First Recreational Cannabis Sales Begin on East Coast
November 20, 2018 marked the first East Coast sales for recreational cannabis in the United States. Two retail locations in Massachusetts opened their doors to customers-Cultivate in Leicester and New England Treatment Access (NETA) in Northampton.
According to local reports (1), customers waited in long lines but were excited to be part of history. The stores were stocked with various products ranging from different strains of bud, pre-rolled joints, and edibles such as brownies and chocolate bars. Both stores were well prepared with products and no shortages were reported.
Massachusetts predicts its cannabis market has the potential to be a $1.5 billion/year industry. However, it has been more than two years since Massachusetts voters approved adult recreational use. Critics blame the slow roll out on a number of causes such as the slow pace of the state to issue regulations and licenses as well as opposition from specific towns and cities that don’t want cannabis businesses in their area. The Cannabis Control Commission issued two additional licenses on November 20 to stores in Salem and Easthampton, both of which should open in the coming weeks.
References:
Ep 24, Part I: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Khan
November 21st 2024Evan Friedmann interviews Yasha Khan, co-founder of MCR Labs, about his journey into the cannabis industry and his efforts to promote transparency and integrity in laboratory practices. Yasha discusses the origins of MCR Labs, which began in Massachusetts to meet the needs of the soon-to-be legal medical cannabis market. He explains the challenges faced, including result manipulation by labs and the impact on public health. Yasha's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) project aimed to gather testing data from 37 states, revealed significant discrepancies in potency and mold results. Despite some states' reluctance to share data, Yasha has made much of this data public, leading to collaborative research and publications on various aspects of cannabis testing.
Assessing Cannabis as a Harm Reduction Strategy: Insights from a Large-Scale Study
November 19th 2024A New Zealand study aimed to assess cannabis use as a harm reduction tool. Findings highlight lifestyle factors, and suggest cannabis-focused harm reduction strategies in reducing other substance use such as alcohol.
Ep 23, Part III: Accreditation in the Cannabis Industry with Susan Audino
October 24th 2024In Part III of this episode, host Evan Friedmann is joined by Susan Audino, PhD, founder of S.A. Audino & Associates, LLC, and co-founder of Saturn Scientific, LLC, to examine the complexities of sampling in the cannabis industry, emphasizing the need for proper sampling plans, and methods.
