Apple will allow cannabis-related apps in its App Store, Marijuana Moment reports. Updated on June 7, the policy change includes restrictions that require cannabis delivery apps to be geo-restricted within legal cannabis boundaries, and applications must come from legal entities and not an individual.
The original policy read:
“Apps that encourage consumption of tobacco and vape products, illegal drugs, or excessive amounts of alcohol are not permitted on the App Store. Apps that encourage minors to consume any of these substances will be rejected. Facilitating the sale of controlled substances (except for licensed pharmacies), marijuana, or tobacco is not allowed.” — Excerpt, Apple’s previous App Store policy, via Marijuana Moment
But a change in the policy wording last month carved out specific allowances for “licensed pharmacies and licensed or otherwise legal cannabis dispensaries.”
Chris Vaughn, CEO of the California delivery service Emjay, believes Google, which updated its policy in 2019 to explicitly ban cannabis apps, will “follow quickly” on Apple’s lead, he told WeedWeek. He said Apple was likely nudged by the legal cannabis movement in general — five states have legalized cannabis in 2021 alone, including New York, and the nation’s largest employer in Amazon this year announced it would stop drug testing employees for cannabis and would engage with lawmakers to help progress a federal cannabis bill.
Facebook, which has been accused of “shadow banning” some not-for-profit cannabis organizations including even the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission — the state’s cannabis regulatory agency — has not yet moved to change its cannabis policies, according to the report.
Sha’Carri Richardson, an American sprinter, has been suspended from competition for 30 days after testing positive for cannabis following USA Track & Field trials in Oregon last month, the New York Times reports. The Tokyo Olympic Games will be held from July 23 to August 8 and the suspension will end on July 27, meaning the top U.S. runner will not be allowed to compete in the Olympic 100 this year although she will be eligible to compete in the women’s relays.
It’s unclear whether she will appeal the suspension, the report says. She has not commented on the discipline directly, only posting to Twitter “I am human.” If the ban is upheld, it would negate her trials performance.
Cannabis is included on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) list of prohibited substances during in-competition periods, which runs from 11:59 pm on the day prior to competition through the conclusion. Athletes are allowed 150 nanograms of THC per milliliter of blood without causing a positive test. In 2017, WADA removed CBD from the prohibited substances list but added synthetic cannabinoids, such as “Spice.”
Positive tests for cannabis can lead to suspensions from one month to two years. The minimum ban is usually imposed if an athlete can prove the cannabis use was not related to performance and the person completes a substance abuse program, according to the Times.
Richardson is considered a favorite to win a gold medal at the Olympic Games following her 10.86 time in the 100 meters trials. The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee must submit the names of competing athletes next week.
Illinois’ first social-use cannabis lounge is set to open next week, the Southern Illinoisan reports. The Luna Lounge, in Sesser, will open its doors on July 10—or 7/10 —the unofficial cannabis holiday celebrating cannabis concentrates or oil.
The lounge can host 60 people at a time and owner Holly Roeder told the Southern that presale tickets have already sold out for the grand opening, which will include a block party; however, consuming cannabis outside of the lounge is forbidden under state law which does not allow cannabis use in public spaces.
The Smoke-Free Illinois Act was amended following broad cannabis legalization in the state to allow for consumption lounges. Local governments are allowed to create their own rules for social-use businesses, as long as they meet basic guidelines outlined by the state, including limiting customers to 21-and-older, designating specific areas for consumption, and keeping the door to that area locked, the report says.
Luna customers will have to bring their own cannabis and the lounge will offer papers, pipes, and other accessories for purchase or rent.
In March, Roeder had told the Southern that she planned to open the business by May, but the date was pushed back due to construction delays and project cost increases. The cost for all building materials has increased during the coronavirus pandemic, with brick prices rising 3.5%, concrete and related products prices jumping 3.6%, cement prices increasing 3%, glass costs growing 2.4%, steel pipe and tube, and stainless steel costs rising 6.4%, and hardwood and softwood lumber increasing 19.6% and 78.8%, respectively, according to an UpNest analysis.
Roeder said that the businesses have not been affected by the coronavirus-related labor shortage and she has been getting “resumes by the buttload,” which she attributes to the lounge being “a weird, cool business.”
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf on Wednesday signed a bill implementing changes to the state’s medical cannabis program, including allowing patients to obtain a three-month supply of their medicine as opposed to just a one-month supply.
The legislation also adds cancer remission therapy and neuropathies of the central nervous system to the state’s qualifying conditions list and expands the number of facilities that study patient outcomes to medical cannabis.
“It’s been five years since Pennsylvania legalized medical marijuana, and in that time the Department of Health has examined the program’s successes and challenges and made important recommendations on improving the law. This legislation provides important updates to our state’s medical marijuana program to ensure that patients have improved access to medication.”—Wolf in a press release
Additionally, under the new law, cannabis companies can now remove contaminants from cannabis plants, such as mold and yeast, and process them into topical products, WESA reports. It also allows companies to designate workers and “caregivers,” allowing them to deliver cannabis to patients’ homes—a flexibility “enacted under the state’s COVID-19 disaster declaration that patients and dispensaries found convenient,” the Governor’s Office said.
Wolf had urged lawmakers to pass adult-use cannabis reforms during this year’s session, saying last year that revenue generated from the industry “might be one way” to bridge the state’s budget gap. He told Go Erie that he is “going to keep pushing for legalization and restorative justice” until lawmakers approve broad legalization, noting support for the reforms by a “vast majority of Pennsylvanians.”
Many cannabis cookbooks vary in their level of both culinary and cannabis expertise. Edibles: Small Bites for the Modern Cannabis Kitchen by Stephanie Hua with Coreen Carroll is a complete text meant for cooks at any stage in their edibles journey. Hua is a former food writer turned owner of the gourmet edibles brand Mellows based in San Francisco, California. Mellows focuses on elegant flavors and low doses for cultivating an experience alongside a delicate high, and Hua is the master recipe formulator. Carroll is a San Francisco chef who founded the Cannaisseur Series, an infused pop-up dinner series, and recently won the Netflix competition series Cooked with Cannabis. Their combined experience, exciting recipes, and beautiful photos make this a cannabis cookbook worth displaying alongside your favorite culinary references.
The introduction is followed by detailed education on important topics that are imperative for understanding how cannabis works when ingested. Read about cannabinoids, terpenes, and common medicinal uses for cannabis alongside equations detailing how to properly dose your edibles. The authors carefully developed these equations with various types of cannabis infusions using a specific Sour Diesel and test results from CW Analytics. This level of detail brings a necessary section to the genre that some other books don’t address — not only will the reader have gourmet recipes at their fingertips, but they’ll also gain an understanding into how to properly dose their creations.
This educational portion of the book is followed by a series of Master Infusion recipes like the classic cannabutter alongside intriguing maple syrup and sous vide infusions. The authors each share innovative, enjoyable recipes throughout the book. Special guests like Kenny Morrison of the Venice Cookie Company and Monica Lo of Sous Weed also share their infused specialties. The guest spots are a welcome collaborative addition to the book, highlighting various talented cannabis chefs in one handy guide.
Those of us who have made edibles in our home kitchens have probably infused the classics like cookies or brownies, but Edibles takes the infused dish one step further. The book empowers the home cook with a variety of recipes that can be cooked alone or creatively combined into a multi-course infused meal. Appetizers like Roasted Grape Crostini, Gruyere & Green Garlic Gougeres, or Roasted Beet Hummus will dazzle guests or simply start off a fancy feast for yourself. For the main course, enjoy Duck Meatball Sliders or Corndog Muffins, and finish off with the large array of showstopping desserts like author Steph Hua’s signature Birthday Cake Mellows. Each recipe is impressive on its own, but the ability to combine them and build a menu is novel and speaks to the pop-up infused meal experience of author Correen Carroll’s Cannaisseur Series.
Edibles: Small Bites for the Modern Cannabis Kitchen is a gift to the cannabis and culinary industries alike. This book offers a rich look at the world of edibles from within the scene, from its ample education opportunities, to the spotlights on fellow chef’s creations, to recipe variety. It is not only suitable for the gastronomic stoner but it would also be a fun buy for parents who are newly interested in the plant or chefs with little knowledge of cannabis.
A North Carolina medical cannabis bill has cleared a critical committee hurdle on its way to potentially becoming law, according to the Winston-Salem Journal. The North Carolina Compassionate Care Act (NCCCA) passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.
The proposal still needs to pass three more committees and has an uphill battle to the Senate floor, but the legislation does enjoy bi-partisan support, sponsored by Rules and Operations Committee Chair Sen. Bill Rabon (R), Sen. Paul Lowe (D), and Sen. Michael Lee (R), the Journal reports.
Although the bill is seen as progress after 12 years of attempts to pass the reforms in the Tar Heel State, the proposal is described by Democratic Sen. Wally Nickel as “the most conservative and restrictive medical marijuana bill in the country.”
“This bill is narrowly tailored to offer medical marijuana to those with legitimate medical needs.”—Nickel via the Winston-Salem Journal
During testimony, Rabon, the prime sponsor and a cancer survivor, assured critics the legislation would not lead to recreational cannabis reforms in the state.
Lee elaborated, saying, “Recreational marijuana use is not something we want in our state, but that should not keep us from doing the right thing for those dealing with chronic and debilitating conditions.” Additionally, he said a medical cannabis system could be used to teach teens and young adults about “overall” cannabis use.
Lowe believes the bill is another way to improve health care in North Carolina using “medical technology.” Lowe said, “some people need certain kinds of help to get better, and we should do all that is necessary to help them.”
Rabon testified that he knows “how rough it is to go through chemo and how bad it is to wake up every day and think it may be your last day on Earth.”
“There is nothing less compassionate on this Earth than to watch a person you love suffer when there is something that can ameliorate that suffering,” he said.
Despite the restrictive characterization of the bill, it says, in part, “modern medical research has found that cannabis and cannabinoid compounds are effective at alleviating pain, nausea and other symptoms associated with several debilitating medical conditions.”
Portions of the legislature-approved legalization laws in Connecticut and Virginia take effect today including possession and use for adults 21-and-older in both states. In Virginia, adults will be able to grow up to four plants per household, but recreational sales will not commence in the state until 2024.
In Connecticut, retail sales are expected late next year.
Virginia lawmakers approved the reforms in March, making it the first state in the South to end cannabis prohibition. Starting today, it is legal for Virginians over 21 to possess up to 1 ounce and gift up to that amount to another adult. Consumption in the state is only permitted in private.
In Connecticut, where Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont just signed the legalization bill last week, adults can possess 1.5 ounces in public and up to 5 ounces in a locked container at home or in a car. Adults will eventually be allowed to cultivate their own plants on July 1, 2023, but provisions of the law de-felonizing home grows up to six plants take effect today.
The Connecticut law also includes a requirement for municipalities that opt-in to the market to create outdoor spaces for cannabis consumption, WTNH reports.
Earlier this year, adult cannabis use and possession reforms also took effect in New York; while on Tuesday portions of New Mexico’s adult-use law—including possession and use—also kicked in.
In Virginia, the reforms were not initially set to become the law of the land until 2023, but lawmakers passed a bill to push up the launch date following criticism.
The majority of cannabis transactions in Michigan—70%—happen outside retail stores, according to a Michigan Cannabis Manufacturers Association-commissioned (MCMA) study conducted by Anderson Economic Group outlined in a WZZM report. The study, which included an analysis of both regulated and unregulated sales, suggests the state’s total industry is worth $3.2 billion.
The study also found that one in five Michiganders reported using cannabis in the last year and that the state’s cannabis industry generated $169 million in tax and fee revenue in 2020.
Stephen Linder, executive director of the MCMA, said the group commissioned the study because its members wanted “facts and truth” to help inform themselves and policymakers.
“The only way to make strategic decisions to move forward as an industry is to understand the market in which you’re operating. And we thought the best thing to do, since nobody had taken the time to do it, was to do a baseline economic study.”—Linder to WZZM
Narmin Jarrous, chief development officer of Exclusive Grand Rapids Medical & Recreational Marijuana Dispensary, suggested that there were several reasons the majority of the state’s cannabis sales are happening outside of legal channels, including municipalities opting out, retail prices that are higher than untaxed products, a fear of regulatory bodies, or being anxious to shop in post-COVID world.
“When you’re depriving these municipalities from having these stores, this is what happens. People do turn to the illicit market and you can’t really fault people for trying to get their medicine in every which way they can,” he said to WZZM. “If we try to mitigate some of those problems maybe we can drive more consumers back into licensed retail stores with safe, clean, tested marijuana.”
The state’s largest city, Detroit, still does not have any recreational dispensaries despite adult-use sales commencing in 2018. The lack of sales in the city is due, in part, to court challenges to the Motor City’s so-called legacy licensing plan, which aimed to give Detroiters first chance at the licenses.
Earlier this month, a federal judge ruled those legacy rules “likely unconstitutional.” The city’s ordinance includes language that says no licenses will be issued or renewed if any part of the local law is deemed unconstitutional or otherwise struck down. The city had planned to begin issuing licenses on May 1.
Following the Supreme Court of Mexico decriminalizing cannabis earlier this week, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador indicated he would leave the door open for a public referendum on cannabis legalization, according to a Reuters report. He said he would “respect” the court’s decision, but if the ruling did not lower addiction rates or violence, the public may need to weigh in on the issue.
“Of course we’re going to respect what the court has decided and we’re going to evaluate. We’re going to see what effects it has,” Lopez Obrador said during the press conference while answering a question on the Supreme Court’s decision, adding that there are “two views” on the issue of cannabis legalization in Mexico, a split he acknowledges exist in his own cabinet.
Mexico’s House passed a cannabis legalization bill in March, but the measure has stalled in the Senate, according to the report. Lopez Obrador said along with the public referendum he could send a new bill to the Senate if the Supreme Court’s action is ineffective.
In the landmark decision, after declaring the law unconstitutional, the court said citizens 18-and-older could apply to possess up to an ounce of cannabis. Additionally, the Federal Committee for Protection from Sanitary Risks will issue permits for cannabis production.
If Mexico legalizes adult-use cannabis it will become the world’s largest cannabis market by population and isolate the U.S. as the only country on the continent where adult-use cannabis is not legal. Mexico legalized medical cannabis in 2017.
The New Orleans, Louisiana City Council Criminal Justice Committee has unanimously approved a proposed ordinance that would decriminalize possession of up to 14 grams of cannabis, dismiss more than 10,000 low-level cannabis possession crimes, and pardon all future minor possession charges, KLFY reports.
Council President Helena Moreno has maintained that data shows 86% of cannabis summons in the city are issued to Black people. She has indicated she would like to fully legalize cannabis for adults in the city but is unable due to state law.
“We can’t make it legal but what we can do is enforce our laws and put in mechanisms that puts us as close to legalization. This is important for racial and social justice when we end the conviction for this drug charge we’re going to help with housing and employment issues.”—Moreno to WAFB
The law would not allow people to use cannabis in public and state law would still apply but it would change how the New Orleans Police Department handles such cases in the city.
Earlier this month, Louisiana Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards signed a measure making possession of up to 14 grams of cannabis a misdemeanor punishable by a $100 fine and no possibility of jail. During the signing ceremony, Edwards said he believed “deeply that the state of Louisiana should no longer incarcerate people for minor legal infractions, especially those that are legal in many states.”
In March, the Shreveport City Council approved a measure to decriminalize up to 14 grams of cannabis for adults 21-and-older becoming just the third city in the state to approve such reforms.
New Orleans’ proposal still needs to go before the full council, which according to KLFY could take weeks.
The California Assembly Public Safety Committee on Tuesday passed the Senate-approved psychedelic decriminalization bill, the Associated Press reports. The version approved by the committee includes psilocybin, DMT, ibogaine, mescaline (excluding peyote), LSD, and MDMA but does not include ketamine due to concerns over its use as a “date-rape drug.”
Committee Chairman Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D) said including ketamine in the legislation “would have just confused what [lawmakers] want to get accomplished.”
The bill allows for “social sharing” of psychedelics by adults 21-and-older and eliminates the state ban on cultivating or transporting psychedelic mushroom spores.
Sen. Scott Wiener, a Democrat and bill sponsor, said the bill works towards ending the War on Drugs that, he said, “has made us less safe because people use in the shadows” and described opposition to the reforms as “the psychedelic equivalent of ‘Reefer Madness,’ that this is going to do all sorts of horrible things.
“And that is just not true,” he said in the report.
The bill also includes language to end abstention messaging in state drug and alcohol programs.
The cities of Oakland and Santa Cruz, California have already decriminalized some psychedelics derived from plants and fungi. Denver, Colorado was the first-in-the-nation to decriminalize psilocybin more than two years ago. Since then, Washington, D.C.; Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Somerville and Cambridge, Massachusetts passed similar measures.
During the 2020 General Election, Oregon voters approved a ballot question to decriminalize all drugs.
The bill moves next to the chamber’s Health Committee before a potential floor vote.
The Oregon legislature has passed a bill that seeks to more tightly regulate both Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC, according to a KDRV report. Beyond defining adult-use cannabis, artificial cannabinoids, and Delta-9, the measure more closely regulates total THC in hemp.
The legislation allows the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) and Department of Agriculture (ODA) to set total THC limits for hemp products, set up a hemp processing licensing system, and directs the ODA to submit its hemp processing plan to the Federal Department of Agriculture—a plan they withdrew last year. Additionally, the bill provides resources to law enforcement to combat illegal cannabis grows, which are booming in Jackson County, according to the report.
Prime sponsor of the legislation, Republican Rep. Lily Morgan, told KDRV that in her community the proposal “is more than a lifeline.”
“For us, it is an opportunity for us to regain control of our community, freeing citizens of fear of safety.”—Morgan to KDRV.
Morgan says the bill was created with input from legal cannabis growers and law enforcement, and that it will protect minors from consuming hemp products that contain THC. The bill now awaits Democratic Gov. Kate Brown’s signature.
Oregon is just the latest state to ban the sale of Delta-8, a minor cannabinoid that is synthesized from CBD. Due to gray areas in the law Delta-8 is being sold outside regulated cannabis systems around the country, concerning law enforcement, regulators, and the legal cannabis industry.
New York’s St. Regis Mohawk Tribe on Monday finalized an ordinance to allow adult-use cannabis sales and cultivation of up to 12 plants by individuals, North Country Public Radio (NCPR) reports. The tribe is the first in the state to authorize adult cannabis use.
The regulation takes effect as some unlicensed cannabis sales are already occurring on tribal land and leaders are calling on those businesses to shut down and apply for a license and, if they fail to do so, they will be unable to apply for a legal license in the future. Tribal Chief Eric Thompson told NCPR that the tribe appreciates “those entrepreneurs who have been patient and who know that tribal processes must be followed to ensure the regulations are completed in a responsible manner with community input.”
“Approved and tested products will soon be available at tribally licensed stores, which customers can trust as being a safe product that is being regulated in a socially responsible manner.”—Thompson to NCPR
The tribe indicated they have already received dozens of applications for legal cannabis businesses following the approval of the ordinance, which requires seed-to-sale tracking.
The tribe first approved the development of the ordinance in 2019 but had to wait until New York state legalized adult cannabis use, which did not occur until last March.
There are at least four retail shops selling cannabis to adults on tribal land despite cease-and-desist orders from the tribal government.
Authorities in Alabama placed the toddler of a Michigan couple in foster care after they were arrested for cannabis possession, according to an AL.com report. The couple were heading back to their home state after Erika Prock picked up her husband, Todd, from his parents’ house and the couple had stopped for lunch when they were approached by a police officer who claimed to smell cannabis on Todd’s breath.
Todd admitted he had cannabis in the trunk of the vehicle and the officers arrested the couple and the state took custody of the child. In their home state of Michigan, cannabis has been legal since 2018. In Alabama, cannabis remains prohibited for any use.
“I don’t understand how the same situation in two different states can differ so drastically to the point where in one state your child is taken and put into foster care over marijuana and you’re charged with chemical endangerment but in another state, they consider it legal and safe and you go home to your family that night and never have to worry about your child being taken.”—Erika Prock to AL.com
The chemical endangerment charge, a felony, was originally created to target parents whose children were near methamphetamine laboratories, the report says.
Instead of going back to Michigan, the couple has moved into a tent behind Todd’s parents’ trailer while they fight the charges in both criminal and family court.
A prosecutor has already dismissed cannabis possession and public intoxication charges against Erika after she produced hospital discharge records for her sprained ankle—which led the arresting officers to conclude she had failed a field sobriety test —and two years of clean drug tests from a methadone clinic, the report says. Todd still faces a felony cannabis possession charge—for four-and-a-half ounces—and both still face the chemical endangerment charge.
In Michigan, possessing four-and-a-half ounces of cannabis would have led to a civil penalty similar to a traffic ticket.
Ganjapreneur.com (Ganjapreneur), a digital journal that provides essential daily news and insight to cannabis entrepreneurs, investors, and industry participants, has announced the release of their first Spotify playlist. The Ganjapreneur High Productivity playlist has a mellow but energized flow intended to help “ganjapreneurs” and industry professionals accomplish their cannabusiness goals. Showcasing a variety of artists and genres, the playlist was given the name High Productivity because it is four hours and 20 minutes of curated music selected for concentration.
“Cannabis and music go hand in hand, and we wanted to share the songs that we enjoy listening to during our workday.” – Noel Abbott, Ganjapreneur CEO
“The playlist was curated by our staff, so you’ll get an inside look into our team’s personalities and the music that keeps us motivated,” Ganjapreneur CEO Noel Abbott says.
Although Ganjapreneur’s publication focuses on all things cannabis, not every song is about the plant. The playlist has everything ranging from rock to hip-hop to Latin beats and features artists including:
Topaz Jones (Toothache)
Teleman (Submarine Life)
Shakey Graves (Built to Roam)
Flying Lotus (More)
The Greeting Committee (Hands Down)
The Ganjapreneur High Productivity playlist is available on Spotify now. To listen and download, click here.
About Ganjapreneur.com: Since 2014, Ganjapreneur has provided succinct, reliable coverage of issues affecting cannabis business owners on a daily basis. Ganjapreneur also publishes an industry-leading podcast, conducts interviews with cannabis experts, distributes press releases for cannabis companies, and offers a variety of ways for industry brands to connect with each other and reach a wider audience.
6/22/21 – Lucky Leaf Expo is coming back to Dallas for its second annual Hemp CBD Expo. With the passing of House Bill 1325, Texas is poised to be the largest Hemp producing state in the nation. With over 1,500 licenses and over 1,100 lot permits already issued, Texas will be the next big hub for hemp. The Expo will take place at the Irving Convention Center on July 9-10, 2021 which will include 120+ Exhibitors, 40+ speakers, panels, Cooking with Cannabis demos on the expo floor, and a Pre-show Cannabis Business Crash Course presented by Cannacourse.
“Legalizing hemp in Texas will open up so many doors and create thousands of jobs for entrepreneurs or anyone wanting to learn about CBD and Hemp.” — Aiden Roberts, CEO Lucky Leaf Expo
“If you want in-depth, quality knowledge that you can use about CBD and Hemp from seed to sale, our educational series along with our pre show crash course will teach you everything you need to know.” — Mark Edwards, Marketing Lucky Leaf Expo
” We have a diverse array of exhibitors in every channel of the CBD Hemp industry that specialize in the sale of seeds, CPA’s, attorneys, accountants, processors, manufacturers, soft gel companies, to help get you started for your business.” — Chad Sloan, Lucky Leaf Expo
At Lucky Leaf, our passion for the industry propels us to bring you the best, most prolific event possible. We at Lucky Leaf have personally seen the positive impact that cannabis and hemp have made on people’s lives. We’ve seen individuals’ health and well-being thrive. We’ve seen people discover business opportunities that weren’t possible only a few years ago and witnessed the rising influence they have on local economies. Our company is a prime example.
To learn more about Lucky Leaf Expo or to schedule an interview with Chad Sloan please call 972-694-5553 or email info@luckyleafexpo.com. You can also check out the Lucky Leaf Expo website at www.luckyleafexpo.com.
Despite worldwide supply chain issues, the leading cannabis packaging company is committed to honoring their current price offering on all of their custom metal cannabis packaging solutions through the end of the year.
Denver, Colo. — Compliant Packaging today proudly announces their 2021 pricing commitment to all new and existing clients. Prices quoted on all custom metal cannabis packaging solutions will be honored for the rest of 2021. As business owners in the cannabis space face a host of unknowns, the Compliant Packaging team is hoping to relieve an element of stress by offering this unmatched pricing commitment for all new and existing customers.
A leading cannabis packaging company based in Colorado, Compliant Packaging has been delivering advanced edge packaging solutions to the industry’s top brands since 2015. Offering a comprehensive catalog of fully customizable cannabis packaging products, including its own patented LocTin® in addition to an array of child resistant tins, pre roll containers, glass jars and more; Compliant Packaging is the packaging supplier of choice for brands looking to distinguish themselves at the retail level.
The unprecedented events of the past year have rocked the foundation of virtually every vertical in the marketplace and the cannabis industry is no exception. From global supply chain issues and soaring materials costs, to navigating ever-evolving regulatory requirements, business owners in the cannabis space are facing uncertainty around every corner.
In an effort to provide a bit of consistency in these uncertain times, the team at Compliant Packaging has negotiated with our manufacturer partner to lock in pricing on their highly popular metal cannabis packaging solutions through the end of 2021. Despite the consistently rising global costs of tin, Compliant Packaging is extremely excited to be able to pass this pricing break on to their customers.
“We feel our customers’ pain and we share it. We’re grateful to have the opportunity to offer consistent pricing during these uncertain times and we genuinely hope it will help our valued customers plan for a prosperous end of year,” said George Sang, CEO of Compliant Packaging.
In order to deliver on this unrivaled pricing commitment, Compliant Packaging has leveraged their longstanding relationships to lock in these rates. Thus enabling them to continue to offer a full catalog of metal cannabis packaging in a variety of customizable styles including debossing, embossing and full-color printing; all without falling prey to soaring tin prices.
While Compliant Packaging is able to offer pricing stability, unprecedented demand and recent interruptions in intermodal transportation, including a backup in the Pearl River Delta, are causing historic shipping delays worldwide. A challenge they are working to help their customers circumvent by planning ahead.
“Though we are able to add some predictability from a pricing standpoint, shipping times are being heavily impacted by global supply chain disruptions. We’re therefore recommending customers place their packaging orders well ahead of the norm, and in some cases consider splitting full container loads into less than container loads,” added Sang.
The Compliant Packaging 2021 pricing promise is just one way they are working to help leading cannabis brands remain profitable during these difficult times. In addition to offering fully customized metal packaging, they maintain a completely stocked, Colorado-based warehouse from which they can fulfill many orders with their existing inventory. Stay tuned for more updates from the Compliant Packaging family as their team of branding and packaging experts continues to find innovative ways to help their clients navigate the evolving challenges facing the cannabis industry. To learn more visit them online at https://compliantpackaging.com/ or call 303-945-4179.
For as long as it has existed, market research has powered the biggest and smartest business moves across nearly every industry. Insight into the current market is the only way to reliably predict the market’s future—and this is nearly always the most efficient path to success.
We recently caught up with Jacqueline Rosales to discuss why she pursued a career in market research and to learn how ISA Corp works to serve and benefit its cannabis industry clients. This interview covers their launching of The Green Time (the world’s first cannabis consumer panel), the immense value of targeted market research for companies of any size, Jacqueline’s advice for aspiring cannabis entrepreneurs, and more!
Find the full interview below.
Ganjapreneur: When did you start your career in market research? What makes you passionate about this space?
Jacqueline Rosales: I’m one of the few people who went into the insights industry intentionally. I started in college and when I graduated, my mentor made me a guarantee that if I went into this industry, I would be bored within five years. Now, 25 years later I’m here talking to you.
What I find fascinating is the opportunity to make an impact and solve specific business challenges. I love studying individuals and what makes them tick. During my time in research, I’ve had the opportunity to explore many different industries, emerging trends, technological advancements, societal changes, and market disruptions. The most extreme behavioral shifts I’ve seen in my 25-year career have happened in the last 2 years – first with the rapid adoption and acceptance of cannabis, and then with COVID. When these dramatic shifts occurred simultaneously, we saw an opportunity to dig deep to understand the interplay and look at what was happening within subsets of the population.
One thing we found is that workplace culture has evolved significantly in terms of business leaders being “out of closet” about their cannabis consumption. Today, 73% of working professionals (upper management all the way to the C-suite) say they are comfortable discussing their cannabis use with colleagues. It’s amazing to see, from a research standpoint, and from a personal standpoint, how society is changing.
Not many people plan to go into the insights industry. Typically, people just fall into it, unless you’re me. As a result, you end up with a lot of people from diverse backgrounds – from statisticians to sociologists to psychologists. That diversity of thought leads to a better understanding of consumer behavior, which is what drives my passion for the industry. I’m driven by a passion for understanding what makes people tick.
True passion is real, and volatile and emotional. Occasionally, you get labeled “crazy,” but passion is also extremely helpful.
Jacqueline and her dog Auggie at work in the office. Photo credit: ISA Corp
ISA Corp was founded in 1982, but when did the firm begin researching the cannabis industry? How did you spearhead this new area of study?
From my perspective, it was really a perfect storm situation. Professionally, our mainstream clients in grocery, CPG and entertainment were approaching us saying: “What’s happening with the cannabis space? What does this mean for our business? When is the right time for us to jump in, and how are our customers going to feel about this?” When other Market Research companies were unwilling to explore these questions due to legal concerns, we saw an opportunity to help build an emerging industry and provide startups with the tools to grow their businesses and become successful by understanding their customers and market trends.
Personally, I was involved in a horrific, head-on car collision in 2015 that resulted in chronic, on-going medical conditions and dozens of surgeries. The doctors filled me full of prescriptions for years. Eventually, I was paired with an excellent pain management doctor and together we learned how powerful the cannabis plant can be in treating my conditions. Today I leverage the plant for all the various parts of my day; to help with pain, anxiety, motivation, creativity, and sleep. It has become a part of my health routine.
In what ways have your decades of market research experience helped to create a sector of ISA specifically for cannabis businesses?
ISA was already sought after for our work in academic research, public policy, emerging industries, and health and wellness – so our experience lent itself naturally to the questions people were asking about cannabis. After being over-prescribed highly addictive and harmful medications and then having a personal experience with the benefits of cannabis, I felt even more passionate about helping brands understand how complex and layered the consumers are in this market. Having that perspective helped our teams deliver that “ah-ha” learning to our clients.
How did traditional data collection methods from ISA Corp, and the data you’ve already accumulated from other industries, inform your development of cannabis market research methods?
Having been around since 1982, ISA has been studying human decision-making, measuring emerging markets, and analyzing political and societal shifts for a very long time.
Traditional methodologies still work in the cannabis space. Our specialty is finding the right people to answer business questions and we have multiple ways to do that – online, in-person, telephonically, or using online insight communities. ISA was the first research company to use an insight community to study cannabis. The tools are basically the same, but the habits, norms, and behaviors we’re studying are new.
What are some of the market research tools you have developed to specifically serve the cannabis industry?
Back in 2016, when we got started, we knew that cannabis brands might not have the budget for custom research, and we knew how critical that information could be for a new business. So, we started by talking to cannabis consumers, collecting data and self-funding research, which we then shared back with the industry. Clients started asking us for more and we realized the benefit of launching a low-barrier-to-entry research product for companies looking for quick, directional feedback. That product was the CANNApinion poll. By gathering a quick pulse of cannabis consumers every two weeks, we’re able to understand the trends, behaviors, usage occasions and desired experiences that are really driving the industry.
This initiative evolved into launching the world’s first cannabis consumer panel – The Green Time, composed of thousands of consumers and industry professionals across the U.S. This community is ready and willing to step in and give their feedback at a moment’s notice to help brands develop better products and services.
When did you start developing The Green Time? Who did you survey to develop this data pool?
Personally, I’ve experienced building research communities since 1999. Some are as big as millions of people and some as small as 50, really specialized folks who clients want to talk to. It’s important to have a diverse group of individuals and therefore we use a combination of methods to reach them. We were able to tap into our existing panel of consumers (MySoapBox), leverage relationships with cannabis media publications, and partner with organizations (both cannabis and non-cannabis) to build our Green Time community.
At what point in a business’ lifespan is targeted market research most important?
It’s important at every stage to have a continuous pulse on the market and understand your target audience. What we see commonly are needs like concept testing, package testing, ad testing, name testing, flavor preference testing. We do a lot of work with usage and mapping the customer journey. We even put products in people’s homes and ask them to share feedback with us at multiple stages of experiencing a cannabis product – measuring the effects, duration, and aftermath. ISA was the first research company to do an in-home usage test with products containing THC.
We’ve done dyad interviews with couples who told us about their experiences gifting and consuming cannabis products as part of their Valentine’s Day celebration. My favorite was a woman who received a box of cannabis infused chocolate-covered strawberries. There weren’t many in the box; she decided not to share any with her husband.
Through talking to consumers, we learned that the opportunity for brands with gifting is enormous. Over 60% of cannabis consumers in California have given a cannabis product as a gift. The top gifting occasion for cannabis is birthdays, followed by 4/20. People who work outside of cannabis are always surprised to hear this stat – that the 4/20 holiday is now a gifting occasion for a large number of consumers.
How does working with ISA Corp help cannabis producers with product development and expansion into new markets?
As we all know, consumer experiences with cannabis are affected by the patchwork of state regulations that vary widely from state to state. Dispensaries who operate in multiple state markets are now looking to tailor their offerings to the local communities they serve. We call this “conscious expansion” and Trulieve is a prime example of this. Rather than duplicating a single customer experience, they partnered with us to understand what is unique about the individual markets they serve, so they could customize the product mix and Trulieve experience for the local consumer.
As for product development, with new formulations that incorporate next generation cannabinoids coming to market daily, there’s almost no limit to what consumers can experience. Within that diversity of experience, there is a greater need to take a step back, and say wait, are these products doing what we designed them to do? Is this the right combination? Our CEO and CMO may have tested it with their friends and family, but does that group represent all our potential customers? When THC and CBD were the only options, it was easier for product developers to rely on guts and guesses. When there are dozens of active ingredients, it becomes much more complex.
What research and education do you and your team undergo to stay informed on new, expanding, and changing markets as the industry develops?
The cannabis market literally changes by the minute, and it takes daily effort to stay on top of developments. It’s our job to know what’s going on, and the bulk of our knowledge comes through becoming intimately acquainted with our clients’ specific needs. In addition to what we learn through being “on the ground”, and talking to consumers every day, we also speak at industry events and run webinars and sponsor research engagements for cannabis media outlets. We believe in hiring team members who have expertise not just in research, but in other categories and this extends to cannabis as well. I try to build a staff of people who are naturally curious. My new obsession with Clubhouse means I’m learning all day and all night on this new social media platform and those learnings then get incorporated into our corporate strategy.
Additionally, I think what sets us apart is our commitment to legal compliance. In addition to our dedicated in-house legal counsel, we also have partnered with UCLA Law to develop a set of guidelines specific to cannabis and cannabis research.
You have spearheaded the founding and growth of multiple companies and projects. Do you have advice on how to both build and motivate staff in such a way that leads to company growth and success?
My advice is this: be passionate and believe in what you’re doing. Having a way to display your passion is extremely helpful for leaders. Some people will disagree with me on this next one, but I think it’s important to be a regular person. People will flock to those they can relate to and identify with. When it comes to building a team, I always look for the diamonds in the rough – people who may typically be overlooked. A diverse staff that brings multiple perspectives to the table is key.
Are you optimistic about the prospect of federal policy changes related to cannabis? What do you think that might look like when it happens?
I’m optimistic that it will happen, although I wouldn’t make a prediction on the timeline. We know for a fact that Fortune 500 brands have been working on this in the background and when legalization does happen, they’ll be ready. Product development and fragmentation of the market will happen much more quickly than people realize. People should be worried about the big brands – they have the budgets to do the development and advertising and smaller legacy brands could get pushed out. I believe that there will always be a place for artisanal, small-batch and locally sourced products, but only so many brands can fill this niche. To survive after federal legalization, companies will not have the luxury of bringing products to market with a “one-size-fits-all” marketing approach. They will need to have a crystal-clear idea of exactly who their target audience is, and they will need to present hard data to retailers, to back up why they deserve a piece of limited shelf space. New products are launching every day, with new delivery methods and technologies. Without an “always on” approach to research, the market can quickly evolve beyond today’s understanding of it.
Thank you, Jacqueline, for answering our questions! To learn more, visit ISACorp.com
The Supreme Court of Mexico officially decriminalized cannabis nationwide on Monday after ruling that the cannabis prohibition clause under the nation’s health law was unconstitutional.
The high court’s latest ruling came after a 2018 decision that determined cannabis prohibition was unconstitutional and called for federal lawmakers to enact a cannabis legalization law. Lawmakers have so far failed to agree on such a law, however, which prompted the justices to reconsider the issue—and eight of the 11 judges ultimately supported the decision.
“Today is a historic day for liberties.” — Justice Arturo Zaldivar, court president, in a statement
Since the Supreme Court’s 2018 ruling, the footdragging of federal lawmakers encompassed three missed deadlines and several deadline extensions, the latest of which came and went on April 30, 2021. Earlier in April, lawmakers appeared to reach a deal after the House voted to approve a Senate legalization bill but ultimately the deal fell through when Senate leaders contested some of the revisions made in the lower body.
Under the latest ruling, adults in Mexico can apply for a permit from the Federal Committee for Protection from Sanitary Risks (Cofepris) allowing them to obtain and possess cannabis—if approved, adults 18 and older are now allowed to possess up to 28 grams of cannabis. Cofepris will also be awarding permits for the cultivation and harvesting of cannabis plants.
“With these actions by the Court, the United States has become an island of federal marijuana prohibition in North America,” said Paul Armentano, Deputy Director of NORML, in a press release.
Overall, the court ruling was praised by cannabis reform advocates but they say legislative action to establish a regulated cannabis marketplace is still necessary. Some lawmakers have expressed interest in a special legislative session later this year to tackle the issue. If approved, Mexico would become the world’s largest adult-use cannabis marketplace by population.
Mexico legalized the medical use of cannabis in 2017.
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, one of the high court’s most conservative judges, on Monday said that the federal “prohibition on interstate use or cultivation of marijuana may no longer be necessary or proper to support the federal government’s piecemeal approach.”
Thomas’ opinion was filed in Standing Akimbo, LLC et al v. the United States.
“Federal policies of the past 16 years have greatly undermined its reasoning. The federal government’s current approach is a half-in, half-out regime that simultaneously tolerates and forbids local use of marijuana.”—Thomas in the opinion
The justice points out that in 2009 and 2013 the Department of Justice issued memorandums outlining policies that prohibit the federal government from interfering with state-legal cannabis programs and businesses.
In the five-page opinion, Thomas points out, rightly, that “legality under state law and the absence of federal criminal enforcement do not ensure equal treatment” for cannabis businesses, noting that legal cannabis operators, under section Internal Revenue Service code 280E, can end up “still in the red after it pays its workers and keeps the lights on” because the company cannot take normal business deductions.
“This disjuncture between the Government’s recent laissez-faire policies on marijuana and the actual operation of specific laws is not limited to the tax context,” Thomas wrote. “Many marijuana-related businesses operate entirely in cash because federal law prohibits certain financial institutions from knowingly accepting deposits from or providing other bank services to businesses that violate federal law.”
The opinion also points out that were cannabis businesses hire armed guards to protect the cash “the owners and the guards might run afoul of a federal law that imposes harsh penalties for using a firearm in furtherance of a ‘drug trafficking crime.’
“If the Government is now content to allow States to act ‘as laboratories’ “‘and try novel social and economic experiments,’” Thomas wrote in the opinion, “then it might no longer have authority to intrude on ‘[t]he States’ core police powers . . . to define criminal law and to protect the health, safety, and welfare of their citizens.’”
The opinion comes as the court last week declined to hear a separate case challenging IRS summons in 280E audits.
Portions of New Mexico’s adult-use cannabis law take effect today and adults 21-and-older can now possess up to two ounces of cannabis flower, up to 16 grams of concentrates, and grow up to six plants at home under the legislation passed earlier this year in a special session called by Gov. Michelle Lujan (D).
By September, the state must form the Cannabis Regulatory Advisory Committee and begin issuing licenses by Jan. 1 with retail sales expected by April 2022, which will carry a 12 % tax, which will eventually rise to 18%. Cannabis businesses will pay 5 to 9% tax on gross receipts.
The reforms also include automatic expungement provisions for low-level cannabis crimes, which, according to state records, will benefit over 150,000 New Mexico citizens. The legislation includes a process allowing those in prison for cannabis crimes the possibility to appeal their convictions, NORML reports.
On the day House Bill 2 was signed, NORML State Policies Manager Carly Wolf said, “New Mexico will greatly benefit from this new revenue stream and the creation of thousands of jobs.”
“Most notably though, legalization will spare thousands of otherwise law-abiding residents from arrest and a criminal record, and the state’s new expungement law will help provide relief to many who are suffering from the stigma and other collateral consequences associated with a prior marijuana conviction.”—Wolf in a blog post
With New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Virginia, and New Mexico all passing adult-use cannabis legislation, 2021 is shaping up to be a banner year for adult-use cannabis legalization. Provisions of Virginia’s and Connecticut’s cannabis reforms are set to take effect on July 1.
Massachusetts medical cannabis provider Revolutionary Clinics is establishing a $4 million grant that it will distribute between the state’s Economic Empowerment Cannabis licensees and other minority-owned businesses in Cambridge, MassLive reports. The fund is part of the company’s Aspire program which has already helped Caroline’s Cannabis, Haverhill Stem LLC, and Pure Oasis.
While the fund is set to launch this September after the end of Cambridge’s “moratorium on adult-use conversions by medical cannabis operators,” the first pair of $100,000 grants will be distributed in the next 30 days to Leah Samura, CEO and co-owner of Yamba Boutique, and Ivelise Rivera, owner and partner of Nuestra, LLC.
According to a company press release, there will be one million dollars allocated when the fund officially launches in September, followed by the additional distribution of $500,000 annually over the next six years.
“My mission is to not only open the first 100% local, black-owned marijuana retail store in Harvard Square, but also to help other women of color find their place in the industry. This grant will help me accomplish that mission. I am very grateful for Revolutionary Clinics for their support.”—Samura in a statement via MassLive
The grants will also be provided to non-cannabis industry, minority-owned, businesses including new or existing restaurants, service providers, non-profits or incubators focused on minority entrepreneurship; individuals seeking funding to open, maintain, grow, or expand a business in Cambridge, Massachusetts; and those seeking funding to stay open or reopen due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Revolutionary Clinics said in a press release.
Keith Cooper, Revolutionary Clinics CEO, said in a statement that the company has “heard time and time again that the hardest challenge for [Economic Empowerment] license holders to overcome is accessing capital,” and noted the “challenge is not limited to cannabis.”
“Businesses across Cambridge require funding and wrap-around services,” he said in the statement, “so we want to meet that need head-on with this program.”
Toronto, Canada-based SLANG Worldwide is set to acquire Vermont medical cannabis company HI-FI in a $25 million deal. HI-FI owns two of the state’s five medical cannabis licenses under the CeresMED and Southern Vermont Wellness brands, and CBD store Ceres Natural Remedies.
In an interview with the Burlington Free Press, Bridget Conry, director of brand experience for CeresMED said the deal will allow the company to roughly double the number of its employees to 100.
“An overwhelming majority of our investors, until now, have been Vermonters. Now we’re in a position to bring investment into the state.”—Conry to the Free Press
SLANG CEO Chris Driessen said that the firm “recognized the value in High Fidelity as a local success story and pioneer in the Vermont cannabis community, focused on providing access to patients and consumers.”
“The High Fidelity team is proud of their accomplishments to date and are committed to the ‘Vermont Way’ of doing things, which means a focus on quality, collaboration, and the best consumer and employee experience,” Driessen said in a press release. “We understand these core values and are equally committed to nurturing their value-driven culture. This partnership will not only serve the cannabis community, it will bring quality jobs and revenue to the local and state economy.”
Canada’s SLANG currently operates in 12 U.S. states.
A small study published last week in Gynecologic Oncology Reports found 71% of gynecologic cancer patient enrollees reported self-improvement while using medical cannabis of at least one symptom with 15% of patients discontinuing its use due to the side effects.
The study involved 45 patients with a median age of 60-years-old. The study was conducted by researchers at New York University’s Perlmutter Cancer Center, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, and the New York University Grossman School of Medicine.
In all, 56% of the patients used medical cannabis for pain, 47% for nausea and vomiting, 33% for anorexia, and 27% for insomnia. More than 70% of the patients reported improvement in nausea and vomiting, with 36% finding medical cannabis relieved their pain.
“In this limited cohort of gynecologic oncology patients, medical marijuana was effective for the relief of nausea/vomiting, anorexia, and insomnia in a majority of patients but was less helpful for pain management.”—Medical Marijuana Utilization in Gynecologic Cancer Patients, Gynecologic Oncology Reports, June 24, 2021
About 55% of patients enrolled in the study were prescribed formulations with a 1:1 THC:CBD ratio. Inhaled and sublingual formulations were prescribed in more than 70% of patients and some were prescribed more than one formulation, which the researchers said limited their “ability to comment on the effectiveness of specific THC:CBD ratios or preparations for specific symptoms.” The researchers also noted that they “did not explicitly exclude patients who used marijuana recreationally.”
