In the days of the Armada, a fleet of warships, the scuttlebutt was the rumor or gossip that would spread throughout the ship. Today, Armada Law Corp presents The Scuttlebutt, a daily summery of news articles that people within the cannabis, hemp and plant medicine industries are chatting about along with links to the full articles.
In today’s news:
California Task Force Seized More Than $312 Million in Unregulated Cannabis in 2023
#californiacannabis – “California regulators provided an update this week on enforcement efforts against the state’s unregulated cannabis market.
The California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) announced Jan. 16 that the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce (UCETF) seized more than $312 million in unregulated cannabis in 2023.
The task force, established in late 2022 to protect public safety, safeguard natural resources, and advance the integrity of California’s licensed cannabis market, seized nearly 190,000 pounds of cannabis and eradicated nearly 318,000 plants last year, according to Tuesday’s announcement. The UCETF also confiscated 119 illegally possessed firearms in 2023.
“California is effectively decreasing the illegal cannabis market by leveraging the strengths and knowledge of over 20 state agencies and departments alongside our local and federal partners,” DCC Director Nicole Elliott said in a public statement. “The UCETF’s progress in 2023 reflects California’s ongoing commitment to disrupting and dismantling illegal cannabis activity. I look forward to working with all our partners in 2024 to build on this progress.””
Read More: https://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/news/california-task-force-seized-unregulated-cannabis-2023/
Reality setting in for Arvin cannabis permittees
#californiacannabis – “What seemed like a good idea at the time may be turning into a bummer for a pair of would-be cannabis businesses in Arvin.
The city Planning Commission was scheduled to host public hearings Tuesday and then vote on whether to revoke conditional use permits belonging to two businesses that had proposed to cultivate, process and deliver cannabis. The meeting was postponed, however, because of a lack of quorum.
In both cases, the problem appears to be lack of progress. One of the businesses agreed it was time to terminate its project and move on, while the other reportedly missed a deadline and failed to respond to a city request for an update.
The situation has brought a harsh dose of reality to Arvin’s hopes of generating municipal revenue from a tax on legal marijuana in the city. Instead of earning millions of dollars per year in revenue, as officials expected years ago, Arvin’s single cannabis operator — 420 Kingdom — now generates roughly $500,000 per year for the city…”
An obscure California law is blocking UCLA, Stanford from studying drugs
#psychedelics – “California has long been a leader in studying drugs like psychedelics and cannabis. Schools like UCSF and UCSD have conducted groundbreaking drug research, and Bay Area technology companies are actively developing new psychedelic therapies.
But that leadership position is being put in jeopardy, thanks to an obscure government body that almost nobody has ever heard of.
The Research Advisory Panel of California, which is legally required to sign off on nearly every clinical trial on drugs in the state, has not met for nearly six months, delaying the review of “dozens” of new California studies on drugs including LSD and cannabis, according to “independent newsletter and community” Psychedelic Alpha….”
Read More: https://www.sfgate.com/cannabis/article/obscure-california-law-blocking-ucla-stanford-18613176.php
Theory Wellness Opens Boston’s First Employee-Owned Dispensary in Medford
#cannabisindustry – “The new store opening comes just weeks after the company announced that it has transitioned 100% ownership to its staff, making Theory the first employee-owned cannabis company in the Commonwealth and the largest in the country. Its new store in Medford will become Boston’s first employee-owned dispensary.
That’s not the only first either; Theory is also opening the world’s only cannabis beverage outlet located in the same building complex. As a rapidly growing category in cannabis, this beverage outlet will be focused on providing the largest selection of cannabis beverages at wholesale prices.
“We had a truly exciting end to the year, both with our transition to becoming employee-owned, and now with the opening of our flagship store and beverage outlet in Medford,” shared Brandon Pollock, co-founder, and CEO. “It’s been a rewarding journey, and our team has done an incredible job getting us here.””
Read More: https://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/news/theory-wellness-opens-dispensary-medford-massachusetts/