FLGreen Magazine

07/04/2021

What's going on in the cannabis business in the State of Florida? During a year when the state lost more than 400,000 jobs due to the Covid-19 virus, the cannabis industry added over 15,000 employees (according to the cannabis website Leafly).

It's been four years since Florida voters approved ma*****na for medical purposes and today it is a $1.2-billion business and growing! But how far can the industry grow?

The Florida ma*****na market is almost impossible to enter. There are only 22 companies that have state licenses to dispense the drug. This has caused a lot of pi**ed off companies and one is actually suing the state for the right to compete.

There are over 470,000 state patients and most feel that prices are over regulated and expensive. There are politicians calling for legalized, recreational ma*****na use but that seems years away from actually happening.

The states that have legalized ma*****na are Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont, and Washington.. It’s important to point out that even in states where pot is legal, there are several laws about how much you’re allowed to carry on you, keep in your house, and transport — obviously, driving while high is a bad idea.

Is w**d legal in Florida? By and large, the answer is no; possession of more than 20 grams can lead to a felony charge. Medical ma*****na is legal, allowing up to 2.5 ounces for those with a qualifying condition. It can still be difficult to get legal Florida ma*****na, as you will need to have one of these qualifying conditions: ALS, Cancer, Chronic nonmalignant pain, Crohn’s disease, Epilepsy, Glaucoma, HIV/AIDS. Multiple sclerosis (MS),
Parkinson’s disease, PTSD or a Terminal condition.

31/03/2021

New York has legalized cannabis becoming just the fourth state to approve the reforms via the legislative process. The measure passed both chambers along party lines and was signed into law Wednesday morning by Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D).
Some aspects of the reforms took effect immediately, including adult possession, expungement of crimes now legal under the new regime, and the creation of the Office of Cannabis Management. The law allows adults to grow their own plants – three mature and three immature – but that provision doesn’t take effect until sales begin, which are anticipated in about 18 months.
Rep. Richard Gottfried (D), a longtime champion of the reforms in the state, called the law’s passage “a milestone on the road toward a more rational drug policy in New York.”
“Now, the Ma*****na Regulation and Taxation Act will take a giant step forward. It will create economic opportunities, including community reinvestment and social equity programs. As a result of MRTA’s passage, New York is projected to collect new annual state tax revenues of about $350 million, and to generate between 30,000 to 60,000 jobs.” – Gottfried in a statement
The final version of the bill earmarks 40% of tax revenues for reinvestment in communities most affected by the enforcement of cannabis laws, 40% for public education, and 20% for drug treatment, prevention, and education. The bill imposes a 9% state and 4% local tax on recreational cannabis sales along taxes based on THC content – 0.5 cents per milligram for flower, 0.8 cents per milligram for concentrates, and 0.3 cents per milligram for edibles.
The bill also allows for social use establishments.
Half of the licenses will be set aside for social equity applicants, including minorities, women, disabled veterans, and people most affected by the disproportionate enforcement of cannabis laws. Social equity programs are also included in the measure, including loans, grants, and incubator programs for small farmers and individuals from unduly impacted communities who want to enter the space.
Empire State NORML Deputy Director Troy Smit noted that New York was once the “cannabis arrest capital of the world. This might not be the perfect piece of legislation,” Smit said in a statement, “but today, cannabis consumers can hold their heads high and smell the flowers.”
This article was written by TG Branfalt from Ganjaprenuer.com

04/02/2021

Good Morning with Paul & Tracy

Happy Thursday everybody! Today's show will start with Tony C and Tracy hosting as Paul has an early morning blood test ... ouch! He will be in studio by 8:45!!

Today is National H**p Day, National Homemade Soup Day and National Thank a Mailman Day ... that's quite a diverse collection don't you think? We are only 3 days away from Super Bowl 55 and we are all hoping the weather holds off and the game is played under dry conditions.

Please tune into WTAN Radio 106.1fm and/or 1340am to listen ... of course the program is also seen on FaceBook Live and YouTube. Have a great day !!!

25/01/2021

Good Morning with Paul & Tracy!

Yes!!! Yes !!! Yes !!! The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going to the Super Bowl !! Yesterday's win over the Green Bay Packers punched their ticket and the team will battle the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs.

The Bucs will be the first team to play a Super Bowl in their home stadium. The two teams met in the regular season with KC coming away with a 27-24 victory. The next two weeks will be crazy here in Tampa Bay and I can't wait for the Big Game on Sunday February 7th!

Please join us from 8am till 10am on WTAN Radio 106.1fm and/or 1340am ... you can also watch us here on Facebook. Call in and celebrate the Bucs victory 727-441-3000!

11/01/2021

Two Canadian researchers think that a special strain of cannabis might potentially be a valuable tool in the fight against COVID-19.
The researchers, Olga and Igor Kovalchuck have reportedly been developing and testing a novel cannabis strain for years, except with the goal of creating a strain that helps to combat cancer and inflammation. When the pandemic hit, the duo started to focus their efforts on how the strain might be used to help fight COVID-19.
“Similar to other respiratory pathogens, SARS-CoV2 is transmitted through respiratory droplets, with potential for aerosol and contact spread. It uses receptor-mediated entry into the human host via angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2) that is expressed in lung tissue, as well as oral and nasal mucosa, kidney, te**es, and the gastrointestinal tract,” reads the study. “Modulation of ACE2 levels in these gateway tissues may prove a plausible strategy for decreasing disease susceptibility.”
After looking at the research done on cannabis and COVID by other scientists, they were able to determine that cannabis, a special strain in particular, could potentially block COVID-19 from entering a person’s body to begin with.
It all comes down to our body’s ACE2 receptors, which works sort of like doorways into our bodies for the virus. In the case of the Kovalchuck’s work, cannabis would be used to decrease the level of ACE2 gene expression, essentially temporarily closing the doors to the virus.
Beyond that, it’s also possible that the strain could be used to prevent the virus from being able to propagate once it’s already entered someone’s system.
“Cannabis sativa, especially one high in the anti-inflammatory cannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD), has been proposed to modulate gene expression and inflammation and harbour anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties,” the study says. “Working under the Health Canada research license, we have developed over 800 new Cannabis sativa lines and extracts and hypothesized that high-CBD C. sativa extracts may be used to modulate ACE2 expression in COVID-19 target tissues.”
Right now it’s still a theory rather than a confirmed fact; however, it offers some hope for the future. If they’re able to prove the idea, the next step would be to manufacture the successful strain into medical formations that could be used for prevention and treatment by the medical field. That’s to say you’re probably not going to be buying a random joint at your local dispensary that will prevent the virus.
The couple is also quick to point out that just like your high, not every strain of cannabis is going to impact you in the same way. While it’s possible that they will be able to find a strain that can help prevent or treat COVID-19, there are also strains that could potentially make it worse. There’s no one-size-fits-all fix.

09/10/2020

Good Morning Clearwater Radio !!

Ouch !! Around 11:30 last night there was a huge "thud" around Tampa Bay. It was not a good day in our sports world as the Tampa Bay Rays lost to the New York Yankees forcing Game 5 of the AL Division Series and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost 20-19 in Chicago. The Rays still have a chance to win things when they play tonight but the Bucs loss will sting for a while.

We will have our weekly "PICK SIX" Football Contest where you can win a $20 gift certificate from Pete & Shortys' Restaurant!

We will talk about those things, all the political junk that is floating around, look at traffic & weather and just have a good time from 8am till 10am on WTAN Radio (106.1-fm and 1340-am) and here on FaceBook Live!

Please tell your friends, family, enemies, pets and Uncle Joe who lives in the swamp to tune in and listen ... they will love us!!! Have a great day everybody!!

07/10/2020

Good Morning Clearwater Radio!

Good morning and welcome to Hump Day! The Rays defeated the Yankees last night to even their best of five series 1-1 ... The Lakers beat the Miami Heat to take control of the NBA finals... and today is National Frappe Day, National Pumpkin Seed Day and National Chocolate Covered Pretzel Day ... Wow !!!

We will be joined Jeff Barndeis today in the 9 o'clock hour to talk about how you can help improve your business!

Please join us from 8am till 10am on WTAN Radio (106.1-f, and 1340-am) or watch us here on FaceBook Live. Have a great Hump Day everybody!

06/10/2020

Canopy Growth Corp., the cannabis company that attracted Corona beer producer Constellation Brands Inc. as an investor, is moving to bring cannabis beverages to the U.S. in 2021. The drinks will contain THC, the psychoactive compound found in ma*****na, in dosage amounts designed to keep people buzzed and social in a similar way to beer, cocktails or wine, the company said in a statement.
“Just as hard seltzer disrupted beer by providing a lighter, low-calorie alternative, we believe cannabis beverages will be an attractive option for what have traditionally been alcohol-driven occasions and mood states,” said David Klein, Canopy’s chief executive officer, in an email exchange with Bloomberg News.
Canopy, based in Smiths Falls, Ontario, said Acreage Holdings Inc. will start selling the drinks in California and Illinois next summer with its distribution network and move into other states in following months. They’ll appear first in dispensaries, with aims to get them in liquor stores or other retail locations once that becomes legally permissible.
Canopy said it will have access to Constellation’s brand expertise and distribution network in the venture. Acreage, which has an agreement to merge with Canopy when federal legalization occurs in the U.S., has already moved to start manufacturing operations for the beverage.
The deal shows the increasing overlap between the beverage and cannabis industries. Drinks with CBD, a non-psychoactive cannabis ingredient, are already catching on in the U.S., with big companies like Molson Coors Beverage Co. starting to take action. The beverage industry is experiencing disruption as Americans, looking for new ways to unwind amid Covid-19 and lockdowns, increasingly turn to products like canned cocktails and hard seltzers over standbys like beer.
Other THC drinks on the market have much larger doses of the compound, and Canopy’s drinks aim to draw new users to cannabis with a better taste and a lower dose that will make the experience more akin to an alcoholic beverage.
Consumer insights have shown the drinks may be a better fit than alcohol for some people, “such as a young parent who seeks to unwind with a beverage at the end of the day, but can’t afford a hangover with their 5 a.m. wake-up call,” Klein said.
Canopy already dominates the Canadian market for cannabis beverages. Since it started selling them there in March 2020, it’s sold more than 1.7 million cans, and has captured 70% of the Canadian market by units sold, according to the company. Tw**d is its No. 1 beverage brand in Canada. The company declined to say what brand names it would use in the U.S. or give any new financial projections tied to the drinks.

This article was written by Tiffany Kary and found on Bloomberg.com

06/10/2020

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis plans to mass-pardon 2,732 convictions of low-level ma*****na possession through an executive order Thursday after signing a bill earlier this year that gave him that authority. “This really catches Coloradans up with where the law is today,” he told The Denver Post.
House Bill 1424, passed by the General Assembly earlier this year, included a provision that allows the governor to pardon those who have convictions on their criminal records for possessing up to 2 ounces of ma*****na — the current legal limit for medical ma*****na users. Polis’ pardon, however, will only apply to convictions in state courts through 2012 of up to 1 ounce for recreational use, consistent with Colorado Amendment 64, passed by voters in 2012.