Marijuana. It’s a word we’re all are familiar with, especially if you’ve been living in Colorado for the last five years.

It’s a word that can stir up emotions immediately, regardless of where your convictions lay. It is a word that is rampant in headlines across the U.S., increasingly so every day. It is a word that was introduced into our lexicon innocently enough, only to be kidnapped by the social media of the time and used to vilify and condemn a plant that never meant any harm.

Two California initiatives to legalize recreational marijuana in the Golden State, one backed by billionaire and former Facebook president Sean Parker, came together this week to amplify their shot at landing a spot on the 2016 ballot. 

The collaboration comes after the two groups negotiated for weeks behind the scenes and came to the conclusion that competing against each other would weaken the possibility that either initiative would be on the ballot in California on Election Day. The state's Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and the Coalition for Cannabis Policy Reform both support the initiative, Reuters reported.

Aphria Inc. ("Aphria" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:APH) is pleased to announce it has closed its short form prospectus offering, on a bought deal basis, including the exercise in full of the underwriters' over-allotment option. A total of 8,846,370 units (the "Units") of the Company were sold at a price of $1.30 per Unit, for aggregate gross proceeds of $11,500,281 (the "Offering"). Each Unit consisted of one common share of the Company (a "Unit Share") and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole common share purchase warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one common share of the Company (a "Warrant Share") at a price of $1.75 until December 11, 2018.

The recall is Advanced Medical Alternatives’ second in eight days — and the 13th recall issued by the city of Denver’s Department of Environmental Health in 13 weeks

Denver marijuana business Advanced Medical Alternatives is voluntarily recalling 27 cartridges of its THC-infused vape pen oil because they contain potentially dangerous pesticides that cannot legally be used on cannabis in Colorado.

Three Florida nurseries on Friday filed the first protests over the state’s licensing of growers of medical marijuana, according to the state Department of Health. 

The department confirmed receiving filings from TropiFlora of Sarasota, San Felasco Nurseries of Gainesville and Perkins Nursery of LaBelle by the close of business.

Rejected nurseries have until Monday to file protests over the state’s award of five licenses to grow medicinal pot.

Backers of the move to legalize marijuana in Ohio outspent opponents by 10-to-1 and still saw their campaign busted by voters.

Bankrolled almost exclusively by investors in a planned monopoly of 10 growing sites, ResponsibleOhio shelled out $21.8 million, campaign finance reports due Friday show.

In contrast, Ohioans Against Marijuana Monopolies spent $2.17 million.

Put another way, pot advocates spent $18.70 for each vote, opponents spent $1.06.

The proposed constitutional amendment, which also would have allowed individuals to have a small number of home-grown plants, drew opposition from nearly 64 percent of Ohio voters in November’s general election.

The president of Supreme Pharmaceuticals says the pre-license inspection of their proposed medical marijuana growing facility in Kincardine went well.

John Fowler says if all goes as expected, they could receive their license early in the New Year.

He says a very thorough and detailed inspection took place Wednesday

“I would say primarily they’re looking for security features to make sure the site doesn’t represent a threat to the employees, to the security of the produce we hope to produce in the future, or to any of the stakeholders such as community members,” says Fowler.

He says a license would also mean they would likely need to hire more staff.

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