Welcome to our new Friday program, This Week in Cannabis News, powered by Dutchie.

Each Friday at 10 a. m. Eastern, we'll deliver an overview of this week's cannabis news.

We will be quick, we'll be comprehensive, we'll send you into the weekend as a more informed cannabis professional, and it's all made possible by our friends at Dutchie. You can find and connect with the team there through our link in the show notes.

Let's get to it.

Majority of Utah voters support legalization?

News from a place we don’t talk about a lot when it comes to cannabis: Utah

Noble Predictive Insights and Keep Utah Medical released polling results this week that showed that 52% of Utah voters would support an adult-use legalization ballot measure. 38% said they would not support a ballot measure, while 9% said they were unsure.

Here’s why it matters: According to the Cultural Currents Institute, Utah ranks 5th among all states as the most culturally conservative, based on 21 key indicators. So, for polling to suggest that legalization has a majority of voters on board, feels like a big deal.

Is Pennsylvania next big state to legalize cannabis?

Maybe a little bit more likely and a lot more pressing, is the move to legalize in Pennsylvania. There is a supportive Governor – who likes to tweet about cannabis – as well as a number of bills in the both the PA house and the PA senate – with an array of approaches to legalization. AND, PA is surrounded by legal states that are draining cannabis tax dollars from Pennsyvlania coffers. This week, the Philadelphia Inquirer asked (and answered) the question we’ve all been wondering: When will recreational weed be legal in Pennsylvania? The wait isn’t over.

New Jersey candidate for Governor talks home grown cannabis 

Cultivated readers know we like when elected officials and candidates Tweet about cannabis. Earlier in the week it was Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s turn. Now, it’s candidate for New Jersey Governor Steve Sweeney’s turn. And he’s Tweeting about allowing home grows in the Garden State.

Missouri cannabis gets national attention

It’s no surprise to those in the industry that Missouri is already a top-tier ($1B+/year) market. But others are noticing too. Missouri got the attention of the Wall Street Journal this week due to its relative market size coupled with the state’s unique political make up. Read the WSJ’s How Missouri Became a Cannabis Mecca. 

Not only did Missouri legalize at the ballot in November 2022, the state then sprinted to get the legal market up-and-running. From the November 2022 election to the initial adult-use licenses being approved was a lightning-fast three months. 

And, finally, One Fun Cannabis Industry Thing this week… 

Interested in a cannabis holiday? The folks at Upgraded Points have compiled a list of top US cities for a cannabis vacation. Their methodology included 21 variables they tracked, including the cost of an ounce and the number of weed-friendly experiences. Number 1 on the list? Denver, Colorado. Followed closely by Portland, Oregon and Boulder, Colorado. The only 2 places in the North East, for those that are wondering were Number 5 Burlington, Vermont and Number 6 Portland, Maine…

That’s it for This Week in Cannabis News powered by Dutchie. 

Check back next Friday at 10 am Eastern right here on Cultivated’s LinkedIn page and YouTube channel.