THIS WEEK IN WEED
Walsh, Janey cut deal on marijuana licensing in Boston
The Boston City Council is poised to vote Wednesday on a historic ordinance authored by Boston City Councilor Kim Janey to completely overhaul the city’s process of picking prospective marijuana operators.
THIS WEEK IN WEED
Finger-pointing as marijuana producers pressure CCC to loosen lab testing rules
The state’s dispensaries insist the problem is a backup at the two Massachusetts labs licensed to conduct required tests on recreational marijuana for potency and contaminants.
THIS WEEK IN WEED
Legalized Sea Foods: New England-based chain launches marijuana-themed marketing campaign
The restaurant company said it’s launching a new marijuana-themed marketing campaign this week dubbed “Welcome to Legal.”
THIS WEEK IN WEED
Officials: Don’t get high on a boat
A sailboat floating off the coast on a hot, breezy summer day might sound like a perfect place to enjoy some marijuana. But state and federal officials are warning would-be stoned boaters to think twice before lighting up a joint at sea.
THIS WEEK IN WEED
A beloved cafeteria worker nicked his finger on a knife — and got fired for using marijuana at home
Sodexo’s decision to sack Leon Hagins after 13 years at MIT Lincoln Laboratory is prompting new calls for changes to state employment law.
THIS WEEK IN WEED
Follow the money in fight over Cambridge pot policy
For all the criticism leveled at Boston’s marijuana licensing process, at least the city is moving forward and approving pot shops, however slowly and haphazardly.
THIS WEEK IN WEED
VA denies Mass. veteran home loan over his legal marijuana job
The Revere veteran’s experience highlights one of the many ways that federal cannabis prohibition harms veterans who either consume or work in marijuana.
THIS WEEK IN WEED
State Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz wants money for equity in marijuana industry
Massachusetts Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz has proposed amendments to the state’s pending budget that would create a “Cannabis Social Equity Loan Trust Fund.”
THIS WEEK IN WEED
4/20 bump helped push Mass. recreational pot sales above $100 million
Total spending on recreational marijuana in Massachusetts since the debut of sales in November has topped $100 million in the run-up to the traditional “4/20” stoner holiday.
THIS WEEK IN WEED
CCC cheat sheet: Here’s what regulators discussed at last week’s meetings
The Cannabis Control Commission had two epic meetings last week. We can’t possibly cover everything that went down, but here are some key takeaways.
THIS WEEK IN WEED
This Massachusetts marijuana store gets almost half its business from New York
Why are people driving so far to a Massachusetts store when you can have pot easily delivered in NYC?
THIS WEEK IN WEED
In Massachusetts, people of color are the first to get arrested for marijuana — and the last to be licensed
So far, only five economic empowerment applicants have submitted applications to the commission, and none have opened for business.
THIS WEEK IN WEED
State judge: CCC lacks power over contents of local marijuana contracts
Essex County Superior Court Judge Timothy Feeley has agreed that state law does not grant the commission explicit power to review host community agreements.
THIS WEEK IN WEED
Recapping the 2019 North American Cannabis Summit
Even among public health experts who harbor serious reservations about doing so, the legalization (or at least decriminalization) of marijuana at the federal level is increasingly seen as an inevitability.
THIS WEEK IN WEED
Recapping the 2019 North American Cannabis Summit
Even among public health experts who harbor serious reservations about doing so, the legalization (or at least decriminalization) of marijuana at the federal level is increasingly seen as an inevitability.
THIS WEEK IN WEED
Marijuana legislation galore! Baker’s bill (and other marijuana legislation)
In Massachusetts, there have been a number of developments in the world of weed. We sum them up for you.
THIS WEEK IN WEED
Advocates, medical dispensaries poised to tussle over delivery, social consumption
Activists now believe there’s only one last chance for meaningful equity in the state’s cannabis industry: reserving delivery and social consumption (pot cafe) licenses exclusively for small, locally-owned businesses and participants in the equity and economic empowerment programs.
THIS WEEK IN WEED
A look back at the predictions we made for marijuana in 2018 — and how far off we were
Dan Adams took a look at the predictions he made for the industry in 2018. Spoiler alert: It wasn’t pretty.
This Week in Weed
Shaleen Title: Let’s talk about legalizing and regulating all drugs, not just marijuana
A senior Cannabis Control Commission official, Title argues the benefits of legalization aren’t limited to pot.
THIS WEEK IN WEED
Whatever happened to the guy who made the first legal recreational marijuana purchase in the US?
Five years ago, Marine Corps veteran and marijuana advocate Sean Azzariti made history by buying an eighth-ounce of Bubba Kush cannabis flower and a packet of pot-infused truffles.
THIS WEEK IN WEED
Somerville moves on equity for marijuana businesses
Somerville’s Board of Aldermen on Thursday unanimously passed a dramatic equity ordinance.
THIS WEEK IN WEED
McGovern: I’ll let House debate marijuana reform
For years, the US House’s Rules Committee was where proposed marijuana laws went to die. That’s about to change.
This Week in Weed
Patients fume as CCC punts on updating medical marijuana program
Marijuana advocates and marijuana companies frequently clash over cannabis policy in Massachusetts. So it’s worth paying attention when the two camps actually agree on something.
This Week in Weed
Alcohol industry sees its future in marijuana
The alcohol industry’s push into pot isn’t about freeing the plant or social justice or anything feel-good. This is about money.
THIS WEEK IN WEED
Cusack to Galvin: do your job
Massachusetts State Representative Mark Cusack has had enough.
THIS WEEK IN WEED
Social consumption — but how?
Under state law, social consumption licenses are banned by default at the local level.
THIS WEEK IN WEED
Boston inching forward
At each meeting of the Cannabis Control Commission, officials show a map of how many completed applications for recreational marijuana licenses have been submitted from each county in the state. Lagging behind? Suffolk County.
THIS WEEK IN WEED
New Jersey inspired by Massachusetts?
This week, we got our first look at the details of New Jersey’s proposed marijuana legalization legislation.
THIS WEEK IN WEED
Marijuana on the campaign trail
The vote on whether to legalize marijuana in Massachusetts happened nearly two years ago — but that doesn’t mean cannabis is receding as a political issue here.
THIS WEEK IN WEED
Doing the CCC’s homework
Of the 19 provisional licenses issued by the commission to date, at least 18 are connected to host community agreements with legally questionable provisions.
THIS WEEK IN WEED
Legislators re-ignite debate over local contracts
Here at TWIW headquarters, we’ve been fielding a steady stream of complaints about municipalities from marijuana operators and advocates.
THIS WEEK IN WEED
Somerville eyes local equity rules
One of the biggest obstacles to the state’s marijuana industry equity programs is the local licensing process facing cannabis companies. But officials in Somerville seem determined to forge a different path.
THIS WEEK IN WEED
CDX has an HCA
As you may know, Massachusetts pot industry executives have been freaking out about labs. To them, we’d like to offer this calming news: There’s a lab.
THIS WEEK IN WEED
Loooong moratoriums
It now seems Healey’s definition of “unconstitutional” is fluid, at least when it comes to marijuana. Her office told me Friday that it has given the OK for Mansfield, Mass. to keep a moratorium in place through June, 2019.
THIS WEEK IN WEED
Andrea Cabral envisions prison-to-pot-jobs pipeline
With Andrea Cabral as its chief executive, startup Ascend Cannabis plans to open a retail shop in Boston and growing facility in Athol.
THIS WEEK IN WEED
Mayor Morse wants more marijuana
Maor Alex Morse says he’s overseeing a renaissance of Holyoke, with new businesses and artists setting up in its long-blighted downtown.
THIS WEEK IN WEED
Can cannabis panel meet aggressive deadlines? Gaming chief has doubts
Steve Crosby knows a thing or two about starting up an agency to regulate a previously illegal business.
This week in weed
Goldberg aide atop cannabis commission?
Is the salary for the state’s top marijuana regulator too low?