Honestly Grown: Good News in Bloom (420 Edition)
Finally, it's 4/20! The scent of cannabis and excitement hangs in the air. A perfect time to reflect on the incredible opportunities and transformative nature of cannabis. LEUNE is passionate about celebrating these remarkable stories from our industry — displaying strength, courage and perseverance.
Wishing you all a memorable 420 celebration as you indulge the limitless potential and astonishing abilities of this revolutionary plant. Enjoy these highlights from Honestly Grown: Good News in Bloom!
NBA players now allowed to smoke weed without being penalized, according to tentative labor agreement: report (via Insider)
Score one for weed! The NBA has tentatively agreed to allow players to use, promote and invest in cannabis without fear of penalty. If this measure is ratified, cannabis will be removed it from the NBA's drug testing program. This move is a game-changer for the destigmatization of cannabis in the athletic arena and beyond. As a company whose investors include NBA legends Carmelo Anthony and John Wall, LEUNE is thrilled to see this positive step towards progress.
Laganja Estranja x Trixie Cosmetics 420 Collaboration (via Trixie Cosmetics)
LEUNE's favorite Drag Queen, Cannabis Activist, and Trans Icon Laganja Estranja teams up with Trixie Cosmetics for ExtavaGANJA, a trippy new makeup collab dropping just in time for 420. With eyeshow shades like "Lighters Up," "Nug," and "Blunt Wrap," we will definitely be sporting lewks from the collection. Last summer LEUNE teamed up with Laganja at "I Feel Love" Pride event. Get into her work! Ockurrrr! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEybDNZN_Oo
California launches $20M grant program to expand local retail cannabis programs (via MJ Biz Daily)
California is blazing a trail yet again with the launch of the first-ever Local Jurisdiction Retail Access Grant! The Department of Cannabis Control just rolled out this $20 million grant program to help expand access to marijuana products in underserved areas while prioritizing social equity opportunities. This first-of-its-kind program can be used to support equity applicants and licensees, cover permitting expenses, and more. Apply by April 28 for Phase I funding by June 20! Let's help revitalize California's cannabis business and create a brighter future for all.
Missouri sees surge in cannabis jobs after legalization vote (via Missouri Independent)
We're feeling the 420 vibes here in Missouri, since voters approved recreational marijuana use, the Show Me State has seen explosive job growth in the cannabis industry! We're thrilled to see over 12,970 individuals obtained marijuana agent IDs by the end of February, and the number of licenses approved for new employees has quadrupled since November. With $102.9 million in sales in the first month alone, Missouri is quickly becoming a darling of the cannabis industry. Dispensaries are struggling to keep shelves stocked, which includes LEUNE products! We can't wait to see what the future holds for the industry here in Missouri.
Also did you know LEUNE is ranked the fastest growing brands in Missouri by Pistil data? Happy 420 everyone! 🌿🎉
Studies Link Marijuana Legalization to All Sorts of Positive Public Health Outcomes (via Good News Network)
Good news, everyone! A study of 36 papers published on cannabis legalization between 2013 and 2021 has found that legalizing cannabis can have positive effects on society. It can lower suicide rates, binge drinking, and traffic fatalities. Even better, teen access to cannabis decreased by 8% and frequent use by 9% after legalization, possibly because dispensaries check IDs. Legalizing cannabis has also been linked to fewer opioid deaths and less alcohol consumption, leading to fewer traffic fatalities. So, let's keep pushing for legalization!
Court lifts injunction preventing marijuana retail licensing in New York (via MJ Biz Daily)
Exciting news for the budding cannabis industry in New York State! The Office of Cannabis Management has awarded 99 new recreational cannabis dispensary licenses across the five boroughs. The total number of legal dispensaries planning to open in the coming year has now risen to 53.
While the Finger Lakes region is still under a temporary restraining order, the lifting of the order in four other regions means regulators can now issue social equity licenses to cannabis entrepreneurs in those areas. Good Grades is set to become the first female-owned adult-use store to open with the help of the state's Social Equity Cannabis Investment Fund.
The new licenses and the progress towards social equity in the industry are fantastic developments that will bring benefits to the communities and businesses involved. Let's celebrate these milestones and continue to support the growth of the cannabis industry in New York State! 🌿💚
Connecticut Prosecutors Drop Over 1,500 Marijuana Cases In Expansion Of Legalization Relief (via Marijuana Moment)
Connecticut just proved that criminal justice reform and cannabis legalization can go hand in hand! Their post-legalization criminal erasure program has already dismissed over 1,500 marijuana cases and modified around 600 others. Talk about progress!
It's heartening to see Connecticut taking such proactive steps towards righting past wrongs and creating a fairer system for everyone. This is what true progress looks like! Let's hope more states follow their lead. 🙌🌿 #CriminalJusticeReform #LegalizationWins #EndTheWarOnDrugs
New Mexico : Recreational cannabis brings in more than $300 million in its first year (via Cannabis Law Report)
New Mexico is blazing a trail, with over $300 million in recreational marijuana sales. More than $27 million was generated in cannabis excise taxes for the state general fund and local communities.
Experts attribute the strong growth of the industry to the state's thriving economy, with low unemployment rates and robust consumer spending. Plus, the added revenue stream from cannabis taxes has provided a significant boost to the state's budget. And while market analysts predict some corrections in the second year, many are confident in the long-term potential of New Mexico's rec market.
To the Land of Enchantment, we say: keep on blazing!
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear signed a bill legalizing medical marijuana use into law on April 1st, making Kentucky the 38th state to approve the medicinal use of cannabis for patients with serious health conditions (via Forbes)
Honestly Grown: Good News in Bloom is all about sharing positive news in the world of cannabis. This 420, we're celebrating Kentucky's decision to legalize medical marijuana for patients with qualifying conditions. It's a big step forward for the cannabis world, but we can't forget the recent tragic mass shootings in Louisville. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families during this difficult time.
Now, with Senate Bill 47, medical marijuana is officially legal in Kentucky. That means those with qualifying conditions can now legally obtain doctor-prescribed cannabis in the Bluegrass State! This major win for medical cannabis advocates is a step in the right direction, and we're excited to see more states recognizing the benefits of responsible cannabis use
Stay up to date
Follow LEUNE on Instagram
This website is intended for use only by adults over the age of 21 who are legally allowed to purchase and consume cannabis products in the state they legally reside. The information provided on this website is for educational purposes only, and should not be construed as medical or legal advice. LEUNE does not make any medical claims about the benefits of cannabis, and any statements made on this website have not been evaluated by the FDA. LEUNE makes no guarantees about the effects of cannabis on individual users, and the effects may vary from person to person. Our brand complies with all applicable state laws regarding the sale and use of cannabis products in California, New Mexico, Missouri, Maine, and Arizona. While it has made a constant care to make sure that content is accurate on the date of publication, given the especially nascent and evolutionary nature of the cannabis industry, any facts contained in any materials published may change following the date of publication and Honestly Grown is not responsible for their accuracy thereafter. The views expressed in these blogs reflect the opinions of the authors and any interviewers or interviewees on an individual level and are not necessarily the views of the publisher, editor, or LEUNE. The cultivation, harvesting, manufacturing, production, marketing, commercialization, distribution, transfer, sale and/or possession of cannabis is illegal under u.s. federal law. Neither LEUNE nor its affiliates have made any representation to the contrary. Each reader assumes all risks associated with any cannabis activities in which it partakes irrespective of when such actions were taken with respect to such reader’s reading of any publications or its statements released by LEUNE, including risk of criminal prosecution.