New York Won’t Submit Hemp Plan Until USDA Loosens Rules

8/20/2020

by

In a letter to industrial hemp growers last week, New York Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard Ball said officials do not plan to submit a state plan for the 2021 growing season unless the U.S. Department of Agriculture changes certain program requirements.

If New York does not submit a hemp plan to federal regulators, hemp growers in the state would need to apply to the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service for a producer license. In 2019, more than 500 producers and over 20,000 acres were authorized to cultivate hemp in the state.

In the letter, Ball described federal hemp testing and plant disposal regulations as “unrealistic” and said they, “impose unreasonable burdens on growers and any state interested in administering a compliant program.”

“Please understand that the State will continue to advocate for reasonable requirements related to the oversight of industrial hemp. In this regard, the Department has asked the USDA to extend the 2014 Farm Bill until 2021 and to otherwise provide a more flexible regulatory structure. We have made clear that if the federal requirements are modified to remove the challenges communicated to the USDA, the Department will reconsider submitting a state plan to assume responsibility for the program.” – Ball in the Aug. 14 letter

Prior to the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized hemp federally, individual states operated their own hemp cultivation programs free from federal interference under a 2014-approved plan.

According to a USDA comparison of those two programs, the 2018-approved rules require “a representative sample” of the crop is tested by a Drug Enforcement Administration-registered lab “within 15 days prior to the anticipated harvest.” Under the previous rules, testing requirements were set by the states and didn’t require labs to be DEA-registered. The rules also require non-compliant plants – meaning they are over the 0.3 percent THC threshold – to be destroyed “using DEA and [Controlled Substances Act] procedures.” Previously, those rules were set by the state.

The old rules also didn’t require sharing of information with law enforcement and allowed states to set the rules for which products could come to market.

Under current rules, federal hemp licenses may be issued to cultivators and processors in states that do not regulate hemp but do not specifically outlaw it. Native American tribes living on sovereign lands in states with hemp bans may also apply to the federal government to grow and process hemp. Producers in states without legal hemp are not eligible for USDA licenses.

End

ParagonCoin Couple Can’t Be Located by Courts as Legal Woes Mount

8/20/2020

by

The couple behind ParagonCoin, promoted as the cryptocurrency for the cannabis space launched in 2017, have failed to appear in court and cannot be located by the courts, according to a Coin Desk report. Jessica VerSteeg, a former Miss Iowa, and her husband, Russian entrepreneur Egor Lavrov, are being sued over the token sale with plaintiffs asserting that it was an illegal securities offering and that buyers are intitled to refunds or compensatory damages.

In 2018 – about a year after the coin’s launch – the company was fined $250,000 by the Securities and Exchange Commission and ordered to repay the investors of the initial $12 million coin offering. Following the fine, the company put a building up for sale it had planned to use as a co-working space paid for with the token. It’s unclear whether the company paid the SEC fine in full; a 2019 Wall Street Journal report suggests the company missed payment deadlines.

The couple has so far failed to appear at any of the legal proceedings in the Northern District of California. Attorney Donald Enright, who represents the plaintiffs, told Coin Desk that the couple’s attorneys “have withdrawn as counsel.” Plaintiffs are seeking to have the case turned into a class action.

The defendants’ former counsel, attorney Howard Schiffman, said that he hasn’t seen the couple in “years.”

In addition to the VerSteeg and Lavrov, the lawsuit names The Game – the rapper whose real name is Jayceon Terrell Taylor – due to his role promoting the initial coin offering on social media. Technologists Eugene Bogorad, Alex Emelichev, Gareth Rhodes, and Vadym Kurylovich are also named as defendants.

Bogorad told Coin Desk that most of the people named as defendants don’t consider themselves company founders and they only worked on the project in 2017, while VerSteeg promoted the coin throughout 2018.

End

Biotech Firm: Fermentation-Based Cannabinoid Production Ready for Industrial Scale

8/19/2020

by

Lygos, Inc. — a full-stack provider of sustainable specialty ingredients meant for cannabinoid-based consumer, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical products —announced in a press release this week it had finalized a novel process of creating cannabinoids with proprietary fermentation and processing technology.

The process will enable the industrial-scale production of “any cannabinoid and cannabinoid-based product of interest” in a safe, sustainable, and cost-effective manner, the company stated.

The development resulted from Lygos’ February acquisition of Librede, Inc, a synthetic biology company specializing in cannabinoid products.

“We couldn’t be more pleased at the speed with which the Librede and Lygos teams integrated efforts and technologies despite the global pandemic and shutdowns,” said Eric Steen, CEO of Lygos.

“These rapid advances have accelerated our timetable for forming partnerships and delivering new cannabinoid-enabled products into the market. By delivering high quality, pure and sustainable cannabinoids at commercial volumes and competitive prices, we are poised to rapidly enter high-growth consumer market segments with Lygos branded or co-branded products by capitalizing on the expertise and reach of our strategic partners.”  — Eric Steen, PhD, CEO of Lygos

In 2019, synthetic biologists at the University of California, Berkeley successfully extracted cannabinoids from brewers yeast. Those cannabinoid extractions included THC, CBD, and others not found naturally in the cannabis plant.

End

Portland, Oregon Seeing Spike In Dispensary Break-Ins

8/19/2020

by

Portland, Oregon cannabis dispensaries have been the target of at least 47 break-ins since late May, according to a Willamette Week report. At that rate, dispensaries in the city are targeted by break-ins on every other night.

Three of the store owners told WW that they were victims of armed robberies, including one in which the employees were held at gunpoint and were bound with zip ties.

The Oregon Liquor Control Commission says that over the last three months, 60 dispensaries have reported lost product, totaling $135,000 in June alone. Portland Extracts owner Jordan Jacobsen told WW that his shop was hit in August and the robbers stole $200,000 worth of product.

Amberlight Cannabis House manager Camille Farrell said that $16,000 worth of product was stolen from her shop last month – and they attempted to rob the place again just two weeks later. She said the group seems “aware that police don’t have quick response times” and were in the shop for at least 25 minutes while the alarm “was going off the entire time.”

Dispensary owners told WW that they believe the robbers map out their routes since multiple shops in the same parts of town – often on the same street – are being targeted on the same night.

Earlier this year, police in Portland and Salem said they were investigating a burglary ring and had made one arrest which led to $33,000 in cash, 30 pounds of cannabis, six pounds of hash oil, 16 firearms, and burglary tools, along with clothing and other evidence from the victimized businesses.

End

Study: Patients Don’t Consider Doctors Good Source of Medical Cannabis Info

8/19/2020

by

According to researchers at the University of Vermont, the majority of medical cannabis patients in the state do not believe their primary care doctor is a “good source of information regarding cannabis.”

In a study published in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health surveying 1,009 Vermont primary care patients, the researchers found 45 percent of respondents used cannabinoids over the past year but just 18 percent of those patients said their primary care physician was a good resource for information on cannabis.

The median age of the respondents was 51-years-old.

The majority of patients surveyed who used cannabis said it was helpful for conditions such as anxiety, depression, arthritis, pain, sleep, and nausea. Medical cannabis has been legal in Vermont since 2004.

“Primary care providers need to be knowledgeable about cannabinoids to best support patient care. In addition, with a significant number of patients reporting cannabinoids helpful for medical conditions common in primary care, it is important that research continue to identify the potential benefits and harms of cannabis.” – “Use and Reported Helpfulness of Cannabinoids Among Primary Care Patients in Vermont,” Jan-Dec 2020, Journal of Primary Care & Community Health

The researchers said the knowledge gap among primary care physicians results in “providers having difficulty navigating conversations surrounding cannabinoid use.”

A 2017 survey of medical school curriculum deans conducted by researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri found that 66.7 percent of respondents indicated their graduates were not prepared to recommend medical cannabis and another 25 percent said their graduates were not even prepared to answer medical cannabis questions.

Other surveys have consistently purported that medical professionals do not believe they know enough about the health and safety effects of cannabis.

End

Massachusetts Division of Alcoholism Administration Funded By Cannabis Taxes

8/19/2020

by

The majority of cannabis-derived state excise taxes in Massachusetts – $53.8 million of the $78.8 million spent through July – has been allocated to the state Division of Alcoholism Administration, while another $20.7 million was used to pay for the Cannabis Control Commission, according to state figures outlined by the Boston Business Journal.

Under the state’s recreational cannabis law, the Legislature can allocate cannabis excise taxes to public and behavioral health – part of the duties performed by the Alcoholism Administration – public safety, and municipal police training. In all, the state has taken in $65.63 million in excise taxes since fiscal year 2019.

The $38.16 million in cannabis-derived sales taxes is earmarked for the state’s General, Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority, and School Building Authority funds. In 2019, the state saw $8.11 million in cannabis sales taxes and $30.05 million in fiscal year 2020, which ended last month.

The local option tax – imposed by municipalities up to 3 percent – has totaled $18.28 million since 2019 but there is no state tracking of these funds; however, a review by the journal suggests the cities and towns are sent to their General Funds. The controversial “community impact fee” – which can be as much as 3 percent and is collected from operators – is not included in sales tax revenues.

Northampton – one of the first towns to allow recreational sales in the state – reported $2.6 million in community impact fees which was used for infrastructure upgrades, including roads, sidewalks, parking, and crosswalks.

Since the market’s launch, Massachusetts has collected $122 million in tax revenues from legal cannabis sales.

End

Supreme Court Urged to Hear Argument Against Cannabis Prohibition

8/18/2020

by

Attorneys Michael Hiller and Joseph Bondy are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear their case challenging the constitutionality of cannabis prohibition. The plaintiffs in the case include 14-year-old legalization activist Alexis Bortell, Iraq War veteran Jose Belen, and 9-year-old Jagger Cotte, who say cannabis treatment keeps them alive.

The lawsuit argues that cannabis’s Schedule I status under the Controlled Substances Act is “unconstitutionally irrational” and violates the patients’ “fundamental rights to equal protection under the law, substantive due process, and to preserve their health and lives” using cannabis as a medicine.

The lawsuit was originally filed in the Southern District of New York and was dismissed in 2018 by Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who ruled that the plaintiffs had not exhausted the administrative remedies – a petition process through the Drug Enforcement Agency – before filing their suit. A Second Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated the complaint but ultimately ruled with the District Court but held the petition in abeyance pending the plaintiffs scheduling of the petition with the DEA; while the DEA was directed to respond to an administrative petition.

“Notwithstanding the Second Circuit’s ruling, the DEA and D.C. Circuit Court have consistently ruled since 1977 that filing a de-scheduling petition of the sort directed by the Second Circuit and the District Court would be futile, since cannabis cannot be de-scheduled administratively or even be reclassified lower any than Schedule II under the CSA. In other words, the plaintiffs were directed to proceed with an administrative review process doomed to failure. Accordingly, they filed their petition with SCOTUS.” – Hiller and Bondy in a press release

Bondy, who is serving as pro-bono co-counsel on the case, said he expects organizations, activists, and members of Congress to file “friend of the court” amicus briefs in support of the petition.

Hiller, whose law firm Hiller PC is handling the case pro bono, said that while the nation’s highest court grants few such petitions, he is hopeful it will accept the jurisdiction of the appeal due to the “mass uncertainty” in cannabis laws, “conflicting decisions among the courts,” the “millions of Americans” who rely on medicinal cannabis, and “tens of billions in capital invested by businesses throughout the country to mass-produce a product, the legality of which is completely unclear.”

A decision on the petition is not expected until next year.

End

CBD Oil: A How-To Guide for At-Home Extractions

8/18/2020

by

British pharmaceutical company GW Pharmaceuticals recently received FDA approval of their oral solution Epidolex for treating seizures associated with Tuberous Sclerosis, adding another condition to the list of health issues that their CBD oil solution can successfully and safely treat. Individual users, however, claim that cannabis oil helps reduce pain and anxiety, as well as other issues that still await clinical confirmation.

Apart from its medicinal use, CBD oil can also be used to cook various dishes, sauces, dressings, and gummies. The wave of legalization that has swept North America recently also allowed entrepreneurs to start-up businesses and sell oil and other products made via CBD extraction to a wide array of consumers, not only those with medicinal needs.

If you’re looking for a way to make your own oil, however, this article is here to show you how to extract CBD from a cannabis plant at home.

Distinct types of CBD oil

Depending on the strain you use and the preparation method, there are three different types of CBD oil:

  • Full Spectrum
  • Broad Spectrum
  • CBD Isolate

Each of these three types of products provides a separate set of compounds and effects. It’s very important to know what you’re introducing into your system, especially when it comes to potentially psychoactive substances.

Full Spectrum CBD oil contains more than just CBD; there’s a wide array of other cannabinoids, including THC, terpenes, and essential oils. This type of CBD oil allows the use of both leaves and flowers to assure the presence of every compound; however, leaves hold a high concentration of chlorophyll, which gives the oil a dark color and a somewhat bad taste.

Broad Spectrum CBD oil gives you the full set of substances, as well, however, there is no THC, which means you won’t get high or show positive on a drug test if you consume the oil on a regular basis.

CBD Isolate is the purest form of CBD oil extracted from nothing but the plant flower. If you’re opting for this type of oil, you should use hemp flower for this purpose. Hemp has been legal in the U.S. since the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill.

Since the extraction of Full Spectrum CBD oil is the way to obtain the most of the plant’s benefits to our wellbeing, we’ll go through to examine this method, not only because buying complex equipment for marijuana processing might get you in trouble, but also because it’s the simplest process and easy to implement at home. For those of you who would like to know other methods of marijuana oil extraction, we’ll also mention some alternatives at the end.

Extracting CBD oil from a flower

Before you start the process, it’s of paramount importance to know that Ethanol or Ethyl Alcohol is a highly flammable substance so make sure you take every precaution to keep yourself and your environment safe from fire hazard. That being said, let’s get on with the preparation process.

What do you need?

Cannabis flowers – make sure you trim down every leaf and leave nothing but the flower for the extraction process. Break larger buds into smaller pieces to make it easier for processing or even better, grind the flower so that the herb could absorb the alcohol better.

Ethanol – Best use 95% Food-Grade Ethyl alcohol.
Filtering equipment – Best use paper filters or fold gauze into several layers.
Fireproof bowl – the size of the bowl depends on how much material you have prepared.
Large glass jar – This is where you’ll mix alcohol and weed.

Decarboxylation process

To activate cannabinoids, we must place the ground herb into an oven for about 45 minutes. Spread marijuana over a casserole dish or something similar and keep the oven heated at around 110 degrees Celsius. Depending on the granulation, it could take less than 45 minutes for the decarboxylation process, so pay attention not to burn your weed in the oven.

Mixing and filtering

Place your weed into the jar and pour alcohol over it until it covers the weed completely. Stir the mixture every 5 minutes several times and let the mix sit for an hour or two. You can’t let it sit for too long, so don’t worry if you leave it sitting longer than this.

Place the layered gauze or paper filter over the fireproof bowl and start pouring the solution. It’s not a bad idea to repeat the filtering process several times until you’re satisfied with the achieved purity of the filtered solution.

Removing the alcohol

Ethyl alcohol boils at 78 degrees Celsius which is the temperature you should set on your heating surface and slowly mix the solution within the fireproof bowl. Keep the bowl over the heat source until no alcohol vapor or bubbles is appearing on the surface of the heated liquid.

More oil extraction methods

There are numerous ways to extract oil, some even answer the question of how to extract THC from your product. As these require a bit more experience, we’ll only go through some of the most popular methods.

CO2 Extraction

This is one of the newest ways to produce CBD oil and it offers the purest oil extract, called CBD Isolate, free of any additional compounds. It requires a CO2 machine because it relies on carbon dioxide as a solvent. The herb is being placed into a Co2 machine and kept under pressure. This process also includes the Winterization and Decarboxylation process. The first is used to separate CBD from wax and lipids that might be left, while Decarboxylation activates the CBD.

Oil method

Similar to Ethanol extraction, the oil method requires the use of olive or coconut oil as a solvent. One major difference is that the herb is being mixed with water and dehydrated before it’s mixed with the oil and heated. This method is most commonly used by people who need to create CBD tinctures or topicals that can be applied directly to the affected area and deal with muscle pain.

We hope this article has helped you capture the basics of CBD oil extraction. We tried to cover the extraction process as comprehensively as possible so you wouldn’t have any setbacks while trying to make your extract at home. Also, we avoided the use of specialized chemistry equipment because, let’s face it, not too many people have a lab set up in the house. Enjoy your new knowledge and have fun making your CBD oil.

End

FDA Hiring CBD Testing Contractor

8/18/2020

by

The Food and Drug Administration has posted notice for a contractor to test CBD “and related cannabinoids.” The announcement comes less than a month after the agency called for public comments on its guidance for cannabis-derived pharmaceutical research.

“The Food Drug Administration is seeking a Contractor who shall provide support to the FDA by collecting samples and assessing the quantities of CBD and related cannabinoids, as well as potential associated contaminants such as toxic elements, pesticides, industrial chemicals, processing solvents and microbial contaminants, in foods and cosmetics through surveys of these commodities. The purpose of these studies will be to develop a better understanding of the quantities of CBD and associated cannabinoids and their distribution.” – FDA notice, “Collection and Analysis of Products Containing CBD and Cannabinoids,” Aug. 13, 2020

According to agency documents accompanying the posting, the agency is seeking testing for thousands of products as part of the FDA’s Cannabidiol Policy Working Group. The FDA says the laboratory will test “CBD-containing packaged and processed foods such as beverages, water, candy, baked goods, oils and tinctures that can be added to human or animal foods, including pills, capsules, gel caps, gummies and other forms.”

Last November, the FDA issued its first consumer update regarding CBD which claimed that the cannabinoid “has the potential to harm” including negative effects on the metabolism of other drugs, increase risk of sedation and drowsiness when used with alcohol, changes in alertness, gastrointestinal distress, changes in mood, and potential liver damage. The update also claimed that CBD use could be toxic to male reproductivity.

In a mandated update to lawmakers in March, the agency said it was “evaluating issuance of a risk-based enforcement policy that would provide greater transparency and clarity regarding factors FDA intends to take into account in prioritizing enforcement decisions,” according to a Marijuana Moment report.

Last month, the agency submitted a draft of that guidance to the White House Office of Management and Budget.

End

Medicine Man Denver Terminates Schwazze Deal

8/18/2020

by

Medicine Man Denver is terminating its term sheet with Schwazze and has begun looking for new partners, the company announced on Monday. In a statement, Sally Vander Veer, CEO of Medicine Man, called the move “the right decision for both companies.”

It’s the second terminated acquisition agreement for Schwazze after Medically Correct pulled out of a deal with the company on July 27. Medically Correct President Bob Eschino said the company terminated the deal in order to shift focus toward brand expansion and development, according to a statement.

On July 9, Schwazze – which formerly operated as Medicine Man Technologies Inc – announced it had terminated a $12 million purchase of cannabis cultivator Los Sueños Farms and a $3.75 million acquisition of Dabble Extracts. Dispensary company High Country Supply and dispensary group Strawberry Fields each also terminated a $12.5 million sale and $31 million sales, respectively, earlier this year.

In June, Schwazze announced it had agreed to acquire 14 Star Buds locations throughout Colorado in a $118 million cash and stock deal. That deal has not yet closed.

In April, Schwazze completed acquisitions of Mesa Organics – which operates four southern Colorado dispensaries – and its Purplebee’s extraction and manufacturing business.

Schwazze CEO Justin Dye told Bezinga last month that the company had 11 deals in the works. In 2019 the company announced a $170 million merger and acquisition strategy. At that time, Dye served as chairman of the board and, through Dye Capital, committed $21 million to Schwazze’s strategy.

End

Dr. Leah Sera: The Nation’s First Masters Program In Medical Cannabis Science

8/17/2020

by

Cannabis education has become a cornerstone of the modern industry, which now looks to the many schools, colleges, and universities that offer training for current and future cannabis professionals. From medical science to business analysis and more, educators are laying a foundation of highly qualified workers for the cannabis industry.

In this interview Q&A, we catch up with Dr. Sera to ask about the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy’s MS in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics program. Launched last year, it was the nation’s first graduate program in medical cannabis science. Our interview covers the program’s goals and requirements, the likely career trajectories of students who complete the program, and more!

Ganjapreneur: What is the main goal of the Masters of Science in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics program? How will this program serve graduates and their future patients?

Dr. Leah Sera: Our primary goal in developing this program, as with all our programs at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, is to improve care for patients. Our students come to us with many different academic and professional backgrounds, including science, healthcare, law, and public health, among others. The comprehensive education we provide in this program will prepare them to improve patient care both directly (for those working in clinical environments) and indirectly (for those interested in research or policy development).

What are the main requirements to be accepted into the program, and who is encouraged to apply?

We wanted to bring in as diverse a student body as possible, because we know that individuals with many different backgrounds play important roles in the medical cannabis industry. That’s why our only requirement is a Bachelor’s degree (or higher) from a regionally accredited institution, and why we don’t require incoming students to have a particular field of study or take prerequisite coursework. We teach all the basic science and clinical information as part of our program. Though most of the coursework is online, we do require students to travel to the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville, MD once each semester for a day-long symposium that includes expert speakers as well as opportunities to network with industry professionals and connect with peers.

What types of career paths will this program prepare students for?

We anticipate that our graduates will be able to leapfrog over entry-level positions in the industry, and we also expect that our students will be trailblazers in creating new positions in the medical cannabis field, including in clinical practice, research and development, regulatory affairs, and patient advocacy. Graduates of our program will be equipped to educate patients, healthcare providers, policymakers, and the public on the science and clinical uses of medical cannabis. Depending on their academic and professional backgrounds, they may choose to work with patients directly or improve patient care through research, policy development, and advocacy.

How did the Pharmacology department formulate the curriculum for the program? What cornerstone textbooks, studies, and thought leaders are referenced in the material covered?

Our curriculum was developed with input from faculty in multiple departments in the School of Pharmacy, including pharmacologists, chemists, pharmaceutical scientists, and clinicians. Our content is based on evidence in the scientific and medical literature, and students are asked to critically evaluate clinical trials during their coursework.

Has the University experienced any pushback on the program, internally or externally, due to the federal prohibition of the plant?

We faced surprisingly few obstacles in getting the program approved and launching it last August. For the most part, everyone who played a part in reviewing, approving, and implementing the program was curious, interested, and invested in making it successful. We’ve had an incredibly positive and robust response from people in the medical cannabis field and from prospective students.

Will students in the program be conducting medical research?

Our institution is not currently doing cannabis research. We expect that as federal regulations on cannabis change, we will be able to expand our program in many different ways, including research.

How do you anticipate the program evolving and growing over time? As federal restrictions are lifted, do you believe more educational institutions will begin adding cannabis pharmacology into their offerings?

I think that we are already seeing more and more colleges and universities incorporate medical cannabis into their curricula, either by developing full programs or individual courses. We certainly plan to continue to innovate, evaluate, and expand our program. The field of medical cannabis is rapidly evolving, and the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy’s MS in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics is ready to meet the challenge of evolving with it!

Thanks again, Dr. Sera, for answering our questions! Click here to learn more about the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy’s MS in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics.

End

Maine’s Adult-Use Market Launch Set for October 9

8/17/2020

by

Adult-use cannabis sales in Maine are set to commence on October 9, more than four years after voter approval and after two delays by a former governor and an “indefinite postponement” due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Office of Marijuana Policy Director Erik Gundersen called the announcement “a major milestone in honoring the will of Maine voters and a significant step toward launching a new industry in the state.”

“The public’s health and safety are at the forefront of every decision we make at the Office of Marijuana Policy. While we were poised to launch this new industry earlier this year, we were unwilling to sacrifice the high standards we have set for this program by launching during an emerging public health pandemic and in the absence of a testing facility. With the support of the public health community, municipalities across the state, and the industry we regulate, we have used the last few months to ensure this new industry is introduced to Maine consumers in a manner that is as responsible as possible.” – Gundersen in a press release

The OMP said it would begin issuing licenses for retail sales, cultivation, manufacturing, and testing on September 8. Businesses must undergo a three-step application process which includes conditional licensure and local approval before getting a license from the state.

Maine voters approved the reforms in 2016 but then-Gov. Paul LePage (R) twice vetoed the implementation bill passed by state lawmakers. Last October, officials anticipated adult-use sales would begin in March but those plans were derailed by the state’s lack of infrastructure and pushed to June. In April, officials indefinitely delayed the rollout of the program due to the coronavirus pandemic.

End

UK to Reduce Recreational Drug Penalties for Athletes

8/17/2020

by

United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) is imposing shorter bans for athletes who fail out-of-competition drug tests for non-performance enhancing drugs, including cannabis and cocaine, saying it was to put an “emphasis on athlete welfare,” the BBC reports.

The details of the new policy are still being finalized but further penalty reduction would be available for athletes who complete a treatment program and promptly admit to their violation.

The new rules, which take effect in January, also allow for longer bans when there are “aggravating factors,” such as lying to investigators, hostility toward doping control officers, and when there are multiple violations.

The reforms come as the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) reduces its ban for some recreational drugs to one to three months instead of two years.

UKAD Chief Executive Nicole Sapstead said the new rules reflect the WADA standards. In 2017, WADA removed CBD from its banned substances list but added synthetic cannabinoids such as “Spice.”

“The UK Anti-Doping rules are the backbone of our mission to keep sport clean. … We have developed the new rules to ensure that we are able to meet the latest challenges threatening clean sport, and that athletes and the public can have confidence in clean competition.” – Sapstead to the BBC

According to a CBC report, WADA approved changes to its code last year after a two-year consultation process. In May 2019 more than 150 current and former athletes – including now cannabusiness owner Mike Tyson – sent a letter to WADA asking them to remove THC from its banned substances list.

In 2017, 154 athletes tested by WADA failed the test for THC.

End

Pennsylvania Dispensaries See 70% More Patients During Pandemic

8/17/2020

by

From February to August – amid the coronavirus pandemic – the number of weekly patient visits to Pennsylvania’s medical cannabis dispensaries has risen more than 70 percent from 70,000 to 120,000, the Philadelphia Enquirer reports. Since February, the state’s 89 dispensaries have sold $385 million in products, nearly as much as the $400 million sold in the state in the previous two years combined.

According to state Department of Health data, chronic pain is the number one qualifying condition in the state – about 37 percent of Pennsylvania patients are registered for the condition, followed by post-traumatic stress disorder (24 percent), and opioid use disorder (12 percent) There are now about 230,000 registered patients in the state.

Medical cannabis dispensaries were considered essential services as the state issued stay-at-home orders in March. The state also upped the amount of cannabis patients were allowed to obtain at one time from a 30-day supply to a 90-day supply.

A May poll found 62 percent for broad cannabis legalization in the state, a proposal backed by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf. A legalization bill was introduced in the state last October, but Republican members of the state House have said they have “no plans or interest” in legalizing cannabis recreationally. However, the Pennsylvania Cannabis Coalition-commissioned poll conducted by Harper Polling – a Republican firm – found that just 9 percent of GOP voters would vote against a legislator that voted for the broad reforms, which could sway some of the holdout Republicans.

End

Cannabis Legalization In Montana Will Be Decided By Voters

8/14/2020

by

Montana voters will decide whether to legalize cannabis in the state during November’s General Election as the Secretary of State on Thursday certified the initiative backed by New Approach Montana, the Associated Press reports. The legalization question will have an accompanying constitutional initiative which is meant to ensure that only adults 21-and-older can access legal cannabis products.

If approved, the measure – which will appear on ballots as Issue 14 – would implement a taxed and regulated marketplace, and implement a 20 percent tax which would be used “to fund conservation, substance abuse treatment, veterans services, long-term health care, local governments, and general revenue for the state,” according to a summary of the proposal from the Secretary of State’s office. The state’s general fund would receive 10.5 percent of the tax revenues derived from the industry, while 10 percent would be earmarked for each the Department of Health and Human Services, local governments where the retail cannabis sales occurred, veterans’ services, and for Medicare rate increases.

The nongame wildlife account, state park account, trails and recreational facilities account would each reap 4.125 percent, while 37.125 percent would be used to credit Fish, Wildlife, and Parks.

The measure would also reduce the medical cannabis sales tax to 1 percent and would allow people currently serving sentences for some cannabis crimes to apply for resentencing.

A fiscal note from the Governor’s Office of Budget and Planning estimates that the state could generate $3.5 million in tax revenues in fiscal year 2022, $18 million in 2023, $28.6 million in 2024, and $38.5 million by 2025.

In 2016, Montana voters approved a measure to roll back medical cannabis program restrictions by a 56-44 margin.

End

Study: After-Hours Cannabis Use Has No Negative Impact On Worker Performance

8/14/2020

by

A San Diego State University study found that after-hours cannabis use has no negatives effects on workplace performance but did find a negative correlation between those who used cannabis before and during work with task performance.

In fact, Dr. Jeremy Bernerth, management professor at San Diego State University’s Fowler College of Business and study co-author, suggested that after-hours cannabis use may actually offer some work-related benefits.

“Individuals deciding to consume cannabis after finishing their work may be able to distract themselves from stressful on-the-job issues. The relaxation induced by cannabis may help employees restore energy spent during the day and they may subsequently return with more stamina to devote to their job once they are back on the clock.” – Bernerth in a statement

Jack Walker, management professor at Auburn University’s Raymond J. Harbert College of Business, joined Bernerth on the study, which surveyed 281 employees and their direct supervisors and “citizenship behavior,” or their willingness to voluntarily help the organization or their colleagues. Participating employees and supervisors were recruited through social media and with the help of university business students, though cannabis usage was not required of the participants.

Each employee was asked about the frequency and timing of their cannabis use as it relates to their work shift. The managers were asked to assess their employee’s task performance, citizenship behavior, and any counterproductive work behavior.

The researchers found the supervisors more often reported reduced citizenship behavior and counterproductive work behavior by employees who used cannabis before and during work hours but no “significant change in any of the work performance dimensions when employees used cannabis after work.”

Bernerth added that since the study found no negative effects when employees use cannabis after work, organizations would be “hard-pressed to provide legally defensible justifications for the continuation of policies prohibiting all forms of cannabis use.”

Bernerth said the study is the first in nearly two decades to “research cannabis usage in relation to workplace behaviors.”

End

New Jersey Allows Medical Cannabis Recommendations Via Telemedicine

8/14/2020

by

New Jersey medical cannabis patients can now get recommendations for the program via telemedicine, according to a Fresh Toast report. Attorney General Gurbir Grewal called telehealth “an important option for patients and providers” amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Due to the pandemic, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration has allowed a temporary waiver allowing medical cannabis practitioners to approve patients for the program. The state must follow those DEA rules and practitioners must ensure that they are issuing approvals for approved qualifying conditions.

Earlier this month, a New Jersey physician was suspended by the State Board of Medical Examiners for “indiscriminately” authorizing medical cannabis for “thousands of patients.”

“Today, we are making it easier for patients to choose telehealth services for any reason, including to avoid an in-person visit due to the continuing risk of COVID-19.  Doctors who use telemedicine to prescribe CDS or authorize medical marijuana will be held to the same professional standards as for in-person visits and must comply with all of the important safeguards we have adopted to prevent diversion and misuse.” – Grewal in a press release

In June, the Department of Health issued a waiver allowing medical cannabis to be delivered to patient homes. Amid the pandemic, New Jersey Health Department officials have made several tweaks to the medical cannabis program in order to ease patient barriers, including reducing caregiver fees to $20, allowing telephone consultations, curbside dispensing, and increasing options for discounts.

New Jersey voters will decide whether to broadly legalize cannabis in the state in November; two polls – from April and July – suggest the reforms will pass.

End

Seattle Hempfest Going Online This October

8/14/2020

by

The Seattle Hempfest, billed as the world’s largest cannabis event and legendary legalization “protestival,” has announced its annual event will be held virtually on October 10-11 due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

The “internet reveal” for the globally accessible event will be held online this Sunday, August 16, from 1-4 pm PST on the Hempfest website. During Sunday’s event, organizers will discuss the October “Hempfest Extravaganja.” 

“When we realized that there was no way to safely produce HEMPFEST down on the Seattle waterfront this year, we started working on a transition in order to present our panels, speakers, vendors, and music via the internet,” said Vivian McPeak, the executive director for Hempfest.

“This August Reveal will be a taste of what we have in store for our global October Online Extravaganja. At this August sampler we will have a keynote speaker, special musical performances, speaking guests, and interactive activities.” — Excerpt from a Hempfest press release

Despite being deeply in debt and needing to turn to community support due to the pandemic, Hempfest looked to the future — where the cannabis plant should play an essential role in reshaping humanity — in choosing a Green Renaissance theme for the October event.

“Our world society is facing unprecedented challenges, many of which have been exposed by the pandemic, which presents an opportunity to reset our approach to many things, as returning to the normal that produced these challenges would be a lost opportunity,” the press release reads. “From renewable energy and safe, compassionate medicine to sustainable construction practices and nutritious food products, the cannabis plant is the one natural resource that can play a role in practically every issue we face moving forward.”

Note: Click here to hear about the origins and history of Hempfest in an original radio documentary by Lukas Barfield, author of this piece.

End

Colorado Sets New Monthly Cannabis Sales Record

8/13/2020

by

Six years after its first adult-use cannabis sale, Colorado set a monthly sales record in June totaling $158,102,628, according to state Department of Revenue Marijuana Enforcement Division Revenue outlined by the Denver Post. Last June, cannabis sales in the state reached about $122.4 million.

The previous cannabis sales record in the state of $149,186,615 was set in May, suggesting that cannabis sales in Colorado are booming during the pandemic. Prior to May, the only time sales in the state reached $140 million was in August 2019.

So far this year, medical and recreational cannabis sales in Colorado have totaled $978.35 million, setting the pace for 2020 to eclipse 2019’s record of $1.75 billion in total sales.

According to state data, the Colorado Department of Revenue collected $33.62 million in taxes and fees on cannabis sales and businesses in June. So far, cannabis-derived taxes and fees have reached $203.3 million in 2020; last year the state raised $302.5 million via the industry.

Earlier this year at the onset of the pandemic, Colorado considered both medical and recreational as “essential services” allowing them to remain open but implemented social distancing protocols. However, research from BDSA suggests that the record summer sales are the result of the state’s marketplace.

According to BDSA, pre capita cannabis sales in Colorado reached $290 in 2019 – nearly double the $150 per capita spent in 2014. In the third quarter of last year, 42 percent of adults in the state said they consumed cannabis in the previous six months – an increase of 18 percent from the third quarter of 2017.

In June of last year Colorado surpassed $1 billion in revenue from cannabis-derived taxes and fees.

End

Study: Cannabis Consumers Say Legal Products More Convenient, Safer

8/13/2020

by

The majority of cannabis consumers said that legal cannabis was more convenient to buy (59.2 percent) and safer to purchase (56.1 percent) than its illegal counterpart, according to a University of Waterloo School of Public Health study published last month.

The study examined consumer perceptions of legal versus illegal cannabis sources in Alaska, California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington state.

One in three respondents (30.6 percent) said they believed legal cannabis was more expensive and just slightly more (37.6 percent) said legal cannabis is higher quality than that from illicit sources.

Another 40.3 percent of respondents from Wave 1 of the International Cannabis Policy Study, an online survey conducted in 2018 among 5,530 16-65-year-olds, said legal cannabis is safer to use than illegal products.

“With the notable exception of price, consumers reported generally positive perceptions of the legal cannabis market, with more positive perceptions in US states with more ‘mature’ legal markets.” – “Consumer perceptions of ‘legal’ and ‘illegal’ cannabis in US states with legal cannabis sales,” July 17, 2020, Addictive Behaviors

The study’s authors note that consumer perceptions varied according to how long legal cannabis has been available in the state.

“Respondents living in more ‘mature’ legal markets were more likely to perceive legal cannabis as higher quality,” the authors wrote.

An April 20 YouGov poll found similar approval for the legal cannabis industry, with 45 percent of respondents in that poll calling recreational legalization “more of a success than a failure” or “success only,” with 19 percent saying that it was “more of a failure than success” or “failure only.” Twenty-six percent of respondents said they didn’t know.

End

Michigan Cannabis Brands Accused of Using Robocalls & Telemarketing

8/13/2020

by

At least three Michigan cannabis companies are facing class-action lawsuits over their alleged use of unsolicited telemarketing, MLive reports. This year, Florida attorney Andrew J. Shamis filed lawsuits in federal court against MichiCann Medical, AEY Capital, and Light ‘N Up Provisioning and Microbuddery claiming the companies sent unsolicited marketing text messages or automated phone calls without proper consent in violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

The lawsuits claim that the unsolicited marketing “resulted in the invasion of privacy, harassment, aggravation, and disruption of the daily life of thousands of individuals.” The class-action nature of the lawsuits potentially allows anyone who’s received unsolicited texts or calls to join the case.

Attorney Ben Joffe of Ann Arbor-based Benjamin D. Joffe law firm, who represents several Michigan cannabis businesses, said such lawsuits are sometimes called “lawsuit trolling” because its “basically writing the same exact complaint other than a few facts that change.”

According to an MLive analysis of court documents, Shamis often files similar lawsuits throughout the U.S. and they often target cannabis companies. Currently, he has pending cases in Arizona making similar claims.

“They try and get it certified as a class hoping somebody sent out 100,000 and they can settle for $50 each text message or even $5 for each text message and you get a large payoff. As the attorney, you’ve got the retainer that lets you take a third of that or whatnot.” – Joffe to MLive

The lawsuits reviewed by MLive are requesting a settlement of up to $1,500 per unsolicited text message.

End

Why Is a Small Liberal Arts University Becoming a Leader In Cannabis Education?

8/13/2020

by

Doane University, a small liberal arts school located in rural Nebraska, has taken a leap forward to become an international innovator in cannabis education through its School of Integrative Learning. Last year, Doane University, under the leadership of its Director of Cannabis Studies Dr. Andrea Holmes, launched a Cannabis Certificate Program. The program, titled “The Cannabis Industry – Seeds to Needs,” offers three online certificate courses that cover all aspects of this fast-growing new field of opportunity — from cultivation, processing, testing, law, and regulations, to how to get a job or build a business in the emerging cannabis industry.

Dr. Holmes, Professor of Chemistry and Chief Growth Officer of Precision Plant Molecules (a premier hemp production facility focused on minor cannabinoids based in Colorado) and her colleagues created the courses because of the need for a qualified cannabis-industry workforce. To date, the courses have enrolled more than 13,000 registrants from 166 countries on DoaneX. The high volume of students demonstrates strong international interest and a pressing need for education by highly-qualified and credentialed experts in the cannabis field.

Now, Doane University has built on its pioneering role yet again, offering seven brand-new college courses — each worth three credits — that can be potentially transferred to any post-secondary institution in the world. These courses cover the history, biology, agronomy, medicinal aspects, testing, and processing methods of marijuana and hemp. Experienced Doane faculty, with PhDs in chemistry, biology, agricultural education, and history, along with physicians who are certified in cannabis medicine, have built these eight-week courses to provide a cutting-edge education in the field that is currently unparalleled in the U.S. and the world. Doane University is also seeking partnerships with other colleges and universities who are interested in the cannabis curriculum. The courses are built to be flexible in such a way that students from other universities can easily take them as part of their degree requirements or as electives.

Doane University won’t stop there, however, and is moving directly into cannabis-industry entrepreneurship! Doane University just opened the first commercial ISO-certified cannabis testing facility in Nebraska to support the state’s inaugural harvest by farmers and processors that are newly licensed under the 2020 Nebraska Hemp Bill. Doane University’s infrastructure and faculty are ideally suited for cannabis research, development, and testing. In fact, Doane University’s outside-the-box thinking has opened up new revenue-generating streams by providing rental space for start-up companies working in both the herbal supplement and cannabis industry. Doane’s students are benefiting from increased research and internship opportunities.

The question then arises, why has Doane University taken the initiative to attract students worldwide who want to study cannabis in its many varied, intriguing, and useful applications — from industrial products to medicine? While Nebraska has had a state-regulated hemp program since last year, medical marijuana is likely to appear on the ballot this November. Given the relatively conservative socio-political nature of the state, it is surprising that Doane’s program is in the vanguard of cannabis education. Dr. Holmes, however, is an internationally-recognized scholar and entrepreneur in the field.

The bottom line is that small liberal arts colleges and universities (even larger universities) in the U.S. and abroad are struggling with decreased student enrollment and retention. COVID-19 is negatively impacting the landscape of higher education. New innovative measures, changes in rigid traditional thinking, and a reset of higher education’s culture simply must occur in this era of survival of the fittest.

Doane University’s leadership has thus, out of both necessity and conviction, taken the road less traveled by investing in innovation and entrepreneurship in relation to cannabis education and the rapidly growing cannabis industry. This is an opportunity and investment that Doane University wholeheartedly believes will help the university maintain viability, support innovation, and increase its future relevance.

For more information about getting certified or take college courses in Cannabis Studies, click here: https://www.doane.edu/academics/division/cannabis-studies

For more information about confidential cannabis testing, click here: https://www.ctlcrete.com/

Note: This article was co-written by Dr. Mark Orsag, Professor of History at Doane University’s College of Professional Studies and College of Arts and Sciences.

End

Arizona Will Vote on Adult-Use Cannabis Legalization This November

8/12/2020

by

Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs said on Monday that the cannabis legalization campaign had submitted enough valid signatures to put the question to voters in November.

“After review, the petition exceeded the minimum requirement with approximately 255,080 valid signatures and will be placed on the General Election ballot as Prop. 207,” Hobbs said in a tweet. The campaign had submitted 420,000 signatures to officials in July, they needed 237,645.

Anti-legalization advocates had filed a lawsuit to keep the question off of General Election ballots regardless of whether the campaign had submitted enough signatures, claiming that the 100-word summary of the petition did not tell voters the reforms would allow more potent forms of cannabis, change state driving under the influence laws, and didn’t specifically say that the proposed 16 percent tax on sales could not be increased by the Legislature.

Last week, a Maricopa County Superior Court judge rejected that argument by Arizonans for Health and Public Safety, ruling that the provisions included in the ballot summary language relayed enough information for voters who signed the petitions. Judge James D. Smith wrote in his decision that the principal provisions of the Smart and Safe Arizona Act were included in the summary and said that it took the anti-cannabis group 25 pages to outline what had not been included in the 100-word summary of the petition.

That ruling is expected to be appealed by the plaintiffs.

In 2016, Arizona voters rejected legalization in the state with 52 percent of the vote.

End

More Cannabis Workers Vote to Unionize In Massachusetts

8/12/2020

by

Workers at Cultivate Holdings in Leicester, Massachusetts have voted to join the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1445, MassLive reports. The vote to join the union follows approvals by workers at least three other Massachusetts cannabis companies.

In July, dispensary employees at Mayflower Medicinals in Holliston, Massachusetts voted to join the UFCW Local 1445. That same month, employees at New England Treatment Access’ Franklin cultivation facility also voted to join the union; however, NETA dispensary employees in Brookline voted 30-9 against unionizing.

In 2019, more than 100 workers at Sira Naturals in Milford, Needham, and Somerville became the first in Massachusetts’ cannabis industry to unionize, joining the 1445.

Craig Chaplin, a Cultivate employee, called the move not just a victory for Cultivate employees “but for all cannabis workers.”

“We’ve set a precedent by working collectively that enables us not only to survive but to thrive.” – Chaplin in a statement via MassLive

The union noted that there is an ongoing campaign to organize Cultivate’s retail employees as well. Employees said they voted to join the union to improve working conditions through collective bargaining, achieve standardization of their relationship with management, and access to adequate health coverage, the union said in a news release.

“The UFCW applauds Cultivate for its commitment to [agricultural] workers and is justifiably encouraged by their inclusion as part of those workers who will benefit from organizing this emerging industry,” UFCW Local 1445 Secretary-Treasurer Fabricio DaSilva said in a statement.

UFCW bills itself as the largest U.S. private-sector union, representing 1.3 million people who work in the cannabis industry, grocery stores, retail sector, and meatpacking and food-processing facilities.

End