Luxembourg Legalizes Cannabis Cultivation for Adults

10/22/2021

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Luxembourg’s government has legalized cannabis cultivation for adults 18-and-older making it the first European nation to broadly legalize cannabis cultivation for its citizens, the Guardian reports. Under the law, adults can grow up to four plants in their homes or on other property they own. The trade of cannabis seeds is also allowed under the legislation.

Luxembourg leaders do intend to legalize commercial cannabis sales, but those reforms have been delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. Cannabis consumption in public remains outlawed along with person-to-person sales along with transporting more than 3 grams, the report says.

The government said the law will allow citizens to use and grow cannabis “within one’s own four walls.”

With the reforms, Luxembourg joins Canada, Uruguay, and several U.S. states in flouting the United National convention on the control of narcotic drugs. In the Netherlands, cannabis remains technically illegal, but the nation has a “tolerance policy,” which has allowed recreational use within its borders.

Cannabis liberalization laws are also being considered in Germany following the electoral victories by the Social Democrats, the Greens, and the Free Democrats last month. The Free Democrats estimate that if cannabis was to be taxed similarly to cigarettes, Germany could raise up to €1 billion annually.

Luxembourg government sources told the Guardian that was cannabis legalized for commercials sales, the revenues would be used “primarily in prevention, education, and healthcare in the broad field of addiction.”

The general framework of Luxembourg’s law had been agreed to two years ago by the Liberals, Social Democrats, and Greens.

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Rhode Island Lawmakers Nearing Deal on Cannabis Legalization

10/22/2021

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The executive branch and legislative negotiators in Rhode Island are close to reaching a deal on regulating adult cannabis use, but some sticking points remain, according to a WPRI report. At a “Media and Politics Cafe” on the campus of Johnson & Wales, Sen. Josh Miller, a leading sponsor of an adult-use bill passed by the Senate in June, revealed the 150 retail locations initially proposed had been trimmed down significantly.

“We’re probably down to more in the 30, 40 range,” Miller said, admitting he had to “dodge and weave” around reporters’ questions due to the ongoing negotiations.

Miller did mention a social equity component would be included in any licensing agreement. Additionally, all sides have agreed to include expungement provisions in any proposed legislation. Lastly, the negotiators have agreed to put a temporary moratorium on new cultivation sites, bowing to pressure from producers, who say they already do not have enough legal retail locations to sell their crops, the report says.

“As you know the governor supports recreational cannabis and his team has been actively working with our partners in the General Assembly on a bill that is equitable and benefits Rhode Island,” said Gov. Dan McKee’s press secretary, Alana O’Hare, in an email to WPRI.  “The conversations are ongoing, and we are hopeful that an agreement can be reached.”

Miller says the two sides are mostly split on who will oversee adult-use cannabis licensing and regulation. Miller’s bill calls for the formation of an entirely new regulatory body, while another proposal puts the program in the hands of the Department of Business. McKee, House, and Senate representatives have all put forward different retail shop numbers throughout the negotiations. Taxation numbers hover around 20%, but some work remains to decide how tax dollars are split between localities and the state. Finally, after their efforts failed in the regular session, leaders hinted at a possible special session in the Fall, although this is unlikely, but not off the table, the report says.

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Dab Pens vs Dab Rigs: The Complete Guide

10/21/2021

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Vaping is becoming ever more popular, especially when it comes to cannabis. Now legal in plenty of states – some even let individuals grow their own – cannabis and vaping go together. Smoking can be dangerous and is also banned in many places, which increases vaping’s popularity.

As the market develops, so new devices have become available. Fresh brands enter the vape market regularly, which leads to greater innovation. For newcomers to the world of vaping, there is plenty of jargon to come to grips with.

This article is about the art of dabbing and in particular the dab pen and dab rig – what are they, and what is dabbing? Let’s not waste any more time!

What is dabbing?

There are several forms in which cannabis can be used in a vape device. It can be vaped as a dry herb, as cannabis oil, or as a wax concentrate. The latter is known as ‘dabbing’ and the devices that enable this method are the dab pen and the dab rig.

But what is cannabis wax concentrate? The cannabis plant contains many compounds available for extraction. The two most popular and available compounds in cannabis are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) but THC is the substance in which we are most interested with regard to dabbing.

THC is the main psychoactive element in the cannabis plant, the one that causes the ‘high’ sensation we enjoy. Buy a top-quality dry herb to vape and you will find around 20% THC content. Buy wax concentrate and the content can be as high as 80%. This is because wax concentrate is created using extraction methods that isolate the THC from most of the other compounds in the plant.

Dabbing usually offers the highest concentration of THC of all consumption methods, hence its popularity (cannabis oil – also known as hash oil – offers around 50% THC content). With the explosive growth of vaping devices in the world in recent years, there is more innovation in this sector, and dab pens have also benefited.

Wayne Chen, the CEO of Vape4Ever, told us that they have become popular through selling concentrate vape pen products.

Now we will explain how a dab pen and dab rig works, and why you may want to buy one.

How does a dab pen work?

Vaping is a relatively young and rapidly evolving market. While the concept has been around since the first quarter of the 20th century, it was not until the early part of this century that the first commercially available vape devices hit the market. The introduction of the e-cigarette – as the first examples were marketed – coincided with many countries banning tobacco smoking in public places. Vaping was – and still is – seen as a safer and more socially acceptable alternative.

Rapid evolution comes with increasing demand. Soon, the market was full of new brands offering vape mods – larger devices with greater power – and then the more discreet vape pen. These resembled a typical pen being long and thin and while many of today’s vape pens are not shaped thus, the name stuck.

Essentially, a standard vape pen and a dab pen are the same thing but for reasons we will explain now, it is unwise to use a dab pen to vape dry herbs, and vice versa. The dab pen is a relatively simple device, so let us walk you through how to use a typical example.

A dab pen’s most important components are the heating chamber, the coil – or atomizer – and the battery. These are contained in an outer shell that has a mouthpiece attached and a clear airway to the chamber.

The dab – the wax concentrate – is put into the chamber. The user performs the procedure to begin the vaping routine. This usually involves pressing a button a certain number of times (although there are some models that are activated by taking a draw). The battery heats the coil to a prescribed temperature at which the wax concentrate is vaporized. The result is a cloud of cannabis vapor that can be inhaled.

Here is the important bit: unlike a cigarette, there is no combustion. This eliminates the problem of tar and certain elements created by the act of burning, elements that we now know have been responsible for lung diseases and may even cause cancer.

There is one further important factor that we need to mention, and that is why you need a dedicated dab pen for wax concentrate. Concentrate, oil and dry herbs all vaporize at different temperatures with different results. The material that the coil in a dab pen is made of will most likely be quartz or ceramic. That in a pen for dry herbs may be stainless steel. The efficiency of the pen depends on the right materials and the right temperatures being used.

Now let’s look at the dab rig.

How does a dab rig work?

A dab rig can be described as the wax concentrate version of a traditional bong. Mostly glass, this simple and yet surprisingly effective device is designed for use in the home rather than as a portable vaping device. The dab rig consists of the following: a mouthpiece, a chamber for water, and a bowl or ‘nail’. The dab – the wax concentrate – is put into the nail. It is then heated, usually with a blowtorch, to the point at which the cannabis concentrate vaporizes.

There is no electrical control with a dab rig, and they are operated as described above entirely manually. Naturally this can be a bit hit and miss but there is one major advantage to the dab rig over the dab pen: the massively stronger and more potent vape cloud.

Just as a bong will produce the best hit for dry herb – better and more powerful than any joint – there is no vape device, no matter how advanced, that can match the dab rig for sheer potency. Dab rigs make a great addition to a pot party. Let’s have a quick look at the pros and cons of the dab rig and the dab pen.

Pros and cons of dab rigs and dab pens

Dab Rig:

The advantages of the dab rig include:

  • Most powerful hit of any dabbing device.
  • No electricity needed.
  • Produces a large vapor cloud.
  • Water filter.

The disadvantages of the dab rig include:

  • Needs external heat source.
  • Results can be variable.
  • Fragile construction.
  • Not portable or discreet.
  • Needs regular cleaning.

Dab Pen:

The advantages of the dab pen are:

  • Compact and discreet.
  • Easy to use.
  • Short heating time.
  • Adjustable temperature settings.
  • Low maintenance.

The disadvantages of the dab pen are:

  • Battery needs regular charging.
  • Not as powerful as a dab rig.
  • Flavor not as rich.

Before we move on to look at which one you should be buying it’s important that we check out the alternatives to dabbing cannabis.

What are the alternatives to dabbing?

We’ve explained that dabbing is using cannabis wax concentrate and gives the highest level of THC content. There are other methods of using cannabis, so we’ve put together a few words about the most popular.

The traditional joint is still popular with many users who not only enjoy it more than vaping but also recognise the culture that surrounds smoking marijuana. The dangers, however, are well known. If this is your preferred method then that’s up to you, and we suggest you check out some of the reputable weed retailers for quality product.

Vaping dry herb cannabis has been mentioned already. You can buy quality vape pens that are designed for this purpose and come fitted with the ideal type of heating coil. Look for one that has a variable voltage option as that allows you to select the temperature and which the device vaporizes the cannabis. Different temperatures affect the taste and the harshness of the cloud, enabling you to select a point at which you are happiest.

Vaping cannabis oil is another popular method. Cannabis oil is extracted from the plant along with compounds additional to THC. These include cannabidiol and various terpenes – the elements that lend the plant flavor – which many users enjoy. The THC content in this method will be lower than wax concentrate but higher than dry herb.

We’re almost the end as we have covered the important distinctions between the dab rig and the dab pen, so to finish we’ll look at which one you should buy.

Which one should I buy?

Dab rig or dab pen – which is for you? Both have their place in the modern world of vaping cannabis, and the simple answer is to buy one of each. The dab pen you will use when you’re out and about. It fits neatly in a purse or pocket, is discreet and simple to use, and can be switched on and ready for a draw in matter of a few seconds.

The dab rig you can set up at home and enjoy the most impressive and powerful cannabis cloud with your friends. So, have a good look at the reputable online retailers and choose your dab pen and rig, and enjoy vaping cannabis.

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AROYA Enhances Cannabis Production Platform with New Mobile Dashboard

10/21/2021

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Tablet-based ‘Kiosk’ provides growers with a holistic view of room-by-room daily operations, specific environmental conditions, and product yields

Pullman, WA (October 21, 2021) —  AROYA, a METER Group company, today introduced AROYA Kiosk, a new cultivation dashboard for tablets, further adding precision, speed, and accuracy to cannabis cultivation.

AROYA is the preferred cannabis production platform (CPP) of top cannabis operators across the country, combining innovative hardware and software to deliver actionable insights that help improve their yield in grams, per square foot, per year – predictably, profitably, and at scale. AROYA’s cannabis cultivation solutions foster data-driven decision-making, improving yields and operational efficiency while normalizing product quality.

Kiosk provides cultivators with unfettered, real-time visibility of all production activity from every grow room or site, simultaneously. End-to-end encryption enhances security and pin-protected access lets growers control access to sensitive information and review upcoming tasks for themselves or by room.

The new mobile dashboard provides hyper-accurate readouts of measurements in both the substrate and the environment. It also gives a populated task schedule, as well as real-time alerts that allow Master Growers to monitor and adapt every aspect of the production process.

AROYA’s already robust cannabis production platform offering helps stakeholders understand and improve cannabis production processes from seed to sale while driving consistent, scalable success with features like harvest group planning, tasks, alerts, a digital grow journal, recipes – and much more.

Demand for cultivation and production platforms like AROYA that utilize the Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, artificial intelligence, and data analytics is spiking. Analysts from AheadInsight project that the cannabis technology industry will continue to grow exponentially at a CAGR of 33.17 percent and attain a market value of $107.67 billion by 2025.

“Our goal is to empower cannabis growers and cultivators with the competitive advantage that comes from end-to-end visibility and real-time access to data that drives actionable insights,” said Philip Malmquist, General Manager of AROYA. “Putting it together on a single dashboard gives growers all the information they need to make informed decisions that help them cultivate consistently higher quality cannabis and improved grams per square foot per year.”

ABOUT AROYA

AROYA is a cannabis production platform that combines industry-leading hardware and software to help cultivators increase yield, scale operations, and achieve consistent quality. Based in Pullman, Washington, and a division of METER Group, Inc., AROYA optimizes and demystifies the entire cannabis production process from seed to package.

For additional information, please visit www.AROYA.io

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Owner of Massachusetts Cannabis Delivery Company Sentenced in Federal Drug Case

10/21/2021

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The owner of a Massachusetts cannabis delivery company on Tuesday was sentenced in federal court to four years in prison for tax evasion, money laundering, and cannabis distribution and possession. Deana Martin owned and managed Northern Herb and pleaded guilty to the charges in May.

Northern Herb purported to provide medical cannabis to registered patients, who placed their orders online, but the company didn’t ask those it delivered to for proof that they were registered with the Massachusetts medical cannabis program.

Martin’s co-defendant, Tatiana Fridkes, was sentenced in September to time served after she pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cannabis. Fridkes was also sentenced to two years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution of $82,000. Martin was also ordered to pay $528,146 in restitution and three years of supervised release once freed from prison.

According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts, from May 2016 through July 2018, Northern Herb’s revenue exceeded $14 million, and the company did not withhold or pay taxes on its millions of dollars in cannabis sales and did not pay taxes on its profits. Much of the cash collected by Northern Herb from customers was used to pay its suppliers and its workers and in paying cash wages, Northern Herb did not withhold, remit, or pay any payroll or income taxes, including not reporting worker wages to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), nor issuing W-2s or 1099s to its workers. The company employed at least 25 people.

Federal Authorities also said Northern Herb delivered cannabis to unattended locations (such as a front door or hallway) where unknown third parties could have accessed it.

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Costa Rica Congress Passes Medical Cannabis Legalization

10/21/2021

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Costa Rica’s Congress on Tuesday voted to legalize cannabis for medical use despite opposition from President Carlos Alvarado, Reuters reports. Independent lawmaker Zoila Volio told Reuters that she trusts Alvarado understands the reforms will not increase cannabis use in the nation and will not veto the law.

The law also includes hemp law reforms, which would allow the plant to be cultivated in Costa Rica, according to a QCostaRica report.

Under the law, the Ministry of Agriculture is charged with regulating the hemp industry, while the Ministry of Health will be in charge of medical cannabis. Producers of both hemp and medical cannabis will have to register and provide information to the authorities about their activities with the Health and Agriculture agencies and the Costa Rican Institute on Drugs having inspection and industry control powers.

The plan also authorizes the sale of raw materials for medical and therapeutic cannabis to the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS), along with authorized laboratories, for the development of drugs that require it, according to QCostaRica.

According to the Costa Rican News, the bill calls for a 1% tax on income obtained from the sale of medical cannabis. Hemp cultivation licenses will be free with 30% of those licenses earmarked for small farms and cooperatives. Both medical cannabis and hemp producers may set up their operations in the nation’s so-called Free Zones, which offer some economic benefits.

Individuals will also be permitted to cultivate their own cannabis as long as they can prove it is for medical or therapeutic use.

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South Dakota Subcommittee Votes to Advance Adult-Use Cannabis Bill

10/21/2021

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The South Dakota Legislature’s subcommittee on adult-use cannabis on Tuesday voted 8-2 to move forward with a proposal to enact the reforms, KELO reports. The bill moves next to the Legislature’s full cannabis study committee before it heads to the Legislature’s Executive Board, which would decide whether to introduce the bill next session.

South Dakota voters in 2020 approved both adult-use and medical cannabis legalization bills but the initiative is being challenged by two law enforcement officers – at the behest of Republican Gov. Kristi Noem – who argue that the amendment violated the one-subject rule for ballot questions. The court is still considering the case.

If the measure is approved by the cannabis study committee and the Executive Board, it will be introduced in the 2022 session which opens in January, the report says. It would then go through the normal committee process and, if approved, would be voted on in the state House of Representatives and Senate.

Noem continues to oppose the reforms, despite lawmakers moving forward with possibly introducing the bill. Noem’s spokesman, Ian Fury, told Kelo that the governor remains “not supportive of legalizing recreational marijuana.”

In the Supreme Court rules in favor of the initiative, the bill would be moot and adult-use cannabis would be legalized in South Dakota – as voters intended in November.

Two of the key differences between the lawmaker-backed legislation and the voter-approved constitutional amendment are that home-grown cannabis would not be legal and cannabis couldn’t be grown outdoors. The subcommittee decided to put tax provisions into a separate bill so that lawmakers would have clearer choices on legalizing adult-use cannabis and taxing it as a tax increase or as a new tax, which requires a two-thirds majority.

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Former New Jersey Cannabis Company Employee Files Lawsuit Claiming Discrimination

10/21/2021

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A former compliance officer for a New Jersey cannabis business is suing his former employer claiming he was demoted because he is Black, according to an NJ.com report. Shelby Brown, who served as a compliance officer for MPX NJ, filed the lawsuit last week against iAnthus in Superior Court in Monmouth County.

Matthew Sheppe, an attorney with Reiss Sheppe LLP, who is representing Brown, said in a statement that his client believes that “iAnthus’s actions created working conditions so intolerable” that Brown was “compelled to resign, as any reasonable person in his position would have done.”

“I’m a disabled veteran. There was a lot of stress, a lot of exacerbation of my service-related conditions. I had to go, I just couldn’t take it anymore. … I am a highly experienced, highly educated individual, but the issue is that I’m Black. I just need people to see that this is happening in 2021.” – Brown to NJ.com

Brown was named MPX’s national compliance director in 2018 and when iAnthus took over MPX’s operations in 2018, Brown was required to interview for his job, while the white compliance officers were not required to do the same, the lawsuit contends. Brown alleges that iAnthus demoted him to a regional compliance officer role and promoted a white man to take over the national job, the report says. Moreover, Brown said that budget or personnel requests he submitted went ignored, but such requests submitted by white compliance officers were approved and that he was left to do the jobs of several people and duties that fell outside of his job description, the report says.

NJ.com first reported on Brown’s claims in July. At that time, iAnthus CEO Randy Maslow called the claims “inaccurate, deliberately false and frankly defamatory.”

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Bank of America Closes DEA-Approved Cannabis Researcher’s Account

10/21/2021

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Bank of America last week suddenly canceled the bank accounts of Scottsdale Research Institute (SRI), a Scottsdale, Arizona-based research institute that studies the medical efficacy of cannabis and certain psychedelics under a license from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

“[Scottsdale Research Institute] conducts FDA approved controlled trials evaluating cannabis as medicine for treating pain/PTSD in military veterans & terminally ill patients [and] this TRAGICALLY shuts down our research,” Dr. Sue Sisley, Scottsdale Research Institute’s President, said on Twitter.

Dr. Sisley has spent years navigating federal drug laws in the pursuit of expanded research. In 2019, she sued the DEA over its many hurdles to cannabis research, specifically for the limitations of government-sourced cannabis which is nothing like the products being used en masse throughout legal states.

But earlier this year, SRI received preliminary approval from the DEA to become one of the first new cultivators of research-grade cannabis in the country, Marijuana Moment reported.

“We have a contract with DEA. We are growing cannabis for FDA clinical trials and selling it to the DEA. It’s unconscionable the way [Bank of America is] behaving — and further proof that the word ‘cannabis’ continues to be completely radioactive even though this is a 100 percent federally legal operation.” — Dr. Sisley, via Marijuana Moment

SRI had openly worked with Bank of America for 10 years without issue, Dr. Sisley said, and the bank provided zero context or reasoning for the sudden cancellation.

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Telemedicine for Medical Cannabis Bills Introduced in Florida

10/21/2021

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A pair of bills introduced in the Florida Senate and House would permit telemedicine for medical cannabis patients starting July 1, 2022, according to a Florida Politics report.

Introduced by Republicans Sen. Jeff Brandes and Rep. Jayer Williamson, the two pieces of legislation would put into statute a practice already proven successful during the coronavirus pandemic. Medical cannabis telemedicine was allowed on an emergency basis by former Surgeon General Scott Rivkees but is not officially enshrined in Florida law, according to the report.

“For purposes of preparing for, responding to, and mitigating any effect of COVID-19, qualified physicians under section 381.986, Florida Statutes, may issue a physician certification only for an existing qualified patient with an existing certification that was issued by that qualified physician without the need to conduct a physical examination while physically present in the same room as the patient.” – Scott Rivkees in an emergency declaration, via Florida Politics

Senate Bill 164 and its House companion will still require patients to see a doctor in person for an initial visit, but subsequent visits could be conducted via a telemedicine portal. Florida requires yearly recertification for medical cannabis patients but an additional doctor’s visit for re-assessment is required at the seven months point.

Although telemedicine has worked during the pandemic, both the Senate and House bills have an uphill climb before they are signed into law. The Senate version has three committees to work through while the House version faces similar challenges.

These are not the only telemedicine bills in the Florida legislature but the conditions have medical cannabis lobbyist Ron Watson worried. He told Florida Politics that he thinks it will take “some work to get it passed.”

“A stand-alone bill has a long way to go in this environment,” he said in the report.

It is unclear where Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) stands on the issue — however, he has done little to hamper the industry, allowing smokable cannabis early in his term and later not signing on to a bill that sought to limit THC levels.

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Widely Counterfeited Muha Meds Vape Brand Now Licensed In Michigan

10/20/2021

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The self-described “street cannabis brand” Muha Meds has been awarded a cannabis processor license in Michigan. The license — which was first reported in a Fake Cart Detective report by DabConnection earlier this month — may surprise people who are familiar with the Muha Meds name as the vape brand has seen infamously widespread copycats, counterfeit products, and online sales of unregulated, THC-rich cannabis vape carts.

In a press release this week, Muha Meds said it “selected Michigan for the location of its first licensed manufacturing operation due to its welcoming retail climate and business-friendly tax policies.”

The development also comes a few short years after a nationwide vape crisis saw thousands of hospitalizations and dozens of deaths that the CDC tied to vitamin E acetate, a cutting agent found in cannabis vape cartridges that were being bought and sold on the unregulated marketplace. Throughout that crisis, and in the years since, Muha Meds has been among the most widely circulated counterfeit/unregulated vape carts and has been a frequent topic for investigation by vape safety enthusiasts. The aforementioned Fake Cart Detective series by DabConnection, for example, has run several pieces highlighting issues with the brand, although it appears that Muha Meds — or at least the Michigan-based entity — has taken steps toward becoming a legitimate cannabis brand with a trademark application filed in June accompanying its licensure.

In a phone interview with Ganjapreneur, Ali Garawi, the CEO of Michigan-based Muha Meds, said the brand is preparing cease and desist notices against its many impersonators. Garawi also confirmed the location of the brand’s processing facility in Pinconning, Michigan through a video posted to the company’s Instagram story on October 19.

Perhaps not surprisingly, Garawi declined to comment on whether the Michigan brand has ties to the California-based black market brand, so it remains unclear whether the licensed Muha Meds has directly grown from its unregulated roots or is merely an attempt to absorb a well-established brand identity that would be unlikely to sue for intellectual property infringement.

Today, there are still multiple online retailers selling unfilled Muha Meds-branded vape carts and other packaging materials, many through Muha Meds-branded websites like MuhaMedsOfficial.com. There is also a host of Instagram accounts claiming to be the official Muha Meds although only one of them — @muhameds.live — appears to be tied to the now-licensed, Michigan-based operation.

Notably, the packaging for Muha Meds’ products in Michigan also includes a QR code linking to a tool on their official website for distinguishing licensed Muha Meds products from counterfeits or knock-offs. DabConnection reported in January that the tool would approve any code that was input, although this no longer appears to be the case and could not be confirmed by Ganjapreneur.

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Most New York Businesses Can No Longer Test for Cannabis

10/20/2021

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Most New York businesses can no longer test employees for cannabis, according to guidance released earlier this month by the state Department of Labor. The policy change comes seven months after lawmakers approved broad cannabis legalization in the state.

A limited number of businesses, including those with federal mandates or contracts, may still test employees for cannabis and may still terminate employees for failing a drug test. All employers may still fire employees for using cannabis on the job or coming into work under the influence.

According to the guidance, employers also cannot hide behind federal cannabis prohibition as a reason to drug test employees for cannabis; however, employers may still require drug testing for those considered in safety-sensitive positions under both federal and state law. Employees under 21 are also excluded from the protections provided by the state’s adult-use cannabis law.

The agency notes that employers are also barred from prohibiting employees from consuming cannabis outside of work hours or forcing employees to waive their protection rights under the law as a condition of hire or continued employment. Employers do have the right to prohibit cannabis consumption at work or during work hours, including breaks.

The guidance also states that employers do not have to fire an employee for using cannabis while on the clock but “are permitted to take action” if they choose to do so.

Under the rules, drug testing is also not permitted to determine whether an employee is impaired, “since such tests do not currently demonstrate impairment.”

Federal agencies in New York are excluded from the updated drug testing policy.

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Senate Democrats Remove ‘Harris Rider’ from Appropriations Bill

10/20/2021

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Senate Democrats have removed a provision from a proposed appropriations bill that has prevented Washington, D.C. from allowing cannabis sales to adults, the Washington Post reports. The move comes as the City Council is poised to hear from the public next month about allowing cannabis sales in the District.

D.C. voters approved broad cannabis legalization reform in 2014 but a rider by Republican Rep. Andy Harris (Md.) has prevented the city from allowing cannabis sales and the rider has been included in every appropriations bill since then and Congress has oversight over all of the District’s laws. D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) called the situation “illogical.”

“The Harris rider has been a real disservice to the District. What Congress has done is create a wild wild west where there is no ability to have meaningful, constructive regulation.”—Mendelson to the Post

Mendelson said that if the rider is removed, then the council would “move quickly” on legislation to allow adult-use sales. In his budget proposal in May, President Joe Biden (D) also kept the rider in place.

The bill before the City Council would also expand medical cannabis dispensaries in D.C.

A separate bill to legalize sales was also introduced by Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) but that legislation is not on the agenda for next month’s public hearing.

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), D.C.’s nonvoting delegate in the House, told the Post that “with Democrats controlling the White House, House, and Senate, we have the best opportunity in over a decade to enact a spending bill with no anti-democratic riders.”

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Texas Dispensary on Bus Tour to Promote Program Enrollment

10/20/2021

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Texas medical cannabis dispensary Goodblend is going on a bus tour to promote medical cannabis enrollment, according to the San Antonio Current. Using a 36-foot bus as a mobile dispensary and doctor’s clinic, Goodblend began the tour in Austin on October 14, moving on to Houston, San Antonio, and Sugar Land.

Prospective patients can make appointments online and then visit with a doctor one-on-one to determine their eligibility for medical cannabis. Staff will have on-hand educational materials for people without an appointment who want to know more about Texas medical cannabis, the report says.

“It’s starting as an education and awareness tour, but our intent is for it to turn into something more regular,” said Marcus Ruark, president of Goodblend.

The effort comes on the heels of an update to Texas’ medical cannabis law that added post-traumatic stress disorder and cancer to the program. Ruark believes that many Texans may not be aware of the changes and may think a recommendation hard to obtain.

“It’s actually simple to participate in the program, but it may not appear so at first glance,” he said. “That’s one of the things we’re trying to change with this tour.” He added that Goodblend may take the tour to smaller cities or offer deliveries going forward.

The Current reported the following dates and locations for the tour:

  • Thursday, Oct. 14, 3-7 p.m. — 1205 E. Cesar Chavez, Austin
  • Saturday, Oct. 23, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. — Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney St., Houston
  • Saturday, Nov. 6, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. — 1002 N. Flores St., San Antonio
  • Sunday, Nov. 7, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. — Do512 Clubhouse, 2208 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin
  • Saturday, Nov. 20, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. — Sugar Land Town Square, 15958 City Walk, Sugar Land

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Heisman Trophy Winner Ricky Williams Launches ‘Highsman’ Cannabis Brand

10/19/2021

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Former National Football League (NFL) running back Ricky Williams on Monday launched his cannabis brand Highsman. In addition to the cannabis products, the brand will also include apparel and a functional accessories line, which will include rolling trays, cases, and water bottles.

“It is time we change the way we talk about cannabis. Highsman is about an appreciation for greatness. There is a passionate and dedicated team behind the brand, and together we want to help all people inspire greatness in themselves.” — Williams in a press release

The flower products are football-themed — the sativa strain is called “Pregame,” the hybrid strain is “Halftime,” and the indica strain is named “Postgame.” The strains will be released in eighths and pre-rolls. The brand name itself is a spinoff of the Heisman Trophy, which is awarded to the best all-around player in college football. Williams won the Heisman as a member of the Texas Longhorns in 1998.

Williams was suspended five times during his NFL career for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, missing two full seasons. In March, the NFL announced it would end suspensions for positive cannabis tests and raised the threshold for a failed test from 30 nanograms of THC per milliliter of blood to 150 nanograms.

Highsman CEO Eric Hammond noted that the brand has been “years in the making.”

“Highsman is at the intersection of sports and cannabis and was created for fans and aficionados of both,” Hammond said in a statement. “Highsman launches at a tipping point where sports and cannabis collide, and we are excited to continue to break boundaries between the two.”

Several other former NFL players have either launched cannabis brands or invested in the industry, including former running back Marshawn Lynch.

Highsman will be available first in California, Nevada, and Oregon.

William launched his first brand, Real Wellness, in 2018.

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The Outlaw Report Endorses Terry McAuliffe for Virginia Governor

10/19/2021

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McAuliffe is the only Candidate to Embrace Full legalization for State
First-Ever Endorsement by Virginia’s Influential Cannabis News Outlet

ACROSS VIRGINIA — The Outlaw Report, the only daily regional cannabis news and information source serving Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia, today endorsed Terry McAuliffe for governor of Virginia, calling him “the best candidate to ensure a rapid rollout of regulated adult-use sales; that the commonwealth’s cannabis market will grow equitably; and that Virginians incarcerated for nonviolent cannabis offenses will be granted clemency without further delay. McAuliffe’s position on cannabis also respects the will of Virginians, who time and time again have expressed strong support for legalization.”

In choosing McAuliffe over Glenn Youngkin, the editorial endorsement stated, “The former governor’s views stand in stark contrast with those of Glenn Youngkin, who has expressed disdain for cannabis and a profound ignorance of legalization’s intended purpose. At a campaign event in April, Youngkin said he had “never met anybody who habitually used marijuana and was successful.” He doubled down in an appearance on CNBC in May, describing cannabis legalization as “another problem that’s going to be dumped at my feet.” The businessman has also falsely claimed that “every single state” that has legalized cannabis has seen disappointing revenue, earning him three Pinocchios from The Washington Post.”

The editorial endorsement concluded, “We are confident cannabis laws will continue to be amended in Richmond over the next few years. At this critical juncture, we believe Virginians need and deserve a governor who will speak honestly and authoritatively about legalization while continuing the legacy of the hard-fought cannabis reforms enacted by the General Assembly this year.”

The full editorial endorsement can be read here.

The Outlaw Report is run by established journalists with a traditional background in the news business and is operated by lawyers whose practice specialize in cannabis law and regulation. Covering the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia, The Outlaw Report is the first comprehensive regional daily news site in the country dedicated to providing consumers and voters with state, local and relevant national news and information on cannabis policy, business, law, health, and lifestyle.

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Survey Finds 46% ‘Prefer to Live’ or ‘Will Only Live’ in Places with Legalized Cannabis

10/19/2021

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A survey published Monday by real estate brokerage firm Redfin found that 46% of respondents would “prefer to live” or “will only live” in a place where cannabis is legalized broadly. Just 22% of respondents “would not” or “prefer not to” live in a place where cannabis is allowed for adult-use.

Another 32% of survey respondents said they didn’t care whether cannabis was legal or not when deciding where they wanted to live.

Redfin’s poll found 34% of respondents — the highest majority — preferred to live where cannabis for adult use is no longer prohibited; 12% of those polled said they would only live in a place where cannabis is fully legal.

Just 10% of the 1,023 survey-takers said they would not live in a place where cannabis is legal, with 12% saying they would prefer not to.

The survey included people who had moved to new metro areas since March 2020.

A survey published in March found similar results with 46% of respondents in the poll — by insurance comparison company the Zebra — saying they would purchase a house within one mile of a cannabis dispensary. That survey also found that home prices in Colorado and Washington state have doubled since 2012, when the states legalized cannabis for adult-use, and that home prices grew at rates above the national average, post-legalization, in 60% of states, including Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Michigan, Maine, and Nevada.

A RE/MAX report focused on Canadian real estate last year found cannabis legalization increased home prices and led to home shortages in some regions.

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Arkansas Collects $25M in Medical Cannabis Revenues Since May

10/19/2021

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Half of the revenue derived from Arkansas’ medical cannabis sales — or $25 million — was collected over the last nine months, KATV reports. Medical cannabis sales began in Arkansas in 2019 and the state started collecting industry taxes and fees in the middle of that year, which have totaled $50 million.

In all, since May 2019, Arkansans have spent $430 million on nearly 64,000 pounds of medical cannabis, spokesman for the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission, Scott Hardin, told KATV. Medical cannabis is taxed 10.5% in the state, along with the state’s 6.5% retail sales tax on most retail items in the state. There are 78,000 registered medical cannabis patients in the state.

“If you walk into a dispensary and spend $100, you’ll spend $10.50 additionally in state taxes. Those two taxes, we’ve collected just under $50,000,000 — $49.6 million to be specific.” — Hardin to KATV

Last month, the Department of Finance and Administration reported that, from mid-July through August, Arkansans spent $33 million to purchase 5,038 pounds of medical cannabis at dispensaries in the state, an increase of $6.5 million in sales compared to earlier figures.

Good Day Farm Director of Retail Mike Bonis told KATV that while “a lot of people in the industry were worried about the high tax raise” associated with medical cannabis in the state where cannabis “is not very socially accepted,” the company “is just happy to have a program and be able to get back to the community.”

“…And we try to do our best to end those stigmas that have been brought to this industry,” Bonis said. “As far as I’ve seen I can tell you a lot fewer people are stressed in Arkansas right now.”

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First Expo for Black Cannabis Entrepreneurs Headed to New Orleans

10/19/2021

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The first expo for Black cannabis entrepreneurs is coming to New Orleans, Louisiana November 18th through 20th. The idea first came to event organizer Kristi Price, who publishes Black CannaBusiness magazine, after an enthusiastic online cannabis gathering she held left attendees wanting to continue the conversation. A long-time marketing executive for some of the world’s largest brands like Nike, Red Bull, and Guinness, Price started her media company to address some of the inequalities she saw developing in the cannabis space.

“There are no business-to-business media or conferences that target people of color in this space and people of color have a very different experience with the plant, both in terms of the criminal justice system and from the diversity and inclusion perspective.” — Price via Times-Picayune

The Black CannaConference will cover topics like capital raising, cultivation, politics, technology, and wellness issues, and it is expected to attract over 2,000 vendors, the Times reports.

“Cannabis as medicine is huge in the Black community,” Price remarked, but acknowledged more education needs to be done around conditions like sickle cell anemia and high blood pressure. “It used to be that if you tell grandma that you’re in the cannabis business she’d be getting your bail money together, so that is some of the work we have to do.”

The Times notes that despite the enormous growth in the cannabis industry in the past decade, a Marijuana Business Daily report found only 4.3% of cannabusiness owners are African American. Furthermore, an American Civil Liberties Union study published last year found that not only did cannabis arrests increase between 2010 and 2018, but racial disparities remained at a high level. The study found that although Black people use cannabis at similar rates as their white counterparts, they are 3.64 times more likely to be arrested for cannabis.

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DEA Wants Way More Cannabis & Psychedelics for Research In 2022

10/18/2021

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The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is calling for massively increasing the production of research-grade cannabis and psychedelics for 2022, Marijuana Moment reports. The federal agency announced the change in a notice posted to the Federal Register this morning.

Two months ago, DEA already proposed a dramatic increase in cannabis and psychedelics production for 2021.

“There has been a significant increase in the use of schedule I hallucinogenic controlled substances for research and clinical trial purposes. … DEA supports regulated research with schedule I controlled substances, as evidenced by increases proposed for 2022 as compared with aggregate production quotas for these substances in 2021.” — Excerpt from DEA’s Federal Register notice

Under the proposal for increased production, DEA is calling for 3,200 grams of MDMA (an increase of 6,300%), doubling the production of psilocybin to 3,000 grams, and doubling cannabis extract production to 1,000,000 grams. The cannabis flower production quota saw a proposed increase of 1,200,000 grams for a grand total of 3,200,000 grams.

The notice includes a call for public input regarding the proposed production increases.

Currently, the licensed production of research-grade cannabis is limited to the University of Mississippi but DEA called for applications for additional cultivators and other producers of Schedule I substances. Those licenses have been long-awaited and many activists and interested parties have accused the agency of foot-dragging on the issue, but DEA said earlier this year it was poised to issue several of the licenses.

“[DEA] is working diligently to review and approve applications for schedule I manufacturers of marihuana (sic.) that conform to the federal requirements contained in the CSA,” the agency said in today’s notice.

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South Dakota Officials Release Rewritten Medical Cannabis Rules

10/18/2021

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The South Dakota Department of Health has released a rewritten version of some of the state’s medical cannabis rules after the Legislature’s Rules Review Committee rejected previous versions, KELO reports. The proposals include limiting extended home grows for patients, prohibiting patients under 21-years-old from possessing inhalable cannabis, medical cannabis packaging and warning requirements, and outlining prohibited forms of advertising for the industry.

The advertising rules prevent most advertising of medical cannabis in the state “unless and until the United States Drug Enforcement Administration removes marijuana or cannabis as a Schedule I controlled substance,” the document states. The proposals ban handbill distribution; direct mail, phone, text, or email campaigns to non-verified patients; through most publications; on radio, TV, and other media, at all healthcare facilities, and signs and billboards—unless they are located on the dispensary’s own premises.

The warning rules mirror those implemented in other states, including a minimum half-inch by half-inch label that says the product “contains cannabis” and “for medical use by qualifying patients only.” The label must also include a warning for pregnant women and for driving or using heavy machinery. The label must also include a warning that “cannabis has a high potential for abuse” and that medical cannabis has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for any condition or disease.

The labeling rules in South Dakota are also consistent with what is required in other states where cannabis has been legalized in some form: tamper-proof, child-proof, resealable, and fully enclosable.

Health Department Spokesman Daniel Bucheli told KELO that the agency is “reconsidering the handful of rules” and are continuing work on the final draft for the rules that will be sent back to lawmakers for their approval.

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New Mexico Considering $5M Credit Line for Cannabis Microbusinesses

10/18/2021

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The New Mexico Finance Authority put forward a proposal that opens a $5 million line of credit for cannabis microbusinesses in order to promote social and economic fairness in the cannabis industry, the Associated Press reports. Under the proposal, qualifying cannabis businesses are eligible for $250,000 loans from the state with up to a five-year repayment period.

The program is targeted at small cannabis firms who grow and sell 200 plants or less, a select market created last year when New Mexico passed legislation regulating adult-use cannabis. Despite the new adult-use cannabis law mandating improvements in social equity within the emerging industry, an 11-member legislative panel voted down the Finance Authorities suggestions in a 6-5 vote.

Marquita Russel, CEO of the New Mexico Finance Authority and author of early program rules, said loans are scarce for small cannabis businesses.

“You can’t go to the Small Business Administration. There is not a space for a small business to get a loan of this sort.” — Russel to the AP

The Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund would underwrite the program and would rely on unspent dollars in the fund. Some of the money would come from money set aside for the COVID-19 emergency, the report says.

Republican state Sen. Stuart Ingle, who pointed out the lack of farming and ranching experience on the Finance Authority and insinuated loans given to cannabis farmers may be hard to recover, said, “There are still so many questions in here, where questions can’t be answered.”

We may need to slow things down,” Ingle said in the report.

According to public records, the state has received 22 cannabis microbusiness applications. In order for these entities to receive funding under the program, collateral assurances like land or equipment must be presented at the time of the application.

“We will be fully secured. These are our dollars, they need to be repaid,” Russell said. “These aren’t (loans) for people who just kind of decided this might be fun.”

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New Jersey Exceeds Slated Cannabis Licenses to Minority- or Women-Owned Companies

10/18/2021

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The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission last week licensed 14 new medical cannabis businesses after a lawsuit brought the process to a standstill for more than two years, ROI-NJ reports. The licenses were part of a 2019 application round, which included about 200 applicants.

All of the businesses approved last week are certified minority- or women-owned and 10 of the awarded licenses were for cultivation — twice what was originally planned by the commission. The increase is likely due to the passage of adult-use cannabis laws in the state and the need to increase cultivation capacity for eventual retail sales.

New Jersey CannaBusiness Association President Edmund DeVeaux told ROI-NJ that the action moves the state “one step closer to issuing applications for the first round of adult-use licenses.”

“This is an exciting day, both for the awardees and for progress in the cannabis space. …  Like many, we await that day with eager anticipation and look forward to helping future adult-use license holders as well.” — DeVeaux to ROI-NJ

The 10 growers approved by the commission, include Bloom Medicinals of PA; CYOURNJ; Garden State Releaf; Green Medicine NJ; GSCC Management; Hillview Med; the NAR Group; NJ Nectar Ventures; Noble Valley Harvest Co.; and ZY Labs.

The remaining four companies — Altus New Jersey, Etain NJ, Greenhouse Wellness of NJ, and Holistic NJ — were awarded licenses allowing them to cultivate, manufacture, and dispense medical cannabis.

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Canadian Cannabis Retailer Mimics Retro Grocery Store

10/18/2021

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Canadian cannabis company Superette has partnered with designer Emily Robinson on a retail dispensary that resembles a retro grocery store, which was profiled by Dezeen. The unique shop is located in downtown Toronto, Ontario’s Stackt Market, which is a shopping complex made out of shipping containers.

“SuperMarket follows the blueprint of a quintessential neighborhood grocery store, from the interior design and customer flow to merchandising and product assortment.” — Emily Robinson Design via Dezeen

The shop features bright, retro colors – including a red and white checkerboard floor – vintage refrigerators, a rock-shaped gumball machine, and a Super Spin game that resembles something featured in a game show.

“There is no menu at SuperMarket,” the team told Dezeen. “Instead, customers shop with their eyes as they would in a traditional supermarket, with guidance from a budtender should they need it.”

Cannabis is displayed among custom, themed, props that would be found in a grocery store, including brightly colored boxes of cereal, fruits, and other staples.

“Superette’s whole retail vision is about applying traditional retail principles to cannabis retail — where it’s not being done — and merchandising cannabis like you would any other consumer packaged goods,” the team said in the report.

Superette was founded in 2019 by Mimi Lam and Drummond Munro and operates six brick-and-mortar shops in Canada, with plans to open in the U.S. next year, the report says.

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