Cannabis News

State equity fund boosts small businesses with $29M in funding

Published

5 months ago

August 17, 2025

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The state fund designed to support rejection of marijuana affected communities in the last year in the last year, more than $ 29 million in new financing, when he took $ 26.5 million in 2001 business grants.

The award is the amount of 26.5 million 1024 in 1024 since Massachusetts’s Cannabis Social Equity Fund Fund. The state gave $ 2.3 million in the first grant cycle.

The annual legislative report presented last week began with $ 27.3 million, and then received a $ 29 million transfer from the Marijuana regulatory fund in April, about $ 12,000 in donations. At the end of the year, the fund has not had any balance of $ 29.6 million after giving the greatest grant.

Founded in 2022, the trust of the trust is to access barriers to access small businesses in cannabis, especially in color, women and individuals caused by past enforcement policies. But the local store owners say that the industry continues to be bent in front of state corporate operators through the original Original State Marijuana program.

Cannabis News

Creating a thoughtful cannabis environment for Colorado Springs

Published

7 hours ago

January 16, 2026

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In Colorado Springs, where the landscape of legal cannabis is centered around medical use, BioMeds Weed Dispensary Colorado Springs has become a destination for patients seeking high-quality cannabis products and a fair and respectful retail experience. Located at 2301 Rand Avenue, BioMeds has developed a reputation for prioritizing product integrity, patient education and consistent service in response to the brightest trends found in recreationally oriented markets.

Unlike recreational dispensaries, where the volume and variety can sometimes overwhelm, BioMeds takes a deliberate approach. The dispensary offers a good selection of medical cannabis products, including a variety of delivery formats to suit your health needs. These typically include flower strains, tinctures, capsules, topicals, and ingestibles, allowing patients to explore therapeutic cannabis without relying on inhaled methods.

BioMeds understands that patients arrive with different experiences, preferences and conditions. To meet these needs, the dispensary emphasizes informed, non-judgmental customer service based on product knowledge. The staff is trained to explain how different formats work, as well as interpret cannabinoid ratios, identify common terpenes, and select products that match specific wellness goals.

BioMeds’ product selection is part of the reason patients turn to cannabis. For many, whole flower remains a must-have choice, especially strains that emphasize CBD content, balanced proportions or effect-specific terpene profiles. BioMeds often sells indica, sativa, and hybrids with specific labeling, allowing patients to make informed decisions about onset time, duration, and expected outcome. Beyond flower, tinctures and capsules offer discreet, dose-controlled ways to incorporate cannabis into your daily wellness routine, especially for those managing pain, inflammation, or neurological conditions.

Topicals are also a key part of BioMeds’ offering. These include cannabinoid-infused creams, salves, and lotions intended for topical use. Patients dealing with joint discomfort, muscle tension, or skin conditions often turn to topical products for their non-toxic effects and targeted relief. These products also serve as an entry point for patients exploring cannabis for the first time, especially when faced with systemic or psychoactive effects.

Another category that sees sustained interest in BioMeds is ingestion. These may include low-dose edibles, oils, or beverages tailored to patients seeking long-lasting, absorbed beverages. While recreational edibles in Colorado may gravitate toward high-THC formats, medically focused dispensaries like BioMeds ensure that low-dose, balanced-ratio, CBD-rich formats are available and clearly labeled. Many patients prefer longer-lasting edible formats, especially for managing symptoms at night or for relief throughout the day.

Compliance is a pillar of BioMeds’ operating philosophy. As a medical-only dispensary, the group complies with all Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) guidelines. Patients must present a valid marijuana card, and all transactions are recorded and monitored according to state protocols. BioMeds does not allow recreational sales and maintains internal training programs to keep employees up-to-date on evolving regulations, labeling requirements and patient protection.

While the dispensary may not offer flashy promotions or themed events often seen in the recreational market, it has placed a special emphasis on medical integrity and personalized service in the Colorado Springs cannabis landscape. For patients who prioritize results over hype, BioMeds offers a consistent experience with proven products and a team that truly understands the nuances of using medical cannabis.

Behind the scenes, BioMeds maintains strong supplier relationships to ensure product availability and freshness. Inventory is regularly reviewed and rotated, and the team communicates directly with manufacturers to maintain transparency around sourcing, testing and packaging. The dispensary favors small and medium-sized Colorado growers who focus on consistency and compliance, with many products undergoing third-party lab testing for cannabinoid content, residual solvents and microbial contamination.

For more information:
BioMeds Weed Dispensary Colorado Springs
biomedsofcolorado.com/

Cannabis News

Bipartisan Senators Push To Delay Federal Hemp THC Product Ban As Lawmakers Consider Regulatory Alternatives To Prohibition

Published

7 hours ago

January 16, 2026

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A bipartisan group of senators is pushing to give the hemp industry two more years before the federal ban on THC products takes effect, which activists hope will better position them to negotiate a broader compromise with lawmakers.

After President Donald Trump signed a spending bill last year with provisions that would have wiped out a prominent sector of the hemp economy, businesses and advocates quickly called for at least a delay in its implementation. Currently, the law will enter into force in November.

Now, Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Rand Paul (R-KY) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) have introduced new legislation that would push that timeline back another two years, giving hemp interests more time to say the policy would significantly harm the industry, which was legalized in Trump’s first term under the 2018 Farm Bill.

The measureEntitled the Hemp Planting Provision Act, it simply states: “Section 781 of the Appropriations Act of 2026 of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies (7 USC 1639o note; Public Law 119-37) is amended by striking “365 days” and inserting “365 years” in the subject matter before paragraph (1).

Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN) and bipartisan sponsor introduced similar legislation in the House to delay the hemp ban earlier this week.

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY), who is sponsoring the proposal, appeared at a press conference on Thursday. farmers concerned about the impact of the federal hemp ban in their businesses.

what’s the point Four out of five marijuana users say they oppose the recriminalization of THC hemp products According to the spending bill Trump signed in November. However, it should be noted that this survey was conducted a few weeks before the cannabis rescheduling order and measures to protect access to full-spectrum CBD.

Trump signed an executive order last month directing the attorney general to change marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).

Part of that announcement also has implications for the upcoming hemp law. The president’s order also asked Congress consider updating the definition of hemp to ensure that full-spectrum CBD is available to patients.

Another redefinition of hemp would be part of a novel proposal allow Medicare recipients to access non-toxic CBD that would be covered under the federal health care plan.

To make this happen, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will “enable a model that will allow certain CMS beneficiaries to benefit from receiving CBD at no cost on the basis of a physician’s recommendation,” a White House official announced in a briefing. Marihuana Moment first reported the leaked details ahead of the signing ceremony.

Trump appeared to support a more flexible CBD policy last summer shared a video calling for that exact reform while promoting the health benefits of cannabidiolespecially for the elderly.

Meanwhile, it would make way for a recently introduced bill in the Republican-led Congress stop implementing the hemp ban under established credit legislation.

Hemp companies and industry groups have warned about the potential ramifications of the ban, but despite states in support of cannabis rights and a recent social media post extolling the benefits of CBD, Trump signed the underlying spending measure into law without endorsing the hemp provisions.

GOP political operative Roger Stone recently said it was Trump effectively “forced” Republican lawmakers to sign the spending bill with language to ban hemp THC.

However, a White House spokesman said before signing the bill Trump was particularly supportive of the ban’s language.

The Democratic governor of Kentucky said that the hemp industry is an “important” part of the economy that deserves to be regulated at the state level—instead of being banned federally, as Congress has done—.

Additionally, a leading veterans organization is alerting Congressional leaders to the recently passed blanket ban on consumable hemp products. could inadvertently “close the door” on critical inquiry.

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Since 2018, cannabis products have been considered legal hemp if they contain less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC by dry weight.

The new legislation specifies that, within a year of taking effect, the weight will be applied to total THC—including delta-8 and other isomers. Also, “as tetrahydrocannabinol (or any other marketed cannabinoid) with similar effects in humans or animals (as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services).”

The new definition of legal hemp will also prohibit “any hemp-derived cannabinoid intermediate product marketed or sold as an end product or directly to an end consumer for personal or household use” as well as products containing cannabinoids that are synthesized or manufactured outside of the cannabis plant or that are unable to produce it naturally.

Legal hemp products will be limited to a total of 0.4 milligrams of total THC or any other cannabinoid with similar effects per container.

Within 90 days of the bill’s passage, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other agencies must “publish a list of all cannabinoids known to the FDA to be naturally produced by a Cannabis sativa L. plant, as reflected in the peer-reviewed literature,” which include “all tetrahydrocannabinol classes known” in natural plants and “known cannabinoids.” Cannabinoids that have or are marketed as having effects similar to cannabinoids of the tetrahydrocannabinol class.”

The language differs slightly from provisions in legislation advanced out of the House and Senate Appropriations panels, which would have banned products with “quantifiable” amounts of THC, to be determined by the HHS secretary and the agriculture secretary.

Read the full text of the Senate bill invoice below:

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Cannabis News

How growers can maximize LED efficacy and energy efficiency

Published

1 day ago

January 15, 2026

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In the world of horticultural lighting, especially in cannabis cultivation, efficiency is the efficiency with which electrical energy is converted into usable light for the plant. But there’s a lot more to it than just a number on a spec sheet. Efficiency affects energy costs, performance and ultimately profitability.

“Energy costs are rising worldwide. Between the increased demand for electric vehicles, data centers, AI infrastructure and the overall electrification grid, growers will continue to feel the pressure of higher electricity bills,” says Fluence’s Daniel Pilsworth. “Lighting and HVAC together make up the largest portion of a grow facility’s operating expenses. Therefore, every photon counts.”

From efficiency gains to intelligent system design
A decade ago, the industry made the leap from high-pressure sodium (HPS) fixtures to LEDs. LEDs offered significant efficiency gains, reduced heat emission and improved environmental control. Growers can direct more power to productive light instead of waste heat, while easing the burden on HVAC systems. Over time, those first transitions led to significant savings, but the low-hanging fruit has already been reaped. “The diode technology inside LEDs has been refined tremendously, and the annual efficiency gains we once saw, 2-3% over a year, have slowed to 1% or less,” continues Daniel. “The industry has reached a plateau in raw diode efficiency. That shift has changed the conversation. It’s no longer just how efficient a single diode can be, but the entire system is designed to get the most out of every watt. The next leap in efficiency won’t come from the component level. It’s going to come from the way we apply light.”

The relationship between spectrum and efficiency
Spectrum plays a major role in determining the efficiency of appliances. Red LEDs are inherently more efficient than white LEDs because they emit light directly, while white LEDs rely on phosphor coatings that absorb energy during the conversion process. A fixture with a high red content can achieve 3.5 µmol/J or more, while broad whites can be around 2.7 µmol/J. That said, a high-red environment isn’t always the best choice. “Excessive red light can make it difficult for workers to work in the room, and more importantly, it increases the risk of photobleaching, those ‘white tipped’ eyes that reduce the overall quality and market value of flowers. Photobleaching can be strain-dependent and can be influenced by other environmental factors. The goal is always balance.”

Balancing efficiency and capital constraints
Cannabis remains a capital-constrained market. Because federal legalization has not yet occurred in the US, growers do not have access to the same low-cost financing as traditional agriculture. That makes every dollar of CapEx and OpEx count. “A higher-efficiency fixture carries a higher purchase price, so the right decision depends on your financial position, local energy rates, and available rebate programs. Some utilities directly tie incentive eligibility or payment value to the fixture’s efficiency, meaning higher-efficiency fixtures can offset much of the initial cost. In some cases, rebates can reach $1,000 or more. Ultimately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer for manufacturers. they must weigh it against long-term energy savings and incentive benefits.

Where will the next profits come from?
As diode efficiency skyrockets, lighting manufacturers are innovating elsewhere—how to deliver light, where to deliver it, and when. “At Fluence, our research program has been focused on optimizing the spectrum, intensity and placement of light to reduce energy use while improving performance and quality,” said Daniel. “Dynamic and tunable lighting is one of the most promising tools. By adjusting the spectral composition throughout the plant’s growth cycle, growers can use more red when it’s safe and pull back when the crop becomes sensitive to photobleaching. Our new RAPTR 2 high-light incorporates this flexibility. Its tunable T48 spectrum allows growers to vary it from 40 to 80 percent. 3.5 µmol/J efficiency maintaining precise environmental control, we combine this technology with horticultural support, our science team works directly with growers to design lighting schedules that offer maximum energy savings and plant health.

Beyond the ball: The “red sandwich” strategy
Another limitation of efficiency is under the canopy. “Our research has shown that downlighting provides much higher red content without the risk of photobleaching seen from overhead lighting. By splitting the photons, which we call our Red Sandwich Lighting Strategy, we can increase yield, uniformity and quality while further improving energy efficiency.

For more information:
fluency
fluence-led.com