Cronos Plans to Mass-Produce Cannabinoids with Yeast

9/04/2018

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Canadian cannabis producer Cronos is partnering with Boston biotech firm Ginkgo Bioworks to pioneer methods of producing single cannabinoids in a bioreactor, reports Bloomberg. Ginkgo Bioworks started in biotech by producing scents for the fragrance industry using engineered yeast to produce the scent chemicals in bulk.

Ginkgo’s process is likened to brewing beer. They change the DNA of yeast so that the microorganism will produce the desired chemical in a brewing vessel. For the fragrance industry, they insert the genes for the chemical that makes a rose smell like a rose into the yeast.

“Now when you brew it up in that same brewery, instead of beer coming out, rose oil will come out. It’s cheaper, it’s not subject to weather conditions, the price isn’t all over the place, it’s not different if you grow it in Morocco or somewhere else, it’s just a much better product.” — Jason Kelly, CEO of Ginkgo Bioworks, via Bloomberg

Gingko says they can do the same with individual cannabinoids like THC, CBD or even cannabinoids that exist only in tiny amounts like tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), which can suppress appetites and could help to prevent “the munchies.”

Cronos is paying Ginkgo Bioworks $22 million to fund research and development with a further $100 million in stock to be paid out in batches after certain milestones are met.

“Being able to consistently and efficiently produce high-purity cannabinoids, that’s the holy grail.” — Mike Gorenstein, CEO of Cronos, via Bloomberg

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Delaware Cannabis Expungement Bill Becomes Law

9/04/2018

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Delaware Gov. John Carney (D) signed a bill last week that will expunge or clear the records of citizens convicted of simple cannabis possession prior to 2015, which is when cannabis was decriminalized statewide, according to a Delaware Public Media report.

The bill was sponsored by state Sen. Greg Lavelle and state Rep. Valerie Longhurst. Lavelle said the legislation will be a boon for people who were targeted by cannabis prohibition — previously, cannabis convicts could only apply for a pardon but, under the new law, expungement will be quicker and guaranteed.

“On that question, ‘have you been arrested and convicted,’ that’s on a form for an employment opportunity, you get to say no. It’s gone, it’s not part of your record anymore, and it really is that simple.” — State Sen. Greg Lavelle, in the report

According to state Sen. Lavelle, there are about 500 to 700 Delaware citizens who are eligible for expungement under the new law. The law only applies to people with just cannabis possession charges.

“If you’re a violent criminal, and often people may have multiple charges including possession of marijuana, that wasn’t our intent. It was to bring parity with the decriminalization law.” — State Sen. Greg Lavelle, via Delaware Public Media

The expungement process will require some paperwork and administrative fees.

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Clinical Hospital

UCLA Team Plans to Study MMJ’s Painkilling Properties to Fight Opioid Epidemic

9/04/2018

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Dr. Jeffrey Chen, Director of UCLA’s Cannabis Research Initiative, hopes to launch a large, in-depth study into the painkilling properties of cannabis, NBC reports.

There is a limited number of high quality, randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled studies specific to the pain-reducing effects of cannabis and cannabinoids — UCLA’s Cannabis Research Initiative hopes to change that.

“The public consumption of cannabis has already far outpaced our scientific understanding. We really desperately need to catch up.” — Dr. Jeffrey Chen, in the report

The study was designed by Edythe London, professor of psychiatry and pharmacology at the UCLA School of Medicine, to test various combinations of THC and CBD. London said the study will identify the protocol that does the “most good” for patients’ pain and opioid use. Prior studies have identified a connection between states that legalize medical cannabis and reductions in opioid overdoses, though much beyond that is still unknown.

The Cannabis Research Initiative still needs funding and permission from the FDA and DEA. The team has collected some funds from a variety of donors, but cannabis’ Schedule I classification — officially marking it as a substance with no medicinal use — stands thoroughly in their way.

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Andrew Cuomo

New York Gov. Announces Cannabis Legalization Listening Sessions

8/31/2018

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On Thursday, the office of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) announced a series of 15 listening sessions on regulated cannabis to be held across the state.

The meetings’ purpose: to hear input from community members and stakeholders on the details of cannabis legalization in New York state. Input received will be used by the state-commissioned Regulated Marijuana Workgroup as it drafts legislation for adult-use cannabis legalization to be considered by the state legislature.

“Community input is critical as we work to draft balanced and comprehensive legislation on a regulated marijuana program in New York. The multi-agency report identified the benefits of a regulated marijuana market, and with these listening sessions we are taking another important step to develop a model program for New York. We look forward to hearing what New Yorkers in every corner of the state have to say.” – Gov. Andrew Cuomo, in a press release

The public listening sessions, to be held in the evenings, will begin in early September and carry through mid-October. Pre-registration is encouraged. Dates and locations as published on the website of the governor’s office are:

  • Wednesday, September 5 – Albany
  • Thursday, September 6 – Glens Falls
  • Monday, September 17 – Bronx
  • Thursday, September 20 – Manhattan
  • Monday, September 24 – Queens
  • Tuesday, September 25 – Brooklyn
  • Wednesday, September 26 – Staten Island
  • Thursday, September 27 – Long Island
  • Monday, October 1 – Newburgh
  • Tuesday, October 2 – Binghamton
  • Wednesday, October 3 – Buffalo
  • Thursday, October 4 – Rochester
  • Tuesday, October 9 – Syracuse
  • Wednesday, October 10 – Utica
  • Thursday, October 11 – Watertown

Gov. Cuomo commissioned a study from the state Department of Health in January. In July, the Department of Health delivered the finalized study to the office of the Governor, concluding that a regulated adult-use market would be beneficial for New York.

Gov. Cuomo then created the Regulated Marijuana Workgroup to assist New York lawmakers in developing a bill with well-organized and effective terms for legalization.

End

Arrested

New Jersey Rolls Back Decriminalization

8/31/2018

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On Wednesday, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal announced that last month’s pause on the prosecution of cannabis cases has been rescinded. However, in the memo for the announcement, AG Grewal urged prosecutors to use discretion when charging low-level offenders, citing the effect that a drug conviction can have on someone’s life, reports the Philadelphia Enquirer.

In July, Grewal wrote a letter to municipal prosecutors in New Jersey instructing them to seek adjournment of all cannabis-related charges until his office was able to determine a proper course of action for cannabis offenses. This was made necessary by a dispute earlier in July with Jersey City prosecutor Jake Hudnut over his authority to downgrade or adjourn cannabis offenses in his district.

Grewal determined that prosecutors do not have the legal authority to decriminalize cannabis without legislative action, citing existing laws that prevent plea agreements for drunk driving and other drug offenses.

“A local government unit may not ‘decriminalize’ or otherwise license conduct which violates the state’s criminal code.” – Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, in the report

Advocates for cannabis law reform also said that the only way to truly decriminalize cannabis is through the legislature, commenting on the guidance from Grewal:

“They’re well-intended, but unfortunately they don’t really change anything. What the AG did was reiterate the current rules around prosecutorial discretion, but all that existed before. So this highlights the need for the state legislature to change the law so that people aren’t arrested to begin with.” – Roseanne Scotti, Director of NJ’s Drug Policy Alliance, via the Philadelphia Enquirer

New Jersey’s Gov. Phil Murphy (D) and New Jersey State Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D, District 3) are both supporters of a push to legalize adult-use cannabis in NJ, however a bill has yet to be voted on in the legislature.

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A shelf stacked with medical models of the human brain.

Study: CBD May “Normalize Dysfunction” In Brain, Countering Pychosis

8/31/2018

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A study investigating the effectiveness of cannabidiol (CBD) in treating psychosis has found preliminary evidence that CBD helps to “reset” certain sections of the brain adversely affected by psychosis.

The double-blind, randomized clinical study compared 33 individuals at high risk of psychosis with 19 healthy control individuals. The control group was given nothing, but the other 33 participants were separated into a placebo and test group – the test group was given a single oral dose of 600 mg of CBD.

All three groups were then put through a regiment of memory tests while undergoing a functional MRI. Researchers tracked the CBD’s effects on three sections of the brain: the striatum, medial temporal cortex, and midbrain.

“In each of these regions, the level of activation following administration of cannabidiol to patients at clinical high risk of psychosis was intermediate between the response in healthy control individuals who did not receive any drug and in patients at clinical high risk receiving placebo.

“… These results suggest that cannabidiol may normalize dysfunction in these brain regions, which are critically implicated in psychosis, and this may underlie its therapeutic effects in psychosis.” – Dr. Sagnik Bhattacharyya, the study’s lead author

Researchers noted some limitations to their own study, including the small sample size and uncertainty about whether CBD would remain effective over longer periods, as opposed to the single dose used in this study.

Next steps include a much larger human trial.

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Oregon Cannabis Growers Must Now Notify Regulators of Each Harvest

8/31/2018

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Oregon cannabis regulators have established a new rule requiring licensed cultivators to notify the state each time they harvest a cannabis crop, The Associated Press reports.

Oregon – whose marketplace has been plagued with overproduction due to the state’s prime growing environment and a lack of licensing cap on growers – is the first state to take this step in cannabis enforcement.

Mark Pettinger, spokesperson for the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, likened the new rule to an “audit,” saying that officials will come on the day of harvest to make sure that the plant totals being entered into the cannabis tracking database match the actual, on-site plant totals.

The new rule was originally going to require three day’s notice before a harvest, but cultivators pushed back on this and it was changed to 9:00 a.m. on the day of harvest.

Pettinger said the state had 23 inspectors on staff, which would not be enough to physically inspect each harvest but that the possibility of inspection should encourage good behavior.

“A lot of growers are far-flung, but we have a concentration of inspectors in southern Oregon, and it’s the southern Oregon outdoor growing activity that has anecdotally and historically been sort of a crucible of where a lot of diversion and illegal activity takes place.” – Mark Pettinger, spokesperson for the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, via the AP

Licensed growers, however, say the rule unfairly targets their segment of the marketplace – specifically outdoor growers, as the rule does not affect indoor growers; outdoor growers get just one harvest each year, while indoor growers are slotted three.

“Which target are you going to go after if you’re shooting? You’re going to go after your easy target. I don’t think there’s a single instance where it’s been demonstrated that somebody is attempting to divert product.” – Pete Gendron, President of the Oregon SunGrowers Guild

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Headset Launches California

Headset Launches Industry Data Analytics Platform for CA

8/30/2018

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Headset is proud to announce the latest launch of its market intelligence product Headset Insights, for California’s legal cannabis industry, expanding its cannabis intelligence coverage to the largest cannabis economy in the US.

Headset Insights is a tool for businesses that delivers market trends based on aggregated sales data collected from retailers and dispensaries in real-time, so operators can better understand the competitive landscape, know their brands’ position in the market, and even identify opportunities for future product development.

As the birthplace of cannabis legalization initiatives in 1996, the forecasted size of the California market is expected to swell to $5.6 billion by 2020, marking it the largest in the United States, with all four of its major metropolitan markets currently online with legal cannabis production, testing and retail outlets.

The number of retail licenses grew by 113% during the first six months of 2018, proving that there will be no shortage of outlets available to the adult use consumer. As of July 1, stringent new regulations on testing, packaging, and labeling have gone into effect in California, securing the positions of the industry’s most serious players. There has never been more need for big data products and services.

“Since we launched our Insights platform last year in Washington, Colorado and Nevada, retailers, manufacturers and brands throughout the state of California have been asking us when we would be expanding to their state to provide them with this valuable tool,” says Cy Scott, founder and CEO of Headset. “We are delighted to be able to now offer California market data to our customers helping companies get a better sense of category, segment, brand and product trends as the California cannabis industry continues to mature and cement itself as the largest market in the world. Although the market is quite new, our data already shows that California is behaving in a significantly different way than other recreational markets.”

The cannabis industry is moving rapidly, and operators are looking to use data analytics to identify the fastest-moving product segments and consumer demographics before their competitors do.

Unlike other software tools, Headset collects this data in real time, directly from the industry’s top POS systems, and reports back to operators to guide their most crucial business decisions.

Cannabis operators and other industry players can run analytics on cannabis products at the SKU, brand and category level, gaining key insights into where they rank within the overall market. Headset’s market data illustrates how manufacturers stack up next to the competition and is invaluable for brand positioning when approaching new or existing clients.

Real-time analytics are important, as the state regulations continue to change, and new licenses continue to roll out, creating even more competition. With Headset Insights real-time data, operators can find out what is happening in the market right away and make timely business decisions.

For information about the California cannabis market, read Headset’s Early Market Trends: California 2018 industry report.

To track the best selling brands, visit Headset Best Seller List, updated daily.

For more information on Headset and its services in California, visit Headset.io.

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Secret Trump Committee Plans to Undermine Legal Cannabis

8/30/2018

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The Trump Administration has secretly established a committee of federal agencies to investigate the most effective anti-cannabis messaging and to undermine recent trends towards cannabis legalization, according to a BuzzFeed News report.

The committee is called the Marijuana Policy Coordination Committee and is comprised of 14 federal agencies plus the Drug Enforcement Administration; the group will reportedly be used to brief President Trump on “marijuana threats.”

During a July 27 meeting between White House officials and the departments of State, Justice, Homeland Security, and Health and Human Services, the committee ironically proclaimed that “the prevailing marijuana narrative in the U.S. is partial, one-sided, and inaccurate.” (The irony stems from the history of disinformation & negative propaganda that has been spread about cannabis.) White House officials tasked each agency with submitting “data demonstrating the most significant negative trends” related to legalization. Notably, there was zero mention of discussing or even considering any of the positive arguments for cannabis reform.

“Staff believe that if the administration is to turn the tide on increasing marijuana use there is an urgent need to message the facts about the negative impacts of marijuana use, production, and trafficking on national health, safety, and security.” — Excerpt of summary from July 27 White House meeting obtained by BuzzFeed News

The White House wouldn’t comment on the committee’s policy-making process, but spokespeople from multiple agencies wouldn’t deny the committee’s existence.

“The Trump Administration’s policy coordination process is an internal, deliberative process to craft the President’s policies on a number of important issues facing the American people, and ensure consistency with the President’s agenda.” — Deputy White House Press Secretary Lindsay Walters, via BuzzFeed News

Unsurprisingly, cannabis advocates have condemned the committee.

“To see this White House — that cannot even coordinate an adequate response to the overdose crisis – waste so much time on discussions on how to push anti-marijuana legalization propaganda is mind-boggling, and underscores this Administration’s ineptitude on drug policy.” — Michael Collins, Deputy Director for the Drug Policy Alliance’s Office of National Affairs, via The Hill

On the 2016 presidential campaign trail, then-candidate Trump said that, while he was not in favor of cannabis legalization, he would, if elected, honor states’ rights to determine their own path on the issue. Earlier this year, President Trump appeared to double down on that stance when he reached an agreement with Colorado Sen. Cory Gardener (R) to support legislation protecting legalized states from federal enforcement.

In February 2017, however, there was talk by then-Press Secretary Sean Spicer about “greater enforcement” of cannabis prohibition in legalized states. Furthermore, Attorney General Jeff Sessions — who was one of the President Trump’s earliest appointments — rescinded what few federal protections there were for the cannabis industry in January and has requested that Congress remove restrictions on the Justice Department that block it from actively pursuing state-legal cannabis businesses.

Given that public support for cannabis legalization is at an all-time high, it seems doubtful that a committee will be able to do much to prevent the rapid growth of industries in legalized states. The fact that the committee exists, however, suggests that the Trump Administration is unlikely to engage in discussions of federal cannabis reform any time in the near future.

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Michigan Regulators Consider MMJ Delivery

8/30/2018

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Medical cannabis patients in Michigan could soon have access to home delivery services, according to an Associated Press report. The change was proposed this week by medical cannabis regulators in the state; the proposal would allow both online ordering and home delivery for medical cannabis products.

There will be a public hearing in September where citizens can weigh in on the potential rule change.

Andrew Brisbo, director of the Bureau of Medical Marihuana Regulation, said that regulators hope the change will improve access for people who live far away from any licensed retailers. Additionally, elderly patients or patients who are too ill to travel would certainly benefit from home delivery services.

Rick Thompson, editor and publisher of the Michigan Cannabis Industries Report, said that the change would be “crucial” for some patients.

Michigan voted to legalize medical cannabis for specific, chronic conditions in 2008. Earlier this year, the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs added 11 new ailments to the list of qualifying conditions — in a boon for the industry, chronic pain, the most frequently cited condition for medical cannabis access in the world, was included on that list.

Later this year, voters will decide whether or not to legalize adult-use cannabis throughout the state.

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Medical

Connecticut Adds New Qualifying Conditions to MMJ Program

8/30/2018

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On Tuesday, Connecticut’s Regulations Review Committee added eight new conditions to the list of qualifying conditions for the state’s medical cannabis program, according to a Connecticut Mirror report. All eight conditions are valid diagnoses for adults and two of the conditions are approved for child patients as well.

Adult-only qualifying conditions:

  • Muscle Spasticity or neuropathic pain with fibromyalgia
  • Severe rheumatoid arthritis
  • Post-herpetic neuralgia, which is a complication of shingles
  • Hydrocephalus (a buildup of fluid in the brain) with intractable headache
  • Intractable headache syndromes
  • Neuropathic facial pain

For adults and those under 18:

  • Muscular dystrophy
  • Osteogenesis imperfecta, also called brittle bone disease

With the added conditions, Connecticut’s medical cannabis program now has a total of 30 conditions approved for adults and eight for those under 18.

“Now that these regulations have been accepted, more patients with severe medical conditions will have access to medical marijuana as a treatment option. … I continue to be proud of the careful way that our program has expanded, and its commitment to a true medical model.” –Michelle H. Seagull, CT Consumer Protection Commissioner, via CT Mirror

The conditions, approved by the legislature, now await posting by the Secretary of State’s office. They’re expected to be finalized within a week.

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Italian Wheat Field

Italian Farmers Solve National Wheat Crisis With Hemp

8/30/2018

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Low wheat prices, cheap international imports, and eroded soil have created a crisis for farmers in Italy. Some are turning to hemp to save their farms, reports The Guardian. Hemp has been legal for farmers to grow in Italy since 2016. Starting with pilot programs in 2013 cultivating 400 hectares, hemp cultivation in Italy has reached 4,000 hectares as of this year.

In Italy, wheat profits the average farmer 250 euros per hectare. Hemp, however, profits over 2500 euros per hectare and not only is it more profitable, growing hemp is also a boon to Italy’s desiccated soil, eroded after years of growing only durum wheat.

“Years of monocultural wheat cultivation are the problem. It has caused soil erosion, and is at risk of soon making the land infertile. … The cultivation of hemp is a valid opportunity for a diversified farming which can be a good solution for the rebirth of abandoned and less fertile land. The ancient Romans taught us that diversifying crops can help make the land more fertile. I do not know if this will lead to the growth of the agricultural sector, certainly for Italy is a return to the origins.” –Dario Giambalvo, Professor of Agricultural Sciences, University of Palermo, via The Guardian

Until the 1940s, Italy was the largest producer of hemp in the world, cultivating over 100,000 hectares. The invention of synthetic fibers caused a collapse of the world hemp market, however. Following the advent of nylon and other fibers, international drug prohibition further eliminated hemp as a viable crop. Italy signed the Single Convention of Narcotic Drugs — the international treaty that unifies laws on drug prohibition — in 1961.

Many farmers and other Italians hope that, as hemp returns, it will lead to the reduced prohibition of psychoactive cannabis strains and other pharmaceutical advances.

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Whole-Plant CBD Extract Fights Epilepsy Better Than Refined CBD, Study Says

8/29/2018

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In a recent review of studies by Brazilian researchers, it was found that epilepsy patients treated with CBD-rich whole-plant hemp extract saw significantly better effects than epilepsy patients treated solely with refined CBD, according to a Marijuana Moment report. Some sources currently call this whole-plant effect the “Entourage Effect” and it has been anecdotally reported on and speculated about for years.

The review found that CBD is an effective treatment for epileptic seizures. Two-thirds of patients in the 11-study review had fewer seizures with CBD treatment. The interesting part is that only 36 percent of patients treated with refined CBD saw improvements, while 71 percent of those treated with whole-plant hemp extracts saw a reduction in seizures. That difference is significant.

When using purified, isolated CBD as a treatment, not only are other major cannabinoids like Cannabinol (CBN) or Cannabigerol (CBG) missing, but also terpenes and other plant chemicals that are yet to be fully understood.

The only thing that’s certain after years of research is that whole-plant cannabis extracts are more effective as medicine than any single ingredient.

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Study: One In Seven U.S. Adults Used Cannabis In 2017

8/29/2018

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A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine showed that 14.6% of U.S. adults consumed cannabis in 2017, Reuters reports. Specifically in states with adult-use or medical legalization, one in five people tried cannabis. The most common method of consumption was smoking by a slim margin, at 55% of those surveyed.

Other noteworthy data reported in the study was that 66% of people used cannabis for pain management, which is interesting, considering a study published recently in the Lancet, often cited by opponents of cannabis as a substitute for opioids, that found cannabis ineffective for pain management. Obviously, more research needs to be done.

Also noteworthy is the study’s finding that cannabis users in states with adult-use legalization were more likely to vaporize cannabis or consume it in edible form than to smoke the plant. This market trend among cannabis users has been observed in many legal markets and is further reinforced by this study.

The study authors concluded that Americans’ view of cannabis is more favorable than previous studies have shown. This may reinforce the perception common among cannabis advocates and others in the know that we’re in a period of rapidly-changing opinions about cannabis. The authors of the study did have some concerns about the rapidly changing cannabis environment, however.

“There are increasingly novel forms of marijuana available and the risks of these products to health are unknown. THC (the psychoactive component) is very high in some forms of marijuana, the concentrates, for example. We don’t understand the impact of products with high THC.” — Dr. Salomeh Keyhani of the University of California, San Francisco, study co-author, via Reuters

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Nevada Collects $69.8 Million in Taxes for First Year of Adult-Use Sales

8/29/2018

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The numbers are in for Nevada’s first fiscal year of adult-use cannabis sales: marijuana tax collections totaled $69.8 million, according to a news release from Nevada’s Department of Taxation. The state earned about 140% more cannabis tax revenue than was predicted.

Adult-use sales totaled $424.9 million for the year; $42.5 million was collected through a 10 percent retail tax and $27.3 million was collected via a 15 percent wholesale tax. According to the release — and in keeping with the trend that these markets build up over time — the final four months of the fiscal year were the most successful.

The wholesale tax dollars, along with the program’s application and licensing fees, will go primarily to Nevada’s Distributive School Account to benefit education throughout the state. The retail tax dollars will be deposited into the Rainy Day Fund.

“Nevada’s first year with a legal adult-use market has not only exceeded revenue expectations, but proven to be a largely successful one from a regulatory standpoint. We have not experienced any major hiccups or compliance issues, and our enforcement staff has worked diligently to make sure these businesses understand and comply with the laws and regulations that govern them. As we move into fiscal year 2019, we expect to see continued growth in the industry by way of additional businesses opening up, and we expect revenues to continue to be strong.” — Bill Anderson, Executive Director of the Nevada Department of Taxation, in a statement

After Nevada voters approved the tax-and-regulate cannabis marketplace in 2016, lawmakers rushed to establish the marketplace. Adult-use sales launched in Nevada in July 2017.

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Scientists Note Differences Between Combined vs. Isolated Uses of Cannabis and Nicotine

8/29/2018

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A recent study on the isolated versus combined uses of cannabis and nicotine has found that there are indeed different effects on the brain network when users consume just cannabis, just tobacco, or a mixture of the two. The study was performed by researchers at the Center for BrainHealth at the University of Texas at Dallas.

The study used MRI scans to evaluate resting state functions in different regions of the brain among the four groups of participants: there were 28 nicotine users, 52 cannabis users, 26 nicotine and cannabis users, and 30 non-users as a control group.

Interestingly, the study authors note, “not only were the effects in these three categories different, but also … the group using both nicotine and cannabis more closely resembled the control (non-user) group in brain connectivity.” The isolated cannabis and isolated nicotine users demonstrated equally less connectivity.

“Most of the literature to date has focused on associations of isolated cannabis and nicotine use, even though concurrent cannabis and nicotine use is more prevalent in society than cannabis use alone. Our findings confirm the limitations of existing research.” — Dr. Francesca M. Filbey, the study’s lead author and the Bert Moore Chair in BrainHealth at UT Dallas

Fibley said the study’s results likely resulted from the opposing effects that nicotine and cannabis have on the brain. The difference in the brain effects of concurrent users vs. isolated users also suggests that further research into the functional connectivity of these substances is necessary.

End

California School

California Legislature Passes Bill Allowing MMJ In Schools

8/28/2018

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On Monday, the California state Assembly passed a bill allowing child patients to consume medical cannabis on school grounds, CBS Sacramento reports.

Children who need medical cannabis in California have had access to it for decades; however, parents have been forced to take their children out of school or meet them off campus to provide the medicine. The new bill solves that issue for schools that opt-in. It does not, however, force any school district into allowing medical cannabis.

Medical cannabis products would only be allowed in capsule or liquid form and only for students with a doctor’s prescription.

The bill, sponsored and carried by state Sen. Jerry Hill (D-San Francisco), was inspired by a teenager in South San Francisco who would have over 50 seizures per day without access to his medicine. Other children have also had issues accessing their medical cannabis while in school.

The bill now awaits Gov. Jerry Brown’s signature. The California state legislature closes for the session on Friday.

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Cannabis Approved as Opioid Exit Path in Illinois

8/28/2018

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A measure written to limit barriers for medical cannabis and provide easier access for patients currently taking prescription opioids will become law in Illinois today, according to a Chicago Tribune report. Gov. Bruce Rauner will sign the bill into law at the Chicago Recovery Alliance, a nonprofit that provides clean needles, anti-narcotic Naloxone, and other services in the fight against heroin and opioids.

The measure focuses on the fight against opioid deaths — there were 2,000 in Illinois alone in 2016 — but it will also remove hurdles for accessing medical cannabis for anyone with a qualifying condition.

Previous restrictions requiring all prospective medical cannabis patients in Illinois were required to be fingerprinted and undergo a background check will be removed. Those patients approved by a doctor but who are awaiting state review of their application will also be given an immediate, temporary prescription for medical cannabis.

The measure goes further for those with a medical cannabis prescription provided in lieu of a prescription for opiates; such patients will not need to apply to the health department and can access medical cannabis immediately, though their renewable prescription will be limited to just 90 days.

“It’s an exit ramp for opioid use.” — State Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park), sponsor of the bill, via The Chicago Tribune

Opponents of the medical cannabis expansions claim that cannabis does not help with pain nor reduce opioid abuse. Director of Research for the Chicago Recovery Alliance Suzanne Carlberg-Racich, however, supports the new law.

“This is a great step in the right direction. I’m pleased to see an alternative for pain management that doesn’t have any potential for a fatal overdose.” — Suzanne Carlberg-Racich, director of research for the Chicago Recovery Alliance and assistant professor of public health at DePaul University, in the report

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A mature cannabis cola inside of a licensed Washington cultivation center.

Study: Nearly Half of Cannabis Consumers Can’t Name Their Favorite Strain

8/28/2018

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A recent report on cannabis consumer trends by High Yield Insights has found that although a majority (64 percent) of cannabis consumers say that strain types are important to their purchasing decisions, nearly half (45 percent) either didn’t have or couldn’t name their favorite strain.

Popular strains like GG4 and OG Kush surfaced most frequently among the strains that were named, but nearly a third of admittedly regular consumers couldn’t muster the name of their preferred strain. Many consumers who claimed to have a favorite instead simply named “sativa” or “indica.”

“Strains are important to users but not how you might guess. The booming market, combined with the nature of the supply chain and variable product availability, creates too much distraction for users to gravitate to a favorite. As the market matures, users will come to expect a consistent and reliable product experience. That’s why we’re seeing a shift toward communicating effects, such as relaxation or focus, particularly in vaping. Our insights on the customer mindset paired with test results from the scientific community underline an uncomfortable truth: strain names are increasingly meaningless. The industry needs to hit reset on what’s being delivered to customers.” — Mike Luce, co-founder of High Yield Insights, in a press release

The study was completed by independent market research firm Survata, who compiled the data via an online survey.

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Cannabis Intoxication Roadside Testing Tech Coming to Canada

8/28/2018

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Police in Canada will soon have access to new testing technology to help check drivers for intoxication from cannabis and other substances, The Canadian Press reports.

The saliva screening equipment will be used primarily to test for THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. The technology will be made available to police departments across the country but ultimately it will be up to each department to decide individually whether to use it.

Manufacturers suggested the technology could be ready for police departments in the next four to six weeks.

Federal officials have pledged $161 million for a public awareness campaign about drugged driving and to help fund police departments’ training exercises and drug-testing equipment over the next five years. Law enforcement officials had a goal of training 2,000 officers by October to spot drug-impaired drivers, but the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police announced last month that it will likely not reach that goal.

Canada’s legalization bill authorized roadside intoxication tests despite concerns that the technology might falsely identify a user as intoxicated because of cannabis found in their system — whether they were actually stoned or had just used the night before, or even earlier that week. Proponents of the technology are concerned that legalization will lead to a surge of stoned drivers and an uptick in car accidents and other consequences of having more intoxicated drivers on the roads.

“There’s no suggestion in any of this. That people are going to be jumping into their cars when they weren’t before — they were users that weren’t jumping into their cars and now that’s it’s legal and will now be jumping into their cars high.” — Andrew Mason, criminal defense lawyer with the Scott Phelps & Mason law firm, via Global News

Cannabis will become legal in Canada for adults 18 and older on October 17.

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Illinois Gov. Signs Hemp Legalization Bill

8/27/2018

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Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) signed a bill to legalize industrial hemp on Saturday, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. The Illinois Industrial Hemp Act takes effect immediately and legalizes the harvesting and use of hemp for paper, fabric, plastics, construction materials, and food.

Illinois’ House of Representatives had approved the hemp legalization bill by a 106-3 vote; the Senate voted unanimously for the bill.

“Legalizing the farming of industrial hemp just makes good sense. Roughly 38 states — including our neighbors in Wisconsin, Kentucky, Indiana, Missouri and Tennessee — have allowed or are considering allowing cultivation of this crop for commercial, research or pilot programs. Our farmers should have this option as well.” — Gov. Bruce Rauner, in a statement

The Illinois Department of Agriculture will be tasked with licensing farmers who are interested in growing industrial hemp. First, however, regulators must determine rules for testing hemp crops’ THC content (federal law requires hemp plants to contain no more than 0.3 percent THC).

“The production of industrial hemp has broad support among our farmers and rural families, as they know this will add another potentially significant crop that can be grown in our state. In the early 20th century, Illinois was a national leader in hemp production and I look forward to us returning to that position.” — Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield), the bill’s sponsor, in a statement

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Have a Heart Cannabis

Cannabis Retail Chain Becomes First to Unionize in Washington State

8/27/2018

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Cannabis retailer “Have a Heart” and workers union “United Food and Commercial Workers 21 (UFCW21)” have signed Washington state’s first cannabis collective bargaining agreement, reports the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

“This relationship is quite unusual, in a very positive sense. It’s rare for an employer and their employees to reach a first contract so quickly and one that is so promising for current and future employees. These partnerships strengthen individuals, families and communities – and lead to superior service for customers.” — Todd Crosby, UFCW 21 President, via Seattle PI

Have a Heart’s 134 employees now have a bargaining agreement in place that currently guarantees “above-average compensation for the industry,” comprehensive health and welfare coverage, and other benefits. Have a Heart operates five retail locations in Washington and has other locations in states with legal cannabis.

“At Have a Heart, we believe in doing good. We consistently strive to have a positive impact in the neighborhoods where we do business, and we see our partnership with UFCW 21 as part of our commitment to creating a safe and empowering workplace.” — Ryan Kunkel, CEO of Have a Heart, via Seattle PI

UFCW21 represents over 1.3 million workers in the U.S. and Canada in a wide variety of industries. UFCW21 first started working with the cannabis industry in 2010 in California. Through 2011, the union signed many medical cannabis businesses in California as well as 8,000 employees in Colorado.

UFCW21 has made it a mission to organize within the cannabis industry, though complicated federal cannabis statutes and issues with labor union laws have caused the union difficulty.

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Cash Money

Pennsylvania Gov.’s Office Requests Congressional Cannabis Banking Protections

8/27/2018

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On Friday, the administration of Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) wrote a letter to top leaders in Congress calling for protections for banks that deal with the legal cannabis industry, the Philadelphia Enquirer reports.

Millions of dollars in cash flow across Pennsylvania — and other legal states — on a monthly basis, all nearly impossible to complete insure and extremely vulnerable to theft and other risks.

The letter, sent by Pennsylvania Secretary of Banking and Securities Robin L. Wiessmann, was signed by state banking officials from Alaska, Connecticut, Hawaii, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, and Washington state.

“We urge Congress to consider legislation that creates a safe harbor for financial institutions to serve a state-compliant business, or entrusts sovereign states with the full oversight and jurisdiction of marijuana-related activity. … The well-documented conflict between federal and state law creates barriers for banks desiring to serve businesses involved in state-licensed marijuana activities. This has resulted in regulatory and legal risk … and created a ‘cash and carry’ industry. … This raises concerns with respect to public safety, increases difficulty tracking the flow of funds, and contributes to a loss of economic activity, workforce development and community development opportunities.” — Letter from Robin L. Wiessmann, PA Secretary of Banking and Securities

Previously, the Obama-era Cole Memo had provided some protections for financial institutions dealing with the cannabis industry; however, Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded the memo earlier this year.

“The cash-only business creates horrific safety and operation concerns for both marijuana-related businesses and their employees, vendors, landlords and taxing bodies.” — Steve Schain, Philadelphia cannabis banking attorney, via the Philadelphia Enquirer

Nearly 70 percent of all cannabis businesses in the U.S. that have direct contact with plants do not have a bank account. Even 50 percent of cannabis businesses that don’t deal directly with the federally illegal cannabis plant are also unbanked. Insurers generally only cover up to $20,000 in “cash loss,” an amount that is easily exceeded by even small cannabis businesses; many businesses will have $200,000 to $500,000 in cash on hand.

The Wolf Administration now awaits a reply from the addressees of the letter: U.S. Reps. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and U.S. Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

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New Zealand Licenses Its First Cannabis Company

8/27/2018

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New Zealand officials have issued the country’s first medical cannabis cultivation license to Hikurangi Cannabis, a company based in Ruatoria on the North Island, according to the Australian Associated Press. The license will allow the company to breed and grow cannabis for medical research by the New Zealand Ministry of Health; previously, only one university in the country was authorized to grow the plant.

The company hopes to turn its smaller research grow site into a larger, high-tech cultivation facility that will provide jobs and economic growth for their rural region.

In January, Hikurangi Cannabis crowdfunded $NZ2 million (about $1.3 million in USD) for its research plans and — according to Manu Caddie, the interim chief executive — the company has already secured a $NZ160 million conditional agreement with U.S.-based Rhizo Science.

Mr. Caddie said that the industry is “certainly going to be significant for our part of our country, in terms of job creation.”

“The rest of the world are cottoning on … places like New Zealand will struggle to compete at the commodity level, but if we can quickly build brand and intellectual property around the clinical trials, then there’s an opportunity to retain the value long-term and to keep that value in the regions.” — Manu Caddie, interim chief for Hikurangi Cannabis, via Australian Associated Press

The company’s license comes during a time while New Zealand considers a bill to legalize and regulate the production and import of medical cannabis products.

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