Marijuana Business Magazine January 2020

January 2020 | mjbizdaily.com 33 Maine Marijuana retailers in Maine reported a spike in sales of vape cartridges, likely a result of the ban on sales of vaping products in neighboring Massachusetts. The ban appears to have spurred Massachusetts cannabis consumers to trek across the northern border to purchase vape merchandise, although it is illegal for people to transport marijuana products across state lines. Massachusetts The Cannabis Control Commission lifted the ban on THC vape products Dec. 12, one day after state regulators lifted a nicotine vape ban. The ban covered vape pens, vape cartridges, aerosol products and inhalers but not vaping devices designed for medical marijuana flower. Michigan Four retailers opened for recreational cannabis sales Dec. 1, including three in Ann Arbor and one in Morenci. First-day sales totaled $221,000 among the three Ann Arbor stores, said David Harns, public information office for the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Detroit, the Michigan city with the most medical marijuana dispensaries, has delayed recreational sales until at least Jan. 31. Minnesota The state is expanding its medical cannabis program to include chronic pain, a move expected to substantially boost sales since the condition is typically the leading driver for MMJ recommendations. Age-related macular degeneration also is a condition that for the first time can qualify for treatment. Regulators also announced they would allow more sites where patients can access medical cannabis. Missouri Missouri issued almost 22,000 medical marijuana cards in the five months after the program was launched, outpacing expectations. Researchers with the University of Missouri’s Economic and Policy Analysis Research Center previously estimated the state wouldn’t reach that many patients until 2021. Additionally, multistate cannabis operators filed the largest number of applications for medical cannabis licenses in Missouri, including Cresco Labs (30 applications), Verano Holdings (18), Grassroots (14), Harvest Health & Recreation (11) and Curaleaf (8).