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- 🌱 Iowa Price Drop, Illegal Ops Crackdown, ER Study Win
🌱 Iowa Price Drop, Illegal Ops Crackdown, ER Study Win
Welcome to Rise & Roll, a bi-weekly newsletter that keeps you smart, savvy, and always in the loop on the latest in cannabis.
Here’s what we have on deck for today…
Iowa moves to expand medical cannabis options
Iowa's strict medical cannabis program might get a serious upgrade. A new bill advancing through the House would add vaporizable products to the state's approved list — and that's huge news for patients' wallets.
MedPharm Iowa, one of just two licensed manufacturers in the state, is ready to slash prices by up to 50% if the bill passes. With fewer than 18,000 patients in the program and costs being a major barrier, this could be a game-changer for access.
Another bill in play would double the number of dispensaries from five to ten, showing Iowa's warming up to expanding its medical market.
New Mexico plans new powers against illegal cannabis
New Mexico regulators want to level up their fight against illegal cannabis operations. The state's Cannabis Control Division is backing a bill that would create a dedicated six-person task force with real police powers.
Right now, regulators can only fine licensed businesses or report illegal operations to police. With these new powers, they could directly investigate, seize products, and get court orders — making enforcement faster and more effective.
"These illegal operations make it tough for our good operators to compete," says CCD Director Todd Stevens.
The move could help legitimate cannabis businesses thrive in the Land of Enchantment.
Ontario study squashes cannabis store health fears
A new study tracking 11+ million adults in Ontario found zero increase in emergency room visits after cannabis stores opened in their neighborhoods.
The research, spanning 278 communities from 2016 to 2023, gives cannabis operators powerful ammo for expansion plans.
Why it matters? The randomized store lottery system created a perfect testing ground, letting researchers compare areas with and without dispensaries.
Not only did cannabis-related ER visits stay flat, but there was no uptick in alcohol or opioid emergencies either.
For cannabis operators: this data could be helpful in public hearings and policy discussions.
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