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In this week\u2019s cannabis news round-up, MasterCard stops cannabis purchases with debit cards in the US; Nevada grants first conditional license for stand-alone cannabis consumption lounge; new study shows cannabis enhances \u2018runner\u2019s high\u2019 and reduces pain during exercise and PAX introduces \u201cMy PAX\u201d for customized vapes.<\/p>\n Mastercard has told US banks to stop allowing cannabis purchases with its debit cards, citing the complex legal and financial issues faced by the cannabis industry, despite the increasing legalization of cannabis in many states.<\/p>\n In an official statement<\/a> on Thursday, Mastercard clarified that the federal government considers cannabis sales illegal, leading the company to ban such purchases on its systems. Mastercard promptly notified financial institutions connected to cannabis merchants to terminate these activities in line with their policies.<\/p>\n \u201cAs we were made aware of this matter, we quickly investigated it,\u201d the company said. \u201cIn accordance with our policies, we instructed the financial institutions that offer payments services to cannabis merchants and connects them to Mastercard to terminate the activity.\u201d<\/p>\n Following Mastercard\u2019s cease-and-desist letters, companies using PIN debit payments for cannabis are now searching for alternative solutions for dispensaries that rely on these services. The crackdown is expected to limit convenient payment options for cannabis consumers, leading them towards cash-based transactions. Due to the federal illegality of the plant, major banks and credit card companies have typically restricted cannabis transactions, leaving limited payment options for buyers in states where it is legal.<\/p>\n \u201cThis news, while extremely disappointing, doesn\u2019t come as a surprise,\u201d Wendy Bronfein,\u00a0co-founder of vertically integrated Maryland operator Curio Wellness, says. \u201cThe cannabis industry notoriously lacks access to traditional financial resources.\u00a0With the stalling of the SAFE Banking Act in Congress and now this Mastercard roadblock, it\u2019s becoming increasingly apparent that something must be done on the federal level to lift these constraints.\u201d<\/p>\n The Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board (CCB) has taken a significant step forward by granting a conditional license<\/a> to the first independent cannabis consumption lounge. This approval opens the door for the launch of the first social-use cannabis lounges in the fall and marks a significant development in the Silver State\u2019s cannabis industry.<\/p>\n The coveted license was awarded to La Lounge, LLC, who revealed plans to establish the lounge in Clark County, along with a restaurant. The exact location has not been disclosed yet.<\/p>\n Last year, the CCB issued prospective licenses for 40 cannabis consumption lounges linked to adult-use dispensaries. Recently, three dispensaries received conditional licenses from the CCB to proceed with opening their lounges.<\/p>\n A recent study<\/a> reveals that cannabis is linked to an improved exercise experience, particularly for runners, making their runs more enjoyable and less painful. Researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder conducted a survey with 49 runners, asking them to rate their runs after using cannabis and without it.<\/p>\n Published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research<\/em>, the study found that participants reported \u201cless negative affect, greater feelings of positive affect, tranquility, enjoyment and dissociation, and more runner\u2019s high symptoms during their cannabis (vs. non-cannabis) runs.\u201d<\/p>\n Although the runners were slightly slower after consuming cannabis, with a difference of 31 seconds per mile, the researchers noted that this change was not statistically significant. The study also revealed that participants experienced lower pain levels after their cannabis-infused runs, while the perceived exertion during both runs remained similar.<\/p>\n PAX is taking personalization to the next level, giving cannabis fans the chance to design devices that truly reflect their unique style and preferences with its latest initiative, My PAX. Building upon the success of the company\u2019s in-store program, which has engraved tens of thousands of vapes, My PAX is now available online.<\/p>\n The artwork covers a wide range of themes to cater to various consumer trends and preferences, including cannabis culture, patterns and prints, Americana-style tattoo designs, mandalas, \u201890s culture, zodiac symbols, state pride and more.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople are hungry for more personalized versions of their favorite products\u2014a trend we\u2019ve seen firsthand through successful artist and brand collaborations,\u201d Luke Droulez, VP of marketing at PAX said. \u201cCannabis consumption is highly personal and a form of self-expression for many, so we\u2019re thrilled to be launching a platform for creativity so that consumers everywhere can experience the magic of personalization and how it reflects their cannabis identities.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the highlights of the launch is the exclusive library of custom designs created by the talented multi-hyphenate artist, Akiko Tsuji<\/a>. The artist, ceramicist, editor, publisher and fashion designer has previously collaborated with PAX on a limited-edition collection. PAX intends to collaborate with other leading artists to introduce fresh perspectives and innovative designs for device personalization.<\/p>\n The post Week in Review: Mastercard Stops Cannabis Purchases in the US<\/a> appeared first on Cannabis Now<\/a>.<\/p>\n
In this week\u2019s cannabis news round-up, MasterCard stops cannabis purchases with debit cards in the US; Nevada grants first conditional license for stand-alone cannabis consumption lounge; new study shows cannabis enhances \u2018runner\u2019s high\u2019 and reduces pain during exercise and PAX introduces \u201cMy PAX\u201d for customized vapes. PHOTO Gracie Malley forContinue Reading<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":67294,"comment_status":"false","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[17341,290,50,5583,459,7294,80,857,17342,17343,7565],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67293"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=67293"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67293\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67295,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67293\/revisions\/67295"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/67294"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67293"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=67293"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=67293"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Cannabis](\"https:\/\/cannabisnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Jars-of-Timmed-Nugs-In-Glass-Dispensary-Jars.jpg\")
<\/a>Mastercard Stops Cannabis Purchases with Debit Cards in the US<\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\nNevada Grants First Conditional License for Stand-Alone Cannabis Consumption Lounge<\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\nNew Study Shows Cannabis Enhances \u2018Runner\u2019s High,\u2019 Reduces Pain During Exercise<\/h4>\n
<\/a>PAX Introduces My PAX Program for Customized Cannabis Vaporizer Devices<\/h4>\n
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\nRead More: Week in Review: Mastercard Stops Cannabis Purchases in the US<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"