Tag Archives: News

Hey everyone, let’s dive into something important happening with Illinois cannabis laws. There’s two bills, House Bill 3061 & House Bill 3513, in the 104th General Assembly, that’s looking to create rules for places where you can legally consume cannabis, like temporary events and hospitality venues. While having these spaces is a great idea, Couch Lock’d hasContinue reading “Why HB3061 & HB3513 is a “Pay-to-Play” Hurdle for Consumption Events”

It’s a familiar sting for those of us navigating the digital landscape of the cannabis industry. Just this past Saturday night, my Midwest Dazed page vanished into the ether, another casualty of what feels like Meta and Instagram’s heavy-handed enforcement of rules. This blow comes hot on the heels of losing our main Couch Lock’dContinue reading “Another One Bites the Dust: Meta’s Shadow Looms Over Cannabis Education”

You know that feeling, right? The one where you’re finally ready to unwind, settle into the couch, and spend the next twenty minutes scrolling through endless dispensary menus online? It’s like a treasure hunt, but instead of gold, you’re searching for that specific strain, that perfect edible, or that trusted brand. The frustration is real,Continue reading “Say Goodbye to Menu Madness: Find Your Favorites with High Spy”

Illinois’ promise of a thriving, equitable legal cannabis market is facing significant headwinds, according to a group of business owners who are publicly calling for substantial reforms to state laws. Citing “steep licensing fees” and “overly burdensome” regulations, these operators argue that the current framework is hindering the success of the very individuals it wasContinue reading “Illinois Social Equity Cannabis Operators Sound Alarm Over “Burdensome” Regulations and Fees”

Another cannabis dispensary in the Chicago suburbs has been targeted by an apparent Molotov cocktail attack, mirroring similar incidents that recently occurred in the city. Authorities are investigating a possible connection between these alarming events that have struck at the heart of the burgeoning legal cannabis industry. The latest incident took place early Saturday morningContinue reading “Molotov Cocktails Target Chicago Area Dispensaries”

Here at Couch Lock’d, we love exploring the incredible variety of cannabis products available in Illinois. Legalization promised us safety, quality, and, crucially, transparency. We were told we’d know what we were buying, how it was grown, and what went into it. But there’s a growing gap between that promise and the reality on dispensary shelves,Continue reading “The Hidden Polish: Why Illinois Needs Mandatory Labeling for Remediated & CRC Cannabis”

Long Beach, CA – Hold onto your stash jars, folks. California’s cannabis watchdog just dropped the hammer on a big-name testing lab, BelCosta Labs, hitting them with an indefinite suspension. Why? State regulators claim the Long Beach-based lab was playing fast and loose with the rules, potentially endangering public health and misleading consumers about how potentContinue reading “Major California Testing Facility Shut Down! BelCosta Suspended Over Inflated THC & Safety Scares”

EFFERSON CITY, MO – Missouri’s cannabis scene got another shake-up this week as state regulators officially yanked another 25 microbusiness licenses, deepening concerns about the integrity of a program designed to boost disadvantaged entrepreneurs in the green rush. This latest round of revocations, announced Monday, brings the total number of canceled licenses to 34 out ofContinue reading “Missouri Cannabis Regulators Torch 25 More Microbusiness Licenses Amid Predatory Practice Probe”

Alright, crew, grab your snacks and buckle up. The tariff situation we talked about has escalated, especially concerning China, and it’s sending shockwaves directly toward the cannabis industry’s supply lines. While a baseline 10% tariff on most imports is in effect, and higher “reciprocal” tariffs on many countries are currently paused for 90 days, China is facing theContinue reading “China Tariffs Hit 145% – What It Means for Your Weed Wallet”

CBD has become the darling of the wellness world, touted for its potential to ease everything from anxiety to aches and pains. For Illinois residents, dispensaries offer a seemingly easy avenue to explore these benefits. But are you really getting your money’s worth? The truth might leave you feeling more locked out than locked inContinue reading “Is Your Illinois Dispensary CBD a Dud? Weight-Based Dosing and the Prairie State Problem”

If you were marking your calendar for the grand opening of state-licensed recreational marijuana dispensaries across Minnesota, you might need to grab a new one, perhaps for 2026. According to insights from a state lawmaker and a cannabis industry consultant, the wait for widespread legal cannabis sales (outside of a few established Indigenous tribal dispensaries)Continue reading “Patience Required: Minnesota Recreational Cannabis Dispensaries Likely Delayed Until 2026”

New York regulators are reportedly scrutinizing California-based cannabis powerhouse Stiiizy amid allegations of illicitly bringing marijuana products from outside state lines into licensed dispensaries. According to a report in The New York Times, citing unnamed sources, Stiiizy is among a group of cannabis companies currently under the microscope of the New York Office of CannabisContinue reading “New York Officials Investigate Cannabis Giant Stiiizy Over Alleged Product Smuggling”

Illinois is embarking on a significant change in its cannabis regulation with the mandated adoption of Metrc, a comprehensive track-and-trace system for all cannabis plants and products within the state. This transition, unfolding throughout the spring of 2025, aims to bolster transparency, enhance regulatory oversight, and ultimately provide greater assurance to consumers regarding the legalityContinue reading “Illinois Navigates the Shift to Metrc: Balancing Transparency with Industry Concerns”

What began as an attempt to help a struggling Colorado grow operation turned into something much more alarming. Justin Trouard, CEO of licensed outdoor cultivator Mammoth Farms, was reviewing the company’s records when he stumbled upon a pattern of transactions that didn’t make sense on paper, but made perfect sense if something shady was goingContinue reading “Colorado’s Cannabis Inversion Scandal: A New Threat to the Legal Market”

The Illinois cannabis market, while showing promise, is grappling with a troubling trend: the alleged practice of larger companies placing orders with smaller suppliers with little intention of paying. A lawsuit filed by Flora Arbor LLC against Harborside Illinois Grown Medicine, Inc. and Euphoria, LLC, highlights this issue, with the plaintiff claiming unpaid invoices totalingContinue reading “Illinois Cannabis Company Lawsuit Exposes Predatory Practices, Calls for Stronger Licensing Standards”