New York Passes Bill to Let Hemp Farmers Start Growing for Adult-Use Cannabis Program

2/18/2022

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The New York Legislature has approved a bill that will allow the state’s licensed hemp growers to obtain early, conditional licenses to cultivate and process cannabis for the state’s adult-use program, News10 reports. Farmers eligible to obtain a temporary conditional license must have a valid industrial hemp grower authorization and must have grown or harvested hemp for at least two years.

Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner (D) said the bill will allow growers to get crops into the ground “this year and grow it through the summer and have it processed and ready to be distributed to the retail outlets and offered for sale in the springtime.”

Tremaine Wright, the head of New York’s Cannabis Control Board, has indicated that licensing would likely begin in spring 2023; however, Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) Executive Director Chris Alexander said last week that officials could release industry regulations in May, which would likely put sales on track for spring 2023.

Both cultivator and processor licensees would be required to participate in a social equity mentorship program and an environmental sustainability program. The bill also includes an agreement that allows cannabis farm workers to unionize.

In a statement, Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes (D) said the bill will help the state “meet the demand of the adult-use cannabis market when retail dispensaries open.”

“With the passage of this bill, we have the opportunity to create a responsible start to the adult-use cannabis industry by authorizing temporary conditional cultivator and processor licenses to current New York hemp farmers,” she said.

The measure would allow for growing cannabis outdoors or in greenhouses with up to 20 lights. It moves next to Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) for final approval.

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Marijuana Matters: Equity Through Education, Advocacy, and Entrepreneurship

2/17/2022

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Marijuana Matters is a Washington D.C.-based social enterprise organization dedicated to social equity through a three-pillar mission encompassing cannabis Education, Advocacy, and Entrepreneurship. Khadijah Tribble founded the organization in 2020 to model equity in cannabis regulations at the local, state, and federal levels — today, Executive Director Courtney Davis is carrying out this mission. Courtney recently spoke with Ganjapreneur about current initiatives, her personal goals as Marijuana Matters’ Executive Director, and what to expect from the organization in the coming year.

Before joining Marijuana Matters, Courtney spent a decade as a staffer for the U.S. Senate — her last position was for U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO). But when she started to grow frustrated with the work on that side of policymaking, Courtney decided she wanted to make more tangible changes. Her experience in agriculture and involvement in the 2014 Farm Bill had sparked her cannabis curiosity and today she is directing programs and initiatives to elevate the three pillars of their mission. In 2022, she is especially focused on bringing their work to the South. “When you think about the demographics of these states, there are a lot of Black and Brown folks who have been criminalized by this plant,” Courtney said, “and essentially these are the folks that we really want to target to help to be a part of this industry or at least to benefit from the legalization of something that has harmed so many communities.”

Education

While approximately 55% of Black Americans live in the South (according to the 2010 census), the region has so far largely failed to consider social equity concerns in its conversations around cannabis reform. In an attempt to activate further advocacy in the South, the team wants to engage with members of the Black community who aren’t yet comfortable speaking about or using cannabis medicine. Historically, the Southern Black faith community has been essential in civil rights movements, so Marijuana Matters wants to destigmatize cannabis within the church community and believes that, eventually, these powerful groups will see social equity as a civil rights issue.

“Black churches in particular have always been a part of civil rights issues, and we would consider legalization and decriminalization of cannabis in this country as a civil rights issue. One of the goals I have is to figure out ways to activate the faith community around this issue,” said Courtney.

At Black CannaCon in New Orleans, the organization hosted a panel with two pastors and one of the few licensed cultivators in Louisiana. The number of people who engaged with the panel showed Courtney how many people of faith are interested in participating in the regulated cannabis industry. Their questions centered around how to have progressive conversations about cannabis with loved ones and faith leaders who aren’t comfortable with, or are downright against, cannabis as medicine. The team would like to host these conversations around the country in the coming years. Courtney hopes this work will one day lead to a world where churches host expungement clinics and directly engage with the issue of social equity.

For cannabis businesses looking for how to create an equitable industry, Marijuana Matters offers the social equity toolkit for operators. The toolkit is easily downloaded and can inspire different ways of thinking about social equity. Rather than putting all of the focus on licensing, for example, they’d like people to expand their thinking about the ecosystem of social equity. If businesses are looking for a personalized approach to social equity or a diversity equity and inclusion program (DEI), the organization offers consulting services alongside the toolkit. They provide training for all private businesses, whether they’re looking for specific assistance in DEI or a lesson on the basic history and impact of the drug war.

The Green Light Blog and podcast, written and produced by freelance writer Dianna K. Benjamin, are the final prong of the organization’s education pillar. The blog covers a swath of topics like inspiration for Black cannabis entrepreneurs, an FAQ on how to be an ally for social equity in cannabis, and how environmental justice is an equity issue. Content is a big part of their education pillar and harkens back to their strategy of developing an ecosystem around social equity.

“It’s nice when you are working for an organization like this because we really get to come up with all this content on our own,” said Courtney. “And these are through relationships that we’ve had and making sure that we’re centering these conversations on folks that have lived this and have been disenfranchised by the plant. That’s the lens that we’re coming from for everything that we produce.”

In the coming year, the blog will explore various types of relationships people have with the cannabis plant. They will also revisit conversations with faculty members at HBCU FAMU’s Medical Marijuana Education and Research Initiative, to educate future graduates on cannabis opportunities and expand the pipeline for people of color entering the industry.

Advocacy

Marijuana Matters’ advocacy efforts run alongside its educational initiatives; the group regularly informs and suggests regulatory guidelines for building social equity into the framework of the industry. They are working in D.C. to advance the appropriations bill that legalized and decriminalized cannabis but didn’t build a framework for legal sales. The most important goal there is for Congress to remove a rider from Washington D.C.’s legalization initiative that has so far blocked licensed operations in the District. In preparation, they’ve provided many recommendations to policymakers.

They’re also doing a lot of advocacy work in Virginia, which legalized cannabis through the legislature shortly before Republicans won back the majority in the House of Delegates and Republican Glenn Youngkin beat out Democrat incumbent Terry McAuliffe in the race for governor. The new Republican majority is a threat to social equity in the state. Sen. Thomas Norment Jr. has already introduced Senate Bill 107, which seeks to remove the state’s social equity measures. SB 107 would remove the line from the adult-use legalization law that reserves 30% of cannabis taxes to be reinvested into communities harmed by the drug war. While they fight to preserve this policy, they are building a community in Louisiana and Georgia by raising awareness, educating, and destigmatizing cannabis use. “Part of this is really removing the stigma so that folks can have a better understanding of the health benefits that are available,” Courtney said.

Entrepreneurship

In keeping with Marijuana Matters’ final pillar of operation, Entrepreneurship, the group graduated its inaugural class of the Minorities in Cannabis (MIC) Fund Bootcamp in 2021, which seeks to help Black entrepreneurs build successful cannabis ventures.The five bootcampers tuned in from all over the country to learn from experts through general training and individualized planning. This bootcamp helps entrepreneurs at any stage, whether they’re just starting their business or are already selling products.

“There are a lot of bootcamp and incubator-type programs out there. I would say that this is more of a family-style relationship,” said Courtney. “We are smaller, we have more individualized help, and we are always looking to increase the reach of our network. Everyone who comes through our program — we are hoping that we can continue to help them however they need to be helped.” In one example, the organization was able to partially fund access to a commercial kitchen for a bootcamper who was already operating their CBD business.

This is the work that drives Marijuana Matters. Education can change minds, advocacy can change the landscape, and entrepreneurship can shape the industry —this is the social equity ecosystem.

As a newer organization, support from industry insiders and enthusiasts is invaluable. Marijuana Matters accepts donations and sells merch to drive funding. People who can offer pro-bono services or lead a discussion for an MIC bootcamp are also welcome to reach out. Lastly, the group encourages everyone to follow and engage with their content on social media.

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Man Serving Life In Prison for $20 Cannabis Sale Gets Chance at Freedom Under New Louisiana Law

2/17/2022

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Kevin O’Brien Allen, a 39-year-old Louisiana man serving life in prison without parole after being arrested for selling $20 worth of cannabis to a police informant, has a legitimate shot at freedom under a state law passed last year.

The sales in question took place in 2012 and 2013, and in 2014 Allen was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment and hard labor. But the nightmare didn’t stop there: state prosecutors ultimately pushed to enhance the punishment under Louisiana’s habitual offender statutes. Due to multiple past drug-related convictions, Allen’s sentence was increased to life imprisonment without the chance of parole, probation, or sentence suspension.

But under the new law La.C.Cr.P. art. 930.10a — which allows district attorneys to reach post-conviction plea agreements with prisoners — there is now an opportunity for Bossier and Webster Parish District Attorney J. Schuyler Marvin to facilitate Allen’s release. The cannabis prisoner advocacy group Last Prisoner Project recently launched the #FreeKevinAllen campaign, putting public pressure on DA Marvin to consider Allen’s case.

“Kevin Allen’s conviction and sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole is a stark example of the injustice that still pervades our criminal justice system,” said Mariah Daly, a legal fellow with LPP.

“Today, the fact that the jury’s verdict in Mr. Allen’s case was not unanimous would require a mistrial under Louisiana law. Additionally, the Supreme Court has held that conviction by a nonunanimous jury is an unconstitutional denial of the Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial. … Mr. Allen’s egregious sentence is borne from Louisiana’s draconian habitual offender laws due to his prior drug charges, which resulted in sentencing enhancement. Mr. Allen’s case, like many other cannabis offenders’, is an utter travesty of justice.” — Daly, in an emailed statement

LPP is encouraging the public to contact DA Marvin by phone or by email to push for Allen’s release; call and/or email scripts are available through LPP’s #FreeKevinAllen campaign page.

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Survey: Cannabis Consumers Have More Sex

2/17/2022

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A recent survey commissioned by MariMed’s Betty’s Eddies brand and conducted by The Harris Poll suggests that cannabis consumers have more sex, finding half of consumers said they have sex several times a week or more, compared to only 35% of non-cannabis consumers.

The survey found 65% of sexually active cannabis consumers agree that cannabis enhances their sex life, with 67% saying that it helps get them in the mood for sex. More than half (51%) of cannabis consuming respondents believe that cannabis is a natural aphrodisiac, which 30% believe it is the most effective natural aphrodisiac – more than chocolate (16%) or oysters (12%). Another 52% of sexually active respondents indicated they prefer edibles or smoking cannabis to get in the mood for sex.

MariMed Chief Operating Officer Tim Shaw said that the survey validates the company’s product development strategy and ingredient selection, “that yes, cannabis users want and have more sex than non-users.”

“As more consumers continue to seek tailored-use products, MariMed is on a mission to offer a house of brands with high-quality products to meet those demands. It’s innovative products like Smashin’ Passion, which combines real passion fruit and all-natural aphrodisiacs like horny goat weed and cannabis, that take people from where they are to where they want to be.” – Shaw in a press release

The survey was conducted online within the U.S. by The Harris Poll on behalf of MariMed from January 27-31, 2022, and included 1,967 adults ages 21-and-older of whom 763 consume cannabis, defined by the survey as THC-rich cannabis products.

The survey also found that cannabis was popular among those with Valentine’s Day plans, with 72% of respondents indicating plans to incorporate cannabis as part of their plans, 53% planning to consume edibles, 63% saying they would rather receive cannabis than flowers or chocolate, and 46% saying they would like to receive cannabis as a Valentine’s Day gift.

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Minnesota Medical Cannabis Patients Will Be Able to Access Flower Next Month

2/17/2022

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Minnesota medical cannabis patients will be able to buy flower products, including pre-rolls, starting next month. According to the state Health Department, patients have been able to get pre-approval from dispensary pharmacists to access the products since February 1 and will be able to purchase up to a 90-day supply of smokeable products.

In a press release, Minnesota Commissioner of Health Jan Malcolm said that smokeable medical cannabis products “may not be right for everyone [and] patients should have a conversation with their health care practitioner for guidance.”

“Patients need to weigh the risks of smoking medical cannabis, including those related to secondhand smoke and lung health, with any potential benefits.” — Malcolm in a statement

The state announced the program change last May after the reforms were approved by lawmakers.

The Health Department said it expects patient enrollment to double or triple, based on the experiences of other states that added flower to their medical cannabis program. In an October 2021 survey by the Office of Medical Cannabis, 71% of enrolled medical cannabis patients said they were “very likely” or “somewhat likely” to try smokable cannabis when it becomes available.

The agency notes that smokable medical cannabis products can be used on private property, but not in public places where it is illegal to smoke or vape tobacco and medical cannabis cannot be smoked or vaped where a minor could be exposed to secondhand smoke or vapor.

In December, the agency announced that infused candies like gummies and chews would be allowed under the state medical cannabis program in August. The Health Department indicated that it is still on target to roll out the products by August 1.

Prior to the changes, Minnesota patients could only access pills, vapor, liquids, topicals, powdered mixtures, and orally dissolvable products, like lozenges.

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Sha’Carri Richardson, Olympic Runner Banned for Cannabis, Asks Why Russian Athlete Can Compete Despite Failing Drug Test

2/17/2022

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Sha’Carri Richardson, the U.S. track and field star who was denied an Olympic start at the Tokyo Summer Olympics after testing positive for cannabis, this week questioned the decision to let a Russian figure skater compete in the Winter Games despite testing positive for trimetazidine – a substance banned by the Olympics which is typically used to increase blood flow to the heart for patients suffering from chest pains or other heart conditions, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva tested positive for the heart drug at the 2021 Russian Nationals in December but the results only came to light this week after she helped Russia win gold in the figure skating team competition. The medal ceremony was the only consequence, the Sun-Times notes, which is a stark contrast to Richardson’s ban, who was suspended for 30 days after testing positive for cannabis last July. The ban ultimately denied the 100-meter U.S. Track and Field winner a spot at the starter block in Tokyo.

Richardson was also left off the U.S. relay team due to the positive test.

“Can we get a solid answer on the difference of her situation and mines?” Richardson posted on Twitter.

In their ruling, the International Olympic Committee said Valieva was a “protected person” as a 15-year-old minor, the report says.

Richardson has explained she consumed cannabis to help deal with stress stemming from her mother’s death but her appeals went unanswered last year by the Olympic Committee.

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Cannabis Decriminalization Bill Introduced in Wyoming

2/17/2022

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A bill to decriminalize up to three ounces of cannabis has been introduced in the Wyoming legislature, KGAB reports. Currently, arrests for up to three ounces of cannabis in Wyoming can result in a $1,000 fine and up to a year in jail. The measure seeks to reduce the penalty to a $100 fine with no chance for jail time.

The legislation is a step back from a broad legalization bill that passed the House Judiciary Committee last year but was shelved by Republicans and missed a key deadline for a floor vote. The bill is sponsored by a bipartisan group of legislators including the state’s only Libertarian representative, Rep. Marshall Burt.

For now, the conservative Mountain West state remains one of the few states in the country with little to no cannabis reforms on the books.

Wyoming does have a hemp program but recent advocate efforts to pass cannabis reforms at the ballot box have failed to get off the ground, at least for elections coming later this year. Marijuana Moment reported in January that two Wyoming campaigns to legalize medical cannabis and decriminalize cannabis possession did not reach the required signatures threshold for 2022 — activists say they are now looking to 2024 as the next opportunity to pass reforms through the ballot initiative process.

Citing weather challenges and the pandemic, campaign organizer Apollo Pazell told Marijuana Moment that the group had considered “keeping teams on the ground [to collect signatures] through the holiday season, and we may have made it, but the uncertainty was too much in my opinion.”

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New Mexico Senate Approves Cannabis Regulatory Bill Without Proof of Water Rights Provision 

2/17/2022

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The New Mexico Senate on Monday narrowly approved an amendment to the state’s cannabis regulation bill that would no longer require cannabis producers and manufacturers to prove they have water rights for their businesses, The Paper reports. The proposal is opposed by the New Mexico Acequia Association, whose Executive Director, Paula Garcia, said the organization was “blindsided” by the legislation’s approval and that the group had no time to intercede or comment on it.

The state’s legalization law had originally included a paragraph requiring cannabis businesses to prove they have the water rights to receive an industry license.

“That paragraph was something we advocated for really strongly last year as part of the agreement to pass the Cannabis Regulation Act. When you get a cannabis license, you should demonstrate you have valid water rights.” – Garcia to The Paper

The amendment by Sen. Cliff Pirtle (R) does include language allowing the state to revoke a business’ license if the business does not have the rights to the water it uses; however, Pirtle said requiring proof of the water rights upfront is preventing a lot of microbusinesses from entering the space. He said that he knows farmers who lease from other farmers with water rights but cannot prove they have the rights themselves and that urban operators can just tap into existing urban water supplies and prove proof of access.

“It’s unnecessary red tape,” Pirtle said during the Sunday committee hearing, according to The Paper. “It’s already illegal to pump water and grow corn as opposed to cannabis or any other plant. It adds unnecessary burden on other licensees, especially on microbusinesses.”

Democratic Sen. Linda Lopez, one of the 19 senators that opposed the measure – which passed by just one vote – said that other communities, aside from the Acequia Association, “have concerns about the availability of water.”

“There are other crops that use much more water in a drought situation,” she told The Paper. “This is something very astute, to make sure applicants are showing [they] have access and rights to the water that can be used for this product.”

The Paper notes that New Mexico is in an ongoing “megadrought.”

The cannabis regulation bill must still pass through a House committee, which could put back in the water rights provision, and the full chamber. The state’s legislative session ends Thursday.

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San Diego City Council Votes to Reduce Tax on Cannabis Producers

2/16/2022

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The San Diego, California City Council on Tuesday voted to reduce the tax rate on cannabis production facilities from 8% to 2% despite budget analyses suggesting the city would lose between $2 million and $4 million over the next five years by lowering the tax, according to a San Diego Union-Tribune report. The tax rate reduction does not include dispensaries, which will still pay the 8% rate.

The reduction comes as just 19 of the 40-city approved cannabis production facilities have opened, which has created local supply chain gaps, led to the creation of fewer jobs, and greater opportunities for unregulated sales.

Gina Austin, the leading attorney for the region’s cannabis industry, said the Independent Budget Analyst report was based on the flawed assumption that approved-but-unopened cannabis production facilities would eventually open without a tax cut, which she said was “absolutely not true.”

“They do not intend under any circumstances to stay here if the tax rate does not decrease.” – Austin to the Union Tribune

Councilmember Monica Montgomery Steppe, who opposed the changes, said she has a “major, major issue with reducing the tax rate for an industry that we have not opened up to everyone.”

Critics of the city’s cannabis rules have long complained that it still doesn’t have a social equity program, the report says, although city officials have maintained that the program would be in operation sometime this year.

Councilmember Joe LaCava proposed delaying the date of the tax reduction from May 1 to January 2023 so that the equity program will be in place, but the proposed amendment didn’t receive enough support. Another amendment that would have added a three-year sunset clause to the reduction also did not receive enough support.

The proposal still requires second approval from the council. That vote is expected next month.

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Virginia Senate Passes Bill to Launch Adult-Use Sales in September

2/16/2022

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The Virginia Senate on Tuesday passed legislation that would allow adult-use cannabis sales to begin September 15, NPR-affiliate VPM reports. The bill includes provisions requiring the state’s three current medical cannabis companies to pay $6 million each to the state to start sales early and would let hemp producers start cultivating cannabis for the program for a $500,000 fee.

Other prospective retailers would still be required to wait until January 2024 to start selling to adults.

The legislation sponsored by state Sen. Adam Ebbin (D) also requires the medical cannabis firms to “incubate five qualified social equity applicant retailers for a period of six months or support and educate qualified social equity applicants that wish to participate in the cannabis market.” Ebbin told VPM that the social equity program would “ensure the little guy – especially those most disadvantaged by the prohibition on cannabis – receive the seed funding and startup support necessary to slingshot small Virginia businesses into economic success.”

Three Senate Republicans voted in favor of the bill but committees in the GOP-controlled House of Representatives have so far avoided taking up the legalization issue.

Advocates have warned that allowing some businesses a head start would shut out smaller operators and create an oligopoly in the state. Critics ranging from the Minority Cannabis Business Association to the libertarian-leaning Americans for Prosperity previously told VPM that Virginia is giving big operators a blank check by giving them a 15-month head start.

Currently, Jushi, Columbia Care, and Green Thumb are the only three businesses licensed to sell medical cannabis in the state. Columbia Care has estimated that the state’s cannabis industry could be worth $3 billion annually by 2026.

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Ascend Counters MedMen Claims About Influencing New York Politicians

2/16/2022

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In its legal battle against MedMen in New York, Ascend Wellness Holdings is accusing the company of fabricating a narrative that it “exerted undue influence on New York State government officials in order to obtain regulatory approval” for its $73 million takeover of Medmen’s New York operations, the Times Union reports.

The two multistate cannabis companies have been at odds since December when both Ascend and the state Office of Cannabis Management claimed the companies had the regulatory approvals necessary to go through with their deal but MedMen claimed that the state regulators’ approvals could not be considered final and that officials’ assurances to that effect had been unduly influenced by Ascend’s political giving. Earlier this month, MedMen motioned to subpoena Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office, claiming her administration used its influence to help Ascend purchase MedMen’s New York business as the firm was looking to end the deal.

The Times Union notes that those subpoena requests were approved last week but in Ascend’s recent Supreme Court motion, it outlines MedMen’s own 2018 donations to former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s campaign and state Attorney General Letitia James.

In the updated complaint, Ascend said it has already made “almost $8.5 million in cash payments to bail out MedMen” since the takeover deal was signed a year ago. Ascend’s Chief Financial Officer Dan Neville told the Times Union in January that the payments had been made at a time when MedMen was in dire need of a cash infusion.

MedMen had agreed to the deal a year ago but has sought not to move forward in the last few months as the state started the adult-use licensing process. Ascend argues that “MedMen is essentially challenging the regulators’ authority and ignoring the regulations of the state’s medical program.”

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Parallel CEO Apologizes, Calls Out Corporate Cannabis Lobbying in Open Letter

2/15/2022

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James Whitcomb, CEO of multistate cannabis operator Parallel, published an open letter today decrying systemic inequities in the cannabis industry and pledging to support fundamental changes to make the industry more equitable. The letter highlights a failure by Parallel and other multistate operators (MSOs) to honor the “social responsibility” that comes with operating in the cannabis industry, which was built on tireless advocacy work and which exists alongside ongoing racist and classist drug-related persecution of disenfranchised communities.

In the letter, Whitcomb admits: “we did not take the time to honor the long-time cannabis producers … who laid the foundation for us,” that “we did not follow the path laid out by activists … who fought for our right to participate,” and “we did not understand the [industry’s] responsibility … to use legal cannabis as a tool for restorative justice.”

“As the new CEO at Parallel, I pledge that going forward, Parallel will be a model among all large cannabis operators in bridging the business with the social responsibility of our industry,” he writes.

Referencing the Minority Cannabis Business Association’s (MCBA) recent National Cannabis Equity Report — which analyzes inequity in the industry and provides a toolkit for recognizing and rising to the social responsibility that comes with working in cannabis — Whitcomb pledges to “commit our resources to help advocate for the fundamental changes the report highlights as necessary for the cannabis industry to become truly equitable.”

The letter also seems to confirm suspicions held by many independent cannabis operators that large trade organizations which cater to multistate brands are maneuvering to make the industry difficult to enter for smaller startups and legacy growers. “It’s time for us as a multi-state operator to stop hiding behind the veil of ‘safety and transparency’ that has led to … exclusionary, protectionist policies,” Whitcomb wrote.

Given that Parallel is itself a multistate brand, and one that counts billionaire chewing gum heir Beau Wrigley among its founders, some in the cannabis industry will likely view this move with a healthy degree of skepticism. When asked about this specifically, Whitcomb said, “We have a lot of work to do to win people’s trust. For people who are skeptical, I ask them to pay attention and hold us accountable. If we fall short of the commitments we are making, I want to hear about it.”

Amber Littlejohn, Executive Director of the MCBA, said in an emailed statement to Ganjapreneur, “I commend James and Parallel. This isn’t an MLK post on social media or even a single social equity investment. This is stepping up to lead and call for systemic change to create real equity instead of playing kingmaker to a handful of businesses in an otherwise captured market.

“Markets captured by a few will never out-compete the legacy market that doesn’t carry the extraordinary compliance costs of legal businesses,” Littlejohn said. “Good companies, with good products, who are truly committed to equity should have nothing to fear in opening the industry to others. In fact, they are leveling the playing field.”

When asked how Parallel plans to make this a lasting change, Whitcomb told Ganjapreneur the company will be “implementing several initiatives internally and externally” to help jumpstart the process, but “the most important change … is the way in which we lobby or advocate for expansion of the markets in which we operate.”

“The big operators in our industry must stop pretending that the best way to grow a cannabis market and create opportunities for economic empowerment is by concentrating all the opportunity amongst a few large companies. It hasn’t worked. We will no longer advocate for the exclusionary, protectionist policies that have allowed MSOs to dominate legal cannabis markets, and we hope our fellow large cannabis companies will join us in advocating for the end of an industry structure that has largely blocked people of color from using cannabis as a pathway to economic empowerment.” — James Whitcomb, CEO of Parallel, in a statement to Ganjapreneur

Parallel holds multiple cannabis industry licenses across a mix of medical and adult-use markets — the company operates in Florida through the Surterra Wellness brand, in Texas and Pennsylvania under the goodblend brand, in Massachusetts as New England Treatment Access (NETA), and in Nevada through a joint venture with Cookies.

Read Whitcomb’s full letter below:

If only we knew then what we know now. When we started Parallel (then Surterra) in 2016, those of us jumping into the legal cannabis market for the first time made a number of mistakes: we did not take the time to honor the long-time cannabis producers and suppliers who laid the foundation for us to build our business, we did not follow the path laid out by activists and advocates who fought for our right to participate in this industry legally, we did not understand the responsibility our industry had to use legal cannabis as a tool for restorative justice, including the scope of the opportunity for cannabis to be a true mechanism for social equity, and we did not advocate for an industry structure that would allow those opportunities to be realized in legal markets across the country. Hindsight is unfortunately 20/20.

Cannabis is now legal in some form in nearly 40 states. While I’m proud of so much of the work we have done to increase access to cannabis for tens of millions of people across the country, in hindsight, it’s clear that Parallel has not handled the social responsibility that came with being in such a privileged position in the markets we serve. While I can’t speak for every large cannabis company out there, I can speak for our company when I say, “I’m sorry, it’s past time for us to do better.” So, what does that mean?

As the new CEO at Parallel, I pledge that going forward, Parallel will be a model among all large cannabis operators in bridging the business with the social responsibility of our industry.

Over the past few months my top priority has been to listen and learn from our talented, empathetic, and truly passionate team about the work they are doing and the impact they know we can have. These conversations, as well as conversations our team has been having with activists and advocates in the cannabis community, have led me to the realization that it’s time for leaders of large cannabis companies to take a step back and learn from those who have been in this space a lot longer than we have. That is the only way we are going to realize the industry’s so far unfulfilled promise to be a catalyst for economic empowerment and restorative justice.

Last week, the Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA) commissioned a full report on the current inequities in the legal cannabis industry and has put together state and federal policy recommendations aimed at creating a more equitable industry in the future. MCBA’s report focuses on several key parts of the industry; analyzes and confirms how unequitable the industry has become; and provides a toolkit with recommendations on what new and existing legal cannabis markets can do to ensure a more equitable structure moving forward.

We are honored to provide our full support of this report and pledge to commit our resources to help advocate for the fundamental changes the report highlights as necessary for the cannabis industry to become truly equitable. In the states where we operate, we will work with state legislators to advance policies that foster an equitable industry and create real restorative justice measures. In the states we plan to operate in, we commit to providing as many opportunities to communities of color as possible, through financial support to entrepreneurs and a diversified supply line that supports those in ancillary markets.

Many people may ask why we are joining these efforts, given that the report and the partners promoting the report are advocating for a breakdown of the industry we helped create, and which has been built to support the creation of well-regulated oligopolies. Quite simply, it’s because it’s the right thing to do, and will create long-term stakeholder value.

We have an obligation as a participant in the legal cannabis industry to ensure that we are paving a pathway for entrepreneurs of color. It’s time for us as a multi-state operator to stop hiding behind the veil of “safety and transparency” that has led to advocacy for exclusionary, protectionist policies. By working with advocates and activists to expand the industry in an equitable fashion we will develop the next phase of an industry that will create real opportunities for economic empowerment for underserved communities; foster innovation; and expand access to a plant we all believe can create a paradigm shift in health and wellness around the world.

A modern corporation should also understand that becoming more inclusive and equitable, and supporting the communities you serve are key pillars to growing a sustainable business. Doing this work will allow us to grow the industry and innovate, continue to create thousands of jobs by reaching untapped talent and build shareholder value, all by doing the right thing.

Like many large cannabis companies, Parallel has taken a number of meaningful steps —partnerships with local organizations to provide training in communities of color and increase hiring diversity; fostering entrepreneurship by working with the Nu Project, as well as partnering with Black Canna Conference (on the ongoing Hot Box Pitch Competition); supporting regular restorative justice and expungement initiatives to reverse course and address some of the industry’s fundamental issues of inequity. However, it’s been made abundantly clear by our partners that we as operators must have a multifaceted approach to addressing equity, one that includes financial support, a commitment to building a diverse workforce and supporting awareness of inequity, and most importantly and meaningfully, an approach that includes using our voice and our resources to promote legislation and policies that create an equitable industry, rather than one that only benefits a few large corporations. MCBA’s toolkit gives us what we need to advocate for meaningful policy changes at the state and federal level.

Over the past year, instead of funding the cannabis trade organizations who have pushed for exclusionary, protectionist policies at the state and federal level, we are proud to have diverted our resources to consistently support the MCBA’s legislative advocacy efforts. We will continue to use our resources to support advocacy efforts that represent the underrepresented in our industry: communities of color, veterans, small business owners, and patients/customers. We hope our fellow MSOs will join us in abandoning the narrow-minded policies that have put us in such a privileged position and begin utilizing MCBA’s landmark report and toolkit to lock arms and help lift up those who have created this incredible opportunity for all of us.

 

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More Than 40% of Connecticut Municipalities Opt Out of Cannabis Industry

2/15/2022

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Over 40% of Connecticut towns have opted to place bans or moratoriums on adult-use cannabis businesses, including 75 out of the state’s 169 municipalities, according to Hearst Connecticut Media Group data outlined by the New Haven Register. The opt-outs are mostly in small towns and suburbs.

Connecticut’s adult-use law was approved by lawmakers in July 2021. Like many states, it includes provisions that allow localities to outright ban or take a “wait and see” approach to the new policy. In all, 25 of the towns implemented bans, while 53 implemented moratoriums. In the surveys and interviews conducted by Hearst Media, some leaders say they still need time to review the new law to craft regulations. Notably, cities like Greenwich cited a conflict between Connecticut and federal law as the reason for their ban.

“When the Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed the zoning regulations regarding the ban, the merits of recreational or medicinal marijuana were not considered on-topic,” said Katie DeLuca, Greenwich’s director of planning and zoning. “The reason is that they found that there was a legal conflict between state and federal law in that state law permits such uses and federal law does not. In such instances, federal law takes precedent.”

Industry experts like Aaron Smith, executive director of the National Cannabis Industry Association, maintain towns that wait or ban cannabis businesses are missing out on tax revenue and economic growth. He is quick to point out the bans do not change buying habits, but consumers will “end up driving to another jurisdiction” to purchase cannabis.

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Indiana Senate Passes Bill to Intervene With Prosecutors Who Refuse to File Cannabis Charges

2/15/2022

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A bill proposed in Indiana that would allow the state attorney general to intervene with the decisions of county prosecutors has passed the state Senate, WRTV reports. Although the bill sponsor, Republican state Sen. Mike Young, did not name specific prosecutors, he indicated the measure is meant to address “social justice prosecutors.”

The measure would target officials like Marion County prosecutor Ryan Mears who in 2019 said his office would no longer prosecute simple cannabis cases so it could focus on violent crimes.

“It is disappointing that legislators are spending their limited time focusing on this rather than the real issue: marijuana. This is an issue that members of their caucus and a majority of Hoosiers believe deserves an earnest discussion.” – Mears in a statement

Young told WRTV that it’s not up to county prosecutors “to decide which laws to enforce or not enforce.”

“I began seeing these articles about social justice prosecutors and they weren’t prosecuting certain drug laws, paraphernalia,” he said in the report. “They weren’t enforcing theft laws.” Young explained that the bill would require counties to pay for a special prosecutor if their elected prosecutor is considered non-compliant under the law.

“We don’t want the taxpayers, someone, that is doing their job, to have to pay for someone who is not doing their job,” he added.

The measure would not allow citizens to request the assistance of the state attorney general if they are frustrated that a county prosecutor declined to file charges.

The bill is supported by Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita whose legislative director, Jared Bond, said that while the AG’s office believes “in individual prosecutorial discretion” it does “not feel that a prosecutor should categorically refuse to prosecute crimes created by the legislature.”

The Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council opposes the proposal and indicated it has opposed similar bills in the past.

“Anytime there is a bill that attempts to limit prosecutor discretion, prosecutors will oppose it,” the council said in a statement, “and we have been against several similar bills in the past that have been offered.”

The measure has been sent to the House Courts and Criminal Code Committee. It must be heard by February 25 or it will not move forward this year.

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Cannabis Could Be Allowed As Workplace Accommodation for People with Disabilities in New Hampshire

2/15/2022

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A New Hampshire Supreme Court ruling could require businesses to allow cannabis use as a workplace accommodation for people with disabilities, according to a New Hampshire Business Review report. The ruling does not say that businesses must allow cannabis as an accommodation, rather cannabis should be tolerated as one of many accommodations considered.

The plaintiff in the case, Scott Paine, worked for Ride-Away as an automotive detailer. He suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and was enrolled in the state medical cannabis program for the condition. Paine said that he was drug-tested regularly at Ride-Away and requested an exception from the company’s drug-testing protocol. His request was limited to off-duty conduct only and he never requested to use cannabis or to be under the influence of it while at work, the report says. Ride-Away denied Paine’s request and ended their employment relationship, according to the lawsuit; however, the reason the request was denied was not made clear.

Paine sued for failing to accommodate treatment of his disability under New Hampshire’s anti-discrimination law while Ride-Away contested the lawsuit on the grounds that the definition of “disability” excludes the “current, illegal use of or addiction to a controlled substance as defined in the Controlled Substances Act,” according to the opinion. Because cannabis remains a federally-outlawed substance, Ride-Away argued that it had no legal obligation to accommodate Paine’s use of cannabis to treat his PTSD despite New Hampshire’s medical cannabis program.

The court disagreed and found that Paine was entitled to an interactive process and that, while illegal drug use is not a protected disability, the law does not preclude treatment of a disability with cannabis and perhaps other federally-controlled substances.

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Michigan Consolidates Hemp and Cannabis Regulatory Agencies

2/15/2022

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Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) last week consolidated the state’s cannabis and hemp regulatory agencies, which she says will increase efficiency, help grow the sectors’ economies, create jobs, and increase investments in local communities.

“Consolidating multiple government functions into the newly named Cannabis Regulatory Agency will help us continue growing our economy and creating jobs. And to be blunt – safe, legal cannabis entrepreneurship, farming, and consumption helps us put Michiganders first by directing the large windfall of tax revenue from this new industry to make bigger, bolder investments in local schools, roads, and first responders.” – Whitmer in a press release

Currently, the state Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) regulates hemp, while the Marijuana Regulatory Agency regulates medical and adult-use cannabis. The executive order renames the Marijuana Regulatory Agency as the Cannabis Regulatory Agency and tasks it with regulating the processing, distribution, and sale of both hemp and THC-rich cannabis starting when the order takes effect in 90 days.

Oversight of hemp cultivation will remain with MDARD but the governor’s office said the restructuring “will allow for a more effective, efficient administration and enforcement of Michigan laws regulating cannabis in all its forms.”

“Consolidating the regulation of the processing, distribution, and sale of marijuana and hemp into a single state agency will allow for more effective and efficient administration and enforcement of state laws relating to cannabis,” the order states.

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New York Cannabis Regulator Predicts Licensing by Fall

2/14/2022

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New York Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) Executive Director Chris Alexander expects the state to release its proposed cannabis industry regulations in May, which would open the window for the state to begin accepting licenses in October, November, or December, according to a Mondaq report. Alexander’s comment came during a webinar last week during which Alexander said the agency would allow a five-to-six-month window, including a 60-day public comment period, in order for stakeholders to assess the regulations and allow for changes by regulators.

Alexander also explained the decision by regulators to recently send cease-and-desist letters to more than two dozen businesses accused of illegally ‘gifting’ cannabis – or giving cannabis to patrons as part of the purchase of another, usually overpriced item. He said the agency has “been aware for some time” of the practice and that “even though the police aren’t coming to knock down your door, this activity is still not legal.”

“And for us as the regulating body, it’s concerning that we’ve taken this step and still in the law said, ‘Don’t do this thing or wait for a license’ and folks are still taking that step.” – Alexander via Mondaq

He added that the agency is not interested in cracking down on ‘legacy operators’ – those that have been “operating on the fringes” prior to the passage of the adult-use law.

“Those operations continue,” he said during his remarks. “We have not ‘cracked down’ on those operations. It’s the acknowledgment that there are operators in the space, in communities et cetera, who have used cannabis to support their families and all that stuff. That’s part of the broader strategy.”

He said that regulators are seeking creative ways to allow those operators to get licensed.

“We’re starting with education and we hope that people heed our warnings and if they don’t, we have to take additional steps. But hopefully, the message has been made clear: legacy folks still understand that there’s a space for them to participate in this market,” he said. “We’re learning, we’re trying to figure out the best ways to do so, that work is not done. But we do want them to know that they’re welcome and that needs to be a part of the conversation.”

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Washington Bill to Increase Penalties for Cannabis Shop Robberies Passes Senate

2/14/2022

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A Washington bill increasing the penalties for robbing licensed cannabis retailers has passed the state Senate, KIMA reports. The bill matches the sentence that for those who rob pharmacies, adding one year on top of any robbery conviction.

State Sen. Jim Honeyford (R), the bill sponsor, said the bill is needed as the number of robberies of cannabis retailers“ is on the rise.” The Cannabis Professionals Network counted more than 30 cannabis-shop robberies in the state since November, the report says. Honeyford told KIMA that the bill “would make improvements for not just the benefit of the retailers themselves, but for the public safety of the community as a whole.”

However, Alexis Kaiser, the manager at Yakima’s Fire Cannabis Company, said the bill wouldn’t make much of a difference, and that what the industry needs is access to financial and banking services which would help reduce its reliance on cash.

“If somebody’s going to go rob, and especially use guns, I don’t think they’re really thinking about the consequences. I get what they’re trying to do, and yes I’m glad that you’re worried about us too but I just don’t think that that’s going to be the solution.” – Kaiser via KIMA

In an interview with NBC Right Now, Honeyford said that cannabis stores are “a target for robberies and a magnet for criminals” because of federal banking rules. The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the SAFE Banking Act, which would normalize banking for the cannabis industry six times, most recently last week as part of the China competition bill. It has never been considered by the Senate.

The Washington bill passed the Senate unanimously last week and moves next to the House.

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Alabama to Consider Bill to Reduce Penalties for Simple Cannabis Possession

2/14/2022

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Alabama lawmakers are set to consider a bill this week to reduce the penalties for cannabis possession in the state ABC 33/40 News reports. Under the proposal, the first two convictions for possession of two ounces of cannabis or less will still be a misdemeanor but would be met with lower fines than current state law and would not include incarceration.

Possession of any amount of cannabis for personal use under current Alabama law is punishable by up to a year in prison and a maximum fine of $6,000, according to NORML. The reform measure would replace those penalties with a $250 fine for the first offense and a $500 fine for the second offense. The third offense would be adjudicated as a felony punishable by a $750 fine but no jail time, the report says.

Under the measure, possession of cannabis for non-personal use would be a Class C felony, but the bill does not implicitly set those limits, according to an AL.com report.

According to the Marijuana Policy Project, Alabama is one of just 19 states that still jails people for simple possession of cannabis. The measure, introduced by Democratic state Sen. Bobby Singleton, includes provisions allowing convictions on first or second-degree possession to be expunged after five years.

Singleton was also the sponsor of the state’s medical cannabis bill, which was approved by the Legislature and signed by the governor last May.

The bill is set to be heard on Wednesday by the Senate Judiciary Committee, which approved the legislation last year, but it failed to get a vote by the full chamber.

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New Jersey to Miss Deadline for Launching Adult-Use Sales

2/11/2022

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New Jersey will not meet the February 22 statutory deadline to open its adult-use cannabis market, according to a TapInto report. The date was included in the state’s legalization law but the state’s top cannabis regulator indicated last month that officials were not on track to meet the deadline.

Shaya Brodchandel, president of New Jersey Cannabis Trade Association (NJCTA) and CEO of the Harmony Dispensary, told TapInto that while she believes the state Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) is “working diligently” to get the market online, “that deadline won’t be made at this point.”

“The biggest thing that we need to do at this point is have a regular ongoing communication with regulators and policymakers, so we can understand what is the time we are going to be permitted to begin the adult-use market.” – Brodchandel via TapInto

He added that cannabis cultivators and producers need about six months to get from seed to sale and expressed frustration with the lack of clarification from regulators.

“Not having a clear indication as to when that date will come, you’ll start having inventory issues, their stockpiling, employment issues, supply issues that all affect the launch of this market,” he said.

The legalization law had included a September deadline for license administrations; however, the state didn’t begin accepting industry license applications until December.

Brodchandel said that one of the major roadblocks to licensing dispensaries in the state is the 63% opt-out rate for New Jersey municipalities. Jeff Brown, the executive director of the CRC last month called the opt-out rate “one of the biggest deficiencies” facing regulators as they work on launching adult-use sales in the Garden State.

Brodchandel said, though, that the CRC licensing process does seem to be prioritizing licensing for social equity applicants, which “is going to benefit the communities tremendously.”

“Giving them opportunities for local business entrepreneurs who have been impacted by the war on drugs and now being able to benefit from this industry is really important,” he said.

In an interview with NJ.com last month, Brown called getting the sector launched “the priority” of the CRC but the agency has “to do it in a way that’s compliant with the law.”

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California Announces $35M Grant to Support Cannabis Social Equity Businesses

2/11/2022

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California’s Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) is providing $35 million in grant funding to jurisdictions to support social equity in the state’s cannabis industry.

Jurisdictions are able to use the funding to develop their cannabis equity programs and assist their equity program applicants and licensees by providing low and no-interest loans or grants, reduced licensing fees or waived fees, and technical assistance, including one-on-one consulting and training, and navigation assistance with cannabis licensing and regulatory requirements.

Over $29.5 million of the funding, in the form of low and no-interest loans or grants, will be allocated to cannabis equity applicants and licensees specifically identified by local jurisdictions as being linked to populations or communities that were negatively or disproportionately impacted by cannabis criminalization, the governor’s office said in a press release.

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Chief Economic and Business Advisor and Director of GO-Biz Dee Dee Myers said that the new round of funding brings the state’s total commitment for the program to $90 million since California passed legalization in 2016.

“Cannabis Equity Grants will help level the playing field for those that have borne the brunt of past federal and state anti-drug policies while striving to make California’s Cannabis Industry more equitable and accessible to those individuals.” – Myers in a statement

The majority of the individual disbursements – more than $5.7 million – are being earmarked for Los Angeles, while Oakland will receive more than $5.4 million. The city and county of San Francisco will see more than $4.4 million from the program, and Sacramento will receive more than $4.3 million. Other grants range from $3.4 million (Humboldt) to $550,000 (Monterey) and another five jurisdictions will receive $75,000 each for cannabis equity assessment and program development.

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New York Sends Cease-and-Desist Letters to Businesses Suspected of ‘Gifting’ Cannabis

2/11/2022

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The New York Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) on Tuesday sent cease-and-desist letters to businesses suspected of “gifting” cannabis in violation of state law. The agency said that businesses that do not comply risk being disqualified from getting a cannabis license along with possible fines and potential criminal penalties.

The practice of gifting is when businesses include cannabis with the purchase of another, often overpriced product.

OCM Executive Director Chris Alexander said regulators “want to make sure these operators fully understand the law and the consequences they face.”

“And now that these letters have been sent,” he said, “we fully expect them to cease and desist their activities – if they don’t, we will take action.”

Cannabis Control Board Chair Tremaine Wright said that “violators must stop their activity immediately, or face the consequences.”

“We have an obligation to protect New Yorkers from known risks and to strengthen the foundation of the legal, regulated market we are building. We will meet the goals of the [Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act] to build an inclusive, equitable and safe industry.” – Wright in a press release

The agency indicated it has sent letters to more than two dozen businesses suspected of breaking the law.

In November, Wright suggested that the state would not begin accepting industry licenses until spring of next year at the earliest, despite the legislature-approved law having included a launch date of April 1, 2022.

During the board’s October meeting, Wright said that the practice of gifting is not allowed under New York law and violations could be met with “severe financial penalties.”

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South Dakota Senators Vote to Strip Affirmative Defense from Medical Cannabis Law

2/11/2022

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The South Dakota Senate has voted 25 to 10 to strip an affirmative defense provision from the state’s medical cannabis law, the Mitchell Republic reports. The provision — which was included in the state’s medical cannabis initiative, approved in 2020 by more than 70% of state voters — would have allowed patients caught by police in possession of cannabis products to get out of the charges by demonstrating a medical need for cannabis, even if they don’t have their medical card yet.

Senate Pro Tempore Lee Schoenbeck (R) had been skeptical of the affirmative defense language and compared the voter-approved initiative to a “magician” pulling rabbits from a hat, with each rabbit as a new reduction to the state’s cannabis penalties.

“It’s like 27 of them,” he said referencing subsections of the law. “The major purpose was not to decriminalize medical marijuana.”

Other Republicans had similar reservations — “Why even have a law?” asked Sen. Timothy Johns.

But Sen. David Wheeler (R) spoke against the legislation. “If you have a bonafide medical need, we’re not going to care anymore,” he said referring to the program. “We’re not going to … [treat you as] a criminal anymore.”

The removal of the affirmative defense had been recommended by an interim study conducted by lawmakers over the summer. The measure now heads to the South Dakota House for consideration.

South Dakota was part of a flurry of states that passed medical cannabis in 2020. At the same time, voters passed an adult-use initiative but that was eventually struck down after a lawsuit by law enforcement ended with the Supreme Court throwing out the measure entirely. The high court said that the ballot initiative had illegally covered more than one issue. Although the state’s medical cannabis program was not included in that lawsuit, regulators and the Legislature have struggled to develop a working medical cannabis system.

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Dr. Greenthumb’s x G Pen Connect Vaporizer Review

2/11/2022

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The Dr. Greenthumb’s x G Pen, a collaboration between legendary Cypress Hill rapper B-Real and Grenco Science, is a discreet and stylish way to get amazing vapor at home or on the move. Featuring B-Real’s signature “green and graphics” packaging and a compact easy to use design, G Pen does not disappoint when it comes to style, flavor profiles, and vape production.

A fistful of vape!

The G Pen fits tightly in the palm of the hand for easy operation and is great for those times when you may need to be a little more private with your vaping activity. Heating up in less than ten seconds, the compact unit is basically two pieces: a battery/chamber portion and a magnetic modular mouthpiece with a silicon sleeve.

The glass glazed stainless steel chamber works really well to spread the heat all around the dry herb to generate the best hits. The silicon-sleeved mouthpiece comes completely apart for easy cleaning. B-Real adds a final touch with a keychain tool that aids in filling and re-filling the chamber.

Powerful performance

When the indicator light stops blinking and the G-Pen gives a quick vibrate, you know it’s time to vape. An automatic shut-off is timed perfectly for complete herb vaporization, about five minutes. Using the variable temp function — which includes options for 375F/190C, 401F/205C, and 428F/220C, — you can set the temp for just the right experience depending on the different types of dried material. Those adjustable temps make the pulls smooth and tasty until the end every time.

For heavy hitters, back-to-back (to-back) chamber re-fills are possible with the unit’s impressive battery life, so do not be fooled by the G-Pen’s small size. When the battery does go quiet, the unit charges quickly with its pass-through charging capability via Micro-USB.

Dr. Greenthumb’s X G-Pen, along with merch and other G-Pen models, are available online.

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