Twitter has partnered with the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to raise awareness about substance abuse when people search for marijuana on the platform.

According to a report from Marijuana Moment released this week, no such policy exists for alcohol-related searches. 

When Twitter users search for marijuana or related keywords on the social media platform, a notification that reads: “Help is available. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use, you are not alone” pops up above search results. The notification is accompanied by a link that leads to the website of SAMHSA, which is an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). 

One of the biggest challenges that cultivators, processors and distributors face in doing business is the requirement to track the product at every step in the production process, from seed to sale. When you add the wide range of label sizes and requirements across the supply chain, labeling can feel overwhelming. While business systems such as METRC, BioTrack, MJFreeway and others are key, integrating accurate and secure barcode labeling with those systems will streamline the end-to-end process while meeting traceability requirements. Here are some things to consider, no matter what role in the cannabis supply chain you play.

Canna-business is evolving along with technology. Here are three of the most promising technological developments that the cannabis industry is making.

Technology affects just about everything, from the way in which we interact with others to how companies function. The cannabis industry isn’t exempt from technology’s reach. Thanks to marijuana’s legal developments over the last couple of years, the plant has been embraced by a myriad of people and businesses. The more time that passes and the more that technology develops, the more likely it is for cannabis to become involved in the medium, changing the way in which we buy and use products.

Recent studies have shown that some forms of cannabis, particularly cannabidiol (CBD) and terpenes, can treat COVID-19 in some patients. Research has mainly focused on the treatment of “cytokine storms” — a severe immune reaction that can damage the lungs and lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Despite the fact that we’re living in the heyday of digital media, paper consumption is actually on the upswing — in the last 20 years alone, it’s risen 126 percent. About 208 million tons of paper are used worldwide each year and many of these paper products are used once and then thrown away. In the United States, for example, around 1 billion trees worth of paper is thrown out every year.

Fish aren’t just useful for growing cannabis, but can also speed up the process of sorting medical cannabis strains, according to Israeli researchers.

Researchers analyzed data spanning two decades and detected no uptick in pedestrian deaths following new marijuana laws.

When states legalize marijuana for adult-use or medicinal purposes, new research states it is not connected with increases in pedestrian fatality rates. Investigators at the University of Minnesota found that legalization was actually associated with declines in overall motor vehicle-related deaths.

The cannabis industry has a testing problem — and it may not be going away anytime soon. Why? Inexperienced technicians, unscrupulous labs, outdated testing regulations, and inferior testing equipment all factor into the inconsistencies and false results that plague the business. 

But there is some hope. By taking action now to fix issues in cannabis testing, we can ensure consistent testing results, guarantee the integrity of products on dispensary shelves, and, ultimately, protect cannabis consumers' health. This includes creating reasonable and effective action levels for contaminants like pesticides in cannabis products. 

There’s only one reason anyone would really care how long pot remains in the body (unless they’re a researcher or they’re writing an article like this one).

People wonder how long marijuana stays in their system because they’re concerned about having to take a drug test. And as you undoubtedly know, employers can use several different types of tests.

That’s why the question should really be phrased differently: how long can pot be detected in the blood, in the urine, in the saliva, and in hair?

For most recyclable containers purchased in Alberta, you also pay a small deposit which is then returned when the bottles or cans are dropped off for recycling.

A variety of containers can be dropped off at bottle depots for refunds — except for those used to store cannabis.

Now, the agency that governs bottle depots in the province wants to welcome cannabis containers into the deposit return system, saying the move could divert plastic from landfills and stabilize declines in depot income.

"Depots are ready to accept the product," said Jerry Roczkowsky of the Alberta Bottle Depot Association (ABDA). "It's a matter of working with the manufacturers to get the system in place."