News
Covid-19: Daily updates from the Cannabis Industry
Daily updates on how Covid-19 is impacting the cannabis industry of the US.
23 April 2020
Senators demand access to emergency loans, grants for legal small cannabis businesses
U.S. Sen. Kamala D. Harris and nine other senators sent a letter to Congressional leadership Wednesday on behalf of state-legal cannabis small business and indirect cannabis small businesses, according to a press release.
In the letter, the senators called for forthcoming COVID-19 legislative relief packages to allow those businesses to access loan and emergency grant programs administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration, a press release said.
Read in detail here.
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22 April 2020
Aleafia Health’s AssureHome Delivery Provides Fast, Direct-to-Door Medical Cannabis Supply
Aleafia Health Inc.’s AssureHome Delivery, a fast, direct-to-door delivery service in Canada, has launched next-day distribution of medical cannabis products.
Providing patients with fast and complementary service, the first Toronto deliveries were completed on April 21, 2020.
Read in detail here.
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21 April 2020
Predictions about the Current and Future States of the Cannabis Market
Already in 2020, we’ve seen cannabis businesses respond to the disruptions of 2019 by focusing on fundamentals, including operational efficiency, profitability, and corporate governance. These are hallmarks of a maturing industry that has learned a lesson and is moving forward.
Read in detail here.
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20 April 2020
Sales suggest cannabis delivery business thriving during pandemic
A Marin cannabis delivery company says strong sales show their products is one way people in the North Bay are coping with stress during the coronavirus pandemic.
Source: ktvu.com
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19 April 2020
Lawmakers Call For Marijuana SMB Inclusion In Next Stimulus Package
Members of Congress from both sides of the political fence are pushing for the marijuana industry to be included in the next round of government coronavirus relief funds and made a formal request in a letter addressed to House of Representative leaders Majority Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
Read in detail here.
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18 April 2020
Why April Will Be a Big Test for the Cannabis Industry
March was a strong month for pot sales. As the coronavirus pandemic put consumers on edge, many people loaded up on cannabis, presumably in anticipation of prolonged stays at home. However, the data suggest that sales surged during the first half of the month, while sales began to decline toward the end of the month.
Some industry experts went so far as calling pot "recession-proof" and similar to alcohol in its resiliency.
Read in detail here.
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17 April 2020
City of Sonoma’s cannabis license process on track
The City of Sonoma’s process to select two retail cannabis dispensaries to operate in the city limits is underway, and city officials this week announced that 10 cannabis businesses had applied for the two business licenses — one for a walk-in storefront dispensary, the other a delivery-only operation.
It’s merely the first stage of the multi-step selection process in awarding the two commercial cannabis licenses as allowed by the city. Each application required an $11,000 processing fee.
Read in detail here.
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16 April 2020
This Cannabis Dispensary Chain Acquired Colorado’s First Delivery License Amid Coronavirus
Native Roots Cannabis Co. acquired the state’s first delivery permit from the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED) last month, 20 years after the state passed legislation for legal medical marijuana and eight years since it legalized cannabis for adult-use.
Read in detail here.
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15 April 2020
Marijuana lobby presses for coronavirus relief funds
The marijuana industry has already found help at the state level. Twenty states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are allowing medical cannabis dispensaries to remain open during the pandemic, and eight states allow both licensed recreational and medical cannabis dispensaries to operate. Cannabis groups are pushing for more states to allow legal marijuana markets to remain open and are seeking funds in state aid packages.
But the push for help from Washington, where the federal government still classifies marijuana as a controlled substance, has so far failed to make headway.
Read in detail here.
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14 April 2020
CLICK Announces Launch of Cannabis-Based Mouth Spray
CLICK™, a Southern California-based consumer lifestyle sublingual cannabis company, today announced that its inaugural line of sublingual cannabis-based sprays is now available at select dispensaries and delivery services throughout California.
Read in detail here.
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13 April 2020
Lightshade Will Host Virtual 4/20 Party
Lisa Gee, director of marketing and corporate social responsibility at Lightshade, says that planning began at the end of 2019. Because cannabis retailers are caught in a regulatory “gray area,” she says, Lightshade has taken a pass on sponsoring major community events. It’s easier to bring everything in-house and keep the spotlight on cannabis. They had big ideas for how to celebrate 4/20 this year, when the entire month of April would represent the industry’s favorite date.
Read in detail here.
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12 April 2020
Simple possession of marijuana decriminalized in Virginia, prior conviction records now sealed
Under newly-signed House Bill 972, simple possession of marijuana is decriminalized and a workgroup has been created to study the impact of legalizing marijuana.
Now in Virginia, being found with simple possession of marijuana holds a maximum civil penalty of $25, a huge decrease from the previous $500 maximum fine and upwards of 30-day sentences for first-time offenders.
But decriminalization of marijuana is different than legalizing marijuana.
Read in detail here.
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11 April 2020
Grapefruit USA, Inc. (OTCPINK “GPFT”) Reports 248% Revenue Growth Year over Year
Grapefruit USA, Inc., (“GPFT”, “Grapefruit” or the “Company”)) (OTCPink: GPFT) a California based cannabis company, is announcing today that in its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the SEC last Friday, the Company reported net revenues of $451,196, an increase of 248% over revenues of $181,502 for the year ended December 31, 2018, in January of which it was first licensed by California and commenced cannabis manufacturing and distribution operations.
Read in detail here.
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10 April 2020
Socially Conscious Cannabis Companies Are Seeding This Tough COVID-19 Era With Good Deeds
Citymeals on Wheels and its home delivery service became his beneficiary. The organization normally provides home-delivered meals to more than 18,000 frail, aged New Yorkers. In response to the crisis, it has delivered an additional 125,000 emergency meals and is preparing to deliver 200,000 more.
Read in detail here.
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9 April 2020
Cannabis, CBD Brands Feel Impact of COVID-19
Scott Riefler, chief scientific officer for CBD supplier SoRSE Technology, said his company has seen significant jumps in sales in the CBD space. He said consumer purchases were up and that there had been a 45% increase in B2B sales between February and March.
Read in detail here.
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8 April 2020
COVID-19 Impact on Cannabis Industry: Latest Study Predicts Medical Cannabis Market to Grow to $82.19 Bn & CAGR of 20.25% over 2020 to 2027
"The COVID -19 pandemic has put forth a demanding situation for players in Medical Cannabis Market. The widespread of the pandemic and the humanitarian toll taken by it is making it challenging for Market players to respond. This research study provides insights backed by our assessment of earlier emergencies and Market expertise."
Read in detail here.
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7 April 2020
COVID-19 And Marijuana: Can Cannabis Municipal Bonds Help Government Budgets?
Cannabis Based Municipal Bonds (CMBs) could offer governments and financial institutions a viable and creative way to aid in the recovery of lost revenues due to the COVID-19 pandemic, says a newly released report from cannabis and hemp advisory firm MPG Consulting.
Read in detail here.
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6 April 2020
Amidst The COVID-19 Pandemic: Interesting Findings From The US Cannabis Consumers
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused panic among the global population, but it has also altered the U.S. cannabis consumer’s buying preferences.
With items such as face masks, toilet papers, hand sanitizers, and food, being the most important during these times, which do you think they value more?
Let’s look at a survey conducted by AmericanMarijuana.org where 990 U.S. cannabis consumers participated.
Read in detail here.
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5 April 2020
DEA to Review Applications to Grow Cannabis for Research, After 4 Years Delay
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has finally announced, after nearly 4 years, that 37 applications to grow cannabis for medical research, will be evaluated, while proposing new rules for the prospective growers, thus outlining how the cannabis-growing program would work.
Read in detail here.
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4 April 2020
Recreational Marijuana Sales Stay High Despite Coronavirus
Despite a looming public health emergency and a statewide order shuttering nonessential retailers, legal sales of recreational marijuana in Illinois increased slightly in March compared with February, state regulators said.
Cannabis customers spent nearly $36 million, before taxes, at the state's pot shops last month. That represents an increase of more than $1 million compared with the prior month, according to figures from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. The figures do not include marijuana sold to medical cannabis cardholders.
Read in detail here.
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3 April 2020
How to conduct clean cannabis sales in the age of COVID-19
Dispensary owners must go beyond basic rules like latex gloves, to embrace the spirit of the all-out fight against SARS-CoV-2. Dispensaries have switched to serving customers outside the store, and limiting operations inside. Some are using no-contact infrared thermometers to check staff and customers for fever before store entry.
Read in detail here.
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2 April 2020
The Colorado Cannabis Industry Is Helping Restaurant Workers
"Restaurants were struggling with what was effectively negative fifteen percent unemployment. Qualified cooks could walk across the street and get a fifty cent per hour raise, and when cannabis called, they were getting a two to three dollar per hour raise,” recalls Kevin Burke, General Manager of Denver based restaurant Morin.
Read in detail here.
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1 April 2020
AOC Says Marijuana Dispensaries Should Stay Open During Coronavirus If Liquor Stores Can
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) said on Tuesday that states where liquor stores are considered essential businesses that can operate during the coronavirus outbreak should also be allowing marijuana dispensaries to stay open, for consistency’s sake.
In an Instagram Stories session, the congresswoman took questions from followers, including one person who posed the question: “Do you think dispensaries should be considered essential businesses?”
Read in detail here.
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31 March 2020
Cannabis Dispensaries in Illinois Remain Open, Change Protocols During COVID-19 Pandemic
At one such dispensary, Nature's Care in Rolling Meadows, the line stretched out the door on Wednesday afternoon. Customers stood far apart from each other in accordance with state and federal policies on proper social distancing during the pandemic, and upon entering the facility, all customers were told to wash their hands.
Read in detail here.
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30 March 2020
Executive order extends cannabis application deadline
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed an executive order Sunday extending the timeline for cannabis infuser, craft grower, and transporter license applications in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read in detail here.
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29 March 2020
Cannabis & Coronavirus Questions, Answered By Experts
As an increasing number of cities and countries are asking citizens to stay at home to fight the spread of coronavirus, people are confronting new-normal etiquette questions.
And if weed is legal wherever you're socially distancing, what are the rules around coronavirus and cannabis?
Read in detail here.
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28 March 2020
Marijuana sales up 50% in New York City amid coronavirus pandemic, dealer says
Despite recreational pot still being illegal here, New Yorkers are helping fuel the trend.
“Business is up a good 50 percent,” said one Manhattan dealer (who asked to remain anonymous). “I work in every borough except Staten Island, and people are very happy that my service is running. Customers are saying ‘Thank you’.”
Read in detail here.
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27 March 2020
Will COVID-19 Cause The US Government To Finally Treat Cannabis As A Medicine?
More recently, the debate on marijuana’s medicinal legitimacy has been front and center as states and cities struggle to cope with COVID-19 and hinder the spread of the virus. As the coronavirus sets in, more and more states, cities, and counties have shut down all commerce except that deemed “essential.” When it comes to medical marijuana, this definition has been put to the ultimate test.
Read in detail here.
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26 March 2020
Cannabis Companies and Suppliers Offer Help in Creating Medical Supplies for COVID-19 Response
In the wake of the COVID-19 global pandemic, U.S. and Canadian cannabis companies have a unique opportunity to aid those in need. Not only are their cannabis products increasingly being deemed essential by governments—but they also have the facilities, personnel and protocols already in place to fill the desperate need for medical supplies.
These three companies are using those advantages to help their communities.
Read in detail here.
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25 March 2020
Weed Sales at an All-Time 'High' as People Stock Up on Cannabis for COVID-19 Lockdown
Between March 16 and March 22, sales of recreational cannabis across key U.S. markets, including California, Colorado, Oregon and Alaska, were up 50% and medical marijuana sales rose 41% from the same period last year, figures obtained from cannabis point of sale and data platform Flowhub show.
Read in detail here.
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24 March 2020
California Deems Pot an Essential Coronavirus Business
Potheads panicked after California Gov. Gavin Newsom last week ordered all “non-essential” businesses to close and citizens to stay home except to perform essential activities.
Over the weekend Mr. Newsom told them to chill and that producing, selling and buying marijuana all qualify as essential.
Read in detail here.
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23 March 2020
No more 'sniffing of the flower' as Tucson pot dispensaries react to COVID-19
The “sniffing of the flower” is a thing of the past at some of Tucson’s most popular medical marijuana shops.
The ritual, in which would-be purchasers could take a whiff of the merchandise before buying, has been discontinued as dispensaries adopt precautions against COVID-19 while coping with a sudden rush of customers.
Read in detail here.
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22 March 2020
Business increases at Massachusetts cannabis dispensary due to COVID-19 pandemic
A Massachusetts dispensary has been practicing social distancing with customers as the demand for cannabis hasn’t slowed down during the coronavirus pandemic. Dispensaries are considered essential businesses and are have remained open during the lockdown.
Read in detail here.
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21 March 2020
Weed & Coronavirus: Is My Dispensary Open? Can I Order Weed Delivery?
The answer is a clear “yes” to cannabis users. So far, it seems that many state and local officials agree as many have designated dispensaries and delivery services “essential,” allowing them to remain operational while other retail, beauty, and exercise services are forced to close.
Read in detail here.
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20 March 2020
Cannabis sales, deliveries increase as Nevadans stock up on pot amid COVID-19 isolation
Eggs? Check. Milk? Check. Weed? Check.
Nevadans are stocking up on marijuana along with the rest of their goods as they self-isolate in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
While marijuana dispensaries remain open currently, both industry and state officials are encouraging consumers to order products remotely and have them delivered to their homes. State officials emphasized that shops are not allowed to have lines, waiting rooms filled with patrons or curbside service.
Read the full update here.
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19 March 2020
Cannabis Food Show, San Francisco and Chicago 2020 Postponed.
In the interest of addressing the health and safety concerns of our stakeholders the Executive Committee of Beverage Trade Network, Organizer of Cannabis Food Show in San Francisco and in Chicago has made the difficult decision to postpone the 2020 Cannabis Food Show to July 30, 2021 in San Francisco and August 4, 2021 in Chicago.
Read the press release here.
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