Canadian cannabis companies have long had a huge advantage over their counterparts in the United States, with access to capital and favorable federally policies (access to banking services, reasonable tax policies, etc.). That upper hand will only grow bigger now that Canada has legalized cannabis commerce among all adults. One U.S. cannabis company just put…

After reports that regulated cannabis farms were emerging out of locales in Oregon and Canada known for wineries, it shouldn’t be a surprise to learn that areas known for vineyards in California are seeing cannabis cultivators take root. With the California marijuana market estimated to be a $4 billion dollar business sector, we can expect more…

Astute industry observers, like International Cannabis Business Conference founder Alex Rogers, have understood the potential for a global marijuana market and now the rest of the world is starting to catch up. Fresh off the heels of Canada becoming the first G7 nation to regulate adult-use cannabis commerce, the worldwide capabilities of the burgeoning industry…

Cannabis stocks have been increasing in value rather rapidly over recent months, with stocks listed on Canadian and U.S. financial markets receiving boosts from the mainstreaming of marijuana. As big-time investors and major companies invested, or were reported to be eyeing potential entries into the market, investors of all stripes have taken notice. As Bloomberg reported,…

Whenever a company or industry reaches some type of milestone of sorts, ringing the opening bell can be a rite of passage and a demonstration of legitimacy. “You’ve made it now,” or “Good on you,” are the messages ringing the ceremonial bell signifies. Today, on the historic that Canada ended cannabis prohibition, the Toronto Stock…

October 17, 2018, the long-awaited day that cannabis goes legal across Canada has arrived and the world will never be the same. With all due respect to the great progress made by Uruguay, who helped pave the way for Canada, it can be argued that the Great White North, by permitting regulated sales to tourists…

Unless you have been living under a rock you know that Canada is about to legalize cannabis commerce across the nation tomorrow on October 17th. After decades of the failed and harmful policy of cannabis prohibition, the Great White North will set an example across the world on how legalization will create jobs and generate…

Cannabis legalization officially begins tomorrow in Canada on October 17th, but the economic impacts are already being felt across the nation. Cannabis commerce is expected to grow rather rapidly with shortages expected at first as beginning supply levels are unlikely to keep up with demand. With consumers flocking to brick-and-mortar stores and online websites to…

Canopy Growth is an unquestioned leader in the global cannabis industry. The biggest producer, in Canada, Canopy exports around the world and its stock has had a strong showing on the New York Stock Exchange. Constellation Brands, the owner of Corona beer and Robert Mondavi wine, sees the value of the company, investing billions in…

Many people told International Cannabis Business Conference Founder and CEO Alex Rogers that he was crazy for holding a conference in Berlin, Germany, in 2017. At the time, the nation’s medical law was extremely restrictive, stifling most thoughts of a workable industry. However, Alex saw the future, and he saw a nation that was poised…

While the Democratic Party has been more likely to embrace cannabis law reform over the years, not every Democratic leader has been on board, opening up opportunities for Republicans to make inroads among the cannabis community. While Donald Trump’s record on cannabis is spotty as appointing Jeff Sessions as Attorney General has been a lowlight,…

Step by step, nation by nation, the liberalization of cannabis laws are transpiring around the nation. As people share their personal stories about cannabis and the fact that other locations have legalized medical or adult-use moves the debate in various countries around the world. We’ve seen such momentum across the globe for more progressive marijuana policies,…

With Canada legalizing cannabis nationally on October 17th and more states poised to legalize either medical or adult-use cannabis this November, we will start seeing even more major corporations make inroads into the cannabis industry. Big surprise: corporations follow the money. Already, Corona-owner Constellation Brands and Molson Coors have already announced major moves into the…

With the current UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, hailing from Portugal and previously touting his home nation’s progressive drug policies, and the recent World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation that CBD be descheduled, there has never been a better time for the international community to reclassify cannabis. How cannabis is viewed internationally will impact U.S. policy, and just ahead…

It is no secret that mom-and-pop cannabis cultivators are finding it hard to compete with well-financed corporations as the marijuana supply has increased and prices drop. Following in the footsteps of the wine industry, and branding various regions on the West Coast could prove to be a good tactic by craft growers. The Mendocino Appellations…

When folks are visiting a locale with legal cannabis, they may need assistance in learning about local dispensaries and various strains and products. Locals may even want to take advantage of experienced connoisseurs to gain a new perspective or to show family and friends around when they come into town. More and more entrepreneurs are taking advantage…

Cannabis tourism is a growing sector of the industry filling a niche that is increasingly desired and needed. Folks visiting cannabis-friendly locales often need safe places to consume their recently-acquired ganja as too many locales prohibit smoking or even vaping in any establishments. In Oregon, for instance, otherwise law-abiding citizens are forced outside because of…

Cannabis stocks have been so hot this year that many are wondering whether they can keep up such a torrid pace. Leading the way has been Tilray, who has seen its stock prices increase more than 500% since its initial public offering in July. Canopy Growth, buoyed by its industry-shaking investment from Corona-owner Constellation Brands, has also…

After voters or legislators pass legalization measures, the “fun” has just begun as various state and local regulators will begin to implement necessary and unnecessary rules that govern the cannabis industry. More often than not, regulations will change a few times as mistakes will be made and different political and business agendas collide. To help…

Papa & Barkley, maker of cannabis-infused products such as balms, tinctures, and patches, seems like a throwback to a simpler time, but hopefully will be an example of more things to come in the cannabis industry. Papa & Barkley’s roots were formed due to the love of family, as their website describes: Our Releaf line was…

Most industry observers are predicting robust sales when Canada officially legalizes cannabis commerce across the nation on October 17th, with many expecting supply shortages across the Great White North. However, Shopify, the company hired by the Ottawa government to handle online sales doesn’t expect to be overwhelmed despite the fact that Ottawa won’t have any brick-and-mortar stores…

While the overall economic numbers of cannabis legalization in the United States are promising and usually exceed expectations, a closer look usual shows serious cracks in the foundation that need to be addressed. Many of the issues require changes at the federal level, such as access to banking services and fixing the dreaded 280e tax…

Cannabidiol (CBD) has been found to have several medical benefits and the naturally-occurring cannabinoid found in both cannabis and hemp has recently been approved to treat epilepsy thru GW Pharmaceutical’s Epidiolex. Oregon is home to a true industry leader in CBD-rich products in East Fork Cultivars. East Fork has been producing CBD-heavy hemp and cannabis…

There are many reasons why people support cannabis legalization. For longtime Drug War reformers, keeping nonviolent from unjust and harmful arrests and prison terms top the list. For those that don’t use cannabis, better prioritizing law enforcement resources and capturing tax revenue are a couple of factors. Of course, politicians love creating more jobs and…

If you are in the cannabis community, especially in a state that has a great outdoor growing season, then you’ve probably heard about Croptober. Cannabis harvests occur at the end of October and the beginning of November, greatly increasing the supply of cannabis on the market (both regulated and illicit). David Downs covered the #Croptober phenomenon for…

The cannabis industry is hot right now and so are several stocks associated with the business sector. For those understandably queasy about investing in single stocks that can fluctuate in value dramatically, an exchange-traded fund (ETF) may be more your style. An ETF is an investment fund, like a mutual fund, as it will contain a…

More and more mainstream investors and companies are getting into the cannabis industry, pushing cannabis stocks higher and higher (pun intended). What are some stocks to watch, both directly involved in marijuana and those ancillary to the business sector? Well, if anyone knew for certain, they could get very wealthy, so no one knows for sure….

Well, I guess that we shouldn’t be surprised that PepsiCo would follow Coca-Cola’s interest in the cannabis industry. If there is money to be made in a new beverage sector, there is no way that Pepsi was going to cede all of it to their biggest competitor. Forbes recently covered Coca-Cola looking into the marijuana…

BuzzFeed News originally revealed the existence of a Trump administration committee to wage a “secret war” on cannabis at the end of August, noting that federal officials were tired of the positive press regarding cannabis legalization and were calling upon various agencies to publish negative news stories. Administration officials initially wouldn’t confirm the committee, but BuzzFeed’s…

It was great returning to Portland, Oregon, last week for another engaging and informative International Cannabis Business Conference that continued the ICBC’s tradition of combining business, politics, and culture, unlike any other event. Going back to where the ICBC started was a good time to connect with a lot of people that attended the first…

The International Cannabis Business Conference has a lot of highlights for a lot of people, depending on your background and interest in the industry. For some, getting the chance to ask the executive director of the OLCC and other regulators in charge of the statewide commercial rules is at the top of the list while…

The International Cannabis Business Conference (ICBC) kicks off its networking opportunities this Thursday evening from 7pm to 9pm at the Skyline Lounge at the Downtown Hilton with investors, entrepreneurs, and advocates from across the globe, including actor Jim Belushi and former Portland Trailblazer All-Star Cliff Robinson. The conference program starts tomorrow, Friday, September 28th, with…

While the overall numbers show a booming Oregon cannabis industry, with record sales and tax revenue creating thousands of jobs, when you look closer you see a major flaw that plague just about every industry-local small businesses pushed out of the market by bigger interests. Adam Smith of the Craft Cannabis Alliance wants to help…

Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley has been defending not only the will of Oregon voters who passed cannabis legalization with over 56% of the vote in 2014, but also the will of the strong majority of all Americans that now understand the failure of cannabis prohibition. Tired of wasting law enforcement resources and disproportionately arresting and…

One of the nicest people you can have the pleasure of meeting is former NBA great Cliff Robinson. Best known for his stint with the Portland Trailblazers, where he was an All-Star and the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year, Robinson, affectionately known as Uncle Cliffy, has a tremendous professional basketball resume. Robinson tallied 18…

The International Cannabis Business Conference (ICBC) is bringing its trademark blend of cannabis business, politics, and culture back to Portland, Oregon, September 27th-28th, after a four-year absence. The event should not be missed by anyone in the cannabis industry or thinking of joining. Get your tickets now as prices go up after Wednesday. Once the…

When word first got out that Jim Belushi was involved with the burgeoning cannabis industry, many may have thought that he was just the latest celebrity hoping to cash in, that maybe he would just slap his name on a few products. Those that know Belushi, however, know that he is deeply engaged with learning…

Cannabis sales are continuing to break revenue records and exceed expectations in Oregon, Colorado, Nevada, proving that legalization can create jobs and generate revenue, without the sky falling. However, there are still legitimate concerns regarding how the profits are being divvied up, as, like in many industries, bigger players are gobbling up many smaller businesses…

Amsterdam has been one of the pioneers in the global fight to end cannabis prohibition, ever since the Mellow Yellow coffeeshop was founded in 1972 by Wernard Bruinin. More coffeeshops soon followed and Amsterdam became a model for those working to legalize cannabis across the nation. The Dutch city proved that you could allow cannabis commerce…

This September 27th and 28th, International Cannabis Business Conference is returning to its roots with its first conference back in Portland, Oregon, since the ICBC debuted in the City of Roses in 2014. In four short years, the ICBC has experienced tremendous growth, growing alongside the rest of the cannabis industry. After sold-out events in San…

With Constellation Brands, the parent company of Corona beer and Robert Mondavi wine, Molson Coors, Scotts Miracle-Gro, biotech company Ginko Bioworks, GW Pharmaceuticals, and Coca-Cola all getting into some facet of the cannabis industry, or at least reportedly thinking about it, the mainstream brands entering the burgeoning market keep growing. Now, we can add Estée…

Canadian cannabis companies have been given a huge advantage over U.S. businesses thanks to a progressive national law that has already federally legalized medical marijuana and the Cannabis Act that ends prohibition across the Great White North this October 17th. With access to banking services, financial markets, and a reasonable tax code, the economic climate…

Anyone who has ever quit smoking tobacco or tried, or know someone battling tobacco addiction, understands the difficulty of kicking those cancer sticks to the curb. The nicotine in tobacco is so addictive that only 6% of smokers are able to quit each year, but there may be a promising tool to help kick the…

Nevada has a history of pushing vices, with legalized gambling, prostitution, and drinking alcohol in public. It shouldn’t surprise folks that the Silver State, home of Las Vegas AKA Sin City, was selling a large amount of cannabis. However, sales have far exceeded expectations, providing lessons for other states, as Forbes reported: Nevada cannabis sales…

Hedge fund legends. Big Pharma. Big Tobacco. Big Alcohol. The list of new and possible cannabis industry participants keeps growing and growing. And now, potentially the biggest interest yet: Big Soda. If there were any doubts that cannabis has gone mainstream and is going more mainstream by the day, the possible entry of Coca-Cola into…

Normally, the financial disclosures of a Libertarian Senate candidate wouldn’t be a big deal, even if it revealed investments in cannabis businesses. However, Gary Johnson, the former two-term governor of New Mexico has to be taken seriously in the Land of Enchantment, even though his two presidential runs fizzled out. Republican Senator Rand Paul has…

Politics can make strange bedfellows and it has long been extremely weird that California was represented by an anti-cannabis United States Senator, the extremely powerful Dianne Feinstein. While Oregon paved the way for decriminalization in the early 1970s, California really led the charge for the recent momentum to bring sanity to our marijuana laws by voting…

Whether you want to start your own business or secure a job in the cannabis industry, there are tips of the trade that are universal to any profession and key insights that may be unique to the marijuana market. My advice is to demonstrate traits that both shatter stoner stereotypes (punctuality, for instance) and are…

Anyone that has seen the marijuana grown by the United States government for the few remaining federally-recognized patients and the limited research projects approved over the years, knows that it is of extremely poor quality. The Medical Cannabis Research Act (MCRA), sponsored by Republican Representative Matt Gaetz, and passed out of the House Judiciary Committee,…

Despite legalizing cannabis in 2014, Oregon still has a lot of work left to do regarding marijuana, from doing better to ensure that low-income patients have safe access to automatically expunging old convictions (without making people pay extra money and jumping through unnecessary bureaucratic hoops). Additionally, cannabis cafes and other consumption sites are needed. I’m proud…

There is still time to get “early bird” tickets to the world’s premier B2B cannabis event, the International Cannabis Business Conference in Portland, Oregon, this September 27th-28th, and for small craft cannabis businesses to apply for the $10,000 ICBC Mom and Pop Pitch Event, but time is running out. Early bird tickets must be purchased…

Many Oregon cannabis industry observers, including myself and the Medford Mail Tribune Editorial Board, knew that Josephine County was wasting the hard-earned money of taxpayers by challenging Oregon’s adult-use and medical legalization laws in court. Everything that county officials may want to do with cannabis businesses from oversaturation to strict regulations to outright bans (if their…

The International Cannabis Business Conference (ICBC) is returning to Portland, Oregon, this September 27th-28th, at the Hilton Downtown, and you can still purchase “early bird” tickets, but time is running out as you have through September 12th to save $200 on the marijuana business-to-business (B2B) event of the year. Once the clock strikes midnight, turning…

Whenever someone hears that the United States government maintains a marijuana farm that provides medicine for a few federal patients and research programs, it may seem like a tall tale, but it is no myth. Uncle Sam cultivates cannabis at the University of Mississippi and actually mails it to a handful of grandfathered/grandmothered participants in the Compassionate Investigational…

The financial benefits of cannabis legalization make a lot of headlines as the tax revenue generated and jobs created almost always exceed expectations. The positive economic impact of regulated cannabis commerce isn’t just in the surface numbers as the benefits filter throughout the industry and into ancillary businesses and throughout the local economy. Of course,…

Cannabis stocks, while still carrying volatile risks, have been booming recently as mainstream investors have started flocking to the sector particularly after Canada passed the Cannabis Act and with the establishment of October 17th as the first G7 nation to end marijuana prohibition. Individual stocks like Canopy Growth and Tilray (full disclosure: I own a few…

Cannabis industry observers are witnessing mainstream investors of all stripes investing in and partnering with the cannabis industry, from hedge fund legends to alcohol giants to biotech companies. There has long been speculation that Big Tobacco would enter the marijuana market once prohibition ended and the theory could become a reality sooner than later as…

Most states with regulated sales up and running have surpassed initial estimates regarding projected cannabis sales, with California being the lone holdout. In addition to surpassing early projections, states continue to set financial records with Colorado selling more than $1.5 billion worth of cannabis in 2017 and Oregon on pace to bring in more tax…

On many fronts, the cannabis industry is booming with record revenues and stock prices exceeding expectations. Of course, many serious issues remain, even for Canadian companies, where their home nation is about to legalize cannabis for all adults this October 17th, including the fact that some insurers still shy away from cannabis. However, cannabis companies…

With several beer companies making the leap into the burgeoning cannabis industry, many observers are wondering if the trend will continue or whether we’ll see other business sectors make a similar jump. With evidence showing the legal cannabis may be hurting alcohol sales generally and that younger drinkers are choosing other options to imbibe, it…

The International Cannabis Business Conference (ICBC) has flourished into the world’s premier cannabis business-to-business (B2B) event in the four years since it first debuted in Portland, just before Oregon became the third state to legalize cannabis. While in hindsight it seems easy to predict that the global marijuana market would heat up, no one knew…

Dominic Holden’s Buzzfeed article revealing that the Donald Trump White House is choreographing a “secret war” on cannabis that calls upon various government agencies to publicize negative stories about marijuana brought out a variety of views. As I blogged, I didn’t think that the news was anything new or surprising as the federal government has been…

Mainstream investors and major corporations are seeing the value of the cannabis industry as big investment news stories are breaking every week, if not every few days, as Canada marches toward its October 17th legalization date. While stocks are still volatile, it appears that many are seeing the growth potential of the burgeoning industry. Partnerships with…

As we head into Labor Day weekend, maybe you are happy with your job, or maybe you are looking for a career change. If you’re looking to move into something new, then the cannabis industry may be what you are looking for. Thousands upon thousands of jobs are being created and you have the opportunity…

As the cannabis industry has gone more mainstream, there have been numerous headlines about who will be the “Starbucks” or “Wal-Mart” or “Costco” or “Amazon” of cannabis. The biggest player in Canada, and internationally, Canopy Growth, isn’t the Amazon or Google of cannabis…yet, but the company hopes to be, as reported by CNBC: Canopy Growth CEO…

Oregon’s cannabis revenue has continually far exceeded expectations. The state only projected to bring in between $17 to $40 million per year in tax proceeds, but the industry has now more than doubled the upper projection, bringing in more than $82 million this past fiscal year. The market has shown no signs of slowing down…

Leon Cooperman may not be a household name, but the man labeled a “hedge fund legend” by Business Insider has a net worth of over $3 billion. And he’s the latest big investor publicly revealed as investing in the cannabis industry. Cooperman, the CEO of Omega Advisors, made a personal investment in Green Thumb Industries, as…

Donald Trump has been on both (or several) sides of the cannabis legalization debate since he announced his run for president. He declared himself supportive of medical cannabis and a believer in states’ rights on adult-use marijuana laws as a candidate. However, Trump’s moderate public stances must be weighed against his selection of Reefer Madness…

Canadian cannabis companies have been making big move after big move, pulling of mergers, securing investments, and consolidating in ways that were unthinkable to most just a few years ago. From major deals like Constellation Brands investing billions of dollars into Canopy Growth to Aurora and MedReleaf’s billion-dollar merger to companies like C21 Investments purchasing several…

Legal cannabis in Oregon has brought thousands of jobs to the state and has generated millions of dollars in revenue, exceeding government expectations. In fact, the Beaver State brings in $20 million every quarter in cannabis taxes, doubling the $40 million that state financial analysts thought would be the maximum generated in a year. On top…

There are already some great applicants for the first Mom and Pop Pitch Event at the International Cannabis Business Conference in Portland this September 28th, but there is still time to put your company on the main stage at the ICBC, in front of a room of potential investors, partners, vendors, and customers. Inspired by…

Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley Stresses the Importance of S. 1152, the Secure And Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act Regardless of where you stand on cannabis legalization, you should support regulated businesses’ access to banking services. Even if you don’t support legal marijuana, you should want licensed companies to pay their fair share of taxes and…

Cannabis science is one of the foundations of the legalization movement as knowledge of the plant has helped dispel Reefer Madness myth after myth over the past decades. Scientific research led to medical cannabis laws as researchers have publicized the wide range of medicinal uses and health benefits of the plant will countering the unfounded…

After Constellation Brands’ mega-deal with Canopy Growth and Molson Coors team-up with Hydropothecary Corp. to work develop non-alcoholic, cannabis-infused beverages, industry observers are wondering who could be next. While there is some speculation that Big Tobacco and Big Pharma are going to make moves into the adult-use marijuana market, tobacco companies carry so much baggage after deceiving…

It was big news when RBC Capital Markets praised Constellation Brands multi-billion investment in Canopy Growth and notified its clients that it expected the legal cannabis market in the United States to reach $47 billion in revenue within the next decade. Now, writing in Seeking Alpha, Jonathan Cooper makes the case that the U.S. cannabis industry will…

While legalizing cannabis is ultimately about freedom for those that have dedicated their lives to the cause, it is obvious that our newfound freedom creates jobs and generates revenue. The new industry provides an opportunity for the cannabis community to enter a business sector at the ground level, with an opportunity for advancement. Canada has…

Overall, the legal cannabis industry is booming with record revenue levels across the board, even with a few hiccups (ahem, California) along the way. However, the super competitive marijuana market and rampant overregulation (that will hopefully lessen over time) mandates the need for capital to survive, expand, and thrive in the industry. With Canada gearing…

First off, I must apologize, once again for the puns in the title, but it is hard to get away from using “high” when discussing cannabis stocks that are worth more than ever before. When it comes to “hit” I’m guilty as charged, as I could have used “reached” but that’s not as fun. While…

Canada, Canadian companies, and U.S. businesses utilizing Canada’s financial markets are making most of the major cannabis financial headlines these days as the Great White North marches toward legalizing on October 17th, and rightfully so. With several major businesses investing in the industry, Prime Minister Trudeau’s Liberal Party fulfilling its campaign promise to end prohibition has brought…

Since the International Cannabis Business Conference became the first global marijuana business event four years ago, we have seen explosive growth for the industry around the world. With Michigan set to legalize cannabis this November, and Missouri (and possibly a couple of other states) poised to allow medical use this as well, the United State’s market…

Canada’s legalization law allows provinces to establish how they want cannabis commerce to proceed within their boundaries. Government-run stores are okay, as are licensed private establishments. Online sales and delivery are also an option, a choice that Ontario has selected, just announcing agreements with cannabis producers to supply its retail system, as Reuters has reported:…

Canadian cannabis company Canopy Growth, benefitting from the multi-billion dollar investment by Constellation Brands, the parent company of Corona beer company and Robert Mondavi wine, has been understandably making big financial news, but there are two competitors on the Nasdaq that deserve attention as well-Cronos Group and Tilray. In full disclosure, as I mentioned in…

Normally, when a competitor in the market has big financial news, it doesn’t necessarily mean good things for other businesses in the industry. Good news for Apple doesn’t lead to a stock price increase for Samsung and the same for Coca-Cola and Pepsi. With the cannabis industry, a burgeoning industry just starting to gain mainstream traction on…

Even though cannabis is a burgeoning industry just getting started in a regulated manner, nothing stops aspiring entrepreneurs from wondering what the next big thing is gonna be. There could be new cannabis products, but those seemed covered. Or maybe some app could be a major innovation. However, one segment of the business poised to…

With Constellation Brands, owner of Corona beer and Robert Mondavi wine, making huge financial news by purchasing 38% of Canopy Growth, we shouldn’t be surprised that caffeine dealers are moving into the cannabis industry as well. Second Cup Coffee, a major coffee shop chain headquartered in Ontario, Canada, with over 300 retail establishments around the…

Beer, wine, and spirits producers getting into the cannabis industry is bound to make headlines as alcohol, despite being banned federally for a few years, is really as American as apple pie. Yesterday, I was rather surprised to see that a Portland Metropolitan bus (known as TriMet in these parts) was covered with a huge vodka…

Access to banking services is one of the major problems facing the cannabis industry as very few banks are willing to offer accounts to marijuana businesses operating legally under state law. While federal prohibition will always limit banking options, some financial institutions are warming up to cannabis businesses, including Severn Bank in Maryland as New…

It’s no secret that alcohol companies are moving into the cannabis industry, and no business has made a bigger move then Constellation Brands, the parent company of both Corona beer and Robert Mondavi wine. Constellation was already a big player when it purchased just under 10% of Canadian cannabis company Canopy Growth and now Constellation, seeing…

Investors looking to purchase cannabis stocks have some options on the major U.S. stock markets such as Tilray, Canopy Growth, Cronos, and Aurora, and many companies to choose from on the Canadian Securities Exchange. However, if the volatility of a burgeoning industry is a bit too much for your taste, or you want to diversify…

The value of cannabis stocks, like most stocks, are uncertain and anyone investing certainly needs to do their due diligence before dumping too much money into any one stock. Even after extensive due diligence into any one particular company, it is wise to diversify. Those looking into marijuana stocks certainly need to do their homework as…

The International Cannabis Business Conference (ICBC) has had a lot of great moments since it began four years ago. The ICBC quickly transformed into the premier B2B global marijuana business event and has seen elected officials from both sides of the aisle, prominent social commentators, pioneering entrepreneurs, and activists grace its stage and networking events from…

Regardless of your political leanings generally, or thoughts about Donald Trump, you probably don’t want to spend more money or make less money. Unfortunately, Trump’s trade war with China is about to hit the cannabis community as the price of equipment and devices from vaporizers to grow equipment to cell phones, to many things in…

The economic benefits of the cannabis industry garner a vast majority of the headlines, but those of us that have put in years upon years fighting the Drug War know that keeping people out of prison, along with helping sick and disabled patients, remain the foundation of the legalization movement. Unfortunately, too many victims of…

Many of us know military veterans that reasonably suffer from post-traumatic stress after experience combat or other trauma. Many of us know veterans that utilize cannabis to treat their post-traumatic stress and that it is a crime against humanity for our government to deny soldiers and veterans the option of at least trying to utilize…

First of all, I apologize for the punny headline, but when you’re discussing record-breaking cannabis sales in a state that includes the Mile High City and inspired Bob Denver to pen “Rocky Mountain High” it is hard to avoid. Plus, it’s Friday. Colorado has made a lot of headlines for the revenue marijuana has brought…

The International Cannabis Business Conference (ICBC) made its debut in Portland four years ago, just before Oregon became the third state to pass an adult-use legalization law. There was no way that any of us involved with producing the conference could predict the rapid growth of the marijuana market across the globe. The Oregon cannabis…

The signs that cannabis has moved into the mainstream of American society have been piling up over the years. Literally every day, anyone paying attention to media, culture, and politics, whether in the United States or internationally, can see that marijuana has moved out of the shadows into the bright lights of our lives. The…

In Canada, residents and tourists may soon have the ability to cheers with cannabis beer and various cannabis-infused beverages. Constellation Brands and Molson Coors have both announced intentions to develop cannabis drinks that adults can sip starting on October 17th in the Great White North. The move by beer companies to jump into the marijuana…

Reefer Madness prohibitionists have made numerous ridiculous statements over the years, including the contention that cannabis isn’t medicine, but that cannabis compounds are. While ranting about today’s marijuana, with THC levels over 20%, being so much stronger than that smoked during the Woodstock era, anti-legalization zealots have pushed the synthetic THC drug Marinol on patients, which…

Medical cannabis has broad, supermajority support in just about every poll around the world, so we shouldn’t be surprised that Australians are no different, but 91% support is an amazing number, regardless of the issue. It’s hard to get 9 out of 10 people to agree on just about any political issue. It is a…

Medical cannabis laws are great and it makes sense that a supermajority of American voters support medicinal use. However, medical laws don’t go far enough to prevent the unnecessary arrest and prosecution of nonviolent citizens that shouldn’t have their freedom taken away for their medicinal use. Many people on a fixed income can’t afford the…

In what has been a common occurrence in the United States, a state with legalized cannabis commerce has far exceeded initial projections as Nevada’s first-year of regulated sales has been an indisputable financial success. Nevada follows in the footsteps of states like Colorado, Washington, and Oregon that have all generated more revenue than government estimates….

After a vote of no-confidence for the People Party’s (PP) Mariano Rajoy, Pedro Sánchez of the Spanish Socialist Worker’s Party (PSOE) was sworn in as Spain’s Prime Minister this past June. Sánchez’s PSOE government has only 84 of the 350 seats in the Congress of Deputies (Spain’s lower house of Parliment) thus is dependent upon a governing…

Every state that legalizes adult-use or medical cannabis brings us one step closer to ending prohibition for all adults across the country. As someone born and raised in Missouri and started my political activism there, I am so proud and pleased that Missouri voters will have the opportunity to vote to legalize medical cannabis this…

DJ Muggs (Cypress Hill) and Del the Funky Homosapien (Hieroglyphics & Gorillaz) are two living legends that have performed at after parties for the International Cannabis Business Conference before, but never have both performed at the same time. That changes in Portland, Oregon, on September 28th when DJ Muggs will be spinning as the opener…

There has been some evidence that legalizing cannabis leads to a bit of a dip in alcohol sales, leading some in the alcohol industry to oppose legalization, but there are signs that joining the marijuana movement is the better financial play.  Molson Coors Brewing Company is certainly (wisely) embracing the burgeoning cannabis industry by developing a…

While Senator Jeff Merkley, unfortunately, cannot make it in person to the International Cannabis Business Conference in Portland, Oregon, this September 27th-28th, due to his senatorial duties in Washington, D.C., the ICBC is so pleased that he’s agreed to welcome attendees with a video message. Senator Merkley has proven to be a bold, progressive public…

We learn more about the benefits of cannabis and its compounds more and more as research has been allowed. Combatting seizures has been well-documented by Sanja Gupta, but, unfortunately, research has been stifled and bottled up in the United States for far too long. The most impactful medicinal benefit of cannabis and its cannabinoids may…

Portugal has been a leader in reforming the failed War on Drugs, decriminalizing the personal use of all drugs back in 2001. By all accounts, ending draconian Drug War penalties and treating drug use as a health care issue, instead of a criminal justice issue, has been a raging success for Portugal. Despite a progressive…

It has been a trend, and probably a wise strategic move, for American cannabis companies to initiate a “reverse merger” with a Canadian company. Since Canada is leading the global cannabis movement by legalizing federally, their companies have access to the Canadian Securities Exchange and other financial markets while American marijuana businesses are shut out of…

Oregon has been helping lead the cannabis law reform movement since it became the first state to decriminalize personal use back in 1973. After voting to join California as a medical state in 1998 and Colorado and Washington as legalized states in 2014, Oregon has maintained its leadership status and its legislators understand that the…

The cannabis community achieved a major victory on June 26th when Oklahoma voters passed its Question 788 medical marijuana initiative by a strong 57% to 43% margin in a low turnout primary election. Reefer Madness prohibitionists can cruelly and stubbornly fight medical measures all they want, even disparaging patients by putting quotes around medical (i.e. “medical”…

Cannabis legalization supporters and Drug War reformers certainly weren’t happy when Donald Trump appointed Reefer Madness prohibitionist Jeff Sessions as Attorney General. Sessions then proceeded to validate our fears when he rescinded the Obama administration’s policies that allowed states to move forward with their own cannabis laws without federal interference, discouraged prosecutors from pushing for…

The cannabis law reform movement continues moving full speed ahead across the world as the United Kingdom just announced that medical cannabis products will now be available by prescription. The UK’s policy shift has come thanks to the work of tireless advocates who helped convince the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to determine…

With the cannabis industry proven to be ultracompetitive and full of regulatory obstacles, consolidation has been a common tactic that can decrease costs and increase market share. With Canada leading the international market, the biggest deals are currently occurring among Canadian companies and the Financial Post just covered the finalization of the most lucrative cannabis industry deal…

There are many potential reasons for cannabis consumers to utilize concentrates, extracts, or infused products instead of the plant’s “flower” or “bud”, from avoiding the potential carcinogens in smoke to just wanting to avoid the smell the usual forms of combustion can admit. Additionally, there could be medical reasons that patients need a higher THC…

With Canada’s cannabis legalization law advancing past the United States, and every other nation, U.S. companies are turning to the Canadian Securities Exchange to survive and thrive in the competitive marijuana market. With companies from the U.S.’s northern border swooping down with big capital and resources, some enterprising American businesses decided that they should level…

Researching cannabis should be a no-brainer as any nation debates its marijuana laws, but scientific research has long been blocked by Reefer Madness prohibitionists like Trump Attorney General Jeff Sessions and there hasn’t been a serious effort to study the implications of various political models. Thankfully, Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (who filmed a welcome message…

Canadian cannabis companies are gearing up to provide for millions of new customers when October 17th rolls around, creating jobs and paying higher salaries to well-trained employees. As marijuana businesses look to expand operations and fill needed positions, the food and beverage industry has become a natural recruiting ground as The Globe and Mail covered:…

It’s clear that Canada has been leading the global cannabis market in many regards. Starting with a federal medical marijuana policy that has allowed Canadian companies to export to other nations and have the revenue to expand operations in nations around the world, including the United States, and even get listed on the Nasdaq and…

In full disclosure, when I first read that Canadian cannabis company Tilray was going public on the Nasdaq, becoming the first cannabis IPO on the U.S. Stock market and just the third such company even listed on a major U.S. stock exchange, I made it a point to buy a few shares on its opening…

“Regulate cannabis like beer and wine” is a pragmatic position backed by a lot of legalization advocates these days and, while the substances certainly aren’t identical, similar regulations make a lot of sense. We all want to keep cannabis and alcohol out of the hands of minors and voters and elected officials love creating new…

After decades of global prohibition, cannabis companies are making history as they move forward in our current international patchwork system of various cannabis laws and regulations. With October 17th coming up quickly in Canada, we’ll see more and more history made as a G7 nation will legalize non-medical cannabis commerce for the first time, likely…

It cannot be disputed that the Oregon adult-use cannabis system creates jobs and generates revenue. While the Measure 91 legalization was primarily focused on ending unnecessary arrests and better prioritizing limited law enforcement resources, economic benefits were touted and the financial gains have actually been bigger than projected. Unfortunately, many localities have banned licensed cannabis businesses depriving…

In many ways, Oregon is a leader on cannabis policy in the United States. The state was the first to decriminalize personal possession in 1973, was an early medical state in 1998, the third to vote in legalization in 2014, and really led the nation on decreasing criminal penalties across the board and expunging old…

While the global cannabis community awaits October 17th, the day cannabis becomes fully legal in Canada, some are understandably worried about how legalization will impact people at the Canada-U.S. border. While it is unfortunate that some Canadians may be prevented from entering the United States and some American citizens will, unfortunately, face criminal punishment after…

From a macro level, the Oregon cannabis industry is doing great. Governor Kate Brown states that 19,000 new jobs have been created thanks to legal marijuana and the Oregon Revenue Department statistics show that retail taxes are generating more than $20 million every quarter, over twice what the state initially projected. However, a closer examination…

Cannabis companies are achieving mainstream milestone after milestone and Canada’s legal industry deserves a ton of the credit. We’ve already seen large alcohol companies invest in the marijuana market, as well as Canada’s largest grocery chains, and two Canadian cannabis companies (Canopy Growth and Cronos) listed on the United States stock markets. Now, another financial…

Germany’s medical cannabis program has experienced tremendous growth over the past year or so. In some ways, the German system has been a victim of its own success as patients have experienced shortages and too high of prices. Thankfully, for many patients, their cannabis is covered by their insurance providers, but prices are still too…

There aren’t many elected officials working as hard to implement sensible cannabis policies than Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley these days. Unlike a lot of politicians, Merkley isn’t just jumping on the bandwagon after seeing poll after poll showing strong voter backing, he was the first United States Senator to endorse a legalization measure when he…

With Canada legalizing cannabis this October 17th, and the United States making progress on the issue, we can expect more and more big money to pour into the marijuana market. Currently, hedge funds like Navy Capital Green Fund are leading the charge, while more institutional sources, such as mutual funds are currently staying clear of the…

If you’re like me, and well, a lot of folks, you utilize Amazon to purchase a variety of products. While I don’t like the excess packaging and I try to shop at local businesses as much as possible, the convenience of having a new cell phone charger sent to me within two days is just…

With a history of being cannabis friendly and 175 licensed retail stores as of July 6, 2018, Portland, Oregon, is one of the best places to acquire ganja in the entire world. With a surplus* of cannabis logged into the states seed/clone-to-sale retail tracking system, prices have dropped to dramatic levels with plenty of stores…

Rightwing provocateur Alex Jones recently received some well-deserved ridicule for claiming that American liberals were going to start a Second Civil War this past July 4th, a prediction that, of course, went up in flames. Even with that caveat, I’m going to go out on a limb and predict an American invasion of Canada on October 17th…

The opioid epidemic is hurting communities all across the United States. No demographic is safe as Big Pharma has pushed addictive and deadly drugs into localities big and small. As NPR just reported, my birth state of Missouri has seen 1.6 billion doses dropped into the state over the last 6 years, enough doses to…

Popular support for cannabis legalization has increased dramatically in recent years, with a strong majority of voters favoring ending prohibition for all adults while a supermajority endorses medical use. With several key states voting on marijuana measures this November, Democrats seem to have an edge on the issue. As Politico has recently reported Democratic Senator…

When most people think of a cannabis-friendly locale in the beautiful state of Oregon, most people probably think about the weird city of Portland, where I’m happy to call home. Or, if they are familiar with the area, maybe they would point to the college town of Eugene or quirky, little Ashland. Baker County, with…

While at the International Cannabis Business Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, last month, it was easy to feel the excitement that the cannabis community has over legal cannabis coming to Canada. Proud of helping propel Canada to the forefront of the global battle to end cannabis prohibition and feeling optimistic about the economic opportunities that…

The International Cannabis Business Conference is joining forces with Spannabis, Europe’s top cannabis expo, to form a super-conference that begins March 14th in Barcelona, Spain. For more than fifteen years, Spannabis has been the world’s biggest cannabis trade show while the ICBC in just five years has become the world’s premier B2B cannabis networking event for entrepreneurs and…

“Sex and the City” star Cynthia Nixon has made cannabis legalization a major platform of her progressive, anti-establishment New York gubernatorial race, and she has recently doubled down on the movement, teaming up with the leading ladies of “Broad City” to raffle off a bong. Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson, the creators and stars, of Comedy…

Cannabis is certainly a hot, burgeoning market that may put a small dent in the alcohol market. Smart alcohol industry players realize that legalization is eventually coming, so they are looking at ways of becoming a part of the marijuana market, instead of combatting it. We’ve seen very big alcohol companies make serious inroads in…

A strong majority of Florida voters first voted to legalize medical cannabis in 2014, but the will of over 57% of Floridians went unheeded as Sunshine State law requires that constitutional measures require at least 60% of the vote. Undeterred, activists went right back to the ballot in 2016, winning overwhelmingly as more than 61%…

On July 1st, when Vermont officially legalized personal cannabis possession and cultivation, but not any marijuana sales, Massachusetts’ legalization law called for the state to permit cannabis commerce. Unfortunately for consumers, there aren’t any retail stores up and operating, but good news is on the horizon as Bay State regulators did issue the very first…

While the cannabis community cheered Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party’s electoral victory in Canada, the historic election of the liberal López Obrador in Mexico hasn’t elicited the same exuberance, even though Obrador may prevent a dramatic shift for the better on cannabis and other drug policies. Obrador, unlike Trudeau, didn’t explicitly make ending prohibition a part…

Cannabis officially became legal to possess and cultivate in Oregon on July 1st, 2015. Three years later, the Beaver State has become a cannabis consumers paradise. Advertisements for $3 grams are common, with “bulk” deal of $5 for 3.5 grams available as well. At times, you may even see $1 grams for sale, especially when…

Support for medical cannabis reaches super-majority levels among voters across the nation, so it is hardly surprising when a state legalizes medicinal use. However, that strong support in the polls was recently put to the test in a low-turnout primary election in deep-red Oklahoma, one of the most conservative states in the union. Voters in…

The International Cannabis Business Conference started just four years ago with the goal of bringing together business, politics, and culture in a way that would provide the cannabis community with the best information and networking possible and to help continue the momentum behind legalization. Underlying every ICBC has been the notion that we are fighting for…

Comedian Ngaio Bealum, the cannabis guru on Netflix’s “Cooking on High” and MC for the International Cannabis Business Conference, obviously knows his way around the various ways to consume cannabis as well as how to navigate the multitude of marijuana laws around the country. So, it is no surprise that the Burlington Free Press chose…

The Oregon coast provides breathtaking natural beauty, great seafood, and some of the highest per capita cannabis sales in the state. Local retail stores seem to believe that tourists were a big boost to the market as travellers are stopping in to experience state-legal marijuana from regulated stores, where they know that their products have…

Licencing of cannabis businesses has been rather slow out of California since the state started accepting applications last December. The deliberate pace caused for early economic projections to be downgraded by some analysts, a rare occurrence thus far as most states have exceeded initial estimates. The California market is about to get a shot of adrenaline as…

There are several reasons to expect the cannabis industry in the United States to surpass the economic impact of the wine industry once federal cannabis prohibition ends. Canada’s cannabis industry, about to take off under a full legalization law on October 17th, is expected to rival wine in a few years and sales in the…

Constellation Brands, the owner of Corona Beer and Robert Mondavi wine made big news when the company bought a stake of Canopy Browth, the largest cannabis producer in Canada and the first cannabis company to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. That investment has paid off as Consteallation has already netted a $700…

Cannabis gets most of the headlines, whether it is Canada ending prohibition, or GW Pharmaceuticals getting FDA approval for Epidiolex, medical use passing in the (very) conservative state of Oklahoma, or legalization supporters winning at the ballot box, but hemp has also made remarkable strides politically. After decades of seemingly* getting banned due to Reefer…

While there are certainly many reasons to be concerned about the direction of the United States in many areas, it cannot be denied that the cannabis community is experiencing a golden age of political victories. Supporters of sensible cannabis laws have many reasons to celebrate this week as primary electoral victories on Tuesday (just a…

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer shocked the political world when he announced that he would introduce a bill to end federal cannabis prohibition by descheduling marijuana from the list of federally controlled substances. Of course, Schumer decided to announce his evolution on cannabis policy on April 20th. Here’s what the New York Democrat wrote about…

Negotiations are still underway as Bella Vista Cannabis has the potential to receive up to $1 million dollars in funding from Canopy Rivers, in collaboration with Canadian cannabis and hemp producer Canopy Growth. Bella Vista Cannabis founder Mike Mathews made his pitch to four “Micro Cannabis, Macro Impact” judges in front of a crowded Sheraton…

After a wonderful trip to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada for an epic International Cannabis Business Conference, I heard a number of stories from Canadians about horror stories at the United States border. With Canada legalizing cannabis officially this October 17th, following the historic passage of the Cannabis Act, the U.S. needs to change its cannabis…

It was bound to happen eventually as the United States government couldn’t deny the medicinal benefits of the cannabis forever. While Uncle Sam had previously approved Drobinal, synthetic THC drug, GW Pharmaceutical’s Epidiolex is Cannabidiol (CBD) derived from the actual cannabis plant. The FDA’s approval of the epilepsy/seizure treatment is a somewhat complicated blessing and a…

Henry Rollins brought people to their feet, Canadian industry experts shared their knowledge, Canopy Rivers selected a young company to fund, Civilized agreed to help market Bella Vista (who won Canopy’s “Micro Cannabis, Macro Impact” pitch competition), PRØHBTD Media shared branding tips, Netflix’s “Cooking on High” star Ngaio Bealum had the crowd laughing, and Del…

After the conclusion of the first cannabis conference ever held in a country with a complete legalization law on the books, Vancouver International Cannabis Business Conference attendees will be packing the Studio Lounge and Nightclub at 919 Granville Street  for an exclusive performance by hip-hop legend Del the Funky Homosapien. (Bring your ICBC badges attendees!) The conference program…

After another electric VIP party featuring Henry Rollins filled with good vibes and great networking, the International Cannabis Business Conference’s program in Vancouver begins this morning (Monday, June 25th), with a keynote address by Mr. Rollins followed by presentations from top experts across the industry. After a day of learning the latest about the Canadian…

The International Cannabis Business Conference is designed to help those in the industry thrive and providing important information and key networking opportunities are a heart of the success of the ICBC. However, keeping people engaged and entertained is also a very important element. Helping vault the ICBC into global prominence has been cannabis comic and…

Cannabis law reformers and industry participants have a lot of reasons to celebrate and there’s no better place to be than the International Cannabis Business Conference in Vancouver which kicks off with an exclusive VIP party Sunday, June 24th. The iconic Henry Rollins will be on hand to give a speech and meet with party attendees…

After a locale legalizes, regulates, and taxes cannabis, the economic benefits garner a vast majority of the headlines. Billion dollar business deals, thousands of new jobs, and millions in new revenue capture the attention of entrepreneurs, voters, and elected officials, across the political spectrum. However, for those of us that have been activists fighting the…

Now that the Canadian Parliament has passed the Cannabis Act (C-45) and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has set October 17th as the official start day of legalization, the cannabis community awaits the rollout of rules and regulations that may differ from province to province.  With just under four months to spare, how many Canadian provinces…

Anyone that has attended industry conferences can tell you that the International Cannabis Business Conference is not like other events. Combining cannabis business, politics, and culture is no easy feat and that has been the ICBC’s mission since its inception in 2014. We’ve seen great progress since the first ICBC conference (when there were only…

The historic vote by the Canadian Senate to pass the Cannabis Act (C-45) yesterday, setting up Canada to become the first G7 nation to legalize cannabis and the first nation to end prohibition for all adults within its borders, energized reform activists around the world. The Canadian cannabis community will now wait 8 to 12…

Cannabis legalization in the U.S. states has primarily been led by voter initiatives as all of the states to legalize cannabis commerce have done so through signature petition efforts that put ballot measures before voters. Vermont is the only state to legalize cannabis through the state legislature, but the Green Mountain State has only legalized…

The timing of the International Cannabis Business Conference, where top industry participants from around the globe converge upon Vancouver this June 24th-25th, couldn’t be much better as the Canadian Senate is expected to pass legalization by Friday, potentially making the ICBC the first post-legalization conference in Canada (just a little Royal Assent is needed after parliamentary…

The cannabis legalization political football has been tossed back to the Canadian Senate as the House of Commons passed the Cannabis Act (C-45) 205 to 82, with Conservatives largely opposing the measure. The House was forced to vote on the bill after the Senate added 46 amendments to the legalization bill. Various technical bills were…

It’s already been reported that Canadian cannabis companies preparing for legalization later this year are recruiting skilled extractors and increasing the pay of cultivators. With reports that companies are making edibles, beer, and other infused products to hone their craft in preparation of regulated cannabis commerce, there are opportunities for food and beverage industry workers…

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Theodore Kupfer, or any conservative, writing for the National Review supports cannabis legalization, especially a states’ rights position on the issue. After all, states’ rights’ is a traditional conservative political value and supporting legalization has never been more popular. National Review founder William F. Buckley supported ending marijuana…

Recently, Cannabis At Work’s business report detailed the rising salaries for cannabis cultivators in Canada, with quality assurance personnel making an average salary of CA$91,300 and master growers pulling in about CA$79,700. The increased demand (and increased pay) for growers makes sense as companies currently licensed to serve medical patients gear up for the increased…

As we’ve seen cannabis go mainstream, the cannabidiol, known best as CBD, has gone even more mainstream as the cannabinoid’s medical benefits, and lack of psychoactive effect, have brought CBD into favor with folks across demographics. With CBD’s acceptance dramatically increasing, the CBD market is expected to be a multi-billion dollar industry by 2020. We can…

The International Cannabis Business Conference is gearing up for a momentous event in Vancouver, British Columbia, this June 24th-25th, just a few months before Canada legalizes across the nation, but the premier industry conference is already making big plans for 2019, including a third trip to Berlin, Germany. Already established as the foremost B2B cannabis…

When we cannabis legalization advocates were celebrating the Canadian Senate’s vote to end federal prohibition, we had some big problems with a few amendments, namely a provision that would allow provinces to ban home cultivation and another that would outlaw marijuana businesses from branding their companies on products such as t-shirts and caps. Fortunately, Canada’s…

It’s no secret that the Canadian federal government has been a global leader in implementing progressive cannabis policies compared to the rest of the world. Canada legalized medical cannabis in 2001 while the United States still hasn’t caught up at the national level although a majority of states have a medical law on the books,…

Cannabis legalization supporters were understandably displeased when Donald Trump appointed Jeff Sessions as United States Attorney General as the former Alabama senator has a long history of Reefer Madness and supporting the escalation of the failed and racist Drug War. While there are many reasons to oppose plenty of AG Session’s policies, it is clear that…

PRØHBTD, a media startup that has helped bring cannabis brands, and the culture overall, into the mainstream has just announced a successful $8 million fundraise to continue helping cannabis businesses while also producing its own original content. While PRØHBTD’s focus is the cannabis culture, the media company has expanded beyond just cannabis, creating unique cultural…

The United States Conference of Mayors, a nonpartisan organization representing cities with populations of 30,000 or more, has called for the federal descheduling of cannabis as well as other policy reforms. In addition to calling for sensible changes to U.S. marijuana laws, a coalition was formed to work towards needed reforms as well. From Michael…

The cannabis industry is a hot jobs market, especially in Canada as the country is set to legalize commerce later this summer. The competition among companies is tough, but the need for skilled workers is needed and ending prohibition has proven to be a jobs creator. As the marijuana market moves mainstream and adapts, there…

We knew that the Canadian Senate was set to vote on CA-45, the Cannabis Act, on June 7th, and while the measure was expected to pass, there’s always a twinge of fear that something might go wrong, especially when you’re fighting against decades of Reefer Madness propaganda that still plagues us today. However, all went…

Today is a great day for cannabis legalization supporters in the United States and around the world as the long-awaited, marijuana law reform proposal spearheaded by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Representatives David Joyce (R-OH) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) has been introduced. This bipartisan legislation picked up steam after Senator Gardner…

The Canadian cannabis industry is booming and it is set to grow even more as analysts project a multi-billion dollar market that will rival the wine business. But the competition and regulatory hurdles can be daunting, so you need capital to survive and thrive in this market. As we’ve seen consolidation is occurring and while we…

With the Canadian Senate set to vote on cannabis legalization this Thursday and licensed sales expected to begin in a few months, it is clear that the Canadian cannabis industry is about to boom beyond any marijuana market yet. As we have seen across the globe, progress begets progress, so we can expect other nations…

I’ll never forget the joy of seeing Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party earn control of the Canadian government in 2015 as the party became the first governing political party with legalization as a piece of its platform. While cannabis law reform advocates are used to being let down by politicians, it was another step forward when…

Many of medical cannabis’ medicinal benefits cannot be disputed at this point. Can anyone honestly deny that cannabis can help patients to combat nausea and increase their appetite? With the current opioid crises engulfing our nation, do folks really think that it is just a coincidence that states that provide access to medical cannabis have…

Everyone paying attention to the international cannabis business industry knows that Canadian companies have been leading the global marketplace, thanks to a pioneering nationwide medical legalization law and countries like Germany willingly accepting cannabis imports from the Great White North. As Germany’s medical population has exploded, the nation’s patients have relied more and more on…

It’s become a cliche to mention how we are all connected on this earth and that our world continues to get smaller thanks to technology, but it’s the truth, and the cannabis industry is no different. On one hand, cannabis reform movements were very insular, especially in the United States as arguments supporting legalization that…

With legalization on the horizon in Canada and seemingly politically inevitable in the United States (while there is still much work left to be done) we can expect to see more and more cannabis companies listed on various market exchanges. MedMen, a United States company with 18 licensed facilities in three states, just announced that…

Oregon cannabis businesses producing more marijuana consumers purchase continues to make headlines and the so-called “oversupply problem” has drawn the ire of Billy Williams, the United States Attorney for Oregon. Williams released a memo detailing his law enforcement priorities for cannabis in Oregon after Attorney General Jeff Sessions repealed the Obama administration’s enforcement policy that…

For years, cannabis legalization activists heard stories about how Big Tobacco companies were poised to sell marijuana as they already had the infrastructure to cultivate the plant and package pre-rolls on a massive scale. After reformers had success in the 1970s decriminalizing personal use, some American tobacco execs did their due diligence to research the possibility…

It’s no secret what Jeff Sessions thinks about cannabis. Donald Trump’s “beleaguered” Attorney General famously once uttered that, “Good people don’t smoke marijuana,” after all. While the AG’s boss has apparently cut a deal with Republican Senator Cory Gardner to support states’ rights to end cannabis prohibition, Sessions has previously rescinded the Obama Administration’s hands-off-state-regulated-cannabis…

As the Canadian government is set to implement the rules for cannabis commerce in the coming months, companies are doing all they can to prepare. We have seen dramatic consolidation within the industry, and top producers are gearing up to meet the demands of the Canadian cannabis community, tourists, and patients in nations that import…

There are many great opportunities for entrepreneurs in the multi-billion-dollar Canadian cannabis industry, but the realities of legal commerce mandate that businesses maintain sufficient capital resources to effectively overcome the initial barriers to entry, startup costs, and regulatory hurdles of a highly regulated system. The burgeoning cannabis industry is also a very attractive market that pulls…

Unless you are living under a rock, you know that Canada is about to legalize cannabis commerce across the nation. Once federal, provincial, and local officials finalize all the rules and regulations, the Canadian cannabis industry is set to create more jobs and revenue once sales go live. Statistics Canada estimates that Canadian residents spent…

With Canada set to establish a multi-billion dollar cannabis industry that will rival, or maybe even surpass, the spirits and wine industries, companies are looking to consolidate to increase their market share and maximize profits. Expensive regulatory hurdles, limits on licenses, and the need to compete with the prices seen on the unregulated market can…

As a sports fan that likes to occasionally place a wager or two while I’m in Las Vegas, I was hoping that the United States Supreme Court would strike down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 that banned sports gambling, exempting Nevada and few other states’ betting systems. The Supreme Court took…

Legalizing cannabis will bring more jobs, revenue, and freedom to Canada. Article after article has been written, and will continue to be written, about the economic benefits of cannabis commerce. Money talks in society and politicians, bureaucrats, and voters pay a lot of attention to the financial gains created by the burgeoning industry. However, for activists…

When a state or nation is contemplating legalizing cannabis, revenue projections vary. In the United States, most government projections have underestimated cannabis sales as it is hard to accurately gauge usage from government surveys or predict cannabis-related tourism. Canadian forecasts are now rolling in with New Frontier projecting sales to reach $9 billion by 2025, while…

Unless you’re living under a rock, you know that Canada is about to legalize cannabis commerce among adults across the nation and that the cannabis industry is a multi-billion dollar industry that is set to get even bigger. Thus, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that major mainstream companies are moving into the cannabis space, but it…

While there is evidence that legal cannabis decreases beer (and alcohol) consumption a bit, it does make a lot of sense for the cannabis and beer industries to be aligned in many ways. For many responsible adults, unwinding with a cold beer and a joint is a great way to unwind from a stressful week…

Every state in the U.S. that has legalized cannabis has had its ups and downs, so we shouldn’t expect Canada to be any different as it works on implementing regulations that will make the nation the very first to legalize cannabis commerce for all adults within its borders. The uncertainty of when the federal government will…

Canadian cannabis companies have had a leg up on the rest of the world thanks to their federal government wisely legalizing medicinal use across the Great White North. With the backing of the national government, Canadian medical cannabis companies have had the advantage of being treated the same as any other business, including a listing…

Estimating cannabis use and expenditures is rather tricky, especially during prohibition. Most people, even with the promise of anonymity, are probably unlikely to be completely honest about their illegal marijuana usage. Statistics Canada tries to make adjustments in their methodology, coming to the estimate that Canadians spent about $5.6 billion on cannabis in 2017, right…

Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s evolution on cannabis has been rather remarkable. In 2009, he was a prominent voice opposing legalization. By 2013, he had examined the issue more and publicized his change of heart with his first “Weed” special on CNN. Dr. Gupta even issued an apology for his previous prohibitionist position on CNN.com: I apologize…

Cannabis commerce is an obvious revenue generator. Every place that has legalized cannabis has seen more jobs created and tax dollars for collected, usually outpacing previous predictions. The only question is how much revenue will a state or nation create by ending prohibition and regulating sales to adults. With apologies to Uruguay, Canada will be…

The global cannabis community rejoiced when Canada’s Liberal Party, led by Justin Trudeau, won a landslide victory in 2015 with cannabis legalization included in the party’s platform. Prime Minister Trudeau never backed away from the pledge to introduce a national legalization strategy across the Great White North, but we must always remain vigilant to ensure…

In truth, I don’t usually take pleasure from being able to say “I told you so.” But. I told you so. And it feels pretty great! Last week I wrote a blog for you about the fact that cannabis legalization is happening in the United States, when former Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH)…

Everyone involved with a licensed and regulated cannabis industry quickly understands that ending prohibition was only a part of the battle. Legalizing is a huge challenge, but implementing proper rules and regulations is an even bigger obstacle. Keeping barriers to entry reasonable and affordable, establishing effective testing standards, protecting the existing medical program, and defeating…

Happy 4/20! From all the folks at the International Cannabis Business Conference, to all our cannabis supporting brothers and sisters around the planet, we hope you are having a safe happy holiday today! We hope you are able to enjoy this time with your loved ones. While you celebrate, please remember that many people across…

They say when it rains it pours. In tandem with crazy weather patterns affecting populations across the globe, the cannabis industry is starting to see some precipitation after decades of prohibition-induced drought. Earlier this month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced an open public comment period asking citizens to weigh in on opinions…

If you thought you could hide your drug use forever, you’re in for a surprise. One of the problems with analyzing the drug war has long been the ability to accurately measure what drugs people are using and in what quantities. Unsurprisingly, people are hesitant to divulge their true habits when it comes to surveys…

The second annual International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin showcased both how far Germany’s cannabis community has progressed over the past year as well as the growth that it needs. The medical cannabis patient community has grown virtually exponentially after changes to the law have allowed doctors to prescribe cannabis the same as they would…

Today is the day!! The International Cannabis Business Conference – Berlin has begun! Last night’s VIP party with philosopher and cultural icon Henry Rollins kicked off the beginning of Europe’s biggest and best B2B cannabis conference. Today begins two days of the most important business networking, with the world’s leading cannabis experts, happening in the…

Today is the first day of the rest of the lives of everyone who is planning to attend International Cannabis Business Conference-Berlin. Tonight begins the kick-off of Europe’s most historic and epic cannabis event to date. The global cannabis industry is descending on Berlin tonight to celebrate the opening of Europe’s legal market for the…

THIS IS IT!!! Less than 24 hours remain to get your tickets for the International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin before ticket prices increase! Don’t miss your chance to meet the world’s leading cannabis experts, learn what you need to know to make sure your cannabis business is a success, meet your future business partner,…

Three Canadian Conservative Party senators who are charged with assisting the transition to legal cannabis for adult-use in their country this summer are looking for help in the US, presumably in an attempt to hold back the coming tide of legalization. Once Pandora’s box is open and legal recreational sales begin in Canada, they know…

The German Cannabis Association (Deutscher Hanfverband or DHV) is Germany’s largest lobbying group working to legalize cannabis. Germany has experienced great success, largely decriminalizing cannabis across the nation (although rules vary across the country) and implementing one of the world’s most progressive medical programs, but the DHV isn’t done yet. Led by activist Georg Wurth,…

In the past couple of years, the hot word in the cannabis industry has been Canada. With an established medical cannabis system and a blessing from the federal government to move forward with full adult legalization this summer, the country has quickly emerged to the top of global leadership in the game. The ability to…

It’s all happening! Just one week left before the start of the International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin on April 11-13! That also means the clock is ticking to reserve your spot before prices increase $200. Get your tickets now! The ICBC-Berlin is going to be one of the year’s most important events for cannabis,…

With a population of nearly 67 million, the country of France represents a significant portion of the European population as well as economic activity. When I think of France, the notions of romanticism, appreciation for art and aesthetic, and perhaps a penchant for suffering come to mind. What with widespread reports of cannabis use as…

Germany’s medical cannabis program is one of the top programs in the world. Patients can be prescribed cannabis by their doctors and insurance covers the cost. However, availability can be lacking compared to other markets and the prices remain high because all of the cannabis must be imported from countries like Canada and The Netherlands. Cultivation…

Yesterday I told you about a company striving to be the “Starbucks of Cannabis”, and today I bring you another industry start-up – this one aspiring to be the “Amazon of Cannabis”. Canadian-based business Namaste Technologies Inc. is already a force to be reckoned with. Currently operating in 20 different countries over various different websites,…

There are a lot of borrowed names in the cannabis industry when one fancies themselves to be important. (For example, I have heard more than one person in the industry don the self-appointed moniker “the Martha Stewart of Marijuana”. Let’s be honest – this is ridiculous as clearly Martha Stewart is the Martha Stewart of…

The world keeps getting smaller and cannabis keeps bringing people together. Yes, this is very cliche of me to say. But both of these things are very true! This week hit another first for the emerging international industry of legal cannabis. The tiny African country of Lesotho just shipped its first load of medical cannabis…

Yesterday we wrote to you about the long and ugly process of creating policy, and the indispensable role advocacy and activism play in making sure the law works for the people. (In the case of cannabis, prohibition sucks and it has taken many years to get this far!) Today, I am happy to report good…

One thing I hear a lot from newcomers to the cannabis world, is “legalization is inevitable.” It’s a phrase that makes anyone who has spent much time fighting the battle to change cannabis laws cringe and gnash their teeth. Policy is slow and messy and time-consuming. It quickly becomes very dramatic and can swing like…

The Canadian government has released a new set of temporary regulations following public input, which is meant to guide LPs (licensed producers) with their preparations for legal sales of cannabis, currently set for a July rollout. The rules also set limits for “micro-cultivators”. Like most governing bodies making moves to liberalize cannabis laws, Canada is…

You may not know this, but Germany is kind of a big deal. In fact, with an impressive 82 million person population, Germany is the largest member state of the 28 countries comprising European Union, accounting for a full 16% of the total population and an astounding 28% of the euro area economy. At the…

I remember the first time someone mentioned that one of the problems with prohibition is that you didn’t know what you were getting. Whatever it was, it was probably from Mexico, where some farmers still use dangerous pesticides that have been made illegal in the United States. I got a chill thinking about all of…

While the US lags behind Canada and other countries moving toward more friendly federal cannabis policies, some are predicting a negative impact on other international trade between the two countries. Not only is the US ceding billions of dollars in annual revenue for the global cannabis market, there is a good chance that other industries…

The former Soviet State of Estonia has been reorganizing its governing structures lately. Amongst the administrative reforms, the three municipalities of Kanepi, Kolleste, and Valgjarve merged into one new municipality simply called Kanepi. Kanepi, it would seem, is the Estonian word for cannabis. (And I thought I was cool because I lived on Stoney Drive…

This week, March 10th, 2018, marks the one year anniversary of Germany’s new medical cannabis program, which jumped from a paltry patient count of around 1,000 under the old laws, to a total of over 15,700 applicants under the new laws, a number that is slightly overwhelming Germany’s healthcare system. Anyone familiar with cannabis as…

The United States health care debate is as long as it is ugly. So frankly, I’m not going to get into it. Suffice to say the United States does things differently than most other “developed” countries. In Germany and most of Europe, healthcare is universal and the State plays a more hands-on approach to control…

Admittedly, I never saw this coming. I pride myself in staying on top of cannabis happenings around the world, but had to do a double take when I read the headline. According to a report by the UN’s International Narcotics Control Board, the UK produced almost half of the world’s legal cannabis in 2016 at…

Canadian cannabis seems to be a hot commodity these days, as more countries come online to initiate programs for medical patients. It makes sense that countries are looking for reliable sources as new national cannabis policies are spreading across the globe. Canadians even appear to be making inroads where cannabis isn’t legal yet. Earlier this…

The International Cannabis Business Conference (ICBC) is returning to Berlin on April 11th thru the 13th this year. The Berlin ICBC will feature panels on the progress of Germany’s medical marijuana system, as well as updates on industry advancements across the world. “Germany’s medical marijuana laws have put the country close to the forefront of…

Arcview Market Research and BDS Analytics released a new 65-page report this week detailing monetary estimates of cannabis’ future entitled, “The Road Map to a $57 Billion Worldwide Market”. The big takeaway was – you guessed it – the legal global cannabis market is expected to expand to a whopping $57 billion by 2027. According…

Today – Tuesday, February 27th, 2018 – marks a moment in history that is the telling of a new era. For the first time ever, US traders on Wall Street are getting a piece of the pot. The Nasdaq Stock Market is now listing its first shares for a cannabis company on the open trade…

Members of Germany’s Bundestag, which is the name of German’s lower parliamentary house, held a debate earlier this week to discuss issues of importance to the German people. As in the US, there is a strong push and pull between conservatives and liberals on a number of emotionally-laden topics. Abortion rights, for example, remain at…

With support from their national parliament and the blessings of Prime Minister Trudeau, Canada is quickly emerging to be a global leader in the cannabis trade. That’s not to say Canada doesn’t have its issues. The political nature of the country allows its provinces a lot of leeway in crafting legislation, and for cannabis, that…

A German manufacturer of small indoor grow equipment called Seedo has recently commissioned a study existing and potential policy and tax structures of 120 cities around the world, focusing on cannabis consumption. Obviously, Seedo would like to see more patients and consumers growing their own at home because that is the product they sell. Usually…

Europe’s cannabis laws are changing – though many would argue they are not changing fast enough. However, improvements are being made in two of the subcontinent’s largest countries, Germany and Spain, where medical cannabis was legalized last year in the first, and a long-standing culture of tolerance to cannabis use has manifested into large-scale decriminalization…

You may have heard recently that cannabis is a good medicine – good medicine for a LOT of ailments. (I believe this to be true, and not just something put on the internet by Russians posing as health professionals.) It’s no surprise then when a state or country newly legalizes medical use of the cannabis…

In the whole world of supply-and-demand, demand has never been the problem – at least when it comes to cannabis. When you add the word “legal” in front of the word “cannabis” then places can definitely have a supply problem. Germany has a legal cannabis supply problem. In March 2017, Germany opened applications for patients…

When it comes to medical cannabis research, no one has Israel beat. Over the decades, the country has proven to be a leader in formally documenting the usefulness of the plant, and had a generally more open attitude to use by its country’s military and citizens. Recently, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a move to…

If you are one of those entrepreneurs closely watching the public sector of cannabis finance, you have no doubt heard of Aurora. Aurora Cannabis Inc. is second only to Canopy Growth Corp as one of Canada’s leading producers and distributors of cannabis. But Canopy has some stiff competition, as it would appear that last year,…

Canadian legislators hemmed and hawed this week when their country’s Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor suggested that retail sales for cannabis should take another eight to 12 weeks following royal assent for their cannabis legalization bill, Bill C-45. (Royal assent is a formality of Canadian law, and of other countries which recognize a monarchy, whereby…

In the United States, North and South are generally divided between the ideologies of liberal and conservative. Occasionally this pattern repeats itself in other locations. One of those is Germany, where the mountains and forests of Bavaria in the south have kept a more insular culture throughout the centuries, where you will find more rustic…

“In the history of mankind there has never been a society without the use of drugs; this is something that has to be accepted.” Those words were uttered earlier this week by none other than one of Germany’s top cops, Andre Schulz to a major German news publication, in reference to the public announcement recently…

San Francisco deserves a huge shout-out for this bringing out the best of the best in cannabis last weekend! ICBC was THE place to be in the Bay last weekend, and once again the International Cannabis Business Conference delivered the goods. The room was buzzing with California Cannabis Czar Lori Ajax on hand to answer…

The International Cannabis Business Conference is getting the party started TONIGHT in San Francisco at the Hyatt Embarcadero with live music by DJ Domino from Hieroglyphics! The VIP party will include all the VIP guests of ICBC, including California’s head regulator Lori Ajax and DJ Muggs of Cypress Hill! Get your tickets now for Thursday’s…

Creating jobs and generating revenue garner most of the media headlines, but the most important aspect of legalizing cannabis is simply freedom. A war has been waged upon nonviolent cannabis consumers, a war that has cost too many resources and needlessly ruined lives. Ending criminal penalties against those that choose to consume marijuana is the…

Issues of race remain at the top of civic priorities for parties espousing both progressive and regressive policies. Right now, the United States is arguably working through one of its most heated “Come to Jesus” moments about institutional inequality and behaviors of bigotry. A huge part of the discussion for the end of cannabis prohibition…

THE B2B cannabis event of the year is coming to San Francisco this week and NOW is your LAST CHANCE to get tickets before PRICES INCREASE at midnight TONIGHT! It’s time again for the International Cannabis Business Conference to bring together the industry’s top experts and professionals to the stage. This ICBC will be in…

Just a few weeks past the rollout of California’s Prop 64, cannabis sales for legal adult use have begun in spurts in counties and municipalities which allow for permitting of such activities. Many cities and counties are still wary of the new law, implementing bans against cannabis operations or strongly restricting availability for such licenses….

Next week, on February 1st, the Bay Area event of the year kicks off with International Cannabis Business Conference‘s VIP Reception Networking Party! You love cannabis, you love parties, and you love making money while making the world a better place. As always, ICBC delivers. This year’s San Francisco VIP party brings the original cannabis…

When Trump Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that he was going to allow federal prosecutors to enforce federal marijuana law, even in states where cannabis is legal under state law, my initial reaction was that this move would have a chilling effect on investors. Initially, my fear was realized as marijuana stocks suffered a dramatic…

Last year the German Parliament made a move to greatly expand its tiny and nominally-functioning medical cannabis program to make patient access easier, allow doctors to prescribe cannabis for any ailment, and begin the process of formalizing the medicine into state-run healthcare and insurance programs. Previously, only about 700 patients were enrolled in the country’s…

Anyone interested in starting and running a business needs to become an expert in the many different aspects that constitute successful entrepreneurship. Anyone interested in starting and running a cannabis business needs to know these things – and a WHOLE LOT MORE. If you have been looking what your options are for jumping into the…

On Saturday, January 20th, Los Angeles joined the growing number of California cities which have begun official implementation of the Proposition 64 and are now selling cannabis for recreational use to adults aged 21+. Despite significant consumer demand for cannabis in the nation’s second-largest city, the municipality has not quickly embraced regulatory oversight and has…

There’s no question that right now things are very heated in Washington, D.C., particularly for representatives from western states which vote heavily Democrat and definitely are not fans of Donald Trump. A lot of discussion has occurred around asserting states’ rights in the face of environmental de-regulation and other causes states such as California, Oregon,…

This article by Oscar Pascual was originally published by Smell The Truth: As cannabis smoking accessories become more advanced and hi-tech, there’s nothing that beats a well-rolled joint. The success of Wagner Dimas, Inc. is living proof. The company, co-founded by CTO Mitchell Wagner, developed a platform that led to the manufacturing of over 5 million…

In a move bound to make a wave-making impact, the State of California has announced a decision which could eventually impact cannabis businesses nationwide. The California Secretary of State’s office will begin accepting applications for trademarks on cannabis products and services. That’s great! That means businesses are going to have some serious protection in potential…

When people ask what brought me to cannabis, I harken back to the mid-90s when I was a student at the University of Missouri. I was studying in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources and my cause at the time was the environment. I didn’t actually think cannabis should be legal, mostly because…

Compliance. Have you heard of it? It’s a thing. An important thing. As a political animal myself, I can enjoy some pretty boring things more than most, such as reading 200 pages of statutory regulations or listening to several recorded hours of a Board of Commissioners meeting. It’s not terribly fun, but I like to…

I live in Portland, so I am lucky in a lot of ways. I have a cannabis dispensary just around the block, and in typical Portland fashion, there’s a small, local brewpub just across the street from the dispensary with trivia on Monday nights. I have access to have good, local beer anytime I want,…

Last week’s announcement by US Attorney General Jeff Sessions to rescind protections on state-legal cannabis programs sent a shockwave through the fledgling industry around the country. Specifically, the federal guidelines from the US Justice Department put in place by Eric Holder during the Obama years known as The Cole Memo. That shockwave hit – and…

Attorney General Jeff Sessions, in an attempt to stifle the cannabis legalization movement by repealing the Obama Administration’s Cole Memo (along with the lesser-known Ogden and Wilkinson Memos), has actually energized the reform movement and he is now taking political fire from both sides of the political aisle. One of the AG’s leading critics is…

If you are in the cannabis industry, you probably heard the news yesterday which sent waves of fear and confusion throughout the country for every player in the marijuana market. Cannabis stocks took a dive, and everyone called their lawyers looking for hope and reassurance. US Attorney General Jeff Sessions moved to rescind the Cole…

The early lines at newly-licensed California cannabis retail outlets are just a preview of the vast economic opportunities available in the Golden State. However, in California, which led our recent cannabis revolution by voting to legalize medical use back in 1996, not everything will be rainbows and sunshine as regulatory hurdles remain. Attorney General Jeff…

Unless you have been hiding under a rock, you know that California just legalized cannabis commerce this year. California’s influence, with nearly 40 million people and the world’s 6th largest economy, virtually cannot be overstated in our fight to end the failed and harmful policy of marijuana prohibition. The world is watching and the woman…

Yesterday ushered in a new era for cannabis with the world’s sixth-largest economy (California) coming online with legal, adult-use cannabis. January 1st marked the first day stores were allowed to sell the product to anyone over the age of 21 without a doctor’s explicit recommendation. I would say that people seem pleased, but the word…

It’s all happening…IT’S REALLY HAPPENING! This weekend marks the last Friday and Saturday (okay, Sunday, too you everyday smokers) when California adults will have to worry about calling themselves criminals when spark up at parties, shows, or other spaces of entertainment. Monday, January 1st, 2018 marks the age of a new era – that of…

Led by Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), many people in law enforcement have rightfully cheered the changes in cannabis policies over the last few years, citing the virtual harmlessness of cannabis compared with other substances including alcohol, and an ability for them to focus their time and resources on crimes that directly impact public safety….

Just before California is about to officially legalize marijuana on January 1st, and ahead of her 2nd appearance at the International Cannabis Business Conference in San Francisco, SFGate (via its Smell the Truth cannabis blog) interviewed Lori Ajax, the Golden State’s Cannabis Czar. Ajax, Chief of the Bureau of Cannabis Control, discusses issues such as…

The tension between employers and employees is an age-old problem, and the advantage of one group over the other seems to swing like a political pendulum. As cannabis moves into its new market space in California, workers are hoping to figure out how they can use their collective power to demand fair rights for themselves….

LA Magazine did a decent job this week of capturing a wide swath of categories related to upcoming changes in California’s laws to inform the the average consumer on the basics of what he or she will want to know. It’s quite a long article, so I thought I would break it down for you:…

In California, cannabis consumers are about to get a strong dose of cannabis legalization. As the state moves into the new adult-use market on January 1st, dispensaries will be selling product off the shelves of entities only recently and temporarily licensed. That means, of course, that California is about to experience the birthing pains of…

January 1st, 2018. It’s the date on everyone’s mind in the cannabis world. It’s the date recreational sales become legal in the mighty market that is California. Adult use cannabis becomes legal in the Golden State on the first day of the new year, and there’s a lot people want to know about what that…

The International Cannabis Business Conference (ICBC), since its very first event in September of 2014 in Portland, Oregon, has grown and expanded with the cannabis industry, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors and activists together around the globe. ICBC founder Alex Rodgers understood the need to provide a proper venue for marijuana business professionals to learn and…

Alex Padilla, the Secretary of State of California, just made an important announcement in advance of the closely-approaching January 1st embarkation date for legal adult-use cannabis in California. The Secretary of State launched a new website called Cannabizfile, in order to help streamline the process for cannabis business licensing in the country’s biggest economy for…

Just a few days after welcoming attendees to the International Cannabis Business Conference in Kauai, Hawai’i Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard continued her effort in the fight for sensible cannabis laws, by urging the Department of Health and Human Services to allow research of medical marijuana as a pain management alternative to opioids. Representative Gabbard, who understands that…

Cannabis entrepreneurs and other invested everywhere in California are scrambling to meet the emergency regulations recently released by the state’s Bureau of Cannabis Control in anticipation of the January 1st rollout of adult-use cannabis sales. The effectiveness and ease of implementation of their current guidelines remains to be seen. We always knew there would be…

Yesterday’s Kauai Cannabis Classic golf tournament, sponsored by Leafly and Cannafornia, capped off a truly amazing International Cannabis Business Conference, that saw around 500 marijuana industry entrepreneurs converge together to learn, share ideas and network. As the ICBC has traveled around the world, it is safe to say that there has never been a cannabis…

The lower house of the Canadian Parliament passed a bill earlier this week which constitutes a major step forward in the advancement of adult-use Canadian cannabis legalization. Bill C-45 – the Cannabis Act – was introduced in April 2017 by Canadian Minister of Justice and Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould under the direction of Prime Minister…

A veteran of the Iraq War, Hawaii’s Tulsi Gabbard was a rising star in Democratic politics before she resigned as vice-chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to wholeheartedly back the presidential candidacy of Bernie Sanders, a darling of progressives (and many cannabis legalization supporters). Gabbard could have kept her head down, stuck to the…

The International Cannabis Business Conference in beautiful Kauai, Hawaii, kicks off this Friday at 6pm with a VIP reception featuring cannabis comic Doug Benson, sponsored by the National Cannabis Industry Association, as the ICBC brings its trademark style to the Aloha State, combining cannabis business, politics and culture unlike any other. Named one of the…

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is serving her third term in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Hawaii’s Second District. She previously served on the Honolulu City Council, and prior to that at age 21, was the youngest person ever elected to the Hawaiʻi State Legislature. Tulsi has served in the Hawaiʻi Army National Guard for nearly 15…

If you are in the cannabis industry, or thinking of joining, treat yourself this Black Friday (and save $200!) by getting tickets to the first Hawaiian cannabis destination event, the International Cannabis Business Conference in beautiful Kauai. In one week, the best B2B cannabis conference is happening and you don’t want to miss it, as the…

Paul King decided to “go big or go home,” when he started his cannabis cultivation business in California, and he indeed “went big” with 150k sq ft of greenhouse cultivation in the Golden State. It should be expected that Paul would indeed go big in the cannabis space after being named one of the top…

Anyone that has attended marijuana conferences, along with the International Cannabis Business Conference knows that the ICBC is different. The ICBC combines business information, political insight, activism tips and cannabis culture together to create a unique experience for attendees. The trademark blend of all sectors of the cannabis industry and lifestyle is a big reason…

California’s cannabis legalization law is set to go into effect beginning January 1, 2018. Suffice to say, a lot of people are excited. It’s been just over a year since voters in the Golden State approved Proposition 64. And while that may seem like a long time to get regulations on paper, rule-makers feel differently….

In wake of the rollout for Hawaii’s revised medical cannabis program, lab testing facilities in the state have been working hard to show the world that Hawaii has the best (or at least strictest) medical cannabis regulations in the country. In order to prove that point, the new laboratories have been undergoing rigorous oversight from…

This article originally appeared in High Times magazine Nov. 6, 2017 in the format of an interview by Russ Belville. Besides Cheech & Chong, the comedian most associated with marijuana is Doug Benson. He’s made a living off his laid-back stoner persona for over a decade, on stage with “The Marijuana-Logues,” on film in Super High…

The marijuana business in Oregon is going through rapid changes, including a December 1st deadline where all growers must declare whether they are producing products for the medical or recreational markets. For growers wanting to be in compliance with ever-changing rules, Oregon Marijuana Business Conference (OMBC) is your best resource for information. OMBC is the…

The Oregon cannabis system has certainly had its share of successes. Most importantly, people are no longer subjected to unnecessary arrests and citations for using and cultivating personal amounts of cannabis. Also, victims of unjust cannabis laws now have the opportunity to expunge past offenses off of their records. Oh, and the state has generated…

For citizens of Germany, legislation works a little differently. Theirs is a parliamentary body made of multiple parties – not just two primary bodies like the Democrats and Republicans – and in order to get work done, some weird alliances sometimes have to be made. Depending on which parties are in power, and depending on…

It’s official. Big business is moving in on the legalization market. Cannabis conspiracy theorists across the nation are congratulating themselves for having gotten something right, and maybe prohibitionist Kevin Sabet is feeling justified (even though he’s clearly on the wrong side of history). Whether it’s a good or bad thing, the new move is a…

Count this week as another win for moms. Following a significant education campaign surrounding the use of cannabis as a treatment for children with epilepsy, the Peruvian Congress showed overwhelming approval for legalizing medical cannabis in the South American country known for more for its significant coca production. The bill sailed through the country’s legislative…

The International Cannabis Business Conference (ICBC) always brings the heavyweights, and this December is no exception. I’m excited that a giant act in musical world will be joining the ICBC in beautiful Kauai, Hawaii this December for the conference VIP and After Parties, a five-person performance project who happened to win the 2016 Grammy Award…

What people do not understand, they fear. And what they fear, they destroy. I believe I first picked up that nugget of wisdom from Nightbreed, a strange horror/thriller movie based on the Clive Barker novel by the same name with a soundtrack produced by Danny Elfman. (It was an 8th grade favorite). That statement uttered…

On Tuesday, California’s State Water Board announced a strict new water policy for the Golden State’s exploding cannabis cultivation in attempt to create environmental standards to guide the immense growth expected over coming years in the industry. According to Patch.com: “The new Cannabis Cultivation Policy establishes statewide requirements that will be implemented through a water…

Pharmlab Hawaii, LLC, passed final inspections this week from the Hawaii Deportment of Health (DOH), giving the private laboratory testing facility provisional certification to being medical cannabis testing on the island of Maui. From the state’s local ABC affiliate KITV: “Pharmlab Hawaii is the second laboratory to receive DOH approval for medical cannabis testing. The…

New information last week from GMP Securities, an independent investment dealer based in Toronto, is leading analysts in Canada to suggest that the adult-use legalization market in the Great White North will be even greater than previously suggested. The new estimations also indicate that production will finally outpace consumption around 2020, leading to lower prices…

“The OMMP is dead.” “Wrong. Long live the OMMP!” If you are a member of the Oregon cannabis community, you have most likely heard people say, or post on social media, that the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP) is dead. While some unnecessary laws and regulations have hurt the ability of many cannabis growers to…

Schools, police, public health and safety officials and local government administrators in Oregon are all smiling big this week. Noelle Crombie of The Oregonian reported that the Oregon Department of Revenue will be disbursing a weighty sum for a number of important state programs this week – $85 million – from taxes generated by the…

To say that cannabis entrepreneurs face unique changes in the marketplace could be an understatement. (It definitely is an understatement.) But the truth is, until we fix federal prohibition cannabis businesses are going to subject to arbitrary decisions from major companies in the “legal” marketplace. Btw, “legal” is not a meaningful term in this context….

I didn’t know what to expect when interviewing New York City mayoral candidate Mike Tolkin. Some third-party candidates can be very eccentric and New York has had it’s fair share; it is home to the Rent is Too Damn High Party after all. After talking to Mr. Tolkin, I can attest that this cannabis legalization…

Beginning in December, getting high on Gorilla Glue is going to be a really terrible idea. This week, The Gorilla Glue Co. and GG Strains LLC reached a settlement for a major lawsuit claiming trademark infringement against a Nevada-based cannabis company. The long-established global adhesives manufacturing company, The Gorilla Glue Co., initiated the lawsuit in…

The California Department of Consumer Affairs announced appointments to a new committee created under the Bureau of Cannabis Control. The committee will assist in the development of rules and regulations for the 2018 roll-out of a legal adult-use cannabis market in the Golden State, emphasizing public health and safety, and reduction of illegal commerce. “The…

Take note America – cannabis is here to stay. Last night Alaska voters in small communities reaffirmed at the ballot box a number of strong American values – civil liberties, social justice, economic pragmatism, and plain old common sense. Citizens in the city of Fairbanks, its neighbor Fairbanks North Star Borough and areas on the…

Onerous regulations appear to be negatively impacting the cannabis business growth in Canada. Specifically, current organizational structures may be too strict to allow production to meet demand for cannabis oils and extracts. While the number of applications for cannabis licensing continues to climb, many entrepreneurs are skipping the step of extraction, presumably in a move…

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones takes his job very seriously. Purportedly, he is one of only two persons at the state capitol building in Sacramento who is allowed to carry a gun. I’m not exactly sure why the insurance commissioner needs a gun, so let’s just go with “he takes his job very seriously.” In…

Jodie Giesz-Ramsay, known to many as Jodie Emery, co-owner of Cannabis Culture magazine and its associated businesses based in Vancouver, BC, is mounting an effort to challenge some of the provisions in Canada’s new adult-legalization law, known as The Cannabis Act, which is scheduled to go into effect in July 2018. Specifically, Giesz-Ramsay alleges that…

Concentrates, extractions, infusions – call them what you will – many entrepreneurs in the cannabis space are hedging their bets to play in, if not dominate, that sector of the new market. For decades Americans developed a history of consuming cannabis almost entirely in flower form. But with the liberalization of the plant from prohibition…

Lori Ajax, head of the California Bureau of Cannabis Control – also known as “The Marijuana Czar” of California – spoke about expectations to new licensing rules for the Golden State to a group of industry professionals at the California Cannabis Business Summit hosted by the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) and the California Cannabis…

Maui Grown Therapies and Oahu’s Aloha Green Apothecary are the only two medical cannabis dispensaries legally operating under Hawaiian law, both first opening their doors in August. Like many states working out the kinks of a newly established dispensary system, bureaucratic hurdles hindered the Hawaiian dispensaries initially, but their state government seems to be looking…

The Land of Ideas (Germany), is getting a creative boost – legal cannabis from overseas. Canadian cannabis colossus Aurora, based in Alberta, announced their first shipment of the medicine to German markets this week in to help meet the enormous demand for the plant. Earlier this year, German legislators significantly liberalized policies surrounding medical cannabis,…

The world is watching as California comes into the main fold this next year with a full adult legalization policy. The enormity of the market, matched with global regional brand recognition, and California’s propensity for bureaucracy make an interesting confluence for cannabis. Farmers have been operating, some for decades, in remote corners of northern California….

Members of the Canadian House of Commons health committee have been hearing testimony this week about the planned roll-out for Canada’s cannabis legalization program, which is set to go into effect in July 2018 – not a long time from now, for those familiar with the cannabis industry. Investors and entrepreneurs interested in the Canadian…

Yesterday, Sept. 12, Governor David Ige and state Financial Institutions Commissioner Iris Ikea of Hawaii, made a public announcement which is sure to please the dispensary owners in their state. Governor Ige announced a plan for the first state-authorized financial institution which allow cannabis businesses to operate without cash and access electronic financial services which…

Holy smokes! It’s a quick turnaround, but I just learned that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is taking comments for recommendations on wording it plans to give in the near future to the World Health Organization (WHO). The comments will be reviewed in advance of a report regarding a number of controlled…

The cannabis community was rocked when the Republican-led House Rules Committee nonsensically prohibited a vote on the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment, and a whole host of other positive cannabis law reform measures. The Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment, sponsored by Republican Dana Rohrabacher and Democrat Earl Blumenauer, protects state-legal medical marijuana patients and providers from federal prosecution. Blocking a vote…

In a late night announcement, US House Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), co-founders of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, issued a press release announcing a decision to remove from consideration an amendment which would prevent funding to the Department of Justice for prosecution of state-legal medical cannabis operators and consumers, and which has…

I guess what they say is true…in the marketplace, supply and demand are related! Who knew? Well, pretty much everyone knew. And when it comes to cannabis, prices have had been artificially inflated over the years due to the high cost of risks, and the limit on supply created by prohibition. But as predicted, cannabis…

Last week I reported the California legislature was meeting in special session, and that one of the measures moving forward included a somewhat strict prohibition on cannabis branding and labeling. As legalization moves forward and states invent new regulatory frameworks, we seem to be doing a bit of a balancing act regarding health and safety,…

The Recreational Marijuana Program at the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) made an announcement on Wednesday, August 30, related to the state’s pesticide testing program. Now, every batch of licensed and regulated cannabis in the commercial market must be tested for pesticides. And implementation begins immediately. Last fall, you may recall Oregon-based cannabis businesses producing…

“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” – Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare While Shakespeare’s words ring true across time and space, one thing is for sure: if someone offered you an air freshener for your car and you had to choose between “rose” and “stank rot” without smelling either, I’m guessing…

Marlene Mortler, the Drug Czar of Germany, sounds like she has taken a cue from the garbled logic of US Drug Enforcement Administration and Kevin Sabet of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a man I think of as the Arch Nemesis of Cannabis. (Or perhaps “The Anti-Cannabist”?) In any case, Mortler has been engaging in familiar…

Broken Coast Cannabis Ltd., a Vancouver Island-based commercial medical cannabis grower, has issued a recall for three batches of dried cannabis that made its way onto dispensary shelves last year, following a test of sample products from the grower by Health Canada, the national health department of Canada. From The Globe and Mail website: “The…

The long arm of the law stretches far and wide. Reports out of Uruguay this past week state that the Latin American country, the first to legalize adult-use cannabis in 2014, is facing internal issues with distribution. The country officially began sanctioned cannabis sales through pharmacies in July. But issues have arisen because – wouldn’t you…

Cannabis and alcohol have an interesting relationship in American society. Both of the substances have been prohibited by the federal government, but alcohol was able to break free of that disastrous policy after a few year after prohibition helped lead to the rise of gangsters like Al Capone. Marijuana prohibition has lasted for decades, providing…

Under Justin Trudeau’s leadership, Canada is preparing for a fully regulated, adult-legal cannabis market, beginning in July 2018. On Monday, August 14, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Ontario issued a report entitled “Cannabis Legalization and Regulation” meant to give guidance to Canadian legislators regarding next year’s roll out. As one might expect, the mental…

Germany has made great strides improving its cannabis laws in recent years, but there is still so much work to be done, as too many patients are still without safe access to a safe medicine. There was understandably great hope that Germany would start treating marijuana the same as any other medicine, after the country…

Despite a little cold and rainy weather, a great crowd turned out this year for the 21st annual Berlin Hanfparade (or “Hemp Parade”) last Saturday, August 12th. According to Michael Knodt, writer for Marijuana.com and speaker at the April 2017 International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin, the turnout for this year’s event was brimming with…

Despite the nonsensical naysaying by Reefer Madness prohibitionists, medical cannabis now enjoys mainstream acceptance across the United States, (and support is increasing around the world). Whether it be for chronic pain relief, the treatment of post-traumatic stress symptoms, nausea caused by chemotherapy, or a whole host of medical issues, a supermajority of Americans agree that…

I suspect there are smirks emerging as some people are reading this article. “Welcome to the cannabis industry,” they might say. Just five short days following its opening days of sales, Hawaii medical cannabis dispensary Maui Grown Therapies ran out of cannabis – and the company seems a little pissed off. From The Maui News:…

This week scored a mark in history for medical cannabis patients in the Aloha State. Initial sales went into effect on Tuesday on Maui and Wednesday on Oahu at two of the state-licensed dispensaries on the island chain. Although eight dispensaries have been granted licenses by the state’s Department of Health, business owners had been…

Just a couple of days ago, my colleague Anthony Johnson reported that for the second year in a row, the National Conference of State Legislatures has passed a resolution in support of fully removing cannabis from the list of Controlled Substances, essentially freeing the growing majority of states which have some form of legal cannabis,…

Polish President Andrzej Duda signed into law last a month a measure which will allow the production and sale of medical cannabis to qualified patients. The Sejm – Poland’s lower governing legislative body – passed the bill earlier in the spring, earning a tremendous vote of support with 440 in favor to only 2 against….

On the heels of New Jersey Senator Cory Booker introducing the “Marijuana Justice Act” to repeal cannabis prohibition, the National Conference of State Legislatures has joined the call for legalization, urging the federal government to remove marijuana from the list of controlled substances. This is the second year in a row that the NCSL has…

Cannabis science, testing and analytics giant Steep Hill Laboratories announced earlier this week they have received the green light to begin cannabis testing operations in the State of Hawaii. The movement couldn’t have come too soon for patients and dispensary operators. Hawaii’s medical cannabis program started in 2000. Dispensaries were not permitted until 2015 but…

Forward-thinking American business investors have had their eyes on the cannabis market for a few years now, looking critically at emerging laws and technologies in traditional places like Colorado, California, Oregon and British Columbia, among others. As the snowball of change has grown around the world, these initial entrepreneurs have started looking to meet the…

Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), one of the country’s youngest United States Senators, and one of only two African-Americans serving in that capacity, introduced a bill in Congress yesterday which, if passed, would land Senator Booker a secure spot in the annals of history. Booker calls the bill the “Marijuana Justice Act”, removing marijuana from the…

Donald Trump came into office as a complete wildcard on a number of federal policy issues, cannabis included. During the campaign, he stated that he supported medical marijuana and that legalization should be left up to the states, even though he personally opposed ending prohibition. However, Trump’s authoritarian tendencies and emphasis on law-and-order alarmed many…