Policy

Marijuana in Michigan: What You Need to Know

While recreational marijuana use legalized in Michigan in 2018, legal frameworks are not expected to be complete until 2020. The state has had a medical marijuana landscape in place since 2008 however, so a thriving dispensary scene is already in place. In this article, we will look at the prevalence of cannabis use in Michigan […]

6th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo Brings Sold Out Crowd to Denver

The signing of the Farm Bill in late 2018 opened the floodgates for the hemp and CBD industry. According to analysts, this booming space will be valued at a whopping $10.6 billion within six short years. At the recent NoCo Hemp Expo in Denver, Colorado, a sold out crowd of 10,000 entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and […]

Marijuana in Minnesota: What You Need to Know

Cannabis legalization has been sweeping the United States, but the Midwest has been slow to change. Minnesota’s marijuana laws and medical marijuana program are somewhat progressive, but the legalization of recreational marijuana in the state won’t occur until 2020 at the earliest. In this article, we will take a look at Minnesota’s marijuana laws, recreational […]

What is the Ending Marijuana Prohibition Act?

The Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2019 was filed by Reps. Don Young (R-AK) and Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) on Thursday, March 7, 2019. Created to catapult cannabis into the mainstream market, the bill boasts a total of 39 co-sponsors, the names of whom you can view here. In addition to normalizing cannabis consumption and […]

Does The European Parliament Vote On Medical Cannabis Mean Anything?

It is easy to be cynical about the impact of international bodies on things like cannabis reform. First of all, such decisions are never fast – certainly not when shaking off policies that have been part of the lexicon since such organizations were founded. In the case of both the UN and the European Parliament, […]

Boston’s Marijuana Market: What You Need to Know

Every September, Bay Staters from all areas of Massachusetts gather in Boston for the annual Freedom Rally. Boston’s biggest event promoting cannabis legalization has helped steer Massachusetts in the right direction, what with residents voting to legalize the recreational use of cannabis for people aged 21 and older back in 2016. The law legalizing recreational cannabis in […]

What is the SAFE Act & How Will It Impact Cannabis?

Despite marijuana’s growing legality at the state level, the fact that it’s still illegal at the federal level poses major problems for both the banking and marijuana industries. The Problem With Cash-Only Cannabusinesses Federal illegality means that most banks are unwilling to perform transactions with marijuana businesses for fear of federal prosecution for crimes such […]

Who is Raphael Mechoulam & Why Is He Known as the Godfather of Cannabis

Giving someone credit for unearthing the cannabis plant’s medicinal powers is like trying to name the person who invented chocolate. Our ancient ancestors have been using weed to treat a whole host of ailments and medical conditions for thousands of years. Way back in 4,000 BC, weed was considered one of the “five grains” in […]

What is the Marijuana Justice Act?

The Marijuana Justice Act was first introduced by 2020 presidential hopeful, Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), in August of 2017. The bill is designed to federally decriminalize marijuana while promoting restorative justice for populations that are disproportionately affected by cannabis prohibition, such as people of color and low-income communities. Changes That the Marijuana Justice Act Would Enact […]

Where Innovators Meet Investors—The Annual Emerald Scientific Conference

Sunny San Diego hosted this year’s 5thannual Emerald Scientific Conference – one of the industry’s marquee events.  The Emerald Conference is a highlight in the increasingly crowded cannabis events calendar. This year’s conference was again San Diego where it has resided recently since the conference’s original inception in San Francisco in 2015. CFN Media caught up with […]

CannaVest: NCIA’s Institutional Capital Forum – Critical for Both Investors & Operators

Cannabis conferences are a great way to keep up with the latest industry trends and make valuable industry connections. While there are many different conferences to choose from, NCIA’s Seed to Sale Show has become a staple among cannabis professionals every year. Register for Seed to Sale Show Use Code CFN15 to Save 15% Prices […]

WHO (Barely) Moves The Needle On Cannabis Reform: But What Does This Really Mean For Investors?

The World Health Organization (WHO), the UN’s medical body, essentially, has issued its latest recommendations on how to deal with cannabis. The report, cautious and delayed since December, essentially states the obvious. Particularly given how many member states (and not just in the Western Hemisphere, let’s not forget) are jumping into the global cannabis market […]

Everything You Need to Know About the STATES Act

In January of last year, then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions, someone with a long record of opposing marijuana, rescinded the Obama-era Cole Memo. The Cole Memo essentially stated that the federal government would take a laissez-faire approach to enforcing federal marijuana laws in states where cannabis is legal. In response to this move by Sessions, Democratic Senator […]

Understanding The European Cannabis Industry

Europe as a medical cannabis market is opening in 2019. That is an easy prediction to make given all that is afoot. The European Parliament is debating the issue. That in itself is also pushing the UN. Individual countries across Europe have begun to make declarations, even if not so definitive as Luxembourg (see Switzerland, […]

Clearing the Smoke: The Science-backed Health Benefits of Cannabis

Being prescribed pot by a doctor back in the ancient times was not exactly a rarity. The cannabis plant’s medical history dates back to 2900 B.C. in China. It was also included in the U.S. pharmacopeia throughout the 1800s, prior to its classification as a ‘Schedule 1’ narcotic. Since the plant has been hailed for […]

How Will the Cannabis Industry Affect Alcohol Use?

Many stakeholders in the cannabis and alcohol industries are eager to see how and if marijuana legalization will impact alcohol consumption. Due to cannabis only recently becoming more accessible, the degree to which it affects alcohol use is still uncertain, but early studies and observations suggest that many people are reducing their alcohol intake in […]

Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: What You Need to Know

Cannabis is a hot topic nowadays. The plant has broken free from the ‘stoner stereotype’ that plagued pot’s reputation for so long. Here we are in 2019 and the plant has been legalized for medical use in 33 U.S. states, not to mention other countries around the world with varying levels of restrictions. From Argentina, […]

The Impact Of “Novel Foods” On Cannabis In Europe

In late December, the news that the Austrian Minister of Health ordered businesses to immediately stop selling CBD infused food and cosmetics is a sign that this much heretofore misunderstood if not muted discussion is very much in the room not only in Austria, but also across Europe. A Brief History of The Modern European […]

How Cannabis Businesses Can Expand into Cannabis Oil

Branching out into cannabis oil is a good idea, whether you’re starting from scratch or expanding an existing product line. Sure, big-name companies like Canopy Growth Corp., Tilray and Cronos Group are dominating the legal weed market in many aspects, but this doesn’t mean that a small-scale cannabis oil business can’t reap rather generous rewards […]

What’s Happening with Cannabis Reform in Asia?

It has taken a few years for cannabis reform to begin to enter Asia. However, momentum is clearly picking up. In the middle of December 2018, New Zealand announced its plans to legalize recreational use in 2020 during the country’s general election. As such, the country may well become the third country in the world (after […]

Cannabis Trends to Watch in 2019

The following post was originally published by MAZAKALI. 2019 is poised to be a monumental year for the cannabis plant. The recent passage of the Farm Bill as well as sweeping changes across the most populated countries on earth are but two of the many reasons for this optimism. This comes off the heels of big […]

Cory Gardner Aims to Pass Cannabis Reforms in Senate

Forget the hemp reform promised by the federal Farm Bill for a second, although that is a tall order. The bill sets national agricultural, nutritional, conservation and forestry policy for the country twice a decade. Allowing hemp to be grown legally, nationally, in every state for the first time since the Great Depression is certainly […]

The Case for Parity Between Alcohol & Cannabis

Alcohol is a known carcinogen that has been directly linked to many chronic health conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, and liver disease. While cannabis has been shown to be much less harmful, and a potential alcohol-substitute, recreational consumption was only recently legalized with the passage of the Cannabis Act in October 2018, and it still […]

Massachusetts Celebrates First Week of Adult-Use Cannabis Sales

Massachusetts has finally gone green. After two years of anticipation, legal adult-use cannabis sales began on Tuesday and business is booming; according to analysts, consumers purchased over $440,000 worth of flower, concentrates, edibles, and topicals on that day alone. It was a day met with enthusiasm, despite cold and rainy conditions, with thousands of people […]

Cannabis Rising: 3 States Legalize Cannabis & Sessions is Out

Cannabis stocks soared higher after a solid turnaround during the mid-term elections and the sudden departure of Jeff Sessions as Attorney General. The Horizons Marijuana ETF (TSE: HMMJ) rose more than 11 percent since November 5 and many U.S.-focused cannabis stocks moved even higher following the news. Voters Relax Cannabis Laws Michigan voters approved a […]

California’s ‘Cannabis Appellation’ Plans Aim to Set It Apart

The cannabis industry is projected to reach $75 billion by 2030, according to Cowen & Co., driven by the legalization of medical and recreational cannabis across a growing number of states. With federal legalization a near-term possibility, the market could soon be dominated by so-called Big Cannabis—likely tobacco companies moving into the space and growing […]

How Cannabis is Already Replacing Opioids for Pain Management

It has long been known medical cannabis helps with pain management. From acute sharp short term pain, to chronic, deeper more long lasting pain, multiple studies have shown cannabis can replace opioids for pain management and help suffering patients live more normal lives. However, as we know, when it comes to cannabis in the United […]

Will Albania’s EU Membership Be Scuttled by Domestic Cannabis Production?

Cannabis has now entered the highest levels of the European Union’s political debate. So much so that production (albeit of the illicit kind) in one country, Albania, is now being used by some members of the EU in Brussels to refuse the country’s bid to join the economic union. Most notably the loudest objections are […]

CFN Media Enhances its LA Studio for Exclusive Interviews and CFN Weekly Show

CFN Media Group (“CFN Media”, “CannabisFN”), the leading agency and financial media network dedicated to the worldwide cannabis industry, today announced the enhanced launch of its Los Angeles-based studio for filming exclusive executive interviews and its CFN Weekly Show. The company soft launched the studio earlier this year, filming exclusive client interviews and early episodes […]

New West Summit Will Feature Celebrity Guest Speakers & Cannabis Career Fair

The fourth annual New West Summit will take place between October 11 and 13 in Oakland at the Marriott City Center. The conference brings together the best and brightest international cannabis entrepreneurs, thought leaders, investors, and innovators, with over 100 exhibitors, 50 panels, 150 speakers, an investment symposium, and a career fair. Organizers expect more […]