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A man holds a lighter to a glass pipe loaded with ground cannabis.

Michigan Legalization Takes Effect Today

12/06/2018

Cannabis is officially legal for adults in Michigan starting today.

Adults who are 21 or older are now allowed to consume the plant, possess up to 2.5 ounces of flower and 15 grams of concentrates, and grow up to 12 plants at home. Adult citizens can also possess the harvests of their home grows, up to a maximum of 10 ounces of flower.

Cannabis commercialization, including a taxed-and-regulated marketplace, will hopefully launch in Michigan sometime at the end of 2019.

56 percent of voters approved the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act despite heavy opposition during the 2018 midterms.

As Michigan is the 10th U.S. state to legalize, a whopping 20 percent of the nation’s 50 states have now ended cannabis prohibition.

“This is a great day for the state of Michigan and, as the first midwest state to legalize marijuana for adult use, a huge step forward in the nationwide fight to end the failed policy of prohibition and incarceration and to replace it with a sensible system of legalization and regulation.” — NORML Executive Director Erik Altieri, in a statement

Potential legislative interference

The reforms are not 100 percent secure, however, as outgoing Michigan Senate Majority Leader Arian Meekhof has introduced legislation via a lame-duck session that would gut several key aspects of the voter-approved ballot initiative, including the right to home-grow cannabis. Sen. Meekhof’s proposal would also reduce the cannabis excise tax down from ten percent to just three percent, which would in turn slash the state’s future cannabis tax revenue.

Activists are not happy about the possible interference with Michigan’s electoral process.

“It’s disrespectful to the political process and it’s disrespectful to the voters of Michigan,” Josh Hovey, spokesperson for the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, said in an interview with MLive. “The people of Michigan have spoken. They knew what they were voting on.”

“I think it’s a Hail Mary attempt to satisfy some big business interests and wealthy donors who want to get into the industry,” said Hovey.

End

New York Accepting Hemp Applications for CBD Products

12/06/2018

by Pat Beggan

New York announced it is now accepting applications for growers and processors of industrial hemp, according to a Weed News report.

Though the 2018 Farm Bill, which is on track to soon be passed and sent to the president’s desk for his signature, is expected to completely legalize industrial hemp, New York’s program is for now operating under the pilot program structure laid out in the 2014 Farm Bill. The new applications are solely for industrial hemp to be used in CBD preparations — hemp products meant for human or animal food products are not condoned under the current application process.

The current application period closes on December 28, 2018. Questions about the program can be sent to industrialhempNYS@agriculture.ny.gov and relevant answers will be posted on the Department of Agriculture website’s FAQ section.

New York established its pilot program for industrial hemp in 2015 and held a Hemp Summit in 2017. More details can be found on the Department of Agriculture‘s website.

New York is also currently attempting to structure and pass full adult-use cannabis legalization following a favorable report from the state’s Department of Health earlier this year.

End

Drive-Thru CBD Available in Vermont

12/06/2018

by Pat Beggan

A former bank has been turned into a drive-thru CBD dispensary in Battleboro, Vermont, the Battleboro Reformer reports.

Ceres Natural Remedies opened for business in early November, offering convenient access to CBD-only products.

“We are constantly looking for ways to make the buying experience more convenient while still maintaining the same quality of service to our customers, many of whom have debilitating health issues that make getting around harder. We think this will set a new standard for delivery in our industry here in Vermont and throughout New England in the future.” — Shayne Lynn, Ceres Natural Remedies and Southern Vermont Wellness CEO, via the Reformer

While currently anyone 18 and older can purchase CBD products, Southern Vermont Wellness hopes to be able to provide THC products through a similar drive-thru experience for registered medical cannabis patients in the future as well. Registered patients will be able to order THC products online and then pick them up at the drive-thru window through the soon-to-be-deployed system.

All the products currently for sale are hemp-based, with many using hemp grown locally by the Mettawee Valley Hemp Company. The products range from edibles to capsules, oils, vapes, and pet treats.

Cannabis is legal in Vermont for medical and adult-use purposes, but there is not — and there are not currently plans for — a taxed-and-regulated commercial market for recreational cannabis products.

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Cannabis Researchers Discover Strain Uniquely Effective for Diabetics

12/06/2018

by Pat Beggan

A cannabis pharmaceutical consortium says it has discovered a strain of cannabis that produces useful levels of a rare cannabinoid that may help in the treatment of diabetes, Mercury News reports.

Tetrahydrocannabivarin, or THCV, is a cannabinoid found only in tiny amounts in most cannabis strains. The strain known as “Black Beauty,” however, appears to contain an abundance of the cannabinoid. Black Beauty is so named for its leaves, which are typically darker than other medical cannabis strains. There exists evidence, including a study published in the scientific journal Nature, demonstrating that THCV is uniquely powerful against the symptoms of diabetes.

The Black Beauty strain was discovered several years ago by Marin County medical cannabis expert George Bianchini and partner Ed Rosenthal. At first, the plant was nearly discarded when lab results showed it contained little THC and no CBD. However, Black Beauty contains approximately 3.5% THCV. Rosenthal and Bianchini have been working to roll back decades of THC-focused breeding of cannabis and Black Beauty is now part of that process.

Several biotech companies have been working on implanting the genes for THCV into industrial hemp, which would enable large-scale production of the cannabinoid while circumventing federal regulations against cannabis.

Marin County-based bio-pharmaceutical company Liposome Formulations Inc. announced it will soon release a product line of THCV pills, though the pills are expected to carry a high price until the biotech companies in Marin County can successfully produce THCV with industrial hemp.

With the 2018 Farm Bill set to legalize industrial hemp this year, breeding a strain of hemp that can be produced cheaply and in large amounts with a gene for THCV could be just the ticket for diabetics.

Either way, following the discovery of several previously unknown cannabinoids earlier this year, it’s clear that medical cannabis discussion and research should include further experiments into the lesser-known cannabinoids.

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Marlboro Owner In Talks to Acquire Canadian LP Cronos

12/05/2018

by Pat Beggan

Altria, the parent company of Phillip Morris USA and maker of Marlboro cigarettes, is in talks with Canadian cannabis producer Cronos over a possible acquisition, The Guardian reports.

Cronos representatives said no agreement was reached yet and cautioned investors, who caused the company’s shares to rise following release of the news, that there is no promise of a future agreement between the companies.

Any successful deal between the companies would be momentous. Previously, several large alcohol brands like Corona, Molson-Coors and others have made investments into the cannabis space. The only other notable deal from a tobacco company was London’s Imperial Brands, which took an undisclosed stake in Oxford Cannabinoid in June earlier this year.

Altria is seeking to diversify into cannabis from its traditional tobacco business as the number of tobacco smokers in the U.S. continues to fall. Shares of Altria have declined 20% this year.

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Rhode Island to Consider Cannabis Legalization This Term

12/05/2018

by Pat Beggan

Lawmakers in Rhode Island say they will look seriously at cannabis legalization in the coming term, due to reforms in surrounding states and the reelection of a governor who favors cannabis reforms, according to the Providence Journal.

Rhode Island lawmakers return in January for the start of a new legislative session with a host of new representatives. Returning state Rep. Scott Slater, who has previously sponsored several failed cannabis legalization bills, says he is optimistic for 2019.

“With the reality of it being all around us, I think folks have to look at it a little harder now. Even if you’re against recreational cannabis and you feel there are social costs to it, you’re going to be dealing with those issues within your own borders, regardless, and without any of the revenue you could be raising. You might as well regulate it and tax it and put some of that money toward prevention.” –Scott Slater (D-Providence), to the Providence Journal

Slater said to combat negative pressure from many anti-legalization groups, his upcoming proposal will give local communities an opt-out and other abilities to limit the cannabis industry. Slater also said the state’s medical cannabis program has implemented new seed-to-sale tracking that could easily be implemented into an adult-use program.

Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo has said she is open to legalization in Rhode Island as long as safeguards are in place to prevent child consumption.

“Regardless of what the General Assembly does, Rhode Island adults will be buying legal marijuana from Massachusetts stores … very soon,” said Matthew Schweich, deputy director of the Marijuana Policy Project, in an interview with the Providence Journal.

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Utah Legislature Replaces Medical Cannabis Voter Initiative

12/05/2018

by Pat Beggan

The Utah state legislature voted to replace the voter-backed Proposition 2 with the Utah Medical Cannabis Act (UMCA) on Monday, the Salt Lake Tribune reports.

The replacement, designed by the state of Utah, passed both houses by a wide margin in a single-day special legislative session. Some supporters of Prop. 2 agreed before Election Day to a potential compromise bill, though others — such as advocacy organizations Together for Responsible Use and Cannabis Education and Alliance for a Better Utah — have taken issue with the replacement legislation.

Most advocates are happy nonetheless that there is any sort of law, however limited, including Connor Boyack, president of free market think group Libertas Institute, which supported Prop. 2.

“For years, we have been seeking a balance between political concessions and pushing the needle as far in favor of medical freedom as we could. This negotiated result is a decent balance to get the program underway. With this result, a major gutting of Prop 2 has been prevented, unlike what we have seen in the past and may see in the future on other issues.” — Connor Boyack, in a prepared statement.

There are several key changes in the UMCA over Prop. 2:

The number of allowed dispensaries has been reduced from 40 to just seven.
Edibles were largely stripped away as well, with only gelatin cubes allowed under the new rules.
Many autoimmune disorders were also removed from the list of qualifying conditions, leaving just Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis.
Lawmakers also raised the age for participation in the program to 21, despite arguments by Democrats that patients aged 18-20 could be approved via a compassionate use board.

More amendments to the bill are expected once the Utah state Senate enters its regular session next year. Some state senators have also suggested that future updates to the Act are a possibility, similar to how the state’s alcohol code is updated almost yearly.

End

A medical researcher handles medical equipment inside of a sterile work zone.

Sacramento Testing Lab Surrenders License, Major Recall Likely

12/04/2018

by Graham Abbott

Sacramento-based Sequoia Analytical Labs has surrendered its license to California state regulators after it was revealed that the lab’s now-former director was falsifying pesticide testing results, FOX 40 reports.

The incident is expected to signal the state’s largest cannabis product recall, yet.

According to an email and social media update from Sequoia, the company voluntarily surrendered its license to the Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC) and will cooperate with regulators in hopes of having its licensed returned by January 1, when a new host of testing requirements will take effect.

“During a BCC inspection on Tuesday, November 27, it was discovered that pesticide testing here at Sequoia Analytical Labs was not in compliance with BCC regulations. 22 of the required 66 pesticides, primarily, Category 2 pesticides, were not being correctly tested due to a faulty instrument. It was further discovered that the Lab Director knew about this and was secretly falsifying the results … from July 1 to November 27.” — Excerpt of official Sequoia Analytical Labs statement

The responsible director was promptly fired and replaced and the lab says it has already started working to fix the faulty instrument and revamp company procedures. “Management and ownership were horrified to learn about this severe breach of a very important safety regulation,” the company statement reads.

Sequoia’s general manager Steven Dutra told MJBizDaily that the BCC, “is not demanding that product be pulled in and destroyed;” rather, regulators want to see the affected products recalled and retested. It is not yet clear if the products will need to be completely retested or just retested for pesticides.

According to Dutra, there were some 700-800 batches of cannabis products affected by the faulty instrument and unscrupulous lab director, making this the largest product recall the California industry has ever faced.

In its official statement, Sequoia urged its clients to contact the BCC if they believe they may have received affected products and have not yet heard from the regulatory agency.

“We are very sorry for the inconveniences this incident will cause our clients,” the statement reads. “We have always made client and patient safety our top priority and we will be taking aggressive steps to insure that such incidents never happen again at Sequoia.”

End

Boulder, Colorado to Erase Prior Cannabis Convictions

12/04/2018

by Pat Beggan

Prosecutors in Boulder, Colorado are taking things a step further over the state and moving to completely erase previous cannabis convictions, the Boulder Daily Camera reports.

Boulder County District Attorney Ken Kupfner has made a list of nearly 4,000 possession convictions in country records since 2008 that would qualify to be vacated and sealed. Kupfner said the goal is to eventually erase even older convictions.

Boulder is going further for cannabis criminal reform than the state of Colorado, which passed a state law last year allowing people previously convicted of cannabis possession to have their charges sealed — but not erased.

“This is really a program based on fundamental fairness. This is conduct that is no longer illegal. It just seems like the right thing to do in these circumstances is to vacate and seal those convictions. … This is really designed for people who would not have found themselves in the criminal justice system today.” — District Attorney Ken Kupfner to the Boulder Daily Camera

Charges of possession of 2 ounces or less, or 1 ounce or less alongside paraphernalia charges qualify for erasure. Charges with any reference to distribution or other related crimes do not qualify.

On January 10 and 15 at the Boulder Justice Center — located at 1777 Sixth St. in Boulder — there will be a clinic where those with previous cannabis charges can have their case looked up to see if they qualify for expungement. An application to seal and vacate previous charges will also be posted on the District Attorney’s Office.

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Ohio Cannabis Patient Registry Site Now Online

12/04/2018

by Pat Beggan

The online portal for registering as a medical cannabis patient in Ohio is now live and taking registrations, according to The Toledo Blade.

The Ohio Board of Pharmacy sent notices to physicians, patients, and caregivers that had previously requested information about the program’s launch.

Only state-approved physicians can register new patients on the website, and patients will be charged $50 per year to participate in the registry. Once a patient is registered, they may print proof of registration, or save it to their mobile phones, which will give them access to dispensaries.

Some confusion was caused by the registry’s delay, with some patients believing they were allowed to possess cannabis before they were on the registry due to the “affirmative defense” language in Ohio’s medical cannabis law. That language, however, has been inconsistently applied by judges. Furthermore, the “affirmative defense” language expires when the registry and dispensary programs have been fully rolled out.

State officials said that medical cannabis should be available for patients at licensed dispensaries in Ohio within 60 days.

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Canadian LP Aphria Accused of Fraudulent Financials

12/04/2018

by Pat Beggan

Gabriel Grego of Quintessential Capital Management has accused Canadian producer Aphria of playing a shell game with shareholders by purchasing non-existent assets for the sole profit of the company’s founders, according to a Financial Times report.

Grego is a well-known short seller. Short selling is the trading term for betting that a stock is overvalued and will soon fall in price. Grego does stand to make a profit on the fall of Aphria’s share price, which started shortly after the report’s publishing.

Aphria issued a statement denying the claims by Grego and Quintessential Capital Management.

“Allegations that have been made by the short seller Quintessential Capital in the report that they published this morning are false and defamatory. The company is preparing a comprehensive response to provide shareholders with the facts and is also pursuing all available legal options against Quintessential Capital.” — Aphria, in a statement emailed to the Financial Times

Grego has previously called out fraudulent activities by Greek jewelry chain Folli Follie. He claimed the chain’s Chinese sales numbers were fraudulently inflated, which he discovered while checking on the retail outlets supposedly in operation in China. There were far fewer retail outlets than claimed, backed by a later investigation by Alvarez & Marsal, a professional services firm. Grego’s Quintessential Capital Management also discovered fraudulent activity by technology company Globo PLC in 2015.

According to his report, Grego visited the locations of three of Aphria’s recent acquisitions in the Caribbean and Latin America, bought for a total of CA$280 million. Grego said that there were only empty buildings at the locations and that he did not see any employees or executives. The only assets that seem to exist are conditional cannabis licenses, he said.

Grego said rival Canadian companies like Tilray have also made international cannabis deals in Latin America but that those deals were completed for a fraction of the price and the companies purchased real assets.

The outcome of any legal action by Aphria — as well as any proof of value to shareholders — remains to be seen. By the end of trading on Monday, Aphria’s shares had fallen 30 percent.

End

Rainy day on the streets of Manhattan, in New York City.

New York Lawmakers Hold Another Legalization Hearing

12/03/2018

by Graham Abbott

New York State Assembly members are hosting a public hearing today to discuss potentially legalizing adult-use cannabis in The Empire State, according to The Associated Press.

The hearing, which kicks off at 10:30 a.m. at the Babylon Town Hall on Long Island, is intended for gathering input and experience from other state-legal cannabis markets. It is the fourth public hearing related to cannabis legalization that New York lawmakers have held this year, though a long series of listening sessions earlier this year demonstrated a legislative willingness to hear public input on the issue.

At the most recent public hearing — held November 20 in Binghamton — Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard Gottfried said the hearings are supposed to cover more than just whether or not New York should legalize.

“Not only about is it a good idea or bad idea. But also about what are the mechanics of it. Creating a new industry is a complicated thing. We haven’t done that in New York since the end of prohibition in 1933.” — Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard Gottfried, via Metro.us

Assemblyman Gottfried has been a champion for cannabis reforms in New York for a large part of his career, having started first advocating for medical cannabis there some 20 years ago and recently having introduced a bill that would subsidize medical cannabis with health insurance.

Legalization is growing more and more attractive to New York as nearby Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont have already passed adult-use cannabis laws (though only Maine and Massachusetts have established rules for a taxed-and-regulated system).

Lawmakers are expected to begin seriously looking at legalization legislation once the 2019 legislative session kicks off next month.

If it successfully legalizes cannabis next year, New York would be the 10th U.S. state to allow for adult-use cannabis.

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Utah Lawmakers to Vote On Changing Voter-Backed Cannabis Measure

12/03/2018

by Graham Abbott

Utah lawmakers are expected to vote on Monday for several alterations to the state’s voter-approved medical cannabis initiative, the Associated Press reports.

Lawmakers will meet today in a special lame-duck session to discuss and vote on changes to Proposition 2, which was approved by 53 percent of voters during Utah’s midterm elections despite heavy opposition by lawmakers and the Mormon Church. Specifically, the legislature aims to slash the number of medical professionals who would be qualified to recommend medical cannabis, reduce the number of qualifying conditions, and remove rules allowing patients who live far away from a licensed dispensary to grow their own cannabis plants.

Proponents of the “compromise legislation,” which was first mentioned in October, say the proposed changes would still give medical cannabis access to those who truly need it while doing more to keep cannabis away from children and dissuade any broader legalization attempts in the future.

Note: even before lawmakers decided to change it, the smoking of medical cannabis was not allowed under the voter-backed Proposition 2.

Last month, cannabis advocacy group Together for Responsible Use and Cannabis Education threatened to sue state lawmakers and the Mormon Church if Utah’s recently-passed medical cannabis initiative is not implemented as it was written.

“It’s an almost complete disregard for the will of the people once they’ve spoken through the initiative process.” — Rocky Anderson, an attorney for cannabis advocates, via the AP

However, representatives from another advocacy group — the Utah Patients Coalition — support the compromise bill, arguing that, because Utah state law allows the legislature to change or even throw out any voter-approved measure, it is wiser to remain at the bargaining table and work with lawmakers and the anti-cannabis lobby on the issue.

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Iowa Launches Limited Medical Cannabis Industry

12/03/2018

by Graham Abbott

Medical cannabis products went on sale in Iowa over the weekend, marking the launch of the nation’s latest — albeit limited — cannabis product marketplace, The Associated Press reports.

Iowa’s medical cannabis rules are particularly stringent about what patients are allowed to do and use. The program is also unique in that it only allows for CBD-rich products — note: while some THC is allowed, the Iowa program caps any THC content at just three percent.

“I think the biggest thing that people should realize, and one of the things that’s kind of confusing, is that the products available in these dispensaries are not what most people think about when they think about marijuana — there won’t be smoking products, there won’t be joints, there won’t be edibles.” — Sarah Reisetter, Deputy Director of the Iowa Department of Public Health, via the AP

Currently, the products in Iowa’s cannabis market are manufactured by MedPharm Iowa, who supplies dispensaries in Council Bluffs, Davenport, Sioux City, Windsor Heights, and Waterloo. Under state law, only two CBD product manufacturers are allowed.

The program was established via the 2017 Medical Cannabidiol Act, which allows patients to purchase medical CBD products from a licensed dispensary if they suffer from one of the following qualifying conditions: cancer, seizures, Crohn’s disease, “untreatable” pain, multiple cclerosis, AIDS or HIV, ALS, Parkinson’s disease, or any terminal illness with a probably life expectancy of less than one year.

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Study: Vaping Delivers More THC Than Smoking

11/30/2018

by Pat Beggan

A recent study has shown that vaporizing cannabis delivers more THC to the bloodstream than smoking, according to Live Science.

In the study, which was conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and John Hopkins School of Medicine, 17 subjects were gathered for six separate 8.5-hour sessions, separated by a week or more. All participants had not smoked or ingested cannabis in the month before the study was conducted and were tested for compliance and other impairments before the study sessions.

The participants were asked to either smoke with a pipe or vaporize using a volcano measured doses of cannabis containing a total of 0mg, 10mg or 25mg of THC over the course of the six sessions. Each time, participants were asked to fill out an impairment questionnaire as well as had their vitals measured and blood taken.

Subjects who vaporized weed had significantly higher amounts of THC in their blood compared to those who smoked an equal dose. Results from the impairment questionnaire also showed increased effects, as those who vaporized not only self-reported more side effects like dry eyes or mouth but also made twice as many mistakes on cognitive tests.

Researchers theorize that the difference is likely due to losses of THC due to combustion as well as “sidestream smoke,” or smoke that is created but not inhaled.

The study also found a disconnect between blood concentrations of THC and subjective drug effects and impairment. Researchers saw little to no correlation between blood content and continuing effects. Often, the subjective effects of cannabis intoxication as well as motor skill effects continued well after blood concentrations declined below levels that should show an effect. This is further proof that a blood test for cannabis is not a reliable measure of impairment.

Researchers concluded that the amount of THC or other cannabinoids should not be the only consideration when attempting to accurately dose cannabis. Regulators and consumers both should be aware that the method of consumption — even between seemingly similar methods like smoking and vaping whole plant cannabis — can make a big difference in how high a user becomes or how much of a given medicinal cannabinoid enters their body.

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New Mexico Removes Final Hurdle Blocking Hemp Production

11/30/2018

by Graham Abbott

New Mexico is on the verge of allowing industrial hemp production after the New Mexico State University (NMSU) Board of Regents voted in favor of a proposal crafted by state agriculture officials, according to an NMSU press release.

Interested parties can apply for a license from New Mexico’s Department of Agriculture, which will regulate the program.

“In terms of economic development, it is highly desirable for our state and New Mexico State University to explore opportunities to diversify our economy. It’s another tool that allows New Mexico farmers to diversify their crop base and seek new market opportunities. I appreciate NMDA for working closely with stakeholders to develop the regulations to guide this emerging industry.” — New Mexico State Sen. Mary Kay Papen, in a statement

NMSU staff said the university is now collecting resources and information to help the state’s prospective hemp farmers and processors.

New Mexico’s industrial hemp ambitions were stymied when Gov. Susanna Martinez (R) vetoed a state hemp legalization bill in March 2017. The veto was contested as lawmakers, farmers, and advocates continued to push the agricultural and economic benefits of hemp.

Meanwhile, the 2018 Farm Bill is expected to end the federal ban on industrial hemp.

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Lawmakers Reach Farm Bill Deal, Hemp Legalization Incoming

11/29/2018

by Graham Abbott

Lawmakers in federal Farm Bill negotiations said Thursday they have reached an “agreement in principle” that would break a months-long standoff over commodity policy and food stamps disagreements, Bloomberg reports.

The bill’s hemp language, which was inserted by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), is reportedly intact after Sen. McConnell personally followed up with the Farm Bill conference committee to ensure it was included. The hemp provisions will reclassify the plant as an agricultural commodity, removing it from the list of federally controlled substances and allowing farmers to pursue crop insurance for their industrial hemp.

The Farm Bill negotiations were not at all related to the hemp provisions it contained but rather to a request by President Trump that lawmakers include provisions expanding work requirements for people who receive federal food stamps. Supporters have nonetheless waited impatiently for news that the $867 billion spending bill would pass without having its hemp legalization language stripped away.

House Agriculture Chairman Mike Conaway of Texas (R) said the compromise leaned more towards the Senate version of the bill.

“”The certainty that the farm bill brings to the table for the next five years is the win. … Everything we had in the House bill was important but we made the compromises we needed to make to get this deal done.” — Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Texas), via Bloomberg

The bill requires a few more minor details to be hashed out. It will be made publicly available sometime next week before full floor votes in the House and Senate, after which the bill will go to the president’s desk for his signature.

End

Michigan Helps Dispensaries Fight Shortages, Approves Home Delivery

11/29/2018

by Pat Beggan

A looming cannabis shortage in Michigan has been averted after the Michigan Medical Marijuana Licensing Board introduced a measure to allow dispensaries to continue purchasing cannabis from previous suppliers, according to The Detroit Free Press.

Michigan has been operating under a hodge-podge of old medical cannabis laws, emergency interim rules, and new laws since passing adult-use legalization during the midterm elections. Before the new measure, dispensaries were given just 30 days following licensure to transition to new producers. However, the state only started handing out licenses to growers in August, so there are virtually zero mature cannabis plants currently available from those suppliers and more than 40 dispensaries were about to transition to the new suppliers.

Previously, dispensaries in the state could get their medical cannabis from caregivers, which are small-scale cannabis growers that were licensed under the state’s 2008 medical cannabis law. Caregivers are allowed to grow up to 12 plants to supply their own needs and 12 each for the needs of up to five others, for a maximum of 72 plants. The state’s emergency rules allow the caregivers to supply medical dispensaries with any cannabis not given to medical cardholders.

The dispensaries — who have already paid more than $75,000 each in regulatory fees — now have some breathing room while the newly licensed cultivators finish growing their first crop.

Michigan’s Medical Marijuana Licensing Board also approved rules allowing for home delivery that take effect immediately. The rule change allows licensed dispensaries to deliver up to 2.5 ounces to a patient’s home and send out up to 10 deliveries in the same vehicle.

Michigan regulators continue to attempt to unify old laws, emergency rules, and new regulations. The state is also attempting to resolve a lawsuit brought by the City of Lansing and others following an attempt by the state to shutter unlicensed cannabis businesses by October 31. A judge squashed that deadline but the lawsuit is still pending.

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Brazil Advances Medical Cannabis Legislation

11/29/2018

by Pat Beggan

A ballot measure introduced to the Brazilian Senate by an online petition has received an important committee’s approval, Marijuana Moment reports.

The measure received over 100,000 citizen votes. It would legalize cannabis for anyone with a doctor’s prescription. The bill is separate from a bill introduced by Brazil’s Worker’s Party, which would completely legalize adult-use cannabis.

On Wednesday, the Brazilian Senate’s Social Affairs Committee approved the medical cannabis legislation. It now moves on to be considered by the Commission on Constitution and Justice, followed by the Chamber of Deputies. Should the bill pass those committees, it will go to the desk of Brazil’s President-elect Jair Bolsonaro.

President-elect Bolsonaro is expected to be the bill’s major hurdle. Bolsonaro has said he is against all legalization and plans to enforce harsher drug laws. Brazil loosened its drug laws regarding cannabis in 2006, decreasing penalties for possession to community service and mandatory attendance of a drug education program. Some fear Bolsonaro will return to earlier, harsher sentencing guidelines for drug convictions.

Senator Marta Suplicy, a supporter of the bill, encouraged other lawmakers to think of those who would be most helped by medical cannabis.

“We cannot relegate the issue to mere political discussion. More than anything, we need to empathize and put ourselves in the place of the other. In this way we can, as legislators, defend the true essence of health care, which is to mitigate human suffering.” — Brazilian Senator Marta Suplicy, via Marijuana Moment

There are several countries in South America that already have medical cannabis programs but Brazil, the continent’s largest and most populous country, remains a notable hold out. Brazil’s southern border also touches Uruguay, which was the first country in the world to end cannabis prohibition and legalize the plant for adult use.

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Bipartisan Cannabis Finance Legislation Supported By Banks

11/28/2018

by Pat Beggan

New legislation being crafted by Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), co-sponsored by 82 Democrats and 13 Republicans, is expected to pass the House Financial Services Committee and has good odds for being approved by the full House, according to Politico.

The “blue wave” that took back the House of Representatives in the midterms not only ousted long-time opponent of cannabis Pete Sessions, but also chairman of the House Financial Services Committee Jeb Hensarling (R-TX). Former Rep. Hensarling’s will be replaced by Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), who said she will not continue the practice of suppressing the discussion around cannabis reform bills.

Rep. Perlmutter, who is also a member of the House Financial Services Committee, said that the American Bankers Association has assisted with developing the bill. Other banking associations, including The Independent Community Bankers of America and the Credit Union National Association, had previously stated support for recent cannabis banking reforms, which is expected to carry over to the latest legislative attempt.

Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ removal will also bolster the reforms attempt, depending on whom Trump appoints as his permanent replacement. Other Trump-administration appointees are far more supportive of reforms than AG Sessions, including top banking regulator Joseph Otting, Comptroller of the Currency. Otting told reporters last month that a legislative solution for cannabis banking was needed and he was “hopeful there’s enough momentum in that direction.”

An analyst with Compass Point, a financial sector investment and research firm, said that while his organization puts the likelihood of full cannabis legalization in the next congressional session at only 25 percent, research indicates the odds of cannabis banking reform passing are at 75 percent.

The next session of Congress — which is when Rep. Perlmutter’s banking legislation is likely to enter its final stages — begins January 3, 2019.

End

Massachusetts Cannabis Sales Thrive Following Market Launch

11/28/2018

by Graham Abbott

Massachusetts’ two licensed cannabis retailers grossed $2.2 million in sales over just five days, MassLive reports.

The information was released by the state Cannabis Control Commission, which compiled sales data from the state’s two retailers: Cultivate, in Leicester; and New England Treatment Access (NETA), in Northampton. During the market’s first five days, Cultivate and NETA collectively sold 56,380 “units” of cannabis, with products ranging from just flower to edibles and hand lotion.

Sales on Tuesday, the market’s opening day, reached just over $440,000. Wednesday’s numbers were slightly higher and, while both stores were closed for the Thanksgiving holiday, sales continued to surge later during the holiday weekend.

The market launch has been so successful in part due to the draw of so-called “cannabis tourists” from nearby states, including New York City. Some community members in Leicester were incensed by the uptick in local traffic caused by long lines at Cultivate.

Resident Kim Miczek complained of people urinating on her front lawn while waiting in line, according to another report. “My road has become a long parking lot. I don’t like it,” she said during a Leicester Town Hall emergency meeting on Monday night.

However, another Leicester resident John Shocik said that though he didn’t originally vote for legalization, he was pleased by the extra attention and business it has brought to the town. “I didn’t vote for it but people did. We want more businesses … here there is a business,” he said.

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Michigan state Capitol building in Lansing, Michigan.

Michigan Legalization Takes Effect December 6

11/28/2018

by Graham Abbott

Michigan’s voter-approved cannabis legalization initiative takes effect on December 6, 2018, exactly ten days after the election results were certified by the state Board of Canvassers, The Detroit Free Press reports.

Michigan voters delivered on a successful cannabis legalization bid during the 2018 midterms — the state’s legalization plan will allow for adults 21+ to possess up to up to two and a half ounces of cannabis, allow the home cultivation of up to 12 plants, and will establish a taxed-and-regulated cannabis marketplace.

Michigan prosecutors have already quietly begun dismissing low-level criminal cannabis charges. Last week, Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith issued a memo to his staff instructing them to begin the process of dismissing all charges that would have been allowed under the new law — according to the report, Oakland County’s prosecutors and have done likewise.

“Now that Proposal 1 has passed, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office is committed to following the law regarding the prosecution of marijuana cases. … Although the law is not retroactive, in the coming weeks we will assess the tickets that have already been charged, as well as those pending review, taking the new law into consideration.” — Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, in a statement.

“It’s a huge relief, it was a two-year process for this campaign, but there are people who have been working on this issue their entire adult lives,” said Josh Hovey spokesperson for the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol.

According to Sally Williams, director of elections for the Secretary of State, Michigan voter turnout this year broke records with more than 4.3 million ballots cast. “For a gubernatorial year, we smashed the record for turnout,” Williams said. “It looked more like a presidential year.”

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Medical Psilocybin Initiative Planned for Oregon 2020 Ballot

11/28/2018

by Pat Beggan

The Oregon Attorney General has approved the wording of a medical psilocybin ballot initiative, which is the final step before supporters can collect signatures to place the issue on the 2020 ballot, Marijuana Moment reports.

No U.S. state has attempted yet to reclassify psilocybin, one of the mind-altering chemicals in “magic” mushrooms, as medicine. If the Oregon Psilocybin Society (OPS) is able to collect the 140,000 signatures necessary to get the measure on the ballot, Oregon will be the first.

“We’re excited to gather signatures in support of establishing a community-based service framework, in which licensed providers, along with licensed producers of psilocybin mushrooms, can blaze new trails in Oregon in accordance with evolving practice standards.” — Tom Eckert, OPS co-founder, via a press release

There is a fair and growing body of evidence that supports the use of psilocybin in the fight against depression, addiction, and other conditions. Research shows that psilocybin encourages the formation of new brain cells in a process known as “neurogenesis,” among other effects.

Psilocybin is classified, like cannabis, as Schedule I by the federal government, which means that research into the therapeutic benefits of mushrooms containing the chemical is decades behind where it should be.

Describing a battle familiar to cannabis advocates, the OPS said that it had to, “fight for neutral and accurate wording,” during the approval process for the potential ballot measure. However, the organization was able to talk the Attorney General’s office down to a wording that the organization was “generally satisfied” with.

The final ballot measure wording can be seen on the OPS website.

OPS is now tasked with collecting the 140,000 signatures necessary for participation in the 2020 elections. OPS has contracted a marketing research company to help reach that goal.

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Potential legislative interference

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