A Weekly Roundup of Stories We Found Interesting – From The Profound To The Profane

Vote Clears Hurdle for Legalizing Recreational Marijuana in NJ
New Jersey is poised to legalize recreational marijuana after a committee approved a complex bill Monday. The bill sets up the regulatory framework for treating marijuana like alcohol, restricting its sale to those 21 and older; taxing it at about 12 percent, with 2 percent potentially going to municipalities; and regulating who can sell it. It would allow for more points of sale in cities with high rates of marijuana arrests, including Atlantic City.

Credit Union 1 to Offer Banking Services to Alaska Cannabis Businesses
Alaskan cannabis companies can now access basic banking services, thanks to new pilot program launched by the financial cooperative Credit Union 1. In a press conference announcing the launch of the pilot today, Credit Union 1 CEO James Wileman said the program was a response to the cash crisis facing marijuana-related businesses in Alaska.

Massachusetts Dispensaries Sell $2.2 Million Worth of Marijuana Within First Week of Retail Sales
The two marijuana dispensaries licensed to sell recreational weed in Massachusetts reported Tuesday combined sales of more than $2 million dollars during the first five days of catering to retail customers.

South Korea Legislature Passes Medical Cannabis Law, First in East Asia
South Korea becomes the first Asian Country to Legalize Medical Cannabis, marking a significant milestone in the global industry and a potential turning point in how the drug is perceived in traditionally conservative societies.

Inside the Lives of California’s Marijuana Trimmers
Each autumn, young people flock to Northern California to find temporary work pruning cannabis bound for the state’s legal dispensaries, or black markets as far away as the East Coast. These workers, known as “trimmigrants,” patiently cut off the shaggy leaves and brittle stems of marijuana buds, trimming each one into a compact green nugget primed for bongs and brownies.

Museum of Weed Coming to Los Angeles in Early 2019
Online marijuana shop directory Weedmaps plans to open a “Museum of Weed” in Los Angeles in early 2019. The museum will use interactive installations, art exhibits, archival footage and historical artifacts to take visitors through the evolution of cannabis policy.

Uber and Lyft Drivers are Ditching the Service to Deliver Weed
The San Francisco Chronicle detailed how many Uber and Lyft drivers in California are cutting back their hours on the rideshare apps to deliver marijuana. One Bay Area marijuana company alone says it’s hired over 100 drivers away from Uber and Lyft.

Black Market Cannabis Sales Will Continue in Canada
A 2018 Statistics Canada study supports the idea that Canadians are not ready to give up illegal weed. The study suggested of the 5.4 million Canadians interested in buying cannabis, a quarter of them planned on purchasing illegally in the final quarter of 2018.