Maryland Governor To Sign Medical Marijuana Bill Today
A Maryland medical marijuana bill is expected to receive its final approval from Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley later today (May 2nd). The bill, House Bill 1101, was originally approved by the General Assembly on April 8, and a spokeswoman confirmed yesterday that the bill-signing ceremony is to take place today. “I’ve long said Maryland should replace the dealer-patient relationship with the doctor-patient relationship.” – Del. Dan Morhaim The measure will establish the “Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Marijuana Commission” that will function within the Department of …
Bill Introduced To Create National Marijuana Commission
A bill was introduced in the US congress last week that would establish a National Commission on Marijuana Policy. House Bill 1635 calls for a comprehensive evaluation of the current cannabis policies and search for possible resolutions to the existing conflict between federal and state laws regarding the plant. “A national commission would provide us with the information we need to create sensible policy going forward.” – Rep. Steve Cohen The bill was introduced by Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee, who stated, “Regardless of your views on marijuana, it’s important that we understand the …
Recap of The 1st Ever High Times U.S. Cannabis Cup In Denver
After 40+ years for some enthusiasts, the first legal US Cannabis Cup came to a successful end Sunday night after the most memorable marijuana festival in the nations history. According to a High Times representative, the event was expected to see an estimated 16,000 marijuana professionals and enthusiasts alike over the course of the weekends events. Thousands of low-eyed aficionados mulled amongst the hundreds of booths that spanned Larimer and Walnut streets spending their money on new rigs, clothing, and tons of other merchandise. Although the High Times Cannabis Cup event has been held at the Exdo center in Denver …
Respect State Marijuana Laws Act Introduced To Congress
Several members of the House of Representatives introduced the “Respect State Marijuana Laws Act” in Congress last Friday, April 12th. This act could have a serious impact on the MMJ industry. Late last year on November 18th, legislators including Polis and Blumenauer wrote a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart encouraging them to respect the recreational laws in Colorado and Washington. This was after Polis’s showdown with Leonhart in June, where the DEA administrator refused to admit that marijuana is less harmful than crack, methamphetamines, heroine, and prescription pills. All she has to …
Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Policy and Medbox Technology
During a recent seminar at the Sheraton Hotel in Boston, CEO of Kind Clinics Dr. Bruce Bedrick gave a presentation to a room of eager and hopeful Massachusetts-based entrepreneurs about the future of the medical marijuana industry in the Bay State. Specifically, Dr. Bedrick was there to allure investors to partner with him to increase their chances of obtaining one of the 35 available dispensary licenses that will be allowed by the Massachusetts government. The heavily regulated nature of Massachusetts’ policy has presented Dr. Bedrick with a prime opportunity and market to tout Medbox Inc., a company based in Arizona …
Maryland Medical Marijuana Bill Passes Senate With A 42-to-4 Vote
An overwhelming majority of Maryland Senators said ‘Yes’ to a medical marijuana bill Monday morning that would bring cannabis to the “Free State”. The bill will make its way to Gov. Martin O’Malley’s desk for final approval. It looks like the state of Maryland will be joining the long (developing) list of states that plan to accept the use of cannabis as a means/form of medical treatment. “The reason for the measure is to put a medical marijuana in place in the state of Maryland — although it may take some time.” Additionally, the new measure would create a state …
2013 Poll Finds That 52% Of Americans Support Marijuana Legalization
A recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Center (Pew) found that 52% of Americans favor the legalization of marijuana, while only 45% believe it should remain illegal. The 2013 Pew Research Center survey of 1,501 adults was released yesterday, April 4, and was conducted from March 13th to the 17th. The survey concluded that the “Millennial’s” – born after 1980 and are now between the ages of 18 and 32 – are the most likely supporters of legalization, with 65% in favor of legalization. This number is nearly double what it was just four years ago …
Colorado Auditors Voice Concerns On Medical Marijuana Regulation
Despite the delay in establishing a regulatory system for recreational marijuana, the industry for medical marijuana in Colorado is absolutely booming. Colorado may have the largest medical marijuana system in the United States with close to 1,440 dispensaries, grow centers, and marijuana infused-product businesses statewide. Even still, state auditors released a report on Tuesday, March 26th, that highlighted numerous flaws in the enforcement of Colorado’s medical marijuana system – a responsibility that falls on the state’s Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division (MMED), a unit of the Department of Revenue. According to the report, the short fallings of the division involve everything …
Entrepreneurs Lay The Blueprint For Future MMJ Business Owners
At the recently held Northeastern Cannabusiness Symposium in Boston, an extensive range of players from the medical marijuana industry spoke to an audience of journalists and hopeful entrepreneurs about the nature of “canna-business.” While yesterday’s article was focused around the inherent uncertainties of the medical marijuana industry, today we will discuss the benefits of entering this budding industry (no pun intended), as well as provide some examples of existing businesses that are thriving outside of dispensaries. “Fortune Sides With Him Who Dares” Although most businesses fail, statistics are in fact on …
The Risks Of Opening A Medical Marijuana Dispensary
As an aspiring entrepreneur looking to start a new business within the medical marijuana industry, it’s very easy adopting a glamorized and carefree outlook of the potential results. There are indeed many people that have made a decent amount of money from the industry; be it through dispensaries, selling marijuana infused products, merchandising, etc. However it would be foolish to think that a marijuana-related business cannot fail; the general rules of business still apply. There are a vast amount of challenges that one faces beginning with the application process, and even if you end up being so lucky as to …