Kentucky House Passes Medical Cannabis Bill

3/18/2022

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The Republican-controlled Kentucky House on Thursday passed a medical cannabis bill that would allow would allow patients with cancer, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, epilepsy, chronic nausea, and post-traumatic stress disorder to access the program, the Associated Press reports.

Republican Rep. Jason Nemes, the bill’s lead sponsor, said the measure was drafted “tighter” than he’d prefer in hopes of getting approval from his GOP colleagues. The proposal includes “home rule” provisions that would allow county fiscal courts or commissions to vote on prohibiting medical cannabis operations but cities in those counties would have the option to allow it, the report says. The bill also does not allow smokeable forms of cannabis.

Republican state Rep. Chris Fugate was one of 34 lawmakers to oppose the law.

“The common denominator of 99.9% of the drug addiction problem in America started with marijuana,” he claimed in an interview with the AP.

The measure has won over some critics, including Republican Sen. Whitney Whitfield who previously said that while he has concerns about “the risk of increased access” to cannabis among youth and young adults, and the “precedent” of ignoring federal law, he would support the reforms.

“I’ve heard too many stories, in my district and out, from those long-suffering and their loved ones left behind, that marijuana brought comfort and relief when nothing else worked,” he said in a March 8 statement posted to Twitter. “I imagine what sons have done to obtain marijuana for their dying mothers, or what parents have done for a child struggling with a severe seizure disorder.”

A similar bill passed the House in 2020 but was never taken up by the Senate. The measure will likely need to pass through the chamber’s Judiciary Committee, which is chaired by Whitney. The measure passed the House with the support of 59 representatives.

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Report: Cannabis Helped Drive Union Participation Among Retail Workers in 2021

3/18/2022

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Cannabis workers voted in 26 National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) union representation elections last year and sided with the union in 18 of them, according to a review of the NLRB year-end election figures outlined by Bloomberg Law. The approvals represent a net increase of 14 wins in 2020 and 16 wins over 2019, the report says.

The wins account for nearly two-thirds – 62% – of the retail industry’s unionization gains from 2019 to 2020. In 2021, 13 of the unions’ cannabis industry wins occurred in Illinois, which instituted a labor peace agreement for the cannabis industry when it approved broad legalization reforms, according to Bloomberg.

The successful union votes in the cannabis industry were key to unions having more success organizing retail industry workplaces than they have had in almost 20 years. In all, there were 60 successful union organizing attempts among retail workers last year – levels not seen since 2001 (81) to 2004 (76), according to NLRB data outlined by Bloomberg.

From 2019 to 2021, unions membership decreased in the finance, mining, services, transportation, communications, utilities, and wholesale sectors, but the construction, manufacturing, and retail sectors saw increases in membership. The retail sector saw overall gains of 75%, while manufacturing saw a modest 5% increase in union membership and construction saw about a 10% increase.

The cannabis industry will likely help drive union membership in the coming years as well – both New York and New Jersey’s adult-use cannabis law require businesses to enter labor peace agreements with their employees but neither state has launched its adult-use market.

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Embarc: Community-Focused Cannabis Retail & Events

3/17/2022

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Embarc is a family-owned cannabis events company and dispensary chain in California built on a cornerstone of community engagement. Co-founder & CEO Lauren Carpenter started Embarc with her husband Dustin Moore in 2019. They both came from a political background, Lauren in public relations and Dustin in advocacy and policy-making, and together they’ve built a business that gives back directly to the neighborhoods in which they operate. Recently, they’ve expanded the brand into the events space as they work to create turnkey event solutions in California and, eventually, beyond.

Carpenter recently spoke with Ganjapreneur for a conversation that continually turned back to the importance of community engagement. It all starts, according to Carpenter, with establishing relationships with local leaders before applying for a license there. Carpenter’s first steps are to visit the neighborhood and meet with pastors, the Chamber of Commerce, educators, and other pillars of the community to gauge their interest about and/or possible reactions to a cannabis store opening down the street. These conversations have served as a listening tour where they could identify neighborhood leaders and were pivotal to building successful brands in each unique area.

Embarc donates 1% of all gross sales to their local neighborhood and these donations are distributed by the Community Advisory Board, which the company creates with the help of neighborhood leaders. Donations are unrestricted so the Board can be responsive to community needs and move funds quickly as necessary.

To Carpenter, the Board holds Embarc accountable for its promises. A lot of cannabis companies have made empty promises to communities in order to acquire merit-based licenses and Embarc has no desire to fall into that category. “We know there’s a lot of tokenism in cannabis,” said Carpenter. “We know corporate social responsibility has become a buzzword. On the one hand that’s not a bad thing, it’s good, it’s important that many companies are grappling with how to be more responsive to the communities they serve and responsible as operators. For us, as we look to what that responsibility looks like, the most important component in that was the accountability piece.”

Embarc builds successful retail stores by establishing roots in a community — now they’re doing the same in the cannabis events space. Embarc Events was the concessionaire at Grass Lands for Outside Lands 2021. This experience was especially important for Carpenter, who sees the integration of cannabis into mainstream events as the ultimate goal. “It’s important to me to continue this work because I view events, and specifically the integration of cannabis into ‘traditional’ events, as destigmatization at scale,” she said. “Each time cannabis can be sold responsibly to the masses at an event, it helps us in this ultimate goal of shifting perception.”

California’s Proposition 64, which legalized cannabis for adult use in the state, was the first regulatory effort to create pathways to licensed sale and consumption at events. Considering the industry’s dual licensure requirements — meaning businesses must be licensed at the state and local levels — Carpenter and her team still engage with local jurisdictions and communities to suggest or develop localized event regulations. The process of opening the door for licensed event sales is ongoing but working Outside Lands proved to be a space to meet with regulators in real-time. There were multiple regulators at the event overseeing sales and operations which at first made Carpenter nervous, but she soon realized that they had a great opportunity. It proved the perfect space to show regulators where the pain points were in cannabis operations and, hopefully, inform future policy that would relieve these issues.

Carpenter also frequently looks to engage with traditional nightlife businesses about introducing cannabis. She was part of a recent panel covering cannabis in traditional nightlife spaces and noted that these business owners want to understand how cannabis fits in their business model but they don’t know where to start. Selling cannabis around alcohol evokes fear in the traditional events space, but Carpenter believes events like Grass Lands 2021 prove there is nothing to be afraid of. Nightlife executives can look at successful cannabis integration at events like Outside Lands and see that cannabis events can be safe, fun, and generate revenue.

“This is really a new frontier as well, that you can have cannabis in an event,” said Carpenter. “In many ways, (conversations with event companies and venues are) an educational process on the multiple ways that cannabis will be beneficial to the event. We see no violent incidents in cannabis events, we see no calls for outside service because of massive medical incidents, we see grounds that are left cleaner than when we arrive. In many ways, we’re kind of at the tip of the spear on that, so our model must be adaptive to each jurisdiction or venue. There is no one-size-fits-all even today that we can integrate cannabis into.”

Embarc Events is studying the challenges of hosting licensed cannabis events in California and hopes to one day bring these solutions to other states. But there is not currently a universal solution. Policy development is ongoing around the country, so Embarc is doing critical work as they attempt to inform both local and state governments about what successful implementation looks like, starting in California. They have developed a few event models but view incorporation into different “traditional” events, venues, and audiences as the ultimate goal.

This year, Embarc will be moving into some new retail locations and Embarc Events will continue its mission of bringing cannabis into more spaces. For example, after noticing issues with Wifi and POS systems at Grass Lands, Embarc is developing its own software to support cannabis sales at large-scale events. They’re also assessing the challenges of developing and executing cannabis events in other states, and could be pursuing other markets in the future. But above all else, Embarc will continue pursuing net positive growth through conscientious community engagement.

“Ultimately, cannabis can play a meaningful role in one’s life – from addressing sleep and anxiety to helping folks have more fun,” Carpenter concluded, ”It’s thrilling to be part of facilitating that enjoyment, especially after a few years trapped inside, and we’re proud to be able to play a role in pushing for normalization.”

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Illinois Lifts Injunction Blocking New Cannabis Licenses & Simplifies Application Process

3/17/2022

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Cannabis industry licensing may finally continue in Illinois after the state won a court order to award 60 new licenses and Sangamon County Judge Gail Noll lifted an injunction holding up new licenses due to lawsuits, the Chicago Tribune reports. The development should open the industry’s door to a swathe of new entrepreneurs and businesses.

With her decision, Judge Noll also restored the applications for 11 companies that had sued the Illinois Department of Agriculture for being disqualified; these applications can now be reconsidered by officials for the next round of licensing.

Additionally, in an effort to increase social equity in the state’s cannabis industry, Illinois officials recently simplified the application process for up to 55 cannabis retail licenses, the Tribune reported earlier this week.

Instead of hundreds of pages of plans — which often required many thousands of dollars in attorney and consultant fees, employee information, and property acquisition — the new application will be online and only include basic information like the name of the organization applying for the license, principal officers, contact information, and a $250 fee. Applicants will now be asked directly to apply for a social equity license rather than being awarded social equity “bonus points” on their application. Approved applications will be entered into a 55-license lottery to be held later this year, the report says.

Under the new rules, each applicant will be allowed one application, as opposed to 10 in the past, and the state says the change will allow for more start-ups. The updates will go live near the end of the summer or fall. If selected, potential licensees must prove their social equity status to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, the Tribune notes.

“I appreciate all the feedback we have received from stakeholders since the start of the cannabis program, whose work informed this proposal and is continuing to make Illinois’ growing cannabis industry the most equitable in the nation.” — Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D), in a statement this week

In order to qualify for a social equity license in Illinois, an applicant must have majority ownership by someone living in an area disproportionately affected by poverty and cannabis arrests, have been previously convicted of a low-level cannabis crime, or have a family member with a low-level cannabis charge.

The state’s previous social equity attempts had been derailed by lawsuits challenging the application process. Plaintiffs had argued that similar applications had been scored more favorably when submitted by white and/or more politically connected applicants. Meanwhile, minority applicants have complained that the two years of delay have cost them thousands of dollars and prevented them from entering the space while larger companies have taken control of the Illinois cannabis industry.

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Virginia Bill Would Require Delta-8 Regulations, Licensing

3/17/2022

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Lawmakers in Virginia are considering a bill to regulate delta-8 THC products, including proper labeling, potency and purity testing, licensing, and setting the age limit to buy the products at 21, WAVY reports. The measure was approved unanimously by the state Senate.

Republican state Sen. Emmett Hanger, the bill’s sponsor, told WAVY that the legislation is designed to keep delta-8 products out of “traditional stores along the street” but would provide “a mechanism where they can be sold in a regulated, licensed market.”

Under the bill, licensing would be the responsibility of the state Cannabis Control Authority (CCA); however, earlier this month, Republicans blocked a bill to allow cannabis sales in September which also prohibits the CCA from issuing licenses, which would include delta-8, were the measure to be enacted into law.

Hanger said if the bill takes effect on July 1, it would be illegal to sell products with high levels of delta-8 indefinitely in Virginia and that vendors who do not comply with the law would get a warning, but penalties could escalate.

“I’m not suggesting that people will be incarcerated right away,” he told WAVY, “but it could lead to that if there is someone out there who insists on marketing an illegal product.”

Jocliene Williamson, who manages THE Dispensary in Chesterfield, said the law would impact “a lot of people that rely on our product in order to have a good quality life.”

“Get us the license without us having to close our doors,” she said. “…It makes no sense to discipline those who are doing everything they can.”

Dr. Michelle Peace, an associate professor of forensic science at Virginia Commonwealth University contended that under the current rule, customers are meant to trust the manufacturers to tell them what is in the products.

“You cannot trust the label,” Peace told WAVY. “It can also contain all of these other chemicals like solvents and acids that would be dangerous for the consumer to take. So these delta-8 products are not quality tested.”

The measure has been approved by the Senate but needs to be reconciled by both chambers before moving to the governor for final approval.

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Majority of Nevada’s Cannabis Industry White and Male

3/17/2022

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The majority of Nevada’s cannabis industry workers are white and male, according to a survey by the state Cannabis Compliance Board (CCB). The agency found that 52% of the 15,936 cannabis industry workers who completed the survey identified as white, with 17% identifying as Hispanic, and 12% identifying as Black. Fifty-five percent of respondents identified as male with 39% identifying as female.

Survey responses came from all levels of the industry, including dispensary employees, cultivators, company owners, board members, and other executives. The CCB said that it received a near 100% response rate from industry executives defined as the owners, officers, or board members of cannabis businesses. In all, there are more than 23,000 people in Nevada with an active agent card which allows them to work in the industry.

The vast majority of executives that completed the survey identified as white: about 60% of owners or managers, 75% of board members, 80% of executive board members, and 70% of company officers. Black people comprised 17.65% of officer roles and 12.86% of managers and owners identified as Hispanic or Latino but no other racial demographic broke 10% in c-suite roles.

About 45% of industry workers in Nevada said they were between 25- and 34-years old – the largest cohort – followed by 35- to 44-year-olds (18%), 18- to 24-year-olds (15%), 45- to 54-year-olds (10%), and 55- to 64-year-olds (5%).

In the report, the CCB’s executive director Tyler Klimas indicated the agency would use the data to “prioritize diversity and inclusivity in any new licensing rounds and future pilot programs.”

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Montana Supreme Court Approves Temporary Expungement & Re-Sentencing Rules for Cannabis Crimes

3/17/2022

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The Montana Supreme Court on Tuesday approved temporary procedural rules for expunging or revising cannabis-related convictions, Montana Public Radio (MTPR) reports. The reforms were included in the state’s adult-use cannabis law approved by voters in 2020.

Under the law, people previously convicted of crimes that are now legal can petition for re-sentencing or expungement. The rules allow for individuals currently serving time for low-level cannabis crimes to apply for re-sentencing and potential release and later file an application for expungement.

Under the Supreme Court-approved rules, county or city attorneys must respond to a petition within 21 days after it is filed and if the attorney does not respond, it is assumed that they do not object to the relief requested by the petitioner, which would move the petition to the judge of the court in which the petition is filed. The rules also allow denied petitions to be appealed.

Successful petitioners would be responsible for paying any associated fees and for submitting the necessary paperwork to the Department of Justice, if required, to effectuate the expungement or redesignation, the order states.

Beth McLaughlin, the state court administrator, told KTVH that the biggest clarification in the rules is that those seeking re-sentencing or expungement could submit their petition to the court where they were originally sentenced. She said the Office of Court Administration has also put together forms to help people files their own petition without needing to hire an attorney.

McLaughlin indicated that Montana district courts handled about 135 expungement petitions last year.

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Washington Revises State Code to Change Word ‘Marijuana’ to ‘Cannabis’

3/17/2022

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Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) signed a bill to change the word “marijuana” to “cannabis” throughout the Revised Code of Washington, the Cannabis Observer reports.

The bill was sponsored by Rep. Melanie Morgan (D), who also chairs the state’s Social Equity in Cannabis Task Force, and was one of the only cannabis-related bills to pass the Washington legislature this session. HB 1210 took more than a year to make it to the governor’s desk, the Observer notes.

During the bill signing ceremony, Gov. Inslee said the term “marijuana” has “a racist history in the United States. It was used in anti-immigrant rhetoric in the early 20th century.

“We are tied to our history of language,” the governor said, and the change “signals that we acknowledge the history of that language that targeted communities of color.”

Gov. Inslee is referring to the adoption of the word “marijuana” by cannabis prohibition factions in the early 20th century in order to seize on the anti-Mexican sentiments festering among the United States’ primarily white populace. The pejorative was picked up by the media in the 1920s and ’30s and was shared widely, with many referring to “marijuana” as the “Mexican killer weed.”

The campaign worked — by 1932, the plant was banned in 22 states and was made illegal in the entire U.S. by 1937 with the passage of the Marijuana Tax Act. Prior to the adoption of the word “marijuana,” cannabis had been often referred to in the U.S. as “Indian hemp,” “hemp,” or as a “preparation of cannabis.”

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Recall Issued for Flower from One of Colorado’s Largest Operators

3/16/2022

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The Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED) last week issued a recall for cannabis flower produced by LivWell Enlightened Health due to potentially unsafe levels of total yeast and mold. The enforcement action applies to the indica-dominant Gelato Cake #1 sold as pre-weighed half-ounce packages from December 30, 2021, through January 20, 2022.

“Consumers who have these affected products in their possession should destroy them or return them to the retail store from which they were purchased for proper disposal. Consumers who experience adverse health effects from consuming the product should seek medical attention immediately and report the event to the Marijuana Enforcement Division.” – MED in a press release

According to Westword, Livwell is one of the state’s largest dispensary chains with 19 retail and two medical shops in Colorado.

In a statement issued regarding the recall, LivWell’s VP of Marketing Chris Mapson said the company is “committed to delivering exceptional cannabis products to our customers.”

“We have strict production policies at our facilities to ensure that the products … meet the quality assurance testing standards required by Colorado law. While we serve thousands of patients and consumers every day, complaints are very rare. In January of this year, we received a customer inquiry about a small amount of cannabis flower. We immediately pulled the entire batch from which this originated and self-reported the incident to the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division,” Mapson said.

“Molds and other natural organisms are an inherent factor in the production and storage of agricultural products like cannabis. Everything we grow and make is tested by state-licensed, independent laboratories to ensure our products meet the [state’s] standards … for contaminants, including mold and other microorganisms, before they can be shipped to dispensaries and sold to consumers.”

“LivWell stands behind the quality and safety of all of our products. If there are questions or concerns, we encourage customers to reach out to us at info@livwell.com.”

In October 2021, LivWell agreed to a merger with PharmaCann Inc., which closed last month. LivWell Founder and CEO John Lord joined the PharmaCann board of directors following the deal’s completion, saying the agreement marked “the beginning of a new chapter.”

“The depth of experience, best practices, and track record of the combined companies will bring about an even better patient and customer experience,” he said in a statement.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed as both companies are private; however, in an interview with MJBizDaily, cannabis industry consultant Michael Mayes described the merger as “gigantic,” estimating the value in the “hundreds of millions.”

Editor’s note (3/17/22): This article was updated to add the statement by LivWell’s Chris Mapson.

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Survey: More Than One-Third of U.S. Cannabis Companies Not Profitable

3/16/2022

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A recent survey by the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) and Whitney Economics found that 37% of cannabis businesses in the U.S. are not profitable. Of the 396 cannabis businesses around the country that were surveyed, only 42% were found to be profitable while 21% felt their investments were breaking even, according to the survey results.

The NCIA survey highlights some specific challenges facing the industry, like competition from the illicit market and over-taxation. Additionally, lack of access to banking and price volatility were noted as potential stumbling blocks for cannabis entrepreneurs, the report says.

“I think we’re in the business where it’s the toughest and the profit is the hardest to get,” Mike Benziger, a California grower whose family has roots in the wine industry, told the North Bay Business Journal. “When we became an industry driven on price rather than quality, that’s when it became tough.”

Benziger told the Journal the cannabis business is “designed to take big hits,” adding that smaller growers need to “already have money” or be able to make sales “on-site” if they want to survive.

Beau Whitney, the founder of Whitney Economics, described the results as “no surprise.”

“The narrative out there is that everyone is swimming in cash because of cannabis,” he said. “But, for many, unless you have $2.5 (million) to $3 million, you’re not able to cover a loan or rent or health care.”

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Mike Tyson’s Cannabis Company Selling Ear-Shaped Gummies with Chunk Missing

3/16/2022

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Mike Tyson’s cannabis company, Tyson 2.0, is now selling cannabis-infused gummies shaped like ears with bites in them – harkening back to Tyson’s infamous 1997 WBA Heavyweight Championship bout with Evander Holyfield.

The company announced the product release via Twitter on Tuesday.

“Holy ears!” the company wrote in a tweet. “They’re finally here! Go get your Mike Bites now.”

According to the company’s website, Tyson 2.0 products are currently available in California, Colorado, and Nevada.

Tyson and Holyfield had discussed the possibility of the products in a 2019 video.

“People keep asking, ‘How are you gonna forgive somebody that?’” Holyfield said in the video, according to a World Boxing News report. “I say, everything that ever happened, at some point in time, I did it. Mike bit me. I say I bit somebody too. It just wasn’t on TV. I bit a guy in his shoulder. He dropped me, and I didn’t know when you had a concussion, you’ll bite too.”

“You might be in business,” Tyson responded, “because we’re going to make some holey ears. Some edibles [of the ear] that got a bite taken out of ’em.”

“Well, I could do that,” Holyfield responded.

It’s unclear whether Holyfield is receiving a cut of the product sales but the former opponents have worked together before – in 2012 Tyson promoted Holyfield’s barbecue sauce.

“My realdealbbqsauce.com will make u wanna take a bite out of someone’s ear! Ask @MikeTyson – Luv ya bro!” Holyfield tweeted on the 15th anniversary of the championship fight, according to a Delish report.

“@holyfield’s ear would’ve been much better with his new BBQ sauce,” Tyson responded, “check it out realdealbbqsauce.com.”

Tyson was disqualified in the 1997 fight after biting Holyfield’s ear in the third round of the bout. Tyson’s boxing license was also revoked and he was hit with more than $3 million in fines.

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Chenae Bullock: Building Cannabis Operations On New York Tribal Land

3/16/2022

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The New York state cannabis market is projected to grow exponentially in the coming years but while the state is making some social equity considerations, Native American tribes like the Shinnecock Indian Nation are not able to apply for the program.

We recently connected with Chenae Bullock — Founder of Moskehtu Consulting, and Managing Director for the upcoming Little Beach Harvest cannabis dispensary — to discuss her tribe’s plan for a cannabis operation that considers cannabis as a sacred plant. In this Q&A, Chenae discusses the mission behind Moskehtu Consulting, the firm’s impact so far, and how partnerships with large cannabis firms like TILT can benefit Native American tribes. Chenae also discusses how a lack of recognition in state policy has created supply chain issues in Shinnecock territory, shares the vision for Little Beach Harvest’s future, and more!

Ganjapreneur: Why did you launch Moskehtu Consulting? What is the mission of the company?

Chenae Bullock: I launched Moskehtu Consulting because I recognized the lack of business-to-business relationships that both governmental and corporate sectors have with Native American-owned businesses. I recognized there was a lot of business taking place regarding Native Americans without actually including Native Americans in the process. As a Native American who not only has an academic background regarding Indigenous people’s position when it comes to history, social and environmental issues, I have lived these experiences every day. My aim has been to build a start-up that can consult with clients on these matters and act as a steward in the areas of social and environmental issues that affect each and every one of us. The mission of Moskehtu Consulting is to reconnect people to one another, the land and the water.

What kind of consulting projects does Moskehtu accept?

At Moskehtu Consulting we accept projects that are inclusive for people of color at the planning phase. Some of those projects include helping our clients to re-establish or build relationships with local tribal nations, developing communication plans with local Native American tribes. We have also provide cultural programs such as Traditional Ecological Knowledge tours through eco-tourism on canoe tours, plant walks, and other cultural outdoor experiences in an effort to educate on and connect clients with the land and water.

How has your work built recognition for Indigenous peoples in the country?

Since its establishment, Moskehtu Consulting has provided a number of jobs in cultural education, environmental advocacy, social impact campaign strategy, and much more to further combat the disproportionate number of jobs for Indigenous people. Moskehtu Consulting is community-based and is dedicated to supporting the creation and enhancement of job equity and services within the Indigenous communities in this country. This initiative connects Indigenous people with resources to address the needs of their communities, and through our efforts, we build recognition of our communities in the governmental and corporate sectors.

How does the sovereign status of Native American tribes negatively impact tribal members entering the cannabis space?

Although our people technically meet the requirements to be considered a social equity segment, as a sovereign nation we do not receive any of the benefits of the social equity programs the state creates. We also do not receive any of the resources or funding other businesses have access to through the state. This can create a barrier to entry for obvious reasons, which is why many Indigenous communities are looking to partnerships to enter the space.

Could inclusion in social equity measures help more tribes and tribal members start licensed cannabis businesses?

Although tribes are not written in the inclusion of social equity programs, we are considered a social equity group. Therefore, including us in the social equity measures would be extremely helpful to a group that lacks the resources many of the other social equity groups receive because they are included.

Are there any policy changes to the regulation and licensing of cannabis businesses at the city or state level that could better serve the Shinnecock and surrounding tribes?

Since we do not receive any resources or social equity benefits through state programs, what would be most beneficial to us at this time is policy language that ensures that the state will not interfere with our business operations and that allows us to do business with other New York operators across sovereign lines. We’ve been in constant contact with officials since 2015 in an attempt to have clear, black and white language put down on paper that signifies their stance on this. Until the state decides where they stand on the matter, other operators in New York are slightly hesitant to engage in business and sales with us. If we are able to engage with operators outside of the Shinnecock Nation, it will benefit all parties involved by broadening consumer and patient access to quality products, helping to fill the gap where social equity programs fall short, and helping other businesses in the state flourish.

How did you choose TILT as a partner for the Shinnecock Nation cannabis retail store? What is the benefit of working with TILT?

As a sovereign nation that governs ourselves, we have been working toward our entry into the cannabis industry since 2015. We’ve talked with many potential partners over the years, but TILT was the first that felt like the right match for a true, collaborative partnership. With Little Beach Harvest wholly owned by the Shinnecock, we share the same vision for successful operations that will act as an economic engine for our community and create opportunities for years to come. From day one the process has been completely collaborative, with both sides bringing our respective expertise to the table; on the Shinnecock side, our cultural connection to and Indigenous knowledge of the plant as well as consultation on cultural competency as it relates to the business, and on the TILT side, their longtime experience in the cannabis industry ranging from best practices in cultivation to unique business strategy. We both listen to each other and are open to adjusting course if needed in a collaborative way.

Financial resources are a barrier to entry for anyone trying to enter the cannabis industry, and as mentioned earlier, in many ways even more so for Indigenous communities. Not only does our partnership assist with the financial component, but their expertise, knowledge and training as a true partner throughout the process of establishing Little Beach Harvest is invaluable.

Does Little Beach Harvest have setups, grow mediums, and methods established for the cultivation?

Little Beach Harvest will consist of indoor grows. TILT will be providing their expertise and guidance in terms of cultivation methods and techniques.

Is there a philosophy for what kind of products Little Beach Harvest will source for the retail store?

Our vision for Little Beach Harvest is for it to be more than just the typical dispensary experience people are used to; our goal is to make it a retail destination for people to not only learn about cannabis and its relation to Indigenous communities, but also who we are as a people. As stewards of the land and water, what is most important to us is that we do not lose sight of cannabis as a sacred plant and medicine. We are working with other Shinnecock-owned hemp brands and cannabis adjacent businesses to incorporate them into Little Beach Harvest, as well as with TILT to ensure the brands we partner with and the products we carry are true to our values and vision.

What kind of educational activations would you like to feature in the shop?

Our ambitions are to make our Little Beach Harvest a retail destination location on Shinnecock Territory that is surrounded by the Hamptons. We’ve found there has been an overwhelming amount of interest in not only learning about the sacred cannabis plant, but to learn more about our Indigenous culture as well. We are still in the planning stages and haven’t confirmed all the specifics just yet, but our Dispensary and Wellness Lounge will provide the experience for both educational opportunities.

Is there an opening date for Little Beach Harvest?

We currently do not have a specific opening date. We hope to begin retail sales of products grown at the facility by the end of this year or early 2023. If we are able to engage in business with other New York operators over sovereign lines, that could enable us to open sooner with retail sales of products from our partners.

Thank you, Chenae, for answering all of our questions! Visit MoskehtuConsulting.com and LittleBeachHarvest.com to learn more.

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New Jersey’s Rider University Launches Cannabis Studies Program

3/16/2022

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Rider University, a private college in New Jersey, will offer a cannabis studies certificate program in the fall semester which will be open to anyone interested in a cannabis industry program with no prerequisites or previous degrees required.

The program, 100% online, will include courses on accounting and finance, communications and marketing, sales, management, public policy, law, and research and development, Dr. Victor Thompson, chair of the Department of Sociology and Criminology, said in a press release. Dr. Thompson added that the “certificate will prepare students for roles that go beyond the budtender.”

Dr. Sarah Trocchio, assistant professor of sociology and criminology, explained that college staff and faculty “want as many people as possible to have access to this program to help build their careers” in the cannabis industry.

“As cannabis legalization continues to expand, our students will be able to enter the field with the skills, experience and connections needed to succeed.” – Trocchio in a statement

In the fall 2020 semester, Trocchio led a special topics course called “Reefer Madness: From Panic to Profit” wherein she and the class conducted a survey of New Jersey residents regarding their attitudes about cannabis legalization, personal use, and social justice implications prior to that year’s election. That research will appear as a poster presentation during the CannX conference in Tel Aviv, Israel.

The program explores the biological, legal, ethical, business, and practical aspects of the cannabis industry through four courses and the capstone course is taught by an industry professional, which will allow students to gain experience and learn about future internship and job opportunities, the college said.

New Jersey legalized cannabis in 2018. Late last month, Gov. Phil Murphy (D) suggested that adult-use sales in the state could begin “within weeks.”

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Dutchie Partners with LPP to Help Nonviolent Cannabis Offenders Reenter Society; Pledges $1M Donation Match & Contributes $100K

3/15/2022

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Dutchie’s donation powers the Last Prisoner Project to give 400 new grants to help formerly incarcerated individuals reenter society

BEND, Ore., March 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Dutchie — the technology platform powering cannabis commerce — today announced a new partnership with the Last Prisoner Project, a nonprofit dedicated to undoing the harms of the failed war on drugs and releasing people who are imprisoned on cannabis charges. The wide-reaching partnership will include coordination and support across several of Last Prisoner Project’s efforts, including expungement of criminal records, re-entry support, criminal justice public policy reform, industry event coordination, and technological avenues to exponentially increase charitable contributions. To kickstart the partnership, Dutchie announced today that they donated $100,000 to Last Prisoner Project and pledged to match $1 million in donations from their dispensary partners and cannabis consumers.

“Dutchie is committed to having a positive impact on the future of the cannabis industry and the broad benefits it is bringing to society,” said Ross Lipson, CEO & Co-Founder of Dutchie. “We cannot erase past injustices that people and communities have experienced as a result of decades of failed cannabis policy. But, we can work to bring restitution to those who have been harmed by supporting their release from incarceration and giving them a new lease on life. We are committed to advancing our shared vision to release those behind bars for non-violent cannabis offenses and we’re excited to leverage the Dutchie ecosystem to help scale our impact.”

While cannabis is one of the fastest growing industries in the world, too many people, and primarily people of color, remain behind bars for nonviolent cannabis offenses. This is disproportionately true for Black Americans, who are 3.73 times more likely to be arrested for cannabis. Dutchie aims to create safe and easy access while advancing the positive change cannabis brings to the world. That is only possible if the industry and society put equity and justice at the center of propelling the industry forward.

“We are excited to begin our partnership with Dutchie and grateful for their generous support of our mission. Together, we will redress the harms of cannabis prohibition by advancing crucial criminal justice and drug policy reforms,” said Mary Bailey, managing director of Last Prisoner Project. “More than 15.7 million Americans have been arrested for nonviolent cannabis crimes in the last two decades. Some of whom are serving life sentences without parole. Together, we’ll help give people and families their lives back.”

In 2019, cannabis industry leaders, criminal and social justice advocates, policy, and education experts founded the Last Prisoner Project out of the belief that no one should remain incarcerated for cannabis offenses. The Last Prisoner Project is committed to freeing every last prisoner of the unjust war on drugs, starting with the estimated 40,000 individuals imprisoned for cannabis.

Dutchie is committed to a long and fruitful partnership with the Last Prisoner Project to advance needed criminal justice reforms. In addition to this partnership, Dutchie’s social equity program continues to support BIPOC and women-led dispensaries through training and marketing stipends. Dutchie is also a member of the Minority Cannabis Business Association. In the coming months, Dutchie will leverage our network of thousands of dispensaries and partners to make an even greater impact as part of the company’s commitment to the partnership.

Dutchie aims to advance the positive societal change cannabis brings to the world and is the cannabis technology platform powering cannabis commerce, streamlining dispensary operations, and providing safe and easy access. To learn more, visit: https://business.dutchie.com/.

About Dutchie:
Dutchie is the fastest-growing cannabis technology platform powering cannabis commerce, streamlining dispensary operations, and providing safe and easy access for consumers. Powering over 5,000 dispensaries throughout the U.S. and Canada and facilitating over $14 billion in sales annually, Dutchie is a one-stop-shop, providing solutions for point of sale, ecommerce, seamless payments, and more. Dutchie is currently valued at $3.75 billion.

Dutchie aims to open minds to the positive societal change that cannabis brings to the world. Dutchie’s solutions directly serve dispensaries and consumers alike, garnering recognition as one of Fast Company’s 10 Most Innovative Companies in North America and LinkedIn’s Top 50 Startups for two-years running. To learn more, please visit: https://dutchie.com.

About Last Prisoner Project:
The Last Prisoner Project (LPP) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to cannabis-related criminal justice reform with the goal of releasing every last cannabis prisoner and helping them rebuild their lives. As the United States moves away from the criminalization of cannabis, giving rise to a major new industry, there remains the fundamental injustice inflicted upon those who have suffered under America’s unjust policy of cannabis prohibition. Through intervention, advocacy, and awareness campaigns, the Last Prisoner Project works to redress the past and continuing harms of these inhumane and ineffective laws and policies. Visit www.lastprisonerproject.org or text FREEDOM to 24365 to donate and learn more.

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Russian Oligarch Who Pursued U.S. Cannabis Licenses Charged with Making Illegal Political Contributions

3/15/2022

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Andrey Muraviev, a 47-year-old Russian oligarch who set out in 2018 to acquire U.S. cannabis industry licenses, was indicted this week and charged with making illegal political contributions as a foreign national. Muraviev — who is currently believed to be at large in Russia — was also charged with conspiring to make political contributions as a foreign national in the names of straw donors.

According to a release by the Southern District of New York U.S. Attorney’s Office, Muraviev allegedly conspired with Lev Parnas, Andrey Kukushin, and Igor Fruman to give up to $1 million in foreign funds as political contributions to candidates and campaigns that would benefit his business interests. The donations were meant to curry favor with state and federal candidates in Florida, Nevada, and Texas who could later help Muraviev and his co-conspirators acquire cannabis industry licenses.

“As alleged, Muraviev, a Russian foreign national, made illegal political contributions and conspired with Parnas, Kukushkin and Fruman to obscure their true source. The money Muraviev injected into our political system, as alleged, was directed to politicians with views favorable to his business interests and those of his co-conspirators.” — FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Michael J. Driscoll, in a statement

Parnas and Kukushkin were found guilty for their involvement in the scheme last October while Fruman pled guilty in January. Parnas and Fruman are both ex-associates of Rudy Giuliani, the former Mayor of New York City and personal attorney for former President Donald Trump (R).

In 2018, Parnas was responsible for leaking a recording of then-President Trump saying that cannabis use reduces one’s IQ score at a family dinner party.

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Companies Accuse DEA of Delaying Application Process for Manufacturing Cannabinoid Pharmaceuticals

3/15/2022

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Two cannabis companies are accusing the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) of delaying approving applications for bulk manufacturing registration since it opened the process in 2018. MMJ International Holdings said its partner MMJ BioPharma Cultivation had submitted its application four years ago, but the process has been “delayed for years for reasons unknown.”

MMJ International Holdings, in collaboration with MMJ BioPharma Cultivation, has been manufacturing gelatin capsule medicines based on cannabis compounds with plans to investigate the products in clinical trials as potential treatments for multiple sclerosis and Huntington’s disease. The companies claim the DEA “has negatively impacted the progression of the drug development for patients” who suffer from the conditions.

The companies point out that the statutory mandate of the DEA is security and divergence and to facilitate the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals to help patients suffering from chronic diseases.

Elio Mariani, Ph.D., MMJ International’s executive responsible for research and development, described the delays as “unprecedented.”

Duane Boise, CEO of MMJ International, said that the company believes that their oral gel cap “will be FDA-approved as a safe and effective drug.”

“MMJ’s clinical trials will provide patient dosing, safety, and efficacy data to the FDA to prove that cannabis can treat essential tremors, a neurological disorder that causes involuntary shaking.” – Boise in a press release

MMJ International in 2019 was given DEA clearance to import cannabis-based products into the U.S. from Canada, a process that required the cooperation of multiple governmental agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the DEA, and Health Canada, the company said.

According to MMJ International, to date five approved entities are currently listed on the DEA website but none are manufacturing a pharmaceutical, such as MMJ International, with filings with the FDA to perform clinical trials.

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Georgia County Sued By Companies Selling Delta-8 Products

3/15/2022

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In a February 22 raid on Elements Distribution — a vaping and smoke shop distribution center in Norcross, Georgia — law enforcement officers seized about $2 million worth of product but did not make any arrests or file charges, CBS46 reports. Additionally, Elements said they have always run their business legitimately and continue to do so, and that they have been paying taxes to the county on the very same products that were seized.

Video of the raid posted on Twitter shows more than a dozen officers dressed in riot gear with weapons drawn entering the company’s warehouse.

“Our facilities were illegally raided and we still await the response from the Gwinnett County DA’s office to provide us with a probable cause for the raid,” said Ali Imran, owner of Elements Distribution, in an email to Ganjapreneur.

The officers were reportedly on the hunt for delta-8 THC products, which many experts consider to be legal in the state but apparently not the Gwinnett County District Attorney, whose enforcement actions have spurred a lawsuit filed on behalf of multiple Georgia businesses selling delta-8 THC products.

The Georgia Hemp Farming Act, which was passed in 2019, allows products derived from hemp that contain no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC to be sold legally but does not mention delta-8. Gwinnett County Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Brandon Delfunt argues that delta-8 products are outlawed under the hemp law. The lawsuit is filed against the county.

“The issue is that delta-8 and delta-10 are not always derivatives of hemp products and even if they are derivatives of hemp products, the legislature was very specific that hemp is defined as something that contains delta-9 THC 0.3 or less.” – Delfunt to CBS46

Tom Church, a trial attorney with Pate, Johnson & Church who is representing the retailers, said he doesn’t believe the issue is a “gray” area in the law.

“The hemp bill basically legalized all cannabinoids, all extracts,” he said in the report, “unless we’re talking about delta-9 THC.”

Editor’s note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Elements Distribution was directly involved with the lawsuit against Gwinnett County but we were informed this was a false interpretation. We regret the error.

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Illinois House Passes Bill Protecting Employees from Termination for Cannabis Use

3/15/2022

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Illinois employers are skeptical about a bill passed by the state House of Representatives that would prohibit them from firing employees for failing drug tests for cannabis, the Chicago Tribune reports. The measure still requires Senate approval but Todd Maisch, president of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce – which agreed not to oppose the legislation – said “nobody should be happier about [the bill] than trial lawyers.

“This is going to lead to litigation,” he told the Tribune, “there’s no doubt about it.”

The measure underwent two amendments to get the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association and Illinois Manufacturers’ Association to drop their opposition and take a neutral stance. However, Julie Schauer, board vice president of Parents Opposed to Pot, called the proposal “a breach of the legislators’ responsibility to public safety” and predicted that if the measure is enacted it would lead to more workplace accidents and higher workers’ compensation and insurance costs.

Under the legislation, employers would be prohibited from terminating or refusing to hire someone based on a positive test THC unless the worker shows signs of impairment or tests higher than the threshold for driving under the influence, which is 5 nanograms per milliliter of blood, or 10 nanograms per milliliter of saliva or urine. Employers would still be able to set zero-tolerance levels for workers in safety-sensitive positions such as law enforcement or firefighters and federal workers or contractors would not be covered under the regime as they are prohibited by federal law from using cannabis.

Other workers that would be prohibited from cannabis use would include those who carry a firearm; those who perform medical procedures or emergency services; those who work with hazardous materials or drugs; those who work with heavy machinery, aircraft, watercraft, or motorized vehicles; and those who perform critical services and work with critical infrastructure, the report says.

State Rep. Bob Morgan (D), the bill’s sponsor who is also an attorney who does cannabis consulting, said the reforms would allow people, especially medical cannabis users, to use a legal product on their own time “and not fear losing their job.”

The measure was approved 61-41 on March 3, mostly along party lines with Democrats in support and Republicans opposed. The measure is currently in the Senate Assignments Committee.

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Vermont Bill Would Expand Crimes Eligible for Expungement

3/14/2022

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A bill introduced in Vermont would expand the number of criminal offenses eligible for expungement in the state including low-level drug crimes, VT Digger reports. The measure would also streamline that process by creating a “one-track” system to clear criminal records — including some felonies — covered under the legislation.

The proposal includes all misdemeanor convictions, except for violent crimes such as sexual crimes against children and domestic violence. Under current state law, expungement of charges makes them disappear while sealing allows access to those records only for specific purposes, the report says. The bill would make the sealing of records more like expungement by narrowing the reasons those records could be accessed and the time period the access would be allowed.

The law would not allow a record to be sealed until a person has finished their sentence, plus an additional three years for most misdemeanors and seven years for felonies, according to the report.

State Rep. Maxine Grad (D), the chair of the House Judiciary Committee and bill sponsor told VT Digger that the proposal could help individuals with criminal records obtain better jobs, housing, and access to educational opportunities once their records were expunged or sealed.

“I think it’s an important workforce development issue. It removes a major barrier for people.” — Grad to VT Digger

Vermont Legal Aid attorney Mairead O’Reilly told VT Digger that the bill is “important because it provides greater access to record clearance for folks who have served their sentence and paid their debt to society and really need and deserve to be reintegrated into our community.”

Vermont Attorney General TJ Donovan explained that the bill’s exceptions for opening sealed records are overly broad and that the bill’s mechanisms to make sealing more like expungement don’t go far enough. He said expungement is “better for the Vermonter.”

“You want to give Vermonters certainty,” he said in an interview with VT Digger. “I always preferred expungement. I’m certainly also willing to compromise.”

The measure has already been approved by the House Judiciary Committee and Grad said that she expects the bill would pass the full House. It is currently in the House Appropriations Committee for consideration.

 

 

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Jones Soda’s Cannabis Brand Expected to Launch in California April 1

3/14/2022

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Jones Soda has unveiled its cannabis brand, Mary Jones, which will include cannabis-infused sodas, gummies, and syrups, CNBC reports. The brand will launch on April 1 in California.

Jones Soda marketing chief Bohb Blair told CNBC that while the company is a “small player in soda” they will be “the biggest national player when it comes to a recognizable [consumer-packaged goods] name in cannabis.”

“If we crack it in California, we’re going to do gangbusters as we go through the Midwest and East.” – Blair to CNBC

The company announced it was planning a cannabis-infused product line last July. CEO Mark Murray said the firm has “been putting all of these pieces in place” since the announcement. The Mary Jones branding will use the same font as the Jones soda brand, but the “N” will appear backward.

“…We fully expect the brand to deliver solid strategic growth for the company,” he told CNBC.

“A lot of the cannabis category is leaf, but that’s the legacy part of the category, the mature part,” Blair said in the report. “If you look at the new consumer to cannabis, the people who want to bring it to a party or have it in a meal, a lot of them are turning to beverages and edibles. And it turns out those are not as easy to make.”

The initial launch will include four product lines: 12-ounce bottles of soda infused with 10 milligrams of cannabis; 16-ounce cans of soda infused with 100 milligrams of cannabis; syrup infused with 1,000 milligrams per bottle designed to mix with other beverages or on food; and soda bottle-shaped gummies infused with five milligrams of cannabis.

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TerrAscend Completes $545M Acquisition of Gage Growth Corp

3/14/2022

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Canadian cannabis company TerrAscend last week completed its acquisition of Michigan’s Gage Growth Corp in a $545 million deal. TerrAscend now operates in five U.S. states and operates seven cultivation and processing facilities and 25 dispensaries throughout the U.S. and Canada.

The deal was finalized on March 10.

Jason Wild, executive chairman of TerrAscend, described the deal as a “defining moment” for the company, as it combines “two leading vertically integrated operators with proven cultivation and manufacturing expertise, deep portfolios of proprietary flower strains, and top-selling brands across our core markets.”

“I look forward to working with the talented Gage team as we integrate and align our cultivation, retail, and operational practices to continue providing our patients and customers with best-in-class product offerings and retail experiences.” – Wild in a statement

Gage has exclusive licensing partnerships in Michigan with Cookies, Blue River, Pure Beauty, and Khalifa Kush. The deal will give TerrAscend access to those brands.

The combined company will operate or manage seven cultivation facilities, including three facilities in Michigan, in addition to Gage’s multiple contracts grow agreements, the companies said in a press release. The combined company’s retail network is expected to reach 40 stores by the end of 2022, including 25 currently operational dispensaries across five states with Gage managing 11 dispensaries in Michigan and one Cookies dispensary in Canada, in addition to TerrAscend’s 13-store footprint in California, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

Gage shares have been halted after closing and delisted by the Canadian Securities Exchange.

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Social Equity Applicants Will Get New York’s First Adult-Use Cannabis Licenses

3/11/2022

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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) on Thursday announced that the first adult-use retail licenses in the state will be made available to individuals with prior cannabis-related offenses. The program, called the Seeding Opportunity Initiative, will give the first licenses to those social-equity applicants that also have a background in owning and operating a small business.

In a press release, the governor’s office said that the initiative, paired with a recently approved bill allowing the state’s hemp farmers to grow cannabis for the adult-use market, could make sales possible in the state before the end of the year. According to the release, the state Cannabis Control Board on Thursday approved a license application for a hemp farmer to begin cultivating THC-rich cannabis in the spring.

“New York State is making history, launching a first-of-its-kind approach to the cannabis industry that takes a major step forward in righting the wrongs of the past. The regulations advanced by the Cannabis Control Board today will prioritize local farmers and entrepreneurs, creating jobs and opportunity for communities that have been left out and left behind. I’m proud New York  will be a national model for the safe, equitable and inclusive industry we are now building.” —Hochul in a statement

Cannabis Control Board Chair Tremaine Wright said that the state’s adult-use law “sets a high goal for creating an equitable industry that puts New Yorkers first.”

The Seeding Opportunity Initiative puts us on a path for achieving that goal,” she said in a statement, “and hopefully models a way forward for reaching those goals while building a stable market.”

The initiative includes conditional adult-use dispensary licenses for social-equity applicants and those conditional licenses for hemp farmers, in addition to the $200 million social equity investment program outlined by Hochul in her 2023 Executive Budget.

The 2022 potential start date is unexpected, as Wright had previously indicated that adult-use licenses would not be awarded until at least the spring of 2023. According to the governor’s office, applications for the priority licenses will open in the summer and the first licenses are expected to be distributed by late summer or early fall.

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Kentucky Committee Approves Medical Cannabis Bill

3/11/2022

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The Kentucky House Judiciary Committee on Thursday passed a Republican-sponsored medical cannabis bill which has the support of the Senate Judiciary Committee Chair, Sen. Whitney Westerfield, who previously opposed the reforms, WFPL reports. A similar bill was passed by the House in 2020 but was never taken up by the Senate.

State Rep. Jason Nemes, the bill’s sponsor, said he opposes adult-use reforms but that “the debate is over, with respect to whether or not medical cannabis helps people.”

“I don’t think there’s anybody, even the staunchest opponents, who say it doesn’t help some people.” – Nemes via WFPL

In a statement posted to Twitter, Westerfield said that while he has concerns about “the risk of increased access” to cannabis among youth and young adults and the “precedent” of ignoring federal law, he’s ready to support medical cannabis access in Kentucky.

“I’ve heard too many stories, in my district and out, from those long-suffering and their loved ones left behind, that marijuana brought comfort and relief when nothing else worked,” he said. “I imagine what sons have done to obtain marijuana for their dying mothers, or what parents have done for a child struggling with a severe seizure disorder.”

The bill does not allow smokable forms of cannabis but would permit patients with multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, epilepsy, and nausea to access cannabis products. State Rep. Kim Moser (R) was the lone ‘no’ vote on passing the bill, which was approved by a 15-1 vote.

“If the FDA would take a stand on this and actually make it a medicine like they do any other natural product, then we wouldn’t have to change 39 statutes and create this bureaucracy,” she said during the debate.

A 2019 poll from the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky found 90% of Kentuckians support medical cannabis reforms in the state, including 95 percent of Democrats, 92 percent of independents, and 90 percent of Republicans.

The bill moves next to the full House for consideration.

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Colorado Bill Would Require Public Cannabis Industry Reporting

3/11/2022

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Colorado legislators have introduced a bill to require more reporting from cannabis businesses and lessen their influence on the rulemaking process, according to a Westword report. The measure requires the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED) to track and publish online all underage sales violations, contaminated product recalls, and reported illicit market activity.

Supporters say the bill will help protect Colorado children but cannabis advocates fear the bill is an attempt to further restrict the nation’s first adult-use market, the report says.

“It doesn’t change regulation. It’s about making sure the MED has the resources they need to do these (underage) checks,” bill sponsor Sen. Chris Hansen (D) said. “It’s the availability and accessibility [of violation information] and putting it on par with what we’re doing in tobacco and alcohol.”

Although MED underage checks found few violations in the past three years — in 2022 the pass rate was 95% and 97% in 2021 and 2019 — the number of checks fell from 604 in 2019 to 104 in 2021 to 80 in 2022, which concerns lawmakers. The MED says the drop was due to “COVID-related impacts,” and the department “intends to increase the number of underage sales checks to align more closely with prior years.”

The bi-partisan group of sponsors wants that increase written into law, which would require every dispensary in Colorado to get at least two underage sales checks per year. Colorado has over 1,000 licensed dispensaries but some are not operational, Westword reports.

Peter Marcus, communications director for Boulder-based dispensary chain, Terrapin Care Station, told Westword the bill “does nothing to increase accountability in terms of access for children.” He believes “responsible messaging works,” pointing out studies that show fewer kids are using cannabis since legalization in the state. He also calls into question the wisdom of using minors in sting operations for an over-21 product.

Additionally, the proposal asks regulators to curtail the amount of influence that the cannabis industry has on the state’s rule-making process. The proposal would also open a bidding process to find a new vendor to manage the state’s seed-to-sale tracking system, which is currently administered by Meta-C.

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