Mexico’s President-Elect Favors Drug Decriminalization

7/05/2018

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Mexico’s general elections were held on Sunday, July 1 and the emerging victor for the country’s presidential run, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, is likely to push for criminal drug law reforms, according to a teleSUR report.

President-elect López Obrador, who is a former mayor of Mexico City, is already considering decriminalizing recreational cannabis use and regulating the country’s illegal opium trade, said senior aide and former Supreme Court judge Olga Sánchez Cordero. According to Cordero, it doesn’t make sense to continue enforcing drug prohibition when close to a dozen U.S. states plus Canada have chosen to legalize cannabis.

“What are we thinking? Tell me. Killing ourselves. Really, keep on killing when… North America is decriminalizing?” — Olga Sánchez Cordero, in an interview with W Radio

Medical cannabis was legalized in Mexico in 2017 and, in 2016, current President Enrique Peña Nieto spoke in favor of decriminalizing the possession of up to an ounce of cannabis flower. Mexico, however, continues to experience extreme violence and political corruption resulted from drug prohibition, largely carried out by the country’s infamous drug cartels.

Mr. López Obrador upset Mexico’s political paradigm with a landslide victory on Sunday, wherein more than half the country’s voters supported the 64-year-old leftist. His victory is made even more historic, however, because Mexico’s government will be governed by a single party for the first time in 89 years.

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Alberta Chooses Cannabis Producers to Serve Its Adult-Use Market

7/05/2018

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The Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis Commission (AGLC) announced the 13 licensed producers who will serve the province’s adult-use marketplace when cannabis becomes federally legal in Canada on October 17, the Calgary Herald reports.

Only two of the companies, Aurora Cannabis and Canopy Growth, actually have production facilities located in Alberta. The other 11 companies are:

  • 7 Acres
  • ABCann Global
  • Aphria Inc.
  • CannTrust
  • Emblem Cannabis
  • Maricann Group Inc.
  • MedReleaf Corp.
  • Starseed Medicinal Inc.
  • UP Cannabis Inc.
  • Weed MD
  • Organigram

All of the companies except New Brunswick-based Organigram operate primarily out of Ontario.

“The AGLC is committed to providing the Alberta market with access to federally regulated cannabis in a safe and fiscally responsible manner while helping to shrink the illicit market. We are confident that those we are working with will help us fulfil our responsibilities to Albertans.” — Niaz Nejad, CEO and VP for the Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis Commission, in a statement

AGLC said that it received pitches from 31 different companies and plans to sanction more licensed producers as necessary, but in the future will focus on Alberta-based companies. The province plans to open up to 700 retail cannabis locations and will also be distributing cannabis products via the official AGLC website AlbertaCannabis.org. 

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Efforts to Legalize Adult-Use Cannabis Progress in Oklahoma

7/05/2018

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Hot on the heels of Oklahoma‘s successful medical cannabis vote, advocates in the state are collecting signatures to put adult-use legalization on the November ballot, Oklahoma’s News 4 reports.

The initiative, State Question 797, would allow adults who are 21 or older to possess, use, grow, process, and sell cannabis for recreational purposes.

Advocates with ‘Green the Vote’ say they have collected 64,000 of the necessary 124,000 signatures to get SQ 797 on the ballot. The group hopes to deliver the necessary signatures to the state Capitol by August 8.

“We feel we are on track but would like to really ramp it up to get this done with overwhelming numbers.” — Isaac Caviness, President of Green The Vote, in an interview with KJRH

Last month, Oklahoma became the 30th U.S. state to legalize medical cannabis when voters overwhelmingly approved SQ 788, which establishes a program wherein medical doctors — not politicians — determine when patients “qualify” to use medical cannabis.

Opponents of medical marijuana had lambasted SQ 788 as being too loosely regulated and too close to adult-use legalization; Oklahomans did not seem to mind that comparison, however, and now advocates may get to test voters with even more progressive cannabis reforms.

Editor’s note: A previous version of this article incorrectly listed the adult-use ballot initiative as SQ 979 instead of SQ 797.

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Texas GOP Endorses Cannabis Decriminalization, Rescheduling, & Industrial Hemp

7/03/2018

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The Republican Party of Texas officially endorsed the decriminalization of cannabis last month. Party leaders also called on the federal government to reschedule cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule II under the Controlled Substances Act and to legalize industrial hemp.

“Civil Penalty: We support a change in the law to make it a civil, and not a criminal, offense for legal adults only to possess one ounce or less of marijuana for personal use, punishable by a fine of up to $100, but without jail time. …

“Cannabis Classification: Congress should remove cannabis from the list of Schedule 1 and move to Schedule 2. …

“Hemp: We recognize industrial hemp as a valuable agricultural commodity. We urge the Texas Legislature to pass legislation allowing cultivation, manufacture, and sale of industrial hemp and hemp products.” — Texas GOP party platform excerpts

The Texas GOP also called on state lawmakers to expand the state’s 2015 Compassionate Use Act and give doctors the right to determine the best uses and scenarios for medical cannabis.

These are yet further signs that cannabis is becoming an increasingly mainstream issue and, following the Texas GOP announcements, 2018 appears to be shaping out as yet another banner year for cannabis policy.

“Texas Republicans, like the majority of Americans, are ready to see more sensible marijuana policies enacted. Our state wastes valuable criminal justice resources arresting between 60,000-70,000 Texans annually. Delegates took a stand this week for a better approach.” — Heather Fazio, coalition coordinator for Texans for Responsible Marijuana Policy, in a Forbes interview

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Cleveland, Ohio Forms Adult-Use Cannabis Council

7/03/2018

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Cleveland, Ohio City Councilman Blaine Griffin has organized a working group on cannabis policy for the city, News 5 Cleveland reports. The group was created to bring together law enforcement and city departments to begin the bureaucratic process of transition to legal cannabis.

“We believe it’s time for us to start having that discussion and seeing if it might be the right thing to do in the city of Cleveland.” — Blaine Griffin, in the report

12 of Cleveland’s 17 council members signed the resolution to form the working group. Griffin said there are property zoning issues to resolve and other rules the city would want to make to ensure the new industry is productive for all involved.

“We need to get out of the dark ages with this.” — Blaine Griffin, via News 5

Ohio itself still needs to legalize adult-use cannabis via a ballot initiative or legislative action. The state’s medical cannabis program is set to launch in September but will face delays as licensed cultivators are just now managing to get plants in the ground. Griffin wants to start thinking ahead of that for the city of Cleveland, beginning the adult-use process before the state even deploys its medical program.

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Major Beer Companies Test Cannabis Market Waters

7/03/2018

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Several large beer corporations have begun experiments in the cannabis space, according to a Forbes report. Market analysts predict a greater battle for each consumer dollar as cannabis becomes legalized in more U.S. states and eventually the continent and world. Major beer companies are already attempting to get a slice of that pie with cannabis-infused beers and other beverages.

With Canada’s legalization coming soon, most of the pilot beverages are being researched and launched in the northern nation. Constellation Brands, owners of the Corona and Modelo brands, were the earliest of the beer behemoths to begin investing in the new market. Molson Coors was next, with CEO Mark Hunter announcing that he had “assembled a team in Canada to actively explore the risks and opportunities of entering the cannabis space in that market.”

In the U.S., where cannabis prohibition is still ongoing, Heineken-owned Lagunitas Brewing Company has created a cannabis-infused sparkling water called “Hi-Fi Hops.” Lagunitas aims to distribute throughout California. The market for cannabis beverages is expected to grow stronger as many beginner cannabis consumers abandon smoking for healthier cannabis delivery methods.

While many other large beer companies are hesitant to experiment as much as Lagunitas, that may be changing. Constellation Brands CEO Rob Sands has told investors that he has a team working on cannabis brands for the “world market, including the U.S.”

“We’re looking closely at precisely that issue and making sure that we understand what we can do and what we can’t do. We’re looking at it pretty carefully and if we see that opportunity within the confines of what we can legally do, we will do it.” — Rob Sands, in the Forbes report

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The fat cola of a tall, outdoor cannabis plant.

Australian Study: Medical Cannabis Does Not Relieve Chronic Pain

7/03/2018

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A major cannabis study conducted in Australia has found that medical cannabis does almost nothing to relieve chronic pain among users, despite overwhelming anecdotal evidence of the contrary.

The study, published in Lancet Public Health, featured more than 1,500 patients particip[ating in a different study investigating prescription opioid medications. Some 24 percent of those patients also used cannabis and reported their experiences.

“Participants were asked about lifetime and past year chronic pain conditions, duration of chronic non-cancer pain, pain self-efficacy, whether pain was neuropathic, lifetime and past 12-month cannabis use, number of days cannabis was used in the past month, and current depression and generalised anxiety disorder.” — Study authors, via Lancet Public Health

Researchers found that cannabis does not cut pain or lower a patient’s opioid intake. In fact, some cannabis patients’ pain levels and anxiety appeared to rise over the four-year study.

At 4-year follow-up, compared with people with no cannabis use, we found that participants who used cannabis had a greater pain severity score… greater pain interference score… lower pain self-efficacy scores… and greater generalised anxiety disorder severity scores. We found no evidence of a temporal relationship between cannabis use and pain severity or pain interference, and no evidence that cannabis use reduced prescribed opioid use or increased rates of opioid discontinuation.

One issue with the study that has been raised is that the cannabis products used by patients were not regulated or recorded, so there is no way of knowing whether there were issues with cannabis potency, quality, or even regular access to the plant (cannabis was illegal in Australia while the study was conducted, even for medical purposes).

The study was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Australian Government. It is the first major study addressing this issue and one of the first to produce negative results for the medical cannabis movement.

Other research has shown that medical cannabis programs in the U.S. lead to a reduction in opioid overdoses and that cannabis could be an effective exit drug for opioid dependency.

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BIG3 Basketball First Professional Sports League to Allow CBD Use

7/02/2018

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Last week, the 3-on-3 basketball league BIG3 announced it would be the first U.S. professional sports league to allow athletes the use of CBD for pain management, USA Today reports. BIG3’s athletes are typically former NBA players.

Earlier this year, CBD was removed from the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) list of prohibited substances. CBD remains banned, however, in all other sports leagues due to internal league rules.

“Despite many states around the country making efforts to decriminalize or legalize cannabis, both medicinally and recreationally, professional athletes who could benefit medicinally are prevented from doing so by league outdated mandates.’’ — BIG3 statement, via press release.

Already underway with its second season, BIG3 said the policy goes into effect immediately. THC, which is still on the WADA list of banned substances, will not be allowed.

“More than a dozen countries, including Canada and Israel, have approved CBD-based medications for both professional athletes and consumers. In the U.S., the shift is beginning to happen as the medication is not only used for pain management, but preferred over the powerfully addictive opioids and pain-relief drugs that are often the only other option.’’ — BIG3 statement, via press release.

The BIG3 league was started last year by noted rapper and cannabis proponent Ice Cube and entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz.

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Massachusetts Issues First Adult-Use Cannabis Retail License

7/02/2018

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Massachusetts has issued the state’s first retail adult-use cannabis license, according to a MassLive report. The retail license allows the recipient company, Cultivate Holdings Inc., to sell adult-use cannabis out of its existing medical dispensary in Leicester, Massachusetts.

Cultivate was in competition with 19 other applicants for the first retail license, but it remains unclear when exactly Cultivate will be able to begin sales.

Massachusetts has fallen behind schedule in licensing the cannabis supply chain, especially for transportation and manufacturing. Earlier in June, the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission awarded the state’s first cultivation license to Sira Naturals. Other than Sira Naturals and now Cultivate Holdings, the Cannabis Control Commission has not approved any other licenses. Cultivate also applied for cultivation and manufacturing licenses, which are still awaiting approval.

When Cultivate launches operations, their retail license will still require a last inspection from the Cannabis Control Commission before the license is finalized. Also, while medical cannabis is not taxed in Massachusetts, adult-use cannabis is taxed up to three times: 6.25 percent state sales tax, 10.75 percent excise tax, plus possible local taxes that can add up to an additional 3 percent. When Cultivate begins adult-use sales, it will need to tally those separately from medical cannabis.

Cultivate told regulators that, as soon as the hurdles have been cleared and the company’s adult-use sales are profitable, the company will donate 10 percent of profits to local charities.

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The orange glow of an I-502 cultivation site in Washington state.

Ohio Officials Give First MMJ Cultivator Go-Ahead to Grow, License Early Testing Labs

7/02/2018

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Ohio’s first licensed, state-legal medical cannabis grow has received the go-ahead from the Ohio Department of Commerce, according to a Cleveland.com report.

The certificate was awarded to Portage County-based FN Group Holdings LLC on Friday and authorizes the company — which will be doing business under the name Wellspring Fields — to grow up to a 3,000-foot canopy of cannabis plants.

The state began issuing cultivator licenses in December; none of the facilities, however, had yet to pass an inspection and therefore had not received final approval to put seeds in the ground. Wellspring Fields was the first to pass inspection (another company, Pure Ohio Wellness LLC, had a failed inspection in May) and can begin growing immediately.

Ohio’s medical cannabis program legally launches on September 8. Officials, however, have already admitted that medicine won’t be ready for launch because of delays in the licensing process. At best, patients can hope the delay lasts only a few weeks.

The Commerce Department also on Friday awarded testing lab licenses to two colleges — Central State University in Wilberforce and Hocking Technical College in Nelsonville — and announced that licenses for privately-run labs will be coming soon. All cannabis products distributed in the Ohio marketplace must undergo quality and potency tests by an independent lab.

In June, the pharmacy board issued 56 cannabis dispensary licenses.

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Senate Passes Farm Bill with Hemp Legalization Language Attached

6/29/2018

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On Thursday, the U.S. Senate voted 86-to-11 to pass its version of the 2018 Farm Bill, The Washington Post reports. The Farm Bill, which provides $428 billion in subsidies and other funding, includes language for the federal legalization of industrial hemp. However, some hurdles remain before the bill can be fully passed, despite overwhelming bipartisan support shown in the Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) sponsored the hemp provisions. McConnell also sponsored provisions for an opt-in pilot program for hemp in the 2014 Farm Bill. Sen. McConnell spoke on the Senate floor on Thursday in support of hemp, televised on C-Span.

“Hemp will be a bright spot for our future. It’s full of economic potential for Kentucky, and the nation. So, Mr. President, we should pass the Farm Bill without delay.” — Sen. Mitch McConnell, in a speech on the Senate floor

The landmark vote is a strong sign of bipartisan favor for the long-stigmatized plant.

“The Senate’s overwhelming approval of the Farm Bill validates the importance of this crop and will make hemp more pervasive, including increased availability in health and wellness products, which are already being adopted by consumers around the world.” — Rory Millikin, co-founder and co-chairman for cannabisMD, in an email to Ganjapreneur

Meanwhile, the House’s version of the bill — passed without Democratic Party support last week — includes a contentious work requirement for food stamps. The Senate did not include those provisions, despite White House support for them, because the bill needed bipartisan support to pass. The disagreement means that some still fear Congress will be unable to pass the Farm Bill before the current bill expires on September 30.

Hemp legalization now awaits unification of the two bills in a joint Congressional conference, before being delivered to the President’s desk to be either signed or vetoed.

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Vermont Adult-Use Legalization Takes Effect Sunday

6/29/2018

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Vermont’s adult-use cannabis laws take effect this weekend; Vermont was the first state to legalize via the legislature instead of a ballot initiative.

Starting Sunday, July 1 adults in Vermont will be able to possess up to one ounce of cannabis and home grow up to six cannabis plants, two of which may be mature and up to four immature. Adults will also be able to possess in their home the full weight of cannabis harvests they perform. The law also introduces penalties for driving under the influence of cannabis with enhanced penalties for driving under the influence with a minor in the car.

“The majority of Vermonters, like the majority of the American public, desire to live in a community where responsible adults who choose to consume cannabis are no longer criminalized or stigmatized. Vermont lawmakers and Gov. Scott are to be recognized for responding to the will of the voters, rather than choosing to ignore them. Vermont is leading by example. Lawmakers in other states would be wise to follow.” — Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director, in a press release

The law was signed into effect by Republican Gov. Phil Scott in January; the governor had indicated support for the bill even before it reached his desk.

“This is a libertarian approach. I’ve said I’m not philosophically opposed to it. I know there are diverse opinions … as to whether we should move forward, but I still firmly believe that what you do in your own home should be your business, as long as it doesn’t affect someone else.” — Gov. Phil Scott, via Seven Days.

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California Dispensaries Offloading Cheap Product; Shortage Looms with Regulatory Transition Period Ending Sunday

6/29/2018

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On Sunday, July 1, California’s adult-use cannabis industry will undergo a major overhaul.

When the industry kicked off in January, it came with a six-month grace period of “mandatory” but unenforced compliance. Most companies took advantage of this and have been conducting business as usual but, as that time comes to a close this weekend, there has been a rash of fire sales in dispensaries across the state as they try to offload tens of thousands of dollars of untested and potentially non-compliant cannabis products, the Desert Sun reported this week.

Some dispensaries are selling products at near wholesale cost, just trying to cut their losses and avoid having to destroy non-compliant product after the weekend.

Scott Lambert, CEO of The OG Collective in Cathedral City, said that even though he has reduced prices “by 70 or 80 percent in order to get rid of it,” he may have to destroy nearly $150,000 worth of product on July 1.

At least one company, Cathedral City’s Remedy Inc., is taking a more festive approach to the weekend. Owner Klint Jackson said the shop is hosting a big barbeque on Saturday to hopefully offload the dispensary’s remaining $20,000 to $30,000 worth of non-compliant product.

“The world explodes on the first. It’s a big event for us.” — Klint Jackson, owner of Remedy Inc., via the Desert Sun

For the most part, however, entrepreneurs remain wary as the industry barrels into the second half of the year. Even companies who have successfully pared down their inventory in preparation for July 1 are worried about fallout from the transition.

Chris Scagliotti, President of Green Cross Pharma, said that smaller manufacturers in California will have a harder time satisfying the industry’s demand after the weekend.

“You can’t reinvent an industry in six months. It’s just not enough time.” — Cris Scagliotti, President of Green Cross Pharma, via the Desert Sun

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Cannabis Advocates Running for Office in Washington State

6/28/2018

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Washington state’s cannabis caucus is poised to grow this year, with at least five candidates who are either cannabis activists, have worked in the industry, or currently own cannabis businesses running for state and local offices.

Statewide elections

Crystal Oliver — who owns an outdoor cannabis farm in Eastern Washington, is an executive assistant to WA NORML, and is on the Executive Board of the Cannabis Farmers Council — is throwing her hat in the ring as a Democrat in the 7th legislative district. As a mother and graduate student, Oliver is focusing on health care, regulation reform, and open government in her campaign for the state House. As a cannabis farmer herself, she has worked tirelessly through the implementation of Washington’s adult-use cannabis system.

“Cannabis farming has certainly been a gateway to politics for me. Starting my cannabis farm has been the education of a lifetime. Since regulations didn’t already exist for our businesses, stakeholders had to build the regulations from the ground up.

I found that I had a natural talent for reading, recalling, and critiquing regulations and law as well as bridging the gap between farmers and politicians. Through my interaction with regulators and legislators, I came to realize that I had many of the skills needed to effectively serve the public.” — Crystal Oliver, in a statement

Liz Hallock is the owner of Cannabis Express in Yakima and is running as a Democrat for District 14’s second seat position in the House to bring a more scientific and fact-based approach to government. Educated at Princeton and having practiced law for ten years in Washington State, Hallock hopes to unseat the Republican incumbent.

“My opponent hasn’t supported any of the cannabis bills that have been in Olympia. Our products are really ignored when it comes to fighting the opiate crisis. I really feel if you can’t get the cannabis thing right when it’s such a no-brainer, how will you fix the harder problems?”

“The way government should work is you get all the stakeholders in a room, figure out the most things you can agree on and come to a consensus, all while protecting people’s rights. I want to work to have a state government that works with the scientific method and facts, not religion and feelings.” — Liz Hallock, in a statement

Jessa Lewis is a working mom and former I-502 employee who says she has had it with Eastern Washington politics. She is running for the state Senate in the 7th District as a Democrat.

“The number one thing I am hearing from voters is a need to address healthcare issues and mental health, but I also hear a lot about fixing our education system and building an economy that works for all. I left working in 502 to focus on policy and politics after being a National Delegate for Bernie Sanders. The cognitive dissonance I experienced in 502 — I was selling a product to little old ladies that was causing mass incarceration in the rest of the country — really showed me there was a need for new blood in the political arena to fight against the reefer madness of today.” — Jessa Lewis, in a statement

Local elections

Jed Haney is a fourth generation Washingtonian who wants to bring a progressive platform to the Thurston County Commission, Seat 3. Running as an Independent, his platform focuses on public safety, environmental management, and economic sustainability.

“I’m running as an Independent because I want to be a fresh voice outside the two-party echo chamber. We need champions to represent the people and not party politics. Before getting involved in the legal cannabis fight, I didn’t interact with the open government public process much, but in 2014, when I observed the City of Yakima along with Yakima County subvert the will of the people by placing cannabis bans, that really pushed me to act. Since then, I’ve worked with people all around the state from all different backgrounds to improve cannabis policy in Washington State.” — Jed Haney, in a statement

Lee Dunkin is a Tier 1 cannabis producer running for Chelan County Commissioner, District Two. Responding to the heavy-handed approach Chelan County took toward cannabis, this former county employee says affordable housing and high unemployment are the biggest issues in the county — but he feels the county’s government is entirely broken.

“The main hurdle to dealing with any issue in Chelan County right now is getting the county to actually do something other than regulate and tax its citizens. The internal structure and function of the county no longer work.”

“If there is one place on the planet cannabis should be grown it is in Chelan County, 300 days of sun and the cheapest power in the nation! Instead of working with cannabis businesses, the County has fought us every step of the way. After two and a half years of fighting and spending over $160,000 in legal fees, I saw no other choice but to run for office. The County Commissioners have divided this community just because a few people don’t like the smell of pot. They pitted neighbor against neighbor and have wasted countless taxpayer dollars on closing farms and small businesses.” — Lee Dunkin, in a statement

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The New Hampshire Capitol Building located in Concord, New Hampshire.

New Hampshire Democrats Add Legal Cannabis to Party Platform

6/28/2018

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The New Hampshire Democratic Party has made cannabis legalization a part of the party’s political platform this week, according to an Associated Press report. The move will appease advocates, who fear the state is falling far behind neighboring Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont — the New England states that have already legalized cannabis for adult use.

Specifically, the new platform states that New Hampshire Democrats “believe that marijuana should be legalized, taxed, and regulated.” The party also chose to adopt a resolution that calls for the federal government to remove cannabis from the list of Schedule 1 substances.

“It’s clearly a matter of when and not if marijuana gets legalized in New Hampshire. I think that at the point in time when it is legalized we need to be ready to make sure that public safety is protected.” — Chris Pappas, Democratic candidate in New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District primary, in a statement to AP

Cannabis is decriminalized in New Hampshire, but recent legislative efforts to fully legalize and regulate the adult-use market have fallen flat.

 

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Maine Legislature Completes Adult-Use and MMJ Regulations

6/28/2018

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Maine legislators passed a bill on Tuesday with sweeping reforms for medical and adult-use cannabis laws in the state, the Press Herald reports. The bill is primarily focused on reforming Maine’s medical marijuana “caregiver” system — if passed, the bill would close some loopholes, give caregivers more freedom with their business, and give municipalities the ability to shut out the industry if they so desire.

The original bill left committee in March and, after passing the legislature, was vetoed by Maine Governor Paul LePage. Several amendments have since been made. Most notably, state Sen. Roger Katz, R-Augusta, added an amendment allowing towns to shut down caregiver shops operating without explicit permission. Additionally, the bill would lift limits on the number of patients per caregiver, allow caregivers to sell up to 30 percent of each harvest to other caregivers and dispensaries, and open up caregivers to hiring more than one worker.

While most of the changes should give caregivers a better competitive chance as businesses, there are other sections of the bill that will give the state more oversight of the industry with unannounced inspections and seed-to-sale tracking.

The bill now sits again on Gov. LePage’s desk. The governor has ten days to decide whether to sign the bill into law or veto. After ten days, the bill will pass into law without the governor’s signature. LePage, who has a long history of being anti-cannabis, has yet to make any announcement of his plans or issue a statement about his position.

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Anthony Franciosi: Being a Master Grower in Colorado’s Cannabis Market

6/28/2018

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Anthony Franciosi is Head Grower for Honest Marijuana Company, a Colorado-based producer of medical and adult-use cannabis.

Colorado is often considered the pioneer state for cannabis legalization — so we recently checked in with Anthony to see how things are going in the state and talk about what it takes to grow top-shelf products in a competitive marketplace. Check out our Q&A below, where Anthony weighs in on Colorado’s dropping wholesale prices, what it takes to be a commercial cannabis grower, what it’s like managing and growing with a team of other cultivators, and more!

Ganjapreneur: How did you first get started as a professional grower in the cannabis industry?

Anthony Franciosi: When I moved to Colorado in early 2008, the medical program in the state was just taking off and I got a medical card so I could start growing my own medicine for pain management. I also worked as a landscape irrigation technician for a number of years doing large scale gardening projects. As time went on the two things kind of merged together and I was able to connect with the right people to start growing organic cannabis commercially.

For outsiders to Colorado’s cannabis industry, what should they know about the space? And how would you describe Honest Marijuana Company to them?

Colorado’s cannabis industry is extremely competitive and the amount of innovation taking place in such short times frames is pretty amazing. As time goes on, more and more large scale operations have come online and it is sort of flooding the market with large scale commercial cannabis grown with cheap ingredients in huge facilities. Honest Marijuana Company is focused on staying craft and creating cannabis products grown from sustainable inputs without harmful pesticides or chemicals. We use the very best practices from seed to harvest and then package our products in the best packaging solutions so that our end customer can experience the products the way we intended for them to. Without any adulteration or handling the way we would expect it to be if we were growing it for our own medicine.

With wholesale cannabis prices often plummeting within legalized industries throughout the U.S., how are you able to keep your revenue from doing the same?

We have stayed true to our ethos and maintained the highest standards for our grow and for our post production to maintain a quality that is not really seen throughout the whole space. By creating innovative new products like the Honest Blunt we have also been able to keep people interested and give them a unique pre roll that is all natural and has the same smoking experience you would expect from a typical blunt but without any harmful ingredients like tobacco or nicotine. The blunts themselves are rolled on a refurbished cigar machine that we have retooled to roll some of the most consistent and tasty preroll options out there. Wrapped in an all natural hemp and filled with our all natural in house blend to create an awesome smoking experience. We sell them in a sleek and sturdy tin which is great for camping, biking, concerts, backpacking etc.

Do you work with assistants and/or other cultivators? How many, and what are their jobs?

We have a guy who is the head of the vegetation stage of growth. He is the sole person who takes cuttings and maintains health from the time cuttings are taken and seeds planted to the time the plants move into flower. We have another person who takes care of the flower rooms and manages all the feedings, pruning, and trellising. That person has one assistant who helps with all of those same things. Lastly we have a harvest manager who oversees the harvesting, drying, and curing stages of the process. The last part is every bit as critical as the first and by breaking down the departments that way our grow team have very specific and highly nuanced skill sets that all culminate in the end product in the can.

As Head Grower, what does a typical workday look like for you?

Nowadays my day consists more of organizing the tools for the team to take care of everything. Compliance, inventory, packaging and customer relations are taking up more and more of my time but when the grow needs a little catching up on anything I jump in to maintain the flow of the garden.

What are some of the biggest misconceptions about being a master grower in Colorado?

It’s probably a little more glorified than the job actually deserves. It is labor intensive and there are a lot of menial tasks like cleaning and pruning that aren’t the most exciting however they are absolutely neccesary and being passionate about the plant is the only way to keep yourself motivated and working at the highest level.

What do you think are the most important skills for a successful cannabis grower?

You have to love what you do and be willing to sacrifice to make your garden your baby and nurture it that way. Plants don’t recognize bank holidays and there are a lot of times you have to put the plants first over anything and there is no way around it. Being humble is a big part of it. There are so many different ways to grow and so many different personalities working together. If your not willing to listen to people and work as a team things tend to fall apart pretty quickly. IPM programs get missed, waterings are not consistent, things just go downhill.

What has been the biggest challenge or obstacle you’ve had to overcome so far?

The biggest obstacle for us so far has been the vertical integration throughout the industry. We are a wholesale operation and many storefronts have their own grow facilities so they are hesitant to carry other products from other brands if they are sitting on their own. By creating unique and high quality products we have been able to find retail partners who believe in what we do and help us share the organic products we provide.

And what is the most rewarding experience you’ve had as a master grower?

The most rewarding thing about providing all natural cannabis to the Colorado market is just the feedback you get when you talk people who use the products and love it and appreciate the hard work of our team and the efforts we make to create a product people can believe in that is truly craft and truly all natural. When you hear those kind of testimonials that people enjoy what your doing and your helping them in some way to enjoy themselves or to relax or heal or whatever it may be, that makes it fun.

Colorado was the first pioneer of adult-use legalization — how are things going for the industry, and what do you think the future Colorado cannabis industry will look like?

The industry is moving along at a rapid pace but it is still living up to what Coloradans hoped it would be. It is a highly regulated safe market place that cares a lot about the plant. In the future I think you will see a greater distinction between what is truly a craft product and products that are massed produced with cheap and harmful systems — similar to the craft beer industry or to the wine industry.

What advice would you offer to somebody who wants to become a commercial cannabis cultivator?

In order to be successful, you must have an unfaltering passion for your business and the goal you hope to achieve with your products or services. With strong passion, you can overcome countless obstacles and ensure your business aspirations come to fruition. You must do something that you truly care about and love, so it isn’t just a means to make money. Another thing I recommend all business owners to do is constantly tell yourself what you need to get better at, recognize what you are good at, and seek out new things to learn.

Cultivating a successful partnership sometimes means admitting what you don’t know. Acknowledging that you may not have every answer allows for the right questions to then be asked so that the team can acquire the neccessary information to go on and be successful.

While good news is always a welcome relief to partners, it’s the bad news that needs to be communicated right away. The only way to navigate potential setbacks is to identify them as quickly as possible and begin troubleshooting before the problem happens. Smooth seas are always nice to hear about but are not likely to sink the ship. By communicating potential issues clearly, you avoid last minute surprises.

Thank you, Anthony, for taking the time to share your thoughts and experiences as a Colorado cannabis cultivator! You can learn more about Anthony Francioso and Honest Marijuana Company at HonestMarijuana.com.

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Russia Condemns Canada’s Cannabis Legalization

6/28/2018

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The Russian Foreign Ministry has condemned Canada’s recent legalization of adult-use cannabis, according to a Newsweek report. The Ministry said in an official statement that the move was a breach of Canada’s “international legal obligations.”

“We expect Canada’s partners in the G7 to respond to its “high-handedness” because this alliance has repeatedly declared its adherence to the domination of international law in relations between states.” — The Russian Foreign Ministry, via the Information and Press Department statement

Canada’s move to legalize, having occurred at the federal level, technically violates several international conventions. Canada is a signatory, along with the U.S., of several sweeping anti-narcotic conventions. State-level legalization efforts in the U.S., while tacitly allowed by the U.S. federal government, do not yet explicitly break any international agreements.

In April, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions met with Canadian senators and said that legalization would make things more difficult for Canadian citizens trying to come into the U.S.

“Canada is aware that there will be international opposition from some countries. But like Uruguay, Canada has said they are [legalizing marijuana] for the health and safety of their citizens.” — Hannah Hetzer, the senior international policy manager for the Canadian Drug Policy Alliance, via Newsweek

Uruguay became the first nation to legalize recreational cannabis in 2013. Several of the largest U.S. banks have since refused to do business with Uruguayan banks that handle legal cannabis revenues, citing federal drug trafficking and money laundering regulations. It is unclear if U.S. banks intend to do the same with cannabis-friendly Canadian banks.

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Sen. Chuck Schumer Introduces Cannabis De-Scheduling Legislation

6/27/2018

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The Senate’s top Democrat, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-New York), has introduced legislation that aims to end cannabis prohibition and let states decide for themselves the legality of the plant.

The Marijuana Freedom and Opportunity Act would decriminalize cannabis by removing it from the Controlled Substances Act; however, the federal government would maintain the authority to prevent cannabis trafficking from legal states to non-legal states.

The bill would also invest $250 million into investigating the highway safety pitfalls of cannabis legalization and $500 million into public health research investigating the effects of THC and other cannabinoids. Additionally, Schumer’s bill includes funding for cannabis businesses owned by women and people of color via the Small Business Administration.

“The new Marijuana Freedom and Opportunity Act is about giving states the freedom to be the laboratories that they should be and giving Americans – especially women and minority business owners as well as those convicted of simple possession of marijuana intended for personal use – the opportunity to succeed in today’s economy. This legislation is simply the right thing to do and I am hopeful that the balanced approach it takes can earn bipartisan support in Congress and across the country.” — Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, in a statement

Sen. Schumer first announced the legislation on the symbolic day of April 20, the international day of cannabis celebration, saying that his thinking on the issue — echoing a similar statement by former Republican House Speaker John Boehner — had evolved.

“We commend Senator Schumer for joining the growing chorus of Congressional leaders stepping forward with alternatives to the failed prohibition of marijuana. With millions of Americans already living in states that successfully regulate adult-use cannabis and support for national legalization at record levels, this legislation would finally align federal marijuana policies with mainstream voter sentiment.” — Aaron Smith, executive director of the National Cannabis Industry Association, in a statement

The Senate bill will likely find some bipartisan support but, if approved there, could still face heavy opposition in the House of Representatives.

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Oklahoma Voters Legalize Medical Cannabis

6/27/2018

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On Tuesday, voters at the polls in Oklahoma approved a ballot measure to legalize medical cannabis, according to a CNBC report. After nearly a two-year-old signature drive, cannabis activists were finally successful in bringing State Question 788 to the Oklahoma ballot earlier this year.

Oklahoma’s medical marijuana rules are some of the most progressive medical cannabis rules adopted to date and will allow an individual to possess up to 8 ounces of cannabis, six mature plants, and six seedlings. The law would also permit cannabis edibles and concentrates. Patients must receive permission from an Oklahoma Medical Board certified physician — there is not currently a list of qualifying conditions that must be satisfied, patients only need a doctor’s recommendation.

Oklahoma will offer many types of licenses for different businesses and individuals in the medical cannabis chain of care, including caregivers, sellers, growers, transporters, packagers, lab testers, and researchers.

There was a push against the measure by an organization named “SQ 788 is Not Medical,” chaired by Dr. Kevin Taubman, previous president of the Oklahoma State Medical Association. The group spent $500,000 on a media campaign against the initiative.

“This is a bad public health policy that does not resemble a legitimate medical treatment program.” — Dr. Kevin Taubman, via CNBC

Oklahoma is one of the most conservative states to approve medical cannabis. Gov. Mary Fallin was against the measure, claiming that it was too loose to be a proper medical cannabis law. She said she would call on legislators to return for a special session to better regulate medical marijuana.

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Massachusetts Plans Nation’s First Social Equity Cannabis Work Program

6/27/2018

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Massachusetts is in the early stages of launching the first social equity cannabis work program in the nation, according to a MassLive report. The program would be designed to give minorities and others previously convicted of drug offenses a chance at working in the legal cannabis industry.

The commission currently gives priority for cannabis license applicants to those who come from areas or groups that have been overly affected by cannabis prohibition. According to Massachusetts state law, however, the Cannabis Control Commission must promote participation in the legal cannabis industry from demographics who were harmed disproportionately by cannabis prohibition.

The state is crafting its social equity program to provide training and mentoring to individuals from those same disadvantaged categories. The program has four tracks for training different types of workers for the cannabis industry: owners and entrepreneurs, management and executives, entry-level workers and the previously incarcerated, and a fourth track for people with existing professional skills that are useful in cannabis.

Candidates for the program must meet certain criteria. The program is for those with past drug convictions — or for their partners and/or children — who have lived in Massachusetts for at least one year. The program would also apply to people who have lived in a community classified as an area of “disproportionate impact” for the last five years with an income below 400% of the federal poverty level.

The rules do not specify race. However, Shekia Scott, Director of Community Outreach for the Cannabis Control Commission, said the goal is to help create a more racially diverse workforce.

“Everyone can’t be an owner. We have to think bigger about building out the full workforce and full industry.” — Shekia Scott, via MassLive

Scott said her next goal is outreach in the 29 communities classified as “disproportionately impacted,” to encourage people to apply for the program. The Cannabis Commission has allocated $300,000 for the program for this year.

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Cannabis CEO Resigns Over Viral Video of Her Threatening to Call Police on Young Girl Selling Water

6/27/2018

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Alison Ettel has resigned as CEO of cannabis company TreatWell Health after a video went viral that showed her appearing to call the police on a young girl and her mother who were selling bottled water on the street. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the resulting backlash ultimately resulted in Ettel — who was dubbed “Permit Patty” by the online community — resigning from her position as the company’s head executive.

“It is Ms. Ettel’s belief that TreatWell, its employees and patients should not have to suffer because of a situation that occurred in an escalated moment.” — Treatwell spokesperson Cynthia Gonzalez, in a statement

TreatWell Health specializes in medical cannabis tinctures designed for both people and pets. Several dispensaries throughout San Francisco have responded to the incident, however, saying they will no longer carry TreatWell products.

The incident was recorded on Saturday and posted to Instagram. The video shows Ettel on her phone, where she appears to be reporting 8-year-old Jordan Rodgers — who is Black — to the police for selling bottled water without a permit. Jordan’s mother, Erin Austin, filmed Ettel while she made the call.

“She calling police on a 8-year-old little girl. You can hide all you want. The world gon’ see you, boo,” Austin says in the video.

Ettel responds while on the phone and looking into Austin’s camera, “Yeah, um, illegally selling water without a permit, yeah.”

Later, Austin said that her daughter had been selling water to raise money for a Disneyland trip.

“Recently, I lost my job, and we were planning a trip Disneyland before that happened, and so it kind of sidelined us a little bit. My daughter just wanted to help.” — Erin Austin, via CBS This Morning

Ettel has said that she acted because the mother and daughter had been screaming for hours on the sidewalk, but now feels “horrible and heart-wrenched.” She said that the call was not racially motivated and that she only “pretended” to call the police.

“I completely regret that I handled that so poorly. It was completely stress-related, and I should have never confronted her. That was a mistake, a complete mistake.” — Alison Ettel, via the Huffington Post

However, Austin said that she and her daughter were not screaming and had only been on the sidewalk for some 15 minutes.

Musician Jonathan Brannon saw the confrontation and sent four Disneyland tickets to Austin for her daughter and other family members. Since the incident, Austin has also started a Go Fund Me page seeking $75,000 that she says will go towards education and benefiting the lives of her children.

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Senate Approves Medical Cannabis Protections for Veterans

6/26/2018

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U.S. Senators voted 86-5 on Monday in favor of legislation that establishes protections for veterans seeking state-legal medical cannabis therapies, according to a report by Marijuana Moment‘s Tom Angell. The measure was added to legislation funding large parts of the federal government, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, through the fiscal year 2019.

Specifically, the provision protects veterans who want to participate in a state-legal medical cannabis program by denying the use of all funds for the following purposes:

(1) interfere with the ability of a veteran to participate in a medicinal marijuana program approved by a State;
(2) deny any services from the Department to a veteran who is participating in such a program; or
(3) limit or interfere with the ability of a health care provider of the Department to make appropriate recommendations, fill out forms, or take steps to comply with such a program.

These provisions are not present in the House’s version of the legislation because House Rules Committee Chairman Pete Sessions (R-Texas) has consistently blocked any cannabis-related legislation from consideration in that chamber.

The House and Senate now must reconcile the legislation’s differences in a bicameral conference committee. If the medical cannabis protections survive that process, it would be a huge stride forward for veterans suffering from PTSD, chronic pain, and opioid dependency.

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A close-up shot of a cannabis plant grown under Washington's I-502 market regulations.

Pennsylvania Governor Signs MMJ Amendment Allowing Research

6/26/2018

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Gov. Tom Wolfe of Pennsylvania, a Democrat, on Friday signed a bill amending the Pennsylvania medical cannabis law so that the state can proceed with its MMJ research program, reports The Philadelphia Inquirer. The bill was written to avoid a pending lawsuit that alleges the state improperly delegated authority to medical schools regarding the selection of cannabis growers.

The original law allowed medical schools to choose their own cannabis growers for research supplies. The previous language of the law would have allowed medical schools to circumvent the state’s official grower selection process, to which all cannabis growers and dispensaries have had to conform to date.

Opponents had issues remaining, even after the amendment. The new wording of the law still does not specify exactly what is meant by “research” or require disclosure regarding payments made from medical cannabis grow partners to medical schools. Opponents of the law say the situation favors corruption.

The Connecticut Department of Health has said they will have the last word on which partners are qualified to partner with medical schools.

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