American Marijuana is seeking a cannabis product reviewer who could earn up to $36,000 a year. Applicants must be 18-years-old live in a U.S. state with legalized medical cannabis or Canada, be “physically fit and healthy” and have “extensive knowledge” of cannabis.
“The applicant will then test the products in person and write about their experience with the product from unboxing to everything they’ll be doing with the product. It has to also be noted that the applicant will be required to record their experience in film.” – American Marijuana, Nov. 19, 2019, “Cannabis Product Reviewer Wanted: Smoke Weed and Get Paid Up to $36,000 a Year”
According to the company, the job pays 3,000 a month along with free cannabis products for use with the reviews. Applicants must include a bio and/or resume, a 60-second introduction video talking about their passion for cannabis (or a headshot), links to existing social media accounts, and at least six slang terms for cannabis.
“This job is 100% for real and it’s an important job that includes more than just getting paid to smoke weed,” the company says in the post.
In the U.S., medical cannabis is currently legal in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Washington D.C., and West Virginia.
Brooklyn, New York’s district attorney will reportedly drop the felony drug charges against the recipient of 106 pounds of hemp arrested earlier this month, according to NBC New York. Ronen Levy was arrested after FedEx tipped off police about the shipment, which was sent from Vermont and tested under legal THC limits.
The shipment was destined for Green Angel CBD – which is owned by Ronen’s brother Oren – but police intercepted the package, arrested Ronen, and lauded the bust on Twitter. At the time of his arrest, Ronen called the cop “hungry” who had thought “he had the bust of the day.”
At the time of the arrest, police were shown paperwork from the farm that cultivated the crop that showed THC content of 0.14 percent – about half of the 0.3 percent federal and state thresholds but a field test performed by police was positive for cannabis.
“We got information about a large package of drugs. We got it in here,” New York City Police Department Chief Terence Monahan said at the time of the bust. “We field tested it as marijuana, called the individual in. He was placed under arrest.”
A FedEx spokesperson told NBC New York that the plants shouldn’t have been shipped through the carrier because hemp is on the company’s prohibited items list. In June, the U.S. Postal Service changed its policies to allow hemp shipping, so long as the products comply with local laws and compliance records are maintained. UPS will also ship hemp products so long as they are not in flower form or originate “from any location that sells marijuana or marijuana products.”
It’s unclear whether law enforcement will return the confiscated products to Levy.
For our latest written Q&A session, we checked in with Tina for a discussion about cannabis branding and how cannabis operators can use their company’s ethos to do more than just represent their brand.
In this interview, Tina shares the strategy behind Old Pal‘s specific focus on “shareable” cannabis, discusses how cannabis brands can help affect cannabis policy shifts at the local and state levels, and discusses how her advocacy with NORML and her role as a cannabis company’s brand manager coincide and can complement each other as the industry matures.
Read the interview:
Ganjapreneur: What strategies do you use to make the Old Pal brand stand out from other cannabis companies?
Tina Ulman: Accessible, affordable, and abundant, Old Pal’s vision is simple: “It’s just weed, man.” And while our ethos is simple, it is a position in the market that not many other brands are taking or executing well. The culture we are building around Old Pal sets us apart from other brands. We put a lot of focus on our training and education programs to convey this to our dispensary partners. And we offer experiences for our consumers to feel the Old Pal difference. Through brand trainings and continued conversations with our dispensary partners, I ensure every team member selling Old Pal understands our brand values and vision. Our dispensary partners are incredibly valuable to us as they are often one of the first touch points consumers have with our brand. Focusing on brand and product education at this level establishes consistent messaging for our consumers and continues to push our unique position in the market. On the consumer side, we also have an active events and experiential program. Whether it’s sponsoring a food truck at a dispensary, teaching people how to roll joints or simply creating an inviting environment to enjoy our products at events, we want to bring people together. We want consumers to experience the brand and build community, not just smoke another cannabis product.
Could you explain Old Pal’s focus on “shareable” cannabis? What does that phrase mean, both to consumers and for the brand?
Old Pal is an ode to simpler times, when weed was just weed and joints were passed around to old pals and new ones. When neighbors knew each other by name and community meant something. Using the language of “shareable” and leaning into the nostalgic feeling of the design, we are communicating our belief in community and taking care of one another. Our accessible price points reaffirm that our products are meant to be enjoyed by all, creating a community of openness and support. And we hope our fans feel compelled to spread the love of Old Pal within their communities as well.
Which marketing strategies have you used to emphasize Old Pal’s “old-fashioned” cannabis experience? What has resonated best with your audience?
The most notable nostalgic experience we’ve shared with fans of Old Pal is our 1948 Chevy school bus turned into a rolling hangout machine. We affectionately refer to the bus as The Cosmic Collider. With The Cosmic Collider, we are able to offer a relaxed, good-vibe hang out space for people to enjoy weed and each other’s company. At the core of all our events and experiences, we focus on creating an inviting, inclusive atmosphere for all to roll up a J and pass it around with old pals and new pals alike. Check out photos of the Cosmic Collider online, here!
What can cannabis operators do to propagate a better business environment and smarter regulations?
Cannabis owners and operators have an opportunity to support bills that address decriminalizing, desheduling, and social justice just as much as they support industry specific bills such as the Safe Banking Act. Currently, there are 63 cannabis bills at the federal level that could impact the lives of consumers, prisoners, veterans, patients and the future of the industry. Brands can use their voice and influence to help push the passing of these bills in the right direction. Brands also have the opportunity to educate their teams on the current state of cannabis policy, how they can participate in democracy and voice their opinion to their legislatures, as well as vote for candidates that support marijuana reform. We feel the social responsibility of pushing this industry in the right direction through reform and policy is an obligation of everyone involved in the cannabis space.
How has your advocacy work with NORML affected your strategies for building a stronger cannabis brand?
NORML’s mission to shift public opinion towards legalizing the responsible use of cannabis by adults and assure consumers have access to quality flower that is safe, convenient and affordable parallels Old Pal’s ethos. Our shareable flower is accessible, affordable and abundant. We respect the pioneers and advocates before us and want to be a cultural changing machine, not just another cannabis product. I hold the same values, so it has been a privilege to represent a brand and an organization whose values align with mine and most cannabis consumers today. My strategies are not just to sell cannabis to dispensaries, but to also partner with them, educate their teams, and be a resource for them and their customers.
Do you feel like Old Pal’s ethos — and the spirit of other cannabis companies, as well — can help to encourage smarter legislation/regulations? Why or why not?
The hope is that, as more and more brands on the market are promoting responsible use and reverence for the plant, state and national policy makers will take note and realize that there is more to this plant that just getting obnoxiously high. Not everyone who uses cannabis nor brands are focused solely on getting ripped. Responsible marketing of responsible use will hopefully open eyes of those making laws and regulations that this isn’t as scary as a space as many tend to think.
What’s the biggest obstacle you have come up against while growing the Old Pal brand? How have you addressed and/or overcome it?
The biggest obstacle I’ve faced in my role has been educating industry employees and consumers that high THC is not always a leading product attribute. Not everyone who smokes weed is looking for a skyrocketing high. Yet, many brands lean into new grow technologies increasing THC strength or strain crosses to produce high potency flower. But at Old Pal, we believe a lot of people smoke cannabis, for different reasons. We’ve created a brand and products that are accessible to all types of cannabis users, from the everyday smoker to the occasional social smoker. Through our brand trainings, sales materials, and marketing, we continue to drive this message to help shift perceptions about the importance of THC percentages and show the wide array of cannabis users out there.
Do you anticipate any major cannabis policy/regulatory shifts in Nevada’s near future, and what change would you most like to see?
I absolutely anticipate changes in policy/regulation in Nevada when the legislature meets again in 2021. Myself and my team members from NORML are already working on legislation for patient rights, parental rights and consumer rights. In 2017, Nevandans asked in Question 2 on the ballot that cannabis be treated like alcohol and it still is not. Our policy makers still have not established proper social use venue legislation. We live in a state where cannabis is legal yet you can only smoke it in your own home. Nevada desperately needs social use venues so consumers can smoke and are not subject to criminal charges. I would also like to see a reasonable patient home grow of 12 plants, expungement of all cannabis charges, and better business ethics and policies so all may have a fair opportunity.
What do you think makes Nevada’s adult-use marketplace stand out from the rest of the country’s post-prohibition states?
Our opportunity to lead the country when it comes to tourism and the role cannabis plays in it stands out from the rest of the country. Year over year, Vegas revenue has been down in food, beverage, gaming, lodging and events. Consumers’ likes and interests change, and we have an opportunity to listen to the people and adapt. A tourist coming to Vegas might want to enjoy a preroll while they play blackjack, not everyone wants a drink these days. The life of the mega clubs with $5,000 tables is coming to an end. People want to relax, smoke weed, listen to live music and enjoy life. Las Vegas can offer that and it will impact our economy tremendously when they do.
What has been your proudest moment so far from your work in the cannabis space?
Bringing my community together to want better, and do better, without a doubt has been the proudest moment. The unification of the cannabis space especially with my fellow leaders has been so impactful in creating a place where we can learn what is happening in cannabis policy and how we can have a say in it. When I joined NORML in October of 2018, there were 20 people attending the meeting — now, we have over 120 people at the meetings, standing room only in the back. I wanted to help create a space where people can learn, come together, and meet like-minded people who believe in the power of cannabis and want to act on it. I believe if you are blessed to be making a living in cannabis you have a social obligation to be bettering the world with it, not making it worse and being overtaken by greed. My second proudest moment would be meeting and speaking to Presidential Candidate Tulsi Gabbard in Washington DC. She has my vote!
What advice would you offer to new cannabis business owners, or to someone who is thinking about starting a business in the cannabis space?
I would tell them to enter this industry for the right reason and not just money. You don’t have to consume to be a part of the cannabis revolution that is occurring right now, but the plant, its advocates, and its users need to be respected. There is immense potential for what this plant has to offer humanity from medicinal use for physical and mental health challenges, to building communities and opening minds. There are a lot of people working to right the wrongs of our past and the negative position many have taken on this plant, and they need to be celebrated and supported to continue pushing this industry in the right direction. The power of this work and the plant is not something to be taken lightly.
Thanks so much, Tina, for answering our questions and sharing your thoughts on cannabis branding, culture, and the political responsibilities of operators in this space. To learn more about Old Pal’s unique cannabis vision, check out OldPal.com!
San Jose, CA, November 19, 2019 — Zuna, a leading provider of integrated solutions for cannabis cultivation, today announced the launch of its new suite of products, called RADIX. RADIX is powered by the next wave of technological innovation, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR), machine learning and Internet of Things (IoT). It’s the first SaaS platform of its kind to utilize this technology in order to offer a comprehensive enterprise cultivation management solution for vertically integrated cannabis companies.
In addition to Zuna’s powerful technology, the company is redefining service in the cannabis industry with the introduction of its Platinum Maintenance and Support. Platinum Support comes standard with all RADIX products and it’s available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
“Based on feedback we’ve received from cannabis companies, we’ve learned that staying on top of state compliance regulations is what keeps them up at night,” said Vidyadhar Handragal, CEO of Zuna. “We differentiate the Company on both compliant technology and our extremely responsive support service model.”
Zuna’s suite of products includes the following: RADIX CannPOS (Point-of-Sale), CannERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), RADIX Remote (sensor technology), and RADIX Health (an application for managing plant health). In combination, the RADIX suite of specialized solutions reduces the pain points of seed-to-sale companies.
With the introduction of the RADIX product line, Zuna offers an easy to use platform that simplifies decision making, supports more efficient, safer and more environmentally friendly operations, and enables increased profitability. In addition to offering these as a suite of products, Zuna will also sell them standalone.
For more information about Zuna or its RADIX line of products, please contact sales@zunaco.com.
About Zuna, Inc.
Headquartered in San Jose, California, Zuna provides enterprise cultivation management solutions for the cannabis and agriculture industries. Fueled by AI, Zuna’s RADIX product suite includes next-generation remote plant monitoring sensors and compliant cloud-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and POS platforms for automating operations within vertically-integrated companies. More about Zuna’s products can be found online at www.zunaco.com
Contact
Kristopher Le
Zuna, Inc.
408.899.4041
https://www.zunaco.com
The House Judiciary Committee is expected to vote on the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act tomorrow. The measure would remove cannabis from the federal Controlled Substances Act, allow Veterans Administration physicians to recommend cannabis for veterans in states with legalized access, and incentivize states to implement expungement policies.
The plan was first reported by Tom Angell for Forbes.
Effectively, the measure would allow sales nationwide and includes language that would establish a 5 percent tax that would be deposited into an “Opportunity Trust Fund” in the Treasury Department. Those funds would be divvied between the Attorney General’s office for legal aid and the Small Business Administration for equity and job training programs.
In the House of Representatives, the measure includes 55 Democratic co-sponsors – from both legal and non-legal states – but no Republicans. It was introduced in July by Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY).
In the GOP-controlled Senate, the bill is sponsored by Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), who is also seeking the Democratic nomination for president. Other presidential hopefuls Sens. Elizabeth (D-MA) and Corey Booker (D-NJ) are two of only 5 total co-sponsors – all Democrats – on the measure in the Senate.
NORML Political Director Justin Strekal thanked Nadler in a statement, adding that “never in history have we been closer to ending the failed policy of marijuana criminalization and providing pathways to opportunity for our brothers and sisters who have suffered under its oppressive reign.”
“The MORE Act is the most comprehensive marijuana policy reform bill ever introduced in Congress and is backed by a broad coalition of civil rights, criminal justice, drug policy, and immigration groups. Those who oppose this legislation moving forward are defenders of a failed status-quo that ruins the lives of otherwise law-abiding adults on a daily basis, overwhelmingly enforced against the poor and communities of color.” – Strekal, in a statement
Last month, a Gallup poll found that two-thirds of Americans support cannabis legalization – the same level of support from a poll last year; Republican support in both polls topped 50 percent.
If the measure were moved to the full chamber, it would mark the first time cannabis de-scheduling legislation would be considered by a chamber of Congress. In September, the House passed the SAFE Banking Act 321-103; that bill marked the first time stand-alone cannabis legislation was considered by the full House.
Total cannabis job opportunities in the U.S. rose 79 percent from 2018 to 2019 with an estimated 211,000 full-time employees in the space this year, according to a Vangst report outlined by Forbes. The analysis suggests that there will be 414,000 new jobs in the cannabis industry by 2021.
According to the report, high-demand positions include budtenders, brand ambassadors, cultivation technicians and directors, delivery drivers, and trimmers. Additionally, Vangst estimates that “on-demand talent” – freelancers and seasonal employees – will comprise about 40 percent of the average company’s workforce by 2020.
From January 1, 2017 to January 1, 2018, Vangst saw a 690 percent increase in cannabis industry job postings on the platform, with a 16.1 percent salary increase over that same time span.
The report covers four main types of cannabis-specific jobs including cultivation, lab testing and cannabinoid extraction, manufacturing, and sales.
In August, Statistics Canada reported that the nation – which federally legalized cannabis last year – saw a near-quadruple increase in cannabis industry jobs from the previous year from 2,630 to 9,200. In 2017, Canada’s cannabis space accounted for just 1,438 jobs.
A report by Leafly and Whitney Economics released in May found that the U.S. cannabis industry added more than 64,000 jobs in 2018, a growth rate of 44 percent. In 2017, the increase in cannabis jobs in the U.S. was at just 21 percent.
A proposal for Thailand’s medical cannabis program would allow citizens to cultivate six cannabis plants and sell them back to the government who would process it for medical cannabis products, according to a Forbes report. Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the reforms “allow the medical use of marijuana freely.”
“We have high confidence that marijuana will be among the major agricultural products for Thai households. We are speeding up the law changes. But there is a process to it.” – Charnvirakul, via Forbes
In September, the Chiang Rai Times reported that the government constructed Southeast Asia’s largest industrial-scale medical cannabis facility in Chiang Mai. The facility is reportedly currently cultivating 12,000 plants for the program. Chiang Mai is also home to Maejo University, which created a medical cannabis strain called “Issara” or “independence,” which contains equal percentages of THC and CBD, for use in the program.
Thailand’s Government Pharmaceutical Organization hopes to use the plants cultivated at the facility to make one million bottles of five-milliliter CBD oil by February 2020. So far, at least 13 hospitals have received licenses to dispense medical cannabis to patients.
Recreational cannabis use remains illegal in Thailand and those convicted of possession in the kingdom can be imprisoned.
The 420 Purifier is a high-performance smoke purifier meant for people who prefer to light up inside. It all began with a couple of friends who enjoyed burning herb together at their home. But roommates and neighbors complained about the dank aromatics that each sesh left in the house. The group decided that they should build a tabletop gadget to purify the stench out of the smoke rather than take their sessions outside. They also hoped that the high-end object would fit seamlessly into a well-decorated home. What they crafted has met these objectives with ease.
Despite its boxed shape, the gadget is sleek and could be mistaken for a speaker or small amp. It is a sturdy, well-built piece of engineering that comes in two colors. The sleek design combined with a choice between ‘White Pine’ and ‘Blue Mahoo’ is what allows the device to blend in with home or office decor. The machine was engineered with the help of the faculty of Engineering at the University of Maribor, Slovenia, and is built to last. Each 420 Purifier should work well with little maintenance for years to come — for optimal functionality, the carbon filter inside should be replaced yearly. To prove it, the company grants each purchase a 1-year warranty.
To use the 420 Purifier plug it in, switch it on and light up a joint. For the best results blow the smoke directly into the box and watch it come back out of the top vent with a brand new bouquet. The fan mechanism does emit a whirring that is louder than a desktop fan and quieter than a vacuum cleaner. My hard of hearing partner would probably be hard to use this with, but for those of us that reviewed it, it wasn’t a bother.
To test the appliance we simply lit up, blowing smoke directly in every few hits. We burned one gram of proper smelly cannabis and hit the timer. In order to really smell how the smoke could be purified, I drank a bit of coffee and took some big whiffs of the beans as well to cleanse my palate. After 15 minutes with the door closed, the air in the room where the joint was burned felt a bit lighter and fresher but definitely smelled like cannabis. After 30 minutes the aroma was pretty much gone except for a light remnant. It was at the 45-minute mark that the cannabis smell was masked into a sweeter scent, one that is familiar but hard to identify. After an hour the room smelled pretty much normal.
Switching the smoke purifier on is meant to clear the air, but don’t expect a miracle. For example, those who are hoping to mask the smell of smoke from a Resident Advisor policing their dorm floor will be disappointed because while you smoke, it will definitely still smell. However, someone who is enjoying their time at home and hoping not to infringe on the airspace of their neighbors, roommates, partners, etc. will find the 420 Purifier more than satisfactory.
There are some great uses for this small carbon filtered fan. We would recommend this to any steady cannabis user who cohabitates with someone who hates the smell of smoke. It would also be a wonderful amenity for hotels and bed & breakfast owners who allow smoking in their rooms. For these purposes, we think that this is a fantastic product.
Former vice president and current Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said during a town hall event in Las Vegas that he does not support federal cannabis legalization because of the lack of evidence “whether or not it is a gateway drug.” He did, however, support the federal legalization of medical cannabis and the federal decriminalization.
In the Fox News video, Biden said that he believed that states “should be able to make a judgement” to legalize cannabis but that the federal government should “know a lot more about the science” of cannabis before federal legalization.
“… I want to move it from a … Schedule I drug to a Schedule III so you can, in fact, do [research]. I support the use of medical marijuana but here’s the deal … it should not be a crime. It should be, to the extent that is exists and anyone who’s ever been convicted of use of marijuana and put in jail that should be immediately released, their record should be immediately expunged … and it is not irrational to do more scientific investigation … to determine whether it’s a gateway drug or not.” – Biden, Las Vegas Town Hall, Nov. 17, 2019, via Fox News
During his remarks, Biden admitted he needed “more data” related to cannabis legalization but that “no one should go to jail” for cannabis “period.”
According to a USA Today report, all of the Democratic candidates approve some form of cannabis law reform, whether it be a let-the-states-decide approach or supporting legislation to end federal prohibition.
Among the frontrunners for the nomination, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has indicated he would legalize cannabis federally within his first 100 days in office. South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg supports the decriminalization of all drugs. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) is a sponsor of the Marijuana Justice Act which includes cannabis legalization and criminal justice-related reforms.
An Amazon employee and registered medical cannabis patient from Middlesex County, New Jersey is suing the online retail giant claiming he was wrongly terminated from his job at the company’s Edison distribution center after failing a random drug test for cannabis, according to an NJ Spotlight report. The plaintiff, who is identified in court documents as D.J.C., said he was “shocked” that he was the first medical cannabis patient the company had encountered.
D.J.C. worked as a warehouse associate for 10 months prior to the drug test and was fired a month later. He claims that company officials didn’t allow him to list the medications he was taking prior to the test and seemed confused when he told him he’s a registered medical cannabis patient.
“They had a zero-tolerance policy against illegal drugs, and to me that wasn’t an illegal drug. That was my medicine,” D.J.C. told NJTV News, adding that human resource officials told him he wasn’t being terminated but, instead, was being placed on “disability leave” while the company awaited paperwork from his physician.
Once Amazon received the paperwork, D.J.C. says, he was terminated for failing to tell them he used medical cannabis, citing Amazon’s zero-tolerance drug policies.
Walter Dana Venneman, the attorney for D.J.C., told NJ Spotlight that his client was given “three terminations, each for a different reason.”
“It’s almost like whack-a-mole. And what strikes me most in those three separate terminations, and it’s laid out in the complaint, is that at no point, ever, did they consider, ‘What might we work out with our good employee?’ Doesn’t matter if it’s medical cannabis, or it’s some other medication, or a limitation on hours. Whatever it is, they have to make an effort to make a reasonable accommodation. And they could’ve easily done that here. And my client did not come to work impaired at that workplace.” – Venneman, to NJ Spotlight
D.J.C. claims that the termination from the warehouse “blacklisted” him from other jobs at firms owned by Amazon, such as Whole Foods.
Last session, New Jersey lawmakers passed a bill that prohibits companies from punishing employees because of their medical cannabis use so long as they are not intoxicated on the job and can provide their valid medical cannabis identification card. D.J.C. is seeking reinstatement, back pay, and punitive damages.
The Nevada Bar has not disciplined any attorneys who are participating in the cannabis industry in the three years following legalization, the Nevada Independent reports. The welcomed news for attorneys participating in the space comes after the Bar warned in 2017 that those lawyers working with cannabis businesses could face discipline.
Daniel Hooge, bar counsel with the Nevada Bar, said that the Office of Bar Counsel has sent some attorneys through their professional substance abuse treatment program but “none used marijuana exclusively or worked in the industry.”
A Nevada Independent analysis of ownership state data found that there are at least 68 lawyers among the nearly 1,400 owners and board members who applied for or received adult-use cannabis licenses in the state – those figures do not include the attorneys who work with cannabusinesses but are not personally invested in the business.
In 2017, the state Supreme Court adopted language saying that participating in the industry “may result in federal prosecution and trigger discipline proceedings” under a section of Supreme Court rules addressing attorneys convicted of crimes.
Ed Bernstein, a Nevada lawyer who has an ownership stake in Paradise Wellness Center LLC., said the ruling was “a very subtle reminder” by the court that cannabis is not federally legal and that if there was a problem the court “may have to deal with it later.”
“The world is changing very quickly and I think the Supreme Court is on board with some of those changes.” – Bernstein, to the Independent
Since the proliferation of relaxed cannabis laws, several state Bar associations have released guidance prohibiting attorneys from working with cannabis businesses due to federal law while others have changed their rules to allow them to work in the space. To date, no attorneys have been punished for advising cannabis industry clients in states where it is legalized.
Detroit, Michigan has banned recreational cannabis operations, joining 79 percent of the state’s municipalities in barring adult-use dispensaries and cultivation within their city limits, the Detroit Metro Times reports. Cities and towns that don’t permit recreational sales will not get a share of the 10 percent excise tax imposed on recreational cannabis sales.
The City Council passed the ban five days after the state began pre-qualifying current operators for recreational sales. The Detroit action is expected to be temporary until at least January 31 as local lawmakers hope to create new city-specific regulations for the industry.
In the first full fiscal year, Michigan cannabis sales are expected to generate $180.5 million in taxes, according to the Michigan Senate Fiscal Agency figures outlined in the report. By 2022-2023, that is expected to reach $287.9 million. The tax revenues derived from cannabis will be used for schools and roads, and be split among the municipalities that opt-in.
Current medical cannabis businesses who are pre-qualified are allowed to transfer up to 50 percent of their product for recreational sales, according to a bulletin sent to operators summarized by the Detroit News.
Marijuana Regulatory Agency spokesman David Harns said the allowance “will keep production and sales on the medical side moving as well.”
Adult-use sales are expected to roll out January 1, albeit on a limited basis.
The Oregon Court of Appeals has extended the injunction on the state’s six-month ban on flavored vape products to cover cannabis vaporizers, Oregon Live reports. The court halted the ban on nicotine products last month but the new ruling extends to protect cannabis from the ban, as well.
Gov. Kate Brown (D) enacted the ban on October 4 following the spate of pulmonary lung illness linked to vaping. Last week, the Centers for Disease Control announced they had connected the disease to vape products containing vitamin E acetate – which the New York Health Department had linked to unregulated and counterfeit cannabis vape products in September.
The Court of Appeals’ decision on flavored cannabis vapes came in response to a lawsuit against the Oregon Liquor Control Commission by Herban Industries, which sells Winberry brand vape oil products. Those products contain a proprietary blend of terpenes that copy those found in cannabis but, because those terpenes aren’t derived from actual cannabis plants, the OLCC ban on terpenes in vape products affected the firm’s products, which comprise 80 percent of the company’s revenue.
The Court of Appeals case dealing with nicotine vapes was brought by the Vapor Technology Association trade group. In that case, the appeals court agreed that the vape ban enacted by the Brown administration would “cause the entire industry in Oregon to be destroyed.”
A similar ban failed a court challenge in New York last month.
On Veteran’s Day, Democratic presidential hopefuls Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Mayor Pete Buttigieg each announced support for allowing military veterans to access medical cannabis, according to an MG report.
Sanders, who has said he would legalize cannabis federally via an executive order within his first 100 days in office, said on his website that the nation has a “moral obligation to provide the best quality care” for veterans, which includes allowing Veterans Affairs doctors to recommend cannabis to their patients. Additionally, Sanders would allow servicemembers discharged from military service for cannabis possession to apply for a discharge upgrade “so they can become eligible for the full complement of services and benefits provided by the VA.”
Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend, Indiana and Navy veteran, said that his administration would “work with the VA to allow medical cannabis for service-connected diagnoses.”
“Pete will push for the legalization of marijuana on the federal level and nationwide,” the post titled “Our Shared Duty” says.
“In the meantime, recognizing the benefits of marijuana for certain service-connected issues like post-traumatic stress, Pete will support legislation that will empower VA physicians to issue medical cannabis recommendations to augment a veterans’ broader treatment plan, accordance with the laws of states where it is legal, and to conduct studies on the use of marijuana to treat pain.” – “Our Shared Duty,” Pete Buttigieg campaign website
Last month, during a campaign stop in Las Vegas, Nevada which included a visit to a dispensary, Buttigieg told the Associated Press that he has used cannabis “a handful of times a long time ago” and said he supported the end to federal prohibition.
What’s the difference between CBD sourced from hemp, cannabis, or in an isolate? Do they work differently in the body and brain? Which one should I use?
If you’ve been asking yourself these questions lately, we don’t blame you. There’s a lot to know about the cannabis plant, let alone its individual compounds. Cannabidiol, or CBD — one of the active but nonintoxicating chemicals in cannabis — is all the hype right now, which means that CBD research has been increasing as well. This is good news because cannabis prohibition has until recently made research into the plant next to impossible.
Today, a strong majority of U.S. states have legalized the use of medical marijuana; even still, we are searching for answers about how the components of cannabis are interacting to produce the effects they cause in our body. The recent increase in medical and recreational legalization makes understanding these effects, and the distinctions between the compounds, extra important.
Silhouette of a man in a sun-lit hemp field.
Hemp vs. Cannabis
Cannabis has been used for centuries for a variety of spiritual, medicinal, and recreational purposes. We can split the cannabis plant into two main categories: marijuana and hemp. Hemp originated in China and contains less than 1% of THC. Because of this, it does not have intoxicating effects and is mainly utilized for its ability to produce strong fibers — there is a record of these uses as early as 2800 BCE. THC-rich cannabis, on the other hand, originated in the Tibetan Plateau region. It has higher THC content (above 1%) which is responsible for the plant’s intoxicating effects. Cannabis is often further split into subcategories (like the subjective indica/sativa/ruderalis identifiers), but we’ll just focus on CBD from here on out.
CBD is present in both hemp and cannabis and has become widely known for its therapeutic properties treating anxiety, pain, and inflammation, and other conditions. It has been getting media attention for its medical benefit, especially after research came out that it can drastically reduce instances of seizures in children with epilepsy. Researchers think this happens by modulating the release of glutamate, the brain’s main excitatory neurotransmitter (meaning it creates a lot of activity in neurons). This is just one benefit among a multitude of CBD’s therapeutic properties.
So, which is better?
One reason a person may choose hemp-derived CBD over marijuana CBD is because hemp is federally legal in the US (as long as THC content does not exceed 0.3%) while marijuana is not. President Trump last December signed the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized the growing of hemp, mainly for the benefit of farmers. Hemp CBD also contains little to no THC, so it may be better for children who are taking it for epilepsy, or for people who simply don’t want to feel high.
CBD Isolate
The Farm Bill legalized hemp, but details on the possession and use of CBD for research purposes still remain fuzzy. This is part of the reason why there has been an increase in the production of CBD isolate, which is different from both cannabis- and hemp-derived CBD because it only contains CBD and is devoid of the other compounds that whole-plant marijuana and hemp contain. If people are looking to use CBD for its array of therapeutic benefits but don’t want the intoxicating effects of THC, they may go with the isolate option. There is also speculation that CBD in isolate form is a more potent and more efficient form of the substance.
A row of CBD oil glass dropper bottles has been arrayed on a wooden surface against a white background.
The Entourage Effect
The entourage effect is the main reason to go for whole-plant CBD. The entourage effect posits that the chemicals in the cannabis plant work together synergistically to produce the therapeutic benefits we see in the research. This means if you’re looking for CBD to manage pain, anxiety, etc., it may actually be helpful to have a little bit of THC present because their synergy changes the therapeutic benefit compared to if you just had CBD isolate. Because cannabis legalization occurred fairly recently, there is much more research to be done on how the various compounds in cannabis, like CBG, CBN, and terpenes, affect our body and work together with CBD and THC to create the different profiles seen in cannabis.
Choosing a form of CBD that will be right for you may take some trial and error. If you go the whole-plant route, there are a ton of options in terms of CBD/THC ratios. Certain websites now let you explore unique strains and their cannabinoid breakdown, so you can pick and choose the kind of cannabis you want. If you’d rather go for isolate, the internet is chock full of different kinds of tinctures you can now purchase legally (if they’re hemp-derived, that is. If you live in a state where recreational marijuana still isn’t legal, the laws are vaguer). There are benefits to each depending on what you’re ultimately using the CBD for, so we hope you choose wisely.
Cannabis policy in the United States is developing quickly; eleven U.S. states have now have established legal, adult-use cannabis markets. So, whether you are an avid user of cannabis, know people who are, or are simply curious about what all the hype is about, it’s important to know how cannabis affects your brain and body — at the very least, so you don’t end up uncomfortably stoned on the floor of some friend-of-a-friend’s apartment (don’t worry, we’ve all been there).
Knowing a little about the compounds in cannabis can help you choose the right strain with the right cannabinoids for you.
The Nitty Gritty
∆9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is the chemical produced by cannabis that’s responsible for the feeling of being “high.” THC activates receptors in our body called cannabinoid (CB) receptors. These receptors are part of a system called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is widespread throughout the brain and body.
Studies show that CB1 receptors present in the forebrain can affect executive functioning and decision making when activated, and those in the hippocampus play an important role in memory. CB receptors are also widespread throughout the body, present in places like the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, and the immune system. Not surprisingly then, the endocannabinoid system is responsible for a multitude of bodily processes like appetite, pain modulation, memory, mood, and a vast array of others.
There are two known chemicals naturally produced by our body that activate receptors in the ECS — 2-arachidinoyol-glycerol (or 2-AG) and anandamide. These chemicals contribute to the ECS’ role of homeostatic regulation — which is basically your body’s way of checking in with itself and making sure things don’t get too out of whack. When you smoke cannabis (or eat it, swallow it, vape it, rub it, or consume it by any other method), THC enters the brain and binds to these receptors. Because THC is now present, this makes it harder for the cannabinoids that our body naturally produces to do what they do best, and this can throw off homeostatic regulation. This is why you might get “the munchies” or find that your memory is not the best after you smoke — because THC is taking the place of the chemicals that normally regulate appetite and memory.
Benefits of Cannabis Consumption
Despite symptoms like increased appetite, fatigue, and paranoia, THC has been known to help people with various conditions, one being insomnia — studies have shown THC can partially restore the regulation of sleep. It also helps those who struggle with eating disorders by restoring appetite. And THC is just one of over 100 cannabinoids in cannabis.
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is another immensely popular cannabinoid — it is nonintoxicating, however, meaning it doesn’t make you feel high. Studies show that CBD can help people suffering from epileptic symptoms see major reductions in seizures. CBD can also help cancer patients endure chemotherapy and can weakly activate some CB receptors that regulate inflammation, but it also works through other mechanisms like the serotonin system. This floods the body with messages, which will have different effects depending on where certain receptors are located. If CB receptors in the lymph nodes are being activated as part of the immune response, the message could be telling the body to lower inflammatory responses, thus decreasing pain for inflammatory conditions (which is why CBD helps with pain modulation).
So You Want to Try Cannabis?
If you’re new to the hype, it may feel overwhelming to figure out where to begin. There are many different ways you can consume cannabis which will vary your high both in intensity and duration.
Smoking/Inhaling
Smoking cannabis is the fastest way to feel its effects because the compounds go straight into your bloodstream via lung capillaries. This means you may start to feel high within minutes; the sensation typically lasts 1-2 hours. When you smoke, the chemicals in the cannabis are carboxylated and transformed into their active forms. Most flower has THC contents between 5-25% and if you’re just starting out, it may be good to start low due to having a low tolerance. Smoking also gives you more control of your dose because you can load the bowl with as much or as little flower as you’d like.
A woman smokes a hand-rolled joint at an open window in the city. Photo credit: Tobias Tullius
Vaporizing, on the other hand, simply heats up the compounds without burning them. Many people argue that vaping is healthier for your body and can lead to a more efficient high, however this is still being studied. Another factor to consider with vaping is that most vapes use concentrated oil which can have up to 80% THC present. Because of this you will experience a substantially more intense high.
If you still want to go the vape route for its potentially better treatment of your lungs, there are dry flower vapes available in which you fill the vaporizer directly with flower just like you are loading a bowl.
Edibles
Edibles have become a popular way to consume cannabis with their bright and bold packaging and yummy infusions into foods like candies, cookies, and even beef jerky. The most important note to consider when taking the edible route is its bioavailability. When cannabis enters your digestive system, it activates more slowly because it must be processed by enzymes in your digestive tract. Many unwilling victims are all-too-familiar with the experience of taking an edible and not feeling anything 45 minutes later, so they take more. Little did they know that on its way to the liver, the body converts THC into a much more potent metabolite called 11-hydroxy-THC. Then, all at once, the intoxication spikes and they are way, way too high.
That’s why, if you are a first-time consumer, it’s recommended that you start with a low dose of 1-5 mg THC and exercise patience. It is also a good idea to have food in your stomach and to be properly hydrated.
A stack of chocolate chip cookies displayed next to a cured & trimmed cannabis nug. Photo credit: Margo Amala
Tinctures
Using cannabis in the form of a tincture follows the sublingual route of administration. Tinctures are usually alcoholic extracts containing cannabis and may be an appealing method if you want to avoid smoking. Often, a user will take a drop of the tincture under their tongue and the extract will enter the body via blood vessels there. This onset is quicker than an oral route because the compound does not have to enter the digestive system (unless you choose to add the tincture to your food or beverage).
Users may feel effects after about 15 minutes and effects should last about 90. Like inhalation, this route of administration gives you some dosing freedom because you can control how much you want to take.
Topicals
The last common way to consume cannabis is with topical lotions and salves. This method is useful for localized or chronic pain because the cannabis-infused rub can be applied in a specific region and can permeate the skin there to benefit that specific area. Many people use topicals for arthritis, inflammation, or general muscle soreness. Even if the lotion or salve contains THC, you will not feel high from this route of administration because the cannabinoids do not typically penetrate deep enough into the bloodstream to cause intoxicating effects.
A CBD-infused topical rub is displayed next to several cannabis leaf trimmings. Photo credit: CBD Infos
What about CBD?
Because of the expanding market, most if not all of these consumption methods can involve a variety of CBD:THC ratios. There are tinctures derived from hemp, meaning they are CBD dominant and legally cannot contain more than 0.3% THC. You can get flower, tinctures, and salves that have 1:1 or 2:1 THC:CBD ratios. You can even find flower that is CBD-rich with only trace amounts of THC if you don’t like the feeling of being high but still want the therapeutic benefits of cannabis. The cannabis world is your oyster — especially if you live in one of the 11 states that have legalized for adult use.
The Bottom Line
Scientists have learned a lot about cannabis and its effects since THC was first discovered in 1964, and even more research coming out about the other main cannabinoids present in cannabis. However, because each brain works a little differently, the specific cannabis sample that may help you with anxiety problems could have a different effect on someone else.
If you’re new to cannabis consumption, think about the method you want to begin with and start with a low dose. Be patient with the process and keep in mind that not all endocannabinoid systems are made the same.
In January, researchers at the California Department of Pesticide Regulation and Sacramento State will offer cannabis users a $20 gift card in exchange for them anonymously sharing how much cannabis they consume in an effort to help determine accurate safety levels for pesticides used for cannabis cultivation, according to a Capital Public Radio report.
Charlotte Fadipe, a spokesperson for the regulatory agency, said neither federal nor state regulators have any good data on pesticide use when it comes to cannabis and, in order to calculate those levels, officials need to know how much cannabis people are consuming.
“We had talked to people in other states … and looked at tobacco levels, but we didn’t actually have any data on cannabis consumption itself. If it turns out that people are eating a lot more cannabis products than we initially thought, we might need to lower the levels.” — Fadipe, to CPR
The agency plans to set up tables at dispensaries throughout the state and ask customers to take a 20- to 60-minute anonymous survey detailing how much cannabis they smoked, ate, or used in topicals, and where they purchased the products and whether they shared them with others. Interested individuals can also sign up for the survey online.
According to CDPR data, there are 36 active ingredients allowed to be used in cannabis cultivation in the state; another 46 are banned. Following legalization in the state, the failure rate for pesticide levels in the state’s industry was about 20 percent but by November that figure dropped to about 14 percent, according to an Associated Press report.
Illinois officials have issued 14 “same-site” adult-use cannabis licenses and the locations will be the first to offer recreational sales beginning January 1, ABC 7 reports. The businesses are the first in the state to be licensed to sell recreational cannabis.
Three of the licenses were issued to operators in Chicago – MedMar, Dispensary 33, and Maribus of Chicago – while the rest were issued to current medical cannabis sellers in Buffalo Grove, Mundelein, Elmwood Park, Naperville, Joliet, Canton, Champaign, Effingham, Grandview, and Rockford.
The companies who received licenses are allowed to sell to non-medical patients from their current storefront and are permitted to open another adult-use-only dispensary at a second location. According to the report, officials plan to award 75 additional adult-use licenses to new, and social equity, applicants next year. In all, there are currently 55 medical cannabis dispensaries in Illinois.
In September, the state granted its first adult-use cultivation licenses to Cresco Labs, PharmaCann, Ascend Illinois, and Columbia Care. Cultivation applicants had to pay a $100,000 application fee and commit to participating in the social-equity program included in the law. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation has also named so-called “responsible vendors” that will provide health and safety training to the state’s cannabis dispensary operators.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has proposed a plan to reduce penalties for unlawful cannabis possession and end the police policy of automatically impounding vehicles from drivers in possession of cannabis, NBC Chicago reports. The move is a step toward aligning the city’s laws with the recreational cannabis laws passed by the state legislature in June.
Under the proposal, penalties for unlawful possession would be reduced from $500 for first-time minor offenses to $50. Under the state’s cannabis law reforms, adults can possess up to 30 grams of flower and transporting under those limits in a vehicle is permitted, as long as the products are in a sealed container.
The plan would also amend Chicago Police enforcement rules to educate officers on the new state law and outline activities that will remain illegal such as smoking cannabis in any public place, in a vehicle, or other areas protected by the Smoke Free Illinois Act.
“For far too long, unjust and outdated cannabis enforcement laws have adversely and disproportionately affected Chicago’s black and brown neighborhoods. The legalization of cannabis in Illinois presents a powerful opportunity to reform our policies, and right these generation-old wrongs of the past as we work to ensure a safe, fair, and responsible implementation in Chicago.” – Lightfoot, in a statement, via NBC Chicago.
Chicago Police Department Eddie Johnson said that the training will occur “over the coming months.”
“By overturning outdated cannabis laws, Chicago’s police officers will finally have a smart, sensible, and safe framework that prioritizes public safety of all residents in this city,” he said in a statement to NBC Chicago.
The new city rules would take effect on January 1 – the same day the statewide laws go into effect.
Editor’s note: This op-ed was contributed by Brett Husak, a founding partner of the cannabis-focused payment processing service Flow Payments.
At the end of August, a health advisory released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) linked the use of e-cigarette products with severe pulmonary disease. As of last week, the CDC had confirmed over 2,000 cases of lung injury and 39 deaths related to vaping.
In response, Massachusetts declared a public health emergency and became the first state to enact an all-out ban on the retail and online sales of vape products. Gov. Baker outlawed the sale of all nicotine and cannabis vaping products for four months, while the state continues to examine the root cause of these illnesses. The states of Washington and Oregon followed suit with their own bans. These extreme measures were enacted before the CDC had even identified the primary culprit, vitamin E acetate, which recently surfaced as a cutting agent for unregulated cannabis vape products.
In fact, it appears that most if not all of the cannabis-related cases were caused by products obtained illegally, which is the first indicator that the statewide bans are an overreach and overreaction. The regulations seem overly harsh especially due to the fact that alcohol and cigarette-related deaths in our country are not insignificant — according to the CDC, cigarette smoking accounts for over 480,000 deaths annually. That is the equivalent of about 1,300 deaths each day. Meanwhile, excessive alcohol use takes the lives of around 88,000 people per year in the U.S.
Globally, the number of vapers has been increasing steadily over the past few years, while the number of cigarette smokers has simultaneously decreased. Public health experts agree that even with the current risks, e-cigarettes carry only a fraction of the dangers of traditional cigarettes. The vape market combined worth is estimated to be close to $20 billion worldwide and it is a progressively important product line in the cannabis space as well.
In the thriving legal markets across America, vape products represent approximately one-third of cannabis business’ sales. It is typically the second-most frequently sold product, only trailing behind cannabis flower products. However, since this latest health scare, analysts have noted a 15% drop at least in nationwide market share during the month of September and in some states, such as Oregon, a decrease of 60%. This needless and unnecessary damage to the revenue streams of countless dispensaries nationwide would clearly be avoided with federal legalization and regulation.
It is interesting to note that nicotine vapes are regulated by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), but nicotine vape liquid is simple to replicate in an illegal manner. Nicotine extract can be purchased online in bulk and mixed with additives, flavors, and thickeners, whereupon it is then distributed to certain retailers.
Vapes containing cannabis, however, are legal in certain states but are not regulated by the FDA and cannabis remains listed as a Schedule 1 controlled substance alongside heroin and LSD. FDA scientists, therefore, are unable to assist states with research, testing, and safety guidelines, making it difficult for legal cannabis businesses to supersede the criminal market. Consequently, legitimate manufacturers are required to submit plants or extracts to state regulators for contamination and quality tests, which significantly raises the costs, upwards of 5 to 7 times, of what consumers can otherwise find on the black market. Illegal sellers can also tamper with cartridges and mix in substances like caffeine or alcohol to extend their supply.
An easy fix
The facts support the argument that a well-regulated marketplace for vape products would establish quality control, better research, and deter consumers from acquiring illegal and counterfeit products. Furthermore, national standards for cannabis vape products would create a baseline for comparisons, which is so essential in today’s marketplace. Finally, we have witnessed that states can only do so much in the area of regulation, and their limitations are one more reason the federal government needs to remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act, fund state and national medical investigations, and finally regulate this plant.
British Columbia, Canada-based Tilray sold 10,848 kilogram-equivalent of cannabis domestically and internationally during the last quarter but reported a 30 percent decrease in the net price-per-gram to $3.25, the Financial Post reports. The drastic drop in per-gram prices led to a net loss of $35.7 million for the quarter, which ended September 30, up from their $18.7 million net loss a year ago.
The company’s revenue was up $12 million for the quarter to $67.8 million, which CEO and President Brendan Kennedy said “reflects positive business trends” paired with the firm’s “sequential gross margin expansion.”
Just 30 percent of Tilray’s total revenue for the quarter was derived from adult-use sales – a 2 percent decline from the previous quarter.
Cronos Group Inc., another licensed producer in Canada, sold more than 3,000 kilograms of cannabis during the quarter with revenues of $12.7 million; however, the majority of those sales came from wholesaling to other licensed companies rather than private and provincial-run retailers, according to the report.
The company reported a per gram price of $3.75, which is 42 percent lower than three months ago. Cronos recorded an overall profit of $788 million for the quarter but that was mostly due to proceeds from a one-time $835 million revaluation of derivative liabilities. Their net revenue was 25 percent higher than the previous quarter, while the company’s adjusted gross margins fell 12 percent to 41.5 percent, according to the Post.
Organigram Holdings reported a 34 percent decline in net revenues to $16.3 million and forecast a write-off of $3.7 million due to “product returns and adjustments” the report says.
The figures for a few of the nation’s largest companies – financial reports for Canopy Growth Corp. and Aurora Cannabis are due out later this week – come about a month before Canadian retailers are expected to begin selling edibles and alternative cannabis products, which could be a boon to the bottom lines for licensed producers throughout the Great White North.
In July, a Statistics Canada report found that illicit cannabis products cost, on average, about $4.72 less than their legal counterparts and that 59 percent of cannabis consumers in the nation bought cannabis illegally at some point during the year.
The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission has “quarantined” all vaporizers except for those “designed to exclusively vaporize marijuana flower for medical use patients.” The move comes less than a week after the federal Centers for Disease Control linked vitamin E acetate to the vaping-associated pulmonary injury. The substance was found in illegal and counterfeit cannabis vape pen products.
Last month, following the rise in reports of the illness throughout the U.S., Gov. Charlie Baker (R) ordered a four-month ban on the sale of both cannabis and nicotine vaping products. That ban was, ultimately, challenged in court. Last week, a state Superior Court judge overruled part of the order, deciding that medical cannabis patients could buy vape products unless the CCC ruled otherwise, according to a Boston Herald report. The judge said that only the commission had the authority to ban medical cannabis products.
The CCC last month announced that they would require more detailed labeling of all cannabis vape cartridges, extracts, and concentrates amid the outbreak. Under those requirements, manufacturers must include on their ingredient list every additive used in the product, including thickening agents and specific terpenes.
“Current manufacturing processes and information available to the Commission do not definitively preclude the possibility that licensed vaporizer products contain vitamin E acetate or other potential ingredients of concern.” — CCC, “Quarantine Order Applying to Vaporizer Products,” Nov. 12, 2019.
Dr. Peter Grinspoon, a primary care clinician at Massachusetts General Hospital, said during a press conference that the ban could “drive everyone to the illicit market” which is where people were likely getting the products that were making them sick in the first place.
Cannabis Control Commissioner Shaleen Title said the ban is not “open-ended” and is “based on credible evidence.”
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has proposed banning the state’s medical cannabis businesses from paying their taxes, fees, and penalties in cash. DHSS spokesperson Lisa Cox told 41 Action News that “large amounts of cash-handling will create challenges for state agencies and may create safety issues for medical marijuana facility employees.”
“As we have done with all of our rules, we have put this out for public comment in order to hear from the public whether they have concerns with this proposal and, if so, what they are. The emergency rule has not been filed, and we will consider all comments we receive before determining whether to file it.” – Cox, to 41 Action News
Specifically, the rule allows medical cannabusinesses to “pay all fees, penalties, or taxes due to Missouri state governmental agencies via any payment method normally acceptable to those agencies other than cash.”
Jack Cardetti, spokesperson for the Missouri Medical Cannabis Trade Association, called it a “cut and dry rule” but said it would be problematic “because access to banking is one of the more difficult things” in the space.
“You can’t pay your taxes and fees despite being a legal business and cash being a legal tender,” he said to 41 Action News
In the report, Joe Leonard, owner of Bee Valley Farms, said he has been unable to find a bank to work with as financial institutions that would take cannabis industry clients “are few and far between” and “most of them have a limit on how many [cannabis] businesses they’ll take on.”
Last month, the state received more than 2,100 medical cannabis operator applications, of which 1,163 were for dispensary operation and 554 were for cultivation licenses. According to 41 Action News, Missouri’s medical cannabis industry is expected to create 4,000 jobs and bring in more than $500 million.
Cox did not offer a timeline on whether a decision on the rule would be made but said the agency would “review all feedback and evaluate further if needed.”
The Food and Drug Administration has granted approval to the Yale School of Medicine and CT Pharma for human drug trials to study the efficacy of cannabis-based medicines, according to a Connecticut Public Radio report. The study will be the first with FDA approval to test cannabis on human subjects.
Yale University School of Medicine’s Dr. Rajita Sinha, the lead researcher for the clinical trial, said the studies will attempt to figure out how medical cannabis works, who it works for, what symptoms can be alleviated, dosages, and whether there is “a need for refinement.”
Michael Fedele, board chair of the Portland, Connecticut-based CT Pharma, told CPR that he hopes the study will result in the first FDA-approved cannabis-based medicine to be manufactured in the U.S.
“Right now, a company in England (GW Pharma) has the only FDA-approved, plant-based medical marijuana product (Epidiolex) in our market. That really shouldn’t be the case with respect to American companies.” – Fedele, via CPR
According to the FDA, the agency “is aware that there is considerable interest in the use of marijuana to attempt to treat a number of medical conditions” and does support “research into the medical use of marijuana and its constituents through cooperation with other federal agencies involved in marijuana research.”
According to a Hartford Business Journal report, Yale indicated the first phase will examine men and women between the ages of 21 to 45 who use cannabis recreationally but do not qualify for medicinal use. The second phase will focus on men and women ages 21 to 60 with chronic pain. Each participant will receive a placebo, CBD and THC. Side effects such as vital signs of heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and clinical symptoms will be assessed.
