Georgia Bill Would Require Paperwork to Possess Hemp

2/19/2020

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A bill in Georgia that would allow police to arrest people for transporting hemp without proper paperwork passed the House Agriculture Committee on Tuesday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. The bill is aimed at allowing police to continue making arrests for cannabis possession in the wake of federal and state hemp legalization.

Law enforcement officials in Gwinnet and Cobb counties said last year that they would suspend making arrests for low-level possession after the state legalized hemp, citing the lack of testing facilities that could determine the amount of THC present. Those levels are required to differentiate legal industrial hemp from illegal cannabis with THC levels over 0.3 percent.

Violators of the new hemp transport law would face up to a year in jail and $1,000 fine for the possession of less than an ounce – the same penalties for misdemeanor cannabis possession.

Pete Skandalakis, the executive director for the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, told the AJC that the Legislature didn’t intend to decriminalize cannabis when it legalized hemp last year.

Mazie Lynn Causey, a lobbyist for the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, said the measure would, effectively, criminalize a legal substance. Republican state Rep. Scot Turner also opposed the measure, arguing the bill would allow police to seize the assets of people in possession of a legal substance.

“We’re treating it as if it’s a criminal product. We have the ability to do a test. We’re choosing not to. Why aren’t we just taking the steps necessary to establish the criminal behavior on a product that’s actually illegal?” – Turner, to the AJC

Hemp-derived CBD products are currently the only medical cannabis products available to Georgia patients but they must still be acquired out-of-state, despite the governor approving a measure last April to allow for in-state production.

The hemp bill still needs to be approved by both chambers of the Legislature.

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New Mexico to Close Medical Cannabis ID Loophole

2/19/2020

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New Mexico lawmakers have approved a bill to end the issuance of state medical cannabis cards for out-of-state patients, the Associated Press reports. Officials had reportedly already been withholding the cards since last year, despite a court order telling the Department of Health to issue the cards following previously-approved medical cannabis reforms.

After the new law took effect, state attorneys argued that the change allowing out-of-state residents to access New Mexico’s program was a drafting error and not designed to allow non-residents to obtain medical cannabis cards in the state. Officials argued that, if allowed, the changes would encourage cannabis transport across state lines, which is illegal under state and federal law.

Following the court’s ruling, the Health Department did issue ID cards to three individuals who were included in the lawsuit against the state.

The law will not change the state’s reciprocity policies that allow patients with out-of-state medical cannabis cards to access New Mexico’s program. All of New Mexico’s border states have medical cannabis programs but in Texas, only low-THC products are allowed.

The 2019 reforms also led to some confusion for individuals in the custody of the Corrections Department, namely inmates and those awaiting trial. The law includes language stating that persons “serving a period of probation or parole or who is in the custody or under the supervision of the state or a local government pending trial as part of a community supervision program shall not be penalized for conduct” allowed under the state’s medical cannabis law. The new law does not clarify these policies.

The measure still requires the signature of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) before they become law but she has expressed support for closing the loophole and is expected to sign the legislation.

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NFL Considers Relaxed Cannabis Policy

2/18/2020

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The National Football League is considering drastically updating its cannabis policies in the new Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and the NFL Players’ Association, according to NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk. Under the potential changes, the league would suspend a player for cannabis use “only in the event of extreme and repeated disregard of the policy or significant violations of applicable law regarding the possession and use of marijuana,” the report says.

The relaxed policy would also close the league’s nearly 4-month testing window for cannabis to just two weeks. Currently, the testing opens on April 20 and players may be tested until early August. This would reduce the amount of time each year that players would have to refrain from cannabis use, if they aren’t already in the protocols.

The new rules would effectively ‘decriminalize’ cannabis use in the NFL, which has the harshest drug-testing policies of any professional U.S. sports organization. The XFL – a spring football league founded by World Wrestling Entertainment Chairman Vince McMahon which launched earlier this month – doesn’t include cannabis in its drug-testing protocols.

In December, Major League Baseball indicated it was considering removing cannabis from the banned substance list for minor league players who are not on a team’s 40-man roster; players on the 40-man roster are not tested for cannabis.

The National Hockey League – which includes many Canadian teams – does not penalize players for cannabis use. Canada legalized cannabis in 2018.

The National Basketball Association bans cannabis use by players – which can lead to a suspension and fine up to $35,000 – but the league doesn’t test during its offseason.

The Pro Golf Association last year suspended two players within 12 weeks for cannabis use.

Late last year Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones suggested the league’s cannabis policies would be adjusted in the upcoming CBA agreement.

“I think the world is sensitive to the issue regarding marijuana. It’s also an issue contemporarily we’re excited about being in step with the social and legal scene as it goes forward,” he told CBS Sports. “And, so, we not only have the interest of competitiveness in mind when it comes to any type of substance, we have the issue of the law and we have the issue of the society focus on it. All of that does receive attention when you’re discussing this area with players.”

It’s unclear whether the new policies would take effect during the upcoming season. If the new CBA is approved by March 18, it would be in place for the 2021 season; however, the league could decide to implement the new policy this season as part of the negotiations.

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Aluminum Cans May Reduce THC in Infused Beverages

2/18/2020

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In 2020, Canadians rejoiced that they would finally be able to purchase cannabis edibles at adult-use dispensaries and producers were racing to have the most desirable product on the market. In the fall of 2019, Canopy Growth announced its ‘2.0 portfolio’ which included 13 cannabis-infused drinks but, as we approach the spring of 2020, consumers are still waiting for the products to be made available for sale. 

With licensed Canadian cannabis companies backed by Big Alcohol brands like Constellation Brands, Molson Coors, and Anheuser-Busch InBev, it is surprising that more infused beverages haven’t made it to market. But, according to a recent Yahoo Finance report, it appears that aluminum cans can actually ruin the potency of infused cannabis beverages, which could explain the delay.  

Epoxy, vinyl, acrylic, polyester, and oleoresin are all common coatings used as an inner lining for aluminum cans. This is due to the typically corrosive ingredients in beverages like energy drinks and colas; they’re also handy in beer cans to smooth the inner lining and keep carbon dioxide from escaping. However, the same inner lining that makes it possible to can soda, beer, and even vegetables is causing a major issue in cannabis products.

In cannabis beverages, nanoemulsion methods are used to break down oily cannabinoids into particles small enough that they will suspend in a beverage for equal dosing and product uniformity. This process will change the size of the molecule but the same original quantity of THC will remain.

Chemistry Ph.D. Harold Han, the founder and chief science officer of Vertsoa, told Yahoo Finance that he first noticed potency retention issues when working with Northern California beer subsidiary Lagunitas as they moved their Hi-Fi Hops cannabis drinks from cans to glass bottles. They decided to test can liners against two types of emulsions and noticed that both incurred huge potency losses. The theory is that nanodroplets of THC stuck to the inside liner of the can instead of being delivered with the can’s liquid contents.

This issue is a mammoth hurdle on the quest of bringing infused beverages to the market, especially with antsy investors behind the scene. Though the Canadian infused beverage market is projected to be worth $529 million annually, companies are focused on finding an aluminum solution instead of glass bottling, which is more expensive. The solution is not yet clear, but the aluminum can industry is unlikely to accommodate the cannabis beverage industry by dropping the liners. 

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Oregon Police Investigating Cannabis-Focused Burglary Ring

2/18/2020

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Police in Oregon are investigating a burglary ring that targeted cannabis businesses, the Oregonian reports. As part of the investigation, Portland and Salem police seized $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, the report says.

Portland Police Assistant Chief Andrew Sherer said on Twitter that one arrest had been made in the case and there were “more to follow.” Officials have not released any other information, citing the ongoing investigation.

In a highly publicized 2019 case, Shadowbox Farms, located in Southeast Portland, was burglarized for about $1 million in products. No arrest has been made in that case.

By and large, however, cannabis dispensaries do not lead to an uptick in crime in its neighborhood. A 2019 study published in Regional Science and Urban Economics actually found dispensaries reduce crime in their neighborhoods by about 19 percent, or 17 crimes per month per 10,000 residents. In 2018, a RAND-funded study published by the Institute of Labor Economics found “no significant impact of dispensaries on violent crime” in any of their models. They also found a 5.1 percent to 6.3 percent reduction in property crimes in counties that allowed dispensaries.

A University of Colorado at Denver study published last year found a slight uptick in crime around dispensaries that declines over time. In 2019, Denver, Colorado dispensaries were the target of five robberies and 122 burglaries, which was a three-year high. Denver Police believe as many as six of those robberies and break-ins are linked.

Cannabis businesses are often targeted because of the cash-only nature of the industry due to federal prohibition, which prevents cannabusinesses from accessing simple financial services.

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Expungement Bills Introduced in Rhode Island

2/18/2020

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Lawmakers in Rhode Island have introduced bills aimed at expunging criminal records related to possession of cannabis and other drugs, the Providence Journal reports. One measure (H7412) would automatically expunge cannabis crimes that are now legal under the state’s decriminalization policies, while the other (H7901) would seal simple possession charges for all controlled substances five years after the completion of the sentence and waive the court fee associated with expunging records.

During a House Judiciary Committee hearing last week, State Rep. Anastasia Williams (D) called the cannabis crime expungement measure “self-explanatory.” She pointed out that drug laws disproportionately targeted minorities and perpetuated the cycle of poverty and that people with cannabis-related criminal records – especially minorities – have trouble finding jobs and houses.

“Marijuana, medical or not, is a booming industry, and individuals are going to capitalize more on it soon with the additional six [medical cannabis dispensary] licenses. And just imagine when recreational marijuana becomes legal. So just think for a minute about the individuals who are still incarcerated [or who] have spent time in jail for possession, selling, using, carrying marijuana. …Their sentence doesn’t end when they are released.” – Williams, 2/11/20 House Judiciary Committee Meeting, via the Journal

The bill sponsored by Rep. Jason Knight (D) would expunge charges after five years “for any person convicted of an offense constituting simple possession of a controlled substance,” according to the bill text. The state already allows for broad expungement of some non-violent crimes under its ‘First-Time Offender’ program.

“The reason why I put it in is because I think we have changing attitudes around controlled substances.” Said Knight, a criminal defense attorney, to the Journal. “No one I know believes that it is a moral failing to get charged with possession of a controlled substance.”

Attorney General Peter Neronha’s Legislative Lobbyist indicated the AG “is conceptually in support″ of Knight’s bill.

Rhode Island legalized medical cannabis in 2006, the 11th state to do so. In January, Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo called for state-wide legalization. Some lawmakers were optimistic that the state was going to pass the reforms last year but the legislature didn’t take any action on the issue.

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Adult-Use Legalization Proposed in Croatia

2/18/2020

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Mirela Holy, a Croatian politician and former leader of the center-left Croatian Sustainable Development party, has proposed adult-use cannabis legalization in the face of rapid global reforms and shifting public opinion, Total Croatia News reports.

The bill was first released last week and will be debated in the public sphere before an official parliamentary debate.

”We propose a state agency hybrid (state/private) model to maintain the high quality [of the product] in the market. When it comes to the use of cannabis for recreational purposes, the bill would allow every adult to grow as many as nine female plants with high THC content for their personal needs.” — Mirela Holy, via RTL Direkt

The bill would also establish hemp industry opportunities in the country.

Minor cannabis possession is already decriminalized in Croatia. Growing and/or selling the plant, however, remain felonies punishable by a 3-year minimum mandatory prison sentence.

“When I started talking about this a few years ago, reactions were very negative, but things have changed,” Holy said. “People need to be educated first and then they will change their attitudes. The addictive potential [of cannabis] is much less than the addictive potential of nicotine or alcohol. And, to my knowledge, nobody has ever died from an overdose of natural cannabis.”

Croatia passed national medical cannabis reforms in 2015, legalizing the plant as a treatment option for severe illnesses including cancer, multiple sclerosis, and AIDS. If the latest reforms succeed, Croatia would become the first member nation of the European Union to fully legalize cannabis.

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Study: Cannabis Makes People More Susceptible to False Memories

2/17/2020

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People under the influence of cannabis are more susceptible to false memories, according to a study published on February 10 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. The researchers say the study’s results have “implications for police, legal professionals, and policymakers with regard to the treatment of cannabis-intoxicated witnesses and suspects and the validity of their statements.”

The researchers used three different methods in the placebo-controlled, double-blind test, including “associative word lists and two misinformation tasks using virtual reality.”

“Across all methods, we found evidence for enhanced false-memory effects in intoxicated participants. Specifically, intoxicated participants showed higher false recognition in the associative word-list task both at immediate and delayed test than controls.” — Cannabis increases susceptibility to false memory, 2/10/20, PNAS

The false memory effects were mostly restricted to the acute-intoxication phase, and cannabis seemed to “increase false-memory proneness, with decreasing strength of association between an event and a test item.”

Elizabeth Loftus, one of the study’s co-authors and a distinguished professor of psychological science and law at the University of California Irvine School of Law, suggested that the results of the study might lead to consideration of individuals who are intoxicated by cannabis as ‘vulnerable’ witnesses. In an interview with Live Science, Loftus explained that law enforcement “need to take extra care” with vulnerable witnesses, which include children and people with mental disabilities.   

Lilian Kloft, a graduate student in the Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology at Maastricht University in the Netherlands and the study’s lead author, said that cannabis-intoxicated individuals “show the highest risk for false memories for things or details that are poorly related to the original event” and have a “‘yes’ bias when they are uncertain about their memory, which makes them sort of random and unreliable responders.”  

Kloft said more research on other drugs and drug combinations are “urgently needed.”

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Virginia Approves Cannabis Decriminalization

2/17/2020

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The Virginia Legislature approved broad cannabis decriminalization legislation last week but lawmakers have no plans to pass recreational legalization this session. The measure passed by both the Senate and House of Delegates reduces the penalty for possession up to a half-ounce to $25. The current law calls for a $500 fine and 30 days in jail.

The bill also requires that all previous convictions and records for simple possession be sealed and provisions requiring substance abuse screening and loss of driving privileges for juveniles caught possessing any amount of cannabis.    

Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam called for cannabis reforms on the campaign trail – and reiterated his support for legalization last January – and is expected to sign the bill into law.

However, despite the governor’s support and both chambers of the Legislature being controlled by Democrats, House Majority Leader Charniele Herring indicated that lawmakers would not consider adult-use legalization legislation this year.    

“To legalize it now would not be good, but this hopefully would take us one step closer to reducing the arrest and jailing of people for simple possession.” — Herring, via Capital News Service

A 2017 study by the Virginia Crime Commission found that from 2007 to 2016, African Americans comprised nearly half of all arrests for first-time cannabis possession, despite comprising 20 percent of the state’s population. The commission suggested that 10,000 arrests could be prevented by decriminalizing possession.

Cannabis use and possession by adults is legalized in nearby Washington, D.C. but the federal government – which provides the budget for the District – prevents the city from implementing a taxed and regulated market.

Following the passage of the reforms, Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring (no relation to the house majority leader) said in a statement that they were “a step in the right direction” but cautioned that “the work is not done.” Herring has been a strong proponent for cannabis reforms in the state, including adult-use legalization.

According to a WAMU report, the Senate last week also advanced a measure allowing individuals to possess cannabis if they are a state-registered qualified patient and another bill to allow for broader expungement rules. Both of those bills still need House approval. 

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Cannabis Companies Sponsor 2/3 of Adoptable Colorado Highways

2/17/2020

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About two-thirds of the roads sponsored by Clean Colorado’s Sponsor a Highway program are funded by cannabis companies, according to Adopt a Highway Maintenance Corporation data outlined by the Denver Post. The 51 cannabis dispensaries, growers, manufacturers, and processors in the Adopt a Highway program sponsor about 198 miles, despite representing less than half of all organizations that participate in the program, according to the report. 

Many of the highways sponsored by cannabis firms have signage near exits — a novel loophole in a state that has banned cannabis advertising on, television, radio, social media, and print, unless they can prove the audience is 21-or-older. Under Department of Transportation rules, the Sponsor a Highway signs are not meant to be an advertising medium and, therefore, are not included in cannabis advertising rules.

Last year lawmakers approved a bill that allows cannabis companies to use outdoor advertising, such as billboards, so long as they are 500 feet away from schools, playgrounds, and places of worship, and comply with local ordinances.  

Nico Pento, government affairs director for Terrapin Care Station, called the signs a “loophole that was overlooked.” The company sponsors six miles on two interstates; each costs $400 to $455 per month. 

According to the Adopt a Highway Maintenance Corporation, general service companies – such as ad agencies, real estate, plumbing –represent 13 percent of all miles sponsored under the Clean Colorado program followed by retail (8 percent), restaurants (4 percent), and casinos and hotels (3 percent).

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Washington Home Grow Proposal Stalls for Another Year

2/17/2020

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The Washington State legislature has fallen short this session in its effort to pass a home grow bill that would allow adults aged 21 or older to grow six plants at home.

The Senate version of the bill, SB 5155, did not get a hearing, but it’s companion bill HB 1131 moved forward in the process further than other attempts. Despite a large turn out in support of the bill, it finally stalled in House Appropriations, one Executive Session away from a hearing on the House floor. John Kingsbury, a home grow activist in the state, said they were given various reasons why the bill did not get a final up or down vote, including “they took up too much time” and “they didn’t’ have the votes to pass it.” 

“The chair said he didn’t have enough votes to pass the bill, but by my headcount he did. I hope this is not the reason we didn’t get a hearing, but it makes me wonder. Another reason the chair gave was he thought the Feds would move in, but we know D.C. allows home grows, just look around at the other adult-use states that have it.” — John Kingsbury, in an emailed statement to Ganjapreneur

Washington and Illinois are the only adult-use states that do not allow citizens over 21 to grow at home. Plant counts vary between Oregon allowing four and Michigan permitting 12 plants.  If passed, the Washington proposal would have allowed six plants per adult with a maximum of 15 per household, and home growers could have possessed up to one pound at a time.

Kingsbury said he is surprised and disappointed the bill stalled, but activists will be back next year.

“Every year we learn and make new connections in Olympia. This year the legal industry rallied, showed up and lobbied, which helped a lot,” he said. “2021 is looking good to finally bring home grows to Washington.”

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Los Angeles County Expunges 66k Cannabis Convictions

2/14/2020

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Los Angeles County, California is set to expunge 66,000 cannabis-related convictions, the Los Angeles Times reports. The action includes 62,000 felony convictions and 4,000 misdemeanor convictions dating back to 1961.

District Attorney Jackie Lacey, who filed the motion to erase the convictions with the County Superior Court, said her office went beyond what the cannabis legalization law requires and dismissed felonies for cultivation, transporting, or sales for individuals who hadn’t had a felony conviction in the last 10 years or have completed probation for those convictions.

“What this does is correct that inequity of the past. It gives them a start, a new start.” — Lackey, during a press conference, via the Times

The reforms were part of a partnership with Code for America – a tech firm that also worked with officials in San Francisco to erase 9,362 felony and misdemeanor convictions as far back as 1975. The computer program developed by the organization identifies eligible cases and fills out forms to file with courts and can analyze conviction eligibility for about 10,000 people per minute. Code for America has helped dismiss more than 85,000 cannabis convictions in five counties including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, San Joaquin, and Contra Costa, according to a Fox News report.

The D.A.’s office is still challenging 2,142 cannabis convictions that it argues are ineligible for relief because of the individual’s criminal history; although those people can still petition to be resentenced, according to the report.

Of some 53,000 people in Los Angeles County who have found relief under the plan, about 45 percent are Latino, 32 percent are African American, 20 percent are white and 3 percent are “other” or unknown.

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Aurora Reports Net Loss of $980M

2/14/2020

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Canadian licensed producer Aurora Cannabis reported a net loss of about US$980 million for the fiscal second quarter with net revenues of US$47.7 million, down from US$53.4 million in fiscal quarter one. The company also reported its international medical cannabis revenues fell sharply from about US$3.8 million last quarter to about US$1.5 million this quarter. The company attributed the drop to “a temporary sales interruption.”

Company stocks, however, were still on the rise on Thursday after the financial report’s release.

Aurora Chief Financial Officer Glen Ibbott said in a statement, despite the massive losses, the company was “confident” that its run-rate would be “approximately CAD$40 million to CAD$45 million” by the end of the fiscal fourth quarter. Ibbott said the recent “transformation actions” taken by the company last week “already positively impacted SG&A expense.”

Those changes included the retirement of co-founder and CEO Terry Booth and the addition of two new independent directors. Executive Chairman Michael Singer was named interim CEO and the company said it was implementing a “business transformation plan.”

“Consistent with Aurora’s release dated February 6, 2020; the Company is bullish on the long-term potential for the global cannabis opportunity. However, due to several short-term factors, there is likely to be a slower than previously expected rate of industry growth in the near-term.” – Aurora, in a press release

During the fiscal quarter, Aurora produced 30,691 kilograms of cannabis, compared to 41,436 during the quarter prior – a 26 percent decrease that the company said was “primarily due to previously announced changes to cultivation strategies, including a pivot to high-value, high-potency strains which are lower yielding.”

The company expects its quarter three results to “show modest to no growth” relative to the quarter two report.

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Considering New England’s 2020 Legalization Landscape

2/14/2020

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Four years ago, it seemed like cannabis legalization was a foregone conclusion for New England. Both Maine and Massachusetts legalized adult-use that year, and then in 2018 Vermont became the first state to legalize possession through the legislative process. Given their proximity, many thought that the three remaining states would sooner legalize than lose out on tax revenue from residents crossing the border to source legal weed. 

Yet, Vermont still has not legalized commercial sales, Massachusetts’ recreational rollout has been plagued with delays, and Maine is just now accepting applications for recreational facilities. 

It seems that the region may finally see some momentum in 2020 after last week saw three key bills progress in Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

Connecticut

Last Thursday was also a big day for cannabis legislation in Connecticut, where a governor-backed legalization bill was introduced by top lawmakers. The bill would allow for adults 21 and older to possess and purchase up to one and a half ounces of cannabis from a licensed retailer. The legislation also includes broad social equity provisions, including the establishment of a “Cannabis Equity Commission” tasked with “promoting and encouraging participation in the cannabis industry by persons from communities that have been disproportionately harmed by cannabis prohibition and enforcement.” The bill also includes automatic expungement of low-level possession offenses and mechanisms for petition-based expungements for a range of other cannabis offenses. 

New Hampshire

Last Thursday also saw the passage of the aptly named SB 420 in the New Hampshire Senate, which allows for homegrow for the state’s medicinal patients and caregivers. Home cultivation is currently a felony offense. The bill will now proceed to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Vermont

Last week, the Vermont Ways and Means Committee approved S 54, a bill to fully legalize, regulate, and tax cannabis sales. The Vermont Senate passed a similar bill last year, but it died in the House. The bill is expected to receive a vote in the full House this month, and if successful, would proceed to a conference committee, where members of the House and Senate would work to draft a final version of the bill for the Governor’s approval.

Rhode Island

Feeling the pressure from surrounding states, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo said she was looking more closely at legalization efforts in 2020, noting “Our hand is being forced by all of our neighbors.”

Editor’s note: This article is an editorial contribution from the Last Prisoner Project. Learn more at LastPrisonerProject.org.

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Amsterdam Mayor Considers Banning Tourists from Cannabis Shops

2/14/2020

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Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema is considering banning tourists from buying cannabis in the city’s coffee shops, according to a Guardian report. In a survey, 34 percent of tourist respondents said they would come back less often if they were not allowed to use cannabis – and that’s precisely what the mayor wants as she seeks to clean up the overcrowded red-light district. Another 11 percent said they would never visit again.

Cannabis is not legal in Amsterdam, rather the city has a “policy of tolerance.” However, the survey showed that the ban would not stop all visitors from using cannabis. Among respondents of all nationalities, 40 percent indicated they would not use “hashish or weed” during their visits if such a ban was enforced, while 22 percent said they would have someone else go to the coffee shop to purchase products for them, and 18 percent said they would find another way to buy cannabis while in the city. 57 percent of respondents said the coffee shops played an important role in their decision to visit Amsterdam.

Halsema indicated she wanted “a study this year to reduce the attraction of cannabis to tourists and the (local) regulation of the back door … A clear separation of markets between hard drugs and soft drugs has great urgency because of the hardening of the trade in hard drugs.”

In 2018, Dutch officials announced a three-phase “experiment” to legally supply the Netherlands’ cannabis coffee shops with products and the cities that would take part in the experiment were announced late last year; however, Amsterdam is not participating in the project since they are home to about 170 coffee shops and the trial requires that all sellers cooperate with the experiment.

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Dr. Genester Wilson-King: Cannabis and Sexual Health

2/13/2020

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Our latest featured Q&A dives into Dr. Wilson-King’s cannabis and sexual health study. In the following interview, we learn about the ongoing survey’s importance, the cannabis and sexual health research that her study aims to build upon, and more.

Check out the full interview below! Also, if you are interested and have a few minutes to spare, you can take the survey for yourself here: http://bit.ly/MJSurvey.

Ganjapreneur: When did the idea for the study on cannabis and sexual health first come about? Why focus on sexual health?

Dr. Genester Wilson-King: In late 2018, I was approached by Dr. Michael Eisenberg, the head of the Department of Urology at Stanford Medical School. Dr. Eisenberg had published two studies involving surveys.  The first was titled “Association Between Marijuana Use and Sexual Frequency in the United States: A Population-Based Study” and published in 2017. He and his co-authors analyzed data from cycle 6 (2002), cycle 7 (2006-2010), and continuous survey (2011-2015) administrations of the National Survey of Family Growth, a nationally representative cross-sectional survey. The study concluded there was a positive association between marijuana use and sexual frequency in men and women across all demographic groups. Although reassuring, the effects of marijuana use on sexual function warrant further study. 

The 2018 study by Dr. Eisenberg, “Association between use of marijuana and time to pregnancy in men and women: findings from the National Survey of Family Growth” is a retrospective review of cross-sectional survey data from male and female respondents aged 15–44 years who participated in the first study with the National Survey of Family Growth.  A total of 758 male and 1,076 female participants responded that they were actively trying to conceive. Overall, 16.5% of men reported using any cannabis while attempting to conceive, versus 11.5% of women. The time ratio to pregnancy for non-users versus daily users of cannabis in men was 1.08 (95% confidence interval 0.79–1.47) and in women 0.92 (0.43–1.95), demonstrating there was no statistically significant impact of cannabis use on time to pregnancy. This study suggests that neither marijuana use nor the frequency of marijuana use was associated with changes with time to pregnancy for men and women.  

We decided that the next step was to delve into more specific information about the types of cannabis chemovar, the frequency, the route of administration, AND to incorporate a known used tool to screen for sexual dysfunction in men and women and see if there are any associations to be made. It took us about 6-8 months to get it all together.

So why did we focus on sexual health? There is a lot of talk about using cannabis for wellness. There are four tenets through which wellness can be assessed. They include sleep, pain, stress/anxiety/depression, and sexual health.  In order to really be on a path to wellness you should: 

  1. Get adequate sleep every night
  2. Not have to live in chronic pain
  3. Have little or minimal stress/anxiety/depression as possible and/or have a healthy way to relieve or reduce stress
  4. Have a healthy sex life (healthy as defined by the person/couple)

We found that sexual health and cannabis had the least amount of research, and it was a natural extension to previous studies. 

How long have you been working with cannabis medicine? Do you have personal experience with the plant?

I have been studying cannabis as a medicine since 2005.  I began reading, researching, traveling to states with medical cannabis programs, and learning from other cannabis clinicians.  I joined the Society of Cannabis Clinicians in 2014. They have an excellent CME program. I have been working in cannabis medicine that year.  I began as a cannabis educator. When medical cannabis was legalized in my state in 2016, I became a cannabis clinician.  

My personal experience with the plant is that I have seen it help family members with chronic pain and undergoing cancer chemotherapy. I have seen it help an 87-year-old lady in chronic pain get her personality back and use significantly less opiate medication. I have seen children with seizure disorders obtain much better control of their symptoms when cannabis is added to their regimen. I have seen many people develop a new lease on life with the aid of cannabis in their health and wellness journey regimen.

What research and data were gathered to formulate the questions posed in the sexual health survey?

The survey is for participants over 21 years of age.

The first part of the questionnaire asks specific questions on cannabis use, including frequency of use, chemovars used, and details about patient relationship with cannabis.  All those taking the survey will answer the same questions that begin with an assessment of cannabis, alcohol, and cigarette use. We also attempt to determine medical history complexity by asking questions such which of the following specialist have you seen in the past 3 months.

Since Dr. Eisenberg is a Urologist and I am an Ob/Gyn, we each obtained our sexual function assessment questions from our respective specialties.  

The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), a 19-item questionnaire, has been developed as a brief, multidimensional self-report instrument for assessing the key dimensions of sexual function in women. It was developed on a female sample of normal controls and age-matched subjects who met DSM-IV®-TR criteria for female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD) and provides scores on six domains of sexual function (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain) as well as a total score. 

The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) is used as the male questionnaire.  These questions ask about the effects that erection problems have had on sex life over the last four weeks prior to the time of completing the questionnaire. It includes questions in the areas of sexual activity, sexual intercourse, sexual stimulation, ejaculation and orgasm.  

​Both questionnaires have been developed as self-reporting instruments for assessing the key dimensions of sexual function and are widely used in practice.  The male and female areas of the questionnaire are separated. The study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at the Stanford University School of Medicine and is in compliance with the privacy protections provided by HIPAA. Full information on compliance, consent, and privacy is available through the link at the beginning of the survey: http://bit.ly/MJSurvey 

Once the data is collected from the survey who will have access to it? What will they do with the answers that have been gathered?

The study responses will be statistically analyzed to determine if there are significant statistical findings. That is a huge undertaking and can last six months or more.

Once all of that is completed, we can share the information with people who request the information. We look forward to sharing all of the information gleaned from the data!

Many dispensaries are participating in the data collection efforts. Those who take part will be mentioned in our publication(s).

What are you hoping to solve with this study? How could solving that problem benefit the public?

We are hoping to find out more about people’s experiences with cannabis and see if there is any association with improving sexual function or alleviating sexual dysfunction.  From the data, we can look at the experience of men and women separately. We are able to look at perimenopausal or postmenopausal women specifically. We can look at all different ages (>21) of patients and their experiences.

Depending on what the data shows, if cannabis has an impact on sexual function/dysfunction, we can point researchers in the direction of further and more specific research, and, maybe, cannabis can start being used for sexual dysfunction when conventional medicine fails (or first line) that can have a direct clinical impact. 

How has sexual health been underserved in cannabis-focused research? How does this limit the potential of cannabis medicine?

Much of the research on cannabis in the US is hindered because there are many obstacles to overcome.  

  1. Cannabis is Schedule 1, which severely limits researching it.  
  2. One has to go through NIDA, DEA, and a few other entities to be able to do a random, double-blind placebo-controlled study, the gold standard for cause and effect.
  3. As of today, there is only one place from which cannabis can be obtained for research, and it is not very high-quality cannabis.

We have to begin to look for other ways to conduct research on cannabis as a medicine and its safety. 

What challenges have you faced in this endeavor? Has the fact that cannabis is involved made the process more difficult in any way?

Really, the challenge has been to get people to participate in taking the survey. There haven’t been any obstacles as far as people trying to stop the research because it is about cannabis. We are hoping for more participants so that we can learn more. 

In your professional opinion, are the majority of doctors in legal states currently prepared to, or even willing to, prescribe cannabis medicine?

One does not “prescribe” cannabis. It is Schedule 1 and that means there is no known medical use, it has a high potential for abuse even under the supervision of a physician and there is a high potential for abuse.  No prescriptions are allowed to be written on schedule 1 drugs. Physicians can recommend cannabis. 

More physicians are learning about cannabis. More and more physicians are researching this new treatment regimen and they are slowly coming on board.  Nothing about cannabis was taught in medical schools and there were no cannabis practices from which to observe and learn. Physicians have to take time out of their busy schedules to research and study this medication. As with anything new, there is a learning curve.  From my perspective, that curve is on the brink of an acceleration phase. Of course, there are still physicians who do not believe in it as a medicine and that is their choice.  

When this survey is completed and the statistics are collected, what follow up studies would you be interested in undertaking?

That is an exciting question!  We will have to see what the data finds.

Thank you, Dr. Wilson-King, for taking the time to answer our questions and explain this issue!

Update: This data has been analyzed and a study has been published, you can read more about the results here.

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UK Regulators Hint at CBD Crackdown

2/13/2020

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United Kingdom officials say that CBD product sales could be shut down next year if they do not gain regulatory approval, the BBC reports. Currently, none of the CBD products being sold in the UK have been approved by the federal Food Standards Agency (FSA).

“The CBD industry must provide more information about the safety and contents of these products to the regulator by March 2021, or the products will be taken off the shelves.” — Emily Miles, Chief Executive of the FSA

The FSA said it had hoped CBD manufacturers would come forward with the appropriate product information but they were not submitting their products for approval fast enough, so regulators resorted to a deadline.

According to Steve Moore of the Association for the Cannabinoid Industry, however, CBD operators welcome the enforcement. “We believe that this will elicit the safety studies that are vital to build consumer confidence and help develop a socially responsible and sustainable industry,” Moore said.

CBD products available in the UK generally include oils, tinctures, and infused edible products. Third-party reports suggest that some products do not contain the listed amount of CBD, while others contain no CBD at all. Some may even contain harmful toxins like heavy metals or pesticides, as well as an illegal amount of THC.

Currently, the FSA warns consumers to “think carefully” before experimenting with CBD products and recommends that pregnant women avoid the cannabinoid altogether — the agency, however, notes that little research exists to verify these positions.

The FSA regulates food products and supplements in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, but not Scotland.

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Legalization Boosts Commercial Real Estate Sales

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In a National Association of Realtors study titled Marijuana and Real Estate: A Budding Issue, 34 percent of respondents indicated increased demand for warehouses in states that have legalized cannabis since 2016 with nearly the same share (33 percent) saying there has been no perception of an increase in crime around dispensaries.

Two in three respondents from newly-legal states said there had been no change in residential property values near dispensaries, along with 85 percent of respondents from medical-only states, and 60 percent of respondents from states that had legalized cannabis before 2016.

The majority of all respondents – just two percent of which were cannabis specialists in residential real estate – said they had never tried to sell a grow house but more than 70 percent of realtors surveyed said a grow house would be “easy to sell.”

Dr. Jessica Lautz, vice president of demographics and behavioral insights for NAR, said that cannabis operations and use both touch real estate in some form.

“As more states legalize marijuana, the real estate market will progressively have to adjust,” she said in a statement.

Half of respondents from ‘old’ legal states indicated they had added addendums to leases restricting cannabis cultivation, compared to 25 percent of those surveyed from newly-legal states, and 11 percent from medical-only states. Another 67 percent from old legal states said they’ve added addendums banning smoking, along with 58 percent from newly-legal states, and 41 percent from medical-only states.

“When the business of marijuana is discussed, some have a tendency to focus on only the buyers and sellers of the product. However, these numbers show that marijuana has been a boon to commercial real estate.” – Lautz, in a press release

The survey found between 18 percent and 24 percent said that landlords were unwilling to take cash at all, but only about 10 percent of those said that they wouldn’t take cash from cannabis operators because it was from a federally banned activity. In all, 31 percent of respondents from medical-only states said landlords would take cash no questions asked, along with 27 percent from old legal states and 24 percent from newly legal states.

The cash question is important as cannabusinesses are often restricted from most financial services and have to pay for expenses, such as rent, with cash. The vast majority of respondents – between 75 percent and 89 percent – said they were not currently leasing to a cannabis business.

A report last year from RE/MAX focused on post-legalization real estate found that some regions with large cannabis operations were experiencing a shortage in houses and an increase in prices.

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Cannabis Regulators Revisit Massachusetts Mayor Bribery Case

2/13/2020

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The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission has been granted permission to review documents related to cannabis companies tied to Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia’s bribery case, NBC 10 News reports. The approval comes after U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling asked a federal judge last week to permit the agency access to the files which include interview reports documenting talks between investigators and five unnamed cannabis firms who interacted with Correia during his time in office, according to WBSM.

All evidence in that case was sealed from the public on December 11, 2018. Correia was arrested last September for allegedly attempting to extort cannabis companies for hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash for “non-opposition” letters. The 27-year-old mayor is accused of illegally generating at least $600,000 from the scheme along with agreements for a cut of future profits from the companies. Correia, who was charged with 24 counts of wire fraud, tax fraud, extortion, and bribery, pleaded not guilty during a September 6, 2019 court appearance.

Lelling had asked the court to grant the commission access to the documents so it could “perform its legitimate regulatory duties.”

Regulators are currently considering whether to issue final licenses to several cannabis businesses in Fall River and the commission may want access to the court documents to determine whether any of the companies they are considering are among the companies linked to Correia’s case. According to state records outlined by WBSM, Hope Heal Health and Northeast Alternatives have already opened in the city, while Greener Leaf and Nature’s Medicines each have provisional licenses from the CCC to operate in the city.

The CCC can revoke or suspend a license “if an individual or entity associated with a marijuana establishment has committed, permitted, aided, or abetted any illegal practices in its operations,” according to court documents.

Two companies have been identified by news outlets, including New Leaf Enterprises, whose president is Pedro Fernandez, the brother of Correia’s girlfriend. Dina Pichette, the wife of the principal of Loop Cultivation, was fined $5,000 last May for illegally donating to Correia’s campaign, according to the Office of Campaign and Political Finance. The Herald News reports that proxies or individuals associated with Hope Heal Health and Northeast Alternatives had also contributed to Correia.

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Medical Cannabis Expansions Pass Iowa House Panel

2/13/2020

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A measure to expand Iowa’s medical cannabis program to include THC-rich products passed the House of Representatives’ Committee on Public Safety on Tuesday but limits patient access to just 4.5 grams of cannabis above 3 percent THC over 90 days.

The recommendation came directly from the state’s medical cannabis board last November. Rep. Jarad Klein (R) told Iowa Public Radio that the bill uses the same recommendation from the board because “that’s where the governor is.” Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds vetoed a medical cannabis expansion last year that would have removed THC limits and allowed patients to purchase 25 grams of THC over 90 days, among other changes.

“We know that 25 [grams] is too high. We know that 4.5 [grams] may be too low for some people. So we’ll see if there’s middle ground to be found,” Klein said in an interview with Iowa Public Radio.

Rep. John Forbes (D), who is also a pharmacist, indicated he would not support the measure with its low quantity cap because some of his pharmacy patients are already using beyond those limits and some have replaced opioids with medical cannabis.

“And it’s having positive impacts on people’s quality of life. And how we can pull back and do this to patients here in the state of Iowa is very disconcerting to me as a legislator and a pharmacist.” – Forbes, to Iowa Public Radio

In addition to removing THC limits and setting the cap, the measure would permit physician assistants, podiatrists, and nurse practitioners to certify patients for the program. It would also shift the responsibility of issuing identification cards for medical cannabis patients from the state Department of Transportation to the Department of Public Health.

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Trump Proposes Cutting Federal Cannabis Protections

2/12/2020

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President Donald Trump’s 2021 fiscal year budget proposal was released this week — the proposal suggests dropping federal protections for state-legal medical cannabis businesses and patients, Marijuana Moment reports. The proposal also includes restrictions to block Washington D.C., where cannabis possession and personal cultivation are legal, from establishing an adult-use marketplace.

It’s the third time the Trump administration has attempted to shut down the medical cannabis protections, which originated in 2014, but House lawmakers have continually reinserted the protections. President Obama had also removed the medical cannabis protections from his own budget proposals while in office.

The protections approved in the House last year also included a rider blocking federal interference in states with adult-use legalization policies, but that rider was blocked by the Senate.

President Trump’s budget proposal would also slash funding for the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) from $425 million last fiscal year to just $29 million, nearly a 90% cut. Some of that funding would be funneled instead into the DEA to, “improve coordination of drug enforcement efforts among Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies in the U.S.”

Oregon Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D), who helped found the bipartisan Congressional Cannabis Caucus, called the proposal “an attack on 8 years of progress at all levels.”

“I will continue to lead the effort to protect state legal medical cannabis programs and seek to get new protections for adult-use and tribal programs. These are critical as we continue our fight to reform hopelessly outdated federal cannabis policies.” — Blumenauer, via Marijuana Moment

Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz (R), a Trump ally who is also a vocal supporter of cannabis reforms, told Marijuana Moment that he expects lawmakers to ignore that section of the president’s budget proposal.

During the 2016 presidential election, then-candidate Trump said he supported medical cannabis and believed that individual states had the right to set their own cannabis policies.

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Report: Cannabis Jobs Grew 100% Over Last 4 Years

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According to Leafly’s 2020 Jobs Report, the industry supports about 243,700 full-time-equivalent as of early 2020. Over the last four years the industry has created nearly 121,000 full-time jobs – doubling in size and representing a 100 percent growth rate, the report says.

“The industry’s growth is especially eye-opening when compared to other occupations. Massachusetts now has more legal cannabis workers than hair stylists and cosmetologists. Nevada has as many cannabis workers as bartenders. Illinois has twice as many cannabis workers as meat packers.” – Leafly Jobs Report 2020

According to the report, from 2018 to 2028 cannabis industry jobs are expected to grow by 250 percent, outpacing nurse practitioners (28 percent), statisticians (31 percent), information security analysts (32 percent), occupational therapists (33 percent), personal care aides (36 percent), home health aides (37 percent), wind turbine service techs (57 percent), and solar photovoltaic installers (63 percent).

The report notes that the industry saw a slowed 15 percent year-over-year growth, but legal states saw a 62 percent increase in cannabis jobs from 2018 to 2019.

Last year, California had 39,804 cannabis employees – the most in the nation – followed by Colorado (34,705), Washington state (23,756), Oregon (18,274), Florida (15,498), Arizona (15,059), Nevada (14,305), Massachusetts (13,255), Oklahoma (9,412), and Illinois (9,176).

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), which is the standard used by federal statistics agencies when classifying business establishments for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and publishing statistics related to the U.S. business economy, does recognize that cannabis jobs exist, but does not give cannabis jobs their own classification; instead, it includes them with “Miscellaneous Store Retailers” under code 453998, which includes art supply stores, auction houses, candle shops, florists, and hot tub stores, and “Miscellaneous Crop Farming” under code 111998, which includes hay and grass seed, hops, mint, and agave.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not count cannabis jobs.

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Girls Scouts Selling Cookies in Front of Chicago Dispensary

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A Chicago Girl Scouts troops sold 230 of boxes of their famous cookies over 4 hours outside of one of the city’s cannabis dispensaries over the weekend, Fox News reports. Melissa Soukoup, a leader of the Brownie Girl Scout troop, said that many businesses were already reserved for cookie sales by competing troops and that the troop is “always looking for opportunities, [and] places that have walking traffic.”

“I was looking for places that weren’t taken, and I thought of this,” she said.

The Girl Scouts selling cookies in front of Dispensary33 had the support of the business, who tweeted about the sale. Abigail Watkins, marketing and outreach manager for the dispensary and a former Girl Scout, said the products are a “great match” for the dispensary’s clientele.

Britney Bouie, a local Girl Scouts spokeswoman, told Fox News that the troop was given permission to set up in front of the dispensary.

“We’re just really happy these girls are having an entrepreneurial experience and are getting the cookies in front of the customer.” – Bouie, to Fox News

In 2018, the Girls Scouts of Colorado updated their policies to allow cookie sales at “adult-oriented businesses.” That change was prompted by a California Girl Scout troop which sold more than 300 boxes of cookies in six hours outside of a San Diego dispensary. Following the California sales controversy and the decision by the Colorado council, Girls Scouts of the USA said that “local councils and leaders are best situated to set safety parameters in keeping with the well-being of girls engaging in the cookie sale in their communities.”

According to the report, Dispensary33 has booked the troop to continue selling cookies in front of the dispensary through the rest of the month.

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Western Illinois University Latest to Offer Cannabis Curriculum

2/12/2020

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Western Illinois University is the latest higher education institution in the U.S. to offer a cannabis curriculum. The school announced on Monday that it will offer a minor in cannabis production which will require 18 to 19 credit hours and additional coursework from the department of biological sciences, the Associated Press reports.

School of Agriculture director Andy Baker said faculty members are still solidifying partnerships with hemp, and medical and adult-use cannabis producers. He added that the course and minor “are perfect complements” to WIU’s comprehensive degree program and anticipates class sizes of 20 to 40 students.

“We’re really excited about the potential for the new minor and hopefully attracting some new students to WIU, but also understanding that in the Illinois Department of Agriculture there’s another new bureau for cannabis regulation. So there’s going to be new employment opportunities in the state.” – Baker, to the Muscatine Journal

Recreational cannabis sales in the state topped nearly $40 million during the first month.

In September, Des Plaines’ Oakton Community College launched a cannabis certificate course focusing on molecular biology, drug laws, treating terminal illness, and other technical and practical knowledge to help students get a job in the burgeoning industry.

Earlier this week, Colorado officials approved the state’s first cannabis-related degree program, a bachelor of science in cannabis biology and chemistry at Colorado State University-Pueblo. Some colleges and universities in other states with legalized cannabis, such as Santa Rosa Junior College in California and American International College in Massachusetts, announced they would offer cannabis-centric curriculum.

Several Canadian higher university institutions are also rolling out cannabis degree programs.

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