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West Virginia Seeks Financial Institution to Handle Medical Marijuana Money

April 23rd, 2019West Virginia Seeks Financial Institution to Handle Medical Marijuana Money State lawmakers passed a bill earlier this year to allow financial organizations, like credit unions, to bid for the job. CHARLESTON — The state Treasurer’s Office hopes to have a request for proposal (RFP) issued within the next month with the goal of hiring a […]

Canopy Kicks Off Cross-Border Cannabis Consolidation

April 22nd, 2019By Kristine Owram |April 21, 2019, 8:00 AM EDT Cross-border cannabis consolidation has begun. Canopy Growth Corp. announced Thursday that it’s buying Acreage Holdings Inc. in a $3.4 billion deal that keeps it onside with stock-exchange rules while giving it an entry point to the U.S. market the moment federal legalization occurs. The deal is “the most […]

Marijuana packaging firm KushCo lays off 49, blames COVID-19

March 26th, 2020KushCo Holdings, a cannabis company specializing in ancillary products such as packaging, on Thursday said it laid off 49 employees this month as the California company’s CEO noted that “the COVID-19 pandemic creates ever-increasing uncertainty in the cannabis industry.” The layoffs will save the company about $4 million, according to a company news release. Since last […]

Canada asks regulated cannabis labs for help in COVID-19 testing

March 26th, 2020Health Canada is working to identify lab capacity across the country to assist with COVID-19 testing, and the agency has reached out to certain federal cannabis license holders for help, Marijuana Business Daily has learned. Canada is currently experiencing a COVID-19 testing backlog. In Ontario alone, 10,965 people have coronavirus test results pending. In a […]

New Zealand cannabis scheme on schedule for April launch despite COVID-19 pandemic

March 26th, 2020The coronavirus pandemic sweeping the globe is not expected to affect the initial launch of New Zealand’s medical cannabis scheme, which is set to take effect April 1, a government official told Marijuana Business Daily. Other jurisdictions – notably Mexico – have pending cannabis industry legislation that faces near-certain delay because of measures taken to combat COVID-19. […]

Coronavirus impact felt in cannabis industry M&A as Harvest Health-Verano deal scuttled

March 26th, 2020The once-booming market for cannabis mergers and acquisitions is now feeling fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, on top of all the other problems that have brought M&A activity to a virtual halt in the industry. Harvest Health & Recreation’s planned acquisition of privately held Verano Holdings was called off Thursday, with the companies citing “prolonged obstacles” […]

Cannabis labs watchful of supply disruptions during coronavirus crisis as testing demand remains strong

March 26th, 2020Marijuana testing labs report steady business as the COVID-19 outbreak rolls on, though concerns loom over the availability of protective equipment such as gloves and masks and other cleaning supplies. It’s a topic the cannabis industry will keep a careful eye on because, if the coronavirus pandemic eventually causes hiccups in testing, that could slow […]

Colorado cannabis dispensaries can stay open under stay-at-home order

March 25th, 2020Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on Wednesday issued a stay-at-home order covering most of state’s 5.8 million residents starting Thursday morning to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus. “Critical” businesses – including “marijuana dispensaries” – may stay open during the order, which expires April 11, according to the Denver Post. The governor’s actual order was not […]

SLIDESHOW: Keep your marijuana business afloat during a crisis

March 25th, 2020SLIDESHOW: Keep your marijuana business afloat during a crisis is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

COVID-19 might delay Maine’s adult-use cannabis launch beyond June

March 25th, 2020The long-awaited launch of Maine’s recreational marijuana market could be delayed further because of the coronavirus, according to a memo from state regulators. Earlier this month, a state agency projected that the first adult-use marijuana shops would open in June, three months later than the initial forecast. But now that timetable may be overly optimistic. “Several communities […]

Australian Senate committee issues report on medical cannabis barriers

March 25th, 2020An Australian Senate committee wrapped up its inquiry on barriers to regulated medical cannabis and published its final report this week. Any improvements to regulatory overlap and availability pathways to locally produced products could brighten business prospects for entrepreneurs. The committee’s final report came with 20 recommendations, covering a range of areas. including: More education for […]

Florida, Oklahoma classify medical marijuana stores as ‘essential’

March 25th, 2020Count Florida and Oklahoma among the states in which medical marijuana dispensaries are considered “essential” businesses that can remain open during the coronavirus pandemic. A Florida statute considers medical cannabis dispensaries in the state to be an essential service such as pharmacies, the Tampa Bay Times reported. In Oklahoma, the state’s Medical Marijuana Authority posted the following message […]

States that have allowed marijuana businesses to remain open during coronavirus pandemic stay-at-home orders

March 24th, 2020By and large, most state governments around the nation have deemed medical marijuana companies “essential” during the coronavirus pandemic, meaning the vast majority can keep doing business as usual. But the picture is murkier for recreational cannabis companies. The quickly spreading coronavirus – and the surge of states telling residents to stay home since last […]

In letter to cannabis producers, Health Canada pledges ‘limited inspections’ amid COVID-19 crisis

March 24th, 2020Canadian cannabis license holders received new guidance from Health Canada on Tuesday, detailing the federal health department’s approach to regulating the marijuana industry during the COVID-19 crisis. Among other things, Health Canada said it will continue some licensing activity and license inspections at a modified pace, allow temporary security clearances for some staff and extend […]