California Cannabis Regulators are Cracking Down on Illegal Cannabis Operations
California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that over 200,000 pounds of illegally processed cannabis and nearly 1 million illegal plants were seized. The seizure is part of the California Department of Justice’s Campaign Against Marijuana Planting (CAMP) initiative. The state’s Eradication and Prevention of Illicit Cannabis (EPIC) program will become a year-round task force. The task force will focus on both civil and criminal cases stemming from illegal grow operations. The state’s attorney general wants to increase the efforts to reduce the economic and environmental harms that result from the illegal underground cannabis market.
Charlotte’s Web to Become the Official CBD Sponsor of MLB
Charlotte’s Web Holdings has signed an agreement with Major League Baseball to become the first official cannabis sponsor of the league. MLB plans to promote the CBD company at the upcoming World Series. For their part, Charlotte’s Web will release a sports-themed line of cannabis products with the MLB logo as part of the deal. MLB has been more progressive than other professional sports organizations in terms of its attitude toward cannabis. Regarding the partnership, the league’s Chief Revenue Officer Noah Garden said in a statement, “As a leader in the CBD category, with products that provide health and wellness benefits, Charlotte’s Web is a welcome addition to the MLB family, representing a landmark partnership in baseball and sports.”
Cannabis Legalization Expected to Pass this November in Maryland
Recent polling shows that voters in Maryland will likely approve adult-use cannabis legalization next month. Once they do, however, state lawmakers will need to develop and pass legislation for the rules and regulations to govern the cannabis industry. The regulatory framework should have a basis rooted in social equity for cannabis business owners. If the measure passes, legal recreational cannabis sales will launch sometime in 2024 or 2025 and the adult-use cannabis market in Maryland is expected to produce millions of dollars in revenue per year for the state.
