New York City

Crackdown on cannabis 'gray market' in NYC

Posted on August 29th, 2023 by Bill Weinberg and tagged , , , , , , , , .

NYCThe long-promised crackdown on unlicensed cannabis sales is finally arriving in New York City. The permanent cannabis carnival in Washington Square has been cleared by the police, and unlicensed stores are being raided. Yet, in a bitter irony, obstacles to the licensed retail sector, including legal challenges, continue to mount.

Will raids of Empire Cannabis outlets be a test case for New York's MRTA?

Posted on July 13th, 2023 by Bill Weinberg and tagged , , , , , , .

NYCNew York City’s Empire Cannabis Clubs has been pushing the proverbial envelope on the possibilities for unlicensed dispensaries that still comply with the law. But raids on two of their Manhattan locations may provide a test case for the viability of this model.

New York initiates clampdown on unlicensed cannabis

Posted on April 26th, 2023 by Bill Weinberg and tagged , , , , , , , , , , .

NYCIn a paradox, New York authorities are finally unleashing the long-anticipated crackdown on the state’s legion and proliferating unlicensed cannabis retailers—while the licensing program continues to be slowed by obstacles, including legal challenges.

Global cannabis brand comes to Thailand —despite 'legal vacuum'

South East AsiaThe arrival of a major US multi-state operator in Bangkok is a sign of the global cannabis industry's big ambitions for Thailand, the first Asian country to decriminalize. But with enabling legislation still pending, the regulatory environment remains uncertain.

Litigation blocks issuing of retail cannabis licenses in New York

New YorkLegal action has blocked the issuing of several retail cannabis licenses in New York state, with a would-be entrepreneur arguing that equity measures favoring those with in-state cannabis convictions violate the US Constitution’s interstate commerce clause.

Hair producer Michael Butler passes on at 95

Posted on November 10th, 2022 by Global Ganja Report and tagged , , , , , , , .

HairMichael Butler, the Tony-winning producer who financed the 1968 Broadway sensation Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical, a key moment in the mainstreaming of the '60s counterculture, passed away Nov. 7 in Los Angeles at the age of 95.

New York: the taming of the 'Wild East'?

Posted on September 5th, 2022 by Bill Weinberg and tagged , , , , , , , , .

NYCNew York state is just now accepting applications for retail cannabis licenses. But the Big Apple already sees a thriving retail trade in cannabis products, from both storefronts and street stalls—more or less tolerated by authorities. What legal rights do these unlicensed operators have, and will they survive the imposition of the licensing regime?

Cannabis! A Viper Vaudeville traces history of plant and culture

Posted on July 20th, 2022 by Bill Weinberg and tagged , , , .

Baba IsraelNew York’s East Village this summer witnesses the world premiere of a multimedia extravaganza centered on the cultural politics of our favorite herb.

Five years in the making and twice postponed by COVID lockdowns, a theatrical concert dedicated to celebrating cannabis, and raising consciousness around the pant, has opened in New York.

Cannabis! A Viper Vaudeville uses music and projected images as well as dialogue to trace the journey of cannabis from the herblore of ancient India and China through bohemia, prohibition, counterculture and finally legalization.

Who's new

  • Baba Israel
  • Karr Young
  • John Veit
  • YosephLeib
  • Peter Gorman