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As cannabis consumer tastes evolve,
industry must look beyond potency

Photo by YARphotographer/stock.adobe.com

For years, the cannabis industry has been shaped by a singular focus: THC potency.

Store menus highlight percentages, consumers chase high numbers and many strains have been bred to maximize THC content at the expense of other characteristics.

But is that truly what makes marijuana special?

Beyond THC levels, branding, packaging and promotions heavily influence consumer choices.

The classic $200-per-ounce deal has evolved into a $100 mix-and-match special, allowing consumers to explore a variety of terpene profiles and effects.

Just as craft beer enthusiasts appreciate curated tasting flights, cannabis enthusiasts now seek diversity in their experiences.

Keeping up with industry trends while maintaining quality is crucial for businesses navigating this rapidly shifting landscape.

Historically, marijuana breeding focused on aroma, flavor and nuanced effects.

Strains were selected for their distinct terpene profiles, from sweet and floral to earthy and gassy.

However, widespread lab testing and commercialization shifted the focus almost entirely to THC content, leading to a homogenization of available genetics.

However, potency does not have to come at the cost of flavor or complexity. Read story >

More Headlines

• Florida adult-use marijuana legalization sponsor accused of elections violations. Read story >
• New York City cannabis chief Dasheeda Dawson abruptly resigns.
  Read story >

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Hemp-derived & medical cannabis news

Hawaii lawmakers weigh bills to boost medical program, crack down on illicit CBD

Photo by Gilberto Villasana/stock.adobe.com

A push is underway in the Hawaii Legislature to expand the state's medical marijuana program after efforts to legalize adult-use again failed to advance.

Bills in the Senate and the much more conservative House contain several provisions aimed to boost enrollment in the MMJ program while thwarting unlicensed and unregulated supply channels.

One bill would boost enforcement of illegal CBD stores by requiring licenses, seizing products containing THC and shuttering such establishments.

All the legislation, according to lawmakers, is designed to prop up the state's stagnant MMJ market. Read story >

Pennsylvania might tighten medical cannabis recommendation rules

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Pennsylvania is considering tightening the rules for physicians providing medical marijuana recommendations.

The state's MMJ program has been a success, with total sales nearing $7 billion from 2020 through 2024, but lawmakers are starting to question whether it's too easy to obtain a patient registration.

The legislation passed 194-8 on a vote of the full state House and advanced to the Senate Law and Justice Committee.

"I think that there are real concerns with this program, and that there's a real need for better oversight from the Department of Health," said Democratic state Rep. Arvind Venkat, a physician who does not write MMJ recommendations. Read story >

More Headlines

• How a Colorado operator stumbled onto 'blueprint for laundering marijuana.' Read story >
• DC cannabis regulator shutters another unlicensed retailer amid crackdown. Read story >
• Humboldt County extends deadline to pay marijuana cultivation taxes. Read story >
• Michigan cannabis processor surrenders permit; owners barred from industry. Read story >
• Florida's medical marijuana license renewal fees will stay at $1.3 million. Read story >

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