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Members of an Indian tribe in Mississippi approved a referendum to legalize marijuana. The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians voted to enact cannabis reform, making the tribe the only source of legal adult-use cannabis in Mississippi. Other tribes are also enacting reform. < Back Mississippi Indian Tribe Approves Marijuana Referendum, Making It First Jurisdiction In The State Poised To Legalize Jun 11, 2025 Kyle Jaeger Marijuana Moment Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Members of an Indian tribe in Mississippi have approved a referendum to legalize marijuana within its territory. About a month after holding a series of public hearings on the proposal, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians voted to enact the cannabis reform, 55 percent to 45 percent, according to unofficial results posted by the tribe on Tuesday evening. The question that tribal members saw on the ballots read: “Do you support the Tribe developing legislation to decriminalize and regulate the possession, production, and distribution of marijuana on Tribal lands?” With its approval, this makes the tribe the only source of legal adult-use cannabis in Mississippi. “This vote does not automatically authorize or legalize marijuana on Choctaw tribal trust land,” Chief Cyrus Ben said at one of the hearings, according to The Mississippi Free Press. But now that the measure has been approved, the Tribal Council is poised to engage consultants to conduct a feasibility study of legalization, along with research on potential regulations. This is one of the latest examples of increased interest among certain Native American communities to enact reform within their borders—despite federal prohibition and, in cases like Mississippi, state law. More than a fourth of Indigenous communities in the continental United States are now involved with marijuana or hemp programs, according to a map recently published by the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association (ICIA) in collaboration with the law firm Vicente. In North Carolina, where cannabis remains illegal for medical and adult-use purposes, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians approved a legalization referendum in 2023, and sales began last year. It’s drawn attention from congressional lawmakers, including Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), who last month asked President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to investigate the legal implications of the policy. In Montana, meanwhile, marijuana was legalized statewide through a ballot initiative in 2020, and the legislature recently passed a bill that would allow the governor to enter into compacts with Indian tribes to remove barriers to their participation in the industry. A similar compact agreement system has been in place in Minnesota, where cannabis is also legal for adult use. Last month, Gov. Tim Walz (D) signed the state’s first cannabis compact with the White Earth Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. It’s believed that in 2020, the Oglala Sioux Tribe, located in South Dakota, became the first tribe to vote to legalize marijuana within a U.S. state where the plant remained illegal. In Wisconsin, indigenous leaders have worked together to craft a campaign called Wisconsin Wellness, which last year held an event at the state Capitol in favor of legalizing medical marijuana. Back in Mississippi, medical cannabis was legalized in 2022, but marijuana remains prohibited for adult use. Hawaii Governor Signals Veto Of Medical Marijuana Expansion Bill, Calling One Provision A ‘Grave Violation Of Privacy’ *Photo courtesy of Mike Latimer.* The post Mississippi Indian Tribe Approves Marijuana Referendum, Making It First Jurisdiction In The State Poised To Legalize appeared first on Marijuana Moment. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cake Boss - Fluent, Clearwater (Florida Medical) Cake Boss, available at Fluent dispensary in Clearwater, Florida, is a slightly indica-dominant hybrid strain (60% indica, 40% sativa) th... Cherry AK-47 by Grow West - RISE Dispensary (Silver Spring, Maryland) When a strain name includes both "Cherry" and "AK-47," you can expect two things: a blast of fruity goodness and the kind of impact that... Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... 1 2 3 4 5

Certificates of Analysis (COAs) are considered the standard for confirming cannabis product purity and potency, but the current system is flawed. COAs often reveal only what labs are asked to test for, and labs have a bias toward favorable results, leading to a quality crisis with inconsistent ingredients, even if test results appear clean. This lack of visibility threatens brand consistency and consumer trust. The industry is also limited by a lack of mechanism-first research. To raise quality standards, the industry needs broader impurity panels, transparency from labs about what isn't tested, redundant COAs from multiple labs, supplier guarantees for batch consistency, and open collaboration. A COA should be a starting point, not the finish line, for ensuring quality. < Back The Quiet Quality Crisis Behind Cannabis COAs Nov 4, 2025 Shane Johnson, MD MG Magazine Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Most cannabis product developers treat a certificate of analysis (COA) as the gold standard. It’s how they confirm purity, potency, and, in an ideal world, product safety. But behind the clean-looking lab report, something more complicated is unfolding. Across the supply chain, a quiet quality crisis is brewing. Cannabinoid COAs have a history of being selectively framed or outright manipulated. Ingredients that look compliant on paper are inconsistent in practice, and product developers are paying the price in reformulations, delays, and broken consumer trust. COAs reveal only what labs are asked to test for The deeper issues? Most COAs reveal only what the lab was told to look for, and labs have a hidden incentive to give favorable results. Even the cleanest COAs may leave out a slew of factors that can impact consistency, potency, quality, and brand credibility. Some cannabis ingredient producers know exactly how to pass a COA without offering a clean product. By selectively testing one part of a lot, using narrow detection thresholds, or leaving entire classes of impurities untested, a supplier can stay technically compliant even if the material is flawed. This is compounded by the fact that labs that consistently report higher potencies and fewer fails for residual solvents or other contaminants will get more repeat business. Consequently, there is a built-in bias toward reporting favorable results. Even reputable brands can be misled. If a cannabinoid extract contains residual solvents, synthesis byproducts, or unexpected isomers, but those impurities fall below the lab’s reporting limits — or aren’t tested for at all — they’ll never show up on the COA. The result of this lack of visibility is more than just a missed data point. For brands, it’s a threat to consistency and consumer trust. Consistency is the real promise brands must keep Consider Coca-Cola: The formula is designed to deliver the same taste and experience in every can someone cracks open anywhere in the world. The same expectation now exists for cannabinoid products. When ingredients vary from batch to batch — even if the test results come back clean — consistency is undermined, especially for sensory- or effects-driven products like gummies, tinctures, and topicals. Say a hypothetical emerging wellness brand recently launched a functional gummy line using a “THCV-rich” extract. The supplier’s COA promised high purity and verified dosage. But within weeks, customer complaints start rolling in. Some consumers felt no effects at all, while others described outcomes that didn’t align with the product’s promise. After third-party analysis, the brand asks their lab to test for both delta-9 tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV; the cannabinoid the plant makes) and delta-8 THCV (an isomer that is the signature of degradation and/or suboptimal production techniques). The tests indicate the batch contains mostly delta-8 THCV. Consequently, the brand is forced to pull product off shelves, source new inputs, rerun tests, and re-market the finished product, which costs the team weeks of time, tens of thousands of dollars, and immeasurable reputation damage. And it’s not just consumer-facing brands that feel the impact. Real-world variability has real-world costs One example distributors could face is inconsistency in batch production. Say a distributor purchases a standardized cannabitriol (CBT) isolate after a successful pilot batch was third-party verified. At first, the product works well and is sent to multiple formulator partners. But the second shipment — labeled identically as the original batch — shows obvious differences in color, solubility, and performance. Partners must pause launches, rerun tests, and delay production. The COA was the same for all shipments, but the material clearly was not. In a fast-moving category where timing and consistency are everything, those discrepancies can destroy momentum and brand integrity. Part of the issue is structural. The industry remains underfunded when it comes to mechanism-first research. Instead of asking how cannabinoids work — and how different inputs affect biological pathways — most companies focus on outcome-first claims that validate what’s already being sold. A research gap is limiting progress “Mechanism-first research gives us a blueprint,” said Dr. Tony Ferrari, an analytical chemist with deep expertise in cannabinoid formulation. “Outcome-first research gives us a sales pitch.” This creates a scientific blind spot that affects everything downstream, from testing standards to ingredient consistency. Without fully understanding how minor cannabinoids interact with the body or degrade during processing, we miss clues that could inform better safety protocols and formulation techniques. In most industries, research starts in the lab, but “in cannabis, the reverse happened,” said economist Dr. Ruth Fisher. “People were using it on a massive scale, and then the researchers came in and started looking at what was happening in the real world.” This process reversal may be the industry’s greatest asset. By aggregating real-world data across use cases, outcomes, and product formats, we can uncover patterns and side effects we might never have detected in a traditional laboratory setup. How to raise standards for ingredient quality We can use this asset to raise the bar on cannabinoid quality. The effort will take more than more-accurate COAs. It will require: - Broader impurity panels and updated reference standards. - Transparency from labs about what *isn’t* being tested. - Redundant COAs from at least two different labs for the same batch of material (to demonstrate results are consistent). - Ingredient partners that guarantee consistency batch to batch and ship the actual product represented on the COA. - Open collaboration across brands, labs, and researchers to share real-world observations. COAs should never be the finish line. In a space as complex and rapidly evolving as cannabinoids, a COA should be the starting point, providing a baseline that invites deeper questions, better research, and long-term trust-building. Because what’s not listed on your COA could end up being what costs your brand the most. ------------------------------ FAQ: COA Challenges and Solutions 1. Why isn’t a COA enough to confirm cannabis ingredient purity? Because COAs only show what the lab was instructed to test for — and reporting limits may exclude relevant impurities or isomers. 2. How can a brand verify ingredient consistency across batches? Request redundant COAs from two labs and require suppliers to guarantee batch-to-batch equivalency. 3. What impurities are most commonly missing from standard COA panels? Isomers, synthesis byproducts, residual intermediate compounds, terpene-derived artifacts, and degradation markers. 4. How can labs reduce the incentive bias that leads to inflated potency reports? Transparent methodologies, standardized reference materials, and third-party auditing reduce incentive pressure. ------------------------------ [image: Shane Johnson MD] Shane Johnson, MD, is senior vice president and general manager at BayMedica, which specializes in producing and distributing rare cannabinoids at scale. For the past four years, his work has focused on cannabis and cannabinoid science, and he has developed a strong working knowledge of clinical opportunities in the sector. A Fulbright Scholar, he earned his medical degree from Stanford University School of Medicine. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cake Boss - Fluent, Clearwater (Florida Medical) Cake Boss, available at Fluent dispensary in Clearwater, Florida, is a slightly indica-dominant hybrid strain (60% indica, 40% sativa) th... 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The author, Adam Terry, argues that the new federal ban on hemp products containing THC, pushed by Sen. Mitch McConnell, is a critical opportunity for nationwide cannabis legalization by 2026. The ban, which limits THC and redefines "total THC," will abruptly remove access to cannabis for millions of Americans, particularly in red states, creating political leverage. Terry proposes a simple plan: federally de-schedule cannabis, create baseline federal regulations (including age-gating and excise tax), and leave specifics like dosing limits and licensing to the states. He emphasizes the urgency, stating that if action is not taken before 2026, the moment will be lost. < Back The New Federal Hemp Ban Is An Opportunity To Legalize Cannabis Across The Board (Op-Ed) Nov 18, 2025 Marijuana Moment Marijuana Moment Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link *“Millions of Americans in red states are about to lose access to cannabis, and I intend to ensure that they know it.”* *By Adam Terry, Cantrip* This is the moment—2026 is our last, best chance to actually legalize cannabis in America Last week, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) pulled off something that many of us in the hemp side of the cannabis industry thought infeasible but long feared: He passed a ban on virtually all hemp products containing THC. After passing the very legislation that underpinned the enormous hemp boom over the last seven years, McConnell managed to force in language to the recent agriculture appropriations bill that limits THC in hemp to 0.4mg of THC, redefines “total THC” to include anything vaguely resembling d9-THC and criminalizes intermediates between plant and product—effectively banning the process that creates CBD isolate. The most surprising result of this? We are going to use this to finally and truly legalize all cannabis nationwide. Hear me out. I have been in the cannabis industry for over a decade, and I was a cannabis legalization activist in the five years before that. I worked on phone banking for Colorado, Washington State and California during their ballot processes in the early 2010s. I campaigned hard for legalization in Massachusetts before we even had a ballot initiative by organizing events and letter campaigns. I believe in cannabis reform as a moral imperative. Each year, cannabis reform has been important work by activists who care about personal freedom and the miscarriage of justice that each arrest for cannabis represented, as well as an important initiative to expand the growing state-legal marijuana industry in America. And each year, major media outlets and most Americans have treated cannabis legalization as a mildly interesting side show, perhaps funny but nowhere near as important as the myriad issues that face our nation today. But one thing changed last week: There has never before been a situation where we have seen access to cannabis given to millions of Americans and then abruptly taken away. 359 days until MILLIONS of Americans lose all access to cannabis. There has never been a riper time to push for comprehensive cannabis reform in America. https://t.co/JPRks6NwC0 — Weed Drinks Guy (@cantripguy) November 18, 2025 The hemp industry has had problems with many bad and potentially dangerous products since its inception. I don’t think anyone can legitimately argue that is not true. We have seen hemp used as an excuse to pass off illegally grown cannabis as legitimate, a proliferation of synthetic cannabinoids that no one has any historical safety data on and an unfortunate market for cannabis infused trademark infringements so frequently touted by lawmakers and regulators when they push for bans. In this way, I applaud Congress for taking action to address synthetic cannabinoids and the myriad terrible products launched into the hemp marketplace. What we have also seen is many states choose to regulate hemp in one form or another. Indeed, 40 states in the U.S. regulate hemp in some capacity or another, and many have strict regulations and taxation—look at Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Minnesota and Tennessee as strong examples of states that have chosen to regulate instead of ban these products. Mandatory age gating, batch specific testing, certificate of analysis (COA) transparency, specifying venues of sale, dosing caps and banning synthetic cannabinoids to a very large extent are common themes of these programs. Now, millions of Americans have come to rely on hemp as their access to cannabis both in states where marijuana dispensaries exist and where they don’t. Veterans, seniors, soccer moms and average Americans of all walks of life have gotten used to easy access to full spectrum CBD products to alleviate various wellness issues they have—from sleep benefits all the way up through PTSD. Many have switched from alcohol to THC drinks sold at legitimate outlets like Total Wine & More and even Target as regulations and good governance rolled out across multiple marketplaces. Americans are not huge fans of losing personal freedoms, and seniors and veterans know how to activate politically. In my time in the cannabis industry, I have never seen a cannabis policy that instantly removed access to people across the entire country in the way this sweeping sledge-hammer of a ban has. Never before have so many people been affected in a negative way on this issue all at once. Which brings me to my main thesis: For one year only, legalizing cannabis across the United States is now more possible than ever. As someone who has operated businesses in both the hemp and marijuana industries, I have empathy for the operators who have long seen hemp as an unfair competitor to their industry. While I take issue with their logic in many cases, I do understand the emotional state that it comes from. State-legal programs are overregulated, overtaxed, frequently punitive to operators and in many cases prevent meaningful scaling of a brand or business. One of many examples is in my home state: In Massachusetts it is nearly impossible to even grow cannabis outdoors with the way our regulatory scheme works, forcing most flower sold to be grown indoors and sucking up 10 percent of all commercial electricity in the state for something that was grown outdoors safely for millennia. On the hemp side, thousands of legitimate businesses across the country have flourished by operating above board. People have opened up hemp retailers, many focused on wellness and sourcing quality products with quality ingredients. In states like Kentucky, Minnesota and Tennessee, which have very strict regulatory requirements, people have invested their money and time in building businesses compliant with their local regulatory schemes. Many scrutinize the brands they carry heavily, checking for legitimate COAs (there are ways to spot faked ones), spot testing their own products and focusing on quality full spectrum CBD and THC products over synthetic cannabinoid soup. Farmers have come to grow thousands of acres of hemp to support the nearly $30 billion (by some estimates) hemp industry and invested heavily in that infrastructure. Manufacturers and copackers like Scofflaw Brewing in Georgia, which now touts 80 percent of its business as THC manufacturing, have invested millions in equipment that they can’t suddenly get back. Businesses like mine (a beverage brand called Cantrip), born in dispensaries but finding their true success in liquor and grocery stores, pour over state packaging and testing regulations and spend tens of thousands on various attorneys to ensure we create a product compliant with the maximum number of states. To date, I have not found a way to fit language on my can to sell in every state that permits hemp particularly since in some cases that language contradicts other states’ requirements, forcing me to still produce slightly different labels for different states for some products. Cantrip, like others, has forgone otherwise lucrative opportunities in California and New York in order to respect those states’ choices to ban hemp products even when I vehemently disagree with such mandates. Then there’s the alcohol industry. It may be no surprise to find that liquor retailers and distributors love selling THC beverages—indeed in some cases they have seen sales lifts upwards of 25 percent carrying such products, as opposed to the typical 1 percent lift we see in state-legal dispensaries from beverage products. The big suppliers—the macro brands of beer and spirits—have largely been unhappy with the state of the industry and its competition with alcohol. However, I think they could be convinced, given a way to participate. Alcohol consumption is declining independent of the rise of THC beverages, and a ban on THC isn’t going to stop that. I am certain these companies could be very successful in this space if they saw a pathway to participation without risking their other business. I believe that we can bring these stakeholders together for an historic moment in an upcoming critical election year. I’ve met few folks in the hemp industry who don’t believe that cannabis should be de-scheduled nationwide—pending specifics, of course. Millions of Americans in red states are about to lose access to cannabis, and I intend to ensure that they know it. This is an issue that is going to be palpable as Democrats in tough races like the one for a Georgia Senate seat seek an edge. Red state politicians are going to never want hear the word “cannabis,” again by the time this election is over. We have never had larger awareness or popular support for cannabis, as it is something that has often been reserved for blue states. My proposal is simple, but not easy: we use this moment, where millions of people are about to lose all access to cannabis in states that have zero dispensaries and millions more will lose the easy access they’ve come to enjoy, to once and for all decriminalize, deschedule and regulate cannabis in the U.S. We know that this president loves to do things people think simply can’t be done—why not do something that most Americans already support in poll after poll after poll? It would be a lasting legacy of freedom for Americans. How would we do this? The specific policy proposal is as follows: 1. De-schedule cannabis federally; 2. Create a Code of Federal Regulation chapter with input from industry stakeholders, regulators, and the Department of Health and Human Services that creates baseline guidance for how cannabis and cannabis products need to be treated—this includes age-gating THC products and specifying definitions of intoxicating and non-intoxicating compounds, creating a federal excise tax and reporting system (in spirits, excise tax reporting is actually also your track and trace system) and other general points; 3. Leave questions about milligram limits, licensing, state and local taxes and venue of sale to the states such that Georgia, Kentucky, Minnesota and Tennessee can keep their programs mostly as is. Generally, a low dose product in major venues like grocery and liquor stores and higher dose products like flower, concentrates, and stronger edibles in more specialized dispensaries seems like a good way to go, but each state can have the debate. My proposal is not the only valid solution, but simply a way to start a conversation. It is a policy debate worth having, in the open, and quickly. Should the federal ban go into effect, there can be no question of “state-legal” hemp. There would be no difference between hemp and marijuana at that point; no alcohol retailer or distributor could participate without losing their license and companies like Target would be de-listed from the NYSE and suffer billions in 280E penalties across goods. We need federally legal cannabis; until now, that has been hemp. I propose we make the words marijuana and hemp obsolete and have one unified system for one plant, and I believe we can do this. After 2026, we will lose our shot. On Veterans Day 2026, a deeply painful irony, millions of Americans including veterans will lose access to cannabis products they’ve come to rely on. We will have lost their faith in the professional cannabis community to protect their rights. The issue will fade; Congress will become more jammed than ever with investigations if Democrats win and all legislation will come screeching to a halt. We must take this opportunity now, as one cannabis community, to activate voters in every corner of the U.S. to support descheduling cannabis and creating a viable path to access. To force politicians in tough races to talk about it and support changes. We don’t have much time in 2026 either, as most legislation in an election year tends to conclude before the summer recess given the intensity of the fall campaign. Less than a year, multiple industries, and millions of Americans. We can do this. We will do this. Let’s legalize weed in America. *Adam Terry is the co-founder and CEO of the THC-infused beverage company Cantrip.* The post The New Federal Hemp Ban Is An Opportunity To Legalize Cannabis Across The Board (Op-Ed) appeared first on Marijuana Moment. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cake Boss - Fluent, Clearwater (Florida Medical) Cake Boss, available at Fluent dispensary in Clearwater, Florida, is a slightly indica-dominant hybrid strain (60% indica, 40% sativa) th... Cherry AK-47 by Grow West - RISE Dispensary (Silver Spring, Maryland) When a strain name includes both "Cherry" and "AK-47," you can expect two things: a blast of fruity goodness and the kind of impact that... Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... 1 2 3 4 5

Michigan lawmakers are considering four bills (HB 5104, 5105, 5106, 5107) aimed at addressing challenges in the state's legal marijuana industry, particularly large illicit grow operations and the inability to sanction former licensees. HB 5105 and 5107, which are tie-barred, would introduce new penalties for cultivating, delivering, and processing black market marijuana and change the legal possession limits for plants and concentrates. HB 5104 and 5106 would allow the Cannabis Regulatory Agency to take disciplinary action against individuals and facilities even after their licenses have expired, or summarily suspend a license if conduct poses a public risk. The legislation is intended to support the licensed industry against bad actors, though some lawmakers expressed concern about increased enforcement and high taxes potentially driving consumers to the black market. < Back Michigan Lawmakers Consider Bills To Change Legal Marijuana Possession Limits And Alter Industry Disciplinary Rules Oct 25, 2025 Marijuana Moment Marijuana Moment Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link *Michigan has “become, in a lot of ways, sort of a central location for illicit operations, because the penalties for illicit activity are so low here.”* *By Ben Solis, Michigan Advance* Four marijuana-related bills were up for consideration before a House panel on Thursday, with one aiming to upend rules on the legal amount of regulated marijuana a person is allowed to possess, both in plant and concentrate form. Members of the House Regulatory Reform Committee discussed but did not amend or advance House Bill House 5104, Bill 5105, House Bill 5106 and House Bill 5107. Derek Sova, a policy and legislative assistant for the Cannabis Regulatory Agency, told the committee previously that Michigan’s legal marijuana industry faced several challenges, and that two of those big hurdles were large illicit grow operations and the agency’s inability to go after bad actors because their licenses had expired. The series of bills before the committee would address those concerns. House Bill 5105 and House Bill 5107 are sponsored by state Reps. Pauline Wendzel (R-Watervliet) and Mike Hoadley (R-Au Gres), respectively. The bills would in tandem create new penalties for cultivating, delivering and processing black market marijuana, but also change the amount of marijuana a person is legally allowed to possess in plant and concentrate form. The bills are tie-barred together, meaning both would have to jointly clear the Legislature and be signed by the governor to become law. Under Wendzel’s bill, a person would be guilty of a misdemeanor if they possess between 10 and 25 kilograms, or between 50 and 100 plants, or between one and 2.5 kilograms of marijuana concentrate. The penalty would change to up to one year in jail or a $20,000 fine, or both. Keeping between 25 and 125 kilograms, or between 100 and 500 plants, or between 2.5 and 12.5 kilograms of marijuana concentrate would become a felony punishable by two years in prison or a $500,000 fine, or both. *It would also be a felony offense to:* - Keep between 125 and 250 kilograms, or between 500 and 1,000 plants, or between 12.5 and 25 kilograms. That could net a person four years in prison or a $2 million fine or both; and - Keep 250 kilograms or more, or 1,000 plants or more, or 25 kilograms or more of marijuana concentrate. The punishment there would be up to 10 years in prison or a $10 million fine, or both. Sponsored by state Rep. Kristian Grant (D-Grand Rapids), House Bill 5104 would allow the Cannabis Regulatory Agency to sanction a person even if they are no longer a licensee or if they are no longer operating a marijuana facility. At present, the Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act holds that the expiration of a state-issued license terminates the authority of the agency to impose sanctions. The bill from Grant would retain that position but would add that the authority to impose sanctions would continue if there was already a pending action against a former licensee or facility operator. House Bill 5106, sponsored by state Rep. Jerry Neyer (R-Shepherd), would amend the state’s Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act to similarly address disciplinary action on recreational licenses. The bill would let the agency summarily suspend a license if the licensee’s conduct poses a risk to the health, safety or welfare of the public. Much like House Bill 5104, Neyer’s legislation would also give the agency authority to take disciplinary action against a person who no longer holds a license or if their license has recently expired. The risks that could lead to license suspension or discipline, as outlined in the bill, include possessing marijuana from a source that cannot be determined, keeping marijuana stashes obtained in violation of the act, obstructing an agency investigation, and failing to provide the agency with required records. Neyer’s bill affects growers, processors, retailers, microbusinesses, safety compliance facilities and secure transporters. State Rep. Emily Dievendorf (D-Lansing) said they were concerned about upticks in enforcement given that some industry folk were previously on the negative end of marijuana enforcement when it was illegal in Michigan. She questioned whether it was right to increase enforcement when the state was actively beginning to tax marijuana sales at a higher rate, which some have warned will ultimately push consumers to the black market. Sova said that the point of the package was to support the licensed industry, as much as possible, especially those following the rules. “That’s the purpose of giving us the greater enforcement authority over the bad actors in the licensed space who are cheating, who are undermining the folks who are trying to do it the right way,” Sova said. “This has been an issue, I believe, in communities where you’ve had a lot of these large illicit outdoor growers. You’re talking sometimes thousands or tens of thousands of plants that, the way the statutes are set up right now, there’s really no disincentive to continue doing that.” Sova added that Michigan has “become, in a lot of ways, sort of a central location for illicit operations, because the penalties for illicit activity are so low here.” State Rep. Joseph Aragona (R-Clinton Township), the committee’s chair, said he agreed with Dievendorf. “The 24 percent tax was difficult,” he said. “We obviously did not want to do in the House, but this could definitely help those legal growers who are going to be paying it, because, if I’m mistaken, the black market won’t be paying that tax.” Sova said that was certainly the intention of the pending legislation. Hoadley also testified along with Iosco County Prosecutor Jim Bacarella and Branch County Prosecutor Zach Stempien, both of whom supported the legislation and expressed concern for those working in the industry. Some of that concern had to deal with the exploitation of migrant workers or foreign nationals, which were issues brought up by the prosecutors during testimony. *This story was first published by Michigan Advance.* *Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.* The post Michigan Lawmakers Consider Bills To Change Legal Marijuana Possession Limits And Alter Industry Disciplinary Rules appeared first on Marijuana Moment. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cake Boss - Fluent, Clearwater (Florida Medical) Cake Boss, available at Fluent dispensary in Clearwater, Florida, is a slightly indica-dominant hybrid strain (60% indica, 40% sativa) th... Cherry AK-47 by Grow West - RISE Dispensary (Silver Spring, Maryland) When a strain name includes both "Cherry" and "AK-47," you can expect two things: a blast of fruity goodness and the kind of impact that... Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... 1 2 3 4 5

The article discusses a collaboration between NBA legend Carmelo Anthony and Skyworld, focusing on discipline, data, and authenticity in their cannabis partnership, as reported by MJBizDaily. < Back Carmelo Anthony and Skyworld build a trust-first cannabis collab Oct 15, 2025 Margaret Jackson MJbizDaily Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link A synergistic collaboration between NBA legend Carmelo Anthony and Skyworld prioritizes discipline, data and authenticity. Carmelo Anthony and Skyworld build a trust-first cannabis collab is a post from: MJBizDaily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cake Boss - Fluent, Clearwater (Florida Medical) Cake Boss, available at Fluent dispensary in Clearwater, Florida, is a slightly indica-dominant hybrid strain (60% indica, 40% sativa) th... Cherry AK-47 by Grow West - RISE Dispensary (Silver Spring, Maryland) When a strain name includes both "Cherry" and "AK-47," you can expect two things: a blast of fruity goodness and the kind of impact that... Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... 1 2 3 4 5

An Indiana bill passed the state Senate Commerce and Technology Committee to align state law with a forthcoming federal ban on intoxicating hemp products and regulate less potent ones, despite arguments from opponents that the measure is premature and could decimate the state's industry. The legislation puts the state's Alcohol and Tobacco Commission (ATC) in charge of regulation, includes business restrictions like banning advertising and operating near schools, and directs most hemp-derived tax revenue to the ATC for administrative efforts and enforcement. < Back Indiana Senate Committee Passes Bill to Align State Hemp Laws With Forthcoming Federal Changes Jan 20, 2026 TG Branfalt Ganjapreneur Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link An Indiana bill to align state law with the forthcoming federal ban on intoxicating hemp products last week passed the state Senate Commerce and Technology Committee, the Indiana Capital Chronicle reports. The legislation would also regulate less potent products allowed under the federal reforms. Cory Harris, representing the American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp, told the committee that “it is imperative” that lawmakers act during this session “to harmonize with federal policy” because “failure to do so will mean that Indiana’s policy will be less stringent than federal law, and therefore equate to Indiana being a legal cannabis market.” Justin Swanson, representing the Midwest Hemp Council and 3Chi, a THC product retailer, argued that the proposal is “premature” and that the federal and state laws “will decimate an entire industry in the state.” Swanson noted that “the landscape is still not settled,” as a federal bill sponsored by Indiana Rep. Jim Baird (R) has proposed delaying the ban’s rollout by two years. Additionally, the law includes language that would prevent state law from aligning with federal reclassification of cannabis, as President Donald Trump (R) directed in an executive order last month. State Sen. Aaron Freeman (R), the bill’s sponsor, said he’d like to “eliminate all these things from the face of the planet, period.” “This bill simply says that we would not automatically follow what the federal government does, that we would decide, 150 of us – that we would make that decision, not the federal government for us.” — Freeman during the committee hearing via the Capital Chronicle The Indiana proposal would also put the state’s Alcohol and Tobacco Commission (ATC) in charge of regulating what remains of the industry: implementing permits for manufacturers, distributers, retailers, and carriers. Hemp businesses would also be banned from advertising and operating within 1,000 feet of schools and playgrounds. The bill would direct 70% of hemp-derived tax revenues to ATC administrative efforts, 20% to enforcement, 5% to the state’s 988 suicide and crisis hotline, and 5% to the general fund. The bill heads next to the Appropriations Committee before being considered by the full Senate. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cake Boss - Fluent, Clearwater (Florida Medical) Cake Boss, available at Fluent dispensary in Clearwater, Florida, is a slightly indica-dominant hybrid strain (60% indica, 40% sativa) th... Cherry AK-47 by Grow West - RISE Dispensary (Silver Spring, Maryland) When a strain name includes both "Cherry" and "AK-47," you can expect two things: a blast of fruity goodness and the kind of impact that... Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... 1 2 3 4 5

A company received a medical cannabis license to cultivate, manufacture, and distribute its products in Texas. < Back Trulieve Announces Conditional Approval for Texas License Dec 3, 2025 Staff Cannabis Business Times Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link The company was awarded a medical cannabis license to cultivate, manufacture and distribute its products in the Lone Star State. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cake Boss - Fluent, Clearwater (Florida Medical) Cake Boss, available at Fluent dispensary in Clearwater, Florida, is a slightly indica-dominant hybrid strain (60% indica, 40% sativa) th... Cherry AK-47 by Grow West - RISE Dispensary (Silver Spring, Maryland) When a strain name includes both "Cherry" and "AK-47," you can expect two things: a blast of fruity goodness and the kind of impact that... Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... 1 2 3 4 5

Just Chill WEBSITE MENU REVIEWS 1314 9th Street Northwest, Washington, DC, USA About OVERALL 2.8 average rating is 2.8 out of 5 EXPERIENCE 2.8 average rating is 2.8 out of 5 QUALITY 2.9 average rating is 2.9 out of 5 SERVICE 2.7 average rating is 2.7 out of 5 SELECTION 2.7 average rating is 2.7 out of 5 PRICES 2.8 average rating is 2.8 out of 5 Just Chill on 9th Street NW offers a relaxed cannabis shopping experience for all. The dispensary features a chill lounge vibe with a selection of calming strains and edibles. It’s perfect for those who want to take their time exploring products without pressure. The staff creates a stress-free environment with their easygoing approach. A mellow haven for casual cannabis users. Recent Reviews Check back soon Once posts are published, you’ll see them here. Trending Nearby Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... Platinum TK - Green Theory Dispensary Platinum TK is an indica-dominant hybrid from the skilled cultivators at Alt Sol that offers a robust and relaxing experience. Currently... Gelato Cake by District Cannabis - Monko DC Gelato Cake has come to be, for all intents and purposes, the flagship strain of local cultivator District Cannabis. It's an indica-domin... 1 2 3 4 5 best weed in DC (1,159) 1,159 posts DC flower (1,084) 1,084 posts DC I-71 (1,029) 1,029 posts terps (996) 996 posts DC Storefront (670) 670 posts heavy trichomes (660) 660 posts Indica Heavy Hybrid (611) 611 posts DC weed delivery (534) 534 posts starry trichomes (509) 509 posts Indica (475) 475 posts 50/50 Hybrid (421) 421 posts Sativa Dominant Hybrid (252) 252 posts Sativa (211) 211 posts Gelato (154) 154 posts DC Medical Marijuana (146) 146 posts Medical Marijuana (138) 138 posts Maryland Medical Marijuana (112) 112 posts Maryland Flower (104) 104 posts Runtz (101) 101 posts Elevated Lounge (95) 95 posts GSC (91) 91 posts alternative solutions (84) 84 posts Takoma Wellness Center (80) 80 posts The Gift Givers (78) 78 posts Maryland Recreational (75) 75 posts concentrate (74) 74 posts best weed in Maryland (74) 74 posts edibles (69) 69 posts Zkittles (69) 69 posts Alt Sol (59) 59 posts

A group of 11 Maryland hemp operators is suing the state in federal court as part of an ongoing quest to overturn a 2023 law that requires them to obtain a marijuana license to sell THC products. ‘Communist cannabis’: Maryland hemp operators ask judge to redo regulations is a post from: MJBizDaily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs < Back ‘Communist cannabis’: Maryland hemp operators ask judge to redo regulations Jun 17, 2025 Chris Roberts MJ Biz Daily Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link A group of 11 Maryland hemp operators is suing the state in federal court as part of an ongoing quest to overturn a 2023 law that requires them to obtain a marijuana license to sell THC products. ‘Communist cannabis’: Maryland hemp operators ask judge to redo regulations is a post from: MJBizDaily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cake Boss - Fluent, Clearwater (Florida Medical) Cake Boss, available at Fluent dispensary in Clearwater, Florida, is a slightly indica-dominant hybrid strain (60% indica, 40% sativa) th... Cherry AK-47 by Grow West - RISE Dispensary (Silver Spring, Maryland) When a strain name includes both "Cherry" and "AK-47," you can expect two things: a blast of fruity goodness and the kind of impact that... Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... 1 2 3 4 5

Advertising involves identifying boundaries and providing solutions to problems. Three key components of a successful ad campaign are truth, resourcefulness, and diligence. Truth involves using data to understand demographics. Resourcefulness highlights the availability of free tools. Diligence emphasizes persistence, planning, and setting realistic expectations. Prioritizing trust, transparency, and vigilance is also important. < Back How Truth, Resourcefulness, and Diligence Drive Cannabis Marketing Success Jun 24, 2025 Staff MG Magazine Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Advertising is about spotting boundaries and providing novel solutions to both immediate and long-term problems. I’ve been an account manager in the digital marketing industry for nearly ten years, and let me tell you this: Agencies do not have a monopoly on good ideas or novel solutions. We simply have processes in place to prevent us (usually) from proposing bad ideas. There are three pillars to running a successful ad campaign: *truth*, *resourcefulness*, and *diligence*. Let’s look at how to make them work for you. Truth One of the first promotions I was asked to run for a client was a display advertisement calling attention to an early-bird special for senior citizens. There is a nugget of truth to the idea we should reward people who come in early, and there is a nugget of truth to the assumption early-bird shoppers skew older. I was intrigued and a little confused. Do seniors smoke weed? Would they show up to a dispensary at 8 a.m. for a 10-percent discount? Yes, they smoke, and yes, they will show up, but not in the same numbers as twenty-somethings will show up for a night-owl special an hour before closing. There is no reason to restrict the age of a special unless you’re very intentionally trying to attract that crowd. The client was warned, but we ended up running the promotion anyway—and didn’t see much success. There is a lesson here for business owners: Data matters, and sometimes your gut feeling isn’t reflective of reality. You need to know your demographics and how they interact with each other. If you don’t have time to look at the data and come up with a good plan of action, pay someone else to do it and be receptive to their findings. There’s a lesson here for account managers, too. Advocate for your client, but sometimes you must advocate for your client’s best interest to the client. This means gently telling them their idea is terrible and explaining why. Numbers don’t lie, so show them the numbers. It also means offering alternatives they like as much as their own idea or convincing them your idea was actually theirs. A more general lesson about deals also surfaces: Your deals should hit the people who are most likely to make a purchase and convince them to buy more than they normally would. Anything that drives up the order value to redeem the deal or incentivizes the consumer to add one more item to their cart (perhaps to get a discount?) goes a long way toward making a campaign successful. Unlike in traditional retail, cannabis businesses typically can’t offer anything for free. However, they can offer some products, like a simple pre-roll, for a single penny. Resourcefulness You have more resources than you think you do. This is true for do-it-yourself (DIY) business owners, shoestring-budget marketers, and million-dollar agencies alike. Paid programs and tools are great, but most of the tools you need to use on a daily basis are completely free. If you’re writing copy for a webpage, for example, all you really need is Notepad, Google Docs, or now, a free AI assistant like ChatGPT or Gemini to help brainstorm ideas or polish your tone. If you’re designing a banner for your website, Canva remains a go-to tool. The most useful resource is still Google, with YouTube a close second. If you don’t know how to do something, Google it. If the instructions don’t make sense, watch someone walk through it on YouTube—or ask an AI for step-by-step help. I’ve built individual web pages and entire websites by digging through DIY Google guides. Podcasts and YouTube channels are dedicated to every part of marketing a business, and experienced small and medium-sized enterprises often share it all for free. Google Analytics, Search Console, and Trends all help neophytes learn about their websites, potential customers, and what people search for online. Diligence Diligence isn’t a one-and-done affair. Persistence is key from the perspective of business owners, account managers, and everyday people seeking growth in any facet of life. As an account manager, this means following up with clients, coworkers, and yourself until you have everything you need to launch a campaign. Being diligent means having a primary plan and also a backup plan. It means having a content calendar and working it every day, analyzing what worked and what didn’t, and figuring out how to perform better the next time. The most common and hardest-to-overcome pitfall is planning inadequately. Most people don’t start looking for information about avoiding business pitfalls or getting out of them until they’ve accidentally stumbled into a sizeable one. This is especially true of cannabis businesses. Having a good payment processor and a good-looking website before launching a campaign is of paramount importance, for example. A related pitfall is failing to set realistic expectations. You need to know why you’re doing what you’re doing and set measurable, realistic goals for whatever it is you’re doing. The hardest conversations I have as an account manager are those that happen a month into a campaign when the client asks me why I haven’t made them a million dollars yet. Prioritize trust, transparency, and vigilance. If your clients or customers don’t trust you, they won’t be your clients or customers for long. You need to give them a reason to trust you and work with you. The best way to gain and keep trust is by being transparent. It’s okay to say, “I don’t know. I’ll do some research and get back to you.” Just make sure that isn’t your response to every question. Do some research before you speak with clients. Think about what you would want to know if you were in their shoes, and find answers before they ask the questions. If you’ve thought of something and they haven’t, that’s worth sharing. It shows you think about and care about their business. Be vigilant, and watch for trends. Every market is moving at a breakneck pace right now, but the cannabis market is moving at light speed. Something might be legal one week and illegal the next. (Delta-8 gummies, anyone?) Legality is one thing, but trends have a half-life of about one day. Remember the Dyson hair dryer everyone clamored over? Or the last season of *Stranger Things*? Trends move fast, and you need to be three steps ahead if you want to grow. *Editor’s Note: This story was originally published July 23, 2023. Updated June 24, 2025, to reflect current AI tools.* < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cake Boss - Fluent, Clearwater (Florida Medical) Cake Boss, available at Fluent dispensary in Clearwater, Florida, is a slightly indica-dominant hybrid strain (60% indica, 40% sativa) th... Cherry AK-47 by Grow West - RISE Dispensary (Silver Spring, Maryland) When a strain name includes both "Cherry" and "AK-47," you can expect two things: a blast of fruity goodness and the kind of impact that... Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... 1 2 3 4 5

Germany's adult-use cannabis legalization, enacted on April 1, 2024, is undergoing continuous evaluation. Initial findings are positive, showing decreased youth consumption rates (from 6.7% to 6.1% for ages 12-17) and a significant shift in adult consumers sourcing cannabis from legal channels (88.4% post-legalization compared to 23.5% previously). Cannabis-related crime has also decreased by over 53 percent. However, the system faces challenges, particularly the lack of approved regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials. These trials are essential for providing more legal sourcing options and gathering additional data for lawmakers. < Back Data Demonstrates That German Cannabis Legalization Is Working Oct 7, 2025 Johnny Green Cannabis Now Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link A key component of adult-use cannabis legalization in Germany involves ongoing evaluations by researchers and government officials to gauge if the nation’s cannabis policies and regulations are effective. The data derived from the evaluation efforts, especially the EKOCAN project, will be heavily relied upon by German lawmakers when they make future decisions about German cannabis laws and industry regulations. Several initial evaluation data points and findings have recently surfaced, and the results are favorable. The information from researchers heavily focuses on three main components: 1. Child and youth protection 2. Public health outcomes 3. Cannabis-related crime [image: Legalization] *Focus #1: Child and Youth Protection* Regarding the first area of focus, the results of a recent government study found that youth consumption rates have decreased since the first provisions of adult-use cannabis legalization were enacted on April 1, 2024. The German Federal Institute for Public Health recently published data regarding youth cannabis usage rates post-legalization. The “Drug Affinity Study 2025” surveyed 7,001 young people between the ages of 12 and 25 from April to July 2025, and the results were then compared to those from a similar study conducted between April and June 2023. According to the Federal Institute for Public Health’s assessment of the data before and after legalization, the proportion of youth aged 12 to 17 who reported having consumed cannabis within the last year fell from 6.7% during the survey period in 2023 to 6.1% this year. The proportion of youth who reported having consumed cannabis more than ten times in the past 12 months decreased from 1.3% in 2023 to 1.1% this year. The data effectively debunks predictions by cannabis opponents that adult-use legalization would result in a spike in youth consumption rates. *Focus #2: Public Health Outcomes* Measuring public health outcomes as they relate to cannabis policy modernization efforts is somewhat challenging. However, a key measurement comes in the form of surveying consumers to see if they source their cannabis from legal channels. The theory behind using that measurement is that if consumers obtain their cannabis through home cultivation or regulated sources instead of unregulated sources, the products they consume will be safer and thus public health outcomes will be improved. That is the argument that German lawmakers successfully made to obtain European Union approval for legalization. “The Cannabis Act (CanG) led to significant changes in the supply channels among adults: 88.4% generally purchased legally produced cannabis in the last six months (home cultivation, including cultivation by friends, cultivation associations, pharmacies); before the law, 23.5% used the now legal sources.” stated the Institute for Addiction Research at the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences and the Evangelical University of Freiburg about a recent collaborative survey they conducted (translated from German to English). It is worth noting that the reported significant changes in consumer purchasing behavior come at a time when the adult-use cultivation association sector is still experiencing significant bureaucratic hurdles in Germany. According to the most recent data from the Federal Association of Cannabis Cultivation Associations (BCAv), the total number of approved German cultivation association applications is now at 323. BCAv lists that 743 total applications have been submitted to date. Germany’s cannabis community can support exponentially more cultivation associations across the country if afforded the opportunity. The average membership of current German associations is 275 members, according to a recent survey. *Focus #3: Cannabis-Related Crime* The third major focus of ongoing German legalization research and evaluation efforts revolves around how the historic law has impacted cannabis-related crime enforcement in the European nation. According to Jörg Kinzig, Director of the Institute of Criminology at the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, cannabis-related crime data demonstrates that such offenses have decreased by over 53 percent after legalization was enacted, from 215,000 offenses in 2023 to 100,000 during the last year. Cannabis opponents in Germany continue to try to thwart forward progress on the nation’s cannabis policy modernization efforts. However, they have seemingly struggled to spin the currently available data in their favor. A full reversal of adult-use legalization, which some opponents have expressed a desire to pursue, is not justified. Some opponents appear to have pivoted their approach to some degree, and instead of pushing for a full reversal, are trying to pursue changes to the law, such as reducing the number of plants that adults can cultivate in their private residences. Adults in Germany are currently permitted to cultivate up to 3 plants. *Lack of Pilot Trials Hinder Cannabis Legalization System* One major hole that continues to exist in Germany’s legalization system is the lack of approved regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials. Pilot trials are a key component of Germany’s legalization model, and dozens of pilot trial proposals have been submitted and are pending approval from the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food. Pilot trials are already operating in the Netherlands and Switzerland with no major issues reported, and when they are finally launched in Germany, they will provide consumers with more options to source their cannabis products legally. It will further erode Germany’s unregulated market. Pilot trials will also be an important source of additional data for researchers, regulators, and lawmakers in Germany. All of these topics and facets of Germany’s cannabis public policies, ongoing research efforts, and industry sectors will be discussed extensively at the upcoming International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin in April 2026. The post Data Demonstrates That German Cannabis Legalization Is Working appeared first on Cannabis Now. < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cake Boss - Fluent, Clearwater (Florida Medical) Cake Boss, available at Fluent dispensary in Clearwater, Florida, is a slightly indica-dominant hybrid strain (60% indica, 40% sativa) th... Cherry AK-47 by Grow West - RISE Dispensary (Silver Spring, Maryland) When a strain name includes both "Cherry" and "AK-47," you can expect two things: a blast of fruity goodness and the kind of impact that... Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... 1 2 3 4 5

A Maryland hemp industry association and hemp businesses are suing the state over cannabis licensing and seized products. The lawsuit challenges state laws regulating hemp-derived products, the licensing system, and the social equity program. The plaintiffs argue the state's actions are overreach and economic favoritism. < Back Hemp Companies Sue Maryland Over Cannabis Licensing Jun 19, 2025 TG Branfalt Ganjapreneur Article Link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link A Maryland hemp industry association and hemp businesses are suing the state over cannabis licensing and seized products, the Baltimore Sun reports. The Maryland Hemp Coalition, 10 businesses owners, and consumers of the products at the heart of the lawsuit argue that state laws illegally regulate hemp-derived products that are federally legal and that state agents are now selectively enforcing “erroneous testing standards” to seize items from shelves. The lawsuit also attacks state laws that cap cannabis licenses and how they are issued, including the state’s lottery for new businesses and social equity provisions. Nevin Young, the attorney representing the groups, told the Sun that the state’s licensing system was an unnecessary control intended to inflate cannabis prices and increase business values. He called it “communist cannabis.” The lawsuit asks a federal judge to rule that the social equity program and limits on the number of cannabis licenses, and how they’re issued, are unconstitutional. In a statement, Levi Sellers, president of the Maryland Hemp Coalition, said the law is “a model of regulatory overreach and economic favoritism,” and that the state is “stripping the rights of compliant hemp businesses and handing the market to politically connected cannabis dispensaries.” The state issued 205 licenses last year via its social equity lottery. The lawsuit describes that lottery as a “monopolized licensing scheme thinly disguised as being focused upon ‘social equity’” that has “no rational relationship to any public safety or health concerns.” < Previous Next > Recent Reviews Cake Boss - Fluent, Clearwater (Florida Medical) Cake Boss, available at Fluent dispensary in Clearwater, Florida, is a slightly indica-dominant hybrid strain (60% indica, 40% sativa) th... Cherry AK-47 by Grow West - RISE Dispensary (Silver Spring, Maryland) When a strain name includes both "Cherry" and "AK-47," you can expect two things: a blast of fruity goodness and the kind of impact that... Cookies & Alt Sol "Madrina" Strain Review - Takoma Wellness Center Madrina, cultivated by Alt Sol and available at Takoma Wellness Center in Washington, DC, comes with a reputation as bold as its name. In... 1 2 3 4 5