MMJ Business Daily

Philadelphia mayor: Sell legal rec cannabis via state-run liquor stores

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney endorsed legalizing recreational marijuana in Pennsylvania, saying it should be sold through state liquor stores instead of private retailers.

Such a move would severely limit the business opportunities for entrepreneurs wanting to enter the retail side of the market. It also would put the state in charge of sales.

“We have the perfect system to set up the legal recreational use of cannabis through a controlled state store system, allowing the state to capture all the income that is going to the underground,” Kennedy said on WHYY’s “Radio Times.”

He added that

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Philadelphia mayor: Sell legal rec cannabis via state-run liquor stores is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Denver issues proposed rules for social marijuana use

Denver, which could become the first major U.S. city to allow cannabis consumption at mainstream businesses like restaurants and clubs, has put forward proposed rules to govern places that want to allow marijuana use on their premises.

The proposed regulations – which were issued by the head of the city’s Department of Excise and Licensing – won’t be finalized until June, and the department will start accepting applications in July from companies that want to allow MJ use, the Denver Post reported.

The change is a result of the success of Initiative

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Denver issues proposed rules for social marijuana use is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Week in Review: Vermont OKs rec, judge sides with cannabis businessman & Florida lawmakers fail to set MMJ rules

By John Schroyer, Omar Sacirbey and Bart Schaneman

Vermont legislators legalized recreational marijuana, a judge rules in favor of a cannabis businessman at odds with San Diego’s prosecutor, and Florida lawmakers miss their deadline to set regulations for the state’s MMJ market.

Here’s a closer look at some notable developments in the marijuana industry over the past week.

Vermont wades into rec

If Vermont Gov. Phil Scott signs an adult-use legalization bill passed by the Legislature, he would open a limited number of MJ business opportunities. He could also pave the way for commercial rec marijuana sales in a

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Week in Review: Vermont OKs rec, judge sides with cannabis businessman & Florida lawmakers fail to set MMJ rules is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Cannabis testing lab Steep Hill clinches $2 million funding

Steep Hill Labs has finalized a $2 million private investment round, funds the marijuana testing company plans to use to scale up its operations.

Jmichaele Keller, CEO of California-based Steep Hill, said in a news release that an investor from a traditional money manager role on Wall Street invested $1.5 million of his personal funds into the company.

Steep Hill has grown over 30% with the addition of 10 new positions since the beginning of the year, according to the release.

The company has been expanding its national and international footprint. Aside from California, Steep Hill also has

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Cannabis testing lab Steep Hill clinches $2 million funding is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Two Florida universities get initial OK to grow hemp for research

The University of Florida and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University would be allowed to grow and cultivate industrial hemp under a bill passed by the Florida Legislature.

Once the governor signs Senate Bill 1726, the schools are authorized to enter a pilot project to research the commercial prospects for hemp in rural areas of the state, the Medical Marijuana Business Association of Florida (MMBAF) said in a news release.

The schools would conduct the research under the guidance of the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services.

The research is intended to determine:

• Agricultural opportunities for hemp cultivation
• Best practices for growing,

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Two Florida universities get initial OK to grow hemp for research is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Vermont lawmakers OK rec marijuana, home growing

The Vermont Legislature has become the first in the nation to approve a bill that would legalize the use and home cultivation of recreational cannabis, a move that ultimately could pave the way for a regulated commercial market in the state.

The milestone came after House lawmakers voted Wednesday to approve a legalization proposal written by their colleagues in the Senate. It now goes to Gov. Phil Scott, who is leery of legalization and has not said whether he will sign the measure, the Burlington Free Press reported.

If Scott does indeed sign the bill, the measure would

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Vermont lawmakers OK rec marijuana, home growing is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Cresco, Kiva Confections partner to sell MMJ edibles in Illinois

Medical marijuana grower and processor Cresco Labs has struck a partnership with edibles makers Kiva Confections to sell the California company’s infused chocolate products in Illinois.

Illinois-based Cresco said in a news release the Kiva merchandise will join Cresco’s existing line of MMJ edibles, which includes cannabis-infused sweets created by Chicago pastry chef Mindy Segal.

As a result of the partnership, five Kiva edibles – chocolate bars and chocolate-covered espresso beans and blueberries known as terra bites – debuted in Illinois dispensaries on May 3.

Kiva products are also sold in

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Cresco, Kiva Confections partner to sell MMJ edibles in Illinois is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Nevada medical marijuana businesses prepping for July launch of recreational sales

By John Schroyer
Now that Nevada has approved an early start to recreational cannabis sales, existing medical marijuana companies in the state are readying for a burst of new business – to the tune of tens of millions of dollars in additional revenue t…

Maryland MMJ commission has unpaid bill for application job

The Maryland Medical Marijuana Commission has failed to pay the lion’s share of a $2.6 million bill incurred in large part for hiring a third party to review a deluge of applications for grower, processor and dispensary licenses.

The unpaid tab adds to the problems that have plagued the rollout of Maryland’s MMJ program.

The Baltimore Sun reported the MMJ commission has paid just $150,000 of the total that Towson University’s Regional Economic Studies Institute (RESI) said it is owed. The $150,000 is separate from the bill for the application review process, according to RESI.

Maryland MMJ commission has unpaid bill for application job is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Canadian producer Tilray expands its cannabis export market

Tilray, a major licensed Canadian medical marijuana producer, expanded its international reach with recent MMJ exports to Cyprus and Chile.

Tilray, which is owned by Seattle-based Privateer, said its shipment to Cyprus consisted of Tilray drops, a medical cannabis extract product.

Tilray’s agreement with Chile calls for its MMJ products to initially be sold through pharmacies in the capital of Santiago.

According to the news release, Tilray’s deal with Chile marks the first time a licensed North American cannabis cultivator has succeeded in distributing THC products through pharmacies in the Americas. The company did

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Canadian producer Tilray expands its cannabis export market is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs