News

When a state grows too much cannabis, what do you do?

Well, Oregon is working on that very problem where a flood of legal cannabis and optimal growing conditions have seen prices plummet. Oregon signed two bills into law last week, “one aimed at curbing excess production and the other seeking to establish new markets to funnel excess (cannabis) into.

The first one is easy, but the second one has that pesky legal problem of it being illegal to transport cannabis over state lines. Oregonians are optimistic about the end of that problem, but it presumes overcoming some fairly high hurdles. More »

It looks like two federal legislators from Oregon are attempting to do something about that second problem. More »

Guv’ners

Our current governor continues to tout the benefits of a legal, regulated cannabis industry

Gov. Polis appeared on CNBC recently talking up the economic contributions of legalized marijuana, notably “nearly $50 million on marijuana sales in just 2 months in April and May.” Check out his full appearance here »


While the former governor – who is running for president –has “evolved slowly” on the issue.

Hickenlooper is not an advocate for marijuana use, saying that “he sometimes wonders if his own past marijuana use could have impaired his memory.”

More » 

•••

But he was also criticized for “revisionist history” when he took credit for cannabis legalization during the debates last week. 

More »

While in Hollywood, visit the Museum of Weed?

 

The Weedmaps Museum of Weed, slated to be open from Aug. 3 through Sept. 29 at 720 North Cahuenga Boulevard, will take visitors on a chronological walk through history — from the early uses of the cannabis plant to the ‘Reefer Madness’ and ‘War on Drugs’ eras through to the present-day legalization efforts.”  No consumption of cannabis products will be allowed onsite and admission costs $35. 

Read More ». 

Colorado Kicks Butt

Colorado Department of Agriculture Director Kate Greenberg lays out the many ways she believes our state is leading the way in hemp.

“Basically, we kick butt. We had one of the first hemp programs in the country, and there’s still only a few across the country. Folks are racing post-2018 Farm Bill to set something up, but we are five years ahead of the curve, having our own hemp program.” 

Read the full interview here »

You know what’s cool?

“A million dollars isn’t cool. You know what’s cool? A billion dollars.”

 – Sean Parker, The Social Network

Colorado has surpassed $1 billion in cumulative tax revenue since legalization in 2014. The industry continues to grow, which is good for all of us considering the programs the tax revenue funds. “Marijuana revenue funds a range of youth and public health programs in Colorado, including mental health services, youth literacy initiatives and anti-bullying programs in schools. Marijuana tax revenue goes to both state and local governments.”

More »


Want to see exactly where that money goes?

The state’s flowchart explaining it for you right here. 

The kids are alright

Researchers at Colorado State University Pueblo have released a new study that says “living in a community with recreational marijuana does not appear to influence area high schoolers’ use of cannabis or their attitudes towards it.” 

 “Based on the 2013 and 2015 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey data,” the study states, “permitting or not permitting recreational cannabis dispensaries in a community does not appear to change student cannabis use or perceptions towards cannabis.”

More »

Stop raiding the piggy bank

Colorado budget writers want to prioritize spending marijuana tax money on opioids and education, but it could mean cuts elsewhere. 

More »

Headlines

NY couldn’t get it across the finish line

A recent poll showed that 55 percent of voters supported legalization, but New York’s plan to legalize marijuana collapsed Wednesday, “dashing hopes for a potential billion-dollar industry that supporters said would create jobs in minority communities and end decades of racially disproportionate policing.”

More »

 


When banks won’t give you lines of credit, why not create your own?

Columbia Care has introduced the industry’s first cannabis credit card. 

“Columbia Care initiated its CNC Card on a trial basis in New York State in the second half of 2018. What the company found was that, when compared to other forms of payment, those folks who purchased cannabis products with the CNC Card had a basket size that was 18% larger for in-store purchases.”

 More »


At least no one in Colorado built an 8,000 sq. ft. social consumption facility that’s now useless…

The Nevada Legislature pulled the rug out from under Las Vegas with Assembly Bill 533 that overrode the Las Vegas City Council’s work of over two years in licensing social use cannabis venues. Venues now have to wait until at least 2021. From Leafly, “Las Vegas OK’d Cannabis Lounges but Nevada Just Said No.” More »

Come for the stories of entrepreneurs having to shelve their plans indefinitely, but stay for an understanding of the remarkable political pull large casinos have in the way policy is crafted and implemented. 

Schools get construction 

The Colorado State Board of Education agreed Thursday to allocate $401 million to 43 school construction projects – including some in Colorado Springs – under the program that is partially funded by marijuana state excise taxes.

Read More »