Cannabis News

South Dakota Bill To Eliminate Medical Marijuana Oversight Committee Fails In Senate Panel

Published

6 hours ago

March 8, 2026

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The House had already passed the legislation, which can be revived by the full Senate.

By Joshua Haiar, South Dakota Searchlight

The commission that oversees South Dakota’s medical marijuana program should continue its work for at least another year, a group of state senators has decided. But the full Senate could have the final say.

would be an invoice Repealing sections of state law that established the Medical Marijuana Oversight Commission It was rejected 4-3 earlier this week in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, but a procedural effort is already underway to force it to the Senate floor next week. The bill was previously approved in the House of Representatives, 41-26.

Current law requires the House Executive Committee to appoint an 11-member committee consisting of two senators, two representatives and seven non-law enforcement officers from a variety of backgrounds, including medicine, law enforcement, counseling and at least one patient.

The committee must meet at least twice a year and make recommendations to Parliament and the Department of Health.

The same medical marijuana program would continue if the bill passes, according to state Department of Health regulations.

It was introduced by Rep. Tim Goodwin, R-Rapid City invoice. He said the board made sense when the state was implementing the program after voters approved it in 2020, but it has since become an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy. He said that the Department of Health and the Legislature are prepared to manage the program going forward.

The legislation comes amid friction between the oversight board and the medical marijuana industry. In November, the commission approved 11 motions, mostly calling for stricter regulations, without prior publication or public comment on each motion.

The South Dakota Catholic Conference, the South Dakota Sheriffs’ Association and the current chair of the oversight committee, Rep. Josephine Garcia, R-Watertown, testified against the bill. Opponents said the oversight board is a watchdog the public wants, and the board’s concerns have yet to be addressed.

“We haven’t actually determined the mental psychosis that we’re seeing now with the use of cannabis,” Garcia said. “The things that are being discussed are stress, anxiety, PTSD, which is not indicative of this type of cannabis use, and it has reinforced mental psychosis.”

The state has 18,306 medical marijuana patient card holders.

This story was first published by the South Dakota Searchlight.

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Cannabis News

Labor management system even more widely applicable after update

Published

5 hours ago

March 8, 2026

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In the Netherlands, greenhouse growers are increasingly looking for ways to manage energy and labor costs. This was also a key theme at the recent Aardbeiendag (Strawberry Day), where Ridder presented its work management system, Ridder Productive. The system has been updated to better meet the specific needs of strawberry growers, with further updates being developed. Sales director Niels Hiemstra explained.

Ridder Productive has been on the market for over 30 years and is widely used in the greenhouse industry. According to Hiemstra, the system has traditionally been adopted by large fruit and vegetable producers. “As Ridder, we focus on those growers in the Netherlands, Belgium and North America and Mexico as well. However, the product itself is fundamentally much broader.”

© Thijmen Tiersma | MMJDaily.comNiels Hiemstra and Arjan van der Klaauw on Strawberry Day

Adapted for strawberry cultivation
The work management system allows growers to record what tasks are done, where and when they are done and what the production is. At the request of customers, specific adjustments have been made for strawberry production, so that labor and production can be recorded more precisely.

In the early years, before the change to Ridder Productive, the system was known as P-Plus or PadPlus. It supported a work record per row. Strawberry growers, however, harvest the crop in crates that are placed in crates. Therefore, Ridder has introduced the possibility to record the activities of each box containing packaged fruit.

NFC tags or QR codes
The system uses scanners capable of reading NFC tags and QR codes. As Hiemstra explains: “In a previous version of the system, which is still widely used, growers work with fixed terminals in various places in the greenhouse. Work activities are recorded by entering the corresponding codes. This can lead to errors. When an NFC tag is reduced in a row, on a harvest trolley or in a box or box in strawberry production, it mainly reduces errors by the user. Terminal-based registration in scanners with NFC tags.”

The option to scan QR codes or barcodes also creates opportunities for traceability. QR codes could already be scanned for punnets, and this functionality has now been extended to other elements, such as rows. A QR code or barcode from an external party can also be used, allowing the scanned product to be tracked to the customer throughout the supply chain. This allows growers to see where, when and by whom a specific crate or crate was harvested.

With these adaptations, Ridder Productive has become more suitable for strawberry cultivation, which is increasingly carried out in high-tech greenhouses. As a result, cultivation has come closer to Ridder’s traditional approach. Hiemstra occasionally knows strawberry growers who don’t use labor record systems, but who are considering it as their business expands. “As they grow, they realize that more professionalization is necessary. They move from basic time recording to a more detailed and comprehensive work management system.”

Combining greenhouse and outdoor cultivation
In the Netherlands, Ridder has traditionally been active in high-tech greenhouses. However, Ridder Productive can also be used in open ground production, for example by strawberry growers who combine greenhouse cultivation with outdoor fields. In both situations, a detailed and accurate work record is required.

“Measuring who does what and where can be done both in the greenhouse and in field crops,” says Niels Hiemstra. “Instead of linking data to a specific row in the greenhouse, you can just as easily link it to a specific area.”

He recognizes that the labor management system is still relatively little used in outdoor cultivation. However, he hopes that may change as strawberry production continues to expand. Lettuce and herb producers, for example, combine greenhouse and outdoor production.

Outside the Netherlands, Hiemstra knows users of Ridder Productive in lettuce production. The ability to scan NFC tags or QR codes plays an important role. “When we only worked with fixed terminals, it was less practical to use in open areas, partly because of the cable requirements. Hardware was a limitation. Now that we work with scanners and can equip robust smartphones for scanning, the system has become more accessible for outdoor crops.”

In principle, ornamental producers can also use the system. However, Hiemstra points out that there is generally less demand for detailed employment records in this segment. “Often, more attention is paid to the entire production. But for companies that want to accurately measure work performance, the system can certainly be applied there as well.”

New version coming soon
Ridder Productive, which has been in the market for more than three decades, continues to evolve. According to Niels Hiemstra, continuous development is essential, especially in software. “If you get stuck in software, you quickly fall behind.”

The ’26 version is expected to be introduced this year. “It includes many small improvements that make everyday use easier. They may not all be very visible, but they make a difference in practice.”

This is on purpose, he explained. Satisfied users aren’t necessarily looking for major changes every six to twelve months. They prefer stability in features that work well and are popular. Ridder takes this into account in the upcoming update.

One area where the changes will be more noticeable is the dashboard environment. In cooperation with various manufacturers, the design and information display have been significantly improved. “We offer a standard configuration, but it is possible to create a custom panel at the request of the user with the help of our service department.”

Combining with other data sources
In addition to work management systems, many greenhouse companies know Ridder for their drive systems, Hortimax climate computers and climate monitors.

In terms of software, Ridder deliberately keeps the Ridder Productive and the Hortimax climate computer as separate systems. “Both products are part of the management of a modern greenhouse operation,” says Niels Hiemstra, “but growers can choose from us whether they want to use both systems.”

Growers who work with a different climate computer can also use Ridder Productive. According to Hiemstra, Ridder is open to creating data links with other systems upon user request. “This way, we ensure that our systems fit into the wider greenhouse ecosystem and that the grower is properly protected.”

For more information:
Niels Hiemstra
Equestrian
(email protected)
www.ridder.com/nl/arbeidsmanagement

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when LPs stop keeping secrets

Published

1 day ago

March 7, 2026

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On March 5, Innexo BV opened its research facilities in the Netherlands to more than 20 licensed producers from 10 countries for the first Acceleration Day 2026. The agenda covered two topics: Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPDM) and Non-vegetable cropping strategies.

What Dominique van Gruisen, CEO of Innexo, did not expect was how much the room started talking. Producers from Germany, the Netherlands and further afield were comparing notes before the formal program began. “There’s no secret thing. ‘Hey, I’m doing this, this is working for me,'” Dominique said. “It was really special to see that interaction.”

It makes sense considering who was in the room. Most of these producers operate in different markets and are not in direct competition. “They realized that if they do a good job there is enough room for good players,” Dominique said. “Bad actors are the ones we have to worry about.”

No-veg: curiosity and operational reality
No-Veg definitely created the most buzz on the floor. In a no-veg system, the cuttings completely bypass the vegetative phase and go directly to a 12/12 flowering photoperiod, a strategy to shorten cycle times and reduce energy consumption, which is particularly important in the Northern European climate, where lighting and climate control dominate operating costs.

Dominique was frank about the state of No-Veg adoption: some producers had already implemented it after the conversation with Innexo, and said they would not back down; others were skeptical. The test room made the case better than any slide board. “We were doing different tests, different genetics and different conditions, they showed a lot of different scenarios at the same time,” he said. “The feedback I received was that it was one of the highlights of the event.”

Xavier G., founder of Avitas Global, who helped bring several international participants to the event, echoed this, and was grateful that Innexo did not oversell. “They showed the good, the bad and the ugly,” he said. “It makes sense to show the bad plants. It’s a research center. The plants need to see with their own eyes what can be done right and what can be done wrong. People were happy that they weren’t selling something perfect.”

IPDM: pest management as a facility architecture
The second major topic of the day was the case for a complete rethinking of pest and disease management as a design principle built into facility infrastructure from day one.

Matthew Gates, a cannabis entomologist based in San Diego, gave a presentation entitled Cannabis Pest Strategy: Everswarm Evolution, developed in collaboration with Avitas Global. Matthew relied primarily on US-based cannabis pest research to map current and emerging threats, focusing on aphids, cutworms and powdery mildews, organisms he described as highly adaptable at the genetic and molecular level.

“Some selection pressures in one region will rapidly affect others,” Matthew said after the event, pointing to the global nature of pest resistance as a shared industry problem. “We all have to own it and move responsibly.” His presentation also addressed the risk of developing resistance to biocontrols and chemical interventions, and how common data sharing and proactive protocol design can prevent these pressures before they develop.

Fluence’s Sabrina downplayed the two drivers of botrytis, osmotic pressure in the root zone, and faulty HVAC programming logic, both of which create VPD swings that create microclimates within the flowers where the pathogen thrives. The practical implication was that sensor data can identify botrytis risk before disease is seen, allowing growers to intervene earlier and more precisely. “He could have talked about Fluence products all the time,” said Xavier, “but he talked about LED and IPM. It sums up the vibe of the event.”

A platform built for collective progress
Acceleration Day also served as the official start of the next API cycle. The platform operates on three levels of participation. Innovators, who run five exclusive trials per year with full data access; Accelerators, which demonstrate technologies under greenhouse conditions; and Platformers, who tap into collective visions without large-scale testing. Entry-level participation starts at €10,000, a deliberate move to lower the barrier to the type of partnership that can move the industry faster than any single player.

Between 60 and 100 trials and demonstrations are planned in the next two years. Current partners include Fluence, FOHSE, Atami, Faven and ProGuard, among others. Atami is developing nutrient lines specifically for Non-Veg conditions; Faven is currently researching under-lighting in No-Veg environments; Fluence is studying spectral tuning across flower phases. Trials are conducted in parallel, in a working greenhouse, visible to all who visit the facility or attend an Acceleration Day. “It’s not like we’re renovating in a hidden bunker,” Dominique said. “This is for the betterment of the industry, for the betterment of LPs and ultimately for the benefit of patients.”

For Matthew, the event came in a place he didn’t expect. “The Innexo Acceleration Day connected me with a passionate and eclectic group of European professionals pushing the boundaries of cannabis research,” he wrote afterwards. “Real value comes from understanding critical aspects of cultivation and applying these findings to future planning, creating process excellence and competitive advantage.”

The next one is already on the calendar, June, the day before GreenTech Amsterdam, when international traffic to the Netherlands peaks. The focus will be genetics, confirmed Jorge Cervantes as speaker. If March is any indication, the conversations in the hallways can be just as important as what happens on stage.

For more information:
Innexo BV
(email protected)
LinkedIn
innexo.nl

Cannabis News

Oregon Bill To Ban Marijuana Edibles With More Than 10 Milligrams Of THC Fails

Published

1 day ago

March 7, 2026

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“I thought this fight was winnable. It’s a bill that doesn’t cost the state a dime and protects kids from life-threatening marijuana overdoses. I was wrong.”

By Mia Maldonado, Oregon Capital Chronicle

An essay limit how much THC can be in an individual edible it is not progressing in Oregon this year.

Senate Bill 1548 was an unsuccessful attempt to prevent the production of edibles with more than 10 milligrams of THC by targeting edibles that must be divided into multiple servings.

Sen. Lisa Reynolds, a Portland Democrat and pediatrician, introduced the bill amid growing reports of children seeking medical attention after eating edibles like cookies, brownies and gummies. In 2023, children under the age of 5 accounted for one-third of all cannabis-related cases at the Oregon Poison Center.

Major medical groups supported the bill, and it passed the Senate on a bipartisan vote of 22-5. But it died in the House after marijuana industry lobbyists convinced House lawmakers to support the bill, Reynolds said in a news release.

“I thought this fight was winnable,” Reynolds wrote. “This is a bill that doesn’t cost the state a dime and protects children from life-threatening marijuana overdoses. I was wrong.”

Marijuana lobbyists argued that the bill would create more plastic waste by having to individually wrap each edible and that businesses would not have the money to buy the machinery used to individually wrap the edibles. Also, lobbyists said the bill would cost the state millions in revenue because it would eliminate popular marijuana products.

Oregon marijuana products are paid up to 20 percent depending on where they are sold. Marijuana tax revenue is expected to bring in $143.7 million in 2025, according to the Oregon Department of Revenue, and the revenue is distributed to drug and treatment programs, public schools, mental health services, Oregon State Police and cities and counties across the state.

Reynolds disputed those claims, saying invoice It’s based on Washington’s law that limits edible servings to 10 milligrams of THC. When Washington passed its law, the price of marijuana didn’t go up, he said. Additionally, the law resulted in 75 percent fewer hospitalizations and half the reported poisonings at poison centers, according to Dr. Julia Dilley, Multnomah County epidemiologist.

Reynolds, who chairs the Senate Committee on Childhood and Behavioral Health, heard from experts in May how Oregon’s youth have some of the highest rates of cannabis use in the country, yet rank at the bottom when it comes to recognizing the dangers.

Oregon’s marijuana regulation is of particular interest to Reynolds, who believes his brother’s regular marijuana use in the 70s contributed to serious mental health problems and frequent psychiatric hospital admissions as an adult. On Thursday in the Senate, he appeared in favor of a Republican resolution Even though he voted against bypassing normal legal procedures to push the bill through to require Oregonians not to use drugs, including marijuana.

Oregon youth already face more mental health challenges than adults, with youth suicide rates consistently higher than the U.S. rate.

Reynolds said he plans to introduce more marijuana safety proposals in 2027 and will try to hire a lobbyist.

This story was first published by the Oregon Capital Chronicle.

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