Washington DC Opens Licensing Window for Unlicensed Cannabis Operators

11/09/2023

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In a much-anticipated development, the third licensing round for D.C.’s expanded medical cannabis program officially kicked off last week, as highlighted by reporter LJ Dawson for The Outlaw Report. The Alcohol Beverage and Cannabis Board reported receiving a total of 20 applications for retail licenses and one application for an internet retailer license on the very first day of the application period.

This licensing round aims to address the longstanding issue of unlicensed operators, including the various “weed-gifting” shops that have operated throughout the city. These shops have ranged from legitimate retail stores that gifted cannabis products after the purchase of other items to out-of-state operators setting up temporary shops to distribute illicit market products without adhering to any gifting protocol.

Key points applicants need to know:

  1. Location: Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, but shops cannot be within 400 feet of an existing retailer, which could be a deciding factor in obtaining a license.
  2. Social equity: The application process includes both social equity and standard licenses. Unregulated shops can still apply for an equity retail license during this period if they were operating in 2022 and can provide evidence. New retailer social equity applications will open in March.
  3. Timeline: The application period is open until 4 P.M. on January 29, 2023. The applications will be approved on a rolling basis, and there are four remaining board meetings where licenses could be approved.

Over the years, these shops proliferated across the city resulting in a quasi-legal unregulated local cannabis market. The government never intended for Initiative 71 (I-71), which initially legalized recreational cannabis in D.C., to create such an unregulated landscape.

To combat this issue and the ongoing federal prohibition on cannabis, the Medical Marijuana Expansion Bill was passed as a creative solution. This bill allows these shops to transition into the legal market by applying for licenses.

Notably, there was no chaotic scene or long lines at the Alcohol Beverage and Cannabis Administration office on the opening day of applications. Most applications were submitted online, although a few individuals opted to submit their applications in person.

For many, this moment marks a significant step towards the righting of past injustices, especially for those who grew up in D.C. and witnessed the negative impacts of the war on drugs and gentrification in their communities.

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Medical Cannabis Patient Counts in New Mexico Fall to 85k

11/09/2023

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Patient counts in New Mexico’s medical cannabis program have dropped significantly from the May 2022 peak of more than 135,000 to about 85,000, KRQE reports. According to Duke Rodriguez, president and CEO of Ultra Health, the loss of patients equates to the loss of around $85 million in cannabis demand.   

“The concern that we should all have is 50,000 New Mexicans felt like they got priced out of the market. It wasn’t available, it wasn’t affordable and the biggest concern we should be concerned about is what are they seeking in lieu of cannabis for their treatment.” — Rodriguez to KRQE 

New Mexico lawmakers legalized cannabis for adult use in April 2021 and sales commenced in April 2022.  

According to state Regulation and Licensing Department figures, adult-use sales in the state for October totaled about $34.6 million, with medical cannabis sales reaching about $12 million, losing about $600,000 from the previous month. 

In a statement to KRQE, the Department of Health indicated that they expected a reduced medical cannabis patient count in the wake of adult use legalization.  

According to state data, in October 2022, patient counts in the state totaled 119,819 and fell by about 3,000 patients in November, December, January, February, and March. From March to April 2023, patient counts fell by about 1,000, which continued into May and June, before falling again by about 3,000 in July. From July to August, about 4,000 patients left the program, and from August to September the headcount was reduced by about 5,000 patients.

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Ohio Voters Legalize Adult-Use Cannabis

11/08/2023

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Voters in Ohio on Tuesday voted to legalize cannabis for adult use, the Associated Press reports. Under the law, adults 21 and over can buy and possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis and grow plants at home. The measure imposes a 10% tax on purchases, which is earmarked for administrative costs associated with the program, addiction treatment, municipalities with dispensaries, and social equity and jobs programs supporting the new industry. 

However, as a citizen-initiated statute, lawmakers could make changes to the program – or even repeal it. The measure was opposed by Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, Republican state senators, and the Ohio Association of Health Commissioners.

Following the vote, Republican Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman, via a text by his spokesperson, told the AP that lawmakers may also reconsider “questionable language” regarding limits on THC.

In a statement, Matthew Schweich, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project, said the approval by voters indicated “There should no longer be any doubt that cannabis legalization can win in a conservative state.”

“In the years ahead, more states will adopt legalization and further increase pressure on Congress to address the glaring conflicts between state and federal law regarding cannabis.” — Schweich in a press release

NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano noted in a statement that “Cannabis legalization is an issue that unites Democrats, Republicans, and Independents.” 

“Ohioans have seen similar legalization laws adopted in neighboring states and they know that regulating the cannabis market is preferable to the failed policy of prohibition,” he said. “It is imperative that elected officials respect the voters’ decision and implement this measure in a manner that is consistent with the sentiments of the majority of the electorate.” 

A position paper from Scioto Analysis published late last month found that cannabis legalization in Ohio would likely generate about $260 million in “net benefits for society,” ranging between $200 million in net costs and $1.9 billion in net benefits. According to the report, Ohio would see an estimated $190 million from cannabis-derived tax revenues and the funds directed to the for the Cannabis Social Equity and Jobs Fund and the Substance Abuse Addiction Fund, could “generate over $800 million of social value by themselves.”     

Ohio is the 24th state to enact the reforms. 

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Wyoming Lawmakers Make Second Attempt to Ban Intoxicating Hemp Products

11/08/2023

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Lawmakers in Wyoming are making a second attempt on legislation to ban intoxicating hemp products after the Joint Judiciary Committee in September scrapped their first attempt after pushback from hemp companies, according to a WyoFile report. State Rep. Art Washut (R) told WyoFile that “The first draft went too far in terms of causing a threat” to the state’s hemp farmers, and lawmakers “didn’t want to go there.”

“So we got that completely removed. And what we’re focused on now are the delta-8 products, delta-10 products that we’re seeing, advertised and sold at so many locations around Wyoming.” — Washut to WyoFile

The new proposal would ban the addition of “synthetic substances” to hemp and would prohibit hemp products from containing more than 0.3% of any type of THC on a dry weight basis, including delta-8 THC and delta-10 THC. The measure defines “synthetic substances” as “any synthetic THC, synthetic cannabinoid or any other drug or psychoactive substance.”

Sam Watt, co-owner of Platte Hemp Company, told WyoFile that the ban would have a negative impact on the state’s hemp industry but that he would welcome more regulations on hemp products sold in the state, such as labeling rules to ensure consumer safety.

“In the hemp industry, it’s a free-for-all,” he told WyoFile. “And some of these guys that I meet, they’re dumping who knows what in their gummies and now, I mean, it’s not regulated. And that’s where I push for regulation, and so it’s safe for our consumers.”

Wyoming already has laws on the books banning synthetic hemp products but Sarah Barrett, the Wyoming State Crime Laboratory drug chemistry and toxicology supervisor, testified in September that there is currently no “scientific test … to prove” delta-8’s origins.

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Study: Majority of American Psychiatric Association Members Believe Psychedelics Show Promise in Treating Psychiatric Conditions

11/08/2023

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A study published in September in the journal Psychedelic Medicine found a majority of respondents – randomly selected American Psychiatric Association (APA) members – moderately or strongly believed that hallucinogens show promise in treating psychiatric conditions (80.9%) and substance use disorders (60.8%).

A majority of those surveyed also moderately or strongly supported research into hallucinogens‘ therapeutic potential for psychiatric conditions (93.9%) and substance use disorders (88.6%), as well as federal funding of associated clinical trials – 84.7% and 80.9%, respectively.

The survey was a follow-up to a 2016 survey which found 50.4% of respondents reporting moderate or strong intentions to incorporate hallucinogen-assisted therapy into their practice.

“Our data reveal a striking positive shift in attitudes toward the therapeutic potential of hallucinogens among American psychiatrists since 2016, with a majority of responding psychiatrists planning to incorporate hallucinogen-assisted therapy into their practice if regulatory approval is granted.” — “American Psychiatrists’ Opinions About Classic Hallucinogens and Their Potential Therapeutic Applications: A 7-Year Follow-Up Survey,” Psychedelic Medicine, Sept. 19, 2023

The survey was sent to 1,000 randomly selected American Psychiatric Association members, including 250 resident-fellows and 750 attending psychiatrists, in late 2022 and early 2023, and had a 13.1% response rate.

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Is Aroma An Underrated Factor In Cannabis Competitions?

11/08/2023

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Cannabis competitions are an excellent way for cannabrands to network, gain notoriety, and show off their top-shelf products. With so much incredible flower vying for attention from the judges, it’s essential to consider every aspect of your submission.

My years of experience in the cannabis industry have taught me that aroma is one of the critical factors determining quality cannabis — and it should be one of the top considerations in competitions, too. Read on to explore the criteria at cannabis competitions, why aroma is so important, and which competitions consider scent in their selection process.

Before states began legalizing cannabis and requiring lab testing, growers and buyers of cannabis relied heavily on aroma. Of course, the look, structure, and full effect of the high were all part of the overall consideration of the quality — but the aroma was always the most reliable determiner of the quality of cannabis flower. High-quality flower cultivars distinguish themselves with intense, compelling, and often pungent aromas, and growers knew through experience that if the aroma was great, the high and overall enjoyment of the flower was assured.

In the past year, scientific and medical studies have confirmed through double-blind testing that aroma is the most critical factor in determining the enjoyment of cannabis flower. If a consumer liked the aroma of a cultivar, they almost always loved the high. And yet, despite this, aroma is not given the emphasis that it should have in competitions.

Common Cannabis Competition Judging Criteria

Though the exact criteria vary depending on the competition and award type, judging usually comes down to these basic categories.

  • Appearance: In competitions evaluating the overall experience of consuming cannabis flower, award-winners need to be aesthetically pleasing, not just potent.
  • Aroma: Scent is one of the first things consumers and judges notice about cannabis flower. It can signal quality and provide valuable clues as to what type of experience the strain will elicit — and for seasoned cannabis consumers like the judges at these prestigious events, there’s no better smell than top-shelf cannabis flower.
  • Burn: Prizewinning flower will burn smoothly and evenly to produce a thick cloud of mellow smoke.
  • Taste: No matter what method judges use to sample the flower, they will notice how it tastes on the inhale and exhale.
  • Effects: Judges at cannabis competitions pay close attention to the overall experience, including how each cultivar in the lineup makes them feel.
  • Lab Results: To qualify for contests, cannabis must be lab tested for safety and to give the judges information they can’t observe directly, like the exact cannabinoid and terpene content.

Two Reasons Aroma Should Be a Top Criteria in Cannabis Competitions

Though all aspects of a cultivar are important, aroma should be weighted heavily in the overall results.

1. An Olfactory Focus Reflects Cannabis Expertise

Most judges in cannabis competitions are seasoned growers and consumers with years of experience interacting with cannabis plants. Experts know how vital aroma is in identifying high-quality weed that fits individual preferences and delivers desired results.

Professionals in the industry typically rely at least partially on smell to select flower for their personal use; it makes sense to emphasize this factor in competitions and formal settings, too.

Acknowledging the critical role of aroma in cannabis cultivation and consumption at competitions can also educate the public on what they should be looking for the next time they visit a dispensary or browse booths at a cannabis event.

2. Cannabis Aroma is Central to Meeting Consumer Desires

Scent is one of the first ways consumers interact with and experience cannabis. Experienced and novice cannabis consumers alike can smell different cultivars and instinctively decide which ones they will enjoy; it’s a more accessible and often more accurate method than decoding scientific-sounding terpenes and THC percentages.

Emphasizing aroma and working to cultivate cannabis with an attractive scent also plays a crucial role in attracting customers. Because scent is an integral part of the flower selection process, it is an excellent way to capture new consumers and retain existing clients.

Cannabis Competitions that Emphasize Scent

Most well-known cannabis competitions include aroma in their basic judging criteria; only a select few don’t consider scent in the judging process.

Competitions Without Aroma as a Criteria

Most cannabis competitions that don’t include aroma in their judging criteria focus on a specific niche in the cannabis industry.

The Grow-Off: This competition approaches cannabis competitions from a unique angle: all participants are provided with a clone of the same plant and are judged on the overall cannabinoid and terpene content they achieve. Though entries are likely to vary slightly in scent, this competition focuses strictly on growing conditions, not cultivar creation.

Cannabis Competitions with Aroma as a Criteria

These well-known competitions all include scent on the scoring sheet.

The Cannabis Cup: This event, hosted by High Times, is potentially the most prestigious cannabis competition in the United States. Judges evaluate flower entries based on “aroma, taste, visual aesthetics, stone/high, and burnability/flush.” Each cultivar receives a quantitative score based on their lab results, too.

American Autoflower Cup: Based in California, this competition celebrates — and evaluates — autoflower cultivars. Each entry is judged on “appearance, aroma, taste, effects, and the overall experience.”

The Errl Cup: This event is open to producers and distributors in Arizona. Judges evaluate entries based on seven categories: “visual; presence of seeds; aroma; taste; flush/burn/purity; strength and correct effect.” Lab results also affect each product’s score.

The National Cannabis Championship: An offshoot of the National Cannabis Festival hosted in Washington, D.C., this multi-tier competition is open to growers in Washington, D.C., and Virginia. Each entry is judged on its name, genetics, cannabinoid and terpene profiles, appearance, aroma, flavor, and experience.

Future Competitions Could Grade Cultivars Within Aroma Profile Groups

Once cannabis competitions properly emphasize aroma, we can dive deeper into what these different scents mean for the consumer.

Over the years, growers have found that there are key descriptives of common aromas and that getting to know these common aroma groupings can offer the consumer another way of understanding the flower and learning what types of flower are most appealing to each individual. While different growers may use different descriptive words, most agree that the common aroma profiles are Gas, Pine, Cheese, Purple, Fruit, and Dessert. Studying these aroma profiles shows how they grew from the distinctive cannabis cultivar family trees and their unique genetics.

One hopes that future competitions may allow entries within these aroma profile groups as a fun and meaningful way to explore high-quality cannabis from different genetic backgrounds and learn how these different aroma profiles appeal to different consumers.

Elevating Aroma as a Key Factor in Cannabis Competitions

Aroma plays a significant role in the overall quality and experience of cannabis cultivars. To reflect the importance of scent in cannabis cultivation, it only makes sense to include it as a key criterion in cannabis competitions that judge participants based on the creativity of their cultivation. Next time you attend a cannabis competition, pay close attention to the scents of the winning cultivars — especially if you’re looking to participate.

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Cannabis and Criminal Justice Advocates Urge Biden to Fully Deschedule Cannabis

11/07/2023

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In a letter to President Joe Biden (D), the Marijuana Justice Coalition and Cannabis Freedom Alliance said that the administration’s plans to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act “would simply maintain federal criminalization” of state-approved medical and adult-use cannabis programs, calling instead for full descheduling under federal law.  

“Currently, the cannabis marketplace is regulated by 48 states through various regulatory systems. In our federal system, these laboratories of democracy should not be impeded in their development of effective measures to ensure public safety and promote public health. Any action to move marijuana to another CSA schedule rather than removing it would simply maintain federal criminalization of these programs, licensed companies, and individuals operating in a fully legal manner under existing state rules and regulations. Further, this mere change of scheduling classification as opposed to descheduling would not alleviate existing distrust in law enforcement around cannabis given the supermajority public support for ending criminalization.” — Marijuana Justice Coalition, Cannabis Freedom Alliance in the November 2 letter 

The letter notes that, according to Federal Bureau of Investigation data, nearly 250,000 individuals were arrested nationwide for cannabis-related crimes in 2021 and that Black people were arrested at three times the rate of their white counterparts, despite similar rates of cannabis use.  

“People arrested for marijuana often face severe penalties, including months of prison or jail time and thousands of dollars in fines,” the letter states. “Incarceration or an arrest creates barriers to securing gainful employment, education, and housing opportunities.” 

The letter urges Biden to use his influence in Congress to pass comprehensive cannabis descheduling legislation “that includes a well-thought-out plan for reasonable federal regulation and for implementing interstate commerce that protects public health and the ability for small businesses to thrive in the emerging legal marketplace.”  

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Study: Majority of Minnesota Medical Cannabis Patients Enrolled for Pain

11/07/2023

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A study conducted by the University of Minnesota and cannabis company Vireo Health found the majority (60%) of medical cannabis patients included in the study had indications of intractable pain, but older and younger adults received “significant differences in dosages.” 

The study authors said the differences raise “questions about factors that contribute to the use of varied dosages in older adults.” 

The study included about half of the state’s medical cannabis patient population registered between June 2016 and November 2019 who were enrolled in the state’s medical cannabis program with Vireo.  

Dr. Angela Birnbaum, a professor in the Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology in the College of Pharmacy and the lead author on the paper, noted in a press release that the researchers’ “past data shows blood concentrations of CBD and THC can vary widely among patients and according to fat content in food, indicating possible inconsistent exposure that could lead to variations in response and unanticipated side effects.” 

The study also found that a majority of epilepsy patients included in the research “received formulations containing both THC and CBD” and that the “introduction of THC to this population highlights the importance of further research on the interplay of THC and CBD to better predict patient responses.”    

“Little information is available for most medical cannabis formulations and for particular patient populations. More research is needed to understand the long-range influence of cannabis use, especially in older adults who are typically receiving multiple medications and have an increased potential for drug-drug interactions.” — Birnbaum in a statement 

The study was published online ahead of print for volume 99 of the Current Therapeutic Research Journal. It included a total of 11,520 registered medical cannabis patients. Funding was provided by the MacMillan Innovative Epilepsy Research and Education Fund and the University of Minnesota Medical Discovery Team on Addiction’s Pilot Grant.   

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Connecticut Raises Cannabis Purchase Limits Starting in December

11/07/2023

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Starting next month, the maximum purchase limit for adult-use cannabis products in Connecticut will increase from seven grams to 14 grams per transaction. In a statement, Bryan Cafferelli, the commissioner for the Department of Consumer Protection, said the change comes after officials “reviewed the available supply and demand since before the launch of the market” and now feel it’s “appropriate” to increase the limits.   

“As more retailers, production companies and other supply chain licensees have come online, the capacity of the industry has increased. We are confident this measured approach to adult-use sales has resulted in a healthy market for businesses, and a safe and fair marketplace for adult-use cannabis consumers and medical marijuana patients.” — Cafferelli in a press release 

The program changes come as the state continues to set monthly cannabis sales records – which, combined, surpassed $25 million in September. Product prices were also their lowest since the launch of the adult-use market, with medical cannabis prices averaging $38.21 and adult-use prices averaging $38.37 in September. 

The new rules also increase the amount of vape cartridges allowed per purchase from four to eight, of either the .5 milliliter or 1 milliliter. The agency notes that purchases can include different product types that “collectively contain no more than” a half of an ounce of cannabis.  

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New York Bill Would Outlaw Some Cannabis Billboard Advertisements

11/06/2023

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A bill in New York seeks to outlaw some roadside billboards for cannabis advertising and would impose fines of up to $2,500 for violations. According to the Justification linked to the proposal, Assemblyman Scott Gray (R) introduced the measure after seeing a billboard in his district that resembled the famous “Got Milk?” advertising campaign popular during the 1990s.

In the Justification, Gray writes that the Got Milk campaign was directed at teenagers and the “Got Weed?” billboard is aimed at that same demographic.  

“The rollout Office of Cannabis Management has included many delays, turmoil and confusion. A concern of many New Yorkers is that advertisements of many cannabis products will be geared towards adolescents, including those who may not even be of legal age to possess cannabis or cannabis products.” — Gray in the Justification for A.8200 

Office of Cannabis Management regulations finalized earlier this year include a ban on cannabis billboards, except those that conduct retail sales or delivery – and those signs can only include business information. Gray’s bill would “not prohibit the signage for retail operations, rather specific product advertising,” the Justification states.  

The measure is currently in the Assembly Economic Development Committee and, if passed, the law would take effect on the first of January following its approval.

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Florida Officials Uncover 8,700+ Hemp Products ‘Attractive to Children’ in Latest Crackdown

11/06/2023

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Inspectors with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services on Thursday announced they had uncovered more than 8,700 hemp extract-edible packages that were attractive to, or marketed to, children.   

The products, which officials say run afoul of a law passed earlier this year, were discovered at Top Private Label Co. in Daytona Beach and officials issued a stop-sale order against the company. 

The law, passed in July, added age requirements for the purchase of hemp products intended for human consumption, included a prohibition on marketing that targets children, mandates that products sold in Florida are packaged in a safe container, and requires ingestible hemp products are held to the same health and safety standards as other food products. 

To enforce these law changes, in July and August, the Agriculture Department conducted what it describes as “the largest ever” inspection of businesses selling products that contain hemp extracts. The statewide inspection specifically targeted the sale of hemp extract products that are attractive and marketed to children and included inspections of more than 700 businesses in all 67 Florida counties. Ther sweeps uncovered more than 83,000 packages of hemp extract products, including THC products that officials say target children.  

Since July 1, the department has uncovered over 107,400 packages of hemp extract products that they say target children, in violation of state law.  

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Pennsylvania House Subcommittee Hears from Citizens and Experts About Cannabis Legalization

11/06/2023

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The Pennsylvania House Subcommittee on Health Care on Wednesday heard from citizens and medical experts about legalizing cannabis for adult use, WGAL reports. State Rep. Dan Frankel (D) indicated that the issue could come up for a vote in front of the full House next year. 

“We know that there are some states in this country that have done it poorly, and we want to learn those lessons as we craft something here.” — Frankel via WGAL 

State Rep. Paul Schemel (R), the subcommittee’s minority chairman, said he believed that “every state has gotten it wrong.” 

“To think that this bad milk, if we put it back in the refrigerator as good milk, would be making the same error those states have,” he said during the hearing.  

Frankel noted that people in Pennsylvania are already consuming cannabis that is untested, unregulated, and untaxed, and that state lawmakers can implement safety controls and the state can earn revenue through cannabis sales.  

State Rep. Chris Rabb (D), a member of the House Cannabis Caucus, said that lawmakers should not look at the reforms solely as a revenue generator, but also as a criminal justice issue. Rabb, who is a registered medical cannabis patient in the state, added that the state has “to have some moral consistency” as “everyone acknowledged alcohol is far more dangerous than cannabis.” In Pennsylvania, alcohol is sold through state-run stores.  

Dr. Kent Vrana with Penn State University told lawmakers there are concerns about more people consuming cannabis and the potential for more intoxicated drivers, along with the potential for children to access cannabis-infused edibles.  

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Missouri Removes 15k Affected Products from Sweeping August Recall

11/03/2023

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The Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation has removed nearly 15,000 cannabis products from an August recall, saying that they had verified the products contain “THC solely sourced from marijuana products grown in the Missouri regulated market,” KMIZ reports. 

The initial recall included nearly 63,000 products manufactured by Delta Extraction, LLC that regulators said they could not verify came from products grown in the state because they were not tracked in METRC, the state’s seed-to-sale tracking system. In all, more than 48,530 products remain on the recall list. 

Delta Extraction, LLC, in September asked the Administrative Hearing Commission to reverse the decision to suspend the company’s license, but the case is unlikely to be heard this month. The company has also filed for a temporary restraining order, claiming that the recall was an “unlawful campaign to destroy Delta’s business through arbitrary, unjustified and unexplained administrative actions targeting Delta’s products,” according to a St. Louis Post-Dispatch report. 

“The remaining marijuana product will remain on recall and may have an administrative hold,” the agency said in the updated notice. “DCR will provide additional guidance to licensees as DCR continues its investigation into the affected products.” 

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Georgia Appeals Court: Delta-8, Delta-10 Products Not Controlled Substances

11/03/2023

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The Georgia Court of Appeals ruled on Thursday that hemp-derived delta-8 THC and delta-10 THC products are not controlled substances under state law, 11 Alive reports. The ruling came in a challenge by Elements Distribution after it was raided by the state in 2022. 

During the raid, police seized about $2 million worth of products, according to a CBS 46 report. 

Trial Attorney Tom Church, with the Church Law Firm, told 11 Alive that the decision sets a precedent for similar cases throughout the state.   

“What happened was that the Gwinnett County D.A. and the local drug task force raided several small businesses in the area, including our clients who are hemp products and other product distributors. … I think this is a powerful message for folks around Georgia that these are legal products. The legislature specifically legalized them in 2019 and that law enforcement has no authority to go after businesses that are legally selling these products.” — Church to 11 Alive 

The Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office could still appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court; however, the Appeals Court decision could pave the way for the products to be sold in Georgia. 

Per a letter revealed in August, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration considers delta-8 THC which is synthesized from hemp-derived CBD to be federally illegal despite the legal status of hemp and its derivatives. 

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Workers at Kansas City Dispensary Vote to Join Union

11/03/2023

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Budtenders and inventory clerks Home State Dispensary in Kansas City, Missouri voted on Tuesday to join the Teamsters Local 955, making them the first cannabis workers in the Kansas City metro area to unionize and the first to join the Local 955.

In a statement, Jerry Wood, Local 955 president, noted that cannabis sales in Missouri are on track to gross over $1 billion in revenue this year.

“These workers are smart. They know that they need to strike while the iron is hot if they want a fair share of that windfall, and by joining the Teamsters, they can get it.” — Wood in a press release

Madison Ford, a budtender at Home State, said the workers “are standing together to make working conditions better in this industry.”

“I know that the best way to do that is by making the Teamsters a norm for Missouri cannabis,” she said.

Peter Finn, Teamsters Western Region International Vice President and Food Processing Division Director, added that the union is going to “fight hard to make careers in this industry sustainable and prosperous over the long term.”

“These workers have the courage, tenacity, and solidarity that it takes to win a strong contract, and we’re here to make that happen,” he said.

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Study: Adult-Use Cannabis Legalization in Ohio Would Generate $260M in ‘Net Benefits for Society’

11/02/2023

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According to a paper from Scioto Analysis adult-use cannabis legalization in Ohio would likely generate about $260 million in “net benefits for society,” ranging between $200 million in net costs and $1.9 billion in net benefits.  

“Allowing a market for sale of cannabis for recreational use will impact the state economy. Opening the market will allow people access to goods they would not have had otherwise, generate tax revenue for state programs, create new jobs, and reduce crime by reducing the importance of a black market in cannabis sales. At the same time, other states that have legalized recreational cannabis have seen reduced worker productivity and increased prevalence of impaired driving.” — Scioto Analysis, “Cost-Benefit Analysis of Ohio’s Recreational Cannabis Legalization,” October 2023 

Ohio voters will decide whether to enact the reforms this month. A poll from Fallon Research in September found a majority of Ohioans support the ballot proposal 59% to 32%, with 9% unsure. 

According to Scioto Analysis, Ohio would see an estimated $190 million from cannabis-derived tax revenues which would be earmarked for the Cannabis Social Equity and Jobs Fund and the Substance Abuse Addiction Fund, which the economics and public policy firm expects will “generate over $800 million of social value by themselves.” 

In a statement, Michael Hartnett, a policy analyst, said “The programs outlined in the ballot initiative have historically been very efficient ways to use public dollars, and will likely generate a lot of value for Ohioans.” 

The most significant cost monetized by the firm was the potential lost productivity of workers in certain industries.  

“Past research has shown that states that legalized recreational marijuana experience reductions in productivity amounting to roughly a 1% decrease per worker,” Scioto Analysis said in the report. “In Ohio, we calculate that this will lead to roughly $760 million worth of lost productivity in the short run.”      

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Oregon Rep. Blumenauer to Retire from Congress

11/02/2023

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Oregon Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D), a founding member of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, on Monday announced he will not seek reelection. In a Facebook post, Blumenauer, who served as a member of Congress for 27 years, said “Now, it is time to refocus on a narrower set of priorities.”  

“There will be time later to reflect on our many accomplishments and where we go from here. But I’m not done with Congress yet. There are 14 months left in this congressional session and a critical election. I will take every opportunity to make progress on the issues that matter most to our families and community. I deeply appreciate and thank you for putting your trust in me. I look forward to our next chapter.” — Blumenauer in a Facebook post 

Blumenauer served as an Oregon state lawmaker in 1973 when the state decriminalized cannabis and has been an ardent supporter of federal cannabis reforms since his election to the House of Representatives in 1996. He was a key supporter of the SAFE Banking Act, a bill to normalize banking services for cannabis industry operators which passed the House six times but was never given a vote in the Senate, and the MORE Act, which would have decriminalized cannabis federally and passed the House twice but was never taken up by the Senate.  

The MORE Act remains the first and only comprehensive cannabis reform to pass either chamber of Congress.  

“I have dedicated my career to creating livable communities where people are safe, healthy, and economically secure. This mission has guided my involvement in Congress on a wide range of issues. I may best be known in Portland for work on light rail, streetcars, and bicycles,” Blumenauer said in a press release. “But our work also included critical issues of war and peace, championing the fight to end the failed war on drugs, helping to write the Affordable Care Act, rescuing independent restaurants, food and farm policy, animal welfare, and writing the single largest investment in renewable energy in history.”

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Missouri Transfers $13M in Medical Cannabis Derived Funds to Veterans Commission

11/02/2023

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The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) on Tuesday transferred $13 million from the state’s medical cannabis program to the Missouri Veterans Commission (MVC). It is the fifth transfer to date, bringing the total transferred to $39,978,820. 

The agency also transferred $3,836,919 in funds generated by Missouri’s adult-use cannabis program to the MVC ($1,278,973), the state Public Defender’s Office ($1,278,973), and DHSS ($1,278,973) for a drug treatment grant program.   

MVC Executive Director Paul Kirchhoff said the “funds will help MVC continue to support the existing infrastructure of our seven Veterans Homes.” 

“It is incredible that Missouri voters passed the adult use amendment less than one year ago,” added Amy Moore, director of the Division of Cannabis Regulation with DHSS, “and we are now starting to see the financial impact the program’s success will have on multiple organizations and the Missourians they serve.” 

The amendment to legalize cannabis for medical use was voted into Missouri’s constitution in 2018. It requires that fees and taxes generated by medical cannabis be transferred to the MVC to give veterans better access to healthcare. In November 2022 an additional amendment was voted in that gives the fees and taxes generated by the adult-use cannabis program to be transferred to veterans commission. 

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Report: Home Values in States with Legal Cannabis Outpace Home Values in Non-Legal States

11/01/2023

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Home values in states with adult-use cannabis laws have outpaced home values in other states by nearly $49,000 from 2014 to 2023, according to new research from Real Estate Witch. The typical home in a state with legalized cannabis has seen its value appreciate by $185,075 since 2014, compared to $136,092 in states that have not enacted the reforms.  

Cities with adult-use dispensaries also report $67,359 higher increases in home values than cities where cannabis is legalized but dispensaries are not available. 

The study also found that the typical home in an adult-use cannabis state is worth $417,625 – 41% more than in states that do not permit adult cannabis use ($295,338). 

Medical cannabis is also associated with higher increases in home values as states with medical cannabis access have seen home values increase $29,289 more than states without medical cannabis since 2014. States with medical cannabis have also seen home values increase $166,609 since 2014, compared to $137,320 in other states.  

Today, the typical home in a state with medical cannabis access is worth 21% more than a home in a state without, the report says. Real Estate Witch found that among the top 10 states with the highest growth in home values, Idaho is the only one that has no form of legal cannabis.  

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Alabama Regulators Plan to Issue Medical Cannabis Licenses by December 12

11/01/2023

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The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) is now aiming to get industry licenses awarded by December, in what its chairman calls an “aggressive” timeline after a summer of starts and stops, WIAT reports. The agency voted last week to officially rescind the previous licenses and laid out a new timeline that would issue the licenses by the end of the year with products available in the spring. 

In June, the AMCC awarded the first round of medical cannabis licenses, but days later paused the process due to “potential inconsistencies” in scoring data tabulation. The agency was then accused of violating the state’s Open Meetings Act, which drew a lawsuit from seven applicants and led to a temporary restraining order on further action by the AMCC. The agency then said it planned to void and reissue the licenses, which led to more litigation and a plan by regulators to “start back at square one.” The agency, last month, issued an administrative stay on licensing in order to get the process back on track, but faced yet another lawsuit by an applicant that claimed regulators had wrongfully implied that one of the company’s owners or senior directors had a criminal record. Earlier this month, regulators approved new rules for the process and reset licensing for a third time. 

AMCC Chairman Rex Vaughn told WIAT that starting November 27, applicants will be re-evaluated based on presentations they make to the commission and the application scores from the University of South Alabama; although commissioners can “choose to disregard the previous scoring,” which the agency had previously described as potentially inconsistent. 

Under the new timeline, the commission plans to award all licenses by December 12. 

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Federal Judge Denies Attempt to Block Virginia Hemp Restrictions

11/01/2023

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A federal judge in Northern Virginia on Monday denied an attempt to block a recently enacted state law that imposed stricter limits on intoxicating hemp products, the Virgnia Mercury reports. In the opinion, U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema said the state “demonstrated that delta-8 THC is a credible threat to the Virginia population.”  

“…There is a strong public interest in protecting the citizens of the commonwealth from substances like delta-8, including a vulnerable population, such as children, from hospitalizations and poisonings. The decision to advance that interest was done by the elected policymakers of Virginia, and this court must defer to those political and social welfare judgements.” — Brinkema in the decision 

The plaintiffs, which include Virginia hemp businesses, argued in the lawsuit that Virginia had overstepped its authority to regulate hemp in a way that conflicted with federal law and interfered with interstate commerce. Brinkema disagreed, writing that federal hemp laws do not mandate “that the substance must be legal in every state.”  

“Nor does it mean that Congress has mandated that any product that simply includes industrial hemp as one ingredient or derivative among many must be legalized by every state legislature,” she wrote.  

The decision denies the plaintiffs’ request for an injunction against the law and the laws will remain in place while the lawsuit moves forward.    

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Europe’s First Legal Cannabis Dispensary Gets Final Approval by Swiss Regulators

10/31/2023

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Europe’s first legal, albeit experimental, cannabis dispensary last week was given final approval by Swiss regulators. The dispensary, run by the Sanity Group and the Swiss Institute for Addiction and Health Research (ISGF), received approval to conduct a study on the controlled dispensing of cannabis to adults by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (BAG).

The study, titled “Grashaus Projects” is scheduled to launch later this year, and cannabis will initially be dispensed through a flagship shop in the municipality of Allschwil, with another location in Liestal to follow. Sanity Group is the only German company participating in the Swiss pilot projects, which aims to learn more about the effects of controlled access to cannabis in an effort to provide a solid scientific basis for possible decisions on future cannabis regulation in Switzerland.

In a statement, Prof. Dr. Michael Schaub, Scientific Director of the ISGF, who will lead the study, said its insights “can contribute to an informed health policy discussion on the responsible use of cannabis and serve as a basis for decisions on long-term regulation.”

“In addition, we want to investigate whether we can gain better access to high-risk users with, for example, mental health problems, in order to refer them to appropriate cantonal care centers.” — Schaub in a press release

Finn Hänsel, CEO of Sanity Group, said the study’s results “will be of international interest.”

“Our ambition to support the ISGF pilot project with our knowledge and experience as an internationally positioned cannabis company is primarily based on the promotion of research in the field of cannabis,” he said in a statement. “Since the company was founded, our goal has been to further research the benefits of cannabis and destigmatize the plant. Together with the ISGF, we are developing concepts for safe sales based on health protection, youth protection and prevention.”

Up to 3,950 healthy adults living in the canton of Basel-Landschaft will be able to participate in the study. Schaub explained that study participants will be given a participation card to obtain cannabis from the dispensary. Participants will be continually surveyed every six months on their consumption behavior, and physical and mental health.

All cannabis products will be produced according to the quality requirements of the Controlled Dispensing of Non-Medical Cannabis program and the organic guidelines in Switzerland by the Swiss cultivation partner SwissExtract. Prices for cannabis flowers are said to range between 8 and 12 Swiss francs (USD$8.85-$13.28) depending on the THC content.

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Medical Cannabis Sales in Arkansas on Track to Set New Record This Year

10/31/2023

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Medical cannabis sales in Arkansas have totaled $211.3 million this year, according to Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) data outlined by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. The state has collected $23.5 million in tax revenue from medical cannabis sales so far this year and $113 million since the state’s first dispensaries opened in 2019.

According to DFA data, Arkansas dispensaries have sold 44,949 pounds of cannabis this year.

In a statement, Scott Hardin, a DFA spokesperson, said that since medical cannabis sales launched in the state in May 2019, patients have spent more than $965 million.

“This included $31 million in 2019, $182 million in 2020, $265 million in 2021, $276 million in 2022 and $211 million through September this year. With monthly sales averaging $23.4 million, we remain on track to set a new sales record this year.” — Hardin, in a statement, via the Democrat-Chronicle

According to state data, there are currently 96,056 active medical cannabis ID cards issued in Arkansas. In January, the state counted 99,955 active ID cards.

In August, DFA said that the average price per pound of medical cannabis was $4,545 – a marked decrease from the $6,565 average price per pound in 2021.

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Researchers at Duke University Exploring How Psychedelics Function in the Brain

10/31/2023

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Researchers at Duke University are exploring how psychedelics function in the brain by dosing larval zebrafish with DOI, a compound similar to LSD. Minel Arinel, a graduate student in the Department of Neurobiology, said that while “Clinical trials just ask whether people with psychiatric disorders get better, there’s not much of a mechanistic understanding of what exactly is happening” when someone is under the influence of psychedelics. 

Arinel’s current project seeks to understand how brain cells, and which ones, change to impact a fish’s movement and perception after being dosed with DOI. 

“It really changes their sensitivity to the dark. At lower concentrations of DOI, they move way more in the dark, but as the concentration increases, they start moving less and less. They kind of just float around in the water and lose motor control.” — Arinel to Duke School of Medicine Magnify 

Arinel added that the research won’t immediately lead to cures for neurological disorders any time soon.   

“We cannot say, ‘We gave this drug to a fish, so we’re going to cure PTSD,’ or anything like that,” she said.  

Another study by Duke researchers is investigating how the substances might alleviate opioid addiction and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Graduate student Kathryn Walder-Christensen said that several of her family members suffer from OCD and they have “gone through batteries of treatment and medications and behavioral therapy, and nothing has worked.” 

“The idea of finding something that would provide a long-lasting therapeutic benefit is very appealing,” she said.

Walder-Christensen is working in the Collective for Psychiatric Neuroengineering on they study, which doses mice with tweaked versions of psychedelic drugs that have the hallucinogenic component removed.

Cynthia Kuhn, PhD, professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, said there’s a debate, that cannot be answered by animal studies, about whether the hallucinogenic aspect induced by psychedelics is a pivotal part of therapeutic healing, or if it is a byproduct of chemical reactions.

“Do you need that psychedelic experience to achieve therapeutic effects? Or are you just putting a key in a biochemical lock, and it doesn’t matter if you’re conscious or not?” Kuhn said. “What you can learn in a rodent, or a zebrafish is exactly what molecule or receptor mechanism is being activated. What you never know is what they’re thinking.”

The studies have yet to be published but Duke has been looking at psychedelic studies since 2020 when Kuhn created a course on psychedelics as medicine and in 2021 the Duke Margolis Center for Health Policy assembled a panel of experts to examine the hurdles in the design and execution of psychedelic-focused clinical trials.

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