Latest

Each year we try to get ahead of the cannabis curve by predicting which strains are going to reach superstar status. We consider cannabis cup winners, keep tabs on famous breeder instagrams, and overall, keep a finger on the pulse of the industry.

Now that the 2020 ball has dropped, we’re looking toward the future to predict which strains may soar in popularity this year. Some you may have tried, others may be your next favorite. And with many of these strains new to the market, we’re still waiting to see how their terpene profiles shake out, which is why some are grayed out.

Governor Cuomo has several priorities for New York in 2020. Chief among them: legalizing pot. 

To learn more, I spoke with our Albany bureau chief, Jesse McKinley, about why the governor is making a bold move toward marijuana legalization and what it might look like.

Bryan Kurz fields several phone calls each day from farmers across Missouri interested in the state’s newest cash crop: hemp.

A relative of marijuana, hemp was illegal for decades under tough-on-drugs laws. This year is the first Missourians can grow the crop commercially. Kurz, a sixth-generation farmer, grew small amounts for research last year under a state pilot program, and has become something of a mentor for farmers interested in the new field.

Scientists are in a battle to learn what kinds of pests and diseases pose a risk to cannabis and how to beat them.

Amanda Brown’s job requires a knowledge of both biology and battle strategy.

As a biological crop protection specialist, she sends “armies” of beneficial insects in search of the pests that devour B.C. crops like cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers — and now, cannabis.

“It’s a beautiful system,” she said. “It’s a very holistic approach.”

So … 2020: Politically speaking, is the new year a high or a low point for cannabis companies? On one hand, 33 states and the District of Columbia have legalized weed in one way or another. And 11 states and D.C. have even legalized it for recreational use.

Legalizing the drug would pour hundreds of millions into the coffers of a state facing a $6 billion budget gap, he said.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo vowed on Wednesday to legalize marijuana in New York, prioritizing a push that fell apart last year amid tensions over who should be allowed to sell the drug and where the revenue should go.

The governor described the effort as a long overdue criminal justice reform that could help salve wounds in communities affected by the decades-long war on drugs.

In December 2019, EPA announced approval of nine biopesticides and one conventional pesticide for use on hemp. 

This was the first time the federal agency approved products for use on hemp since the December 2018 Farm Bill provisions that removed hemp from the Controlled Substances Act, legalizing hemp for commercial use and production.

Cannabis demand is rising. However, there seems to be a gap between cannabis demand and supply in Canada. It’s been a year since Canada legalized marijuana, but it seems consumers in the country are still struggling to obtain legal cannabis. This demand-supply imbalance took a toll on cannabis companies’ revenues and stock prices last year.

Let’s take a closer look at the demand-supply imbalance in Canada.