UFC Progressive Reform, CO’s 10 Year Anniversary, & OK’s Secret Shoppers

The UFC takes steps toward smashing the stigma, Colorado celebrates a decade of adult-use cannabis, and secret shoppers help keep Oklahoma’s medical market accountable. 

Here’s what you missed this week in cannabis and psychedelic news.

UFC Removes Cannabis From Banned Substances List  

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has removed cannabis from its banned substances list. This reform reflects a progressive approach and aligns with a broader trend in sports, including moves by the NBA, NCAA, and NFL. As these organization reevaluate their stance on cannabis use by athletes, they are diverging from the World Anti-Doping Agency’s stance. 

Not only does this signify a shift against viewing cannabis as a performance-enhancing drug in professional sports, but it also represents a commitment to prioritizing health and safe consumption. 

Which pro-sport will be the next to move towards being pro-cannabis and destigmatization?

Colorado Celebrates 10 Years of Adult-Use Cannabis 

Colorado residents are celebrating a 10-year milestone of cannabis legalization.

Colorado legalized recreational cannabis in 2014 and has seen incredible sales over the last decade. Since January 1, 2014, dispensaries have totaled sales of $15.28 billion dollars in cannabis projects. This growth continued until 2022 when the market overall took a hit. However, in 2023, sales began to grow once again, totaling around 1.5 billion dollars for the year. 

Over the last ten years, dispensaries have boomed across most of the state – with the exception of a few cities, like Colorado Springs, that only offer medical cannabis dispensaries. Congratulations to Colorado on a decade of progress. Our eyes are on the next ten years to see what comes out of the Centennial State. 

Secret Shoppers in Oklahoma to Help Regulate the Medical Cannabis Market

Oklahoma is stepping up its game in regulating the medical cannabis scene with a unique approach – secret shoppers. 

Under a recently enacted state law, the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) will deploy at least 50 undercover buyers each year to licensed cannabis retailers. These mystery shoppers will make anonymous purchases, and the products will then undergo lab testing. The goal? To ensure the safety of consumers and keep any potential bad actors on their toes. 

The law, which came into effect at the start of 2023, is part of Oklahoma’s broader strategy to tighten the reins on its thriving medical cannabis industry.

For more cannabis news as well as lifestyle and consumption tips check out Veriheal’s content hub.