News in the cannabis industry happens quickly. Don’t fall behind on the latest happenings in the Canadian cannabis industry and the worldwide stage. At this time, all over the world, there are steps made towards the legalization and decriminalisation of a plant. And for good reason. Reminds me of the Kottonmouth Kings song, Reefer Madness:
“All my friends are stoners, Everyone I know gets high
Maybe there’s a reason, Why weed’s not legalized
Maybe they’re afraid of, Too much peace and harmony”
What are they afraid of? Decriminalisation is going to continue, it is just a matter of time before other countries catch on. Why wouldn’t they? What are they afraid of? Like the KMK said, too much peace and harmony?
Perhaps the number one motivation for legislators around the globe to push for the legalization of weed, are the economic benefits that spawn from it. Considering how the COVID-19 pandemic has destabilized financial resources on a global level, new jobs, tax revenues, and profit-making investment opportunities, are just a few benefits that could come from the regulation of weed worldwide.
Keep reading to find out more about what some Latin American countries are doing that signal they may join the decriminalisation revolution and catch up with Tommy Chong as we cover the latest cannabis news.
Cannabis Dispensaries Deliver Quality Bud Despite Setbacks
In 2018, Canada became the second nation after Uruguay to legalize recreational marijuana. This set the stage for Canada to create a booming legal cannabis industry. From cannabis cafés to tasting rooms, and the ability to sell and purchase marijuana goods online, the legal cannabis sector is on fire, and it doesn’t look like it will be slowing down anytime soon. Cannabis fanatics and activists alike are all praising the steady momentum of the cannabis trade.
In fact, Tommy Chong, a long-time cannabis activist, and comedic actor was recently interviewed by the Medical Cannabis Network, saying that “Cannabis has changed his life”. Chong also points out that he feels that years of campaigning for the legalization of weed, perhaps is finally paying off.
Meanwhile, in Canada, despite the passing of the Cannabis Act, there is no shortage of legal hiccups and mishaps that happen within the cannabis industry. In other words, as much cannabis industry news breaks every day about the success of the industry, so do stories about how complicated the legislation of how marijuana is sold can be. Still, while the cannabis market isn’t perfect, it certainly hasn’t stopped growers and distributors committed to bringing accessible and quality bud to their customers.
Tommy Chong Remarks on the Cannabis Laws in the United States
Chong, who mostly refers to his history of advocating legalizing weed in the USA, mentions that laws surrounding the use of marijuana in the states can still be vindicating. This is mostly due to the fact that US state laws conflict with federal laws. As a result, many major federally regulated US banks refuse to work with cannabis industries that are legal in their state only. As Chong points out, “The other problem that we’re having here is that even though it’s legal, it’s not federally legal. We are not allowed to use a banking system for instance. This is still a cash and carry industry”.
Latin American Countries to Decriminalize Marijuana?
In a very different part of the world, Latin America, which tends to remain on the conservative side when it comes to marijuana is finally getting on board with the idea of regulating recreational marijuana. Countries such as Paraguay, Argentina, and Ecuador are taking small strides towards the decriminalisation of marijuana, knowing quite well how the cannabis industry could positively affect their economies.
According to one article published in Latin America Reports, Latin America may very well be the next “hotspot” for the cannabis sector. The article goes on to report that, “Latin America’s production costs are lower than North America, primarily because of lower wages for workers”. Furthermore, Latin America has much lower production rates. So, it’s not hard to speculate those eager investors will be more than happy to open their pockets to new and established cannabis industries operating within Latin America.
The push for the legalization of weed in Latin America may also be partly due to the economic distress caused by COVID-19. With demand for new ways to create revenue growth, legislators are now seeing the legalization of weed as a potential way to increase local market opportunities, hence boosting the overall health of local economies.
Cannabis Products Improve with Market Growth & Competition
Look up any type of Cannabis industry news, and it is clear that the legalization of marijuana is changing the landscape of economics around the world. But policies surrounding legal weed are not the only thing that is changing, cannabis products are changing as well. An article recently published in The Guardian, stated that according to a recent study that the potency of resin (cannabis concentrates) has increased by 25%. The study was done by Researchers with the Addiction and Mental Health Group at the University of Bath, who found that market cannabis resin is much stronger than the cannabis flower, producing a much stronger “high” for consumers.
Buying Weed Online is Now Easier Than Ever
Another exciting development reported within the cannabis industry is the ability to buy weed online in Canada. In fact, Canada’s liberal legislation of marijuana has made ordering weed online as simple as ever. In the past few years, Canada continually proves to be at the forefront of the canna-business by offering consumer’s favourite MJ strains mailed conveniently right to one’s doorstep.
More and more consumers are opting for bud-by-mail deliveries that can be purchased safely online from certified distributors and dispensaries. Due to the pandemic, buying bud-by-mail is quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to purchase weed. While Canada may be the pioneer in online bud purchases, it wouldn’t be surprising if the rest of the world caught on soon.
