Missouri Legalization Effort Stalls After Stay-at-Home Order

3/31/2020

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The campaign manager of Missourians for a New Approach – the organization leading the initiative to legalize cannabis in the state – said that the group would unlikely meet the May deadline to turn in its petition due to the state’s stay-at-home order, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

John Payne did not declare the campaign over, but that the organization is “exploring their options” including an extension for signature-gathering. However, a spokesperson for the secretary of state told the Post-Dispatch that the state constitution does not give the secretary of state the authority to extend the deadline.

“Unfortunately. while there is widespread support from Missourians to tax and regulate marijuana, there is currently no practical way during the COVID-19 outbreak to safely, publicly gather the 170,000-plus signatures needed.” – Payne to the Post-Dispatch

Dan Viets, board chair for Missourians for a New Approach, called it “a terrible setback” after the organization had collected more than 60,000 of the 170,000 signatures it needed to get the question on November ballots.

The group had also raised $400,000 this month – more than half coming from New Approach PAC and $25,000 each from Focus Partners LLC, Holistic Health Capital LLC, and Mid America Asset.

The measure was estimated to raise between $93 million and $155 million annually for the state, the report says.

This is at least the second legalization drive likely stalled by measures implemented to prevent the spread of the coronavirus as Oklahoma paused all ballot initiatives in the state after the declaration of a 30-day state of emergency.

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High Times Set to Acquire Humboldt Heritage and Subsidiaries

3/30/2020

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High Times Holding Corp. – the owners of High Times magazine – have signed a letter of intent to acquire California-based Humboldt Heritage Inc. and its subsidiaries Humboldt Sun Growers Guild and Grateful Eight LLC., Media Post reports. The deal gives High Times cannabis cultivation, processing, and manufacturing capabilities following a January announcement that the company had procured dispensary licenses in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Nevada.

Taken together, both moves fall in line with the media company’s planned pivot to becoming a plant-touching business. Last December, the company’s financial filings pointed toward a future in doubt but the following month, former Overstock.com president Stormy Simon was named CEO and hinted that the company planned to shift to cannabis sales and distribution.

Barry Nachshon, Humboldt Heritage CEO, said the deal gives the company’s cultivators “unprecedented exposure to consumers as High Times reaches millions of people all over the world.”

Adam Levin, High Times executive chairman, said he anticipates the Sun Growers Guild farmers will become an integral part of the company’s future cannabis events.

“High Times’ mission is to connect consumers to cannabis — not only the best access and experience, but the best products available to our consumers across the country, and eventually the world.” – Levin in a statement to Media Post

Last year, Hight Times completed a flurry of cannabis-media deals including purchasing DOPE and CULTURE magazines and the Green Rush Daily website. The company, which is still in the midst of launching an IPO and was granted a trading symbol last month, plans on opening its first Los Angeles dispensary this quarter.

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Pennsylvania Seed-to-Sale Glitch Blocks Patient Access

3/30/2020

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Pennsylvania officials have deemed the state’s medical cannabis businesses as essential and the Health Department has temporarily removed the five-patient cap for caregivers in order to ensure access; however, a technical glitch is preventing patients from registering with new caregivers, according to a Citizen’s Voice report.

The state’s cannabis patient and caregiver registry is managed by MJ Freeway, which said that work was underway to fix the glitch last week but as of yesterday patients could still not register with a caregiver if that caregiver had reached their five-patient cap. Caregivers are allowed to pick up medical cannabis from dispensaries and bring it to patients.

Additionally, the state has implemented curbside pickup for patients and some dispensaries have set aside some of their operating hours each day to serve older and at-risk patients.

Jason Erkes of Cresco Labs told WESA that the adjustments are a “new normal for everyone” but the company is trying to “mitigate risk.” Cresco is encouraging patients to order online, set a time to visit, show their ID, and get their product.

“There are a lot of people that rely on cannabis for their day-to-day wellness and it’s important that we have access for them to get their medicine.” – Erkes to WESA

Pennsylvania has about 153,000 registered patients enrolled in the two-year-old medical cannabis program.

In most states that have declared a stay-at-home order amid the coronavirus pandemic, cannabis businesses are considered essential services; however, in Massachusetts only medical cannabis sales are allowed as officials say recreational sales tempt out-of-staters to travel to Massachusetts and risk spreading the virus.

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Oklahoma Cannabis Petition in Doubt as State Shuts Down Signature Gathering

3/30/2020

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Oklahoma Secretary of State Michael Rogers has paused all ballot initiative petition signature-gathering efforts in the state putting the cannabis legalization efforts in the state on hold and in doubt, the Oklahoman reports. Gov. Kevin Stitt declared a 30-day state of emergency on March 15 and Rogers halted all campaign efforts until the declaration is “affirmatively withdrawn.”

Ryan Kiesel, a proponent of SQ 807, told the Oklahoman that even after the order is withdrawn it would be “really difficult, if not impossible to imagine a scenario in which an initiative petition campaign could responsibly and feasibly collect the signatures necessary in order to make the 2020 ballot if that campaign doesn’t already have the signatures on hand.”

“It would be irresponsible for anyone to try to collect signatures in this environment. It would put signature collectors in danger and it would put the general public in danger.” – Kiesel to the Oklahoman

The campaign – which aims to change the state constitution – needs to collect 178,000 signatures in 90 days to qualify for November ballots.

Andy Moore, executive director of People Not Politicians, which is seeking to change the way legislative and congressional districts are drawn in the state, said any campaign’s success this election season is “pretty unlikely.”

The secretary of state did not expand the deadline, which remains August 24, and the office typically requires two to three weeks to count and verify the signatures and campaigns like to have a cushion in case they are challenged in court. Moore said he is working with lawmakers to see if they could allow online signature gathering for initiative petitions but because legislative leaders oppose the redistricting and cannabis legalization reforms, it’s unlikely they will allow the process to be conducted online.

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Cannabis Legalization in New York Likely Delayed Due to Coronavirus

3/27/2020

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As New York lawmakers deal with the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, it appears cannabis legalization is off the table for this session, according to a Times-Union report. During a coronavirus briefing yesterday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said the state would likely only be able to pass a “bare-bones” budget as it’s been the state hardest hit by the pandemic.

While Cuomo said during a press conference on Wednesday that he would like to include legalization in the budget, State Sen. Liz Krueger (D), the Senate sponsor of the legalization measure, said the “governor’s staff essentially took marijuana off the table weeks ago.”

“While it is important that we end marijuana prohibition as soon as possible, it is also important that it be done the right way. If that cannot be achieved in the midst of a public health crisis, then we will all be better off waiting. There is no reason we cannot negotiate and pass a nation-leading legalization model when the crisis is over.” – Krueger to the Times-Union

Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes (D) told Spectrum News on Thursday that cannabis legalization – and other bills that would positively impact disenfranchised communities – should be passed during the session because the state faces a probable recession as it uses its resources to combat the public health crisis associated with the coronavirus.

Last week, the cannabis bill was amended to include the personal cultivation of up to six plants. According to Peoples-Stokes, staffers and legislative leaders are still holding meetings to determine what should be included in the state’s ‘bare bones’ budget.

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NCIA Reschedules Cannabis Summit

3/27/2020

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The National Cannabis Industry Association has rescheduled its Cannabis Business Summit and Expo to September 29 through October 1.

The event, which was previously scheduled for June 15-17, will still be held at San Francisco’s Moscone Center.

Aaron Smith, executive director of the National Cannabis Industry Association, said the industry is “used to weathering the worst of storms and thriving in the harshest environments.”

“The health and safety of our members, speakers, exhibitors, sponsors, visitors, and staff is our number one priority. … NCIA is confident that the industry will rise to this occasion and continue to grow and thrive. We assure both cannabis business owners and consumers that we will continue to represent the industry in our nation’s capital and offer support to help you get through the weeks and months ahead. We are dedicated to ensuring that recovery efforts can begin as soon as is safely possible, and the new dates for the Cannabis Business Summit & Expo are specifically timed to help cannabis businesses move forward and thrive with the increasing understanding that we are an essential component of personal, social, and economic health in this country.” – Smith in a press release

All attendee and exhibitor registrations for the original dates will be honored.

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Canadian Cannabis Firm Applies to Conduct COVID-19 Therapy Trials

3/27/2020

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Canadian Cannabis healthcare technology company Cannalogue has submitted an application to Health Canada to conduct a clinical trial for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, to determine whether medical cannabis can reduce the symptoms of the disease or any mutant strains of the virus.

Dr. Mohan Cooray, president and CEO of Cannalogue and a specialist in Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, and Hepatology, said that while the company is “not suggesting with current knowledge of medical cannabis that it is a prevention, treatment or cure” of the disease, “plant cannabinoids have naturally occurring immunomodulatory properties that absolutely require expedited investigation given the current global COVID-19 pandemic.”

“Cannabinoid receptors are naturally found on immune cells in the body. If stimulated prior to an infection, it may dampen the inflammatory response that follows, which is a key factor in the severity of symptoms observed in patients. If we can’t flatten the curve, then we need to focus on reducing the number of deaths.” — Cooray in a statement

The company has launched a website calling for volunteers in the event the trial is approved by Health Canada.

Scientists have long investigated the immunomodulatory properties of cannabis. Some research suggests that THC and other cannabinoids are immune-suppressant — other studies, however, suggest that cannabis can boost the immune system by increasing white blood cell count in patients with immunodeficiency disorders such as HIV.

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New Jersey Supreme Court: Cannabis Patients Cannot Be Fired for Failed Drug Test

3/27/2020

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The New Jersey Supreme Court has ruled that employees can maintain action under the state Law Against Discrimination against employers if the employee suffers an adverse employment action for lawful medical cannabis use, according to a Mondaq report.

In the Wild v. Carriage Funeral Home case, the plaintiff used medical cannabis with an approved recommendation as part of his cancer treatment and was involved in a work-related car accident. After admitting to being a medical cannabis patient, his doctor did not perform a drug test because he did not perceive the plaintiff to be impaired at the time of the accident.

His employer, however, did require him to undergo a drug test, which he failed and was ultimately terminated.

A trial court ruled in favor of the employer and dismissed the lawsuit; however, the state Appellate Division reversed the decision of the lower court. The Appellate Court found the plaintiff met his burden under the discrimination law by alleging that the employer knew of his disability, need for treatment, and need to take the recommended medication.

The court’s decision indicates that an employee’s mere notification of lawful medical cannabis use to their employer may be sufficient to trigger the employer’s duty to engage in possible accommodations, such as not taking action based on a positive drug test, the report says. The court also noted that while the medical cannabis law doesn’t require employers to accommodate medical cannabis use in the workplace, it does require them to abide the anti-discrimination workplace law with regard to medical cannabis patients.

The court added two caveats to the ruling – that employees who operate heavy equipment may not be protected under the law because the medical cannabis law prohibits patients from operating vehicles or heavy machinery under the influence of cannabis; however, the law does not define “under the influence.”

Ultimately the ruling does not prevent employers from firing a patient who is under the influence in the workplace, it does allow registered medical cannabis patients who test positive for cannabis protection from adverse actions by their employer.

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Washington Cannabis Company Pivots to Hand Sanitizer

3/27/2020

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Although cannabis companies have been deemed “essential” in Washington state, some licensees have decided to pivot their operations to provide badly-needed supplies in the fight against COVID-19. New Day Cannabis in Newport, Washington is now manufacturing hand sanitizer using an excess stock of ethanol, according to the Spokesman-Review.

Company owner Joe Rammell said the sanitizer will be sold to hospitals and government at a discount.

“We watch the news like everybody else. We really can’t make masks. We can’t manufacture ventilators,” he said in the report.

“You don’t need a chemistry degree to make this stuff, but you need to know what you’re doing.”

The state has identified hand sanitizer and disinfecting sprays on its list of high-demand items to combat the spread of the virus. Rammell said the shift to hand sanitizer will also help keep his workers employed.

Around the world, cannabis companies have stepped up to help aid their communities as the coronavirus continues to spread. Massachusetts’ Central Ave. Compassionate Care is positioned to manufacture hand sanitizer for local hospitals, while Canada’s Canopy Growth and Hexo Corp. are donating face masks and other protective equipment to medical professionals on the front lines of the crisis.

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Coronavirus Could Lead to More States Legalizing Cannabis

3/26/2020

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While COVID-19 has shaken the global economy, local government bodies are also bracing for extreme revenue shortfalls in the months to come. Business analysts from DataTrek Research believe that the pandemic, however, could lead to the acceleration of state legalization efforts.

“There’s a simple and effective solution for states and cities to help cover their huge budget shortfalls after the COVID-19 pandemic subsides: legalize recreational sales of marijuana.” — Jessica Rabe, co-founder of DataTrek Research, in a written statement

“We’ve been thinking a lot about how life will change post-virus, and one big difference will be that state and local governments are going to encounter large unexpected tax receipt shortages,” Rabe wrote. “That’s particularly true when it comes to sales and income taxes amid stressed consumer balance sheets and massive layoffs. And unlike the Federal government, states can’t print unlimited amounts of money.”

Rabe suggests that traditional revenue-boosting strategies such as increasing income, sales, or real estate taxes could push taxpayers away and further weaken state economies. A brand new taxed and regulated cannabis marketplace, however, would help reinforce state coffers without directly alienating taxpayers. In New York, for example, the state is expecting a massive revenue drop of between $4 and $7 billion from coronavirus’s fallout. Experts conservatively estimate that a legal cannabis market in New York would generate over $1 billion in annual tax revenue, which would make up a significant chunk of the state’s missing revenue.

Rabe warns, however, against over-taxing the already hyper-regulated industry and points to California — where high taxes and regulatory restrictions have allowed unregulated sales to thrive — as a cannabis market failure.

“The economic impact from this virus may be enough for some states, such as New York, to finally get enough votes to pass such legislation,” Rabe wrote. “While we recognize legal marijuana is a controversial topic for many people, the budget shortfalls that COVID-19 will create may sway opinions about the issue.”

Adult-use cannabis is legal in 11 states — Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, and Alaska — plus Washington D.C.

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USDA Approves Iowa Hemp Plan

3/26/2020

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Iowa’s industrial hemp plan has received approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and farmers in the state can begin applying to cultivate the crop starting April 1. The plan does not legalize the production or use of CBD, according to the state Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship.

“This commercial hemp production program does not legalize the use of cannabidiol (CBD) for human consumption, extraction or processing in Iowa. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) is still working to determine if CBD is safe for human consumption. Hemp grain, hemp seed oil and protein powder derived from hemp grain have been cleared by the FDA for human consumption.” – IDALS in a March 20 press release

Under the state’s rules, all individuals associated with hemp production must be listed on the company’s license and undergo a background check and submit fingerprints.

In all, the USDA has approved 12 state hemp program plans since the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized hemp. Another 17 states will continue operating under their 2014 pilot programs, while eight other state programs are still pending review by the agency.

Connecticut and Tennessee are listed as having submitted a plan to the USDA that required resubmission. Other states not pending review are currently drafting plans, according to agency data. Regulators have also approved 14 tribal hemp production plans and list another 16 as under review.

Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signed the hemp legislation last year. It allows farmers to grow up to 40 acres of the crop.

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Cannabis Books Worth Socially Isolating With

3/26/2020

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Normally active, social people around the world have been forced to socially isolate themselves in light of the coronavirus pandemic, making this a great time to catch up on that reading list. For years, cannabis buffs had cult classics like Jorge Cervantes’ Growing Marijuana and the beloved cultivation anthologies from Ed Rosenthal. Now, in a post-legalization world, the cannabis enthusiast’s library has grown exponentially. These books could provide entertainment and activities for the remainder of your social isolation:

Higher Etiquette: A Guide To Cannabis, From Dispensaries to Dinner Parties

Decades after the iconic Emily Post set the stage for proper rules of etiquette, her daughter Lizzie Post, President of the Emily Post Foundation, released this guide to cannabis culture etiquette. Read about how to navigate the myriad choices at a dispensary, the proper way to gift weed to a dinner party host, and more in this informative book for stoners and the polite people who love them.

Brave New Weed: Adventures into the Uncharted World of Cannabis

Travel around the world while you’re stuck inside with this international view of the cannabis plant. Join the author on investigative trips to California, Colorado, Amsterdam, and Israel as they attempt to unearth the individual sordid regional histories of prohibition, defamation, and insanity that comes along with the cannabis plant. Be entertained while also learning, Brave New Weed leaves readers thinking about the current state of cannabis business.

Bong Appétit: Mastering the Art of Cooking With Weed

When VICE began producing the television show Bong Appétit, which features professional chefs cooking with a vast kitchen of weed products, it became instant canon in the industry. Now, the MUNCHIES team at Vice has created a compilation of recipes with one main star: cannabis. Throughout the cookbook, read tips from co-hosts Ry Pritchard and Vanessa Lavorato. 

The Cannabis Spa At Home: How to Make Marijuana-Infused Lotions, Massage Oils, Ointments, Bath Salts, Spa Nosh, and More

Many ancient spa remedies included cannabis, many of which are the model for the home treatments explained in The Cannabis Spa At Home. Browse a whopping 75 recipes for lotions, salves, emulsions, and more that can be made right in your own kitchen. The author is an herbalist, autoimmune disease survivor, and California cannabis patient who has used that unique experience to build these timeless ways to treat yourself. 

Humboldt: Life on America’s Marijuana Frontier

Humboldt County is a special place in Northern California where generations of cannabis farmers have existed and sometimes thrived despite prohibition laws. The region’s families, farmers, and cannabis genetics are intriguing for cannabis aficionados and entrepreneurs alike. Author Emily Brady spent a year living with these secretive farming families which allowed her to build a world of fascinating characters while providing a bird’s eye view into life in the Emerald Triangle.

Craft Weed: Family Farming and the Future of the Marijuana Industry

Follow along as author Ryan Stoa makes his case for craft weed in a world where small farms are constantly being challenged by big business. First-person interviews with activists, growers, politicians, and investors lead readers to question whether they care if their weed is sustainable, local, artisanal, or even ethical. Stoa suggests a sustainable, artisanal, local farming model be put in place for cannabis. His solution aims to build a cannabis industry that mirrors the robust Northern California wine country, but is it the right decision? Read Craft Weed to decide for yourself. 

Handbook of Psychotropic Herbs: A Scientific Analysis of Herbal Remedies for Psychiatric Conditions

Investigate the real medicinal value of herbs and plants in this extensive book from Dr. Ethan Russo. Sure, we’re stuck socially isolating and mostly staying inside but a quick walk around our yard or in a neighboring park is safe at a distance from others. Take a walk with this handbook and see if any medicinal plants have been growing in your region all along. It’s a great, fact-filled read for students, psychiatrists, counselors, psychologists, physicians, and anyone interested in herbalism.

The Cannabis Manifesto: A New Paradigm for Wellness

Iconic activist and founder of Oakland’s Harborside Health Center Steve DeAngelo lays out his views on the relationship between cannabis and wellness in this first-hand look at medical cannabis. The advocate explains how he believes that cannabis prohibition has changed the way we look at family, the courtroom, the doctor’s office, and the workplace. Read The Cannabis Manifesto to gain insight on cannabis culture and to build your own idea of what future national cannabis policy might look like.

Whether you’re learning how to use cannabis in the kitchen or the bath, or perhaps about the history of generational cannabis cultivation in Humboldt, these books can keep you company during your period of social isolation. For more, including how-to manuals and business books, check out the rest on our list!

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Utah Gov. Signs Bill to Increase Medical Cannabis Access

3/26/2020

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Utah Gov. Gary Herbert (R) has signed a medical cannabis bill that allows patients to use letters from physicians to purchase their medicine but only through the end of the year, when the state will begin requiring state Department of Health issued identification cards, Fox13 reports. The measure also reduced the number of doctor visits required for a patient to qualify for the program.

Previously, patients were required to already have the ID cards in order to make purchases but the state Health Department had a backlog of applications, according to Fox13.

Richard Oborn, director of the Center for Medical Cannabis, explained in a statement that under the new, temporary, rules patients making purchases using the physician recommendation letters “must purchase all of their medical cannabis from the same pharmacy until they obtain a medical cannabis card.”

Since March 1, the state Department of Health has issued 1,076 medical cannabis ID cards and 203 medical providers – which includes medical doctors, osteopathic physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, or physician assistants – have signed up to qualify patients for the program, KUTV reports.

Currently, there is only one dispensary operational in the state; another 13 are expected to open by the end of the year. Under the state’s medical cannabis law, eight dispensaries were expected to open by March 1, while the remaining six must wait until July 1. Only Dragonfly Wellness in Salt Lake City was able to open its doors at the beginning of the month.

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Quebec & B.C. Deem Cannabis Essential During COVID Response

3/26/2020

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Quebec, Canada officials have included cannabis retailers as essential businesses after the provincial government ordered the closure of all non-essential businesses amid the coronavirus outbreak. The order also allows cannabis cultivators, processors, and manufacturers to remain operational because they are suppliers for the now essential cannabis businesses.

In all, there are 40 provincial-run Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC) shops throughout Quebec and spokesperson Fabrice Giguere told MJBizDaily that, despite the coronavirus outbreak, SQDC planned to open two more stores by next week.

“For the moment we’re not scaling back on the opening hours. We’re closely monitoring the situation which is rapidly evolving.” – Giguere to MJBizDaily

British Columbia officials declared a state of emergency last week and also included cannabis as an essential service. The B.C. Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch is allowing retailers to take online and telephone orders for in-store pickup, Dugald Smith, general manager of the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch, told MJBizDaily.

Amid the outbreak, Canada Post said they would no longer deliver packages to residences that require signatures – which includes age-restricted packages such as cannabis deliveries. Under the changes, such packages will be dropped off at a nearby post office and a notice will be left at the residence.

Additionally, at least two private retailers – Canopy Growth and Superette – announced they would close all of their storefronts. Canopy said they would continue selling online.

Canada’s response to the coronavirus outbreak also includes business loans but cannabis companies are not eligible for financial relief.

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Study: CBD Helps Antibiotics Fight Resistant Bacteria

3/25/2020

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A University of Southern Denmark study suggests that combining antibiotics with CBD can help to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria, Science Daily reports.

In the study, CBD was used as a “helper compound” to enhance the effect of the antibiotic bacitracin against a staph infection, which frequently causes community- and hospital-acquired disease.

“When we combined CBD and antibiotics, we saw a more powerful effect than when treating with antibiotics alone. So, in order to kill a certain number of bacteria, we needed less antibiotics.” – “Cannabidiol is an effective helper compound in combination with bacitracin to kill Gram-positive bacteria,” Scientific Reports, Mar. 5, 2020

The researchers found that when using CBD as a helper compound the staph bacteria could no longer divide as it normally would, the expression of key genes in the bacteria was lowered, and the bacteria membrane became unstable – which resulted in fewer antibiotics required for treatment.

Janne Kudsk Klitgaard, one of the study authors, said that combining an antibiotic with a helper compound – such as CBD – could lead to overall less antibiotic use which could “contribute to the development of fewer resistant bacteria.”

Last year, Australian researchers found that CBD alone worked as a potent antibiotic killing all strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in a lab test. That study found that the bacteria did not become resistant to the CBD even after being exposed to it for 20 days – the period when bacteria can become antibiotic-resistant. However, the study didn’t find CBD to be effective for Gram-negative bacteria which have an outer membrane that prevents most drugs from entering the cell.

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Cannabis Brands Making Sanitizer & Donating Equipment In Coronavirus Fight

3/25/2020

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Massachusetts’ Commonwealth Dispensary Association is partnering with the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association to make hand sanitizer and other cannabis companies around the continent are donating personal protection equipment to hospitals amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The CDA estimates that it can produce 5,000 gallons of hand sanitizer per week to donate to hospitals. The organization members have applied World Health Organization Guidelines to its cannabis machinery and the sanitizer will be labeled accordingly so it can be distributed to hospitals by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. The move follows a public health emergency order by Department of Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel.

The plan was proposed by John Hillier, CDA board member and executive director of Central Ave. Compassionate Care, and founder and president of Gage Cannabis, who said the lab facilities of member cannabis companies are “equivalent” to pharmacies which can produce hand sanitizer during states of emergency.

“I also had the opportunity to visit Lowell General Hospital and observed the production of hand sanitizer in one of their facilities. It was clear to me that hospitals are spending valuable resources producing hand sanitizer when they should be preparing for what’s coming down the road. As an industry, we have the capabilities to step in and allow them to spend more time providing care.” – Hillier, in a statement

In Canada, Canopy Growth Corp. and Hexo Corp. are providing hospitals with face masks, gloves, and bodysuits from their excess inventory, Bloomberg reports. Greenhouse staff often use the same PPE equipment as hospital workers to help prevent contamination.

Jordan Sinclair, Canopy Growth spokesperson, told BNN that the company donated “thousands” of gloves, Tyvek suits, and masks sourced from two greenhouses in British Columbia that the company closed earlier this month.

A Hexo spokesperson told BNN that it had donated 150 N95 masks to paramedic services in Quebec.

Organigram Holdings spokesperson Ray Gracewood said the company had donated 500 liters of ethanol to a New Brunswick manufacturer for hand sanitizer but would be unable to provide any PPE saying they are already at critical levels. Aurora Cannabis Inc., and Tilray also said they were running low on PPE equipment.

WeedMD Inc. indicated plans to switch to alternative facemasks and donate its supply of N95s.

Other Canadian cannabis companies, including Village Farms International Inc., Aphria Inc., TerrAscend Corp., and CannTrust Holdings Inc., told Bloomberg that they were evaluating their PPE stock in order to determine how much they could donate to frontline medical staff.

In California, the Glass House Group is donating 1,000 protective gowns to a Santa Barbara hospital to help protect healthcare workers there from exposure to the virus. According to company president Graham Farrar, the firm also intends to find additional masks for frontline healthcare workers and will donate 5% of product sales to the local food bank during the crisis.

“For years, the majority of the world’s perspective was that the cannabis industry was a bunch of stoners, but the reality is we are an industry with deep roots in the medical aspect of things,” Farrar said.

“When we saw our fellow caregivers in need of personal protective equipment that we had on hand and used in the farm for pest control, we jumped in and did everything we could to help our fellow soldiers in arms helping patients on the frontlines.”

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Washington Updates Cannabis Regulations for COVID-19

3/25/2020

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On Monday, March 23, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) issued a shelter-in-place order that closed all non-essential businesses in the state. On Tuesday, the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board updated guidelines for retail cannabis locations.

Similar to many other legalized states, Washington‘s cannabis market has been designated essential during the wake of COVID-19 infections that has swept the globe.

The Board is expanding curbside cannabis services from only qualified medical cannabis patients to include all adult-use customers. According to the LCB’s guidance, no “drive-through windows” are allowed and everyone present in a vehicle must be over 21 years old and show ID. Curbside services must also be only available in designated areas and LCB encourages that video cameras be used wherever possible to monitor outside sales. 

In an email directive, the WSLCB said: 

“The Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) has been working quickly to consider steps the agency can take to help licensees throughout this period of business restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are making some temporary modifications to allow businesses to act quickly and minimize their impacts on disease transmission.” — LCB statement, in an email

The LCB is also looking at suspending fees related to late taxes, but said they are waiting for a “proclamation from the Governor.”

“Our intent is to allow additional ways for you to engage your customers without having to have your doors open for business,” regulators wrote. “Please note however, the agency does not have authority to change state laws. Unless indicated otherwise, these temporary modifications are effective immediately and in place through Gov. Inslee’s Emergency Declaration period or until rescinded by the LCB, whichever is sooner.”

 

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Ohio Legalization Petition Rejected Due to Lack of Valid Signatures

3/25/2020

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Ohio’s Attorney General has rejected the petition for a cannabis legalization ballot initiative due to invalid signatures, WOIO reports. The petition was received by the office last week but only 271 of the 1,248 signatures included were valid. In order for the initiative process to proceed, petitioners needed 1,000 valid signatures.

Because the petition failed to meet the signature threshold, Attorney General Dave Yost said he did not make “any determination concerning the fairness and truthfulness of the proposed summary,” which would have been required had the petition been valid.

The Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Amendment initiative was backed by a medical cannabis patient, a mother of twins with autism – a condition not covered under the state’s limited medical program – Pure Ohio Wellness, a licensed cannabis business, and an Akron-based cannabis cultivator. It was not supported by the Ohio Medical Cannabis Industry Association.

Tom Haren, an attorney representing the campaign, said earlier this month that patients have a hard time participating in the state’s medical cannabis program and that issue served as a catalyst for the petition drive.

Earlier this month Yost had rejected the wording of the petition, saying it failed to include “findings and declarations,” according to the Dayton Daily News. That denial forced the campaign to collect another 1,000 signatures and resubmit their petition.

Ohio voters in 2015 rejected a cannabis legalization proposal largely because it only designated 10 investor-owned cultivation areas throughout the state.

The deadline to get a proposal on 2020 general election ballots in Ohio is July 1.

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Adult-Use Cannabis Sales Slump As COVID Outbreak Spreads

3/24/2020

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Despite an initial rush to stockpile cannabis products before social distancing kicked off in earnest, adult-use cannabis sales have plummeted throughout the U.S. as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Marijuana Business Daily reports.

Dispensaries reported a significant boost in business following official stay-at-home orders in adult-use markets such as Washington and California. It’s possible that the sales drop is a natural result from that strong stockpiling trend.

“We definitely saw some panic buying last week. Folks were stocking up.” — Logan Bowers, co-owner of Seattle-based Hashtag Cannabis, via MJBizDaily.com

Another likely reason, however, is that consumers are experiencing — or are expecting to experience — economic woes tied to the pandemic as “nonessential” businesses are shuttered for the outbreak, which could lead to millions of laid-off Americans. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard, the national unemployment rate could skyrocket to as high as 30% before the economy turns around.

The cannabis industry in most states has been allowed to stay open and serve medical and, where legal, adult-use customers. Businesses have nonetheless enacted extreme social distancing measures in response to the virus: across the country, cannabis storefronts are largely either closed or offering limited service, with many dispensaries opting toward online/pickup sales, delivery, and/or curbside services.

Massachusetts was the first state so far to completely halt adult-use sales (although the state’s medical cannabis patients can still access the industry).

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Leafly Cuts 91 Jobs Citing Financial Restraints Related to Coronavirus

3/24/2020

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Cannabis media company Leafly has laid off 91 employees nearly two months after the company cut about 18 percent of its workforce, GeekWire reports. CEO Tim Leslie attributed the layoffs to economic effects from the coronavirus pandemic.

“We’re heartbroken to have to let so many talented people go in such an uncertain time. Although Leafly continues to grow and rapidly deploy pickup and delivery services for retailers and brands across North America, COVID-19 has rocked global financial markets and put further capital investments we were expecting on pause.” – Leslie in a statement to GeekWire

According to the report, the affected employees were offered one week of severance pay. Leslie indicated the move would allow the firm to be “financially self-sufficient” during the pandemic, which has forced several states to issue broad stay-at-home orders and tanked the stock market.

At its peak, Leafly had employed about 300, but these layoffs, along with the January cuts, have cut that number to about 140. Last year, the company had hired 150 new employees but Leslie, a former Amazon Prime Video executive, said last March that the firm would be slowing its hiring and spending.

Leafly is far from the only Seattle, Washington-based company to lay off employees amid the outbreak – which caused the state to issue a shutdown order last week. The Pacific Science Center laid off more than 300 people last week. Some businesses, such as co-working startup The Riveter and clothing rental service Armoire, are invoking a state law that lets companies use “standby” – or temporary layoffs – which allows employees to collect unemployment benefits but can still return to work.

Washington has 2,221 confirmed coronavirus cases which have led to 110 deaths in the state, according to state Department of Health data. The state was the first to report a case.

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While States Deem Cannabis Essential, Massachusetts Closes Adult-Use Stores

3/24/2020

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As states impose new coronavirus protection measures, regulators and lawmakers are employing different rules for the industry. So far several states – such as Illinois, Ohio, New York, and California – have allowed dispensaries to remain operational, often implementing social distancing rules. In Washington and Oregon, regulators have approved ‘curbside service’ for dispensaries; however, in Massachusetts, Gov. Charlie Baker (R) has shut down recreational sales, only allowing medical cannabis sales.

Baker announced yesterday the shutdown of all non-essential businesses in the state and did not give retail cannabis dispensaries an “essential” exemption, Boston.com reports. The dispensaries must stop selling to recreational customers by noon today.

“Because Massachusetts is one of the few states in a big geographic area that has available recreational marijuana and a ton of traffic associated with that is coming from other states, we felt that in particular would need to be closed and would not be considered as essential as part of this order.” – Baker during a press conference via Boston.com

In Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) is allowing retail dispensaries to remain open amid the state’s shutdown but patients and customers are not allowed in the buildings and the businesses must rely on delivery services and curbside delivery, the Detroit Metro Times reports. Michigan’s order is effective for at least three weeks.

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock (D) had initially called for both retail dispensaries and liquor stores to shut down with the city’s stay-at-home order that takes effect a 5 p.m. today but changed the order to allow the stores to remain open “with extreme physical distancing,” according to the Denver Channel. Hancock’s original order would have allowed medical dispensaries to continue serving patients.

In Canada, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced yesterday that all non-essential businesses in the province would shut down tonight at 11:59 p.m. but cannabis dispensaries will be considered essential under the order, BNN Bloomberg reports.

Earlier this week, 71 Canadian cannabis operators sent a letter to Finance Minister Bill Morneau and Industry Minister Navdeep Bains asking that their companies get access to wage subsidies being made available to small businesses. Cannabis companies are currently not able to access the funds being made available under Canada’s coronavirus protection package.

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Maine Sued Over Cannabis Business Residency Requirement

3/24/2020

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Maine cannabis company Wellness Connection is suing regulators over the residency requirement included in the adult-use legalization law, contending the rule is preventing them from expanding into the recreational market, the Bangor Daily News reports.

The company argues the requirement violates the commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution which forbids restrictive, discriminatory commercial regulations between the states.

The lawsuit seeks a preliminary injunction against the Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services, which includes the Office of Marijuana Policy, from enforcing the residency requirement in the law. The law requires Maine cannabis companies to be majority-owned by in-state individuals or businesses.

The lawsuit was filed by Wellness Connection and Wellness and Pain Management Connection of Delaware, subsidiaries of High Street Capital Partners of Delaware which owns 49 percent of Maine Wellness Connection.

Wellness Connection board member Ron MacDonald said the residency requirement hampers the company’s ability to raise money.

“The natural consequence of Wellness Connection being undercapitalized at the launch of the adult-use market is that we will not be able to capitalize on the opportunities that will only be available in this new market in the same way we could if we were fully capitalized. Wellness Connection’s return on investment will certainly be lower, as a result, when the market launches.” – MacDonald to the Daily News

The lawsuit argues that there is legal precedent for their argument in a 2019 Tennessee case in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against that state’s two-year residency requirement for anyone seeking an initial license to operate a liquor store. Maine’s law requires a four-year residency for recreational cannabis business operators.

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Jails Begin Releasing Prisoners to Stem COVID-19 Outbreak

3/23/2020

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Jailors and prosecutors across the U.S. have started taking steps to stem the spread of COVID-19 in the country’s overcrowded prison system, including the early release of some prisoners, WGBH reports.

In Massachusetts, at least six district attorneys have announced steps to early release sick and elderly prisoners. Rachel Rollins, District Attorney for Suffolk County, Massachusetts, said supervisors are reviewing requests for release by prisoners who “pose no meaningful risk to public safety.”

“While Americans across the country are being encouraged to self-isolate, members of our incarcerated population are, by definition, doing the exact opposite with no alternative options. We need to seriously consider pathways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 for our incarcerated populations, the overwhelming majority of which will return to our communities at some point in the future.” — Rollins, in a statement

In New York City, the BBC reports that jailors will release “vulnerable” prisoners as per an order by Mayor Bill De Blasio.

In Los Angeles, the sheriff’s department already released some 600 inmates last week. “Our population within our jails is a vulnerable population just by who they are, where they are located, so we’re protecting that population from potential exposure,” Los Angeles Sheriff Alex Villanueva said last week.

Cannabis advocate and entrepreneur Steve DeAngelo issued a video statement last Thursday and shared a petition for the release of all cannabis prisoners and incarcerated individuals who are particularly at risk from the deadly virus. There are still more than 44,000 Americans serving prison sentences for nonviolent cannabis offenses.

Meanwhile the virus has already been found in several jails around the country. In total, the CDC on Friday had confirmed just over 15,000 coronavirus cases in the U.S. with 201 reported deaths. On Monday, that number more than doubled as the CDC reported 33,404 total confirmed cases and 400 deaths.

We at Ganjapreneur encourage you to sign the petition to encourage immediate government action on this issue. While the cannabis industry has been deemed essential by governments that generate tax revenue from its existence, many nonviolent prisoners who are elderly–or have underlying health conditions–are extremely vulnerable to the virus and have no way to protect themselves.

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Suspended NFL Players May Return After Cannabis Policy Changes

3/23/2020

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Suspended Dallas Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory has filed for reinstatement to the National Football League after being suspended indefinitely last year by the league after recurring violations of the league’s substance-abuse policy that date to 2015, ESPN reports.

The appeal is the first to be made public following changes by the NFL earlier this month to their substance abuse policy, which no longer threatens suspension for failed drug tests for cannabis. Gregory was suspended four different times for failed or missed cannabis tests. Under the policy reforms, a player can still be suspended for missing tests or not following league rules for repeated test failures.

Gregory was drafted in 2015 and has only played in 28 games in his career due to the suspensions; in 2016 and 2017 he missed 30 of the total 32 games.

The Dallas Cowboys are owned by Jerry Jones, who advocated for the league-wide cannabis policy changes in the recent Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and the Players’ Association. Jones told CBS Sports last year that team owners were “excited about being in step with the social and legal scene as it goes forward” with regard to cannabis policies.

Nine of the league’s 32 teams play their home games in states that have legalized cannabis for adult use.

Under the new rules, if a player tests positive for cannabis during the two-week training camp their test is reviewed by a board of medical professionals appointed by the NFLPA and the league who determine whether the player needs treatment for drug abuse. That two-week window for cannabis testing was shortened from four months, which means that less players will be tested for cannabis. Players will no longer be suspended for positive tests and the threshold for failing a test is now 150 nanograms of THC per milliliter of blood, up from 35 nanograms.

Josh Gordon, a wide receiver who was indefinitely suspended last season for NFL substance abuse policy violations related to cannabis dating back to 2013, has indicated he plans to return in the 2020 season but according to CBS Sports will have to abide by the league’s old rules in order to return.

The NFL has not made any statements regarding the reinstatement of Gregory but Commissioner Roger Goodell told ESPN that Gordon would have to prove he is making steady progress away from the field before he would consider reinstating him from his sixth suspension.

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