Marijuana - The Boston Globe

Two employees of pot firm NETA test positive for coronavirus, making workers question protocol

A worker at NETA's cultivation and processing facility has tested positive for the COVID-19, and other employees say the firm is failing to protect them.

FDA warns former NFL player Kyle Turley to stop claiming CBD can cure coronavirus

The Food and Drug Administration and Federal Trade Commission have taken enforcement action against former NFL player Kyle Turley’s CBD company over unsubstantiated claims that its products can be used to cure or prevent coronavirus.

THIS WEEK IN WEED
Getting a medical marijuana card is easier than you think
Sure, recreational marijuana shops are closed because of the coronavirus. But medical dispensaries are still open and, as I found out, getting your card is a breeze.

Mass. medical marijuana dispensaries to offer curbside pickup amid coronavirus outbreak

Vaping could compound health risks tied to coronavirus, FDA says

Vaping may leave users with underlying health conditions at higher risk of serious complications if they contract the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

Former NFL player Kyle Turley under fire for claiming CBD can cure coronavirus

Regional marijuana talks are helping coronavirus response, New York governor says

across the country

Marijuana legalization left out of New York budget, according to draft summary
The New York Legislature seems poised to eliminate a proposal to legalize marijuana through the budget this year.

Backers for Arizona initiatives, including marijuana legalization, want to gather signatures online

Ordered to close and excluded from federal aid, marijuana entrepreneurs staring down insolvency

Marijuana entrepreneurs already faced an expensive obstacle course to open their businesses. Now, deemed “non-essential” by the state and excluded from federal aid and bankruptcy protections, they say they're facing an existential threat.

The busiest pot shop in Massachusetts has halted recreational sales amid coronavirus outbreakIs marijuana an ‘essential’ like milk or bread? Some states say yesMarijuana businesses are ineligible for coronavirus disaster relief, federal agency confirms

Marijuana companies are making hand sanitizer to donate to local hospitals

With recreational marijuana sales currently on hiatus in Massachusetts, local dispensaries are focusing on a new product instead: hand sanitizer.

Ed Markey among senators pushing for pot businesses to access federal loan programs

US Senator Ed Markey and 10 other senators sent a letter asking for a provision in an upcoming spending bill to allow marijuana businesses to access federal loan services.

Baker says reopening recreational marijuana shops amid coronavirus outbreak is a ‘non-starter’

Despite pleas from leaders in the cannabis industry to reopen adult-use marijuana stores, Governor Charlie Baker defended his choice to keep them closed, even while allowing medical dispensaries to stay open.

Katherine Clark wants recreational pot shops open to serve veterans amid coronavirus outbreak

US Representative Katherine Clark expressed concern that military veterans could be particularly impacted by the governor's decision.

Mass. marijuana regulator joins fight to allow recreational pot stores to reopen

Massachusetts marijuana companies, workers, patients bracing for the worst

Amid pandemic, cannabis commission closes offices, urges marijuana firms to take precautions

Like toilet paper, panic buyers snap up pot

Recent surge in marijuana sales provides boost for cannabis stocks

boston's first pot shop

Boston’s first recreational marijuana store opens, more than 3 years after legalization

The grand opening of Pure Oasis in Dorchester marked a milestone in Massachusetts’ pioneering effort to use some of legalization’s windfall to rectify racial and social inequities.

Here's what you need to know if you plan to shop at Boston's first pot shop

Pure Oasis recommends that customers use public transportation if they can. There is limited street parking and a municipal parking lot nearby.

Boston pot shop co-owners say it's 'surreal' to finally be opening

The team at Pure Oasis in Dorchester’s Grove Hall community will welcome their first customers at 11 a.m. on Monday.

Key moments in Massachusetts marijuana history

From the 2016 ballot initiative to today, these milestones shaped the legal marijuana market in Massachusetts.

From police stops to marijuana executives: The long journey for owners of Boston’s first pot shop

Pure Oasis is Massachusetts’ first pot shop owned by people from communities targeted most by marijuana arrests.

Are recreational marijuana shops preparing to open in your town?
These maps show where prospective operators hope to set up shop to sell recreational marijuana, as well as the stores that have already opened.

‘My life came crashing down overnight’: How one Boston-area woman nearly died from vaping

A 33-year-old veterinary technician thought she could trust her dealer’s legitimate-looking vapes to help her relax and treat her migraines. Instead, she ended up hospitalized for two weeks.

FROM GLOBE OPINION: I nearly died from vaping, and you could tooFourth person dies in Massachusetts from vapingVaping kills 15-year-old in Texas, youngest vaping death reported yet

New England

In a pandemic, Nobody thinks we should smoke more weed

Nobody is part of the libertarian Free State movement. He thinks government is too big and pretty much useless, and believes people should smoke more weed, which, in the middle of a pandemic, sounds pretty reasonable to me.

Connecticut residents strongly support legalizing marijuana, poll shows

A majority of Connecticut residents favor legalizing marijuana, according to a new poll released Thursday.

Attorney for Mass. man convicted of running pot operation wants convictions vacated after man’s death

The lawyer for a Massachusetts man convicted of running a large-scale marijuana growing operation out of the family plumbing business wants the verdicts vacated because his client has died.

Massachusetts marijuana companies, workers, patients bracing for worst as coronavirus disruptions loom

Licensed marijuana firms are scaling back their operations amid the virus outbreak, leaving workers wondering about their pay and cannabis consumers and medical marijuana patients to stockpile emergency stashes.

The busiest pot shop in Massachusetts has halted recreational sales amid coronavirus outbreak

The busiest recreational marijuana dispensary in Massachusetts has halted sales to the general public, as others ban walk-in customers to comply with new rules aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus.

This Week in Weed

10 predictions for the Massachusetts marijuana industry in 2020

Here’s what Globe cannabis reporter Dan Adams predicts will happen in the Massachusetts marijuana industry in 2020.

Nation

Eleven senators, including Markey, push to let marijuana businesses access federal loan programs

US Senator Ed Markey joined with 10 other senators to send a letter to leadership in a key committee asking that they add a provision allowing marijuana businesses to access federal loan services in an upcoming annual spending bill.

World

New Mexico cannabis company exporting to Israel

Ultra Health is believed to be one of the first US companies to export medical marijuana to Israel.

The essential guide to buying and consuming pot in Massachusetts

These are the most common questions marijuana budtenders get asked

Your guide to shopping at Massachusetts’ recreational marijuana stores

The hidden titans of pot

Massachusetts legalized the sale of recreational marijuana with the ambition to be different — and better. But two years since the law went into effect, troubling signs loom. This three-part series uncovers stealth moves by large investors poised to dominate this nascent industry and outmaneuver regulators.

These companies test the limits — and brag about it

No firm is allowed to own or control more than three recreational marijuana stores. But two companies — Sea Hunter and Acreage — are testing the limits.

Inside one battle that could change the marijuana industry

The race to open Mattapan Square’s first pot shop raises questions about trust and who gets to cash in.

For sale in the pot industry: political influence

Marijuana may be the hot, new retail business in town, but it largely plays by the old political rules.

More coverage

Eight takeaways from the Spotlight series on the state’s burgeoning marijuana industry

Marijuana company’s expansion plans test Mass. law

Massachusetts marijuana regulators investigating whether companies violated license limits

Beyond Massachusetts, states struggle to limit marijuana behemoths

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The Daily Rip, written Monday through Friday, dives into the top marijuana headlines of the day, in New England and around the world.

Special Report

Welcome to Big Marijuana’s factory floor

Inside the headquarters of Canada's Canopy Growth Corp., the world’s largest marijuana company that critics call the "Walmart of Weed." (Video by Caitlin Healy/Globe Staff)

Inside the Walmart of Weed: From rural Canada, Big Marijuana seeks to dominate global market

Latest local headlines

Maine issuing licenses for 16 marijuana stores
Maine is issuing conditional licenses to 16 marijuana stores, another step toward adults being able to legally buy marijuana for recreational use in the state.

Amid pandemic, cannabis commission closes offices, urges marijuana firms to take precautions
Massachusetts marijuana regulators are asking cannabis firms to step up their sanitization efforts.

New England marijuana conference postponed amid coronavirus concerns
The New England Cannabis conference, which was slated to host at least a couple thousand attendees in Boston in mid-March, has been postponed amid concerns about the spread of coronavirus.

Key moments in Massachusetts marijuana history
From the 2016 ballot initiative to today, these milestones shaped the legal marijuana market in Massachusetts.

Boston’s first recreational marijuana store opens, more than 3 years after legalization
The grand opening of Pure Oasis in Dorchester marked a milestone in Massachusetts’ pioneering effort to use some of legalization’s windfall to rectify racial and social inequities.

Here’s what you need to know about Boston’s first pot shop
Asked Friday why it took nearly a year and a half for Boston to get a pot shop, Boston's mayor said: "I don’t think it took long."

From police stops to marijuana executives: The long journey for owners of Boston’s first pot shop
Pure Oasis is Massachusetts’ first pot shop owned by people from communities targeted most by marijuana arrests.

Boston’s first pot shop is set to open Monday
Boston’s first recreational marijuana shop is slated to open next week after state cannabis regulators gave the company its final sign-off Thursday.

Meet the new Boston Cannabis Board
Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh appoints five members to the Cannabis Board in an effort to quell worries of a lack of diversity. The Committee will issue recommendations on which marijuana companies should receive local licenses and advise Walsh’s office on cannabis regulation and policy.

EDITORIAL
Level the playing field in the marijuana industry
The Mass. Legislature should act fast to fund social equity loans for marijuana entrepreneurs and crack down on high-barrier host community agreements.

Cannabis-infused soda has now arrived in Massachusetts
Recreational marijuana consumers now have a new option in Massachusetts.

Legal marijuana in Maine expected to be in stores by June
The first legal sales of marijuana in Maine are expected in June as the state and municipalities work on issuing licenses.

Connecticut lawmakers hold hearing on marijuana legalization
Connecticut lawmakers held a public hearing Monday to discuss details of a new bill proposed by the governor that would legalize recreational marijuana in the state.

Public gets chance to testify on legalized marijuana bill in Connecticut
Connecticut lawmakers will hear from the public about the latest plan to possibly legalize the recreational use of marijuana for adults.

Union accuses Massachusetts marijuana firm of retaliating against organizers
Union officials say Mayflower Medicinals broke state law in trying to snuff out organization efforts by its workers.

Plan for special cannabis crimes unit in Maine sparks outrage
Maine plans to create a new division of the state Drug Enforcement Agency tasked with regulatory compliance as well as monitoring illegal activity that competes with state-licensed growers, processors, and retailers.

Local marijuana company to start selling farm-grown cannabis as its third store opens
A local marijuana company will debut its new farm-grown cannabis products this weekend amid the opening of its Chicopee store — its third dispensary in Massachusetts.

Amy Kennedy backs marijuana reform in congressional bid, despite husband’s anti-marijuana roots
Amid her campaign for Congress, Amy Kennedy, the wife of one of the most prominent voices advocating for keeping marijuana illegal, says she supports federally reclassifying cannabis from its current restrictive status.

Vermont House approves bill to legalize marijuana sales
The Vermont House of Representatives approved a bill Wednesday to legalize the sale of marijuana in the state.

Applications open for ‘jail-to-jobs’ marijuana pilot program at Roxbury Community College
The CultivatED program will choose 15 fellows for its small-scale, 12-week summer semester, slated to begin in early June.

Are recreational marijuana shops preparing to open in your town? Check our maps

Data released by the Cannabis Control Commission show where marijuana operators have set up shop and where they hope to.

All 2020 presidential candidates now support marijuana legalization efforts — even the Republicans

Bill Clinton “didn’t inhale” marijuana, and it was Obama’s “mistake,” but now all 12 official Democratic candidates told the Globe they support full nationwide legalization, Canada-style.