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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 […]

Is marijuana ‘recession-proof?’ Industry experts say yes – to a point – and alcohol might be a guide

March 24th, 2020The legal cannabis industry appears poised to enter uncharted waters: an economy engulfed by a full-fledged recession. The coronavirus is inflicting severe damage to the world economy, raising the specter of a major economic contraction, and some economy watchers – including Bank of America – have already asserted the U.S. is in a recession. How would […]

Organigram expects layoffs, production decrease from COVID-19

March 24th, 2020Canadian cannabis company Organigram is anticipating voluntary and nonvoluntary layoffs as well as a slowdown in production and packaging as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The New Brunswick-based producer is currently “managing its production and staffing levels at its Moncton facility – where not all functions can be addressed remotely – to protect the […]

Maine’s adult-use cannabis residency rule unconstitutional, suit claims

March 24th, 2020Maine’s residency requirement for recreational marijuana business ownership violates the U.S. Constitution, according to a federal lawsuit filed against the state. Wellness Connection, based in Auburn, Maine, alleges in the suit against the state’s Department of Administrative and Financial Services that a residency requirement discriminates against both large and small companies that want to sell […]

Denver reverses course, allows adult-use cannabis shops to stay open

March 23rd, 2020The operators of adult-use marijuana stores in Denver caught a break late Monday afternoon when the city announced they can remain open. Earlier in the day, while announcing a new stay-at-home order for Denver residents in the city’s battle against the coronavirus, Mayor Michael Hancock’s order didn’t include recreational marijuana stores as essential businesses, meaning they […]

Oregon allows marijuana curbside deliveries

March 23rd, 2020Oregon marijuana regulators on Monday approved a temporary rule that allows licensed cannabis retailers to conduct limited transactions outside of their brick-and-mortar buildings. Under the interim rule – an effort to stem the spread of the coronavirus – the state’s marijuana businesses will be allowed to deliver product to a customer within 150 feet of […]

More states say medical cannabis shops can stay open amid COVID-19

March 23rd, 2020Massachusetts, Michigan and Ohio joined several other states in declaring that medical marijuana dispensaries can remain open in light of stay-at-home orders designed to help combat the coronavirus outbreak. Here is a look at what is happening in each state: Massachusetts: Medical marijuana dispensaries in the state will be allowed to stay open from Tuesday through […]

Adult-use cannabis sales plunge after briefly hitting new heights on coronavirus concerns

March 23rd, 2020Adult-use marijuana sales plunged over the weekend, only a few days after skyrocketing to new heights as consumers prepared for fallout from coronavirus. The response might mark a natural decline after consumers stocked up before sheltering in place or it could be the result of economic pressures from the pandemic, which has resulted in the […]

Online marijuana giant Leafly lays off 91 staffers

March 23rd, 2020One of the premier names in online cannabis information, Seattle-based Leafly, said Monday that it’s further cutting its workforce as part of a response to the coronavirus outbreak. “Today Leafly eliminated the roles of 91 employees across the company, 39% of our workforce,” CEO Tim Leslie said in a statement, adding that he was “heartbroken” […]

With a reimagined lending model, firm aims to create equitable cannabis funding

March 22nd, 2020When Seke Ballard founded Good Tree Capital, his goal for the Seattle-headquartered online platform was to raise funds from accredited investors and, in turn, use that money to underwrite loans for small, licensed cannabis companies around the United States. With a reimagined lending model, firm aims to create equitable cannabis funding is a post from: […]