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Week in Review: AG Barr blasted for marijuana merger reviews, more M&A deals altered, L.A. shifts course & more

June 27th, 2020U.S. Attorney General William Barr ordered investigations into 10 proposed marijuana industry mergers – a move that a career Justice Department prosecutor charged was “not even close to meeting established criteria” for such reviews. That prosecutor, John Elias, agreed the reviews amounted to industry “harassment.” MJBizDaily takeaway: The episode stands as a warning to the U.S. […]

Israeli cannabis legalization bill passes early test, but long road remains

June 26th, 2020Israel’s Legislature advanced two cannabis-related bills this week, marking an important milestone on what is expected to be a long road before the measures can become law. The first bill focuses on decriminalization. The second bill would legalize cannabis for individuals 21 or older. The bills are now in committee, where they are highly likely […]

Jamaica minister: ‘Cannabis industry not hindered in ability to export’

June 26th, 2020Jamaica’s agriculture minister has dismissed claims that long-delayed regulations for medical cannabis exports is causing international companies to exit the country. Audley Shaw, minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, said license holders in Jamaica have had the ability to export cannabis flower and extracts and medical and scientific use since November 2018. Addressing Parliament […]

Not all WHO cannabis recommendations would loosen international control, UN drug agency says

June 26th, 2020An analysis by a United Nations monitoring body concludes that most of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) cannabis scheduling recommendations would either have little impact on international drug controls or actually tighten requirements. The analysis, conducted by Vienna-based International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), was provided to member states shortly before the start of the first […]

California’s new organic certification plan could help cannabis growers’ bottom line

June 26th, 2020A plan to roll out a novel organic marijuana certification in California could generate more business opportunities for brands looking to differentiate themselves by charging health-conscious consumers a premium for their products. With cannabis illegal under federal law, marijuana businesses cannot call products organic under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s certification program. So California has […]

MJBizConNEXT goes virtual for marijuana, hemp business conference

June 26th, 2020The cannabis industry is gathering digitally next week for Marijuana Business Daily‘s first virtual conference – MJBizConNEXT Direct and Hemp Industry Daily Conference Direct – as businesses adapt to the challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic. Previously scheduled to take place in New Orleans, the three-day, immersive and interactive event begins June 29 with keynote […]

Oklahoma marijuana firms sue over residency, zoning laws

June 25th, 2020Oklahoma medical marijuana business owners are asking a judge to bar the state from enforcing residency and zoning laws, arguing they could prevent the companies from operating in the future. According to the Oklahoman, the cannabis companies want the district court judge from Oklahoma County to block the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority – which regulates […]

Aleafia, Aphria settle dispute over supply deal for CA$29.1 million

June 25th, 2020Canadian cannabis producers Aleafia Health and Aphria have settled a dispute over a supply deal gone wrong. In 2018, Emblem Cannabis signed a deal in which Aphria would provide 175,000 kilograms (38,580 pounds) of cannabis over five years, beginning in May 2019. Emblem was subsequently acquired by Aleafia. Aleafia canceled the agreement in August 2019, […]

Cresco cannabis dispensary workers in Chicago area vote to unionize

June 25th, 2020Employees at Cresco Labs’ Illinois marijuana dispensary in Lakeview have voted to unionize, one of the industry’s first unionization elections since the coronavirus pandemic. Workers voted 16-4 to be represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 881, according to Moises Zavala, the local’s organizing director. Cresco, a multistate operator based in Chicago, employs […]

New Jersey medical marijuana dispensaries can now deliver

June 25th, 2020New Jersey’s 11 medical marijuana dispensaries are now allowed to deliver products to patients at home, provided they fill out a state waiver. According to NJ.com, the state department of health has issued paperwork for MMJ shops to fill out so their employees can begin performing home deliveries. That options may well result in a […]

DOJ memo defends cannabis merger scrutiny ordered by Barr

June 25th, 2020An internal document from the U.S. Department of Justice’s misconduct office found nothing wrong with Attorney General William Barr’s decision ordering antitrust prosecutors to review 10 proposed marijuana business mergers. Politico reported the agency’s Office of Professional Conduct found that it was “reasonable” for the DOJ’s antitrust division to “seek additional information from the industry through […]

DOJ whistleblower: Attorney General Barr’s treatment of cannabis industry tantamount to ‘harassment’

June 24th, 2020A career U.S. Justice Department attorney testified Wednesday that antitrust investigations of 10 cannabis mergers since March 2019 were “not even close to meeting established criteria” for such reviews and agreed they amounted to industry “harassment” by Attorney General William Barr. John Elias told a U.S. House Judiciary Committee hearing that antitrust employees were told […]