As perhaps one of the most talked-about topics for U.S. consumers and businesses, inflation dominates current news headlines because of how much it affects every one of our wallets. Since COVID-19 rocked the economy, cannabis businesses and supply chains claim to have been playing catch-up to get back to business as usual. However, the question remains–just how bad has inflation been affecting cannabis prices, cannabis business closures, and jobs in the cannabis sector?

Inflation and Cannabis Prices

As a massive industry estimated to be worth over 100 billion dollars, U.S. states with Adult-Use and recreational cannabis markets generate huge amounts of tax revenue from recreational sales. This windfall shows no signs of slowing down either. According to a survey conducted by YouGov, almost 7 out of 10 cannabis consumers plan on spending the same amount, if not more, going forward in 2025. However, that statistic doesn’t mean prices have been dropping in many states. 

Last year, the price of an eighth of weed ranged from about $25 to $60 in states with a legal recreational Adult-Use market. However, in some legal states like New Jersey, the price for top-shelf flower can often go as high as $70 per eighth. Legacy states like Colorado offer recreational customers an eighth of premium, top-shelf weed for around $35–$40, making prices in other markets noticeably higher by comparison. Prices of recreational weed are often a result of how long the state market has been around and how many cultivators it has operating. 

Profits Drive Prices, Prices Drive Consumer Decisions

Once competition and a surplus have been created, it still doesn’t mean that dispensaries are lowering prices for customers in certain states anytime soon–profits being the main driving force. According to Beau Kilmer, a cannabis market authority from the Rand Drug Policy Research Center, in an interview with NPR, “When you move from prohibition to legalization, it takes time [to lower prices].”

Since cultivators grow cannabis domestically in the U.S., they can’t fully attribute high prices to COVID-era supply chain issues unless they factor in items like growing equipment that are commonly manufactured and shipped from overseas. Another factor at play for cannabis consumers is that dispensaries are cash-only businesses due to current federal banking laws, eliminating the option to use credit to make their purchases.  

To mitigate high prices, many folks in states where prices remain high seek out items on sale, downgrade in quality, grow their own, or just smoke less to afford their bud. These cost-control measures hurt everyone, but they especially impact medical patients who rely on specific strains and more expensive, hard-to-DIY products like concentrates to potentially treat their symptoms—without coverage from healthcare providers.

Black and Gray Markets Remain Strong

Another potential safety threat to medical patients and adults seeking out more affordable weed is the black and legal market. The uncertainty of the source, the potential for contaminants like molds and pesticides, and questionable quality are always at play when navigating both options.  

Kilmer also mentioned in the NPR interview, “After [states] pass legalization, they’ll spend a couple of years coming up with the licensing regime and figuring out what the regulations are going to be and issuing licenses, but there hasn’t been a lot of focus on what to do about the illegal market. And in a lot of places, enforcement just hasn’t been a priority.

For many consumers, if it means cheaper weed, then they don’t mind meeting up with the plug in the Pizza Hut parking lot or grabbing some type of “legal” D8 or THCA product at a local smoke shop or online. No matter the risk or quality involved, the bottom line is that these markets remain strong in many legal states strictly because they are more affordable. 

Inflation and Canna-Businesses

Despite featuring retail prices that often range from affordable to flat-out expensive, business is still booming for many dispensaries, both medical and recreational, along with plenty of multi-state operators (MSOs). According to CRB Monitor News, last year, approved and pending cannabis licenses surged to their highest level since 2021. 

Despite heavy competition in the last few years, the cannabis market may have finally started to stabilize. Experts estimate this shift may be the result of a significant number of mergers, acquisitions, and consolidations of MSOs scooping up smaller growths and brands in the last few years. 

IRS Code 280

The classification of cannabis as a Schedule I drug on par with heroin by the U.S. government has the potential of being a thing of the past this year. Rescheduling can help lift the restrictive nature of the current federal tax rate for cannabis-based companies. 

Most cannabis businesses currently face a tax rate double that of any other sector due to IRS Code Section 280E. This unusually high tax rate tends to lead to increased costs, which are passed onto the consumer. However, if repealed as a result of rescheduling, more businesses have the potential to stay afloat with improved cash flow since no banking services are available for cannabis businesses.

Oversight and Insurance

Access to banking isn’t the only thing affecting cannabis business profits. Marijuana is one of the most heavily regulated markets, subject to an incredible amount of oversight by each legal state government’s specific regulatory body. Staying in compliance means avoiding heavy fines and possible revocation of licenses. 

Cannabusinesses stay compliant by investing massive amounts of capital to ensure all phases of cultivation, production, and retail adhere to their state’s laws. Companies that can’t afford to be compliant or fail to create a culture of compliance often find themselves out of the industry in no time. On top of compliance, business insurance can be another costly endeavor for cannabis businesses since it’s already difficult for many insurers to justify the risk. 

READ: The Cost Of Medical Marijuana: A State-By-State Breakdown

Inflation and the Job Market

When cannabis businesses are successful while also remaining in compliance, jobs are plentiful. However, high turnover rates for employees still prevail, as evidenced by a report by data firm Headset, which found that 55% of budtenders don’t even last a year at any given job. As it turns out, there is a lot of dissatisfaction among employees working in the cannabis industry, but why is this so?

For budtenders, long hours with low pay and too few job protections often mean they’re on their way out the door just as soon as they enter it. For others working in cultivation and processing facilities, safety and health issues, along with long hours, often plague them. 

Increased Unionization

Workplace protections, decent benefits, and fair pay are often at the root of the high turnover rate, as well as being the grounds for increased unionization of cannabis employees. While wages remain stagnant and job protections are too few, unions such as the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) continue to spread their influence and membership, representing more than 10,000 cannabis business-based workers across 290 different dispensaries and 36 grow facilities. 

Despite a plethora of available jobs, for cannabis-based businesses to retain top talent and maintain a steady workforce free of high turnover, they need to listen to their employees’ needs as well as accept unionization as a valid option for their workforce. 

Going Forward

As we continue to navigate the added costs of inflation and perhaps retail prices being affected by tariffs, the bottom line is that people are still spending a lot of money on legal weed. Meanwhile, large businesses like MSOs are still very competitive and profitable. Removing barriers to cannabis businesses, such as excessive taxes, can hopefully have a domino effect that works its way from the C-Suite to the workforce and down to lower costs for the consumer. 

However, the always-uncertain nature of the cannabis sector, coupled with more financial insecurity on the way for many Americans, may ultimately be the true driving force for spending habits, businesses staying open, and jobs in the cannabis industry. 

The post How Inflation is Affecting Cannabis: Prices, Closures, and the Job Market appeared first on Cannabis Central.

If you live in or around DC, you may have noticed some recent changes to the business landscape–specifically if you enjoy cannabis. 

There has been a sequence of closures of cannabis businesses over the past year, which potentially means less access to cannabis as well as changes to the cannabis industry. 

Wondering why? We will explore the status of cannabis in DC, what exactly has been happening with these business closures, why they have been shut down, and what this may mean for the future of cannabis in DC. 

Legal Status of Cannabis in DC

First, let’s get clear on the legal status of cannabis in DC. According to the Washington DC police department website, cannabis is legal for both medicinal use and recreational use within certain boundaries. They specify that it is “small amounts” for adults 21 and older, amongst other restrictions. 

Additionally, the Washington DC Cannabis Information website specifies that it is legal to grow a max of six marijuana plants. Meanwhile, penalties for violating the cannabis laws include “jail sentences, payment of fines, driver’s license suspension, and sometimes, asset confiscation.”

What Has Been Happening with Cannabis Businesses in DC? 

In contrast to this recreational legality, there has been a recent stream of cannabis business shutdowns in DC.  The Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia announced that, as of February 27, 2025, it has shut down 25 unlicensed cannabis retailers in DC over the past six months.

Additionally, “in partnership with the District Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), OAG’s Civil Enforcement Section (CES) has brought actions against a total of 38 unlicensed establishments illegally selling cannabis products.”

This has only continued to increase, as DC News Now reported on March 25, 2025, that the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration had shut down its forty-second unlicensed cannabis retailer in DC. 

According to the Office of the Attorney General, the enforcement operations include purchasing and testing products, as well as sometimes obtaining search warrants. Then, cease and desist letters are issued. 

These changes have rapidly disrupted the DC cannabis market, forcing more shops to shut down. DC cannabis business owners and residents deeply feel the impact. 

READ: DC Passes Medical Marijuana Reciprocity Law

Why Are They Closing?

But why is this happening? Of course, authorities regularly investigate and close some unlicensed shops, but they have shut down many suddenly and in large numbers. 

The answer is complicated. In terms of legislation, these shutdowns can be accounted for by the enactment of Bill 25-872, the Medical Cannabis Conditional License and Unlicensed Establishment Closure Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2024. This gave the agency, composed of the police department, ABCA, and the D.C. Attorney General’s Office, new civil enforcement powers, resulting in increased search warrants, cease and desist notices, and shutdowns. 

In terms of the specific violations or reasons that these shutdowns are taking place through this bill, the answer seems to be the presence of laced, unregulated, and illegal products. This includes cannabis products that are mixed with amphetamine and other narcotics. 

Beyond cannabis, investigators have also uncovered and confiscated other illegal products at some shops, including “weapons, cash, cocaine and other illegal drugs.”

All in all, the agency claims that public safety is driving the shutdowns. Stephanie Litos, the Senior Council for Attorney General for Trials and Complex Litigation, explained, “People are going into shops, thinking they are buying cannabis but, instead, they are buying and ingesting stuff that’s not just cannabis but laced with other dangerous drugs.” 

Future of Cannabis in DC

All of this raises the question: what’s next for cannabis in DC? 

There are some potential outcomes from these changes. On the one hand, some believe that this will make DC’s cannabis landscape safer by ensuring proper regulation of sales and consumption and reducing consumers’ exposure to unsafe, unregulated cannabis. Others may feel that this limits cannabis and reduces the ease of access in DC.

Additionally, authorities shutting down unregulated, unlicensed cannabis shops may help legally operating cannabis businesses, though they have not necessarily felt this change yet. Martin Austermuhle with The 51st explains, “All of the talk of enforcement is of little comfort to some of D.C.’s existing medical marijuana dispensaries, who say they are still losing business to existing gifters and illicit delivery services – not to mention Maryland’s market.” 

These changes have happened so recently and rapidly that it is unlikely we can determine their true effect yet, but we can hope that they will ultimately lead to more success for legally running cannabis businesses while keeping consumers safer. 

Final Thoughts

The shutdowns of various cannabis businesses in DC have been swift and intense, with 40+ businesses closed just over the past six months. 

This is a notable shift in the cannabis community in DC and has multiple potential effects, ranging from increased safety to increased urgency of business owners to get up to code, to, ideally, increased business for legally operating businesses. 

Assessing the real impact of the new legislation and stream of investigations and shutdowns will likely take time, as all of this is still fresh and has been happening quickly. 

We can hope that the effect will ultimately be net positive, aiding in the success of licensed and legally operating businesses and boosting the safety of consumers. 

The post Behind the DC Cannabis Closures appeared first on Cannabis Central.

Recently, Texas took a bold step towards potentially banning hemp products that contain any trace of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the compound responsible for marijuana’s psychoactive effects.

This move comes just six years after the state legalized hemp, which makes this potential ban even more controversial. As the bill progresses through the legislative process, the impact on cannabis businesses, consumers, and the state’s growing hemp industry could be significant. 

This article examines the history of cannabis legalization in Texas, the details of Senate Bill 3, and what the proposed ban implies for the future of hemp in the state.

The History of Cannabis Legalization in Texas

Only six years after Texas legalized hemp products, the Texas hemp industry has created over 53,000 jobs and generated an estimated $10 billion in economic impact.

Now, state lawmakers aim to ban most of them, citing concerns over abuse and public safety. While Texas still prohibits recreational marijuana, it operates a medical marijuana program that has gradually expanded. 

The state has long maintained strict marijuana laws, though. In 1931, lawmakers made possession of any amount a felony, punishable by up to life imprisonment. Penalties became less severe in the 1970s, but they remain strict today. 

Under current Texas law, possessing less than two ounces of marijuana is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by 30 to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. Possessing between two and four ounces qualifies as a Class A misdemeanor, carrying a sentence of 90 days to one year in prison. 

Law enforcement treats possession of more than four ounces as a felony. After the 2018 federal Farm Bill allowed states to ease hemp restrictions, Texas legalized hemp products—but now, lawmakers appear ready to reverse that decision.

What Is the Senate Bill 3 Texas Hemp Ban Legislation

Republican state Senator Charles Perry introduced Senate Bill 3 following a December call from Lt. Governor Dan Patrick concerning the banning of hemp-derived THC products. On March 19, the Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 3 with a 24–7 vote, which prohibits all forms of THC, the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis. 

If approved, the legislation will ban all consumable hemp products, even those with low levels of THC, except cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG) formulations that contain no detectable THC. By approving legislation to ban hemp products with any amount of THC, the Texas Senate directly conflicts with the federal government’s 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized hemp products containing up to 0.3% THC, and effectively restricts access to THC products exclusively to the state’s Low THC medical program.

According to a report from the Austin American-Statesman, Patrick warned store owners that they should consider shutting down their businesses voluntarily before the legislative session ends. He cautioned that investigations would continue and lawsuits were likely to follow. “This is a poison in our public, and we as a legislature, our No. 1 responsibility is life and death issues,” Patrick said of THC products. 

Ironically, this same logic applies better to alcohol. This legal substance causes far more public harm than THC in marijuana, especially at the very low levels of THC currently allowed for medical cannabis in Texas. 178,000 deaths were attributed to excessive alcohol use in 2020-2021 due to liver disease, poisoning, impaired driving, and violence. In contrast, THC has never caused a fatal overdose and carries significantly lower health risks.

If lawmakers truly prioritize life-and-death issues, it stands to reason the focus should be on alcohol reform, or reform on other life-threatening drugs, not banning hemp. Targeting cannabis while ignoring alcohol’s far greater public health risks reveals an apparent inconsistency—or even wrongful stigma. There is also no health benefit to consuming alcohol, unlike cannabis. 

Evidence proves that alcohol causes more harm, addiction, and deaths than THC, so much so that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not even have a category for deaths caused by the use of marijuana.

What This Texas Hemp Ban Legislation Means For Cannabis Businesses

Patrick prioritized SB 3 this session, aiming to crack down on the state’s rapidly growing consumable hemp market. Patrick, who also presides over the Senate, reiterated his support for the ban and issued a warning to businesses currently selling hemp THC products during a press conference. 

Senate Bill 3 imposes strict new regulations on the hemp industry. It requires businesses to register all consumable hemp products with the Texas Department of State Health Services and pay a $500 fee. The bill permits only products containing CBD or CBG and bans the inclusion of any mood-altering additives. Businesses that sell unregistered products would face misdemeanor charges.

The proposed ban would render thousands of hemp-derived products illegal in Texas, a move that could severely damage the state’s hemp industry and force countless small businesses to close. In addition, the ban on THC products is putting about 450 licensed hemp producers in the Texas Industrial Hemp Program at risk of losing a significant part of their livelihoods. 

Farmers argue that it’s impossible to produce hemp without traces of THC, even for non-consumable products like clothing and paper. As a result, they warn that SB 3 could effectively destroy the Texas hemp industry almost completely.

Sen. Sarah Eckhardt opposed the ban, advocating for stricter regulation instead, also warning it would dismantle the consumable hemp market and harm the cannabis economy. Mark Bordas, executive director of the Texas Hemp Business Council, criticized lawmakers for confusing federally legal hemp with marijuana and also called for better regulation, not a ban, to address illegal manufacturing.

Bordas warned that eliminating the legal market would shut down over 7,000 licensed dispensaries and open the door for unregulated black-market sales to take over. He cautioned that this shift would create the very problem lawmakers hope to avoid, as it would result in the loss of control over product regulation. 

Without legal THC products in Texas, it raises the risk of the black market selling laced cannabis with more dangerous substances. As a result, the life-and-death issues Patrick claims to prioritize could worsen, not improve, under a ban on legal THC hemp products.

However, advocates for Texas’s hemp industry continue objecting to the bill, using the impact this ban will have on Texas hemp businesses and consumers. 

READ: Revamping Texas Medical Cannabis Program Is the Key to Ending the State’s Opioid Crisis

Next Steps in the Texas Senate Bill 3 Legislative Process

Before it can become a law, steps involving detailed procedures and opportunities for public input are required, ensuring thorough consideration of the bill. 

A Texas senator files SB 3 to start the legislative process. The Lieutenant Governor assigns it to a Senate committee, such as the Health and Human Services committee, which holds hearings, reviews amendments, and, if approved, sends it to the full Senate. 

Senators debate, amend, and vote to advance the bill to the House of Representatives. There, the Speaker refers it to a committee for similar review. If the committee approves, the bill moves to the full House for debate, possible amendments, and a final vote.

If the House amends the bill, lawmakers may form a conference committee to reconcile differences between the two chambers. Once both chambers approve the reconciled version, they send the bill to the Governor, who can sign it into law, veto it, or allow it to become law without taking action.

If SB 3 passes, it could bring significant changes for hemp businesses and consumers across Texas. Cannabis companies may need to revise their labeling, testing, or sales practices to comply with new regulations or risk legal consequences. At the same time, consumers—especially those who use hemp products for medical relief—could struggle to access the products they depend on if lawmakers tighten restrictions.

Unfortunately, SB 3 is one of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s priority bills, meaning it has strong support in the Senate and is likely to pass unless significant opposition develops.

The Receptions of Texans Regarding Hemp-Derived THC Product Legalization

On April 7, hundreds of Texas farmers, small business owners, and industry advocates testified at the Texas Capitol against Senate Bill 3 and House Bill 28 (HB 28). Their goal is clear: stop the legislation that threatens to destroy the state’s booming hemp industry.

Not only would SB 3 harm cannabis businesses, it would jeopardize tens of thousands of jobs, decrease tax revenue, and limit access to safe, legal hemp products for adults. The industry doesn’t need prohibition—it needs smarter regulation, according to these advocates.

According to an economic report, Texas’s hemp industry has seen explosive growth, such as:

• Retail revenue is projected to increase from $3.3 billion in 2023 to $4.3 billion in 2025.

• Employment is expected to rise to 53,300 jobs in 2025, up from 50,100 two years earlier.

• Industry-wide wages are projected to increase to $2.1 billion in 2025, up from $1.6 billion in 2023, with higher hourly pay across all sectors.

Public sentiment also supports the hemp market. A recent Baselice & Associates Inc. survey found that:

• 68% of likely Texas voters want to keep hemp-derived THC products legal if regulated with age restrictions and warning labels.

• Only 20% support a full ban.

• Support is strongest among young adults (76% of voters aged 18–34), but even among senior citizens, 55% favor regulation over prohibition.

• Among Republicans, support for regulation outpaces support for a ban by a two-to-one margin (57% vs. 29%).

• Democrats show overwhelming support (80% in favor), while independents closely follow the state average, with 72% supporting and 17% opposing.

Texas already has a cannabis regulatory framework through House Bill 1325 (passed in 2019), which mandates testing, licensing, labeling, and certificates of analysis. Rather than start over, advocates are building on these existing rules to improve safety. Their proposed enhancements include:

• Raising the purchase age to 21 and older (with exceptions for veterans),

• Requiring child-resistant packaging,

• Establishing retail setbacks from schools for adult-use products.

Overall, the data shows Texans want common-sense hemp regulation, not a ban that risks jobs, businesses, and consumer freedom.

Key Takeaways

The debate over Senate Bill 3 highlights the tension between political concerns for public safety and Texas’s growing hemp industry. Supporters advocate for stricter regulation instead of a full ban, as it could harm small businesses and severely limit or eliminate access to legal products. 

As the bill progresses, public sentiment continues to largely favor regulation over prohibition, with the outcome poised to impact both the state’s economy and the cannabis industry.

The post Will Texas Ban Hemp Products? appeared first on Cannabis Central.

Currently, 24 states sell cannabis recreationally. If you are in one of these states, it’s understandable that you might feel tempted to forget about the medical card process. Even if you qualify as a patient, it’s an application process that does take some information and patience.

While recreational cannabis is available in many states, there are still some benefits to those who have a medical cannabis card and purchase from medical dispensaries instead of recreational weed options. For example, some states allow for higher possession limits for medicinal cannabis users.

Just like many other things that require purchase, cannabis is subject to state tax laws. You might see a difference in price between your purchase and someone making a similar purchase. This may get you wondering if medicinal and recreational weed taxes are the same.

In the United States, each state is responsible for handling taxes on goods that move within its jurisdiction, allowing states to decide their tax laws. Cannabis tax rates vary across the country.

What Are The Different Types Of Cannabis Taxes?

Cannabis is still deemed federally illegal, and there are no blanket rulings surrounding medical marijuana taxes. Still, state and local jurisdictions can tax the green plant at whatever level is considered fit.

Pro-weed lobbyists often highlight tax revenue as a key reason to support cannabis legalization and get it on the ballot.

Medical cannabis typically faces these three main types of taxes:

• Excise tax
• Sales tax
• Local tax

An excise tax is placed on goods like tobacco, beer, or cannabis. People sometimes call excise taxes “sin taxes” because they add an extra fee on top of local and sales taxes.. In most states, the excise tax is the consumer’s responsibility to fulfill.

A sales tax is standard to expect when you purchase almost anything, like a television, etc (unless you are a resident of Alaska, Montana, Delaware, Oregon, or New Hampshire) and is paid to states for services and retail goods. The sale of cannabis is no exception.

Counties or municipalities impose local taxes to fund specific programs. Alaska, California, Massachusetts, Oregon, New York, and Virginia allow localities to levy additional taxes on cannabis purchases.

Do I Pay Cannabis Tax Or Marijuana Tax?

Yes, but don’t let the wording confuse you—cannabis tax and marijuana tax mean the same thing. Both terms refer to an excise tax that’s added on top of standard sales and local taxes.

This tax applies when you buy cannabis products, and the exact amount you pay depends on your state’s laws. Most states apply different tax rates for recreational versus medical marijuana, with medical purchases often taxed at a lower rate, or sometimes not at all.

Always check your state’s specific cannabis tax rules to know what to expect at checkout.

What Are The Taxes Like For Recreational Use?

State, local, and excise tax rates for recreational cannabis will differ between each of the 24 states that currently offer adult-use sales of cannabis.

Visit the Tax Foundation to view recreational marijuana taxes by state. The tax structure will vary across states. Lawmakers could determine taxes based on weight, price, or THC content, among other factors.

With federal prohibition still in place, interstate commerce remains illegal, therefore leaving the taxing power to each state to decide on the best course of legal cannabis sales.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Is Cannabis Taxed In The US?

Cannabis taxes vary by state, as each state sets its own regulations. Since cannabis remains classified as a Schedule I drug, the federal government cannot impose taxes on it, giving states full control over how it’s taxed.

Legal cannabis sales in both medical and recreational stores will consist of an excise tax, a local tax, and a sales tax.

What Is The Downside Of Medicinal Cannabis?

If you are someone who only purchases cannabis once in a blue moon, medicinal cannabis may not be right for you.

On the other hand, if you are someone who uses cannabis regularly to create an elevated sense of well-being, you might want to explore getting a medical card in your state.

Possessing a medical marijuana card can give you access to higher potency products, dispensaries directly for medicinal consumers, and some recreational dispensaries may offer in-store discounts if you are a medical cardholder.

If you are a consistent cannabis buyer at your dispensary, a medical marijuana card will eventually begin to pay for itself with the funds being saved over time. Meeting with a specialized cannabis doctor could help lead you through the process of state approval.

How Much Revenue Do States Make From Marijuana Taxes?

According to the Marijuana Policy Project, the year 2023 generated more than $4 billion in taxes from recreational-use sales. 

Here is a state-by-state guide of tax revenue generated from adult-use cannabis sales in 2023.

The post Medical vs. Recreational Cannabis Taxes Explained appeared first on Cannabis Central.

Cannabis is known for its significant effect on the human brain—which is what makes it so beneficial for helping people with mental health conditions.

However, the portion of the brain responsible for speech can also be affected. After consuming cannabis, some people may experience acute, subtle speech deviations or difficulties, primarily in maintaining the logical flow of their thoughts. 

Researchers have conducted studies over the years to explore how cannabis affects speech—both immediately and in the long term. There are even notable speech differences between biological males and females, specifically in verbal learning and memory, that also happen in the short and long term.

In this article, you’ll gain a better understanding of how cannabis can affect speech, what research says about the effects on speech, how this can affect conversations in social settings, and what this means for cannabis consumers.

Studies of Adults With a History of Recreational Cannabis Use Having Altered Speech Production

Cannabis can have various effects on the body, including changes in speech, according to research.

A study in Drug and Alcohol Dependence explores speech patterns in recreational cannabis users versus non-users. Researchers observed subtle differences in the timing, vocal effort, and speech quality of cannabis consumers. 

The findings suggest that cannabis subtly alters speech by affecting motor functions, which coordinate brain and muscle activity for actions like walking and speaking. However, the data remains inconclusive. 

The study analyzed speech samples from 31 cannabis consumers and 40 non-consumers. Researchers used acoustic analysis to assess speech:

• Timing
• Vocal control
• Quality

 Participants completed various speech tasks, including:

• Delivering a monologue
• Reciting the days of the week
• Reading a phonetically balanced passage, known as “The Godfather Passage”

Researchers observed minimal differences in speech quality and timing in cannabis users. These differences lacked statistical significance, preventing clear conclusions.

When Do Marijuana’s Effects on Speech Occur?

Marijuana affects speech immediately or with a delay, depending on the consumption method. When smoked or vaped, the effects of cannabis, including changes to speech, can be felt within seconds to minutes. When ingested by mouth, the effects typically take 30 minutes to 2 hours to kick in and usually last 1-4 hours.

Short-term cannabis use can cause difficulty with speech production, including struggling with verbal recall, short-term memory, enunciation, and a drawn-out or lazy delivery. 

Interestingly, modern research suggests that being born female appears to be a protective factor in immediate and delayed verbal recall compared to males and even non-consuming females. Recent studies also suggest this effect holds true in the long term, but without a clear reason why.

Cannabis consumption may cause subtle long-term speech changes, but these effects typically reverse after stopping use.

Can Marijuana Cause Long-Term Speech Problems?

Long-term cannabis use can subtly alter speech characteristics.

For example, it’s possible that chronic cannabis use can lead to long-term changes in speech patterns, such as alterations in tone, inflection, and enunciation. Long-term use may also cause cognitive impairments like difficulty with memory, focus, and thought processes. Fortunately, research suggests many of these long-term effects are reversible, often improving after 72 hours of stopping cannabis use.

As noted above, research comparing individuals with a history of recreational cannabis use versus non-users observed these speech alterations. However, the differences in speech were minor and not easily detectable without specialized analysis.

Another older study suggests that long-term marijuana use may impair verbal memory, making it more difficult to recall words by middle age. The study followed men and women for 25 years, starting in their young adulthood. 

The research found that cannabis use affected the brain’s ability to memorize words or language. However, it did not impact cognitive functions like thinking speed, focus, or problem-solving.

Reto Auer, the study’s first author and academic chief resident at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland, explained that the findings revealed a gradual decline in verbal memory with more frequent marijuana use. He clarified, however, that the study shows only an association—not a definitive cause-and-effect relationship.

Smoking marijuana as a consumption method can also harm vocal cords, potentially causing laryngitis, bronchitis, sputum production, wheezing, coughing, scarring, and other voice issues. Research shows that any smoke, whether from tobacco or cannabis, can damage vocal cords. Prolonged smoke exposure, high temperatures from smoking or dabbing, and lung retention of smoke can also lead to throat injuries, increasing the risk of voice issues.

What Are Some of the Social Impacts of Marijuana Consumption?

Marijuana affects social interactions in complex ways, varying by individual, usage patterns, and social context. Researchers have studied its positive and negative impacts, focusing on mood, communication, and behavior.

Decades ago, a 1986 study examined the effects on social conversation after consuming cannabis and found decreases in speech quality and quantity. Researchers also observed increased heart rate and heightened self-reports of feeling “high” and sedated. However, that study was observational and conducted when cannabis research faced more significant restrictions, reducing its reliability.

While speech can potentially be negatively affected, studies still suggest that cannabis may positively enhance social experiences and conversations. For example, a 2021 case study in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research reports that one patient with treatment-resistant stuttering began taking medical cannabis and had marked improvements in: 

• Speech fluency
• Social anxiety and a better social life
• Mood
• Reduced stress
• Sleep
• Attention
• Concentration
• Self-confidence

A more recent Drug and Alcohol Dependence study found that cannabis boosts positive emotions in social settings over isolated use, revealing users felt fewer negative emotions when consuming cannabis with others. The study’s results suggest that cannabis can enhance mood and encourage social engagement, especially in groups.

The key findings of this study also included:

• A consistently higher positive affect (outward emotional expression) during cannabis use, regardless of social context.
• Less emotional expression (negative affect)  appeared when participants used cannabis alone, but improved in social settings.
• Participants with higher cannabis use disorder (CUD) symptoms reported lower adverse effects during cannabis use.

The results suggest that while cannabis elevates an overall positive effect across social contexts, any impact on adverse effects can vary depending on the individual and if the person is using cannabis alone or with others. The data remained equivocal, meaning the differences were too small to draw solid conclusions.

While researchers have conducted numerous studies on how marijuana affects communication in social settings, their reliability still varies based on methodology.

How Does Weed Affect You Socially? 

A recent study published in Frontiers in Psychology also investigates the impact of cannabis use on social interactions and mood. 

The social context of cannabis use greatly influences its impact, as research shows that consuming cannabis with friends enhances social bonding, while using it alone may trigger negative feelings like paranoia or anxiety, depending on the individual.

Another recent study using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) further shows that cannabis use in social settings reduced negative emotions and boosted positive ones, especially in those with PTSD or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), while solitary use often heightened negative emotions. Studies like these further emphasize the importance of the social environment when using cannabis to shape its effects on mood and behavior.

But studies simply confirm what many cannabis users already know—that cannabis encourages human connection and fosters a calm, comfortable atmosphere in social settings.

For people who have social anxiety disorder (SAD), a study finds that those with SAD had higher levels of CUD and were more likely to experience social withdrawal and isolation. Social isolation tends to be more common in those who use cannabis as a way to self-medicate and manage negative emotions, however. 

Unfortunately, this can quickly become a negative cycle, leading individuals to rely more on cannabis and withdraw from social connections, potentially causing long-term social issues. 

What Do These Research Findings Mean for Cannabis Consumers?

Overall, the impact of marijuana on speech and cognition can vary from person to person. Factors such as biological sex, age, body weight, metabolism, tolerance, method of consumption, and the strain or potency of the cannabis product all play a role.

While some research suggests that cannabis may negatively affect speech and social interaction, these findings often have limitations. Although researchers have noted subtle speech changes in users, they still have not reached definitive conclusions. Female-at-birth individuals appear to have some protective factors when it comes to verbal learning and memory, even in the long term.

Many studies rely on self-reported data or small sample sizes, which can reduce conclusion reliability. Additionally, cannabis dosages, frequency of use, and individual differences influence outcomes. Therefore, it’s essential to interpret negative study findings cautiously, as they may not be conclusive.

The research findings mentioned are also simply associations, not definitive cause-and-effect conclusions. However, they do highlight the need for cannabis consumer awareness and caution with self-medicating.

Fortunately, emerging evidence points more toward cannabis enhancing social interactions, promoting sociability and relaxation, easing treatment-resistant stuttering, and, less commonly, adverse social effects. Still, additional rigorous studies are needed to better understand the social and communicative impacts of cannabis use.

Key Takeaways

Cannabis can potentially affect speech and social behavior in various ways, with the potential for immediate or long-term impacts. While it can enhance sociability and improve mood, it may also cause subtle speech difficulties, particularly with long-term use. 

As marijuana becomes more widely legalized, researchers will hopefully conduct further necessary studies on its effects, including speech and social impact. This knowledge will likely help cannabis consumers make more informed decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can marijuana cause speech problems?

Yes, cannabis use can lead to subtle speech changes. Users may experience difficulty maintaining a logical flow in conversation or struggle with enunciation, especially during acute use.

Does marijuana affect vocal cords?

Smoking marijuana or tobacco can harm vocal cords, causing laryngitis, scarring, and other voice issues. To protect vocal health, consumers can choose alternative cannabis consumption methods.

What are the acute effects of marijuana intoxication?

Acute cannabis use can result in slowed speech, difficulty remembering words, and altered speech patterns. These effects typically last 1-3 hours, depending on the method of consumption.

How does marijuana affect neural communication?

Marijuana affects neural communication by interacting with cannabinoid receptors in the brain, which influence memory, coordination, and motor skills, potentially impacting speech and cognitive functions.

How does weed affect your behavior?

Weed can alter mood, enhance sociability in group settings, and reduce negative emotions. However, excessive use or using cannabis as a way to manage negative emotions can lead to social withdrawal in some individuals.

Does smoking weed affect my speech?

Yes, smoking cannabis can temporarily slow speech and make it potentially challenging to maintain the flow of conversation, especially immediately after consumption. The effects of long-term subtle speech changes are also potentially linked to cannabis consumption. However, these long-term effects are typically reversible after stopping cannabis use and still require further research.

How does weed affect language?

Cannabis can affect language by impairing verbal memory and attention, making it harder for users to remember words or maintain coherent speech patterns.

The post The Long and Short-Term Effects of Marijuana on Speech and Social Settings appeared first on Cannabis Central.

When it comes to any hot-button issue like cannabis legalization, there are always two sides, often without much middle ground. For those looking through a pro-legalization lens, efforts to continue federal prohibition and bar states from legalizing should be a thing of the past. 

Whereas, for proponents of anti-legalization, prohibition is a no-brainer. To fully understand this debate, we must examine the other side and explore the anti-legalization agenda. Let’s assess its potential impact both federally and statewide, and determine if a middle ground exists.

The Roots of Anti-Legalization Efforts in the U.S.

In 1937, Congress enacted the Marijuana Tax Act after repealing federal alcohol prohibition in 1933. As a reaction to the many Mexican immigrants who brought cannabis with them across the border from Mexico in the early 1900s, anti-cannabis propaganda was widespread regarding these immigrants and other minorities, like African Americans. They prominently targeted these groups, claiming they were susceptible to ‘deviant behaviors’ caused by the “devil weed”.

Nixon’s War on Drugs

The Nixon administration took the racially-charged propaganda behind cannabis prohibition even further by unofficially beginning the “War on Drugs” in 1971. Cannabis was classified as a Schedule I drug along with heroin and meth in the Controlled Substances Act. This policy ensured significant penalties and incarceration for possession, cultivation, and trafficking for anyone found guilty in the U.S. So began decades of millions of arrests, particularly of African Americans, and an inability for researchers to study and unlock cannabis’s full medicinal value due to its status as federally illegal. 

Interestingly enough, the New York Times released an article in September of 2024, whereby a 1973 audio recording was unearthed of Nixon declaring he knew cannabis “is not particularly dangerous”, despite affecting millions of lives and families due to his policies ever since. Harper’s magazine also released an article in 2016, with clips from an interview with a top Nixon advisor who made a similar admission. Watergate co-conspirator, John Erlichmann, admitted on tape that the administration used the War On Drugs as a means to counter the voices of the anti-war hippies, as well as pro-Civil Rights efforts by African-Americans, to “disrupt those communities”.

Legalization Efforts Since

The efforts of anti-legalization proponents have continued since then, most significantly in the 1980s with the “Just Say No” movement by First Lady Nancy Reagan. The campaign exerted a massive influence on American society and families. Incarceration rates for cannabis possession and distribution continued to rise, as well as public opinion against marijuana among parental and morality groups.

However, all of the efforts to keep marijuana users in fear of incarceration began to shift once voters in the state of California legalized the medical use of marijuana in 1996–a first in the U.S. 

Since then, states in many diverse areas of the country have begun to enact their medical marijuana programs under the argument of state rights. This eventually culminated in a massive victory–Adult-Use passage in 2012 by voters in the state of Colorado. The legalization of weed for adults 21 and over has opened the floodgates, prompting 24 states to establish their own recreational, adult-use laws.  Along with Adult-Use legalization in many states in the U.S., the 2018 Farm Bill added another dimension by introducing a widespread gray market for products containing other cannabinoids like CBD, Delta-8, and THCA. 

Current Anti-Legalization Efforts in the U.S.

Current efforts to keep legal, black market, and gray market cannabinoid-containing products out of the hands of Americans have been working just as hard as those seeking to legalize. The intersection of socio-political and legal maneuvers by the anti-legalization crowd has been gaining traction in recent years to stem the tide of legalization. This is evident from the fact that 3 out of 4 states with Adult Use initiatives on the ballot in November of 2024 weren’t successful. 

Smart Approaches to Government (SAM)

According to its website, the lobbying group known as Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) is “an alliance of organizations and individuals dedicated to a health-first approach to marijuana.” Groups like SAM claim to work in the interest of public health and safety first and foremost, perhaps to distance themselves from the prejudicial roots of anti-legalization in the past. The organization’s current motto is “Preventing the Next Big Tobacco.” 

SAM is a prominent opponent of legalization by individual states, as well as federal efforts to legalize and provide access. These efforts include federal rescheduling and the SAFER Banking Act–the latter of which seeks to allow legal cannabis dispensaries and businesses to access services like bank accounts–which most other businesses can access with no issues. 

SAM argues that marketing will target children, gangs, and cartels will gain access to financial services, and “big marijuana” will create addiction problems similar to those caused by alcohol and oxycontin abuse. However, SAM does find common ground with legalization advocates on decriminalization, suggesting that it offers a more measured approach for governments compared to full legalization.

Influence on States

The influence of anti-legalization lobbyists like SAM has manifested itself in states seeking to legalize and even those who have already voted to do so. This is evident by efforts like Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin’s reversal of the state legislature’s decision to pass Adult-Use legalization in 2021. Youngkin vetoed it based on “addiction prevention and public health safety.” However, polling shows that most Virginians have sided with legalization going back several years.

Polling also showed that Florida had a majority of voters approved of adult-use legislation in 2024 before the election took place in November of the same year. Trulieve–a Florida-based multistate operator–spent over $140 million on Amendment 3 to legalize cannabis for Adult Use, according to finance reports released. Their efforts were ultimately thwarted by only reaching 56% instead of the 60% of approval votes that the state-mandated was necessary to pass. 

Before the election, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis took a heavy-handed approach by pumping large sums of money into anti-legalization efforts. He stoked worries of “the smell of marijuana in public everywhere” to engage voters’ fears like so many prohibitionists did decades before, however, he also took a more modern approach, as well, no doubt influenced by lobbies like SAM. De Santis was able to successfully portray Trulieve’s legalization efforts as a foreign company seeking to take advantage of Floridians by creating its own state-run monopoly on weed by keeping Florida-based companies away. These statements have been proven false since Trulieve originated in Florida and has its biggest retail medical facility footprint in the Sunshine State. 

The Future of Anti-Legalization Efforts

While the winds of change have ushered in a new era of cannabis accessibility and acceptance, they’re also gathering strong headwinds in the opposite direction. As we approach 2025, several factors are at play–primarily the federal government and the President, who will continue to create uncertainty on a wide variety of issues, not just cannabis.

Whichever direction the federal government chooses to proceed on policies like rescheduling cannabis and the SAFER Act could be a window into just how much the momentum will continue in favor of cannabis legalization and access for the next few years to come. 

States’ rights have continued to propel many individual commonwealths to put their own adult-use initiatives up for a vote, with more states like Pennsylvania, Hawaii, and Wisconsin possibly doing just that in 2025. Due to the recent efforts of anti-legalization groups, it remains to be seen if they will be successful or if there will be any compromise on either side.

The post The Rise of Anti-Legalization Efforts appeared first on Cannabis Central.

In January, a bill was introduced regarding Iowa’s medical cannabis program, allowing vaporized cannabis to be added to the state-approved Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products list. This bill was advanced out of a House subcommittee. 

If passed, “vaporizable dried raw cannabis” would be included with the products available to Iowa’s medical patients.

Iowa’s medical cannabis program is one of the most limited throughout the country. Currently, the program only allows for tablets, capsules, liquids, topicals, vaporizable products (not raw flower), and suppositories.

Companies & Iowa Patients Are Hopeful For Change

Lucas Nelson, president of MedPharm Iowa, owns and operates Bud & Mary’s Cannabis in the state. Bud & Mary’s is one of two licensed medical cannabis manufacturers in Iowa. Nelson said in a statement that if the bill passes, the company will commit to lowering patient product costs by an estimated 50%. 

He told the Des Moines Register: “This lowering of the costs matters for people. There’s a patient who visits us from just outside of Ottumwa. She suffers from chronic pain, as you mentioned. She can’t use insurance because insurance doesn’t cover medical cannabis, and hers, specifically, she uses these products to be present for her grandkids.”

Many Iowa residents have an interest in becoming medical cannabis patients. Many struggle with the initial medical card fees and the high price of products. With Nelson promising to lower product costs if the bill is passed, it would make medical cannabis more affordable and accessible for patients.

The introduction of vaporizable dried raw cannabis flower would be a big step for the state to allow the cannabis flower itself to be purchased and consumed by the state’s medical patients.

Qualifications For An Iowa Medical Cannabis Card

According to the official State of Iowa website, a resident may qualify for Iowa’s Medical Cannabis Program if their healthcare practitioner certified that they have one or more of the following Qualifying Debilitating Medical Conditions:

• Cancer
• Crohn’s disease
• Seizures
• Chronic pain
• AIDS or HIB – Haemophilus influenzae (as defined in Iowa Code, section 141A.1)
• Multiple Sclerosis (with severe and persistent muscle spasms)
• Parkinson’s disease
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Ulcerative colitis
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Corticobasal Degeneration
• Severe, intractable pediatric autism with self-injurious or aggressive behaviors
• Severe, intractable autism with self-injurious or aggressive behaviors
• Any terminal illness with a probable life expectancy of under one year – if the illness or its treatment produces one or more of the following effects: severe or chronic pain, nausea, severe vomiting, cachexia, or severe wasting

The website offers a petition to add qualifying conditions. If you are an Iowa resident considering medical cannabis but do not have a condition on the current qualifying list, consider adding to the petition to have your voice heard.

THC Products Available For Iowa Medical Cannabis Patients

At the time of writing, Bud & Mary’s “Aliviar” products manufacture all medical cannabis in the state of Iowa. 

There are the allowable forms of medical cannabis in Iowa:

• Vaporization (concentrates only, no flower)
• Oral forms – tablets, capsules, liquids, tinctures, and sublingual forms
• Topical forms – gels, ointments, lotions, creams, and transdermal patches
• Suppositories – rectal or vaginal
• Neulizable – inhaled forms

Why Iowa Wants ‘Dried, Raw Cannabis’ For Vaporization

The Iowa Medical Cannabidiol Advisory Board has requested that lawmakers create more regulations for medical cannabis. The board created policy recommendations, including licensing more state dispensaries, exempting medical cannabis products from sales tax, and providing more oversight on telehealth providers.

If the proposal bill is passed, “vaporizable dried raw cannabis” would be added to the list of products available for medical marijuana cardholders in Iowa.

This change would allow in-state patients to have more options when it comes to their THC products. Currently, the state is stringent on ways to allow patients to inhale cannabis – with most product options surrounding topical or oral forms. 

Iowa is also known for its strong agricultural practices. It ranks first in the state for soybean, corn, and pork production. Allowing the state to cultivate cannabis for in-state cardholders could be a transformative move for the state’s agricultural businesses.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Many Iowans Use The Medical Cannabis Program?

The number of medical cannabis patients in Iowa by the end of 2024 was right around 18,000. This is a slight dip from the previous year, with 18,230 registered Iowans.

Are There Other Legislation Proposals For The Iowa Medical Cannabis Program?

Currently, House Study Bill 29 would add THC-beverages to the state’s open container law. This would make it illegal to have an open can of a cannabis drink in the car. If this bill is passed, the crime would be a misdemeanor with a fine of $260.

Senate File 46 would expand access to medical cannabis for Iowans. The request is to increase the number of dispensary licenses from the current five to a new total of ten.

How Much THC Can I Purchase?

Medical patients are eligible to purchase 4.5 grams of THC every 90 days. Patients with a terminal illness can submit a waiver with their initial application. 

For patients looking to have a THC waiver completed, the waiver must be completed by the original certifying practitioner and then submitted to the Bureau of Cannabis Regulation.

Are There Restrictions Around Medical Cannabis And Firearms?

If you are a medical cannabis cardholder in the state of Iowa, there are considerations around firearms. If you are applying for a permit or purchasing a firearm, it is required to disclose the use of cannabis and any other controlled substances.

Patients who own firearms should be aware of this disclosure if they plan to apply for a medical cannabis card and should consult an attorney on the matter.

Patients and prospective patients may contact the Iowa Department of Public Safety at (515)-725-6230 for more information.

How Do I Apply For Iowa Medical Cannabis?

First, your healthcare practitioner must complete a certification form. Then, you can apply online by scanning the QR code on your health care form or visiting the online registration page.

How Do I Renew My Iowa Medical Cannabis Card?

An Iowa patient’s medical cannabis card expires one year after it is issued. The patient must have their condition recertified by their healthcare practitioner each year. 

Patients receive an email notice 60 days before the expiration. Once they receive it, they should schedule a consultation with their provider.

The post Iowa Bill Seeking ‘Vaporizable’ Cannabis To Be On State-Approved List appeared first on Cannabis Central.

The cannabis lexicon is as diverse as the culture surrounding it, and cannabis language is continually expanding as public acceptance and medical use of the plant increases. With an eclectic story that involves secretive underground markets, diverse cultural communities, scientific research, and controversial legal policy, cannabis terminology features a blend of local slang, medical jargon, marketing buzzwords, and technical legal definitions. As legalization and innovation continue to spread, cannabis terms are being introduced, forgotten, or commonly misused, which can make the language of cannabis confusing for both new and experienced users. This article will go over some commonly used terms found in the cannabis lingo that can be unclear and easily confused for many people. So, if you never figured out what “OG” really means, or if you keep calling your joint a spliff, this cannabis terminology refresher is for you. 

10 Confusing Cannabis Terms Demystified

OG

Original gangsta? Ocean grown? Original grower? Is it the name of a strain? Browsing through different varieties of cannabis, you may have come across monikers like Fire OG, OG Chem, and Skywalker OG, among numerous other OG strains. Ask around, and you’ll likely get different answers from different people about what the letters stand for. Different legends in cannabis lore typically point to “ocean grown,” “original gangster,” or even just “original,” the truth is no one knows for sure what OG was originally intended to mean. 

Even if the weed world remains uncertain about what OG stands for, the letters still represent something specific when they appear in the name of a cannabis product. Strains that feature OG in the name belong to a special lineage of hybrid cannabis plants descended from the legendary OG Kush strain. Since its popularization in the 1990s, OG Kush has become a highly sought-after and influential strain in the world of cannabis, and today, you will find many descendants of the renowned strain in virtually every cannabis market. So, when you see a strain tagged as OG on a cannabis menu, you know the strain belongs to a particularly special family of cannabis plants featuring the genetics inherited from OG Kush.

Joint vs. Blunt vs. Spliff

You may have heard people use these terms interchangeably, and you may be guilty of doing it yourself, but these terms designate different kinds of smokables! Here’s the breakdown: 

• Joint: A joint is a cannabis wrapped in thin rolling paper. This is the most popular way to consume cannabis, and joints can come in a variety of sizes, ranging on average from 1/3 gram to 1 gram. Many people roll their joints, but prerolls are a popular convenient option. 
• Blunt: This smokable treat is cannabis rolled in a wrap made of tobacco leaves, also called a blunt wrap. Blunts can contain more cannabis than joints, as blunt wraps are typically larger and thicker than rolling papers. A blunt also provides a buzzy nicotine high along with the weed high, which offers a different smoking experience compared to a joint. 
• Spliff: Spliffs contain both ground cannabis flower and tobacco rolled in cigarette papers or joint rolling papers. There is no standard tobacco-to-weed ratio for a spliff, but usually, spliffs contain 50% cannabis and 50% tobacco. Because tobacco is mixed with the ground flower used in this smokable, the THC high from smoking a spliff is less intense and is accompanied by a heady nicotine buzz. As with blunts, spliffs expose the user to tobacco smoke, which can be more damaging to the lungs than cannabis smoke. 

Adult-use

In the cannabis world, this term is used to distinguish recreational cannabis from medical cannabis. However, it can be confusing when you consider that being a legal adult at 18 doesn’t imply that somebody can legally participate in adult-use cannabis markets, it does show that they are eligible to access medical cannabis! While the US considers someone an adult when they reach the age of 18, “adult-use” cannabis is restricted to people over the age of 21. So, even though you can use medical cannabis as an adult when people refer to adult-use marijuana, they are typically talking about recreational use.

Cannabis Caregiver 

Not to be confused with a cannabis healthcare provider, a cannabis coach, or a cannabis consultant, a cannabis caregiver is a representative designated to assist individual medical marijuana patients who cannot procure or apply cannabis treatments for themselves. Medical cannabis patients who either cannot obtain or administer their medical marijuana treatments—for example, patients who are minors, elderly, disabled, or critically ill—can designate another individual to procure and apply their cannabis medicines. Jobs handled by cannabis caregivers include providing transportation to dispensaries, measuring dosages, and applying tinctures or topicals for medical cannabis patients. Cannabis caregivers may not need to be healthcare experts, but they must normally submit an application and certification process before providing their services.

Live Rosin vs. Live Resin

Since the terms sound a lot alike, it can be easy to confuse these two types of cannabis concentrates. The essential distinction between these two products is in their extraction processes, which involve different materials and temperatures. 

• Live Resin: Manufacturers produce live resin using a solvent, such as butane, ethanol, or propane, in an extraction process applied to fresh, flash-frozen cannabis plants. Freezing the cannabis plants for extraction is essential to this process as it preserves the plant’s numerous cannabinoids and terpenes and results in a product that delivers the full flavor and potency of the live cannabis plant.
• Live Rosin: In contrast, live rosin is produced using a solventless extraction method that involves applying heat and pressure to cannabis flower, hash, or kief. Because live rosin is extracted without chemical solvents, it is often favored by those who want a clean, chemical-free product. You can produce rosin relatively safely compared to live resin, and live rosin extraction also avoids using chemicals that harm the environment. 

Cannabis Cafe

Cannabis cafes are establishments that permit guests to purchase and consume cannabis products on-site while also enjoying non-infused food and beverage offerings. These establishments are not to be confused with consumption lounges, which are locations that allow on-site cannabis consumption but do not offer non-cannabis food and drink. Cannabis cafes have specific licenses permitting them to serve food and beverages in the consumption space, whereas consumption lounges cannot legally sell non-cannabis consumables. Only a few states have legalized cannabis cafes, so consumption lounges are more common. Certain consumption lounges have been able to circumnavigate legal restrictions on serving food by offering prepackaged food or food prepared offsite and also by charging customers separate checks for cannabis and food purchases. 

Hemp oil vs. CBD Oil

Hemp specifically refers to cannabis sativa plants whose parts contain 0.3% or less of the psychoactive compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), according to the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 US Farm Bill). Until 2018, hemp was legally classified with marijuana plants and banned in the US, today it is an increasingly popular cash crop used for producing CBD (cannabidiol) oil and a variety of other materials ranging from paper to concrete alternatives. Hemp can also be used in foods, often as a form of seeds or oil. Hemp seed oil, or hemp oil, is distinct from CBD oil, and the two hemp-based oil products provide fundamentally different benefits. 

• Hemp oil: Also known as hemp seed oil, hemp oil is a liquid fat extracted from the seeds of hemp plants. The product contains negligible levels of cannabinoids such as CBD, meaning that you cannot receive the therapeutic effects CBD is known for by consuming hemp oil. Rather, hemp oil is a food product with a nutty flavor and rich nutritional profile featuring omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. 
• CBD oil: In contrast, CBD oil is extracted from the flowers, leaves, and stalks of the hemp plant. It is abundant in the cannabinoid CBD and is found in a variety of therapeutic products that are used to treat seizures, pain, inflammation, and anxiety. 

Marijuana or Cannabis?

In the legal context, non-hemp cannabis plants and their derivatives are classified as marijuana. The term “marijuana” is used to distinguish cannabis products and plants with high levels of THC from those legally defined as hemp. However, even though “cannabis” appears to be a more generic term referring to any plant in the species cannabis sativa, both hemp and marijuana, many policymakers, healthcare professionals, and advocates will use the word “cannabis” when referring to marijuana products. This is because “marijuana” was historically used by US propagandists leveraging racist attitudes toward Mexican immigrants in the early 20th century to generate widespread negative and fearful public mindset regarding the substance. 

So, which one is correct? You can use either. Whether the term is being used to refer to a gram of bud or the plant species more broadly will depend on the context. Although “cannabis” is the more generic term for members of the cannabis plant species, which includes hemp plants, plenty of people still apply the term to talk about products and plants that would more technically count as marijuana, so if you say you are going to smoke some cannabis, nobody is going to ask you whether you mean marijuana or hemp. 

Quarter 

Like 25 cents? A quarter of what? A gram? A pound? An entire harvest? A quarter, also known as a “q” or a “quad,” refers to a one-quarter ounce quantity of weighed dried cannabis flower, which can also be expressed as 7 grams. Relatedly, an eighth of cannabis refers to an eighth of an ounce of weed, or 3.5 grams. So, if someone offers to sell you a quarter of weed, this does not mean they want to exchange 25 cents worth of bud!

420

The number 420 is one of the most universally recognized symbols of cannabis culture. It is commonly used to refer to the act of smoking weed, a time of day (4:20) to light up, and the unofficial cannabis holiday celebrated on April 20th. However, the meaning behind the mysterious number is surrounded by urban legends. Some people mistakenly believe a debunked theory claiming that 420 was once a police code for marijuana-related offenses, but no such code exists. Others have speculated that the number refers to the Bob Dylan song “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35,” as 12 multiplied by 35 comes out to 420. 

The most credible origin story has been traced back to a group of 1970s California high school students, known as the “Waldos,” who would meet at 4:20 pm after school to enjoy a social smoke session. The stoner crew would say “420” to each other as a secret code word to talk about cannabis. The term gained traction when one of the Waldos got to work with the band Grateful Dead as a roadie, and 420 was picked up by band members who then spread it to fans. In the 1990s, a flyer made by a group of Oakland Deadheads inviting people to smoke “420” on April 20 at 4:20 pm was published in High Times magazine, which led to the widespread popularization of the term, forever establishing 420 in the cannabis lexicon. 

Getting in the Last Word

With the rapidly evolving and expanding research and culture surrounding cannabis, new terms continue to emerge, describing everything from novel cannabinoid compounds to cutting-edge consumption methods. While language diversity enriches the cannabis industry with new knowledge and cultural diversity, it may also confuse, as newbies are intimidated by a huge array of unfamiliar jargon, and even seasoned fans can struggle to keep up with altering uses and newly found compounds. Mastering the cannabis lexicon is an ongoing project for any cannabis consumer, grower, medical professional, or medical patient, and keeping up with some of the more commonly confusing terms is an easy way to ensure that you can navigate the world of cannabis culture with confidence.

The post Breaking Down Confusing Cannabis Terminology appeared first on Cannabis Central.

On July 1, 2021, medical marijuana became legal in South Dakota. This occurred as the result of a ballot initiative that passed in the 2020 general election.

However,  South Dakota’s journey toward cannabis legalization has been anything but straightforward. South Dakota has had a very complicated past and present when it comes to legalizing marijuana, both medically and recreationally. 

From early failed attempts at approving medical marijuana to the historic 2020 vote that saw both medical and recreational cannabis on the ballot simultaneously, it has been a challenging battle for cannabis advocates in South Dakota. 

Now, it seems that numerous medical marijuana dispensaries in South Dakota are closing their doors.

In this article, you’ll discover the complicated history of legal cannabis in South Dakota, why recreational cannabis failed despite voters’ wishes, and why some medical dispensaries in South Dakota are now closing their doors. 

South Dakota’s Complex History of Recreational and Medical Cannabis Legalization

In 2006, when only about 10 of the 50 states had legalized medical marijuana, South Dakota considered joining them by adding this issue to their ballot. 

However, the ballot did fail, with a close call of 47% in favor and 52% not in favor. Medical marijuana ended up on the ballot once again in 2010, but this initiative also failed at 36% in favor to 63%  not in favor.  It would be another ten years before this issue was back on the ballot.

The existing laws before the changes were made in the last several years surrounding medical cannabis possession were extremely harsh. A medical patient could end up in jail for possessing even small amounts of marijuana. 

In South Dakota, cannabis law history was finally made by being the first state to have voters approve not just the medical cannabis initiative but adult-use cannabis legislation at the same time in 2020. 

But this voter-approved legislation was short-lived as it was unjustly overturned in court. The state Supreme Court unreasonably threw out the measure to legalize adult-use cannabis based on a “single-subject” ruling. The single-subject rule in some jurisdictions’ constitutional law stipulates that some or all types of legislation may deal with only one main issue. One purpose of this rule is to avoid complexity in acts and any hidden provisions that legislators or voters may miss when reading the proposed law. 

Fortunately, protections were provided for the medical marijuana ballot, thanks to voters and the support of the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP). The MPP is the number one organization in the U.S. dedicated to legalizing cannabis. They have helped pass 15 medical cannabis laws and played a leading role in 14 of the 24 legalization states.

Despite the 70% voter and MPP support of medical cannabis in South Dakota, Governor Noem still attempted to delay the medical cannabis law by another year in 2021. 

Is Marijuana Medically and Recreationally  Legal in South Dakota Today?

Luckily, the Governor’s attempt to undermine what voters wanted was not successful. Currently, with the required certificate from a certified medical practitioner due to a qualifying condition, medical marijuana possession for patients is allowed in South Dakota. 

Some of the qualifying conditions for obtaining a certification for medical cannabis in South Dakota include: 

• Cancer
• Epilepsy
• Severe muscle spasms
•  Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Crohn’s disease
• Multiple Sclerosis
• AIDS / HIV
• Severe Pain
• Severe Nausea

 South Dakota’s registered medical cannabis patients can:

•  Possess up to three ounces of cannabis at a time.
• If authorized, medical patients can cultivate up to two flowering and two non-flowering cannabis plants. Patients cannot cultivate without explicit authorization.

When it comes to medical marijuana dispensaries, manufacturing facilities, testing labs, and cultivation facilities, these all must be state-registered as well, and sales are regulated. 

While medical cannabis was finally legalized, the long battle for better marijuana laws was still being put together by South Dakotans and the MPP on a very tight budget, with Matthew Schweich as its leader and spokesperson. This group hoped that recreational adult-use marijuana laws in South Dakota would finally change for the better. 

Unfortunately, because South Dakota voters approved the original MPP-backed legalization measure in 2020, it forced the most recent measure to recreationally legalize cannabis to lack many of the features of their legalization laws. These features are what can help build more support for this type of measure. The measure included cultivation and possession of cannabis without any regulation on taxation or sales. 

On November 5, 2024, adult cannabis legalization could have finally been legalized for South Dakota residents. Unfortunately, the results fell just shy of this measure passing, with the ballot measure totaling 44% voting yes and 55% voting no on this issue. 

But despite the legalization of medical cannabis and the ongoing battle to legalize recreational marijuana, some South Dakota dispensaries are closing down.

The Closing of Several South Dakota Dispensaries

After medical marijuana became legal in South Dakota, dispensaries started gearing up and eventually opened their doors to medical cannabis patients. Soon after, intense dispensary competition, especially in metro areas like Sioux Falls, began causing problems. 

For some dispensaries, especially smaller businesses, the new dispensaries popping up all over these metro areas meant less and less business as dispensaries were in a race to the bottom when it came to pricing. 

Now, at least eight dispensaries in South Dakota have closed their doors beginning around February of 2024 due to concerns about regulations, competition, the race to the bottom with pricing, and the ever-declining medical marijuana cardholder numbers. 

After being legalized and the registration of medical cannabis patients began, cardholder numbers increased quickly, with numbers peaking near the beginning of 2024. 

In the winter of 2023, according to South Dakota’s Data and Statistics report, close to 13,000  medical marijuana cardholders were registered. As of December 2024, those numbers have declined to less than 12,000 cardholders instead. From February 2024 to December 2024 alone, there was about a 15% decrease in registered medical marijuana cardholders.

Some of this decline could be because of the increasing availability of cannabis alternatives, such as smokeable flowers or hemp-derived edibles advertising similar effects to medical products. Or, it could be that some were hoping recreational marijuana would be legalized. 

However, the declining cardholder numbers and the oversaturation of dispensaries opening that continued expanding rapidly are likely the biggest reasons that South Dakota is seeing a fall in their cannabis industry. 

State medical regulations may also be part of the reason South Dakota is seeing many of its dispensaries closing. 

The annual price of maintaining the dispensary licenses has recently increased by a whopping 70%. The annual fee went from about $5,000 to $9,000 annually. 

Cannabis businesses also cannot deduct most of their business expenses, such as rent and employee wages. Fortunately, they can deduct cost-of-business expenses. As such, this requires significant tax preparation to properly comply with these tricky regulations, and many dispensaries are paying significant tax preparation bills because of this. 

The South Dakota medical cannabis rules and regulations also prohibit advertising, including social media posts. Social media posts made by dispensaries can lead to warnings being issued by the state. Social media posts that depict the use of cannabis can also lead to warnings, cease and desist letters from the state, or even a temporary and permanent shutdown. Unfortunately, it has put many medical cannabis facility owners in a constant position of fear as they try to navigate the intricate laws surrounding medical cannabis in the state of South Dakota. 

All of these little things adding up have made operating a successful dispensary business in South Dokata challenging for many of these cannabis facility owners, likely being the cause of closures for some. 

The Future of South Dakota’s Cannabis Industry

With the recreational marijuana legislation not passing recently like many voters may have hoped, it’s likely there could be an increase in medical marijuana cardholders because of this. Some people may have originally held off getting a medical marijuana card in hopes it would pass recreationally, meaning they’re more likely to apply for cards soon with no recreational marijuana legalization in sight. 

However, the number of cardholders that have already dropped off has likely done significant damage to South Dakota’s cannabis industry—and especially to its smaller dispensary owners. 

Boosting the number of cardholders could be a beacon of hope for the South Dakota medical cannabis industry, though. This could be accomplished by expanding the list of qualifying conditions for obtaining a medical marijuana card. 

The addition of an industry representative to South Dakota’s Medical Marijuana Oversight Council could also help improve the situation for medical cannabis industry businesses. 

Takeaways

Despite the initial success of medical cannabis finally being legalized in South Dakota, the state’s cannabis industry is now facing serious challenges. 

Fierce competition, burdensome regulations, a decline in medical marijuana cardholders, and increasing financial pressures have led to the closure of multiple dispensaries in a matter of months. 

The failure to pass recreational legalization has further complicated the industry’s future, leaving medical cannabis as the only legal option. 

However, hope remains. Expanding qualifying conditions for medical marijuana, advocating for industry-friendly regulations, and eventually legalizing marijuana recreationally could help stabilize South Dakota’s cannabis market. Whether these changes come in time to save some of these smaller, struggling businesses, however, remains to be seen.

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