Cannabis businesses operating in Redwood City are getting a bit of a financial break.
Changes in the management of the city’s cannabis program is cutting down annual fees for the six business operators by 34%, an adjustment approved by the Redwood City Council at its board meeting May 19.
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Politics1 hour ago
“I would expect intelligent people with good hearts, which I believe this body is, can find a way to provide…
One of the key differences between medical cannabis and other more traditional treatments is the highly personalised nature of how each patient is affected.
In a 2023 review published in Current Issues in Molecular Biology, researchers showed how genetic variability can significantly influence how individuals respond to cannabis and its swathe of different cannabinoids and terpenes.
“Pharmacogenomics can help predict both positive and negative effects of cannabinoids and precisely identify the best treatment and dose for each individual,*” write the researchers, who emphasise just how important and effective personalised medicine can be.
For Somai Pharmaceuticals, one of Europe’s largest multi-country operators, the principle of personalised medicine, both for specific conditions and individual patients, is a core foundation of their approach.
Earlier this year, it launched new Origins and Senses product lines for Oral Solutions and Inhalation Oils, seeking to offer a ‘full spectrum of options tailored to diverse patient needs and preferences’.
By profiling and integrating naturally derived terpenes into its pharmaceutical formulations, Somai aims to ‘unlock a spectrum of therapeutic benefits’ for its patients.
Terpenes are a diverse range of organic compounds found in virtually all plants, and are responsible for specific aromas, flavour and colours.
In cannabis, however, terpenes play a crucial role in the therapeutic profile of the strain. Somai’s CEO, Michael Sassano, explained to Business of Cannabis: “Terpenes don’t just shape the smell and taste, they interact synergistically with cannabinoids like THC and CBD to modulate and enhance therapeutic effects.”
This is called the ‘entourage effect’, which Sassano states is ‘one of the most important concepts in understanding how cannabis truly works’.
Myrcene, for example, is understood to enable cannabinoids to act more effectively by increasing blood-brain barrier permeability, while Limonene and Pinene can enhance mood and act as anti-inflammatories.
“At Somai, we look at terpenes as a critical component of our formulations, not an afterthought, because optimising therapeutic outcomes is about precision, not just potency.”
Terpenes are also used to alter the smell and flavour of products. While this may sound trivial in comparison to enhancing cannabis’ therapeutic effects, Sassano says it is crucial to ensuring compliance with treatment plans.
“When you’re dealing with medical patients, compliance is everything. If a product smells or tastes unpleasant, people are less likely to use it consistently, and consistency is key in any medical treatment. By enhancing the flavour profile with specific terpenes that are both therapeutic and pleasant, we’re seeing increased adherence to treatment regimens.”
Somai’s goal, he continued, is to bridge the gap between pharmaceutical-grade medicine, and the familiar and natural feel of a product.
The specific terpene profiles are not just tailored to individual patients, but also to how they are choose to consume their medication.
With Somai offering an extensive range of delivery methods, from raw flower to oral sprays, soft-gel caps and vaporised oils, each of these presents it own formulation challenge.
Terpenes are sensitive to heat, light and oxygen, and can degrade with exposure to each.
In order to preserve the terpene profiles for inhalables, Somai focuses ‘on the natural terpene spectrum present in the plant to maintain it through gentle post-harvest processes’.
“For oils and other extracts, we may reintroduce terpenes in precise ratios to ensure stability and consistency. The idea is not just to recreate a strain’s profile, but to deliver a consistent therapeutic experience across batches.”
According to the company, patient feedback on these products has been ‘overwhelmingly positive’, and has helped patients integrate treatment into their daily routines.
“And yes, it influences behaviour. When patients have a sensory connection to their medicine, when they enjoy the smell, taste, and feel, they’re more likely to use it correctly and consistently. It reinforces our belief that medical cannabis should be both effective and intuitive.”
While personalised medical cannabis treatment promises to enhance the patient experience, its complex nature can often act as a barrier for prescribing medical professionals.
Research remains in its infancy, and clinical explorations of the myriad of compounds and their interactions are incredibly difficult to achieve in todays economic and regulatory climate.
To help clear this hurdle, Somai is ‘investing heavily in education’, and now offers training programs, scientific webinars and accessible literature for healthcare professionals.
“Education is foundational. We provide healthcare professionals with detailed product information, including terpene and cannabinoid profiles, onset times, and duration of effects. Our medical team works closely with doctors and pharmacists to guide them in matching formulations to symptom profiles,” Sassano explained.
This involves directing prescribers towards, for example, a high-myrcene THC-dominant formulation delivered via inhalation for someone suffering from chronic pain, or a more CBD-rich oil with calming terpenes like linalool and beta-caryophyllene for someone with anxiety.
Its education efforts also extend to patients, with Somai offering ‘patient friendly’ materials to help them make informed decisions.
They are also set to launch a new research report, which will explain and quantify exactly how terpenes are extracted and reintroduced into their products.
Ultimately, Somai concludes, both the personalised products and the education that is provided alongside them, are about ‘empowering decisions based on science and patient feedback’.
“The cannabis world is moving quickly, and our job is to translate complex science into real-world solutions. Education drives confidence, and confident patients are more engaged with their treatment.”
The European cannabis industry is preparing to descend on Berlin and London for European Cannabis Week where the latest insights from the world’s leading voices will take centre stage across four separate events taking place from June 19-25.
For further real-time updates on market dynamics, market sizing and evolving regulations, pre-orders for the soon-to-be-launched digital report from Prohibition Partners are now available here.
NY marijuana farmers markets; GOP congressman details psychedelics experience; CT psilocybin decrim; UT has 100k medical cannabis patients
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
Senate DOGE Caucus Chair Joni Ernst (R-IA) and House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) are pushing for an investigation into whether government workers are using federal credit cards at marijuana businesses and other “high-risk merchants.”
Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-TX) spoke about his “life-saving” experience with psychedelic therapy—including how he “saw time travel” and “raining different colors.”
The Connecticut House of Representatives passed a bill to decriminalize psilocybin by making possession of up to half an ounce of the psychedelic punishable by a $150 fine, without the threat of jail time.
The New York Cannabis Control Board voted to approve proposed rules for the state’s Cannabis Showcase program, which allows licensed marijuana businesses to sell to consumers at pop-up, farmers market-like events.
The Utah Department of Health and Human Services’s Center for Medical Cannabis reports that the state now has more than 100,000 registered medical marijuana patients.
A marijuana dispensary owned by Woody Harrelson and Bill Maher was burglarized over the weekend.
The Minnesota Court of Appeals is taking up a case on whether state officials can prosecute tribal members for cannabis crimes on most Native reservations located within the state.
/ FEDERAL
The Department of Justice plans to move ahead with a proposal to merge the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as soon as October.
/ STATES
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) touted a state task force’s largest-ever seizure of illicit cannabis.
Missouri’s attorney general sent a letter claiming that THCA violates the state Merchandising Practices Act.
Minnesota’s Senate minority leader said his caucus opposes an increase in marijuana taxes that Democratic leaders have agreed to.
Pennsylvania Republican senators said in a memo about a forthcoming bill to combat drug-impaired driving that “with the opioid crisis and trend toward legalizing and decriminalizing marijuana, many experts and researchers only expect this trend to continue.”
A Delaware representative spoke about her bill to restrict hemp beverages.
The Washington State Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee published a report on the state’s cannabis market.
A Colorado judge dismissed a lawsuit seeking to force regulators to overhaul cannabis testing rules.
The Alabama Court of Civil Appeals stayed a lower court’s order that continued to block regulators from issuing medical cannabis business licenses.
Maryland regulators adopted changes to cannabis rules.
Oregon regulators published a bulletin about hemp and marijuana products containing artificially derived cannabinol.
Vermont regulators sent an alert about scams targeting marijuana businesses.
The Illinois Medical Cannabis Advisory Board met.
—
Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.
Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.
—
/ LOCAL
The Leon County, Florida state attorney opened a criminal investigation into the potentially unlawful diversion of state Medicaid funds to oppose a marijuana legalization ballot initiative.
The Denton, Texas City Council is considering repealing the city’s voter-approved marijuana decriminalization law.
/ INTERNATIONAL
The German CSU party tweeted that the “legalization of #Cannabis remains wrong” and that “the current cannabis regulations must be repealed!”
Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority said that two alcohol products tested positive for cannabis extracts and are not safe.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A study concluded that “CBG has significant potential as an intervention in” non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
A study found that “classical psychedelic practitioners in research settings believed that physical touch is an important part of psychedelic therapy” but that “they also emphasized the importance of professional boundaries.
/ ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS
The president of the American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine authored a journal article about what he called “the dangerous mirage of medical marijuana.”
/ BUSINESS
Conifer Insurance Services and Skyward Specialty Insurance Group are launching an insurance solution for cannabis businesses.
/ CULTURE
Comedian Tom Segura joked about giving his mother marijuana edibles and microdoses of psilocybin.
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We’ve heard of high-end retail, but this is ridiculous.
A number of New York City cannabis dispensaries have set up shop in wealthier retail corridors and have dressed the part accordingly, branding their stores as luxury with more comfortably fashionable interiors, and carrying premium products for well-heeled patrons.
In fact, dispensaries everywhere seem to be making every effort to rise above the low-water mark established by the everyday corner store selling flower on doobie-ous legal standing.
But does elevating a cannabis shop — with high-end products and services as well as an equally luxurious atmosphere — really alleviate New York’s often hellish opening process for all parties involved?
Arish Halani, CEO of Herbwell Cannabis, recently opened a store at 519 Madison Avenue. The East Midtown location is only a couple of blocks from Saks Fifth Avenue along a stretch that includes boutique clothing and shoe stores, never mind law and finance offices as well as the apse of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Halani said he has found that the biggest challenge facing cannabis purveyors is convincing landlords to open their hearts to the industry even if the financing on the building does allow for payments to be made with money raised from cannabis sales.
“Even if their bank says yes — which is rare — the general concept of ‘Well, we don’t want a smoke shop [prevails],’” Halani told Commercial Observer. “They don’t understand that this is a highly corporate environment with a litany of regulatory requirements to make sure the business is operating nowhere near what a smoke shop would look like.”
Dispensaries have to overcome many hurdles to lease and operate a legal storefront. The luxury aspect buys proprietors the leverage they need to convince all the other stakeholders that they plan to operate a strong business that can pay its rent and maybe even sign a lease renewal.
Halani said the Madison Avenue location — much like with his store at 372 East Fordham Road in the Bronx — started off with a “no” from the landlord. The would-be tenant had to then “play the game of convincing.”
“If I could find an address that was seemingly eligible or [the broker] found an address that was seemingly eligible, it got put in a pot, went through all the due diligence, and then we can start the journey of putting in a letter of intent that got rejected nine out of 10 times,” Halani said.
Herbwell is in a league of its own alongside posh cannabis shops Travel Agency at 587 Fifth Avenue, The Flowery at 481 Broadway, Dagmar at 412 West Broadway or Bliss+Lex at 128 East 86th Street. All have sprouted up over the last year.
Landlords eventually relent to a cannabis tenant completely on their own favorable terms, according to Ben Davis, a director at brokerage Ripco Real Estate. Often that means landlords will take a premium on rents, collect a piece of the revenue from the business, or get paid for the space while the permitting process is still moving along and no shop has actually opened.
When it comes down to luxury cannabis tenants, there isn’t much of a difference in the process or the availability of space, Davis said.
“I think that, ultimately, [cannabis retailers] are still trying to find their place, and it’s an infant industry. … Some shoppers may not appreciate seeing a luxury dispensary on their block,” Davis said. “Overall, I think that whether it’s luxury-focused or a neighborhood-focused dispensary … most of your challenges are pretty much the same. The hardest part is finding a location because of how tight the market is these days.”
Long-standing obstacles include the sluggish nature of bureaucracy at the New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), landlords who won’t do legal weed deals based on personal objections or financial reasons, and opponents in the surrounding communities.
The community engagement aspect seems to be the least chaotic part of establishing a licensed dispensary in New York City, where the search for available space has been characterized as a painful process of interacting with landlords individually until finally a welcoming environment is found.
The trick for aspiring retailers is less about getting a license from the OCM than it is locking down a storefront once that license is granted. Currently, the OCM is issuing licenses at a rate best described by Platform Cannabis Advisors (PCA) CEO Ben Sheridan as a “trickle.”
Sheridan’s firm offers a solution to the tightrope of securing both a license and storefront in a timely manner.
“We help our clients who hold cannabis licenses secure compliant retail locations, and then give them the wraparound services and resources to get their doors open for effectively zero capital down,” Sheridan told CO. “That’s what we’ve done on five stores that are now open as of this week.”
Essentially, PCA finds and secures locations for their clients and subleases the space to the licensee, even offering interest-free loans for the buildout of the store and eventually taking 10 percent of the company’s gross revenue as a cost of doing business.
Finding a good property involves answering a number of questions.
“Is there a mortgage on the property? Is that mortgage held by a bank that’s going to say no to this, or someone else who’s going to say no to this?” Sheridan said. “That’s almost right off the cuff — you’re going to lose many properties that might be available right there. And then there’s the stigma, which is certain landlords simply don’t want to be involved with it. So, once you’re past those two factors, the landlords who want it are probably going to charge the green tax, which is, ‘Hey, I smell blood in the water. I smell desperation. Let me try and jack up the price here.’ Usually it doesn’t work out for anybody.”
Basically, the landlord holds all the cards, which often means asking for guarantees from tenants who could be paying $20,000 to $30,000 a month in rent, sometimes without having any sort of track record in retail. With PCA, landlords are vetted and clients get to hold onto all the equity in the business.
“Landlords love track records, [but] they love knowing that there’s people who are guiding these business owners who might be new to this,” Sheridan said. “Landlords aren’t blind to the business opportunity.”
Sheridan founded the firm with Matthew Greenberg after working at the OCM as deputy director of strategy and policy implementation. Greenberg handled economic policy at the OCM, and later was a co-CIO of East Hill Capital, a cannabis investment firm.
Some brokers aren’t even interested in devoting the time it takes to make a cannabis deal work, considering that the lease signing, community board approval and the issuance of the permit have to be timed close together in order to be practical. Meanwhile, most landlords who have a loan on their property from a federally insured bank usually won’t — or can’t — rent to cannabis purveyors at all.
“One of my agents here did a lease for a cannabis space, and I will tell you this lease was signed, I want to say almost nine months ago — they still haven’t opened,” Adelaide Posinelli of Compass said in an interview. “So, for a broker, it’s 10 times more work, there’s no guarantee or surety of it happening. … At the end of it, someone could change their mind, and you’re done.”
Whether a broker does take on a cannabis client also has a lot to do with the money they make from the tenant, or it often boils down to whether they have a relationship with them, according to Davis.
When brokers and landlords do actually work out a lease arrangement, it is usually because the tenant is paying a much higher asking rent. One tenant was paying as much as $350 per square foot in a building where asking rent was $150 per square foot, according to Polsinelli.
“They overpay for space, which then begs the question: How long can they sustain that?” Polsinelli said.
Polsinelli is skeptical that branding a shop as luxury and setting it alongside the likes of Gucci and Hermés would actually make a difference to any other players involved, especially with doubts that the kind of high-profile clientele hitting those corridors would want to be seen in a dispensary.
But, whatever works, she said.
“While some shops feel like you’ve wandered into a college dorm with better lighting, these high-end dispensaries in a Madison Avenue boutique, with budtenders instead of bartenders, should appeal to the locals in the area,” Polsinelli added. “Add a collab with Gwyneth Paltrow and a $300 infused candle, and who knows how high this trend will go? But, hey, if you can sell $90 eighths next to Dior and still pay top rents, I doubt too many people will complain.”
It’s unclear if having a luxury dispensary as a tenant is a red flag for future tenants, according to sources CO consulted.
One place where a dispensary has had little luck on a high-end corridor has been the West Village’s West Eighth Street. Polsinelli said the same proprietors have tried multiple times at different properties on West Eighth and been rejected by Manhattan Community Board 2 for various reasons.
More traditional retail brokerages are equally game to keep leaping hurdles until they get a deal signed. Brandon Singer’s Retail by MONA secured deals for dispensaries such as FlynnStoned Cannabis Company, which signed a 2,600-square-foot lease at 388 West Street in the West Village in March in a space along the West Side Highway that sat vacant for 20 years.
Singer believes that the luxury dispensary is just a branded opportunity for the retailer to fit into whatever neighborhood it chooses to serve, and he was skeptical that would earn cannabis retailers any appeal from the surrounding community.
“I wouldn’t call [dispensaries] a ‘luxury’ tenancy per se, but I do think that the buildouts and look and feel of some of these stores are super comfortable and upscale-looking,” Singer said. “Not sure if they’d necessarily fit on a luxury corridor a la Madison Avenue, but I do think the experience is upscale and high end.”
Surprisingly, regardless of how long a space sat idle, landlords are charging up to 50 percent above market rate for dispensary tenants. (But every space is different. The one leased by FlynnStoned, for example, came with an asking rent of $200 per square foot. The average retail rent across major Manhattan retail corridors was $697 per square foot in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to a report from CBRE.)
Landlords also recognize the benefit of state regulations prohibiting competitors from setting up shop within 1,000 feet of a school or 500 feet of a religious institution. Because of those distance restrictions, the city’s cannabis sector can only grow so big.
New York’s legal cannabis sales rollout in late 2022 was a bit like the Wild West in its infancy, with any old corner smokeshop selling grass with THC — often without approval from OCM, and often just eating the cost of fines if the authorities became privy to their dealings. Illegal weed sales became a simple civil violation.
The rapid growth of unlicensed marijuana sellers in New York has also been partly attributed to how slow the OCM was to issue licenses.
No matter what the excuse, the state eventually had enough. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced in April 2024 that the OCM would have the authority to padlock storefronts in violation.
Landlords wouldn’t be getting away scot-free either.
If they were warned about a tenant acting as an unlicensed dispensary, yet failed to begin eviction proceedings, property owners would be made liable for a fine of up to $50,000.
With the New York Police Department playing a major role in shutting down bad actors, Retail by Mona’s Singer said the runway is clear for law-abiding proprietors to make a better name for their trade.
“I think what we’ve seen is the original guys that kind of had all their issues got shut down or out of the way,” Singer said. “A lot of these operators have very, very well-designed, beautiful, comfortable buildouts that look really good. They’re obviously selling a product that is controversial, and in our lifetimes was illegal. But I think a lot of the operators that have licenses now are doing a great job conveying the product in a luxurious type of way.”
Since the crackdown, the state has seemed slow and deliberate in its issuance of new permits. Military veteran William Norgard, who challenged the state in court for favoring those with criminal records in licensing decisions, was awarded a license in July 2024. He signed a 10,040-square-foot lease across four floors at Boich Investment Group’s 30 Times Square.
A first, let alone a last, dance with Mary Jane will forever be out of the question for the most stubborn landlords who Singer said comprise that majority.
“Some landlords, you’ll never change their mind,” Singer said.
Why would the landlords without obligations be opposed to a profitable venture?
Well, leasing to cannabis tenants has come back to bite some property owners in unexpected ways in the past.
In 2022, Joseph Sitt’s Thor Equities was embroiled in a lawsuit with California-based dispensary chain MedMen after the latter failed to pay almost $1 million in back rent for a Chicago storefront in Fulton Market.
The two parties went to court in the Southern District of New York, which eventually led to MedMen’s attorney arguing that the federal government cannot enforce any rent obligations on a venture involving weed, which is still illegal on a national level.
With the federal judge questioning whether the lawsuit even belonged in the Southern District’s jurisdiction, Thor dismissed its own case and planned to file the lawsuit in California.
Culver City, Calif.-based MedMen attempted to block that action, and it seems Thor was out $1 million. (Thor did not respond to a request for comment.)
Either way, MedMen as a business was not long for this world, and by April 2024 all its locations had shuttered.
Mark Hallum can be reached at mhallum@commercialobserver.com.
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A Texas Senate committee is considering legislation to expand the state’s limited medical cannabis … More
A Texas Senate committee on Monday considered legislation that would expand the state’s current limited medical cannabis program. The Senate Committee on State Affairs discussed the bill without acting on it, according to a report from online cannabis news outlet Marijuana Moment.
The legislation, HB 46, was passed by the Texas House of Representatives last week. If signed into law, the bill would make significant changes to the state’s medical cannabis Compassionate Use Program, which was approved by lawmakers in 2015.
At Monday’s Senate committee meeting, Republican Sen. Charles Perry, the sponsor of a HB 46 companion bill in the Senate, SB 1505, said that the legislation is a “work in progress” that would likely be amended before final passage.
“It’s currently in the works, and we’re still having conversations on what the final product is,” Perry said about the bill. “There will be a committee substitute, but it is not back from [Legislative]
Council yet.”
“Some of the things in it are a good step in the right direction, some of the things that are in it are kind of a backwards look, and some of the things in it could open up the door for unintended consequences,” Perry added, KXAN television news reported.
He added that some of the provisions still being debated include the number of additional medical cannabis dispensaries that will be added, THC limits on products and the specific medical conditions that will qualify a patient to use cannabis under the program.
“As I say, this is a work in process,” Perry told his colleagues at Monday’s hearing, “and [I] just wanted to have it heard so that when that [substitute version] comes out, we can address it in proper time.”
Sen. Brian Birdwell, also a Republican, said that with the substitution bill expected soon, he plans to work with Perry and “see what he’s going to change.”
Birdwell told Perry he had “serious concerns” with the version of HB 46 passed by the House compared to the Senate companion, but he added that “instead of wasting the committee’s time asking questions, now I think I’d rather just consult separately with Sen. Perry.”
The committee then opened the hearing to testimony on the bill before holding for further action.
“We got a week or so to hammer this down,” Perry said, adding that separate legislation to regulate intoxicating hemp products, SB 3, is scheduled to be taken up in the House of Representatives this week. “So we’ll see where that lands and see where this all fits together. It’s kind of a package deal.”
The Texas Capitol in Austin.
The Texas House of Representatives passed HB 46 and referred the legislation to the state Senate on May 13. Rep. Ken King, the Republican sponsor of the bipartisan bill, said the measure will help people whose lives can be improved by medical cannabis.
“Back in 2015, Texas passed the Compassionate Use Act that allowed patients with epilepsy to access low-THC cannabis. Since then, the program has been expanded to include additional medical conditions, but Texans still struggle to get access to the medicine they’re legally allowed to receive,” King said on the floor. “There are not enough dispensing organizations licensed in the state, and current law limits how and where the products can be stored and distributed.”
Under the amended version of the legislation passed by the House, HB 46 would add new qualifying conditions to the CUP, including chronic pain, glaucoma, traumatic brain injury, spinal neuropathy, Crohn’s disease or other inflammatory bowel disease, degenerative disc disease and any terminal illness for patients receiving hospice or palliative care. Military veterans would be eligible to use cannabis for any medical condition.
The legislation would also increase the number of medical cannabis dispensaries by directing the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to issue 11 new dispensary licenses within an equal number of designated public health regions throughout the state. Licensed dispensaries would also be permitted to open satellite locations with state approval.
HB 46 as passed by the House also adds new forms of medical cannabis available to patients, including vaporizers, nebulizers, topicals and patches. More potent cannabis products would also be allowed, and doctors would be able to prescribe dosages as they see fit. The current program only permits patients with one of eight qualifying medical conditions to use non-smokable cannabis products with a limit of 0.5% THC by dry weight.
A man was killed and two others wounded in a shooting last week north of Covelo, in an area known for illegal cannabis cultivation, Mendocino County authorities said.
One man is dead and two others are recovering after a shooting last week in a remote area north of Covelo known for illegal cannabis grows, authorities said Monday.
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation centers on Mina and Hulls Valley roads, where the victims were found at different times and locations beginning Wednesday night.
The man who died has not been identified. The two men who survived were taken to hospitals outside the county and were in stable condition as of Monday, officials said. Both have been interviewed, though their names have not been released.
The case began around 9 p.m. Wednesday, when a 911 caller said a friend needed help, then hung up. Deputies traced the call to a rural stretch of Mina Road, about 6 to 7 miles north of downtown Covelo. There, people flagged them down and led them to a man lying in the road on nearby Hulls Valley Road, about a mile away. He was pronounced dead at 12:42 a.m. Thursday.
Deputies found several firearms, spent bullet casings, and a blood trail leading to a cannabis grow site with trailers and other structures, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Around 11 p.m., as deputies headed to the area, they were notified that another man with gunshot wounds had arrived at Adventist Health Ukiah Valley. After interviewing him and the person who drove him there, investigators determined he had been shot in the same incident.
The third victim was found around 8:15 a.m. Thursday, about four miles from the intersection of Mina and Hulls Valley roads. He was airlifted from the area.
The Sheriff’s Office asks anyone with information to call its tip line at 707-463-4086.
You can reach Staff Writer Colin Atagi at colin.atagi@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @colin_atagi
New research reveals that more than one in ten older US veterans use cannabis, and over a third of these users meet the threshold for cannabis use disorder, highlighting urgent needs for screening and prevention in an aging population.
Study: Cannabis Use Among Older Adults. Image Credit: BenLJohnson / Shutterstock
in a recent study published in JAMA Network Open, researchers leveraged a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) cohort (ages 65 to 84 years; 4,503 participants) to investigate cannabis use patterns and cannabis use disorder (CUD) among older adults. The cross-sectional study, conducted via interviews between February 2020 and August 2023, revealed that 10.3% of participants reported cannabis use in the past 30 days, with 36.3% of these users meeting criteria for CUD. Within this older cohort, participants at the younger end of the age range (65–75 years), those using inhaled cannabis, and individuals with anxiety or functional impairments faced the highest risk.
State-directed legalization of cannabis has contributed to rising use across all age groups in the U.S. Among adults aged 65 and older, prevalence increased from 0.4–0.7% in 2005–2006 to 8.4% in 2022 in the general population, but the VHA cohort showed even higher rates (10.3%). Older adults are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of cannabis, such as impaired mobility or exacerbation of chronic conditions, yet prior research has largely overlooked this age group. This study is the first to detail CUD prevalence and risk factors in older veterans.
The VA Cannabis and Aging Study analyzed medical records and telephone interviews from 4,503 community-dwelling VHA patients. Participants were identified using a text-processing algorithm to screen medical records for cannabis-related terms. Exclusions included severe cognitive impairment or terminal illness. Interviews assessed lifetime and past 30-day cannabis use, forms of consumption (e.g., smoking, edibles), and DSM-5 CUD criteria. Analyses accounted for sociodemographic, behavioral, and health-related factors.
The study found that 57.4% of participants reported lifetime cannabis use, with 28.9% using it for medical reasons such as pain, mental health, or sleep management. Among recent users, 10.3% had consumed cannabis in the past 30 days, and more than half of these individuals (52.4%) were frequent users, defined as consuming cannabis on 20 or more days per month. Smoking was the most common form of consumption (72.4% of recent users), followed by edibles (36.9%).
Notably, 36.3% of past 30-day users met the criteria for cannabis use disorder (CUD), including 22.9% with mild, 10.9% with moderate, and 2.5% with severe cases. The risk of CUD was 3.56 times higher among those who inhaled cannabis (e.g., smoking or vaping) compared to those who exclusively used edibles. Additional risk factors included younger age within the older cohort (65–75 years vs. 76–84 years), anxiety symptoms, illicit drug use, and deficits in activities of daily living. Participants who used cannabis exclusively for medical purposes had lower odds of CUD than recreational users.
The cohort was predominantly male (85.4%), White (78.4%), and retired (73.3%), with unmarried individuals and men more likely to report recent cannabis use.
The study underscores that cannabis use rates among older veterans are now comparable to tobacco use within this population, highlighting a critical need for routine clinical screening. While the findings are specific to VHA patients and may not generalize to non-veterans, they emphasize emerging public health challenges as cannabis becomes more accessible. Frequent use (≥20 days/month) and inhaled cannabis were strongly linked to CUD, whereas edible-only use appeared less harmful, suggesting potential avenues for harm reduction.
Study limitations include its cross-sectional design, which prevents causal conclusions, and reliance on self-reported data, which may underestimate true prevalence. The overrepresentation of men (85.4%) also limits insights into gender-specific patterns. Researchers advocate for integrating validated screening tools, such as DSM-5 criteria or the Cannabis Use Disorder Identification Test–Revised (CUDIT-R), into primary care for older adults.
The authors also note that residing in a state with recreational cannabis legalization was associated with higher odds of use, and that most CUD cases were mild in severity.
