Activists Distribute Cannabis Pardon Applications via Old News Bins

1/04/2021

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Activists in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania are using old newspaper boxes to distribute pardon applications for cannabis convictions, according to National Public Radio-affiliate WHYY. The effort is led by Montco NORML, the county chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, and TerraVida Victims of the War on Drugs (VOWD), the non-profit arm of the medical cannabis dispensary chain.

To date, the activists have distributed the pardon application to more than 800 people. They have installed two newspaper boxes with applications – one in front of the county courthouse in Norristown, and another in front of the Lansdale Public Library.

In an interview with WHYY, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, who supports cannabis law reforms in the state, called the application distribution scheme “fantastic.”

“We already have an expedited marijuana pardon protocol in place, where if it meets a couple key criteria they automatically advance through. But what we’re also looking into is the constitutionality of doing that on a macro basis. … If you’ve got a stupid weed conviction on your record, you’ve got to get it off. It’s crazy not to. There’s never a better time and, we have an expedited process for that.” – Fetterman, to WHYY

Geoff Smith, the director of Montco NORML, said that advocates fill the bins “every single week” and they are “almost empty every week.” He added that the boxes are free and readily available.

Cathie Cashman, head of TerraVida VOWD, called the newspaper bins “a great win” for the organization.

“We really can’t lose the idea that there is this whole social justice piece and this whole social equity piece that we need to continually keep in front of us, because this isn’t just a venture capitalist game here,” Cashman said in the report. “This isn’t just for people to get richer off of. We have to remember that there’s this social justice aspect that it is our responsibility as owners and operators in the state to support and push forward.”

Organizers said they ultimately plan to put similar boxes throughout the state. The next bin is expected to be installed this week at SEPTA’s Ambler Train Station.

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What Is CBG and What Does It Do?

1/04/2021

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In the world of cannabis compounds, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) reign supreme. They’re the two major cannabinoids that we’ve all grown familiar with since their discovery in the early 19th century. While THC and CBD have no doubt been the most critical compounds thus far, progressions in science have taught us that they are not the only catalysts for producing the effects that we feel from cannabis.

Now more than ever, cannabis producers and consumers are becoming more educated about cannabinoids, terpenes, and our endocannabinoid systems. And because of this, we’re beginning to learn more about other cannabinoids and their potential medical benefits. One such cannabinoid that’s seeing a surge of attention is cannabigerol, or CBG.

What is CBG?

Cannabigerol is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that was first discovered in the 1960’s. Though a minor cannabinoid, due to the very small amounts of it found in cannabis, it is still one of the most important. Why? Because cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) is what converts into THCA, CBDA, and CBCA; and THCA and CBDA which then becomes THC and CBD — the compounds we know for getting us high and providing certain non-psychoactive therapeutic experiences, respectively.

Though scientists have known of cannabigerol for decades now, there is still so much more research needed before anyone can come to any concrete conclusions about the exact effects CBG may have. However, certain experiments and trials conducted on mice and cats have given way to a few theories on how CBG may be able to help humans. Many of CBG’s benefits mirror those of CBD and also cannabinol (CBN). Here are some of CBG’s potential medical benefits:

CBG as anti-inflammatory

Research has shown that cannabigerol could be a helpful anti-inflammatory and a potential treatment against inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s Disease. IBD is an incurable disease that affects over 1.6 million people. A study published in 2013 injected mice with colitis, then tested the effects of cannabigerol on them. It concluded that “CBG attenuated murine colitis, reduced nitric oxide production in macrophages, and reduced ROS formation in intestinal epithelial cells.” A separate study showed that CBG helped mice with encephalomyelitis (inflammation of the brain and spinal cord).

CBG as a Huntington’s Disease treatment

Huntington’s disease is a rare, progressive brain disorder that gradually kills nerve cells in the brain. As the brain breaks down, so do the host’s physical and mental abilities. There is currently no cure for Huntington’s, but two studies — one in 2014 and another published in 2016 — show that CBG might be able to help slow down its effects.

CBG as an appetite stimulant

Many of cannabigerol’s benefits come down to being able to treat the side effects of various cancers. Research has shown that CBG could help stimulate appetite, and help promote the physical health of cancer patients. A study published in 2017 reports that a cannabigerol-rich Cannabis sativa extract, devoid of THC, elicits hyperphagia in rats. Hyperphagia is the strong desire to eat, which often leads to overeating.

CBG as a cancer fighter

A plethora of studies has shown that cannabis in general, with its complete profile of cannabinoids and terpenes, can be helpful against cancer. A study published in 2014 showed that colon carcinogenesis in mice was inhibited by the cannabigerol. It concludes that CBG should be considered in colorectal cancer prevention and cure.

Though these studies indicate CBG could be a powerful tool in medicine, it’s important to remember that no clinical research has been done on humans.

CBG-rich cannabis strains are difficult to come by because CBG will turn into the more common THC or CBD cannabinoids as time passes.

Which cannabis strains and products are high in CBG?

While CBG is becoming a highly sought-after cannabinoid in the current market, there are still very few strains that contain more than 1% CBG. As mentioned earlier, CBG usually turns into THC or CBD. However, when breeders extract cannabinoids from cannabis plants before they finish flowering, they are able to capture CBG in higher amounts.

Additionally, many hemp-derived CBG products have started to pop up. Hemp is just like the cannabis plant but contains 0.3% or less THC. Like cannabis, it contains hundreds of other cannabinoids, including CBG. With the federal legalization of industrial hemp, producers and processors are now able to isolate this compound and bring to market a slew of CBG oils, CBG tinctures, CBG vape pens, CBG topicals, and even CBD edibles. When trying these products, and testing CBG’s effect on your endocannabinoid system, remember to only purchase products from companies that can provide a certificate of analysis from a reputable lab, and a complete list of the product’s ingredients.

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Cannabis In 2021: What Do the Election Wins Mean?

1/01/2021

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The cannabis legalization movement counted major wins in the 2020 U.S. General Election and a President-Elect Joe Biden, whose campaign included a platform of cannabis decriminalization and expungements, could dictate a national shift in both policy and public attitude towards the plant starting next year.

Heading into the election, cannabis was already legal for adult use in 11 states. By January 2021, possession and sales will be newly legal in Arizona, Montana, and New Jersey after voters there opted to end prohibition — and by July, South Dakota’s new market will have come online, as well. In nearly all respects, 2021 could shape up to be an enormous year for the ever-growing cannabis space.

States are a roadmap for federal change

With the latest cannabis reforms being propelled by widespread bipartisan support, it’s possible the newly legalized states could be a driving force for federal reforms.

“With more states configuring the regulatory mechanisms in place, it’ll set a roadmap on the federal level for successful legalization,” said Al Harrington, entrepreneur and former pro basketball player behind the Viola cannabis brand. “When we understand what works and what doesn’t, the knowledge required to create a smooth transition also brings us closer to federal legalization.”

Al Harrington, former NBA star and the CEO of Viola.

In fact, within a month of the election, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act, which aims to end federal cannabis prohibition. It was the first time that a federal congressional body considered and approved a cannabis legalization bill. However, while the House vote was exciting for cannabis activists, any hope for the bill’s survival will depend on Democrats’ ability to take control of the Senate, as the current majority leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) has made it clear he will not allow the chamber to consider a legalization bill.

However, despite Sen. McConnell’s staunch opposition, Nick Kovacevich — CEO of KushCo — doubts that even Republican representatives will be willing to vote against cannabis reforms much longer for fear of alienating voters.

“The voters have spoken loudly in support of legalizing marijuana. When federal politicians saw red states like Arizona, South Dakota, Montana, and Mississippi pass legalization with overwhelming support – with more votes than either presidential candidate – this changed their mindset on cannabis.” — Kovacevich, in a statement to Ganjapreneur

Federal lawmakers may face backlash

While addressing the House floor on December 7, 2020, Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon) chastised his colleagues who would not support the MORE Act, which a Congressional Budget Office report shows would “reduce 73,000 person-years of prison time” and “increase revenues by $13.7 billion.”

“It would provide $3 billion for job training and legal aid to people harmed by the war on drugs,” Rep. Blumenauer said. “While doing all of this, it would reduce the Federal deficit by $7.344 billion.”

“Even if you don’t care about reducing the damage to Black and Brown Americans or honoring the will of the people, the economics make it clear: Once again, the people are right, and the policy deserves strong congressional support.” — Oregon Rep. Earl Blumenauer, in a statement

U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-Illinois) is already facing scrutiny for being one of just six House Democrats who voted against the MORE Act. For her part, Rep. Bustos claims she voted no because the bill lacked clarity and she cited her history of voting for the SAFE Banking Act (which aimed to give banking access to the cannabis industry) and other cannabis research legislation to demonstrate that she’s not anti-cannabis.

Despite such statements, however, some constituents were disappointed and confused by her vote against federal legalization — especially considering that her home state of Illinois has already legalized. And, with cannabis legalization becoming a more and more bipartisan issue, it’s easy to see how other representatives, even in conservative-leaning states, could be subject to similar scrutinies.

States looking for new revenue

Many Americans have expressed hope that by regulating the cannabis industry, states will be able to boost their economies — particularly amid the fallout and deficits from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. In California, for example, the state netted $134.9 million in cannabis tax revenue during just the first quarter of 2020. Illinois cannabis tax collection, meanwhile, reached $100 million after less than a year of adult-use sales. And in 2019, five years after becoming the first state to legalize, Colorado’s collected cannabis taxes passed $1 billion.

For potential East Coast and New England markets in particular, the idea of new tax revenue is especially attractive as new markets will get the first go at regional market share as they attract residents (and therefore revenue) from neighboring states, according to Patricia Baldwin Gregory, general counsel for Keystone Canna Remedies.

After New Jersey legalized, for example, “The pressure is now on other states in the region, such as Pennsylvania, New York, and even Connecticut to also legalize adult use,” she said. “Otherwise, they will lose significant tax revenues to New Jersey as customers cross state lines to purchase cannabis.”

“The population in the Northeast equates to the aggregate population in the adult-use states of California, Oregon, Washington, and Colorado. Projected sales for these Western states in 2020 is approximately $8B representing approximately 50% of the entire US industry .While initially, the Northeast is not likely to produce the level of sales seen in the mature Western markets, over time they will rival them and consequently move the needle significantly.” — Gregory, in a statement to Ganjapreneur

Cannabis reforms could bolster a COVID response

To many experts, legalization offers unique economic opportunities after an extremely difficult year.

“The economy is in desperate need of jobs and tax revenue,” said Kovacevich, and “cannabis has (dollar for dollar) a greater impact on the US economy than virtually any other industry.”

“First off, its effective tax rate is near 25% across the country,” he said. “Second, 100% of the cannabis sold in the US is grown, packaged, distributed, and sold via US-owned businesses, employing 100% US citizens. Other industries rely on foreign imports and outsourced labor.”

As Kovacevich mentioned, taxes are just one way that legalization will bolster local economies — the implementation of a regulated market also provides local jobs in a year that many have found themselves suddenly and unexpectedly unemployed. According to a Leafly jobs report, employment in the cannabis industry is growing 15% year-over-year. As of now, the adult-use and medical cannabis markets support 243,700 jobs, having added 33,700 new jobs in the last year despite the challenges posed by COVID-19.

Many cannabis industry leaders and entrepreneurs feel like the pandemic year has helped validate the space in the public’s eye.

“With the evidence of dispensaries being listed as essential businesses, it’s clear [to consumers] that this industry is financially resilient,” Harrington told Ganjapreneur. “It then makes the case to expedite the path towards federal legalization. The business boom during such a devastating crisis means that there’s a lot of opportunity to generate prosperity in our economy. We’ll see massive GDP growth from tax revenue and more new businesses entering the marketplace.”

As we head into 2021 it is likely that even more voters will express their support for legalization, pushing the already majority-support among Americans closer and closer to a supermajority. If representatives are truly speaking for the people, they will soon have no choice but to legalize — or at the very least decriminalize — cannabis at the federal level.

 

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Pennsylvania K-12 Students Will Be Taught About the Benefits of Hemp

12/31/2020

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As part of the daily demonstrations at next year’s Pennsylvania Farm Show, K-12 students will learn about plastics made from sustainable materials, including hemp. The show also includes information on growing plants with hydroponics.

The 2021 Farm Show will be held virtually January 9-16 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Its theme is “Cultivating Tomorrow.”

Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said that the show “offers learning experiences and exposure to a growing field with real-world, rewarding opportunities.”

“Wherever you are on your career path – whether you’re looking for hands-on learning, career inspiration, or you just want to know more about your food and the challenges facing those who produce it – the 2021 virtual Farm Show will offer opportunities to learn and engage with agriculture and the science, technology, engineering driving it.” – Redding in a press release

It isn’t the first time hemp will be featured at the state-sponsored agriculture showcase; last year’s in-person show had hemp products for sale, including teas and kitty litter, according to PennLive. The show also had a hemp exhibit that included a small home made from hemp and a “hemp-mobile.”

In 2020, the Pennsylvania Agriculture Department issued 510 hemp cultivation permits and its first round of hemp processing permits – 65 in all. The state issued its first hemp-growing licenses in 2017 – a total of just 14 for 36 total acres.

The Agriculture Department is currently accepting hemp industry applications for 2021 permits.

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Illinois Judge Blocks Effort to Resume Cannabis Licensing

12/31/2020

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An Illinois judge has ruled that Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s decision to delay issuing 40 craft cannabis cultivation licenses amid the pandemic is lawful, the Chicago Tribune reports. The plaintiffs, the Illinois Craft Cannabis Association, had argued that the governor’s decision broke the law requiring the permits to be issued by July 1.

Judge Allen Walker determined that Pritzker’s initial emergency order citing pandemic-related delays in reviewing the applications was insufficient to delay the issuance of the licenses under the law. However, Walker ruled that a subsequent executive order explaining the delay was necessary because the pandemic had forced agriculture officials to concentrate on the food supply chain, and oversight of the state’s meat and livestock facilities was valid. The Illinois Department of Agriculture is responsible for reviewing the cannabis licenses.

Meatpacking facilities in the state were hit hard by the virus in April and May.

“While (the later order) does not explicitly say: ‘IDOA’s issuing cannabis licenses by the (deadline) would have the effect of diverting needed resources from the pandemic effort thus making it more difficult for the governor to cope with the COVID-19 crisis …’ that is the point implicitly being made.” – Judge Walker in the decision, via the Tribune

The administration has also delayed issuing cannabis infuser and transporter licenses, and licenses for 75 new adult-use cannabis dispensaries, which were to be awarded May 1 under the law.

Paul Magelli, spokesman for the Illinois Craft Cannabis Association, said the organization is “considering an appeal given the weakness of the judge’s order.”

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Pennsylvania Awards $2M Grant to Cannabis Brand for New Facilities

12/31/2020

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Pennsylvania has awarded Pure Penn – which is owned by Florida-based Trulieve – a $2 million grant to expand its facility in McKeesport, KDKA reports. It’s the first time the state has awarded tax dollars to a medical cannabis company for upgrades.

Gabe Perlow, the president of Pure Penn, told KDKA that he expects medical cannabis “will be the next kind of big industry to revitalize and help drive economic development for the city.” Perlow suggested the site would employ 100 and “possibly more.” Currently, there are 77 employed at the facility.

In the 1960s, the National Tube Steel Mill in McKeesport employed about 10,000 people and the city had about 45,000 residents. Trulieve’s cultivation and manufacturing operation uses the old steel mill but barely 19,000 people still live in the city, the report says.

Rep. Austin Davis, a Democrat from the city, told KDKA that he “absolutely” believes the grant is a “proper use of” tax dollars.

“We’re creating jobs. We’re stimulating the economy in a region that has struggled significantly since the collapse of the steel industry.” – Davis in an interview with KDKA

Democratic Sen. Jim Brewster, a former McKeesport mayor, said the grant is “completely transparent … heavily scrutinized and governed for the public to know what’s being done.”

Davis added that the “goal” is for the Mon Valley – which includes McKeesport – to become the cannabis cultivation capital of Pennsylvania and perhaps the region.

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Arizona Adult-Use Sales Could Begin in March

12/30/2020

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Adult-use cannabis sales in Arizona could commence as early as March with existing medical cannabis dispensaries getting licenses first, followed by 26 social equity licensees, cannabis attorney Tom Dean said on KTAR News’ Gaydos and Chad show. Dean noted, however, that officials have not clarified what the criteria for those social equity licenses will be.

“People will be eligible for one of those types of licenses if they are a member of a community that has been disproportionally impacted by the enforcement of marijuana laws in the past. So perhaps certain ethnic minorities or perhaps certain socioeconomic categories.” – Dean to KTAR News

The Department of Health Services is tasked with issuing the first round of licenses.

Portions of the law took effect the minute Gov. Doug Ducey (R) certified the election results, including personal possession and cultivation for adults 21-and-older. Following the election, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO) indicated it would start dismissing cannabis charges that are now legal under the voter-approved law. According to KTAR News, there are more than 5,000 cases eligible for dismissal in metro Phoenix alone.

Jennifer Liewer, a spokeswoman for the MCAO said that “a significant number” of cases with cannabis-related charges “will include other felony charges” that will not be dismissed along with the low-level cannabis charge.

Dean warned, however, that citizens must be sure to remain within the letter of the legalization law because Arizona’s cannabis penalties not covered by the reforms remain “pretty harsh.”

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Illinois County Expunges 1,600 Low-Level Cannabis Cases

12/30/2020

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Will County, Illinois Attorney James Glasgow announced on Tuesday that the chief judge of the 19th Circuit Court approved a motion to expunge records for 1,653 cases for misdemeanor possession of less than 30 grams.

In a press release, Glasgow said the move “will help these individuals move forward with their lives and place their convictions permanently behind them.”

“Today’s Order is a step in removing barriers to those who have been impacted as a result of having a criminal record based on these low-level cannabis possession cases. Back in 1998, I successfully wrote the grant creating Will County’s Drug Court, and spearheaded each of our other Problem Solving Courts as well. I truly understand the importance of removing obstacles and providing opportunities. That is exactly what today’s Order will do for those whose records will be expunged.” – Glasgow in a statement

Chief Judge Christopher M. Kennedy, who signed the order, said the reforms show “Restorative justice is important to Will County and to our society as a whole.”

“These expungements demonstrate our commitment to this principle,” he said.

The voter-approved law also allows dismissal of Class 4 felony and misdemeanor cannabis delivery offenses, but the county’s motion to vacate and expunge addresses simple possession cases that are not associated with felony charges or offenses outlined by the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act, the Attorney’s Office said. The order includes cases only from Jan. 1, 2013 through June 25, 2019. The remaining cases in the county will be reviewed by Jan. 1, 2023 for offenses between Jan. 1, 2000 and Jan. 1, 2013; and Jan. 1, 2025 for offenses that occurred prior to Jan. 1, 2000.

On January 2, Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued 11,017 pardons for individuals with low-level cannabis convictions. However, the Chicago Tribune reports that there are more than 700,000 cases in the state that likely qualify for expungement. Earlier this year, Cook County officials worked with Code for America to identify and clear 2,200 eligible cases. Code for America has also worked to identify and expunge cases in California. McHenry County officials this year also expunged about 1,900 low-level cannabis cases, according to the Tribune.

However, the Tribune reports that few counties are taking the initiative to clear cannabis-related records. The Lake County Attorney’s Office indicated that it had received and granted only two requests for expungement.

The law allows felony cases involving up to 500 grams to be expunged – there are an estimated 71,000 such cases in the state – however, advocates say few of those cases have been cleared due to lack of familiarity of the process by citizens and courts.

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How Does Cannabis Affect Focus and Creativity?

12/30/2020

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Jointly is a cannabis wellness app that launched in April 2020. Jointly’s mission is to help people discover purposeful cannabis consumption. Purposeful cannabis consumption starts with the question: why do you use cannabis?

Many people use cannabis to enhance their creativity and focus. What does that look like?

It could be a computer programmer who finds that consuming a 1:1 CBD-THC edible in the morning settles her nerves for the day and opens her mind up to new solutions; a 70-year-old triathlete who discovers that a few drops of a sativa tincture allow him to stay focused during grueling bike rides; or a Ph.D. student who breaks up long hours in the lab with a few tokes from a high-CBD joint.

Is cannabis the right choice for you to enhance your focus and creativity? Jointly can help you find out! But first let’s review what is known about cannabis, focus, and creativity.

Is Cannabis a Cognitive Booster?

In the popular imagination, cannabis has a much closer link to creativity than it does to focus, but there is also a long tradition of cannabis being used to enhance focus, especially during prolonged physical activities.

For example, wrestlers in Northern India traditionally took bhang, a cannabis-infused drink, “to ensure long term concentration during exhausting all day practice.”

Many recent artists and thinkers also tout marijuana’s creativity-sparking benefits. Steve Jobs once said, “The best way I could describe the effect of the marijuana and hashish is that it would make me relaxed and creative.”

Cannabis and Creativity

According to Dr. Alice Flaherty, cannabis may boost creative output: “Marijuana is a stimulant. And most stimulants, in the short term anyway, boost output of all kinds.”

Dr. Flaherty explains that cannabis may affect creativity by boosting cerebral blood flow to the frontal lobes, which serves as the control center for “divergent creative thinking.”

While creativity is hard to measure, scientists have teased out two processes that are thought to play a role in creativity: divergent thinking and convergent thinking.

Brainstorming is divergent thinking or “being able to explore options through loose associations to generate novel ideas.” Convergent thinking is the opposite: you take various different ideas and find a common thread between them.

Dopamine, Creativity, and Cannabis

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is associated with learning and motor control, but it also plays an important role in divergent and convergent thinking.

A 2010 study looked at the relationship between dopamine and creativity and found that too much or too little dopamine harms divergent thinking, but a middle amount is just right.

THC is known to stimulate dopamine release in the striatum, which is a part of the brain involved in creative activities. However, chronic marijuana use may lead to decreased dopamine activity in the brain.

This data suggests that in long-term cannabis users with depressed dopamine activity, inhaling THC could temporarily improve their divergent thinking.

But convergent thinking is “negatively correlated with dopamine activity, so inhaling marijuana should hamper this aspect of creative thinking in anyone.”

Does Cannabis Enhance Creativity?

A 2003 survey revealed that 50% of cannabis users believe cannabis heightens their creativity. Of course, self-reported surveys are not exactly objective.

An early clinical trial from 1975 looked at the effect of marijuana on convergent and divergent thinking and found that a 3mg joint of THC improved divergent thinking, but a 6mg joint worsened it. If your goal is to focus or create, it is probably best to start with a small dose.

In 2011, Dr. Gráinne Schafer and colleagues at the University College London reviewed literature “suggesting that the effects of cannabis on creativity have not been extensively studied nor are the mechanisms by which it stimulates creativity well understood.”

In 2012, Schafer et al. published a study demonstrating that people with low creativity demonstrate improved verbal fluency after consuming cannabis. However, people with high creativity were unaffected by consuming cannabis.

So there is some evidence that cannabis can enhance creativity, but how it affects you seems to vary based on your specific neurochemistry, genetics or personality.

Why Might Cannabis Enhance Creativity?

One of the reasons cannabis might enhance creativity is simply because it is psychoactive. Many people have found that “the exaggerated emotions and altered perspectives they’ve gained from drugs stimulate their creativity.”

Dr. Grainne Schafer suggested that cannabis produces psychotomimetic symptoms, which might lead to connecting seemingly unrelated concepts. Of course, while this state may be beneficial for generating new ideas and connections, these ideas should be reviewed and edited the next day.

As Gina Beavers, a painter who makes surreal, abstract pieces emphasizes, “A few times, I’ve been mulling over how to solve some issue and weed will give me ideas, but not always the ones I go with. I have to wait and look at the solutions in the light of day.”

Why Might Cannabis Enhance Focus?

Scientists have given much less attention to how cannabis impacts focus. However, many people note that a purposeful dose of cannabis or CBD helps them focus.

Perhaps one of the ways that cannabis or CBD helps people focus is by muting distractions like mild anxiety, stress or chronic pain.

Additionally, there is evidence that cannabis affects aging brains differently than young brains, so the focus-enhancing effects of cannabis or CBD may vary based on age.

People who are chronically stressed may find more focus-enhancing benefits from cannabis than people with less stress. Chronic stress often results in chronic inflammation.

Research published in November 2019 by Dr. Ali Mazaheri and colleagues at the University of Birmingham showed that “inflammation specifically affected brain activity related to staying alert.”

“These results show quite clearly that there’s a very specific part of the brain network that’s affected by inflammation,” says Dr. Mazaheri. “This could explain ‘brain fog’.”

People who find that CBD helps them focus may have CBD’s anti-inflammatory effects to thank for that.

Research into how CBD affects Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has revealed that CBD can “reduce the neuroinflammatory response as well as promote neurogenesis…” and that CBD reverses and prevents the development of cognitive deficits in AD rodent models.

The available data suggests that CBD and THC-CBD combinations may exert a stronger anti-inflammatory effect than THC alone and, as a result, might be better for enhancing focus.

Use Jointly to Focus and Create Better with Cannabis

With Jointly, you measure how well a cannabis product helps you achieve your goals.

As you work to improve your focus or creativity with cannabis, Jointly helps you track the 15 factors that can impact your results so that you can enjoy your ideal experience every time.

Jointly users who have optimized their cannabis consumption by reporting at least 10 cannabis sessions are getting results that are 38% better than before.

Download the Jointly app today and start achieving your wellness goals with cannabis and CBD!

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Washington Social Equity Task Force Votes to Center Anti-Black Racism

12/30/2020

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In 2019, Washington state established the Washington Social Equity In Cannabis Task Force via HB2870. The task force marks the beginning of an eight-year evaluation of the Washington cannabis industry to ensure the industry serves the communities most heavily targeted by the war on drugs.

The main purpose of the task force is to develop a social equity program. They will help to accomplish this through reporting to the governor and legislature on factors that the state’s Liquor Control Board (LCB) should consider when distributing licenses and whether there should be additional licenses issued.

With the first meeting held on October 26, 2020, there is still much work left but their mission is beginning to take direction. In a December 14 meeting, the task force voted to center on anti-Black racism as they formulate their recommendations.

When Commissioner Paula Sardinas of the Washington State Commission on African American Affairs accepted the Co-Chair position, she was prepared to dismantle an industry that repeatedly ignored Black Americans who have paid the price of the war on drugs. The task force’s vote to center anti-Black racism in their recommendations acknowledges 400 years of oppression and takes a step towards dismantling the structural racism built into the framework of Washington cannabis.

Sardinas has a unique role as both a Commissioner and a lobbyist. She works hard to delineate the roles. As a Black woman who has been personally impacted by the war on drugs, she does not represent any labor party or other entities. When she began lobbying pro-bono for the Black community in cannabis, she was the first Black lobbyist to enter the space. Her experience in that work has called her to demand transparency and accountability from the Washington LCB and policymakers. The first step to accomplishing this would be requiring policymakers to expose who is paying for their campaigns, which Sardinas says is a crucial step to dismantling the racist structures that permeate the space.

Another facet of the social equity process in Washington will include data-driven policy based on ACLU reports about how the war on drugs caused direct and generational harm to the Black community. These findings coupled with census data showing where BIPOC people reside and looking at crime statistics from drug use, arrests, and convictions in those communities alongside systemic poverty factors will provide clarity as to where the work needs to be done. This investigation of the past must be met with a forward-looking policy much in the same way that we approach the tech and pharmaceutical industries.

“The Task Force should be recommending 2021 legislation that is both urgent and important. HB2870 has some serious inadequacies that cannot wait. The Black and #BIPOC community has been waiting for years for equity. A 2021 clean-up bill can address those inequities. Any politician not willing to draft legislation—is not advocating for the people, they are working for their own interest.” — Commissioner Paula Sardinas, in a statement to Ganjapreneur

Taking a look at the industry now and then forecasting where it will be in five years will help policymakers identify future opportunities, and these opportunities must be given to Black and brown licensees to honor the promises of social equity. Because right now, the 35 of 600 total licenses that are going to social equity applicants simply isn’t enough.

Commissioner Sardinas is also focused on holding space for the queer community and other marginalized groups alongside the Black community as they establish social equity in Washington. Generally, the people who implement social equity policies simply aren’t dealing with the experiences that affect BIPOC and queer people daily. For example, showing up to an open commercial rental space only to be turned down if the realtor identifies you as Black or queer is an experience that some have the privilege of never understanding. The commissioner is asking people who have gone through bad licensing incidents or who simply want to share an experience working with the LCB to virtually attend the next Washington Social Equity Task Force meeting.

“If you are a black, trans, straight, or any with an interest in cannabis please show up to the next meeting and let us know what you’re thinking,” Commissioner Sardinas told Ganjapreneur. “We have no business making policy for this community without hearing from our community.”

Editor’s note (1/21/2021): The next Social Equity Task Force meeting has been scheduled for January 25, 2021. The meeting did not yet have a set date when this article was published.

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Montana Orders Legalization Group to Reveal Funding Sources

12/30/2020

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Montana’s commissioner of political practices is ordering the North Fund, a group that donated millions to the pro-legalization campaign in the state, to pull the veil back on where their funding came from, KTVH reports. The decision requires the group to present officials with its donor’s list and how much they contributed, along with other financial disclosure information within 10 days.

Commissioner Jeff Mangan’s decision comes in response to a complaint from Steve Zabawa, treasurer of the anti-legalization group Wrong for Montana. The organization is suing the state over the measure – which was approved by 57% of Montana voters – arguing that the financial allocation provisions in the measure violate the state constitution.

The North Fund, based in Washington, D.C., contributed about $5 million to New Approach Montana, the group behind the legalization campaign. The committee raised a total of around $7 million, the report says.

North Fund registered with the state as an “incidental committee,” which is defined by state law as a group that may contribute to a campaign but is “not specifically organized or operating for the primary purpose of supporting or opposing candidates or ballot issues,” according to KTVH.

Under state law, incidental committees are not required to disclose their donors unless their contributions were specifically for a certain candidate or ballot issue. Mangan had tried to reclassify the North Fund as an independent committee – which would have required it to disclose its donors and other financial information, but the group asked the commissioner to reconsider that decision and Mangan was still in the process of reconsidering that request when Zabawa filed the complaint in October.

The North Fund argued that because its election spending in the state was estimated at less than 10% of its overall expenditures for 2020 and wasn’t operating for the purpose of a single political issue, it should be able to keep its status as an incidental committee. Mangan said state law on campaign funding doesn’t exclude out-of-state operations and the group’s out-of-state spending should be taken into account when considering the group’s “primary purpose.”

“North Fund cannot reasonably argue both that its Montana expenditure activities represent such a small portion of the overall totals that it could never be justifiably defined as the group’s ‘primary purpose’ while at the same time arguing that non-Montana expenditure activity should not be applied towards committee classification.” – Mangan in a statement via KTVH

Mangan said the group contributed more than $12 million to support and oppose a variety of ballot initiatives in four other states during the election cycle. The group argued that 70% of those expenditures were not election-related.

New Approach Montana also received about $1.9 million from the New Approach PAC, a national pro-legalization committee which is also registered in the state as an incidental committee; however, New Approach PAC does list its donors with the Internal Revenue Service.

Some provisions of the voter-approved law – such as personal possession and cultivation of up to four plants – take effect January 1.

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Mississippi AG Defends Medical Cannabis initiative

12/30/2020

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On behalf of the Mississippi Secretary of State, the Mississippi Attorney General’s office presented arguments in court on Monday slamming a lawsuit that seeks to overturn I-65, Mississippi’s historic medical cannabis initiative that voters overwhelmingly approved on November 3, the Associated Press reports. 

Madison, Missouri Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler first filed the lawsuit to stop I-65 in late October on the grounds that, if passed, it would limit a mayor’s ability to choose the locations of medical cannabis dispensaries.

After the initiative passed, the mayor’s lawsuit was updated. Now, the lawsuit seeks to overturn I-65 on the grounds that Mississippi’s Constitution is “outdated.” At the core of the case is the fact that Mississippi dropped from five Congressional Districts to four after the 2000 census. Due to divisive politics, however, the Mississippi legislature has been unable to officially make the change in the state Constitution. In their argument, state attorneys wrote,

“As a result, four congressional districts exist in Mississippi under a federal injunction for congressional elections, but five congressional districts exist under state law and may be used for anything but congressional elections.” — Statement by state attorneys, via the AP

In 2009, the AG’s office said initiatives should still use the five districts to collect signatures for initiatives, and in 2019 Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann approved I-65 for the 2020 ballot because signature gatherers had met the threshold in each of those five districts, the AP reports. 

Mayor Butler’s attorney says the legislature has been aware of the issue for years and has turned down multiple proposals to fix the problem. Joining the effort to overturn I-65, the Mississippi Health Department and the Mississippi Municipal League have filed briefs supporting Butler’s lawsuit. 

“Rather than allowing the agency to focus its resources entirely on public health, it requires MSDH to get in the business of appropriations, agriculture, packaging and transport, advertising, marketing and penalty schemes — just to name a few,” MS Health Department wrote in their arguments.

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Rhode Island to Select Six Medical Cannabis Providers in 2021

12/30/2020

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Rhode Island is relying on a lottery system to choose providers for its fledgling medical cannabis system and is expected to announce the winners sometime in 2021, the Boston Globe reports.

Although Rhode Island is limiting the number of “care facilities” to only six across the entire state — the state is divided into six zones with one care facility in each zone — the state had received 45 applications from 28 different non-profits by the December 15 deadline.

The names divulged on the applications contain a “who’s who” of lobbyists, current and ex-politicians, and business owners, the Globe reports. Many of them betting on eventually being the first in line for adult-use licenses, applicants paid a non-refundable $10,000 application fee and are expected to pay a $500,000 annual licensing fee to the state if they are selected.

“People are assuming that the compassion centers will be the exclusive sellers of recreational marijuana. It’s literally a roll of the dice, financially.” — Jeff Padwa, cannabis attorney, via the Boston Globe

Despite New Jersey, Massachusetts, and other East Coast states having legalized adult-use cannabis, the issue is not a slam dunk in Rhode Island. COVID-19 put a damper on Gov. Gina Raimondo’s (D) plans to propose a regulated market in 2020. Now, the incoming Speaker of the House Joseph Shekarchi says he is not ready to “endorse a plan,” nor would he “bet the farm” on adult-use cannabis coming to Rhode Island in 2021.

A 2017 poll revealed 59% of Rhode Islanders supported legalizing adult-use cannabis. 36 percent said they were opposed to the move.

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Cindy De La Vega: Operating a Community-Focused Social Equity Retailer

12/29/2020

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Cindy De La Vega grew up in the Sunnydale housing projects, a community frequently targeted by the War on Drugs. Throughout her life, Cindy pushed through struggles to support her children. It was through community support and her own hard work that Cindy now serves as CEO of STIIIZY Union Square, a prominent store in a heavily trafficked San Francisco retail center. Now, she uses her position overseeing the day-to-day operations at STIIIZY to give back to that same community.

In this interview, Cindy explains how she uses her executive position to give back to her community — including her work with the youth development organization United Playaz — and offers advice to other social equity applicants interested in operating a cannabis dispensary.

Ganjapreneur: Did growing up in the Bay Area and watching the legal markets bloom alongside a robust legacy market influence how you choose to run STIIIZY Union Square?

Cindy De La Vega: Growing up in, and still living in the Sunnydale housing projects, I saw the War on Drugs have extreme effects on the community. I was actually not a cannabis consumer until later in life, and up until then had been cautious of its effects and uses.

My choice to run STIIIZY Union Square is not only about creating a better future for myself and my family, knowing there is a big market for our products, but also stems from my deep involvement in community work. I have worked with, and sent my kids to programs at United Playaz for years, so to be able to own a business, create revenue and pour it back into the community is my ultimate dream.

How did you choose the Shryne Group as your partner for this retail venture? What is the mutual agreement of ownership with your partners?

I was first introduced to Shryne Group because they were sponsoring United Playaz, and as I got to know them better I could see it was the right fit. After not being able to work at the hospital due to a back injury in mid-2018, I shadowed under employees at one of Shryne’s retail locations at 3326 Mission St, gaining hands-on experience.

After becoming a verified applicant and doing a bit of my own research, I found Shryne Group to be the best match. One of the reasons Shryne Group is that right partner is because I see myself reflected in their employees and leadership, 51% of employees are Latinx, women in leadership positions. I have 40% ownership, and I am Chief Executive Officer of the store.

Does the Shryne Group play a role in choosing which cannabis brands go on shelves, hiring practices, or any other day-to-day operations?

Shryne Group owns several retail brands, including STIIIZY, so yes we get inventory from Shryne. However hiring and other day-to-day operations are led by me. I am proud to say that I was able to hire several people from my community ahead of our opening.

Is there a benefit to working with a larger company like Shryne Group as opposed to bootstrapping a dispensary? How has Shryne assisted in a meaningful way?

Beyond feeling like Shryne Group is an actual business partner, the biggest assistance came from initial capital and the ability to hold down the retail space from the point that I received my Equity applicant status, to opening, which is no small feat, especially at a prime location like Union Square.

The obvious truth is that Equity Applicants like me just don’t have the money to start a cannabis business — we need a partner. But what a lot of people don’t realize is that, with the retail license, you have to start paying rent once you’ve found a location long before the store can open, and we’re not able to benefit from the federal loans or stimulus programs that nearly every other industry can.

After your experience as an equity business owner, do you have insight into how the city and state could make the industry more accessible to promote a larger and more diverse industry of equity applicants and business owners?

It may be easy for some to criticize the Office of Cannabis, but I’ve seen how hard they’re working, and they’re so understaffed. If San Francisco and California really want to support people like me, they need to fully fund programs to help get Equity folks all the way from being verified to actually opening a business.

As a longtime activist with the violence prevention and youth development organization United Playaz, how do you plan to use your position as CEO to continue to uplift your community?

I have goals to one day be able to work on various cannabis social justice causes, including releasing incarcerated people that have been penalized for cannabis. As a survivor of domestic violence and mother of two, I also have a focus on uplifting women, which is why I feel it is so important for me to be in this leadership position now.

What have been your biggest challenges starting this business in San Francisco city? Do you have advice for entrepreneurs who might be met by these same challenges?

Two months after opening, we are facing the same challenges many other retail businesses are, but with the added obstacles that come with cannabis. On top of that, there is no access to small business loans or many banking services. We pay taxes at a very high rate, yet we are not allowed the standard business write offs other businesses are allowed.

I remain hopeful about the future of the store because we offer great products at affordable prices, but we need continued support from the community in order to progress. My advice to other entrepreneurs would be to keep fighting to accomplish your goals for yourself and your community, but also know you’re not alone. It’s important to lean on the support of your community and partners, and know when to ask for help.

Thank you, Cindy, for answering our questions! To learn more about STIIZY’s products and multiple retail locations, visit STIIZY.com.

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New Jersey Gov. Delays Signing of Legalization Bill

12/29/2020

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The New Jersey legalization bill has hit a snag as Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy wants changes to a decriminalization bill over a technical issue that shields minors from cannabis-related penalties, according to a Patch report. Murphy, a proponent of the reforms, wants to sign both the decriminalization and legalization bills simultaneously but wants cannabis possession penalties for minors to be like those of alcohol: legal for adults 21-and-older to possess and consume but illegal for those who are underage.

In a series of tweets, Matt Friedman, a reporter for Politico who first reported the potential delay, said that Murphy could just sign the bill “with an agreement for a legislative fix” but “doesn’t want to do that.” According to Friedman, the governor could also “schedule a session this week and pass the clean-up legislation with an emergency, if they can get the votes.” However, he said that option “Doesn’t sound likely, even if with remote sessions it’s easier than getting everyone physically together during the holidays.”

The measure was passed by lawmakers earlier this month as required by an Election Day ballot initiative approved by 67% of New Jersey voters.

While some aspects of the law take effect Jan. 1, 2021, officials estimate legal sales will not commence in the state for six to 12 months from the time the bill is signed into law. Any delay in getting the governor’s signature pushes back the timeline.

Some lawmakers and advocates have criticized the measure over its lean social justice provisions, which Sen. Nia Gill referred to as its “weakest part.”

As passed, the legislation directs 70% of the cannabis-derived state sales taxes and an excise tax on cultivation to certain minority communities disproportionately impacted by the drug war. But some argue the language is not strong enough to guarantee the funds go to such community programs. Advocates also wanted the bill to outline a path for those with previous cannabis convictions to enter the legal industry.

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High Prices Plague Pennsylvania’s Medical Cannabis Industry

12/29/2020

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While medical cannabis prices in Colorado and Maine range from $35 to $40 per eighth, that same eighth would cost $58 in Pennsylvania where patients face some of the highest medical cannabis costs in the country, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Ounces in the state can cost as much as $600 in some cases.

The exorbitant prices have multiple causes, including state regulations that limit supply — cannabis in Pennsylvania can only be grown indoors and the state requires two impurity tests for cannabis destined for market, and batches that fail the second test must be completely destroyed — and “timid” government agencies who are unwilling to regulate prices and prevent outright “profiteering,” the report says.

“The patient community is always outraged about the prices,” said Luke Shultz, a member of the state’s Medical Marijuana Advisory Board. “I’m not sure where the price should be. But we’d sure like to see it lower.”

The newly-formed Office of Medical Marijuana (OMM) has kept mostly tight-lipped about the situation.

“We continue to work to assist patients to ensure we have access to medical marijuana.” — OMM statement, via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Meanwhile, increased demand from the addition of “pain” and “anxiety” as qualifying conditions for Pennsylvania’s medical cannabis program has compounded the supply shortages.

The OMM has the authority to adjust prices to help “low-income” cannabis patients access their medicine in Pennsylvania but the agency says its hands are tied until final regulations are adopted and the OMM pays the state back $3 million in start-up money, according to the report.

 

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Cannabis-Focused REIT Files with SEC to Go Public

12/29/2020

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AFC Gamma, a real estate investment trust (REIT) based in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday filed an S-11 to go public on the Nasdaq, according to a Renaissance Capital report. In a Securities and Exchange Commission filing, the firm indicated plans to raise up to $115 million in an initial public offering.

Since its founding in July to September 30, the company has booked $2 million in revenue, the report says. Formed by Advanced Flower Capital, AFC Gamma originates, structures, underwrites, and manages loans for established companies operating in the cannabis industry in states where cannabis is legal for either medical or recreational purposes. As of December 26, the company had originated and funded $135 million in loans.

According to a New Cannabis Ventures report, the company has a $40 million line of credit.

AFC Gamma has disclosed transactions with privately-held Nature’s Medicines, and publicly-traded firms Curaleaf, and Bluma Wellness. According to the SEC filing, AFC currently has loans and pending loans to four private and three public companies, which are unnamed in the prospectus.

A cannabis-focused REIT, Innovative Industrial Properties, already trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the IIPR symbol. Another NYSE-traded firm, Power REIT (REIT), just recently began funding cannabis operators with sale-leaseback transactions, according to New Cannabis Ventures.

AFC Gamma, which filed to trade under the symbol “AFCG,” has named JMP Securities, Ladenburg Thalmann, and Seaport Global Securities as its underwriters.

In the prospectus, the firm said that as of December 26, its “loan origination pipeline consisted of 34 potential new loans representing anticipated total loan commitments of approximately $485.2 million.”

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Iowa County Starts Program to Prevent Criminal Records for Cannabis Users

12/29/2020

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The Linn County, Iowa Attorney’s Office last week announced a Marijuana Diversion Program aimed to keep clean the criminal records of first-time offenders caught with “a user quantity amount” of cannabis. The program requires county prosecutors to “weigh multiple factors when considering whether to recommend a defendant to participate in the program.”

According to a press release, the goal of the program is to mitigate the negative consequences of a minor cannabis charge, including the ability of offenders to obtain housing and employment, access higher education, and on the short and long-term financial security of defendants charged with cannabis possession. The program aims to reduce recidivism of first-time offenders and rehabilitate defendants “by treating and addressing underlying issues surrounding substance abuse.”

A December 28 legal memo outlining the program explains that the program will only be available for pending charges or arrests prior to January 1, 2021, and only for defendants who were not already convicted or granted deferred judgment on the charge. Additionally, applicants must not have been “charged with either another indictable offense in the same or in a separate prosecution or currently charged with any crime of violence.”

Program enrollees would be required to be evaluated for substance abuse from a “credible substance abuse treatment provider,” complete 10 hours of community service, appear at all court dates, not be arrested or convicted for any other charges while in the program (save for traffic citations), and waive “the right to file a pretrial Motion to Suppress Evidence to challenge the constitutionality of the admissibility of evidence in the case.”

The effectiveness of the program will be reviewed at the end of 2021 and the Attorney’s Office could modify and/or expand the program based on that review.

Linn County includes Cedar Rapids, the state’s second-largest city behind Des Moines.

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FDA & FTC Begin Crackdown Over CBD Marketing Claims

12/28/2020

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The Federal Trade Commission and Food and Drug Administration are cracking down on CBD companies making false or misleading health claims about their products in an action they are calling Operation CBDeceit.

The FTC announced the crackdown on December 17 saying the agency had reached a settlement with six companies selling CBD products. Under the terms of the agreements, the companies must stop making unsupported health claims about the products and some will pay monetary judgments to the FTC. On December 22, the FDA issued five warning letters to companies selling CBD products over the companies’ health claims regarding the cannabinoid.

The largest fine, $85,000, issued by the FTC under the crackdown was to California-based Reef Industries, Cannatera, and AndHemp over claims on the companies’ websites and Twitter accounts that CBD has been scientifically proven to prevent, cure, mitigate, or treat diseases and serious health conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, autoimmune disease, and irritable bowel syndrome.

The FTC fined Steve’s Distributing (aka Steve’s Goods) $75,000 for making health claims for both CBD and CBG, including that the cannabinoids have antibacterial properties, prevent, or reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other diseases.

Two Utah-based companies – Bionatrol Health and Isle Revive – were targeted by the FTC over claims that CBD “is safe for all users,” works better than opioid-based medications, treats age-related cognitive decline and pain, and that some customers who ordered one bottle were charged for and sent five bottles. The respondents were ordered to pay $20,000 to the agency and notify customers of the agency’s order, the FTC said.

Another Utah company, Epichouse which operated under several names including First Class Herbalist CBD, was targeted by the FTC for claiming CBD could prevent a wide range of serious conditions, including cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, among other assertions. Epichouse must pay $30,000 under the agreement.

The FTC also targeted California-based CBD Meds and G2 Hemp over health claims made in advertisements on both companies’ websites and in YouTube ad campaigns. The company was not issued a fine, but they must notify customers of the FTC order.

The FTC complaint against EasyButter, or HempmeCBD, alleges the firm claimed CBD could treat or cure ailments like cancer-related symptoms, substance abuse, and AIDS. The company was ordered to pay $36,254 and notify customers of the order.

The FDA’s letters – to Bee Delightful, G&L Wellness, New Leaf Pharmaceuticals, Next L3vel Services Group (d/b/a This Stuff is Good for You), and Wellness Biosciences – do not levy fines but rather direct the companies to address the violations outlined in the letter.

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Condo Association Trying to Force Dispensary’s Eviction in Aspen, Colorado

12/28/2020

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An Aspen, Colorado condominium association is asking the landlord of the complex to evict a cannabis dispensary from one of its commercial units, arguing that the retailer isn’t compatible with nearby residential units, the Aspen Times reports. The association also wants cleared a unit used by a restaurant to store inventory.

The association is not asking the landlord to evict another dispensary because it is located in the building’s basement but argues that the second-floor retailers have led to disruptions.

According to the report, the Aspenhof Condominium Association in August finalized a ban on dispensaries and inventory storage from the building’s upper floors. The association indicated it has notified the landlord, Douglas Tomkins, three times since the decision that the tenants were violating the new rule.

Tomkins is now suing Aspenhof, claiming that by evicting the tenants he is breaching their lease agreement; but by not kicking them out he is running afoul of the building’s rules. The dispensary this year exercised its three-year option to extend its lease through March 2023. It has been at the location since April 2017.

Peter Bornstein, who filed the lawsuit on Tomkins’ behalf, argues that Aspenhof “changed the rules while the leases were in place” and that what they are asking the landlord to do is illegal.

Aspenhof said they have “received repeated complaints from other owners concerning the activities of Mr. Tomkins’ second-floor tenants, making it clear that those uses, in those locations, are not compatible with the other uses in the building.”

“The Board has attempted to address these issues with Mr. Tomkins for months. The Board is disappointed that Mr. Tomkins chose to cease negotiations and commence litigation, but it does not undermine the Board’s resolve, nor change the fact that that the overwhelming majority of the unit owners in Aspenhof supported the covenant amendments at issue.” – Aspenhof in a statement via the Times

The building was zoned for retail cannabis operations when the dispensary received its license and, at that time, the Local Licensing Authority said if the association had issues with the businesses’ impact on the building, it was their responsibility to change their rules. The association ultimately banned dispensaries, social-use clubs, and cultivation businesses, adult entertainment, tattoo parlors, hair or beauty salons, barbershops, and storage of any inventory, equipment or supplies used outside of the business from the condo’s second, third, and fourth floors.

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Native Tribe Rents Land to Cannabis Grower in New York

12/28/2020

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The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, an upstate New York tribe near the Canadian border, has entered into a partnership with MMJ BioPharma Cultivation Inc. to grow cannabis that will be sold to researchers, NNY360 reports. Under the joint development agreement, the firm will lease and develop about 20 acres of tribal land.

MMJ BioPharma has applied for a permit from the Drug Enforcement Agency to import plants from Canada and Jamaica. The 5,000-square-foot indoor facility would be able to produce 40 tons of cannabis annually.

MMJ BioPharma CEO Duane Boise told NNY360 that the company already has an agreement in place with MMJ International Holdings to supply extracts for pharmaceutical manufacturing of its gel capsule for Food and Drug Administration clinical trials focused on multiple sclerosis and Huntington’s Disease.

The DEA must still inspect and approve the site, which members of the Tewáthahón:ni Corporation Board of Managers said “could take many months.”

“The project with MMJ falls in line with our Tribal priorities, specifically in regards to healthcare, the treatment of chronic disease and the diversification of our investment portfolio. … An extremely valuable side benefit will be jobs that are created and tribal companies that will be involved in the construction.” – Tewáthahón:ni Corporation Board of Managers to NNY360

The agreement – a 25-year term – requires no financial investment from the Tribe but it will receive lease payments and “a percentage of revenue generated from cultivation and pharmaceutical sales,” the Tribe said.

Tribal officials said the project is possible because of the DEA’s recently approved rule changes that expand the agency’s cannabis cultivation licensing program for research purposes. The rule, which was finalized earlier this month, specifically opens licensing for cannabis cultivation for research and medical purposes.

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Study: Long-Term Cannabis Use May Reduce PTSD Symptoms

12/23/2020

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A Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment-funded study found over the course of one year, post-traumatic stress disorder sufferers who used cannabis reported a greater decrease in symptom severity than a control group and were 2.57 times more likely to no longer meet the DSM-5 criteria for the condition.

The study, published ahead of print in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, concluded that cannabis “might hold promise as an alternative treatment for PTSD” but that “randomized placebo-controlled trials are needed to assess safety and determine how different preparations of cannabis impact PTSD and functioning.”

For the study, researchers followed two groups of PTSD patients throughout the year-long period and one group used legal medical cannabis, while the other group did not use cannabis at all, according to a Forbes report outlining the study. The 150 participants – with an average age of 50.67 and 73% male – met the DSM criteria for PTSD. At the beginning of the study, participants were assessed for the condition and their symptom severity, and again every three months thereafter. Cannabis use was confirmed by urine tests. Most of the 75 cannabis users used flower high in THC content, the report says.

The study – conducted by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, University of California, San Diego, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and University of Colorado – adds to the growing body of scientific literature to support cannabis’ role as a therapeutic for PTSD and its inclusion as a qualifying condition in medical cannabis programs throughout the U.S.

A study published in June by Washington State University researchers included data from more than 400 PTSD patients and found cannabis reduced the immediate symptoms of PTSD, including irritability by 67 percent, returning thoughts of a traumatic event by about 62 percent, anxiety by 57 percent, and flashbacks by 51 percent.

A study published in November 2019 using research from the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey on Mental Health concluded that “cannabis use may contribute to reducing the association between post-traumatic stress disorder and severe depressive and suicidal states.”

A Minnesota Department of Health study from 2019 found more than 70 percent of medical cannabis patients enrolled in the state program for PTSD reported a reduction in their symptoms.

In all, 23 states include PTSD as a qualifying condition for medical cannabis access.

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US Cannabis Sales Approach $18 Billion, Up 67% from 2019

12/23/2020

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Both medical and recreational cannabis sales in the U.S. increased 67 percent in 2020 compared to 2019, according to a Leafly analysis of state tax and revenue data. Total cannabis sales have reached $17.9 billion this year, $7.2 billion more than the previous year’s sales.

The “main driver” of the increase, Leafly says, was an increase in the average purchase size of established customers, who upped their monthly cannabis buys between 25% and 40% on average.

Nine states – Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maine, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, and Pennsylvania – doubled their cannabis sales from 2019, the report says. Maine, notably, finally launched adult-use sales after nearly four years of delays and medical cannabis sales subsequently surpassed potato, hay, wild blueberry, and milk sales to become the state’s most lucrative crop. Florida’s medical cannabis sales topped $1.2 billion this year, making it the fourth-largest cannabis market in the U.S. this year, trailing only the adult-use states of California, Colorado, and Washington, according to the report.

Leafly estimated the final weeks of cannabis sales by “assuming an average of the past three months of revenue figures,” but plans to publish a full account of the year’s sales figures in their annual Cannabis Jobs Report which the company plans to release in February.

Several states have reported increased sales amid the coronavirus pandemic, which has led to stay-at-home orders and economic shutdowns throughout the U.S., however, cannabis businesses by-and-large remained open as essential services. For example, from February to August, Pennsylvania dispensaries reported a 70% increase in weekly patient visits, while New Mexico cannabis sales increased 55% over the first six months of the year.

During the General Election – and amid the pandemic – voters in six states approved either adult-use or medical cannabis legalization measures.

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Kenny Wright: How Smoke Shops Adapt to Cannabis Reforms

12/23/2020

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For decades, public displays of appreciation for cannabis and cannabis culture were relegated mainly to smoke shops — the one-stop-shop for everything cannabis, except for the plant itself.

In this episode of the Ganjapreneur.com podcast, our host TG Branfalt catches up with Kenny Wright, who owns their local smoke shop in Saranac Lake, New York. Tune in to hear how the smoke shop industry has adapted to changing times, what cannabis business owners can do to maintain healthy relationships with local authorities, tips for building a helpful and friendly business environment, Kenny’s predictions for the smoke shop business model as cannabis prohibition continues to crumble, and more!

Listen to the full interview below or through your favorite podcast listening platform, or scroll down to read through a full transcript of this week’s Ganjapreneur.com podcast episode.

Listen to the podcast:

Read the transcript:

Commercial: At Ganjapreneur, we have heard from dozens of cannabis owners who have encountered the issue of canna-bias, which is when a mainstream business, whether a landlord, bank, or some other provider of vital business services, refuses to do business with them simply because of their association with cannabis. We have even heard stories of businesses being unable to provide health and life insurance for their employees because the insurance providers were too afraid to work with them. We believe that this fear is totally unreasonable and that cannabis business owners deserve access to the same services and resources that other businesses are afforded, that they should be able to hire to consultation to help them follow the letter of the law in their business endeavors, and that they should be able to provide employee benefits without needing to compromise on the quality of coverage they can offer.

This is why we created the Ganjapreneur.com business service directory, a resource for cannabis professionals to find and connect with service providers who are cannabis-friendly and who are actively seeking cannabis industry clients. If you are considering hiring a business consultant, lawyer, accountant, web designer, or any other ancillary service for your business, go to Ganjapreneur.com/businesses to browse hundreds of agencies, firms, and organizations who support cannabis legalization and who want to help you grow your business. With so many options to choose from in each service category, you’ll be able to browse company profiles and do research on multiple companies in advance, so you can find the provider who is the best fit for your particular need.

Our business service directory is intended to be a useful and well-maintained resource, which is why we individually vet each listing that is submitted. If you are a business service provider who wants to work with cannabis clients, you may be a good fit for our service director. Go to Ganjapreneur.com/businesses to create your profile and start connecting with cannabis entrepreneurs today.

TG Branfalt: Hey, there. I’m your host, TG Branfalt, and thank you for listening to the Ganjapreneur.com Podcast where we try to bring you actionable information and normalize cannabis through the stories of ganjapreneurs, activists, and industry stakeholders. Today, I’m joined by Kenny Wright. He’s the co-owner of High Peaks Glassworks, an independently owned smoke shop based in Saranac Lake, New York. Full disclosure, he is my local smoke shop, so I do have a previous relationship with him, obviously. I don’t just go in there and buy a couple of papers and leave. I really like his company. I want to introduce him to all of you. How are you doing this morning, Kenny?

Kenny Wright: I’m great. Thanks for having me, Tim.

TG Branfalt: Now, super, super excited to have someone local. We don’t have a whole lot of cannabis associated businesses up here. Before we talk about your business and that whole process and that experience, tell me about yourself, man. How did you end up in the cannabis space?

Kenny Wright: Well, I mean, I’ve always had more of an interest in cannabis and it’s just been the forbidden fruit throughout our lives, so I’ve always been more of an anti-authoritarian, which is ironic that I joined the military, but yeah.

TG Branfalt: How do you go from the military to starting a cannabis-based associated ancillary business? How does that process play out?

Kenny Wright: Well, I mean, society is changing. I’ve always wanted to be in the space, more on the grow aspect of things, and that’s why I moved to Colorado for snow because I’m a snow junkie. I love riding my snowboard, but Colorado was a progressive state when I moved there in 2009. I had gotten into that space. I had friends that were already doing it, so it was just a very easy transition for me. I had friends that were running grow stores, so I learned that aspect of the business. More ancillary, but still at that time I was able to legally grow cannabis, so I did so. It was very enjoyable and hopefully, at some point, New York can progress themselves into allowing us fine citizens to do something similar. Yeah. Then, all of my family is here, so I just… and I’ve always returned home in the summer because it’s gorgeous here. It was just a very easy thing for me to do and come home, so I came home.

TG Branfalt: Talk to me about opening up the shop. Was there any… we’re in a purple part, more red part of the state, but was there any pushback from local officials or individuals? Tell me about the culture at the time.

Kenny Wright: When we initially opened the store, I mean, I had reservations because it is a small town, and my family is all from here. Social perception wasn’t as it is today. Things have changed dramatically in the last five years, so there was, I don’t want to say pushback, but there wasn’t an open embrace. There was another gentleman who was running a store, which was another part of my reservation. I didn’t want to step on his toes, but after meeting him, he wasn’t providing the town a solid place. He was more of a predatory business.

TG Branfalt: There’s a lot of that in this… especially in the-

Kenny Wright: There is.

TG Branfalt: … smoke shop side of it.

Kenny Wright: Absolutely. Unfortunately, there’s unethical people everywhere, but yeah, in this business, it seems to collect them. He was down the street, so I had had some reservations and eventually I just decided to put those aside and we opened up. We originally had a partner who also was… we had a falling out and we went our separate ways last year actually. I mean, we’ve been doing this for five years, but yeah. We opened up, completely renovated our store. Initially, town was pretty receptive because we have a nice store, we present ourselves in more of a gallery aspect of things instead of having just product everywhere, which is, from a consumer aspect, from my point, very disorienting, so I like to focus on products and just highlight what I have and bring in whatever customers are asking me for. Yeah, I mean, the mayor said we had about a year. These types of business-

TG Branfalt: Really?

Kenny Wright: … typically fizzle out in about a year. That was fuel to the fire, which the other gentleman did fizzle out in about a year, but he was a predator and, yeah, town wasn’t very receptive of him over time because he ran people out of his store. He was kind of a cartoon character.

TG Branfalt: Since you opened your shop five years ago, how has your business grown? What products do you see moving more now than moved five years ago? Tell me about the evolution of apparatuses as the cultures change.

Kenny Wright: Well, I mean, the concentrate industry is definitely moving most of the industry, I feel. A lot of the technological aspect of things, various vaporizers, even dry herb vaporizers are coming along, are getting more affordable, and the New York medical program is definitely allowing people to become consumers on legal aspect and get medicine that they wouldn’t otherwise be privy to.

TG Branfalt: Did you notice post medical legalization an uptick in the population that you might perceive as medical cannabis users?

Kenny Wright: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I think the notion, in all things, the medical aspect, the warm and fuzzy feeling that comes along with that brought a lot of people who were otherwise on the fence or demonized cannabis. The CBD movement as well has done a similar thing. It’s definitely brought people out and changed their minds and gotten them off of the pharmaceuticals which have a lot of other side effects that don’t come along with cannabis and CBD products. Obviously, there’s the THC aspect of cannabis, but there’s CBD, which doesn’t have that negative, “negative”, depends your take on it. Yeah, it’s definitely moving things forward nationally and locally statewide. It’s great.

TG Branfalt: Let me ask you about CBD. I mean, I personally get emails and press releases and sample offers from dozens of CBD businesses every single day, so how have you navigated those muddy waters of CBD to ensure that the products you’re getting are to your standards and not some snake oil?

Kenny Wright: Well, I mean, initially when CBD was first coming up and getting more popular, I was just relying on distributors and trying to discern from… and do my own research as much as I could, so I could provide a quality product and know what I was providing and not get tripped up by all of the buzz words that are out there on the industry. Since then, one of my good friends has started his own farm in the Asheville area, Asheville, North Carolina area, Otherside Hemp. They grow all of their plants organically. They harvest themselves. It’s a smaller batch thing, so I’ve pretty much just shifted to sourcing from him because I’ve known him for 20 years and if I have a question or if there’s any concerns at any point, I can get a hold of him at 10:00 at night. He’s very available and he’s very open and honest. It’s ethics. I’m a huge ethical individual in running my store and that’s how I feel the industry needs to be because that’s really the heart of the industry as I see it.

TG Branfalt: What are some of the challenges for you being an entrepreneur in a very, very small town, I mean, especially with the coronavirus, I mean, we shut down pretty quickly and pretty hard? Tell me about some of just the broad challenges and then we’ll get to the COVID stuff.

Kenny Wright: Well, yeah. I mean, obviously small town, less traffic. We live in a very tourist economy. It’s middle of the mountains, very beautiful, but there’s not a huge population. Pretty good spread from town to town. We have… yeah, so as far as that goes, it’s challenging, but people here are willing and very much do support local businesses, which we’re very grateful for and thankful for all of our locals. I mean, people travel for a long time, an hour away, hour and a half, because they like us. You know what I mean? They’ve been to other places and they just genuinely like us. We don’t-

TG Branfalt: You let people bring their dogs in, which is really important.

Kenny Wright: Yeah. We don’t want customers; we want friends. You know what I mean? We want people to feel welcome in our store, whether they’re purchasing things or not. Obviously, we’re there to sell stuff, but we aren’t the “FU, get out of our store, if you’re not buying a product.” We like conversation, as you know, we talk every time you come in for at length. We’re part of the community and that’s how we’ve… we’ve worked our way into that. Initially, the town was skeptical, and I guess understandably so, but we’ve had our local law enforcement tell us that they’re okay with us, we’ve been vetted. It’s just, it’s nice that-

TG Branfalt: What is your relationship like with them? I don’t think I’ve asked you that, you in person.

Kenny Wright: It’s a very positive relationship. I mean, we’re not doing anything criminal, illegal. We’re not selling anything that we feel is gray area or unethical and they very much appreciate that aspect because we’re not trying to contribute to a problem that already exists. We’re trying to just… we’re selling inanimate objects essentially and CBD products, which are legal. Yeah, it’s been a good thing.

TG Branfalt: How did COVID affect your business? Obviously, you were shut down for a little while and were you able to access or did you seek any federal or state funding? Tell me about that sort of experience as a one-shot business that relies on that day to day.

Kenny Wright: Yeah. We didn’t seek any federal or state aid. I mean, we closed for I believe two weeks or something like that. I mean, it wasn’t a very long time. Enough to digest the regulations and rules that were coming out at the time. Because we are an owner operated business and we… we’re essentially in a loophole for the state regulations, we did appointments only. We required masks and just tried to continue as best as we could helping people. Social media became very important. I forwarded all of our store calls to my cell phone, so my phone was ringing off the hook, setting up appointments every day, trying to be as available as possible, but not expose myself and have a life as well. You know?

TG Branfalt: Yeah, yeah.

Kenny Wright: As much of as one was happening at the time. Yeah, I mean, it’s-

TG Branfalt: How has this been since the lifting of the “lockdown”? I mean, I remember when you first opened non-appointment. I had to stand in a line in order to get in. Was that something that was temporary? Are you seeing more traffic?

Kenny Wright: I mean, initially, when the government was pumping out a lot of the $600 extra unemployment payments, people had money burning a hole in their pocket, so it was definitely a large uptick at that point, but at the same time, you have COVID, so there’s a lot of people that aren’t coming out. People were coming, getting what they needed. We were mitigating the amount of people we were allowing in the store at the time, and even still, it’s typically like a one or two people and people keep their distance anyways because people are generally respectful of others here. Yeah, it was definitely a huge shift, but I’m just really thankful that we are owner-operated and we were able to continue.

The Rotary Club gave us $1500 in-

TG Branfalt: Oh, wow.

Kenny Wright: … grant contributions, which they did for several other businesses, which was incredibly moving and really solidified our feeling of being a part of the community.

TG Branfalt: That’s fantastic.

Kenny Wright: Yeah. It brought a tear to my eye, literally, and it was just humbling and, honestly, I never would have expected it. It wasn’t … because we’re like the redhead stepchild, the black sheep.

TG Branfalt: I know. There’s that super nice clothing store across the street, or right across the street. It’s-

Kenny Wright: Yeah. I mean, it’s… well, I mean, being a tourist town, a lot of people will look in my window and clutch their pearls when they see some of the products that I carry. That’s fine, whatever, but at some point, they’re going to have to come to terms with reality and how society is changing. It gives me a chuckle every time.

TG Branfalt: I want to talk to you. You mentioned at the top that you had joined the Navy. Can you tell me about your military experience as it related to the culture of cannabis?

Kenny Wright: I mean, there is no cannabis culture really in the Navy. There’s zero tolerance, regular urinalysis.

TG Branfalt: Had you smoked prior to going into the Navy?

Kenny Wright: I had once.

TG Branfalt: Okay.

Kenny Wright: Which I had gotten a waiver for, so-

TG Branfalt: You had to get a waiver for smoking one marijuana.

Kenny Wright: Yep. I mean, the military is pretty strict with that. Yeah. That was it. You know what I mean? The typical teenager try it, whatever, and that was it because it was whatever. I continued on with my high school career, but yeah, I joined the Navy out of high school and sailed around the world and learned to work on radar and shoot five-inch guns and experience a lot of different cultures, which made me appreciate America a lot more for the ability to change.

TG Branfalt: When was it after your military experience that you started smoking more cannabis?

Kenny Wright: Oh, I mean, shortly thereafter. Yeah. I mean, I didn’t wait until… I mean, I was out of the Navy in 2007 and I have been a consumer… I mean, I don’t really smoke a ton, but yeah, it’s… yeah.

TG Branfalt: I’m just trying to figure out because I’ve had veterans on this show and many of them, a couple of them, are combat veterans who it was a direct correlation or experience in the military, PTSD, to cannabis. Is that the sort of correlation that you might make? Was it your military experience that led you to smoking more, becoming a consumer and really-

Kenny Wright: No. I mean, not… I am very thankful and grateful that my military experience didn’t result in any trauma or anything because I know there’s a lot of veterans that have trouble with that and cannabis is incredibly beneficial for them, but it was just a… I prefer that to alcohol. You know what I mean? I don’t… there’s no hangover, you don’t feel like trash the next day. Alcohol is just… and not to say that I don’t consume a beer here and there because I do like alcohol, but it’s definitely far, far less of an enjoyable thing. You know what I mean? There’s just… and you can’t function when you’re on alcohol like-

TG Branfalt: Correct.

Kenny Wright: … which is a huge detractor from it. You have two or three beers, your speech is off, your coordination’s off, like you know that-

TG Branfalt: Can’t drive.

Kenny Wright: Yeah, you can’t drive. You can’t do anything. Cannabis isn’t necessarily that way. CBD isn’t that way. CBD flower has become a huge aspect because you don’t have that THC, you don’t get that high, but you still have the relief. It’s like near beer, you know what I mean? Sure, you can drink 24 of them, you might get a little buzzed, but you’re going to be in the bathroom all night.

TG Branfalt: No, I get really excited for… most people who know me and listen to the show know that I’m not like pro-legalization in the sense that regulation and all these other things because it hasn’t harmed anybody in 200 years and even the black market or the illicit market. Right? I can’t wait for THC drinks. I only want legalization, so I can get a THC infused root beer.

Kenny Wright: Oh, they already have those, Tim.

TG Branfalt: No, I know. I know. I’ve had them in Michigan and stuff, but-

Kenny Wright: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

TG Branfalt: … we don’t have-

Kenny Wright: Widely available.

TG Branfalt: If we want something like that, we have to go to Massachusetts.

Kenny Wright: Right. No, yeah. See, I’m just all about the freedom aspect. You know what I mean? Freedom of choice. All of these regulations that are in our lives, in every aspect of our lives, just need to take a long walk off a short pier.

TG Branfalt: In your experience, what do the veterans that you know think about broad legalization?

Kenny Wright: I mean, we’re all for it. We’re a hundred percent for it. Again, it’s all about freedom. You know what I mean? Like, we can sign a contract to go die in a foreign country, but we can’t consume a product which is widely known to be less harmful than a bullet.

TG Branfalt: Well, I mean, to that end, the Navy’s banned hemp-derived personal care products.

Kenny Wright: Right, which is absolutely insane. That’s extreme zero tolerance. There’s so many hemp derived products, Dr. Bronner’s, for example. I use Dr. Bronner’s all the time, hemp derived soap. You know what I mean? All over that bottle is tattooed the benefits of help for the environment and everything. You know what I mean? We used to use hemp rope in the Navy. Hemp is such a historical product to me it blows my mind that the Richard Nixon administration managed to really clamp the jaws down on cannabis and just demonize the heck out of it. Even more so than prior administrations with the Stamp Act and all the Reefer Madness movie and all of those other things. It’s insane. Yeah, the Navy’s policy on anything hemp-related is just wild, dude, wild, but alcohol is pretty much all right. You can still pull into port and get absolutely shit-faced as long as you show up to the ship on time.

TG Branfalt: Relatively.

Kenny Wright: Relative… no, no, you need to be on time.

TG Branfalt: Yeah. Does it ever surprise you that there’s not more hemp activity out here? I mean, there’s farms everywhere, especially if you go up toward Malone, Massena, it’s all farmland. It looks like you’re in Ohio.

Kenny Wright: Yeah.

TG Branfalt: Does it ever surprise that we don’t see more hemp farms out here?

Kenny Wright: I mean, New York made it kind of hard to grow hemp. They have… I mean, at least initially. I’m not really up to speed on their most current-

TG Branfalt: Well, most recently, they actually said that they’re not going to put forward a plan for next season. Instead, they’re going to rely on FDA regulations and they basically said because the FDA regulations are too onerous for them to put forth the program, that they’re not going to put forth a program at all. Instead, you’re going to have to rely on the FDA, which seems really ass-backwards to me. The FDA regulations are too onerous, so you farmers deal with them.

Kenny Wright: Yeah. Yeah, that’s unfortunate that our state would be left holding the bag if we’re trying to grow hemp. Yeah, I mean, which New York went very typical there. Yeah, there-

TG Branfalt: I want to ask you another question. I’ve only been in Saranac Lake a couple of years. Your family is from here. When cannabis is legalized in New York, it’s an eventuality, it’s either next year, next session, or the session after that, do you think that Saranac Lake will allow industry operations? I mean, they were obviously sort of open-armed about your smoke shop, but that’s way different than selling cannabis or growing cannabis. What do you think about that?

Kenny Wright: Boy, I mean, I don’t honestly know, Tim. The Saranac Lake is a very progressive town socially and I would like to think that they would allow the economic stimulus that would come from that, and not just directly from cannabis sales, but all the ancillary businesses, HVAC, electric-

TG Branfalt: Laboratory.

Kenny Wright: Laboratory, all of these things that really surround the industry because science is definitely become an intricate part of the cannabis industry, thankfully. You know what I mean? It’s no longer like in the dark about what a lot of these cannabinoids are, what they’re doing. We’re finding more all the time, and that sort of thing needs to keep progressing. We have Trudeau Institute in Saranac Lake, there’s a couple other research facilities, so I mean, I feel like it would be a relatively natural thing to do.

TG Branfalt: Plus, the tourism.

Kenny Wright: Plus, the tourism… yeah, I mean, absolutely. I mean, the Bed and Breakfast aspect of things.

TG Branfalt: Oh, man.

Kenny Wright: That’s in Colorado, you know what I mean? To me and you, it’s really a no-brainer. You know what I mean? The economic boom that could happen really is unimaginable at a time when we need it.

TG Branfalt: I don’t imagine Lake Placid… I don’t imagine Lake Placid would actually allow-

Kenny Wright: No. I don’t… right. Lake Placid’s a different animal all together. They’re more pinkies in the air. They got the Olympics and holding onto that tight. They’re the super healthy town.

TG Branfalt: Well, there’s no zoning laws here in Bloomingdale so…

Kenny Wright: Right. Well, that’s it. I mean, there’s a lot of communities where there are none. You know what I mean? They’re not going to be able to keep it out regionally I don’t foresee, but at the same time, I don’t know why they would want to stem employment, why they would want to not allow an economic boom in our area. We have been struggling and relying on all of these state grants over the last several years to get our town out of its heyday from the… whatever that was. It’s a tuberculosis town, so that’s early 1900s, that’s a long time ago. All these grants are great and all that, but we need to be able to run on our own. We can only suck so many tax dollars. Our state’s already in the red pretty hard.

TG Branfalt: Corona didn’t help. I mean-

Kenny Wright: Corona didn’t help at all and it’s continuing to not help, so …

TG Branfalt: One of the beautiful things about living in this area during corona was the… say we rolled out the masks, but the fact that we were so struck by this idea, we need our businesses to stay open, so, therefore, we have to wear the masks. Regardless of what you thought about it, it at least enabled the small economic machine that we have here to keep running.

Kenny Wright: Mm-hmm (affirmative). Yeah, I mean… yeah, we opened as soon as we could, as… well, I forget what phase it was, but as soon as we could stop doing appointments, we did because… and people were still taken aback by that. I still have calls now of people like, “Hey, are you open? Can I come into your store,” because, I mean, there’s places that you can’t do that.

TG Branfalt: Yeah.

Kenny Wright: It’s just such a weird time that none of us have ever experienced and we’re just trying to be fluid and go with it, but yeah. I mean, overall masks, people put them on. It’s a very… you’re shopping for five to 10 minutes-

TG Branfalt: Does it concern you as a business owner about the… maybe the security aspect of this because I was just talking to some people the other day. I walk into a store now and I’ll have a hood up, sunglasses on, and a mask on. You can’t tell who I am.

Kenny Wright: Nah. I mean, my… I’m not the safety, security aspect, I’m more worried about the age, identification aspect-

TG Branfalt: Interesting.

Kenny Wright: … I mean, because during the-

TG Branfalt: How are you dealing with that?

Kenny Wright: Well, I mean, I still ID people, you know what I mean, and thankfully, most of my people are continue repeat customers, so I know them. I recognize them. I don’t have to look at their ID every single time I see them. Some people I don’t see all the time, so I do look at their ID more often, but some people I see every day, some people I see every other day. It’s… yeah, it’s challenging, but I mean, it’s not too hard, and a lot of my demographic is obviously over 21. They’re in their 40s or 50s. I have a lot of older folks coming in, which is really, honestly awesome and I love that aspect that I have people that aren’t concerned about social perception of things. It really makes my heart sing.

TG Branfalt: Let me ask you briefly about that, that switch from 18 to 21 that happened. How did that affect your business?

Kenny Wright: I mean, that was definitely a big cut for sure. 18-year-olds obviously-

TG Branfalt: Have a little more disposable income.

Kenny Wright: … like to buy all kinds of stuff. Yeah, you know what I mean, and they’re also breaking stuff. You know what I mean?

TG Branfalt: Yeah.

Kenny Wright: They’re definitely good for business, don’t get me wrong. Back to freedom, Tim, like if I can join the military at 18, I feel like you should be able to buy cigarettes and you should also be able to buy alcohol at 18. You can vote at 18. Until we make all of these things equal and decide when you’re an actual “adult,” there’s going to be those discrepancies and I’m not going to agree with it because it’s freedom. At what point are you old enough to make your own choices? Marketing is marketing. They should teach marketing in grade school as far as I’m concerned with the amount of colors and everything that’s projected onto all of us, psychological warfare. It’s like-

TG Branfalt: My last question for you is what advice do you have for people interested in entering this space, specifically the smoke shop industry?

Kenny Wright: Well, do your research. Figure out what area you’re trying to open up in. Figure out the type of people that live in the area, like is your store even going to be successful in that area because otherwise, you’re just going to be wasting your time and your money and both are incredibly valuable, first off. Second, once you find that, you want to establish a place that you don’t really want to leave. You want to make sure it’s something that’s going to be a long-term thing because I would imagine that’s the type of business you want to set up unless you’re flying by night, in which case I don’t really have much advice because that’s not me.

Yeah, and then it’s all about establishing relationships with artists. There’s so many talented artists out there melting glass and doing really amazing work. Some are, just depending on where you are, location will really dictate the type of product that you can carry. If you’re in the city where there’s obviously a lot more money, you can carry pieces that are thousands of dollars and sell that. Where here, I put a $500 piece, and people are going and doing mental gymnastics to figure out why it cost so much money. I try to convey why, you know what I mean, but at the same time, some things are just hard for me to even grasp because it’s art. You know what I mean?

TG Branfalt: Yeah.

Kenny Wright: It’s art, so if it doesn’t speak to you, then you’re not going to see the value in it. That’s very much how a lot of this industry is. That, and really just customer service. You know what I mean? Providing quality products is going to allow you to not have to do as much problem mitigation with customers because you’re not selling poorer quality products. You know what I mean? Obviously, things are mass produced and in very… like batteries, cart batteries, those things are made thousands… who knows how many are coming off the line, so there’s going to be failures, but most people are very understanding, as long as you are, as long as you’re not the FU, get out of my store, type, people are people. You talk to them like people, they respond like people. It’s all about giving people respect and, yeah, and you’ll go far especially if you’re in a small town. If you’re in a city, you could probably get away with being a little bit of a D-bag, but that’s still your prerogative. It’s not a successful business move.

TG Branfalt: It’s funny how far we’ve come that five years ago you couldn’t walk into your store, and that’s about the time when I stopped running shops, you couldn’t say bong. It was actually… I stopped running shops probably eight years ago, 10 years ago at this point anyway, but you couldn’t say bong and now, that culture’s changes so much that you’re able to not have to be as much of a dick because no one cares if you say bong anymore.

Kenny Wright: Right, yeah. I want to say Ohio set precedent on that establishing “paraphernalia” as art and eliminating the bong term, but bong was an issue in 2006 when John Ashcroft launched Operation Pipe Dreams and everybody that said bong or sold bongs got arrested and jammed up on trumped charges.

TG Branfalt: Put Tommy Chong’s head on a platter they did.

Kenny Wright: Yep, yep. Unfortunately.

TG Branfalt: Thank you-

Kenny Wright: He’s doing great now.

TG Branfalt: Yeah. Thank you for coming on the show, man. We’ve had these similar conversations in the shop, which is why I really wanted to bring them a little bit more public because I ran shops for a very long time and your shop is one of those shops that it reminds me of the stuff that I used to do. With the strange art you’ve got on the walls and your eye for quality products and American-made glass was always the big appeal to me. Why don’t you tell people where they can find out more about your shop and what you guys do over there?

Kenny Wright: Well, I mean, we’re brick and mortar. We don’t do any online sales. Yeah, it’s a dicey market out there. Not trying to touch toes in that, but we’re on 82 Main Street in Saranac Lake, New York. Phone number’s 518-354-5469 and if you’re ever in town, stop by and check us out. We’d love to have you.

TG Branfalt: Cool, man. Again, man, Kenny Wright, he’s the owner of High Peaks Glassworks, an independently owned smoke shop based in Saranac Lake, New York. Dude, thanks so much for coming on the show and I’ll see you when I need papers here in a couple of days for sure.

Kenny Wright: Sounds good, Tim. Thanks for having me, man. Peace.

TG Branfalt: You can find more episodes of the Ganjapreneur.com podcast in the podcast section of Ganjapreneur.com, on Spotify, and in the Apple iTunes Store. On the Ganjapreneur.com website, you’ll find the latest cannabis news and cannabis jobs updated daily, along with transcripts of this podcast. You can also download the Ganjapreneur.com app in iTunes and Google Play. This episode was engineered by Trim Media House. I’ve been your host, TG Branfalt.

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