West Virginia 2-3 Years Away From Medical Cannabis Sales

6/27/2019

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West Virginia’s medical cannabis law takes effect next month; however, Department of Health and Human Resources spokesperson Allison Adler told the Associated Press that it will take two or three years before patients have access to medical cannabis products in the state.

The bill was first signed into law in Apr. 2017 by a jovial Gov. Jim Justice and the Health Department appeared to be making headway when, a month later, it updated its website to reflect the program. The Agriculture Department followed suit by making its nomination to the medical cannabis advisory board. At that time, Adler indicated that the agency was in the “preliminary stages” of developing the medical cannabis industry rules.

In March, Justice approved legislation allowing vertical integration for cannabis companies, but the move was too little too late as the government had not issued any industry licenses. Justice also vetoed legislation to allow regional distribution for medical cannabis products that might have helped jumpstart the program.

Last April, two years after Justice approved the medical cannabis measure, he signed a bill allowing the state’s medical cannabis companies to access banking services through a state-approved bank. The Treasurer’s Office announced they were seeking that financial institution just days after the bill’s signing.

According to the AP report, terminally ill cancer patients are able to access medical cannabis through reciprocity agreements with other states; however, all other qualified patients are being forced to wait until the state infrastructure is operational.

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CBD Living Suppositories

6/26/2019

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In just a few short years, cannabidiol (CBD) has become a verified cultural and wellness phenomenon that has swept the country from coast to coast.  There are even a plethora of varied products already on the market, including CBD capsules, tinctures, topicals, extracts, gummies, and even CBD-infused sunblock. 

CBD — the non-psychoactive cannabinoid found abundantly in cannabis and hemp plants — is officially here to stay. However, as a wellness-minded industry, it would be remiss to overlook one of the most effective and important medicine delivery systems ever developed: the suppository. Suppositories are capsules that are designed to deliver medicines and other beneficial substances to the body without having to go through the digestive tract, which is easily irritable and can sometimes break substances down too quickly. These products are usually inserted and absorbed via the rectum or vagina and are a super efficient method of delivering medicines straight into the body’s bloodstream.

CBD Living Suppositories are a full-spectrum CBD suppository that are made to offer maximum therapeutic benefit, with an emphasis on patient convenience. The products are both fast-acting and long-lasting — a winning combination for patients in need. 

The suppositories are designed for easy insertion into the rectum or vagina and a single dose contains 50 mg of full-spectrum CBD — the product can easily be cut in half, however, to achieve a lower dose. 

Each and every CBD Living Suppository contains a simple blend of organic hemp-sourced CBD and a PCCA MBK Fatty Acid Base; a single box from CBD Living contains 10 individual suppositories. These products are also verified cruelty-free, gluten-free, non-GMA, and are even vegan-friendly as they do not contain animal gelatin.

With so many other great CBD products already available, one could easily wonder why you might consider ingesting it via a suppository. For especially sick patients, however, suppositories are incredibly important, as sometimes they are the only option that works! 

You should consider a CBD Living Suppository if:

  • You are vomiting and cannot consistently keep pills, capsules, or liquids down.
  • You cannot physically swallow.
  • Your digestive tract is breaking down CBD too quickly.

To learn more about CBD, its benefits, and the wide variety of products that are now available to the modern health-minded individual, visit CBDLiving.com. There, you can check out their staggering array of full-spectrum CBD products — including CBD Living Suppositories — and see what options they have that would best suit your particular needs.

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Oregon Passes Interstate Cannabis Commerce Law

6/26/2019

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Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D) has signed a host of new cannabis bills into law, including one that contains language legalizing the inter-state trade of cannabis products. Other new laws expand upon the state’s cannabis expungement process, add protections for medical cannabis patients against discriminatory landlords, and add limits for the licensing of new cannabis operators.

Senate Bill 582, approved by lawmakers earlier this month, would let cannabis operators in the state export their extra product to neighboring states with cannabis programs. The bill is aimed at relieving the Oregon cannabis market from an excessive glut of products — a study found earlier this year that the state has an oversupply of cannabis that, at current consumption rates, would last six and half years.

Under the new law, however, the program will require federal government approval before cross-state sales can begin and there is currently not a federal policy in place regarding the issue. Additionally, any exported cannabis products will have to be transferred via roadways and could not pass through states where prohibition still stands, so any potential exports will be limited to just Washington, California, and Nevada.

Meanwhile, the aptly named Senate Bill 420 contains cannabis expungement language that sets up individuals with low-level cannabis possession charges (for one ounce or less) to file for those charges to be expunged from their criminal record. Under the new law, applying for expungement will not cost a fee and objections to any request must be filed within 30 days.

Senate Bill 218 — another new law aimed at reducing the state’s cannabis oversupply — authorizes the Oregon Liquor Control Commission “to refuse to issue initial marijuana production licenses based on supply of and demand for marijuana,” meaning that regulators can temporarily cease issuing licenses in the pursuit of a healthier marketplace. Previously, there were no legal limitations to the number of cannabis cultivators in Oregon.

Senate Bill 970 includes language protecting medical cannabis patients from discrimination by landlords. The new law, which “limits applicable screening criteria for residential landlords,” states specifically that landlords cannot discriminate based on a renter’s “status as a medical marijuana patient” or because they have a “conviction based solely on the use or possession of marijuana.”

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Skyline view of Boston, Massachusetts on a cloudy day.

Massachusetts Bans CBD Consumables

6/26/2019

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The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources has banned the sale of CBD-infused food and beverage products, raw CBD flower, CBD products that make any medicinal or therapeutic claims, and any dietary supplements, or animal feed containing hemp. The ban is based on federal Food and Drug Administration regulations banning the cannabinoid from food and other consumables.

According to the state guidance, other hemp products – seed and seed oil, hulled hemp, hemp seed powder, hemp protein – remain legal along with clothing, building materials, and other items made from hemp fiber.

The rules clarify that the state’s licensed cannabis cultivators and processors can buy and sell raw hemp flower – likely for extraction – but flower cannot be made available for retail sale.

“Failure to comply may result in enforcement action from the Department, DPH, the local board of health, or law enforcement. This may include the inability to sell any hemp-derived products in the future, the destruction or seizure of illegal products, loss of license, or further legal action to determine whether the product sold is in compliance.” — MDAR, Policy Statement Regarding the Sale of Hemp-Derived Products, June 12

In an interview with the State House News Service, Jim Borghesani, the spokesman for the 2016 ballot initiative that legalized cannabis in the state, called the new hemp rules “an absurd dichotomy” in a state with recreational cannabis sales. He added that while 54 percent of voters were in favor of legalizing cannabis “probably a lot more want access to hemp consumables.”

Rep. David Rogers, House chairman of the Cannabis Policy Committee, told the News Service that “there’s a possibility” the chamber will address the new restrictions on CBD “if need be.”

Just last week the House voted unanimously to allow farmers with agricultural deed restrictions to grow hemp.

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Ireland Legalizes Medical Cannabis

6/26/2019

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Irish Health Minister Simon Harris has signed legislation to create a five-year pilot program for medical cannabis access, according to a report from The Journal. The signing comes two years after Harris announced a program would be established.

During the signing, Harris said there are “no plans to legalize cannabis” in Ireland.

“The purpose of this program is to facilitate compassionate access to cannabis for medical reasons, where conventional treatment has failed. Ultimately it will be the decision of the medical consultant, in consultation with their patient, to prescribe a particular treatment, including a cannabis-based treatment, for a patient under their care.” – Harris, during the bill signing, via The Journal

The bill allows medical cannabis access for just three qualifying conditions – intractable nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy, severe and treatment-resistant epilepsy, and spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis.

The measure does not legalize medical cannabis production in Ireland; instead, the products will be obtained elsewhere in Europe, imported by the Health Product Regulatory Authority, and made available to patients in pharmacies. Harris did indicate to The Journal that he has a “very open mind” to allow medical cannabis cultivation in the nation and has a “gut feeling” that it should. Harris added that if medical cannabis were cultivated in Ireland, it would likely be the responsibility of the public health service.

According to an Irish Post report, the program will be reviewed by officials in 2024.

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The Maryland Statehouse in capital city Annapolis, Maryland.

Maryland Cannabis Legalization Task Force Holds First Meeting

6/26/2019

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The Maryland General Assembly has convened its task force to study cannabis legalization in the state, the Baltimore Sun reports. The task force’s findings and conclusions will go far in determining whether the full legislature will consider legalizing cannabis for adult use in the state next session or put the issue to voters via a ballot initiative.

The task force will form several subcommittees to explore the impact of legalization including criminal justice, public health, and best approaches regarding licensing, taxation and social equity – which was a hot-button issue that led to lawsuits when the state legalized medical cannabis.

The state currently has 15 licensed medical cannabis cultivators, 18 processors, and 77 operational dispensaries, according to William Tilburg, director of policy and government affairs for the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission. Last year, medical cannabis sales in Maryland totaled $109 million. Tilburg also noted that less than 1 percent of the nation’s canna-businesses are African American owned, stressing the need for diversity in the state’s licensing if they move forward with recreational legalization.

Task force member Del. Nick J. Mosby (D-Baltimore) urged the body to eliminate caps on the number of licenses available in the state.

“Is there an advantage to the residents of Maryland to have an arbitrarily limited cap on the number of licenses, particularly when you look at the fact that this industry is doing so well – $86 million in six months to a handful of folks?” – Mosby, during comments at a task force meeting, via the Sun

The task force includes nine Democrats and four Republicans.

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KushyCBD Vape Pen, Tincture, & Topicals Review

6/25/2019

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KushyCBD is the sister company to KushyPunch, one of California’s leading medical cannabis-infused product manufacturers.

As a company that is known for pioneering achievements in the cannabis space — like being the first cannabis company to sponsor a mainstream boxing title contender and marketing the first sugar-free medical cannabis gummy product — our team was extra excited to receive KushyPunch’s CBD products for review!

Vaporizer

The CBD Balance Pen from KushyCBD was a delightful treat to review. The pen combines the soothing experience of CBD with the full terpene profile of medical cannabis. The result is not only relaxing — it’s pleasingly delicious! The 175 milligrams of CBD in each pen is infused in a half-gram of pure sugarcane ethanol, which lends itself to an entirely pure and solvent-free experience. The blend works so well and tastes so good, in fact, that it’s hard to believe at first you’re not actually getting high. Third-party lab testing, however, indicates that the sugarcane ethanol extract contains exactly zero milligrams of THC despite the overwhelming flavor of cannabis terpenes. 

That said, however, the CBD Vape Cartridge from KushyCBD is probably a better choice for regular vape consumers, as it contains the same pure sugarcane ethanol blend but you can do away with the disposable vape pen and simply add the cartridge to your existing collection. The cartridge itself contains twice as much product as the disposable pen: one full gram of extract, or 350 milligrams of CBD. 

Yum!

Tincture

CBD-infused tinctures are one of the most popular types of CBD products in the growing marketplace. KushyCBD’s variation does not disappoint. Each bottle of the tincture contains 450 milligrams of full-spectrum CBD oil — that’s 30 of the 15-milligram doses that the bottle/dropper combo can conveniently measure out for you.

The tincture’s flavor is quite mild, so it’s both easy and pleasing to consume directly, but the oil also blends well if you’d rather mix it with something else, such as a smoothy, protein shake, or other supplemental beverage.

Topicals

We received two topical products in our KushyCBD care package: the CBD Freeze Roll-On and the CBD Body Balm.

The CBD Freeze Roll-On makes for an excellent athletic CBD topical — with its roll-on delivery device, you can easily rub the infused gel directly onto sore muscles and other aches and pains. The gel is also infused with fresh menthol and citrus essence, which makes for a refreshingly cool experience and enjoyable scent — though we suggest starting slow (as should always be the case with cannabinoid infusions) as the menthol/citrus combo is quite potent and can make your eyes water and skin tingle if applied in excess. Unless you’re into that sort of thing, of course. 

The team found the CBD Body Balm to be a more generic and all-around approachable topical product. It has a much more mild scent and application process — it works particularly great for sore hands and feet, as you can really get in between your digits with the stuff, something that the roll-on product struggles with. The Body Balm is also a wonderful addition to help facilitate relaxation and comfort during a massage or post-workout cooldown.

To learn more about the above products — or some of KushyPunch’s other hemp CBD or (if you live in California) medical cannabis products — visit KushyCBD.com or KushyPunch.com for more information.

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Illinois Becomes 11th State to Legalize Cannabis

6/25/2019

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Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) signed the state’s historic cannabis legalization and regulation bill today, making Illinois the 11th state to end cannabis prohibition. It is also the first time that a state legislature has independently approved regulations for the commercial cultivation and distribution of cannabis products for adults.

“As the first state in the nation to fully legalize adult-use cannabis through the legislative process, Illinois exemplifies the best of democracy: a bipartisan and deep commitment to better the lives of all of our people.” — Gov. J.B. Pritzker, in a statement, via ABC News

Illinois’ legalization law — which was passed by state lawmakers on May 31 — goes into effect starting January 1, 2020. Under the law, Illinois residents aged 21 or older will be allowed to buy and possess up to 30 grams of cannabis, five grams of cannabis concentrate, and up to 500 milligrams of THC in a cannabis-infused product. Possession/purchase amounts will be halved for non-residents, such as tourists.

The law was also crafted to include sweeping social equity provisions: starting January 1, anyone previously convicted of purchasing or possessing up to 30 grams of cannabis may have those crimes expunged from their criminal record. Additionally, a portion of the state’s cannabis tax revenue will be devoted to impoverished communities and communities of color, which were most negatively affected by prohibition.

Unlike most other states, Illinois’ legalization law will not allow adults to grow their own cannabis plants at home unless they are a registered medical cannabis patient.

The law lays out a regulated marketplace for the plant’s cultivation, production, and distribution, including a licensing and tax structure that will expand on the state’s current, medical cannabis model. However, according to cannabis entrepreneur Kris Krane, the president and co-founder of Chicago-based 4 Front Ventures, this approach will result in severe product shortages during and beyond the market’s launch — a problem that has plagued every other state-legal market at its outset.

“The immediate problem is that these businesses have built a physical production infrastructure designed to meet the demands of a 70,000-person medical market,” Krane wrote in a contribution to Forbes. “They are nowhere near equipped to meet the market demand for 13 million residents and 58 million annual tourists to Chicago alone.”

Until licensing is dramatically expanded, Krane warns that Illinois could realistically become “known as the home of the $800 retail ounce.”

Gov. Pritzker campaigned hard last year on the issue of cannabis legalization. After winning the gubernatorial election in November, he said he wanted Illinois to be the first state in the Midwest to legalize and launch adult-use cannabis sales, hoping to beat out even Michigan — whose voters opted for legalization in 2018 and whose marketplace is expected to launch in late 2019.

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FDA Update Offers No New Guidelines for CBD

6/25/2019

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In a lengthy news release, the Food and Drug Administration said they would apply a “rigorous and science-based approach” in devising regulations for CBD. The update comes three weeks after the agency held its first public hearing on the cannabinoid.

The release, authored by Dr. Amy Abernethy, principal deputy commissioner, and Lowell Schiller, principal associate commissioner for policy, indicates that while the agency recognizes the “significant public interest” in CBD products, “there are many unanswered questions about the science, safety, and quality of many of these products.”

“The FDA’s approach to cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds has been consistent. We treat substances derived from cannabis just like we do any other substances, and they are subject to the same authorities as any other substance. That said, some other relevant laws have changed, and so has the market.” – FDA officials, in a press release

The authors note that the agency has approved the cannabis-derived CBD pharmaceutical drug Epidilox and, since the drug was under clinical trial prior to CBD being added to foods and dietary supplements, using CBD is such a manner is prohibited. The agency suggests they could issue a regulation to create an exception to allow CBD products in foods and dietary supplements; however, the authors stopped short of saying whether or not they would consider making that exception.

They also cite research by Greenwich Biosciences that alleges that CBD is potentially toxic to the liver – a finding that has been disputed by the CED Foundation, who note that the mice in the study were given the human equivalent of 42,050 milligrams of CBD, which they called “an unreasonable amount.”

“In the days where many people are taking 10mg pills of CBD per day, the amounts of CBD that were force-fed to these animals in this study, if translated to humans, would be 4,305mg, 12,915mg, and 43,050mg over 10 days, or 17,220mg, 51,660mg, and 172,200mg in one-shot doses.),” the foundation wrote in a June 20 rebuttal to a Forbes article by Mike Adams. “For reference, these days, most dispensaries sell CBD in doses of 10mg, 20mg, up to 2-300mg.)”

In their update, the FDA stopped short of offering any guidance for the CBD industry but, in an apparent nod to drugmakers, expressed concern that “widespread availability in products like foods or dietary supplements could reduce commercial incentives to study CBD for potential drug uses.”

The agency is still accepting public comments on CBD until July 16.

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Police Seize 19,000 Cannabis Plants In Siskiyou County, California

6/25/2019

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Law enforcement officials in Siskiyou County, California have seized 19,088 illegally grown cannabis plants in the last month, according to a News 10 report. The actions were led by the Siskiyou Interagency Marijuana Investigation Team along with county sheriffs and the California Army National Guard’s Counter-Drug Unit.

During a June 21 raid, 4,824 plants and 454 pounds of processed cannabis products were seized from 11 Mt. Shasta Vista properties. Officials estimated that the crops would total between $28.9 million and $43.4 million on the illicit market, while each plant – which they estimated would net about three pounds – would be worth up to $3,000 in legal retail markets. In a raid one week prior, law enforcement officers seized 2,818 plants from another Mt. Shasta Vista site.

Other actions in the area netted officers 139 pounds of processed cannabis worth between $278,000 to $417,000.

The region is designated by the U.S. Department of Justice as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, according to Sheriff Jon Lopey. County officials have banned all outdoor cultivation and medical cannabis patients can grow up to 12 plants and non-medical users up to six inside an approved structure, he said.

Officials throughout California have taken different approaches to curbing the illegal market since voters passed the legalization law in 2016. In April, Los Angeles filed its first civil lawsuit against an unlicensed dispensary and is seeking $20,000 per day the shop operated without a license – in all, about $7.5 million. The Bureau of Cannabis Control has also cracked down on illegal operators with fines and arrests.

In February, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed an order to redeploy 360 of the state’s National Guard Troops to combat the state’s illegal cannabis trade.

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University of Maryland Launches MMJ Master’s Program

6/25/2019

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The University of Maryland School of Pharmacy is set to offer the nation’s first master’s degree program in medical cannabis including classes for basic science, clinical use, adverse effects and public health, and federal and state laws and policies.

The two-year MS in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics program will be based at Rockville, Maryland’s Universities at Shady Grove as well as online. The program also includes an in-person symposium each semester for networking opportunities.

Natalie D. Eddington, PhD, dean and professor of the School of Pharmacy, said that medical cannabis programs will expand throughout the U.S. and its territories which will fuel “a demand for an educated workforce that is well-trained in both the science and therapeutic effects” of medical cannabis.

“Our MS in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics has been critically designed to prepare students to meet this demand. Innovations in instructional design throughout the curriculum will provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to make a positive impact on communities across the United States.” – Eddington, in a statement

The degree does not require a traditional thesis — instead, students will complete a capstone project featuring a selection of expert seminars, case studies, and discussions.

“[This] is an incredibly unique program,” Leah Sera, assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science at UMSOP and director of the MS in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics program, said in a press release. “Faculty from the School of Pharmacy who lead courses for the program are experts in both basic and clinical sciences related to the study of medications, and are dedicated to making coursework both interesting and accessible to all students.”

The application deadline for the program is Aug. 15; classes begin Aug. 26.

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Study: CBD Potential Potent Antibiotic

6/24/2019

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Australian researchers are suggesting that CBD could be a potent antibiotic, finding in lab tests that the cannabinoid killed all the strains of bacteria, including those that are highly resistant to existing antibiotics, according to a Newsweek report. Moreover, the bacteria did not become resistant to the CBD even after being exposed to it for 20 days – the period when bacteria can become antibiotic-resistant.

The researchers also found CBD to be effective at treating a skin infection in mice.

Mark Blaskovich, the lead researcher on the study and senior research chemist at the Centre for Superbug Solutions, admitted to Newsweek that the team “still don’t know how it works” but CBD “may have a unique mechanism of action given it works against bacteria that have become resistant to other antibiotics, but we still don’t know how.”

“So far, we have only shown it works topically, on the skin surface. To be really useful, it would be good if we could show that it treated systemic infections e.g. pneumonia, or complicated tissue infections, where you have to give it orally or by intravenous dosing. A very preliminary study didn’t show that it works in these more difficult models.” – Blaskovich, to Newsweek

Blaskvich said that the “most challenging part” of the study was getting the permits to handle CBD in their Queensland laboratory. The cannabinoid, he said, is still highly regulated in Australia, despite the fact that the researchers used a synthetic, rather than plant-derived, compound.

Dr. Andrew Edwards, a non-clinical Lecturer in Molecular Microbiology at Imperial College London who was not involved in the research, noted that the Australian researchers only found CBD to be effective for Gram-positive bacteria.

“It is not effective against Gram-negative bacteria, which are especially difficult to develop new antibiotics for because they have a very selective outer-membrane that prevents most drugs from entering the bacterial cell,” he told Newsweek.

Edwards added that, because CBD is “already well-characterized” for human use, if it’s found to be an effective antibiotic, “it could be fast-tracked into clinics.”

The study results were presented at the annual conference of the American Society for Microbiology, ASM Microbe 2019 in San Francisco. They have not been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

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Half of Ohio MMJ Patients Not Using Program

6/24/2019

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Only about half of Ohio’s 42,000 medical cannabis patients have bought products from dispensaries, with most citing high costs as the barrier, according to state figures outlined by the Alliance Review. Currently, just 18 of the 56 state-approved dispensaries are open for business.

Although the high prices are keeping many patients from purchasing cannabis through the state’s licensed dispensaries, Thomas Rosenberger, associate director for the Ohio Medical Cannabis Cultivators Association, said that prices have dropped about 15 percent since the first dispensary opened in January.

According to the report, some patients admit to buying cannabis illegally due to the high costs of the legally-available products, while others say they drive to Michigan – which allows reciprocity for registered patients from other states. Bob Bridges, a patient advocate and Medical Marijuana Advisory Board member, told the Review that medical cannabis prices in Michigan’s more mature market are cheaper, even when factoring in gas. Additionally, for some Ohio patients, Michigan dispensaries are actually closer than any in-state locations.

Last month, the Ohio Board of Pharmacy announced that medical cannabis sales had topped $5.8 million since sales began in January, with dispensaries selling more than 750 pounds of flower. Of the 29 provisional cultivation licenses, just 17 have received their operating certificates, while only two of the state’s 39 producers have received certification to begin manufacturing edibles, tinctures, and topicals.

Earlier this month, the State Medical Board of Ohio delayed a vote on including anxiety and autism to the state’s medical cannabis qualifying condition list, according to an Associated Press report. In May, the board had recommended that the conditions be added to the medical cannabis regime.

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Pennsylvania Announces Clinical MMJ Research Participants

6/24/2019

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The Pennsylvania Health Department has launched a private-public partnership to conduct clinical research on the efficacy of medical cannabis for the 21 conditions that qualify access to the state’s medical cannabis program. According to the agency, the research program is the first of its kind in the nation.

The first three clinical registrants are:

  • PA Options for Wellness, Inc., which will work with Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey
  • Agronomed Biologics LLC, affiliated with Philadelphia’s Drexel University College of Medicine
  • MLH Explorations, LLC, which is affiliated with Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia

Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine called the research “essential to providing physicians with more evidence-based research to make clinical decisions for their patients,” saying the program positioned the state “on the forefront of clinical research” for medical cannabis.

“It is the cornerstone of our program and the key to our clinically-based, patient-focused program for those suffering with cancer, [post-traumatic stress disorder] and other serious medical conditions.” – Levine, in a statement

The research centers will convene in next month to outline what research they will be conducting, and the potential patient outcomes associated with their studies. All clinical registrants to the program must hold a state-issued medical cannabis grower/processor and dispensary permit and must partner with an approved academic research center.

The announcement comes nearly one year to the day after Gov. Tom Wolf (D) signed a bill amending the medical cannabis law to allow research programs. The research portion of the law had initially sparked a lawsuit by the state’s licensed dispensaries who argued that the research license went beyond the scope of the law. In all, eight medical schools have been approved as Academic Clinical Research Centers under the amendment.

Medical cannabis sales in Pennsylvania began in Feb. 2018 and, according to the Health Department, more than 159,000 patients have been certified to access the program.

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New York Expands Decriminalization, Approves Cannabis Expungement

6/21/2019

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Working past the scheduled close of the 2019 legislative session, the New York State Senate approved legislation Thursday night to expand the state’s cannabis decriminalization language and automatically expunge low-level cannabis convictions. The bill, which is supported by Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), was approved next by the Assembly early Friday morning before lawmakers finally adjourned for the rest of the year, according to a PIX11 News report.

Lawmakers had also considered an adult-use legalization bill but failed to come to an agreement in time, so the final push for cannabis reform resulted in just an expansion of the state’s existing decriminalization language.

Under current New York law, carrying up to 25 grams of cannabis is considered unlawful possession — a violation resulting in a $100 ticket for the first offense, rising to a maximum fine of $250 for repeat offenses with up to 15 days in jail. The new language reduces the penalty to just a $50 fine for less than an ounce or a $200 fine for one to two ounces; the new bill will also allow for the expungement of minor cannabis convictions.

Pro-reform lawmakers were disappointed that the legalization bill failed but said they will take up the issue again next year, and that the decriminalization expansions were a stepping stone toward reaching that eventual goal.

“We will get there. This is one step on the path. We will get there.” — Sen. Diane Savino (D-Staten Island), in a statement

New York’s original decriminalization bill was established in 1977. Notably, while the old language had decriminalized private possession, the public possession of even small amounts of cannabis was still considered a misdemeanor and an arrestable offense.

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House Votes to Protect State-Legal Cannabis Programs

6/21/2019

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The House of Representatives has approved an amendment to a federal spending bill that would prevent the federal government from interfering in legal cannabis markets. The chamber passed the measure – which is sponsored by Democratic Representatives Earl Blumenauer and Eleanor Holmes Norton, and Republican Tom McClintock – 267-165.

Specifically, the rider blocks the Department of Justice from spending funds to prevent states and U.S. territories from “implementing their own laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of marijuana.”

Michael Collins, Director of National Affairs for Drug Policy Alliance said the vote was an indication that “the end of marijuana prohibition has never been closer.”

“Now is the time for Democrats to pivot to passing legislation that will end prohibition through a racial justice lens, making sure that the communities most impacted by our racist marijuana laws have a stake in the future of legalization. To do anything less would be to repeat an injustice.” – Collins, in a statement

Blumenauer, the lead sponsor of the amendment and co-founder of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, said the amendment is “past time.”

“We have much more work to do,” he said in a statement. “The federal government is out of touch and our cannabis laws are out of date. I’m pleased that the House agrees and we are able to move forward.”

NORML Political Director Justin Strekal called the amendment “the most significant vote on marijuana reform policy the [House] has ever taken.”

“Today’s action by Congress highlights the growing power of the marijuana law reform movement and the increasing awareness by political leaders that the policy of prohibition and criminalization has failed,” he said in a statement.

The measure might face a tougher test in the Republican-controlled Senate, which must still approve the amendment before it can take effect.

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Report: Total Cannabinoid Market Has $14.9B Potential This Year

6/21/2019

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Cannabis market investor network Arcview Group and data firm BDS Analytics have, for the first time, included the total cannabinoid market in their annual “State of Legal Cannabis Markets” report and estimate global cannabis sales could reach $14.9 billion in 2019 – a 36 percent increase over last year, according to a CNN overview of the report.

The firms included both recreational and medical cannabis sales, hemp-derived products, including CBD, and CBD-based pharmaceuticals approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Troy Dayton, Acrview CEO, attributed the boosted projections to global federal government decisions, including the passage of last year’s farm bill which removed hemp from the U.S. Controlled Substances Act.

“These decisions being made at the federal level put pharmacies and general retailers in the business of selling CBD-based products in all 50 states, which substantially boosted the [projections].” — Troy Dayton, in a statement

The firms predict that CBD sales will hit $20 billion in six years, while both recreational and medical cannabis sales will reach $44.8 billion by 2024 worldwide – assuming some European and Latin American national legalize cannabis for medical or recreational use. The researchers predict at least five states will legalize cannabis for recreational use in the U.S. – Arizona, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, and New York – by 2024.

Two of those state legislatures – New York and New Jersey – did attempt to pass the reforms this session but neither could come to an agreement to pass adult-use legislation.

The analysis also predicts that Canada will have a $5 billion cannabis market by 2024.

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Canada Claims $186M In Cannabis Taxes For First 5.5 Months

6/21/2019

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Canada earned $186 million in excise and general taxes on goods and services directly related to cannabis sales during the legal market’s first five and a half months, according to figures from Statistics Canada. The federal government saw $19 million from excise taxes and $36 million from goods and services taxes while provincial governments pulled in $79 million in excise revenues and $53 million from goods and services taxes.

Cannabis products in the nation are taxed $1 per gram or 10 percent of the pre-tax transaction price; throughout Canada, general taxes on goods and services range from 5 percent in Alberta, to 15 percent in the Atlantic provinces.

In the first quarter of the year, cannabis-derived excise taxes increased 12.4 percent from the fourth quarter of 2018, while general taxes from cannabis-related goods and services rose 68.1 percent.

Brock University business professor Michael Armstrong called cannabis taxation a “tradeoff,” noting that high taxes lead to an increased illicit market.

“Where they do have legal retail, there are lots of taxes that have been piled up – every level of government has tacked on a tax. That makes it really difficult because the legal retailers can’t compete with the black market.” – Armstrong, to Global News

In April, Statistics Canada reported that both the legal and illegal markets have seen a price jump of 17 percent post-legalization, from a combined average price of $6.85 per gram to $8.04 per gram. The average illicit per-gram market price was $6.37 while the highest price for legal cannabis online was $9.99 per gram and $10.73 at retail shops.

Cannabis retailers in Canada will be allowed to start selling edibles, topicals, and concentrates this October but the tax rates for the products has not been announced. In the federal budget proposal, the rates would be based on THC content which is capped at 10 milligrams per package for edibles, and 1,000 milligrams for concentrates and topicals. A Deloitte study published earlier this month suggested that the “alternative cannabis products” market could be worth $2.7 billion annually, with edibles driving $1.6 billion of those sales.

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House Committee Hears Cannabis Industry Testimony

6/20/2019

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The House Committee on Small Business heard testimony by cannabis industry operators on Wednesday about the challenges they face accessing Small Business Administration programs, according to a report by The Hill.

Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia Velázquez said the hearing, titled “Unlocked Potential? Small Businesses in the Cannabis Industry,” was aimed to bring attention to a “rapidly evolving” industry that has “small businesses at the forefront.” The Democratic Assemblymember is drafting legislation that would allow cannabis businesses access to SBA programs.

“Despite growing economic opportunities around legal cannabis, factors like federal law enforcement, conflicting rules among the states, and our current banking regulations are hindering the ability for entrepreneurs and small businesses to fully engage in this new industry.” – Velázquez, during hearing remarks, via The Hill

During the hearing, Dana Chaves, senior vice president and director of specialty banking at Florida’s First Federal Bank, said that she thought she was allowed to serve the industry but federal laws prevented her from providing full services, such as small business loans.

“I hope this Committee will develop and pass legislation that expands access to business loans and lending programs under the jurisdiction of SBA for cannabis-related business, many of which are led by aspiring entrepreneurs or are minority or women-owned,” she said during her testimony.

Ohio Republican Steve Chabot, a ranking member of the committee, was skeptical of the industry and warned about the negative effects of cannabis use.

Earlier this month, the Food and Drug Administration held its first hearing related to cannabis products – namely CBD – and in March the SAFE Banking Act, which would give state-legal canna-businesses access to financial services, moved out of the House Financial Services Committee; however Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo, chairman of the Senate banking committee, has not committed to giving that legislation a hearing.

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New York Session Ends Without Legalization Deal

6/20/2019

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New York lawmakers failed to pass any cannabis legislation before the session adjourned on Wednesday night, including their “plan B” – broad decriminalization for possession by adults, the Adirondack Daily Enterprise reports.

“I was asked earlier this week on a radio show if I would settle for decriminalization as a backup, and I said I keep fighting and only ‘tend to give up on hour 20 when there’s four hours left in the session.’ We have now reached ‘hour 20.’ – New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) to the Daily Enterprise

The bill was met with strong resistance by the New York State Sheriff’s Association, the New York State Parents Teachers Association, a statewide physicians lobby, drug treatment advocates, and Smart Approaches to Marijuana – the latter of which spent $10,000 on anti-cannabis billboards in the state and $14,500 on anti-legalization lobbying efforts during the session.

The decriminalization bills introduced at the 11th hour would have allowed criminal records for low-level cannabis-related crimes to be expunged, but lawmakers also failed to pass that bill. Another measure to expand the state’s medical cannabis and hemp programs were never brought to the floor for a vote.

Democratic state Sen. Liz Krueger, the bill’s primary sponsor, said the Democratically-controlled legislature had come “close to crossing the finish line” but “ran out of time.”

“I have no doubt that prohibition is an outdated and irrational policy, and its days are numbered,” she said to the Daily Enterprise.

The bill’s failure to pass was the result of disagreements by lawmakers regarding local control and how the revenues derived from the industry would be spent. The state’s session reconvenes in January.

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Colombia Court Ruling: Public Cannabis Use Is Legal

6/20/2019

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Colombia’s Constitutional Court has ruled parts of President Iván Duque’s 2017 Police Code are unconstitutional, including the ban on public cannabis consumption, according to an L.A. Weekly report. The ruling effectively legalizes public cannabis use in the South American nation.

Cannabis, and other illicit drugs, were decriminalized in Colombia seven years ago and medical cannabis use was made legal three years ago, but recreational cannabis use is still outlawed. Under the medical cannabis law, Colombians can grow up to 20 plants but there is otherwise not a legal consumer market.

Senator Gustavo Bolívar indicated that the ruling was based on “technical legislative errors” rather than a desire to change the law 2017 law.

“The Police Code was put into effect in 2017 as a political attempt to limit and punish cannabis usage after medical use was approved, and many portions of its code are considered onerous and unjustified.” – Bolívar, to L.A. Weekly

In 1994, the nation’s Constitutional Court ruled that punishing drug use violates the right to privacy, an individual’s autonomy and the free development of personality,” which are guaranteed under Article 22 of the United Nation’s Declaration of Human Rights.

“A law can not create general restrictions on freedom; it must be specific regarding time, place and circumstance and subject to reasonableness and proportionality,” the ruling states.

President Duque said while he “accepts and respects” the court ruling, “the free determination of personality is not above the free determination of drug addiction.” He added that police would continue imposing penalties and confiscating cannabis “even if doses are considered legal for personal use.”

The Colombia Legislature convenes today and the report indicates that many expect the body to tackle legalization legislation.

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Health Canada Caps Edibles at 10mg of THC Per Package

6/19/2019

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Health Canada’s new regulations for cannabis edibles, extracts, and topicals set THC caps for food and drink products at 10 milligrams per package and 1,000 milligrams per package for concentrates and topical products.

The packaging rules for edibles forbid the products to be “appealing to young persons” or make any health or nutrition claims. Producing edibles and cannabis in the same facility is also banned to “ensure the safety and integrity of Canada’s food system,” the regulations state.

For extracts, producers are prohibited from using some flavors that would appeal to children and teenagers and from using “sweeteners and colorants, or ingredients that could increase the appeal of cannabis extracts.”

Topical packaging is also banned from including “any claims respecting health or cosmetic benefits on the label.”

Dana Larsen, a legalization activist, and cannabis retailer, called the 10-milligram limit “the equivalent of selling alcohol only in little airline bottles to stop people from getting too drunk.”

“We are treating cannabis 10,000 times more severely than alcohol, which is clearly the greater risk to health and public safety. … All these little portions individually wrapped is really going to create a lot of extra packaging and waste.” — Larsen, to the Vancouver Sun

Larsen added that he has some cancer patients who use 500 milligrams via cannabis suppositories per day and “no one wants to put 50 things up their butt.”

A Deloitte study earlier this month estimated the market for the new products in Canada could reach as high as $2.7 billion and that edibles would comprise the lion’s share of that figure at $1.6 billion.

The new rules take effect Oct. 17; however, Health Canada indicated that products would likely not be available in stores or online until mid-December. Licensed retailers will need to seek an amendment to their licenses to sell all of the new products.

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Minnesota Hemp Farmer Facing Charges for High THC Content

6/19/2019

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The Minnesota hemp farmer who is suing the state over a cease and desist order has been charged with two felonies and one gross misdemeanor after his seized crops tested 10 times higher for THC than the legal limits for hemp, the Twin Cities Pioneer Press reports.

Luis Hummel, owner of 5th Sun Gardens is charged with drug sale and two counts of drug possession in Fillmore County. The criminal charges stem from a traffic stop, during which a county sheriff’s deputy seized hemp-derived products from the driver who indicated they were from Hummel’s farm.

According to the criminal complaint outlined by the Pioneer Press, the driver told the deputy that the products were illegal. The complaint also alleges that Hummel told authorities that he tries to make his hemp products more like cannabis products to “entice the buyer” and that THC levels in his hemp products go up when they are concentrated.

Hummel received the cease and desist letter on May 1 informing him that he was being removed from the state’s industrial hemp pilot program and his license had been revoked for a year. The letter also ordered him to destroy his entire crop. Hummel contended that the individual stopped was not charged with possession and the letter was premature because the products had not violated tests for high levels of THC.

Paul Johnson, president of the Minnesota Hemp Farmers and Manufacturers Association, said Hummel’s crop had tested within the 0.3 percent threshold for hemp when it was evaluated by state regulators. He said the case underscores the need for more specific regulations regarding hemp production, noting that THC levels often rise when hemp is concentrated.

“My concern is that again, it shows how the regulation is not contemporaneous with what is really happening.” – Johnson, to the Pioneer Press

Hummel’s lawsuit against the state argues that the cease and desist and order to destroy the crop violated his due process rights. Hummel had estimated his business is worth $3.5 million.

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A legal, commercial cannabis grow in Washington state,

Cleveland School of Cannabis Expands into Columbus

6/19/2019

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The Ohio-based Cleveland School of Cannabis has expanded into Columbus, marking its first physical expansion after opening two years ago, Crain’s Cleveland reports. The expansion comes three months after the school reported it had tripled its revenues after running in the red for its first 18 months.

The CSC is the only state-approved cannabis school in the state, offering both in-person and online courses in horticulture, dispensaries, and medical applications of cannabis; there is also an “executive” program that combines all three.

In March, the school reported they had graduated 111 students and that another 115 were enrolled in programs. According to the school, 70 percent of its graduates are employed in the industry. According to a CNBC report, cannabis industry wages are 11 percent higher than the national median and job openings rose 76 percent from December 2017 to December 2018.

In March, CEO Austin Briggs indicated that the employment rate for graduates might be higher if students were willing to move but many were waiting for jobs to open up closer to their homes.

In Ohio, the first medical cannabis dispensaries opened in January but the program has been marred by delays and, currently, just four of the state’s 40 licensed medical cannabis processors are operational. Last month, state sales figures showed medical cannabis sales in the state had topped $5.8 million, selling more than 750 pounds of flower to the state’s more than 30,000 patients.

Briggs said the school plans on expanding out of Ohio by 2021, naming New Jersey and Florida as possible destinations.

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