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Cannabis Researchers Have Published 32,000+ Studies In Last Decade

12/26/2023

In the last 10 years, researchers around the world have published more than 32,000 inquiries into the science of cannabis and cannabinoids, NORML reports. Additionally, 2023 was the third consecutive year in which scientists published more than 4,000 papers specific to cannabis, cannabinoids, and their varied effects.

NORML says the claim is based on a keyword search of the National Library of Medicine and PubMed.gov.

The development stands in stark contrast to the majority of political arguments against cannabis policy reforms, which typically claim that more research into the potential dangers of cannabis is needed before loosening restrictions on the plant.

“Scientists’ interest in studying cannabis has increased exponentially in recent years,” NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano said in a recent blog post on the political advocacy group’s website.

“It is time for politicians and others to stop assessing cannabis through the lens of ‘what we don’t know’ and instead start engaging in evidence-based discussions about marijuana and marijuana reform policies that are indicative of all that we do know.” – Armentano, via NORML

NORML, which was founded in 1970, is the oldest and largest organization in the U.S. advocating for the legalization of cannabis.

Some of the stand-out cannabis studies published in 2023 have supported the following claims:

That people who consume cannabis to help them sleep tend to stop relying on over-the-counter sleep aids,
That cannabis consumers who contracted COVID-19 experienced reduced mortality and better outcomes compared to non-consumers, and
That cannabis appears to have a positive impact on the sex lives of those who consume it.

Meanwhile, researchers have also investigated the societal effects of reforming cannabis laws at the local and state levels, including one recent study that found the average home values in states with adult-use cannabis laws have outpaced average home values in non-legal states.

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Ukraine passes medical cannabis legislation

Ukraine Lawmakers Pass Medical Cannabis Legalization Bill

12/22/2023

Ukrainian lawmakers on Thursday approved a bill to legalize medical cannabis, sending the bill to President Volodymyr Zelensky for his signature, the Kyiv Post reports.

The bill was passed by 248 votes in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, which is the nation’s 450-seat unicameral parliament. The proposal will legalize cannabis access for cancer patients and as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) resulting from its military defense against Russia, which invaded the country in February 2022.

Under the new law, medical cannabis patients would require a doctor’s prescription, and adult-use cannabis would remain strictly prohibited. To speed up patient access, the law will allow for the import of raw cannabis materials, the report said.

President Zelensky is expected to sign the legislation after having voiced his support for cannabis-based medicines in June — and during his 2019 presidential campaign — and the new law will take effect six months after receiving the president’s signature.

“The draft law on medical cannabis is aimed exclusively at treating Ukrainians who really need it. Medicines only by prescription, only medicinal products and modern production in Ukraine to avoid all possible corruption risks.” — Ukrainian MP Maria Mezentseva, via Marijuana Moment

While the bill only explicitly lists cancer and PTSD, the health committee chair said in July that lawmakers had been pressured to expand the law to cover other severe illnesses including Alzheimer’s disease and epilepsy, the report said.

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Rhode Island Tops $100M During First Year of Adult-Use Cannabis Sales

12/22/2023

Rhode Island dispensaries sold more than $100 million worth of combined medical and recreational cannabis products during the state’s first year of adult-use operations, according to data from the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation.

Adult-use cannabis sales launched in the state on December 1, 2022, and the state’s monthly adult-use sales exceeded $7 million for the first time in August, which also marked the year’s peak total sales of just under $9.7 million. In total, the state sold $35.1 million worth of medical cannabis products and $69.8 million worth of adult-use products during the first 12 months of recreational sales, which far exceeded initial projections of $50 million, MJBizDaily reported.

The boosted sales could be attributed to the statewide legalization of cannabis advertisements midway through the year.

“A year into adult-use cannabis sales in Rhode Island, we are proud of the careful execution that defined our entry into this industry. This success represents growing opportunity for our state’s economy but also for the nearly 70 licensed cultivators, processors, and manufacturers in the State of Rhode Island which we know are integral to our local cannabis supply chain.” Gov. Dan McKee (D), in a statement

Notably, the number of registered medical cannabis patients in Rhode Island fell from 15,062 last December to 10,037 in November.

Rhode Island, which passed its adult-use cannabis legalization law in May 2022, was the 19th U.S. state to adopt the reforms.

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MedMen Exiting Arizona and Nevada Cannabis Markets

12/21/2023

MedMen Enterprises Inc., a Florida-based multistate cannabis operator (MSO), announced on Wednesday that it is exiting the Arizona and Nevada state markets and will sell off its assets to Mint Cannabis, an Arizona-based MSO.

The sale covers MedMen’s wholly-owned operating subsidiary in Arizona and its two dispensaries located in Clark County, Nevada, according to a press release. The company said that the transactions are part of its “strategic review and evaluation of divestiture opportunities of its non-core assets,” and will be carried out “subject to customary closing conditions, including … the receipt of applicable regulatory approvals.”

MedMen sold off its Florida-based operations last year following the previous departure of its embattled co-founders over unpaid loans.

“MedMen is pleased with the outcome of our strategic review and has made good progress in our restructuring efforts. These transactions will bolster liquidity in the short term, reduce liabilities, and enable the Company to focus on operating efficiencies and executing our long-term asset-light growth strategy in our core markets.” – Ellen Deutsch Harrison, MedMen CEO, in a statement

Mint Cannabis co-founder and CEO Eivan Shahara said the sale will “expand our portfolio of flagship dispensaries” in Arizona and continue to bolster the company’s vertical presence in Nevada.

Following the sale, MedMen’s remaining operations will include the California, Illinois, Massachusetts, and New York adult-use cannabis markets.

The company had previously considered selling off its New York-based assets to Ascend Wellness but the deal ultimately fell through last August.

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California AG Rules Out Interstate Cannabis Commerce

12/21/2023

California Attorney General Rob Bonta said on Tuesday that opening up interstate cannabis commerce for the state’s cannabis industry would carry too much risk of federal enforcement.

Gov. Gavin Newsome (D) last year signed into law a proposal giving licensed cannabis companies the right to export their products into other state-legal markets. However, the law would only apply if there was some assurance that there would be no legal interference from the federal government, which still prohibits cannabis as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act.

California cannabis regulators asked the Attorney General’s office to consider the issue nearly one year ago and their response is finally ready, confirming that:

“Yes. State-law authorization for commercial cannabis activity between out-of-state licensees and California licensees could ‘result in significant legal risk to the State of California under the federal Controlled Substances Act.'” – Attorney General Rob Bonta, in an opinion statement

In his statement, Bonta highlights the “risks of federal preemption of state law and criminal prosecution of state employees,” and says that the law remains “unsettled as to whether state officials could be federally prosecuted for implementing state law in this area.”

California’s northern neighbor Oregon passed its own interstate cannabis commerce law in 2019 but the program requires approval from the federal government before cross-state sales can begin. Meanwhile, Maine lawmakers considered a similar proposal earlier this year but the bill was ultimately shot down in committee, Marijuana Moment reported.

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Concealed Carry Laws for Cannabis Users in CO

Voter Initiative Seeks to Let Cannabis Consumers Obtain Concealed Carry Permits

12/20/2023

A Colorado voter initiative is seeking to let voters decide whether or not cannabis consumers should be allowed to qualify for concealed carry firearm permits under state law, according to a Denver7 report.

Currently, state sheriffs are prohibited from issuing the permits to anyone who would be disqualified under federal law, which still recognizes cannabis as a prohibited, Schedule I substance. The initiative seeks to update state laws so that the lawful use of cannabis does not stymie one’s application for a concealed carry permit.

Guns for Everyone co-founder Edgar Antillon said he considers the proposal a “freedom issue.”

“It’s one of those silly things that has been going on for a while. We’ve legalized marijuana, but we don’t give [users] the ability to defend themselves. Alcohol users get to defend themselves. Why not marijuana users?” – Antillon, via Denver7

The initiative, which is being championed by a pro-gun advocacy group called Guns for Everyone, appeared before the Colorado Legislative Council Staff on Tuesday to determine whether the proposal satisfies the single-issue requirement for Colorado voter ballot initiatives.

The initiative’s next hurdle will be whether it is accepted and titled by the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office, at which point organizers would be cleared to begin collecting the required 125,000 signatures to put the issue before voters.

The federal criminalization of gun ownership by anyone who uses federally-illegal drugs of any kind, including cannabis purchased legally under state law, has recently come under scrutiny on the national stage via criminal charges that were filed against Hunter Biden pertaining to his gun ownership in a period of time when he admitted to taking drugs regularly. Though Biden is accused of owning a firearm while using crack cocaine, his lawyers referenced cannabis legalization in their argument that his prosecution is “unconstitutional.”

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New York Officials Shut Down Illegal Dispensary As Licensed Stores Begin to Open

12/20/2023

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), Attorney General Letitia James, and the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) on Monday announced the forced closure of Big Chief Smoke Shop, an unlicensed cannabis retailer in Brooklyn. The closure came just one day before the opening of the borough’s first licensed adult-use dispensary.

Big Chief Smoke Shop had been selling cannabis products without a license since at least November 2022, according to a press release from the governor’s office. Officials said they previously inspected the location in August and October and, as part of each of those actions, they issued a Notice of Violation and Order to Cease Unlicensed Activity against the shop. They also claim to have confiscated more than 600 pounds of untagged cannabis and cannabis products from the site across both visits. In addition to the forced closure, officials say they are also seeking penalties from the shop’s owner and the owner of the building that hosted the unlicensed retailer.

Gov. Hochul said in a statement that New York has “no tolerance” for unlicensed cannabis retailers in the state.

“This site egregiously violated New York’s cannabis laws and I’m proud to be working with the Attorney General to shut this down. With Brooklyn’s first legal cannabis retailers opening this month and illegal shops continuing to close, we are turning the corner towards building a stronger, safer cannabis industry.” – Hochul, in a press release

Following the action, AG James said that public health and safety are a “top priority” for officials: “New Yorkers who buy and use cannabis shouldn’t have to worry about the quality and safety of the products they are purchasing, which is why all shops must be licensed and regulated.”

Meanwhile, Brooklyn’s first licensed adult-use cannabis dispensary, Grow Together, opened on Tuesday, according to a Brooklyn Paper report.

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New Protections for Employees Who Use Cannabis in California Coming in 2024

12/19/2023

For the first time since California passed sweeping cannabis reforms, new laws to protect employees in the state who consume cannabis will take effect on January 1, 2024, according to a FOX40.com report.

The new protections will make it illegal for employers to fire, refuse to hire, or otherwise penalize employees for off-duty cannabis use, per an amendment to California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (AB 2188). Signed by Gov. Gavin Newsome in September, the new law also mandates that employment-related drug screening must only test for on-the-job impairment, not long-term use. Additionally, employers will not be allowed to use evidence of past marijuana use against their employees, and employers will no longer be allowed to ask potential hires whether they have used cannabis.

Notably, AB 2188 does not stop employers from prohibiting and/or penalizing on-the-clock cannabis use or impairment. The new protections also do not apply to jobs in “the building and construction trades,” according to the report, nor to applicants for federal positions that would require clearance from the U.S. Department of Defense.

Previously, employers in California have been free to terminate or refuse to hire someone who tested positive for cannabis use whether or not their use was limited to outside of the workplace.

In September, members of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability advanced a bipartisan measure that would let cannabis consumers qualify for security clearances and become federal employees.

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New York Governor Vetoes Bills to Legalize Hemp for Animal Feed

12/19/2023

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) last week vetoed a bill that would have let the state’s animal feed makers utilize hemp seeds in the production of certain animal feed products, Marijuana Moment reports.

Under the bill, commercial makers of animal feed for pets, horses, or camelids would have been allowed to use hemp seed or hemp seed-derived products as ingredients for their products. Supporters of the bill had argued that the seed hulls and seed meal from hemp would be nutritious animal feed additives with high protein and fiber content, the report said.

Lawmakers approved the bill months ago but Gov. Hochul, who has historically supported the New York hemp industry, did not receive the proposal until late November. The governor wrote in her veto message last week that the decision to block the proposal was based on the lack of federal recognition of hemp seed as a viable animal feed ingredient.

“To that end, I am directing the Department of Agriculture and Markets to work with Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences to research the impacts of the use of hemp seed or hemp seed products in animal feed. This study is to be completed in an expeditious manner to better inform the industry on the questions raised by the potential for expanded use of hemp products.” – Gov. Hochul, in her veto statement

The now-vetoed proposal had been backed by the National Hemp Association and similar legislation was already adopted in Montana and Pennsylvania.

In October, the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded a nearly $300,000 grant to Texas’ Prairie View A&M University to study the use of hemp as animal feed.

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DynaVap Launches The WoodWynd Dry Herb Vaporizer

12/18/2023

In 2016, DynaVap introduced the concept of a dry herb vaporizer composed of wood fitted with modular metal components. This device, the “Ti Woody”, represented a pivotal moment in DynaVap’s history and had a seismic effect on the dry herb vaporizer market. It allowed DynaVap to create a device that elegantly combined style, durability, functionality, and affordability, and became a favorite amongst dry herb enthusiasts. The Ti Woody was a staple of the DynaVap product lineup, until the company shifted focus to stainless steel and titanium devices, which it is best known for today.

The use of mixed material has always been a cornerstone of DynaVap’s manufacturing philosophy, and we’re thrilled to leverage everything we’ve mastered in terms of precision machining woods and metals with the introduction of the WoodWynd, a new thermal extraction device that melds our most innovative features with a hint of nostalgia.

Meticulously crafted, the WoodWynd showcases a balanced hourglass-shaped midsection, milled from solid Padauk Hardwood, and adorned with stainless steel crowns for durability. It also features DynaVap’s latest Helix Titanium Tip with a scratch resistant gold-colored chamber, as well as a matching helical titanium Mouthpiece and Condenser.

“I’m really excited to launch the WoodWynd, because it’s a full circle moment for us,” said DynaVap founder George Breiwa. “DynaVap has become most well known for our metal devices, but wood adds such a unique touch that simply can’t be replicated, and the WoodWynd is really an alluring hybrid of both materials. The WoodWynd showcases the beauty of wood, the durability of steel and titanium, and the functionality people have come to expect from DynaVap.”

Like all DynaVap products, the WoodWynd is a battery free vaporizer that uses a torch or an induction heater to bake, not burn your herb. DynaVap’s products are lightweight and discrete yet deliver a highly satisfying experience with a very small amount of herb, which allows users to taste the terpenes in their flower unlike any other consumption experience.

For more information on the WoodWynd, you can find it on our website. You can also see original video content about the WoodWynd, including how it’s made, on YouTube and Instagram. All WoodWynd visual assets can be found here.

About DynaVap

Dynavap is making smoking history. Recognized as a pioneer in the cannabis vaporizer industry, for years DynaVap has set the standard for thermal extraction devices, being an example to follow and demonstrating how design and your experience with cannabis can elegantly go hand in hand.

The company prides itself on offering a distinct consumption experience that takes the worry out of temperature settings and battery life. Instead of using batteries or electricity, DynaVap vaporizers use a manual heating method, where the user applies an external heat source, like a torch or induction heater, to a small heating chamber in the device. When your DynaVap Cap “clicks,” your cannabis is hot enough to vaporize without combusting. This allows for precise temperature control and a more personalized vaporizing experience.

Dynavap’s business philosophy is based on innovation, simplicity, and sustainability. The brand believes in the importance of creating durable, high-quality products that can be used for years to come and is constantly looking for ways to improve its products and offer innovative solutions to cannabis consumers looking for new ways to experience cannabis.

You can learn more about DynaVap and its products at dynavap.com.

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Federal Cannabis Legalization Could Generate $8.5 Billion in Tax Revenue

12/18/2023

The Tax Foundation, a D.C.-based think tank, has proposed a state and federal marijuana tax model in a recent report, suggesting that nationwide legalization could generate $8.5 billion in annual cannabis tax revenue. First reported on by Marijuana Moment, the foundation’s model aims to keep costs low to counter illicit sales and suggests higher rates for more potent products. The current state-by-state approach, mostly taxing by sales price, is described as chaotic, and the foundation emphasizes the importance of a well-designed excise tax for minimal societal impact.

Three key lessons from state marijuana taxation experiences are outlined:

Cannabis tax rates should be low enough to compete with the illicit market.
The potential for significant revenue from legal marijuana markets exists, but it may be volatile and take time to materialize.
Consistency across jurisdictions is crucial, especially with the prospect of interstate commerce.

The report highlights that legal states earned nearly $3 billion in marijuana tax revenue last year, a figure projected to nearly triple with nationwide legalization. It discusses the challenges of taxing cannabis compared to alcohol and tobacco, due to the lack of standardized products and difficulty in measuring THC content. The foundation recommends taxing marijuana by potency or weight, as these methods better capture externalities and are simpler to apply to new product categories.

While cannabis remains federally illegal, the U.S. Census Bureau is tracking state-level cannabis tax trends. Numerous proposals and bills to legalize cannabis federally have been discussed in the US House of Representatives and Senate, but none currently have enough support to succeed.

However, in August the US Department of Health and Human Services recommended that cannabis be moved from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act, and the DEA is now conducting its own review in order to determine what action to take. While this would not directly create a federal framework for taxation (cannabis would still be considered federally illegal at Schedule III), it could help expedite congressional action.

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Study: Delta-8 THC More Popular in States Without Legal Cannabis

12/18/2023

A new study funded by the AMA shows that people in states where cannabis is illegal are more likely to use cannabinoids like delta-8 THC, suggesting prohibition may inadvertently encourage the use of these less regulated substance.

The University of Michigan, University at Buffalo, and Legacy Research Institute analyzed data from 1,169 adults, finding a 50% increase in CBD use since 2019, with 21% of Americans reporting use. The study found 25% of respondents used emerging cannabinoids in the past year, with higher delta-8 THC use in states without legal cannabis. Specifically, consumers who did not have access to legal cannabis in their state were twice as likely to have used delta-8 THC.

This supports the trend that legal access to regulated marijuana products decreases the use of unregulated cannabis, with researchers noting, “Higher delta-8-THC use in states without medical or adult-use cannabis laws suggests that cannabis prohibition may unintentionally promote delta-8-THC use.”

The study, partly funded by NIDA and NIH, calls for more research into these cannabinoids due to health concerns and lack of industry standards. Activists, operators, and scientists from the regulated cannabis industry have been calling for increased scrutiny and regulation of these products since they appeared in the market. Hemp operators, on the other hand, have vowed to fight to keep their products “legal.”

However, would consumer demand for Delta-8 and other hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoids evaporate once cannabis is legal? The data seems to reflect that many consumers are interested in these products because they don’t have access to actual cannabis. Additionally, extracting cannabinoids from hemp plants that contain below 0.3% THC is logistically much less efficient than extracting these compounds from highly resinous plants: the only reason it’s more profitable for hemp product manufacturers to do so is because hemp is not subject to the same taxes and regulations as cannabis.

In a recent interview with Project CBD, organic chemist Paul Scialdone pointed out how the current regulatory reality creates problematic incentives for manufacturers to cut corners at the expense of consumer safety.

“These hemp hustlers are in it for the money, making active pharmaceutical ingredients using process chemistry and producing formulated end-products like vape pens, gummies, and sodas in garages, airplane hangars, basements, and warehouses. These products are sold over the internet, at gas stations, and in smoke shops to anyone with a credit card. Of course, the market for Δ8-THC and other recreational synthetics is only made possible by the ridiculousness of cannabis prohibition. End cannabis prohibition, the market for these products will go away and these compounds will be relegated to research labs, where they belong, not the marketplace.”
– Scialdone, via Project CBD

In the meantime, these compounds are widely available to consumers who reside in states without any form of cannabis legalization. With varying state and federal responses, the issue is expected to be addressed in the next Farm Bill, currently scheduled for late 2024.

The DEA has stated that they consider cannabinoids illegal if synthetically produced, as with delta-8 THC, though enforcement has been minimal to date.

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Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission in Turmoil as Managers Suspended

12/15/2023

According to a report by WBUR, Boston’s NPR office, the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission is in a state of turmoil following the suspension of two top managers, Cedric Sinclair and Justin Shrader, earlier this month. This upheaval adds to the agency’s challenges, which include the suspension of its chair, Shannon O’Brien. Shrader has since resigned, and his position is now advertised on the commission’s job board, the report states.

The reasons behind the suspensions remain undisclosed, with the commission declining to comment beyond saying they do not discuss internal personnel matters. Neither Sinclair nor Shrader were willing to discuss the situation with reporters.

This comes in the wake of former executive director Shawn Collins stepping down and O’Brien’s legal battle against a review of her suspension, related to allegations of making racist comments and mishandling staff interactions. Specifically, an internal investigation found O’Brien had used the word “yellow” in reference to an Asian person, among other problematic interactions. In a court filing, O’Brien says her words were taken out of context and that she is being denied due process.

These events highlight significant management issues within the commission, responsible for overseeing the state’s $5 billion cannabis industry.

Lawmakers, including State Sen. Michael Moore, are calling for an oversight hearing to address these concerns, pointing to a disconnect between the commission’s staff and board and the need for organizational reform. The situation is further complicated by key vacancies in the commission and a reported delay in communicating critical incidents to the board.

In a statement cited by WBUR, Moore said, “the management staff overseeing the commission, the agency, is in disarray […] We need an oversight hearing. We need to find out what’s going on, what’s taken place.”

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Netherlands Begins Legal Cannabis Experiment in Two Cities

12/15/2023

Cannabis users in Breda and Tilburg, two Dutch cities, are participating in a historic trial that moves the Netherlands closer to fully legalizing cannabis, The Guardian reports. Despite common misconceptions, cannabis in the Netherlands has existed in a legal grey area, with a tolerance policy in place since the 1970s allowing consumption but not production or supply.

The four-year trial aims to resolve this inconsistency by legally producing and supplying cannabis to coffee shops, a move intended to curb the involvement of organized gangs and associated crime. The trial involves a few regulated farms supplying coffee shops with high-quality, tested, pesticide-free cannabis, ensuring users are aware of the product’s THC and CBD levels.

Health Minister Ernst Kuipers emphasizes that this trial allows for public health oversight previously unattainable due to the illegal status of production and supply. The trial will be monitored by independent researchers, with a view towards potential decriminalization. Breda’s mayor, Paul Depla, acknowledges the historical hypocrisy and illogical nature of the previous policy, expressing optimism about the new approach.

However, the future of this policy faces uncertainty with the rise of Geert Wilders’ far-right Party for Freedom, which opposes the tolerance policy and aims for a “drug-free Netherlands.” This political factor adds complexity to the potential outcomes and future direction of drug policy in the country.

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Trulieve Awarded Alabama’s Only “Minority-Owned” Medical Cannabis License

12/14/2023

The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) has awarded integrated licenses to five companies to initiate the state’s medical marijuana industry, as reported by news outlet AL.com. Out of 33 applicants, Trulieve Alabama, Inc. was recognized as the only “minority-owned business” to receive a license.

This decision is part of the implementation of the medical marijuana law passed in Alabama in 2021. The law mandated that at least one of the five licenses be allocated to a company that is at least 51% minority-owned, a requirement that the agency determined was met by Trulieve Alabama.

This development highlights an issue that many entrepreneurs and activists in the cannabis industry have pointed out: when larger corporate entities partner with minority operators to secure licenses under state-level “social equity” provisions. Trulieve–a publicly traded company–was originally founded in Florida and has since expanded into other states, with no shortage of controversy along the way, including the death of employee Lorna McMurrey at one of their Massachusetts locations in January 2022.

The other companies awarded licenses by the AMCC are Sustainable Alabama, LLC; Wagon Trail Med-Serv LLC; Flowerwood Medical Cannabis, LLC; and Specialty Medical Products of Alabama, LLC. These integrated licensees will undertake the cultivation, processing, transportation, and dispensing of medical cannabis.

While the licenses have been awarded, they are scheduled to be issued on January 9, following the completion of necessary procedures including license fee collection and site inspections by the AMCC.

The licensing process has undergone several rounds due to previous procedural issues and litigation. This current awarding is the third attempt by the AMCC, which has made adjustments to its selection process, including conducting open meetings and revising evaluation methods.

Each licensee, including Trulieve Alabama, will be subject to an on-site inspection to ensure facility compliance with state standards. The AMCC has set a provisional timeline, aiming for the availability of medical cannabis products by spring 2024.

The commission’s awarding of licenses also enables physicians to begin the process of certifying patients for medical cannabis use. Patients eligible for medical cannabis must meet specific qualifying conditions as outlined in the legislation. The products permitted under the law include various forms such as gummies, tablets, capsules, tinctures, patches, oils, and others.

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Report Highlights the Need for Historical and Social Context in Cannabis Research

12/14/2023

A recently-published report has highlighted the need for more diversity and equity considerations in the field of medical cannabis research. The paper was published in PNAS Nexus by Renée Martin-Willett and an interdisciplinary team including Wanda James, Madeline Stanger, Angela D Bryan, and L Cinnamon Bidwell: it addresses the historical and ongoing issues of discrimination and inequity in the cannabis industry and research field in the United States.

Despite the legalization of marijuana in several states, the authors note that the profits predominantly benefit wealthy white men, while communities of color continue to face disproportionate enforcement and penalties. The authors propose several actions to promote equity and inclusion in cannabis research. These include enacting legislation and policies focused on equity, supporting scientists of color in entering and remaining in the field, adhering to ethical research practices, and ensuring diverse and inclusive participant recruitment in research studies.

The racialization of the so-called War on Drugs has been well documented across multiple literatures. In the case of cannabis, in particular, there is evidence that communities of color have been disproportionately prosecuted and incarcerated, even though epidemiological data suggest cannabis use rates between Hispanic, black, and white groups are comparable. As a result, existing distrust of the biomedical research establishment by communities of color may be exacerbated in the case of substance use research and cannabis research in particular.
Martin-Willett, et al. – Excerpt from the paper

The paper also highlights the persistent barriers in cannabis research due to federal criminalization, which restricts the scope of research and often leads to a homogenous participant pool, mainly consisting of white men from privileged socioeconomic backgrounds. This lack of diversity in research participants limits the applicability of the findings, the report argues.

To address these issues, the authors suggest adopting principles from community-engaged research. This approach involves creating partnerships between researchers and communities that are based on mutual respect. It emphasizes aligning research objectives with community needs and goals from the outset, rather than solely communicating research outcomes to the public. This method aims to make cannabis research more inclusive and relevant to diverse populations, thereby contributing to a more equitable and just approach in this field.

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STIIIZY Founder Accused of Renting to Unlicensed Dispensaries

12/13/2023

According to the LA Times, the founder of popular California cannabis brand STIIIZY has allegedly also been serving as a landlord to unlicensed cannabis dispensaries. The report outlines how STIIIZY’s founder, Tony Huang, owns multiple holding companies that were connected to numerous illegal dispensaries in California – all while continuing to operate in the legal cannabis space via STIIIZY.

One example cited by the report included a building in Compton with an exterior sign for “Jerry’s Liquor,” but on the inside, city code enforcers found a cannabis dispensary called Fly High 20 collective. According to the report, Huang has faced numerous legal actions by law enforcement over his alleged ties to illegal dispensaries in the past, but all have been settled out of court – in one case, via a fine of $450,000.

A spokesman for Huang and STIIIZY denied all wrongdoing and said Huang has no ties to the illegal cannabis market, and that as soon as Huang found out his tenants were running unlicensed cannabis shops, he tried to evict them.

Rumors about licensed cannabis businesses being embroiled in the unregulated market have been rampant for years, and “product diversion” – or back-channel selling of cannabis that was grown legally – has been an ongoing issue in many state markets. Earlier this year, Glass House Brands was accused of widespread product diversion through “burner distributors” and the brand has filed a lawsuit in response to the allegations.

A representative from the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC), California’s regulating body governing the legal cannabis industry, told the Times that the agency was investigating the situation, but that STIIIZY’s cannabis license remains active.

In addition to their cannabis products sold in California, STIIIZY has also launched a line of products under their “STIIIZY Hemp” label that contain intoxicating hemp-derived ingredients like Delta-8 THC, and can be purchased online by consumers in states where cannabis is still illegal, according to their website.

While most intoxicating hemp product brands are operating outside any state-level cannabis regulations, STIIIZY is one of a handful of licensed cannabis brands that has made a foray into Delta-8 (Cookies being another prominent example).

Delta-8 THC products have proliferated widely since the 2018 Farm Bill, with manufacturers claiming that according to the law’s definition of “hemp,” any products derived from hemp are legal so long as they contain less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC by weight. The DEA has disputed this interpretation, countering that intoxicating variants of THC extracted/synthesized from hemp are still controlled substances, but this hasn’t stopped manufacturers from selling them.

In the context of the LA Times’ report, as well as a recent report out of San Diego highlighting raids on local Delta-8 smoke shops that uncovered large amounts of fentanyl and other illicit narcotics, it seems the current state of cannabis legality – and consumers’ ability to know what is “legal” and what is not – is as murky as ever.

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Texas Activists Sue City That Refuses to Reform Cannabis Laws Despite Ballot Measure Approval

12/13/2023

Activists in Texas are suing the city of Harker Heights for failing to reform its cannabis laws after voters approved the changes in 2022, KCEN TV reports. The group, Ground Game Texas, has been behind several successful ballot initiatives in Texas towns and cities that have led to local cannabis law reforms.

In an interview with KCEN, Julie Oliver, executive director for Ground Game Texas said the lawsuit “is about enforcing the will of the voters.”

“Harker Heights officials are undermining local democracy by disregarding the clear language of the city charter. Whatever policy disagreements the city manager or city clerk might have with the voters who approved Proposition A, it’s not the job of city staff to ignore the result of a lawful initiative election. We attempted to negotiate with the city manager and city attorney, but they ignored our attempts. Now we are fighting for the rights of Harker Heights voters in Bell County District Court.”
— Oliver, to KCEN

Harker Heights Assistant City Manager Jerry Bark told KCEN that the city was “not notified of such a lawsuit.”

“We will send it to our legal counsel for review once we receive the documents,” he said. “As of right now, the city has no comment on the lawsuit.”

In 2022, voters in five Texas cities, including Harker Heights, approved ballot initiatives, backed by Ground Game Texas, to end enforcement of low-level cannabis possession crimes. Last March police in Killeen indicated that, following the voter approval of the measure, they had released 77% of the individuals they encountered who possessed cannabis.

Charles Kimble said the cannabis decriminalization ordinance “does not hamper” the ability of law enforcement to remove “some of the worst violators off the streets.”

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Arkansas Using Medical Cannabis Taxes to Fund Free School Lunches

12/12/2023

Portions of Arkansas’ medical cannabis tax revenues are being used to fight food insecurity in the state, KATV reports. The state will send $87 million to schools throughout Arkansas to help students access low-cost or free lunches.

Medical Marijuana Commission spokesperson Scott Hardin told KATV that the state has, so far, collected $115 million from the cannabis tax.

“…If someone is on a reduced school lunch, if they are now paying 50 cents to a dollar – that medical marijuana revenue steps in and pays that to ensure that a student gets that for free. So really students in the state will be not having to pay whatever that burden is. Fifty cents, a $1.50 to have reduced school lunch so it really is, it’s affecting Arkansans in a positive way.”
Hardin to KATV

The funds had been earmarked to help the University of Arkansas Medical School to obtain a National Cancer Center designation, but Hardin did not explain why the change was made.

Since the medical cannabis program launched in the state in 2016, sales have topped $1 billion. According to state data, there were 98,011 active medical cannabis ID cards in Arkansas as of December 2.

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SEC Obtains Judgements Against Two Former Hemp Company CEOs for Fraud

12/12/2023

The Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) recently obtained judgments against two former hemp company executives for fraudulent offerings. According to the SEC complaint, Frank Barone and Kirill Chumenko, both former senior vice presidents of sales and marketing at CanaFarma Hemp Products Corp., misrepresented the company while raising millions of dollars.

The SEC in October charged two other CanaFarma executives, Vitaly Fargesen, CanaFarma senior vice president of strategic planning, and Igor Palatnik, the company’s senior vice president of product acquisition, of defrauding investors out of at least $4 million. Fargesen and Palatnik pleaded guilty later that month to two counts of fraud related to the scheme.

The complaint against Barone and Chumenko alleges that CanaFarma executives made misrepresentations to investors, including claims that the company was fully integrated and was processing hemp from its own farm when in fact it had not processed any of its own hemp, and its products used hemp supplied by third parties. The amended complaint alleges that Barone and Chumenko, at the direction of Fargesen, made unsupported changes to CanaFarma’s financial model to cover up payments to Fargesen and Palatnik and that Fargesen and Palatnik – in some instances with the assistance of Barone and Chumenko – misappropriated at least $4 million and used the funds either for their personal use or for purposes unrelated to CanaFarma.

The judgments against Barone and Chumenko permanently enjoin them from violating sections of federal securities laws and bar the pair from serving as an officer or director of a public company and from participating in penny stock offerings, and order each to pay disgorgement, prejudgment interest, and civil penalties. The length of the bars and the amounts of the monetary remedies will be determined by a federal court at a later date.

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Ohio Senate Redirects Cannabis Tax Revenue to Law Enforcement

12/11/2023

The Ohio Senate passed a bill last week to change the state’s adult-use cannabis law, WTAP reports. The measure, passed on the day the voter-approved law took effect, would raise the excise tax on cannabis products from 10% to 15% and change how those tax dollars are spent.

Under the proposal, more than half of adult-use tax revenues would be earmarked for law enforcement and jail construction, while the other half would be used for drug treatment and related programs.

The voter-approved measure had created five funds in the state treasury: the adult-use tax fund, the cannabis social equity and jobs fund, the host community cannabis fund, the substance abuse and addiction fund, and the division of cannabis control and tax commissioner fund.

The bill passed by the Senate eliminates the social equity and jobs program and redirects the revenues toward law enforcement and the state’s general fund, Politico reports.

Tom Haren, a spokesperson for the legalization campaign, told Politico that the bill “does not respect the will of the voters.”

The measure would allow current medical cannabis companies to sell to non-patients 21-and-older immediately. It would also limit home cultivation to six plants per household and set caps on allowable THC limits for cannabis products.

The proposal, which still requires House approval, is backed by Republican Gov. Mike DeWine.

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Report: DEA Sends Warning to Georgia Pharmacists Selling Medical Cannabis

12/11/2023

According to a recent report from Atlanta-area news outlet 11Alive, The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) last month sent letters to pharmacies in Georgia telling them that selling medical cannabis products – in line with state law – runs counter to federal law.

“All DEA registrants, including DEA registered pharmacies are required to abide by all relevant federal laws and regulations. A DEA-registered pharmacy may only dispense controlled substances in Schedules II-V of the Controlled Substances Act. Neither marijuana nor THC can be lawfully possessed, handled, or dispensed by any DEA-registered pharmacy. Under federal law, products derived from the cannabis plant with delta-9 THC content above 0.3% are considered marijuana, a Schedule I controlled substance. Further, products that contain any amount of a synthetically produced THC are considered tetrahydrocannabinols, likewise a Schedule I controlled substance.”
DEA Diversion Control Division letter via 11Alive

Some pharmacies in Georgia started dispensing low-THC cannabis oils in October under a first-in-the-nation state law.

Ira Katz of Little Five Points Pharmacy, who received a DEA letter, said the DEA policy “doesn’t make any sense … that people can go to a dispensary and not to a pharmacy.”

“We’re the most regulated industry in healthcare. That’s what shocked me,” he told 11Alive. “That’s what blows me away when it comes to why the DEA is not moving on this. They don’t see what we see here every single day.”

Katz added that he believes medical cannabis can “help contribute to slowing down” the state’s opioid crisis.

According to the report, neither the DEA nor Georgia Board of Pharmacy have commented on the letter. Below is a video published to YouTube by 11Alive regarding this story:

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New York Regulators Seized 800+ Pounds of Cannabis Flower During November Inspections

12/08/2023

In a series of inspections in November, New York cannabis regulators seized 812 pounds of flower during the inspection of 71 shops suspected of conducting unregulated cannabis sales. The action, which included investigators from the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) and the Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF), also seized 701 pounds of edibles and 61 pounds of concentrates.

OCM said the value of all products seized in the November crackdown on unlicensed shops totaled barely $3 million. The agency said that more than $54 million in unlawful cannabis has been seized during investigations into unlicensed businesses selling cannabis products this year.

In a statement, Chris Alexander, executive director of OCM, said regulators are prioritizing safety “by working diligently to shut down illegal operators.”

“The number one remedy for the problem of these illicit shops is getting more legal businesses open. New Yorkers want to know where their products are coming from, and they know they can rely on safe, trusted, and locally grown cannabis when they walk into one of our legal dispensaries. We will continue to seize illegal products, and we know that the collaborative work continues across all levels of government to address this public health crisis.” — Alexander in a press release

In November, OCM and DTF inspected 71 shops, including 13 re-inspections. So far this year, the agencies have inspected 350 locations, including 88 re-inspections, and have seized more than 11,000 pounds of illicit cannabis.

In New York, fines for the illegal sale of cannabis start at $10,000 per day and can rise to $20,000 per day for what OCM described as “the most egregious conduct.” An additional fine of $5,000 can be levied for the removal of paper orders affixed to shut down businesses, and the inspected businesses may also be subject to additional violations and penalties under state tax law.

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U.S. National Survey on Drug Abuse Finds Cannabis Use Among Youth Below 2019 Levels

12/08/2023

The 2022 U.S. National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that just over 11% of 12- to 17-year-olds reported consuming a cannabis product within the last year. The figure is an uptick from 2020 and 2021 levels, according to the government data, but below 2019 levels.

Overall, the survey found that 23% of Americans 18 and older reported consuming cannabis in 2022, and over half said that they have consumed marijuana at least once during their lifetimes. From 2021 to 2022, the number of Americans who said they had consumed cannabis at least once in their life increased from about 133,939,000 to about 137,739,000, the survey found.

According to the survey, 61.9 million people aged 12 or older consumed cannabis within the previous 12 months, making it the most popular illicit drug used by Americans.

In all, 59.8% of individuals – or 168.7 million people – aged 12 or older used tobacco products, vaped nicotine, or consumed an illegal drug or alcohol in the past month, which is considered “current use” according to the survey.

In a statement, Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., the leader of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, said the survey “provides an annual snapshot of behavioral health nationwide.”

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