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Trulieve Contributes Another $5M to the Florida Cannabis Legalization Campaign

7/29/2024

Multistate medical cannabis operator Trulieve has contributed another $5 million to the campaign seeking to legalize adult use cannabis in Florida, according to finance reports outlined by NPR-affiliate WUSF. The July 15 contribution brings the company’s total to $60.39 million.

In all, the Smart & Safe Florida political committee had raised $66.475 million in cash and $129,000 in in-kind contributions as of July 19, according to state Division of Elections Data, and has spent $53.963 million so far on the campaign.

Trulieve contributed $500,000 to the campaign in October 2023 and another $15 million the following December.

The cannabis legalization reforms are opposed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis who in June launched the Florida Freedom Fund to combat both the adult-use cannabis campaign and the ballot initiative on abortion access. In the fund’s first five weeks, it raised just $10,000; however, earlier this month a cohort of hemp businesses in the state donated $5 million to the Republican Party of Florida after the governor vetoed a bill to regulate hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoids.

According to a Marijuana Moment report, as of July 15, the Florida Freedom Fund has about $121,000 on hand, the majority of which came from POB Ventures, which has links to a medical cannabis worker training organization and a cadre of hemp businesses.

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EPA Awards $6.2M to Support Hempcrete & Other Sustainable Construction Materials

7/29/2024

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded nearly $6.2 million in grants to the Hemp Building Institute, a Nashville-based nonprofit that works with hempcrete and other agriculture-based construction materials, Marijuana Moment reports. The grant money was awarded under a $160 million EPA funding round announced last month for projects aimed at reducing emissions and costs in construction materials and products.

The Hemp Building Institute received $6,186,200 from the feds to develop Environmental Product Declarations and Life Cycle Assessments for biogenic materials like those made from hemp or other crops like soy or straw bale, the report said. The project’s overarching goal is to essentially build credibility for hempcrete and similar materials for construction projects.

“The overall goal of the project is to assemble the assessments, protocols, tools and training in an ecosystem designed to increase adoption of biogenic building materials from agricultural crops.” — EPA description of the grant award, in the report

The Hemp Building Institute is partnering with the Maryland-based business incubator EntreVator on The Biogenic Building Materials project, which aims to “develop an open-source database for biogenic materials and provide extensive education, training, and technical assistance,” officials said. The grant money is expected to be invested in the following hemp markets: Maryland, Tennessee, California, and Alabama.

Earlier this month, a hempcrete wall product by Americhanvre Cast Hemp demonstrated commercial construction viability after receiving a one-hour fire resistance rating from ASTM International.

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Another Survey Finds More Americans Use Cannabis Daily Than Drink Alcohol Daily

7/29/2024

While there are fewer cannabis consumers in the U.S. than alcohol consumers, there are more daily cannabis consumers than daily drinkers, according to a recent YouGov survey. The poll was conducted online from June 7-10, 2024, and surveyed 1,116 U.S. adults with an approximate margin of error of 4%. The survey comes on the heels of similar findings from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, published in May.

The survey found that 8% of American adults consume cannabis daily (5% several times per day, 3% once per day) while 5% of Americans are daily drinkers (2% several times per day, 3% once per day).

The results match an analysis of the annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health that was published in the journal Addiction in May.

The YouGov survey results also showed that outside of daily consumption, alcohol consumption continues to outpace cannabis use in nearly every other metric: alcohol consumption, for example, outpaces cannabis consumption when it comes to consuming a few times per week (12% alcohol, 5% cannabis), once per week (8% alcohol, 1% cannabis), a few times per month (10% alcohol, 2% cannabis), or just once per month (6% alcohol, 1% cannabis). Additionally, 51% of respondents said they had never tried cannabis while just 15% said they had never tried alcohol.

Also per the survey: 30% of American adults believe they’d be better off if they consumed alcohol less often, while just 11% think they’d be better off consuming cannabis less frequently. Meanwhile, 3% of adult respondents said they’d be better off consuming alcohol more frequently, while 10% believed they’d be better off consuming cannabis more frequently.

The survey also found that a solid majority of Americans (60%) believe that cannabis consumption should be legal in the U.S.

A Gallup poll published last November found public support for the federal legalization of cannabis had climbed to 70%.

Another poll published in April found that most Americans no longer believe that cannabis use carries a stigma and that cannabis will only grow more popular with time.

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Thailand Could Drop Plans to Recriminalize Cannabis

7/26/2024

Thailand may drop its plans to re-list cannabis as a narcotic and could instead seek to better regulate the adult-use industry, according to a TIME report.

The move is a significant departure from a proposal endorsed earlier this year by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin to undo the country’s 2022 cannabis decriminalization policy, under which a robust but largely unregulated industry has sprouted.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul — who leads the Bhumjaithai Party, the second-largest group in Srettha’s coalition government — said on Tuesday after a meeting with the prime minister and public health minister that the government is set to consider a draft bill expanding the country’s cannabis regulations.

“I thank the Prime Minister for considering this and deciding on legislation.” — Anutin to reporters on Tuesday, via TIME

Anutin, who is a member of the Narcotics Control Board and has said he opposes the effort to recriminalize cannabis, previously pushed for the country’s decriminalization policy while serving as Minister of Public Health from 2019 to 2023.

Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin noted in the report, however, that the proposal to re-list cannabis was so far unchanged and had not been withdrawn.

Earlier this year, cannabis entrepreneurs and business owners in Thailand said they were considering lawsuits if the government were to re-list cannabis as a narcotic, which would essentially shutter the entire industry.

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Florida Gov. Says Cannabis Legalization Initiative Should Not Have Been Approved for Ballots

7/26/2024

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said on Tuesday that Amendment 3, the state’s cannabis legalization amendment that will be considered by voters this November, should not have been approved for the ballot, the News Service of Florida reports.

The Florida Supreme Court approved the initiative in April for this year’s general election ballot despite legal challenges raised by the attorney general. Notably, the governor previously predicted that voters would get to decide the issue for themselves this November — but this DeSantis told a Florida Sheriffs Association conference that the legalization initiative would go beyond what’s stated in its summary and should have been rejected by the court.

“When you read the summary, it doesn’t tell you really what the amendment says. That’s why it should not have been allowed on the ballot. I mean, the court’s job is to not allow things on the ballot if the summary is not an accurate reflection.” — DeSantis, during a Florida Sheriffs’ Association conference, in the report

If approved by voters, Amendment 3 would legalize the possession of up to three ounces of cannabis for personal use and up to five grams of cannabis concentrates. The initiative would also allow medical cannabis dispensaries to sell adult-use cannabis but it stops short of legalizing cannabis home grows.

As a constitutional amendment, the proposal will require at least 60% voter support to pass.

A recent poll commissioned by anti-cannabis advocates with the “Vote No On 3” campaign found that 64% of likely Florida voters support the legalization proposal, the report said. A Fox News poll in June, meanwhile, found 66% likely voter support for the proposal.

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Coalition of AGs Submit Letter to Feds Opposing Cannabis Rescheduling Proposal

7/24/2024

A group of 11 attorneys general submitted a letter to federal regulators opposed to the proposed rescheduling of cannabis. The letter, from AGs in Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, and South Dakota, contends that “the public health damage resulting from expanded access to marijuana will not be confined to States where it remains fully illegal under state law” and that “moving marijuana to Schedule III will effectively provide the marijuana industry with a substantial tax cut.”

“… In some respects, a rescheduled marijuana will receive more favorable federal tax treatment than alcohol, tobacco, and gambling,” the letter states. “This will cause a tremendous expansion of the existing marijuana industry. And that expansion will lead to the increased consumption of marijuana, which in turn causes a panoply of negative effects.”

Further, the attorneys general argue that cannabis “causes myriad health problems,” including harm to child and adolescent development, links to mental health conditions like schizophrenia, and physical ailments such as cancer and heart disease.

“Expanded marijuana access also increases motor vehicle accidents and creates difficult problems in enforcing laws that prohibit driving while intoxicated,” the AGs write. “Nor are its second order effects much better – marijuana is linked to rising homelessness and welfare dependence, reduced workplace productivity, and increases in anxiety and suicidal ideation.”

The AGs contend that rescheduling cannabis federally would be “unlawful and ill-advised” and maintain that cannabis is a “gateway drug” – despite studies that counter this notion.

In a statement, Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers, who spearheaded the letter, said “There is a myth that marijuana is relatively safe and that expanding legal access to it would not significantly harm the public health.”

“Our comment letter explains why nothing could be further from the truth,” Hilgers said in a press release. “The Biden Administration’s effort ignores the science, ignores our decades-old treaty obligations, and ignores the law, all while acting to give marijuana companies a tax break.”

In all, the proposal to the Department of Justice received more than 40,000 comments before the public comment period closed on Monday.

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Dallas, Texas Officials Approve Cannabis Decriminalization Petition Signatures

7/24/2024

Officials in Dallas, Texas on Tuesday finalized the petition to put a cannabis decriminalization ordinance to voters in November. If approved, the ordinance would “make enforcement of Class A and Class B misdemeanor marijuana possession its lowest enforcement priority,” the petition states.

“In particular, the City shall update its annual budget, police department manual, and relevant policies and procedures to ensure that public safety resources are not wasted on misdemeanor marijuana enforcement, and are instead targeted at other programs that best promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the people of Dallas,” the proposal states.

In a statement, Catina Voellinger, executive director of Ground Game Texas, which is leading the effort, said “The overwhelming support of the ballot petition by Dallas voters is evidence that listening to the community and organizing around issues that matter to them is key to building voter enthusiasm and turnout.”

The group had collected nearly 50,000 signatures from Dallas voters to get the issue on ballots.

“This would not have been possible without the dedication and expertise of our field staff, who were able not only to collect tens of thousands of signatures but also ensure that those signatures were accurate and verifiable. We look forward to winning in November and continuing to build our movement.” — Voellinger in a press release

The measure would decriminalize personal possession of up to 4 ounces of cannabis in the city.

Petitions were also submitted to enact similar reforms in Bastrop and Lockhart. Voters in Austin, Denton, Elgin, Killeen, and San Marcos have approved similar measures. In May, voters in Lubbock rejected a decriminalization referendum, as did San Antonio voters last year; however, San Antonio’s measure was tied to larger criminal justice reforms. Voters in Harker Heights also approved the reforms, but the city council ultimately repealed the initiative.

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Ohio Officials Award 10 Adult-Use Cannabis Licenses; Release Dispensary Rules

7/24/2024

Ohio officials have awarded the first adult-use cannabis industry licenses in the state to four cultivators and six processing facilities, WCMH reports. Regulators also released industry guidelines for dispensaries, despite not issuing any dispensary permits on the first licensing batch.

The licenses were awarded to:

Pure Ohio Wellness, LLC – Cultivation and processing in Springfield
GTI Ohio, LLC – Cultivation and processing in Toledo
AT-CPC of Ohio, LLC – Cultivation and processing in Akron
Farkas Farms, LLC – Cultivation in Grafton
One Orijin, LLC – Processing in Columbus
Riviera Creek Holdings II, LLC – Processing in Youngstown
FN Group Holdings, LLC – Processing in Ravenna Township

Most of the current medical cannabis dispensaries in the state have applied for a dual-use certificate, which would allow them to sell cannabis to both patients and non-patients. The Ohio Division of Cannabis Control (DCC) has awarded many of those companies provisional licenses that allow them to prepare for adult-use sales.

Under DCC rules released Monday, outlined by the Columbus Dispatch, dispensaries will not be allowed to host ribbon cuttings when they open or have any celebratory décor, unapproved signage, or product displays outside the dispensary. No on-site consumption will be permitted, including samples. Music and food trucks are also not permitted outside of the dispensaries.

Dispensaries will be allowed to play recorded music inside, provide complimentary non-infused, non-alcoholic beverages, display the empty packaging of products indoors, and host ribbon cuttings and display signage and celebratory décor inside shops.

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Report: Cannabis Rescheduling Would Create 50,000+ Jobs

7/24/2024

The Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA) has issued a report detailing that the sector stands to create more than 50,000 new jobs by 2030 if the federal government were to follow through on the Biden Administration’s plans to reschedule cannabis. The group submitted the report on Monday to meet this week’s deadline for public comments related to the rescheduling plan.

The proposed rescheduling move — which would shift cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act — would not federally legalize cannabis but it would relax some of the harshest restrictions on the industry. Primarily, cannabis licensees would be finally spared from the federal Section 280E tax code, which prohibits tax deductions for companies that deal in Schedule I substances — and the potential tax relief is the primary factory behind those 50,000+ potential new jobs, the report said.

The report — signed by MCBA’s President Tahir Johnson and Vice President Frederika McClary Easley — consults survey data from 206 cannabis licensees across 32 states, including 171 businesses that directly cultivate, process, manufacture, distribute, test, or sell cannabis products.

“Our comprehensive survey and detailed economic analysis projects that rescheduling and the resulting [tax] reform would result in the creation of 55,500 jobs by 2030, generating as much as $2.7 billion in wages and $5.6 billion in new economic activity. We therefore encourage DEA to act with deliberate speed in publishing a final rule moving marijuana to schedule III.” — Statement signed by Johnson and McClary Easley, in the report

The survey also found that 80% of cannabis companies in the U.S. cite tax and finance issues as significant problems.

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New Jersey’s Stockton University Offering Degree In Cannabis Business Management

7/24/2024

Stockton University in Galloway, New Jersey this fall will be the first university in the state to offer undergraduate degrees in cannabis studies. The Bachelor of Science in Hemp and Cannabis Business Management offered through Stockton’s School of Business will include courses covering cannabis cultivation, medical cannabis, and social justice and cannabis. The degree will also cover cannabis business policy and strategies, marketing principles, and macroeconomics.

Adjunct Professor Rob Mejia, who teaches Cannabis Studies at Stockton, said in a press release that the New Jersey cannabis industry is set to sell more than $1 billion worth of cannabis products this year — “You have to pay attention to a $1 billion business.”

“It’s clearly an industry that is growing exponentially, and as a result, there are job opportunities that have surfaced, both directly within the industry as well as with ancillary jobs. It’s an opportunity for students to capture much needed talent in a booming industry.” — Warren Kleinsmith, Dean of the School of Business, in a statement

Stockton introduced a Cannabis Studies minor in 2018, and in 2021 launched a Cannabis & Hemp Research Institute to provide cannabis education, research, and resources for the state and national cannabis markets. The new undergraduate degree will build on the existing minor, which has seen more than 70 graduates, according to the school.

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Monthly Cannabis Box Delivery Coming Soon to Denver

7/23/2024

GreenDoor boxes are filled with flower, edibles, pre-rolls and other licensed cannabis products sold at dispensaries, as well as deluxe foods, swag and smoking accessories

Whether you want coffee, cosmetics or cured meats, there’s likely a subscription service that will deliver a box of those desired items to your doorstep once a month.

“In my house, we have everything on subscription. Razors, food, everything comes in a box nowadays,” Damon Brooks says.

Everything but cannabis.

Colorado was the first state to allow recreational pot sales in 2014, but tight rules surrounding cannabis sales, production facilities and delivery still effectively block cannabis subscription boxes. Curated cannabis boxes sold through monthly drops are allowed, however, and Brooks thinks he’s figured out how to bespoke our buds with GreenDoor’s Cannabis Experience Box.

GreenDoor boxes are filled with flower, edibles, pre-rolls and other licensed cannabis products sold at dispensaries, as well as deluxe foods, swag and smoking accessories. Brooks, who also operates an e-commerce business for smoking accessories and glassware, says he was waiting for the ability to add non-infused munchies like beef jerky and BBQ spice rub to “curate an experience or lifestyle products in association with cannabis products from dispensaries.”

Although cannabis delivery has been legal in Denver since 2021, a rule from medical marijuana’s early days barred dispensaries from selling anything consumable that wasn’t infused with THC, CBD or other forms of cannabis. But earlier this year, state lawmakers passed a bill giving dispensaries the right to sell convenience store items without tobacco or nicotine.

After sitting on the idea since 2022, Brooks and his girlfriend, Samantha Barela, could finally move past the regulatory red light. On August 7, GreenDoor’s first boxes will delivered to customers in Denver and Aurora, which are the only two cities in the metro area allowing cannabis delivery.

In order to legally perform cannabis sales and deliveries, GreenDoor has partnered with Police & Thieves dispensaries in Denver. For each box, GreenDoor selects specific products to fit the season or theme, with Police & Thieves procuring the cannabis products. Brooks and Barela add snacks and other items, then send out a drop notice to customers who have signed up for their newsletter.

GreenDoor customers can pick up their boxes at either of Police & Thieves’ two dispensaries, while customers in Denver and Aurora (and any nearby municipalities allowing dispensary delivery in the future) can have them delivered to their doorstep by Better Days Delivery, a licensed cannabis delivery service that has partnered with Police & Thieves.

“Back in the original days, having people come drop off the bag at your house was super convenient, but nowadays you have to spend 45 minutes or an hour to go out and find good cannabis. Unique products and strains take even longer,” Brooks notes.

But unlike home dropoffs before legalization, you can actually count on the estimated time of arrival with GreenDoor and dispensary deliveries. According to Brooks, you can count on the selection process, too.

The first GreenDoor release, dubbed the Summer Celebration Box, includes an eighth of flower from celebrated grower Iion Cannabis, a pre-roll from Method Man’s cannabis brand, Tical, and edibles from Craft Dablets and Wyld gummies. Small-batch beef jerky, spice rub, a Bluetooth speaker, sparklers, rolling papers and hemp gummies are included in the box, as well.

“What we’ve done is make this not fully associated with cannabis, but the celebration and experience,” Brooks explains. “We put a lot of time and thought into filling each box, and into the products themselves. It’s not a bunch of cheap cannabis products and cheap Temu crap.”

On top of complying with all the rules associated with the delivery, pre-orders and bundle transactions, securing local permits to operate isn’t easy for cannabis startups. Brooks took full advantage of social equity business resources offered by the state and the City of Denver, including business classes, reduced licensing fees and a $25,000 grant from the state’s Cannabis Business Office — but loosening the tightly wound web of cannabis regulations could still be GreenDoor’s biggest obstacle.

“Probably the first year, all we did was try to understand the licensing, rule-making and laws. I’ve had to go back and forth with Square a few times. You’d think just setting up an online e-commerce site would be easy today, but it’s not,” Brooks laments.

Virtually zero towns and counties have considered cannabis delivery since Aurora and Denver opted in three years ago. GreenDoor is starting slow at 100 boxes per drop to create exclusivity and help Brooks and Barela grow at the right pace, he adds.

“It’s a real challenge, trying to get municipalities on board for it, but that’s what we’re trying to do here,” he says. “I ask a lot of friends if they know they could get weed delivered, and most of them don’t.”

Brooks believes dispensary shoppers will become interested in delivery when they find out what’s inside those boxes, though.

Each GreenDoor box starts at $130, with a delivery fee that lands at around $10, depending on the delivery address, with a $10 discount and no delivery fee for customers who pre-order by August 7; customers who’ve signed up to GreenDoor’s newsletter will get first access, he says. Brooks can’t make it a monthly subscription service yet because current laws won’t allow dispensaries to accept money without having the items in hand, but he already has ideas for the second round of boxes.

“Just a little hint,” he says. “It will be based off the music industry, and we’re partnering with a bunch of local venues, artists and managers, so it’ll be geared toward going to a concert.”

About GreenDoor: Based in Denver, GreenDoor specializes in curated cannabis boxes that enhance everyday life. Founded by social equity licensee, St. Louis native Damon Brooks and wellness expert, Colorado native Samantha Barela, each box combines high-quality cannabis with lifestyle products, tailored to modern consumers seeking unique and enriching experiences.

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New Hampshire Adds Generalized Anxiety to Medical Cannabis Program; Gov. Vetoes Dispensary Greenhouses

7/22/2024

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) this month gave final approval to a measure to add generalized anxiety to the state’s list of qualifying conditions for medical cannabis, the New Hampshire Bulletin reports. Sununu also vetoed a bill that would have allowed the state’s medical cannabis dispensaries to build greenhouses on their cultivation sites if approved by the state Department of Health and Human Services.

In his veto message, Sununu said that he rejected the legislation because it “provides scant detail regarding safety, security and location requirements” which he said “are necessary to ensure appropriate controls on a regulated substance.”

The governor’s actions come about a month after House lawmakers tabled an adult-use legalization bill, even though the bill had been approved by the state Senate and included provisions – such as state-run adult-use cannabis dispensaries – meant to gain support for the reforms from Sununu.

The law adding generalized anxiety disorder to the state’s medical cannabis qualifying conditions list takes effect Sept. 10. The last condition added to the state’s medical cannabis program was severe pain. Patients were permitted to begin enrolling in the program in October 2023 for that condition.

As of 2022, the last time the state published patient enrollment data, there were about 13,000 registered patients in New Hampshire’s medical cannabis program.

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Tilray Receives Cannabis Cultivation License Under Germany’s Legalization Law

7/22/2024

Tilray Brands, Inc. said on Monday that its Germany-based cannabis cultivation facility, Aphria RX GmbH, had received a cultivation license under Germany’s new adult-use cannabis legalization law.

Aphria RX was licensed in 2019 to grow cannabis for Germany’s medical cannabis program but with its newest license, the company is authorized to cultivate and manufacture even more products. Additionally, the cultivator is expanding its genetics from the three strains previously approved for the medical cannabis program to 31 approved strains under the Cannabis Act.

“We are thrilled to receive this license as it will provide greater access to some of the highest quality medical cannabis produced in Germany and enable us to expand the range of treatment options available to patients. We appreciate the trust that the German Government has placed in Tilray, and we are proud of our team for their groundbreaking work in medical cannabis cultivation and patient care.” — Denise Faltischek, Chief Strategy Officer and Head of International for Tilray, in a press release

Germany’s adult-use cannabis legalization law took effect on April 1. Under the law, cannabis was removed from Germany’s Narcotics List, and adults aged 18 and older are now allowed to possess and consume cannabis. The proposal initially included regulated adult-use sales but lawmakers walked back their plans for a fully regulated marketplace.

Cannabis access is, for now, largely limited to homegrown supplies although new cannabis clubs launched this month, through which a limited number of members can legally source their cannabis.

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Southern Ute Indian Tribe Invests in Panda Biotech Hemp Processing Facility in Texas

7/22/2024

The Southern Ute Indian Tribe is investing in a 500,000-square-foot hemp processing facility in Wichita Falls, Texas, the Durango Herald reports. The grand opening for the Panda Hemp Gin facility was held last month. The facility will process hemp straw for use in textiles, straw, and pellets.

During the ribbon-cutting last month, Tribal Chairman Melvin J. Baker said the “facility represents not just an investment in the future of hemp production … but also a dedication to environmental stewardship and community development.”

Panda Biotech announced its partnership with the tribe last year. The facility can process as much as 22,000 pounds of hemp fiber an hour, making it the second-largest in the world, the report says.

Shane Seibel, executive director of the Southern Ute Growth Fund, told the Herald that the tribe is “interested in the sequestering of substantial amounts of carbon dioxide now, not only here locally on our oil and gas facilities, but everywhere else.”

“And this partnership really aligned well with the energy transition,” Seibel said.

Dixie Carter, president of Panda Biotech, added that the company’s industrial hemp “will play a pivotal role in satisfying significant global market demand for renewable processes and products.”

“As research and development in this area continue to advance, industrial hemp fiber and cellulose will help transform numerous industries with sustainable goals and challenges,” she said.

The company said the process produces zero waste, uses every part of the hemp plant, and the facility operates on 100% renewable energy. The straw is sourced from Texas and surrounding states.

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California Issues Fines Totaling $1.3M to Three Illegal Indoor Cannabis Grows & Raids Outdoor Sites Near State Parks

7/22/2024

Police in Fairfield, California were joined last month by the Code Enforcement Unit, Patrol, and the California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) in uncovering three indoor illegal cannabis grows, KRON4 reports. The effort was a joint operation between the DCC and Fairfield Police Department’s Special Operations Team, Code Enforcement Unit, and Patrol.

Fairfield PD said on Friday in a statement released on social media that the operation uncovered 2,624 illegally grown plants and officials issued fines totaling $1,313,000 to the illegal grows. The fines covered violations of city municipal codes covering construction, health and safety violations, and the illegal possession of cannabis for sale.

“During the investigation officers discovered CO2 tanks, hazardous materials, illegal construction, exposed and melting electrical wiring, and unknown chemicals.” — Fairfield PD statement, via Facebook

Meanwhile, last week, the governor’s office announced that law enforcement units in the state had conducted operations near two state parks, eradicating thousands of pounds of illegally grown cannabis and seizing illegal firearms including ghost guns and assault weapons.

Officers ultimately found and destroyed 3,684 plants at three different grow sites near Saddleback Butte State Park in Antelope Valley and 1,572 plants at two different grow sites near Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park in Allensworth.

Participating agencies in the state park operations included the DCC, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, the California Department of Justice, California State Parks, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the California National Guard Counter Drug Task Force, and the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office.

The Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce (UCETF) this year has seized over $120 million in illegal cannabis products, including more than 73,000 pounds of unlicensed cannabis, and has eradicated more than 122,000 illegal cannabis plants during its enforcement actions.

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Oklahoma Court: Cannabis Patients Who Consume Cannabis While Pregnant Cannot Be Prosecuted for Child Neglect

7/22/2024

The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals last week ruled that women with state-issued medical cannabis cards who consume cannabis while pregnant cannot be prosecuted for child neglect, The Frontier reports. The ruling came in the case of Amanda Aguilar who was charged with felony child neglect in 2020 after her son tested positive for cannabis at birth.

Aguilar was registered as a medical cannabis patient at the time to treat severe morning sickness caused by her pregnancy. Her son was born healthy, but the hospital reported her to child welfare workers who turned over her son’s drug test results to police.

“I might have actually laid down if this had been a fight over any other thing else. But because it was over my kids, that was the reason I didn’t give up.” — Aguilar to The Frontier

The court’s decision sets a new legal precedent in Oklahoma. In the ruling, the court noted that it does not condone cannabis use for pregnant women, but the treatment is legal in the state. In the court’s majority opinion, Presiding Judge Scott Rowland noted that were the court to rule against Aguilar it would require the justices “to rewrite the statutes in a way we simply do not think is appropriate for courts to do.” It did urge lawmakers to change state law to allow women to be charged for using medical cannabis while pregnant.

Two judges dissented, arguing that Aguilar’s unborn son did not have his own medical cannabis card and that neither voters nor the Legislature intended to allow unborn children to be exposed to cannabis when they passed medical cannabis laws.

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Public Comment Period for Federal Cannabis Rescheduling Ends Monday

7/19/2024

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has proposed moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), a change reflecting its widely accepted medical use and revised views on its abuse potential and dependence risk. This proposal aligns with recommendations from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) submitted last year.

Public response has been robust, with over 37,000 comments submitted so far. The public comment period will close on July 22, 2024, providing only three more days for individuals and organizations to express their views.

If finalized, this change would subject cannabis to Schedule III regulatory controls, which are less stringent than those for Schedule I substances. However, existing marijuana-specific regulations and criminal prohibitions under the CSA and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) would still apply. The change also would not explicitly change anything for state-legal cannabis markets, or for people currently incarcerated for cannabis-related convictions.

The DOJ has invited the public to submit comments electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at regulations.gov by referencing “Docket No. DEA-1362.” Alternatively, paper comments can be mailed to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) at their Springfield, Virginia address, but electronic submissions are encouraged to streamline the process. All comments received will be part of the public record and accessible online.

This proposed rescheduling marks a pivotal moment in federal cannabis policy, potentially easing restrictions on research and medical use while maintaining regulatory oversight. Stakeholders have until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 22 to submit their input and contribute to this historic decision-making process. Click here to submit a public comment before the deadline.

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UCLA Wants to Build Rooftop Garden for Psychedelics Therapy Sessions

7/19/2024

The University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) is planning to construct a rooftop garden designed for psychedelic-assisted therapy sessions, UCLA Health reports.

The proposal would convert the eighth floor of the university’s Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior into a “living laboratory,” said Dr. Helena Hansen, Md, PhD, who is the director of the Semel Institute and the co-founder and director of Project ReConnect, the university’s Ecological Medicine and Psychedelic Studies Initiative. Under the plan, the building’s top floor would become a restricted space for the application and study of medicinal psychedelics, while one of the building’s lower-level decks would be converted to a publicly accessible green space and community garden.

Project Reconnect — through investigating humans’ connections with one another, their communities, and Earth’s natural ecosystems — aims to uncover “how we can foster connections with each other, foster connections with the natural world … and where necessary, bring the natural world of plants and animals into the biomedical clinic,” Dr. Hansen said in the report.

“For many people, just having contact with soil, plants and animals – that in itself was beneficial. For others, there were conversations with their peers, with their therapist, out in the garden that wouldn’t have happened in a room one-on-one with the door closed. I saw that being out there with the garden was really game-changing for many people, and that the nature contact was vitally important.” – Dr. Hansen, during a Project ReConnect presentation, via UCLA Health

Planning and funding efforts for both the rooftop deck and the lower-level community garden are already underway, the report said.

Preliminary research has found that certain psychedelics including MDMA (a.k.a. ecstasy) and psilocybin show promise against treatment-resistant cases of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The FDA recently reported concerns about the initial investigations of MDMA as a new therapy for PTSD.

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Oklahoma Cannabis Agency Lays Off 10% of Employees Amid Industry Downturn

7/19/2024

The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) announced this week the agency is laying off 10% of its workforce in response to the state’s shrinking medical cannabis industry, according to Tulsa World.

“With commercial license numbers decreasing, it was imperative we find efficiencies in our operations. In the coming weeks, we will introduce the new organizational structure for our agency. Your expertise and ideas will be crucial in this phase.” — OMMA Executive Director Adria Berry, in an email to agency employees, via Tulsa World

The reductions will affect between 25-30 employees and only “positions that no longer serve the needs of the agency” will be eliminated, OMMA Executive Director Adria Berry told employees via email.

There are currently about 6,600 licensed cannabis companies operating in Oklahoma but the number has been declining for years, and the current total is down 25% from the start of 2023, the report said. The downturn follows significant efforts by lawmakers and officials to rein in Oklahoma’s medical cannabis industry, which in 2023 was producing 64 times more cannabis than its patient base demanded.

“Righting this ship meant taking a hard look at where we are spending our time and energy as an agency in light of decreasing commercial license numbers and a limited appropriated budget,” Berry wrote.

Oklahoma state lawmakers in 2022 set a two-year licensing moratorium on new medical cannabis licenses and, earlier this year, they extended the moratorium another two years until 2026.

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New Iowa Hemp Restrictions Now in Effect

7/17/2024

New Iowa regulations that restrict the sale and potency of consumable hemp products took effect on Wednesday after a legislative committee opted not to pause the rulemaking process, The Gazette reports. The law is subject to a federal lawsuit brought by a group of hemp companies seeking to block it from taking effect; however, a judge has not yet issued a ruling on the case.

The law, signed into law in May, limits THC content to 4 milligrams per serving and 10 milligrams per container, requires warning labels and that the products conform to packaging standards. The law also bans the sale of synthetic consumable hemp products to minors.

During the Tuesday hearing, hemp businesses urged lawmakers to pause the rulemaking process. Scott Selix, co-founder of beverage manufacturer Climbing Kites, argued that the state Department of Health and Human Services should not be deciding what a “serving” is and that products his company already has being manufactured aren’t compliant with the new rules, which were unveiled only at the Tuesday meeting and set to take effect just the next day.

“It’s not an exaggeration to say that I have no idea how to comply with this law. … The department has refused to answer my questions.” — Selix, during the hearing, via The Gazette

Members of the Administrative Rules Review Committee could have implemented a 70-day pause on the rules, delayed them until the next legislative session, or filed a formal objection. State Sen. Cindy Winckler (D) had proposed a 70-day pause so businesses could conform with the rules; however, the proposal was rejected by Republicans on the panel.

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Feds Send Cease-and-Desist Letters to Companies Marketing Delta-8 Products to Children by Imitating Popular Brands

7/17/2024

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday sent cease-and-desist letters to five companies accusing them of marketing delta-8 THC products to children by using packaging similar to popular foods children often eat, including Froot Loops cereal and Chips Ahoy! cookies.

In a statement, Samuel Levine, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said companies “that prioritize profits in front of children’s safety are at serious risk of legal action.”

“Companies that market and sell edible THC products that are easily mistaken for snacks and candy are not only acting illegally, but they are also putting the health of young children at risk.” — Levine in a press release

The agencies sent letters to Levittown, Pennsylvania-based Hippy Mood; Murrells Inlet, South Carolina-based Life Leaf Medicinal CBD Center; Miami, Florida-based Mary Janes Bakery Co. LLC and Miami Rave; Cape Coral, Florida-based Earthly Hemps; and online retailer Shamrockshrooms.com.

The products targeted by the agencies include Double Stuff Stoneo, which mimic Oreo cookies, Stoney Ranchers Hard Candy, a Jolly Rancher Hard Candy copycat, and Trips Ahoy!, among others.

FDA Principal Deputy Commissioner Namandjé Bumpus, Ph.D, stated that “Inadequate or confusing labeling can result in children or unsuspecting adults consuming products with strong resemblance to popular snacks and candies that contain delta-8 THC without realizing it.”

“As accidental ingestion and/or overconsumption of delta-8 THC containing products could pose considerable health risks, the companies who sell these illegal products are demonstrating complete neglect for consumer safety,” Bumpus said in a statement. “The FDA will continue to work to safeguard the health and safety of U.S. consumers by monitoring the marketplace and taking action when companies sell products that present a threat to public health.”

In the letters, the FTC demands the companies immediately stop marketing edible delta-8 products that imitate conventional foods using advertising or packaging that is likely to appeal to young children.

In 2023, the FDA and FTC sent warning letters to six companies that were marketing edible delta-8 products in packaging nearly identical to Doritos and Cheetos chips, and Nerds candy.

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Hempcrete Wall Product Earns One-Hour Fire Resistance Rating from ASTM International

7/17/2024

A wall product produced by Americhanvre Cast Hemp using Ereasy hempcrete has received a one-hour fire resistance rating from ASTM International. In a July 15 Facebook post, the York, Pennsylvania-based company said it is “the first time a full scale ASTM E119 test has been performed on a hempcrete wall section.”

The ASTM E119 test is intended to evaluate the duration for which the types of building elements contain a fire, retain their structural integrity, or exhibit both properties during a predetermined test exposure. Americhanvre said the successful test “will help to unlock a variety of larger-scale commercial projects for the Ereasy system in the United States!”

The product tested was a 12-inch-thick wall assembly using the Ereasy hempcrete system, using lime plaster on both the interior and exterior faces.

“The exterior face of this panel with the sensors was completely undamaged through the one hour firing at 1700 degrees F as well as the subsequent hose stream test. … The panel was placed under load … and the exterior face never rose a single degree above ambient temperature! Incredibly compelling results!” — Americhanvre in a Facebook post

In 2023, hempcrete was approved as a non-structural wall infill system for the model U.S. residential building code by the International Code Council. The International Building Code could consider hempcrete for commercial projects next year.

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Snoop Dogg Launches Cannabis Dispensary in California

7/17/2024

Rapper icon and famed cannabis enthusiast, entrepreneur, and investor Snoop Dogg this week launched his first licensed cannabis dispensary, S.W.E.D., which stands for ‘Smoke Weed Every Day.’ The dispensary officially opened for business on Sunday, July 14, and is located near LAX airport in Los Angeles.

In early 2022, Snoop acquired Death Row Records (DRR), the record label behind many of hip-hop’s earliest and most influential stars. In 2023, he announced the launch of Death Row Cannabis (DRC), a California cannabis brand. Last week’s dispensary opening precedes this week’s launch of DRC’s first exclusive cannabis product release.

The company said in a press release the new product line honors the late rapper 2Pac, who was one of the first and most influential artists signed with the DRR label. According to Snoop, he also received his first-ever blunt from 2Pac.

“That first blunt sparked a friendship that ran deep. We’ll always have his music, but this is another way I can bring what was meaningful to 2Pac to his fans.” — Snoop Dogg, in a press release

The product line will be available in “select California dispensaries” by Friday, July 19, with products anticipated to launch in Michigan sometime later this year.

Before acquiring DRR and launching DRC, Snoop Dogg founded another cannabis brand, Leafs By Snoop, in 2015 in the Colorado adult-use market; that brand is produced by the multistate operator Canopy Growth Corporation.

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