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London Mayor Considering Cannabis Decriminalization Program Focused on Youths

1/05/2022

London, England Mayor Sadiq Khan is developing a plan to decriminalize cannabis possession for young people in the city, the Guardian reports. The plan is based on a model from Thames Valley police which offers classes or counseling, rather than arrest, for individuals under 25-years-old who are caught with small quantities of cannabis.

The mayor does not have the power to decriminalize any outlawed substances but the pilot program could be enacted if it receives approval from the mayor’s office for policing and crime, the report says.

A spokesman for Khan described the planned trial as “limited,” “still in development,” and “yet to be approved by City Hall.” The plan would involve three of London’s 32 boroughs and only apply to individuals aged 18-24.

“The idea of the scheme, which is already used by other police forces across the country, would be to divert young people who are found with a small amount of cannabis away from the criminal justice system and instead provide help and support. This has been shown to reduce reoffending. … Reducing crime is the mayor’s top priority and he will continue to explore and implement the most effective solutions to help to divert young people away from drug use and crime for good.” — A spokesman for Khan to the Guardian

The plan, broadly, is opposed by Labor Party Leader Keir Starmer and Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

“We have absolutely no intention of decriminalizing dangerous and harmful substances for recreational use,” a spokesman for Johnson told the Guardian. “Decriminalization would leave organized criminals in control while risking an increase in drug use, which drives crime and violence which blights our streets.”

Starmer said he would “look at” the proposal but that he was “not in favor” of changing the nation’s drug laws “or decriminalization.”

The mayor will receive recommendations from a commission on the proposal for City Hall, the government, the police, the criminal justice system, the National Health Service, and treatment services.

According to the Guardian, about 41,900 people across England and Wales were charged with drug-related offenses last year.

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Perfect Blends Pre-Rolls and Infused Flower Review

1/04/2022

Perfect Blends is a cannabis company that takes the science gathered from medical cannabis patients and applies it to consumer packaged goods. The initial idea for the brand came from Co-Founder and CEO Dean Hollander, who wanted to build three intentional flavors: Happy Camper, Pick Me Up, and Nightcap. The formulations are built by Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer Michael Backes, writer of Cannabis Pharmacy: The Practical Guide to Medical Marijuana. Happy Camper is meant to be “giggle weed” according to Backes, Pick Me Up can bring focus and drive, and Nightcap is intended to calm an active mind. Most recently Perfect released Sexpot, which is formulated to encourage intimacy.

The blends are made with chopped, terpene-rich flower with added concentrates that are intended to replenish the terpenes lost in the chopping process. Many pre-rolls are made with cannabis that’s been milled, which is efficient but releases many of the monoterpenes — Perfect Blends uses a chopping process that is more culinary and is being perfected in-house. Extracts are pulled from fresh cuts of the same plants that are being chopped and then added back to the chopped flower. This allows the brand to match each product batch to the panel-tested, pharmacologically-driven formulations.

Each flavor can be enjoyed in a couple of ways. The Mini Pre-Rolls packed a delightful little punch, and the size was perfect for one person. Each contained .33g and they’re sold in three-packs to make a total of 1g. The Minis are formed like a familiar pre-roll, but the PERFECTO changes the game. The Perfecto features a filter on both ends and allows you to cut the perfect size for your sesh, with two filters it’s also an amazing way to still share a joint with friends in a new pandemic-conscious landscape. It can also be cut to the length of your liking, so each session is just as long as you need.

The last product category is infused flower which is a 3-gram jar of freshly chopped flower. Both prerolls are novel, but the infused flower products really show the quality of the mix despite not featuring full nugs. I tried the Nightcap and Sexpot freshly chopped, to me the aroma of both was fresh and herbaceous with an essence of mint. When you pop off the child-safe wooden top of the jar the deep forest green color hits your sights at the same time as the terpene-heavy aroma. The Nightcap and Sexpot had similar effects for me, but not identical. The Nightcap took the edge off of my day, allowing me to settle down and relax. Sexpot was also relaxing but accompanied by a pleasant humming body high. The flower comes with a micro-pipe which is a metal one-hitter that will hold 75 mg of Perfect chopped flower. When I sampled these products I didn’t hit the one-hitter but I did use it to pack bowls in a way that actually measured my dosage. It is a useful tool for someone looking to dial in their consumption by inhalation, especially for those using cannabis medically.

The Perfect Blends product line could be enjoyed by anyone, but it is really ideal for the consumer that wants to get the same thing every single time they buy cannabis. Formulations are matched to specs and tested multiple times throughout the process to provide consumers with a cannabis product that can actually promise continuity. Medical patients who find that one of these formulations works for them will be ecstatic to pick up the same thing every time without the quality or effectiveness of the flower changing. Currently, a patient can pick up every pre-packaged eighth of OG Kush, and then when the new crop comes they could be facing an entirely different experience. With that in mind, I believe that Perfect Blends is a wave of the future.

Editor’s note: This piece was updated to include Perfect’s latest formulation, Sexpot.

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Cannabis Industry Leaders Predict 2022 Trends

1/04/2022

Since we just entered a new calendar year, I asked some industry leaders who I trust to move the space forward in a people-focused direction for their insights.

Their answers and shared wisdom are compiled below:

Retail

The People’s Ecosystem // Christine De La Rosa Co-Founder & CEO “If California and Oregon are any indications of the future of retail where mass mob robberies are happening with very little intervention or protection from the state I would say that 2022 is going to see an incredible increase in delivery. It is more practical for small operators to implement delivery rather than face the risk to their safety, their employees’ safety, and their business safety in the current climate. And, based on the actions we’ve seen from law enforcement it does not appear that this type of danger to operators and their business will change anytime soon.”

Indacut // Drayten Howell CEO “I feel like this year will be a year of hope and change for all retailers and operators across the supply chain. With the current nature of the California market change must come! Operators are facing over-regulation, risk of robberies, limited banking options, and limited payment options! Everyone’s been fighting a good fight and we’re gearing up for the biggest round! The best is yet to come – brands and companies are rolling out innovative products, tech, and broadening offerings to consumers. This will be the year to make products more affordable, and easily accessible to consumers across the state. Delivery will play a big role in the way people shop this upcoming year and the trends show it. I believe operators will roll out delivery in some capacity to acclimate to the market!”

Cova // Gary Cohen CEO “We’re seeing a move by dispensaries toward their own eCommerce sites to manage their online presence and orders. This has been fueled by two things: a heightened importance of the web in driving business during COVID restrictions, and the need for a unique site experience that reinforces brand identity and leverages SEO to gain more eyeballs and click-through.”

Cultivation

Dr. Greenthumb & Insane Brands // B-Real “You know, I’m sure there are going to be plenty of new cool products coming out, our culture is just so creative. The one thing that I do see coming, that maybe other people may not see, or that may catch some people off guard, is the return of OG Kush in a big way. The exotics are awesome, the colors and flavors, they are for sure here to stay, but I mean, that bright green weed, that famous kush balanced high, it’s just classic. I’ve seen the pendulum swing so far the other way I just think it’s gonna come back to OG Kush a bit. I think 2022 will be the year, I mean, it’s OG Kush, it’s a living legend.”

Wonderbrett // Brett Feldman Founder “If on paper your investor is telling you to grow a huge amount of cannabis every month, don’t do it. That’s what is forcing brands out of business. You need to go slow with your grow. Make moves that are well thought through. Don’t obligate yourself to high overheads, to a point where it’s a 50/50 chance for you to win. Go in thinking, ‘We can’t afford to get hurt. I can make this product, sell it, and not get hurt by it.’ If you can’t do that, then you’re destined to have it fall apart. Just do what you can and don’t over-obligate.”

Product Formulation

Medically Correct // Rick Scarpello Co-Founder & CEO “Though we operate in a matured legalized state, we can’t assume the majority are frequent consumers. Since 2018, Colorado alone has gained more than 300,000 new users and counting. Companies that solve problems and create diverse brands are those that will succeed in 2022 and beyond. Serve the medical patients and connoisseurs; but also those looking for a nuanced experience. Terpene formulations, novel cannabinoids, and lifestyle-oriented products are sure to be one of the manufacturing sector’s top trends this year.”

Testing

Trichome Analytical // Kristin Goedde Founder & COO “Standardization is coming! In 2021, there was significant movement from standards organizations on certifying analytical methods for use on cannabis, including several microbiological food testing methods extended to cannabis by the AOAC, one of the world’s leading public health and food safety standards organizations. Spurred by increasing state regulatory pressure for the use of standardized test methods, we can expect to see more and more analytical methods submitted for AOAC certification in 2022.”

SC Labs // Jeff Gray CEO & Co-Founder “I see a lot of change in the regulation of hemp and hemp products in the coming year. While I don’t expect to see any progress at the federal level, I do see the need for parity between cannabis and hemp markets at the state level driving more equitable regulation including and especially testing requirements on parity with cannabis and tax treatment, especially true in California.”

Extraction

Heylo // Lo Friesen CEO “Since mid-2019 cannabis companies in mature markets have faced an exceptionally challenging landscape that has brought an end to a number of high-quality craft growers and processors. As we settle into a new “normal” for the industry, I’m excited by the energy surrounding minor cannabinoids and non-traditional experiences with cannabis. We were shocked by the performance of “The New Workout Plan” in 2021, and hope it sets the stage for additional successes for minor cannabinoid products in 2022. What some call a trend isn’t going away – when people try products with higher concentrations of minor cannabinoids they’re opening a door to a new relationship with cannabis.”

Pure Pressure // Ben Britton CEO & Head of Product Development “2022 will be a pivotal year for solventless extraction as it continues to scale and prove its viability as a commercial extraction solution. Additionally, a sweep of market consolidation should improve the customer experience by seeing complete packaged solutions and training services.”

Tech & Software

Meadow // David Hua Co-Founder “2022 will be the year cannabis delivery really levels up. In 2021, 60% of retail cannabis transactions were delivered, up from 50% in 2020. We foresee this trend accelerating as delivery times, offerings, and overall experience improve for customers, and retailers utilize technology that allows them to expand territory, grow their customer base, and boost sales and margins. Delivery will also be key in competing against the unlicensed market and allowing retailers to reach customers in areas without brick-and-mortar dispensaries.”

Aroya by METER Group // Scott Campbell President & CEO “2022 will be the first year that cultivation productivity increases faster than market growth in unlimited license states. This means that producers who can continually improve cultivation operations will take market share from laggards, especially if wholesale prices drop. The best CFOs and owners will partner with VPs of Cultivation to drive down production costs by increasing yield.”

Node Software // Kevan Mackie CEO “A new trend will be cannabis software platforms prioritizing hardware integrations. Here at Node, we’re integrating our batch tracking software with environmental sensors and machine API’s. Integrations such as these help operators identify environmental fluctuations and understand their impact on the finished product. While this is something that seems elementary, it’s not very common. Imagine what could be accomplished in the future when it is!”

Marketing

Almost Consulting // Kieryn Wang Founder “With all the restrictions, barriers, and lack of control around social media marketing in the cannabis industry, many cannabis companies are realizing that email marketing is the direction of the future for connecting with consumers. Email newsletters allow for more flexibility around communication and, unlike social media, are more guaranteed to be viewed by audience members by landing in each inbox rather than being subjected to the whims of the “algorithms.” Build your email list and get started!”

Studio Linear // Andrea Beaulieu Founder & Creative Director “Looking back at 2021, we saw a shift in cannabis branding and more importantly, who was behind the brands – women and not only white women but women of color. Prior to 2021, there was a small trickle of women emerging in the cannabis space, an industry dominated primarily by men and white men to be more specific. What we saw last year and what we are predicting for 2022 is a real shift in who is BEHIND these new businesses and the message they are delivering. With this much welcome diversity, we are naturally seeing a shift in marketing as it is geared to like-minded female consumers. We are seeing more brands embrace this and showcasing branding, package design, social strategy based on gaining these women as customers.”

Public Relations

Gallery PR // Sonia Hendrix Founder “In 2022, I expect more advanced media reporting and investigative pieces about new minor cannabinoids, increased competition amongst brands in the press for coverage opps, more celebrities and fashion designers getting into the space for the first time, new technology and design innovations that will enhance the dispensary experience and subsequently prominent luxury media coverage, and I also hope to see more news coverage about the very serious threat corporate MSO lobbyists are creating for small operators in the legislative pipeline.”

Events

Black CannaConference & Expo // Kristi Price Founder “2022 is going to be about face time. Navigating Covid has proven to actually be possible in the live event space. It takes a few extra considerations when hosting in-person events but there is truly no better way to bring cannabis communities together. I predict that the organizers that have figured out how to move through the ambiguity of Covid protocols will win big next year.”

Emerald Cup // Tim Blake Founder “With cannabis events being greatly affected by the pandemic over the past two years, 2022 will be the year cannabis is integrated into mainstream events as was imagined when prop 64 was enacted. Small farmers and product makers, as well as large brands, need direct access to consumers. It’s time for the cities, counties, and the state to encourage and permit as many cannabis events as possible. Whether it’s the Emerald Cup or a local farmers market, cannabis events are the key to providing direct access to consumers.”

Hiring & Employment

THC Staffing // Danielle Schumacher Founder “In 2022, licensed cannabis companies will be held accountable for broken promises about diversity hiring and social impact work. Job seekers and equity advocates have been continuously raising awareness of what a diverse and inclusive industry should look like. As system-impacted people and organizations build knowledge and momentum, companies can no longer justify superficial marketing campaigns and misguided “social equity” initiatives. If companies truly want to implement fair chance hiring – intentionally recruiting and retaining people who have been most impacted by drug prohibition – they need to commit to systemic change and invest in real solutions.”

Viridian Staffing // Kara Bradford CEO “Due to a tight labor market and what many are calling ‘The Great Resignation’ or ‘Reshuffling,’ we fully expect that cannabis companies will need to continue leaning on specialty staffing firms, like ours, in order to help secure the talent they need to operate. For companies to avoid production stops or slowdowns, many will likely need to either increase wages, improve working conditions and/or company culture in order to attract talent, and avoid attrition to competitors or other industries.”

FlowerHire // David Belsky CEO “The cannabis sector has been one of the few bright spots in light industrial and retail job growth across the country, and since the majority of the US markets have yet to reach maturity, we’ll continue to see explosive job growth as organizations scale up to meet demand. Vertically-integrated organizations have the unparalleled ability to create a diversity of job types no other industry can, bringing hundreds of jobs at a time to regions left behind by globalization.”

Data

Mainstem // Alen Nguyen Co-founder & CEO “The pandemic has permanently changed the retail experience by expediting consumer movement to the already occurring progression of digital/online shopping. We’re seeing this with the rise of such cannabis tech companies as Dutchie, iHeartjane, Weedmaps, etc. Along with anything digital comes data. The holistic consumer data generated by the customer digital experience will be a much bigger part of how brands and retailers interact with their customers. I also believe that digital consumer data will be utilized throughout the supply chain all the way down to those folks who are actually cultivating the plant.”

AlpineIQ // Nicholas Paschal Co-Founder & CEO “The cannabis category continues to grow, but at the same time retailers are at risk of losing control of their customers’ journey. In 2022, it will be more important than ever to avoid marketplace mechanics that can drive customers closer to your competition, and focus on leveraging data to engage customers on a personal level, keeping them locked in on your business.”

Real Estate

Zoned Properties // Bryan McLaren CEO “Over the past decade, we’ve witnessed an exponential increase in public debate related to legalized cannabis regulations and codes that directly impact the development of cannabis real estate in our local communities. As we look to 2022 and beyond, these multi-billion-dollar conversations, being held at city council meetings nationwide, will directly impact a community’s ability to attract real estate investment capital to subsequently realize changes to economic development, tax revenue, and increased prosperity for community members.”

Policy

The People’s Ecosystem // Frederika Easley Director of Strategic Initiatives “In 2022 we’ll continue to see a rising of the people! From ballot measures fighting for regulation and equity program accountability to operators fighting for the services and protection they deserve. Cannabis consumption and business is mainstreaming and the people are pushing back against politics as usual.”

Parabola Center // Shaleen Title CEO “In 2022, more people will recognize the distinction between policies that benefit cannabis consumers and patients versus policies that maximize corporate profits. That line has been blurred until now because legalization in general is good for everyone. But the conversation about federal legislation is elevating the policy dialogue, because now we have detailed data from state markets. I think we’ll see more discussion about how monopolies and oligopolies harm consumers and patients in the long term and what policy decisions might prevent them.”

Thank you to all of the cannabis professionals that provided insight for this Spotlight on the New Year as we step into 2022.

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Pharma Firm That Recently Entered Cannabis Industry Found Guilty for Role in Opioid Crisis

1/04/2022

The U.S. arm of a pharmaceutical firm that last month announced an international partnership with an Israel-based medical cannabis company was found guilty by a Suffolk County, New York jury last week of contributing to the region’s opioid crisis, the Associated Press reports.

In their verdict against Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., the jury found the drug company played a role in the opioid crisis — which is legally called a public nuisance but contributed to more than 500,000 deaths in the U.S. over the past 20 years.

New York Attorney General Letitia James (D), called the verdict a “significant day” for the state, nation, and “for every family and community torn apart by opioids.”

“Teva Pharmaceuticals USA and others misled the American people about the true dangers of opioids, which is why, in 2019, I made a promise that our team would hold them and the other manufacturers and distributors responsible for the opioid epidemic accountable for the suffering that they have caused.” — James in a press release

A separate trial will determine what Teva will have to pay in the case and James’ office indicated that the payment would be on top of the $1.5 billion for New York from settlements with drugmakers already negotiated by the attorney general. Teva was the sole manufacturing defendant left in the lawsuit, which targeted several opioid producers and distributors.

Teva told the AP that it “strongly disagrees” with the verdict and plans to appeal.

“The plaintiffs presented no evidence of medically unnecessary prescriptions, suspicious or diverted orders, no evidence of oversupply by the defendants — or any indication of what volumes were appropriate — and no causal relationship between Teva’s conduct including its marketing and any harm to the public in the state,” the company said in a statement following the verdict.

The company noted that as recently as last month, a California court issued a decision finding that Teva did not cause a public nuisance in Orange County, Los Angeles County, Santa Clara County, and the City of Oakland and that the firm did not make any false or misleading statements in connection with marketing prescription opioids in California.

Last month, Teva Israel announced a partnership with Cannabit-Tikun Olam on a marketing and distribution deal for medical cannabis products in Israel, Palestine, and eventually Ukraine.

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Green Thumb Industries Acquires One of Two Minnesota Vertical Licensees

1/04/2022

Chicago, Illinois-based Green Thumb Industries Inc. last week closed on its acquisition of LeafLine Industries, marking the firm’s expansion into Minnesota. The deal gives Green Thrumb one of two vertical licenses in Minnesota, an operating cultivation facility, and five open retail locations.

The takeover also increases Green Thumb’s national presence to 15 states with a total of 73 operational retail locations. The deal gives Green Thumb the opportunity to open up three more additional retail locations in Minnesota.

In a statement, Green Thumb Founder and CEO Ben Kovler noted that Minnesota regulators had recently approved infused cannabis products, including gummies and chews, for the state’s medical cannabis program. State officials have also indicated that rulemaking for flower products is currently underway.

Green Thumb said there are about 29,000 registered medical cannabis patients in the state.

“We are excited to enter the Minnesota medical market and broaden access to cannabis products for Minnesota patients. We look forward to caring for LeafLine’s existing patients while ensuring a seamless transition.” — Kovler in a press release

Green Thumb indicated that, with the acquisition, the company has cannabis operations to serve more than half of the U.S. population, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia.

Last summer, Green Thumb acquired Dharma Industries — one of Virginia’s four medical cannabis processing companies.

The terms of neither the LeafLine nor the Dharma transactions were disclosed.

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Ireland’s Cannabis Possession Charges Drop Nearly 50% Following Criminal Reforms

1/04/2022

The number of people in Ireland who were issued a summons or charged with cannabis possession fell nearly 50% following reforms that allow for possession to be dealt with by way of caution, rather than prosecution, the Irish Times reports. According to the Garda Press Office, by December 14, 2021, 5,957 people were issued a summons or charged with simple possession in Ireland, down from 11,127 in 2020, and 9,923 in 2019.

Figures from the Garda from last year report that as of December 14, there were 60 charges related to the cultivation of cannabis or poppy plants — which are used in opium production — a decline from 178 the previous year. There were 1,283 charges or summonses for possession of drugs for sale issued in 2021, compared to 1,968 in 2020, according to Garda data outlined by the Times.

The reforms were enacted in December 2020 and only covers simple possession of cannabis flower or concentrates. The program is operated by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Ireland legalized cannabis for medical use in 2020, and the first product allowed under the program – CannEpil, an oral-based solution intended for drug-resistant epilepsy – was introduced last October, according to the Times.

When Irish Health Minister Simon Harris last year announced the five-year medical cannabis pilot program he indicated there were “no plans” to legalize cannabis in the nation.

In December, Malta became the first European Union nation to fully legalize cannabis. Lawmakers in Germany, Luxembourg, and Switzerland are considering their own reforms, while Italy is expected to hold a referendum on the issue.

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THC-Rich Cannabis Oil Could Be Effective Autism Treatment

1/03/2022

Researchers at Tel Aviv University alleviated autism symptoms in animal models using medical cannabis oil, according to a study published in the journal Translational Psychiatry outlined by Israel 21c. Shani Poleg, the Ph.D. candidate who led the research, said the team found that cannabis oil had “a favorable effect on compulsive and anxious behaviors in model animals.”

“According to the prevailing theory, autism involves overarousal of the brain, which causes compulsive behavior. In the lab, in addition to the behavioral results, we saw a significant decrease in the concentration of the arousing neurotransmitter glutamate in the spinal fluid — which can explain the reduction in behavioral symptoms.” — Poleg to Israel21c

The researchers found that CBD treatment alone had no impact on the behavior of the animal models, while THC-rich cannabis oil produced “equal or even better behavioral and biochemical effects.”

“We observed significant improvement in behavioral tests following treatments with cannabis oil containing small amounts of THC,” Poleg said in the interview, “and observed no long-term effects in cognitive or emotional tests conducted a month and a half after the treatment began.”

The study authors note that treating children with autism spectrum disorder using cannabis products “raises medical and ethical questions” since many patients are young children.

“During young childhood and adolescence, multiple neurological systems, such as the glutamatergic, dopaminergic and endocannabinoid systems, rearrange and maturate,” the authors write. “Data show that some cannabinoids, THC among them, might harm the developing brain.”

The authors said the study results “question the necessity of high doses of CBD in medical cannabis oils designated for alleviating [autism spectrum disorder] core symptoms, and suggest that a medical cannabis oil that contains relatively small doses of THC is preferable, due to an additional plausible effect on social behavior.”

A separate study conducted by researchers at Israel’s Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Soroka University Medical Center published last year found more than 80% of parents of autistic children reported significant or moderate improvement in their child while using CBD-rich cannabis oils.

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Missouri Medical Cannabis Sales Reach $200M in 14 Months

1/03/2022

Medical cannabis sales in Missouri have surpassed $200 million during the program’s first 14 months, according to state Department of Health and Senior Services data outlined by the eMissourian. In all, there are more than 160,000 medical cannabis patients in the state.

So far, there are 180 dispensaries, 58 manufacturing facilities, 41 cultivators, 19 transportation-related businesses, and eight testing laboratories licensed by the state. In 2020, however, 85% of 2,200 medical cannabis commercial license applications in the state were denied, hemp farmer Michael Desmond wrote in an op-ed in the Missouri Independent.

Kathleen Beebe, a spokeswoman with Missouri Health and Wellness, told eMissourian that the industry has, so far, created 6,000 jobs in the state. She added that she expects the number of registered patients in the state to “dramatically increase” as people gain an understanding of how the cannabis plant could help them.

Legal cannabis advocates in the state, led by Legal Missouri 2022, are campaigning to put an adult-use question on this year’s midterm ballots and must collect 175,000 signatures to put the issue to voters. The medical cannabis initiative was approved by 66% of Missouri voters in 2018.

The legalization proposal, a constitutional amendment, would create an automatic expungement program for citizens convicted of nonviolent cannabis-related offenses. It would tax adult-use cannabis sales at 6%, with revenues earmarked for the state health department, veteran care, drug addiction treatment, and the state’s public defenders program. Under the proposal, cities could add an additional 3% sales tax if they choose.

The amendment would grant 144 new cannabis business licenses via lottery, with 66% of them set aside for cultivation companies and 33% for dispensaries.

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Colorado Gov. Pardons More Than 1,300 Cannabis Convictions

12/31/2021

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) announced yesterday that he signed an executive order to pardon 1,351 individuals who had been convicted of cannabis possession prior to the state’s historic legalization reforms in 2012.

“Adults can legally possess marijuana in Colorado, just as they can beer or wine. It’s unfair that 1,351 additional Coloradans had permanent blemishes on their record that interfered with employment, credit, and gun ownership, but today we have fixed that by pardoning their possession of small amounts of marijuana that occurred during the failed prohibition era.” — Gov. Polis, in a press release

The cannabis pardons covered state-level convictions for people who were caught possessing up to two ounces of cannabis, which coincided with an update to Colorado’s cannabis laws earlier this year that raised the legal purchasing and possession limit for adults from one to two ounces. The pardons do not cover people who were convicted of municipal cannabis crimes or people who were arrested — or issued a summons — for cannabis possession but who were not convicted.

People who are unsure whether a conviction on their record was pardoned can request confirmation of a pardon through the Colorado Bureau of Investigations website, according to the release. If they receive a pardon, individuals who were once convicted of cannabis possession will no longer see the conviction on their criminal history through the state’s records checking system.

Colorado voters opted to legalize adult-use cannabis in 2012. The reforms took effect in 2014, making Colorado the first state to end cannabis prohibition.

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Study: Cannabis Decriminalization Reduces Arrest Rate Racial Disparity

12/31/2021

A new study published in the journal Social Science & Medicine found that cannabis decriminalization policies reduce racial disparity in cannabis possession arrests, Forbes reports.

Researchers at the University of California San Diego based the study on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Uniform Crime Report from 37 states between 2000 and 2019. The researchers found that in 11 states with new cannabis decriminalization policies, possession arrest rates dropped 70% for adults and 40% for youth. These reductions coincided with a 17% drop in the racial disparity in cannabis possession arrests for adults; however, while youth arrests dropped, there was no positive adjustment between Black and white youth cannabis possession arrests.

It has been proven that Black people are more likely to be arrested for cannabis-related crimes than white people, despite Blacks and whites consuming cannabis at similar rates.

“Cannabis decriminalization seemed to be particularly beneficial to Blacks, who were suffering the most from the adverse consequences of criminal penalties. Taken together, we recommend that lawmakers and public health researchers reconsider cannabis decriminalization as an option of cannabis liberalization, particularly in states concerning the unintended consequences and implementation costs of medical and recreational cannabis legalization.” – “Cannabis decriminalization and racial disparity in arrests for cannabis possession,” Social Science & Medicine, Jan. 2022

When the researchers looked at medical cannabis and adult-use laws, they found medical cannabis laws had no effect on overall arrest rates but adult-use laws did lead to a drop in possession arrests for both white and Black people. However, the researchers found adult-use laws did not have an effect on the racial divide as it relates to cannabis possession arrests. This may be because many states decriminalized cannabis before their adult-use laws were enacted, while another reason may be because most states legalized cannabis sometime after 2016 and the study only uses data through 2019, according to the report.

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USDA Approves New York Hemp Plan

12/30/2021

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved New York’s hemp plan and the agency is now accepting applications under the new regime. All currently licensed growers must reapply under the program to grow hemp next year.

The new rules include a Federal Bureau of Investigation background check requirement within 60 days of application submission; end-product and field reporting; inspections by the state Department of Agriculture; pre-harvest plant and post-harvest laboratory testing; and penalties for cultivating THC-rich products, including license suspension or revocation.

Producers must also send reports to the USDA and the Farm Service Agency (FSA).

In a press release, state Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said hemp cultivators “will have stability and consistency in regulations moving forward, with continued guidance and support from the department.”

“New York State has been a leader in the hemp industry since the launch of its pilot program, with producers registered to grow industrial hemp on 30,000 acres.” — Ball in a statement

Last year, the New York Agriculture Department said the state would not submit a hemp plan to the USDA until it changed certain program requirements forcing growers to apply to the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service to receive a hemp production license.

Ball had described federal hemp testing and plant disposal regulations outlined in the 2018 federal Farm Bill as “unrealistic” and said they “impose unreasonable burdens on growers and any state interested in administering a compliant program.” Prior to the 2018 reforms, individual states operated their own hemp programs free from federal interference under a plan approved by federal lawmakers in 2014.

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New Oregon Cannabis Rules Include Delta-8 Testing

12/30/2021

The Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) on Tuesday approved new rules for some products sold in the state, including limiting hemp-derived edible products to 2 milligrams of THC per serving and up to 20 milligrams of THC per container.

The regulators also approved a rule requiring artificially derived cannabinoids — such as delta-8 products — to go through the ordinary regulatory review required for dietary supplements or food products.

The OLCC said in a press release that it had worked with legal cannabis industry operators over the last 18 months to develop the new regulations, most of which are set to take effect January 1, 2022, while other regulations won’t take effect until 2023.

Steve Marks, OLCC executive director, said that the new regime tries to balance “consumer health and safety, interests of small and large operators in our industry, and public safety concerns around loopholes in the Federal Farm Bill of 2018, and the illicit farm production taking place in Oregon.”

State lawmakers recently passed a bill dedicating $25 million to combat illegal cannabis grows in the state while an October OLCC report found that 54% of hemp farms in southern Oregon were actually producing THC-rich cannabis illegally.

The new rules also increase adult-use purchase limits to up to two ounces of flower – up from one ounce – and increase edible concentrations from 50 milligrams of THC per package to 100 milligrams per package beginning April 1, 2022.

Home delivery will also be allowed across city and county lines as long as local authorities approve of it. Additional rule changes include reducing the time and cost for licensees to report plant tagging and harvests into the state’s Cannabis Tracking System and improving licensees’ ability to self-distribute their products.

In a statement, OLCC Commissioner Matt Maletis said the new rules “may not make everyone happy” but they are “a pathway” that he believes “solves a lot of the issues” currently facing the state’s industry.

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Mississippi Gov. Threatens to Veto Medical Cannabis Reform Bill

12/30/2021

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) said he will not support the Legislature’s medical cannabis reform bill because the proposed patient daily limits are too high, WCBI reports. The governor says he would like to see a patient’s daily allowance cut in half from 3.5 grams daily to 1.75 grams.

Mississippi voters passed the medical cannabis initiative in 2019 but it was struck down by the state Supreme Court earlier this year on a signature-gathering technicality. Prior to the Court invalidating the law, lawmakers began work on the backup bill which is now under veto threat by Reeves.

If Reeves does ultimately decide to veto, lawmakers may take action to protect the bill they have spent all summer negotiating.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if the legislature overrode the veto,” Sen. Brice Wiggins, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Division A and a congressional candidate, said in a Y’all Politics report.

Other provisions in the bill include a $5 per ounce excise tax at the point of manufacture and Mississippi’s 7% sales tax would apply to all medical cannabis purchases. Grow facilities would be limited to 100,000 square feet or larger, but the reported square footage must include all vertical shelves and growing areas. Licenses will cost producers $150,000 a year, and be issued through the Department of Health, not the department of Agriculture or Commerce, the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reported in October.

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California City Approves Cannabis Events at Parks

12/30/2021

The Lompoc, California City Council last week voted to allow up to two cannabis-related events per year in any of the three city parks: Ken Adam, River Bend, or River, Santa Ynez Valley News reports. No smoking will be permitted at events at Ken Adam Park until the brush can be sufficiently cleared, and city staff will review each event within 90 days after it ends to better understand the impacts of the events.

The city already has an ordinance banning the smoking of any kind in its public parks; however, an exception for cannabis would be made during the events, while tobacco will remain prohibited.

The ordinance, which was approved 3-2, will be reviewed by the city council after one year. It requires event organizers to provide their own security for the events — recommended by city managers — and staff an EMT.

The move by the council follows a September announcement by the California State Fair that the 2022 iteration will include a cannabis flower competition. California Exposition & State Fair Board Director Jess Durfee said state fair officials “are pleased to celebrate” the state’s legal cannabis industry” adding that the fair “has always been a first mover, leading the State Fair circuit with innovative programming and large-scale competitions that celebrate the best the state has to offer.”

New York is the only state to generally allow public cannabis use in its legalization law, which led to its State Fair officials allowing cannabis smoking anywhere on the fairgrounds tobacco smoking was allowed, but with bans on smoking cannabis at select parts of the grounds, including picnic areas, inside buildings, and in kiddie land. However, following complaints, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) called for a review of that policy for the 2022 event.

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New Mexico Issues Cannabis Industry Rules

12/29/2021

New Mexico officials have released the rules for the state’s forthcoming adult-use cannabis industry and they largely mirror the basic guidelines laid out by the Cannabis Control Division (CCD) earlier this year, the Santa Fe New Mexican reports.

In a statement, Cannabis Control Division Director Kristen Thomson said the rules were devised “using best practices and input from stakeholders” and that officials drew on “diverse experience and knowledge to create thoughtful rules that set the highest professional standards and safety guidelines for New Mexico’s medical cannabis program and the adult-use cannabis industry.”

“Every day brings us closer to the first adult-use cannabis sales in New Mexico. Thanks to the Cannabis Control Division’s open and transparent rule-making process over the past six months, businesses and consumers can be confident that all necessary support and protection is in place to ensure a thriving cannabis industry in our state.” — Thomson in a press release

Under the regulations, adult-use cannabis businesses may not provide free samples to customers but under certain circumstances, medical cannabis dispensaries may offer samples for patients.

Other basic guidelines include security measures, proof of water rights, workplace training programs, facility diagrams, and record keeping. Retailers must also destroy tested batches of cannabis that do not meet the state’s health and safety standards. The rules also set guidelines for cannabis couriers. Under New Mexico legalization law, adults 21-and-older may only purchase up to two ounces of flower or 16 grams of concentrates.

The CCD said more than 300 producer and retailer licenses have been submitted so far to regulators, adding that adult-use sales in the state “will be ready” for April 1, 2022, as required by law.

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Colorado Cannabis Sales Set $2.19B Record in 2020

12/29/2021

Total Colorado cannabis sales reached $2.19 billion in 2020, according to state Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED) data outlined by The Center Square. The near $1.75 billion in adult use and $442.5 million in medical cannabis sales mark new sales records in the Centennial State.

The adult-use figures represent a 24% increase over the 2019 total of $1.41 billion.

Colorado cultivators grew about 1.24 million plants in 2020, which equates to 662.3 metric tons of consumer product, the report said. The average price per gram for adult-use cannabis, however, increased 20% from $3.99 in 2019 to $4.80 last year. The price-per-gram for medical cannabis also increased by 26% to $3.80, the report says.

The MED report suggests that the coronavirus pandemic increased demand for both adult-use and medical cannabis “as household spending shifted to food, drink, and entertainment consumed at home.”

Earlier this month, the Colorado Department of Revenue released its Average Market Rate report for retail cannabis and found price decreases across five of seven cannabis categories: flower prices fell $948 per pound, trim fell $354 per pound, bud and trim for extraction dropped $345 per pound and $253 per pound, respectively, and wet whole plant prices decreased $172. The price per seed increased to $4, while the price for an immature plant stayed steady at $10. The state uses the quarterly average market prices for excise tax rates.

Starting in January, new purchase limits for medical cannabis patients will take effect under a bill approved by lawmakers in November.

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41% of Australians Support Cannabis Legalization

12/29/2021

A new survey has found 41.1% of Australians believe cannabis should be legalized, representing a significant rise in support from 2013 when 25.5% of respondents backed the reforms, the Guardian reports. The National Drug Strategy Household Survey also found an increase in the number of Australians who had used cannabis at some point in their lives from 33.5% in 2001 to 38.1% in 2019.

Don Weatherburn, a professor at the University of NSW’s National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre and a co-author of the analysis, suggested that cannabis use in the nation has “gradually become more prevalent, probably because the law has become less draconian.”

“Most states now have some form of cannabis cautioning scheme, which makes the drug somewhat less stigmatized than it had been back in the 80s and 90s. … It’s also partly true that the people who first tried cannabis are now in positions of authority in and around government and major institutions.” — Weatherburn to the Guardian

Weatherburn added that the survey also found that citizens of Australia have shifting attitudes toward criminal justice and drugs, supporting “treatment and education” over “prison and punitive sanctions.”

“Even though people are not supporting the legalization of these drugs,” he said in the report, “they are supporting a different kind of approach to the traditional imprisonment, high fines, [and] supervised orders.”

Separately, a University of South Australia study published in Environmental Science and Technology Letters in August found cannabis use in Australia spiked during coronavirus-related lockdowns last year.

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Maine Appeals Ruling to Allow Out-of-State Cannabis Business Ownership

12/29/2021

The state of Maine and the Maine Cannabis Coalition (MCC), a top cannabis trade group, are appealing a judge’s ruling that opens the door for out-of-state ownership in Maine’s medical cannabis market, the Portland Press Herald reports. Seen as having nationwide significance — there are a number of U.S. cannabis markets that only allow in-city or in-state ownership — the case began with a lawsuit challenging Maine’s residency requirement for cannabis licenses.

The state agreed to drop the residency law for their adult-use system last year but have continued to fight the change within their medical cannabis market, the report says.

The plaintiffs, the Wellness Connection which is owned by three Mainers, and their parent company, High Street Capital Partners of Delaware, filed the lawsuit last year against Commissioner of the Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services Kirsten Figueroa on the grounds the in-state ownership requirement violates the interstate commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution by restricting the flow of investment and interfering with their ability to function. Maine argued that due to federal prohibition, there is no medical cannabis interstate commerce market, therefore, the so-called “dormant commerce clause” does not apply in this case.

The appeal will be heard by the First U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, although oral arguments have not yet been scheduled, the report says.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sided with the plaintiffs in August but said Maine’s argument was “not without logic.” However, the judge noted that the state does not prohibit non-Mainers from purchasing medical cannabis or taking it home with them.

“The notion that the medical marijuana industry in Maine is wholly intrastate does not square with reality,” Torresen wrote.

“I recognize that none of the courts that have confronted this specific constitutional issue have rendered final judgments, and it also seems that no circuit court has addressed it,” the judge wrote in August. “But given the Supreme Court’s and First Circuit’s unmistakable antagonism towards state laws that explicitly discriminate against nonresident economic actors, I conclude that the Dispensary Residency Requirement violates the dormant Commerce Clause.”

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Oregon Dedicates $25M to Combat Illegal Cannabis Grows

12/28/2021

Oregon’s Legislature has approved $25 million in funding to combat the illegal cultivation of cannabis in the state, the Associated Press reports. The funds will be used by law enforcement agencies and community organizations to pay for the costs of busting industrial-scale, unlicensed, operations.

The bill approved by lawmakers and signed by the governor establishes the “Illegal Marijuana Market Enforcement Grant Program” which will be administered by the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission. The bill dedicated $5 million for enforcing water rights.

Jackson County Sheriff Nathan Sickler told lawmakers the cartels “have a business model” for the illegal grows:

“Put up more cannabis illegal grows than law enforcement can ever get. They know we’re going to get some, but they know we can’t get it all.” — Sickler via the AP

Democratic state Sen. Jeff Golden described some rural areas in the state as “military-weapons zones, like the ones we usually associate with failed states.”

“Illegal cannabis operations in southern Oregon have been using our limited water supply, abusing local workers, threatening neighbors, and negatively impacting businesses run by legal marijuana growers,” he said in the report.

A farmer in southern Oregon testified that an illegal cannabis farm siphoned water from the creek he uses to irrigate his crops and dried it up. The farmer said that local landowners sell or lease property to bad actors.

“If somebody walks onto your property with a suitcase with $100,000 in $20 bills, you kind of know they’re not on the up and up,” the farmer said in an interview with the AP who chose to remain anonymous because of fear of retribution from cartels. “And if you take that money and allow them to do something on your land, you should probably anticipate that they’re there to break the law.”

Officials claim that many of the illegal cannabis operations are disguised as hemp farms, and an Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) report released last October found that 54% of hemp farms in southern Oregon were actually growing THC-rich cannabis.

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Cannabis Tax Revenue Eyed for Universal Basic Income In Rochester, NY

12/28/2021

The mayor-elect of Rochester, New York wants to use taxes from adult-use cannabis sales to fund a guaranteed basic income program that would give eligible participants monthly cash payments, Business Insider reports. The city has already approved an income program, but it relies on federal dollars and Malik Evans believes using cannabis tax revenues would be a more sustainable source of funding.

“Community folks told me, ‘this is a big source of revenue, and Black and brown people are prosecuted worse than others because of marijuana.’ … This is an industry with the potential to make millions of dollars. Everyone wants to start a marijuana business in Rochester.” — Evans to Business Insider

In December, the City Council approved a two-year guaranteed basic income pilot program that provides $500 a month to 175 families that live at or below 200% of the federal poverty line. The program will use funds from the American Rescue Plan, according to Spectrum News. Evan has previously said he would approach philanthropists to see whether they could help the city expand the program.

Ithaca, New York, Newark, New Jersey, and Los Angeles, California have approved similar plans, according to the Spectrum report. A similar program is also under consideration in Buffalo, New York’s second-largest city.

Evans’ predecessor, Lovely Warren, had wanted to use cannabis taxes to fund a reparations-oriented universal basic income program.

Earlier this month, Evans launched the Cannabis Preparation Commission, which will set rules and regulations for industry licensing in the city once the state publishes its own policies.

“There are things we can learn that we want to do, and things we want to make sure we absolutely do not do,” he said in a statement to Spectrum News. “We want to make sure that this is available to folks in the community. As it relates to an entrepreneurial perspective. If people are left out especially in the Black and brown communities we will have missed an opportunity.”

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BC Pilot Program Helps Unlicensed Growers Get Cannabis Licenses

12/28/2021

In an effort to slow down unregulated market cannabis sales, officials in British Columbia, Canada have started helping unlicensed producers enter the legal market, the Canadian Press reports. The pilot program, which is based in the Central Kootenay region of B.C. and ended in July, helped illicit market growers interested in making the switch to legal sales with licensing, marketing plans, and security, the report says.

The province said in a press release the pilot program helped 53 unlicensed cultivators, but only 13 received licenses, while 62 jobs were created or moved from the illicit market.

Abra Brynne of the Kootenay Cannabis Economic Development Council said high insurance rates and other economic factors make it difficult to convince unlicensed cultivators to make the transition to the legal market. She said the pilot program saw successes but that there is “a heck of a long way for things to go.”

B.C. Solicitor General Mike Farnworth said in an interview with the Press that less restrictive regulations could help encourage more underground growers to join the legal industry, noting the short time adult-use cannabis has been legal in Canada.

“It’s still very much a work in progress three years in,” he said.

Farnworth added that he has heard many individuals are frustrated with the difficulties in getting cannabis to market and from retailers who are unhappy with security measures like frosted glass in their storefronts. Farnworth pointed to a program expected this spring, called Farm Gate, which would allow producers to have a retail store on their property and deliver directly to retail stores. He thinks this would help unlicensed operators who want to go legal and craft growers alike.

“We’re trying to work with the industry (and) identify some of the challenges we can deal with,” he said.

Todd Veri, president of the Kootenay Outdoor Producer Co-Op, however, believes the B.C. government has backed “the wrong horse,” pointing to the enormous amount of time and effort it has taken his group, and other legal applicants like him, to navigate the provincial and Health Canada regulations. Despite his criticism of the provincial government’s partnership with illicit cannabis producers, he does agree with Farnworth that allowing farms to sell directly to retailers would help craft growers, the report says.

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Cannabit-Tikun Olam Partners with Teva Israel on International Distribution Deal

12/28/2021

Medical cannabis company Cannabit-Tikun Olam is partnering with pharmaceutical firm Teva Israel to produce cannabis products that will be distributed in Israel, Palestine, and eventually Ukraine. Teva said the products will be produced according to the company’s “instructions and stringent standards” under the 10-year collaboration.

Yossi Ofek, CEO of Teva, said Israel’s medical cannabis market is “developing and being professionalized at a dizzying pace” and “there is more openness to it in Israel and worldwide.”

“Today, it is clear to many in the pharmaceutical industry and in the medical community that use of oils produced from specific cannabis strains may provide additional treatment options and respond to unmet medical needs of patients.” — Ofek in a press release

Cannabit-Tikun Olam General Manager Avinoam Sapir has previously served as Teva Israel CEO from 2013 and later as cluster head for Africa, the Middle East, and Ukraine, through 2020.

“I believe that this is one of the most important agreements concluded in the industry in recent years in Israel and that it will position Cannbit-Tikun Olam and Teva Israel as leading players in the ever-growing and developing medical cannabis market in Israel and beyond,” he said in a statement.

The oils produced as part of the collaboration are based on strains developed by Cannbit-Tikun Olam and selected by Teva due to their safety profile and strong therapeutic efficacy, the companies said.

The deal includes a provision allowing a 9-year extension to the partnership.

Earlier this year, Tikun Olam announced a partnership with Ambrosia-SupHerb to produce and market nutritional supplements based on cannabis and mushrooms.

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