part of 22nd Century's comprehensive platform."
GVB is an operator with an estimated 15% share of the hemp-derived active ingredients market. The company is also a supplier to CBD and cannabinoid brands Cookies, Nuleaf and Canaxis Pharma. GVB's formulation capabilities and GMP-certified facilities are uniquely suited to manufacture vastly improved pharmaceutical and consumer goods products that leverage and monetize 22nd Century's proprietary plant genetics and research capabilities.
GVB is also well-positioned to lead international expansion, including multiple joint ventures in Europe to co-develop and co-own processing and distribution companies aligned to market needs. GVB currently has offices in the United Kingdom and Brussels.
]]>BRENTWOOD BAY, British Columbia, May 16, 2022 — PRESS RELEASE —Neudorff North America announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved its Finalsan Herbicidal Soap for the use in hemp.
Finalsan is a fast-acting, non-staining, non-selective weed, grass, algae and moss killer that works within hours. It can be used any time of the year, even in cool weather, and leaves no harmful residue in the soil. It is OMRI Listed, thus suitable for organic production.
“This label addition allows us to make Finalsan available to farmers licensed to grow hemp on nearly 500,000 acres in the U.S.,” said Cam Wilson, Neudorff North America president. “Finalsan delivers unparalleled performance against pests listed on its label.”
Headquartered in Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, Canada, Neudorff North America provides high-efficacy, low-risk plant protection products. More information is available at neudorffpro.com.
]]>BOCA RATON, Fla., May 16, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PRESS RELEASE -- Jushi Holdings Inc., a vertically integrated, multi-state cannabis operator, launched the company’s first line of solventless live rosin extracts by its award-winning brand The Lab, famous for delivering high-quality, precision vape products and concentrates.
The new top-shelf product line, produced purely from premium flower and extracted simply with ice and water, includes a 0.5g vape extract cartridge available now and 1g jarred concentrates coming soon for purchase exclusively at BEYOND / HELLO store locations in Pennsylvania under the name, The Lab Solventless Live RSN. In addition, throughout the summer, it is expected to launch at the company’s locations in Massachusetts, Nevada and Virginia, pending regulatory approvals.
“Consumer demand for live rosin cartridges and concentrates is on the rise,” said Jushi Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and Founder Jim Cacioppo. “Forged solely by the forces of nature, The Lab Solventless Live Rosin line captures the essence of whole premium flower, sets a new standard for quality in this fast-growing cannabis category, and brings customers some of the purest cannabis products available on the market today.”
Cacioppo went on to say, “Solventless products represent the pinnacle of extraction, as they capture the fullest expression of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids unique to each cultivar in concentrated form. Initially a niche category confined to dabbable concentrates, the demand for solventless is on the rise and there is a growing presence of solventless vapes and edibles with solventless inputs in markets throughout the country. Using some of the most innovative proprietary extraction technologies, we look forward to continuing to introduce new cannabis products that raise the bar across all product categories.”
The Lab Solventless Live Rosin expands Jushi’s suite of other branded cannabis products, including The Bank, Sèchè and Tasteology, and is formulated using premium flower, which is freshly frozen to preserve the plant’s best qualities. The cannabinoid-rich trichomes are isolated and gradually extracted using a proprietary flash-freezing and ice-water gentle extraction process, specifically designed to capture the plant’s coveted cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. This cannabinoid-rich mixture is then dried and pressed using heat and pressure to produce some of the purest, most sought-after forms of concentrate.
CHICAGO, May 16, 2022 – PRESS RELEASE – Verano Holdings Corp., a leading multistate cannabis company, announced the launch of mobile applications for the company’s flagship Zen Leaf and MÜV dispensaries, unlocking an additional digital channel for shoppers to order cannabis products and access exclusive rewards across a total of 71 dispensaries in seven states. Both the Zen Leaf and MÜV mobile applications boast rewards programs and exclusive deals that provide a superior shopping experience for patients and adult-use customers alike.
The Zen Leaf and MÜV mobile applications offer a robust suite of conveniences and exclusive offerings for patients and adult-use customers through comprehensive rewards programs that include:
Exclusive incentives upon initial application download and enrollment into the rewards programVouchers and special limited-time offeringsReferral programs allowing patients and adult-use customers to earn discounts when they refer their friendsIn-app push notifications delivering the latest Zen Leaf and MÜV updatesRewards offers that are unlocked at different thresholds, allowing users to earn redeemable rewards, or save points to unlock discounts off a future purchaseMobile ordering for in-store pickup or delivery (delivery available in select markets only)List of all participating dispensary locations in each state, with option to create accounts and earn points in multiple markets“Since Verano’s inception, we’ve taken pride in fostering an exceptional environment for our guests by ensuring that customer care, convenience, accessibility, and first-class service are perpetual elements of our shoppers’ experience,” Verano founder and CEO George Archos said. “Offering our Zen Leaf and MÜV mobile applications is a natural extension of our customer-first mindset, and we’re thrilled to deliver this additional channel for our valued guests to access our suite of premium products and exclusive rewards from their preferred devices.”
Adults 21 and older can download the Zen Leaf and MÜV applications in the Google Play or Apple App stores. For more information on Zen Leaf and MÜV products, including individual store hours and online ordering, visit zenleafdispensaries.com and muvfl.com.
]]>Cresco Labs Announces Expiration of HSR Act Waiting Period For Proposed Acquisition of Columbia Care
CHICAGO, May, 16, 2022 – PRESS RELEASE – Cresco Labs Inc. and Columbia Care Inc. announced the expiration of the 30-day waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (HSR Act) in connection with Cresco Labs’ previously announced proposed acquisition of Columbia Care.
RELATED: Federal HSR Reviews Slow Down Big Cannabis Acquisition Deals
“Completion of the HSR milestone is a major step towards closing the acquisition of Columbia Care. We’ve been concurrently working on our divestiture process and working with our state regulators to align with our previously disclosed estimated closing timeline of year-end,” Cresco Labs CEO Charles Bachtell said. “With this acquisition, we will be able to leverage our bestselling cannabis portfolio1 across the most exciting footprint in cannabis and further develop our leading positions with exposure to all 10 of the largest projected revenue states in 2025, according to BDSA.”
RELATED: Cresco Labs Targets $2B Acquisition of Columbia Care
On March 23, 2022, Cresco Labs announced the execution of a definitive arrangement agreement to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Columbia Care. Details of the Agreement can be found [here]. The closing of the transaction remains subject to the satisfaction of all remaining closing conditions in the agreement, including the Columbia Care shareholder vote. Both companies continue to work toward obtaining all required regulatory approvals.
1 Cresco, as a standalone entity holds the No. 1 position in flower, vape and concentrates according to BDSA
]]>In the latest revision of his proposed 2022-2023 state budget announced May 13, California Gov. Gavin Newsom aims to address major concerns from cannabis industry stakeholders.
For one, Newsom’s proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022, proposes setting the cultivation tax rate at zero beginning that day.
The revised budget proposes “[s]hifting the point of collection and remittance for excise tax from distribution to retail on January 1, 2023, maintaining a 15 percent excise tax rate.”
Additionally, “Allocation 3 funding for youth education/intervention/treatment, environmental restoration, and state and local law enforcement programs” would be set at a baseline of $670 million annually for three years. The enacted budget for Allocation 3 funding in the 2021-2022 fiscal year was $129.1 million.
Per the revised budget proposal, “Up to $150 million one-time General Fund is available as needed through 2025-26 to backfill Allocation 3 funding, along with the authority to increase the excise tax rate through 2024-25 if tax revenues fall below the baseline for Allocation 3.”
Ohioans hoping to voice their opinions on legalizing adult-use cannabis via this election cycle will have to wait until next year.
Ballot initiative organizers from the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol (CRMLA) announced May 13 they will suspend their 2022 campaign and aim for 2023 instead, The Cincinnati Enquirer first reported.
That decision comes two weeks after CRMLA legalization advocates filed a lawsuit against Ohio House Speaker Bob Cupp, R-Lima, and Senate President Matt Huffman, R-Lima, claiming the GOP leaders were trying to block their 2022 ballot effort on a signature-gathering technicality.
RELATED: Ohio Cannabis Advocates File Lawsuit Against Lawmakers For Attempt to Block 2022 Initiative
In short, CRMLA submitted 206,943 signatures to Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s office ahead of a Jan. 3 deadline. But LaRose, who was also named a defendant in the lawsuit, announced his office rejected more than 87,000 of those signatures, bringing CRMLA’s efforts short of meeting the roughly 133,000 valid signatures required to put its statute before the General Assembly for consideration.
CRMLA officials then turned in additional signatures Jan. 13 to meet that required benchmark—LaRose certified those extra signatures Jan. 28. But GOP leaders questioned the validity of the additional signatures, since they were turned in after the Jan. 3 deadline, the lawsuit claimed.
Delaware Gov. John Carney has expressed opposition to legalizing adult-use cannabis, but the democratic executive’s resistance might not matter—at least when it comes to possession.
That’s because legislation to legalize the possession of up to 1 ounce of cannabis for adults 21 and older got the thumbs up from the state Senate May 12, when the body’s members voted, 13-7, to send the bill to Carney’s desk.
The legislation, House Bill 371, also cleared the House on a 26-14 vote May 5, meaning each chamber showed the three-fifths majority support necessary to override a possible veto from the governor, who has 10 days to review the legislation.
Following the Senate’s passage, Carney’s Communications Director Emily David Hershman did not say whether the governor would veto the bill, The Associated Press reported.
“We’ll review the bill, but the governor’s position hasn’t changed,” Hershman said after Thursday’s vote.
Sponsored by Democratic Rep. Ed Osienski, H.B 371 specifically adds a provision to the state’s Uniform Controlled Substances Act that provides that there will be no criminal or civil penalty for transfers of 1 ounce or less of cannabis between those 21 and older, as long as no money is involved in the transfer.
After years of civil litigation, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol has relented in federal court: No, participating in the legal Canadian cannabis industry will not bar you from entry to the U.S.
This was a hard-won admission, however, given the long-running back-and-forth between Seattle law firm Davis Wright Tremaine and the attorneys for CBP. And the delay did not come without cost. Numerous Canadian citizens had been barred entry to the U.S., dating back to 2018, due to a vague and penalizing policy focused solely on their employment within the legal cannabis space.
Davis Wright Tremaine’s lawsuit set out in 2019 to identify that very policy. Where was it recorded? What did it really say? Who had authorized it? Cannabis Business Times, in fact, filed a similar FOIA request for those records on May 7, 2018. As of this writing, that request remains “under agency review.”
But as the years wore on, the Davis Wright Tremaine lawsuit’s civil docket redounded again and again to unclear responses from CBP. The ongoing question, according to Judge Ricardo Martinez, was just how thoroughly CBP was searching its own internal records for a trace of this policy. As Martinez wrote in 2020: “On first look, and afforded the presumption of good faith, CBP's evidence appears to paint a clear picture of a reasonable and comprehensive response to Plaintiff's requests. However, the details are far hazier. Drawing reasonable inferences in favor of Plaintiff, the Court is left with too many questions to find that CBP's search was reasonable and adequate as a matter of law. First, CBP has not provided adequate detail of its search at almost every level.”
This debate over the physical search for CBP’s own internal records lasted several years, cementing the skepticism that brought Davis Wright Tremaine to file the lawsuit in the first place.
“DWT doubted that the agency's position had any basis in law or that the agency was using its enforcement powers in a permissible way,” according to an update published by the firm. “Agencies like CBP lack the authority to make new law or issue decisions regarding the official U.S. response to changes in foreign law.
Cannabis consumption lounges are legal in California, but not in the state’s capital—and it looks like it’s going to stay that way after a May 10 committee meeting.
A plan to allow cannabis consumption lounges in Sacramento stalled Tuesday when City Council Law and Legislation Committee Chairman Jay Schenirer refused to discuss the plan, even though it was on the committee’s agenda, the Sacramento Bee reported.
RELATED: Could Sacramento Implement Cannabis Consumption Lounges?
“I personally have not heard and have not talked to a lot of council members about this, but have not seen a lot of desire to move this item at this point in Sacramento,” Schenirer said, according to the news outlet.
Councilwoman Katie Valenzuela, who is also a member of the Law and Legislation Committee, told the Sacramento Bee that she plans to ask the full city council at its May 24 meeting to reconsider holding a discussion on cannabis consumption lounges. If the council gives the green light, the issue will then go back to the committee.
The California-based cannabis company, Solful, is built on its philosophy of selling 100% sun-grown cannabis from small craft cultivators in Northern California.
Eli Melrod, co-founder and CEO of Solful, explains that at the start of operations back in 2017, several people doubted the company's mission. But Melrod says he saw an opportunity to capitalize on the network of small craft farms in Northern California.
Here, Melrod explains the idea behind the company's brand, as well as what led him to his career in the cannabis space.
Andriana Ruscitto (AR): Can you share a bit of your background and how you and your company got to the present day?
Eli Melrod (EM): So, my personal journey with cannabis started when my dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He's a pancreatic cancer survivor. When I was 11 years old, my dad basically had six to 12 months to live. Fast forward a number of years, a couple of decades later, fortunately, he's still with us and healthy. Cannabis has been really an impactful part of his healing journey. … So anyway, I really saw that experience firsthand.
I grew up in San Francisco, went away to school for a bit on the east coast, and came back in late 2014 or early 2015. Then, I really could just see the writing on the wall that cannabis is getting legalized in California with the ballot initiative [in] 2016. I just got really excited about getting to join the space, something I really believed in, and frankly, I've always wanted to be an entrepreneur. I was always interested in business. So, [I] got involved in the space and began iterating on different concepts with a longtime family friend who ended up being my co-founder. … This was back in 2015. We got really excited about the concept for cannabis retail in California. [We] really understood that ... it’s the best opportunity to build a brand when you have that direct consumer relationship.
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Chris “Cheeto” Batten had racked up close to 20 years in the surf, skate and snow industry before CULTA co-founder Mackie Barch visited one of the stores Batten operated and approached him about bringing the same vibe to Barch’s Maryland-based medical cannabis company.
Now, four years and several digital branding and design awards later, Batten, CULTA’s creative director, has crafted a marketing strategy that he says is the brand standard in Maryland’s market.
“I don’t think anyone’s put as much onus on their marketing and branding in Maryland as we have,” he tells Cannabis Business Times. “Branding is really important because it is your image. It’s the first thing people see, it’s what they associate you with, and then you get to the point of quality.”
CULTA announced earlier this month that it received multiple awards from the AVA Digital Awards and Hermes Creative Awards for the company’s digital branding and creative assets.
CULTA received one platinum and two gold AVA Digital Awards for its brand guidelines and stop motion videos, as well as two gold Hermes Awards for its 7/10 and Bones designs.
Lowell Farms, in partnership with Schwazze, will debut its brand and products in Colorado and New Mexico by the fourth quarter of 2022.
RELATED: Lowell Farms Announces Unaudited First Quarter 2022 Financial and Operational Results
The strategic licensing agreement between Lowell Farms and Schwazze will bring Lowell Smokes to dispensaries across both markets, including Schwazze’s three retail brands, Emerald Fields and Star Buds in Colorado, and R. Greenleaf in New Mexico.
“At Lowell, we celebrate great weed and its journey into the mainstream. No cannabis brand can claim authenticity without the stamp of approval from Coloradans to whom the entire industry owes a debt,” said George Allen, chairman of the board at Lowell Farms. “We are excited to enter this fantastic market along with New Mexico with the seasoned team at Schwazze who share our passion for excellence.”
RELATED: A View From The Golden State: Q&A with Lowell Farms Chairman George Allen
The Missouri House voted May 10 to require state regulators to disclose the ownership records associated with the state’s licensed medical cannabis businesses, according to the News Tribune.
The state has thus far withheld this information from the public due a provision included in the medical cannabis legalization measure that voters approved in 2018, the news outlet reported. That language states that regulators must “maintain the confidentiality of reports or other information obtained from an applicant or licensee containing any individualized data, information, or records related to the licensee or its operation,” according to the News Tribune.
Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis, added an amendment to a local government bill that was approved by the Senate earlier this year to require regulators to disclose the medical cannabis ownership records, the news outlet reported.
Lawmakers approved the amendment in a 128-6 vote, according to the News Tribune, and now that the full House has passed the underlying bill, it heads back to the Senate for final approval.
Legislators on both sides of the aisle argued at Tuesday’s hearing that the Missouri Department of Senior Health and Services’ (DSHS) decision to keep the medical cannabis ownership records confidential has created issues in overseeing the program.
Beginning May 26, the Los Angeles Department of Cannabis Regulation (DCR) will re-open verification for the city’s social equity program. The 60-day window for verification will close on July 25, according to DCR.
Dispensary, delivery and cultivation licenses will be issued solely to Social Equity Individual Applicants (SEIAs) through Jan. 1, 2025, per DCR.
RELATED: Wading Through Social Equity in Los Angeles
SEIAs must have a prior cannabis-related arrest or conviction in California. They must also either qualify as low-income or have a cumulative residency of 10 years in a Disproportionately Impacted Area.
“Applicants in 2019 [who] wish to pursue a retail storefront license application as part of the Phase 3 Retail Round 2 lottery … will need to be verified again with the updated criteria in order to qualify,” according to DCR.
In 2020, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted to overhaul the city’s social equity program, according to Katchko, Vitiello & Karikomi, PC. DCR states that program changes that year included revised definitions for “Low Income” and “Disproportionately Impacted Areas.”
Many of the legacy cannabis growers who built California’s flower market are in trouble, facing wholesale price compression, high taxes and a still-thriving illicit market with no way to compete against the larger operators in the state’s volatile marketplace.
Justin Calvino has set out to bring larger margins back to the state’s smaller farms with the launch of Emerald Road, a cryptocurrency-exclusive, blockchain-backed e-commerce platform that allows consumers to interact with farmers and purchase product for delivery through Organic Kind, a licensed cannabis delivery service in the state.
“Boy, are we resilient,” Calvino told Cannabis Business Times. “We’re just reinventing ourselves every day.”
RELATED: California’s Cannabis Market: ‘A Recipe for Disaster’
Emerald Road is hosted on a web3 platform, a new iteration of the internet centered on decentralization and token-based economics that can support blockchain technology.
The largest medical-only cannabis market in the U.S., Florida continues to be an attractive state for expansion for some of the biggest cannabis companies in the world.
Earlier this month, Massachusetts-based multistate operator Curaleaf Holdings Inc. announced plans to open three new dispensaries in Florida: a 5,000-square-foot facility in Bradenton that will have a grand opening May 13; a 5,821-square-foot facility in Tampa that will have a grand opening May 20; and a 3,156-square-foot facility in Orlando that will open at the end of this month, pending regulatory approval.
That expansion will bring Curaleaf’s retail footprint to 11 dispensaries in those three cities alone, and to 50 dispensaries in Florida and 133 locations nationwide.
While Curaleaf’s strategic expansion includes operations in 23 states, Florida in particular has been a key focus in recent months: The company has added 12 dispensaries in the Sunshine State since December, increasing its retail footprint there by 31.6%.
With that expansion, Curaleaf’s Florida retail footprint trails only Tallahassee, Fla.-based Trulieve, which had 115 operating dispensaries in the state as of May 5, according to Florida’s Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU).
BOCA RATON, Florida, May 12, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE - Jushi Holdings., a vertically integrated, multi-state cannabis operator, announced it is expanding its retail footprint in California with the opening of its 32nd retail location nationally and third dispensary in the Golden State: BEYOND / HELLO Grover Beach. The new store, located between Ocean and Pismo Beach at 923 Huber Street, is the fourth and final retail dispensary permitted in Grover Beach.
BEYOND / HELLO Grover Beach will officially open and start serving consumers and medical cannabis patients at 10:00 a.m. Friday, May 13. Along with providing an unparalleled customer-centric retail experience, the store features options for online ordering through beyond-hello.com as well as nine point-of-sale systems, including two express checkouts and 27 on-site parking spots.
"With an annual tourist population of approximately 2.2 million and many of the surrounding municipalities prohibiting retail cannabis dispensaries from operating, Grover Beach presents a key market opportunity for Jushi," said Jushi CEO, Chairman and Founder Jim Cacioppo. "We are excited to expand access to this thriving beach town and region and look forward to strategically expanding our footprint in California with the opening of an additional retail location in Culver City."
BEYOND / HELLO Grover Beach will carry top cannabis brands and products, including flower, concentrates, vaporization products, tinctures, edibles, topicals, capsules, pills and various ancillary products such as approved rigs, batteries, merchandise and other devices. The retail location provides Californians with an efficient, accessible and safe experience that goes beyond the traditional cannabis retail environment. As part of the company's commitment to exceeding customer expectations, experienced, well-trained staff will also be on-site to help dispense products, answer questions and provide exceptional service. In addition, BEYOND / HELLO Grover Beach is handicap accessible, LGBTQIA+ friendly and offers a standing 10% discount to anyone 65 years or older, as well as veterans and active military personnel with identification.
Jushi owns 78% of the equity of the Grover Beach, California retail license and has the option to acquire the remaining equity in the future.
The company is also excited to announce it has begun offering language translation services for phone calls received through the Jushi Customer Care Team. Callers can speak to the Customer Care Team directly or access via the auto-attendants at each dispensary location to utilize the service. The service can provide caller translations in over 200 languages to support patients and customers in local areas. Furthermore, it helps Jushi better serve diverse communities and foster an inclusive atmosphere while also providing information about its national retail network and products.
]]>Detroit City Council members approved an ordinance allowing adult-use cannabis businesses within the city last month, more than three years after Michigan voters approved an adult-use legalization measure in the 2018 election, and now a lawsuit threatens to further postpone the city’s adult-use rollout.
A group of medical cannabis dispensaries in Detroit—House of Dank, Herbal Wellness, TJM Enterprises Services and Detroit Natural Selections Enterprises—filed the lawsuit May 11 in Wayne County Circuit Court, according to the Detroit Free Press.
The plaintiffs are challenging a provision in the city’s adult-use cannabis ordinance that bars medical cannabis operators from receiving an adult-use license until 2027, the news outlet reported.
The dispensaries claim that the city’s medical cannabis businesses will have likely closed down due to lack of sales by the time Detroit opens the adult-use program to medical operators, the Detroit Free Press reported. They are asking the court to block the city from prohibiting dispensaries that sell both medical and adult-use cannabis.
The plaintiffs’ argument rests on claims that Michigan’s adult-use cannabis law specifies that once municipalities opt in to the program, they cannot bar medical cannabis licensees from seeking licenses to operate in the adult-use market, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Thailand’s government plans to provide one million cannabis plants to its citizens for home cultivation once legal restrictions on cannabis possession and production are lifted next month, according to the Associated Press.
Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul signed a measure in February that removed cannabis from a list of controlled drugs, and officials are optimistic that a regulated cannabis industry will generate hundreds of millions of dollars each year and attract foreign tourists, AP reported.
Thailand’s parliament voted to approve cannabis for medical use in 2018, and restrictions on cannabis have been gradually loosened since then, according to AP.
RELATED: Thailand Unveils International Medical Cannabis Research Center
The decriminalization measure takes effect June 9, the news outlet reported, legalizing cannabis possession and the use of all parts of the plant, including flower and seeds.
