West Coast Researchers Receive $10M USDA Grant to Study Hemp

12/27/2021

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Washington State University (WSU) and other partnering universities on the West Coast have received a five-year, $10 million U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant to study hemp in the region.

WSU researchers are partnering with eight institutions across the nation, along with industry partners including the Industrial Hemp Association of Washington, on the research, which addresses the needs of Native Americans and other rural community businesses and farmers in the four-state West Coast region. WSU will receive $1.3 million from the grant.

David Gang, professor in WSU’s Institute of Biological Chemistry, indicated the researchers are “interested in what hemp varieties are best for western growers,” noting that many farmers are interested in growing the crop for fiber and grain.”

“Hemp has a lot of amazing properties and potential, especially in producing building material and feedstock.” – Gang in a statement

Jeffrey Steiner, associate director of the Global Hemp Innovation Center said the involvement in the research by tribal communities and rural communities “is critical to its success.”

“The potential economic opportunities this new commodity may have presents tremendous potential for rural communities,” he said, “and our project has set out to ensure those opportunities are equally available and relevant to all kinds of farmers.”

Additional partners on the project include the University of California, Davis; University of Nevada, Reno Extension; USDA, Agricultural Research Service; United States Department of Transportation, Volpe National Transportation Systems Research Center, the Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program; 7 Generations, a Native American-owned firm that specializes in Indian Country business development; USDA, National Agricultural Library; and the USDA, Western Rural Development Center.

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Maryland Legalization Referendum Bill Expected Next Month

12/27/2021

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A bill to place a cannabis legalization referendum on 2022 ballots in Maryland is set to be introduced when the state General Assembly convenes next month, WTOP News reports. The proposal was authored by Democrat Del. Luke Clipper, who is the chairman of the House Cannabis Referendum and Legalization Workgroup, which was formed last summer to study the issue.

If approved by lawmakers, the question put to voters would read:

“Do you favor legalization of adult-use cannabis in Maryland?”

If the question is successful, the state legislature would add an amendment to the state constitution and pass a law allowing adults 21-and-older to use and possess cannabis, with the law expected to take effect as early as July 2023, the report says.

The bill would require approval from three-fifths of members from both chambers of the state legislature and lawmakers would still have to create rules for the cannabis industry.

Maryland House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones (D) has previously expressed her support for the referendum and announced a plan to create a workgroup to lay the framework if the question is approved by voters.

Senate President Bill Ferguson (D) has indicated that the chamber would also move forward with cannabis legalization legislation.

A Goucher College poll released last March found two-thirds of Marylanders support legalization, including 77% of Democrats, 50% of Republicans, and 60% of independents. Mileah Kromer, director of the Sarah T. Hughes Field Politics Center at Goucher College, said that the poll marked the first time Republican support for cannabis legalization in the state topped 50%.

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Canadian Human Rights Tribunal to Hear Case of Bank Recalling Cannabis Licensees’ Mortgage

12/27/2021

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A dispute about whether banks can pull mortgages from cannabis users is heading to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, Western Standard reports. The dispute stems from a 2010 recall of a mortgage by Scotiabank from a homeowner with a federal license to cultivate cannabis.

The bank had told the homeowner that it “does not allow marijuana in their communities” and that it “was very concerned about the environmental issues within residences where cannabis was grown” and that “growing marijuana at a mortgaged home was prohibited by bank policy,” the report says.

Edward Lustig, an adjudicator with the Tribunal, wrote that the bank “engaged in a discriminatory practice contrary to the Canadian Human Rights Act” by treating the homeowners “in an adverse differential manner in the provision of services customarily available to the general public.”

The Canadian Human Rights Commission has twice rejected the homeowner’s complaint and it has been sent to a federal judge three times. In 2019, Federal Court Justice Robert Barnes wrote that “for reasons that have not been expressed it is apparent the Human Rights Commission does not like this complaint and wants to be rid of it.”

“In my view, the Commission has shown itself to be unfit to resolve this matter such that the court must now direct it to act,” he wrote.

The bank has defended its position, saying that the only way they would finance the property would be “if it was completely remediated” and that the ban on financing cannabis-related properties “is very clear” in the bank’s policies.

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Minnesota Declares Most Hemp-Derived Consumables Illegal

12/23/2021

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During a meeting last week with the Minnesota Cannabis Association, members of the state Department of Agriculture and the Board of Pharmacy indicated that most hemp-derived products meant for human consumption — whether CBD or Delta-8 THC — run afoul of state law.

Minnesota Cannabis Association board member Steven Brown said that during the meeting, state officials stated that hemp-derived tinctures “are illegal” and an Agriculture Department representative on the call added that “some of the products” Brown brought up in the call “would not be legal food” under the state’s statute definition of hemp.

According to the Minnesota Cannabis Association in a press release, the Board of Pharmacy only considers hemp seed oil and CBD flower legal. The advocacy organization points to a 22-page document from the 901st meeting of the Pharmacy Board that outlines the agency position, basing it on the hemp reforms included in the 2018 update of the 2014 federal Farm Bill. In that document, the board makes its case that since the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved any of the common cannabinoid products — such as gummies — then they cannot be legal. Further, the Pharmacy Board points to a Dec. 18, 2020 statement by former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb:

“Additionally, it’s unlawful under the [Food Drug &Cosmetic Act] to introduce food containing added CBD or THC into interstate commerce, or to market CBD or THC products as, or in, dietary supplements, regardless of whether the substances are hemp-derived. This is because both CBD and THC are active ingredients in FDA-approved drugs and were the subject of substantial clinical investigations before they were marketed as foods or dietary supplements.”

The Pharmacy Board, during that meeting, ultimately determined that “the sale of products containing cannabinoids or [THC], extracted or indirectly derived from any type of cannabis plant, remains illegal under federal and Minnesota state law, with certain exceptions.” Those exceptions are FDA-approved drugs such as Epidiolex.

Brown, who owns a retail hemp shop in Minnesota, said that the association disagrees with the Board of Pharmacy interpretation — and they also hinge their argument on federal guidelines.

“Eighty-five percent of products on the shelves will have to be pulled,” Brown said in a statement. “This affects so many businesses. So many families. Our business will probably have to shut down in Minnesota if we don’t turn this around.”

In October, the state Court of Appeals ruled that the statutory definition of hemp only applies to leafy plant material, and that “as a matter of law” the 0.3% threshold – which delineates legal hemp from outlawed cannabis — “does not apply to a liquid mixture” containing THC. That decision came in the case of an individual arrested for possessing CBD-rich vape cartridges which contained less than 0.3% THC.

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Survey: 35% of Programmers Used Cannabis While Programming

12/23/2021

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More than a third – 35% – of programmers have used cannabis while programming or completing another software engineering-related task, with 73% of the cohort using cannabis while programming in the last year, according to an arXiv paper outlined by i Programmer.

In the paper, Hashing It Out: A Survey of Programmers’ Cannabis Usage, Perception, and Motivation, researchers found that 53% of respondents reported using cannabis while programming monthly, 27% used cannabis twice-weekly while programming, and 11% used cannabis on a near-daily basis.

Sixty-three percent of the 280 respondents said they had used cannabis only while working on personal programming projects; 47.8% while performing non-urgent programming tasks; 34.2% while programming for work projects; 27.3% while programming school-related tasks; and 9% while programming deadline-critical tasks, the report found. The researchers also found that the majority of programmers who used cannabis (52%) were somewhat or more likely to use cannabis while working from home, which 5% said they were less likely to use cannabis while performing job-related tasks from home.

“Overall, we found that programmers were more likely to report enjoyment or programming enhancement motivations than wellness motivations: the most common reasons were “to make programming-related tasks more enjoyable” (61%) and “to think of more creative programming solutions” (53%). In fact, all programming enhancement reasons were selected by at least 30% of respondents. On the other hand, general wellness related reasons (such as mitigating pain and anxiety) were all cited by less than 30% of respondents. Thus, while wellness does motivate some cannabis use while programming, it is not the most common motivation.” — Hashing It Out: A Survey of Programmers’ Cannabis Usage, Perception, and Motivation, via i Programming

In all, 29% of respondents indicated that they had to take a drug test for a programming-related job.

The report found that the vast majority of programmers surveyed, 91%, believed that cannabis should be legalized and just 5% found smoking cannabis once or twice a week was a “great risk.” The report notes that dispensaries located around Silicon Valley estimate that 40% of their clientele are tech workers and that a qualitative study of coding boot camps found “lots and lots” of cannabis as one key element of support.

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New York City Cannabis Apparel Brand Issued Injunction for Altering City’s Logos

12/23/2021

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A federal judge on Tuesday ruled that apparel brand NYC New York Cannabis cannot use cannabis-themed versions of famous New York City logos, Law360 reports. Robert Lopez, the owner of the brand, had modified several of the city’s logos, such as replacing the broadleaf on the Department of Parks and Recreation logo with a cannabis leaf.

U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken granted the city a preliminary injunction finding that New York City would be “likely to succeed on the merits of its claims” because it proved “that it owns the city trademarks by proffering certificates of registration for the several marks which defendant allegedly copied.” He added that the trademarks are “incontestable” and have “distinctiveness and secondary meaning” and that the alleged copying “gives rise to a presumption of a likelihood of confusion.”

“Defendant’s NYC New York Cannabis marks are virtually identical to, or are substantially indistinguishable from, the city’s registered marks.” — Oetken, City of New York v. Lopez, via Law360

Lopez runs a retail store in Lower Manhattan, two online stores, and sells through social media accounts. According to the complaint outlined by Law360, he also modified the New York City Sanitation Department logo to read “Department of Cultivation” and a Department of Transportation logo that was altered to “New York Cannabis.”

Oetken added that while the city doesn’t currently sell cannabis-themed products, it could “bridge the gap” in the future as agencies get involved in cannabis regulation. The injunction was necessary, according to Oetken, because without it the city would suffer irreparable injury, the decision will serve the public interest, and there is an interest in preventing consumer confusion and protecting federally-registered trademarks.

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UK Firm Planning World’s First Carbon-Negative Cannabis Cultivation Facility

12/23/2021

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United Kingdom-based cannabis firm Glass Pharms has announced plans to build the world’s first carbon-negative medical cannabis cultivation facility, the Edmonton Journal reports. The company made the deal with an unnamed infrastructure firm and will have access to 22.5 million Great Britain pounds ($38.5 million) to construct the new campus.

The greenhouse will be 2.5 hectares in size and is planned for an undisclosed location in the South of England. In a statement, Glass Pharms indicated that the project is the first facility that will be “carbon negative by design.”

To accomplish its carbon-negative goal, the company plans to use an anaerobic digestion plant (food waste plant) to produce electricity using steam. Artificial intelligence-influenced growing methods will help Glass Pharms reach the “fine tolerances required by the pharmaceutical sector for medical cannabis flower.”

“It also means that we don’t have to rely on carbon credits to claim we are carbon negative… our business model is intrinsically built that way using the best practices of circular economic design.” — Glass Pharms website

Glass Pharms was the first company to receive a license in the U.K. to supply high-THC cannabis to medical cannabis patients. However, much of the medical cannabis in the U.K. is imported with the inconsistency of quality and supply, Glass Pharms CEO James Duckenfield said in the statement. Many patients have complained about the lack of consistency in the medical cannabis found in the U.K.

“We will underpin a secure supply chain of medical cannabis to U.K., whilst at the same time making a real contribution towards the U.K.’s Net Zero targets,” Duckenfield said.

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GOP Anti-Opioid Plan Would Streamline Cannabis & Psychedelics Research

12/22/2021

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A proposal by Congressional Republicans titled the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of (HALT) Fentanyl would make it simpler for researchers to investigate Schedule I substances like cannabis and psychedelics, Marijuana Moment reports.

The bill’s stated purpose is to curb the illegal distribution of fentanyl — a powerfully addictive and deadly opioid — by permanently placing it in the Schedule I category of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) but the proposal would also align the registration process for researching Schedule I substances with the requirements for Schedule II drugs, which are significantly easier to research.

It would accomplish this through a number of changes, including:

  • Allowing scientists involved in Schedule I drug studies to be encompassed under a DEA registration for the full project (currently, each participating researcher requires their own DEA registration).
  • Letting research institutes conduct Schedule I drug studies in multiple locations with a single DEA registration.
  • Allowing researchers to move forward with their studies more quickly after submitting them to the Department of Justice.
  • Removing some site inspection requirements and, in some cases, allowing researchers to manufacture small amounts of Schedule I drugs.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Bill Cassidy (LA) and Reps. Morgan Griffith (VA) and Bob Latta (OH), “tracks closely” with recommendations to Congress made by the Office of National Drug Control Policy in September, according to a press release.

“Fentanyl and its analogues are fuels that stoke the fire of the opioid crisis devastating families across the country. This bill … would recognize the danger of fentanyl related substances by permanently scheduling them while also allowing researchers to study their effects.” — Rep. Griffith, in a statement

According to the release by Rep. Griffth’s office, fentanyl is currently responsible for about 64% of total U.S. overdose deaths.

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Missouri’s First Black-Owned Dispensary Set to Open Next Month

12/22/2021

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Missouri’s first Black-owned medical cannabis dispensary is set to open next month, the St. Louis American reports. Adrienne Scales-Williams, the owner of Luxury Leaf, is also the owner of Document Imaging Systems of St Louis, Inc., which placed number 23 on the 2020 St. Louis Business Journal list of minority-owned businesses. She said that “being a long-term entrepreneur,” she “understands the ups and downs of highly regulated industries.”

The cannabis industry is one that lacks ownership by minorities and women — with barely 10% of cannabusinesses owned by Black people and Hispanic people, according to Marijuana Business Daily figures — but Scales-Williams said that even with her understanding, business, as a whole, “is commonly filled with men” but she doesn’t “focus on that as a negative.”

“I kept my focus and pushed full force throughout all of my endeavors,” she told the American, adding that she wants Luxury Leaf “to be a successful dispensary serving all.”

“I am an advocate for alternative medicines and want to be a part of a culture that promotes plants in healing. I want to invest in something so innovative and great for patients. I want patients to feel healing when they enter the dispensary space. I will also offer virtual classes to keep education at the forefront of this industry. In addition, it was important to have this business in the city of St. Louis, to closely engage the community in a very direct way.” — Scales-Williams to the American

In the first year of sales, Missouri’s medical cannabis industry has created more than $136 million in state tax revenues, according to the state Department of Health and Senior Services Section for Medical Marijuana Regulation data outlined by the American.

Missouri advocacy organization Legal Missouri 2022 is also circulating a petition for broad cannabis legalization in the state. The group must collect 170,000 valid signatures in six of the state’s eight congressional districts to place the initiative on next year’s midterm election ballot. Missouri voters passed the medical cannabis reforms in 2018 with 66% of the vote.

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Iowa Democrats Propose Cannabis Constitutional Amendment

12/22/2021

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Three Democratic Iowa state senators are proposing a constitutional amendment to legalize cannabis possession in the state for anyone 21-an-older, Radio Iowa reports. Sen. Joe Bolkcom is also calling for broad reforms for the state to regulate cannabis like alcohol, noting that in 2020, 4,300 Iowans were convicted of cannabis possession, which costs state taxpayers millions of dollars to cover the costs of their incarceration.

“Marijuana prohibition has been a costly failure. It’s ending across America because it’s caused far more harm than good. … A lot of Iowans will see some benefit from essentially eradicating those expenses from our tax bills.” — Bolkcom, during an online news conference, via Radio Iowa

Sen. Janet Petersen cited a March 2020 Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa poll which found, for the first time, a majority of Iowans — 53% — support cannabis legalization in the state.

“Iowans are tired of filling our prisons with nonviolent offenders, traumatizing families with separation, and taking away opportunities for too many young adults for something that is legal in nearly half the states in our country,” she said during her remarks.

The proposal is also supported by state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriot, who said that “the world is changing around us and Iowa is getting left behind.”

Cannabis legalization does not have the support from Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds or Republican lawmakers who control the state Legislature. Reynolds last year vetoed a bill to expand the state’s very limited medical cannabis program.

State Sen. Brad Zaun, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he has “no intentions” of bringing the bill up for a vote, calling it a “gimmick” that does “a better job of illustrating the lack of ideas Senate Democrats have to solve the problems of Iowans than any response” he has.

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Michigan Judge Denies Request to Reverse Decision on Latest Cannabis Recall

12/22/2021

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A Michigan judge has denied the state Marijuana Regulation Agency’s (MRA) request to reconsider limiting the scope of the cannabis recall of products tested by Viridis Labs saying that the agency failed to prove that an error misled the court to block part of that recall, the Detroit Free Press reports.

The MRA said it had gathered more testing data in the weeks following Court of Claims Judge Christopher Murray’s decision and found that 26% of Viridis North recalled and retested products failed microbial retesting for total yeast and mold, including for aspergillus and/or total bacteria. The agency suggests that some moldy cannabis could have made its way back to store shelves.

Murray, however, ruled that “the evidence upon which the motion is based does not relate to any testing justification existing before the recall decision … and otherwise would not change the court’s balancing of interests.”

Murray had ruled earlier this month to allow products tested by Viridis North to go back on store shelves because all of the randomly selected retested samples – which had a 60% failure rate – came from Viridis Laboratories, which is based in Lansing, and not Viridis North, which is based in Bay City.

In a statement to the Free Press, Viridis Laboratories CEO Greg Michaud argued that the samples that failed MRA testing had cleared the company’s “point-in-time testing” and that the products go through a variety of uncontrolled environments which could cause the contamination which caused the failed retests.

Viridis has indicated that the recall affected about 64,000 pounds of flower worth about $226 million.

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What to Consider When Choosing Cannabis Product Packaging

12/21/2021

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If you use cannabis for medicinal or other reasons, there’s a pretty good chance that you are purchasing products from third-party vendors — and that the items you buy come in some sort of container. While most of us are focused on what’s inside the package, how cannabis is stored can play a significant role in its quality and in the customer experience. As it turns out, there are a lot of factors to consider when packaging cannabis products, ranging from loose flower to pre-rolls, to beverages, to edibles.

Why is packaging important? If you think about it, cannabis is an agricultural product and, as a natural item, it is susceptible to external conditions including cold temperature, moisture, heat, and light. Any one of these factors can negatively affect the quality of cannabis, or even completely ruin it. That’s why it is critical for merchants who sell cannabis to make sure that the items they sell are carefully stored to prevent spoilage and negative user experiences.

Opacity

As a starting point, let’s look at light. While many cannabis retail stores show items in glass, they are almost never directly exposed to sunlight. A little bit of light from LEDs and other sources is usually not a problem, but blasts of direct sun can not only dry product, but also cause THC, terpenes, and other compounds to leech out of the leaves. The last thing you want is for people to purchase cannabis products only to discover that they have lost their effectiveness because they were improperly stored. As a result, most products sold in cannabis stores come in opaque containers, and even glass vessels could be heavily tinted to prevent damage. So why do so many people store cannabis products in clear glass jars and bottles? The simple reason is that it looks really good — it has the classic “apothecary” feel, and it’s also easy to tell how much product is left.

Anti-moisture

Another major source of damage comes from moisture. It takes surprisingly little water to cause a batch of cannabis to get moldy very quickly — and there’s nothing less pleasant than opening a container to discover that one’s supply is unusable because it is spoiled. Keeping cannabis products in airtight containers is extremely important because of the potential for water damage. On an industrial scale, licensed producers keep their picked cannabis in sealed canisters, then eventually this goes into progressively smaller containers that keep moisture out. By the time these products get to the store and are ready for sale, they are generally in small containers that contain only a few grams of cannabis, or a few pre-rolled joints.

Convenience

Not only does the storage type need to protect the cannabis, but it also needs to be convenient for retailers and customers. That’s why there’s been a movement away from clear Ziploc bags to more sophisticated packaging that is durable enough to withstand some jostling of the contents. This is actually where modern packaging pouches are playing a critical role in meeting the needs of everyone in the cannabis supply chain.

Of course, there are plenty of other options for storage. Most Canadian retailers sell cannabis in plastic containers that are approved by the government and are childproof to maximize safety. Tin containers are also sold, although they tend to be less common than they were even a few years ago. They are incredibly convenient and durable, but the problem comes when they are open because it is difficult to fully seal them to protect the contents from heat and moisture. Zipper pouches are also very common, although most of them are sold separately from cannabis. These are unbelievably convenient and are popular among regular cannabis users. One of the biggest problems with zipper packages, however, is that they don’t fully seal and it is easy to detect the smell of cannabis if someone happens to be carrying a zipper pouch. This might be OK at a rock concert, but there are definitely circumstances where you would not want to draw attention to the fact you are carrying cannabis around.

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Top Illinois Cannabis Official Joins Marijuana Policy Project as President & CEO

12/21/2021

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Illinois’ top cannabis official, Toi Hutchinson, last week announced her departure as senior advisor to Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) and has joined the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) as its new president and CEO. Hutchinson replaces MPP Executive Director Steven Hawkins, who will focus his efforts on federal cannabis reform as executive director of the United States Cannabis Council (USCC).

MPP will remain a member of the USCC and the organizations will share staff, board members, and resources.

Hutchinson described Hawkins’ work at MPP as “stellar,” adding that she looks forward “to working with him in his new capacity along with legislators and partners across the country to advance the goals and mission of MPP by harnessing our collective power to advocate for changes to federal cannabis policies.”

“I’m pleased to be joining the team at MPP, where I will continue my years-long effort to develop and support cannabis legalization legislation that centers on equity and repairing the harms of the past. We are incredibly proud of the hard work and lessons learned in Illinois, standing up programs to invest in equity entrepreneurs, reinvesting in communities, and clearing hundreds of thousands of arrests and criminal records.” – Hutchinson in a press release

MPP Board Chairman Sal Pace said Hutchinson’s “unique resume is perfectly suited to lead MPP” as the organization finishes their “reform work state-by-state across the country.” He noted that the organization worked alongside Hutchinson in her previous role and as one of the initial authors of Illinois’ adult-use legalization bill. Pace said that collaboration ensured the state’s law “contained a strong social justice framework that included decriminalization in addition to legalization.”

Hawkins described Hutchinson as “an incredible leader.” She is also a member of the Chicago Federation of Women, the Illinois Women’s Institute for Leadership, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Hutchinson also served as an Illinois state senator and an attorney at the law firm of Chapman and Cutler.

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Ohio Legalization Campaign Submits Signatures Needed to Force Vote

12/21/2021

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Cannabis legalization advocates in Ohio on Monday submitted 206,943 signatures to the secretary of state in their bid to force lawmakers to pass the reforms in the Buckeye State, the Columbus Dispatch reports. Once the signatures are verified, the Legislature will have four months to act on the legislation and if they don’t pass the bill, or an amended version, the campaign must collect another 132,887 valid signatures to put the measure on ballots in the next general election.

The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol proposal would allow adults 21-and-older to buy and possess 2.5 ounces of cannabis and 15 grams of concentrates and cultivate up to six plants individually or 12 per household. Cannabis products would be taxed 10% with revenues earmarked for program costs, addiction treatment programs, municipalities that allow dispensaries, and social equity and jobs programs.

Tom Haren, the campaign spokesman, noted that 18 states have legalized cannabis for adults, including Ohio’s northern neighbor Michigan.

“Ohio is behind the curve on this issue and can’t afford continued inaction.” – Haren to the Dispatch

Last week, the state Senate approved a bill to expand the state’s medical cannabis program, including letting doctors make program recommendations for any patient, regardless of condition; increasing the number of dispensary licenses; establishing a new cannabis division within the Commerce Department to more efficiently regulate medical cannabis; and award cultivation licenses to businesses that were rejected in the first licensing round, including two companies that sued the state over the denials. The legislation still needs House approval.

The cannabis legalization signatures still require verification by Secretary of State Frank LaRose before lawmakers are required to act.

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Utah Enacts New Medical Cannabis Rules to Help Patients

12/21/2021

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The Utah Department of Health has announced plans to speed up some key updates to the state’s medical cannabis program, Fox 13 reports. Known as the “Limited Medical Provider” (LMP) program, the new rule allows physicians, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare providers to recommend medical cannabis to qualifying patients.

The DOH only told the legislature in November they had missed an October deadline to begin the new program, blaming the delays on technological issues and staffing shortages. At the most recent Cannabinoid Product Board meeting, however, the agency said it will have the program live by January, according to Fox 13.

“That’s a critical change to the program we’re excited about to increase patient access,” Rich Oborn, bureau manager of the Department of Commerce, told the board.

The Utah legislature passed the LMP program to address a shortage of qualified medical providers during the 2021 session. Under Utah’s original medical cannabis framework, such providers were required to go through extensive training and be approved by the DOH, which led to a provider shortage.

Predictably, a “pop up” industry of qualified medical providers who overcharge patients for medical cannabis authorizations has flourished as a result of the shortage. The LMP certification requires less training and is expected to increase access for patients, the report says.

Senate Minority Whip Luz Escamilla, (D), who passed the LMP updates and spoke out against the DOH delays, told Fox 13 the new timeline is an improvement and the legislature wants medical cannabis “available as soon as possible.”

Oborn said the DOH plans to require providers to publish their prices on a website in order to monitor any fee gouging and extend a patient’s card renewal deadline from three to six months in addition to the LMP streamlines.

“The LMP program is an important step to educating doctors and keeping patients with their personal medical provider. Extending deadlines allows established patients to spend less time renewing their cards,” said Desiree Hennessy, executive director of the Utah Patients Coalition, in a statement. “These changes are big wins for Utah’s patients, but they are also necessary, and another step toward treating medical cannabis like any other medication.”

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UArizona Partners with Green Flower on Cannabis Certificate Program

12/21/2021

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The University of Arizona is partnering with cannabis education company Green Flower to offer three noncredit Cannabis Certificate Programs, including the Business of Cannabis, Cannabis Law and Policy, and Cannabis Healthcare and Medicine.

Each certificate includes three eight-week, online courses which will be taught by Green Flower instructors, which include industry entrepreneurs, board-certified physicians, attorneys, and public policy specialists.

Arizona voters approved a cannabis legalization bill last year and the program has already generated more than $150 million in tax revenues for the state. Arizona is expected to surpass $1 billion in total annual cannabis sales this year, according to state Department of Revenue projections.

Dr. Craig Wilson, vice provost of Online & Distance Education for the university told Arizona Public Media that cannabis industry jobs “require people with these skill sets to really be successful.”

“Understanding multiple viewpoints like business, law and policy, and health care and medicine as it relates to the cannabis industry will help our learners establish a solid foundation.” – Wilson in a press release  

Rebecca Cook, director of UArizona Continuing and Professional Education, said that changing laws nationwide “has created a tremendous need for credible cannabis education, not just for producers and distributors, but also for health professionals, legal professionals, law enforcement, and many others.”

Green Flower now lists 14 partner colleges and universities on its website.

Registration is now open on the UArizona website with the first cohort expected to start March 7.

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Willie’s Remedy Wildflowers CBD-Infused Tea Review

12/21/2021

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It was a real treat — not just because the tea is so good but I’ve been a Willie Nelson and Tom Petty fan for many years — to review Willie’s Remedy’s new Wildflowers tea blend, appropriately named after rock legend Tom Petty’s “Wildflowers” album. A collaboration between the Nelson and Petty families, the tea is a blend of whole chamomile flowers, lemon myrtle flowers, and peppermint leaves and is infused with hemp-derived CBD. The ingredients are sourced from small to medium farms across the U.S. and all proceeds go to benefit MusiCares, a charity that provides people who work in the music industry a support system and human services. MusiCares named Tom Petty their person of the year in 2017.

“My father was a believer in the mission of MusiCares,” Adria Petty said in a recent press release. “It’s a dream come true to have our two families who share so much mutual admiration in both generations of listeners and fans to collaborate together.”

A clean peppermint with an undercurrent of chamomile smell hits you when you open the package. The tea sphere that comes with the blend worked perfectly to scoop up a healthy helping of the Wildflower mix. As I hooked it on the mug decorated with a wild-flower drawing, I was impressed with the mug’s thickness and overall sturdiness. When I poured the boiling water in on the tea, I could already tell it was going to steep up nicely. For some extra sweetness, I added a little WA mountain wildflower honey we’d won in a recent auction and let it cool while I went and put on a Willie Nelson vinyl to enjoy as I sipped my freshly brewed treat. Since Willie’s Wildflower has taken its place on our tea shelf, the frequency of ritually drinking tea and relaxing has increased at my house. Thanks, Willie for making such a great tea in tribute to the great Tom Petty.

“Hemp offers a comforting way to expand on a natural wellness routine,” said Annie Nelson, Co-Founder of Willie’s Remedy. “Wildflowers Tea is an example of the connections that are possible when we share the culture of cannabis and music.”

The limited-edition batch comes in bio-degradable pyramid box packaging or loose leaf. It also comes in a reusable cylinder tin with a tight-fitting lid for later use as a bud container or to stash your roaches. Willie’s Wildflower tea and other products can be found at the Tom Petty Store and Willie’s Remedy website. Enjoy!

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California Cannabis Community Urges Government to Save Industry from Collapse

12/20/2021

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Nearly 30 California cannabis companies have sent a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and legislative leaders warning the state’s “unwillingness to effectively legislate, implement, and oversee a functional regulated” industry has brought cannabusinesses to their knees. The signatories warn that the state’s legal cannabis industry “is collapsing.”

“The California cannabis system is a nation-wide mockery; a public policy lesson in what not to do. Despite decades of persecution by the government, we have been willing and adaptable partners in the struggle to regulate cannabis. We have asked tirelessly for change, with countless appeals to lawmakers that have gone unheard. We have collectively reached a point of intolerable tension, and we will no longer support a system that perpetuates a failed and regressive War on Drugs.” – Letter to Newsom, Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins, and House Speaker Anthony Rendon

The companies argue that California’s regulatory environment “threatens the viability” of the state’s “legacy cannabis operators” and that the craft cannabis farmers “are literally killing themselves, trying to find ways to survive on a chessboard” that lawmakers “mandated them to join but is rigged for all to fail.”

The signatories further argue that social equity licensees in the state “are being assaulted, burglarized, and left without recourse or protection from law enforcement.” The companies further claim that such applicants and operators “are forced to incur expenses and costs associated with a licensing regime that has no timelines and no respect.”

The operators contend that the state’s “excessive taxation” of legal cannabis products has made them 50% more expensive than unregulated cannabis, which they say still represents 75% of all cannabis consumed in the Golden State and is “untested and unsafe.”

“Illegal grows often use banned pesticides that poison our streams, rivers and lakes,” the letter states, “and illicit products put consumers at risk as they often include fentanyl, synthetic cannabinoids, and other potentially deadly chemicals.”

The letter points out that just 32% of the state has access to adult-use cannabis as 68% of the state has opted out, effectively recriminalizing cannabis through local control.

The companies are asking lawmakers to eliminate the cultivation tax, enact a three-year holiday of the excise tax, and enact legislation requiring that municipalities in which the majority of voters approved the reforms allow adult-use cannabis operations.

“We need you to understand that we have been pushed to a breaking point and we will not remain on our knees. We will not stand for political interests to the detriment of our own livelihoods, the health of our citizens, the prosperity of our families, and the state of California’s economy,” the authors said in the letter. “For some of us, this has been our craft since back when the world thought it was a crime. This industry is California’s to lead globally. Listen to us. Hear us. Respect us. Represent us. Work with us. We are behind you. Act.”

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New Mexico Issues First Adult-Use Cannabis Licenses

12/20/2021

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New Mexico last week issued their first three adult-use cannabis licenses, KOB4 reports. The three licenses went to a producer and two micro-business licensees. Regulation and Licensing Department’s Cannabis Control Office Superintendent Linda M. Trujillo said the state’s adult-use cannabis system is now “officially up and running.”

“In the coming days and weeks, we look forward to licensing more cannabis businesses and micro businesses so that entrepreneurs, communities and the state can maximize the economic opportunities created by a thriving cannabis industry.” — Trujillo via KOB4

“We got our license, like, we were screaming at the top of our lungs in here,” said Matthew Muñoz, a co-licensee from Carver Family Farm, one of the micro-business awardees. “It was a big, big deal for us.”

Muñoz shared he was arrested as a youth for possessing five grams of cannabis. He spent ten days in jail and served one year of probation but said the arrest changed the course of his life. The new licensee believes in many states he would not be issued a cannabis license due to the arrest.

“Small amount of marijuana, but it’s enough for you to lose scholarships,” he said.

New Mexico passed its adult-use cannabis bill this year in a special legislative session. The law included an expungement provision and later, the state announced a special loan program for cannabis micro-businesses.

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Malta President Signs Legalization Bill Despite Opposition

12/20/2021

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Malta President George Vella has signed the cannabis legalization bill passed by the Parliament last week while shutting down calls by those opposed to the reforms, saying the nation’s constitution prevented him from rejecting the lawmaker-approved bill, Malta Today reports. His comments, which did not mention the cannabis bill directly, came during an event commemorating the Republic in Independence Square in Victoria, Gozo.

“We hear calls that the president should do this and that but we need to be informed of what is possible… The head of state cannot capriciously create a constitutional crisis and cause instability… there is nothing in our Constitution that gives the president the final say on a law, otherwise we will create a dictator who decides what becomes law at a whim.” — Vella, in remarks to Parliament, via Malta Today

The law, which was approved in a 36-27 vote, was opposed by the nation’s conservative party and by more than 50 church-led organizations. The reforms allow adults to possess up to seven grams in public, grow up to four plants for personal use, and will eventually create a system to regulate sales.

“Laws passed in Parliament according to the Constitution, have to be signed by the President almost immediately,” Vella said during his speech. “Otherwise, they will be taking on all the power and until now, the president has no power to ignore a law passed by Parliament irrespective if he agrees with it or not… unless he has a serious moral objection in which case the president will have to call it a day and resign.”

In a statement, Malta’s Minister for Equality, Research, and Innovation Owen Bonnici, who promoted the legalization law, said that the government “urges people to make the best choices for their wellness and therefore will keep investing in programs of prevention against all substance abuses” but that the government should also “respond to the realities in society and terminate the constant and unjust hardship and humiliation which the criminalization of adults who choose to make responsible use of cannabis brings about through their arrests and/or arraignments in front of tribunals or courts.”

“The entry into force of this robust legislative framework underlines this government’s willingness to make bold decisions by implementing wise and unprecedented reforms in order to bring about change and social justice in the best interests of society as a whole,” he said.

 

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Former MLB Pitcher Scores Retail Cannabis License Amid Partner’s Scandal

12/20/2021

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Former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher Matt Garza has received approval for a retail cannabis dispensary in his hometown of Fresno, California, the San Joaquin Valley Sun reports. Garza, the 2008 American League Championship Most Valuable Player for the Tampa Bay Rays, was one of four licensees approved in the round.

In an interview last week with GV Wire, Garza — who pitched at Fresno State — said he is “just going to enjoy this moment.”

“I’ve been patient. . . . We’ll see how it goes. We’ll open as soon as we can and we’re looking forward to helping this city and community.” — Garza to GV Wire

His application was for Authentic 559, for which Garza is a 51% owner. A stake of the company is also owned by the Shryne Group and its former CEO Brian Mitchell — who also serves as Authentic 559 co-owner — is currently facing felony charges in Alameda County for his involvement in an alleged scam perpetrated by a Bay Area painting and construction company, according to the Sun.

Mitchell resigned from his position in the Shryne Group after being charged in September with one count of conspiracy to commit a crime, two counts of workers’ compensation fraud, and six counts of felony insurance fraud, the report says.

If Mitchell is convicted, it could run afoul of Fresno’s city ordinance for cannabis company operators. The city is also being sued by Catalyst Cannabis who claim that a number of applicants who received city approval were led by “front men.”

Garza also holds a 19% share in Beyond Rooted which received a social-equity license in Fresno. Garza’s cousin, Issac Fonseca, is a Beyond Rooted partner.

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Illinois Earmarks $45M from Cannabis Taxes for Community Development Grants

12/17/2021

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Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) on Wednesday announced another $45 million in cannabis tax-derived Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) grants, which are earmarked for communities most impacted by the war on drugs. The round includes $40.5 million for organizations that provide civil legal aid services, economic development, re-entry from the criminal justice system, violence prevention, and youth development. Another $4.5 million is made available for capacity-building grants to help small organizations expand, the Governor’s Office said.

The program is funded using 25% of adult-use cannabis tax revenues.

“As we launch applications for the second round of R3 grants, I know our recipients will keep transforming lives with their work, and in turn transform our cities and state. Because when we reinvest in the potential of our people, we invite the economic activity that creates resiliency. When we renew hope in communities historically left out, we inspire the next generation to pursue a brighter future. And in public service, that is our obligation.” — Pritzker in a statement

Of the available funds, 75% will be dedicated to organizations that have been in operation for less than five years or have a budget of less than $2 million, according to the Governor’s Office, which notes that the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) — which manages the program — offers an online, self-guided technical assistance course and online webinars for the program.

ICJIA Acting Executing Director Delrice Adams said the agency continues to “prioritize equity-centered grant-making and ensure much-needed resources are distributed fairly and efficiently.”

“We also recognize our responsibility to provide technical assistance to build community and organizational capacity within small organizations, not only to apply for and access grant funding, but also to manage those funds successfully in alignment with the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act,” Adams said in a statement. “Technical assistance is crucial to local programs working to achieve their goals.”

In July, the state appropriated $31 million in funds collected from the state’s cannabis tax for the program.

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More Than 1.5k Applicants Vie for 26 Arizona Social Equity Licenses

12/17/2021

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More than 1,500 applications have been filed for Arizona’s 26 social-equity dispensary licenses, which are valued at over $10 million, the Associated Press reports. The state Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) indicated the random selection process for the licenses will be conducted next spring.

Under the state’s social equity requirements, principal officers or board members of the applying company holding at least 51% ownership in the entity must meet three of four criteria, including having an annual household income, in at least three of the years from 2016 through 2020 that, for the respective year, was less than 400% of the poverty level; has — or had expunged — a prior state or federal cannabis-related conviction; a close relative who has a prior cannabis-related conviction; and has lived for at least three years from 2016 through 2020 in an area that has been identified by the Health Department as being disproportionately affected by the enforcement of Arizona’s previous cannabis laws.

Marijuana Industry Trade Association founder Demetri Downing explained that the license winners could immediately sell the licenses if their organization is picked. Applicants have to pay a $4,000 non-refundable fee to enter the lottery. The state has made $6 million from these applicants, the report says.

Arianna Munoz, who has two applications in the lottery for herself and two for her mother told the AP that while “operating a dispensary would be ideal,” selling the dispensary license could create “generational wealth.”

In October, DHHS identified 87 zip codes that qualify for the state’s social equity licenses. The localities include parts of Phoenix and Tucson and some in the smaller border communities of Nogales, Douglas, and San Luis. There is also a heavy focus on areas on or near Native American reservations.

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New York Cannabis Opt-Out Rates Reach 24%

12/17/2021

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Twenty-four percent of New York municipalities, or 365 localities, have opted out of adult-use cannabis operations, NPR-affiliate WBFO reports. During Thursday’s meeting of the Cannabis Control Board, Chris Alexander, executive director of the state Office of Cannabis Management, said the figures “are relatively consistent with the experience of other states” that have legalized cannabis and he expects those numbers to “increase a bit” as the opt-out deadline of December 31 nears.

The Rockefeller Institute of Government, an independent think tank, has the opt-out rates slightly higher — reporting 462 municipalities have decided not to allow dispensaries and 523 opting out of on-site consumption businesses. Alexander told WBFO that the board “cannot speak to Rockefeller’s numbers.”

The Office of Cannabis Management said that just six cities — or about 10% — have opted out, along with 259 towns (28%), and 100 villages (19%).

Under the New York law, municipalities have until the end of the month to opt-out, otherwise, cannabis operations will be permanently allowed within their borders; however, municipalities can opt back in at any time.

“If a municipality could opt out at any time, it could have created instances where businesses received a license and set up operations in a municipality, only to find out that the municipality later voted to prohibit this activity. And so that was the justification for this order of operations.” — Alexander to WBFO

On Thursday, the agency also approved a resolution for the office to begin seeking long-term office space in Buffalo and New York City. The state’s legalization law requires that the Office of Cannabis Management have a main office in Albany and branch offices in Buffalo and New York City.

Adult-use sales are not expected to commence in the Empire State until at least the end of next year.

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