Michigan shuts down testing lab for chronic violations 👀

“This is justice, plain and simple. Viridis failed to uphold the standards required of marijuana safety compliance facilities in Michigan. Viridis circumvented the rules. Their majority owners will never operate in this space again, and the Michigan cannabis industry will be stronger for it.” Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency Executive Director Brian Hanna said in an Aug. 20 notice. 

Michigan regulators ordered Viridis Laboratories to shut down both of its locations. One in Lansing by Aug.29 and another in Bay City by Sept. 28. The CRA order comes after the lab was found to have repeatedly passed contaminated cannabis. The owners of the lab are also banned from participating in the state's cannabis industry.

“This wasn't just a single misstep. It was a sustained, deliberate pattern of noncompliance that shook the confidence in the entire regulated cannabis system.” said Hanna. 

The company sent a notice out to its clients saying that it planned to keep its Bay City location open for business, as long as it is able to transfer its license to new owners by Sept. 28. 

Cannabis use second amendment issue makes progress 🏛️

The case known as Florida Commissioner of Agriculture v. Attorney General of the United States has made a significant development with the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals agreeing with plaintiffs and sending the case back to the District Court for Northern Florida. Plaintiffs Vera Cooper, Nicole Hansell, and Neill Franklin argued that current federal laws prohibiting gun ownership based on medical cannabis usage are unconstitutional under the second amendment. The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals judges unanimously agreed, setting an important precedent for many other states. 

Florida legalization proponents successfully block signature law ☀️

Smart & Safe Florida, which is currently gathering signatures for another attempt to legalize cannabis in the Sunshine State, can continue using noncitizens to obtain those signatures without fear of violating a new state law that made the practice more difficult. Along with Smart & Safe Florida, Latino advocacy group Poder Latinx also sued to block the new law. Florida Politics has more. 

Not enough weed to launch in Minnesota 🌿

Minnesota retailers are ready to go, but there is not enough supply to launch the state's nascent adult-use market. The first cultivators in the state were licensed in June, so they do not expect to be able to harvest their first crop until the fall. Before then, existing medical operators are waiting for licenses to operate in the new market, which would allow them to sell product to retailers. Fox 9 has more. 

Authorities clear secret grow in Sequoia National Park 🧑‍🌾

If you were the owner of a secret pot farm in the middle of Sequoia National Park we've got some bad news for you. The National Park Service announced last week that it had discovered the farm and enforcement rangers cleared 2,377 full-grown cannabis plants. Authorities also found a semi-automatic pistol and a gallon of a toxic pesticide that has been banned since 2009. 

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Ignite It spins off from Benzinga

Former Benzinga executives have launched Ignite It Inc., a cannabis media and event platform that they say will serve as the next evolution of what used to be Benzinga Cannabis.

Advocate and Oaksterdam University founder passed away at 62

Earlier this month, we learned that Richard Lee, the tireless cannabis advocate and founder of Oaksterdam University in Oakland, California died in July. The New York Times, among many others, paid tribute.

Months of waiting: Kentucky still navigating its medical marijuana rollout | Lexington Herald

Why Cheech and Chong's $100 Million Cannabis Empire is No Joke | Forbes

Joint commission hears roadmaps for Virginia's retail cannabis rollout | Virginia Mercury

America’s Unlikely Weed Warrior | Politico