CannaCon Returning to In-Person Events In 2021

4/13/2021

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Spring has sprung in 2021 and, with vaccination efforts having ramped up throughout the U.S. and internationally, CannaCon — the nation’s leading business-to-business event for the cannabis industry — is returning to hosting in-person events. This year’s lineup so far includes a series of expos dedicated to developing cannabis business opportunities in the American South and Midwest.

After the pandemic all but shut down any chance at networking or building new partnerships in the cannabis space last year, CannaCon has announced new events for the coming year in the following major U.S. cities:

  • Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (May 27-28)
  • Detroit, Michigan (June 25-26)
  • Chicago, Illinois (August 6-7)
  • Biloxi, Mississippi (September 11-12)
  • Columbus, Ohio (January 7-8, 2022)

Each expo promises a rich lineup of expert speakers offering advice and knowledge related to finding success in the cannabis industry.

Between its dedicated panel discussion sessions and keynote addresses, CannaCon has for years consistently offered unique education opportunities for cannabis entrepreneurs, executives, and investors — all under one roof. But, according to CannaCon’s Director of Marketing Angela Grelle, the cannabis industry is far more than just the licensed cultivators, processors, and retailers who are on the front lines — ancillary businesses including grow supply stores, security firms, software companies, law firms, and countless others all have their own stake in the industry.

“We focus on making connections between the ancillary businesses and the local retail owners, producers, and processors,” Grelle said.

Cannabis legalization brings a lot of benefits but, while new economic growth and opportunities are just one such advantage, many onlookers fail to realize just how significantly cannabis reforms can change things. Legalization can affect an entire state’s economy whether through attracting new ancillary businesses and investors, for example, or by revitalizing the local tourism industry. In fact, with its network of ancillary industries, the cannabis revolution is creating responsible business networks and new job opportunities for workers at every skill level. If you’ve been on the sidelines until now, now is the best time to get your foot in the door.

Over the years, the CannaCon expo floor has become renowned for creating countless networking opportunities for cannabis entrepreneurs, the industry’s ancillary entrepreneurs, and all of the investors, consumers, and enthusiasts in between.

Learn more and book your tickets today at CannaCon.org.

About CannaCon
CannaCon is dedicated to creating and strengthening lifelong partnerships within the emerging cannabis industry. It is our mission to provide a global B2B venue for cannabis businesses, marijuana entrepreneurs, investors and community partners to showcase industry products, people, innovations and technology. We are committed to cultivating business values within the cannabis industry through education and responsible community involvement.

Contact
Angelle Grelle
angela@cannacon.org

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Uber CEO Confirms Interest in Cannabis Delivery

4/13/2021

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In an interview with CNBC’s “Tech Check” on Monday, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said the company could get into the cannabis delivery business once federal reforms are enacted.

“When the road is clear for cannabis, when federal laws come into play, we’re absolutely going to take a look at it.” – Khosrowshahi, during “Tech Check”

The response came following a question about Uber’s recent acquisition of Drizly – an on-demand alcohol marketplace – for $1.1 billion in stock and cash. Drizly’s sister company, Lantern, was not included in that deal.

“What Drizly is all about is what we call our ‘fast and frequent strategy,’ which is ‘what are the types of deliveries that a high percentage of consumers are gonna want fast and to their home and are quite frequent,’” Khosrowshahi said in the interview. “And we think, obviously, food grocery, pharmacy, and alcohol are part of that category.”

Recently, as the result of language in a federal omnibus spending bill signed by former President Donald Trump last year, UPS, FedEx, and the U.S. Postal Service all said they would stop shipping vaping products – whether they contain nicotine or not. That move could increase demand for the products among on-demand delivery companies not affiliated with the major shipping and postal firms.

During the coronavirus pandemic, some states created emergency regulations to allow cannabis delivery. In New York, delivery was included in the legislature-approved legalization bill and touted as an opportunity for more entrepreneurs to get involved in the industry.

A report last year from cannabis delivery and tech company Eaze found that the 30 days after March 13, 2020 – the day the coronavirus pandemic was declared – new Eaze customer sign-ups jumped by nearly 60% while first-time deliveries increased 44%, and the average size of every order grew 15% while the value increased 13%.

“March and April 2020 were the year’s highest months for new deliveries and, overall in 2020, new customer sign-ups increased by 71%, and average order volume and value rose by 15% and 20%, respectively,” Eaze said in the report.

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LEVO II Herb Oil & Butter Infuser Review

4/13/2021

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Crafting cannabis butter is a storied tradition that has evolved over many generations. Many cannabis chefs have experience with infusing butter in a crockpot or even on the stovetop, but the modern cook has more options. The LEVO II is a second-generation oil infusion machine created to bring ease and efficiency to the process of crafting an herbal infusion.

Features

LEVO II is a sleek machine that fits right in alongside other high-end kitchen appliances, and it comes in five colors. It has three active settings: dry fresh herbs, decarboxylate cannabis using the activation feature, and infuse oil or butter. These features — and the entire unit itself — are easy to use and clean. The reservoir contains a ceramic-coated safe cup, a metal herb pod, and silicone accessories. All are dishwasher safe, Teflon-free, and non-toxic. Other accessories are also available on their website to make gummies and other fun treats with infusions.

This second-generation LEVO has improved the original interface system with more controls to further customize your herbal infusion experience. You can dial in the temperature down to the degree and the timer down to the minute, lock the unit, and easily cycle through the three settings using the digital screen interface. To dial in even further, you can connect to the LEVO app and monitor the infusion from any type of wifi-capable phone or mobile device. The LEVO II features are understated and useful, unlike some cannabis technology which can be overdeveloped for the sake of nuance. Instead, the unit stands apart because it is equal parts functional and sleek.

Infusing with the LEVO II

To test out the LEVO II, I infused vegan butter with dried lavender and a touch of Herbs de Provence. This felt like a most delightful pairing with local honey on a homemade biscuit as we shift into Spring. The process of infusing the butter was just as simple as the features imply. We packed the herbs loosely into the Power Pod, making sure to include the pod protector at the bottom and set it into the reservoir in its clearly labeled location. Then we put the LEVO stirrer into the middle of the reservoir and placed the cut-up butter into the chamber as well.

At this point in the process, the app was clutch. It prompted me to input the type of plant and carrier oil I’d be using, and then suggested a temperature range that would fit best for the combo. I set the temperature to 170°F, pressed the button with the ‘Play’ symbol, and let the machine do its work. It let out a very slight aroma, which can be handy when activating or infusing cannabis, and it did emit noise while it was in operation. The display screen changed to show that the infusion had completed after the set amount of time.

This is part of where the ease in functionality really comes into play. Just put a mason jar underneath the spout, and press the Dispense button to release the infusion into the jar. The reservoir is slightly tilted so that the oil or butter naturally goes towards the distribution straw. Since I used butter, which is thicker than oil, I did tip the unit towards the straw to get the last bit of my infusion. There is always a small carrier oil loss when making any herbal infusion; using the LEVO II I lost just 1-2 tablespoons of my butter.

Conclusion

LEVO expands on the current infusion technology with its second-generation unit. The LEVO II infusion machine is easy to use but that doesn’t mean it’s a simple product. The process can be customized in a variety of ways, and it can make more types of edibles than other infusion devices on the market. Alongside the app that provides temperature recommendations based on individual infusions and recipes from fellow LEVO users, this is a device that would be equally suitable for medical cannabis patients and professional chefs. Additionally, you can use a second Power Pod to increase potency. Also, the efficiency of the Activate cycle and tolerances of the device allow for extracting the maximum potency in THC from the herb in comparison to using traditional methods.

From now until April 20, enjoy a 20% off sitewide discount using the promo code LEVOGREEN and start your own journey as a cannabis chef!

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Colorado Cannabis Sales Declined $20 Million In February

4/13/2021

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Colorado cannabis sales reached $167 million in February – a $20 million decline from January but sales in the state are still outpacing 2020 figures so far this year by $78 million, according to state Department of Revenue data outlined by The Center Square. The totals includes both medical and retail sales in the state.

Denver County represented nearly a third of the state’s overall cannabis sales over the first two months with $52 million in combined sales.

In all, the state collected more than $33 million in cannabis-derived tax revenues in March, a 4% decrease from the previous month, the report says.

Customers in Colorado are charged a 2.9% sales tax, along with a 15% cannabis retail sales tax, and municipalities can add local sales taxes that are sometimes more than 20%. The state also imposes a 15% excise tax on wholesale sales or transfers of retail cannabis and license and application fees.

A BDSA report released last month noted that Colorado’s cannabis industry grew 26% in 2020, doubling its 2019 rate.

In the U.S., legal cannabis sales surpassed $17.5 billion in 2020, exceeding 2019 growth by 46%. BDSA predicted U.S. sales will reach $41.3 billion in 2026, a compound annual growth rate of 15%.

In 2020, Colorado set a new cannabis sales record – despite the coronavirus pandemic – with $2.19 billion in sales. In 2019, $1.75 billion worth of cannabis products were sold in the state. By the end of this year, Colorado is expected to sell $10 billion worth of cannabis since the reforms were enacted in 2014.

The sector had driven at least $1.63 billion into state coffers through 2020.

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Washington Cannabis Bills Stall (Again) In 2021

4/13/2021

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Despite numerous bills advancing further than ever before, Washington state was unable to pass some key updates to both its medical and adult-use cannabis systems this legislative session, including a bill (HB 1210) that if passed would have simply changed the word “marijuana” to “cannabis” in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW). However, lawmakers did manage to advance some improvements to the states’ long-delayed social equity program.

The first bill to hit a roadblock was Washington’s long-awaited cannabis home grow bill. HB 1019 would have allowed citizens over 21 to grow up to six plants at home (with a max of 15 per household) and possess the fruits of each year’s harvest. Similar to past years, the bill stalled early in the House Appropriations Committee. The bill’s primary sponsor Rep. Shelley Kloba (D) told Ganjapreneur that it failed due to pandemic complications but that she plans to continue trying to pass the reforms next year.

“With this session being held remotely, we are focusing our efforts on 4 main categories, COVID-19 relief, economic relief, racial equity, and climate change. HB 1019 did not fit neatly into one of these four categories and was not considered a high enough priority to consider in a year where we are hearing less legislation as a result of the pandemic. I plan on continuing to advocate for the bill next year in its current form and am hopeful that next year we will be able to get it across the finish line.” — Rep. Kloba, in an email to Ganjapreneur

In another setback, the legislature also failed to pass two key medical cannabis updates. SB 5004 would have removed the state’s 37 percent excise tax on Department of Health certified medical cannabis. The bill passed the Senate and moved forward in the House, but did not make it to a floor vote before a key deadline. Additionally, HB 1105 would have protected qualified Washington medical cannabis patients from arrest — Washington has a two-tier medical cannabis system wherein patients who register with the state are protected from arrest while unregistered but qualified patients can only claim an “affirmative defense” if they are arrested — stalled in the Senate Rules Committee. The bill was expected to pass right up to the deadline on April 11, 2021.

Rep. Kloba, who championed HB 1105 as well, remarked on its floundering, saying she was “very disappointed” that HB 1105 had ultimately failed and that she believed it was “not a high enough priority” for lawmakers.

“It is unfair that medical patients who follow the rules but choose not to enter a voluntary database would lack the legal protections against arrest and confiscation of their medicine granted to patients who do enter the database,” Rep. Kloba wrote in an email. “I am grateful for the medical cannabis community’s advocacy, pleased by the bill’s progress, and looking forward to getting it across the finish line next year.”

Washington did successfully approve updates to its cannabis social equity program, which has been delayed by a year due to COVID-19. HB 1443 expanded eligibility requirements for applicants, addressed technical fixes to the program’s funding piece, and extended the deadline for when the Social Equity Task Force must report to the legislature until the end of 2022, the Cannabis Observer reports.

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Study: Cannabis Impairment Lasts Between 3 and 10 Hours

4/13/2021

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Australian researchers at the University of Sydney’s Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics suggest that cannabis impairment lasts, at most, 10 hours, and as little as three hours based on moderate to high doses. The researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 80 separate studies – as far back as 20 years – on how THC affects a person’s driving.

Danielle McCartney, the study’s lead researcher told LAD Bible that the “analysis indicates that impairment may last up to 10 hours if high doses of THC are consumed orally” but “a more typical duration of impairment … is four hours, when lower doses of THC are consumed via smoking or vaporization and simpler tasks are undertaken.”

The study, published in the forthcoming July issue of the journal of Neuroscience & Behavioral Reviews, suggests that the “results suggest individuals should wait at least 5 [hours] following inhaled cannabis use before performing safety-sensitive tasks.”

A study published last week by the U.S. National Institutes of Justice concluded that THC in biofluid markers “were not reliable indicators” of cannabis intoxication and that “standardized field sobriety tests commonly used to detect driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol were not effective in detecting” cannabis impairment.

That study, conducted by RTI International, found that for vaped THC doses exceeding 5 milligrams, “peak cognitive and psychomotor effects were observed zero to two hours after administration and returned to baseline after four hours.” For edibles, the peak effects were observed five hours after administration and functions returned to normal about eight hours after ingestion.

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New Mexico Gov. Signs Cannabis Legalization Bill

4/12/2021

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New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) has signed the pair of cannabis reform bills lawmakers sent to her desk last week. Together, the legislation legalizes adult-use cannabis and automatically expunges some cannabis-related criminal records for crimes that would no longer be illegal under the new law.

Under the new rules, adults in New Mexico aged 21 or older are allowed to possess up to two ounces of cannabis and 16 grams of extract from a licensed manufacturer and can grow up to six cannabis plants at home. Adult-use cannabis retailers are set to open by April 2022. Cannabis sales in the state will initially be taxed at 12% but that rate will eventually rise to 18%, and cannabis businesses will face gross receipt taxes of between 5% and 9%.

The Department of Public Safety recently released numbers suggesting the automatic expungement language could affect more than 150,000 New Mexico residents, according to the SF Reporter.

“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.” — NORML State Policies Manager Carly Wolf, in a statement

New Mexico‘s legislative session had ended March 30 with no action on the popular cannabis issue but Gov. Grisham called lawmakers back for a special session to reach a legalization deal.

New Mexico is the fourth state to legalize cannabis in 2021 — following New Jersey, New York, and Virginia — and the 18th U.S. state overall to legalize.

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Cannabis Field Sobriety Tests are Unreliable, According to Federal Study

4/12/2021

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A National Institutes of Justice-funded study published last week concluded testing biofluids – like blood, saliva, and urine – “were not reliable indicators” of cannabis intoxication and that “standardized field sobriety tests commonly used to detect driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol were not effective in detecting” cannabis impairment.

The RTI International-conducted study included 20 participants over six dosing sessions, which included cannabis-infused brownies and vape products containing THC levels of 10 milligrams and 25 milligrams – along with products without any THC. The participants were assessed using common impairment tests before and after the dosing sessions, including paced serial addition, digit symbol substitution, and divided attention tests; tasks from the DRUID smartphone app, and standardized field sobriety tests used to detect alcohol impairment.

The researchers found that participants’ “cognitive and psychomotor functioning were negatively impacted after all oral and vaped doses of cannabis except for the lowest vaped dose, which contained 5 [milligrams] THC.”

For vaped THC doses exceeding the 5 milligrams, “peak cognitive and psychomotor effects were observed zero to two hours after administration and returned to baseline after four hours,” the researchers said. For edibles, the peak effects were observed five hours after administration and functions returned to normal about eight hours after ingestion.

“The researchers reported that the one leg stand, walk and turn, and modified Romberg balance tests were not sensitive to cannabis intoxication for any of the study participants.” – Field Sobriety Tests and THC Levels Unreliable Indicators of Marijuana Intoxication, National Institutes of Justice, Apr. 5, 2021

Moreover, toxicology tests indicated “that the levels of all three targeted cannabis components (THC, cannabidiol [CBD], and cannabinol [CBN]) in blood, urine, and oral fluid did not correlate with cognitive or psychomotor impairment measures for oral or vaporized cannabis administration,” according to the researchers. However, they added that “many of their study participants had significantly decreased cognitive and psychomotor functioning even when their blood, urine, and oral fluid contained low levels of THC.”

The researchers said they hoped the study would help develop scientifically sound measures for cannabis impairment.

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UConn Offering Online Cannabis Cultivation Courses

4/12/2021

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The University of Connecticut this summer will offer non-degree online courses in basic and advanced cannabis cultivation. The offering comes after the university launched an introductory online cannabis horticulture class in 2019.

Gerald Berkowitz, a professor of plant science in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, said the UConn students “see career potential and want to gain experience” in the field, while “businesses need highly trained scientists to support the growth” of the industry.

“By offering more and more targeted courses, we can help both groups. It’s a win-win. … It’s a great opportunity for UConn to capitalize on an area of academics that’s really just developing. We’re blazing new ground.” – Berkowitz, in a press release

Indrajeet Chaubey, dean of the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, said there was “tremendous demand from students and industry” for the courses, noting that the university’s faculty have “expertise across the cannabis spectrum.”

Matthew DeBacco, the lead instructor of UConn’s courses and an adjunct plant science instructor, described the program as a “choose your own adventure” model that allows students to dig deeper on the aspects that most interest them, give them greater insight into certain parts of the process, including allowing how to propagate from seeds or clones, and aspects of growing indoors versus outdoors.

The Advanced Cannabis Horticulture: Production and Industry course will be offered during the summer session from July 12 to August 13. They require no pre-requisites and are accessible to anyone in the world.

The Connecticut Legislature’s Judiciary Committee last week approved an adult-use proposal offered by Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont, who had called for the reforms during his January State of the State address.

Connecticut is bordered by Massachusetts, which legalized cannabis for adults in 2016, and New York which approved the reforms last month.

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North Carolina Medical Cannabis Bill Proposed by GOP Senator

4/12/2021

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A top North Carolina Senate Republican has introduced a bill to legalize medical cannabis, the Raleigh News & Observer reports.

Introduced by Chairman of the Senate Rules Committee Sen. Bill Rabon (R), SB 711, or the Compassionate Care Act, would legalize cannabis for certain medical uses. According to the legislation, which is co-sponsored by fellow Republican Sen. Michael Lee and Democratic Sen. Paul Lowe, “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.”

Additionally, Democrats have proposed their own decriminalization plan (SB 669) and adult-use legislation (SB 646), but Sen. Jay Chaudhuri (D) believes although those bills are possible “pipedreams” this session, he is optimistic SB 711 could receive a committee hearing and even a floor vote.

“I suspect there may be some willingness to give the medical marijuana bill a hearing, and maybe even pass it this session.” — Chaudhuri via Raleigh News & Observer

The report goes on to cite the ongoing opiate crisis and veterans’ mental health issues as motivation for passing medical cannabis legalization in North Carolina.

The medical cannabis proposal would set up a nine-member Medical Cannabis Production Commission, appointed by the governor or General Assembly, no later than 180 days after the bill is signed. The commission would be responsible for licensing producers, processors, and “medical cannabis centers” in order to provide “safe and affordable” cannabis for patients statewide.

Under the proposal, qualifying patients will have to register with the North Carolina Department of Health and be issued an identification card with the patient’s identification number and photo.

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Cannabis Streaming Channel Set for 4/20 Debut

4/12/2021

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Cannabis streaming channel Cannected is set for an April 20 soft launch and will be available on a range of services, including Apple TV and Roku, MM+M reports. The channel’s launch will debut 420Media founder Kerri Accardi’s documentary showcasing cannabis as “the miracle she is” on May 1.

420Media was behind a pro-cannabis public service announcement that aired in the Virgin Islands during the 2018 Super Bowl.

Accardi told MM+M that she wants the channel “to be known as the reliable source of information about cannabis education and entertainment.” She said her journey to create the channel started in 2013 after her Aunt Kathy died.

“I’m just a warrior who lost her best friend. When this information gets out there, so many people are going to heal and help themselves.” – Accardi to MM+M

Other programs on the channel will include “5th Quarter” which explores cannabis and sports; and “Nurse Talk,” hosted by Nurse Heather, which will discuss the uses of medical cannabis. Accardi indicated that future programming could include “business series, game shows, politics show, even a TMZ-like show on the gossip of the industry.”

Nurse Heather described herself as an endocannabinoid system “evangelical” and notes she didn’t learn about the system in nursing school.

“Education is really what needs to happen,” she told MM+M. “When you start to talk about cannabis, it creates all kind of different stigmas and thoughts and feelings… I want to help other healthcare providers understand the importance of it.”

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Ex-Advertising Agency Executives Launch a Minority-Owned Cannabis & Spirits Platform

4/12/2021

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The first media platform connecting brands with the growing cannabis & spirits audiences

New York, NY (April 9th, 2021) – Flavor Fix, the first media platform catering to cannabis and spirits, has launched. It’s built to educate people on cannabis, CBD and spirits, as well as let brands connect with this hard-to-reach audience. Kaya Herb House, the first legal dispensary in Jamaica, has partnered with Flavor Fix to be their launch sponsor.

“Flavor Fix is a great idea that is perfectly timed,” said Bali Vaswani, Founder of Kaya Herb House. “You’ve got cannabis legalization forging ahead in the states. The reality that it is extremely difficult to advertise brands and products in these categories online, and the fact that no site currently offers anything to people interested in both cannabis and spirits.”

Uniquely Connecting Brands with Customers
An AdAge.com paper called Why Cannabis Audiences Are the New Gateway to Growth for Big Brand mentions the value of the growing cannabis market and their affinity for alcohol.

“21 million buy top-quality beer, wine and spirits, especially whiskey.” — MRI-Simmons National Cannabis Study, 2020, AdAge paper

Enter Flavor Fix. There are well-established media platforms in cannabis and others in spirits, however, none that cover both multi-billion dollar industries and that collect data on the affluent audience that overlaps each category. This allows Flavor Fix to have twice the amount of site traffic and build a much bigger audience than WeedMaps, Leafly, Flaviar, Merry Jane, VinePair and others alike who focus on only one of the industries. Flavor Fix also has a cannabis and spirits influencer network that helps expand their audience/reach and gives brands a unique way of advertising. This is essential to helping brands be successful online, because advertising cannabis, CBD and spirits brands on Google and Facebook is a challenge.

“Human behavior shows that people like a little toke with their wine, beer or liquor of choice,” said JJ Smoak, Flavor Fix’s Head of Content. “We cater to this lifestyle by expanding our concept of content into premium handmade wooden products. Our high-quality products bring flavor to your dinner parties and personal at-home smoking experience.”

Build Brands with High-Quality Handcrafted Wooden Products
Flavor Fix makes handmade wooden products like Cutting Boards, Stash Boxes, Rolling Trays and Flight Paddles in small batches. This gives Flavor Fix a tangible presence in the home and makes them a valuable part of the party. This helps Flavor Fix build a stronger connection with their audience than other media companies who don’t have a tangible and intimate expression of their brand. Flavor Fix offers brands like Kaya the ability to do unique advertising campaigns on their platform that include custom branded, hand-crafted products.

Executional Experience
Flavor Fix’s founding team are ex-advertising agency executives with years of experience advertising alcohol brands with Rémy Martin, Diageo and others. They created Flavor Fix due to an influx of cannabis and CBD clients who found it difficult to advertise cannabis and CBD brands online. This team has helped spirits brands navigate the regulated world of alcohol advertising and are using Flavor Fix to do the same for CBD and cannabis brands. The audience overlap also makes Flavor Fix uniquely positioned to help grow the non-alcoholic CBD and cannabis beverage segment. A recent study by Grand View Research said that the global cannabis beverage market size is expected to reach USD 2.8 Billion by 2025 at a CAGR of 17.8%. Flavor Fix will be a platform that introduces alcohol connoisseurs to this delicious offering.

“The founding team has brand building, advertising, and deep SEO & Content experience,” said Mr. Chichester, Flavor Fix, Advisor and Investor, “ They have found SEO advantages over the leaders in the space and built a platform that will out rank their competitors organically on search engines like Google. Their creation of an Influencer network for this space shows their foresight. The fact that they consider their wooden products a type of content play is genius. Plus, the majority of the founders happen to be people of color, which is unique in both advertising and the cannabis industry. I think that’s pretty cool.”

About Flavor Fix
Flavor Fix is the leading multi-media publishing and lifestyle company educating the public on cannabis, CBD and spirits. Flavor Fix helps brands connect with the affluent audiences that are rapidly growing in two multi-billion dollar industries.

Our Essences
https://flavorfix.com/our-essence/

Contact:
press@flavorfix.com

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Cannabis Legalization In Mexico Faces New Hurdle

4/09/2021

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Mexico’s landmark cannabis legalization proposal has encountered unexpected issues in the Senate after Majority Leader Ricardo Monreal said on Thursday he wants to seek yet another extension to the Supreme Court’s legalization deadline, Bloomberg reports.

Under specific scrutiny are certain revisions to the bill — which is currently back in the Senate after it was first approved there last November — made in the Chamber of Deputies, Mexico’s lower house. While the original bill was backed by Mexico’s ruling Morena party, headed by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, top Morena lawmakers are now concerned about changes related to the cannabis regulatory body, new permit requirements for home growers, multi-license companies, hemp research opportunities, and the loss of licensing advantages for small-scale farmers.

“What’s best for everyone is for this to be a good law, not a law that is approved too swiftly and that will later be difficult to put into effect.” — Monreal, during a press conference on Thursday, via Bloomberg

Monreal called for pushing the deadline back further so lawmakers could tackle the issue further when the next legislative session starts in September.

“The law should meet two goals, reducing criminality and eliminating the prohibition that has led to thousands of people being imprisoned for having a few grams of marijuana,” Monreal said. “It should be an instrument for social justice.”

Mexico’s legalization push has been eagerly anticipated since the country’s Supreme Court ruled in 2018 that cannabis prohibition is unconstitutional. That decision came with a mandate for lawmakers to act on the legalization issue but the deadline has been repeatedly pushed back as they debate the best way to move forward.

When finally approved, Mexico is set to become only the third nation to pass cannabis legalization and the largest legal cannabis marketplace in the world.

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Federal Judge Halts Detroit’s Cannabis Licensing Over ‘Legacy’ Provisions Lawsuit

4/09/2021

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A federal judge on Wednesday issued a temporary restraining order halting Detroit, Michigan’s adult-use cannabis licensing process over its legacy licensing plan that gives Motor City residents preferential status and fee discounts, MLive reports. The lawsuit by Crystal Lowe, who hopes to open a retail cannabis shop in the city, claims the rules run afoul of both the state and U.S. Constitution.

Kevin M. Blair, of Honigman law firm who is representing Lowe, claims in the motion the city’s rules amount to “pure economic protectionism.”

“Time and again, Michigan courts have struck down municipal licensing schemes for private businesses that discriminate based on residency.” – Blair, in the lawsuit, via MLive

Detroit’s retail cannabis licensing plan calls for 50% of up to 75 new retail businesses be owned by legacy residents and the 50% legacy minimum applies to most other industry license types. Legacy applicants also receive a 99% discount on fees this year, a 75% discount next year, and the opportunity to purchase city-owned land at a 25% discount.

Legacy applicants are defined by the city as individuals that have lived in Detroit for 15 of the last 30 years; 13 of the last 30 years and are low income; or for 10 of the last 30 years and have a cannabis conviction or a parent with a cannabis conviction.

U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman issued the temporary restraining which prohibits city officials from receiving any more industry applications until at least April 21 or April 22, when a hearing will be held to determine if a preliminary injunction will be issued. A preliminary injunction could mean no industry licenses are issued until the lawsuit is settled.

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.

Detroit Corporation Counsel Lawrence Garcia indicated that Detroit’s Civil Rights, Inclusion and Opportunity Office would “reach out to certified Legacy Detroiters to offer general advice and support while the litigation is pending.”

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Texas Public Health Committee Approves Medical Cannabis Expansion Bill

4/09/2021

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The Texas House Committee on Public Health on Wednesday passed a proposal to allow patients with any type of cancer and veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder to access the state’s medical cannabis program, along with patients with chronic pain that would otherwise be treated with opioids, the Dallas Morning News reports.

The measure also increases the THC levels in cannabis products allowed in the program from .5% to 5%.

Morris Denton, CEO of Texas Original Compassionate Cultivation, in an interview with the Morning News described the legislation as a “step forward” in the direction of a “true medical cannabis program” for Texans but “it doesn’t get … all the way there.”

“Because the legislative process is a process that is built on compromise, we have to look for things that we can achieve. There are no moral victories when you’re talking about a person’s health, so we need to get approved what we can and then look to come back in the 2023 session.” – Denton to the Morning News

David Bass, a military veteran who testified to the committee, said that while he would qualify for the program were the bill enacted – as a veteran with PTSD – his “PTSD is no different than a firefighter or a police officer who has PTSD, or a person who was abused or sexually assaulted.”

“Their symptoms and experiences are the same as mine,” he testified.

The measure was introduced by Republican Rep. Stephanie Klick, who also sponsored the 2019 bill that expanded the program to include multiple sclerosis, seizure disorders, and terminal cancer.

As of December, there were 3,811 registered patients in Texas, according to the report, which notes neighboring Oklahoma had more than 365,000 registered in the state’s medical cannabis program as of December.

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Alabama House Committee Approves Medical Cannabis Bill

4/09/2021

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The Alabama House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday approved a medical cannabis bill which was approved by the state Senate in February. The measure was sent to the chamber’s Health Committee.

The measure covers 16 qualifying conditions including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety or panic disorder, Crohn’s Disease, menopause or premenstrual syndrome, fibromyalgia, Tourette’s, spasticity associated with motor neuron diseases and multiple sclerosis or a spinal cord injury, sickle cell anemia, terminal illnesses, HIV and AIDS-related weight loss, epilepsy, cancer, persistent nausea, autism, and chronic pain for which other medications have already proven to be ineffective.

The bill prohibits smoking and edibles, calling instead for tablets and capsules, “non-sugarcoated gelatinous cube, gelatinous rectangular cuboid,” topicals, patches, suppositories, liquids or oils, and products for use with a nebulizer.

The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Tim Melson (R), who is also a physician and medical researcher, told reporters following the committee vote that he thinks the proposal has “a good chance” to get through the Health Committee and move to the House floor for a full vote. It would mark the first time the whole chamber has considered medical cannabis legislation, which has been approved by the Senate three times.

The Judiciary Committee approved 10 amendments to the proposal, including excluding nonresidents from the program, reducing money allocated for cannabis research from 30% of industry-derived proceeds to 15%, with the remainder going to rural health programs, adding a State Health-appointed member to the state medical cannabis commission, and allowing doctors and pharmacists access to the seed-to-sale database.

The committee rejected amendments that would have removed anxiety, menopause, and persistent nausea from the conditions list, and another to add Parkinson’s Disease.

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Cannabis Entrepreneur Tied to Rep. Matt Gaetz’s Sex Trafficking Scandal

4/08/2021

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A federal investigation into Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz (R) for allegedly violating sex trafficking laws has extended to Dr. Jason Pirozzolo, a Florida-based hand surgeon, medical cannabis advocate, and founder of The American Medical Marijuana Physician Association, CBS News reports.

Specifically, investigators are said to be looking into a Bahamas trip that Gaetz and Pirozzolo took in late 2018 or early 2019, during which Pirozzolo allegedly covered the costs of travel, accommodations, and female escorts. Investigators are working to determine whether the escorts were illegally brought across state or international lines for the purposes of sex. Investigators are also wondering whether Gaetz was accepting paid escorts in exchange for political favors, according to the report.

Pirozzolo has not responded to requests for comment and reportedly offered no comment to CBS News when confronted outside of his office on Wednesday.

In a now widely-reported 2018 appearance on the Ganjapreneur podcast — where we regularly interview people involved in various aspects of the cannabis industry — Pirozzolo said that Rep. Gaetz was working on legislation to “help facilitate [medical cannabis] research on the nationwide level,” and that his group had booked the congressman for a keynote at an event covering medical cannabis and the NFL.

According to FEC records reported by CBS, Pirozzolo has made $1,000 donations to Gaetz’s campaign on two occasions — once in 2016 and again in 2017. Gaetz, meanwhile, introduced federal legislation to expand medical cannabis research possibilities in 2018 and 2019, though both times the bill failed to reach the House floor for a vote.

Rep. Gaetz — who has been the subject of a national firestorm since the allegations came about, which include claims that he solicited sex from a 17-year-old — has denied everything. His office put forward this statement last week:

“Matt Gaetz has never paid for sex. Matt Gaetz refutes all the disgusting allegations completely. Matt Gaetz has never ever been on any such websites whatsoever. Matt Gaetz cherishes the relationships in his past and looks forward to marrying the love of his life.”

If investigators ultimately do determine that Pirozzolo’s actions were seeking some form of quid-pro-quo in terms of favorable federal policy action, “That’s a federal crime,” former prosecutor Arlo Devlin-Brown told CBS News.

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Virginia Approves Cannabis Legalization for July 2021

4/08/2021

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Virginia lawmakers yesterday approved the governor’s amendments to the state’s cannabis reform bill, setting the launch date for legalization on July 1, 2021. Under the version of the bill first approved by lawmakers last month, the legalization rules were only set to begin in 2024.

In late March, following criticisms that a multi-year delay didn’t go far enough in addressing the disproportionate arrests of Black Virginians and other people of color, Gov. Ralph Northam (D) proposed speeding up the launch date to July 1 of this year. Notably, the new date marks only the legalization of adult cannabis possession (up to one ounce), and home growing (up to four plants) — regulated sales are still not expected until July 2024.

Following the announcement, NORML Development Director and Virginia NORML Executive Director Jenn Michelle Pedini called the passage an “incredible victory.”

“Legalization will bring an end to the thousands of low-level marijuana infractions occurring annually in the Commonwealth — ending a discriminatory practice that far too often targets Virginians who are young, poor, and people of color.” — Pedini, in a press release

Virginia’s legalization proposal will include priority licensing for social equity applicants, though the rules for that system and other market regulations are up for review in the General Assembly next year.

Virginia is the first state in the South to legalize adult-use cannabis (although Washington, D.C. approved its legalization law in 2014). Polling data found that 68 percent of registered Virginia voters — including majorities of both Democrats and Republicans — are in favor of legalizing cannabis.

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Study: California Cannabis Retailers Don’t Sell to Minors

4/08/2021

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An Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study found that “California recreational marijuana outlets avoid selling marijuana to underage customers” after the firm sent “pseudo-underage patrons” – individuals of age but young-looking and without identification – into 47 shops, each of which denied the individuals’ entry into the building.

The researchers did note, though, that in one of the dispensaries visited, the store was observed giving away free samples of edibles to patrons – which runs afoul of state law – but ID requirements were enforced across the board.

The penalty in California for supplying cannabis to someone under 21 without a doctor’s recommendation for medical use is up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $500 for a first offense.

Angela Eichelberger, a research scientist with the Insurance Institute who authored the report with experts from the University of Chicago and University of Minnesota told the Orange County Register that the study shows “licensed marijuana retailers are clearly keen to follow the rules.”

“They’re aware that the industry hasn’t won everybody over yet, and they don’t want to get shut down,” she said in the report.

“In 15 outlets (32%), an electronic ID scanner was used. At stores without ID scanners, most personnel checking ID quickly glanced at the card, rather than carefully examining it. Thirty-four outlets (72%) did not have any signs outside or at the door stating that purchases or entry by those under age 21 is prohibited. Only 11 outlets (23%) had signs inside the outlet about the age restriction, and no outlets had a sign in the outlet stating there would be no sales to obviously intoxicated individuals. This signage is not required in California but is considered a good practice.” – An examination of the legal marijuana use age and its enforcement in California, a state where recreational marijuana is legal,” IIHS, March 2021

The study notes that security was present at 79% of the retailers (37 outlets) and in relatively small stores with few staff and no security, a retail staff member checked IDs.

Law enforcement officers surveyed for the study indicated their departments devote no more than 10% of their resources to enforcing cannabis laws, with most enforcement-related crimes downgraded to misdemeanors under the legalization law. Forty percent said they do occasional age-compliance checks at licensed cannabis retailers.

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California Committee Advances Psychedelic Decriminalization Bill

4/08/2021

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The California Senate Public Safety Committee on Tuesday advanced a measure to decriminalize psychedelics in the state – including psilocybin, LSD, ketamine, DMT, MDMA, ibogaine, and mescaline – for adults 21-and-older, Courthouse News reports.

The proposal would also expunge criminal records for crimes now legal under the law and include new criminal penalties for providing drugs to minors.

State Sen. Scott Wiener (D) said during the hearing that the reforms are “not inviting people to use” the substances, rather taking the state on a “health-minded approach” to their use, the report says.

The bill includes provisions to create a working group to study the safety and efficacy of the use of psychedelics.

In 2019, the Federal Drug Administration authorized psilocybin as a breakthrough therapy for Usona Institute’s psilocybin program for major depressive disorder. The FDA cited preliminary evidence that psilocybin could be a tool to treat severe depression.

During the November election, Oregon voters approved ballot initiatives to decriminalize all drugs and legalize medical psilocybin – becoming the first state in the nation to enact such broad reforms. That same night, Washington, D.C. voters approved a question to decriminalize all psychedelic plants.

The committee also approved plans to allow San Francisco and Los Angeles counties to run safe injection sites with the intent to prevent overdoses and public drug use.

The psychedelic decriminalization measure moves next to the Senate Health Committee.

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Arkansas Town Mayor Sues Medical Cannabis Provider

4/08/2021

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The mayor of Newport, Arkansas, and a group of private entities have filed suit against a pair of state agencies and a medical cannabis provider over a disputed license sale, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports. The lawsuit, filed in Jackson County, accuses the Marijuana Control Commission, Alcoholic Beverage Control, and Natural State Wellness Enterprises (NSW) of fraud, conspiracy, and breach of contract. The allegations are related to the sale of NSW and the company’s subsequent location change.

According to the report, the lawsuit contends that after NSW was purchased, the new owners changed their name to Good Day Farms and were said to have taken over the license four days after submitting their application, but two days before they were incorporated. The lawsuit also contends that NSW, “represented itself as a legal entity … before the [commission] when it knew or should have known that it was not a legal entity.”

The plaintiffs’ attorney David Couch — who drafted Amendment 98, which ultimately led to the state’s 2016 medical cannabis legalization — told the Democrat-Gazette, “The corporation they gave the license to didn’t even exist on that day. They gave a license to Casper the Ghost.”

The plaintiffs, which include Newport Mayor David Stewart, the Northeast Arkansas Charitable Foundation, the Newport-Jackson County Industrial Development Bond Board, and Newport Economic Development Commission Director Jon Chadwell, contend the sale and relocation happened without input from the community. According to the report, Newport gave major incentives to convince Natural State Wellness to locate in Jackson County, including selling the land for only $20 rather than its market value of over $800,000. Additionally, the suit says NSW agreed to pay the Northeast Arkansas Charitable Foundation 10 percent of their profits. Therefore, the lawsuit insists Good Day Farms owes the charity $2 million as a result of the $20 million license sale. The suit goes on to ask Good Day Farms to donate 10 percent of their profits going forward if the move is finalized.

“The community has an investment in that facility, and before you go and move it somewhere else, the community that has the investment [should] have the opportunity to be heard.” — Couch, via the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

A spokesperson for Arkansas‘ Marijuana Control Commission said the agency revokes licenses in the case of “egregious” violations but that the agency’s legal counsel believes the case would be best handled in the courts.

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Workers at Rhode Island Dispensary Join Union

4/08/2021

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Workers at Portsmouth, Rhode Island’s Greenleaf Compassionate Care Center on Monday voted to join the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 328. The company is the second cannabis business in the state to join the union, following workers at Ocean State Cultivation Center in Warwick who unanimously ratified their first union contract in October 2020 – but is the first dispensary.

The vote was 21-1.

In a joint statement, Greenleaf’s workers said they were “proud to become a part of the larger momentum being seen by workers to unionize that is taking place within the cannabis industry.”

“We hope that through demonstrating our continued commitment to one another in organizing as workers that we can create some form of lasting change within Greenleaf that allows for better job security and more space for us to actually be heard.” – Greenleaf workers in a statement

Seth Bock, the CEO of Greenleaf, told the Providence Journal that the company respects its employees’ right to unionize.

We at Greenleaf believe that the health and happiness of our employees is at the core of our success, and that fundamental premise has not changed,” Bock said in a statement to the Journal. “As always, we look forward to our continued partnership with all of our valued employees – a partnership that will surely lead to continued success for all.”

Sam Marvin, the union’s director of organizing, said he was unaware of any other union efforts at other dispensaries in Providence and Warwick but called the vote “really important” as state lawmakers are considering legislation to legalize cannabis for adult use in the state.

Gov. Daniel McKee (D), who took over last month following the confirmation of Gina Raimondo to lead the U.S. Department of Commerce, said in January that “it’s time” for the state to legalize cannabis.

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Snoop Dogg, Charles Koch, & Weldon Angelos Chat Leads to New Legalization Group

4/07/2021

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An advocacy group consisting of cannabis proponents from both sides of the political spectrum – the Cannabis Freedom Alliance – launched on Tuesday. The organization includes the Koch brothers-founded Americans for Prosperity, libertarian think tank Reason Foundation, the Global Alliance for Cannabis Commerce, and the Weldon Project, a nonprofit that advocates for the release of cannabis prisoners.

“The Cannabis Freedom Alliance (CFA) seeks to end the prohibition and criminalization of cannabis in the United States in a manner consistent with helping all Americans achieve their full potential and limiting the number of barriers that inhibit innovation and entrepreneurship in a free and open market.” – Cannabis Freedom Alliance mission statement

The organization, which was reportedly devised during a Zoom call between Calvin Brodus (or Snoop Dogg), Charles Koch, and criminal justice reform advocate Weldon Angelos, last year. Angelos, who got a full pardon from former President Donald Trump last year after serving 13 of 55 years on cannabis trafficking charges, said he was surprised by Koch’s position on drug legalization.

“I had known that his position on drugs was very libertarian,” Angelos said in an interview with Politico. “I just didn’t know he supported the legalization of all drugs.”

Angelos added that advocates “need Republicans” in order to pass a federal legalization measure.

“We need 10 to 12 Republican senators,” Angelos said in the interview. “With Koch’s influence, I think that’s likely a possibility.”

Brent W. Gardner, chief government affairs officer for Americans for Prosperity, said in a statement that the organization is “excited to work alongside our partners to bring cannabis businesses into the light, replacing black and gray markets with a free and fair legal framework.”

“Cannabis commerce will become a way for Americans to lift themselves up, rather than a barrier holding them back,” Gardner said.

In addition to owing his own cannabis brand – Leafs by Snoop – Brodus is a general partner for cannabis investment firm Casa Verde Capital.

Last month, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said he and several colleagues soon plan to introduce federal cannabis decriminalization legislation which would grant states greater freedom to establish their own legalization policies.

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Connecticut Cannabis Legalization Bill Approved by Judicial Committee

4/07/2021

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The Connecticut Legislature’s Judiciary Committee on Tuesday approved the cannabis legalization bill proposed by Gov. Ned Lamont (D) and added a host of amendments including allowing medical cannabis patients to grow their own plants and the proposal’s strengthening social equity provisions, the CT Mirror reports.

The changes include permitting only existing medical cannabis dispensaries and social equity applicants to open adult-use cannabis facilities from July 2021 to January 2024; requiring all cannabis operators to have social equity plans; provides for apprenticeship and workforce programs to ensure those from communities most impacted by the war on drugs can get jobs in the industry; and directing 55% of cannabis-derived revenues be spent on social equity efforts. Fifteen percent of the remaining funds would be used for drug prevention and addiction services, with 30% allocated to the state’s general fund, the report says.

The amendments, which passed the committee 22-16 along party lines, would also allow medical cannabis patients to cultivate up to six plants starting next year.

Rep. Steven Stafstrom (D), co-chair of the Judiciary Committee, said during the hearing that he expected the legislation “will see additional revision as it moves through the legislative process and its next committee of assignment.”

“It is this committee’s cognizance as to whether this drug should be legal or not. And that is, I believe, the primary vote that we are taking as a Judiciary Committee here today, is whether to legalize cannabis or not. I would submit that that is long overdue in the state of Connecticut, for a whole host of reasons, not the least of which is this is a drug that is widely believed to be less addictive and less harmful to the body than many other drugs that we already have legalized and regulate here in the state of Connecticut, including tobacco and alcohol.” – Stafstrom via the Mirror

Lamont has included cannabis reforms as part of his State of the State address in January.

Last month the Labor and Public Employees Committee approved a measure that would require labor peace agreements for the state’s cannabis industry. That bill also includes a program to provide grants or low-interest loans to small cannabusinesses in the state and on tribal lands and prohibits employers from discriminating against employees – or prospective employees – who use cannabis outside of work.

Connecticut is bordered by Massachusetts, which legalized cannabis in 2016, and New York, which approved the reforms just last week.

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