Washington, D.C. Bill Aims to Crack Down on Cannabis ‘Gifting’

11/01/2021

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A bill before the Washington, D.C. City Council seeks to crack down on the practice of cannabis “gifting” by local businesses, DCist reports. The proposal, introduced by Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, would allow city agencies to revoke business licenses and impose fines for “purchasing, selling, or exchanging” cannabis.

“To respond to the threats posed by illegal cannabis storefronts and delivery services, it is necessary [to] amend [city code] to authorize the revocation of licenses, sealing of premises, and fines for businesses purchasing, selling, or exchanging marijuana in violation of the Legalization of Marijuana for Medical Treatment Initiative of 1999 … and to authorize civil penalties for the housing providers of illegal cannabis businesses to ensure that the District can adequately respond to illegal cannabis storefronts and delivery services.” – Mendelson in an October 28 memo

Washington, D.C. voters approved broad legalization reforms in 2014 but Congress has repeatedly blocked the city from implementing regulations to allow for legal sales. Senate Democrats have removed the so-called Harris Rider – named after Republican Rep. Andy Harris, who first crafted the rider – from a proposed appropriations bill that would allow the District to move forward with cannabis industry regulations and, eventually, permit sales. The City Council has planned a public hearing later this month to consider legislation to allow adult-use cannabis sales.

Mandelson’s bill includes $30,000 fines for businesses that sell or gift cannabis in addition to closing the businesses temporarily.

“If nothing else we have a real problem. We have a legit business that’s suffering because of the black market,” Mendelson told DCist. “We can try to do something more than we have been.”

The proposal also includes provisions that would extend the validity of D.C. medical cannabis cards that have expired and extend the validity of new cards for two years instead of one.

The proposal is on Tuesday’s agenda and, as emergency legislation, requires nine votes to pass.

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Cannabis Edibles Expo 2021 Coming to San Francisco and Chicago this November

11/01/2021

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The bell dings and you open the oven’s door. A freshly-baked aroma wafts through the room. You have perfected the process — from its crusty tops to the bite to consumption ratio of the special ingredient. Your friends tell you that your recipe is the best in the world and you guard it with all your might. You pass around the edibles like confetti, making batch after batch for your “regulars” who are in love with it and can’t stop recommending them. While you make the best edibles in the world from your modest kitchen, do you ever wonder what it would be like to take your talent around the world? Or at least, around your state?

Bring your interest and skills to the Cannabis Edibles Expo 2021! Happening on November 12 in San Francisco and November 16 in Chicago, this one-of-a-kind global trade show and conference brings together cannabis professionals, industry experts, enthusiasts, and visionaries to discuss the art, science, and finesse of all things cannabis edibles.

The cannabis edibles industry is currently having a moment and rightfully so. This B2B event brings to the limelight a lit intersection between the food and cannabis industries. It aims to discover and analyze trends as well as threats that surround this market amounting to over $1 billion in the US and Canada today. It offers a plethora of opportunities for brands, entrepreneurs, as well as individuals to make a mark. This event is a medium to network and learn the ins and outs of the trade, ask questions, and seek insights into an ever-growing industry. You will walk in as a curious individual and walk out with buddies and partners looking forward to building great things together.

The expo will cover formulation, manufacturing processes and distribution methods, safety, regulations, and compliance for aspiring entrepreneurs and brands. It will also focus on policy, advocacy, education, medication, and recreational aspects of cannabis edibles. The expo floor will also host local and global businesses that are mastering the art of taking their edibles around the world. You can meet the minds behind successful brands like Kiva Confections, Wyld (nwnaturalgoods), Coda Signature, and Kaneh Co to talk shop and learn. Many small businesses will also be introducing you to their experimental creations and processes at the expo. The conference commences at 9 AM and the expo floor opens for all at 11 AM.

Does the prospect of being a part of this blazing network excite you? Then you need to grab these fast-selling expo passes!

The opportunities are blazing and waiting. We’ed see you there?

Cannabis Edibles Expo 2021 San Francisco will be held on November 12, 2021, at the South San Francisco Conference Center

Cannabis Edibles Expo 2021 Chicago will be held on November 16, 2021, at the Midwest Conference Center

Book your tickets here.

If you would like to table your delicacies, book an exhibitor spot here.

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Arkansas Cannabis Advocates Gathering Signatures for Adult-Use Ballot Question

11/01/2021

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Arkansas advocates are currently gathering signatures to put a constitutional amendment on next year’s ballot to legalize adult-use cannabis in the state 4State News reports. Arkansas True Grass needs 89,151 verified signatures to put the issues on November 2022 ballots by July 8.

The group failed four years ago to get the issue to voters and subsequently sued the state attorney general, unsuccessfully, over procedural issues associated with the campaign, the report says. The measure would legalize cannabis use for adults 21-and-older and allow personal cultivation of up to 12 plants. The proposal would not make any changes to the state’s medical cannabis law.

The amendment would allow an unlimited number of cannabis business licenses in the state. Briana Boling, spokeswoman for True Grass, said the measure would provide for “affordable” industry licensing, which would be administered by the state Department of Agriculture.

“What we have right now in Arkansas isn’t good for patients. It’s just not. And the people that really need it can’t afford it, can’t get it. Can’t even afford to see the doctor to get it. That’s what needs to change.” – Boling to 4State News

The proposal also includes expungement provisions that would apply to individuals who have charges – or are currently incarcerated – for offenses related only to cannabis crime which would be legalized under the proposal.

“We want to free the people and the plant,” Boling told 4State News. “We don’t think that anybody should be arrested over a plant that’s proven to be safer than alcohol and tobacco.”

In 2016, Arkansas voters approved a medical cannabis initiative with 53.11% of the vote after the proposal failed in 2012.

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Rhode Island Awards Five New Medical Cannabis Dispensary Licenses

11/01/2021

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Rhode Island officials on Friday awarded five new medical cannabis licenses for new dispensaries, WPRI reports. The lottery selected five companies from geographic zones in order to spread out the new providers.

RMI Compassion Center won the license for Woonsocket, along with Pinnacle Compassion Center in Central Falls, Green Wave Compassion Center in Foster, Solar Therapeutics in Cranston, and Plant Based Compassionate Care in South Kingstown. None of those municipalities currently have a dispensary as there are currently just three in the state in Providence, Warwick, and Portsmouth, the report says.

The lottery for a sixth zone was not included in Friday’s announcement due to an ongoing lawsuit by Atlas Enterprises LLC, which was disqualified because its application is for Newport which has banned cannabis operations. Atlas is appealing the disqualification and the lottery for the zone will take place once the case is adjudicated.

Another applicant was disqualified after admitting to paying a bribe to former Fall River, Massachusetts Mayor Jasiel Correia. In September, Correia was sentenced to six years in prison for extorting cannabis companies in exchange for non-opposition letters to allow cannabis companies to open shop in Fall River.

The lottery comes two-and-a-half years after lawmakers approved expanding the number of dispensaries in Rhode Island from three to nine. Lawmakers are also close to a deal to legalize cannabis for adults in the state, the report says, noting that the Senate passed the reforms earlier this year but it competed with Gov. Dan McKee’s proposal, and now key officials from the House, Senate, and Governor’s Office are negotiating a compromise.

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Law Enforcement Officials Accused of Aiding an Illegal Cannabis Operation

10/29/2021

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Sheriff’s deputies and a prosecutor in Maine are accused by federal authorities of aiding an illegal cannabis operation in the state, the Associated Press reports. Two deputies are alleged to have accepted new cars and an ownership stake in the operation, while other law enforcement officers and a prosecutor are accused of providing intelligence and tipping off the participants.

The farm allegedly diverted $13 million in cannabis that was cultivated under the auspices of the state’s medical cannabis program, the report says. Twelve people were charged in the complaint, which was unsealed Wednesday, including a Rangeley select board member, an assistant district attorney, two Franklin County sheriff’s deputies, an Oxford County sheriff’s deputy, and a Wilton police officer.

The Franklin County deputies are accused of accepting cars and ownership stake in exchange for confidential information, while the prosecutor allegedly tipped off a police officer about the investigation, and two other officers warned the Franklin County deputies they were under surveillance by investigators, according to court documents outlined by the AP.

Augusta Police Chief Jared Mills, who also serves as president of the Maine Chiefs of Police Association, called the alleged involvement of law enforcement in the illegal cannabis operation “very upsetting.”

“The Maine Chiefs of Police Association has always stood for equal application of the laws to everyone in the state of Maine and we are confident in the next phase of the judicial system to adjudicate this case accordingly.” – Mills to the AP

An attorney representing one of the deputies said his client should not be prejudged based on the “one-sided” version of events laid out by federal prosecutors.

So far, one person with 50% ownership in the operation has pleaded guilty in the case. The rest of the non-law enforcement defendants have made initial court appearances.

The attorney for Lucas Sirois, the alleged ringleader of the illegal grow, told the AP that his client “took great steps to ensure that he was acting in accordance with Maine law” and that the federal charges are based on “the words of a disgruntled former employee.”

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U.K.’s Top CBD Marketplace Acquired by U.S. Firm

10/29/2021

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mellow, the United Kingdom’s top CBD wellness marketplace, was acquired by U.S.-based Thought Leaders for $13.25 million, according to a Benzinga report. Thought Leaders, a CBD and cannabis investment firm, acquired mellow’s online store, Grow; mellow’s third-party “end-to-end” cannabis service branch; and 50% of mellow’s new venture, mellow Asia.

Thought Leaders plans on launching mellow in the U.S., giving them a presence in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, the report says.

“We are excited to make today’s announcement and proud of our new partnership with Thought Leaders in the U.S. It’s such an exhilarating time for CBD and these developments put mellow in the pole position to steer success for our e-tail platform and our end-to-end e-Commerce services as well as mellow Asia. As a result, mellow as a company will be at the forefront of rapid market growth globally.” – mellow Co-founder and Director James Stories-Pugh via Benzinga

mellow co-founder Neil Tunbridge said the cannabis industry is “here to stay” and believes CBD will be “the biggest driver of the health and wellness market over the next few years.” He highlighted a study published in the Journal of Cannabis Research that revealed anxiety (43%), sleep (43%), stress (38%), and pain, and overall wellbeing (37%) were the predominant reasons people turn to CBD.

Co-founders Tunbridge and Storie-Pugh both will remain at mellow to help grow the company’s global presence while continuing to look for other investment opportunities for the group.

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Pro Wrestling Legend Jim Ross Starting Cannabis Farm

10/29/2021

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Professional wrestling legend Jim Ross is planning to launch a cannabis farm in his home state of Oklahoma, according to a SEScoops report. Ross has served as a commentator for professional wrestling promotions since 1974 and is currently in that role for All Elite Wrestling (AEW).

On the October 29 episode of his “Grilling JR” podcast, Ross said he was working on the project – tentatively called Black Hat Farms – with his youngest daughter, son-in-law, and an unnamed attorney.

“I bought some land in Oklahoma recently for the grow houses and all the things. That’s gonna be their life, that’s a big deal.” – Ross via SEScoops

Ross added that the project was an effort to leave something to his children while he is alive rather than have them “sort through all the heartbreak, and the minutiae, and the legal stuff, [and] the probate courts” after his death.

Earlier this year, Ross discussed World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) changing its cannabis policy in 2008 and while he declined to advocate for or against the policy changes, he noted he was “420-friendly” in his personal life.

“I think marijuana should be legal and it should be taxed and it should create new money,” he said on the February 11 episode of his podcast.

The 2008 changes in WWE removed cannabis from the organization’s list of substances that would cause a wellness violation and dropped testing for cannabis to just once a year. The changes also reduced fines for positive cannabis tests to $1,000.

Ross, who also served as head of talent relations for WWE, noted that he would “rather have a talent go to his room or her room and smoke a joint, get some room service, [and] watch a movie, as opposed to be out gallivanting around.”

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Connecticut Asks Massachusetts Cannabis Companies to Remove Billboards

10/29/2021

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Connecticut Attorney General William Tong has sent a letter to seven Massachusetts cannabis companies asking them to remove their billboards from along Connecticut highways, saying that the ads are illegal in the state under its adult-use cannabis law passed earlier this year, Western Mass News reports. Under Connecticut’s legalization law, cannabis advertising is prohibited unless 90% of the audience is 21-or-older.

The Attorney General’s Office clarified to Western Mass News that the letter is a request not a demand.

Erik Williams, chief operating officer of Canna Provisions, which is based in Massachusetts and uses billboard advertising on the highway, said that the company has no intention of removing the ads, despite the letter from Tong.

“If we capitulated to every prohibitionist’s whim or request, I would say that we would not have adult use cannabis in Massachusetts and certainly it wouldn’t be coming in Connecticut. … I believe that this is too far reaching of an insinuation that they have made against our company and other advertisers, against marketing firms, and against the other folks who have also gotten those letters.” – Williams to Western Mass News

In the letter, Tong said the billboards encourage customers to cross state lines with cannabis products, which is a federal crime, but Williams said that was not the case.

“We are continuing to talk to them and I told him that this is an important thing for us to look for,” Williams said in the report, “and we also want to really see that the Connecticut market actually thrives as well.”

Canna Provisions has no intention to take the billboard down, Williams said.

The report does not indicate whether the other six Massachusetts companies with billboards in Connecticut plan to honor the attorney general’s request.

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Louisiana to Allow Delta-8 THC Consumables

10/28/2021

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Louisiana is bucking the trend of banning delta-8 THC and has proposed the synthetic cannabinoid be allowed in food, according to a Marijuana Business Daily report.

In an email announcing the changes, the Louisiana Department of Health said applications are now open for businesses to add cannabinoids to food. The new policy was made possible by a state law that creates a new category known as “consumable hemp,” defined as “any product derived from industrial hemp that contains any cannabinoids and is intended for consumption or topical use.”

“This includes the addition of food products containing CBD and delta-8 (THC),” the agency wrote in the email.

Delta-8 is an isomer of delta-9 THC that rarely occurs naturally in cannabis plants. Today, large batches of delta-8 are synthesized from more widely available, hemp-derived CBD. The sudden emergency and growing availability of delta-8 THC has prompted some 18 states to ban the substance outright. Additionally, the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) claims that delta-8 THC is making people sick, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has added the cannabinoid to its “Orange Book,” signaling that they believe delta-8 THC should be regulated similar to delta-9 THC, according to the report

The addition of delta-8 THC as an allowed cannabinoid in Louisiana will coincide with smokable medical cannabis coming online in 2022. MJBizDaily projected the state to sell $25-$30 million worth of medical cannabis this year, prior to the new reforms.

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Washington Issues Emergency Cannabis License Suspension

10/28/2021

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Washington’s Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) announced this week an emergency license suspension for Emerald Flash, an Okanagan-based cannabis cultivator. The suspension, which took effect on Monday, was ordered in the name of public safety following multiple alleged violations of the Washington State Uniform Controlled Substances Act.

According to the press release, Emerald Flash is accused of diverting cannabis products from the regulated market:

“On or about Sept. 19, 2021, the licensee was responsible for selling or providing to an unlicensed entity approximately 350 pounds of marijuana flower, worth between $700,000 and $1,000,000.” — LCB press release excerpt

Regulators also allege that the company was responsible for deceiving officials during their investigation with conflicting and inconsistent information, “failing to utilize or maintain current information in the traceability system,” and for not maintaining a state-mandated surveillance system including at least 45 days of video footage. required surveillance system. LCB also charged Emerald Flash with aggravated violations for failing to maintain required recordkeeping and for allowing visitors on-site without officially noting their presence.

The emergency license suspension lasts 180 days and LCB said that regulators will pursue the permanent revocation of the license during that timeframe.

Last month, Washington regulators adjusted state policy so that felony criminal records are no longer an automatic disqualification for cannabis licensing. In June, LCB approved a “Joints for Jabs” program wherein licensed cannabis dispensaries could offer a single pre-roll as an incentive for getting the coronavirus vaccine.

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Cannabis Drinks Expo San Francisco and Chicago Is Here — Get Your Tickets

10/28/2021

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Discover fast-growing cannabis drinks brands at the 2nd Annual Cannabis Drinks Expo on November 11 in San Francisco and on November 15 in Chicago.

Cannabis Drinks Expo, a super hit b2b trade show returns in November, providing the cannabis and drinks industry a unique platform to do business, learn about the category, and source amazing brands.

With a major theme of “growing your business and growing your bottom line,” any business looking for an on-ramp to this burgeoning marketplace will find Cannabis Drinks Expo the perfect platform.

Hosted by the Beverage Trade Network, this expo will shine a spotlight on the skyrocketing legal cannabis market and provide insight into its future brimming with opportunity.

Cannabis Drinks Expo promises to be relevant for anyone involved in the development, production, distribution, and retailing of cannabis and beverages. It will also provide a vital networking opportunity for political analysts, medical experts, and those involved in the development and implementation of legalized cannabis into new markets.

Dates and Location:

San Francisco: November 11, 2021 – South San Francisco Conference Center, 255 South Airport Boulevard South San Francisco, CA 94080, United States

Chicago: November 15, 2021 – Midwest Conference Centre, 401 W Lake St Northlake, Chicago IL 60164, United States

The cannabis entrepreneur who attends will be offered precious information on everything from the planning stages of crafting a cannabis-infused drink brand to formulation, regulations and compliance, branding, marketing, and the distribution of a cannabis drink product. We have outstanding experts in their field to clarify and explain the whole process. No stone will be left unturned. Cannabis-infused drinks are not just the ‘newest cannabis craze’. Studies show that in the US, consumers are steadily moving away from alcoholic choices.

The population is becoming more health-conscious and looking for alternative beverage options. This is what attracts a whole new emerging segment of buyers to cannabis-infused beverages. The Cannabis Drinks Expo will attract people from all over the United States. Coming to inform themselves about this thrilling element of the cannabis industry. They will see firsthand what it takes to create a cannabis-infused beverage brand. Networking possibilities are endless.

Meet awesome brands at both Chicago and San Francisco locations.

Browse the extensive expo booths, and connect with companies that are on the cutting-edge of the cannabis industry. Connections and partnerships are key in this endeavor. The panel of experts will be presenting intriguing and vital information that will demystify the whole procedure of cannabis-infused beverages. There will be a full day of presentations that comprises some of the top names in the cannabis industry.

Visitor Registration is now open, and you can get your passes now to save on tickets.

Here are the links to register yourself as a trade show visitor:
San Francisco Tickets | Chicago Tickets

If you would like more information, please call +1 855 481 1112. Website: https://cannabisdrinksexpo.com/en/

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Oakland Social Equity Cannabis Firms Sent to Collections by City

10/28/2021

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Cannabis regulators in Oakland, California have sent four of the city’s social equity licensees to collections over unpaid loans, Marijuana Business Daily reports.

The action was explained in an October 7th report shared with the Oakland Cannabis Commission — according to that report, of the city’s 59 social equity licensees, only about 60% are in compliance with the terms of their loans.

“As of August 2021, approximately 60 percent of all borrowers were in compliance, including twelve percent that have entered into loan modifications. Another thirty-four percent of borrowers were out of compliance; however, half of these borrowers were only one or two payments behind. Then seven percent of borrowers have fallen so far out of compliance and not pursued a loan modification that they have been forwarded to collections.” — Excerpt from the Cannabis Regulatory Commission report

According to Amber Senter, the CEO of Oakland-based Makr House who has dedicated years of work to Oakland’s social equity program, the loan defaults — and subsequent involvement of collections agencies — were frustrating but not unexpected.

“We can’t send our most vulnerable, impacted people into debt, and this is exactly what this is doing and exactly what we were fearful of,” Senter told MJBizDaily.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the city said in the report that “staff will continue to work with the Cannabis Commission and City Council on whether and how to forgive loans of cannabis equity applicants.”

The situation also demonstrates ongoing issues with the California cannabis market, where competitive licensing practices and high taxes have made the industry an enormous risk — especially for entrepreneurs without a lot of capital or investor backing.

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Overhaul to Michigan Medical Cannabis Caregiver System Ready for Vote

10/28/2021

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Michigan lawmakers are set to vote on a package of bills that would make sweeping changes to the state’s 2008 voter-approved medical cannabis law, including reducing the number of patients allowed per caregiver and limiting the number of plants caregivers can grow at one time from 60 to 12, Michigan Advance reports.

Under current law, caregivers must register with the state but don’t need a license to cultivate cannabis, can have up to five patients, and grow up to 12 plants per patient. Caregivers are not currently subject to the state’s rules on testing, labeling, or tracking of cannabis products. Caregivers are allowed to grow a maximum of 72 plants if they are also a registered patient with the state program, the report says.

The reform package includes six bills. In addition to the caregiver reforms, the reforms would create a license for specialty medical cannabis growers and require those licensees to use a tracking system; exempts cannabis sales from a registered primary caregiver or licensed specialty grower to a registered qualifying patient from use and sales taxes; and updated the state definitions of debilitating medical condition in the state’s health code.

The Michigan Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday applauded the approval of the reforms by the House Regulatory Reform Committee, saying it would “help improve safety and ensure fairness” in the state’s cannabis industry. Wendy Block, vice president of Business Advocacy and Member Engagement for the chamber, said the “legislation creates the framework for a new class of licensees to join the licensed marketplace and create thousands of new businesses.”

“By ensuring all cannabis providers follow the same rules and standards like testing, tracking and licensing, this legislation helps promote safety, fairness and a level playing field in this growing industry.” – Block in a press release

Caregivers argue the bills are being backed by corporate cannabis interests in the state and create excessive regulations for caregivers.

Yyan Bringold, a caregiver who organized the Caregiver Rights Rally last month, said that caregivers never had a seat at the table when lawmakers were crafting the legislation and that officials ignored advocates’ attempts to reach out about the proposal.

“We will not quit,” he told the Advance. “These big-money investors, they have made a power move.”

The bill moves next to the House floor. They must still be approved by the Senate before moving to the Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) for her signature.

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University of Nevada, Reno Offering Cannabis Certification Courses

10/28/2021

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The University of Nevada, Reno is the latest college to partner with cannabis education company Green Flower to offer an industry certification program. Green Flower has previously announced partnerships with the University of New Mexico and New York’s Syracuse University, among other institutions throughout the U.S. The partnership with the University of Nevada, Reno is through its Extended Studies program.

The programs cover the business of cannabis, agriculture and horticulture, law and policy, and healthcare and medicine and each certificate program includes three, eight-week online courses.

Jodi Herzik, interim vice provost for Extended Studies, said that her team “naturally wants to ensure” the state “is at the forefront of cannabis education.”

“The University of Nevada, Reno is proud to partner with Green Flower to offer four, new online cannabis certificate programs. Nevada was the third state to approve cannabis for medical use with the adoption of the Nevada Medical Marijuana Act in 1998. We were once again trailblazers when Nevadans voted to legalize cannabis for adult recreational use in 2016.” – Herzik in a press release

Daniel Kalef, Green Flower’s vice president of Higher Education, noted that since the passage of the voter-approved adult-use law “the state has seen unprecedented [cannabis industry] growth and continues to show no signs of slowing down.”

“As the leading cannabis education company in the country, we set out to find the perfect university in the state with whom to partner and offer our programs to help prepare people for jobs in the industry,” Kalef said in a statement. “The University of Nevada, Reno checks all those boxes for us, and we could not be more thrilled to work with them on this.”

Courses begin November 15 and cost $2,950 per certificate but the university is offering a one-time $500 discount for students who enroll in next month’s cohort.

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South Dakota Lawmakers Sign Off on Latest Medical Cannabis Regs

10/28/2021

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The South Dakota Legislature’s Rules Review Committee has signed off on the latest round of regulations for the state’s medical cannabis program, including advertising restrictions and rules for patient home-grows, KELO reports. The committee approved the package 6-0.

The home cultivation rules allow physicians to be able to recommend that some patients can grow more than the three-plant limit allowed under the voter-approved law, but the physician must specify the reason for the increase, the report says. That recommendation will expire 200 days after it is issued.

The physician making the recommendation must tell officials what research was used to serve as a basis for the increase, the potential risks associated with a patient using the recommended amount of cannabis and how those risks are mitigated by the benefits, and why the patient would have difficulty obtaining an adequate supply from state-approved dispensaries.

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

Under the law approved by voters during last year’s general election, the South Dakota Department of Health must start issuing program identification cards to patients no later than November 18.

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Spirit of the Bayou: A Kush Queen Halloween Collection

10/27/2021

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Life is a series of concentric circles where sometimes we are deeply rooted, and at other moments we’re untethered from our sense of self. Feeling uprooted can be especially prevalent as we approach the dark, dormant months of winter. Swamp Queen, the latest product launch from the bath bomb luminaries at Kush Queen, can help us find our way back to ourselves. The Swamp Queen launch features Spirit of the Bayou products, a 200 mg sharp pear green CBD bath bomb, and an intoxicating black cannabinoid elixir. Sip on the elixir as you bathe to facilitate self-discovery, insight, and — as always with Kush Queen — self-care.

“When you’re your best self, you can actually care for your community and be there for people in a way that you can’t when you’re unwell. For that side of it we had to have something that was psychoactive,” said Founder and CEO Olivia Alexander.

Self-care is a cornerstone of the brand. Bathing has many benefits, and Kush Queen has always promoted ritualizing self-care. With Spirit of the Bayou, they have gone one step farther, providing an elixir that further promotes a headspace for shadow work. Olivia created Swamp Queen to inspire people to journal, meditate, and explore what clarity of mind feels like in their subjective reality. It’s in that clarity where people can find their way through mind chatter.

Olivia Alexander holds cannabinoid elixir

“We just felt like this is a product that will encourage people to take some time for themselves, to really just explore who they are and where they came from because the messaging right now around products, cannabis, and everything, it’s just a little bit out of touch. By that, I mean out of touch with people’s realities,” said Olivia, “We wanted to just give people something super grounded in truth, super grounded in who Kush Queen is and then sort of give people a taste of the future.”

Kush Queen Founder Olivia Alexander is well known on social media as one of the first cannabis influencers to battle Instagram over her wrongfully deleted account. Since then, she has released a YouTube series with WolfieMemes, worked on tons of partnerships for Kush Queen, and rebuilt her following on IG and now TikTok. Her followers come for her adorable dog Reggie the Cloud and stay for her fearless hard truths about the industry. Her penchant for real talk is something that she acquired while growing up down the bayou. The Spirit of the Bayou products don’t just pay homage to her roots, they’re her invitation to discover your own.

To understand the vision behind Swamp Queen, Olivia took us back to 2019 when Kush Queen partnered with fashion brand Alice + Olivia for their Maybelline launch. She attended fashion week, and the brand was gaining recognition from mainstream media outlets including the Los Angeles Times. Making it into the Times was a company goal, but the media praise also brought negativity. One specific troll sent a slew of hateful messages, including an attempt to insult where the young and successful CEO had grown up.

The messages implied that instead of Kush Queen, Olivia should call herself Swamp Queen. Despite the negative thoughts that this minor attack evoked, the comment didn’t have the sender’s desired effect. Instead of hiding, Olivia owned her upbringing and wore the moniker with pride. As her team laughed at her new title, they realized the name would make for a great Halloween collection theme. Before the launch, the former pageant queen took to the bayou to take photos in her old neighborhood. As she traveled through Louisiana eating nostalgic meals, reconnecting with her neighbors, and researching the history of the place, the trip quickly became about much more than content. Her return to the swamp made her feel whole again, and she wanted the bath bomb to evoke a similar experience. Also, to give back to the place that made her, a portion of the proceeds will be going to indigenous tribes and parish communities that are still rebuilding following Hurricane Ida.

We had a chance to try the products before they launched, and the intention Olivia describes is present in the bath. When the bomb hits the water, the bathroom fills with the scent of a spring thunderstorm coating fresh earth. The swamp, Olivia explained, is something many people fear. The lush green swampy surface sits atop ominous dark waters that hold unknowable things. Spirit of the Bayou hopes to capture this complexity both aromatically and visually. To do this, the sharp green color slowly reveals a dark center as it bubbles, creating an ominous but intriguing place to soak.

CBD bath bomb fizzing in water

To fully experience a Swamp Queen bath bomb I recommend creating an intentional space for yourself. Play relaxing music, have a journal nearby, light a candle or two, and sip on the cannabinoid elixir. For me, the elixir released tensions and brought a dulled clarity that was ripe for exploring my inner mind. The drink is made with in-house nanotechnology that until now has been used only in topical applications. The elixir is the first of its kind from the brand, but Kush Queen will likely start releasing more beverages and consumables. Making time for yourself is the essence of the brand and as their product lines diversify, self-care will be the beating heart of that fundamental goal.

“Life is about finding who you are and following your purpose, and letting your intuition guide you…Creation is life for me, and that just kind of guides everything,” said Olivia.

Swamp Queen Spirit of the Bayou products are now available at kushqueen.shop for people aged 18 and older. In the wake of the tragedies following Hurricane Ida, 10% of all Swamp Queen sales will go to Hurricane Ida mutual aid and rebuilding the native and local bayou communities.

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Former Cannabis CEO Facing 13 Years in Prison

10/27/2021

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The founder of California cannabis dispensary Natural Healing Center has pleaded guilty to bribery and filing a false tax return, KSBY reports. Helios Dayspring now faces a maximum sentence of 13 years in prison, three years of probation, a $500,000 fine, and could be forced to pay the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) $3.5 million in restitution.

In his July plea agreement, Dayspring admitted to bribing San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Adam Hill to support his cannabis businesses. Dayspring paid Hill a total of $32,000 in exchange for votes favoring legislation that permitted Dayspring’s cannabis farms to operate before getting final approval. Dayspring also admitted to attempting to bribe the former Grover Beach Mayor John Shoals in 2017 in exchange for two dispensary licenses, but Shoals did not accept the bribe.

Dayspring also admitted to underreporting his personal income on his federal tax returns – by more than $3.4 million – for four years.

The Natural Healing Center was ultimately awarded a single dispensary license to open a retail dispensary in Grover Beach – the company’s first dispensary to open in the county. A second location opened in Morro Bay in April, the report says, with a third planned to open this month but officials ultimately terminated that agreement.

Hill tragically died of suicide in August 2020 and later that month, Dayspring stepped down as Natural Healing Center CEO “to devote his energy and attention to other personal avenues of opportunity.”

Dayspring is scheduled to be sentenced on February 11.

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New York’s Top Cannabis Regulator: ‘Gifting’ is Illegal

10/27/2021

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The head of New York’s Cannabis Control Board last week declared the practice of “gifting” cannabis as part of a promotion with the purchase of another product – such as an overpriced shirt, lighter, or other items – is illegal under the state’s adult-use law, WXXI reports. During the board’s meeting last week, Chairman Tremaine Wright, said “the conduct is not legal and must stop.”

“There is no gray market in New York state. … Individuals who do not cease run the risk of severe financial penalties.” – Wright via WXXI

Wright did not elaborate on what the “severe financial penalties” could be and on what grounds they could be levied.

Jason Klimek, who co-leads law firm Barclay Damon’s cannabis team, told WXXI that this outcome was “fairly predictable.”

“Paramount is consumer safety, and the chair emphasized that,” he said. “It was very good for them to say that, because there has been a huge question about this, we get calls almost daily.”

Susan Rider-Ulacco, the executive assistant district attorney for Chemung County where an establishment is openly gifting cannabis, said that while officials have taken no action against the business yet, there could be law enforcement action in the future now that Wright has taken a firm position.

The practice of gifting is not a new one and is usually seen by some businesses and individuals as a loophole following the passage of adult-use laws but before regulations have been codified and the licensing process has begun.

While some potions of the state’s adult-use law have already taken effect – such as use and possession by adults – retail sales are not expected to begin until sometime next year.

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Cannabis Company Denied License in Missouri Wins $28M Lawsuit 

10/27/2021

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A company hired by Missouri to score applicants for the state’s medical cannabis has lost a $28 million lawsuit brought by one of the companies denied an industry license last year, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Wise Health Solutions was sued by GMT Consulting in 2020 claiming Wise’s scoring method was flawed and “corrupt,” which resulted in the license denial.

An arbitrator found that Wise “negligently performed its consulting duties” for the state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), which caused GMT “to be wrongfully denied dispensary licenses.” GMT is in court seeking to force Wise’s insurance company, Hiscox Insurance Co., to pay the $28 million judgment.

DHSS spokeswoman Lisa Cox on Tuesday told the Post-Dispatch that the ruling is not an indictment of the state’s medical cannabis industry application scoring system and “the issue appears to be a terms dispute with an insurance company and a non-execution agreement, not a decision by a court on the merits of scoring.”

The Missouri Medical Cannabis Trade Association also downplayed the outcome, saying the litigation is “between two private parties” and “doesn’t include the state.” The organization also said the decision “will have zero impact on Missouri’s more than 150,000 medical cannabis patients, our industry, or Missouri’s program.”

Wise Health had been paid $2.1 million from the state for its role in scoring industry applications but the state has paid more than $6.7 million in legal fees associated with the fallout of the company’s work, the report says. The state has had to use funds from the newly-created veteran’s fund – which is supported by medical cannabis taxes and fees – to cover some of the legal expenses.

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Florida Judge Lifts Ban on Online Cannabis Ordering

10/27/2021

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An administrative judge in Florida lifted the ban on Leafly and other third-party websites from assisting medical cannabis dispensaries with online patient orders, according to the News Service of Florida. The lawsuit was filed by Leafly after the Florida Department of Health (DOH) said theirs, and other sites, activities were “directly related to the cultivation, processing and dispensing” of cannabis, which health officials believed was a violation of state law.

Administrative Judge Suzanne Van Wyk disagreed with the state, writing in her ruling that the state must “immediately discontinue reliance on its policy … regarding online ordering of medical marijuana through third-party websites.”

The issue began when Florida Department of Health officials sent out a February 1 memo informing dispensaries the practice of contracting with Leafly and similar sites to process online patient deliveries was illegal and could be punished with a $5,000 fine. The state contended that by relying on the sites to conduct patient orders, providers were violating Florida’s vertical integration law, a market structure recently upheld by the Florida Supreme Court that requires cannabis firms to handle all aspects of cannabis cultivation, processing, and distribution from seed to customer.

Former DOH Chief of Staff Courtney Coppola wrote in the February memo that “contracting with Leafly.com, or any other third-party website, for services directly related to dispensing is a violation of this provision.”

But Van Wyk threw out the policy on the grounds it was an unadopted rule, writing that the memo “does not merely reiterate the statute, but places a construction on the statute that is not readily apparent on its face. The statute does not address third-party websites or online ordering.”

The judge did not go so far as to call the rule invalid as argued by Leafly attorney Seann Frazier, noting she did not have the authority to invalidate the rule completely. However, she would toss out the state’s argument that Leafly lacked standing to file the lawsuit, saying the Seattle-based company “has sustained cancelation of real contracts.”

In an email to Ganjaprenuer, Leafly CEO Yoko Miyashita said she was pleased with the ruling, writing that the company is “thrilled that the courts have sided with safe access to cannabis for patients.

“By allowing services like Leafly Pickup, consumers have greater ability to research in advance prior to purchase and retailers have additional effective means of serving the patient communities,” she said in the statement. “We look forward to working with our partners to restart Leafly Pickup throughout Florida effectively immediately.”

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Lil’ Kim Launching Cannabis Brand aphrodisiac

10/26/2021

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Grammy-award rapper Lil’ Kim is launching her own cannabis brand, aphrodisiac, in partnership with superbad inc., Forbes reports. The line is set to debut in early 2022.

Lil’ Kim, whose real name is Kimberly Denise Jones, told Forbes that she has been working on the project for two and a half years. She describes it as a fashion-forward, collectible, lifestyle cannabis brand.

“This is something that didn’t just come overnight. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. It’s the way of the world.” – Lil’ Kim to Forbes

In the Forbes interview, Lil’ Kim described the partnership with superbad as “a match made in heaven.”

“I mean look at the name, superbad inc, that’s me all day,” she said. “I’m the First Lady Bad Girl.”

Carlos Dew, CEO of superbad, described Lil’ Kim as a “superbaddie.”

“superbad means that moment when you see someone walking down the street and think, ‘Dang, she’s BAD,’ he said in the interview.

Dew added that the goal is to get the brand in multiple states. Lil’ Kim names her home state of New Jersey and New York – where she was born and raised – as targets for expanding the brand.

“I’m a hustler by nature, right? I’m from Brooklyn, so we hustle. I equate the game all the time to how I came up in the streets. It’s different, but it’s not, it’s the same,” she said in the interview. “I’ve always been the type of person who will try it out. I test my product. I tested this and I was like ‘Oh yeah, this is that gas.’”

Dew added that everything in the aphrodisiac line “will be custom to Kim’s preferences on genetics, and strains.”

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Illinois Cannabis Sales Hit $1B Through September

10/26/2021

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Since legalizing, Illinois has sold nearly $1 billion in adult-use cannabis through September, the Daily Journal reports. Riding a seven-month wave of over $100 million per month, September saw $120 million in cannabis sales, bringing the total transactions to $997,067,100. The September figures are an 80% increase over last year, the report says.

National Cannabis Industry Association spokesman Morgan Fox believes the trend reflects momentum toward the regulated cannabis sphere away from the underground market.

“They’re concerned about things like safety as well as quality and convenience, not to mention making sure their money is going toward legitimate businesses that are acting responsibly.” – Fox to the Journal

Fox is not worried about the decrease in sales from July and August to September, attributing the high sales numbers over the summer to “people stocking up, because they were worried about continued access,” similar to spikes seen throughout the pandemic.

As for competition from other legal cannabis states bordering Illinois, Fox says the state can avoid setbacks by licensing more cannabis businesses and lowering taxes on cannabis operators.

“We will continue to see that growth, and honestly, I think we would see much more growth if the state were to decrease taxes on cannabis businesses,” Fox said in the report, adding that the federal government could help by making it easier for firms to access traditional banking and financial services. Then, Fox said, “regulated businesses would be able to more easily compete with the unregulated market.”

Since cannabis sales began in Illinois in January 2020, the Midwest state has continued to break sales records. Last year, the state sold over $1 billion in combined adult-use and medical cannabis, reporting a record $86 million in December 2020. By March 2021, those numbers rose to $109 million and spiked over the summer at $127.8 million in July.

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Israeli Cannabis Brand Developing Cannabis and Mushroom Nutritional Supplements

10/26/2021

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Israeli cannabis company Tikun-Olam Cannabit has signed a partnership with Ambrosia-SupHerb to produce and market nutritional supplements based on cannabis and mushrooms. Ambrosia-SupHerb is Israel’s largest nutritional supplement manufacturer and is engaged in the production of nutritional supplements and is the marketer of Solgar’s nutritional supplements in Israel.

As part of the partnership, a pilot will be launched, led by the companies’ research and development teams to develop the products, including combining components of additional nutritional supplements such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and plants. The companies applied to the Medical Cannabis Unit after signing the agreement to receive approval for the research and development activity in Israel.

Avinoam Sapir, general manager for Tikun Olam-Cannbit, said the market has “tremendous sales potential,” noting that the company has “seen the mushroom market flourishing in the East and growing in the U.S.”

“We view the combined power of empirical research and extraction expertise that we have along with the product development and shipping abilities of SupHerb in the nutritional supplement market in Israel and worldwide as perfect synergy. … Our empirical knowledge in the field of medical cannabis brings added value in creation of an innovative product that heralds a new message for patients worldwide.” – Sapir in a press release

Eitan Markovits, CEO and owner of Ambrosia SupHerb Group, called the partnership “groundbreaking” and that the partnership “will introduce the added value, professionalism and experience [SubHerb has] accrued over our 35 years of activity into the new worlds of cannabis-based nutritional supplements.”

The project marks the first time that an Israeli company will develop nutritional supplements based on cannabis and mushrooms.

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Illegal Cultivation Crackdown Nets 60k Cannabis Plants In Two Weeks

10/26/2021

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From October 11 to 24 the San Bernardino, California Sheriffs Department has seized more than 60,000 cannabis plants, 9,000 pounds of processed cannabis, and destroyed 319 greenhouses as part of “Operation Hammer Strike.” According to the Sheriff’s Office, 53 people total were arrested in the separate busts, which are in their eighth week.

Over the last two weeks, investigators involved in the crackdown on illegal cannabis cultivation sites seized eight grams of cannabis concentrate, 10 firearms, 8.9 grams of methamphetamine, and $118,000 in cash. One extraction lab was also disassembled along with six indoor cultivation sites in the law enforcement action, which included 46 locations throughout San Bernardino County.

None of the targets were in compliance with neither California’s adult-use cannabis law nor county laws, which prohibits commercial cannabis activity, the Sheriff’s Office said in the press releases.

Over the last eight weeks, the sheriff’s office has served 183 search warrants, made 238 arrests, and seized 186,916 cannabis plants, 38,911 pounds of processed cannabis, 8 grams of concentrate, 8.9 grams of methamphetamine, 57 guns, and $563,449.00 in cash, which the Sheriff’s Office described as “illicit narcotic sales proceeds.” Operation Hammer Strike has also eradicated and taken down a total of 1,022 greenhouses, including five locations with illegal electrical bypasses, and two THC extraction labs.

Individuals arrested in association with the cultivation operations are being charged with the cultivation of cannabis over six plants; possession of a dangerous drug; manufacturing a controlled substance; electrical theft; possession for sales of marijuana, and possession of a dangerous drug while armed.

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