Considering New England’s 2020 Legalization Landscape

2/14/2020

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

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

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

Connecticut

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

New Hampshire

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

Vermont

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

Rhode Island

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

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

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Amsterdam Mayor Considers Banning Tourists from Cannabis Shops

2/14/2020

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

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

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

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

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Dr. Genester Wilson-King: Cannabis and Sexual Health

2/13/2020

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The survey is for participants over 21 years of age.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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UK Regulators Hint at CBD Crackdown

2/13/2020

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Legalization Boosts Commercial Real Estate Sales

2/13/2020

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Cannabis Regulators Revisit Massachusetts Mayor Bribery Case

2/13/2020

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Medical Cannabis Expansions Pass Iowa House Panel

2/13/2020

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Trump Proposes Cutting Federal Cannabis Protections

2/12/2020

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Report: Cannabis Jobs Grew 100% Over Last 4 Years

2/12/2020

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not count cannabis jobs.

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Girls Scouts Selling Cookies in Front of Chicago Dispensary

2/12/2020

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Western Illinois University Latest to Offer Cannabis Curriculum

2/12/2020

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Tone-Deaf Milk “Dispensary” Announced by California Dairy

2/11/2020

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News reports of a 1.1 billion-dollar decline in US dairy sales correlated with a massive switch to plant-based milk beverages in 2018. And just last week, Vegan celebrity Joaquin Phoenix demonized the dairy industry in his Oscars Best Actor acceptance speech. It could be the public disapproval of arcane practices or the 10-year continued downward trajectory in sales, but the California Milk Advisory Board is rebranding with a recently announced marketing stunt that is hoping to profit by emulating marketing trends in the cannabis industry.

California Dairy’s most recent and strange marketing push aims to sway people back to traditional milk using an aesthetic modeled by adult-use cannabis. For two days only, the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) will be opening the California Dairy Dispensary in the Venice Beach neighborhood of Los Angeles. This idea, as well as a recent commercial campaign depicting tripped-out, blissful people floating through the California landscape with their grilled cheese sandwiches, are the brainchild of CMAB advertising agency Deutsch LA. 

The California Dairy Dispensary is a two day pop-up shop modeled after cannabis dispensary marketing and decorating practices. In fact, the shop itself will be located just a few doors away from many of the city’s popular legal cannabis dispensaries. What they’ve forgotten to include, however, is any reference to the decades of prohibition and stigma experienced by cannabis patients and early entrepreneurs.

Currently, over 40,000 Americans are sitting in jail cells for non-violent cannabis crimes while ‘Chads’ who more often than not voted against medical and adult-use laws are running public cannabis companies without having to worry about federal action faced by heirloom growers, patient providers, and activists. This is just one layer of the industry trauma that Big Milk has completely disregarded in their ploy to convince more people to imbibe cow juice.   

And the dispensary aesthetic isn’t the only thing that CMAB has co-opted from the state’s hard-won legal cannabis industry. The marketing team is also attempting to rebrand the acronym CBD as ‘California Based Dairy’ which would, at the very least, be a confusing moniker since it is already solidified as how patients and others casually refer to the legal cannabinoid Cannabidiol. 

John Talbot, CEO of the CMAB, stated in a public press release, “California-based dairy foods, or CBD for short, not only taste delicious but are a natural way to enter a golden state of feeling everything from bliss to excitement.”

At this dairy dispensary, patrons will be greeted by ‘dairy docents’ who will educate them on what they refer to as the ‘soothing effects of ice cream and butter.’ Milk-based products will be fashioned in the style of cannabis products with a focus on cheese organized by strain and “pre-rolls” made with ice cream. None of which is based on a foundation like the medicinal benefits of cannabis, a plant that has been the only non-addictive relief for epileptic children, severely arthritic elders, and other medical patients who risked everything for safe access to cannabis medicine. 

Deutsch LA senior vice president Mike Frank says the stunt is “playing off” the normalization of cannabis, a decades-long fight that was won by health-focused activists and chronically ill patients. However, while the California dairy industry has fun with the dispensary model, they have completely neglected to address the fact that thousands of political prisoners are serving sentences for non-violent cannabis-related crimes. 

It’s clear that although the marketing agency thought through many details of this pop-up shop, their execution is beyond tone-deaf to a fledgling industry going through its own growing pains. 

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USDA Adds Hemp to Agriculture Insurance Programs

2/11/2020

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture has created a pilot hemp insurance program through its Multi-Peril Crop Insurance program and producers now have access to the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), the agency announced last week.

The MPCI pilot hemp insurance program provides coverage against loss of yield for hemp grown for fiber, grain, or CBD and is available for eligible producers in certain counties in Alabama, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

To be eligible for the pilot program, hemp producers must have at least one year of production history and have a contract for the sale of the insured hemp. The policy requires minimum acreage of 5 acres for CBD and 20 acres for grain and fiber. Hemp will not qualify for replant payments or prevented plant payments under MPCI, the agency said.

The NAP coverage protects against losses associated with lower yields, destroyed crops, or prevented planting where no permanent federal crop insurance program is available. NAP basic is available at 55 percent of the average market price for crop losses exceeding 50 percent of expected production and buy-up coverage is available in some cases, the agency said in a release. The 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized hemp federally, allows for buy-up levels of NAP coverage from 50 to 65 percent of expected production in 5 percent increments, at 100 percent of the average market price. For all coverage levels, the NAP service fee is $325 per crop or $825 per producer per county, not to exceed $1,950 for a producer with farming interests in multiple counties.

Last year the USDA announced hemp would qualify under the federal Whole-Farm Revenue Protection policy. Hemp farmers eligible under that program can insure plants with revenues up to $8.5 million. In December, the agency said hemp would also qualify under the MPCI Actual Production History provisions and that in 2021 hemp plants would be insurable under the Nursery Crop Insurance and Nursery Value Select Pilot Crop programs.

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Weedmaps Pulls Unlicensed Michigan Cannabis Businesses

2/11/2020

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Weedmaps is no longer allowing Michigan cannabis businesses without a state-issued license number to advertise on the site and has pulled all ads and listings from unlicensed operators, according to an MLive report. Marijuana Regulatory Agency Director Andrew Brisbo said the agency had been advocating for the company to “change their approach for the last two years.”

“As a prominent platform in the industry, it is critical that they are a good partner with regulators in promoting the licensed industry as the safest option for consumers. We applaud them taking this action.” – Brisbo, to MLive

Weedmaps spokesman Carl Fillichio told MLive that the company began removing unverified advertisers on December 31 and had created an option for users to “flag” potentially unlicensed dispensaries on the app.

Last August the company announced a nation-wide policy prohibiting unlicensed businesses from advertising or being listed on the site. A report in January indicated Weedmaps had removed 2,700 unlicensed California dispensaries from the site – a figure that was disputed by a company representative who declined to provide a different sum as the company considers its information proprietary.

MLive confirmed that the businesses currently listed on Weedmaps held a valid medical or recreational cannabis license.

Weedmaps Vice President Bridget Hennessey said the company would only allow licensed businesses as part of their “ongoing effort to lead the technology industry in providing the most current, comprehensive and accurate online listing of medical and adult-use cannabis businesses.”

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Medical Cannabis Bill Introduced in Alabama

2/11/2020

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Alabama State Senator Tim Melson (R) is expected to introduce a measure today to legalize medical cannabis in the state, according to the Alabama Political Reporter. The bill draft is based on one approved by the Alabama Medical Cannabis Study Commission, which was chaired by Melson, who is also an anesthesiologist.

That commission, approved last year by Republican Gov. Kay Ivey, ran from August to December. In the Medical Cannabis Study Commission report, the commission recommended program prohibitions on smoking, edibles that could entice children, and seed-to-sale tracking. The proposals outlined in the report were approved by 12 of the 18 members with three in opposition and three abstaining. Those who opposed cited concerns over federal law conflicts, potential workplace and employment issues, drugged driving, and fears about recreational cannabis legalization.

During a commission meeting in September, Stephen Taylor, a child and adolescent psychiatrist and addiction psychiatrist, said that the state should not be calling cannabis “medical,” arguing that “if it hasn’t been validated as medicine,” it shouldn’t be called “medical marijuana or medical cannabis.”

According to the Political Reporter, the measure proposed by Melson would allow the state’s farmers to cultivate medical cannabis to be sold through dispensaries to registered patients. The bill would also license processors and transporters.

It does not allow for home-grows and would impose a tax on sales which would be used to fund a Medical Marijuana Commission.

Last year, the state Senate approved a medical cannabis bill that included 33 qualifying conditions but it did not receive any support in the House and was never voted on by the chamber. Rep. Mike Ball (R), who introduced last year’s measure in the House to the Political Reporter that he wasn’t sure he would sponsor the bill this session because he is focused on improving the state’s legislative ethics laws.

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Oregon Raises THC Limits for Hemp Extracts

2/10/2020

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The Oregon Liquor Control Commission has approved a rule allowing hemp concentrates, extracts, or tinctures to contain up to 50 milligrams of total THC per container in order to allow a use for industrial hemp that contains THC levels over federal and state limits of 0.3 percent, the Register-Guard reports. Previously, such items were limited to no more than 10 milligrams total per container.

Sun God Medicinals CEO Brie Malarkey said the rule change will allow the company to again sell some of its products that were effectively banned by an OLCC rule change last year.

“Every single one of our tinctures or droppers are back in business, because we were only a few milligrams over the 10 milligrams limit with our products. What it allows us to do is stay true to whole plant herbalism. We can maintain being certified organic because the naturally occurring levels of THC that are present in the hemp plant would still be allowed in there.” – Malarkey, to the Register-Guard

OLCC Hemp and Processing Technician Steven Crowley explained that tinctures, extracts, and concentrates in the state’s recreational market may contain up to 1,000 milligrams of THC per container and the new rules “are still only a fraction of what the equivalent marijuana item can have.”

He added that “most whole hemp tinctures seem to contain 20 milligrams to 40 milligrams THC along with several hundred milligrams of CBD” and the rule change will allow those items to be sold in 1-gram units. Hemp tinctures were also constrained by the 10 milligrams per container limit.

Hemp edibles in Oregon remain capped at 10 milligrams per unit and 1 milligram per serving.

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Officials Approve Colorado’s First Cannabis Degree Program

2/10/2020

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The Colorado Commission on Higher Education has approved a bachelor of science in cannabis biology and chemistry at Colorado State University-Pueblo, the state education department announced on Friday. The degree program is the state’s first related to cannabis.

Students enrolled in the program – which will be part of the university’s chemistry department – can choose either a track focused on natural products or an analytical track focused on chemistry, according to a CNN report. The natural products route is focused more on the biology of cannabis, including courses on neurobiology, biochemistry, and genetics. The analytical chemistry track focuses on chemical compounds. However, despite cannabis’ legal status in Colorado, students won’t be able to work with THC-rich plants due to federal laws and the fact that CSU gets federal funding. The lab is permitted to cultivate industrial hemp and CBD-rich plants.

CSU-Pueblo estimates as many as 60 students could be enrolled in the major after four years.

David Lehmpuhl, dean of CSU-Pueblo’s College of Science and Mathematics, described the program as a “rigorous degree geared toward the increasing demand coming about because of the cannabis industry.”

“Hemp and marijuana has really come to the forefront in a lot of economic sectors in the country. We’re not pro-cannabis or anti-cannabis. What we’re about will be the science and training students to look at that science.” – Lehmpuhl, to the Denver Post

CSU is also planning on opening a new research center in the spring at their Fort Collins campus dedicated to studying cannabinoids. That center will be at least partially funded by a $1.5 million donation from Panacea Life Sciences CEO Leslie Buttorff.

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Nepal Lawmakers Consider Cannabis Legalization

2/10/2020

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Lawmakers from Nepal’s ruling Communist Party have introduced legislation to legalize cannabis, the Associated Press reports. Birod Khatiwada, a member of the party, said the country’s terrain is suitable for cannabis cultivation and would be a boon to the agricultural economy.

“Legalizing marijuana will help the poor farmers and since most of the Western world, which was reason for making it illegal in the first place, have already ended the prohibition, Nepal should also lift the ban.” — Khatiwada, to the AP

The legislation, which is backed by 46 Communist lawmakers, would also ban the import of alcohol, according to the Press Trust of India.

“Marijuana has multiple uses,” Khatiwada, who represents the region that produces the most cannabis in Nepal, said in the PTI report. “It also helps earn foreign currencies and produce medicines.”

Gokul Baskota, spokesperson and Minister for Information and Communications Technology, said the government had yet to take any steps on the measure, which must be debated on and approved by Parliament.

Cannabis has been banned in Nepal since 1973, around the same time that anti-cannabis laws took hold throughout the world. The lawmakers argue that over 65 countries – including the U.S., Canada, and Germany, who led the movements for cannabis prohibition in the 1970s – have already legalized it.

Canada legalized cannabis for adults in 2018, while Germany approved federal medical cannabis legalization in 2017. Federally, the U.S. continues its ban on all cannabis use; however, 33 U.S. states have legalized medical cannabis and 11 states and Washington D.C. have legalized its use for adults.

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Biden Says Cannabis ‘Has to Be Legalized’

2/07/2020

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Former vice president and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden expressed support for federal cannabis reforms in a recording obtained by Politico and published on Thursday. Biden’s comments on the campaign trail in New Hampshire were recorded by Don Murphy of the Marijuana Policy Project.

In the recording, Murphy asks Biden about his “hawkish” cannabis policies. In his response, the former vice president expresses support for decriminalization, medical cannabis legalization, and criminal justice reform, ultimately concluding that the U.S. is “at the point where it has to be, basically, legalized” but that he was “not prepared to do it” while “serious medical people” still have concerns over its effects.

“First of all, we should decriminalize marijuana and I’ve been pushing that for a while, period. … Number two, medical marijuana should be approved. … Number three, anyone convicted of a marijuana offense past, present, or in the future have their record wiped clean so they can answer on any sworn affidavit they’ve never been arrested for a crime related to marijuana. … Either, as you know, there are medical people who say we should study it more to make sure that there aren’t other effects – it’s not a gateway drug, it’s not a gateway drug, I think science matters – … And I would have the [National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control] looking at it.” – Biden, in a recorded interview, via Politico

Biden’s campaign told Politico that he was “restating his cannabis policy” on the recording. Last November, Biden said during a Las Vegas, Nevada town hall that he wouldn’t legalize cannabis due to concerns about whether it’s a gateway drug; although he did express support for federal decriminalization and medical cannabis legalization during his remarks at that event and did walk back the gateway drug comments a few weeks later.

Among the frontrunners for the Democratic nomination, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has indicated he would legalize cannabis federally on his first day in office, while former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg supports the decriminalization of all drugs, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) has sponsored the Marijuana Justice Act which includes cannabis legalization and criminal justice-related reforms.

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Aurora CEO Retires Amid ‘Business Transformation Plan’

2/07/2020

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Aurora Cannabis Inc. co-founder and CEO Terry Booth announced his retirement from the company on Thursday, the latest cannabis company CEO to leave their job amid a volatile time in the industry. According to a Yahoo! Finance report, the company also said it was implementing a “business transformation plan” while BNN Bloomberg reported that Aurora plans to cut its workforce by 10 percent.

Although Aurora didn’t comment on the rumored job cuts, the firm said the recent changes are “consistent with, and evidence of Aurora’s commitment to, achieving positive [Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization] and cash flow as rapidly as possible, while still maintaining the ability to capitalize on longer-term Canadian and global cannabis market opportunities.”

In a statement, Booth said the timing was right to make the announcement.

“These changes, along with the financial transformation which we are undertaking, should clearly demonstrate to investors that Aurora has the continuity, strategic direction and leadership it needs to transition from its entrepreneurial roots to an established organization well positioned to capitalize on a global growth opportunity.” – Booth, in a statement, via Yahoo! Finance

Executive Chairman Michael Singer will become interim CEO and the company also added two new independent directors – Michael Detlefsen, the current Managing Director of Pomegranate Capital Advisors, and Lance Friedmann, who has worked for Kraft Foods and Mondelēz International, Inc.

Last month Aurora put its Exeter greenhouse facility up for sale amid a stock price plunge.

Booth is at least the third cannabis company CEO to leave their position since January 2018 when Aphria CEO Vic Neufield was removed following a financial scandal. In July, Canopy Growth Corp. co-founder Bruce Linton was ousted from his role as CEO and just last month MedMen Enterprises co-founder Adam Bierman stepped down amid reports that the company was strapped for cash and offering to pay vendors with company stock.

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Embattled Kentucky Hemp Processor Files for Chapter 11

2/07/2020

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GenCanna Global USA Inc., a leading hemp processing company in Kentucky, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy that could lead to a reorganization plan, debt refinancing, or a potential sale, according to a MarketWatch report. The company will be allowed to continue operations during the process.

In a statement, CEO Matty Mangone-Miranda said the company was taking the action “in order to position [the] business for success in a highly dynamic and rapidly evolving industry.” The company indicated it had recently secured about $10 million in “post-petition debtor-in-possession” financing from its senior lender and that the infusion, which is subject to court approval, would give the company liquidity to maintain operations during the bankruptcy process.

“While this is certainly not the outcome we desired, the bankruptcy process gives us the ability to move forward in a way that allows us to best continue operations and serve customers as we work through our reorganization,” GenCann said in a press release.

Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles, a strong supporter of agricultural hemp, said it was a sign that the industry as a whole is facing “strong headwinds.” He said it is a priority to ensure farmers and contractors get paid what GenCanna owes them.

“Today’s announcement is a gut punch to Kentucky’s hemp industry and to many Kentucky farmers who dared to hope and risk on this crop.” – Quarles, in a statement, via MarketWatch

Last month, three companies – Pinnacle Inc., Crawford Sales Inc., and Integrity Architecture PLLC –  filed a petition in the federal court last to initiate involuntary bankruptcy proceedings in an effort to receive payments of debts owed by GenCanna, according to a WPSD report.

In Kentucky, the home state of Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R), who helped guide federal hemp reforms in 2018, there are nearly 1,000 growers and more than 200 processors who received hemp business licenses last year. University of Kentucky agricultural economists estimate the state’s producers could have earned between $55 million and $65 million from last year’s crop.

According to WPSD, GenCanna has an unfinished processing plant in Graves County and an unused manufacturing space in Paducah. In December, the firm laid off about 60 of its employees at its headquarters, while liens have been placed on one of its facilities by contractors who claim they were not paid for their work on the facility; at least one contractor filed a foreclosure complaint against the property. GenCanna is also accused of sending low-quality hemp seeds and violating contracts, which has led to lawsuits.

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Dale Sky Jones & Malcolm Youngren: Evolving Cannabis Education

2/06/2020

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Dale Sky Jones is the president and CEO of Oaksterdam University, a cannabis education institution that has successfully trained thousands of cannabis workers and professionals. Malcolm Youngren is the chief operating officer for the Pacific College of Health & Science, an institution dedicated to the integrative teaching of both Western and Eastern medicinal practices.

Together, the two have partnered for a program that offers Medical Cannabis Certificates for Health Professionals — in the following Q&A, which features both Dale and Malcolm, we dive into this latest partnership and unique offering.

Ganjapreneur: Oaksterdam has been educating cannabis patients and cultivators for a long time. Can you tell us about some of the challenges you’ve faced since the beginning?

Dale Sky Jones: It has been a long time! Almost 24 years ago, Jeff Jones, who is my husband, saw a need to teach patients how to grow cannabis for personal medical use. Then in 2007 Richard Lee officially founded the school and added legal, history, politics, science, and business to the curriculum. The idea was to educate people so they would become advocates to change the laws. Since Oaksterdam began offering classes, we’ve trained over 40,000 students from 40 countries, and now we’re online, so we’re international.

Being the first to do anything as involving as this, and against legal and social norms, has inherent challenges. Launching the school, and then the statewide campaign in 2010 to legalize cannabis in California, now the fifth largest economy in the world, were both extraordinarily difficult and also exhilarating and impactful. But by far, the most traumatic experience was the federal raid in April 2012. It’s an understatement to say that it was devastating for the school. They came after us because we were leading the charge, and they took everything but the office furniture — including all our records and bank accounts. The government took everything our founder had earned and forced him to retire, even though he was never charged with a crime. I took over running the school and museum as my mission to continue the legacy, and to fulfill the need of quality training for the cannabis industry.

How did the collaboration for a Medical Cannabis Certificate for Health Professionals come about?

Malcolm Youngren: About a year and a half ago, after reading the 2018 National Council of State Boards of Nursing guidelines for Medical Marijuana, I reached out to Dale at Oaksterdam. We agreed that those guidelines, which outline the areas of knowledge all 3 million nurses in the United States should know, were a game-changer. We both knew immediately that we needed this certificate. Over 50 million U.S. citizens currently use cannabis, as reported last year, and the market is expected to grow to over $125 billion by 2025. 

Oaksterdam University is a natural partner because, for 22 years, the school has been a leader in cannabis education with a focus on cannabis producers. They have deep expertise in production, seed to sale, legal, and business development, and our knowledge is on the healthcare side. Pacific College is a leader in educating healthcare professions with a focus on nursing, acupuncturists, and massage therapy. Together, we could build a great partnership. We see this as the first of many collaborations between our two schools. For this inaugural certificate, they are providing key lectures, and we hope the partnership grows to encompass a wide variety of educational programs.

Who is the certificate for, and why is it needed?

Malcolm Youngren: Pacific College completed a survey of 107 nurses in the fall of 2018, and 65 percent of those nurses said that their profession needs more education in medical cannabis. That is why the certificate is necessary. There is too little education in the myriad of topics presented by cannabis, such as state laws, medical efficacy, quality control, appropriate prescriptions, contraindications, and many more. With over 50 million users in the United States, the need for this type of education is urgent.

What role did Oaksterdam play in developing the curriculum?

Dale Sky Jones: This certificate program is truly Malcolm’s vision. He and Pacific College developed the curriculum, and then we had a fruitful conversation with them about what role Oaksterdam could play. Two of our best educators are providing several key lectures, which cover cannabis subjects that are relevant to the medical professionals enrolled at Pacific College. There is nothing else like this certificate out there from an accredited college. We are thrilled to be part of the beginning of something that will revolutionize medical education across the country. The next step is bringing Oaksterdam program electives to Pacific College students.

Who will be teaching the courses, and what are their backgrounds?

Malcolm Youngren: Dr. Carey Clark and Dr. Denis Foster are two exceptional faculty members. Not only are they both PhDs and nurses, but Dr. Clark is also the president of the American Cannabis Nurses Association and Dr. Foster is their secretary and a regional director. Dr. Clark is published in over 30 medical journals, the editor of next year’s Wolters-Kuhlwer Cannabis Handbook for Nurses, and an associate professor of nursing at the University of Maine, where she moved to start an integrated holistic nursing program that includes studies on the endocannabinoid system. Also a holistic practitioner, Dr. Foster has been a professional nurse for over 30 years as well as a proponent for the use of cannabis as a therapeutic treatment. I admire her tireless advocacy for medical cannabis research and education. Both are perfect fits for our new certificate program. 

Dale Sky Jones: Natalie Darves is our dean, a certified master gardener, and she teaches cultivation, regulation, and business strategy. Paul Armentano is the deputy director of NORML and our chair of science, and he teaches cannabis policy and law. Both are highly educated academics with decades of experience in their fields. Natalie has managed dozens of outdoor farms and greenhouses, and Paul is an author appearing in thousands of publications. Our students couldn’t have anyone better preparing them for their cannabis-related future. 

How would a hospital board benefit from sending their staff to these courses?

Malcolm Youngren: Cannabis is mainstream, as exemplified by luxury cannabis brands and the high-end retailer Barney’s launching a cannabis lifestyle shop. Cannabis is all around us, but few medical practitioners know about it. Hospital boards need a core of their staff to understand cannabis beyond what they can pull off the internet. This certificate is the first college level certificate in the country, and PhDs who are field leaders are teaching the program. Furthermore, through the capstone course, students can customize their certificate to the specific needs of their hospital.

What are the courses offered, and where are they available?

Malcolm Youngren: The three courses currently being offered are Endocannabinoid System and Pharmacology, Clinical Medical Cannabis Guidelines and Professional Practice, and Cannabis Care Capstone. All classes will be available online, beginning with the next term in January 2020. 

What advice do you have for someone interested in pursuing a career in cannabis education?

Dale Sky Jones: Until we deschedule and legalize cannabis for adult use and for those with medical needs, we are all fighting to end prohibition. We’ve held on long enough to see the world change. To know that our alumni are indeed helping to create that change. Our biggest challenge hasn’t been about ending the prohibition ourselves. It’s been about getting society to finally come around to agreeing that the failed policy of prohibition needs to change, and that we need to legalize research and safe access. I believe otherwise law-abiding citizens can fully participate in the production of a commodity that is safer than many therapeutic substances known to man. 

Healthcare professionals must receive the knowledge needed to fulfill the expectations and needs of patients and the community. This is the moment we can partner with community leaders and higher learning institutions to ensure best practices and corporate responsibility. This new venture between Oaksterdam University and Pacific College of Oriental Medicine is an exciting opportunity and the next step toward achieving homeostasis between academic needs and educational opportunities. 

How will this partnership impact future courses, structure, and offerings from Oaksterdam?

Dale Sky Jones: We are looking at growing our collaboration with Pacific College, offering more courses that will prepare professionals in the cannabis space for business success in this rapidly evolving market. Since we are actively discussing those plans, there’s nothing we can announce just yet. Until then, those interested to know more about Oaksterdam’s curriculum should visit our website to learn more.

What skills will nurses develop after completing the Medical Cannabis Certificate for Health Professionals? How can these skills be used on the job?

Malcolm Youngren: Patients need expert care. In Pacific College’s Medical Cannabis Certificate Program, the students are supported in growing their communication, patient coaching with the use of motivational interviewing, and presentation and research skills. This training is designed to enable them to confidently begin working with patients in a private consulting capacity as related to their current professional status, educate patients and other healthcare providers, and perform outreach with communities. Not only are our certificate holders prepared to work in many diverse settings, but as well an academic certificate carries much more credibility versus completing a series of continuing education units. The completion of the cannabis care certificate demonstrates a commitment to furthering one’s skills as a highly qualified practitioner who is prepared to coach populations with their cannabis care healing journey.

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Space Picks™ First to Launch Cannabis Into Outer Space

2/06/2020

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(Tulsa, OK) February 6, 2020 – Just as Elon Musk announced his plans to launch marijuana into the cosmos, SPACE PICKS™ came out victorious in the cannabis space race, launching 20,000 mgs of dope into outer space four weeks ahead of the tech mogul’s schedule. The company launched a High-Altitude Balloon (HAB) to the edge of space filled with 2,000 of their signature THC-infused toothpicks Wednesday morning from an undisclosed location somewhere in Oklahoma.

SPACE PICKS™ ignited a revolution in the cannabis industry, introducing an inconspicuous product made from ethically sourced, freshly harvested North American white birch wood that’s imbued with natural ingredients and flavors. The toothpicks are handmade, dosage-controlled disposable and biodegradable, boasting fast activation and the utmost level of discretion. With premium THC concentrates infused into each toothpick, quality and delivery remain unmatched at its size and efficiency.

According to SPACE PICKS™ Brainchild-in-Chief and Commander Chris Beauchamp, “A package or two of SPACE PICKS™ requires just about zero space in your suitcase. It’s the most discreet, effective and portable way to experience an amazing high anywhere. Great for long trips to space or short trips to your in-laws!”

Now that the batch of THC-infused toothpicks has made their safe return to Earth, they will be available to purchase along with the company’s other five flavors later this month.

ABOUT SPACE PICKS™  
SPACE PICKS™ was developed by a team of ex-rocket scientists who reminisced about the 70s and their days of relaxing on the launchpad after a long day with a beer and a blunt. The group wanted to develop a low-profile way of getting high while on long trips to and from the launchpad that would also be safe to bring to a highly flammable environment. They settled on toothpicks as a delivery vehicle and spent many years engineering their secret solution for infusing the toothpicks with THC. Launching the toothpicks into space symbolizes the company’s launch into the industry as well as it’s launch into the future.

For media inquiries, contact Chris Beauchamp at chris@spacepicks.com or 407-797-1658.

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90% of Kentucky Supports Medical Cannabis Reforms

2/06/2020

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The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky’s Health Issues Poll found 90 percent of Kentuckians support medical cannabis legalization in the state, including 95 percent of Democrats, 92 percent of independents, and 90 percent of Republicans. In 2012, the organization found 78 percent supported the reforms.

The poll also found 59 percent support for allowing adults to buy and use cannabis “under any circumstances” – up from 38 percent in 2012; while 49 percent of respondents supported recreational cannabis legalization, up from just 26 percent in 2012. Use “under any circumstances” enjoyed bi-partisan support – 68 percent of Democrats, 59 percent of independents, and 51 percent of Republicans. Just 38 percent of Republicans supported legalization for recreational purposes, along with 54 percent of independents and 60 percent of Democrats.

The pollster also found that four in 10 Kentuckians know someone who “regularly uses” cannabis.

In 2018, a medical cannabis bill stalled in the House Judiciary Committee and while another medical cannabis bill was prefiled in the state at the beginning of the legislative session, no further action has been taken on it, according to a WLKY report. That bill received a 16-1 vote in the Judiciary Committee last year and more than 60 representatives committed to vote for it if it came to the House floor during this year’s session, according to the report.

Another bill to legalize recreational cannabis was prefiled in Kentucky for this session last December, according to WLKY.

Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, who served as Attorney General prior to his election, said on the campaign trail that he would vote for a constitutional amendment to legalize medical cannabis in the state.

The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky poll was conducted from October 16, 2019 to December 6, 2019 by the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Cincinnati. The poll included a random sample of 1,559 adults from throughout Kentucky interviewed by telephone, including 468 landline interviews and 1,091 interviews with cell phone users.

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