Canadian Banks Shut Out U.S. Cannabis Companies Due to Federal Law

4/08/2019

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At least two Canadian banks are refusing to do business with U.S.-based cannabis companies due to cannabis’ Schedule I status under U.S. law, according to a Bloomberg report. Both Bank of Montreal and Toronto-Dominion are refusing to provide services to the companies until federal law changes in the U.S.

Canada legalized adult-use cannabis last year.

U.S. lawmakers are considering legislation to strengthen the Tenth Amendment – known as the STATES ACT – which would exempt the Controlled Substances Act from applying to state-approved cannabis programs; but, according to Cowen analyst Jaret Seiberg, that law might not be enough to convince banks to work with the sector.

Instead, Seiberg said the SAFE Act – which would allow banks to work with state-legal cannabis companies – would be a better prospect for getting Canadian financial firms on board with working with U.S. cannabis companies.

Other Canadian banks are willing to serve Canadian companies with reach into the U.S. The Bank of Montreal worked with Canopy Growth Corp on a $150 million equity financing deal, while Bank of Nova Scotia and Royal Bank of Canada have advised some firms on takeovers. Bank of Montreal CEO Darryl White indicated that the bank would be willing to do business with U.S.-only cannabis firms if U.S. law is changed.

“We’ll look at it then, but we have nothing in our business plans today that is dependent on pushing our cannabis business into the United States.” – White, during a press conference after the bank’s annual meeting, via Bloomberg

Toronto-Dominion CEO Bharat Masrani said the bank would re-consider its position if the SAFE Act is approved in the U.S. The institution has so far declined to do any investment or banking deals with any cannabis firms.

“We would not be partaking in that business as the laws are currently. Depending on what comes out, we’d look at it and make sure it is appropriate for TD in terms of our risk appetite and whether it’s right for our customers.” – Masrani, during a press conference, via Bloomberg

The SAFE Banking Act has not yet been scheduled for a vote in either legislative chamber.

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Farmers Re-Added to Proposed Hemp Advisory Council in Indiana

4/08/2019

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Indiana lawmakers have re-added farmers to the membership of a proposed hemp advisory committee if the crop is legalized in the state, according to an Indiana Public Media report. Senators had removed farmers from the committee, but they are included in the House version.

In addition to farmers, the committee would include an elected sheriff, a member of the Midwest Hemp Council, the directors of the agriculture, health, and financial institutions departments, the superintendent of the state police, the chairman of the alcohol and tobacco commission, Indiana Farm Bureau, Indiana Crop Improvement Association and Agribusiness Council of Indiana appointees with hemp experience, and the state seed commissioner who would serve as a nonvoting chair. All state officials could also appoint a designee.

Republican state Rep. Christy Stutzman told IPM that some farmers in her constituency have already planned “several hundred acres” of hemp crops.

Justin Swanson, a hemp lobbyist, said hemp flower products are “the easiest way for Hoosier farmers to enter this really emerging hemp market with the least amount of overhead.”

Indiana is following the lead of several other states who are seeking to formally legalize hemp in their state following federal rule changes last year legalizing industrial hemp production.

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Industrial Hemp Removed from Texas Controlled Substance List

4/05/2019

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Beginning today, industrial hemp is no longer a controlled substance in Texas, East Texas Matters reports, and Agricultural Commissioner Sid Miller expects “more hemp to be grown” than the state “could ever process.”

“We want the processing facilities to be right here in rural Texas and bring those jobs to rural Texas.” – Miller, to East Texas Matters

Miller also indicated that the new industry wouldn’t be heavily regulated in the state, saying regulators would enforce only the minimum standards set by the federal government.

“We won’t put any extra burden on the farmers or the processors, we don’t want any extra regulation, we’re not for that,” said Miller in the report.

Texas Farm Bureau spokesman Gene Hall lauded the law changes, calling hemp “a crop that makes sense” for the state due to its drought-resistant properties; although he indicated there would be a strong testing program due to hemp’s similarity to the illegal, high-THC, cannabis plant.

The legalization of hemp also means the legalization of hemp-derived CBD in the state, Miller said.

“Anything that can medically take away someone’s pain or relieve their tensions or whatever they’re taking it for, we should use it,” he said in the report.

However, Shannon Edmonds, staff attorney with the Texas District and County Attorneys Association, indicated the law changes don’t clear up the legality of hemp products in the state.

“It’s really not going to have any direct impact other than to confuse people even more,” Edmonds told NBCDFW.

Lisa L. Pittman, a cannabis law attorney, told NBCDFW that removing hemp from the state’s controlled substances list doesn’t actually make hemp legal and the legislature needs to take action to remove the criminal penalties.

Texas’ medical cannabis program permits only low-THC products, akin to hemp-derived CBD, with limits of just 0.5 percent THC – the federal Farm Bill defines hemp as containing 0.3 percent THC.

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New Mexico Gov. Signs Decriminalization, Medical Cannabis Reforms

4/05/2019

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New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed legislation making critical changes to the state’s medical cannabis program and another decriminalization measure, according to NM Political Report.

The medical cannabis reforms include reciprocity with other state programs, allowing medical cannabis in schools, creating personal production licenses, extending renewal periods for patients from one to three years, and prohibiting employers from firing someone for being enrolled in the medical cannabis program, according to the NM Political Report.

The decriminalization measure replaces criminal with civil penalties or fines.

The law also protects parents from losing custody of their children if they are registered in the state’s medical cannabis program and protects children who are also patients from being targeted by the Children, Youth and Families Department. Youth patients will also be allowed to use medical cannabis products on some school properties so long as it does not disrupt the “education environment,” the report says. The law includes language allowing schools to opt out if they believe their federal funding could be at risk and language protecting children from being denied access to a school or classroom because they are medical cannabis patients.

The personal production licenses will allow patients to grow their own cannabis and send it to a state-licensed manufacturer for processing. The manufacturer – which are non-profit in the state – could process the patient-grown flower into edibles or extracts.

The law also includes language permitting medical cannabis consumption areas at licensed establishments approved by the New Mexico Department of Health.

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Israel OKs Home Grows Under Cannabis Decriminalization Reforms

4/05/2019

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On April 1, Israel decriminalized adult cannabis use including home-growing and low-level possession, according to a Forbes report. Under the reforms, individuals can grow cannabis without criminal penalties and public possession will now be met with fines.

During comments at the fourth annual CannaTech conference in Tel Aviv, former Prime Minister Ehud Barak quipped that Israel is updating its motto to “the land of milk, honey, and cannabis.”

“Some 35 countries have already legalized cannabis to a certain extent, either for medical or sometimes even recreational use. Two-thirds of US states have approved medical cannabis; one-third [have approved] recreational use. … The future of cannabis belongs to the bigger, faster and more assertive players which will enter directly into the markets.” – Barak, during his CannaTech keynote address.

Israel proposed new medical cannabis guidelines in 2017 and, according to the Ministry of Health, more than 550 farms have submitted requests to grow medical cannabis crops. The new guidelines, which take effect “imminently,” will allow patients to purchase medical cannabis in pharmacies. Currently, Tikun Olam holds 40 percent of Israel’s medical cannabis market share.

Tikun Olam USA Chief Marketing Officer Stephen Gardner said that by legalizing medical cannabis more than a decade ago, Israel “has allowed companies … as well as medical, research and educational institutions, to undertake the groundbreaking research that has created the basis for some of the advancements in this fast-growing industry.”

“If one is to look at a country that is at the forefront of the cannabis industry, they need to consider Israel at the top of their list,” Gardener said. “From the early discoveries from Dr. [Raphael] Mechoulam to the significant work in identifying the endocannabinoid system, Israel has been leading the path for some of the most significant advancements in cannabis science.”

Last year, the Israeli Parliament passed an amendment to the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance that allows firms to export medical cannabis from Israel.

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Cannabis Tax Revenue to Fund Police Grants in Washington State

4/05/2019

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In the Washington State legislature, Rep. Andrew Barkis (R-Olympia) has sponsored an amendment to the House budget allocating 18 million dollars to police departments around the state to fight drug addiction in homeless camps over the next two years. The program will be funded with cannabis tax money; however, there are no restrictions on how police can spend the grants.

Earlier in the session, Barkis’ proposal failed in the House Appropriations Committee but, after watching a widely publicized documentary on homelessness and drug addiction in Seattle, he asked his staff to draft the budget amendment. Upon hearing Barkis’s impassioned plea — his son suffers from heroin addiction and until recently was homeless in Seattle — the amendment passed with a bipartisan vote.

“Mr. Speaker, I watched a documentary or a news report the other day. If we don’t take these steps, all we are going to hear in the future is more bills named in memory of somebody, and I pray to God that it’s not named in memory of my son. Mr. Speaker, help me today in support of this amendment.” — Washington state Rep. Andrew Barkis, in testimony to the House

The budget passed on Friday, cementing Barkis’s amendment in the House Budget.

Most of Washington’s cannabis tax money currently goes to funding Medicaid, including $262 million in 2018, according to a KING 5 report. Another slice of the pie goes to funding substance abuse and prevention programs, while a large portion is sent back to cities who do not have cannabis moratoriums. A 2017 adjustment allows cities to spend their portion of cannabis tax revenue as they choose, some of which is used to fund local law enforcement. If Barkis’s amendment remains in the final budget, however, this will be the first money from cannabis taxes sent directly to local law enforcement in Washington state.

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Colorado Cannabis Market Faces Potential Major Changes

4/04/2019

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Lawmakers in Colorado are considering bills allowing on-site cannabis consumption and delivery in the state while another bill adding autism to the state’s medical cannabis program has made its way to Gov. Jared Polis’ desk.

The medical cannabis for autism measure, HB1028, also removes the provision in the state’s medical cannabis law requiring specific physicians to certify a juvenile has a disabling medical condition acknowledging that condition violated the state constitution. According to the bill, if the recommending physician is not the patient’s primary care physician, the physician will review the patient record and make the determination.

Polis is expected to sign the measure, which passed the House unanimously and the Senate 31-4.

Moving from the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee to the Finance Committee, HB1230 would allow on-site consumption at municipality-approved cannabis businesses. According to the bill text, such businesses could be permanent, temporary – such as popups – or mobile. The law would place limits of 3.5 grams of flower, one-half gram of concentrate, and 10 milligrams of THC for edibles. If approved, on-site consumption would be allowed in the state Jan. 1, 2020. The bill passed the committee 7-4.

The House business committee also moved the delivery bill, HB1234, to the finance committee on a 6-3 vote. The measure would allow sales of medical cannabis to begin on Jan. 2, 2020 and one year later for recreational sales. The bill limits delivery orders to once-per-day-per-customer.

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Georgia Passes Medical Cannabis Reforms

4/04/2019

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Georgia’s legislature has passed comprehensive medical cannabis reform, creating a regulated system for cultivation and distribution and fixing a long-standing problem in the state’s medical cannabis program that only allowed patients to possess a small amount of cannabis, according to an 11 Alive report.

The bill creates two classes of cultivators: class one for large operations and class two for small businesses. Class one operators would be allowed to cultivate, process flower into oil, and operate up to five dispensaries. Class two businesses are capped at 20,000 square feet of cultivation and can operate up to three dispensaries. The state Department of Health would issue the licenses. The Class one businesses are expected to be able to invest at least $10 million into the state.

The bill does not increase the THC thresholds allowed under the medical cannabis law and, initially, it will be available in pharmacies.

According to the report, the bill was the final to pass the legislature before the end of the state’s legislative session. It passed the House 147-16, and the Senate 34-20, just before midnight.

Republican Gov. Brian Kemp told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution the bill is “the right thing to do.”

“Over the years, I’ve met with children who are battling chronic, debilitating diseases. I’ve heard from parents who are struggling with access and losing hope. This compromise legislation is carefully crafted to provide access to medical cannabis oil to those in need.” – Kemp, to the AJC

Kemp is expected to sign the bill, making Georgia the 34th state with a legal medical cannabis program and industry.

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Vireo Acquires Massachusetts Cannabis Firm

4/04/2019

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Vireo Health International has acquired Massachusetts licensed cannabis company Mayflower Botanicals in a combination cash and stock deal. It’s the company’s third acquisition since it began trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange.

Vireo now operates in nine states throughout the U.S. They also acquired 73 acres of land zoned for medical cannabis production, processing, and distribution. The move into Massachusetts marks their first move into a state with a recreational cannabis program.

CEO Kyle Kingsley, a board-certified emergency room physician, said it is “time to recognize that a public health policy focused on adults replacing their consumption of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products with cannabis has the potential to save thousands of lives each year.”

“As we expand into adult-use states such as Massachusetts, our physician-led team will provide consumers with medically- and scientifically-based products and advice designed to highlight the potential health benefits of replacing alcohol and tobacco with cannabis.” – Kingsley in a press release

According to a LoHud.com report, Vireo has spent millions of dollars lobbying in New York for recreational cannabis legalization; which was dropped from the state budget last month. Vireo COO Ari Hoffnung told LoHud the company would “continue working with the Legislature” to end cannabis prohibition in the state.

In an interview on radio station WAMC, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the state would legalize cannabis before the legislature adjourns in June.

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FDA to Hold Public Hearings on CBD

4/03/2019

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The Food and Drug Administration is set to host a public hearing on CBD next month “to obtain scientific data and information about the safety, manufacturing, product quality, marketing, labeling, and sale of products containing cannabis or cannabis-derived compounds,” the agency announced on Tuesday.

According to a federal register document, the federal Farm Bill passed last year removes hemp from the controlled substances act while “explicitly” preserving the FDA’s authority to regulate cannabis or cannabis-derived compounds. Several states with legalized hemp cite the FDA’s authority over CBD as justification for banning it from foods and beverages.

“Therefore, because the 2018 Farm Bill did not change FDA’s authorities, cannabis and cannabis derived products are subject to the same authorities and requirements as FDA-regulated products containing any other substance, regardless of whether the products fall within the definition of ‘hemp’ under the 2018 Farm Bill,” the document says.

The agency notes they are aware that some companies are marketing CBD “in ways that violate the [Food, Drug & Cosmetic] Act and that they have taken action against “companies illegally selling CBD products that were intended to prevent, diagnose, mitigate, treat, or cure serious diseases, such as cancer, and that had not obtained new drug approvals.”

The FDA claims that it had “safety concerns” about CBD pharmaceutical Epidiolex which was approved in the U.S. last year. The agency alleges that the drug carries a “potential for liver injury” and other side effects.

The agency is accepting public comments online, in writing, and during the hearing.

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LA County, California Using Algorithms to Expunge Cannabis Convictions

4/03/2019

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Prosecutors in Los Angeles County, California are working with nonprofit tech organization Code for America to erase or reduce as many as 50,000 old cannabis convictions, the Associated Press reports. The partnership will use computer algorithms to find convictions eligible for reduction or expungement under the state’s legalization law.

Officials in San Joaquin County are also working with the group to wipe out 4,000 such convictions.

“This collaboration will improve people’s lives by erasing the mistakes of their past and hopefully lead them on a path to a better future.” – LA County District Attorney Jackie Lacey, in a statement to the AP

San Francisco County prosecutors have previously worked with Code of America to reduce or drop 9,300 low-level cannabis convictions dating back to 1975. San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon decided to use tech to locate potential cases after just 23 people hired lawyers to take advantage of the criminal reforms included in the 2016 law.

Jennifer Pahlka, executive director of Code for America, said their Clear My Record algorithm “changes the scale and speed of justice and has the potential to ignite change across the state and the nation.”

“When we do this right, we show that government can make good on its promises, especially for the hundreds of thousands who have been denied jobs, housing and other opportunities despite the passage of laws intended to provide relief,” she said in the report.

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West Virginia Gov. Signs Banking Bill for Medical Industry

4/03/2019

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West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice has signed legislation allowing medical cannabis companies to access banking services in the state.

According to the bill text, it authorizes the treasurer to select financial institutions to provide services to the industry via a competitive bidding process. The banks would be able to handle medical cannabis fees and taxes paid to the state.

“I always have, and I always will fully support medical cannabis for our people who are in so much pain that their physicians deem it absolutely necessary. I will say, adamantly, I am 100 percent against recreational marijuana. But we have a lot of people and families out there who are truly hurting and if medical cannabis can help, we need to do everything we can to make life better for those West Virginians.” – Gov. Justice in a press release

The governor indicated the bill ensures the state remains in compliance with federal law.

The legislation also creates the Medical Cannabis Program Fund in order to collect the fees, penalties and taxes; and the Treasurer’s Medical Cannabis Fund that allows the treasurer to charge fees for providing banking services to cannabis industry operators. Those fees would be used for expenses incurred by the department, industry oversight, and compliance.

Medical cannabis growers and processors in West Virginia must pay a non-refundable $5,000 application fee and a $50,000 permit fee, which is refundable if a permit is not granted. Dispensaries must pay a $25,000 application and $10,000 permit fee.

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XWERKS is Bringing CBD to the Fitness Industry

4/02/2019

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Lakewood Ranch, Florida April 1, 2019 — XWERKS, a leading supplier of high-quality athletic supplements launched in 2014, is introducing elite and recreational athletes alike to the health-promoting properties of CBD.

It seems like everywhere you turn, you hear about the benefits of CBD. Its powerful anti-inflammatory and mood boosting properties are being touted by studies and anecdotal reports alike. Yet it seems like few athletes, who all experience frequent exercise-induced inflammation, have added CBD to their supplement regimen.

Seeing the potential for high-performers to benefit from CBD and the lack of CBD knowledge in the fitness industry, XWERKS’ founder Mike Kolb decided to bring high-quality CBD supplements to their loyal customer base.

“We work with many world-class athletes and with the potential for CBD to help enhance performance and recovery, I felt CBD was the perfect addition to our product line,” Kolb said.

A dropper of CBD oil from XWERKS.

So, how exactly can CBD benefit athletes?

When it comes to the many benefits of CBD for athletes, research suggests that cannabidiol (CBD) may help to reduce inflammation and oxidative damage, relieve stress, and enhance sleep quality.

By helping combat exercise-induced muscle damage, athletes may find that they can train harder and recover faster. Some athletes may even be able to swap out non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), whose long-term use is associated with multiple health troubles, with CBD. Additionally, with reduced stress and more sleep, athletes might be capable of training harder and performing better consistently.

With a 2017 study revealing that nearly 70% of CBD products sold online were mislabeled, Kolb saw this as an opportunity to provide athletes with the highest-quality product on the market.

“There are many low-quality products in the market place currently. Our main focus is providing the highest quality product possible,” Kolb said.

Both XWERKS CBD oil tinctures and CBD oil capsules are made from full-spectrum CBD oil sourced from organically grown Colorado hemp and C02 extracted. To ensure the utmost quality, XWERKS posts third-party test results on their CBD oil online. All of this ensures that their customers are getting the same high-quality as they have come to expect from XWERKS supplements.

By providing high-quality CBD supplements and educational information, XWERKS is hard at work paving the way for athletes to discover CBD.

About XWERKS

XWERKS produces unique, science-based nutrition supplements designed to optimize performance and health. With continued commitment to helping athletes excel, they have started to offer CBD oil supplements to their consumers, bringing awareness of CBD to the fitness industry.

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Detroit skyline with the MacArthur bridge leading to Belle Isle and Detroit Boat Club in the foreground.Detroit skyline with the MacArthur bridge leading to Belle Isle and Detroit Boat Club in the foreground.

Michigan Regulators Clarify CBD Rules Under State Cannabis Programs

4/02/2019

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In accordance with federal rules, CBD not produced under Michigan’s medical or recreational cannabis guidelines cannot be added to food and beverages in the state, the state Bureau of Marijuana Regulation and the state Department of Agriculture and Rural Development clarified in a joint guidance last week.

“Any substances that will be added to food or drink or marketed as dietary supplements must first be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for that intended use. At this time, the FDA has not approved CBD for use in food or drink or as a dietary supplement. Therefore, it’s currently illegal to add CBD into food products or drinks or sell it as dietary supplements.” – Michigan Offers Guidance on CBD and Industrial Hemp document published March 29

The state will allow CBD food and drinks to be sold to consumers 21 and older and those enrolled in the state medical cannabis program at retail dispensaries.

The document clarifies that several industrial hemp-derived products, such as hulled hemp seeds, hemp seed protein, and hemp seed oil, are considered Generally Regarded As Safe by the FDA and are permitted to be produced and sold commercially in the state.

The agencies are still writing rules pertaining to how products grown under the state’s Industrial Hemp Research and Development Act will be transferred to state-licensed cannabis producers.

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Report: Washington’s Cannabis Canopy Allotments Largely Under Developed

4/02/2019

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The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) has released its first canopy report in which the agency measured and analyzed the state’s canopy-based cannabis licenses.

In the report, plant canopy is defined as “the square footage dedicated to live plant production, such as maintaining mother plants, propagating plants from seed to plant tissue, clones, vegetative or flowering area.” In Washington, plant canopy allotments are divided into Tier 1 (<2,000 sq ft), Tier 2 (2,000-10,000 sq ft), and Tier 3 (10,000-30,000 sq ft) licenses.

In an effort to gather first-hand information on actual canopy size — going beyond just license documents and traceability plant canopy datasets — the WSLCB hopes this data will help them more thoroughly analyze and develop rules, update policies, and better understand cannabis production within the industry.

Results

The Canopy Analysis Team ultimately surveyed 792 premises out of 1179 total licenses; fourteen sites were surveyed by drone. The WSLCB could not survey all 1179 licensees due to 254 licenses having no canopy and 109 who gave various reasons for not participating in the survey. They compared the canopy allotments according to license type to actual canopy used and found allotted canopy space in Washington State is largely underdeveloped. According to the report, four percent of licensees were producing over their allotted canopy quota.

Tier % of Total Surveyed %of  Total Canopy % of Un-Used Canopy
1 17% 3% 41%
2 45% 28% 42^%
3 38% 70% 38%

State regulators report that the low canopy utilization numbers are likely caused by the high price of developing canopy space. Additionally, “market prices for cannabis have been consistently declining, access to capital investment is problematic, and the traceability transition has been difficult,” according to the report.

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Maryland Firm Drops Licensing Lawsuit Following Backlash

4/02/2019

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Maryland’s Curio Wellness has withdrawn their lawsuit against the state cannabis regulator’s plan to expand the number of medical cannabis licenses, the Baltimore Business Journal reports. CEO Michael Bronfein said that while he stands by the “merits of the lawsuit” he is dropping the suit because he doesn’t want to divide the community.

“I have seen comments and accusations that in no way reflect the values of this company and are not an accurate depiction of the hardworking people of all races and ethnicities I work with every day. These are concerns to which I cannot, and will not, turn a blind eye… It’s simply not true this lawsuit was intended to challenge the effort to improve diversity in our industry.” – Bronfein, in a statement to Baltimore Business Journal

In his statement, Bronfein noted that 36 percent of his workforce is female and 38 percent is African American. Diversity is “not just a goal,” he wrote. “It’s who we are.”

The lawsuit has argued that the state Medical Cannabis Commission had broken its own rules with its plan to increase the number of licenses because they had not completed a supply and demand survey. The new licenses are set to be awarded to minority-owned cannabis companies following a commission disparity study that found none of the state’s licensed cannabis companies were minority-owned.

The new licensing round is open for interested applicants until May 24. In all, there are 13 licensed cannabis companies currently operating in the state.   

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Cresco Lab Acquires Origin House in Largest-Ever Public Cannabis Company Takeover

4/02/2019

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Chicago, Illinois-based Cresco Labs is set to acquire California’s Origin House in an $850 million, all-stock deal, the company announced on Monday. Origin House is a cannabis distribution company known as CannaRoyalty in Canada with about 60 percent market penetration. The deal will see the Cresco cannabis brand in more than 725 dispensaries nationwide.

Cresco already grows and sells cannabis and cannabis products in California. The deal is the largest-ever public company acquisition so far in the cannabis space – both companies are traded on the Canadian Securities Exchange.

Cresco Labs CEO and Co-founder Charlie Bachtell said the deal gives the company “the largest and most strategic distribution footprint of any cannabis company in the U.S.”

“This significantly accelerates our efforts to build the first national house of brands with broad and deep positions in the largest cannabis markets in the country. Cresco will have industry-leading brand development and distribution capabilities, which we believe will result in significant value creation for consumers and our shareholders alike as the market for medical-use and regulated adult-use cannabis continues to grow at a rapid pace.” – Bachtell, in a statement

Origin House Chairman and Chief Executive Marc Lustig told Bloomberg News that the deal will give the company access to 10 additional states.

“This transaction is directly aligned with our strategy to build a leading portfolio of cannabis brands in California and to rapidly and assertively take those brands to the rest of the U.S. market, as well as the Canadian market,” he said in the report.

Under the terms of the deal, Origin House shareholders will see 0.8428 of Cresco stock for each share held. The deal is expected to be finalized in June.   

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New Jersey Gov. to Expand Medical Program if Cannabis Not Legalized By May

4/01/2019

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New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is “prepared to hold off a short amount of time” for lawmakers to approve a recreational cannabis law before he expands the state’s medical cannabis program, NJ Spotlight reports.

The Democratic governor indicated “the month of May would be the edge” of that timeline. Murphy included cannabis legalization in his election campaign platform.

“I’m still confident we can go on and get it done legislatively. I’m open-minded and supportive for the legislature to go back at it and find those last few votes we couldn’t get. But it can’t be an unending calendar. We owe too much to the folks; in some cases, it’s a question of life or death.” – Murphy, in the report

Legislative leaders had packaged the medical cannabis and recreational bills together hoping to garner more ‘yes’ votes for legalization. The legalization bill passed two state legislative committees two weeks ago and lawmakers were expected to vote on the measure the following week; however, the bill was tabled by Democratic state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, who said he didn’t have the 21 votes to pass it.

Sweeney said the “optimum goal” for lawmakers is to get both the expansion and legalization bill passed legislatively and that he has no plans to split the two bills.

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New York Village Promises to Sue State if Cannabis Legalized

4/01/2019

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The village board of Islandia, New York unanimously voted to allow the village attorney to sue the state if cannabis is legalized, according to a Newsday report. Mayor Allan Dorman indicated that while he is not against medical cannabis use, he – and the board – strongly oppose recreational use.

“The problem is they want to legalize it for recreation. So for all you old people in the ’60s, this is not your marijuana. It’s very, very, strong. Passing this gives our attorney the authorization and the consent of this board to immediately file a lawsuit against the State of New York. … The day they pass this, the day they pass this, the next day he’s in court.” – Dorman, in the Newsweek report

Under the legalization measure being considered in the state legislature, municipalities with more than 100,000 residents would be allowed to opt out of legal cannabis sales. The Town of North Hempstead has already approved a prohibition on legal cannabis sales. At least two downstate counties are considering moratoriums or outright bans, while other towns on Long Island are also considering prohibiting legal sales.

Legalization was pulled from the Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Executive Budget last week after Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie told the governor he wanted the legislation to move through the legislative process, rather than via the budget.

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Michigan Judge Gives Two-Week Extension to Unlicensed Dispensaries

4/01/2019

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Unlicensed medical cannabis dispensaries in Michigan have been granted a two-week extension after a judge blocked another attempt by the state to shut them down, the Associated Press reports.

The restraining order signed by Court of Claims Judge Stephen Borello saves about 50 shops throughout the state that had been ordered to close by yesterday. Officials had previously set a Dec. 31 deadline for unlicensed dispensaries but that was also blocked by a judge. Borrello issued a similar injunction last September that saved nearly 100 dispensaries from state closure.

The case was brought against the state three days before the deadline by Detroit-based Green Genie who successfully argued that they were denied a license because the state erroneously recorded their tax payments, according to an MLive report. Five other dispensaries had joined Green Genie with lawsuits against the state. Borrello decided that all of the businesses would likely receive state licenses and would suffer harm by closing, along with the patients they serve. Green Genie serves about 20,000 patients.

In a statement to the Detroit Free Press, the Bureau of Marijuana Regulation said, “until further order of the court, BMR will maintain the status quo and not enforce the March 31 deadline with respect to both temporary operating facilities and caregiver products.”

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Walgreens to Sell CBD in 10 States

3/29/2019

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Walgreens is set to begin selling CBD topical products in about 1,500 stores in 10 states, according to a CNBC report. The news comes on the heels of its competitor CVS announcing last week it would begin selling similar products in its stores throughout eight states.

“This product offering is in line with our efforts to provide a wider range of accessible health and wellbeing products and services to best meet the needs and preferences of our customers.” – Walgreens spokesperson Brian Faith, in an email to CNBC

Walgreens will roll out the products in Colorado, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, New Mexico, Oregon, South Carolina, and Vermont. The company did not specify which brands it would carry.

Walgreens tied the decision neither to the announcement by its rival nor last year’s passage of the federal farm bill.

CVS is planning to carry CBD products in Alabama, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland and Tennessee.

Faith indicated the decision by the company was made following “a thorough review and analysis” of the market and available products; although, he did not offer any exact dates on when the products would be available and whether they would be available via the company’s online store.

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Massachusetts Cannabis Regulators Launch Probe into Potential Licensing Rule Violations

3/29/2019

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Regulators in Massachusetts are investigating whether large licensed cannabis companies are thwarting state rules on the number of licenses that can be controlled by a single firm, the Boston Globe reports. The inquiry comes following the newspaper’s report that two companies – Sea Hunter Therapeutics and Acreage Holdings – have bragged to investors about holding a large number of licenses.

Under the state’s legalization law, firms are only allowed to own or control up to three medical cannabis and three recreational cannabis licenses.

The Globe had requested Cannabis Control Commission records relating to allegations about companies flouting the rules, which were ultimately denied by the commission who cited an ongoing investigation, according to the report. The Globe has, however, received a Department of Public Health memo dated last August that indicated the agency was aware of potential licensing problems with the two companies, including “using loopholes” hide their affiliations and creating shell companies.

The Globe report alleges that the companies accumulated provincial medical licenses through complex networks of different companies – some they owned outright, others they wield power over via high-interest loans and management contracts. Sea Hunter is reportedly affiliated with 12 stores throughout the state, while Acreage is linked to at least four.

Alex Coleman, chief executive of Tilt Holdings, Sea Hunter’s parent company, told the Globe they have “no knowledge of a DPH or CCC review.”

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Maine Gov. Signs Bill Aligning State & Federal Hemp Definitions

3/29/2019

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Maine Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, has signed legislation making it clear that the production and sale of hemp-derived food is legal in the state, the Associated Press reports. The measure is designed to align the state’s definition of hemp with the federal definition outlined in last year’s Farm Bill.

The measure does introduce hemp cultivation licenses and fees. Application fees are capped at $100, license fees at $500, and fees for “monitoring, sampling, and testing” at $100 per acre, according to the bill text.

The bill passed the House 116-1 last week and the Senate 32-1 on Tuesday.

The governor, who signed the bill as emergency legislation, said it preserves “the continued growth of the legal hemp industry” in Maine. Democratic Rep. Craig Hickman, an organic farmer, sponsored the measure after state regulators had ordered retailers to stop selling food products containing CBD in January.

“We heard from farmers, processors, retailers, health care practitioners and people who have found relief in the medicinal qualities of the nutrient dense whole food that is the hemp plant. They needed us to act.” – Hickman, to the Portland Press Herald

The bill opens the door for the sale of CBD-infused animal food but, because the law considers it food and not medicine, retailers and producers cannot make any health claims about the products.

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SAFE Banking Act Passes Key Congressional Committee

3/28/2019

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The Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act was approved by the House Financial Services Committee in a sweeping 45-15 vote this morning.

The bill is the first piece of major cannabis reforms to pass committee at the federal level; it was introduced by Reps. Ed Perlmutter (D-Colorado) and Denny Heck (D-Washington) but has been cosponsored by 152 lawmakers — including 12 Republicans — which is more than one-third of the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives.

If fully approved, the bill would allow banks to work with state-legal cannabis companies, improving safety and easing business woes for the currently cash-only cannabis industry.

“This is a big day for the businesses, employees and communities who have been forced to operate in cash-only for many years.” — Rep. Ed Perlmutter, on Twitter

The banking bill has not yet been scheduled for consideration by the full House, but that vote — and other cannabis-related House legislation — is expected in the coming weeks.

“This is a positive step forward to address an untenable tension between state-legal cannabis marketplaces and federal marijuana prohibition,” said Justin Strekal, political director for the cannabis advocacy group NORML, in a press release. “No industry can operate safely, transparently, or effectively without access to banks or other financial institutions.”

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Missouri), who chairs the House Financial Services Committee, commented, “I have long fought for criminal justice reform, and deeply understand the need to fully address the historic racial and social inequities related to the criminalization of marijuana. While H.R. 1595 is the only aspect of these efforts that are within the committee’s jurisdiction, as the bill moves forward, it must be a part of holistic approach to considering these reforms.”

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon), founder and co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, called it “the most significant step we’ve seen” in addressing outdated federal cannabis policies.

“I applaud the outstanding work of Chairwoman Waters and Representatives Heck and Perlmutter for making this possible,” Blumenauer said. “The SAFE Banking Act solves a major problem for the state legal cannabis industry and its success moving through the committee is a signal of how we can move forward with other critical proposals.”

Ten U.S. states plus Washington D.C. and the Northern Mariana Islands have legalized cannabis for adult-use. Meanwhile, a strong majority of American voters — including 77 percent of Democrats, 62 percent of Independents, and 57 percent of Republicans — support cannabis legalization, according to Gallup.

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