California’s Assembly has approved a measure to allow school boards to decide whether or not to allow medical cannabis use on K-12 campuses, the Associated Press reports. The measure only permits non-smokable forms of cannabis.
Sen. Jerry Hill (D), the lead sponsor of the legislation, said the bill “makes it easier” for students “to get the medicine they need without disrupting their school.” Under the current state’s laws, students cannot bring medical cannabis within 1,000 feet of campus and parents must come to the school, pick up their child to administer medical cannabis and bring them back. Hill called the process “disruptive” adding that “every child is entitled to an uninterrupted education.”
“Existing law allows schools to legally administer any pharmaceutical drug, including opioids, that a child has been prescribed. But there are medical conditions pharmaceuticals can’t fix, and they often have debilitating side effects. In some of these cases, medical cannabis is highly effective.” – Hill, in a statement, via the Desert Sun
A similar measure passed both the Assembly and Senate last year but was vetoed by then-Governor Jerry Brown. The new version of the bill still needs approval from the Senate before moving to Gov. Gavin Newsom for his signature.
Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi voted against the proposal, calling it “crossing what should be a bright line” in keeping cannabis out of schools, according to an ABC 7 report.
Under the bill, parents would have to administer medical cannabis to their children but it does allow school boards leeway in allowing trained staff, such as school nurses, to dose medical cannabis products to students.
Officials in Washington are considering overhauling the state’s adult-use cannabis laws, including adding a social equity program, the Associated Press reports. The Liquor and Cannabis Board are calling the proposals “Cannabis 2.0” and trying to amend the laws to be in line with what the market will look like in the next five years.
The agency is considering changes like having the Department of Ecology oversee cannabis laboratory testing and the Department of Financial Institutions look into the ownership structures of cannabis businesses. The board is also considering abandoning its seed-to-sale tracking system – which has been beset by issues throughout the five years cannabis has been legalized in the state.
While Washington is not currently issuing new cannabis licenses, 11 retailers have surrendered their licenses and officials could make those available to social equity applicants, including minorities, women, and military veterans, according to the report. Legislation in the state would create a technical assistance program for social equity applicants which would give them access to grants totaling at least $100,000 per year. The agency could open up another licensing process for social equity applicants if cities and counties agree to add more cannabusinesses.
The Liquor and Cannabis Board is also reportedly considering allowing cannabis exports if the federal government allows it – similar to the law recently approved by neighboring Oregon.
Lawmakers, meanwhile, are considering a plan to allow the state’s tier one, or smallest, cultivators to sell directly to the state’s medical cannabis patients on-site, which would help patients receive medical-grade products and the cultivators. Another proposal would allow those cultivators to expand their operations from 2,000 square feet to 5,000 square feet and, possibly, 8,000 square feet.
Former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is taking an ownership stake in Abacus Health Products, a Rhode Island-based company that produces CBDMedic and is publicly traded on the Canadian Securities Exchange, WBUR reports. At a news conference yesterday, Gronkowski – a three-time Super Bowl champion and five-time Pro Bowl selection – credited CBD with making him “pain-free” for the first time in a decade.
“I’m here today to appeal to the sports governing bodies of the world to update their position on CBD, whether that’s the NBA, MLB or NFL. It’s just time.” – Gronkowski, during a news conference, via WBUR
Gronkowski, who is just 30-years-old, retired from the National Football League after last season following a career plagued by injuries and nine surgeries.
“[The injuries] took an absolute beating on my mind and my soul. I was hurt both mentally and physically, day in and day out,” Gronkowski said during the conference. “I decided to walk away from the game for one reason: I had to recover.”
During his remarks, Gronkowski indicated if his health continues to improve he would consider returning to the league; however, as Dan Roche of WBZ-TV points out, CBD is still banned by the NFL and Gronkowski would be facing a suspension if he continued using CBD products and returned to football. The league did announce in May that it, along with the NFL Player’s Association, is including medical cannabis and cannabinoids to its pain management research.
Abacus makes topical CBD products and plans to partner with Gronkowski on a line of edibles next year.
The Drug Enforcement Administration announced yesterday that is “moving forward to facilitate and expand scientific and medical research” into medical cannabis research. The agency indicated it is already providing notice to entities and individuals with pending research applications.
The DEA notes that over the last two years, the number of individuals registered with the agency to conduct cannabis research increased from 384 to 542 and that officials have more than doubled the production quota for cannabis during that span “based on increased usage projections for federally approved research projects.”
Acting DEA Administrator Uttam Dhillon said in a press release that the agency supports “additional research into marijuana and its components [and] believe registering more growers will result in researchers having access to a wider variety for study.”
Last week, Dr. Sue Sisley – a cannabis researcher from Arizona – announced she was suing the agency over its hurdles to cannabis research and said she was only able to procure one, low-quality, variety of cannabis from the federal government.
Attorney General William Barr said he was “pleased” with the agency’s announcement.
The DEA also announced that hemp cultivators no longer need to register with the agency, following last year’s removal of hemp from the federal Controlled Substances Act in the Farm Bill.
The agency also said they will propose new regulations for cannabis research and plan to put those regulatory proposals up for public comments.
Cannabis use is likely to improve your sex life, according to the new data report Let’s Toke About Sex compiled by cannabis marketplace Eaze and Lioness, a “smart vibrator” manufacturer whose flagship product boasts climax-tracking sensors.
According to the report, people in all age demographics — whether they were a regular consumer or not, and single or married — resoundingly agreed that cannabis improves sexual experiences, both solo and with a partner.
“Simply put, cannabis makes sex lives better. As an increasing number of Americans are turning to cannabis to enhance their lives, it only makes sense that it would extend into the bedroom.” — Peter Gigante, Eaze’s head of research, in a press release
According to the report, 85 percent of respondents reported being more satisfied with their orgasms during solo sessions and 79 percent during partner sessions. Additionally, 84 percent reported that cannabis improved their experience with sex toys during solo sessions, while 79 percent agreed likewise, but for partner sessions. Notably, THC-rich edibles and vaporizers were found to be the most effective at increasing one’s number of orgasms, followed by CBD edibles and vapes.
Cannabis was also found to have a resounding effect on the length of sexual activity during both solo (64 percent) and partner (73 percent) sessions.
Lastly, in a direct comparison to alcohol, respondents overwhelmingly described cannabis as more of a factor in intense orgasms (66 percent vs just 2 percent), longer sessions (57 percent vs 6 percent), feeling a connection with their partner (56 percent vs 3 percent), more satisfying foreplay (55 percent vs 3 percent), and increased orgasms (52 percent vs 2 percent).
“The fact of the matter is, cannabis is helping people have healthier and happier sex lives,” Liz Klinger, co-founder and CEO at Lioness, said in a statement. “We hope that this report will help break down outdated taboos around pleasure and are thrilled to partner with Eaze to uncover new insights about the positive effects cannabis can have on sexual exploration.”
The National Institute for Health Care and Excellence – a United Kingdom policy group – has decided not to recommend CBD with clobazam for treating treatment-resistant epilepsy conditions Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes, according to a Medscape report. CBD with clobazam is used in the GW Pharma drug Epidiolex.
Meindert Boysen, director of the NICE Centre for Health Technology Evaluation, said that the committee accepts “that the evidence shows that cannabidiol with clobazam reduces seizure frequency, [but] its long-term efficacy is unknown.”
“…The committee was not convinced about the way the company had modeled the effect on people living longer or having a better quality of life. Based on the evidence presented to it, the committee could not recommend cannabidiol with clobazam as an effective use of [National Health Services] resources.” – Boysen, to Medscape
Boysen added that NICE is “committed to working with the company to resolve the economic modeling issues identified by the committee, and to help them understand what they may need to do to mitigate the cost of cannabidiol to the NHS.”
Professor David Nutt, head of the Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial College London, told Medscape that CBD “by itself isn’t particularly efficacious” for treating epilepsy syndromes, and that “most of the successful outcomes” have come from the use of cannabis oil that also contains THC and THCV.
“Developing and testing such combinations would be extremely challenging and expensive and, given none may ever be reimbursed by NICE, ultimately futile,” Nutt said in the report. “This is why no mainstream pharmaceutical companies are in the field.”
Earlier this month, NHS England reported that the lack of quality data was a “major hurdle” to NHS patients being able to obtain cannabis-based medicines.
Canadian company Paracanna has released a do-it-yourself cannabis gummy kit, which comes about four months before the government is set to allow edible sales, according to a Bloomberg News report. The Zen Zingers kits allow consumers to add drops of oil to create gummies in a variety of flavors.
Paracanna chief executive Andrea Butterworth said the products fall in line with Health Canada regulations for candies, despite the products not having any cannabis in them.
“No animals, no characters, no creating juicy explosions and things that are typically seen in kids’ candy. We really tried to stay away from that.” – Butterworth, to Bloomberg News
The kits allow consumers to make the gummies as weak or strong as they like, although the company doesn’t recommend doses above 10 milligrams.
“We don’t want anyone to go out and take a really high dose and hurt themselves, or put themselves in harm’s way,” Butterworth said in the report. “But there are certain people who will inevitably use the kits to access what’s required for their conditions.”
She said that, even after edibles are introduced, there would still be a place in the market for the product because it is more cost-effective than pre-packaged products. Under Health Canada regulations, THC limits for edibles are capped at 10 milligrams per package.
A Deloitte study estimates that the Canadian edibles market will be worth $1.6 billion annually.
Cannabis advocates have filed a new petition to put adult-use cannabis on the 2020 Florida ballot with the Florida Secretary of State. This latest legalization effort in Florida is spearheaded by political action committee Make it Legal Florida, chaired by Med Men lobbyist and former Republican advisor Nick Hansen.
Known as “Adult Use of Marijuana,” the prospective constitutional amendment will allow for adults over 21 to purchase and/or possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis but does not include homegrows. The initiative also includes language regulating cannabis advertising, packaging, and distribution, and would allow existing medical cannabis treatment centers to sell cannabis to adults over twenty-one.
“Public opinion is on our side, and the time to act is now. Florida voters on every side of the aisle overwhelmingly support this initiative and at Make it Legal Florida, we are committed to ensuring Floridians have a chance to have their voices heard.” — Hansen, via Marijuana Moment
Earlier this year, Regulate Florida — the group behind Florida’s successful medical cannabis Constitutional Amendment passed in 2016 — filed their own petition to put a people’s initiative on the 2020 ballot. The group recently collected the 76,632 signatures needed to trigger a Supreme Court review and economic impact study of the initiative.
Unlike the Make it Legal Florida effort, however, Regulate Florida’s initiative would allow for personal cultivation but does not include medical marijuana treatment centers in the initiative language.
Over seventy percent of Floridians turned out to support medical cannabis in 2016 and a recent Quinnipiac University Poll revealed Florida voters were in favor of legalizing adult-use cannabis, sixty-five percent to thirty percent. Despite the high polling numbers, it’s unclear how having both initiatives on the ballot might affect the vote outcomes.
Officials in Thailand are turning seized cannabis into medical cannabis products for the domestic market, according to a report from the Grizzle. Last week, law enforcement authorities seized more than 2,204 pounds of illegally grown cannabis and transferred it to the Department of Thai Traditional, Alternative Medicine and the Department of Medical Sciences to process into about 600,000 bottles of cannabis oil. Another 11 pounds will be used by the agencies for experimentation.
This month, Thailand has produced 10,000 bottles of cannabis oil through its state-run medical cannabis program and began distributing them to patients last week, according to the report. The government plans to produce 1 million more bottles at a facility near Bangkok early next year; however, demand is outpacing supply and the cannabis grown in the recent bust is high enough quality for processing.
Niyom Termsrisuk, secretary-general at the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, said that the transfer violates no international narcotics laws.
The International Narcotics Control Board, though, has said they are “deeply concerned” with the liberalization of drug laws in Thailand. INCB president Sumyai Viroj told the Bangkok Post that Thai officials should examine its agreements under the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and comply with both Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971 and Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988.
Qualifying conditions for medical cannabis in Thailand include epilepsy, chronic pain, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and the side effects of chemotherapy, although doctors can approve patients for other conditions as they deem fit.
A new analysis by the Queen’s Daily Eagle shows that, despite the loosening of cannabis possession laws in New York State and an overall decrease in cannabis arrests by the New York Police Department, nearly all individuals arrested for low-level cannabis violations in New York City during the first six months of 2019 were Black or Latinx.
According to the report, 94% of the 1,436 people arrested for 5th-degree cannabis possession or 4th-degree sale were Black or Hispanic. The data did not include arrest rates for whites or Asians, and the NYPD did not record race or ethnicity for all arrests.
Robert Gangi, director of the Police Reform Organizing Project, told the Eagle that this “blatant” disparity in arrest rates can be attributed to concentrated policing efforts in communities of color.
“The reason is fundamentally where the police are deployed and what directions they’re given. They are deployed primarily in low-income communities of color … and they’re told to practice ‘broken windows’ policing.” — Gangi, via the Queen’s Daily Eagle
These new statistics mirror an analysis published earlier this year that found that African Americans in New York state were 8.1 times more likely to be arrested for misdemeanor cannabis possession than their white peers — an increase from 7.1% in 2010. Similarly, during that same time frame, the Latinx community saw an increase in the same metric from 3.4% to 5%.
New York state Democratic leaders failed to agree on an adult-use cannabis bill this year — although the general consensus seems to be in favor of legalization — despite having control of both legislative bodies and the governorship.
Medical cannabis sales in Arkansas have reached $6.04 million just three months after sales commenced in the state, according to Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control Division figures outlined by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports. In all, more than 800 pounds of medical cannabis has been dispensed to patients in the state.
According to the Department of Finance and Administration, the state has collected $91,213 from the 4 percent privilege tax and $77,358 from its regular sales tax on cannabis purchases.
Alcoholic Beverage Control Director Doralee Chandler said the agency’s focus is “providing the remaining 24 dispensaries the support and encouragement to begin serving patients as soon as possible.”
“Every patient deserves close, convenient access to a dispensary as this was the reason four locations were licensed in each of the state’s eight zones. ABC is prepared to take action in January 2020 should any dispensaries not be operational or in the final stages of preparation.” — Chandler, to the Democrat-Gazette
The Department of Health has approved 19,992 medical cannabis patient cards and the sales figures through three months outpaced Ohio – which has triple the population of Arkansas and sold less than $2.5 million worth of medical cannabis over its first three months.
David Couch, the Little Rock attorney who drafted the voter-approved medical cannabis law, noted that the price of an ounce of medical cannabis remains at about $425 in Arkansas dispensaries. Couch noted that many of the dispensaries that haven’t opened yet are run by out-of-state firms.
Currently, there are just eight operational dispensaries in the state.
The California Assembly Appropriations Committee has approved legislation to allow cannabis consumption on ‘party buses’ – namely buses, limousines, or modified limousines – under certain conditions, CBS Local (Sacramento) reports. Under the proposal, only passengers 21-and-older would be allowed to use cannabis in the vehicle.
The conditions under the measure include a physical barrier between the driver and passenger compartment and that both are ventilated separately. Additionally, the passenger compartment must have an employee present, cannabis consumption must not be visible to the public, the vehicle design should not pose a public safety risk and must comply with all safety laws and regulations, the driver must tell passengers that cannabis consumption will take place, the driver or employee must tell passengers where all the emergency exits, and they must check the ID of all passengers.
Vehicles must also have a warning notice stating that cannabis will be consumed in the vehicle and that cannabis is a risk to pregnant or breastfeeding women and impairs driving ability.
The California Highway Patrol opposed the measure, saying that it “does not have the means to test the barriers” and that the “ingestion of secondhand smoke by the driver could have disastrous results.”
According to the bill analysis, the California Association of Highway Patrol and California Police Chiefs Association changed their stance on the bill from “opposed” to “neutral.”
Under previous state legislation, cannabis consumption was made legal on party buses licensed by the California Public Utilities Commission and this bill would close that loophole but allow companies to get licenses to allow cannabis use in their vehicles.
The measure passed the committee 10-6 and moves next to California‘s full Assembly for a vote.
Canada’s cannabis industry has seen employment numbers nearly quadruple over the last year – from 2,630 jobs to 9,200 jobs, according to Statistics Canada figures outlined by Bloomberg News. Of those jobs, about 60 percent are in cultivation, harvesting, processing, manufacturing, and administration, while 20 percent work in packaging, marketing, and sales.
In 2017, Canada’s cannabis space counted just 1,438 jobs.
In all, there are 175 cannabis firms operating in the Great White North, up from 83 last year, and just 37 in 2017. Combined, Canada‘s cannabis companies have total assets of C$4.2 billion, as of April – up from C$2.5 billion in fiscal 2018 and C$704 million in fiscal 2017. Wages, salaries, and employee benefits account for about 29 percent of cannabusiness expenses in the nation while raw materials and other inputs account for about 25 percent.
The nation’s licensed producers sold about 46 metric tons (101,413 pounds) of cannabis over the last fiscal year and had 39 metric tons (85,980 pounds) of inventory on hand.
Cannabis companies reported to Statistics Canada that, while their revenues rose 92 percent in fiscal year 2018 and another 52 percent by April, all companies reported overall losses.
In June, Statistics Canada reported that the nation had earned $186 million in excise and general taxes on cannabis-related goods and services during the first five-and-a-half months of legal sales.
A cannabis eradication law enforcement action in Ashtabula County, Ohio uncovered as many as 85 plants but law enforcement officials levied no charges due to the state’s recently passed hemp law, News 5 Cleveland reports.
In a letter to state prosecutors, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation – an agency involved in the sweep – noted that THC-rich cannabis “cannot be identified solely by historical techniques (microscopic examination and Duquenois-Levine color testing)” and “Quantitative analysis is necessary to ensure the THC content exceeds the statutory 0.3 [percent] level.” In the letter, BCI recommends suspending cannabis enforcement and not try “any cannabis-related items […] prior to the crime laboratory … being capable to perform the necessary quantitative analysis.”
Earlier this month, Attorney General Dave Yost announced the creation of a program to help law enforcement agencies differentiate between hemp and illegal cannabis. The program will provide agencies with $50,000 to have “large quantities” of cannabis tested by laboratories with the technology to test THC content.
Crime Enforcement Agency of Ashtabula County Commander Detective Greg Leonhard told NBC 5 there wasn’t enough cannabis seized in this week’s Drug Enforcement Administration-funded flyover enforcement action to charge anyone with a third-degree felony and the hemp law change makes further investigation into the grows impractical. He added that the with the attorney general’s program, people could be charged during next year’s enforcement actions.
No hemp cultivation licenses have been issued in Ohio, so cultivation of the plant is still, technically, illegal in the state.
Some law enforcement officials in other states without legalized cannabis – including Nebraska, Georgia and Texas – have said they would not make arrests or commit to prosecutions for low-level cannabis charges citing their state’s passage of hemp legalization legislation.
Last week I made my way to Montreal, Quebec, Canada — just a two-hour drive from my home in upstate, New York — and, after having covered the nation’s federal cannabis legalization, I was excited to experience it for myself. I came back with the following takeaways on weed in Canada.
Cannabis use is not ubiquitous
Of course, there were people smoking in public — and in the massive line to get into the government-run dispensary in downtown Montreal — but I saw more people drinking alcohol on the street than consuming cannabis. Even once the sun went down on the shore of the Mighty St. Lawrence River, the parks were mostly clear of cannabis odor.
Of course, this was not the case outside of the venue I was a patron of for a punk rock show — there was no shortage of concert-goers smoking joints on that street but the club’s security didn’t mind and those consuming largely did so nearer the street so as not to offend the people walking past the club.
There is also zero advertising, so you would barely notice that cannabis is legal if not for the “No Cannabis Smoking” signs pocked throughout the city. Even the dispensary had no outward signs it was a retail cannabis seller (except for the queue).
Such no-smoking signs are visible throughout Montreal.
There is a need for social-use establishments
As a tourist, it didn’t feel right lighting up in public — I mean, I did and I often do wherever I go regardless of local laws. Throughout my three-day, 11-joint stay, I mostly smoked in alleys, sparsely populated public parks, and outside of the aforementioned music venue; just once smoking “legally” on the balcony of a friend’s apartment. Each time, though, it felt uncouth. I knew I wouldn’t get in trouble or anything but I felt like I was doing exactly what prohibitionists warn the public-at-large about — contributing to public nuisance despite going out of my way to be as incognito as possible.
It would have been ideal to have an indoor place to smoke a joint, have a soft drink, and relax, instead of ripping down a half-gram joint as quickly as possible in an alley or under a tree. The hotel I stayed at imposed a CAD$1,000 fine for smoking in the room, including cannabis — which falls under local no-smoking regulations just like tobacco. If the government and residents don’t want tourists and others to consume in public they need to establish and support social-use establishments.
The market needs edibles
In the absence of social-use establishments, edibles cannot come soon enough. I wouldn’t have even bought flower had edibles been an option — I like them better than smoking and could have consumed them anywhere I had visited. However, with smokeable (and vapeable) products as the only legally-available option, of course people, especially tourists, are going to be consuming in public — there’s no other viable way to enjoy weed in Canada.
It’s not as expensive as you might think
Seriously, I bought nine joints legally — totaling 6 grams — and it cost me about what flower costs me in the upstate New York illegal market (less than US$60). Now, I realize for Canadians there is a bit of sticker shock, but for me (and the guy from Philly who was in the line next to me) the price was not at all a deterrent for purchasing legal products. I was given a gram by my friend (who still purchases outside of the legal shops), which prevented me from having to go back into the dispensary, but I would not have been dissuaded from making another run because of the price. More likely, it would have been the line.
The exterior packaging of my legal cannabis purchase in Canada.
The packaging is too much
I get the urge to use child-resistant packaging but with two of the pre-rolls I bought they were each in a cardboard box that held a sealed, plastic container for the joint itself — that’s a lot of waste for what, illegally, comes in one plastic bag (along with the rest of the purchase). The other joints came in hard plastic tubes with multiples per tube but still, far more waste than a sandwich bag.
And, sure, I would have received one plastic package had I just bought it by the gram and not pre-rolls, but it would have been much harder to consume as there are not a lot of places to openly roll a joint or use a pipe, and I wasn’t going to risk crossing the U.S. border with even a roach let alone leftovers or paraphernalia.
A look at the excessive packaging from the inside of a box of pre-rolls.
More shops need to open
The line at the dispensary I went to wrapped nearly around the block; however, it moved fairly quickly and I spent about 30 minutes from the time I lined up until the time I walked out. But the long line makes the buying experience a bit stressful, as you don’t want to be the one that holds it up so you sort of make your choices under self-imposed duress. Don’t take that to mean that the staff rushes you along — quite the opposite, actually; they were very friendly and patient but when you know you have 200 people behind you, it makes you want to hurry.
Of course, it’s been less than a year since legal sales commenced and had I wanted to drive I could have found a dispensary that might have had shorter lines, but it was apparent that there is a need for another dispensary or two at least in downtown Montreal.
The Canadian model — at least the one I experienced in Montreal — is what I expect the industry to look like in states that legalize via the legislature: tested, packaged, products with no advertising and no places for non-residents to safely consume. For me, it was the first time I had bought cannabis at a dispensary (although I had made legal purchases at Michigan’s Cannabis Cup) and the experience was, mostly, everything I expected; although, I really did expect to see more people smoking on the streets and advertisements for delivery or a dispensary location services at least.
The next trip I make will likely be after edibles are legalized (the word is they’ll be available by Jan. 1, 2020) and I plan to look around for more cannabis-friendly accommodations and, while weed in Canada is not perfect — I do think they would be served by opening up dispensing to private companies — I didn’t have that fear of being fined or even arrested for the joints in my pocket. And as I walked out with my brown paper bag I uttered, “There is freedom in Canada.”
The Ooze Slugger Dabbin Dugout is a silicone travel kit designed for on-the-move dabbing, and for bringing your dabbing gear on the road.
Complete with silicone padding and smart, secure storage for your ceramic or glass nails, bowls, packaged concentrates, and more, the Ooze Slugger Dabbin Dugout is a sleek, compact design that can fit nicely in your backpack, purse, or — if you’re traveling within a fully legalized state — even your airplane carry-on and/or checked luggage.
One end of the Dabbin Dugout travel case contains two long compartments. These compartments come pre-filled — one compartment contains an Ooze nectar collector, which is a long, straight silicone tube designed for the easy vaporization of cannabis waxes or oils; the other compartment opens into two smaller pockets that each come pre-filled with a nail, one glass and the other titanium.
On the opposite end of the Ooze Slugger Dabbin Dugout, a silicone flap can be peeled back to reveal a larger compartment designed for easy, on-the-go dabbing. The base of this pocket is lined with a glass bowl, which works as a convenient dabbing surface, as the sticky stuff you put there won’t get stuck as easily and the compartment can be swiftly wiped clean when you’re finished. Combined with the nectar collector, this is a much more travel-friendly option than traditional dab rigs, as you won’t have to risk losing or breaking your favorite piece when you’re out and about.
Lastly, one of the travel kit’s long sides contains an additional chamber that has been broken into four individual storage compartments. These pockets are handy for packing away various cannabis concentrate samples — we would suggest keeping them wrapped up in wax paper, however, to avoid making a mess of things!
All in all, the Ooze Slugger Dabbin Dugout does its job without fuss or complications. It’s a great travel solution for bringing your at-home dabbing experience on the road, and is perfect for consumers who want to take that extra step to guarantee their travel experience won’t result in a cracked nail or misplaced gram.
With a $50.00 price tag, we recommend this product for individuals who really enjoy collecting, protecting, and nerding out about their fancy dabbing gear. Remember: while this kit comes with its own collection of nails and vaping tools, you can always insert your own favorite products in their place!
Researchers at Harvard University’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have found a cannabis flavonoid to have “significant therapy potential” for treating pancreatic cancer, according to a CBS Local (New York) report. In studies, the flavonoid derivative – FBL-03G – killed tumor cells in 70 percent of mice with pancreatic cancer.
Flavonoids, which are non-psychoactive, are naturally occurring in plants, vegetables, and fruits, giving them their colors among other things. In cannabis, they make up just .14 percent of the plant.
Wilfred Ngwa, PhD, an assistant professor at Harvard and one of the study’s researchers, told Yahoo Lifestyle that the “most significant conclusion” of the study is “that tumor-targeted delivery of flavonoids, derived from cannabis, enabled both local and metastatic tumor cell kill.” He added that this could “significantly” increase survival rates for the disease.
In the study, the researchers note that the five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer patients is 8 percent and that it often metastasizes to other organs before it’s diagnosed. It could be the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S. by next year, behind lung cancer, according to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
“We were quite surprised that the drug could inhibit the growth of cancer cells in other parts of the body, representing metastasis, that were not targeted by the treatment. This suggests that the immune system is involved as well, and we are currently investigating this mechanism.” – Ngwa, to CBS Local
Ngwa said the team hopes to complete pre-clinical trials with the compound by the end of 2020.
Weedmaps is no longer going to allow for or advertise unlicensed cannabis businesses, the company announced on Wednesday, along with plans to provide tools to help social equity entrepreneurs enter the space.
Under the changes, U.S. retailers will be required to provide a state-issued license number on their listing, and Weedmaps is restricting the use of its point of sale, online orders, delivery logistics, and wholesale exchange software-as-a-service platforms exclusively to licensed operators.
CEO Chris Beals said the changes underscore the company’s “commitment to working with lawmakers and regulators to foster a flourishing legal market.”
Last year, the company came under fire by California regulators for mapping and allowing unlicensed cannabusinesses to advertise on the site. The firm argued that advertisers on the platform “represent and warrant” that they comply with local laws and the individual companies were responsible for operating without a license. The Bureau of Cannabis Control never took action against Weedmaps.
Beals said that the company’s new social equity initiative – which includes professional development and support, resources, and access to Weedmaps services free of charge for one year – would help “give a leg up” to qualified applicants.
Julian Canete, president and CEO of the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, said the initiative provides “minority entrepreneurs with the skills, tools and resources they need to compete for those licenses. And get them.”
“Minorities make up the majority of the unlicensed business owners in the cannabis industry – and the overwhelming majority of them want to operate out of the shadows. The best way to address the unlicensed cannabis problem, promote small, minority-owned businesses, and correct social injustice is simple: give more cannabis business licenses to the people who deserve them.” – Canete, in a statement
Beals indicated that, along with the support program, Weedmaps plans on redoubling its efforts to educate local governments about the need for equitable cannabis licensing for medical access and economic development.
Utah lawmakers are likely scrapping the plan to dispense medical cannabis through health departments, opting instead for at least a dozen privately-operated dispensaries, the Salt Lake Tribune reports. The legislature is poised to hold a special session next month to address the program changes, including adding home delivery.
The decision to take local health departments out of the cannabis-dispensing equation comes after law enforcement officials warned that the plant would make those employees drug dealers in the eyes of federal authorities and some warned that the feds could cut funding. However, earlier this month U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Acting Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources Jennifer Moughalian clarified that the state’s plan would “not affect the State’s eligibility to apply for HHS grants nor … affect the outcome of the State’s application.”
“Medical marijuana is not an allowable cost under HHS grants awards; the post-award program evaluations and audits will examine the allowability of all costs,” Moughalian, said in the July 19 letter to Gov. Gary Herbert (R).
During a recent news conference, Herbert was confident that medical cannabis sales would begin in the state on Apr. 1 as outlined in the legislative-approved replacement bill for the measure approved by voters last year.
Under the proposed changes, patients would be able to order medical cannabis through a website created by the Utah Department of Health which would be delivered by a licensed courier. That site would allow electronic payment – which is not possible under the ‘central fill’ model.
The proposal would also allow cultivators to use both indoor and outdoor methods and would strengthen protections for registered patients, giving them the same protections as patients who use opioids.
A Minnesota hemp delivery driver has been charged with cannabis possession in South Dakota after being pulled over for speeding while delivering 300 pounds of hemp from a cultivator in Colorado to a processor in Minnesota, the Argus Leader reports. According to the Minnesota Hemp Industry Association, the cargo was valued at $22,500.
Association Executive Director Joe Radinovich, a former Minnesota legislator, said the case highlights the need for consistent state laws regarding hemp even though the crop was legalized federally last year.
“A Minnesota Hemp Association member expected a shipment of legally grown hemp. Instead, their driver was arrested and their hemp was confiscated in a state that isn’t complying with the Farm Bill and allowing hemp to be transported.” – Radinovich, to the Leader
South Dakota passed its own hemp legalization law last year and in May the U.S. Department of Agriculture released a memo explicitly allowing hemp to be transported across state lines if it complies with a state-approved program.
“States and Indian tribes may not prohibit the interstate transportation or shipment of hemp lawfully produced under a State or Tribal plan or under a license issued under the USDA plan,” the guidance states, adding that those protections apply to hemp produced under the 2014 Farm Bill.
The driver was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. While the driver has been released, the hemp extractor company estimates with legal fees and product lost, the arrest has cost the company about $36,000.
Medical cannabis company Tikun Olam is reportedly looking to sell their operations in Israel following a Health Ministry decision to revoke the firm’s license unless founder and controlling shareholder Yitzhak (Tzahi) Cohen cut back on his holdings, the Times of Israel reports. Tikun was the first company to receive a medical cannabis license in Israel and is its largest industry operator.
The company’s operations include a 0.74-acre cannabis farm; a Nazareth Illit factory that is under construction; offices and a clinic in Tel Aviv; and an 8,000-person patient list – altogether worth about $100 million.
Cohen has a 70 percent stake in the company and the Health Ministry had ordered him to whittle that figure down to about 5 percent or lose his license. Law enforcement had also recommended to the ministry that the company’s cultivation license not be renewed, and Cohen end his activities in the space. Last year, the Health Ministry ordered the company to temporarily stop work over concerns that its drying process was not in line with regulations.
Aharon Lutzky, president of Tikun Olam said the company would “act in accordance with the court’s directive.”
“… Our goal is to ensure that our patients are able to continue receiving the treatment they are waiting for when the company returns to full activity in Israel – regardless of its ownership structure.” – Lutzky, to the Calcalist, via the Times
The company also has operations in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Greece. Those divisions are not up for sale.
A cannabis researcher at Arizona’s Scottsdale Research Institute is suing the Drug Enforcement Administration over its hurdles to cannabis research access, namely the government-run cannabis farm at the University of Mississippi, according to a CT Post report. Dr. Sue Sisley claims that the cannabis grown at the farm is genetically closer to hemp than what can be found in both legal and illegal markets, making it hard to reach scientifically valid conclusions using the government-approved cannabis.
Sisley, who recently completed a study focused on cannabis for post-traumatic stress disorder, said that the cannabis from the Ole Miss farm was moldy, contained sticks and seeds, and was not properly tested before being sent to researchers.
“Scientists need access to options and we are handcuffed by a government-enforced monopoly that has only allowed me to study this really suboptimal study drug from Mississippi.” – Sisley, to the Arizona Capitol Times
She described the cannabis as a “standardized green powder that is just cannabis ground up.” She added that she included the U.S. Attorney General’s office in the lawsuit because she doesn’t believe that the DEA “is responsible for impeding” researcher access to quality cannabis. Her PTSD study has not yet been published, although she does not indicate whether that is attributed to the low-quality product used in the research.
Sisley wants the court to force the federal government to allow researchers to use cannabis from sources other than the Ole Miss farm, which was granted a federal license to grow cannabis more than 50 years ago.
She told the Capitol Times that she applied more than three years ago with the DEA to become a Schedule I bulk manufacturer but has not heard back from the agency, despite its acceptance of her application fee.
Earlier this month, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) introduced legislation to remove all federal restrictions on cannabis research which would direct the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to develop a research agenda. That bill would move cannabis from a Schedule I to Schedule II substance but the DEA would still be responsible for granting licenses.
In May, a federal appeals court ruled that the DEA must address the issue of cannabis’ Schedule I status and if the agency failed to act the court has the jurisdiction to “take whatever action might become appropriate.”
The Pew Charitable Trust has issued a warning to states who have passed adult-use cannabis laws to proceed with caution when budgeting their newfound cannabis tax windfalls. Citing the stark contrast between Nevada’s and California’s first six months of cannabis revenue, where Nevada exceeded projected revenue by 40% and California was 45% below their projections, the polling firm offers several reasons for the uncertainty surrounding cannabis tax forecasts.
First, unlike taxes from cigarettes or alcohol, which have been around for decades, there is no historic data on the ebbs and flows of cannabis taxes. Additionally, reliable data on consumption rates is hard to come by due to the illegality of cannabis.
“Clearly if some random person calls on the phone and asks, ‘Have you smoked marijuana?’ at a time when it’s illegal, many people are inclined to lie,” Ken Alper, former Director of Alaska’s Department of Revenue, told Pew.
Additional factors such as a change in demand, black market viability, wholesale prices, and market friction all contribute to the unpredictability of cannabis tax revenues, according to the report.
The report says states can avoid stressing their budgets by putting cannabis tax revenues in separate funds to be spent the year after they were collected like Colorado and California, or placing a percentage of the collections in a “rainy day fund” like Nevada. However, they warn not to fund specific programs such as health care like Washington.
“States should be careful to distinguish between marijuana revenue’s short-term growth and long-term sustainability. While these new dollars can fill immediate budget needs, they may prove unreliable for ongoing spending demands. Policymakers should look to other, more familiar sin taxes for lessons on how to manage marijuana tax revenue most effectively.” (From the Pew Report “Conclusions”)
U.S. Attorney of Florida’s Northern District Lawrence Keefe is taking over the prosecution of cannabis-related cases as some state prosecutors have said they will not pursue low-level charges following hemp legalization in the state, according to a WCTV report. Keefe oversees 25 Florida counties and plans on temporarily deputizing state prosecutors to help with the cannabis caseload.
Some state prosecutors have decided to stop – or temporarily halt – trying cannabis cases as it is hard to differentiate hemp from THC-rich cannabis and their offices do not have access to tests that can determine THC levels rather than just the presence of THC.
State Attorney Jack Campbell welcomed Keefe’s assistance and said the federal cases will help establish standards for cannabis-related prosecutions following hemp legalization – such as odor tests and what “still suffices as probable cause.”
Richard Greenberg, president of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, said he expects low-level offenders will face harsher sentences in federal court.
“I think it is unfortunate particularly this day in age when there’s a movement toward lessening the penalties for marijuana.” – Greenberg, to WCTV
Campbell said his office handles more than 1,000 misdemeanor possession cases per year but did not know exactly what level of offenses Keefe’s office would prosecute.
Some county attorneys in Nebraska, Georgia, and Texas have announced they would not take on low-level cannabis cases following hemp legalization in their respective states, citing the lack of THC tests and issues with probable cause.
