Canna Cribs Releases Episode 3 Featuring Copperstate Farms

10/08/2018

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Episode three of Canna Cribs — the viral mini-documentary series presented by GrowersNetwork.org that features cannabis entrepreneurs and expert growers from around the country — is now available.

The third episode of Canna Cribs’ first season features Copperstate Farms: a massive 40-acre greenhouse grow in Snowflake, Arizona.

In this episode, follow along with host Nate Lipton and the rest of the Growers Network team as they tour the Copperstate Farms facility, speak with owner Fife Symington, and witness the high-velocity efficiency of their professional medical cannabis cultivation team.

In his tour of the facility, Lipton learns the history of Copperstate’s greenhouse location, gets a detailed run-down of the state-of-the-art gear used by Copperstate’s cultivation, extraction, and packaging teams, and gets to witness the inside of a 55,000 square foot “Mothers Room” with over 100 active strains.

As we learn throughout Episode 3 of Canna Cribs, Copperstate Farms is afforded some unique opportunities by having such a massive facility — and it’s not just their ability to pump out 4,500 pounds of packaged cannabis materials (including bud, trim, and popcorn nugs) per week. In fact, the Copperstate campus is shared by several other commercial entities, including an independent cannabis terpene analytics lab and the chef-driven edibles brand Good Things Coming.

Join Lipton and the rest of the Growers Network team on their adventure to Arizona via the media player below.

Canna Cribs is an ongoing documentary series produced by Growers Network that covers entrepreneurs and pioneers in the burgeoning cannabis industry. Canna Cribs Episode 1 was spent exploring the 350,000 square foot “Glass House” greenhouse in California; Episode 2 took a deep dive into Phat Panda’s cultivation facility in Spokane, Washington. Stay tuned for Episode 4, coming soon!

Growers Network is a private online community for cannabis cultivators and entrepreneurs to share their experiences, discuss the industry, and work together to overcome the many obstacles facing modern cannabis professionals.

To learn more about Canna Cribs or the Growers Network platform, visit GrowersNetwork.org.

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California Updates, Expands Industrial Hemp Rules

10/05/2018

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California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed into law State Bill 1409 which updates California’s industrial hemp laws to be in line with federal rules and allows farmers in the state to produce seed, oil, fiber, and extract, according to The Signal.

SB 1409 updates the definition of “industrial hemp” in the state to differentiate it from cannabis and allow farmers to also produce non-intoxicating extracts from the plant. The law is designed to complement the expected federal legalization of industrial hemp, though that change is currently stalled in committee with the 2018 Farm Bill.

“This is a big win for our local farmers, and it’s going to revolutionize agriculture. Just last night, I got a text from a local farmer who is converting his fields to local hemp. I heard from a battery manufacturer (who uses hemp fiber in battery production) who secured a 15,000-square-foot building, thanks to the bill.” — State Sen. Scott Wilk, bill author, via The Signal

California’s expanded hemp laws will go into effect January 1, 2019. Proponents of industrial hemp also hope to see the 2018 Farm Bill finally out of committee by that point as well, allowing California’s new hemp economy to become interstate.

Currently, work requirements for federal food assistance in the U.S. House version of the farm bill are most contentious, holding the bill back in this contentious environment that is the run-up to the interim elections.

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Washington to End Sales of Cannabis Gummies, Hard Candies

10/05/2018

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Washington regulators will ban the production and sale of cannabis-infused gummies and hard candies, according to an online presentation from the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB).

The change was made in response to complaints the Board received about the products in question for being too appealing to children.

The Board listed the rule update:

“WAC 314-55-077(7): A marijuana processor is limited in the types of food or drinks they may infuse with marijuana. Marijuana-infused products that are especially appealing to children are prohibited. Products such as, but not limited to, gummy candies, lollipops, cotton candy, or brightly colored products, are prohibited.” — Excerpt from the WSLCB presentation

The rule change takes effect on January 1, 2019, but retailers have until April 3, 2019 to offload any remaining infused gummy or hard candy products.

While gummies and hard candies make up a tiny fraction of Washington’s adult-use cannabis market, for some companies they are a whole lot more. Jamie Hoffman, the owner of Craft Elixirs, told the Yakima Herald that her company’s popular Pioneer Square products — which are described as a “candied artisan fruit chew” — make up 84 percent of her company’s bottom line.

Hoffman said she’s not yet sure whether or not her product will fall victim to the rule change. “We’re hoping we’re not going to be collateral damage because of mistakes by others,” she said.

The WSLCB reminded its followers of the state’s “allowable” infused edible products, which now include just:

  • Beverages
  • Baked Goods
  • Capsules
  • Chips and Crackers
  • Sauces and Spices
  • Tinctures

The WSLCB announced a webinar on October 16 to address questions and concerns about this new development.

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Utah

Mormons, Lawmakers, and Cannabis Advocates Reach MMJ Compromise in Utah

10/05/2018

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Medical cannabis advocates and the Church of Latter-day Saints have come to an agreement over medical cannabis in Utah, no matter what happens with the state’s upcoming “Proposition 2” ballot initiative, according to a Deseret News report.

In the compromise agreement, which has yet to be fully disclosed, the most contentious provisions of Proposition 2 have been modified. For instance, a provision allowing home grows for those who live more than 100 miles from the nearest dispensary has been removed. Language in Prop. 2 that would have allowed someone charged with cannabis possession without a medical card to defend themselves in court if they could demonstrate they would have been eligible for a medical card has also been changed.

The compromise will also update the program’s dispensary model. While those involved couldn’t disclose the exact details, head of the Utah Patients Coalition DJ Schanz said that the model would now be a hybrid of the ideas from his coalition and state Sen. Evan Vickers’ centralized fill pharmacy model.

However, Prop. 2 is still on the table. Schanz has said he would “absolutely not” be walking away from Prop. 2 and the ballot initiative will be voted on in November despite any new developments. He said the compromise agreement was simply a collection of “modifications that are palatable” to whom he represents.

Michelle McOmber, who heads the initiative’s primary opponent, the Utah Medical Association, also said her organization would not stop campaigning against Prop. 2 either.

“There were only so many people around the table, right? So others will take a look at it at this point and they’ll have input. It’s not like it’s in a vacuum. You have two sides that are polar opposites and they come together and they negotiate, but it still goes through the (legislative) process that it goes through at that point.” — Michelle McOmber via the Deseret News

DJ Schanz cautioned that the agreement was still tentative and some kinks have to be worked out. However, legislator support for medical cannabis is a “huge step in the right direction,” he said.

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert has promised to call a special session to legislate medical cannabis after the ballots are cast in November.

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Massachusetts Issues First Cannabis Retailer Licenses

10/05/2018

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The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission has issued the first set of licenses for cannabis retailers since the state voted to legalize in 2016, WGBH reports.

Retail licenses were awarded to New England Treatment Access (NETA) in Northampton and to Cultivate Holdings in Leicester; Cultivate Holdings has also received cultivation and product manufacturing licenses.

Some have accused the Commission of dragging its feet during the licensing process; Commission Chair Steven Hoffman responded:

“We’re doing it right. I’m very proud of the way we’re doing it. We’re being careful, we’re being thorough. In the long term, this is going to be in the best interest, I believe, of the citizens of the state of Massachusetts.” — Cannabis Control Commission Chair Steven Hoffman, via WGBH

While this is an important development, the bigger milestone will be when stores officially open — but regulators say that could take several more weeks, as Massachusetts still lacks a licensed testing lab to guarantee that products on the state’s cannabis market do not contain pesticides or other potential contaminants. Hoffman said the Commission may vote to license a testing lab during their next meeting.

One commissioner, Shaleen Title, abstained from voting on the retail licenses because she disagreed with some of the host community agreements the businesses had arranged with municipal governments. “I cannot in good faith affirmatively vote to approve a licensee that has signed a community host agreement that at best is questionable, when it relates to the law, and it has not been reviewed,” said Commissioner Title.

NETA spokesperson Amanda Rositano said the company was happy with their host agreement, however, which required the company to provide a $10,000 donation for cannabis education and prevention programs and three percent of the company’s future gross sale revenues.

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Canadian Lawmaker Calls for Cannabis Expungements

10/04/2018

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Canadian lawmaker Murray Rankin, an MP with the New Democratic Party from Victoria, intends to bring forward a bill that would expunge the minor cannabis convictions of hundreds of thousands of Canadians, Global News reports.

Rankin argues that it’s unfair to legalize cannabis without also amending the criminal status of those who were penalized during the plant’s prohibition.

“I think the government of Canada, when they brought in their legalization of cannabis bill, should have included, as California and other places did, the impact on people who already have a criminal record for what will be by definition no longer a crime after Oct. 17. People tell me they can’t coach their kids’ soccer team or chaperone a school trip all because they have [a] criminal record for possession of a small level of cannabis.” — Victoria MP Murray Rankin (NDP), via Global News

Rankin’s legislation would eliminate criminal records for anyone convicted of nonviolent, personal possession of cannabis. According to advocacy group Cannabis Amnesty, there are at least 500,000 Canadians who live with criminal convictions for simple cannabis possession or use.

Annamaria Enenajor, campaign director for Cannabis Amnesty, appeared with Rankin on Parliament Hill on Wednesday to advocate for the proposal.

“These are Canadians who have been barred from employment of their choice, volunteer opportunities, and from other opportunities where a screening or background check would have identified cannabis possession on their record,” Enenajor told Global News. “We believe these Canadians deserve a second chance.”

According to Rankin, the proposal likely won’t be debated until after October 17 — when Canada’s legalization law takes full effect.

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Phoenix

Phoenix City Council Kills Steep Tax Hike for MMJ Cultivators

10/04/2018

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Phoenix interim Mayor Thelda Williams attempted to pass a new, high tax on cannabis businesses in a sly move last week but the tax was quickly shot down by the city council, according to a report by the Phoenix New Times.

Phoenix City Council members were stunned and frustrated by how the tax proposal came from nowhere. The proposal was placed on the council agenda last Thursday with little explanation from the interim mayor.

Phoenix City Council has what is called the “eight-hour rule.” It limits how much time city staff can spend on a project that has not been approved by the council. Council members questioned the mayor and City Manager Ed Zuercher exhaustively to determine how much time was spent on the project and whether or not they were in violation of that rule.

Council members decided that the rule had indeed been violated and were frustrated with the mayor for attempting to stuff in the new medical cannabis tax, which would’ve taken another $43 million per year from patients and cultivators.

A cannabis industry representative said that any city passing such a steep new tax would simply drive cultivators to some other city in Arizona “smart enough to keep taxes down.”

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Is THC an Effective Sleep Aid?

10/04/2018

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Even the National Academy of Sciences cannot find enough cannabis studies to determine whether marijuana has therapeutic benefits for sleep disorders.

In an analysis of 10,000 studies on cannabis, the society confirmed that there is “moderate evidence” that marijuana is effective for short-term treatment of sleep disturbances due to chronic conditions, such as sleep apnea and multiple sclerosis. More conclusive evidence exists to demonstrate the therapeutic benefits of cannabis on chronic pain. However, if the average person can improve their sleep quality using marijuana-derived medications, it has still not been demonstrated by science.

Limitations on marijuana research, namely its classification as a Schedule 1 drug by the DEA, inhibit the scope of the studies that can be completed. A small study completed by researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago looked at the effects of THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, on 73 adults with sleep apnea. While the study demonstrated that THC shows promise as a short-term treatment for the symptoms of sleep apnea, the small study size has limitations. It only examines the use of a specific cannabinoid, THC, for a particular condition, sleep apnea.

“Cannabis contains dozens of active ingredients, but we tested just purified Delta-9 THC,” said study co-lead David Carley.

This statement implies that there are much more possible “active ingredients” in cannabis that have not been examined thoroughly by the scientific community. While some researchers are looking into the use of CBD oil as a treatment for insomnia and other sleep disorders, other potential active ingredients within cannabis still need more scientific attention.

When a cannabis-derived drug is approved for clinical trials or receives regulatory approval, the amount of knowledge about the effects dramatically increases. Sativex, a cannabis-derived drug that has a 1:1 ratio of THC to CBD, has regulatory approval in 30 countries for the treatment of muscle spasms and chronic pain.

The drug is still in clinical trials in the United States. However, even clinical trials give researchers access to more patients. Researchers that complete larger studies are often better able to back their claims. With a patient size of 1000 and over 2000 patient-years of analysis, researchers can claim that Sativex improves sleep quality in 40-50% of people who have chronic pain conditions. In these trials, there is only one drug examined, but it’s analyzed for many different issues.

Since Sativex is available in some countries, researchers can examine its effects on other conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis. A UK team administered the drug as a treatment for arthritis pain and had promising results.

Dr. Ronald Jubb, Consultant Rheumatologist, at the University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, said, “the results from the first controlled study of CBM in rheumatoid arthritis are encouraging, overall improvements in pain on movement and at rest, improvement in the quality of sleep and improvement in the overall condition of the patients’ arthritis.”

It’s studies like these that allow the National Academy of Sciences to say there is “conclusive evidence” that cannabis treats pain. There’s a drug available that can be readily studied outside the US.

Conversely, the team studying sleep apnea is working more slowly due to their limitations. They’ve progressed from seventeen study subjects to 73, but it’s taken years.

To truly understand what effects cannabis can have on sleep disorders like sleep apnea, more studies are needed. If the researched cannabinoid for sleep apnea (THC) was as available as Sativex is in Europe, research might accelerate, and a new treatment for sleep apnea might be available soon.

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Hartford, Connecticut

Federal Judge Rules In Favor of Connecticut MMJ Patient

10/04/2018

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Another judge has ruled in favor of medical cannabis for employees despite drug-free workplace laws, this time in a federal case in Connecticut, according to a Time report.

Healthcare worker Katelin Noffsinger disclosed to her potential employer Bride Brook Health & Rehabilitation Center that she used medical cannabis for PTSD related to a car accident. However, when her drug test returned positive for THC, the nursing home rescinded her job offer, citing the federal prohibition of cannabis.

Noffsinger then sued Bride Brook for workplace discrimination. Medical cannabis patients are explicitly protected against job discrimination under Connecticut‘s medical cannabis laws.

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Meyer ruled in favor of Noffsinger, though he denied her request for punitive damages. It was the first decision in favor of a medical cannabis patient in a federal court, though many state-level judges have ruled in favor of cannabis patients in the past.

More importantly, Judge Meyer said in his ruling that the federal Drug Free Workplace Act, which many employers cite when requiring drug testing, does not actually require drug testing and does not prohibit federal contractors from employing users of medical cannabis if it is used in accordance with state law.

“This is a very significant case that throws the issue in doubt for many of these federal contractors. It’s certainly interesting and may be indicative of where the courts are going with this.” — Fiona Ong, employment attorney for Shawe Rosenthal, via Time

This decision may be foundational for future medical cannabis litigation and lawyers involved in the case expect it to be cited in future decisions. Noffsinger and Bride Brook are now headed for further litigation to determine if Noffsinger is owed missed wages from not receiving the job.

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White House Drug Office Assures Incoming Cannabis Review Is Unbiased

10/03/2018

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An official with the President’s Office of National Drug Control Policy has assured that a pending White House cannabis policy panel report will be completed objectively, the Associated Press reports.

The news comes in response to an inquiry from Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet (D), who asked officials to explain the report in light of alarming headlines about a secret Trump committee that is dedicated to finding and broadcasting the most effective anti-cannabis rhetoric. According to Sen. Bennet, the White House drug office’s deputy director James Carroll told him that the committee’s report was rooted in scientific data.

Specifically, that committee — called the Marijuana Policy Coordination Committee — has been tasked with gathering “data demonstrating the most significant negative trends” to be used in briefing President Trump on “marijuana threats.” The committee is comprised of 14 federal agencies plus the DEA.

“In Colorado, we’ve made a deliberate effort to ensure fact-based data informs our marijuana policies. Government-sponsored propaganda shouldn’t undermine that effort.” — Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colorado), via the Associated Press

On the campaign trail, then-candidate Trump said he would leave cannabis issues up to individual states to decide. However, top officials in his administration — including Attorney General Jeff Sessions — have expressed interest in undermining cannabis policy reforms across the U.S.

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Cannabis Plant

Study: No Connection Between Legalization and Problematic Cannabis Use

10/03/2018

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A new study has found no connection between legalized cannabis and problematic cannabis use, Marijuana Moment‘s Tom Angell reports.

The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Drugs in Context, looked at 329 frequent cannabis users in both states with legal cannabis and those without. The study was conducted by testing for impulsive behavior using a battery of questions known as the “Cannabis Use Problems Identification Test.”

Researchers did note a difference in rates of impulsive behavior for cannabis users versus non-using populations — but usage rates were not changed following legalization.

“Although the detrimental health effects of frequent cannabis use are well established, our findings suggest that legalisation status does not worsen these effects.” — Excerpt from the study

The study adds to a growing body of research indicating that cannabis legalization does not change rates of youth cannabis consumption nor cannabis use disorder. In fact, the narrative of cannabis law reform leading to higher levels of unhealthy consumption is rapidly falling away as research is done on the matter.

Policymakers should see this as yet another reason to reschedule or legalize cannabis federally: more extensive research — ideally funded by the federal government — needs to occur with attention to detail on things such as strain type, terpene profiles, CBD:THC ratios, and other cannabinoids.

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Cannabis and Alcohol

Cannabis More Harmful to Teenage Brains Than Alcohol, Study Finds

10/03/2018

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A study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry suggests that cannabis use may be more harmful to developing teenage brains than alcohol, BBC reports.

The study was conducted with 3,800 adolescent participants tracked over 4 years from just before high school until graduation. All participants were from the greater Montreal area in Quebec, Canada. Participants were tested once per year using computerized tests. The data was analyzed with statistical controls to isolate the effects of various substances used.

While both alcohol and cannabis showed negative effects on cognitive abilities, cannabis use at this stage of development had long-lasting effects that did not disappear once the teens stopped consuming cannabis. Researchers have shown in a number of other studies that teenage cannabis use can have permanent effects on cognition, learning ability and memory.

Researchers theorize that the brain development happening in teenage years may be largely controlled by the body’s own cannabinoids and that consumption of phytocannabinoids — which come from the cannabis plant — may permanently change how the brain develops into adulthood.

In contradiction, a meta-study of all research to date by the University of Pennsylvania showed that the research — which, in individual studies, seemed to find consistent impairment for teens — may have overstated the damage caused by cannabis use due to the studies’ designs, which did not account for withdrawal due to non-consumption while participating in a clinical study or even simply lingering traces in the body.

The lead author of the Montreal study, professor Patricia Conrod, said she had expected alcohol to have a more significant effect than cannabis and was surprised by the results.

“They should delay their use of cannabis as long as they can,” said Prof. Conrod.

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Michigan to Expect $134M In Annual Taxes If Legalization Passes

10/03/2018

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The annual tax benefits of adult-use legalization in Michigan would be about $134 million per year, according to an economic study commissioned and recently released by The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol.

Specifically, the study found that Michigan would see $520 million in cannabis taxes during the first five years of a comprehensive cannabis marketplace, capping at $134 million annually by 2023.

Michigan’s legalization initiative, Proposal 1, seeks to legalize cannabis possession, cultivation, and use. It would also establish a taxed-and-regulated marketplace for cannabis products. Under the proposal, adults who are 21 or older would be allowed to buy, carry, and give away up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis and/or its derivatives, including a maximum of 15 grams of concentrate. The bill would also legalize the home cultivation of up to 12 cannabis plants.

It is one of the laxest legalization proposals to date.

Proposal 1 would also entail a 10 percent excise tax on retail sales and a six percent sales tax; tax dollars from the cannabis market would go towards road infrastructure, schools, and local governments, campaign spokesperson Josh Hovey has told reporters.

Under the proposal, local municipalities would also be allowed to ban industry operations and employers would still be allowed to perform drug tests for cannabis use and implement hiring/firing policies based on their results.

A poll last month found that 56 percent of likely Michigan voters were in favor of the cannabis legalization question. Interestingly, opposition to the initiative did not appear tied to any one political party — while Democrats were the most in favor, the opposition was evenly spread among Republicans and Independents.

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FDA Says CBD Should Be Descheduled

10/02/2018

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An FDA evaluation of CBD drug Epidiolex that was recently made public shows that the FDA originally wanted to make Epidiolex completely unscheduled but DEA concerns lead to Schedule 5 instead, according to a Marijuana Moment report.

In May, the FDA wrote to the DEA that CBD has no significant potential for abuse and could be removed from the Controlled Substances Act. However, in the same letter, the FDA mentioned that previous DEA interim head Robert Patterson had informed the FDA that it was impossible to deschedule CBD due to the international 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs treaty.

This caused the FDA to amend its recommendation to instead schedule it in the least restricted category, Schedule 5; the FDA, however, made clear that this was due solely to the DEA’s concerns.

“If treaty obligations do not require control of CBD, or if the international controls on CBD change in the future, this recommendation will need to be promptly revisited.” — excerpt from the FDA Review of Epidiolex

Canada’s upcoming federal legalization may throw into question the DEA’s concerns over international drug treaties, as Canada is also a signatory of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and yet has decided to fully legalize cannabis.

The U.N. World Health Organization has also recommended descheduling CBD internationally.

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Previous Farm Bill Lapses; Pending Bill Still Contains Hemp Legalization

10/02/2018

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Senate and House lawmakers have yet to decide on a unified Farm Bill for 2018, despite the 2014 Farm Bill having expired on September 30th, The Hill reports.

The 2018 Farm Bill is expected to include language to nationally legalize industrial hemp.

The U.S. House of Representatives broke for recess before Senate and House lawmakers were able to unify the two versions of the bill. Fingers were pointed at both the Senate and House, as well as Republicans and Democrats, for the failure. The issue at hand seems to be the combination of a few provisions in the bill that are political mires — such as adding work requirements to a food stamps program — combined with concerns about the upcoming elections.

Core leaders on both sides claim they will continue to work on the bill through the recess in a lame duck session but there is much uncertainty. There was some talk of extending the 2014 Farm Bill for 3 more years to continue funding farm programs; this would essentially kill the 2018 Farm Bill’s historic effort to legalize industrial hemp.

Existing programs are still funded through December, though the real test will be whether or not a compromise is reached before the November elections. There is a chance that some lawmakers who have been involved in the discussions may be replaced. In fact, if the overall political environment is altered too much, lawmakers may need to start the entire process over again.

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Colorado U.S. Attorney Blasts Cannabis Industry, Hints At Crackdown

10/02/2018

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In a scathing op-ed published in The Denver Post, U.S. Attorney for Colorado Bob Troyer recently lambasted the “commercialization” of cannabis as a threat to public safety.

In the article, Troyer suggested that cannabis enforcement in Colorado will shift its focus from finding and stopping illegal growers to monitoring and policing licensed growers more closely. He argues that some Colorado firms have maintained their license to cultivate and distribute cannabis not to serve Colorado’s industry, but as a cover, so they can serve the more lucrative illegal, out-of-state markets.

“Now that federal enforcement has shot down marijuana grows on federal lands, the crosshairs may appropriately shift to the public harms caused by licensed businesses and their investors, particularly those who are not complying with state law or trying to use purported state compliance as a shield.” — Bob Troyer, U.S. Attorney for Colorado, in a Denver Post op-ed

Troyer — who says his concerns about cannabis are rooted in public safety — conveniently leaves out the fact that since legalizing in 2014, the rates of underage cannabis use have actually decreased. This is a common trend among legalized states.

Instead, Troyer pretends that cannabis reforms have somehow led Colorado to an underage cannabis use rate “85 percent higher than the national average;” in actuality, Colorado’s underage cannabis rates (which, again, are decreasing after legalization) were already far above the national average.

Troyer also highlighted other industry side effects, including cannabis product recalls and the high usage of electricity and water by licensed cannabis growers, as drawbacks to legalization.

What Troyer fails to mention — and which many consider to be the primary reason for cannabis reforms — is the millions of dollars saved on cannabis prosecutions and enforcement efforts, and the many thousands of cannabis users who are no longer being criminalized and seeing their lives ruined by an overzealous and racist criminal justice system.

Remember: to a U.S. Attorney like Mr. Troyer, the simple fact is that having more criminals means there are more opportunities to prosecute, which ultimately means a bigger payday.

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California State Court

California Gov. Signs Landmark Expungement Law

10/01/2018

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Sunday night, California Governor Jerry Brown (D) signed a bill into law that allows for the streamlined clearing of prior cannabis convictions, according to a USA Today report.

For some time, the process of getting a cannabis conviction cleared from your record has been difficult for everyone involved. The new law, AB-1793, automates the convictions’ removal, which supporters of the bill hope will allow people to move forward with their lives. Cannabis convictions can keep people from accessing fundamental services like student loans, housing, or jobs.

Clearing cannabis convictions is an important step to mitigating harm from the drug war.

“This [new law] will empower people. My heart goes out to people who have had to navigate this process on their own. It’s confusing, expensive and tiring.” — Rodney Holcombe, member of the Drug Policy Alliance, via USA Today

The new law also sets a structure for California‘s government to act on behalf of those previously convicted — even if they don’t know they can clear their records. Some may be able to completely clear their record, while others may see their felonies converted to misdemeanors.

The state Department of Justice has until July 1, 2019, to review past cases; experts estimate that up to 220,000 cases could be converted or removed.

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Denver Cannabis Tour Bus

Denver Prosecutes Cannabis Tour Bus Drivers

10/01/2018

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Cannabis tours busted by the Denver Police in June are being taken to trial, The Denver Post reports.

Colorado Cannabis Tours and My 420 Tours were both targeted by police in a sting earlier this year. Police pulled over the buses under the guise of normal traffic violations and proceeded to ticket the drivers and everyone on the bus, some with criminal charges.

My 420 Tours’ CEO Danny Schaefer believes it was a deliberate and intimidating show of enforcement by the Denver PD and the City of Denver.

“We’ve been working diligently to come to kind of an amicable resolution with the city. Unfortunately, they’re taking a hard-line stance on just our segment of the space, straight across the board.” — Danny Schaefer, CEO of My 420 Tours, via The Denver Post

After the tour bus companies paid $100,000 in legal bills on behalf of the passengers, most of whom settled for minor civil fines, four tour bus employees have, instead of settling, opted to go to trial.

Meanwhile, the tour bus companies have continued to operate — both companies who were targeted in the sting as well as others in the city that slipped under the radar. No company, including Colorado Cannabis Tours and My 420 Tours, has been informed of any litigation, charged with a crime or civil offense, or been served with a cease and desist.

A Denver city task force was called to study a November 2016 rule that was supposed to allow and encourage social cannabis consumption spaces, which many entrepreneurs and cannabis professionals called overly restrictive. The task force declared the rules were confusing and limiting and recommended the city legalize and license the cannabis tours. However, only a single business has been able to open a social cannabis space under the rules, which are nearly 2 years old.

Denver legislators will hopefully be pressured to solve this problem by the four tour bus employees’ pending court cases.

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Washington Considers Increasing $300 Hemp Fee to $7,500

10/01/2018

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Washington’s Department of Agriculture is considering hiking the state’s industrial hemp licensing fee from $300 to $7,500, The Capital Press reports.

The 2,400 percent price increase would be necessary to cover the cost of managing hemp regulations throughout the state — lawmakers, however, could avoid the enormous price hike by establishing subsidies or diverting tax dollars to help pay for the program.

Agriculture regulators are concerned that the price increase will further repress the state’s industrial hemp program, which is already pretty minimal compared to other states and to Washington’s robust adult-use cannabis market.

“That really is unfortunate. It’s not what we’re trying to do. We’re focused on raising enough money, otherwise we can’t operate the program.” — Hector Castro, spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, via The Capital Press

This year in Washington, there is just one hemp crop being grown — a 100-acre plot planted by the Colville Confederated Tribes in north-central Washington.

There was one other hemp farm licensed in the state this year, but Diane Zimberoff, owner of Wellness Paradise Farm, said that by the time they had received their license it was too late in the season to plant a new crop. “The whole process is convoluted,” Zimberoff said.

Meanwhile, federal industrial hemp legislation from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) is pending as part of the 2018 Farm Bill, which still has not had its differing House and Senate versions fully reconciled. In fact, the 2014 Farm Bill, which allowed states to individually legalize pilot industrial hemp programs, officially expired yesterday, September 30.

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California Cannabis Events

California Gov. Signs Bill Allowing More Cannabis Event Venues

9/28/2018

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California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill into law that gives cities and local municipalities the authority to issue temporary cannabis event permits at any venue, reports CBS Local.

Previously, cannabis events were required by law to be held only at county fairgrounds. California being as large as it is, those fairgrounds might be hundreds of miles and hours of driving from some cities.

The bill AB 2020, now law, was authored by Assemblymember Bill Quirk specifically to patch the hole in cannabis permitting that started to become an issue earlier this year. The previous rules were making it nearly impossible for cannabis events to operate as, even in the few venues allowed, municipalities would often decline to issue permits.

AB 2020 also gives the state Bureau of Cannabis Control and law enforcement the ability to revoke a permit or shutter an event for any unlawful activity. Events permitted must also adhere to state laws regarding second-hand smoke.

“I want to thank Assemblymember Quirk for his leadership, hard work and determination in authoring AB 2020 and his efforts with getting the bill to the Governor. I also want to thank Governor Brown for signing this landmark legislation. With this bill now law, any local jurisdiction can choose to take part in this robust industry, while supporting small businesses, enhancing regional economic opportunities, and maintaining safety.” — Oakland City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan, via CBS Local

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New LAX Policy Allows for Cannabis Possession In Airport

9/28/2018

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The new LAX marijuana policy will allow passengers to carry cannabis throughout the airport but not necessarily through any TSA checkpoints.

Specifically, the new policy says that people who can legally possess cannabis in California — that is, adults who are 21 or older — can also legally possess cannabis in the parts of the airport that are policed by city workers.

“We are California peace officers and we enforce California law, so if we come across individuals carrying substances that are legal under state law, there is nothing we will do.” — Alicia Hernandez, Airport Police spokesperson, via the LA Times

However, travelers beware: TSA workers are federal employees and they are there to enforce federal laws. Therefore, if you are passing through LAX to fly somewhere else, you will be subjected to a TSA screening and they could confiscate your cannabis.

The new LAX cannabis policy is quoted in full below:

“While federal law prohibits the possession of marijuana (inclusive of federal airspace,) California’s passage of Proposition 64, effective January 1, 2018, allows for individuals 21 years of age or older to possess up to 28.5 grams of marijuana and 8 grams of concentrated marijuana for personal consumption.”

“In accordance with Proposition 64, the Los Angeles Airport Police Department will allow passengers to travel through LAX with up to 28.5 grams of marijuana and 8 grams of concentrated marijuana. However, passengers should be aware that marijuana laws vary state by state and they are encouraged to check the laws of the states in which they plan to travel.”

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Teens Rob Colorado Dispensary, Mistakenly Steal Oregano

9/28/2018

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Four would-be cannabis thieves crashed a stolen minivan into the Native Roots dispensary in Colorado Springs, Colorado and stole what they thought was a bunch of pre-rolled joints, reports KKTV.

Unfortunately for the teenage culprits, the stolen display pre-rolls contained just oregano, not actual cannabis, according to the store’s owner.

The culprits drove the stolen minivan into the front of the store just before 1 a.m., leaped out and grabbed several display items — including the oregano joints and some t-shirts — then made off into a nearby getaway car for their escape. They left the stolen minivan parked and still running, smashed most of the way inside of the shop.

Police say the van did thousands of dollars worth of damage to the building.

Witness Brent Wrathbone said, “I was coming out from work, and all of a sudden we heard this big old crash. [The suspects] came out with bunches of marijuana in their arms. … I decided just to call the cops and we decided to get their plate number and everything and then I get a beer bottle thrown at me,” he said.

Police believe the culprits may also be tied to a liquor store robbery that occurred down the street that same night.

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NJ State House

New Jersey Senate Sets Date for First Legalization Vote

9/28/2018

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New Jersey’s State Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D) told reporters that the date for the state Senate’s first vote on its adult-use cannabis legalization bill is October 29, according to NJ.com.

Sweeney had said in August he expected the legislature to vote by the end of September but that deadline is rapidly approaching and committee hearings have not yet been scheduled. Sweeney said that lawmakers and Gov. Phil Murphy’s office are still pinning down the details of the legislation but are down to just “two issues” left to solve. Sweeney expected the issues to be solved possibly as early as today.

Sweeney was asked about the likelihood of New Jersey‘s other congressional house, the Assembly, setting a date for a vote but said he wasn’t able to comment on that. Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin’s office declined to comment on the issue.

After both bodies pass a bill, it will go to Gov. Murphy for a vote. Murphy has long been an advocate for legalization and has called on the legislature to pass a bill for him to sign by the end of the year. It seems likely that he would sign such a bill immediately.

Neither of the “two issues” left for lawmakers to solve have been disclosed, though Murphy’s administration and the state Congress have previously disagreed over the precise tax rate. Under the legislation last made public, the state would impose a 10 percent tax rate — one of the lowest in the country. Murphy’s administration believes that 10 percent is too low; Gov. Murphy, however, has said that his administration has not yet taken a “hardened position on taxes.”

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Ontario

Ontario to Treat Cannabis Like Tobacco for Public Consumption

9/27/2018

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On Wednesday, the Ontario, Canada provincial government altered its rules on cannabis consumption to align it with similar rules for tobacco, which will allow for some public consumption, CTV News reports.

The government of Ontario recently switched from a Liberal government to a Progressive Conservative representation. Among other changes made in the last few months, the Progressive Conservatives have loosened cannabis rules to fit the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, which already applies to tobacco.

Previously, the Liberal government had made it illegal to consume cannabis outside your private residence and did not provide for lounges or other social consumption spaces in the rules.

The new government also did not place a cap on cannabis retail locations. Finance Minister Vic Fedeli said, however, that any record of interactions with organized crime providing cannabis to the youth or operating an illegal retail location will still result in an inability to acquire a dispensary license.

“We want to make sure the consumers are protected but we want to open up the marketplace. This is an opportunity for small business to get involved. We want to have as many participants as possible be involved.” — Vic Fedeli, via CTV News

Local governments in Ontario have the power to opt-out of having cannabis retail locations in their jurisdiction. The deadline for opting-out is January 22, 2019.

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