In a squat pale generic-looking building away from a main road in the industrial neighborhood of Seattle, a man picks up small bits of crystalized cannabis oil with a pair of tweezers, weighs them and places them into clear round containers the width of a quarter. He looks over at the little pile of the crystalized “shatter” he’s working with – it’s worth about $20,000.

Many advocates were ready to support – until they found out what’s in it

In Jan. 2014, Bernie Ellis takes questions during a “lobby day” at the state legislature after briefing supporters who came find out what they could do to help get medical marijuana legalized in Tennessee.(Photo: Larry McCormack / THE TENNESSEAN)

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – They didn’t have to pass it to find out what’s in it, but some advocates of medical marijuana were wondering if passing the Republican version was worth the wait after the legislation made it to the floor of the Tennessee House of Representatives on Tuesday.

The Leaf-Chronicle received a PDF copy of the legislation early Tuesday morning.

Story Highlights

• The director of a group behind an initiative to legalize pot in Arizona threatened to target a marijuana dispensary medical director who joined a competing legalization effort.
• The influential Washington, D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project and the newly created Arizonans for Responsible Legalization have both said they will pursue initiatives in 2016.
• The documents shed light on conflicting philosophies behind the proposed ballot measures.

The director of a group behind an initiative to legalize pot in Arizona threatened to target the business affairs of a marijuana dispensary medical director who joined a competing legalization effort, documents obtained by The Arizona Republic show.

Company controls licensing rights in the nation’s largest cannabis market, with $1.3 billion in yearly sales

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

TALLAHASSEE — A bill attempting to get the implementation of the state's Charlotte's Web marijuana law back on track has created a new dilemma for its sponsor: how to make it equitable for black farmers.

Under the existing law, only farms that have been in continuous existence for 30 years and grow 400,000 or more plants are eligible to bid for one of five licenses to cultivate and distribute the noneuphoric strain of cannabis for patients with epilepsy, cancer and chronic muscle spasms.

While campaigning for governor, Bruce Rauner said, “The application process for medical marijuana should not be held in secret where insiders win and taxpayers lose; it should be open and transparent.”

But now, lawyers for the state are fighting to keep from having to turn over information about exactly those bids.

A Rauner spokeswoman said the the state is simply “complying with the rules set forth in the Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act.”

The issue will come to a head Wednesday in a Cook County courtroom as part of a significant lawsuit.

Story Highlights

• Tryke Companies pulls application for 20-acre medical marijuana facility in Phoenix
• Site was granted variance by city for operation near residential area, drawing protest
• Residents, councilman say they are grateful for withdrawal

Plans are off to bring a medical-marijuana cultivation facility near a north Phoenix neighborhood, quelling the outrage of residents fighting the zoning variance that would allow it near their homes.

The Oregon Liquor Control Commission this week signed an agreement with a Kansas-based company to build the online application process for recreational marijuana business licenses.

NIC USA, Inc., will design an online application for commercial growers, processors, wholesalers and retailers. The state must begin accepting applications by January 2016.

The system will be used to apply for a new license or renew an existing one, pay license fees by credit card and pay marijuana taxes, as well as update license information.

The agency's agreement with the company has an annual subscription fee of $80,000 and no up-front costs.

WICHITA, Kan. -- Between the issue or marijuana reform in Wichita and legalization lawsuits in Colorado, marijuana is taking the spotlight in the Midwest. However, one company says the drug may have a big impact in Wichita.

Edward Young, with the National Screening Bureau, says the use of pot may have a lasting effect on safety and health of workers.
According to Young, studies show that those who do use drugs are five times more likely to file a workers' compensation claim. They're also more likely to steal.