Oklahoma Reverses Restrictive Medical Cannabis Rules

8/02/2018

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This week, the Oklahoma Board of Health reversed some of the restrictive medical cannabis rules it passed earlier this month without democratic support, according to a Star Tribune report. The reversals included many controversial rules first passed by the Board, such as a ban on smoking cannabis, requiring a pregnancy test before dispensing marijuana to a woman of “childbearing age,” requiring a pharmacist to be at every dispensary, and limiting the THC content of plants.

“The actions taken by an unelected group of health officials in Oklahoma were egregiously undemocratic. We are heartened to see them now reverse course, but they should have never attempted to meddle with a voter approved measure in the first place. It is our hope that state officials take heed at the nearly unanimous backlash they faced due to these actions and move to swiftly enact SQ 788 in the patient-centric manner the ballot language called for.” — Erik Altieri, Executive Director of NORML, in a statement

The Board of Health was cautioned by the Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter in early July that it was acting outside of its authority by attempting to limit the scope of State Question 788, which legalized medical cannabis. The Board was urged to reconvene and write new rules.

The next step in the process is to get Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin to sign the re-written rules into effect — which she did for the previous controversial set of rules the very next day, despite warnings from the Board’s attorney. This time, Gov. Fallin’s office said the governor wants to review the guidelines with her legal staff — she has 45 days to accept or reject the new rules.

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Molson-Coors Latest Big Alcohol Player to Invest in Cannabis

8/01/2018

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In an effort to battle falling beer sales, Molson-Coors has embraced Canada’s legal cannabis market by partnering with The Hydropothecary Corporation to create a cannabis beverage startup, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

The startup formed by the partnership will stand alone, with its own board of directors. Molson-Coors will own 57.5% of the new startup corporation and Hydropothecary Corp. the remaining stake. Molson-Coors Canada CEO Frederic Landtmeters said Molson-Coors’ goal is to create high-quality products that meet consumers’ “evolving drinking preferences.”

Quebec-based Hydropothecary Group, Molson-Coor’s partner in the venture, is publicly traded in Canada as HEXO. Shares rose nearly 25% today after the announcement. HEXO aims to be one of the largest cannabis producers in Canada and is on track to produce more than 100,000 kilograms of cannabis once the company’s warehouse grows are fully licensed and operational.

Molson-Coors said in a press release that the company is “aggressively addressing” its declining beer sales in the U.S. and Canada. Global sales volumes have fallen 2.4% in the last quarter. Other beer companies are facing similar market changes as more states and countries legalize cannabis.

Constellation Brands, makers of Corona, as well as Heineken and the startup Cannabiniers are all entering the cannabis beverage market.

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Canadian Cannabis Growers Will Be Federally Subsidized

8/01/2018

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Canada’s federal government will provide some of the same subsidies to cannabis growers that it does to traditional agriculture operations when the cannabis market opens later this year, Forbes reports. Agricultural ministers from all levels of Canadian government decided during an annual meeting in Vancouver to allow cannabis growers access to the same programs that support food farmers. Cannabis farmers were not on the original list of possible benefactors of the program because it was drafted a year before legalization.

All levels of the Canadian government — federal, provincial and territorial — work together inside the same funding structure for subsidies, known as the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

Not all of Canada’s agricultural support will be offered to cannabis growers just yet, however. Two of the best-funded programs in Canada — AgriStability and AgriInvest — will not be made available to cannabis growers until the market has matured. These programs insure farmers against massive market fluctuations and large-scale crop destruction, which is a risk that start-up cannabis companies will have to accept.

Officials have not yet determined the full scope of programs that will be applied to cannabis growers, but entrepreneurs in the industry are most interested in subsidies for environmental impact and innovation, which are still on the table.

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Pennsylvania MMJ Flower Sales Launch Today

8/01/2018

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Medical cannabis patients in Pennsylvania can purchase flower under the state’s MMJ program starting today, according to a press release from the office of Gov. Tom Wolf.

A total of 16 dispensaries in Scranton and Williamsport started offering dry flower products on Wednesday; the product will launch in Edwardsville and State College next week, bringing the total number of dispensaries with flower products up to 28.

Previously, patients could only purchase cannabis-infused oil or pills as medicine.

“The dry leaf form of medical marijuana provides a cost-effective option for patients, in addition to the other forms of medication already available at dispensaries. It’s important to note that not all dispensaries will have this medication on Aug. 1 and patients can visit our website at www.medicalmarijuana.pa.gov to see when their local dispensary will have it available. It’s also important to talk with your doctor or the medical professional at the dispensary to see if the dry leaf form of medical marijuana is an option for you. Dispensaries will continue to have other forms of medical marijuana, such as oils, pills, topicals, etc. available.” — Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine, in the press release

Dr. Levine also warned that the flower products are “available for vaporization only.”

“It is illegal to smoke the medication. Please make sure that when transporting your medication, you keep it in the original container and have your medical marijuana ID card with you.” — Dr. Rachel Levine, in the release

There are more than 52,000 patients registered with Pennsylvania‘s medical cannabis program, but just 30,000 have actually received identification cards and are able to shop at dispensaries.

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The Pennsylvania Capitol Building pictured in Autumn.

Cannabis Legalization and Expungement Legislation Planned in Pennsylvania

7/31/2018

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Pennsylvania state Rep. Jake Wheatley plans to introduce a bill to legalize adult-use cannabis and expunge the records of people convicted of minor cannabis crimes, according to a report by the Pittsburgh CityPaper.

Pennsylvania’s medical cannabis market launched in February. Earlier this month, the Auditor General of Pennsylvania released a report indicating that an adult-use market would generate $581 million in revenue for the state — far more than a closed medical market — in addition to saving on enforcement costs.

“States from coast to coast have embraced legalization and those states are reaping the economic and criminal justice benefits. It is time Pennsylvania joins with those states in leaving behind the ugly stigma of marijuana.” — Rep. Jake Wheatley (D-Hill District), in a statement

Several prominent lawmakers and officials in Pennsylvania, such as Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto, support cannabis legislation. A poll from Franklin & Marshall College in September 2017 found that 59 percent of Pennsylvanians favored adult-use cannabis legalization.

The primary obstacle to enacting any legalization legislation is Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, who — although he is a supporter of medical cannabis — has not signed on for a full adult-use market. State House of Representatives Speaker Mike Turzai, a vocal cannabis opponent, is also a roadblock to adult-use reforms.

House Republicans spokesperson Stephen Miskin pointed to intoxicated driving and speculative revenue numbers to explain the Party’s opposition.

“Legalizing marijuana? Why not legalize heroin, why not legalize cocaine?” — Stephen Miskin, spokesperson for the Pennsylvania House Republicans, via Pittsburgh CityPaper

 

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Specialty Paint Marketed in Colorado for Controlling Cannabis Odors

7/31/2018

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A paint that conceals odors is being marketed in Colorado as a cannabis odor-blocking product. The paint, which was developed by Denver-based ECOBOND and is called OdorDefender, is designed to lock in the residue that builds up on walls and furniture — sometimes called third-hand smoke — in rooms where people smoke.

“We don’t make typical paint products. We make specialty paint products that are designed to help the environment. We’ve been doing research on not only secondhand smoke, but thirdhand smoke. There have been studies that show thirdhand smoke can be every bit as dangerous as smoking or secondhand smoke. It can re-emit to the air from the floor, from carpeting and from walls.” — Eric Heronema, ECOBOND product manager, via Westword

One of the paint’s primary effective odor-concealing ingredients is alginate, extracted from seaweed. Heronema said that alginate is “nature’s best absorbent.” ECOBOND ran tests with pieces of drywall in tanks filled with cannabis smoke, as well as tobacco smoke. Once saturated with the smell — which, by reports, was overwhelming — they painted over the various pieces of drywall with different brands of paint, running the gamut from the most common industrial paint down to home latex paint. OdorDefender did best during a sniff test after curing on several different occasions, in an experiment involving 11 people.

The paint is being marketed to managers of commercial properties, private homeowners and landlords, and home restoration companies. More products aimed at the wide-ranging impacts of legalized and normalized cannabis consumption should be expected.

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Georgia Legalizes Cannabis Consumption

7/31/2018

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The nation of Georgia officially legalized the consumption of cannabis this week in a Constitutional Court ruling, according to an RFE/RL report. The ruling, however, does not legalize the sale or cultivation of the plant.

The ruling was prompted by a lawsuit filed by activists with the Girchi, Georgia’s liberal opposition party.

“According to the applicants [Zurab Japaridze and Vakhtang Megrelishvili], the consumption of marijuana is not an act of social threat. In particular, it can only harm the user’s health, making that user him/herself responsible for the outcome. The responsibility for such actions does not cause dangerous consequences for the public.

The Constitutional Court highlights the imposition of responsibility of marijuana consumption when it creates a threat to third parties. For instance, the court will justify responsibility when marijuana is consumed in educational institutions, public places, such as on public transport, and in the presence of children.” — Georgia Constitutional Court, in the ruling

The Girchi party — which was established in November 2015 and started pushing for cannabis reforms in November 2016 — says it will continue to push for the full decriminalization of the plant. Georgia is the first former Soviet nation to legalize the consumption of cannabis.

“This wasn’t a fight for cannabis. This was a fight for freedom.” — Zurab Japaridze, activist and chairman of the Girchi party, via RFE/RL

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High Times Sells Stock Direct to Investors

7/30/2018

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Using a new public offering exemption called “Regulation A,” High Times has started selling shares of its corporation direct to non-institutional investors, according to the magazine’s investor site.

High Times has been trying to go public for more than a year. In a confusing series of announcements, the company has reportedly attempted multiple routes to listing on a public exchange. Most notably, in July 2017 the High Times Holding Corporation entered into a $250 million merger deal with Origo Acquisition Corporation — but that deal is still pending. Origo obtained permission from its stockholders to extend the deadline for closing the deal in June, pushing the date to September 12th, 2018.

The goal was to begin trading under Origo’s existing public ticker symbol, ORAC. There has been speculation about whether the NASDAQ exchange would even allow the move but, as the deal has yet to close, nothing is yet proven. However, NASDAQ has voiced concerns over issues with the High Times and Origo merger and has twice attempted to remove the company from the exchange based on technicalities.

Since 2016, High Times has struggled to manage debt created during several rounds of acquisitions and mergers. The company has been focused on fundraising to meet its financial obligations since the start of the Origo deal. High Times desperately needs at least $12.7 million for an upcoming August repayment deadline for a loan taken from Ex Works Capital.

Enter the SEC’s “Regulation A” exemption. Regulation A, or Reg A, is an exemption for public offerings from companies in amounts of $50 million or less raised over one year. Reg A allows companies to sell stock directly to the public, not on an exchange. This allows non-institutional investors to essentially crowdfund a corporation, and the Reg A offering might help the company raise money quickly enough to repay Ex Works Capital.

High Times still plans to list on the NASDAQ at a later date.

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Florida’s Controversial MMJ Director Resigns

7/30/2018

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Christian Bax, Director of Florida’s Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU), has resigned, the News Service of Florida reports. Bax was often blamed for delays and difficulties in awarding licenses in Florida’s young medical cannabis market.

One of Bax’s staunchest critics is John Morgan, an Orlando trial lawyer who was the primary backer of Florida’s medical cannabis constitutional amendment. Morgan was jubilant at the news of Bax’s resignation.

“He was so inept that it had to be intentional. Anyone would be better and more capable. He was to health care in Florida what Barney Fife was to law enforcement. This is a great day for the sick and injured in Florida.” — John Morgan, in an email

Some still defend Bax, however, saying it’s easy to expect hardships when developing a market from scratch that’s expected to handle $2 billion in sales. Bax’s predecessor, Patty Nelson, passed the post on to Bax due to the job’s difficulty, choosing instead to become a private consultant.

“There’s no denying it’s a hard job. It sometimes feels like an impossible job. And you face critics from every direction, which makes it difficult to navigate.” — Patty Nelson, via News Service of Forida

Taking over for Bax is the Deputy Director of the OMMU, Courtney Coppola. Coppola’s first challenge will be a fresh wave of applications for new medical cannabis licenses; more than 400 applicants are expected for just four available licenses.

To help the process, Florida legislators earlier this month approved more than $13 million in new funding.

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Michigan Gov. Tasks State Police with Investigating MMJ Bribes

7/30/2018

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Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has tasked state police with investigating whether there are officials taking bribes from medical cannabis operators, the Detroit Free Press reported last week.

The investigation was requested by state Sen. David Knezek (D-Dearborn Heights) and was prompted by a bribery case from last year, wherein three men gave an envelope of $15,000 cash to a Garden City city council member and suggested they had another $150,000 in escrow to handle future bribes. The men hoped to secure a license to cultivate medical cannabis in the city. The envelope was turned over to the FBI and the three men were arrested, but Sen. Knezek remains concerned.

“It is deeply concerning to me that a state official may have been involved in this serious situation. If he/she accepted funds in return for government favors, the state employee would be in violation of many sections of state law.” — State Sen. David Knezek, in a letter to Gov. Snyder

Sen. Knezek told the governor that, even though the FBI has an ongoing probe into the issue, he wants state police to conduct their own investigation.

“I am aware that federal authorities don’t always communicate the details of their investigations with state officials. It is imperative that this case not slip through the cracks and go without the state looking into potential criminal wrongdoing of its own employee.” — State Sen. David Knezek, in the letter

Michigan voted to legalize medical cannabis in 2008 but it took lawmakers eight years to establish rules and regulations for the program. Though 600 applications were submitted, just seven licenses have been awarded so far. Experts predict Michigan’s medical cannabis marketplace will be worth $700 million during its first year of operation, with the state anticipating some $21 million in annual taxes.

Michigan is expected to vote on the issue of adult-use cannabis this November, which, if successful, could lead to even more explosive growth in the state’s cannabis sector. The majority of Michigan voters approve of full legalization.

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House Bill Would Allow Federal Employees to Access Legal Cannabis Markets

7/27/2018

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A bipartisan bill in the U.S. House of Representatives would, if passed, prevent the federal government from terminating employees who use cannabis within the laws of the state in which they reside, Tom Angell of Marijuana Moment reports. The bill was introduced on Thursday by Reps. Charlie Crist (D-Florida) and Drew Ferguson (R-Georgia).

The bill would protect all civilian federal employees in all federal departments and agencies using cannabis legally within the laws of their state, for either medical or recreational purposes. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for debate and consideration, before hopefully being brought to the House floor for a vote.

Over three dozen cannabis amendments have been blocked in committee by Republican leaders this year. The House Rules Committee, chaired by Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas), has made a project of blocking all cannabis amendments brought forward since Rep. Sessions took control. Supporters of cannabis law reform hope that Rep. Sessions will be voted out of office during the midterm elections in November.

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California Vape Cartridge Company Issues Industry’s First Cannabis Product Recall

7/27/2018

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The Bloom Brand — a manufacturer of cannabis vape cartridges, disposable vape pens, and oil infusions — and its distributor, Greenfield Organix 4th St., voluntarily issued the California cannabis industry’s first product recall on Wednesday; the alert was posted on The Bloom Brand’s company website.

The recall was issued for Bloom products containing cannabis Batch Number B-180504, which was sold in nearly 100 retailers throughout California between July 1 and July 19. The products being recalled are:

  • BloomVape 0.5g
  • BloomVape 1g
  • BloomOne Disposable 300mg
  • BloomDrop 800mg

“Batch Number B-180504 contains the pesticide Myclobutanil and does not comply with the Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC) standards. We are working closely with the BCC to remedy this issue and expect clean, compliant products to be back on shelves in three weeks. …

“If you suspect that you are affected by the recall, please return the product to the retailer where it was purchased for a full refund. DO NOT CONSUME this product if you have it in your possession as it is deemed that it may be harmful to your health and wellbeing.” — The Bloom Brand official statement, in the product recall press release

See the press release for a full list of the state’s affected retailers — no other state markets have been affected by the recall.

This is the first cannabis product recall in California‘s newly regulated industry, which launched January 1.

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Racks of curing cannabis nugs hanging from the ceiling at a commercial grow operation.

Massachusetts Cannabis Commission Gets Tough On Municipal Profiteering

7/27/2018

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The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (MCCC) made an official announcement Thursday reminding municipalities who are seeking agreements with adult-use cannabis businesses to stay within the law when it comes to negotiating financial terms, the Associated Press reports.

The MCCC said it has seen “anecdotal” evidence of communities exploiting cannabis businesses with excessive taxation and fees, which is against clear stipulations in Massachusetts‘ state cannabis law.

State law allows municipalities to charge businesses for anticipated costs of services such as road or traffic improvements, policing, etc. Host communities are not allowed, however, to charge more than 3 percent of the total annual revenue of the businesses and no arrangement may last longer than five years. In addition to the 3 percent for services, municipalities may also collect up to an additional 3 percent in taxes.

“If municipalities don’t follow that law, they are creating obstacles to the commission’s mission statement, which is to safely, equitably and productively implement the law. We already know that when barriers to entry are too high at the local level we end up with a market that is slow to start up and has a striking lack of diversity.” — Shaleen Title, MCCC Commissioner, in the report

However, the commission itself is unsure whether it has authority over the agreements made between municipalities and cannabis business owners. At least one commissioner, Jennifer Flanagan, has defended the communities, citing costs associated with substance abuse treatment that were not considered in the state’s cannabis regulations.

“Instead of hiding our heads in the sand and pretending this doesn’t exist, I really think that part of the conversation with municipalities has to be about the public health aspects of this.” — Jennifer Flanagan, MCCC Commissioner, via the Associated Press

The MCCC gave communities two weeks to respond to the directive.

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Ontario Government to Allow Private Cannabis Retailers

7/27/2018

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An insider source reportedly says the Ontario government will allow for privately owned cannabis shops when Canada’s adult-use market comes online in October, according to a CBC report. The source, who spoke with The Globe and Mail on the condition of anonymity, suggested that the government would maintain its control over cannabis distribution and online sales.

Officials under former Premier Kathleen Wynne’s Liberal administration had planned to give the Liquor Control Board of Ontario a monopoly over the province’s recreational cannabis stores. The new Liberal administration under Premier Doug Ford, however, aims to mirror the Alberta model, which will see private cannabis retailers licensed by the province’s liquor control board.

According to the source, Ontario Finance Minister Vic Fedeli and Attorney General Caroline Mulroney are expected to announce the shift in policy as early as next week. 

Premier Ford reportedly suggested in June he was considering privatizing cannabis retailers, saying at that time he doesn’t believe “government should stick their nose into everything.”

A survey from September 2017 found that the majority of Ontario residents would prefer privately run, not government-run, cannabis retailers.

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United Kingdom Legalizes Medical Cannabis

7/26/2018

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Medicinal cannabis products will be available by prescription in the United Kingdom this fall after the government relaxed drug laws surrounding the plant’s chemical compounds this week, The Independent reports. The move was prompted by several stories this summer about parents encountering trouble at the border after traveling overseas to acquire life-saving, cannabis-based epilepsy medicine for their children.

“Recent cases involving sick children made it clear to me that our position on cannabis-related medicinal products was not satisfactory. Following advice from two sets of independent advisors, I have taken the decision to reschedule cannabis-derived medicinal products – meaning they will be available on prescription. This will help patients with an exceptional clinical need.” — Home Secretary Sajid Javid, in the report

While medical cannabis products will be available via prescription, Home Secretary Javid said the move was “in no way a first step to the legalization of cannabis for recreational use.” In fact, raw cannabis will remain a class B drug in the UK carrying penalties of a potentially unlimited fine and up to five years in jail, with dealers facing 14 years.

Charlotte Caldwell, mother of 12-year-old Billy Caldwell who suffers from severe epilepsy, called the development “incredible.”

”For the first time in months I’m almost lost for words, other than ‘thank-you Sajid Javid.’” — Charlotte Caldwell, via The Independent

Now, the UK‘s Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) face the task of providing a clear definition of what constitutes the newly legal cannabis-derived medicinal products. Once that definition is established, those products specifically will be rescheduled and made available via a doctor’s prescription.

Sir Mike Penning, MP and co-chairman of a bipartisan parliamentary group that pushes for cannabis reforms, warned against over-regulating the newly legal products.

“Any move to restrict medical cannabis in the UK to a very narrow range of derived products, each requiring full pharmaceutical trials, thereby blocking out the many products available overseas, will lead to great disappointment and be a missed opportunity.” — MP Mike Penning, co-chairman of parliamentary group Medical Cannabis Under Prescription, in the report

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Michigan Court of Appeals: “Wet Marijuana” Is Illegal

7/26/2018

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A Michigan Court of Appeals decision makes it impossible for medical cannabis cultivators to legally harvest their plants, according to MLive.com. A Michigan judge has ruled in People v. Vanessa Mansour that “wet marijuana,” the stage immediately following harvest but before the plant is fully cured and dried, is not covered by Michigan medical cannabis laws and is therefore illegal.

“Now, they’ve made it so you can’t even comply with the law. Obviously, it doesn’t go immediately from being a plant to being dried cannabis. There has to be a drying, or curing process. I think this court lacks some understanding.” — Matthew Abel, senior partner of Cannabis Counsel LLC, via MLive.com

The appeals court judge leaned heavily on a ruling made by that same court before medical cannabis laws had been passed, People v. Carruthers. But attorney Neil Rockind, a lawyer for Ms. Mansour, said that the obvious precedent is not People v. Carruthers but, rather, People v. Manuel, which is also a Michigan appellate court decision but one that was argued after the state’s medical cannabis program was established.

In People v. Manuel, the courts set a precedent that cannabis that is still drying does not count toward the allowed total weight because it is unusable in that state. That difference in weight would invalidate much of the case against Ms. Mansour.

“To say that the legislature makes it legal to possess growing plants and to possess a limited amount of finished product — but that in between, everybody is just illegal — that’s the interpretation that the Court of Appeals has hoisted on everybody. I don’t think the legal system has for the most part embraced the medical marijuana initiative. I think the legal system has been very slow, and in some ways defensive, of a view of marijuana as illegal.” — Neil Rockind, via MLive.com

Rockind said this decision will be appealed all the way to the Michigan Supreme Court.

“We fully intend to appeal, we’re not going to back down from a fight and we’re not going to back down from this fight. On behalf of my client and our clients, for patients, caregivers and all of us this fight has to be fought.” — Neil Rockind, in the report

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Cannabis Consumers Increasingly Prefer Edibles & Extracts Over Flower

7/26/2018

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Data from several cannabis market research and analysis firms continues to confirm the trend among consumers away from cannabis flower and towards vape cartridges, extracts and edibles, according to a USA Today report. Only recognizable brands with a diverse range of offerings are holding steady in this buyer’s market.

“Just growing flower is basically a knife fight to the bottom on price. The brands have the power. That’s what consumers expect in every industry, and this is no different.” — Ryan Smith, CEO of LeafLink, via USA Today

According to BDS Analytics and New Frontier Data, wholesale prices for flower in all markets continue to fall, some steeply. In the last 15 months in Oregon, the price of flower fell more than 41%. In Colorado, cannabis flower has gone from 67% of consumer purchases to 44% since legalization took effect, with the slack being picked up by a doubling in sales of concentrates. In California, it took just four months from the market’s launch for flower sales to drop 3%.

Meanwhile, cannabis analytics company Headset has studied the Washington marketplace meticulously since its launch — their data also reinforces the anti-flower trend.

“We track about nine categories of products right now and that’s everything from flower to pre-roll, concentrates, vapor pens, capsules, tinctures, topicals. It’s a wide variety of products. I think that what we’re seeing is certain categories like flower continuing to lose market share.” — Cy Scott, co-founder and CEO of Headset, via the Ganjapreneur.com Podcast

The price of flower has become so competitive that many large growers are bringing in traditional agricultural experts to help manage their electricity and fertilizer costs so they can eke profits from the smallest of margins. This trend is expected to continue as the industry matures and companies continue to innovate to meet consumer demands.

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Oklahoma Legalization Initiative Not Likely to Make Nov. Ballot

7/25/2018

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Oklahoma Secretary of State James Williamson said on Monday that the chances of voters seeing the state’s adult-use legalization question on November’s ballot are very slim, according to a Tulsa World report.

In fact, advocates have prepared two separate cannabis initiatives for the ballot. The first, State Question 796, would codify legal medical marijuana into the Oklahoma Constitution and the second, State Question 797, would ask voters to do the same for adult-use cannabis. Williamson warned, however, that state law allows opponents of the reforms to file an official protest with the Supreme Court, which would delay the initiatives’ approval and crush all hopes of them appearing on the November ballot.

“If a protest is filed, it is virtually impossible.” — James Williamson, Oklahoma Secretary of State, via Tulsa World

Oklahoma State Election Board spokesperson Bryan Dean said advocates have until August 8 to turn the signatures over to the capitol. That launches the lengthy process of hiring staff, counting the signatures, reviewing the ballot title, and receiving a certification from the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Even without a challenge, the process usually takes up to 60 days and, under state law, no election can be held fewer than 70 days after it was called by the governor.

Gov. Mary Fallin could conceivably call a special election to address the issue, but this is unlikely as she remains opposed to cannabis reforms and it would cost upwards of $1 million.

This means the 2020 general election is the most likely slot for SQ 976 and SQ 979, assuming they reach their signature goals.

On Sunday, Green The Vote — the group pushing both of the constitutional cannabis changes — announced that the adult-use initiative was just 6,000 signatures short of its goal. Oklahoma voters approved a statutory change last month establishing a medical cannabis regime but SQ 796 and SQ 979 both call for constitutional changes, which require more petition signatures to get put before voters.

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Vermont Attorney General Clarifies Cannabis Sales Not Legal

7/25/2018

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The office of the Attorney General of Vermont issued a clarification this week that, under Vermont law, the sale or commercial gifting of cannabis is still illegal.

“Act 86 does not legalize the sale of marijuana. Any transfer of marijuana for money, barter, or other legal consideration remains illegal under Vermont law.” — Office of the Attorney General of Vermont, via Vermont.gov

Vermont lawmakers voted in January to legalize cannabis possession and cultivation, but sales and distribution remain illegal. But like other decriminalized jurisdictions, Vermonters have embraced the gray market and some businesses are strategizing workarounds that are technically legal under Act 86, but the attorney general’s advisory could throw a serious wrench in the works for anyone attempting to make money from the transfer of cannabis.

The advisory goes on to specify that selling an item or service, such as a t-shirt or other merchandise, with an included “gift” of cannabis is illegal. Attempting to charge for the delivery of “gifted” cannabis is also an illegal loophole. Also stated in the advisory is that any type of gifting, even a non-commercial traditional gift, is definitively illegal to anyone under the age of 21.

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Lebanon Considers Legalizing Medical Cannabis to Defray Debt

7/25/2018

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Lebanon, which has been struggling under large national debts, is considering legalizing medical cannabis in the near term to help generate more national revenue, Bloomberg reports. Lebanon’s government was advised to consider a legal cannabis market, among other revenue-generating options, by consulting firm McKinsey & Co.

Lebanon’s trade minister Raed Khoury said enacting the changes advised by McKinsey & Co. would be necessary to get the international community to release $11 billion in grants and soft loans promised to Lebanon earlier this year. Khoury also said a medical cannabis market would be expected to add almost $1 billion in revenue per year.

Cannabis is widely cultivated, though illegally, in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. The current government runs eradication campaigns on a regular basis through that valley, though they do not do much to stifle production. The Bekaa Valley is controlled by Hezbollah, an organization which also holds a large number of seats in the Lebanese legislature as well.

Lebanon’s government is not yet a fully functioning democracy and political impasses have been a theme in the country’s recent past, as it attempts to develop a more lucrative economy. Khoury said, however, that Lebanon needs change to prevent major economic turmoil.

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B.C. Search and Rescue Team Warns Against Stoned Hiking

7/25/2018

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As excitement grows over the imminent legalization of cannabis throughout Canada, a search and rescue team in British Columbia warned this week via blog post against the dangers of consuming cannabis in the backcountry.

Specifically, North Shore Rescue — one of the busiest search and rescue crews in B.C. — is alarmed by the emerging concept of outdoor, commercial cannabis adventures.

“NSR takes no position on consumption or experimentation with cannabis as it relates to peoples private lives, so long as it is done responsibly and safely. That being said, we do take a position on consumption and experimentation with cannabis, and other drugs, including alcohol, when it is done in the mountains.

…When you’re high in the mountains, and I don’t mean elevation wise, you shift your position on the continuum between “Prepared Hiker” and “Candidate for Rescue” significantly towards the latter position.” — Curtis Jones, of North Shore Rescue

Jones said his post was prompted by an article he spied on Flower and Freedom, a lifestyle brand and online community focusing on “a mission to empower people to explore cannabis as part of a healthy lifestyle.”

In an interview with The Canadian Press, Flower and Freedom CEO Bethany Rae said her organization doesn’t encourage or support cannabis experimentation in potentially dangerous settings, but that education remains the key to having a safe cannabis experience.

“We aren’t suggesting anyone go out in the backcountry and get high … especially for novice or brand-new consumers.” — Bethany Rae, CEO of Flower and Freedom, in the report

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New Jersey to Pause Prosecution of All Cannabis Cases

7/24/2018

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New Jersey’s Attorney General Gurbir Grewal wrote in a letter to municipal prosecutors they should seek an adjournment of all cannabis-related offenses until at least September 4, 2018, NJ.com reports. Grewal is seeking the adjournment so that his office can develop appropriate guidance for prosecutors regarding cannabis offenses, but the move effectively decriminalizes cannabis possession in the state of New Jersey.

Some speculate Grewal’s move is tied to a state Senate bill that could legalize adult-use cannabis. The legalization bill is sponsored by state Sen. Nick Scutari, D-Union. It’s expected to be considered in September as well.

New Jersey has the second highest cannabis arrest rate nationally, second only to Wyoming. This move is expected to cause a major shakeup in the state budget as well as change outcomes for a sizeable portion of the state’s population.

The letter from Grewal today follows a drama last week in Jersey City, where that city’s prosecutor Jake Hudnut attempted to downgrade some cannabis charges and dismiss or divert others. Grewal’s office responded quickly to Hudnut’s move and issued a statement saying that Hudnut did not have the authority to decriminalize. The Mayor of Jersey City, Steve Fulop, quickly issued a statement backing Hudnut. The legal snarl reached an impasse and this week’s move by Grewal seems to have resolved the issue.

“In adjourning all marijuana cases across New Jersey while a directive is prepared, Attorney General Grewal has put himself at the national forefront of progressive prosecutors. I am looking forward to working closely with him in the coming weeks on this directive, as well as on other issues affecting all of our state’s municipal courts.” — Jake Hudnut, Prosecutor for Jersey City, New Jersey, via NJ.com

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Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan, A Presidential Hopeful, Calls for Federal Legalization

7/24/2018

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In an op-ed piece on Friday, U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) declared that “Marijuana should be legal in all 50 states.” Rep. Ryan was recently revealed to be assembling a team of political consultants and operatives in preparation for a bid for the presidency, The Intercept reports.

In the op-ed, Rep. Ryan rails against cannabis prohibition and the negative consequences it leads to, especially for minorities.

“After meeting with countless Ohio families and youth whose lives have been irreparably harmed by a marijuana arrest, I find the social and economic injustices of our marijuana policy too big to ignore. I firmly believe no person should be sentenced to a lifetime of hardship because of a marijuana arrest. It is morally wrong and economically nonsensical. That is why I am calling for an end to marijuana being used as an excuse to lock up our fellow Americans.” — Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), in the op-ed

Rep. Ryan also notes the financial benefits of legalization, claiming a potential $13.7 billion net savings that would lead to more investment into national highway infrastructure and a more effective battle against the opioid crisis. Rep. Ryan called for his colleagues to support the “Marijuana Justice Act,” which is currently pending in the legislature and would remove cannabis from its Schedule I classification.

Rep. Ryan’s presidential hopes are pinned on what some are calling the “Yoga vote.” He has worked previously with the advocacy group “Yoga Votes” as well as made a lifetime practice of mindfulness meditation and similar pursuits. He also authored “A Mindful Nation: How a Simple Practice Can Help Us Reduce Stress, Improve Performance, and Recapture the American Spirit.” Cannabis legalization would be in line with such a platform.

“The War on Drugs failed the American people. It is time for us to take the necessary steps to right our nation’s wrongs. We cannot afford to leave people behind and money on the table. If we are truly a nation that believes in second chances, our federal marijuana laws must change. America is speaking. Congress must act.” — Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), in the op-ed

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Study: Cannabis Decriminalization Laws Work Without Increasing Youth Access

7/24/2018

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A recent study by Washington University found a significant drop in adult and youth cannabis arrests and no increase in cannabis use among youths in five states that adopted cannabis decriminalization laws between 2008 and 2014.

A team of researchers from around the country compared federal arrests data and state youth risk surveys of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont and Maryland with other states that did not adopt major cannabis policy changes during the sample period. The decrease in youth arrests was significant with a 75% decrease accompanied by a similar decrease in adult arrest rates.

“Our results provide additional evidence that decriminalization can be accomplished without an increase in youth drug use. These findings are consistent with the interpretation that decriminalization policies likely succeed with respect to their intended effects and that their short-term unintended consequences are minimal.” — WU researchers, in their report

The researchers stressed the need for more investigation into the effect decriminalization has on arrests rates in the long term and suggest their research should be replicated. They also point out decriminalization may not decrease the rate of cannabis enforcement through civil penalties.

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