capitalism

British Columbia cracks down on 'gray market' —even amid cannabis shortage

Posted on January 9th, 2019 by Global Ganja Report and tagged , , , , , , , , , .

VancouverIn a strange irony, Vancouver is shutting down its long-tolerated but unlicensed cannabis dispensaries, pursuant to a British Columbia high court decision upholding its right to do so—even as the province struggles to meet demand amid a dearth of licensed retail outlets.

Podcast: the dialectics of cannabis liberation

leafIn Episode 24 of the CounterVortex podcast, Bill Weinberg notes the historic strides toward liberation of the cannabis plant in 2018, from the fabled four corners of the Earth. Yet under capitalism, every advance also opens new contradictions.

CBD-only states: medical marijuana or not?

cannabisWith passage of the Farm Bill and removal of hemp-derived CBD from controlled substance status, big market growth is expected for the very chic and purportedly salubrious non-psychoactive cannabinoid. The law is a win for a nascent CBD industry that has been struggling to shake off the lingering stigma surrounding (psychoactive) cannabis. The effort to segment cannabidiol from "marijuana" is exemplified in the several states that now have "CBD-only" laws.

Cannabis stocks saw a buzzkill correction in 2018 —but investors hope for rebound

Posted on December 28th, 2018 by Global Ganja Report and tagged , , , , , , .

Shadow WatchFrom the "Tulip Mania" in 15th century Holland to the Bitcoin bubble of 2017, high hopes for a commodity's market performance can lead to unsustainable overvaluation inevitably followed by a painful correction. Many observers believe that cannabis fell prey to this phenomenon in 2018—but are hoping for growth in a more rational and realistic market in the coming year.

Will Farm Bill mean windfall for hemp-derived CBD?

Posted on December 20th, 2018 by Global Ganja Report and tagged , , , , , , , , , .

cannabisThe newly enacted Farm Bill contains language implicitly removing hemp-derived CBD from the controlled substances list, along with industrial hemp. A CBD industry that has been growing fast in a legal grey zone stands to grow faster in the light of legal clarity. Conflicting state laws and even federal regulations, however, could prove an obstacle to unfettered expansion.

Sticky buds but sticker shock as medical marijuana unfolds in UK

Posted on December 20th, 2018 by Global Ganja Report and tagged , , , , , , .

cannabisWhen the United Kingdom announced the historic step of rescheduling cannabis and allowing physicians to prescribe it two months ago, there was concern from patients and advocates as to whether actual herbaceous flower would be allowed, or only extracts. Now the first patient is approved to receive cannabis under the program, and it is indeed to be dried flower. The bad news: with the National Health Service barred by bureaucratic hurdles from providing it, patients are at the mercy of the market—and the price is prohibitive. 

Synthetic terpenes: industry short-cut to olfactory buzz

Posted on December 19th, 2018 by Bill Weinberg and tagged , , , , , , , .

cannabisTerpenes, the chemical compounds that give your herb its distinctive smell and flavor, are increasingly recognized as a vital part of the overall cannabis experience. But with the growing popularity of vape pens and concentrates, industry is now adding terpenes to products in an effort to recreate that whole-flower feel. These may come from plants other than cannabis—and some may even be synthetic.

Canadian cannabis shortage, bureaucratic confusion spark post-legalization reckoning

Posted on November 16th, 2018 by Global Ganja Report and tagged , , , , , , , , , .

CanadaNationwide cannabis shortages since Canada went legal last month are causing some provinces to rethink their distribution plans. Alberta has just announced that retail outlets will be barred from purchasing online but must place their orders manually to prevent the computerized system from being overwhelmed. Provincial authorities are struggling to break the logjam in the supply chain, and keep enough product in stock for those who purchase either online or from brick-and-mortar outlets.

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