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

In Maryland, Lawmakers Want To Triple The Limits of Marijuana Possession
Maryland state lawmakers want to triple the limits of marijuana possession that one may have on their person. The state Senate passed a bill Monday that would eliminate criminal penalties for possession of less than one ounce of weed. Currently, the limit is 10 grams. Offenders possessing less than that amount face only civil penalties. Larger amounts incur criminal charges.

Is Walmart Doing Business With The Cannabis Industry?
Denver-based American Cannabis Company, which produces ancillary products designed specifically for the cannabis industry, has struck a distribution deal with a handful of national retailers, including Walmart, Home Depot and Amazon. The distribution agreement will bring SoHum Living Soils and Dr. Marijane Root Probiotic to the mainstream marketplace.

Hydropthecary to Make New Medical Weed Platform with Shopify
Quebec-based Hydropothecary is teaming with Ottawa-based Shopify to build a new platform for its medical marijuana products. Hydropothecary says its new bilingual website will make it easier to register for and order medical cannabis as well as providing to “discerning recreational consumers.”

Millions of Americans Seek and Find Illicit Marijuana Online
A new study explores the online marketplace for mail-order marijuana in the United States, found marijuana shopping searches nearly tripled in the United States from 2005 to 2017, peaking between 1.4 and 2.4 million searches each month.

Marijuana Establishments Not Allowed to Cluster
The Boston Planning and Development Agency voted that retail marijuana stores should have buffer zones to ensure marijuana dispensaries do not cluster neighborhoods on March 15.

Canada’s Approach to Cannabis Research is Flawed
Scientists claim that the Canadian government’s focus on researches that aim to “minimize the harm” of cannabis consumption is creating a funding backlog, and it’s taking away funding for researches that maximizing the benefits of cannabis consumption.

Chicago Takes a Big Step Toward Recreational Weed
On Tuesday, Chicago voted in favor of cannabis for recreational use. The majority of voters in Cook County (which includes Chicago) supported “the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, testing, and sale of marijuana and marijuana products for recreational use by adults 21 and older” in a nonbinding referendum.

Shatter, Batter, Wax: How Cannabis Extracts Come to Be
Extracts, which go by names including shatter, batter, wax, dabs, and honey, weren’t just stronger than their plant-based starting materials. They were also more convenient to consume and easier to use discreetly.