In the era of legal cannabis, regulations are the name of the game, but stringent potency and purity tests across the state are keeping nearly 18 percent of cannabis products from hitting the dispensary shelves, according to state-provided data.

A little more than 1,900 marijuana samples failed tests through Aug. 29. While small numbers of failed products came from pesticide contamination or E. coli, the vast majority were found to have a different amount of THC than what was listed on the label.

Some dispensary representatives say the testing policies are holding products to a tight standard and leaving a small margin for error. The products must test within 10 percent of the product’s claimed potency, according to the state’s rules.

On a big red billboard above Los Angeles, an elderly woman strikes a jaunty pose. She sports stylish sunglasses and bright lipstick. Beside her, the bold epithet “stoner” has been crossed out and replaced with “grandmother.” “Who is she?” I wondered when I saw the ad, which graced the skyline for three weeks this April.

As it turns out, her name is Barbara Rubin, and, in addition to enjoying cannabis-infused chocolate, she’s an avid hula-hooper with a Ph.D. I learned her backstory on the ad campaign’s dedicated website, Forgetstoner.com, which also features profiles of other cannabis aficionados, including a designer, a police officer, and a former offensive lineman in the NFL.

The Medical Cannabis Research Act will now move to the House, where it will be voted upon.

The House Judiciary Committee approved the Medical Cannabis Research Act of 2018 on Thursday despite objections that the measure unfairly discriminates against those with criminal records.

The state’s efforts to shut down nearly 100 medical marijuana dispensaries across the state until the businesses are approved for a license hit a speed bump Thursday when a state Court of Claims judge approved an injunction against the closures.

Judge Stephen Borrello granted a request for an injunction filed by attorney Denise Pollicella of Howell on behalf of the Montrowe dispensary. She said that new emergency rules by the state Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation that extend a closure deadline from Sept. 15 to Dec. 15 are unconstitutional because the rules treated different categories of medical marijuana businesses differently.

Pollicella said she tried to work with the state "and explain the position that they were putting responsible applicants in."

These behind-the-scenes companies could be seeing green right along with the cannabis industry.

There are plenty of intriguing investment opportunities on Wall Street, but none has been more smoking hot of late than marijuana stocks.

The Mint Dispensary, operator of one of the largest medicinal cannabis dispensaries in the United States, is launching the country’s first full-service cannabis kitchen in Tempe, Ariz., on Friday, Oct. 5.

Patients seeking relief through medicinal cannabis can now access freshly prepared, cannabis-infused meals created by a professional chef at the dispensary’s 12,000-square-foot Tempe location.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance dropped more than 3,000 cannabis-related cases on Wednesday in New York City Criminal Court. This is an act he said will both serve justice and address the role that race has played in prosecuting marijuana cases.

There are 3,042 cases dating back as far 1978 that have been dismissed and include misdemeanors and violation cases in which a warrant was issued because the defendant did not appear in court. They do not include violent offenses or cases where the defendant was convicted, according to Vance.

The booming supply of legalized cannabis in Oregon could prevent the destruction of the black market. A cautionary tale.

Among the jurisdictions that have legalized cannabis for recreational use in the United States, Oregon has received significant media attention for its booming supply of it. Consumers have enjoyed the resulting low prices: flower is often available for $4 or less per gram, and surveys have indicated an increase in adult use.

Over the past several years, the medical benefits of marijuana have continuously been tested and have slowly but surely become more well-known and accepted. And seeing as how there are about 31 million injuries that require medical attention each year, more and more people are realizing the benefits of medical marijuana. But despite the benefits it can offer, employers continue to test employees and job candidates for cannabis use. However, a new study shows that this testing can actually to lead to a less safe work environment.

While medical marijuana may be legal in certain states, it remains illegal at the federal level. This contradiction can lead to many repercussions, and one of the big ones revolves around housing, writes Joseph Misulonas.