Survey: 88% of Medical Cannabis Patients Reduced Use of Prescription Drugs, Alcohol, or Both

10/30/2023

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A survey from EO Care, Inc. found that 88% of medical cannabis consumers said medical cannabis reduced their use of prescription drugs, alcohol, or both. Another 51% said they would be likely or very likely to use cannabis if it were offered by their health plan.  

The survey, which included 1,027 Americans from states where cannabis was legal for either medical or adult use, also found that 65% of respondents would feel more comfortable using cannabis for medical purposes if it were screened and dosed by a clinician.  

In all, 18% of respondents had consumed cannabis for health reasons in the past year, 19% had consumed cannabis recreationally, and 14% had consumed it for both purposes. The top three reasons for the respondents’ consuming cannabis were anxiety, pain, and sleep. 

In a statement, Sean Collins, co-founder and CEO of EO Care, noted that “Finding clinical guidance for medicinal cannabis is difficult because most doctors lack the knowledge and retail dispensaries are not equipped to provide medical advice.” 

“As a result we have tens of millions of Americans using cannabis for health reasons without guidance on specific product recommendations, dosage amounts, possible drug interactions, or consideration of their health history and other potential health risks. Given that sales of cannabis for health reasons is far higher than most prescription drugs, this is a highly concerning situation for healthcare generally.” — Collins in a press release 

The survey also found that 56% of respondents said they would be more likely to take a job at a company whose health plan offered cannabis care and 44% would reconsider applying for a job at a company that tested for prior use of cannabis use or prohibited cannabis outside of the workplace. 

“94% of Americans live in a state where cannabis is legal in some form,” Collins added. “And we know a large percentage of Americans have used cannabis in the past year, so this is definitely impacting employees and health outcomes. With the right medicinal cannabis guidance employers have an opportunity to help their employees, improve health outcomes and be progressive leaders in offering this important benefit that employees will come to expect.”

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Georgia Pharmacies Begin Selling Low-THC Medical Cannabis Oil

10/30/2023

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Pharmacies in Georgia last week began selling medical cannabis products to patients, becoming the first in the U.S. to participate in medical cannabis sales, CNN reports. State officials had approved the regulations earlier this month, paving the way for independent pharmacies to sell low-THC cannabis oils allowed under the state’s medical cannabis program.   

Robins Pharmacy, Omega Pharmacy, and the Allen Pharmacy Group are the first three pharmacies in the state to get licenses to sell the products. State lawmakers had approved the law allowing pharmacies to sell the products in 2019, but it took years for the regulations to get final approval.  

Dr. Ankit Patel, of Robins Pharmacy, told CNN he’s been “excited” about the possibility of selling the products “for about for years now” and that he had applied for the program “immediately.” 

To get state approval, pharmacies submit an application and are inspected by the state drugs and narcotics agency. Inspectors investigate the store’s security, question the staff about how much they know about the products, and about how to handle the products, before the state will grant them the license. 

Bill Posey, the owner of Allen Pharmacy Group told CNN he already has patients calling about when they could start buying the products. 

“It’s going to be great,” he said.

Under the state’s medical cannabis law, there are 16 medical conditions that allow patients to access the low-THC oils.  

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New York Regulators Pause Administrative Trials of Unlicensed Cannabis Businesses

10/30/2023

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New York’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) has stopped holding administrative trials for businesses accused of selling cannabis without a license, The City reports. The last such trial was held October 20 and OCM told The City the pause was due to a lack of resources and that it did not know when the trials would reconvene. 

According to OCM, as of last week, the agency said it has issued 270 enforcement actions across the state since June and seized an estimated $45 million worth of illicit cannabis. Since June, OCM has held 26 administrative trials and levied $220,000 in fines, the report says. Decisions are still pending in 10 other cases. Two attorneys representing with cases pending before the OCM told The City they had received notifications of withdrawal.     

OCM Executive Director Chris Alexander has publicly expressed reservations about the agency’s enforcement of unlicensed cannabis shops, saying during a meeting with community boards earlier this month that “It was never OCM’s mission to do this type of enforcement.” 

“I want to be very clear,” Alexander said during the meeting, “that the strategy has not worked.” 

Under New York regulations, illegally operating cannabis businesses can face fines up to $20,000 per day of operation. A member of OCM, on background, told Ganjapreneur earlier this month that the agency did not have enough staff to keep up with enforcement of unlicensed cannabis shops.  

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Isolate Extraction Systems Acquires Apeks Supercritical, Becoming Dominant Global Player in CO2 Extraction Systems

10/30/2023

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Lafayette, Colorado 10/17/23 — Isolate Extraction Systems, Inc. (“IES”), a global manufacturer of innovative solutions for supercritical CO2 botanical extraction across several industries, is pleased to announce its acquisition of Apeks Supercritical (“Apeks”), a renowned manufacturer of supercritical CO2 extraction equipment and a leading IES competitor. This strategic transaction signifies a significant milestone for IES, as it combines and aligns the strengths, expertise and resources of IES and Apeks to better serve the rapidly evolving needs of the global extraction industry. Together, the combined company has delivered nearly 1,000 CO2 extraction systems to date to its customers on a global basis.

IES has established itself as a pioneering force in the CO2 extraction market, offering a range of cutting-edge commercial and industrial extraction equipment, innovative customer support service and maintenance packages, and comprehensive consulting and performance management services. This transaction further solidifies and expands IES’ commitment and capabilities in delivering top-tier, industry-leading products and services to its customers.

Apeks Supercritical, known for its precision-engineered CO2 extraction systems, has earned a reputation for excellence and innovation in the field of botanical extraction. This transaction will provide IES with access to Apeks Supercritical’s expertise, patented technologies, and an expanded customer base, further enhancing its market presence. The combined company will continue to sell new systems, certified refurbished systems and parts, and will offer a variety of service solutions to its customers. IES is the ideal partner to support Apeks’ customers’ needs and to best serve the evolving needs of the supercritical CO2 extraction industry.

Key benefits and highlights of the Deal:

  1. Enhanced Product Portfolio: The combination of Isolate Extraction Systems’ and Apeks Supercritical’s product lines will result in a comprehensive and diverse range of extraction equipment, catering to a wider array of customer needs and applications.
  2. Improved Technological Advancements: The merging of research and development efforts will lead to accelerated technological advancements and innovations, setting new industry standards through new product development and product enhancement offerings.
  3. Strengthened Industry Leadership: The combined knowledge and experience of both companies will empower IES to strengthen its position as the market leader in botanical extraction solutions.
  4. Expanded Customer Support: Apeks Supercritical’s established customer base will benefit from the broader support and service offerings provided by Isolate Extraction Systems, ensuring customer satisfaction and loyalty.

“We are thrilled to announce the acquisition of Apeks Supercritical, a company that shares our dedication to quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction,” said Kelly Knutson, CEO at Isolate Extraction Systems. “This strategic move aligns with our mission to provide the most advanced and reliable extraction solutions to our valued customers.”

As the integration process gets underway, Isolate Extraction Systems is committed to ensuring a seamless transition for customers and employees. Both companies will now be operated as a combined entity with strategically aligned operating initiatives and product development plans. Our immediate focus will be to contact our customers to ensure their service and performance needs have our full attention. Over the coming weeks, we plan to work hard to get acquainted and re-acquainted with all of our customers and to expand our sales and service teams.

For more information about Isolate Extraction Systems and Apeks Supercritical, please visit:

IES – www.isolatesystems.com
Apeks – www.apekssupercritical.com

About Isolate Extraction Systems:
Isolate Extraction Systems is a leading provider of innovative botanical extraction solutions, offering a wide range of CO2 processing and extraction equipment since 2012. With a commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, Isolate Extraction Systems empowers businesses in the extraction industry to achieve their goals.

About Apeks Supercritical:
Apeks Supercritical is a renowned manufacturer of supercritical CO2 extraction equipment, known for its precision-engineered systems and innovative solutions for botanical extraction. Founded in 2001, Apeks Supercritical has a long-standing history of excellence and customer satisfaction. For over 20 years, Apeks Supercritical has been continually designing, refining, and manufacturing botanical oil extraction systems utilizing subcritical and supercritical CO2.

Contact:

Adam Knight
Chief Revenue Officer
Isolate Extraction Systems, Inc.
aknight@isolatesystems.com
720.541.7301

Kelly Knutson
CEO
Isolate Extraction Systems, Inc.
kknutson@isolatesystems.com
303.968.9313

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Cannabis Companies Sue U.S. Attorney General Over Federal Cannabis Laws

10/27/2023

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A group of Massachusetts-based cannabis companies are suing U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland over federal cannabis laws, arguing the laws infringe on state powers, harms their business, and threatens the businesses’ safety because the laws force them to operate entirely in cash.  

The plaintiffs include Canna Provisions, Inc., Wiseacre Farm, Inc., Verano Holdings Corp., and Gyasi Sellers, an individual who operates a cannabis courier business.

The lawsuit points to a 2005 Supreme Court decision (Gonzales v. Raich) that found because Congress intended to “eradicate” cannabis from interstate commerce, including both economic and noneconomic uses of cannabis, the federal government had a rational and therefore lawful purpose in intruding on the states’ own cannabis regulation; however, the lawsuit contends that “in the decades since that decision, Congress and the Executive Branch have abandoned any intent to ‘eradicate’ marijuana.”

“Numerous states have also implemented programs for regulated marijuana that is not fungible with, and is distinguishable from, illicit interstate marijuana. Despite these changes, the federal criminal prohibition on intrastate marijuana remains in place, an unjustified vestige of a long-abandoned policy. This unjustified intrusion of federal power harms Plaintiffs, threatens the communities they serve, and lacks any rational purpose.” — Canna Provisions, Inc., GYASI Sellers, Wiseacre Farm, Inc., Verano Holdings Corp., v. Merrick Garland

The plaintiffs allege their businesses have been harmed by federal cannabis prohibition. Sellers says his businesses are unable to obtain Small Business Association (SBA) loans because the agency deems cannabis businesses are “ineligible for SBA assistance” regardless of whether they comply with state law. Canna Provisions contends it has been barred from MassHire, one of the state’s career services organizations, from posting jobs or running workshops and that company employees and officers have had personal bank accounts shut down or mortgages declined because they work with cannabis. Wiseacre Farm claims it was unable to lease lands from a willing Massachusetts farmer because the farmer feared losing federal agriculture grant money.

“All of these harms, along with numerous other harms to Plaintiffs alleged herein, are caused by the federal government’s unconstitutional ban on cultivating, manufacturing, distributing, or possessing intrastate marijuana,” the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit further contends that the federal ban on cannabis results in punitive taxation and eliminates state-regulated cannabis businesses’ rights under federal law because companies are not allowed to claim deductions or credits on federal taxes and are unable to trademark their products.

The plaintiffs seek to have the Controlled Substances Act, as it relates to cannabis, ruled unconstitutional and prohibit the federal government, namely the attorney general, from enforcing the law “in a manner that interferes with the intrastate cultivation, manufacture, possession, and distribution” of cannabis under state laws.

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Regulators Issue Emergency Suspension of Cannabis Testing Lab’s License

10/27/2023

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The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) announced this week that they are issuing an Emergency Suspension of the certification for cannabis testing laboratory True Northwest Inc, located in Olympia.

The LCB has determined that True Northwest no longer meets the stringent criteria required for certification under state regulations. The lab’s troubles began when it failed to submit an acceptable corrective action report following a deficiency report. Subsequently, during a laboratory assessment and proficiency testing, multiple serious deficiencies were identified, raising concerns about the quality and accuracy of its testing procedures.

Among the issues cited were the absence of a lab director on staff, scales that were not properly calibrated, and the issuance of incorrect test results to both licensees and the general public. As a result of this suspension, True Northwest’s certification will remain suspended for 180 days, during which time the Board will seek the revocation of the lab’s certification.

According to the LCB, the investigation into True Northwest’s operations began in September 2023 when the LCB received documentation indicating that the lab was providing inaccurate quality assurance and quality control test results. Despite being aware of these deficiencies, the lab continued to submit “inaccurate and/or false” test results to the LCB and its clients.

On September 19, 2023, a third-party lab certification monitor, RJ Lee, confirmed to the LCB that True Northwest was not in compliance with proficiency testing standards and had failed proficiency tests on two separate occasions, raising serious questions about its testing accuracy.

Subsequent inspections in early October revealed further problems. On October 4, 2023, the LCB was notified that True Northwest no longer had a lab director on-site, a clear violation of certification requirements. An audit conducted on October 9, 2023, uncovered multiple deficiencies, including five critical ones that posed a “significant public safety concern.”

As a result of these findings, the LCB placed True Northwest on administrative hold on October 11, 2023, prohibiting the lab from receiving or conducting any further quality assurance testing. Finally, on October 25, 2023, the LCB approved the emergency suspension of True Northwest’s certification.

This development underscores the importance of adhering to rigorous standards and regulations in the cannabis industry to maintain the trust and safety of both consumers and the public.

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New Mexico Cannabis Business Loses License for Illegally Obtaining Cannabis for Retail Purposes

10/27/2023

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New Mexico regulators have revoked the license of an Albuquerque cannabis business and ordered them to pay nearly $300,000 in fines after finding that the company illegally obtained cannabis and improperly transported it, KOB4 reports. Golden Roots, which does business as Cannabis Revolution Dispensary, must stop all commercial activity and recall all of its cannabis products. The fine is linked to the money earned while allegedly possessing and distributing illegal products.  

According to regulators, Golden Roots requested to enter fully-grown, harvested, and dried plants into its system just two months after receiving their licenses, which tipped off the state Cannabis Control Division (CCD), who said plants usually take longer than two months to reach maturity. State compliance officers inspected the company’s growing facility and said they found no evidence of a functional cultivation operation, the report says. Later, regulators allege, they found the company moving fully-grown and harvested cannabis plants off-site.  

In a statement, CCD Director Todd Stevens said Golden Roots actions “show a blatant disregard for the Cannabis Regulation Act and the laws all licensees in New Mexico must follow.”  

“Our compliance officers will continue performing daily inspections, following up on complaints, and working to remove all bad actors from the New Mexico cannabis industry.” — Stevens, in a press release, via KRQE 

The business reportedly requested an evidentiary hearing last month but no one from the company showed up. 

According to state regulators, Golden Roots is the third in the state to have its license revoked but the first to face hefty fines for illegal activity. 

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Rehmann Publishes 2023 Michigan Cannabis CFO Outlook Report

10/26/2023

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Troy, Mich., – October 26, 2023 – Fully integrated professional advisory firm Rehmann, a leader in providing accounting and consulting services to the cannabis industry, today published its 2023 Michigan Cannabis CFO Outlook Report in partnership with A&K Research, Inc. The second annual award-winning report features an in-depth study on the current state of the cannabis industry in the state of Michigan.

“We are excited to make this important data accessible and comprehensible to cannabis business leaders for a second year in a row,” said Chris Rosmarin, CPA and principal at Rehmann. “The 2023 report provides current and future cannabis entrepreneurs and finance professionals with a temperature check on the current state of the industry from a financial perspective as well as predictive snapshots of its future.”

Designed to provide cannabis licensees insight, the 2023 report highlights the latest concerns, trends, and challenges in Michigan’s cannabis industry, arming them with not only an inside look at the operational, tax, and M&A activities of their unnamed peers but also those peers’ plans and expectations for the future.
“As the Michigan cannabis industry continues to grow, many businesses do not have the proper guidance and thus struggle to manage their own growth,” said Erik Schumacher, CPA and principal at Rehmann. “We hope the report provides businesses with the clarity and information they need to make educated decisions and expand their businesses.”

“Taking into consideration the results and consistent increases in stats, it’s clear that the cannabis industry is stabilizing as compared to the prior year,” said Maher Faik, CPA and senior manager of finance and accounting solutions at Rehmann. “We are eager to continue providing our clients with compliance advice and adding value to their businesses as the industry continues to mature.”

To view the report, visit https://lp.rehmann.com/2023-michigan-cannabis-cfo-outlook.

About Rehmann

Empower Your Purpose
Rehmann is a professional advisory firm that provides accounting and assurance, business solutions and outsourcing, specialized consulting, and wealth management services. For over 80 years, Rehmann has provided forward-thinking solutions to our clients nationwide. With over 1,000 associates in Michigan, Ohio, and Florida, we are the momentum behind what’s possible. We focus on the business of business – allowing companies and individuals to focus on what makes them extraordinary. We help you look to the future with confidence, thanks to our unrivaled expertise and integrity. Through our partnerships with our clients and communities, we drive impact that empowers our world. Find us online at rehmann.com.

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Poll: Nearly 70% of Kansans Back Adult-Use Cannabis Legalization

10/26/2023

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Nearly 70% of Kansans support adult-use cannabis legalization, according to the Kansas Speaks survey conducted by Fort Hays State University. The survey found 67.2% backed the reforms with 16.9% opposed.  

The survey also found a majority – 63.6% – of respondents were “highly” or “somewhat” likely to vote for a candidate who supported medical cannabis legalization as they decided who to vote for to represent them in the state legislature; 14.8% said they would “unlikely” vote for a candidate who backed the reforms. 

Adult-use legalization was backed by a majority of Kansans of all ages, although narrowly, including 67.8% of those polled aged 18-34; 76.4% of those 45-44 years old; 67.3% of those 45-64; and 59.1% of those 65-and-older. A majority of Republicans (60%) also supported adult-use legalization in the state, along with 76.1% of independents, and 72.7% of Democrats.

In March, the state Senate tabled a medical cannabis legalization bill and the state remains one of just four where cannabis remains outlawed for any purpose. The reforms have the support of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly who said she was “disappointed that some legislators are saying they don’t want to move forward with legalizing medical marijuana this year. She added that the decision to table the bill was lawmakers “effectively turning their backs on our veterans and those with chronic pain and seizure disorders.”

The House passed a medical cannabis bill in 2021, but the measure didn’t receive a committee vote in the Senate.

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Researchers Net $3.2M Federal Grant to Study How Cannabis Affects Patients Who Receive Immunotherapy

10/26/2023

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A University at Buffalo (UB) researcher has been awarded a $3.2 million National Cancer Institute grant to study how cannabis affects patients who receive immunotherapy. According to Rebecca Ashare, PhD, associate professor of psychology in the UB College of Arts and Sciences and the grant’s lead investigator, up to 40% of cancer patients report using cannabis for symptom management during and after immunotherapy treatments, but there isn’t much rigorous research investigating the efficacy of using cannabis for that purpose. 

“There are virtually no long-term studies evaluating its potential benefits and harms for persons treated with immunotherapy for cancer, despite cancer and its treatments being qualifying conditions in most of the 37 states and Washington, D.C., that have legalized adult use or medical cannabis. There are reports of benefits surrounding pain relief, improving mood and curbing sleep deprivation, but there is also evidence of physical, cognitive and mental harms, including cannabis use disorder.” — Ashare in a press release 

Nearly 44% of cancer patients with 20 different tumor types receive immunotherapy treatment; notably, a specific type involving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Immune checkpoints are a normal part of the immune system that govern the immune response to prevent the destruction of healthy cells. 

“The demand for evidence is clear and this project represents an important first step in that process as both immunotherapy and cannabis use are becoming more widespread therapeutic options in oncology, accepted by many patients and physicians,” Ashare said in a statement. 

In general, ICIs have fewer side effects than chemotherapy, and patients can be on the treatment longer than chemotherapy, but cannabis has anti-inflammatory properties that can suppress immune function, which Ashare said is “usually a good thing, except when you want the immune system to be active in order to fight cancer; so there are concerns that cannabis might reduce the efficacy of immunotherapy.”

Thomas Jefferson University and Oregon Health and Science University will join UB in recruiting participants for the three-site, 12-month observational study to advance research regarding the benefits and harms of cannabis use over time among cancer patients treated with immunotherapy. Each site will begin recruiting 450 participants being treated for cancer with ICI immunotherapy – half of the participants will be cannabis consumers and the other half will be non-consumers. Participants are not randomized for the studies, and each will use their own cannabis products. The research team will assess benefits and harms through medical records, patient outcomes, and blood samples at six different times over a one-year period. 

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Canadian Pediatric Society Releases Position Statement and Recommendations for Medical Cannabis Therapy for Children

10/26/2023

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The Canadian Paediatric Society last week released a position statement on medical cannabis for children under 18 years old, offering recommendations for physicians working with pediatric patients. The statement lays out the efficacy of medical cannabis for a handful of medical conditions, including epilepsy, autism, neurological disorders, and cancer and palliative care. 

The statement notes that smoking is not recommended for pediatric patients for several reasons, “including unpredictable dosing and smoking-related respiratory hazards” and that most patients under 18 are usually given cannabinoid-containing oils. The paper adds that the use of edibles for pediatric patients is not recommended due to inconsistent cannabinoid distribution in the products.   

“There is a growing body of research, of variable quality evidence, suggesting benefit of medical cannabis for some conditions in some children. Medical cannabis should only be authorized in cases where the benefits clearly outweigh the risks.” — Canadian Paediatric Society, “Medical cannabis for children: Evidence and recommendations,” Oct. 19 2023 

The statement says that clinicians “should be willing and able to engage in open discussions about the potential benefits and risks of medical cannabis” and give families evidence-based and unbiased information; consider the age and diagnosis of the patient; start with “slow titration” in the administration of medical cannabis products; and seek up-to-date evidence on potential safety risks, including drug-to-drug interactions. 

The organization also advocates for more education for clinicians to help them understand how cannabinoids work.  

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Denver Passes Half-Billion-Dollar Mark for Cannabis Taxes and Industry Fees

10/25/2023

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The city of Denver, Colorado surpassed the half-billion mark for cannabis tax revenue and industry fees this summer, topping $501.5 million in August, Westword reports. The total includes all cannabis-derived tax revenues tracked by Excise & Licenses since 2010, which is when medical cannabis dispensaries began operating in the city.  

From 2010 to 2013, the city collected $26.2 million from a 3.62% tax on medical cannabis sales and business licensing fees. In 2014, when adult-use dispensaries began operating, the city collected $23.8 million through licensing fees and a 3.5% sales tax. In 2018, the city increased its tax to 5.5% to help fund local affordable housing programs and in 2021 the city saw its record-to-date for tax and fee collections with $72.9 million in revenue, the report says.    

According to an Excise & Licenses report earlier this year, outlined by Westword, the 2% increase on cannabis sales taxes for affordable housing provided nearly $38.8 million from late 2018 through 2022, which has helped pay for Denver Department of Housing Stability’s land acquisitions, unit development and production, housing assistance, and supportive housing services.  

In 2023, local cannabis tax revenues will fund $8 million in homelessness services, according to Excise & Licenses, and more than $8.7 million in affordable housing assistance and nearly $4.4 million in small-business investments, with more than $10 million for youth intervention, legal cannabis industry enforcement, regulator efforts, and public safety campaigns. 

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Survey: 65% of Canadian Cannabis Consumers Only Use Legal Sources

10/25/2023

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Five years after Canada legalized cannabis for adult use, 65% of consumers said they purchased only from legal sources, according to a survey from Pollara Strategic Insights. The firm found that the public continues to largely accept the reforms, with 52% expressing outright approval, 20% ambivalent, and 23% disapproving. 

Ther survey found that about 30% of Canadians believe legalization has resulted in increased crime, which Pollara said roughly matches expectations, but that about 10% believe it has caused a decrease. Another 70% said they feel like the number of stores selling adult-use cannabis has increased since its legalization, while 30% said they believed the number of illegal stores has increased. 

“Five years since legalization, over a quarter (27%) of Canadians report using cannabis in some form in the past 12 months – representing a 2-point increase from July 2022, a 9-point increase since March 2019, and a doubling of reported levels pre-legalization (+14 points). One-in-ten (11%) of all adult Canadians – including two-in-ten (21%) cannabis users – report having only used cannabis since legalization.” — Pollara Strategic Insights, “Legal cannabis in Canada: 5 years later,” Fall 2023 

Just 36% of Canadian cannabis consumers still tend to view prices in the legal market as higher than those in the informal market, while 17% said they were about the same. 

Only a quarter of those polled said cannabis legalization has had an overall negative impact on Canada or their province. 

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Connecticut City Settles Lawsuit With Former Cop Who Was Suspended for Using Medical Cannabis

10/25/2023

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The city of Bridgeport, Connecticut this week agreed to pay a settlement to a former police officer who said he was wrongly suspended for being a medical cannabis patient, CT Post reports. The settlement with Donald Bensey came as the case was set for a trial in Superior Court. 

The details of the settlement were not disclosed, and it still requires final approval from the City Council.  

In 2012, state lawmakers passed a bill prohibiting employers from firing employees who consumed cannabis and were enrolled in the state’s medical cannabis program; however, federal law outlaws the possession of firearms by cannabis consumers, which was required for Bensey in his role as a police officer. Bensey had worked for the Bridgeport police since 2006, and was promoted to sergeant in 2016, but had qualified for the medical cannabis program in 2016 following a post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis, the report says.  

In 2016 and 2018, then-Police Chief Armando Perez issued a department-wide memo stating that, despite the medical cannabis law and 2012 law protecting medical cannabis patients, officers “are still prohibited from using or possessing marijuana and will be subject to discipline up to and including termination.” Bensey subsequently tested positive for cannabis during a random drug test and was suspended for 30 days and threatened with termination; he would later resign.  

In 2019, a federal judge tossed Bensey’s discrimination case, citing federal law.  

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Study: Psychedelic Users Had Better Mental Health Outcomes During Pandemic

10/24/2023

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A study published last month in the journal Scientific Reports suggests that individuals who use psychedelics tended to have better mental health outcomes during the coronavirus pandemic than non-users.   

The researchers concluded that “users of hallucinogenic drugs scored better on various dimensions that were clearly affected by the recent COVID-19 pandemic, like psychopathology, wellbeing, and post-traumatic growth. This was even clearer in the case of regular users of these drugs.”

“From these results, we can suggest that either these drugs exert certain effects on individuals that protect them against some of the distress of life-changing events, or people who use these drugs do so because they have traits that are related to the better management of stressful events. Overall, these findings have public policy implications that should be addressed. Further research should elucidate the role of hallucinogenic drugs in large-scale catastrophes, such as pandemics and wars.” — “Longitudinal and transcultural assessment of the relationship between hallucinogens, well-being, and post-traumatic growth during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Scientific Reports, Sept. 11, 2023 

For the study, researchers recruited a sample of 2,971 participants for the baseline assessment, with 1,024 participants at the first follow-up, two months later, and 455 participants at the last follow-up, which occurred six months after the baseline assessment. 

To gather the data, the team developed an online survey specifically designed for the study, which was available in Spanish, Portuguese, and English. The survey reached individuals from over 80 countries, due to snowball sampling and online dissemination through various channels, including social media, scientific journals, and community websites. 

Study author José Carlos Bouso, the scientific director for the International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research, and Service (ICEERS), told PsyPost that the survey was released to the general public and that researchers did not disclose that they were conducting research about psychedelics “to avoid biasing the answers.” The study employed well-established psychometric measures to assess various aspects of mental health and included questions about the use of psychedelic drugs, including MDMA, ayahuasca, psilocybin-containing mushrooms, LSD, peyote, and others.   

Those who used psychedelics experienced fewer symptoms across various mental health dimensions, including obsessions or compulsions, depression, hostility, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation, and psychoticism, and the overall severity of psychological symptoms, as indicated by the General Severity Index, was also lower among the group. Hallucinogenic drug users were also less reliant on information from the media and politicians, which is noteworthy because excessive exposure to pandemic-related news and information has been linked to higher levels of distress. 

Bouso said that the study confirmed the researchers’ hypothesis: “participating in structured psychedelic sessions seems to help with the adaptive process in stressful situations and may thus be a protective factor for mental health.” 

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Oregon Cannabis Organizations Merge Into New Coalition Representing 500+ Members

10/24/2023

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The Oregon Cannabis Association and the Cannabis Industry Alliance of Oregon are merging after the boards of the organizations voted to approve the change last week, Oregon Public Broadcasting reports. The new organization is called the Cannabis Industry Alliance of Oregon and represents more than 500 members.  

The move comes as the state’s industry faces oversupply, limited demand, and record low prices, the report says. Hunter Neubauer, board member of the group, told OPB that the state’s cannabis industry has already experienced a pair of boom and bust cycles. A February report from the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) had predicted a tumultuous year ahead for the nearly decade-old industry.   

“The overabundance of supply throughout 2021 and 2022 resulted in historically low wholesale and retail prices for both usable marijuana and concentrate/extract products. The declining prices, in combination with a tempering in the growth of quantities purchased, resulted in the first-ever decrease in annual sales (from $1.2 billion in 2021 to $994 million in 2022).” — OLCC, “2023 Recreational Marijuana Supply and Demand Legislative Report”  

The agency predicts that the low margins will continue unless the federal government “creates pathways to interstate commerce.”  

The Oregon Cannabis Association was formed in 2014, when voters approved adult-use cannabis legalization in the state. The Cannabis Industry Alliance was formed last year after the merger of three industry groups.  

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Texas University Awarded USDA Grant to Study Hemp as Animal Feed

10/24/2023

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Agricultural scientists at Texas’ Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) have received a $299,162 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to study the use of hemp as animal feed.   

The three-year study will be conducted by research scientists from the university’s Department of Agriculture, Nutrition and Human Ecology and will focus on the nutritional profile of industrial hemp plant biomass byproducts, and their impact on goats, to determine if hemp biomass can serve as a viable alternative feed that could reduce the use of grain in animal feed, which consumes about 36% of the world’s grain supply.  

The research will be led by Dr. Negusse Kidane, Ph.D., assistant professor and research scientist in the Department of Agriculture, Nutrition and Human Ecology, who said in a statement that the study will involve six multi-disciplinary scientists from PVAMU’s academic and research programs which he said, “demonstrates the team’s commitment to partnership and efficient use of resources.”  

“The project also fosters academic and industrial collaboration, such as with goat producers, hemp farmers, and hemp processing industries across Texas. Given the breadth and scope of the study, a collaborative approach is indispensable for the success of this proposed project, requiring synergistic efforts from scientists in multiple disciplines.” — Kidane in a press release  

Dr. Magesh Rajan, PVAMU vice president of research and innovation, added that the grant “represents a significant milestone” in the college’s “pursuit of innovative solutions for sustainable agriculture.”  

“By exploring the potential of hemp as an alternative to traditional grain in animal feed, our researcher will spearhead groundbreaking research that not only addresses pressing environmental challenges but also contributes to the advancement of animal nutrition,” Rajan said in a statement. 

The proposal is titled proposal titled “Evaluating the Nutritional Profile of Industrial Hemp Farm-Byproducts and Extraction Residues as Alternative Feed Resources for Goats.” The funds were awarded through the USDA’s Capacity Building Grants program. 

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Michigan Appeals Court: Illegal Cannabis Grows are Misdemeanor Crimes Regardless of Size

10/23/2023

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The Michigan Court of Appeals earlier this month ruled that illegal cannabis grows of any size are misdemeanor crimes under the state’s voter-approved adult-use cannabis laws, MLive reports. Under the ruling, defendants convicted since 2018 under the now outdated 1978 may have the grounds to fight those convictions, according to the report.

More than 3,500 people have been charged since 2018 under the previous law, with 1,072 convicted. Under the 1978 law, people convicted for growing cannabis illegally can face up to 15 years in prison for possessing more than 99 pounds of cannabis or 200 plants. Under the 2018 statute, those crimes are considered misdemeanors, punishable by up to 93 days in jail.

The decision stems from an August 2020 raid in Tuscola County, during which officers uncovered 1,156 cannabis plants on the property of Shaaln Kejbou, the report says. Tuscola County prosecutors charged Kejbou with two felonies under the 1978 law and based on those felony charges, prosecutors also charged Kejbou with possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony. A Tuscola County Circuit judge dismissed the cannabis and firearm crimes, ruling the old cannabis plant-count laws are obsolete, which the Tuscola County Prosecutor’s Office appealed.

In the joint Court of Appeals opinion, judges Michelle M. Rick and Kirsten Frank Kelly concluded that the 2018 law was enacted to “prevent situations” like Kejbou’s, namely “a felony conviction for an unlicensed marijuana grow operation.”

“We acknowledge this outcome may be viewed unjust by those businesses that legitimately operate within the parameters of the (law),” the judges wrote. “The remedy, however, lies within the sole responsibility of the Legislature.”

Because the law was approved by voters, any changes require a three-fourths supermajority.

Robin Schneider, who helped write the legalization law and now leads the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association, told MLive that she hasn’t heard any of the organization’s members complain about the decision and that “the law is working exactly as intended.”

“I think all of our members share the belief that they don’t want to see anyone incarcerated for a cannabis crime,” she said.

State police spokeswoman Shanon Banner told MLive that the court ruling won’t impact state police Tobacco and Marijuana Section operations.

“We have reviewed the ruling and because it deals with the level of the penalty and doesn’t change what is legal or illegal under the law, we don’t expect it will have a major impact on our enforcement operations,” she said.

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Rhode Island Adult-Use Cannabis Sales Hit Monthly High of $7.11M in September

10/23/2023

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Adult-use cannabis sales in Rhode Island reached a new monthly sales record in September, totaling $7.11 million, NBC 10 News reports. Adult-use sales totals are now back on track to meet the state’s annual revenue projections of $76 million for fiscal year 2023 after a slow start earlier in the year. 

When the adult-use cannabis market launched in the state in December 2022, the state had imposed an advertising ban on cannabis dispensaries; however, that ban was lifted in June and led to an 11% increase in adult-use cannabis sales that month, the report says.  

Cannabis Control Commission Chair Kim Ahern told NBC 10 News that while she believes allowing advertising is playing a role in the sales increase, she also attributes the growth to “getting the general message out” about a safe and regulated market. 

Rhode Island regulators have yet to award 24 retail licenses and once those licenses are active, officials expect sales will increase. In all, the state will allow a total of 33 adult-use cannabis licensees, which both officials and business owners hope will prevent the industry oversaturation that’s occurred in neighboring Massachusetts. Officials plan to begin issuing those licenses next year.  

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Detroit Officials Close Psychedelic Church Raided in September

10/23/2023

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Detroit, Michigan officials last week closed the building that formerly housed the psychedelic religious institution Soul Tribes International Ministries, the Detroit Free Press reports. The church, which offered psilocybin mushrooms as a sacrament, was raided by police in September. 

Detroit Councilman James Tate shared an image of the padlocked door and a Notice of Building Closure dated October 18 on Facebook and thanked officials for helping to protect the neighborhood.   

Shaman Boby Shu told the Free Press that the move is a “total violation” of the church’s First Amendment rights and is “religious discrimination” and “religious redlining.” Following the September raid, Shu said police seized more than $700,000 in psilocybin mushrooms intended for therapeutic use and ordered the church’s closure.

Detroit voters in 2022 passed Proposal E, which decriminalized possession and therapeutic use of entheogenic plants and fungi but Mayor Mike Duggan’s office has indicated that “It is the law department’s position that this local ordinance, despite its intent, does not override state law, which considers psilocybin to be a controlled substance” and that “the city ordinance itself does not allow for the sale or distribution of psilocybin.”

Shu told the Free Press that he will continue to push to reopen the church.  

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FBI Data: Cannabis-Related Arrests in U.S. Increased in 2022

10/20/2023

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Law enforcement officers in the U.S. made at least 227,108 arrests for cannabis violations in 2022, up from the 219,489 cannabis-related arrests the previous year, according to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) data. Of the 2022 arrests, 92% were for possession only. 

The figures are likely underestimated, because for 2022 83% of agencies reported their arrest data, according to NORML. That figure is up from 63% of agencies in 2021 and represents 75% of the total U.S. population. In a statement, NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano said that “While there has clearly been a long-term decline in the total number of marijuana-related arrests nationwide, it is discouraging that there still remains significant gaps in the available information.” 

“At a time when voters and their elected officials nationwide are re-evaluating state and federal marijuana policies, it is inconceivable that government agencies are unable to produce more explicit data on the estimated costs and scope of marijuana prohibition in America. Nonetheless, even from this incomplete data set, it remains clear that marijuana seizures and prosecutions remain a primary driver of drug war enforcement in the United States. Hundreds of thousands of Americans continue to be arrested annually for these violations even though a majority of voters no longer believe that the responsible use of marijuana by adults should be a crime.” — Armentano in a statement 

In all, 30% of all reported drug-related arrests in the U.S. in 2022 were for cannabis. 

From 2019 to 2020 cannabis-related arrests had fallen 36% but in 2020 more than 350,000 people were arrested for cannabis in the U.S., according to FBI data.   

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Two Michigan Lobbyists Sentenced to Federal Prison for Bribing Former Cannabis Licensing Board Chair

10/20/2023

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Two Michigan lobbyists on Wednesday were sentenced to federal prison terms for their role in paying bribes to Rick Johnson, the former chair of the Michigan Marijuana Licensing Board. Brian Pierce was sentenced to 24 months in prison, along with two years of supervised release and a $25,000 fine, while Vincent Brown was sentenced to 20 months in prison, with two years of supervised release and a $25,000 fine.  

In a statement, U.S. Attorney Mark Totten said the duo “deliberately bribed Rick Johnson for their own personal gain.” 

“As I’ve said before, public corruption is a poison to our democracy and shatters the people’s trust in public officials. My office will hold offenders accountable – whomever, whenever, and wherever we find corruption and blatant disregard for the rule of law.” — Totten in a press release 

Pierce and Brown worked as lobbyists in Lansing and did business together as Philip Alan Brown Consulting, LLC and Michigan Grower’s Consultants, LLC and lobbied on behalf of various businesses seeking operating licenses from the licensing board. The pair admitted paying Johnson a total of $40,000 between June 2017 to November 2018 when Johnson was chair of the board, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan said in a press release. At Johnson’s request, Pierce paid a total of $2,000 to a Detroit exotic dancer who was having commercial sex with Johnson. Those payments were made to influence and reward Johnson in connection with his official duties on the board, including receiving his assistance for their clients who applied for licenses to operate in the cannabis industry.  

Last month, Johnson, a Republican who previously served as Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives, was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for accepting the bribes. In all, Johnson said he accepted a total of at least $110,000 in bribes. During his sentencing, Johnson told the judge he was a “corrupt politician.”  

Michigan businessman John Dalaly was also sentenced last month to more than two years in prison after admitting to paying Johnson at least $68,200 in cash and other benefits, including two private flights to Canada and hiring Johnson’s wife, who helped him fill out forms that would end up in front of the state Medical Marijuana Licensing Board, as a consultant for $4,000 a month.    

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Cannabis Union Partners With Machinists and Aerospace Workers to Promote ‘Sustainable and Responsible’ Industry

10/20/2023

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The Maine Cannabis Union is partnering with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) to impact cannabis-related legislation and promote a sustainable and responsible cannabis industry. The Maine Cannabis Union also announced that it would accept adult-use cannabis business owners into its union after previously only accepting medical cannabis operators.

In a statement, IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan said the alliance “will elevate” the groups’ “collective voice in the corridors of power from Augusta to Washington, D.C.”

“Our mission is to chart a course for a sustainable and responsible industry, not just in Maine but across the nation.” — Sullivan in a press release 

The IAM said that the Cannabis Union’s decision to begin accepting adult-use operators as members “signals their commitment to embracing all sectors of the cannabis market.”

“By doing so, they aim to create a more comprehensive and inclusive community of professionals,” IAM said, “all working together to further the interests of the Maine cannabis industry.”

The groups came together at a recent Cannabis Union-hosted event in Sanford which IAM Eastern Territory Special Representative Tiwaan Bradley described as “a testament to our theme of harmony, unity, and community, which allowed us to bring together new members and industry stakeholders, all driven by a common goal.”

“By expanding our embrace to adult-use store owners and uniting for growth,” Bradley said, “we are well-positioned to navigate challenges and seize opportunities.”

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Jersey City Sues State Over Policy Allowing Police to Use Cannabis Off-Duty

10/19/2023

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The Jersey City, New Jersey public safety director on Monday filed a lawsuit against the state in federal court for its move to allow police to consume cannabis while off duty, the New Jersey Monitor reports. In April, New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin issued a memo saying that it is acceptable for police in the state to use cannabis off-the-clock, but noted in the memo that “there should be zero tolerance for cannabis use, possession, or intoxication while performing the duties of a law enforcement officer” and “zero tolerance for unregulated marijuana consumption by officers at any time, on or off duty.”

In the lawsuit filed by Jersey City Public Safety Director James Shea on behalf of the city, Shea argues that because federal law prohibits anyone who uses a federally controlled substance from possessing a firearm, Jersey City cannot employ police officers who consume cannabis. The lawsuit names Platkin as a defendant.

The lawsuit contends that “police officers in New Jersey are required to possess and receive firearms in order to fulfill their duties as law enforcement officers” and when lawmakers passed the cannabis legalization law they “failed to address the impact of the federal firearm laws on the use of regulated marijuana/cannabis in New Jersey for persons who are required to possess and/or receive firearms or ammunitions as part of the job duties, including police officers in Jersey City.” 

“Every citizen in the state of New Jersey has the right to use marijuana. If one of our officers wants to do that, they could smoke as much as they want – they can no longer perform the duties of a police officer, and we will have to terminate them if we become aware.” — Shea via New Jersey Monitor 

The lawsuit comes two months after the state Civil Service Commission determined that Jersey City must rehire a police officer it had fired after she failed a drug test for cannabis, the report says. The commission based its decision on the state’s legalization law which prohibits employers from firing someone who consumes cannabis off-the-clock. At least three other officers fired for the same reason have also challenged the terminations and are named as defendants in the lawsuit. 

Shea said the commission is “refusing to acknowledge the conflict between the federal law and the state law” and that the legalization law violates the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution, which bars states from overriding federal statutes.  

“We all agree that they smoked, they utilized marijuana, cannabis, or THC. We all agree that they would need to carry a firearm to be police officers,” he told reporters. “So it should be as simple as a judge clarifying the supremacy clause.” 

The lawsuit also names the Civil Service Commission as a defendant and seeks to prevent the body from requiring the city to “employ or reinstate to employment any individual who is an unlawful user of any controlled substance, including marijuana/cannabis where such person is required to possess and/or receive a firearm or ammunition as part of his or her job duties.” 

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