Road safety vis-a-vis cannabis legalization is Phil Scott’s “wall” and “border security.”
– Eilat Glikman

Sweet, skunky, smoky news from around the world…

Vermont

The Headies Winners Gallery and Reflections On Our First Cannabis Cup

VTCNA Health Tip: Booch, It Is!

The Second Annual Cannabis In The Capitol: 2/13/19

Welcome Atlantic WeedBoard

Business Partner Spotlight: Cannabis Consulting Nationwide

Vermont And NY Take Action; AG Nominee Takes Stance

Project CBD Sunday: Cannabis Dosing

Senate to propose simplified cannabis retail bill with 10 percent tax

Senate Leaders Hope To Vote On Tax-And-Regulate Bill Within 3 Weeks

Entrepreneur eyes former prison property as site for hemp-growing operation

Draft rules on hemp prioritize local production from seed to sale

UVM researchers find pot alters fear receptors in teen brains

AG Donovan supports tax & regulate

Regional

 Connecticut

• Legal marijuana could be available by the end of this year
• Growing demand,  acceptance boost CT’s MMJ program

 Maine

• ME must pass legislation clearing past convictions
• Marijuana’s bumpy road after legalization

 Massachusetts

• MA operator sold to Georgia-based cannabis firm
• Cop’s judgement can determine whether driver was impaired
• Cannabis-infused seltzer, cold brew coffee, and tea

 New Hampshire

• Legal pot has a shot in 2019

 New Jersey

• NJ could lose out on millions if it doesn’t legalize soon
• People’s State of the State
• State Suspends License For Top Marijuana Doctor
• MMJ vs. drug-free workplace
• NJ Weedman Fights For Marijuana Legalization and Equality

 New York

• Cuomo unveils plan to legalize recreational
• Key issues as Gov. Cuomo rolls out recreational plan
• Why plan to legalize is a big deal
• Thorny questions threaten to slow legalization
• Film festival aims to reduce marijuana stigma
• Is Legalization Too Risky?
• New MMJ center gets mixed reactions
• New Yorkers support legalization 56%-41%
• A cannabis farm could grow in Buffalo
• Mayor Warren says Rochester wouldn’t opt out of legalization

National

 Animals

• One pet owner’s story after his dog ingested marijuana

 Banking

• Treasury official calls on Congress to solve cannabis biz banking

 Business

• More Big Companies Will Bet on Cannabis This Year
• Weed middleman expects to make billions as the Sunkist of pot
• Merch and events attract new customers
• Competition heats up as legalization talk sweeps the nation
• What Cannabis Businesses Can Learn from the Sex-Toy Industry
• This Brand Is Making Cannabis Feel Like a Luxury
• Cannabis Brand Scored A Viral Hit — Thanks To The TSA

 Cannabis

• How to Sober Up When You Consume Too Much
• How Long Does Weed Stay In Your System?
• Surging Cannabis Use Drags Down Beer Sales
• Indoor vs. Greenhouse vs. Outdoor Cannabis

 CBD

• The Game-Changing Cannabinoid That Shook the World

 Commerce

• 2018 global cannabis spending expected to top $12 billion

 Culture

• Is Alex Berenson Trolling Us With His Anti-Weed Book?
• What Alex Berenson’s new book gets wrong
• Scientists say anti-cannabis book misunderstood their research
• Why are so many seniors smoking weed?
• An Etiquette Guide for the New Pot Elite
• People Enjoy Sex More When High Than When Drunk
• Weed’s Not Cool Anymore
• Cannabis guru recalls life before legalization

 Entertainment

• Actress Halle Berry said she uses CBD for menstrual relief
• Trailer for “Grace and Frankie” shows characters getting high

 Environment

• 6 Ways Legalization Is Good for the Environment
• Recycling Hemp & Cannabis Bio-Waste
• Legalization means there is more cannabis-related waste

 Food & Bev

• Pot-Infused Craft Beer Hits San Diego Shelves
• Bob Marley-branded drinks to stir up beverage market
• No-Bake, Gluten-Free, Hemp Seed Protein Bar Recipe

 Growing And Making

• 18 Tips for Creating a Sterile Hydroponic Environment
• How Are New Strains Created?
• Some growers complacent about using irradiation on cannabis
• This TARDIS Grows Weed with Artificial Intelligence

 Health

• CBC: The Cannabinoid That Can Help Treat Depression and Stress
• 4 Essential Supplements For A Healthy Cannabis Lifestyle

 Hemp

• Planning to be Hempreneur? Here is What You Need to Know
• How Hemp Became—and Continues to Be—Insanely Lucrative
• 7 Ways Hemp Plastic Could Change the World
• Industrial Hemp: ‘Comeback Crop’ Will Benefit Farmers
• US Hemp Farming Alliance Launched
• Farm Bureau Convention Highlights Industrial Hemp
• Another Victim of the Shutdown: Progress for Hemp

 Legalization

• All the Things the New Anti-Weed Crusade Gets Wrong
• Republican States are Caving on Legalization
• Legal Weeds Means Less Illegal Imports
• Legalization 2019: The dam is breaking

 Media

• Tips from the Cannabis Media Summit

 Medical

• Is it Safe for People with Diabetes to Smoke?
• Cannabis ‘last hope’ as woman starves to death
• Users keep doctors ignorant of medical marijuana

 Presidential Campaign

• Where Kirsten Gillibrand Stands on Cannabis
• Elizabeth Warren spoke about racial disparities in marijuana enforcement
• Richard Ojeda said legalizing MMJ is one of his major accomplishments
• Where Julián Castro Stands on Cannabis

 Politics

• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez finds a Republican ally for legal pot
• AG Nominee Bill Barr’s Mixed Message on Cannabis
• Senators ask FDA to update rules on pot products
• Why Federally Legal Weed Could Soon Be a Reality
• The Must-See Marijuana Commentary From the US Surgeon General

 Seniors

• 7 Ways Cannabis Benefits Seniors

 Social Justice

• Legal Weed Is Great, But Black and Brown Communities Can’t Be Left Behind
• Weed Lounges Coming ~ But Who Is Getting Left Out?
• In ICE’s Arsenal: Cannabis Convictions

 Social Media

• Weed firms are using Instagram influencers to dodge regulations

 Sports

• Dr. Drew Pinsky would rather athletes use MMJ than opiates

 Studies

• Many users prefer MMJ over prescription drugs
• Teen brain volume changes with small amount of cannabis use
• It’s Time To Unshackle Cannabis Research Efforts
• Pot research is booming after legalization
• Marijuana Users More Likely to Be Fired, Laid Off
• Marijuana Smokers Are Happier Than Non-Smokers
• Provider explores ‘open-minded’ usage of marijuana in nursing homes
• THC/CBD Extract Associated With Reduced Spasticity In ALS Patients

 Terpenes

• Terpenes Are Much More Than Why Your Weed Smells Dank

 Women

• 20 Women Set To Dominate International Cannabis In 2019
• Female-focused business accelerator launches first training program
• Breast-feeding and marjuana use
• Women In Cannabis Talk Work And Wellness
• To Design Packaging for Women, Ditch These Stereotypes

States

NORML Releases 2019 Gubernatorial Report Card

 Alaska

• Land Use Permit Granted To Bethel’s First Cannabis Shop

 Arizona

• Arizonans Consumed 61 Tons of MMJ Products in 2018
• Buzz around weed legalization starts to grow

 Arkansas

• Nearly 40 More Qualifying Conditions Proposed For MMJ

 California

• Glass House Farms Helped Address Odor Issues
• The Cali Cannabis Industry Is Sort of a Mess
• Cannabis deliveries OK’d in California

  Colorado

• Business Leaders Share Lessons From America’s First Adult-Use Market

 Delaware

• Bill to legalize in the works with possible bipartisan support

 Florida

• When is it pot and when is it not?
• Changing the stigma surrounding hemp-based medical relief
• You Can Get Weed-Infused Ice Cream In Miami
• Legalization Of Medical Marijuana Flower

 Georgia

• Lawmakers push for Georgia-grown hemp

 Hawaii

• Hemp program slowly takes root
• Big Island’s first dispensary opens to long lines
• Hawaii could be next to legalize

 Illinois

• Pot For Pills Program Could Start This Month
• Changes to MMJ program aim to eliminate long wait period
• Thirteen Chicago mayoral candidates endorsed legalization
• Illinois Governor Pledges To Legalize
• It’s reefer gladness in Illinois

 Indiana

• Decrim bill filed

 Iowa

• Hemp’s moment finally here

 Kentucky

• Advocates raise a glass to future of hemp industry
• High Time for Medical Pot
• Local man hopes to open large hemp extraction plant
• Senator Who Used Marijuana for Cancer Backs Legalization

 Louisiana

• Regulators considering how much THC should be allowed in MMJ
• MMJ could be available this summer

 Michigan

• Impact of legalizing
• Pub looks to become cannabis club
• MMJ proves difficult to get
• Biz to debut hemp inspired mattress
• Suburban cities opting out of legal weed sales
• Licensing issues lead to MMJ shortage
• Mich. can have smooth legalization

 Minnesota

• Meet the group that might get MN ready for legal pot
• Mayor of Mpls campaigning for legalization
• Shouting match erupts at capitol over legalizing pot
• Farmers high on hemp’s potential

 Missouri

• MMJ trade show scheduled for March
• State refuses to name MMJ applicants
• Bill filed requiring state’s top MMJ regulator be a licensed pharmacist
• Should minorities and women get preferential treatment?

 Nebraska

• Men advertised pot on social media, Cops are online, too.
• Prosecutors to dismiss charges against family CBD store
• Nebraska AG wants to inform public on marijuana risk

 Nevada

• Planet 13 aims to be the Disneyland of dispensaries
• Nevada County releases environmental report on cannabis cultivation
• Las Vegas considering if social use areas should permit both cannabis and alcohol
• Gov. Steve Sisolak will create a Cannabis Compliance Board

 North Carolina 

• Banner year for hemp harvests

 North Dakota

• HHS Committee held a hearing on MMJ reform bills

 Ohio

Ohio sold $75k in medical marijuana on first day of legal sales

 Oklahoma

• ‘Biggest marijuana bust of all time’? No, just legal hemp.
• OK setting a high standard for MMJ
• OKC school district approves the use of MMJ
• TU Prez Gerry Clancy discusses MMJ education at conference

 Oregon 

• Legal weed didn’t increase teen pot use
• Lawmakers want to speed up expungements
• This might be the strongest weed ever

 Pennsylvania

• Here comes hemp
• Man forgets 2 lbs. of pot in Uber, gets arrested
• Is Pennsylvania ready for legalization?

 Puerto Rico

• How Pot Shops Are Recovering After Hurricane Maria

 Rhode Island

• Gov’s proposal for legal pot greeted with caution

 South Carolina

• Ask the right questions on MMJ
• Panel Advances Bill on MMJ Research
• MMJ could become legal, but you won’t be allowed to smoke it
• Charleston County Republican Party supports legalizing MMJ
• Medical Affairs Committee supports MMJ research

 South Dakota

• Senate HHS Committee heard legislation concerning CBD oil

 Tennessee

• Lawmakers Push To Legalize MMJ
• Hemp, CBD sales could see age restrictions

 Texas

• Conservative rep said that decrim is “the right policy goal”
• Gov. Greg Abbott said reducing possession penalties has “traction” in the leg
• Even Texas Getting Serious About Decrim and MMJ

 Utah

• Senator defends new MMJ law
• 6.1% of all adults said they currently use cannabis

 Virgin Islands

• Gov. Albert Bryan signed MMJ bill into law

 Virginia

• Legislation to legalize, decriminalize fails

 Washington

• Gov. Jay Inslee said he expects legalization in all 50 states
• Bill would allow use of marijuana at schools
• A Seattleite’s Guide to Surviving Winter with Weed
• Gov. Jay Inslee (D) tweeted, “Proud to get the top grade on cannabis policy from @NORML. It’s time to legalize marijuana nationally.”

 Washington D.C.

• Mayor Muriel Bowser said “we hope that Congress will…lift the unique restriction on Washington, D.C., so that we can have a safe, regulated system for marijuana sales and drive out the illegal market.”

 West Virginia

• Advisory Opinion Paves Way for MMJ
• WV needs balanced regulation of MMJ
• Majority of House Dems favor legalization

 Wisconsin 

• Wisconsin Governor Now Supports Legalization
• AG Josh Kaul is an advocate for legalizing MMJ

 Wyoming

•  House Judiciary Committee rejected a CBD decrim bill

International 

How the ‘War on Drugs’ sabotages the ‘War on Terror’

 Asia

• Asia’s budding interest in corporate cannabis

 Australia

• Why hemp should be part of your wardrobe
• Former premier of Queensland said that drugs should be legalized

 Canada

• Old-school Vancouver bong shop enjoys new cannabis era
• Liberals must pass cannabis amnesty law
• Stop Taxing MMJ
• What’s Next for Marijuana Law Reform?
• Cannabis grow pods turn into business opportunity
• Regulations governing biological waste of cannabis can be confusing
• Canadians Spent $1.6 Billion on Legal Weed in 2018

 China

• Chinese business leaders set to explore Israel’s MMJ research sector
• A Chinese court sentenced a Canadian man to death for drug smuggling

 Colombia

• Former President Juan Manuel Santos joined Global Commission on Drug Policy
• FoliuMed kicks off 70-ton hemp and cannabis cultivation

 Greece

• Cannabis Expo introduces public to medicinal, economic advantages

 Guyana

• Marijuana, hemp decriminalisation on election agenda

 India

• Hemp goes hip

 Ireland

• Green Gold
• The ever increasing strength of cannabis
• More people seeking treatment as strength doubles

 Israel

• Israel plans to ease laws on personal use of cannabis

 Latin America

• Is Latin America the Next Big (Legal) Marijuana Market?

 Lebanon

• Production may be legal by the end of the year

 Luxemburg

• Officials thinking seriously about legalization

 New Zealand

• MMJ crowdfunding campaign continues to grow

 Nigeria

• Energy drinks more dangerous that Indian hemp

 Philippines

• Pro-medical marijuana solons hit
• Lawmaker is accusing pro-MMJ colleagues of planning to profit from industry
• House speaker and former president said she used MMJ for a spinal condition
• Regulators currently restricted from studying MMJ

 Portugal

• Lawmakers Debate Two Legalization Bills

 South Africa

• Cannabis-infused products fly high
• Urban weed plantation destroyed
• Beer Company Brews with Hemp

 Switzerland

• Pharmacy association wants its members to be able to sell marijuana

 Thailand

• Regulators preparing to draft MMJ rules

 Trinidad and Tobago

• Police destroy $1.2M in weed
• Public consultation on decrim will begin January 23

 Tunisia

• Tunisia to ease penalties for cannabis use

 Turkey

• Erdogan wants to revive cannabis production, and Turkish Islamists love it

 Uruguay

• New report on the state of regulated market

 Zimbabwe

• Finance minister endorsed the idea of exporting marijuana