MMJ Business Daily

Proposed medical cannabis rules in North Dakota cause a stir

Medical marijuana activists that successfully got MMJ legalized in last year’s election are threatening to run another ballot measure if state lawmakers stand by proposed regulations that would ban smokable marijuana for most patients.

A bill approved by the state Senate would prohibit smoking MMJ unless “a physician finds no other form of marijuana would help,” the Associated Press reported. That was changed by a House committee, but the bill still would require a medical recommendation in order for patients to legally smoke medical cannabis.

The same committee has made more than 40 amendments to the bill that

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Proposed medical cannabis rules in North Dakota cause a stir is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Week in Review: Pro-cannabis bills in Congress, Canada rec legalization & Ohio’s testing plans

By John Schroyer, Omar Sacirbey and Bart Schaneman

Federal lawmakers introduce a slew of pro-marijuana bills, Canada eyes legalizing adult-use cannabis by July 2018, and concerns crop up over a little-known provision in Ohio’s MMJ law.

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

Congress tries again

Thursday’s news that seven bills were introduced in Congress to reform national cannabis laws was greeted with exultation from many in the industry. But the reality is that every bill is probably a long shot.

Massachusetts cannabis attorney Bob Carp, an expert on Congress,

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Week in Review: Pro-cannabis bills in Congress, Canada rec legalization & Ohio’s testing plans is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Argentina’s Senate votes to legalize medical cannabis

Argentina’s Senate voted unanimously to legalize medical marijuana, positioning the nation as the latest Latin American country with an MMJ program.

The Senate joins the lower house in approving the MMJ legislation. According to the Business Standard, Argentina’s President Mauricio Macri is likely to sign the bill. It’s popular with patients and families and has cross-party support.

The legislation also removes a ban on the importation of cannabis oil, and Argentines will be allowed to purchase MMJ with a prescription, according to the Business Standard.

In Latin America, Argentina accompanies Uruguay, the first country

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Argentina’s Senate votes to legalize medical cannabis is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Canadian pharmacy chain to cover employees’ medical cannabis

The biggest pharmacy chain in Canada will begin covering medical cannabis for certain conditions under its employee health insurance plan.

Loblaw Companies Limited and its Shoppers Drug Mart unit made the announcement through a staff memo, The Toronto Star reported.

The move coincides with Shoppers’ application last October to become a licensed MMJ producer in order to sell MMJ through its 1,300 brick-and-mortar storefronts.

Shoppers, which is awaiting a decision on its application, does not plan to grow its own cannabis. The producer application “is an administrative requirement to be able to distribute the drug,” The Globe

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Canadian pharmacy chain to cover employees’ medical cannabis is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Seven pro-marijuana bills introduced Thursday in Congress

Seven pro-marijuana industry bills were announced Thursday morning by a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers in the House and Senate, suggesting that 2017 may be the year real reform gets through the Capitol.
The sponsors range from longtime marijuana in…

Financial snafu could slow Massachusetts’ rec cannabis rollout

The delays continue in Massachusetts’ quest to start a recreational marijuana program.

State Treasurer Deb Goldberg was awarded $300,000 by the state legislature to staff a cannabis oversight agency, but the money was sent to a reserve account that Goldberg can’t access, the Boston Business Journal reported.

The governmental misstep may further stall implementation of the state’s recreational marijuana industry.

Goldberg’s first request for funding for the Cannabis Control Commission was for $500,000, but the legislature awarded the treasurer only $300,000 from the governor’s supplemental budget, according to the Business Journal.

The governor approved the funding Tuesday,

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Financial snafu could slow Massachusetts’ rec cannabis rollout is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Groups working to develop standards for cannabis businesses

By Bart Schaneman

Cannabis trade groups, state officials and marijuana industry leaders are pursuing the development of standards and best practices covering organic certification, labor practices and energy use in a bid to further legitimize and professionalize the industry.

These efforts could bolster the marijuana sector’s image among consumers and produce economic benefits for MJ businesses.

Organic certification, for example, could allow cannabis companies to shore up consumer confidence about the safety of their products and allow businesses to set higher prices for such items – much like organic fruit and vegetable growers.

Standards governing ethical labor and business practices

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Groups working to develop standards for cannabis businesses is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

U.S. judge OKs medical cannabis donations to Illinois political causes

A federal judge struck down an Illinois law barring medical marijuana businesses and canna-centric political action committees from donating to political campaigns, a decision that could give the state’s MJ industry a bigger say in local elections.

U.S. District Judge John Z. Lee ruled Friday that a state law preventing MMJ businesses from donating to Illinois political action committees and candidates was unconstitutional, saying it violated First Amendment free speech rights, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

In his decision, Judge Lee said MMJ companies have as much right as any other business to make political contributions, according to

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U.S. judge OKs medical cannabis donations to Illinois political causes is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Canadian medical marijuana producer to open online store

Canopy Growth Corp., Canada’s biggest publicly traded medical marijuana producer, plans to launch an online store that will offer patients one-stop shopping for the company’s various brands.

The move sheds light on how Canadian cannabis companies could increasingly turn to the internet as a new approach to peddling their products, particularly as the country rolls out its new recreational market.

Consumers of Canopy’s three brands – Bedrocan, Mettrum and Tweed – currently must shop for each product on its respective website, CBC News reported.

But starting in mid-April, patients will be able to choose from among all three Canopy

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Canadian medical marijuana producer to open online store is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Utah governor signs bill allowing research into medical cannabis

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert signed off on a bill to allow research into the health benefits and risks of medical marijuana.

State lawmakers rejected a larger medical marijuana program before sending the research bill to the governor to sign over the weekend, the Associated Press reported.

The Utah Medical Association endorsed the research proposal, saying more exploration is needed before the state moves forward with a MMJ program.

Utah lawmakers have tried unsuccessfully to pass medical marijuana laws during the past three legislative sessions.

Cannabis advocates are pushing to add an initiative to the November 2018 ballot to

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Utah governor signs bill allowing research into medical cannabis is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs