Cheddar's weekly series "CannaBiz" focuses on the business of marijuana, and market opportunity in this space. Cheddar Anchor's Brad Smith and Baker Machado dive into the latest trends in this space.
This week Vermont became the ninth state to legalize recreational marijuana. It's also the first state to enact this through legislation. Marijuana Policy Project's Director of Communication Morgan Fox explains the state of regulation, and how his organization is pushing for greater legalization.
"If you look at polling in every state, and nationally there is majority support for making marijuana legal," said Fox. In October 2017, a Gallup poll found 64 percent of Americans support making marijuana legal.
Several marijuana companies are kicking off 2018 strong in the public market. Green Market Report's CEO and Editor-in-Chief Debra Borchardt explains the companies she see's capitalizing on the growing cannabis market.
Toronto-based Med Releaf is up nearly 20 percent in 2018. Borchardt says this company stands apart by being one of the lowest cost cannabis producers. "This is where we are seeing the real race in the marijuana community," says Borchardt.
Two other companies on Borchardt's watch list are Kush Bottles, and Aurora Cannabis.
The Food and Drug Administration has announced that the maker of a brand of eye drops linked to an outbreak of fatal bacterial infections failed to follow safety protocols.
Southwest Airlines Co. has announced the return of its "Companion Pass" offer, which allows the airline's "Rapid Rewards" members to designate a companion who can travel with them for free between August 15 and September 30.
German carmaker Volkswagen said it plans to introduce 25 new electric vehicle models through 2030. As that roll out begins in earnest, Pablo Di Si, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, provided Cheddar News with a breakdown of what consumers can expect from the line-up.
