An Overview of Last Year’s Most Pertinent Cannabis Industry News
As an industry leader in providing cannabis testing equipment to growing and cultivating operations that benefit from in-house labs, Elite Robotics is always keeping an eye on the latest cannabis industry news and developments. After all, cannabis industry growth in any state is determined by one common denominator – legality.
According to Grand View Research, the market size value for the cannabis market in 2022 was $13.2B. Furthermore, they project that the revenue of the cannabis industry in 2030 will be upwards of $40B. These types of projections are why so many are investing in the cannabis industry.
Currently, millions of investment dollars are being put into growing and cultivating, the retail and distribution side, and in cannabis-related technologies, which is where Elite Robotics continues to innovate in the field of cannabis testing equipment.
However, to accurately predict cannabis industry growth, individuals need to keep up with the latest in cannabis industry news. The following are some of the top marijuana reforms and significant pieces of legislation that changed the industry in 2022.
Rhode Island, Missouri, and Maryland Legalize Marijuana
Investing in the cannabis industry in Maryland, Rhode Island, and Missouri is looking like a viable option now that marijuana is legal in these three states for adult use. All users must be at least 21 years of age or older.
Medical Marijuana Legislation Advances
California, Mississippi, Kentucky, Louisiana, Washington D.C., Maine, Virginia, Utah, Tennessee, South Dakota, and Pennsylvania are among the states that are advancing legislation for medical marijuana. However, their respective pushes are all taking different forms.
For instance, Mississippi officially signed off on medical marijuana being fully legalized in Q1 of 2022. Meanwhile, California has amended its existing medical cannabis program so that new localities can participate, thus, expanding the program to more patients. In a similar move, Louisiana nurses are now allowed to officially recommend medical marijuana to those with qualifying conditions.
In 2023, cannabis industry growth is expected to continue as more favorable legislation is passed at the state level for both medical and recreational use.
Criminal Offense Expungement
Although this doesn’t have any direct impact on industry growth, the cannabis industry news pertaining to record sealing and cannabis expungements deserves a mention. Illinois, Colorado, and California have all approved bills that those with eligible cannabis convictions are to have their court records sealed and petitions to expunge records cannot be denied.
Marijuana Testing by Employers
Now that recreational and legal cannabis have been given the green light in several states, it was only a matter of time before legislation on the matter reached the employer/employee level. In recent cannabis industry news, states like Utah and California are curbing discrimination and mitigating the punitive action an employer can take if an employee tests positive for THC during a drug test. However, employees that show up to work under the influence of marijuana are still subject to disciplinary action.
Other Notable Changes
As is the case with many cannabis-related reforms, there were some changes at the state level that are considered one-offs. For instance, in Louisiana, the law now prohibits the police and law enforcement personnel from conducting drug searches based upon the odor of marijuana alone. In Colorado, persons with either an in-state or out-of-state conviction that is related to marijuana can no longer legally be denied professional licensure.
Contact Elite Robotics Today for Reliable Cannabis Testing Equipment
Now that you are up to date on the most important pieces of cannabis industry news, it’s clear that the growth of the cannabis industry is going to continue on an upward trajectory.
If you are on the growing and cultivating side of the cannabis industry, Elite Robotics carries two innovative products that will enable you to perform all your lab testing in-house. The Cannabot line from Elite Robotics consists of two main products. The specimen containment device (SCD) hermetically seals and stores samples until they’re ready to be tested. The analyzer tests your samples, providing easy-to-read metrics pertaining to cannabinoid and purity levels.
Our technology has allowed for several growing and cultivating operations across the country to become less dependent on third-party lab testing facilities. Additionally, our lab testing products don’t use any environmentally harmful solvents or chemicals.
Learn more about our cannabis testing equipment by contacting Elite Robotics at (805) 987-6217. Or send us a message directly using our contact form.