Recently I’ve been on a bit of a personal mission. If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you already know I’ve never been great at telling people what they want to hear. I’d rather tell people what I actually think, whether they agree with me or not. That’s
Let’s start with something that shouldn’t be controversial: If you’re selling cannabis to medical patients, it probably shouldn’t be loaded with pesticides. I know. Hot take. But according to recent advisories from Maine’s Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP), that’s exactly what happened. And not just once. The OCP investigated cannabis
If you have been watching the Lucas Sirois story unfold, you already know this stopped being about cannabis a long time ago. This is not about a few extra plants or a caregiver who pushed his limits. This is about a man who wrapped himself in the legalization movement, bought
Let’s get one thing straight. There’s probably not another Senator in Maine I’ve disagreed with more over the years than Senator Scott Cyrway, the same guy now standing front and center as the anti-cannabis poster child behind this new Adult-Use Ballot Initiative. And what’s this thing include? Oh, just a
In a move that could significantly shift the future of cannabis regulation in the U.S., track-and-trace heavyweights Metrc and BioTrack announced a strategic partnership last week that has already thrown several state programs, including New York’s, into disarray. At the center of the announcement is a new entity called BT
Picture this. You’re at a high-roller dinner at a private golf club in New Jersey. Plates cost more than your car, and the guest of honor is the sitting president. Between bites and backslaps, the conversation shifts from Wall Street to weed. “We need to look at that,” the president
If this story involved THC, your aunt Linda would already be spamming Facebook about drug-laced drinks targeting kids. There’d be Senate hearings, pearl-clutching pundits, and Moms Against Everything would be trending harder than pumpkin spice in September. But since it’s alcohol — and a beachy, influencer-approved brand like High Noon
If this story involved THC, your aunt Linda would already be spamming Facebook about drug-laced drinks targeting kids. There’d be Senate hearings, pearl-clutching pundits, and Moms Against Everything would be trending harder than pumpkin spice in September. But since it’s alcohol — and a beachy, influencer-approved brand like High Noon
You know, it’s one thing to catch a weed brownie at a party that hits harder than expected. That’s been part of stoner folklore for decades. But what went down in Newmarket, New Hampshire in March 2023 wasn’t some giggly edible mishap — it was an avoidable screw-up with real
You know, it’s one thing to catch a weed brownie at a party that hits harder than expected. That’s been part of stoner folklore for decades. But what went down in Newmarket, New Hampshire in March 2023 wasn’t some giggly edible mishap — it was an avoidable screw-up with real
I recently read an MJBiz article talking about “Mold in Cannabis is not a Significant Health Risk” and I do agree that it’s not a SIGNIFICANT health risk and here’s why: Nearly 30 years into legalized cannabis since California’s medical program launched in 1996 we now have real-world public health
I recently read an MJBiz article talking about “Mold in Cannabis is not a Significant Health Risk” and I do agree that it’s not a SIGNIFICANT health risk and here’s why: Nearly 30 years into legalized cannabis since California’s medical program launched in 1996 we now have real-world public health
Yo what’s good fam. Derek Shirley here, aka gettinghighwithcats, your friendly neighborhood craft cannabis policy “know it all” and proud dirt-under-the-nails storyteller from the Beard Bro Media. Let’s talk real quick about something important: the SHIP Act. Now before your eyes glaze over at another acronym from some D.C. suit,
Yo what’s good fam. Derek Shirley here, aka gettinghighwithcats, your friendly neighborhood craft cannabis policy “know it all” and proud dirt-under-the-nails storyteller from the Beard Bro Media. Let’s talk real quick about something important: the SHIP Act. Now before your eyes glaze over at another acronym from some D.C. suit,
Even after a positive legislative session, Maine cannabis caregivers still remain under attack, this time in the form of banking. On June 12, 2025, cPort Credit Union sent this message out to the remaining 1600 Maine Medical Caregivers. Dear Member, cPort Credit Union has made the difficult decision to discontinue
You ever feel like the people writing cannabis laws have never grown a plant, loved a patient, or paid a license fee? Yeah. Welcome to SB 56 in Ohio, the latest Trojan Horse bill dressed up like “public safety” but built to crush patients, consumers, and the small cannabis community
You ever feel like the people writing cannabis laws have never grown a plant, loved a patient, or paid a license fee? Yeah. Welcome to SB 56 in Ohio, the latest Trojan Horse bill dressed up like “public safety” but built to crush patients, consumers, and the small cannabis community
l, here we are again, somehow, I’m still standing (with 2 disabled accounts LOL). Like a damn cat with nine lives, Maine Medical keeps dodging death blows. Out of the 36 cannabis related bills that hit this session, two of them could’ve gutted the soul of the medical program. And
Well, here we are again, somehow, I’m still standing (with 2 disabled accounts LOL). Like a damn cat with nine lives, Maine Medical keeps dodging death blows. Out of the 36 cannabis related bills that hit this session, two of them could’ve gutted the soul of the medical program. And
For years, people in the cannabis industry have raised concerns about Metrc, the company responsible for California’s cannabis track-and-trace system, and the state’s Department of Cannabis Control (DCC). Allegations of enabling illegal cannabis diversion into the Illicit market have persisted, met consistently with denials from both sides. However, a recent
Maine is making crucial moves to strengthen its cannabis policy with a new bill that overhauls how the Director of the Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP) is appointed. If you’re familiar with how cannabis policy can go sideways when unchecked, this bill is a necessary step toward accountability, transparency, and,
If you’ve been following the cannabis scene in Maine, you know things are far from straightforward. A grower who recently took to social media and who wishes to remain anonymous to avoid potential retaliation from the Maine Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP), has just run headfirst into the absurdity of
Alright, folks, let’s cut through the nonsense. On Feb. 14th, 2025, the Maine Government Oversight Committee had a sit-down, and guess what? The first thing on the docket was a cannabis report from Rep. David Boyer and Chad Perkins. Rep. Boyer stepped up with an 8-page speech that laid out
Maine’s latest cannabis legislation, An Act to Protect the Health of Medical Cannabis Patients and Streamline the Mandatory Testing of Cannabis (LD 104), might look good on paper, but let me be blunt—this bill is a disaster waiting to happen. And if you’re a small business owner or a medical
Gov. Janet Mills’ recent comments about Maine’s medical cannabis program are a total betrayal of the very people who helped get her elected—and a step backward for the industry as a whole. In her State of the Budget address, she casually dismissed Maine’s medical cannabis market, claiming, “It’s time to
The 132nd legislative session is officially kicking off, and the Maine cannabis scene is about to get heated. A total of 29 cannabis-related bills were dropped in the Maine State House this week, and while some are definitely raising some red flags, there are a few that could push the
So, let’s break this down: Anya Trundy, Maine’s deputy director for legislative affairs, just admitted that she purposefully withheld a report from lawmakers that was legally required. But don’t worry, she frames it as a “very human response”—because, you know, deliberately keeping crucial information from elected officials is just part
On January 3rd, over 90 stakeholders from across Maine—farmers, employees, patients, and consumers—gathered to discuss the upcoming legislative battle in 2025 and the significant issues facing Maine’s Medical and Adult-Use Cannabis markets, particularly with the state’s now-infamous Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP). This free event, which included a complimentary lunch,
“THIS IS PASTEURIZATION 2.0!” as Matt Bayliss, owner of Garden of Gele, slammed his fist on a table at a stakeholder meeting back in November 2024. He also went on saying how there is no label requirement that lets consumers know it has been remediated, with gamma rays or any
Maine is lucky enough to have about 1600 caregivers to serve its 109,000 in-state medical patients and probably even more out-of-state patients who rely on Maine’s Medical Program for affordable access to better canna medicine than their home state. The majority of the time, these out-of-state patients come from a
First a little background with my relationship with outdoor/sungrown cannabis. Before I moved to Maine in 2016, I will be the first to tell you, just in my personal experience, with outdoor/sungrown cannabis was never really a pleasant one, to the point where I didn’t think it was possible for
On October 11, 2024, as part of an ongoing investigation, the Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP) issued a mandatory recall for select pre-ground adult-use cannabis flowers, pre-rolls, and blunts produced by Nova Farms. The products were recalled due to the presence of Microbials (aerobic bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae) and Yeast and
Back in August of this 2024, CEO Mark Zuckeberg of Meta admitted the Biden administration in 2021 pressured him into censoring content on his platform due to “safety concerns” Why is this important to cannabis pages now? Let’s start from the top. Running a social media page for cannabis brands
On September 10th, the Office of Maine Cannabis Policy proudly announced Cannabis Cured as its “first yeast and mold recreational product recall” and said it “…made possible due to testing and tracking requirement” because if you remember from previous articles the largest difference between Maine Medical Cannabis Program and its
An update to this article has been written by Derek Shirley, which you can read below the original article. Remember the Discovery Channel show “MythBusters”? Well, here in Maine we sure have a real moldy mystery on our hands. Some might be thinking I’m talking about the “42% of medical
As summer comes to an end, and as the election propaganda (on both sides) starts piling up, who is going to be the “best” political party (federally) for cannabis moving forward for America? First off, when I say “best,” what the fuck does that mean?” In my personal opinion “the
So last year, August 29th, 2023 to be exact, I wrote an article for the Beard Bros titled “A Look Inside Maine’s Medical and Adult Use Cannabis Markets” essentially looking at both markets taxable sales data provide by the state’s website. What does that data look like almost a year
In my years of working in and around cannabis policy, I have never seen anything like it. State Representative David Boyer, (R) Poland, ME, is causing the “good kind” of trouble up in Maine’s State Capital. On Feb 15th, 2024 The representative has created a petition asking Maine’s Governor Janet
In the shadow of the pine-clad hills, a burgeoning debate is unfolding, one with implications that stretch far beyond the coast of the Pine Tree State. In the heart of Maine, lawmakers are embroiled in discussions that would carve out a new space in the cannabis industry—literally. We’re talking about
THE GIG IS UP! On September 26th, Maine Medical Cannabis caregivers and patients piled into 19 Union Street and filled not one, but two overflow rooms in addition to the main room. The sign-in line wrapped almost the whole way to the stairs. But one thing I noticed right off
When you think of Maine products what do you think of? I think a majority of people think of lobster! If you live in the New England area (or maybe farther) you might be familiar with Maine’s potato, blueberry, and even our maple syrup industry, which brings in a cool
Happy Holidays! Well, maybe it’s just a Maine cannabis holiday, but either way it’s cannabis rule making season in Maine! On Wednesday, September 6th, 2023 there was an official “kick off” party held by the Office of Cannabis Policy for the Adult-Use proposed rule change public hearing. There were about
What’s Good LA, and Beard Bro Pharms community! Derek Shirley here back reporting from Maine! In today’s article we are going to be talking about a familiar term you might hear around the industry these days, conflict of interest. I know you cool cats probably know what conflict of interest is
What’s Good LA, and Beard Bros Pharms community! My name is Derek Shirley, born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pa. After catching a felony for 4 ounces of cannabis, I became a cannabis nomad for several years. I went from living in Pittsburgh to Flagstaff, AZ, to now where I call
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