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MedMen Proposes Reverse Takeover of Canadian Media Company to Access Stock Market

4/12/2018

U.S. cannabis company MedMen has announced a proposed reverse takeover of OutdoorPartner Media, which would enable Medmen — a Los Angeles, California-based company — to trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange.

MedMen is vertically integrated in three states, including Nevada, New York, and California, where it operates seven licensed retail dispensaries. The deal is worth $6 million.

“This is an important milestone in the evolution of MedMen and the increasingly global cannabis industry. A major U.S. cannabis company is set to be publicly traded on a bona fide stock exchange.” – MedMen CEO Adam Bierman to Business Insider

In connection with the deal, OutdoorPartner Media will change its name “to a name requested by MedMen,” remain in the province of British Columbia, replace all directors and officers with MedMen nominees, “create a new class of non-participating super voting shares” which would be issued to security holders of MedMen, and “extinguish currently existing indebtedness or covert such indebtedness into equity,” according to a press release.

The transaction requires approval from the CSE. Outdoor Partner media is not a publicly traded company in the U.S., meaning MedMen would likely have to trade in the over-the-counter market.

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Review: Sunnabis Full-Sun Cannabis Products

4/11/2018

by Shango Los

Many cannabis companies are excited to make the transition from the medical market to the full-blown adult use market but few of them are in as good of a position to do so as Sunnabis. Founder Wendy Kornberg is rightly focused on product quality and assembling a great team and her efforts have been heavily rewarded already. Sunnabis topicals, flowers and other health support products made from cannabis are simply crushing the Cup scene in California.

You would be hard-pressed to attend a competition alongside Sunnabis where they walk away empty-handed. Their accolades are piling up fast:

2016 Emerald Cup: 9th place for Mango OG Flower
2016 Emerald Cup: 16th place for XJ-13 Flower
2016 Humboldt Cup (outdoor Sativa): 3rd place for XJ-13 Flower
2017 So Cal High Times (topical): 3rd place for Miracle Mending Salve
2017 Nor Cal High Times (best medically infused product): 1st place for Bliss Army Preroll
2017 Nor Cal High Times (topical): 9th place for Miracle Mending Salve
2017 Hempcon Cannagames (topical): 1st place for Miracle Mending Salve
2017 Hempcon Cannagames (best new product): 2nd place for F* Cancer Sunscreen and Face Oil
2017 Hempcon Cannagames (best infused product): 3rd place Bliss Army Preroll
2017 Emerald Cup (most innovative product): 1st place for Festival Throat Spray
2017 Emerald Cup (topical): 9th place for F* Cancer Face Oil
2017 Hempcon Finals (best new product): 1st place for Festival Throat Spray
2017 Hempcon Finals (topical): 3rd place for Miracle Muscle Salve
2018 Hempcon Cup (topical): 1st place for F* Cancer Face Oil

Kornberg believes the cornerstone of her team’s efforts is, of course, the flower. Sunnabis grows full-term in the ground under sunshine as well as a cycle of open-air light-dep hoop houses in the early season. Because they grow their own flowers for their topicals and other health solutions, Sunnabis has far more control than product manufacturers who buy a wholesale market flower or oil produced by others as production inputs.

As a master formulator, Wendy Kornberg is demanding with their curing process. Her whole-plant product terpene profiles are native to the flowers Sunnabis grows, so the curing must be right to ensure their award-winning quality.

“We are very particular with the curing process. All our flowers are cured by Doug Cook and he is extremely focused on getting the humidity and temp in the perfect range so we lose as few terps as possible,” said Kornberg. “Because we grow with living soils and use natural inputs sourced from our own farm as much as possible, our flower really imbues the terroir of our farm. I also firmly believe that the conversation we need to be having with consumers is much less about THC levels and indica vs sativa, and much more about what smells good to them and what speaks to their body.”

Because the Sunnabis team are personally invested in serving patients and others seeking symptom relief, they are very customer focused and individual in their product advice. “I think that the informed consumer is not only a better customer, but also makes for a better world,” Kornberg said. It is this sort of individualized approach to medicine that has made Sunnabis so wildly popular with patients in Northern California. Now, with adult-use legal, Californians throughout the state will be able to obtain these products.

Topicals

Take, for example, the Sunnabis F* Cancer Sunscreen and Face Oil. This product goes on light so it won’t clog pores and soaks in easily. The proprietary oil blend infused with cannabis consists of a careful mix of argan, baobab, black raspberry, MCT, meadowfoam and evening primrose oils intended to both provide relief and also function at the perfect viscosity. The facial oil is packed with whole-plant cannabinoids and a consistent, powerful terpene profile all directly sourced from their sungrown plants. Kornberg extends the healing power of the plant with the addition of vitamin C and essential oils of frankincense, geranium, and lavender. Nearly everything is organic, too.

We provided the oil for review to a friend with an auto-immune disorder leaving her with an array of blemishes, some caused by steroid treatments. We figured she would be a serious challenge for the Sunnabis F* Cancer Face Oil. Her experience was incredible. In the first week, the redness and enflamed dryness resolved and over a two month period both the auto-immune blemishes and the steroid-related blemishes have resolved. The patient-reviewer was thrilled.

This oil for the face will likely have a desirable effect for anyone struggling with a dermatological issue above the neck requiring cannabis from psoriasis and eczema to sunburn and cancer.

Selling people on muscle relief from cannabis is pretty easy nowadays. Just about everyone knows someone who relies on cannabis for sore muscles, joints or arthritic pain. What makes the Sunnabis Miracle Muscle Salve different is that it works so reliably. There are a lot of muscle topicals on the market, but way too many of them are formulated incorrectly. Some don’t have a carrier to take the cannabinoids through the dermis. Some are infused into a base that is gross or greasy. And some go way overboard with added single terpenes so the product smells more like a dollar store candle than aromatherapy. The Sunnabis version is in a base of coconut oil and beeswax and includes a very effective proprietary blend of rue, plantain, comfrey, lavender, vitamin E, and essential oils of eucalyptus, peppermint, clove, helichrysum, and wintergreen. Again, most everything is organic.

The salve goes on thick at first but quickly softens from body warmth and immediately begins to soak in. Everyone on the review team was surprised as to how fast it soaked in leaving little residue or oil. Those involved with the review who were suffering from muscle pain found some amount of relief within the first 30 minutes but, as they continued to apply the salve throughout the day, gained much more significant results. It is true, as with all cannabis topicals, that repeat applications throughout the day are essential for long-term relief.

The Sunnabis Mending Skin Salve is designed for problems with the skin. This rare product is a blend of three cannabis strains and seventeen essential oils all designed to rebalance the skin and activate the endocannabinoid system. Effective against eczema, psoriasis and skin rashes, we found this product to be an elegant and effective solution to a wide range of discomforts on the skin.

We also trialed the Sunnabis Bath Milk and Body Conditioner. Group consensus was that we don’t exactly get the bath soak product category in cannabis yet. We love the smell of this product and the baths were fabulous and left our skin feeling incredible — and we know we have cannabinoid receptors in our skin. But, that said, we all felt like cannabinoids were going to waste in the bathwater and it seemed like a loss when they went down the drain. We love the scent and touch of this product so much that we all agreed we’d rather have it as a leave-on, after bath topical instead of something that was diluted in the bath and then put down the drain. No doubt, this is a great bath milk, but it seemed like a waste of good cannabinoids and aromatherapy.

It is worthwhile to mention that as Sunnabis scales up production, they are not converting to CO2 or another solvent-based extraction method that would be more efficient but would volatilize all the monoterpenes, making the product less than whole plant. Instead of that path, Sunnabis is pursuing ice water extraction and ethanol which truly preserve the full range of the plant’s constituents.

Rosin Dabbing Oil

It’s unfortunate that the Sunnabis rosin for dabbing is all the way down here at the bottom because it is exceptional and worthy of being at the top as well. “Stefan Johnson is the Sunnabis Rosin Artist and an integral part of the larger vision of our company,” said Kornberg.

I had the opportunity to chat with Stefan at length at Emerald Cup 2017. I’ve never heard an extractor go on quite like he had about the “story” or “fables” told by his oils. Stefan approaches making oil more like a vintner blends wine. Stefan understands the limits to using any one plant and instead sculpts the aroma and cannabinoid content with several extractions creating a blend that is greater than the sum of its parts. In his perspective, a well-crafted rosin oil should offer a sense of place and meaning and create sort of linear expression of itself. Like a fable.

Sunnabis single strain rosin is masterfully crafted and the samples we enjoyed were some of the best we have ever had, but it is the Sunnabis custom blends that we will all continue to yearn for now that we know they exist.

There is no doubt that Sunnabis is amongst the top players in the country as far as patient-centered product development. As their package design and customer brand experience scale, we expect to someday see Sunnabis become an industry leader in premium cannabis body care.

Currently represented by both Sonoma Pacific Distribution and Oakland Distribution, ask at your local shop for Sunnabis products.

You can learn more about Sunnabis via their company website, or by engaging them via Facebook or Instagram.

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A field of CBD-rich cannabis plants at a farm outside of Portland, Oregon.

Maine House Passes Cannabis Implementation Bill; Senate Could Vote Today

4/11/2018

by TG Branfalt

Maine’s House has passed a bill that would see the state’s first recreational cannabis licenses issued in spring 2019, the Portland Press Herald reports. The measure passed 112-34, which gives it a vote-cushion from a potential veto by Republican Gov. Paul LePage.

What’s in the bill: Recreational retailers would be allowed to purchase product from former medical growers in order to ensure shelves are stocked on day one. Municipalities would be allowed to prohibit recreational businesses, but they would not get any of the tax revenues by doing so. Social use is not included in the measure, which also cuts home-grow limits from six to three plants.

What’s next: The bill moves to the Senate, who could take up the measure today. Supporters don’t expect the Senate to be an issue – they passed a more liberal version of the bill with a veto-proof majority last year. If passed by the Senate, it would move to the desk of LePage who would have 10 days to sign it, veto it, or allow it to become law without his signature – which would avoid a legislative showdown that the early returns show he would likely lose.

Maine citizens voted to legalize cannabis in 2016.

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A woman holds up a small, green nug of cannabis between two fingers.

NORML Launches Website to Send FDA Public Comments Regarding Cannabis Rescheduling

4/11/2018

by TG Branfalt

The Food and Drug Administration is asking for public comment on the international scheduling of cannabis following a request from the World Health Organization.

“The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requesting interested persons to submit comments concerning abuse potential, actual abuse, medical usefulness, trafficking, and impact of scheduling changes on availability for medical use of five drug substances. These comments will be considered in preparing a response from the United States to the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding the abuse liability and diversion of these drugs. WHO will use this information to consider whether to recommend that certain international restrictions be placed on these drugs. This notice requesting comments is required by the Controlled Substances Act (the CSA).” – Apr. 4 FDA document

In conjunction with the request, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws has launched a website to help citizens submit those comments. The organization seeks to submit 6,400 total comments and, as of this morning, have sent 5,914. Individuals using the NORML site can send a form letter which supports the reclassification.

“Cannabis clearly does not share the ‘high’ abuse potential associated with other Schedule I substances like heroin, or even other legal substances like alcohol, tobacco, or prescription opiates. According to a comprehensive review by the United States National Academy of Sciences, cannabis’ dependence liability is similar to that of caffeine (7 percent) or anxiolytics (9 percent), and is far lower than the dependence liability associated with other substances like alcohol (15 percent) and tobacco (32 percent).” – NORML form letter sent to FDA

The agency is accepting the public comments until Apr. 23.

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Acreage Holdings Adds Two Former Lawmakers to Board of Directors

4/11/2018

by TG Branfalt

Acreage Holdings, a New York City-based cannabis corporation which operates in 11 states, has added former Speaker of the House of Representatives John Boehner and former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld to its board of advisors.

Acreage founder and CEO Kevin Murphy said the addition of the duo to the board “will lead to even greater access for patients by changing the conversation overnight.”

“These men have shaped the political course of our country for decades and now they will help shape the course of this nascent but ascendant industry.” – Murphy in a press release

Both Boehner and Weld, who also served as the vice presidential candidate on the 2016 Libertarian ticket with former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, have also committed to join the company’s board of directors once it has been formed and other directors have been appointed.

In a joint statement, Boehner and Weld said that they “believe the time has come for serious consideration of a shift of federal marijuana policy” citing states’ rights and veteran access.

“While the Tenth Amendment has allowed much to occur at the state level, there are still many negative implications of the Federal policy to schedule cannabis as a Class 1 drug: most notably the lack of research, the ambiguity around financial services and the refusal of the VA to offer it as an alternative to the harmful opioids that are ravishing our communities.” – Boehner and Weld in a joint statement.

Where did they stand as policymakers? In 2006, Boehner, a Republican, was rated a -30 by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, indicating a “hard-on-drugs” stance. In 1999, he voted against a bill to implement a voter-approved medical cannabis law in Washington, D.C.

As Massachusetts governor, Weld supported medical cannabis access. As a vice presidential candidate, Weld said he would vote for the legalization initiative in his home state.

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Growers Network Documents Large Scale Production in Episode Two of ‘Canna Cribs’

4/11/2018

by Featured Announcement

Following the popular reception of Episode 1 of Canna Cribs, Growers Network went to Grow Op Farms, owners of the Phat Panda, Hot Sugar!, and Sticky Frog brands for the second episode of Canna Cribs. Grow Op Farms is a major cannabis producer in the state of Washington and Growers Network took the opportunity to document their growing process.

“Canna Cribs is our way of envisioning a professional, mature cannabis industry where processes are standardized and everybody is safe,” says Nick Morin, CEO. “We want to see the industry come out of the shadows and embrace the academic and business world. Our second episode focuses on Grow Op Farms, one of the largest producers in Washington, and how they are able to satisfy the market’s demands.”

Here is a list of products featured in this episode of Canna Cribs:

Lights: Gavita 1000w E-Series 277-347v Complete Commercial Fixture
Pots: Growers House Essential Fabrics
Cloning Gel: Clonex Rooting Gel
Propagation Plugs: Grodan Stonewool Macro Plugs
Pesticides:
Nutrients:
Media: Coco Coir
Fans:
- Hurricane Blower
- Hyper Inline Fan
Camera Filters: Method Seven Camera Filters
Dehumidifiers: Quest 506 Commercial Dehumidifier
Carbon Filters: Can-Filter 1260 CFM
Joint Roller: Futurola Knockbox 2 Cone Machine
Trimming Bins: Trim Bin by Harvest More
End User Bottles: Kush Bottles

Details for the next Canna Cribs episode are still in the works, but you can follow the Growers Network channel on YouTube to stay updated.

Growers Network is a private community for commercial cannabis professionals. To learn more, visit their website at http://growersnetwork.org/.

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Two crystal-coated cannabis colas inside of a licensed cultivation center.

Poll: 70% of Older Americans Would Consider MMJ Use if Condition Would Respond Well

4/10/2018

by TG Branfalt

A University of Michigan poll has found strong support for medical cannabis among adults aged 50 to 80, with 70 percent of respondents of the Healthy Aging Poll saying they would consider using medical cannabis if diagnosed with a “serious health condition that might respond well to marijuana.”

The survey found 44 percent would “definitely” consider medical cannabis and another 26 percent “probably” would consider it, while 13 percent were a hard “no,” with 17 percent “unsure.” Of the respondents, just 6 percent indicated they actively use medical cannabis and 18 percent said they knew someone who uses cannabis for medical purposes.

Opinions on cannabis vs pharmaceuticals for pain relief: 31 percent of respondents said that cannabis “definitely” provides pain relief, while another 38 percent believed it “probably” does – just 4 percent said they did not believe cannabis provides pain relief and 27 percent were unsure. Nearly half of respondents – 48 percent – said they believed pharmaceutical pain medication was more effective at providing pain relief than cannabis, 39 percent said cannabis and pharmaceuticals provided the same relief, and 14 percent said cannabis was more effective. Fifty-seven percent of respondents said they thought prescription pain medication had more side effects than cannabis, while 34 percent believed the side effects between the two were the same, and 9 percent said cannabis had more side effects.

Nearly half of the respondents – 48 percent – believed pharmaceuticals were more addictive than cannabis. Thirty-eight percent believed they were about the same and 12 percent believed cannabis was more addictive.

“These poll results illustrate broad support for marijuana use when recommended by a doctor, but not for recreational use. Older adults perceive marijuana to offer pain relief and to be safer and less addictive than prescription pain medications. Restrictions around prescription pain medications may mean that more people (including older adults) seek out medical marijuana. This highlights the need for rigorous studies on the health effects and safety of marijuana use, especially in older adults.” – University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging, April 2018

Although just 6 percent admitted to using medical cannabis, that figure represents millions of older adults across the U.S. population.

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Colorado Gov. Dishes to Rolling Stone about Cannabis Legalization, Federal Policy

4/10/2018

by TG Branfalt

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper dispelled prohibitionist myths about cannabis legalization in the state: children are not getting high and there hasn’t been a spike in cannabis-related driving incidents.

“We were very worried that by legalizing, we were making this more somehow more psychologically available to kids. We haven’t seen that. If anything, we’ve seen less drug dealers.” – Hickenlooper to Rolling Stone

The Democratic governor, who initially opposed legalization in the state, indicated that, overall, officials “haven’t seen a big spike in consumption” but they have seen cannabis use rates increase among senior citizens.

“… Which we think is either Baby Boomers coming home to roost or arthritis and the aches and pains of growing older – people finding that marijuana is a better pain solution than opioids or other things.” – Hickenlooper in the interview

Hickenlooper also opened up about his conversations with Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who Hickenlooper said is “very clear … that more Americans enjoying any kind of drug makes the country weaker, not stronger” but that he admits the federal government doesn’t have the resources to crack down on state-legal cannabis programs and that their priority is heroin, meth, and human trafficking.

“That being said, he’s not going to want to do anything that in any way allows people to think that it’s OK to open a dispensary or it’s OK to start growing pot. He just wants people to be very uncertain about that and unsure about what the next step would be from the federal government, which is sort of what’s happening now with trade, right? With the tariff wars. But it creates this uncertainty, which is bad for business. … He wants to have that uncertainty, which he hopes will be bad for business. Just make people think twice before they expand their operation or make additional investments.” – Hickenlooper, on federal interference, to Rolling Stone

Hickenlooper suggested that the state’s illegal market now represents $50 million to $100 million in the $1.5 billion state industry. He noted that U.S. News & World Report has ranked Colorado the number one economy in the U.S. for two years in a row, but he did not directly attribute that to legalization.

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Photo captured inside of the Maryland General Assembly state legislature.

Citibank Asks California Dispensary to Stop Using ‘Citidank’ Name

4/10/2018

by TG Branfalt

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.

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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 TG Branfalt

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.”

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Every Day Optimal Brings Legal CBD to Every State

4/09/2018

by Featured Announcement

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.

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

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

Israeli Pharmacies to Sell MMJ Under Pilot Program This Month

4/09/2018

by TG Branfalt

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.

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

4/09/2018

by TG Branfalt

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.

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Connecticut House Committee Advances Rec. Cannabis Bill

4/06/2018

by TG Branfalt

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.

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West Hollywood, California Approves Cannabis Social-Use Plan

4/06/2018

by TG Branfalt

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.

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

4/06/2018

by TG Branfalt

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.

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

4/06/2018

by TG Branfalt

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.

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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 TG Branfalt

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.

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Cannabis clones inside of a sterile, commercial grow room.

Orange County, New York Gets First MMJ Dispensary

4/05/2018

by TG Branfalt

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.

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

4/05/2018

by TG Branfalt

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.

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