Twitter expands cannabis ad policies.
“As the cannabis industry has expanded, so too has the conversation on Twitter. In the US – one of the most influential markets for cannabis – it is larger than the conversation around topics such as pets, cooking, and golf, as well as food and beverage categories including fast food, coffee, and liquor,” wrote Alexa Alianiello, head of US Sales & Partnerships focused on cannabis.
“The cannabis space on Twitter is fun and engaging with users Tweeting about their experiences using cannabis – whether medicinally, for wellness, or recreation – as well as recommending brands, products, and retail locations. The conversation also reflects where the cannabis industry is currently heading: legislative/policy reform, business development, and community impact.”
Starting on Tuesday, there were mixed reports about what, exactly had changed with Twitter’s policies, and this formal announcement on Wednesday provides much needed clarity on the company’s direction.
Swiftly, big cannabis companies starting getting on board. One example, Trulieve.
Trucking research group will survey about legalization.
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) launched a survey this week as they seek “motor carrier input on the impact of marijuana legalization on the trucking industry’s workforce.”
This research topic was identified as a priority by ATRI’s 2021-2022 Research Advisory Committee.
“States are moving quickly to legalize recreational marijuana use,” Fred Fakkema, chair of ATRI’s Law Enforcement Advisory Board, said in a statement. “This rapid change directly impacts fleets and their workforce; ATRI’s research will help quantify those impacts.”
The survey will close on March 17.
California grant program to expand legal market kicks off.
One big priority for California’s Department of Cannabis Control, and its Cannabis Advisory Committee, has been something called the Local Jurisdiction Retail Access Grant program.
This week, the program, which will funnel $20 million toward localities that want to establish cannabis retail, kicked off. First, questions will be accepted through February 24, and applications will be accepted starting on March 10.
“Expanding access to California’s retail cannabis market is an important step towards protecting consumer safety and supporting a balanced market,” said DCC Director Nicole Elliott in the announcement. “The retail access grant program ultimately seeks to encourage legal retail operations in areas where existing consumers do not have convenient access to regulated cannabis.”
As Cannabis Wire reported in September, the program was on the agenda of the first meeting of the new Committee.
The DCC posed five questions to the Committee as it crafted guidelines for the grant, including “Should local jurisdictions be eligible for funding if they will permit only medicinal cannabis retail and will not permit adult-use retail?” and “What criteria should be used to evaluate whether a local jurisdiction has failed to demonstrate progress toward permitting retail businesses for purposes of recapturing grant funds?”
