News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. March 17, 2023: Here are the cannabis headlines making marijuana news globally and in the Caribbean and Latin America this week in less than 60 seconds:

New Jersey native and former NBA star Al Harrington will be returning to his home state next week for two marijuana-fueled launch parties in North Jersey. Harrington, a native of Orange, is the CEO of Viola, a Black-owned cannabis brand whose flowers will soon be available at the Rise dispensaries in Bloomfield and Paterson.

The Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda has become the first Caribbean country to grant the Rastafari community official sacramental authorisation to grow cannabis. Members of Antigua and Barbuda’s Rastafari community were presented with their legal authorisation during a historic signing ceremony at the Prime Minister’s Office.

US Treasury Sec. Janet Yellen says federal regulators are “looking for solutions” to the marijuana industry’s banking access issues. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said he sees an opening to advance the issue in Congress this year.

Hebrew University professor Raphael Mechoulam, considered the “father of cannabis research,” has died in Israel. He was 92.

German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has expressed confidence that the country’s plan to legalize recreational cannabis might soon overcome one of its biggest hurdles – European Union approval. Lauterbach also said a bill to legalize cannabis in Germany could be published “in the next few weeks,” potentially before the end of March or early April.

Canadian producer Heritage Cannabis has been approved to import a medical CBD product into Brazil. The approval came from the Brazil Health Authority (ANVISA).

Medical marijuana patients in Arkansas spent $23.1 million on cannabis products in January and $22.4 million in February for a total of $45.5 million over the two-month period.

Licensed cannabis sales topped $18 million in Connecticut during February, the first full month of regulated recreational marijuana sales in the state. Sales of adult-use cannabis began on January 10, only seven months after lawmakers passed legislation to legalize and regulate recreational marijuana.

And Two Marijuana Stocks Under $1 now are: Acreage Holdings, Inc. (OTC: ACRHF) and StateHouse Holdings Inc. (OTC: STHZF).