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Monday

Inside the Chinese-funded and staffed marijuana farms springing up across the U.S.

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Lisk Feng for NPR

World

Inside the Chinese-funded and staffed marijuana farms springing up across the U.S.

Large numbers of migrants from China are crossing into the U.S. and finding work on marijuana farms. Some of the businesses are accused of exploiting workers and violating state growing rules.

State of the World - Chinese money and labor in U.S. marijuana

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Friday

Black market cannabis thrives in California despite legalization

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco says legalization has increased incentives for unlicensed cannabis farms and associated violent crime. Martin Kaste/NPR hide caption

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Martin Kaste/NPR

National

Black market cannabis thrives in California despite legalization

Marijuana legalization was expected to bring the industry out of the shadows. But in some states, the black market is alive and well.

Black market cannabis thrives in California despite legalization

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Monday

Would-be weed merchants hit a 'grass ceiling'

A cannabis dispensary operated by the Union Square Travel Agency in New York City in October 2023. The dispensary hires formerly incarcerated and legacy cannabis operators. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

The Indicator from Planet Money

Would-be weed merchants hit a 'grass ceiling'

For decades, states have prosecuted and imprisoned people for selling weed. Today, recreational marijuana is legal in almost half of U.S. states, and many want to give individuals who were impacted by marijuana enforcement a chance to sell it legally. But as the roughly $30 billion cannabis industry grows, are these so-called social equity programs living up to their promise?

Would-be weed merchants hit a 'grass ceiling'

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Friday

Amsterdam will ban cannabis outdoors in its red-light district

People walk through Amsterdam's red-light district shortly after it reopened in 2020, during the pandemic. The neighborhood attracts millions of tourists each year. Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images hide caption

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Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

World

Amsterdam will ban cannabis outdoors in its red-light district

The measure, which is set to go into effect in May, is an attempt to appease residents in the neighborhood, which attracts millions of tourists each year.

Tuesday

3,000+ young children accidentally ate weed edibles in 2021, study finds

Cannabis candies, made to look appealing, are being ingested by children under 6, sending some kids to the hospital. Most of the children found the edible weed at their own homes. Eva Marie Uzcategu/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

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Eva Marie Uzcategu/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Shots - Health News

3,000+ young children accidentally ate weed edibles in 2021, study finds

The cases of accidental ingestion of cannabis candies and baked goods among small children increased 1,375% in five years, according to a study in the journal Pediatrics.

3,000+ young children accidentally ate weed edibles in 2021, study finds

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Friday

New York opens its first legal recreational marijuana dispensary

Chris Alexander, executive director of the New York State Office of Cannabis Management, shows off the first purchase of cannabis gummies bought at Housing Works — New York's first legal cannabis dispensary, during a press conference to kick-off its opening on Thursday. Bebeto Matthews/AP hide caption

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Bebeto Matthews/AP

National

New York opens its first legal recreational marijuana dispensary

The first legal dispensary for recreational marijuana in New York rung up its first sales on Thursday, opening up what is expected to be one of the country's most lucrative markets for cannabis.

Monday

Voters in some of the most conservative states to weigh in on recreational pot

Jars of marijuana line a shelf at The Flower Shop Dispensary in Sioux Falls, S.D. on Oct. 14, 2022. South Dakota's legal pot industry has started with medical cannabis, but voters are deciding whether to also legalize recreational pot. Stephen Groves/AP hide caption

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Stephen Groves/AP

National

Voters in some of the most conservative states to weigh in on recreational pot

Voters in Missouri, Arkansas, North Dakota, South Dakota and Maryland will vote on legalizing recreational marijuana. Nineteen states and D.C. have approved adult cannabis possession and consumption.

Thursday

Thailand decriminalizes marijuana, but not the strong stuff

The first customer of the day, Rittipomng Bachkul celebrates after buying legal marijuana at the Highland Cafe in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, June 9, 2022. Sakchai Lalit/AP hide caption

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Sakchai Lalit/AP

Medical Treatments

Thailand decriminalizes marijuana, but not the strong stuff

Thailand's government says it is promoting cannabis for medical use only, warning that lighting up recreationally in public could still considered to be a nuisance subject to a potential fines.

Wednesday

The Science Behind The Delta-8 Craze

Delta-8-THC is derived from the cannabidiol (CBD) in hemp plants. MAURO PIMENTEL / AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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MAURO PIMENTEL / AFP via Getty Images

Short Wave

The Science Behind The Delta-8 Craze

In the cannabis industry, the chemistry lab meets agriculture. A cannabis product called Delta-8 has been popping up in smoke shops, CBD shops and even gas stations.

The Science Behind The Delta-8 Craze

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Friday

New Mexico launches cannabis sales, within Texans' reach

Marijuana dispensary manager LeRoy Roybal, right, and bud tender Benjamin Oliver prepare on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, for the opening of New Mexico's regulated market for recreational cannabis at a Minerva Canna store in Santa Fe, N.M. Morgan Lee/AP hide caption

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Morgan Lee/AP

National

New Mexico launches cannabis sales, within Texans' reach

New Mexico is making the sale of up to 2 ounces of recreational marijuana legal, bringing legalization to the doorstep of Texas, the largest prohibition state.

Wednesday

Mississippi becomes the 37th state to legalize medical marijuana

A Mississippi senator holds a bag of hemp product used by Sen. Kevin Blackwell, R-Southaven to illustrate to lawmakers what specific portions of the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Equivalency Units would look like in January. Rogelio V. Solis/AP hide caption

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Rogelio V. Solis/AP

National

Mississippi becomes the 37th state to legalize medical marijuana

Mississippi voters approved a medical marijuana initiative in November 2020 but the state Supreme Court invalidated it six months later, ruling the measure was not put properly on the ballot.

Monday

The Science Of The Delta-8 Craze

Delta-8-THC is derived from the cannabidiol (CBD) in hemp plants. Gillian Flaccus/AP hide caption

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Gillian Flaccus/AP

Short Wave

The Science Of The Delta-8 Craze

The cannabis industry is where the chemistry lab meets agriculture. Delta-8-THC is chemically derived and the hemp industry's fastest growing product. It has been popping up in smoke shops, CBD shops and even gas stations.

The Science Of The Delta-8 Craze

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Wednesday

Legal Weed Is Gaining A Little Ground Among GOP Congressmen

U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Ohio, is co-sponsoring a GOP plan that would regulate marijuana like alcohol and enable the Department of Veterans Affairs to prescribe cannabis treatments to veterans. Mark Duncan/AP hide caption

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Mark Duncan/AP

Law

Legal Weed Is Gaining A Little Ground Among GOP Congressmen

WBUR

Marijuana is already legal in many states, and a growing number of GOP Congressmen are ready to make it the law of the land — but there's a debate over revenue.

Legal Weed Is Gaining A Little Ground Among GOP Congressmen

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Wednesday

Hey Washingtonians! Get A Vaccine. Smoke A Joint.

Washington is offering free, pre-rolled joints to adults who get the COVID-19 vaccine. Here, a person smokes a joint in The Netherlands. Robin Van Lonkhuijsen/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Robin Van Lonkhuijsen/AFP via Getty Images

Coronavirus Updates

Hey Washingtonians! Get A Vaccine. Smoke A Joint.

In Washington, adults can now walk away from their COVID-19 vaccine appointment with a free, pre-rolled joint. Other states are also offering incentives to try to convince people to get the shot.

Sunday

After 50 Years, U.S. Opens The Door To More Cannabis Crops For Scientists

More than 30 states have medical marijuana programs — yet scientists are only allowed to use cannabis plants from one U.S. source for their research. That's set to change, as the federal government begins to add more growers to the mix. Drew Angerer/Getty Images hide caption

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Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Shots - Health News

After 50 Years, U.S. Opens The Door To More Cannabis Crops For Scientists

Until recently, plants from only one U.S. facility were approved for use in research. Adding new suppliers will accelerate understanding of cannabis' health effects and possible therapeutic uses.