And the IRS is chomping at the bit.

There are numerous stoner-approved products on the market that could make a bigger impression than ever expected.

With holiday season fast approaching, it’s fair for people to wonder what gifts would make perfect surprises for the cannabis enthusiast in their lives.

Even though cannabis is legal in many locales in the U.S., no one wants to obnoxiously reek of weed whenever carrying it from point A to point B.

That’s when having a smell-proof container could certainly come in handy. Having something to safely stash cannabis that locks the smell in could avoid attracting unwanted attention, making it a must-have for stoners who take their goods to-go from time to time.

Another must-have tool in the arsenal of weed aficionados is a grinder that can be easily transported.

Connecticut approved an increased limit of mold and yeast allowed in medical marijuana at one of the state’s two cannabis testing labs through private emails last year, documents show.

At the request of AltaSci Labs, the state Department of Consumer Protection agreed to raise the total passing level of yeast and mold from 10,000 colony forming units per gram to 1 million per gram for the lab, according to August 2020 emails obtained via a Hearst Connecticut Media Group public records request.

New Mexico will provide business loans of up to $250,00 toward small-scale cannabis businesses in an effort to provide economic opportunity to communities that were hit hard by past criminal enforcement of marijuana laws.

The Regulation and Licensing Department on Thursday announced that the loan program is moving forward, after a legislative panel provided approval this week.

The New Mexico Finance Authority is planning for a $5 million line of credit for cannabis entrepreneurs, with average loan size of about $100,000. The application process is expected to open in February.

Loans would be available to qualified cannabis “microbusinesses” that are licensed to cultivate and sell marijuana from up to 200 plants at a single location, operating much like a craft winery or brewery.

That business niche was authorized in sweeping legislation to regulate and tax recreational marijuana sales, signed by Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham earlier this year. Recreational cannabis sales commence by April 1, 2022.

Now, the next time you’re in the middle of a smoke session with friends and the munchies hit, you can offer an explanation behind why it’s happening.

Having access to your favorite meals or snacks is essential to any successful session.  Most people are familiar with the concept of getting the munchies after consuming marijuana, but why they occur still remains a mystery to many.

Even though the munchies may seem like one of life’s unsolved mysteries, there are a few scientific reasons that can explain what causes it. Here are a few factors that help explain why people get the munchies after consuming marijuana.

The Role Sleep Plays in Bringing on the Munchies

Want to keep the munchies at bay? You may want to make sure you get enough sleep.  Numerous studies attribute an increase in appetite to a poor sleep schedule.

“We found that sleep restriction induced qualitative changes in food intake, biasing choices toward energy-dense options, without altering total calorie intake,” wrote researchers, adding that, “Our results further elaborate on the effects of sleep deprivation on the human brain, suggesting that neural processing of odors is enhanced in primary olfactory brain areas after sleep restriction.”

Taking this into consideration, getting a full night’s rest could be instrumental in helping to ward off the munchies.

Cannabis company stock prices have taken a nearly year-long hit that some investors might describe as extreme considering the potential for federal marijuana legalization in the foreseeable future. Now, companies in Pennsylvania have more potential bad news coming down the pike from the state's department of health.

Failure to comply with a new order from the state agency could result in suspension or revocation of cannabis operator licenses. Two marijuana producers with a heavy concentration in The Keystone State are Jushi Holdings (OTC: JUSHF), and Trulieve Cannabis (OTC: TCNNF), both of which sell vape products in the state.

Etain is an oasis of calm in midtown Manhattan.

When thinking of weed dispensaries, especially in light of the relatively recent legalization of recreational marijuana in the state of New York, thoughts don't necessarily drift to soothing, spa-like destinations offering the sort of calm that is usually associated with self-care. And, yet, that is exactly what Etain, the only cannabis dispensary in New York that is owned by women, feels like. (In Irish mythology, Etain is a Gallic goddess who represents women in a transformational capacity.)

The Minnesota Department of Health said Wednesday it’s not approving anxiety disorders as a qualifying condition for medical marijuana, unlike neighboring North Dakota and three other states.

State Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said there’s not enough scientific evidence of benefits of medical cannabis use when compared to the possibility of “unintended consequences.” No new conditions will be added to the existing list of 17 qualifying health issues.

“We received many comments from health care practitioners treating patients with anxiety disorder, and they urged us to not approve it as a qualifying medical condition,” Malcolm said.

North Dakota added anxiety disorders to its accepted uses two years ago, when it immediately became the most commonly cited condition.

“Expanding delivery methods to gummies and chews will mean more options for patients who cannot tolerate current available forms of medical cannabis,” Malcolm said.

With the legal sale of recreational marijuana set to begin Jan. 1 across Montana, Lake County residents are being asked to weigh in on whether to impose a local tax to benefit county and city governments.

Lake County commissioners on Monday unanimously approved a resolution to hold a special election to determine whether a local-option tax of 3% will be implemented beginning in July. Commissioners produced the resolution after the county’s three municipal governments — Polson, Ronan and St. Ignatius — agreed to hold the vote and contribute to the cost of the election.

The county estimates local governments could collectively take in $180,000 annually if voters approve the tax. That number was derived by taking a Missoula estimate and adjusting for population, so actual revenue could be much higher or lower.

The county will hold a public hearing on marijuana sales in January, and the special election is expected to occur in early April. If approved, the tax would go into effect July 5 to coincide with the start of a new fiscal year.

After deciding to seek approval for a local marijuana tax, commissioners also had to decide whether to apply the same tax to recreational and medicinal sales. They settled on a ballot with separate questions regarding medicinal and recreational sales. Commission Chairman Bill Baron said he favored addressing the two types of sales as one. However, commissioners Gayle Decker and Steve Stanley supported the two-question ballot.

A marijuana cultivator and producer in Washoe County could lose its license after it avoided paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes, according to a complaint filed by the Cannabis Compliance Board this week.

NNV Operations I, INC, which operates under the name Silver State Trading, had numerous unpaid or underpaid wholesale marijuana taxes to the Department of Taxation dating back to June 2019, according to the complaint filed by the board. The state collects a 15 percent wholesale cultivation and production tax on marijuana in the state.

As deputies went to investigate a fight in rural Oklahoma, they said a man was found being held against his will for three months at an illegal marijuana operation, according to media reports. It led to charges against three individuals, who Garvin County officials say would not let the victim leave on his own. “He claimed to fear for his life,” Garvin County Sheriff Jim Mullett told the Pauls Valley Democrat. “He claimed they had kidnapped him and forced him to keep working.” Several people called 911 on Nov. 29 about a man being dragged on the road in Elmore City, which is about 65 miles south of Oklahoma City, according to KWTV. The victim was trying to escape the facility with a bag of personal items, KXII reported. “They’re in the middle of the road, they’re fussin’,” one called told dispatchers, KWTV reported. “They’re trying to drag him back in the yard.” Cyber Monday Sale Unlimited digital access - $6 for 6 months CLAIM OFFER When deputies entered the residence, they found nearly $2 million worth of marijuana, along with firearms and cash, KXII reported. It was deemed an illegal operation, as it was not properly registered with the state, the TV station reported. The victim said he was forced to stay at the facility so the three suspects could “extort money from a wealthy family,” KWTV reported. He was not allowed to leave unless he was with someone else, the Pauls Valley Democrat said. Xiaobing Chen, Xuechun Ruan and Quan Zhao each faces charges of kidnapping, illegal drug trafficking, possession of guns while committing a felony and other drug charges, according to media reports. They are being held at the Garvin County jail without bond, jail records show.

Union Springs. Hogansburg. Kill Buck.

Brad Kotansky, CFO at Copperstate Farms, will serve a two-year term on the ADA board and represent the local cannabis business community

Copperstate Farms Management, LLC, a vertically integrated cannabis operator based in Arizona, today announced Chief Financial Officer, Brad Kotansky, will serve on the Arizona Dispensaries Association (ADA) board of directors. The incoming 2022 board members will lead the organization into the state’s second year of adult-use legalized cannabis.

Many people associate cannabis with eco-friendly, counter-cultural movements, but we know the environmental impacts of the cannabis industry are significant. Given the climate crisis, cannabis production companies have a responsibility to ensure future demands of the industry are met in an environmentally sustainable way. We also know that as the world is seeing the impacts of climate change, consumers are changing their spending habits 1. As a result, companies also have the financial incentive to seriously consider implementing more environmental policies, to align their interests with the interests of consumers. Unfortunately, restrictions on cannabis research and the legal industry create barriers to implementing many environmentally friendly alternatives in production.

Cannabis, in all its forms, is more prevalent and accessible than ever before in this country. Still, it often seems that much of its story is mysteriously unknown. Health studies are still very new, and it sometimes may seem that the plant had no relevant history before the 1900s.

As cannabis becomes more prevalent, perhaps it’s time to discover the lesser-known facts about this iconic plant to help understand what exactly makes cannabis so interesting and important. Here are eight fun facts you may not have known about this elusive organism we call weed.

Cannabis Dates Back Thousands of Years

It is easy to assume marijuana cultivation began in fairly modern times. However, the first recorded use of cannabis dates back thousands of years before The United States was even an idea. 

Cannabis was mentioned in the sacred Hindu texts known as The Vedas, estimated to have been produced around 2000 to 1400 B.C. Woven hemp fibers were even discovered at a burial site in Taiwan that date back 10,000 years.

As marijuana becomes legal for recreational use, its retail popularity is skyrocketing. In the last few years, marijuana dispensaries have become more plentiful than Starbucks and even McDonalds in some areas.

A group of Missourians have launched a campaign to legalize recreational marijuana in the state.

Legal Missouri 2022 is working to get a measure on next year’s ballot to legalize recreational marijuana. At least 18 states, including Illinois, have legalized recreational marijuana.

Medical marijuana is legal in Missouri. Currently, more than 146,000 Missourians have patient or caregiver licenses for medical marijuana.

“There’s a Republican bill in the House. There’s a Democratic bill in the House. There’s a state ballot initiative. There is a yearning for this to happen in the state of Ohio”.

State Representative Terrence Upchurch lays it out plainly. He co-sponsored the Democratic bill that’s been introduced in the House. He says it’s a great opportunity for Ohio, but there’s also a threat if the state doesn’t join the 19 others that have reaped the benefits.

“What I don’t want to see happen is we begin to lose business, our population continues to decrease, and we lose out on huge economic opportunity because we’re still lagging behind.”

Thirty cities in Ohio have taken a step forward by decriminalizing misdemeanor cannabis possession. That means having smaller amounts is no longer an arrestable or fineable offense.

Decriminalization is not new or innovative. Twenty-seven other states have done this. The maneuver protects users, but it doesn’t do anything to regulate or monetize the usage.

Law enforcement can't keep up with drug traffickers growing marijuana in national forests, who poison wildlife, siphon water, and risk wildfire.