breaking news

Texas: Wood County sheriff: Cannabis grow houses have ties to both Europe and South America

Published

2 years ago

March 6, 2023

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Texas (KLTV) – Marijuana growing operations recently discovered in Wood County have international ties, according to Wood County Sheriff Kelly Cole.

“We know it reaches into South America and we know it reaches over into Europe,” Cole said. “So, we’re just following that trail from there. We also believe there are more contacts here within the continental United States.”

Nearly a ton of marijuana was seized and eight people were arrested after one tip led to another, according to Cole. Search warrants were executed at multiple sites resulting in the arrest of two Russian nationals and three Bolivian nationals, as well as three East Texans.

All were charged with delivery of marijuana greater than 50 pounds, less than or equal to 2,000 pounds, a first-degree felony.

“Our belief is you start small and you work your way up that chain,” Cole said.

One of the suspects has recently crossed the U.S.-Mexico border after flying there from Colombia, according to Cole.

“We need more support down at the border. We need to close that up quite a bit. And that will be something that we’ll look into as well to try to help maybe plug some of those holes.”

And while the exact reason for the foreign nationals choosing Wood County is unknown, Cole says rural and less populated areas are often the location of choice for illegal activity like this.

“I think they’re just looking for any rural areas that they can get into,” Cole said. “They know there’s not a large population here. We’re under 50,000. So, that’s probably lucrative to them. We’re also 90 minutes away from Dallas. So, that’s lucrative. They’re not in the metroplex but it gives them an outlet in the metroplex, where operations are probably even bigger.”

Cole said the street value of the marijuana seized is estimated to be $3.5 to $4 million.

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REGISTER YOUR INTEREST: International Cannabis Symposium – Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa May 30 – June 1, 2025

Published

2 weeks ago

March 23, 2025

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International Cannabis Symposium

Sandton Convention Centre

Johannesburg, South Africa

May 30 – June 1, 2025

REGISTER

The International Cannabis Symposium: Law, Trade, and Standards is a premier, invite-only event designed for cannabis trade delegations, policymakers, legal experts, and key industry stakeholders. This inaugural symposium will be held on May 30, 2025, at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, coinciding with the South African Cannabis Expo (May 30 – June 1, 2025).

This exclusive gathering will bring together global leaders in cannabis and hemp regulation, commerce, and compliance to discuss the latest legal frameworks, international trade opportunities, and industry standards.

REGISTER

Welcome and Morning Keynote

Africa’s Green Revolution: The State of Cannabis & Hemp

From Africa to the World: Expanding African Cannabis Markets

Afternoon Keynote with Steve D’Angelo

Cross-Border Cannabis: Navigating Global Trade Agreements

Cannabis Without Borders: The Globalization of Cannabis Law

Raising the Bar: Global Standards in Cannabis & Hemp Compliance

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breaking news

Canada: Metrc kicks off “pilot” program

Published

3 weeks ago

March 15, 2025

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Nobody left in the US.. now it’s time for Canada

The Edmonton jnl

A pilot project in Alberta is aiming to transform cannabis product transparency with Metrc’s Retail ID system. By simply scanning a QR code provided at purchase, consumers gain access to lab test results, certificates of analysis (COA), product name, image, cannabinoid, and terpenes, ensuring greater trust in legal cannabis products.

“For the pilot, it’s limited to just one product which is manufactured by Token Naturals and distributed by Plantlife Cannabis. So when consumers scan the QR code, they’ll be taken to a landing page that provides supplemental information on the product,” he said.

The initiative, supported by Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC), Token Naturals, and Plantlife Cannabis, serves as “a proof of concept,” Urbanowicz said.

“We’re in discussions with Token Naturals, Plantlife Cannabis, and AGLC. Our goal is, once we demonstrate the proof of concept, that we’ll be able to expand to additional products, potentially to additional businesses as well,” he said.

Metrc, which has experience deploying the system in the U.S., ensures data accuracy through a structured compliance approach, though noted there’s not the same source of record system in Canada as in the U.S. As part of the pilot, Token Naturals, the local manufacturer located in Edmonton, tests results into their system and generates a QR code. The QR codes and products are then shipped to AGLC’s distribution center, which supplies retailer Plantlife Cannabis. Plantlife then distributes the QR code stickers and business cards to consumers.

https://edmontonjournal.com/business/albertas-new-qr-code-system-enhances-cannabis-transparency-a-first-for-canada?utm_medium=email&_hsmi=105979819&utm_content=105979819&utm_source=hs_email

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Asia Pacific & Australia

It All Turned A Bit Bogan At Aussie Medical Cannabis Symposium

Published

4 weeks ago

March 7, 2025

admin

Thanks to Hemp Gazette for spotting this – I have to admit I missed it and unsurprisingly nobody made me aware of it The Linked in Post from the organisers Some Comments

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