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Cannabis Laws Take Shape in Oklahoma Following House Vote

3/05/2019

Lawmakers in the Oklahoma House of Representatives have passed a bill that creates a full set of regulations for the state’s new medical cannabis program, according to a KOCO 5 report.

Oklahoma approved its medical cannabis program last year via the successful ballot initiative State Question 788. There was attempted interference, however, on the part of the state Health Board and former Gov. Mary Fallin (R), who tasked un-elected regulators with implementing stricter rules than those approved under State Question 788. They were ordered to undo the changes, however, by the state Attorney General.

Now, State Question 788 has been expanded upon by properly elected officials. The House of Representatives voted 93-5 in favor of approving what’s being called the “Unity Bill.”

“This is one of those bills where the politicians aren’t necessarily happy the business owners aren’t necessarily happy, which means it’s a win-win on both sides, a good middle-ground approach to all this. … This is something that’s definitely needed to make sure businesses are operating appropriately. There’s elements that everybody needed, and there’s elements that make it a little bit more difficult than it is now to run a business. But, it makes us more responsible to the patients at the end of the day.” — Corbin Wyatt, CEO of The Peak Dispensary, via KOCO 5

Designed to support the very broad but vague language of State Question 788, the Unity Bill sets standards for inspections, inventory, advertising, labeling, and packaging. The bill also makes it clear that Oklahomans with a medical cannabis license are still allowed to purchase firearms — contrary to federal law.

The bill now moves to the state Senate, where it must first clear the Rules Committee before it can be considered by the full Senate floor.

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GrassDoor Outperforms with Lighting-Fast Delivery Platform

3/05/2019

by Featured Announcement

Marijuana consumers in the greater LA area can stop spending their lives waiting for a bud to arrive. Fueled by an army of technologists, GrassDoor is an online application that rockets marijuana products to customers’ doorsteps.

With a menu curated from the finest growers and retailers working in cannabis, GrassDoor is powered by red-hot software that exploits previously-unknown shortcuts in mapping systems.

The result? Boasting a 99.5% order-perfection rate, GrassDoor also reports an industry-best average delivery time of 26 minutes.

Reversing the stereotypical expectation of slow drivers arriving hours late, the fleet of mobile budtenders using the GrassDoor platform arrive at customer’s doors faster than any other service.

GrassDoor is not the Uber or Lyft of weed – it is the limo service. Trained in both efficient driving and marijuana curation, GrassDoor’s mobile budtenders are the safest and most-reliable drivers in the industry.

Quality cannabis for savvy customers

The online menu has been assembled by marijuana sommeliers who travel farm-to-farm searching for the greatest products at the best price, rigorously inspecting every flower, vape cartridge, edible, etc. Whether selecting top shelf hybrids or half-ounce sun-grown, GrassDoor customers can count on the top-notch quality of anything they order.

In addition to getting weed faster than a pizza, consumers using GrassDoor can benefit from a number of money-saving programs offered by the software – including a loyalty program and rewards for referring new customers. Other perks include ordering from any address, scheduling deliveries for a specific day/time, and the old-school option to pay with cash.

Rapid growth

With a network that blankets the majority of Los Angeles, GrassDoor is quickly growing in popularity – which is only increasing the number of areas where consumers can access this revolutionary service. Looking to expand to more CA zip codes in the next year, GrassDoor is positioning itself as the premiere delivery website for hand-picked marijuana products.

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Martha Stewart & Canopy Growth Form CBD Partnership

3/04/2019

Lifestyle celebrity Martha Stewart is teaming up with Canadian licensed producer Canopy Growth to produce a line of CBD products for people and pets, according to a story by People.

“I was probably more excited to meet Martha than I think almost any other celebrity I’ve been introduced to. I’m running a very large marijuana company and here I am meeting a person considered a leader on all things etiquette,” said Canopy Growth CEO Bruce Linton.

Martha Stewart and Canopy were connected by Snoop Dogg and his talent agency, Stampede Management. Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart have already collaborated on a variety of occasions, including the show “Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party.”

Stewart will advise Canopy on the creation and deployment of CBD products, starting with products made for pets. “I think it’s a starting spot that was comfortable for everyone involved. We have the science and she’s a lifelong dog, horse, animal person,” said Linton.

Stewart has already taken a tour of the Canopy Growth extraction facility, which was a closely-held secret.

“I am delighted to establish this partnership with Canopy Growth and share with them the knowledge I have gained after years of experience in the subject of living. I’m especially looking forward to our first collaboration together, which will offer sensible products for people’s beloved pets,” Stewart said of the collaboration.

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Michigan Gov. Abolishes State Marijuana Licensing Board

3/04/2019

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) has signed an executive order eliminating the state’s medical cannabis licensing board, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The volunteer board had been tasked with considering license applications but had struggled to keep pace, causing the state medical cannabis program to fall behind projected growth rates. It has also been the subject of criticism for inconsistent licensing decisions.

“This executive order will eliminate inefficiencies that have made it difficult to meet the needs of Michigan’s medical marijuana patients,” said Gov. Whitmer.

The state legislature has the power to veto the governor’s order, but Whitmer said she spoke to the state Congressional leadership before issuing the order.

Licenses will now be handled by a subdepartment of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, the Marijuana Regulatory Agency.

“To avoid licensing delays and to better coordinate varying sources of authority for the enforcement of state law, the administration of state laws relating to marijuana can more effectively and efficiently be administered by a dedicated state agency,” said Whitmer.

When the state’s adult-use program comes online, it will also fall under this department. To date, the licensing shortfalls for medical cannabis have been handled by allowing unlicensed businesses to continue operating, though that leniency period ends on March 31.

Michigan‘s soon-to-be-defunct Marijuana Licensing Board will fully shutter on April 30.

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MedMen Releases Commercial Advocating for Legalization

3/04/2019

Publicly-traded cannabis company MedMen recently completed a TV commercial directed by Spike Jonze that will air on several mainstream TV streaming services, Fast Company reports.

The advertisement focuses heavily on the history of cannabis in America as well as the many social justice ills that have been created by prohibition.

Jesse Williams, former star of Gray’s Anatomy, is featured in the short and has spoken to reporters about his passion for the social justice aspect of the commercial. In fact, to make the project resonate with the issues at hand, the team strived to find production crew, artists, and even catering staff who had been either incarcerated or negatively impacted by “predatory drug laws.”

MedMen has been aggressively positioning itself as a major player in the national and international cannabis space, purchasing companies and brands in many different states. This latest marketing effort is expected to further that goal and will be broadcast on the streaming channels of Bravo, CBS Sports Network, Oxygen, MSNBC, Lifetime, and Food Network. A print campaign associated with the video will also be displayed in GQ, Us Weekly, and Rolling Stone.

“We still can’t work with Instagram, Facebook, and Google, but we continue to build those relationships, and over time I firmly believe they’ll open up as well,” said MedMen Chief Media Officer David Dancer.

Check out the two-minute advertisement below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g74sc4O8vqg

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Federal Legalization Bill “Marijuana Justice Act” Re-Introduced

3/01/2019

The Marijuana Justice Act, which would federally legalize cannabis, was originally introduced in 2017 but received no floor hearing. The legislation has been reintroduced by presidential candidate Sen. Cory Booker (D-New Jersey), according to a CNBC report.

Many of the bill’s co-sponsors are fellow Democrats positioning themselves as 2020 presidential candidates, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris, and Kirsten Gillibrand.

The Marijuana Justice Act would not only remove cannabis from the list of Controlled Substances but would also provide financial incentives to states encouraging them to loosen their own cannabis laws. A major portion of the bill also seeks to help those people and communities most negatively impacted by the war on drugs. It would do this in large part by using taxes to fund job training and other social services.

“Black people are 3.7 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than their white peers even though they use marijuana at similar rates. If we truly want to be a fair and just nation we need to correct for this disparate treatment of enforcement practices.” — Sen. Cory Booker, in a recent tweet

Despite broad public support, the bill is still expected to struggle in the Senate, which is currently Republican-controlled. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said last year that he does “not have any plans to endorse legalization of marijuana.”

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Vermont Senate Votes In Favor of Adult-Use Cannabis Sales

3/01/2019

The Vermont Senate has voted overwhelmingly in favor of a bill that would create a regulated cannabis market in the state, according to a story by My Champlain Valley.

The vote was 23-5 in favor — a majority that makes the approval immune to even a governor’s veto.

The bill would create a state Cannabis Control Board comprised of five full-time members. Two would be appointed by the Governor; the other three would be appointed one each by the state Attorney General, Speaker of the House, and Senate Committee on Committees. The board would develop all rules and regulatory structure, including the licensing of retailers, cultivators, and labs. The Board would be expected to begin its rulemaking by October 1, 2019.

In Vermont, cannabis is already legal for adults to possess, use, and cultivate but the commercial distribution of the plant remains forbidden.

Cannabis would be taxed 10% at retail with an additional 1% available to municipalities. Medical cannabis would not be taxed. The Cannabis Board may also develop additional fees.

The bill would also expand the existing medical cannabis program, opening it for “any disease, condition or treatment as determined in writing by a patient’s healthcare professional.” Under the bill, the state’s retail marketplace would be expected to launch by April 1, 2021.

The Senate must vote one more time on the bill before it moves to the Vermont House of Representatives for consideration, however, which is expected on Friday.

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FDA Commissioner to Host Public Meeting Covering CBD Regulation in April

3/01/2019

The Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration announced there will be a public meeting in April with the goal of creating efficient regulations for CBD products, Food Navigator reports.

CBD was officially legalized by the 2018 Farm Bill but, as it’s considered a food additive, distribution regulations for the substance has been left to the Food and Drug Administration, which has been slow to take action so far. The announcement by Commissioner Gottlieb is the agency’s first significant move.

“For CBD to be legally marketed as an ingredient in a food or dietary supplement, the law requires that the FDA first would need to issue a regulation to permit such marketing. We’re planning to seek broad public input on this pathway, including information on the science and safety behind CBD. But we know that this process could take time, so we’re also interested in hearing from stakeholders and talking to Congress on possible alternative approaches to make sure that we have an appropriately efficient and predictable regulatory framework for regulating CBD products.” — Dr. Scott Gottlieb, FDA Commissioner, via Food Navigator

Many believe that CBD should not need FDA approval, though statements from Gottlieb show the agency believes otherwise. Due to a precedent set by the approval of Epidiolex, a CBD anti-seizure medication, CBD is now considered to be more than a simple dietary ingredient.

However, Gottlieb has made it clear that he understands the intent of the 2018 farm bill’s hemp legalization clause.

“We heard Congress loud and clear with respect to that legislation,” he said. “I understand Congress wants there to be a pathway for CBD to be available.”

An exact date for the meeting in April has not yet been set.

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New Hampshire House Passes Adult-Use Legalization

2/28/2019

Lawmakers in the New Hampshire House of Representatives voted 209-147 in favor of legislation that would legalize and regulate adult cannabis use, the Associated Press reports.

Under HB 481, adults who are 21 or older would be allowed to possess up to 28 grams of cannabis flower and grow up to six plants at home. The bill would also establish a regulatory commission to create rules for and manage a commercial cannabis industry that is expected to generate $33 million in annual taxes.

“I know change is hard. It’s a little scary,” the bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Renny Cushing (D), said ahead of the vote. “But I think now is the time that New Hampshire makes the transition from prohibition to real legalization, taxation and regulation.”

New Hampshire Democrats, who added legalization to their platform last year, recently gained control of both the House and Senate. Republican Gov. Chris Sununu, however, has already promised to veto the legislation and it’s not clear if Democrats would get the two-thirds majority required to overrule the governor.

State Rep. Cushing, however, said he believes the bill will eventually become law. “I’m confident that the force of history is with us,” he said.

“The House vote highlights just how little support remains for maintaining marijuana prohibition in the Granite State. Most New Hampshire residents agree it is time to legalize and regulate cannabis. There is no reason to continue punishing adults for consuming a substance that is less harmful than alcohol, and it is counterproductive to force them into a potentially dangerous illegal market to access it.” — Matt Simon, New England Political Director for the Marijuana Policy Project, in a press release

New Hampshire is bordered by Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, and Canada — each of which has already ended cannabis prohibition. The nearby states of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut are also considering adult-use legalization this year.

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Study Reveals Broad Therapeutic Impact of THC

2/28/2019

A new study by researchers at the University of New Mexico has shown that THC may be just as medicinally valuable as CBD — and perhaps even more so, EurekAlert reports.

Public perception of the medicinal powers of cannabis has largely transferred to the second major cannabinoid in the plant, CBD. However, results from the study show a much stronger correlation of therapeutic relief with THC over CBD.

The research investigates user-reports submitted by patients with the Releaf App, the largest database of the effects of cannabis in the U.S. The analysis covered data from 20,000 user sessions and 27 symptom categories on a spectrum including symptoms such as depression and seizure activity.

“Despite the conventional wisdom, both in the popular press and much of the scientific community, that only CBD has medical benefits while THC merely makes one high, our results suggest that THC may be more important than CBD in generating therapeutic benefits. In our study, CBD appears to have little effect at all, while THC generates measurable improvements in symptom relief. These findings justify the immediate de-scheduling of all types of cannabis, in addition to hemp, so that cannabis with THC can be more widely accessible for pharmaceutical use by the general public.” — Jacob Miguel Vigil, study co-author, via EurekAlert

The study, “The Association Between Cannabis Product Characteristics and Symptom Relief,” is published in the journal Scientific Reports.

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Washington State Lawmakers Call State Cannabis Board Culture “Toxic”

2/28/2019

Ten state lawmakers in Washington have sent a letter to Gov. Jay Inslee decrying the “toxic culture” of the state’s Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB), according to a story by The Stranger.

Specifically, the bipartisan group is calling on Gov. Inslee to rescind his nomination of regulator Russ Hauge to the LCB.

The lawmakers include: Sen. Ann Rivers (R-La Center), Sen. John Braun (R-Centralia), Sen. Mark Schoesler (R-Ritzville), Sen. Steve Hobbs (D-Lake Stevens), Sen. Guy Palumbo (D-Maltby), Rep. Brian Blake (D-Aberdeen), Rep. Kristine Reeves (D-Federal Way), Rep. Drew MacEwen (R-Union), Rep. Brandon Vick (R-Felida), and Rep. Steve Kirby (D-Tacoma)

The cannabis industry has long complained about the overly-restrictive LCB. In January, it was reported that the state Senate was moving to privately confirm Hauge to the post despite vocal resistance from the industry. Hauge’s re-appointment, however, appears to have been put on hold since news broke of the private confirmation attempt.

“We are united in our belief that you must hold the leaders at the top of the LCB accountable. Rejection of the toxic culture at LCB should start with not reappointing Mr. Hauge.” — Excerpt from the letter to Gov. Inslee, via the Stranger

Though there have been multiple complaints about the LCB, the industry’s main issue is overly harsh penalties — including even the complete removal of a business’ cannabis license — for minor rule violations that might not even be noticed in a different industry.

Gov. Inslee’s office said they had received the letter and were considering it but offered no comment.

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UC Berkeley Researchers Extract Cannabinoids from Brewer’s Yeast

2/27/2019

A team of synthetic biologists at the University of California, Berkeley have successfully extracted THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids — including some that are not found naturally inside the cannabis plant — from yeast.

In their findings, the researchers show that common brewer’s yeast, which can already be used to produce other chemicals including insulin, human growth hormones, and recently opiates, offers a potentially cheap and easy source of cannabinoids.

According to professor Jay Keasling, a specialist in chemical and biomolecular engineering, the UC Berkeley research team has established a method for manufacturing specific cannabinoids that is cheaper and requires less labor than the traditional water-and-soil approach to growing cannabis.

“For the consumer, the benefits are high-quality, low-cost CBD and THC: you get exactly what you want from yeast. It is a safer, more environmentally friendly way to produce cannabinoids.” — Jay Keasling, UC Berkeley professor, in a news release

Furthermore, the lab’s approach is more environmentally friendly than simply growing the plant, because it is not as energy-intensive as operating indoor grow lights and it does not produce the agricultural run-off associated with commercial cannabis grows.

“The economics look really good,” Keasling said. “The cost is competitive or better than that for the plant-derived cannabinoids. And manufacturers don’t have to worry about contamination — for example, THC in CBD — that would make you high.”

Keasling has since founded Demetrix Inc. to license the Berkeley research team’s new technology for using yeast fermentation to create cannabinoids.

Sourcing cannabinoids from yeast is an exciting development; however, it is not a brand new discovery. Last year, Canadian cannabis producer Cronos announced a $22 million deal with Boston biotech firm Ginkgo Bioworks to pioneer methods of producing single cannabinoids in a bioreactor.

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San Francisco Expunges 9,000 Prior Cannabis Convictions

2/27/2019

The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office has expunged 9,362 felony and misdemeanor cannabis convictions dating from as far back as 1975, according to an NPR report.

While many cities and municipalities across California are beginning the process of expungement, San Francisco is the first to finish. The city recently decided to take it upon itself to find and expunge prior cannabis crimes, as citizens have not been taking steps to do it for themselves. In fact, just 23 people had petitioned to the city to expunge their individual convictions.

“You have to hire an attorney. You have to petition the court. You have to come for a hearing. It’s a very expensive and very cumbersome process. And the reality is that the majority of the people that were punished and were the ones that suffered in this war on marijuana, war on drugs nationally, were people that can ill afford to pay an attorney.” — San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón, via NPR

San Francisco accomplished the feat with help from programmers with Code for America. Previous efforts to identify cases manually had resulted in only 1,200 expungements.

A state law passed last year set the requirement that all prior California cannabis convictions eligible for expungement should be cleared by 2020. The technology developed by Code for America could be the tool necessary to help achieve that goal.

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New Mexico’s 450-Plant Grower Limits Expire Friday

2/27/2019

A New Mexico law limiting growers in the state from producing more than 450 plants is set to expire this week, meaning there would be no limit to the number of plants growers could produce, according to the Albuquerque Journal.

A prior order by Judge David Thomson ruled that the 450 plant limit was “arbitrary and capricious” following a lawsuit by a medical cannabis patient who said that shortages of CBD oil had forced her to move out of the state. Judge Thomson set a 120-day expiration period on the 450-plant limit, during which time the Health Department was expected to write new rules. That 120-day period, however, ends on Friday.

The last request to stay the judgement was denied by 1st District Judge Sarah Singleton last week, meaning that the 450-plant limit will be defunct by Friday unless new rules are deployed.

The Health Department indicated that they are “assessing next steps” regarding plant counts. The Department may reinstate a plant count but at a new level that would hopefully be acceptable to the plaintiffs in the case ruled on by Judge Thomson.

“Safe access to quality medicine is a top priority of the New Mexico Department of Health’s Medical Cannabis Program,” said Health Department spokesperson David Morgan.

New Mexico’s House of Representatives is also currently considering a bill that would legalize adult-use cannabis.

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California’s Legal Cannabis Supply May Run Out By Summer

2/26/2019

California’s cannabis growers are almost entirely operating on temporary permits that are about to expire, which would create a huge cannabis shortage resulting in nearly zero supply by summer, Leafly reports.

California’s Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has issued nearly 7,000 temporary licenses that make up most of the state’s current cannabis production. These licenses, however, are expiring rapidly. Since the state’s adult-use cannabis rules took effect last year, the CDFA has issued only 9 permanent cannabis farm licenses, with 39 more pending.

Given the current situation, it’s unlikely that the CDFA would be able to issue enough permanent licenses to meet market demand before the 7,000 temporary licenses expire.

“If California runs out of regulated cannabis, consumers will turn to the unregulated market, making it even more difficult for the few remaining licensed cannabis businesses to eke out a living.” — Omar Figueroa, cannabis attorney and industry expert, via Leafly

In February, state Sen. Mike McGuire (D) introduced Senate Bill 67, which would give lawmakers and regulators more time to issue the necessary permanent licenses, in an effort to get a quick fix in place and prevent a complete industry stoppage.

If SB 67 isn’t passed, all temporary licenses will have expired by July; by that point, however, the CDFA only expects to have issued 144 permanent licenses.

“SB 67 isn’t the solution to all of this, but it is critical if the fledgling market is going to survive the next year,” said Hezekiah Allen, former Director of the California Grower’s Association.

Licenses are already expiring and the dismantling of California cannabis will only accelerate: 194 licenses are set to expire in February, 1,496 will expire in March, and 4,001 will expire in April.

A hearing for SB 67 is scheduled for February 27.

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Bill Restoring CBD to Store Shelves Advances in Maine

2/26/2019

Maine lawmakers have advanced a bill to re-enable the sale of edible CBD products in the state following a sudden crackdown by health inspectors in January, the Portland Press-Herald reports.

Maine inspectors with the Department of Health and Human Services in January ordered that any product containing CBD must be removed from store shelves except in licensed medical cannabis facilities — even the dog treats. The action resulted from statements made by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that said there can’t be legal CBD sales until the federal agency writes rules regarding CBD as a food additive.

This, despite the fact that the 2018 farm bill federally legalized industrial hemp and it’s derivatives.

LD 630, the bill in question, would be the fastest way to re-open the CBD market to Maine farmers, processors, and retailers. Many businesses have already had to lay off employees while the ban is in place. The bill would change the status of CBD in Maine to match the FDA’s definition, which would allow the products to be sold again as long as distributors do not make health-related claims.

The Maine legislature’s agriculture committee voted unanimously to advance the bill. It’s now bound for the full Maine legislature, where it will hopefully be approved in time for farmers to be able to plan for the 2019 growing season.

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Quebec Bill 2 to Ban Public Cannabis Consumption Under Fire by Patients

2/26/2019

Quebec’s Bill 2, written to raise the legal age for cannabis consumption and ban public smoking, is the target of a new petition from Canadians for Fair Access to Medical Marijuana (CFAMM), who would like to see exemptions made for medical cannabis patients, The Growth Op reports.

Bill 2 was introduced in late 2018 after cannabis was legalized throughout Canada. Quebec already has some of the most stringent cannabis laws in Canada now aims to create even more repressive rules for cannabis consumers and operators.

CFAMM is circling a petition in response that requests exemptions for medical cannabis patients, permitting them to consume cannabis anywhere that tobacco is allowed. According to CFAMM, tens of thousands of medical cannabis patients in Quebec will be denied access to their medicine should Bill 2 be made law as it’s worded now.

“The potential benefits of medical cannabis, combined with growing public interest in this plant, provides the government with an opportunity to be proactive and include an exemption in the law for the use of medical cannabis. This will not only rightfully recognize the rights of medical cannabis patients, but will also help in removing the social stigma around medical cannabis use.” — Antoine Roussel, spokesperson for CFAMM, via the Growth Op

Public Health officials in Quebec have also come out against Bill 2, saying that raising the legal age to 21 will not discourage those younger than that age from consuming cannabis but instead will force them into the illicit market.

The legislation is still being debated.

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Survey: 1 in 6 Canadians Have Used Cannabis Since Legalization

2/25/2019

Statistics Canada released updated cannabis consumer data compiled over the months since legalization in October, according to a Motley Fool report.

The statistics show 15.4 percent of all Canadians have tried cannabis in the last three months. Of the provinces, Quebec had the lowest consumption rate at just 13.6 percent, while Nova Scotia had the highest at 21.6 percent.

Men were more likely to consume cannabis — 19.4 percent have consumed in the last three months, while just 11.3 percent of women have consumed.

By age, cannabis consumption was more predominant in the younger age brackets. 27.4 percent of Canadians aged 15-24 and 23.2 percent of those 25 to 34 have used cannabis since legalization. Only 5.2 percent of those 65 and older have consumed cannabis, however, and only 10.4 percent of those aged 55 to 64.

Analysts expect consumption rates to continue rising as Canada’s licensed producers ramp up production and tackle problems with their supply chains. Also, there are still very few brick-and-mortar retail cannabis outlets in Canada — none, in some provinces. Cannabis-infused edibles will also become legal on October 17, 2019 and a rise in consumption by non-smokers is expected at that time.

Falling prices may also increase consumption. Aurora Cannabis is expected to top out at 700,000 kilograms of cannabis per year. Right now, however, the company is only producing 120,000 kilos. The same is true for other licensed producers — once they’ve increased their output, prices are expected to come down.

The data from Statistics Canada is available on their website.

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Massachusetts Cannabis Regulators Consider Business Loans to Boost Diversity

2/25/2019

Members of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission discussed methods of increasing inclusivity and diversity in the state’s cannabis industry, including the possibility of giving interest-free loans to minorities and women operating in cannabis space, the Boston Business Journal reports.

On Thursday, regulators met to discuss a course correction for the trajectory of the state’s cannabis market, which so far has been primarily operated by white men. Massachusetts’ cannabis laws specifically order regulators to encourage participation by minority demographics that were disproportionately harmed by the war on drugs.

Though stipulated by the law, regulators have struggled to make diversity a reality in the cannabis business space. Out of 112 licenses issued so far, only two business owners identify as a minority. Nine businesses are women-owned and three are LGBT owned.

“My current concern is the equity program was meant to guide the participants through a process that at its foundation should have been accessible. We built in low fees, made measures to make it accessible. But if there are systemic barriers… it’s like trying to help people cross a bridge that hasn’t been built yet. We need to continue to be thoughtful.” –Shaleen Title, Massachusetts Cannabis Commissioner, via Boston Business Journal

In addition to interest-free loans, regulators discussed changing how licenses are awarded — potentially prioritizing applicants who would provide more diversity to the market — and other regulatory changes to foster further participation.

“It is not too late,” said Title, who challenged assertions that big business already controls the cannabis market in Massachusetts. She indicated that the market was still in the very early stages. “There are going to be 50 stores in Boston alone — and there are zero stores now.”

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California Tax Revenues Total Just $345.2 Million For 2018

2/22/2019

California released their tax earnings for the fourth and final quarter of 2018, completing the first full year of legal cannabis sales in the state.

The first full year of legal adult-use cannabis in California earned the state $345.2 million, according to a California Tax and Fee Administration press release. The number, reported alongside fourth fiscal quarter results, represents about half of the originally expected amount. Fourth quarter tax revenues were $103.3 million, up slightly from the previous quarter. The total number includes the combination of cannabis cultivation, excise, and sales taxes.

California has struggled to meet tax revenue predictions due largely to the persistence of the illicit market. Many theorize that the reason sales in the legal market have been so low is due to excessive taxes, which are levied not only on the state level but also county and municipal.

Many industry advocates are actively lobbying for lower taxes and, as California’s revenues have continued to coast beneath expectations, even lawmakers are starting to get onboard. At least one pending bill, Assembly Bill 286, would eliminate the cultivation tax for cannabis and would lower the excise tax.

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Study: Teens In States With Medical Cannabis Smoke Less Cannabis

2/22/2019

A new, large study of more than 800,000 high school students in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse has shown that, in states with legal medical cannabis, there are less teenage cannabis users, ScienceDaily reports.

The study administered an anonymous survey to high schoolers in 45 states. Researchers controlled for variables like alcohol and tobacco policies in each state and demographics.

“We found that for every group of 100 adolescents, one fewer will be a current user of marijuana following the enactment of medical marijuana laws. When we looked at particular subgroups of adolescents, this reduction became even more pronounced. For example 3.9% less Black and 2.7% less Hispanic youths now use marijuana in states with [medical cannabis legalization].” — Dr Rebekah Levine Coley, study lead, via ScienceDaily

The survey was circulated over 16 years. That length of time allowed researchers to see the change in states as medical cannabis was legalized. Researchers discovered that the longer medical cannabis laws had been enacted, the more adolescent use of cannabis declined.

“Some people have argued that decriminalizing or legalizing medical marijuana could increase cannabis use amongst young people, either by making it easier for them to access, or by making it seem less harmful. However, we saw the opposite effect,” said Dr. Coley.

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Arizona Lawmakers Considering Bill to Solidify Legality of Cannabis Extracts

2/22/2019

Lawmakers in the Arizona state House of Representatives have advanced a bill out of committee that would guarantee the availability of medical cannabis extractions no matter the outcome of a pending state Supreme Court decision that may end up banning them, Tucson.com reports.

The future of cannabis edibles and oils is uncertain in Arizona due to a pending Supreme Court case regarding the 2016 conviction of a medical cannabis patient, Rodney Jones. Jones was sentenced to more than 2 years in prison for possession of 0.05 of an ounce of cannabis resin because prosecutors successfully argued that extracts are not covered by the state’s medical cannabis laws, though the case has been working its way through appeals.

The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Tony Rivero (R-Peoria) and submitted to the Arizona House Committee on Public Safety, is now on the pathway to full House and Senate consideration. Rivero said the bill is an effort to change the language of Arizona’s medical cannabis law so that the original will of the voters is honored.

“Without this clarification some of Arizona’s most vulnerable patients such as children will no longer have access to alternative forms of medical marijuana needed to treat their debilitating conditions. We do not want patients to be forced to smoke marijuana or be subject to criminal penalties.” — Rep. Tony Rivero, via Tucson.com

The committee voted to advance the bill on a 5-2 margin in favor. The bill will now move on to the full state House of Representatives for consideration.

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