Jelena Martinovic

Zinger Key Points Maine law enforcement has recently busted another illegal grow operation seizing 40 pounds (18 kilograms) of processed cannabis.

Zinger Key Points A restrictive medical cannabis bill passed by the South Carolina Senate in February got a hearing in the House.

Cannabis education is slowly paving its way toward entering medical schools with the research body growing exponentially over the past year. Simultaneously, there's a growing need for more knowledgeable medical cannabis experts nationwide as the stigma around the plant is fading and the therapeutic potential of cannabis in the U.S. is getting increasingly acknowledged. The University of Maryland School of Social Work (UMSSW) has teamed up with the School of Pharmacy to address the increased demand for more cannabis professionals. The collaboration resulted in a new dual graduate program - MSW and Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics Post Baccalaureate Certificate - for which UMB claims it's "only one in the country."

Zinger Key Points Pervasip's revenues of $3.34 million decreased slightly from 2023 first quarter revenues of $3.66 million.

Zinger Key Points Employees at Cresco Labs' Fall River, Massachusets-based cannabis cultivation operations have voted to de-unionize.

Grown Rogue International Inc. has increased ownership in its Michigan operations from 52.2% to 80% via two transactions valued at $2.8 million. The purchase price included $200,000 paid in cash and $2.6 million paid by way of four-year sellers' notes, the company said on Thursday. Grown Rogue boosted its ownership in Golden Harvests, LLC, the entity that controls its Michigan operations, operating out of an 80,000 sq ft facility containing roughly 15,000 sq ft of flowering bench space.

Zinger Key Points Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer listed a bipartisan marijuana banking bill as a priority in his chamber.

Zinger Key Points The group behind North Dakota's 2024 ballot measure to legalize recreational cannabis has been approved to start gathering signatures.

Residents of Lubbock, West Texas' largest city with 264,000 residents, are slated to vote next week to decriminalize local low-level marijuana offenses, making it yet another city in the Lone Star State, to do so. For a May 4 vote, which has been raising dust for months, Gov. Greg Abbott said it's not a way to make a change. Instead, he proposes reaching out to lawmakers, reported Marijuana Moment. "Local communities such as towns, cities and counties, they don't have the authority to override state law," Abbott, who previously said that marijuana possession alone shouldn't put anyone behind bars, said. "If they want to see a different law passed, they need to work with their legislators. Let's legislate to work to make sure that the state, as a state, will pass some of the law."

The Cannabist Company Holdings Inc. announced on Friday its latest expansion with Airo Brands, a multi-state cannabis company focused on proprietary, cutting-edge vapor delivery platforms and flavorful, high-quality oils, into Virginia and Pennsylvania. "Expanding into Virginia and Pennsylvania underscores our commitment to providing the highest quality products and demonstrates the precision and expertise of The Cannabist Company to create consistent experiences across multiple markets, which is critical for developing brand equity," Volley Hayhurst, vice president of operations at the New York-based company, said.