The Department of Justice has found no wrongdoing in AG Barr’s probes of cannabis companies.

Arizona shut down bars, gyms, and movie theaters on Monday, but medical marijuana remains essential.

The post Arizona, Florida dispensaries remain open during summer COVID-19 spikes appeared first on Leafly.

Ask Mister Manners, Thomas P. Farley: ‘Alexa Is Not A Person, Right?’

Mister Manners, Thomas P. Farley, is a nationally regarded expert who appears regularly in the media to discuss modern-day etiquette dilemmas.

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Move Over Epidiolex, Sativex Wants The Spotlight

Sativex (nabiximols) is a complex botanical medicine formulated from the extracts of the cannabis plant that contains the principal cannabinoids THC and CBD.

The post Move Over Epidiolex, Sativex Wants The Spotlight appeared first on The Fresh Toast.

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Retail cannabis sales in the United States are on pace to surpass $15 billion by the end of 2020, according to Marijuana Business Daily (MBD). That’s an increase of nearly 40 percent over last year. The site further reports that US sales of both medical and recreational marijuana might surge as high as $37 billion by 2023.

Keep in mind that COVID-19 has made financial projections a guessing game this year. But still, even with record numbers of unemployment, sales are reportedly booming in nearly every commercial cannabis market that’s not dependent on tourists.

The sales report notes the uptick coincides with government unemployment benefits being increased by $600 each week over the past several months. That extra money may be a factor in increased consumer spending, which may change once the additional funds are no longer distributed at the end of July.

Government stimulus programs in response to the pandemic are reportedly a wildcard when it comes to predicting cannabis spending trends. Regardless, even with 2020’s unprecedented circumstances, “the long-term potential of the cannabis industry remains intact,” according to the report.

New medical marijuana markets, such as Florida, Maryland, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania, are allegedly ablaze with sales. In Oklahoma alone, more than 8 percent of the state’s entire adult population is registered to legally use medical cannabis. As a result, Oklahoma is expected to bypass $1 billion in pot sales next year. So is Florida.

Sales in Illinois and Michigan, which both recently legalized recreational pot use, are reportedly slow-burning, but moving on an upward trajectory. Both states are projected to generate more than $2 billion from cannabis by 2024.

After dipping for quite some time, sales in the pioneering legal weed regions of Colorado and Washington are reportedly holding steady or slowly rising.

California remains a cannabis conundrum. Despite the massive market potential, issues regarding steep taxes, convoluted licensing frameworks, and over-regulation make it impossible for the legal industry to truly compete with California’s age-old illicit weed market.

That aside, California generated $3 billion in legal weed sales last year, a number that is expected to grow as businesses make sense of regulations and adapt to changing market dynamics.

Finally, the latest pot sales numbers seem to indicate that young people, as always, just “get it.” As Marijuana Business Daily reports: “While there’s no definitive answer, data suggests consumers from Generation Z – those born in 1997 and later – and consumers who continue to transition out of the illicit market and into the licensed, legal channel contributed to the growth.”

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From High Maintenance to Bill Maher to Anthony Jr. sneaking a joint at his confirmation party on The Sopranos, HBO has long been an outlet for 420-friendly entertainment. Now, HBO Max is teaming up with two major cannabis companies to release a limited-edition line of THC-infused gummies connected to its new animated series, Close Enough.

HBO partnered with Sunderstorm’s Kahna to produce these dope edibles, which will be sold in select dispensaries throughout California. You can also find them online through cannabis tech delivery service, Eaze. These limited edition gummies are available as of Monday, June 29, and will remain available through the end of July. 

Close Enough, created by JG Quintel of Regular Show, is a surreal comedy said to focus on “a married couple, their five-year-old daughter, and their two divorced best friends/roommates all living together [while] juggling work, kids, and pursuing dreams, while also avoiding time-traveling snails, stripper clowns, and murderous mannequins.” Edibles, indeed, sound like a perfect pairing for this whacky show.

The 10mg Close Enough gummies will come in four varieties. Each flavor and effect is inspired by a specific character’s personality, according to an official press release. 

Josh, for instance, the “cool dad, husband, and future world-famous video-game designer,” likes to chill, so he’s represented by indica strawberry gummies.

Emily, Josh’s wife, is a logical, organized, planner — basically everything her husband isn’t. She’s a loving mother and a strong working woman who aims to have it all. Obviously, she’s on that sativa vibe and depicted by a pineapple flavored gummy. Yum.

Alex is Josh’s neurotic best friend from high school. He lives in a walk-in closet of the apartment he shares with Josh, Emily, and others. He likes getting lost in thought, so he’s the embodiment of watermelon hybrid gummies. 

Then there’s Bridgette, a “glamorous” social media influencer — at least in her mind. “Working” is more of a hobby she squeezes in between partying. Bridgette is clearly a social butterfly, so she has to feel good, balanced and avoid getting too high. That’s why her gummies are the 1:1 THC to CBD pink lemonade gummies.

“It has been so thrilling for my team and I to create a campaign that feels so authentic to Close Enough,” said Peter Sherman, senior vice president of marketing at HBO Max. “When crafting any campaign, our aim is always to create an experience for the audience that feels genuine and exciting, and this partnership with Kanha hits the nail on the head. We’re so excited about this one and we can’t wait to see how fans react.”

Close Enough debuts on HBO Max on Thursday, July 9. You can order and eat Close Enough weed gummies any time you want to, though — at least throgh the end of July.

Study Suggests Women Are More Sensitive To THC Than Men

One theory that the researchers posed is that estrogen, a primarily female hormone, could influence the metabolism of THC.

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Enormous Tax Revenue Is Exactly Why The Feds Won’t Legalize Cannabis

State governments may gain money from legal cannabis, but the feds would actually lose money should prohibition end.

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The Link Between Flavonoids, Alzheimer’s And Marijuana

Researchers recently discovered that a diet low in flavonoid rich foods could hold one of the keys to the disease.

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