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More and more people want their drinks cannabis-infused. That's one message entrepreneurs are finding easy to swallow.

The year 2020 may go down as the worst in memory, but not for cannabis beverage manufacturers.

According to a report by Prohibition Partners, the global cannabis drinks market will be worth $1.82 billion by the end of the year. That number is driven by consumers looking for cost-friendly relief from the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Why are so many obeying their thirst?

Israeli lawmakers have advanced two cannabis legalization bills to the country’s top legislative body.

Members of Israel’s ruling party coalition have advanced two cannabis legalization bills, guaranteeing their support of the reforms in the Knesset, the Jerusalem Post reports. The bills were submitted by Likud MK Sharren Haskel and Blue and White MK Ram Shefa and were advanced by the Ministerial Committee on Legislation on Sunday.

Let’s be fair—whatever is in your bowl right now is the Strain of the Summer, for you. Cannabis is so personal.

But beyond you doing you, there are definite, massive trends abloom in cannabis flower culture. We can see Runtz grown by the acre for the early summer light-dep harvest. We have search data on Glues, and sales data on Cakes and Cookies that backs up what expert growers and dispensary buyers in the field say is happening. And we have our own subject matter experts staying close to the plant—donning PPE to shop in legal stores and walk the weed beat for our readers.

Some major cannabis companies in Canada are facing a multi-million dollar proposed class-action lawsuit over allegations the potency of their products is “drastically different” than advertised.

The statement of claim filed in Calgary on Tuesday accuses the companies of failing to properly label their products and alleges negligence on their part.

The plaintiffs are seeking a $500-million judgment — “or such other amount as may be proven at trial” — along with punitive damages of $5 million from each of the defendants.

Three hundred to one. Those were the odds against the U.S. legalizing marijuana at the federal level that I calculated 10 months ago. I didn't just pull those numbers out of thin air. They were based on a reasoned analysis of all the dynamics in play last summer.

The global cannabis industry is big business and growing fast, expected to reach $100 billion in 2026, a tenfold increase in less than a decade. North America is the dominant market, where almost a dozen more states are considering legalizing cannabis this year.

Marijuana legalization in South Dakota could see daylight in 2020. The state passed measures to legalize both recreational and medical marijuana. Luckily, both of the measures collected the required signatures before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The only issue was if the pandemic didn’t retreat by November, it would be hard for people to vote on the measures. Now that lockdown restrictions have been easing, voting should be possible.

When Mitt Romney was running for president in 2012, he traveled to Colorado, where a reporter questioned him about the state’s impending legalization of recreational marijuana.

“Ask me about something important,” he shot back, before calling on the next journalist. 

State officials today moved to grant unconditional pardons to thousands of Nevadans with low-level marijuana convictions.

In the desert, Republicans and Democrats have found something to agree upon: A majority in both parties plan to vote to make marijuana legal in the upcoming Arizona election if they get the chance.