Cannabis Industry News: January 26th, 2023

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The U.S. legalized cannabis, CBD, and hemp industries are rapidly evolving. It’s important to stay on top of changing regulations and shifting landscapes in order to protect and grow your business. That’s why we round up the leading headlines every week to help you stay up-to-date.

Keep reading to see what’s going on in the world of legalized cannabis, CBD, and hemp this week. And check back here every week for your regular update on the biggest cannabis news.

More Illinois Dispensary Workers Join Teamsters Union

More cannabis workers in Illinois voted unanimously to unionize with Teamsters Local 777 last week. Teamsters announced that 30 employees at the Rockford location of Sunnyside dispensary would join the Buffalo Grove, Schaumburg, and South Beloit locations in the union.?

Sunnyside is the storefront chain for the multistate operators Cresco Labs. Employees at multiple locations have offered optimistic opinions of how the unionization efforts will impact them moving forward.?

New York City Plagued With Illicit Cannabis Sellers

Officials have estimated that approximately 1400 unlicensed dispensaries are currently operating in New York City. The illicit market has grown exponentially since the adult-use market was announced, and many unlicensed operators have been allowed to proceed without significant repercussions.?

As the market currently stands, the city has only two legal dispensaries in Lower Manhattan. The lack of legal dispensaries has provided a boost to the illegal market in the form of dispensaries, food trucks, and cannabis delivery businesses. It’s often difficult to discern which of these businesses are unlicensed since they appear similar to many licensed businesses that have popped up around the country.?

The current fine for selling unlicensed cannabis is only $250, an amount which many agree is not sufficient for deterring the illicit market.?

Cannabis Tech Firm Sues Pennsylvania Software Firm

Dutchie, a cannabis eCommerce company, has filed a lawsuit against Akerna Corp, a cannabis technology software provider, for a Pennsylvania integration regulation that states that Akerna must provide fair and open integration with all partners.?

Dutchie claims Akerna is restricting access to its systems, therefore limiting its ability to integrate with certain partners. Akerna claims Dutchie’s suit is baseless and states that the company is an approved partner. The company will not remove Dutchie’s access to the system due to a recent contract.?

Clever Leaves Layoffs Include 21% of Workers at Portugal Operation

Clever Leaves Holdings is planning a $21 million restructuring plan that includes the layoffs of 21 percent of its workers and the closure of its Portugal operation. The plan, once complete, will result in $7 million in savings per year.?

The Portugal location manages cultivation, post-harvesting, and manufacturing tasks and is one of the company’s largest assets.?

These layoffs come only days after Tilray Brands announced similar layoffs in the country.?

Delaware One Step Closer to Cannabis Legalization With Two New Bills

Policymakers in Delaware remain steadfast in their commitment to legalizing recreational cannabis in the state. Despite a number of setbacks over the span of a decade, Democratic officials introduced two bills to the House of Representatives last week.?

The state has a Democratic Governor, John Carney, who is strongly opposed to cannabis legalization. He is joined by Democratic speaker Pete Schwartzkopf, who actively opposes cannabis legalization as well.

If passed, House Bills 1 and 2 would effectively remove criminal publishment for cannabis possession for adults while also laying the foundation for a commercial cannabis industry.

While medical cannabis has been legal in Delaware since 2014, experts are not optimistic about these efforts.?

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