Cannabis Briefs for April 2, 2024

•Planet 13 Holdings, a multi-state cannabis company, has secured the second license to operate a consumption lounge in Las Vegas, Nevada. The lounge, Dazed!, is located at Planet 13’s 112,000 square-foot retail location near the Strip. It’s set to open on April 5 and will feature a secret entrance, bong-shaped chandeliers, as well as VIP booths with TVs. The lounge will be open from 11a.m. to 1a.m. during the week and from 10a.m. to 2a.m. on the weekends, serving a variety of Planet 13’s offerings, as well as cannabis-infused cocktails.

•Pennsburg, Pennsylvania’s Wherehouse Beverage has announced Countdown Energy, a new hemp-derived THC energy drink. The line comes in three flavors—Berry Force Energy, Cosmic Lemonade Energy, and Orange Blast Energy—all bringing together 100-mg of caffeine and 10-mg of hemp-derived THC. According to the company, the drinks kick in within 10 to 15 minutes with a buzz that lasts for roughly 90 minutes. Countdown Energy will hit retail shelves in Ohio, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New Jersey this month with online sales available to 23 states across the U.S.

•A majority of American voters want to see Congress protect the right of individual states to legalize cannabis, according to a new survey from Coalition for Cannabis Policy, Education, and Regulation (CPEAR). The survey focused on voters in Missouri, Ohio, and Wyoming, and found that 67%, 61%, and 72% of voters surveyed were in favor of the Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States (STATES) Act. Across the board, Democrats were more likely to support the measure, though CPEAR notes that majorities of Republicans in all three states support protecting states’ rights.

•For 2023, Arizona retail and medical sales nearly reached $1.5 billion, the highest year-end total since the state opened adult-use sales in 2021. According to the state, the final total was a 4.9% rise over 2022. Adult-use sales accounted for 76% of all sales, up from 70% in 2022. The state’s continued success has been attributed to a combination of sports tourism, nightlife, and allowing for cannabis sales after midnight (including 24/7 sales in at least one municipality.) While sales are on the rise, the state’s social equity licenses have been slow to roll out due to a combination of lawsuits, zoning restrictions, municipal restrictions, and general resistance to social equity programs.

Tagged : cannabis, Countdown, Planet 13, Wherehouse Beverage

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