As more states approve medical cannabis and legalize recreational cannabis, the amount of data proving that cannabis dispensaries increase local property values continues to pile up.

Numerous studies conducted by researchers, companies, and even real estate associations not only show that property values increase when dispensaries open nearby but also that property values jump when cannabis is legalized at the state level – long before legal retail dispensaries open.

Despite arguments to the contrary, the cannabis industry bolsters commercial and residential real estate investments. The numbers speak for themselves.

Here’s What the Data Says about Cannabis Dispensaries and Property Values

The Western Economic Association International published a study in its July 2019 Contemporary Economic Policy journal that found property values within a half-mile radius of a cannabis dispensary increase by 7.7%, and the value drops as the distance from the dispensary increases.

Also in 2019, the team at Clever Real Estate conducted a deep analysis of housing prices and the relationship between property values and cannabis dispensary locations. They discovered that between 2014 and 2019, cities which allow cannabis dispensaries (medical and/or recreational) experienced greater increases in home values than cities where cannabis is illegal. Clever Real Estate found that the effect brings up the entire city’s home values at a rate higher than the national average.

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On September 25, 2000, Paul Pierce was stabbed 11 times in the face, neck, and back at a Boston nightclub. The NBA star was rushed to a nearby hospital where he underwent emergency lung surgery. Two men were later sentenced for the attack.

Miraculously, Pierce returned to the court just a few months later to finish off the season. But his internal wounds lasted much longer. Pierce suffered from intense anxiety, depression, and PTSD. He hired a 24-hour security to guard his home and couldn’t be around large crowds. The harrowing experience led him on a journey to find relief for his symptoms beyond the addictive meds his doctors prescribed.

Eventually, Pierce discovered cannabis, and specifically CBD, which offered a natural path to healing. After playing 19 years in the league, Pierce has begun a new career as co-founder (with Elliot Mermel) and CEO of The Truth CBD Remedies and the Vesper One vape (available through Eaze Wellness).

On the podcast, Pierce talks about how he went from being a CBD advocate to a CBD entrepreneur. He’s joined by business partner, Elliot Mermel.

JON: So Paul, let’s start with you. First of all, congratulations on the product. It’s very cool, and I’m happy that you are a part of the cannabis world.

PAUL: Oh man, thank you. I’m excited that I can be a part of this and just bring a stability to the marketplace, somebody who’s somewhat trustworthy and already has a name out there and a voice and a platform that people can trust.

To continue go to GreenEntrepreneur.com

The legal status of marijuana in a growing number of states poses new challenges for meeting planners.

When Illinois became the 11th state to legalize the recreational use and sale of cannabis this past June, the move was seen by many as a tipping point.

“It’s a major milestone,” said one supporter, predicting that, with the Prairie State on board, this once taboo activity could go mainstream. By January 2020, when the Illinois law goes into effect, 30 percent of the U.S. population will live in a place where it’s legal for adults to possess and consume marijuana for recreational use. It’s also legal in the District of Columbia, and another 22 states permit it for medical purposes only.

Meeting planners were also watching closely. In July, just weeks after Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the Illinois law, 400 attendees flocked to the Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park for the Arcview Investor Forum, a conference designed to bring together aspiring cannabis entrepreneurs and potential investors. Exhibitors displayed everything from CBD “topicals” to cannabis-infused drinks, but no one was there to get high — unless you count the high that comes with nailing a million-dollar deal.

“It’s definitely getting legitimized,” said one attendee from the National Cannabis Industry Association. And when that happens, capital flows in: This nascent industry is already said to be worth more than $10 billion.

Read More at Northstar Meetings Group

If you tuned into this year’s second-round Masters telecast, you may have seen something curious: Phil Mickelson pulling a small vial from his golf bag, using a pipette to squirt liquid into his mouth, then tucking the vial back into his bag. Or you might have seen the viral YouTube video, which sparked speculation that Mickelson had become the latest Tour pro to try a hemp extract known as cannabidiol, or CBD.

Several pros, including Bubba Watson, Scott McCarron, Brandt Jobe, Charley Hoffman and Morgan Hoffmann, have endorsement deals with CBD manufacturers. Watson may be flighty, but it’s not the CBD, a fast-growing category distinct from medical marijuana; CBD products, whether oils, capsules or topical creams, don’t contain THC, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis.

CBD proponents attach an array of benefits — better sleep, reduced inflammation and less anxiety, for starters — to this natural supplement. Manufacturers, however, can’t advertise specific claims because they haven’t been verified by the U.S. FDA. This hasn’t deterred dozens of Tour players looking for an edge from giving CBD a try.

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Rob Gronkowski revealed what life after football will look like for him on Tuesday, as the former Patriots tight end announced that he has partnered with Abacus Health to launch a line of cannabidiol (CBD) products.

CBD is a nonintoxicating cannabinoid found in cannabis and hemp. Gronkowski, speaking at a press conference in New York City, said that such products have been essential to his recovery from a nine-year NFL Hall of Fame career that ended prematurely this past offseason thanks to a myriad of injuries. Now, he wants to get sports leagues, including the NFL, to lighten up when it comes to penalizing athletes for using CBD products.

“For the first time in more than a decade, I am pain-free,” Gronkowski said, noting that CBD products became a part of his life after he retired following the 2018 season. “And that is a big deal.”

Read More at Forbes

OAKLAND, CA  – The next evolution of drinking with friends has arrived in the Golden State! Keef Brands, a leading developer, producer and distributor of cannabis-infused beverages, edibles, concentrates and more, has launched its award-winning portfolio of cannabis-infused sodas, Keef Cola, in Northern California. Keef Cola reflects a revolutionary wave of social consumption, as the quality of taste-making sodas are poised to attract savvy cannabis consumers, while the approachable flavors reminiscent of soda fountain staples also welcome the canna-curious to pop the cap and take a sip.

First introduced nearly a decade ago in Boulder, CO, Keef Cola is made with high-quality CO2 cannabis extract and pure cane sugar. Each 12-fluid ounce bottle contains 10 milligrams of THC. Five bold and refreshing flavors will be available at select dispensaries throughout Northern California for responsible adult-use. What sets the product apart is its fast-acting effects and the ability to bring people together and make social connections while enjoying infused beverages. Keef Cola will also launch in Southern California later this summer.

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LAGUNA HILLS, CA, – Medterra CBD, one of the leading global CBD brands, expands sports and fitness capabilities with major investments in the golf industry by partnering with Worldwide Golf Shops, the parent company to Edwin Watts, Roger Dunn, and some of the most well-known and established golf retail stores in the United States. The growing startup has also signed US Open Major Champion Lucas Glover, 4-time PGA tour winner Charley Hoffman, and Morgan Hoffman as part of their sports ambassadorship program. To further expand their expertise, Medterra hired former Nike Director of Sales, Greg Moore, who has 25 years of golf industry experience to serve as their VP of Sales for the Golf Division.

“We are seeing an increase in the use of CBD in golf athletes and our companies share core values around transparency and are second to none in customer service and expertise,” said Al Morris, CEO of Worldwide Golf. “We’re thrilled that Medterra has found a true partner in Worldwide Golf as CBD becomes more popular and we continue to expand into the golf industry,” said Medterra CBD CEO and co-founder Jay Hartenbach.

Major pharmacy chains were the first national retailers to carry CBD and the industry will start to see more golf and sports-related retailers following suit. Worldwide Golf will be rolling out Medterra products nationwide this month to offer consumers CBD solutions such as Medterra’s MedOil CBD Tinctures, Good Morning CBD Soft-Gels, and CBD Rapid Cooling Cream. A key decision in choosing Medterra was the award of the U.S. Hemp Authority Certification Seal, which recognizes outstanding companies that have met the stringent standards laid out by the hemp industry for quality and safety.

The use of CBD for training and recovery is becoming increasingly popular within the golf community and beyond. Medterra is proud to be represented on the PGA Tour by Lucas Glover, Charley Hoffman, and Morgan Hoffman, all of which have seen the benefit of using Medterra’s CBD Rapid Cooling Cream,  MedOil CBD Tinctures, Good Morning Capsules, and Dissolvable Sleep Tablets as part of their daily regimens.

“The use of Medterra’s high-quality CBD products help get my energy up, stay alert and focused round after round. As a Tour Professional, I can trust Medterra’s THC-free products because they are certified by the U.S. Hemp Authority,” said Charley Hoffman. “We’ve seen fantastic results with these athletes using Medterra products and it’s the next big step for us as a company to move into the golf industry supporting such high caliber athletes,” said Hartenbach.

In addition, Medterra will be participating in their ambassador’s philanthropic initiatives such as Morgan Hoffman’s Foundation, which focuses on leading the race to find a cure for muscular dystrophy (MD).

These initiatives are just the beginning of Medterra CBD’s significant investments in the golf space and sports industry overall. Their mission is to inspire, educate, and enable the golf consumer to perform at their highest potential. For more information, please visit MedterraCBD.com.

ABOUT MEDTERRA CBD, LLC

Medterra provides customers with the highest quality, ultra-pure cannabidiol (CBD) products with zero THC. Medterra’s CBD is extracted from industrial hemp grown in accordance with the strict guidelines of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Hemp Pilot Research Program. Each product is third-party tested to ensure consistency and quality. Medterra is proud to legally provide quality CBD products to customers in all 50 states. For Medterra, follow @medterracbd on Instagram and like on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MedterraCBD

In 2017, no one knew what CBD oil was. In 2018, folks stumbled saying “cannabidiol” (that’s CBD oil) out loud. In 2019, it’s everywhere, and everyone wants in on it.

In flavors like “cucumber mint refresh” and “watermelon renew,” a new line of CBD-infused waters and teas is hitting major grocery stores in California and Colorado on Monday, each 16-ounce bottle containing 20 milligrams, or trace amounts, of “active hemp extract.”

These beverages by the Oki company are among the first wave of large-production, mainstream products that are taking CBD out of the neighborhood head shop, dispensary or hippie health food store and into mainstream commerce.

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