cannabis

In Oregon, a new state law took effect Friday June 3rd, in an effort to crack down on illegal marijuana and hemp grows using water intended for legitimate agricultural operations. Alyssa Rash, with Oregon’s Water Resources Department, said there are now requirements for water haulers and suppliers to track to whom the water is going. “ ...

According to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, recreational-cannabis sales dramatically jumped last year. Citing the coronavirus lockdowns and protests for racial justice, OLCC says 2020 was a record year of business for the state’s marijuana industry. Tot ...

A Seattle cannabis farm owner was accused of operating a Ponzi scheme that took in $4.85 million from at least two dozen investors in Washington, Arizona, California and Texas.  Robert W. Russell, 60, of Duvall was charged by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission with civil violations of federal securities law.  ...

Earlier this week, the House of Representative passed a bill allowing banks to work with the cannabis industry.  Known as the SAFE Banking Act, the Secure and Fair Enforcement Act of 2019 passed 321 to 103.  However, with a mostly party-line vote in the Democrat-led chamber, the legislation faces an uncertain future in the Republican-led Senate.   ...

The Idaho House voted Thursday to kill the state’s hemp legislation after the Senate added amendments lawmakers say turned it into a decision to create a state plan for hemp rather than go with a federal plan yet to be released.  The full House accepted the recommendation of the House Transportation and Defense Committee not to agree with amendments added by the Senate.  The orig...

On Thursday, Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley and Colorado’s Cory Gardner (R-CO) led a bipartisan group of Senators, including Patty Murray, Ron Wyden, Jacky Rosen, Lisa Murkowski, Michael Bennet, Dan Sullivan, Kamala Harris, Rand Paul, Catherine Cortez-Masto, Kevin Cramer, Tammy Duckworth, Gary Peters, Bob Menendez, Angus King, Bernie Sanders, Edward J. Mark...

Legislation that would provide federal protection for financial institutions that serve state-authorized marijuana and ancillary businesses passed a U.S. House committee on Thursday.  The House Financial Services Committee voted 45-15 to advance the proposed bill after amending it to include provisions to provide a safe harbor for insurance companies and improve access of financial services to min

For the second year in a row, Oregon cannabis farmers have harvested more than a million pounds of usable marijuana.  The huge harvest (more than 453,592 kilograms) is again driving down prices for consumers and putting pressure on growers who aren’t getting the price they hoped for after a similar phenomenon in 2017.  Oregon’s...

Marijuana could take the next step toward joining pinot noir and craft beer on Oregon’s list of famous exports, under a proposal likely to go before state lawmakers in the New Year.  The Statesman Journal reports that the Craft Cannabis Alliance, a business association led by founder and executive director Adam Smith, is working with legislators to let Oregon start exporting pot to other legal-wee

Cannabis growers and extractors are invited to an unprecedented health and safety work shop later this week in Bend, OR.  Cory Stengel with the Oregon Farm Bureau Health and Safety Committee said there are some unique challenges when it comes to harvesting cannabis, especially when it comes to ergonomics.  ...