Study: Cannabis Effective Against Fibromyalgia Symptoms

3/13/2020

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Researchers at the Luigi Sacco University Hospital in Milan, Italy have published new research that suggests medical cannabis can be effective in the treatment of fibromyalgia symptoms, the Cannabis Exchange reports.

The study, published in Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology 2020, recruited 102 fibromyalgia patients who were given two types of cannabis oils, one rich in THC and the other a balanced blend of THC and CBD. Participants were monitored for six months and were asked to measure the severity of their symptoms — which generally include fatigue, anxiety, depression, and prolonged pain — throughout the study using the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire Revised (FIQR).

Some patients experienced significant improvement with their symptoms: 44% of patients reported a significant improvement in sleep quality, 33% reported improvements in their FIQR scores, 42.4% said the treatments helped with anxiety, and 50% said it helped with depression. Additionally, 47% of participants said they reduced or ceased other analgesic treatments during the study. Some patients (54.5%), however, did report a worsening of their fatigue symptoms.

“This observational study shows that adjunctive MCT [Medical Cannabis Treatment] offers a possible clinical advantage in FM [Fibromyalgia] patients, especially in those with sleep dysfunctions. The clinical improvement inversely correlated with BMI. The retention rate and changes in concomitant analgesic therapy reflect MCT efficacy of the improved quality of life of patients.” — Excerpt from the study’s conclusions

Notably, most of the study participants (like most fibromyalgia patients, in general) were women.

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Maine Committee Approves New Rules for Cannabis Caregivers

3/13/2020

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Maine’s legislative Health and Human Services Committee has approved a cannabis caregiver regulation bill that would require potency testing and labeling but does not include provisions backed by the state Office of Marijuana Policy’s that included a ban on small extraction labs, federal background check requirements, and a limit on plant sizes, the Portland Press Herald reports.

Dawson Julia, a medical dispensary operator, said the testing requirement would drive up prices for small-scale caregivers, many of which sell less than $500 worth of cannabis a week. Under the current regime, plants grown by caregivers only need to be tested when they make an advertising claim, such as THC amounts or being pesticide-free.

“This is standard procedure from the corporate scum that continually use our government as a weapon to destroy the small competition. Maine will become just another feeding ground for the blood-sucking vampires of corporate cannabis.” – Julia to the Press Herald

The measure also includes a proposed fine schedule for caregivers who willfully flout regulations, but they did cut the fines in half from what they were in the original version of the bill.

Maine has about 2,600 medical cannabis caregivers who sold 76.5 percent – or about $85.3 million – of all cannabis sold in the state last year. The reform bill still needs approval from the Legislature.

Maine voters approved cannabis legalization in 2016 but regulations had been vetoed twice by then-Gov. Paul LePage (R) until it was overridden by the legislature. In October, officials anticipated recreational sales would begin this month but last week pushed that prediction to June.

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Cannabis Legalization Heads to Parliament In Lebanon

3/13/2020

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Lebanon’s draft cannabis legalization law has been sent to its Parliament, but the measure would only legalize products that contain less than 1 percent THC, Al Jazeera reports. The measure also calls for enhanced penalties for breaking cannabis-related laws and prohibits anyone with a criminal record from getting a cannabis license or working in the industry.

Karim Nammour, a lawyer with Legal Agenda who specializes in drug policy, told Al Jazeera that the bill was “an opportunity missed” and that lawmakers “failed to take a holistic approach” to the reforms.

Sandy Mteirik, a drug policy development manager at Skoun, a Lebanese nongovernmental organization focused on drug rehabilitation and advocacy, said the bill is “not what the farmers of Bekaa want.” The Bekka Valley region is home to the most cannabis cultivation in Lebanon.

“There is no clear mechanism to integrate the existing illegal market into the legal market. You can’t just ignore the implications and consequences of criminalizing drug use and say this new market is the priority.” – Mteirik to Al Jazeera

Prime Minister Hassan Diab said that the nation’s cannabis would likely be grown by “big companies” and “other farmers” and anticipated the sector would be “big business.” Diab has previously expressed support for amnesty for some cannabis crimes; between 3,000 and 4,000 people are arrested every year for drug crimes – not just cannabis – in Lebanon.

The draft law would create a commission with a regulatory authority that would issue licenses for importing seeds and clones, creating cannabis plant nurseries, cultivation, manufacturing, and exporting. Licenses could be awarded to Lebanese pharmaceutical companies, industrial fiber, oil, and extract companies, and foreign cannabis companies. Licenses would also be available to specialized agricultural co-operatives established in the country, Lebanese citizens such as farmers or landowners, and labs and research centers permitted to work with controlled substances.

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Michigan’s Hash Bash Postponed Due to Coronavirus

3/13/2020

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Michigan’s long-running cannabis celebration, Hash Bash, has been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak, organizers announced yesterday. It’s the latest cannabis-centric event to be postponed or canceled as the global illness spreads.

Nick Zettell, the event’s organizer, made the announcement on Facebook, saying the decision was made in accordance with the state’s declared state-of-emergency and the move by the University of Michigan to cancel all events with more than 100 planned attendees.

“This was not an easy decision to make. In fact, it was actually made much easier by the University’s sensible and proactive decision to cancel all events [more than] 100 People.  Postponing this event is the correct decision, but it carries an emotional weight for myself, the HB Planning Committee, and all of our participants and attendees.” — Zettell in a March 12 Facebook post

Zettell noted that the organizers have “for years…championed the sick and ailing” and that it was important to the group to “respect the health and safety” of the community and country.

“These risk [sic] are not to be overlooked and mitigating the spread of COVID-19 is our responsibility as responsible cannabis users,” Zettell wrote. “This is difficult for all of us, but trust that we are doing the right thing. I have a lot more to say on the matter, and a lot more thinking to do, but believe me when I say this: we will be working very, very hard to make sure the next Hash Bash is the biggest and best ever.”

A new date for the event – which would have been the 49th iteration – has not been announced. It had been scheduled for April 4.

Over the last two weeks, the spread of the coronavirus has led to the postponement of Expo West, CannTech and PsyTech, NoCo Hemp Expo and the Southern Hemp Expo, the conference for the National Cannabis Risk Management Association, NECANN, and Spannabis.

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House Committee Approves Medical Cannabis for Veterans

3/12/2020

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The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee has advanced two separate pieces of legislation that address veterans’ access to medical cannabis, Marijuana Moment reports.

The Veterans Equal Access Act, a proposal put forward by Oregon Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D), would let VA doctors make medical cannabis treatment recommendations in states where medical cannabis access is legal. The VA Medical Cannabis Research Act, proposed by California Rep. Lou Correa (D), would require the VA to investigate the effectiveness of medical cannabis in treating PTSD and other afflictions commonly faced by combat veterans.

The veterans access proposal was advanced on a 15-11 vote, while the research bill was approved in a voice vote.

“Today was a monumental day for our veterans. We have been working for years to reform this counterproductive policy that forces veterans outside of the VA to receive legal medical cannabis treatment for chronic pain and PTSD. This is the culmination of the tremendous work of our movement, but we will not be finished until this becomes the law of the land. We must reform our federal cannabis policy.” — Rep. Earl Blumenauer, in the report

Rep. Correa, meanwhile, said that cannabis could be a long-sought alternative to opioids and other dangerously addictive prescription medications.

“Many studies from around the world show cannabis’s effectiveness for treating PTSD and chronic pain,” Correa said. “It’s time we did the research and got our vets the medications they need. We owe it to every veteran to never stop looking for ways to treat their scars.”

The bills’ appearance in the committee represented the first markup of federal cannabis legislation in 2020. Similar proposals were discussed and scheduled for a vote last year, but those votes were ultimately called off.

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Creso Pharma Hires Former Canopy Growth Executives

3/12/2020

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Creso Pharma Limited (ASX:CPH) has appointed two former Canopy Growth Corp. (TSX:WEED, NYSE:CGC) executives to the senior management team of its wholly-owned Mernova Medical Inc. in Nova Scotia, Canada.

The pair are former employees of Canopy Growth Corp, the world’s largest cannabis company by market capitalisation, currently capped at C$6.8 billion, having once hit the heights of C$24 billion.

Mr. Jack Yu has been appointed as managing director and brings expert-level knowledge of cannabis cultivation and production from 25 years of practical experience growing cannabis, including nine years of consulting for licensed Canadian medicinal cannabis growers.

Mr. Yu’s experience includes working for Canopy Growth Corp. (TSX:WEED, NYSE:CGC), the world’s largest cannabis company by market cap in the position of Production Manager.

He also held the role of Interim Cultivation Manager for Canopy’s Newfoundland, Edmonton, Eastern Canada and Scarborough facilities, and previously held the position of Master Grower for MedReleaf Corp.,  which is now owned by Aurora Cannabis Inc (TSE:ACB).

Furthermore, he consulted for Health Canada license applicants throughout the process to attain licenses for cultivation, production and sales of medicinal cannabis in Canada.

As Managing Director, Mr. Yu will replace outgoing Managing Director Mr. Bill Fleming, and will be responsible for managing all operations at Mernova and will work closely with the Creso Pharma Board.

Isaac Allen has been appointed Vice President.

Mr. Allen has significant expertise in optimising business operations from executive positions in industries spanning cannabis, insurance, technology and entertainment.

He was formerly National Operations Process Improvement Manager at Canopy, where he developed and executed a number of business strategies and efficiency initiatives.

He is also the founder and former chief executive of a disruptive insurance technology start-up and has held senior executive positions at various companies.

Mernova close to achieving European Union GMP certification

Mernova continues to work towards securing European Union Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification. 

Once this certification is obtained, Creso Pharma will be able to begin sales of high-quality cannabis flower and oil into the established and growing consumer markets in countries such as Germany and Switzerland.

Mernova is also continuing to ramp up production and sales in North America, with its latest deal closing last week at a value of approximately C$410,000.

The sale was comprised of varying quantities of four strains of Mernova’s high-quality cannabis flower, and Creso Pharma has received the full purchase amount from the buyer.

For the full year 2019, Mernova’s revenues were AU860,000 (C$761,000), highlighting that the recent sale represented more than 60% of full-year revenues in 2019, making for an excellent start to the year. 

The facility is scaling up to full production capacity which Creso Pharma expects it to achieve this year.

Highlighting the diversified experience the new executive appointments bring to Creso Pharma, chief executive Miri Halperin Wernli said, “We are looking forward to Mr. Yu and Mr. Allen joining the leadership team at Mernova.

‘’Both of them bring practical experience from a variety of fields, not only limited to the cannabis industry.

‘’We believe that they will be invaluable to Mernova and Creso Pharma as we continue to ramp up production and sales.’’

Mernova vice president Isaac Allen said, “Mernova is emerging to be a promising supplier of premium quality flower and oil to customers across the globe, and a compelling opportunity for investors looking to gain exposure to a first-class cannabis production facility. ’I am confident that I will be able to help Mernova further optimise its business operations as it moves closer to obtaining its EU GMP certification.”

Mernova Managing Director Jack Yu also pointed to his relevant attributes in terms of gaining European Union certification in saying, “I am excited to be taking Mernova forward as it looks to scale up its production capacity this year.

“I believe my knowledge of cannabis cultivation and production, as well as my experience in working with Health Canada will prove a real asset to Mernova as it looks to secure the certification that will allow it to commence sales in Europe.”

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Study: Legalization Caused $130M Revenue Boost at Denver Hotels

3/12/2020

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A Penn State University study found that cannabis legalization led to an immediate increase of $130 million in revenue for hotels in Denver, Colorado. Researcher John O’Neill, a hospitality management professor at Penn State who conducted the study, said the effect only lasted about a year and was also partly due to an increase in post-legalization hotel prices.

“We found that Denver hotels were able to charge and receive higher prices for hotel rooms following recreational marijuana legalization, and also found increased visitation to the Denver area with growth in occupied hotel rooms of 9 percent in 2014, higher than any other year we studied, resulting in positive economic impact.” – O’Neill to Penn State News

The study also found the positive effects were more pronounced in tourist-oriented, lower-priced hotels than in higher-priced hotels that typically cater to commercial travelers. Additionally, those positive effects were unrelated to the distance between hotels and recreational dispensaries but “hotels generally located in the neighborhoods and areas of the city where dispensaries are located experienced the most positive effects,” O’Neill said in the report.

O’Neill explained that while the study was conducted during a period of economic growth overall in the U.S, Denver‘s growth after legalization “was above and beyond what would have been otherwise expected without legal recreational marijuana.”

“In addition, its growth was greater than comparable cities, such as Albuquerque, Austin and Salt Lake City. Also, its growth was greater than national averages,” he said. “I believe the difference in hotel revenues was due to the legalization of recreational marijuana in Denver.”

The study, which was conducted using STR hotel data, geo-coordinates and opening dates of recreational dispensaries, appeared in the Journal of Real Estate Literature.

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Idaho House Committee Blocks Hemp Legalization Bill

3/12/2020

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Idaho’s House State Affairs Committee has voted to hold a hemp-legalization bill, likely killing the measure for this year, the Capital Press reports. Lawmakers in the committee have the authority to reintroduce the measure, which was approved by the Senate last month, but it’s unlikely to do so this session.

While the measure would have authorized hemp production in the state, it excluded CBD legalization.

Idaho had become a flashpoint for hemp policy following federal legalization in 2018 after law enforcement agencies in the state continued arresting truckers shipping hemp through the state, which remained a violation of Idaho law.

Last November, Republican Gov. Brad Little signed an executive order to explicitly allow transportation of out-of-state hemp shipments through the state. Little called it “a stop gap measure” until lawmakers could develop a “permanent regulatory framework” around the plant. Little’s executive order only allows hemp to be transported “on interstate highways and in the immediate vicinity of an interstate highway.” In May the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a memo allowing interstate hemp transport, but Idaho police continued to make arrests despite federal law and the USDA guidance.

Opponents of Idaho’s hemp legalization argued that the reforms would set the stage for recreational cannabis legalization and that other states have found it difficult to differentiate between hemp and THC-rich cannabis, which makes prosecuting cannabis crimes problematic for law enforcement officials.

Only Idaho, South Dakota, and Mississippi have not legalized hemp cultivation. The USDA released federal hemp production rules last October.

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New Mexico Supreme Court Deliberates Tax-Free Medical Cannabis

3/12/2020

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New Mexico officials are asking the state’s Supreme Court to determine whether or not medical cannabis products are exempt from gross receipts tax, like prescription drugs, according to New Mexico Political Report. On Monday, the state Attorney General’s office filed a petition with the court on behalf of the state Taxation and Revenue Department asking for clarification on the issue.

The filing stems from a 2014 case when licensed medical cannabis producer Sacred Garden asked the tax department for a refund on the gross receipts tax the company paid that year. That request was denied by the agency but the state Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the cannabis company, deciding that medical cannabis qualifies for the same tax exemption as prescription drugs, the report says.

In January, the state Court of Appeals ruled that a doctor’s recommendation to use cannabis is essentially the same as a traditional prescription drug. The court also argued that when the Legislature was considering the medical cannabis law, state analysts did not consider tax revenues from medical cannabis sales and, therefore, intended it to be tax-deductible, according to the report.

Special Assistant Attorney General Cordelia Friedman argued in the petition that because federal law prevents physicians from writing cannabis prescriptions it does not fall under the same tax-exempt category as prescription drugs in the state. Friedman argues that the logic in the Appeals Court decision is flawed since neither those who drafted the bill, nor lawmakers, explicitly included tax exemption language in the measure.

“The term ‘prescription’ does not appear in the Act or the regulation promulgated to provide guidance for individuals wanting to obtain ‘registry identification cards’ to receive medical marijuana.” — Friedman in the petition, via New Mexico Political Report

Friedman also argues that there is “no discernible benefit to those in medical need when Sacred Garden receives its requested refund predicated on past sales where it undisputedly charged gross receipts tax to its customers with no obligation to refund it to those customers.”

Following the January Appeals Court ruling, several cannabis dispensaries in the state announced they would no longer charge taxes. If the Supreme Court sides with Sacred Garden, they would be forced to pay back about $24 million in tax revenues paid by the state’s medical cannabis producers.

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California Cannabis Tax Revenues Pass $1 Billion

3/11/2020

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Cannabis-derived California tax revenues have reached $1 billion in just over two years since the launch of recreational sales, the Orange County Register reports. Most of the funds have been used to cover cannabis industry regulatory costs and those associated with the cleanup of public lands harmed by illegal grows, cannabis research, and childcare for low-income families.

Growth, however, has been lower than expected in the nation’s largest cannabis market; slowing in the fourth quarter to 1.5 percent down from 15.5 percent in previous quarters, according to Department of Tax and Fee Administration figures outlined by the Register. The first three months of legalized sales in the state brought in $72.6 million in tax revenues to the state, while the last three months of 2019 brought $172.7 million. California officials had expected to raise $1 billion a year from cannabis industry-derived taxes.

According to the report, 75 percent of cannabis sales in the state still happen illegally as prices at licensed dispensaries are 30 percent to 80 percent higher than prices in the illicit market. California’s tax structure includes a 15 percent excise tax, regular state sales taxes, a cultivation tax by weight, and municipal taxes which can be as high as 20 percent. On January 1, officials actually raised wholesale taxes on flower, leaf, and plants. Regulators said those tax hikes were in line with inflation.

Last October, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed a bill that would override section 280E of the Internal Revenue Service Code allowing state-approved cannabusinesses to take normal business deductions. Lawmakers have introduced bills to eliminate the cultivation tax and temporarily lower the excise tax; however, similar bills have previously failed in previous sessions.

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San Francisco May Consider Freezing Cannabis Licensing

3/11/2020

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While cannabis sales in San Francisco have increased since statewide legalization in 2018, the number of licensed dispensaries has also increased and their average individual sales are shrinking. As a result, officials may consider a freeze on cannabis licensing in the city, the SFist reports.

Despite San Francisco’s increasing rate of cannabis sales, businesses are not benefiting — and there are currently 133 pending applications for new dispensaries, including some social equity applicants.

“You can think of it as the pie getting bigger, but the average slices getting smaller,” Jeff Pomrenke, a controller’s office analyst, told the SF Chronicle. Specifically, individual dispensary sales have dropped on average from $6.3 million to $3.4 million, likely due to the influx of new dispensaries.

When California voters opted to legalize adult-use cannabis in 2016, business owners and advocates warned against burdensome regulations and high taxes but officials went on to install one of the strictest and most heavily taxed state-legal cannabis marketplaces. Today, despite having legalized, the state’s unregulated market continues to flourish, particularly in cities where cannabis prices are driven up by additional regulations, local taxes, and high costs of living.

“San Francisco’s retail cannabis industry is still in its infancy, but it’s clearly facing some growing pains,” said city Supervisor Rafael Mandelman.

“Regulatory requirements are tough for small businesses generally, and the additional burdens placed on cannabis businesses are particularly challenging. As policymakers, we clearly need to work with equity applicants, industry stakeholders and the Office of Cannabis to shorten permit approval timelines and address market oversaturation.” — San Francisco Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, via the SF Chronicle

According to a 2019 audit by the United Cannabis Business Association, there were some 2,835 unlicensed dispensaries and delivery services in California and just 873 licensees.

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Spannabis & NECANN Boston Postponed Due to Coronavirus

3/11/2020

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Organizers for Spannabis and the New England Cannabis Convention have postposed the events amid coronavirus fears, bringing the total of postponed cannabis industry events to at least seven. NECANN was scheduled for later this month at the Hynes Center in Boston, Massachusetts; Spannabis was scheduled to take place in Barcelona, Spain this weekend, from March 13-15.

Spannabis decided this morning to postpone the event after “extraordinary measures” were announced by top officials in Catalonia, Spain.

“Much to our regret, …. gatherings of more than 1,000 people at indoor or outdoor events have been banned, in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19 coronavirus in Catalonia. … We have tried as hard as possible to hold Spannabis normally, but under these circumstances, we have no alternative.” — Spannabis organizers, in an emailed announcement

Organizers said Spannabis will return later this year in the fall but did not set an official date.

According to the Tuesday update on the NECANN website, co-founders Marc Shepard and Jeff Lawrence said they have not yet secured a new date for the event but indicated vendor registrations and pre-sale tickets would be honored for the new date. The update notes that two popular events – the NE Canna Community awards show and NECANN Competition awards – would also be postponed.

“We appreciate everyone’s patience and support during this incredibly difficult time and this decision, and look forward to working with everyone to make this year’s event as successful as it has been for the last five years.” – Shepard and Lawrence in a statement

The website still lists dates for planned conventions in Chicago, Illinois, Burlington, Vermont, Springfield, Massachusetts, Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Portland, Maine but Tuesday’s update does not indicate whether these planned events will go ahead as scheduled.

On Monday, three other cannabis industry events announced postponement, including the long-running NoCo Hemp Expo in Denver, Colorado – which was rescheduled for August – and the group’s planned Southern Hemp Expo in Nashville, Tennessee. The National Cannabis Risk Management Association event planned for Las Vegas, Nevada was also postponed.

Last week, Anaheim, California’s Expo West was postponed without a makeup date; while CannTech and PsyTech organizers said the Tel Aviv, Israel event would be pushed back until June.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have suggested canceling large events and mass gatherings amid the outbreak.

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Survey Suggests 5mg is Ideal Cannabis Edible Dosage

3/11/2020

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A recent survey conducted by Canadian cannabis company Organigram found that Canadians’ ideal dosage for edible products is 5 milligrams or less per serving. The survey also found that those 35 and older were more interested in cannabis-infused baked goods and those 19-35 who were more interested in sweets, such as candies.

Greg Engel, CEO of Organigram, said the data was important in the wake of ‘Cannabis 2.0’ rollout in the nation which legalized so-called ‘alternative cannabis products,’ including edibles.

“Legalization has changed the way people think about cannabis consumption. Entering this new era of cannabis legalization and designing new product types, we couldn’t assume to know Canadians’ attitudes on edibles, so we asked them. … These insights will not only help our product teams make informed decisions around product design but will help us understand what Canadians need to know most.” – Engel in a statement

The survey found that women were more interested in sweets than men, 68 percent to 52 percent, respectively. In all, one in three Canadians expected to use edible cannabis products. Most consumers (54 percent) said they planned on using edibles at home alone, with 10 percent less saying they would use in private with friends. Almost 25 percent of respondents said they would use edibles in public spaces.

The survey also found that more than half of cannabis consumers – 53 percent – say thye need more information about edibles in order to make informed purchases, especially those 65 and older.

Canada legalized cannabis for adults in 2018 but edibles only became available in the regulated market last December.

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Study: 98% of Vaping Illness Patients Bought Illegal Products

3/10/2020

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The study was conducted by doctors from the California Department of Public Health (CADPH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with the goal of finding and analyzing the clinical characteristics and vaping exposures of patients hospitalized with EVALI. Data was gathered by the CADPH as it was reported from treating clinicians from August 8, 2019, to November 8, 2019.

The case series covered 160 patients’ medical data along with data collected from a survey completed by 86 (54%) of the patients via a standardized questionnaire. Of those 86 patients, only one patient said they purchased vape products from a legal source.

Of the 160 total patients, 62% were male and the median age was 27 years with an official age range of 14 to 70 years old. Of these cases, 46% of patients were admitted to the intensive care unit, four people died, and 29% required mechanical ventilation. Of those directly interviewed, 83% of patients admitted to vaping THC products, 43% vaped CBD products, and 47% vaped products containing nicotine. These patients were asked to report each brand, type, flavor and active ingredients in each product that was used over the 90-day period prior to hospitalization. Officials also collected the pods, vapes, and cartridges from patients after specifying the exact locations where products were purchased. Between the 86 directly interviewed EVALI patients, 130 products were collected.

Eighty-seven of the collected products were THC-only and 91% of those relied on pre-filled cartridges. There were 25 products that contained only nicotine with just 48% of those coming in the form of a pre-filled cart. 56% of THC cartridges in the study were labeled as using flavoring agents and 76% of nicotine vape products were labeled as flavored.

Patients commonly purchased nicotine products from a dispensary or vape shop, according to study data. EVALI patients who smoked THC-only vape cartridges or pods commonly purchased them from another person (44%). Many reported purchasing vape products from a dispensary (33%) and of these, 25% of those interviewed stated that the dispensary was licensed by the state of California. After further research, however, it was found that only four products (all of which were actually purchased by the same patient) came from a licensed adult-use dispensary. Aside from unlicensed dispensaries and friends, the patients had either purchased the contaminated vape products from pop up shops or couldn’t name their source.

After collecting patient data the study analyzed the products, 49 of which were THC-vapes. Between these, vitamin E or vitamin E acetate was found in 84% of vapes. All products tested under 100 parts per billion for heavy metals except one which tested positive for nickel. Low levels of pesticides were also found in 67% of THC containing vape carts including myclobutanil, bifenthrin, bifenazate, tebuconazole, metalaxyl, propiconazole, imidacloprid-urea, piperonyl butoxide, and trifloxystrobin.

The report highlights the fact that most of these contaminated cartridges and pods came from illegal sources, and the data supports the theory that vitamin E and/or vitamin E acetate is the likely culprit in EVALI cases presented in the last year. Researchers do note, however, that more research must be done to reach more conclusive answers.

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DOJ Memo Blocks Gun Sales to ‘Habitual Marijuana Users’ 

3/10/2020

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A recent memo from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives has rescinded a 2006 allowance for gun dealers in Michigan to accept a state-concealed pistol license in lieu of a federal background check. The change, first reported by Marijuana Moment, appears to specifically target “habitual marijuana users” among other disqualified individuals.

Before the memo, anyone with a concealed pistol license (CPL) was frequently considered qualified to purchase firearms in Michigan.

“Specifically, ATF learned that CPLs were and continue to be issued to applicants who were likely prohibited due to a conviction for a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence… and to habitual marijuana users. Although possession and use of marijuana is not unlawful under Michigan law, marijuana remains a ‘controlled substance’ under Federal law, and those using marijuana are prohibited from possessing or transporting a firearm.” — Excerpt from the ATF memo, via a Marijuana Moment report

The change is mostly a formality, however, as gun owners are already required by law to disclose whether or not they use cannabis or any other controlled substances.

According to the report, the change is more likely to affect people with misdemeanor domestic violence convictions, as the charges will show up on a federal background check — in fact, the changes would only directly affect cannabis consumers if they have a cannabis-related conviction on their record. Federal cannabis prohibition, however, will continue to disrupt the second amendment rights of cannabis consumers until the disconnect between state and federal laws has been resolved.

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Hemp Legalization Deal Reached in South Dakota

3/10/2020

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South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) and lawmakers have reached a deal to legalize hemp in the state, with the governor saying yesterday that $3.5 million has been secured in the budget for the state to “responsibly” start an industrial hemp program, the Associated Press reports.

The House passed industrial hemp legalization legislation last week; however, Noem had promised to veto any hemp reforms without the funds for “one-time and ongoing” costs associated with hemp legalization.

Noem vetoed a hemp legalization bill last year but indicated in January that she would sign a hemp bill so long as it included “guardrails” – including the $3.5 million, broad consent by growers for law enforcement inspections and a requirement they pay any costs associated with eradication of plants that test over the legal THC limits, and the banning of smokeable hemp products.

Rep. Lee Qualm (R), the bill sponsor, told the Argus Leader that the measure  approved by the House satisfies the governor’s ‘guardrails.’

Noem said that some of the funds for the hemp program – along with a pay raise for teachers and state employees – would come from underutilized Department of Health and Human Services program funds, according to the AP.

Noem had previously opposed hemp legalization, saying in an op-ed last year that it would legalize THC-rich cannabis “by default.” In her January op-ed, Noem Noem said that with U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations, a South Dakota tribe getting the go-ahead from the federal government, and bordering states having legalized the crop, the state should move forward with the reforms.

South Dakota‘s legislative session ends this week. The hemp bill is considered ’emergency legislation’ and requires a two-thirds majority to pass. If approved and signed by the governor, it would take effect immediately.

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Michigan Phasing Out Caregivers’ Access to Cannabis Licensees

3/10/2020

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Medical cannabis caregivers in Michigan will no longer be allowed to transfer or sell products to licensed cannabis growers and processors under new state guidance that sets a September 30 end date on the practice; the Marijuana Regulatory Agency announced last week that the “phase out process” for the practice was already in effect.

Under previous rules, caregivers were allowed to transfer products to some licensed operators in an effort to ensure that medical cannabis patients would not run out of product as the state moved into recreational sales. The MRA said that under-supply of medical cannabis was no longer a concern as almost 200 cultivators and more than 25 processors have been issued.

Caregivers were barred from transferring products to dispensaries on April 1, 2019.

“We have always put patients first when we make decisions regarding medical marijuana. This phase out process is an important next step in implementing the will of Michigan voters and making sure that patients continue to have access to their medicine.” – MRA Executive Director Andrew Brisbo in a statement

During phase one of the process, which runs through May 31, cultivators and processors licensed by the state who obtain flower, shake, and trim directly from the caregiver who produced it will not be subject to disciplinary action by the MRA if they are using seed-to-sale software, logging the transaction, and if the product has been tested, according to a separate March 1 bulletin.

Phase two, which begins June 1, adds another condition for those growers who are receiving products from caregivers, in addition to the phase one stipulations:

“The total weight of marijuana flower a licensee obtains from caregivers is less than or equal to the total weight of marijuana flower that the licensee harvested (both wet and dry) between March 1, 2020 and May 31, 2020 plus the projected harvest weight (dry) of all plants that are in the flowering process on May 31, 2020.”

The bulletin notes that these values would be different for each cultivation facility.

For processors:

“The total weight of marijuana flower that processors obtain from caregivers must be less than or equal to 50% of the total weight of marijuana flower the licensee obtained from caregivers between the dates of March 1, 2020 and May 31, 2020. The marijuana flower obtained from caregivers must be processed and may not be sold or transferred as marijuana flower.”

Caregivers will be unable to transfer to any licensed business by September 30, after which licensees will be subject to disciplinary action.

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Numerous Hemp and Cannabis Expos Postponed Due to Coronavirus

3/10/2020

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Multiple cannabis and hemp business conferences have been postponed due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, including the NoCo Hemp Expo in Denver, Colorado; the group’s planned Southern Hemp Expo; and the National Cannabis Risk Management Association in Las Vegas, Nevada. The announcements mark at least the fourth or fifth cannabis industry events to be affected by the spreading COVID-19 virus.

The NoCo Hemp Expo has been rescheduled for August, while new dates for the Southern Hemp Expo and the NCRMA have not yet been announced. Colorado’s Hemp Expo is in its seventh year, while the Southern Hemp Expo, originally scheduled for August in Nashville, Tennessee, is in its third year.

Morris Beegle, producer of NoCo Hemp Expo, said “the decision to shift the timing… has not been an easy one” and that organizers are also “exploring options for a potential digital conference.”

“The health and safety of all participants remains a top priority. We want to provide attendees, exhibitors, vendors, staff, industry partners, and others involved in the Expo enough time to rework their schedules and plan accordingly for the newly announced August dates. … We look forward to creating a robust, powerhouse event in August and appreciate everyone’s support.” – Beegle in a press release

In Nevada, NCRMA chairman Rocco Petrilli said in a press release, “Our responsibilities as a risk manager transcend our passion and desire to bring our membership together.”

“Though we are disappointed to have to postpone our event, as our leadership continued to monitor the developments, it became abundantly clear that this was the correct course of action,” Petrilli said. “Our hearts go out to families and communities that have been affected by the COVID-19. We hope our decision will help reduce the spread of this virus.”

Last week, Expo West organizers announced at the last minute they were postponing the event, which was planned in Anaheim, California on March 3-7 – they have not announced a new date. CannTech and PsyTech organizers also said last week that they had pushed back both of the events, set for Tel Aviv, Israel, to June.

NoCo said they are following Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization protocols for the situation and are collaborating with their partners, including the National Western Complex – where the event will be held – the Denver Coronavirus Task Force, and Gov. Jared Polis’ office, on the changes.

The CDC released coronavirus guidelines for mass gatherings and large events last week.

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Boston’s First Adult-Use Dispensary Opens Today

3/09/2020

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Boston, Massachusetts has its first adult-use cannabis dispensary after the Cannabis Control Commission gave the business final approval last week, according to a CBS Local report. The shop is also the first in the state to be opened by economic empowerment applicants.

The approval for Pure Oasis comes more than three years after voters approved adult-use cannabis legalization. Pure Oasis, located in the Dorchester neighborhood, is co-owned by Kobe Evans and Kevin Hart, who were awarded a provisional license last August.

“We are excited to reach this important moment where we will open our doors as the first retail cannabis business in Boston and as the first economic empowerment candidate in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.” — Evans and Hart, in a statement to Boston.com

Evans is a native of Dorchester, which historically has high cannabis arrest rates — a key requirement for applicants to the state’s social equity program. Requirements for the social program include having a past drug conviction, or being the spouse or child of an individual with a drug conviction, or having lived in an “area of disproportionate impact” for at least five years, and having an income that doesn’t exceed 400 percent of the federal poverty level. Applicants must have lived in Massachusetts for at least 12 months.

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh (D) – who opposed the statewide reforms – warned potential customers that there would be lines, cars, traffic “chaos” and “confusion” associated with the dispensary, but city officials are planning to do the “best job [they] can possible” to limit those issues. According to the Boston Globe, the dispensary expects 1,000 customers per day and has rented a space next door to accommodate up to 100 people waiting in line indoors.

Boston is the capital of Massachusetts and its most populous city.

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California Cannabis Brand to Pay $1.1M Settlement for Illegal Grow

3/09/2020

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A former Salinas, California licensed cannabis cultivator has settled with the county District Attorney’s Office for $1.1 million for growing with an expired license, exceeding maximum canopy for their license, and removing plants from the grow site “in the middle of the night,” according to a press release from the Monterey County DA’s Office.

The case against California’s Top Shelf and California’s Top Shelf Family stems from a September 2018 site inspection by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife – due to the farm’s location near a wildlife habitat near the banks of a waterway – which found violations of Fish and Game Code. Upon further inspection, officials found the company’s cannabis license had expired the previous month and that the grow had exceeded their 10,000-square-foot allowance.

Law enforcement officials advised the company to cease operations and not remove any of the plants; however, officers found employees moving the plants to another location in the middle of the night which forced the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office and Department of Fish and Wildlife to use extra resources to immediately eradicate the operation.

Under the settlement, the company did not admit to any wrongdoing but was ordered to pay $1.1 million in civil penalties and another $100,000 to the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and nearly another $100,000 to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, the Resource Management Agency, and the Fish and Wildlife Department.

The settlement also imposes a permanent injunction on the business owners from cultivating without a license.

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VA Staff in Legalized States Can Be Fired for Cannabis Use

3/09/2020

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In a memo to employees, the Department of Veterans Affairs reiterated that employees can still be fired for using cannabis even in states where it has been legalized, according to a Military Times report. The rules apply to all department staffers, the memo says, specifying that all VA employees “refrain from using illegal drugs on and off duty.”

“There is no legitimate medical explanation for a marijuana positive test result, other than a verified prescription of certain FDA-approved drugs. A prescription for medical marijuana is not an acceptable medical explanation for a positive drug test.” – Veterans Affairs memo, via the Military Times

According to policies outlined in the report, VA physicians are required to record cannabis use in medical files but that information “is part of the confidential medical record and protected under patient privacy and confidentiality laws and regulations.”

VA press secretary Christina Mandreucci told the Times that the agency’s policies against cannabis use by employees is not meant to discourage patients from discussing their own cannabis use as the policy applies only to employees. VA doctors are not permitted to qualify patients for state-approved medical cannabis programs and cannabis possession on VA property is considered a federal crime.

“Marijuana is illegal under federal law,” the VA memo says. “Even though some states have legalized the use of marijuana for medicinal and recreational purposes, marijuana, marijuana extracts, and tetrahydrocannabinols are illegal for human use under federal law.”

The memo is signed by current VA Secretary Robert Wilkie.

Last year, former VA Secretary David Shulkin, an appointee of President Donald Trump, told Task & Purpose that the “time is now” for the agency to research medical cannabis.

In the interview, Shulkin said he believes that medical cannabis access could help prevent suicides by veterans because those suicides are often linked to chronic pain, depression, and substance abuse. He said that he believes “properly prescribed” medical cannabis “may have some real benefits in anxiety improvement, in pain management, and potentially, in the issue of substance abuse.”

Last year, the VA opposed three federal legislative proposals that would have allowed the agency to research medical cannabis and allowed veterans access to medical cannabis products under state-approved programs.

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Study: CBD May Slow Brain Cell Death

3/06/2020

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A study published ahead of print last month by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. suggests that cannabidiol (CBD) can help to slow the decay of brain cells.

The study, titled “Neuroprotective Effect of Cannabidiol Against Hydrogen Peroxide in Hippocampal Neuron Culture,” investigated the potential neuroprotective and neurotoxic effects of CBD “in vitro,” meaning in a petri dish or neuron culture platform.

Researchers specifically investigated CBD‘s effectiveness against the neurotoxicity of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a molecule that has been considered as a potential culprit in severe pathological conditions such as cancer, strokes, and neurodegenerative diseases.

“Although CBD showed both neurotoxic and neuroprotective effects on hippocampal neurons in the in vitro setting, the use of low-concentrated … CBD, not causing toxic effects on the neurons, significantly rescued the neurons from the oxidative stress (H2O2), confirming its neuroprotection capability.” — Excerpt from the report

The report acknowledged that more research is needed, but the results appeared to confirm CBD’s neuroprotective potential. “Biological modes of CBD action on neurons have not been elucidated fully, but our work clearly confirmed that CBD was highly effective in neutralizing the H2O2-induced neurotoxicity on primary hippocampal neurons, which is intimately involved in the onset and progress of neurodegenerative diseases” like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), wrote authors Jungnam Kim et al.

Study authors noted that further research should investigate the effects of CBD from its various administration methods, including “ingestion, inhalation, and transdermal or topical delivery.”

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DEA Admits Legalization Reduces Black Market Demand

3/06/2020

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The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) admitted in its latest performance budget submission to Congress that state-legal cannabis markets have helped to reduce demand in illegal cannabis markets. The admission, reported first by Marijuana Moment, also appears to suggest that DEA believes the eventual legalization of cannabis is all but inevitable.

“After the 2017 legalization of medical marijuana in Florida resulted in retail distribution centers throughout the [area], the legalization of low-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (10%) smokeable medical marijuana in March 2019 is anticipated to lead to a growing market for Florida-sourced low-THC marijuana. Yet, until high potency marijuana becomes legalized in Florida, we believe the impact will be minimal on the demand for high-THC marijuana from California and other states.” — Excerpt from the report

This admission appears to confirm that cannabis consumers prefer legal sources to the unregulated market — additionally, the agency used the word “until” instead of “if” when referring to the eventual legalization of adult-use cannabis in Florida, implying that even federal law enforcement recognizes the ineffectiveness of cannabis prohibition.

“Their framing clearly indicate that the days of prohibition are nearly over. We are living through the death rattles of prohibition,” Justin Strekal, political director of NORML, told Marijuana Moment.

Meanwhile, polls continue to indicate that an increasing number — currently, about two-thirds — of Americans believe that cannabis use should be legalized nationwide.

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California Lab Finds 80% of Illicit Vape Cartridges are Tainted

3/06/2020

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A San Diego, California cannabis testing lab is sounding the alarm after nearly 80 percent of illegal and counterfeit vape cartridges it tested were “unfit for consumption,” KGTV reports. The testing by Infinite Chemical Analysis Labs (InfiniteCAL) discovered 62 percent of cartridges failed for high pesticide levels, while 40 percent failed for lead.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, there is no safe amount of lead for humans as the heavy metal negatively affects almost every organ and system in the body.

InfiniteCAL co-founder David Marelius told KGTV that one of the vape pens tested by the lab “had almost a hundred times the legal limit” of lead. Additionally,  about 20 percent of the tested products “had a significant amount” of vitamin E acetate, which the Centers for Disease Control linked last year to the vaping-associated pulmonary injury.

Marelius said that about half of the products tested contained less than 50 percent THC.

San Diego-based Platinum Vape has partnered with Mankind, a dispensary in the city, to ‘buyback’ illegally-produced cartridges in exchange for discounted cartridges from its line. Platinum Vape co-founder George Sadler said the illicit vape products do “so much harm to people, versus walking into a licensed store.”

“I think the exposure needs to be there for people to really understand what’s happening.” — Sadler to KGTV.

Last year, California regulators launched Phase 3 testing for the cannabis space that included testing for terpenoids, mycotoxins, heavy metals – including lead – and water activity. According to InfiniteCAL’s Josh Swider, vape products can become tainted even if the cannabis oil is clean due to cartridge hardware quality.

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