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It’s through the beautiful amalgamation of fire and borosilicate that an artist shapes both how we smoke and how we perceive the act of smoking, and this issue of the Leaf is dedicated to celebrating the artists and art that shape the visual arm of our industry. I hope that this issue inspires our readers to find a new appreciation for high end glass, to follow new glassblowers on social media, and to consider investing in a piece of artistry for their daily smoking habits.

Pot Companies Sue Nyc Regulators

A COALITION that includes some of New York’s medical marijuana companies sued state Cannabis regulators in March in an effort to open up licensing to all retail dispensary applicants immediately.

The lawsuit, filed in state court in Albany, claims that state Cannabis regulators exceeded their legal authority when they opened the initial application pool in August only to people with past pot convictions or their relatives, instead of to everyone.

The lawsuit names as defendants the state’s Cannabis Control Board and Office of Cannabis Management, as well as top officials, reports AP.

The state’s equity program, which offered first dibs to individuals with past pot convictions or their relatives, was an attempt to create opportunities for those who have been most adversely affected by pot policing, which resulted in Black and Latino people being arrested at disproportionately higher rates.

26 apR. 2023

Kentucky state senators voted in favor of a bill allowing possession but not smoking of Cannabis.

37 states have legalized medical marijuana use, and only 13 states have no legal or MMJ laws.

Oklahoma Voters Reject Legalization

OKLAHOMA VOTERS in March soundly rejected a ballot measure that would have legalized adult-use Cannabis for people over the age of 21. It was a setback for advocates who have seen the conservative state warmly embrace access to the herb for medicinal purposes. Across “Tokelahoma,” 2,890 licenses have been approved for medical marijuana businesses. Oklahoma City, the state capital, is home to more than 400 dispensaries. But in a state where 10% of residents have a medical marijuana card, 62% of Oklahoma voters rejected the proposal to legalize adult use.

“Across Tokelahoma, 2,890 licenses have been approved for medical marijuana businesses. Oklahoma City, the state capital, is home to more than 400 dispensaries.”

40 employees – about 20% of its workforce – were laid off last month by Leafly, the Cannabis guide and classification website.

282 old marijuana possession tickets were dismissed last month in Madison, Wis., where Cannabis use & possession remain illegal.

No Rise In Canadian Traffic Injuries

THE IMPLEMENTATION of adult-use Cannabis sales in Canada didn’t result in any increase in traffic injuryrelated hospitalizations, according to data published in the journal Addiction – where investigators assessed rates of emergency department visits and hospitalizations in the years before and immediately following legalization.

“Overall, there is no clear evidence that RCL [Recreational Cannabis Laws] had any effect on rates of ED visits and hospitalizations for either motor vehicle or pedestrian/cyclist injury across Canada,” authors concluded.

The findings agree with those of a 2021 Canadian study. That one “found no evidence that the implementation of the Cannabis Act was associated with significant changes in post-legalization patterns of all drivers’ traffic-injury ED visits or, more specifically, youthdriver traffic-injury ED presentations.”

$1.3m in untaxed Cannabis products were seized in Los Angeles County in March, in one of the biggest raids on black-market pot in recent history.

$102.9m was the total of Cannabis sales (both medical and adult-use) in Missouri in February, the first month it was allowed, putting it on track to break $1B annually.

EXCLUSIVE

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