Citibank Asks California Dispensary to Stop Using ‘Citidank’ Name

4/10/2018

by

Citibank has asked a California dispensary that has riffed off the bank’s name to stop using the moniker Citidank – although it’s unclear whether any sort of official cease and desist has been filed. In a back page ad in Coachella Valley Weekly, the Cathedral City-based shop said they cater to “all your danking needs.”

“Unless you are as high as a kite, you know that Citi isn’t affiliated with this business in any way and we have requested that they stop using Citi’s name and logo.” – Danielle Romero-Apsilos, a spokeswoman for Citibank, to the New York Post

This isn’t the first time a cannabis company has borrowed from a traditional company. Last year, Tapatio Foods LLC filed a lawsuit against California cannabis company Payoso Grow over their use of Tapatio’s “Charro” mark – a man in a sombrero, yellow shirt, and red tie – for their Trapatio cannabis-infused chili sauce. At least one Trapatio mark also features a man in a sombrero, yellow shirt, and red tie; however, that mark features the man in a black ski mask with dollar signs adorning the rim of his sombrero. On another Trapatio mark, the red tie is obstructed by a bandolier (a bullet belt crossing over the chest) and the hat features cannabis leaves.

Cannabis company GG Strains LLC also settled their own trademark infringement case last year with the makers of Gorilla Glue adhesives. The adhesive company contended that the company’s strains – Gorilla Glue #1, Gorilla Glue #4, and Gorilla Glue #5 – violated the company’s trademarks. That settlement forced the Las Vegas-based cannabis company to transition from the Gorilla Glue names, any gorilla imagery, and to stop using the word “gorilla” by Sept. 19. GG Strains must also transfer its gorillaglue4.com domain to the adhesive company by Jan. 1, 2020.

End

Cannabis supporters taking part in a legalization rally in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Celebrities Will Not Be Allowed to Endorse Canadian Cannabis Products

4/09/2018

by

Celebrities will not be allowed to endorse recreational cannabis products in Canada and a July 1 legalization date was “never on the table,” according to the government’s legalization point-man MP Bill Blair. The former Toronto Police chief appeared on The West Block to clarify some aspects of the nation’s forthcoming legalization scheme.

“The law is explicit and clear, that celebrity endorsement, lifestyle advertising is not allowed with cannabis. It’s not the government’s intention to promote the use of this drug … We are not allowing the heavy marketing that we’ve seen with other products, alcohol for example, and so there will be severe restrictions on things like celebrity endorsement and [company] sponsorship.” – Blair on The West Block via Global News

Canadian entertainers have already entered the space, including members of The Tragically Hip, who have creative and shareholder ties to Up Cannabis, according to the report. In 2016, the Trailer Park Boys announced a brand development deal with Organigram. The TPB Productions deal with Organigram is for five years.

Blair remained confident of a July start date. Late last month, the Canadian Senate advanced the legalization bill to second reading and it’s now being studied by five committees. In the interview, Blair anticipated that “within [a] two-month window of royal assent, the government of Canada will establish and announce a date of implementation.”  

End

Every Day Optimal Brings Legal CBD to Every State

4/09/2018

by

The demand for CBD products is growing in popularity. Just a few short years ago almost no-one knew what CBD stood for. We are seeing a movement in today’s society where CBD is becoming a heavily discussed item. The reason for this is that CBD products help to promote the overall health and wellness of both people and animals, yet the regulations have not caught up to the hemp and cannabis industries.

New CBD companies need to be aware of different laws and regulations from state to state. With little FDA regulations and a closely watched industry by the DEA, CBD companies need to make sure they are producing high quality and safe to use products. Companies like Every Day Optimal are leading the charge in remaining compliant while delivering high-quality CBD products nationwide.

The difference between legal and illegal CBD products varies from state to state. CBD companies need to be aware of the line that divides the two. CBD is a compound that exists in both hemp and cannabis strains. When industrial hemp is used, the percentage of THC will be very low to non-existent — whereas cannabis strains have a higher level of THC. CBD crosses the line from legal to illegal in some US States if the THC percentage is higher than .3%.

A prime example of legal CBD products are the Every Day Optimal Cannabidiol Oil Products. Every Day Optimal’s CBD products can be made federally available due to the ingredients they use. According to Alex Gould from Every Day Optimal, “Our products are derived from industrial hemp and are free and clear of any heavy metals, pesticides, contaminants, and THC, making them perfectly legal in every state without a prescription.”

Benefits to using CBD

There is a long list of reasons why people use CBD products. Common reasons include reducing the incidence of diabetes, fighting cancer cells, reducing anxiety, pain, inflammation, anxiety and treating various neurological disorders. The human body has an endocannabinoid system that has receptors designed to work in sync with CBD compounds.

Popular types of CBD products

CBD products are being designed to fit seamlessly into our daily lives. From CBD oils that you can mix into various foods and drinks to CBD gummies, tinctures, capsules and vape liquids. There is a growing list of options that fit many different lifestyles. The list does not stop with just us humans either, there is a growing market for pet CBD products as well.

Many of these popular CBD products can be found from Every Day Optimal CBD. They are the nation’s leading supplier of USA made CBD oil products. All Every Day Optimal CBD Gummies are made with 100% hemp oil CBD (cannabidiol) extracted from federally legal industrial hemp. They can be accessed online from any state in the USA without a prescription and can be used in the treatment of a wide variety of ailments and health-related concerns.

End

A man uses a lighter and glass pipe to smoke some cannabis.

Alaska Cannabis Regulators Table Social-Use Action Until June

4/09/2018

by

Alaska’s Alcohol and Marijuana Control Board have tabled action on regulations to allow social cannabis use under the state program until the board once again has a full panel of members, the Associated Press reports. The board is down one member after the resignation of member Travis Welch last month. The board expects to revisit the proposal in June after they find a replacement for Welch.

The board has been mulling plans since 2016. Last August, the board released a draft for on-site consumption which would allow licensed retailers to sell up to 1 gram of flower and edibles with 10 milligrams of THC or less for consumption on premises. Under the proposal, customers would not be allowed to bring their own cannabis, alcohol would not be allowed to be sold, and retailers would pay $1,000 for a new, or renewal, on-site consumption endorsement.

So far, only Denver, Colorado and some California cities will allow social use. In February, Denver regulators issued its first social-use license to The Coffee Joint, which will allow patrons 21-and-older to bring their own vaporizers and/or infused edibles to consume at the shop; smoking is not allowed. Last week, West Hollywood regulators announced they would license 16 cannabis consumption licenses which would allow customers to smoke, vape, or eat infused foods and beverages.

Ballot initiatives in Massachusetts and Maine included social-use language; however, regulators in both states rejected social-use language in their draft rules.

End

The flag of Israel flies under a sunny, blue sky.

Israeli Pharmacies to Sell MMJ Under Pilot Program This Month

4/09/2018

by

Starting April 20, some Israeli pharmacies will begin selling medical cannabis products under a national pilot program, CTECH reports. The program, approved by the government in 2016, will see participation from 20 pharmacies as part of a broader Ministry of Health-approved expansion.

That expansion included overhauls to reduce patient wait times and a product export plan; however, in February, PM Benjamin Netanyahu put the brakes on medical cannabis exports pending a review of the plan by the Health Ministry and the Economic Council chairman. Israeli news agency Hadashot reported that Netanyahu suspended the program after speaking with President Donald Trump, whom he reportedly did not want to anger with the exportation plan. In August, an Israeli parliamentary committee estimated that cannabis exports could bring in $1.1 billion per year.

The Ministry of Health will oversee the medical cannabis program expansion. The department will select and supervise cultivators, processors, distributors, and pharmacies. The guidelines will be the same as those governing the pharmaceutical industry, the report says. The regulations include rules on labeling, shelf-life, and active-ingredient concentration. Israeli physicians will be able to prescribe medical cannabis products.

If the regulations are approved, Israel would be the first country to standardize medical cannabis products.

End

No Laboratories Apply for Guam MMJ Testing License; Program on Hold

4/09/2018

by

Not a single company has applied for a medical cannabis testing license in Guam, putting the start of the program on hold, the Associated Press reports. The program was approved by voters in 2014 and Gov. Eddie Calvo approved the regulations last February.

The law requires potency and safety testing. Department of Public Health and Safety Acting Director Leo Casil estimates that the startup costs for the lab are about $1 million and that the program is at “a standstill” without the lab. Application fees for all potential Guam canna-businesses are $1,000.

Sen. Dennis Rodriguez, the medical cannabis regulations bill author, said he had hoped the Health and Safety Department “would be more proactive,” noting that the agency could reach out to public entities, such as the University of Guam, to do the testing.

Jonas Macapinlac, director of integrated marketing communications for UOG told Pacific Daily News that the Maine Lab is not being considered by the institution.

“The Marine Lab serves a specific purpose and this does not seem like a good fit. We would need to consider any possible ramifications to our land grant status and in our ability to receive federal funds.” – Macapinlac to the Daily News

Rodriguez told the AP that there are no plans to appropriate more funds to the Health Department for the program at this time.

End

Connecticut House Committee Advances Rec. Cannabis Bill

4/06/2018

by

The Connecticut House Appropriations Committee has narrowly advanced a recreational cannabis bill, moving it to the floor which could consider the measure before the end of this year’s legislative session. The measure passed the committee 27-24.

The measure would require the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, in consultation with the Chief State’s Attorney and the Commissioners of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Consumer Protection and Revenue Services, to develop a plan to legalize and regulate the retail sale of cannabis in the state.

The bill would require the agencies to submit the legalization plan, along with a substance abuse treatment, prevention, and education plan to the General Assembly by Oct. 1.

Becky Dansky, legislative counsel for the Marijuana Policy Project, said the voter “reiterates what most Connecticut resident already know: it is time to make marijuana legal for adults.”

“The discussions that have taken place in the legislature this year have provided more than enough information to effectively move forward with legalization. Connecticut should stop punishing adults for using a substance that is safer than alcohol, and it has an opportunity to regulate marijuana before it starts losing tax revenue to other states in the region that have already started this process.” – Dansky in a press release

Are the dominoes falling in New England? Maine and Massachusetts voters approved recreational regimes in 2016, and the Vermont Legislature passed its own legalization measure earlier this year. The Rhode Island House approved the first reading of its own legalization measure last month but have not held additional readings. Late last month New Hampshire lawmakers punted the legalization bill for interim study, which effectively killed the bill for further consideration this year.

An October 2017 Sacred Heart University poll found 71 percent support for legalization in Connecticut.

End

West Hollywood, California Approves Cannabis Social-Use Plan

4/06/2018

by

West Hollywood, California plans to license 16 cannabis consumption lounges where patrons can smoke, vape, or eat infused foods and beverages. In total, the city plans to issue 40 total canna-businesses licenses.

Two types of consumption lounge licenses will be available: One will allow smoking, vaping, and consumption on-site; the other will allow only edible consumption at already licensed businesses. According to the city regulations, eight of each license will be available.

License categories include: Eight adult-use retail licenses; eight medical dispensary licenses (currently there are only four in the city limits); and eight delivery licenses. The regulations note that there will be “no limit on the number of business licenses issued for cannabis delivery services that are located outside the City limits and deliver cannabis to customers within the City of West Hollywood.”

The city will use an Evaluation Committee to determine who will receive the licenses and the top eight applicants in each category will receive the licenses, which must comply with existing zoning rules. The cost for a single cannabis license in the city is $9,880.

The application process will commence on May 2 and remain open until May 31.

End

California Issues 1,000+ Cease-and-Desist Letters to Unlicensed Cannabis Operators

4/06/2018

by

California’s Bureau of Cannabis Control has issued more than 1,000 cease-and-desist letters to unlicensed cannabis operators since the recreational use law took effect on Jan. 1, according to a KCET report. It’s the first step in shutting down illegal operators.

According to the report, regulators are using online advertising platforms to find the illegal shops. This likely includes Weedmaps, who were sent their own cease-and-desist by regulators last month due to their advertising of unlicensed retailers.

The BCC is including information on how to obtain licenses along with the cease-and-desist letters, and is issuing temporary licenses, free of charge, which are good for 120 days and can be extended by the agency for additional 90 days.

Licensing fees in California run from $4,000 to $72,000, depending on the size of the operation, but, according to the report, fines can run four times the amount of the license itself.

Aaron Francis, public affairs analyst for the BCC, told KCET that the agency is having “internal discussions” with the agency’s enforcement team “to evaluate the next steps regarding unlicensed activities.”

In their response to the state, Weedmaps said that many of the unlicensed businesses advertising with the platform are protected under the state law until January because they are cannabis cooperatives and the state’s old medical cannabis laws allow such non-profits to operate until the new law’s sunset clause takes effect. It’s unclear how many of the 1,000 businesses targeted by the BCC are considered cooperatives under the old law.

End

Calgary, Alberta, Canada City Council Votes to Ban All Public Cannabis Use

4/06/2018

by

The Calgary, Alberta, Canada City Council has moved to ban all cannabis consumption in public but included exceptions for those with medical need, the Calgary Herald reports. The regulations also prohibit retail shops from opening 150 meters (about 492 feet) from schools and emergency shelters and 10 meters (about 33 feet) from daycares, pawnshops, and payday loan businesses.

The city has also banned consumption in multi-family dwellings, such as apartments and condos. Mayor Naheed Nenshi said the rules set forth reasonable limits but acknowledged that the decision to ban consumption in multi-family dwellings would have an adverse effect om a “minority” of individuals, including tourists. Nenshi suggested the city could eventually allow social cannabis use.

“I think it’s far better to set the rules and then make exceptions for people who need them, rather than make a grand exception for everyone, which would lead to public nuisance problems for everybody.” – Nenshi to the Herald

The multi-family dwelling ban was opposed by Councilor Evan Wooley who said that the majority of citizens in his ward are renters.

“It’s not an insignificant group of people – 36 per cent of Calgarians are renters. And effectively we are saying there is no space for you to consume cannabis, and that’s a problem for me.” – Wooley to the Herald

The council did vote to have city officials report back on potential social-use rules early next year. The vote will likely allow the city to begin accepting applications for retail businesses as early as Apr. 24.

End

Cannabis fan leaves spread out underneath an indoor grow operation's LED grow lights.

Report: U.S. Legal Cannabis Sales Could Top $75B by 2030

4/05/2018

by

According to research firm Cowen & Co., legal cannabis sales in the U.S. are expected to reach $75 billion by 2030, which would put it on track to surpass the current sales for non-alcoholic carbonated drinks, Bloomberg reports. The firm previously predicted that the cannabis market would reach $50 billion by 2016 – if legalized federally – but analyst Vivien Azer said that “new forecasts suggest that the market is already that size.”

She added that while legal cannabis is not a direct competitor to the soda industry, it is likely going to impact the bottom line of the alcohol industry.

“We have consistently argued that cannabis and alcohol are substitute social lubricants.” – Azer to Bloomberg

A 2017 study from the University of Connecticut, Georgia State University, and Universidad del Pacifico in Lima, found that states with medical cannabis legalization had a 13.8 percent decline on beer sales and a 16.2 percent decline on wine sales. That study, using retail scanner data, did not account for alcohol purchased at bars or otherwise outside of the retail industry.

Soft drink consumption is already at its lowest levels in 31 years, according to trade publication Beverage-Digest figures outlined by Bloomberg. Data from Euromonitor International shows that the North American soft drink market fell from 78.3 billion in 2016 to $76.4 billion last year.

End

Cannabis clones inside of a sterile, commercial grow room.

Colorado Senate Committee Rejects Social-Use Bill

4/05/2018

by

Colorado’s Senate Business, Labor & Technology Committee voted 6-1 against a measure to create social-use cannabis licenses, according to a Cannabist report. The measure was opposed by state cannabis regulators and by members of the law enforcement and medical communities.

Colorado State Patrol Major Steve Garcia argued that the measure would increase the likelihood of drugged driving and that cannabis stored at the social clubs for its customers would no longer be subject to tracking which could push it into the informal market.

According to the report, the measure was “substantially changed” from the original draft. The amended version stripped licenses for medical cannabis operators and references that would have exempted the clubs from the state Clean Indoor Air Act. It would have allowed patrons to buy a maximum amount and store it on-site, and allow the clubs to sell light snacks.

Another bill, which would allow cannabis “tasting rooms” at licensed businesses, will be moved to the House Appropriations Committee on Friday. That measure would not allow on-site smoking.

Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, does not support social use. Last year he threatened to veto a measure approved by the Senate but that bill did not make it to the House floor.

End

Orange County, New York Gets First MMJ Dispensary

4/05/2018

by

The first medical cannabis dispensary in Orange County, New York has opened for business following the expansion of the state program in 2017. The Curaleaf dispensary, operated by PalliaTech NY, LLC, is located in Newburgh; Orange County has a population of more than 377,600.

“We are excited to open our doors and begin providing patients in Newburgh and nearby areas with the high-quality medical cannabis treatments they need and deserve. We have received a warm welcome from the Orange County business community, doctors, patients, elected officials and other local groups, and we look forward to working together and ensuring that those with serious illnesses have access to these important treatments.” – Michelle Bodner, president of PalliaTech NY, in a press release

State Sen. Bill Larkin, a Republican who represents the county, said he was “proud” that citizens “will be getting the treatment they need to improve their quality of life and that of their families.”

“When we made the decision to support having this industry in New York we did so because we wanted to help those individuals who were suffering, especially our children and veterans, that were not benefitting from other treatments.” – Larkin, in a statement

Curaleaf dispensaries are also set to open in Plattsburgh, Carle Place on Long Island, and in Queens.

End

Josephine County, Oregon Sues State to Nullify MMJ and Rec. Cannabis Laws

4/05/2018

by

Josephine County, Oregon is suing the state in federal court seeking to invalidate both the medical and adult-use cannabis laws approved by voters in 1998 and 2014, respectively, the Associated Press reports. The lawsuit argues that the state laws are pre-empted by federal drug laws.

“Any person in any state who possesses, distributes, or manufactures marijuana for medical or recreational purposes, or attempts or conspires to do so, is committing a federal crime.” – Wally Hicks, a lawyer for the county, in the lawsuit

The County Board of Commissioners has previously attempted to ban commercial cannabis farming on rural residential lots of five acres or less and to reduce the size of some commercial grows. The Land Use Board of Appeals put a hold on those restrictions on the grounds the county did not properly notify the landowners.

The lawsuit also names Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum as a defendant. Kristina Edmunson, a spokesperson for the attorney general, told the AP that the office “will defend the state laws of Oregon related to marijuana” in response to the lawsuit.

In 2017, Oregon collected more than $60 million in taxes from legal cannabis sales, Rosenblum said in January following the rescinding of the Cole Memo by Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

End

Nearly harvest-able cannabis plants inside of an adult-use, commercial grade grow operation in Washington state.

Massachusetts Regulators Receive 200+ Applications in First 24 hours

4/04/2018

by

The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission has received more than 200 adult-use cannabis industry applications since they began accepting some applications on Tuesday, the State House News Service reports. Presently, the agency is only accepting applications from current medical cannabis dispensary owners who wish to sell their products to adults 21-and-older and empowerment applications.

The majority of the first wave of applicants were empowerment applications. Those applications are part of what’s often referred to as “social equity” programs. The Massachusetts version of the program is meant to “ensure that people from communities that have been disproportionately harmed by marijuana law enforcement are included in the new legal marijuana industry.” The state received 129 such applications.

The remaining 89 applications were from current operators looking to expand to the recreational market. The 218 total applications were sent to the agency between the noon launch on Monday and the CCC meeting at 10:30am on Tuesday, the report says.

As of Tuesday morning, five of the empowerment applications and 18 of the current operator applications had been completed, according to CCC Executive Director Shawn Collins.

Operators granted priority certification will be allowed to apply for commercial applications on Apr. 16; all other license types will start the application process on May or June 1, depending on the license type. Recreational sales are expected in the state July 1.    

End

Photograph of the Tennessee Capitol Building in Nashville, Tennessee.

Tennessee Senate MMJ Bill Sponsor Admits He Doesn’t Have the Votes, Pulls Legislation

4/04/2018

by

The push to legalize medical cannabis in Tennessee is over after the Senate bill sponsor pulled the legislation from consideration because he does not have the votes in the chamber, the Tennessean reports.

“Instead of dragging this out interminably … I think the better decision at this point is to put it in the general sub for the summer.” – Sen. Steve Dickerson in the report.

The “general sub,” according to the report, is where legislation goes to die in the state.

“I fear that if we passed the water-down version of this bill, it would essentially forestall any efforts to have a much more widespread, much more thoughtful legislative construct for several years. … It sort of encourages individuals possibly to go out of state and transport this across state lines, which I would think is probably against federal, if not state, law.” – Dickerson, to the Tennessean

Last month, the House Criminal Justice Committee had advanced the measure but not before amending it significantly. Ultimately, the measure would not have created a comprehensive medical cannabis program, rather allowing qualifying patients with a doctor’s note to prevent being arrested and charged with cannabis possession.

Dickerson said he is “committed to the proposition that cannabis is a medication” and vowed to continue pushing the legislation forward in future sessions.

Rep. Jeremy Faison, who sponsored the House version, took to Twitter to voice his displeasure:

“Sometimes you get to plant. Sometimes you get to water.  Sometimes you get to harvest. I would love to be able to harvest but for right now, the TN Senate only wants planting and watering. Medical Cannabis is coming to Murica regardless of the naysayers.” – Faison in a tweet

Next session could bring in more cannabis-friendly lawmakers. According to a Times Free Press report, many Tennessee lawmakers are not running for re-election, including 14.1 percent of House members and 12.1 percent of Senate members. Both Dickerson and Faison have, so far, decided they will seek re-election.

End

Indoor cannabis plants being grown in a Washington cultivation facility.

Florida’s Largest MMJ Company Sues State Over Dispensary Limits

4/04/2018

by

Florida’s largest medical cannabis business, Trulieve, is asking a judge to remove limits on how many dispensaries it can open in the state, arguing that the cap “arbitrarily impairs product availability and safety” and “unfairly penalizes” industry operators, according to a CBSMiami report. The 25-dispensary limit was approved by lawmakers last year as part of the implementation of the voter-approved constitutional amendment to expand the state medical cannabis program.

The lawsuit, filed in Leon County Circuit Court, alleges that the dispensary limits violate that amendment “by arbitrarily and unreasonably depriving Trulieve of property or liberty rights without substantive due process.”

In the complaint, Trulieve attorney David Miller argues that “the right to compete statewide without restriction was an essential part of Trulieve’s business plan and a significant incentive to enter this novel business.”

The lawsuit contends that the company is unable to add 25 dispensaries throughout the state because it already has 27 locations operating or in the permitting stages.

Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers argues that the caps limit patient access.

“The restrictions force us to use extremely expensive long-distance delivery and build dispensaries on a model based on geographic distribution, not where patients live. This not only restricts access to patients in need, but forces higher prices.” – Rivers in a statement, via CBSMiami

It’s the third lawsuit claiming Florida lawmakers subverted the will of the voters when implementing the amendment. Another lawsuit, filed by attorney John Morgan – who authored the amendment and was its primary financial backer – which challenges the program’s smoking ban was allowed to proceed by a Second Circuit Court judge in January. Another lawsuit challenging the home-grow ban, filed by registered patient and strip club entrepreneur Count Joe Redner, was also allowed to proceed by the Thirteenth Circuit.

End

Report: New York Democratic Gubernatorial Challenger Cynthia Nixon Supports Rec. Cannabis

4/04/2018

by

Cynthia Nixon, the actor who announced in March she will challenge New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, told attendees at a private fundraiser last week that she supports legalizing cannabis for adult use, the New York Times reports. According to Isabel Gillies, a writer and former actress who hosted the fundraiser for the Democratic challenger, said Nixon would “legalize marijuana and put a tax on it” if elected.

Dan Davenport, an editor and writer who also attended the event said that she was “very exuberant” about legalizing cannabis as a revenue generator.

Cuomo, a Democrat, has long opposed cannabis legalization for recreational use. Previously, Cuomo called cannabis a “gateway drug” and said he was “unconvinced on recreational marijuana.”

In January, Cuomo called on lawmakers to approve funding for a recreational cannabis feasibility study. Robert Mujica, the governor’s budget director, cited legalization in Massachusetts and Vermont as the impetus for the study.

A Republican gubernatorial hopeful also supports legalization. Former Erie County Executive Joel Giambra indicated he would support legalization as a way to address the state’s infrastructure problems.

Nixon has been a longtime education advocate in New York and legalization. In Colorado, taxes and fees from legal cannabis sales are partly used for education funding. According to a 2017 report from VS Strategies, 51.3 percent of the $506.1 million raised from the industry at the time was used for K-12 education, including $117.9 million for school construction projects, and $5.7 million for the Public School Fund. In Nevada, the state had collected $6.5 million from cannabis industry licensing and application fees as of Sept. 2017, which, after administrative costs, is used for public education funding.

Her campaign has not commented on the report.

End

A person lifts up the leaf of a hemp plant in the palm of their hand.

New York Hemp Research Expands to 3,500 Acres; Up From 2,000 Last Year

4/03/2018

by

New York’s hemp research program is expanding to more than 3,500 acres throughout nine regions in the state following a $650,000 earmark in the state budget for a hemp processing plant and $2 million for a state-run hemp seed certification program.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced more than 60 new farms and businesses have received hemp research permits under the state’s Industrial Hemp Agricultural Research Pilot program. Another 18 companies have registered to process the crops.

“There is a renewed interest in industrial hemp production and processing throughout the country, and with our strong grower community and innovative researchers, New York is in a great position to lead. By providing an alternative crop for our farmers, industrial hemp has the potential to change the landscape of our agricultural economy, create jobs and drive growth across the Southern Tier and throughout New York.” – Cuomo in a press release

The state Department of Agriculture and Markets Division of Plant Industry will now accept applications for proposed hemp research in food and fiber on a continuous basis. Last year, Cuomo announced a $5 million Industrial Hemp Processors Grant Fund.

In 2017, there were 2,000 acres of hemp cultivated under the state program. Nationally, industrial hemp generates about $600 million-per-year in sales of consumer, industrial, and medical products.

End

A wine glass of pharmaceuticals spilled onto a white surface.

Study: MMJ Access Reduces Opioid Prescribing

4/03/2018

by

Yet another study has found that medical cannabis access could be a tool in curbing the national opioid epidemic as University of Georgia researchers observed a 14.4 percent reduction in prescription opioid use in states with medical cannabis dispensaries and another 7 percent reduction in such prescriptions in states with home-cultivation-only medical cannabis laws, according to a Science Daily report.

The study by the University of Georgia, School of Public and International Affairs, was published Apr. 2 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Internal Medicine. Researchers examined the number of all opioid prescriptions filled between 2010 and 2015 under Medicare Part D, which is the prescription drug plan available to Medicare enrollees. The study looked at common prescription opioids, including hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine, methadone, and fentanyl.

W. David Bradford, study co-author and Busbee chair in public policy for the UGA school, indicated that the researchers were asking “what happens to physician behavior in terms of their opiate prescribing if and when medical cannabis becomes available” noting that some of the states analyzed by researchers had medical cannabis laws throughout the five-year study period, some never had medical cannabis, and some enacted medical cannabis laws during those five years.”

“Physicians cannot prescribe cannabis; it is still a Schedule I drug. We’re not observing that prescriptions for cannabis go up and prescriptions for opioids go down. We’re just observing what changes when medical cannabis laws are enacted, and we see big reductions in opiate use.” – Bradford to Science Daily

Ashley Bradford, the lead author on the study and a graduate student at the UGA Department of Public Administration and Policy, indicated that in other studies researchers “examined prescription rates for non-opioid drugs such as blood thinners, flu medications and phosphorus stimulants and saw no change.”

“Medical cannabis wouldn’t be an effective treatment for flu or for anemia, so we feel pretty confident that the changes we see in opioids are because of cannabis because there is a legitimate medical use.” – Bradford to Science Daily

The study adds to a growing body of evidence that medical cannabis could be used as an exit drug from opioids – rather than a gateway drug. Last year the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a division of the National Institutes of Health updated their website to reflect NIDA research which purported links between medical cannabis access and a reduction in opioid prescriptions and opioid-related hospital admissions.

End

Two cannabis colas about to be harvested inside a Washington cultivation site.

Utah Medical Association Opposes MMJ Ballot Initiative Citing Recreational-Use Fears

4/03/2018

by

The Utah Medical Association has come out in opposition of the ballot initiative to legalize medical cannabis in the state, saying that the initiative’s supporters are “misrepresenting and misappropriating” the position of the medical profession in the state, according to a Salt Lake Tribune report.

“This initiative is not about medicine. … Supporters have used images and stories of suffering patients to disguise their true aim, opening another market for their products and paving the way for recreational use of cannabis in Utah.” – Utah Medical Association in a Friday statement via the Tribune

The statement comes on the heels of Gov. Gary Herbert coming out in opposition of the initiative.

The initiative would create a comprehensive medical cannabis program in the state with a start date of Mar. 1, 2020. The legislature has recently passed two medical cannabis-related bills but neither allows broad access. In February, the legislature passed a measure allowing the state Agriculture Department to grow cannabis for medical and research purposes, and the following month passed a “right to try” bill that would allow patients with less than six months to live access to medical cannabis products.

In his opposition statement, Herbert said the February bill “promotes medical science and public safety in ways absent from [the] initiative petition.” The governor also voiced concerns that the petition, if approved, “would potentially open the door for recreational use.”

In a statement to News4Utah, Together for Responsible Use and Cannabis Education (TRUCE) Utah noted that the UMA does not speak for all of the state’s physicians and said their statement is “riddled with deliberate misinformation and fear-mongering.”

The ballot initiative is led by the Utah Patients Coalition who announced last month that county clerks had verified 120,000 signatures, and the Lt. Governor’s Office verified another 117,000 – far exceeding the 160,000 signatures required to put the issue to voters in November.

End

Illinois’ Bank of Springfield Closing All MMJ Industry Accounts

4/03/2018

by

Illinois’ Bank of Springfield is closing the accounts of the state’s medical cannabis companies by May 21 leaving most of the state’s operators to handle their business transactions in cash, the Chicago Tribune reports. The action is directly tied to the January revocation of the Cole Memo by Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Bank of Springfield Spokesman Andrew Mack told the Tribune that the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer amendment included in the federal spending bill – which prevents the federal government from using funds to crack down on state-approved medical cannabis programs – doesn’t provide “enough comfort” for the bank to keep providing services to the industry.

“The bank’s stance is that protecting their customers is paramount. The Bank of Springfield will not jeopardize any of their customers by working with businesses that operate in the legal gray zone.” – Mack to the Tribune

Illinois’ medical cannabis sales reached $8.5 million in February. Jeremy Unrah, director of public and regulatory policy for PharmaCann, indicated that they had another bank that would serve them; however, he called the action by Bank of Springfield “a real punch in the gut” for the “industry at large.” Two other dispensaries – New Age Care and Thrive Dispensary – said they have been operating in cash for two years and six months, respectively.

Ross Morreale, co-founder of Ataraxia, which co-owns three dispensaries and a cultivation facility said losing the bank moves operators the “closest [they’ve] been to being without banks in Illinois in this industry.”

End

Cannabis foliage inside of a licensed grow operation in Washington state.

Massachusetts Begins Accepting Some Adult-Use Cannabis Applications

4/02/2018

by

Starting today, the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission will begin accepting applications for priority certification as registered marijuana dispensaries and economic empowerment applicants. Those granted priority certification will be allowed to apply for commercial applications on Apr. 16; all other license types will start their application process on May 1 or June 1, depending on the type.

The final regulations include nine license types, including:

  • cultivator
  • craft marijuana cooperative
  • microbusiness
  • product manufacturer
  • independent testing laboratory
  • storefront retailer
  • third-party transporter
  • existing licensee transporter
  • research facility

In a press release, Cannabis Commission Chairman Steven Hoffman praised the work of the team for implementing the application portion of the program on time.

“Today’s accomplishment is a testament to our diligent team and five, diversely talented leaders who were appointed by the Attorney General, Governor, and Treasurer, envisioned by the State Legislature, and authorized to implement legal, adult use marijuana by the voters in Massachusetts. Although we take pride in this moment, the Commission is also acutely aware of the significant work that remains. We look forward to the next phase of starting to license new businesses, and continuing to stand up a safe, equitable, and effective industry in our state.” – Hoffman in a statement

Priority certification is for current medical cannabis dispensary owners who wish to sell products to adults 21-and-older, while empowerment applicants are businesses that seek licenses to operate in low-income or minority communities disproportionately impacted by the so-called war on drugs.

Recreational cannabis sales are expected to begin in the commonwealth on June 1.

End

The Anchorage, Alaska city skyline, photographed from across a stretch of flat water.

Alaska Lab Forced to Close After Bank Calls in Loan on Building Citing Federal Law

4/02/2018

by

Anchorage, Alaska’s Steep Hill has been forced to suspend operations after Wells Fargo bank called in the loan on the company’s building because they are a cannabis-related business. The closure leaves just two labs to test cannabis products for the entire state.

“We are sorry to announce that Steep Hill Alaska will be suspending cannabis testing operations on March 31, 2018. We have to relocate because Wells Fargo called in the loan on our building. They will foreclose if we do not move out — just because we are a cannabis business! We are looking for a new home and would be interested to hear of any potential locations. We are grateful to have served the Alaskan community for the past year. Thank you for all your support. We will be back.” – Steep Hill in a Thursday social media post

In an email to the Juneau Empire, David Kennedy, spokesman for Wells Fargo in Alaska, attributed the bank’s action to cannabis’ status as a Schedule I drug under federal law.

“It is currently Wells Fargo’s policy not to knowingly bank marijuana businesses, based on federal laws under which the sale and use of marijuana is still illegal.” – Kennedy to the Empire

Anchorage’s CannTest and Wasilla’s New Frontier Research are now tasked with testing cannabis products for all of the state’s operators. New Frontier has not yet held its grand opening but is already accepting samples for testing after its license was finalized Mar. 14.

Alaska Marijuana Control Board member Brandon Emmett told the Empire that he expects the effects of the closure will be limited because CannTest has the capacity to handle the state demand.

“The businesses that use Steep Hill are going to be inconvenienced … obviously Steep Hill is going to be extremely inconvenienced, but as far as the industry as a whole is concerned, I don’t think it will be a major issue.” – Emmett to the Empire

Steep Hill CEO Brian Coyle said Wells Fargo should follow Alaskan laws if they are going to do business in the state.

“To me, Wells Fargo is the real bad guy here. They could give a shit about Alaska. Only 700,000 people in Alaska; that’s less than the city of San Francisco.” – Coyle to the Empire

Steep Hill was one of the first two labs licensed by the state.

End