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.
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Ep 24, Part III: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Kahn
December 26th 2024In the final part of this episode, Evan Friedmann and Yasha Kahn discuss the need for a national entity to centralize cannabis data collection, moving from snapshot data to continuous updates. They emphasize the importance of accurate lab data and adverse event tracking, suggesting QR codes on packaging to report issues. Yasha suggests harsher consequences for result manipulation and suggests collaboration between state departments and federal entities to support underfunded regulators. They also discuss the potential benefits of off-the-shelf testing and the importance of stability testing. Finally, Yasha shares his top three reading recommendations for the audience.
Ep 24, Part II: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Kahn
December 12th 2024Evan Friedmann and Yasha Kahn, co-founder of MCR Labs, discuss the discrepancies between current regulations and data on mycotoxins and pesticides in cannabis products. They highlight the need for updated regulations based on new data, emphasizing the importance of accurate testing and labeling. They also discuss the issue of result manipulation, particularly in THC content, and the need for public health officials to address this. Yasha suggests making testing data public to enhance oversight and suggests a national entity to manage this data for better consistency and public safety.
