Maryland hit the adult-use ground running, with thousands of flower options across nearly 100 dispensaries. Here are some of the best strains we found.
The post 3 charming 85+ point Maryland flowers for summer 2023 appeared first on Leafly.
Germany has taken an important step toward cannabis legalization, with the release by the Health Ministry of the draft Cannabis Act (Cannabisgesetz or CanG). According to the Ministry, the bill seeks “to legalize private cultivation by adults for personal consumption as well as communal, non-commercial cultivation of cannabis in cultivation associations.” For more information on the context in which legalization is taking place, check out our earlier post, Germany Unveils Sweeping Cannabis Legalization Plan.
The CanG will serve as the first of two “pillars” upon which Germany is building its Cannabis-Projekt. “Regional pilot programs with commercial supply chains” are the next phase. According to the Health Ministry, these programs will impose “spatial restrictions to delivery points and adult residents of certain districts/cities in several federal states (opt-in approach).” This incremental 2-Säulen-Modell responds to the “tight EU and international legal framework” and follows consultations with the EU Commission. Germany has expressed its desire to see a “more flexible” EU framework.
The CanG allows individuals over the age of 18 years old to possess up to 25 grams of cannabis for personal use. It also permits home cultivation by German residents, setting a limit of three plants per adult in a household. Seeds may be imported from within the EU. The new law also provides for the formation of cultivation associations (Anbauvereinigungen). These associations will be allowed to provide their members with up to 25 grams of cannabis per day or 50 grams per month. In addition, members may also receive seven seeds or five cuttings per month. State governments can cap the number of associations in a particular district at one per 6,000 residents.
This first step by Germany is an important one and could well pave the way for further legalization within the EU. Going forward, it will be interesting to see how the regional pilot programs are structured, and the opportunities that it might present to cannabis businesses. While the Teufel when it comes to these programs will be in the Detail, this is the right time start laying the groundwork for a successful entry into the German market.
We are not quite at the point where cannabis entrepreneurs need to start interviewing Berlinese budtenders, but canna businesses can start analyzing the market, familiarizing themselves with relevant German legislation, vetting potential business partners, registering their trademarks, and deciding which Bundesliga team jersey they want their logos to adorn. Träume groß!
The post Germany’s Cannabis Act appeared first on Harris Bricken Sliwoski LLP.
Key dates for Cannabis Cups in the US and beyond.
The post Calendar of top cannabis contests 2023—July update appeared first on Leafly.
Kandy Boy is excited to bring an exclusive offer just for Leafly readers. They’re giving away a free house THCA pre-roll, a $9.99 value, for just one single dollar to cover shipping. All you need to do is input your first name and email address on the Kandy Boy website and then use the code LEAFLYGAS at checkout. Then, bam, you’re on your way to a Platinum Zkittlez THCA pre-roll shipped right to your door.
The post Free hemp THCA pre-roll from Kandy Boy appeared first on Leafly.
An independent, expert review of CBD flower.
The post Lingon Berri CBD—JAXON, Oregon, 2023 appeared first on Leafly.
The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) issued a bulletin Monday, July 7 stating that its enforcement efforts related to the April DDE contamination alert had been wrapped up. Earlier this year, in April, a slew of Okanogan county licensees’ cannabis products tested “hot” during the Washington Department of Agriculture’s (WSDA) random testing for dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (“DDE”). DDE is a derivative chemical that forms following the breakdown of the infamous “DDT” (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) that was widely used in the U.S. as a pesticide until it was banned in 1972.
Initially the WSLCB placed administrative holds on 18 licensees and performed additional testing on their cannabis products as well as on soil and water in the area. Ultimately, five licensees had administrative holds remain on their licenses, which have now been removed. According to the WSLCB, the further testing resulted in 61 of 108 products testing positive for DDE above the action limits. Those products have been identified, holds placed on them, and the WSLCB will work with the licensees to destroy them. If you are interested in the state’s interactive map showing pesticide testing results, it’s here.
Washington enacted a pesticide and heavy metals testing regime for cannabis in March of 2022. The pesticide action level rule lists 59 allowable pesticide compounds and their acceptable thresholds that cannabis products must be screened for before they can be sold. DDT and its derivative DDE are not on the list of compounds that are screened for. The WSLCB acknowledged this in its alert that “state-certified cannabis-testing labs are not required to screen for DDE among the 59 pesticides included in mandatory testing because DDE contamination above actionable levels has not emerged elsewhere”.
When I wrote about this at the time, I criticized the state for not having placed DDT/DDE on the list of 59 compounds which all cannabis products are screened for. That may seem like Monday morning quarterbacking, but I found it justified because of the widespread historic usage of DDT in Washington. The compound’s extended half-life gives it a propensity to sit latent in soil and reemerge years after use makes that particularly true.
As mentioned above, the WSDA was responsible for catching the DDE contamination, not a certified lab. That’s because the mandatory screening procedure for all cannabis doesn’t include DDT/DDE testing. The WSLCB has not said whether DDT/DDE will be added to the mandatory chemical screening. From the tone of the WSLCB’s bulletin, it sounds like certified testing labs in the state just don’t have the equipment to test for DDT/DDE contamination. Adding it to the list may be out of the question at this time. We know that there is a scarcity of testing labs in the state that are equipped to handle the mandatory testing as it is.
That is cause for concern. As it stands now, the WSDA may be the only agency capable of testing cannabis for DDE and the use of DDT in the state was not limited to Okanogan county. It seems like a similar situation involving DDE or another legacy contaminant could surely happen and go unnoticed after the product is on the market. It would be nice to know that all cannabis products were being screened appropriately for contaminants, instead of hoping the WSDA catches it before too many people use contaminated cannabis. Issues like this are almost impossible to avoid entirely, but catching the problem early through mandatory screening seems like the only practical solution.
I stand by my earlier criticism, but the WSLCB deserves some credit for doing their best here. Mounting an effort to test all of the potentially contaminated cannabis, soil and water as necessary to ensure consumer safety was no small task. The fact that initial results seem to have resulted in 2/3 of the licensees’ administrative holds being removed fairly quickly and all remaining administrative holds now being lifted, is impressive. Most importantly, it doesn’t sound like anyone was seriously injured and the WSLCB appears to have done a good job of mitigating any damage.
The post Washington’s Cannabis DDE Contamination Issue Resolved, For Now appeared first on Harris Bricken Sliwoski LLP.
Read this month's biggest news on CBD and delta-8.
The post US reprimands makers of counterfeit snacks laced with delta-8-THC appeared first on Leafly.
