Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Planning Cannabis Tourism Attractions

9/06/2016

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Jamaican officials are developing health and wellness tourism plans that include cannabis, part of an overall strategy that could generate $5 billion by 2021, according to travel industry trade publication eTurboNews.com.

Under the plan by Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica would move away from the all-inclusive, mass tourism model and become “a destination with a difference.” He has already developed a Health and Wellness Network tasked with defining policies for the cannabis-centric health and wellness subsector with plans for “a full roll out” by the end of next year.

“We believe that we can do product differentiation and we can do a level of product diversification which enables us to be attractive to all demographics,” he said during his address at Canex Jamaica, a cannabis industry conference.

Bartlett said the global market for cannabis tourism is worth about $494 billion and Jamaicans “want a piece of it,” noting that Colorado saw a 175 percent tourism increase after legalizing recreational use. He suggested that Jamaica’s industry would allow tourists a “rustic luxury” and that the subsector is “a very important part” of the island nation’s economic future.

Cannabis is decriminalized and tourists who hold medical marijuana cards can buy and possess up to two ounces under looser laws enacted by the federal government last year.

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Recreational Cannabis Daily Sales and Production Set Record Highs in WA

9/05/2016

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Recreational cannabis sales in Washington State topped $130 million in August, according to recent data from the state Liquor and Cannabis Board. The sales are worth about $25 million in tax revenue. Daily dispensary sales recorded a new high in August, hitting more than $4,200 per day – up from about $3,900 per day in July.   

The revenues are considered for fiscal year 2017, which began on July 1. Since that date, roughly $250 million in legal cannabis has been sold, which translates to about $50 million in tax revenues. In fiscal year 2016, $972 million worth of legal marijuana was sold, worth roughly $185 million in tax revenues.

According to the report, more than $4.2 million of legal cannabis is sold statewide every day, resulting in about $700,000 in tax revenues. The state saw 15,043 pounds of cannabis sold in August, down slightly from the 15,260 sold in July.

The 18,160 pounds of cannabis produced in August was the highest recorded in the state so far, almost 3,000 pounds more than were produced in July, the next highest month for production recorded by the board.

In July, the board performed 63 total compliance checks, issuing 22 violations and failing seven.         

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Ohio MMJ Users Can Claim ‘Affirmative Defense’ Until State Rolls Out Program

9/05/2016

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Beginning this week, Ohio patients suffering from one of the conditions spelled out under the state’s medical marijuana law could assert an “affirmative defense” to a judge if they are charged with possession or use of pot, the Toledo Blade reports. The defense will serve as the only relief for patients charged with possession for roughly two years as the state constructs its tightly regulated program — and it will be up to a judge to accept it.

Republican State Rep. Kirk Schuring, who sponsored the medical marijuana legislation, said the program could be fully operational in less than two years and that lawmakers included the affirmative defense measure in the bill so patients, who would qualify under the Ohio program, would not be punished for possessing cannabis while the infrastructure was being set up.

“We’re building a whole new industry from the bottom up,” Schuring said in the report. “A lot of rules have to be promulgated, which will take a significant amount of time.”

The affirmative defense will likely only be accepted if the person charged has written recommendations from their doctor, and was caught possessing a substance defined as medical marijuana under the Ohio statute; which includes, very broadly, plant matter, oils, edibles, patches tinctures, or vapor.

Barry Wilford, a Columbus-based criminal attorney, says the defense can only be used once an individual is in trouble and won’t help prevent an initial arrest.

“The fact is that someone could be abiding by the law in what they are doing, is stopped, is arrested, and would then have to prove to a judge or a jury by the preponderance of the evidence that they did all these things and didn’t violate the law,” he said.

In Ohio, possessing small amounts of marijuana is a minor misdemeanor that cannot be considered in a criminal background check for employment purposes.  

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Medical Cannabis Infrastructure is Scant in Delaware

9/05/2016

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Patients in Delaware are still struggling to gain access to medical marijuana in the state, with many paying high prices and being forced to travel hundreds of miles, according to a News Journal report. The lack of access is partly due to there being only one licensed dispensary in the entire state.

Todd Boone, a medical card holder, has sued the state to open dispensaries in Kent and Sussex counties, which are closer to his Milton home. Boone drives 190 miles round trip to the Wilmington dispensary to obtain the medicine he needs to combat the chronic pain he’s had since a 2008 motorcycle. He says he pays about $360 for an ounce of flower at the dispensary.

“There are thousands of people that need this as medicine, and there is too much greed and back-door politics going on here,” Boone said in the report.

Officials in Delaware planned on opening dispensaries in every county but so far the pilot dispensary in Wilmington — opened last year — is the only one operating the state. According to the report, state regulators are finalizing contract negotiations that would open two more in Sussex and Kent counties by 2017. The Delaware Medical Marijuana Act provided that all three counties must have a Compassion Center by Jan. 1, 2013.

Paul Hyland, the director of the state’s program, indicated that the officials are making progress, although they keep negotiations private, but that “these things take time.”

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Man Fined for Soliciting Investments in Fake OR Cannabis Company

9/05/2016

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An Oregon man has been fined $60,000 by the Department of Consumer and Business Services for swindling $80,000 from an investor for a marijuana-related enterprise, the Oregonian reports.

The department concluded that Todd Grange scammed the Colorado investor into financing a business called THC Pharmaceutical, which the state called a “sham public offering.” Grange claimed that he had been in business for five years and had raised $9 million from 27 different investors; however, the fraudulent company was never incorporated in Oregon — or anywhere else.

“This is a classic case of a fraudster going out there and pitching an investment that is clearly too good to be true using the hot new industry as the hook,” Jake Sunderland, spokesman for the department, said in the report. “Sometimes it’s oil. Sometimes it’s gold and sometimes it’s silver. In this case, it’s marijuana.”

Grange told the investor that his $25,000 investment would be worth about $1 million in shares after THC Pharmaceutical merged with a publicly traded company. The investor never received any shares because “there is no evidence” that any merger was planned and “would be impossible because THCP did not exist,” the order said.

State investigator Chris Aldrich called the ploy a “pyramid scheme.”

“There is no evidence to support that THCP is anything but an internet website which solicits funds,” he wrote in an affidavit included in the order.

Grange appealed the order but dropped out of the appeals process. In order to procure restitution, the parties must negotiate a resolution, but it does not appear that Grange is willing to cooperate in those negotiations. The case could go next to an administrative law judge.

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Roger Martin: Advocating Medical Cannabis Treatment for Veterans

9/02/2016

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Roger Martin is the founder of Grow for Vets USA, a nonprofit working to ease the suffering of veterans through the use of medical cannabis. The organization originated in Colorado, but through Roger’s leadership has been expanded into multiple states around the nation. Roger has had a long career in the service of the United States: he went from originally serving in the U.S. Army to working in law enforcement, and has decided to spend his retirement working to benefit and protect the lives of U.S. military veterans everywhere.

Countless veterans have lauded the effects of cannabis in the treatment of PTSD, chronic pain, and depression. For this reason — and because suicide and painkiller overdoses continue to claim the lives of more than 50 veterans per day — Roger believes that cannabis ought to be the first treatment option offered to veterans suffering from such conditions. To that end, he works tirelessly to convince VA administrators, elected officials, and medical professionals of the benefits of medical cannabis. And that’s why, according to the organization’s website, Grow for Vets USA has provided just over $750,000 worth of cannabis to more than 30,000 veterans, free of charge.

We recently had a conversation with Roger about what it takes to build a national nonprofit cannabis organization from the ground up. Scroll down to read the full interview!

Ganjapreneur: When did you decide to found Grow For Vets, and how did the project look in its infancy?

Roger Martin: I first decided to launch Grow for Vets USA in 2013. I was at a training facility working our German Shepherd and I met several young Veterans who told me that they were taking 20, or more prescription drugs a day. They also told me that cannabis was the only thing that helped them deal with PTSD, TBI, and chronic pain. In addition, they indicated that their lack of financial resources needed to purchase medical cannabis was forcing them to take the free drugs that the VA was handing out. I was outraged to learn of their plight which became the genesis for Grow for Vets USA. I began providing Vets with free medical cannabis. I made it official on January 14, 2014, when I incorporated as a Colorado nonprofit organization. In June of 2015, the IRS granted us tax-exempt status.

How long after you started in Colorado until you realized you had the momentum to turn Grow For Vets into a national organization?

Within a couple of months after our launch in Colorado, we began receiving inquiries from people across the country who wanted to open chapters. On July 1, 2015, we began our national expansion by opening a chapter in Oregon, on the first day that cannabis became adult legal.

How has your organization changed over the last three years?

Since our founding, we have grown tremendously. Many people have come forward to assist us in launching new chapters. In addition, we have received generous support from both individuals and businesses.

What are the most common conditions that can cause veterans to seek cannabis treatment?

The most common is probably chronic pain, followed by PTSD.

How do you identify and reach out to veterans who may need help in their healing process?

We rely on help from the media, as well as from other individuals, companies, and organizations that help us spread the word on social media. We are hoping to someday have the funding needed to run PSA’s.

Has Grow For Vets received any feedback or pushback from established military institutions?

To date, all of the feedback from military organizations has either been good, or at the very least neutral. However, neither the VFW nor the American Legion have been receptive to our efforts. This may soon change as we have a free cannabis giveaway event scheduled for later this month at a VFW post. We are holding our breath to see if it really happens and we are hopeful that it will.

What was your career before founding Grow For Vets?

I was blessed to be able to retire in 2001, at the age of 49. My background includes, law enforcement, other work for an agency of the U.S. Government, film and television production, and publishing.

What has been the most memorable moment from your involvement in the cannabis industry, so far?

Children thanking me for giving them back their mother of father; the result of Grow for Vets USA providing their parent with free medical cannabis to replace deadly prescription meds.

How many states (and which ones) do you have chapters in, now?

We have active chapters in Colorado, New Mexico, California, Washington, Oregon, and Michigan. We currently have chapter applications pending in 11 other states. We have not made a final determination on how rapidly we want to continue our national expansion.

Are there any states in particular that Grow For Vets is currently eyeing for a new chapter?

Arizona and Nevada, as well as multiple additional chapters in California.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone as they consider launching a cannabis non-profit organization, what would it be?

Surround yourself with a good team and follow a business plan. When I started Grow for Vets USA, I thought that it would be something on the level of a weekend hobby. Consequently, I failed to formulate and follow a business plan for the first 2 years we operated.

The other major mistake I made was I allowed national expansion to begin in July 2015 without having a back-up plan in case the new leadership of our flagship chapter in Colorado failed….and they did — more than once. This has resulted in my having to devote considerable time and resources in an attempt to mend fences. In a nutshell, make absolutely certain that your first chapter is rock solid before expanding.

Thank you for dedicating some time to talk to us about your experiences advocating for veteran access to medical cannabis, Roger! We look forward to seeing how Grow for Vets USA will continue their work to benefit veterans in the future. To learn more about Roger Martin, or the non-profit organization Grow for Vets USA, visit GrowForVets.com.

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VaporPlants Is an Authorized Dealer of Grenco Science Vaporizers

9/02/2016

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VaporPlants, an online specialty store selling vaporizers, is partnering with one of the leading names in vaporizer pens and portable vaporizer units, Grenco Science, to provide customers with some of the most innovative vaporizers on the market.

With the legalization of medicinal marijuana in more than 20 states and the full legalization of recreational marijuana in four states and one U.S. territory, the demand for vaporizer pens and portable vaporizers is on the rise. Many people prefer portable vaporizer units and vaporizer pens for consuming cannabis, as these vaporizers are discreet, lightweight, and simple to use.

Grenco Science has long been a leader in the vape industry and has an excellent reputation for producing some of the best portable vaporizer units available at reasonable prices. VaporPlants.com is proud to be an authorized dealer of Grenco Science wax and dry herb vaporizer models. Their status as an authorized dealer ensures that customers receive the full manufacturer’s warranty on any wax or herbal vaporizer from the Grenco Science collection.

With a wide range of Grenco Science vaporizers, VaporPlants offers the perfect economical vaporizer for herbs or wax to meet every vapor enthusiast’s needs.

For those who prefer a portable vaporizer, the G Pro is the ideal solution. With three heat settings and a powerful rechargeable 2600 mAh lithium ion battery, this herb vape allows for a flexible vaping experience and reduces the need for frequent charging. Those who are looking for a lighter, smaller vaporizer can browse the wide selection of G Pen vaporizer pens, which includes the stylish Snoop Dogg vaporizer and the ultra-compact Micro G Pen.

The entire Grenco Science collection from the G Pro to the Snoop Dogg G Pen is now available to browse online at VaporPlants. Those interested in learning more can visit the official website or contact 1 800. 516. 5808 in the U.S. or 1 347. 763. 1038 abroad.

A video from VaporPlants:

About VaporPlants

VaporPlants is committed to helping people who are looking for healthy alternatives to smoking find vapor pens, mechanical mods, and vaporizers to suit their needs. Founded in 2014, the company is based in Brooklyn, New York, and carries a selection of vaping products from industry leaders like Grenco Science, PAX Laboratories, and Atmos RX. By combining an unbeatable selection of desktop and portable vaporizer units and vaporizer pens with unparalleled customer service, VaporPlants is able to meet the demands of those new to vaping as well as those who have been enjoying the benefits of vaping for years.

http://www.vaporplants.com

https://facebook.com/vaporplants

https://twitter.com/vaporplants

https://youtube.com/c/Vaporplants

https://plus.google.com/+Vaporplants

US Phone: 1 800. 516. 5808 / Int: 1 347. 763. 1038

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Medical Marijuana Approved for Use in Australia

9/02/2016

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Medical marijuana will be available to patients in Australia beginning in November after approval by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, the Canberra Times reports. The drug will be “strictly controlled” in the nation and the government is still forming a formal regulation structure.

Lucy Haslam, co-founder of United in Compassion, said the TGA decision is an “essential step in the process,” but patients are stuck in a “holding pattern” while the government determines the rules and sets up infrastructure. She is concerned that the industry could be “so bound up in red tape” that it might not be feasible.

“My fear is that the industry will become so expensive that patients won’t be able to access a legal supply at an affordable price,” Haslam said in the report. “There’s also a lot of work to do on educating people and doctors, some of who remain a bit uncomfortable about prescribing medical cannabis to patients.”

Under the TGA decision, non-medical cannabis will remain illegal with medical marijuana products being listed as Schedule 8 – along with other restricted drugs like morphine. Physicians will be permitted to prescribe cannabis under state or territory laws.

Changes to the Narcotic Drugs Act will allow for marijuana to be grown and produced in Australia for medicinal purposes only.

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A Second MMJ Initiative is Approved for Arkansas Ballot

9/02/2016

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A second medical marijuana ballot initiative will be put to voters in November after the Secretary of State’s office certified the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports.

Now both camps — the AMMA and the previously-approved Arkansas Medical Cannabis Act — will be battling against each other in addition to Republican leadership, including Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, and groups such as Arkansans Against Legalized Marijuana.

David Couch headed the amendment campaign after working with Arkansans for Compassionate Care on the failed medical marijuana measure in 2012. His plan differs from the AMCA in that it does not provide for home-growing regardless of the distance between a patient and the nearest dispensary or caregiver. The chronic conditions qualifying for medical marijuana use covered by Couch’s proposal are more limited that its counterpart — allowing for cannabis treatments to be utilized for only 12 conditions, while the AMCA lists 38.

The regulatory structure of the AMMA is also more complex; creating a Medical Marijuana Commission and authorizing at least 20, but no more than 40, dispensaries per county. The AMCA structure would permit one nonprofit distribution center for every 20 pharmacies, under the authority of the Department of Health.

“It’s going to be a tough battle, but it’s just the right thing to do,” Couch said in the report.

Melissa Fults, Arkansas Compassionate Care director who campaigned for the AMCA, has said that it is likely that both initiatives will fail if they compete for voter support in the general election.

“We have to believe that running a positive campaign and getting our volunteers out will get the message out enough that people will know the difference or will vote for both,” she said after the AMMA approval was announced. “It’s going to be confusing. We’ll be right next to each other on the ballot.”

If both measures are approved, the one with the most votes will supersede the other.

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Cannabis branches hanging out to cure after harvest season.

Wholesale Cannabis Prices Drop in Colorado

9/02/2016

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Cannabis prices in Colorado are falling, according to a Business Insider report based on data from Tradiv, an online marijuana distribution platform. The wholesale cost of a pound of marijuana in the state is now between $1,400 and $1,600 in August, down from $2,400 to $2,600 last October.

“In less than a year, we’ve seen wholesale prices drop to nearly half of their previous totals,” John Manlove, director of sales at Tradiv, said in the report. “We’ve never seen prices like this.”

The drop can be attributed to a market that is rapidly being flooded. Growers are ramping up production, causing a “steady decline” in wholesale costs regardless of demand, Manlove said. There are no strict canopy limits in Colorado.

Manlove suggests that the wholesale price fall could also be due to Denver’s moratorium on granting licenses to new dispensaries and cultivation facilities, which has allowed a “minority of large cannabis business owners” to purchase and consolidate the remaining licenses.

According to a Longview, Washington Daily News report, similar market shifts are taking place in Washington. When the legal market emerged in the state in 2014, a gram of flower ran between $25 and $30. In January the Liquor and Cannabis Board reported the price to be about $10 per gram.  

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Nevada Prohibitionists Quiet on the Advertising Front

9/02/2016

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With about two months left until Question 2 is put to voters, opponents of legal cannabis in Nevada have so far been relatively quiet. According to a Las Vegas Review-Journal report, zero Las Vegas television advertising slots have, so far, been reserved or purchased by any anti-legalization group.

The only advertising against the measure thus far has been in Reno, in the form of billboards purchased by Join Together Northern Nevada. Those roadside ads feature images of munchies with the text, “Can you spot the POT? Can your KIDS?”

Pat Hickney, a former Republican state Assemblyman and co-founder of Nevadans for Responsible Drug Policy, said his group had no plans for TV ad buys against the measure, indicating the group would continue their fight through “grass-roots education, speaking on panels [and] appearing before community businesses and church groups.”

Another anti-cannabis PAC, Protecting Nevada’s Children, was formed on Aug. 18 and is headed by attorney Daniel Stewart. Stewart is a member of Republican consulting firm November Inc., who worked with Gov. Brian Sandoval on his gubernatorial bid.

Sandoval opposes legalizing cannabis for recreational use, but Eric Herzik, head of the University of Nevada’s political science department, said the opposition means little without an active campaign.

“If you’re able to run ads, if you have people who are making calls, knocking on doors, it doesn’t matter if Brian Sandoval says he’s opposed to it,” Herzik said in the report.  

On the flipside, The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol, a pro-Question 2 political action committee, has reserved more than $900,000 in commercial ad buys on Southern Nevada TV stations, rolled out digital ads, and unveiled a billboard advertisement supporting the ballot question.

According to the report, the wild card is Sheldon Adelson — the chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corp and staunch prohibitionist. Aldelson contributed more than $5 million toward the anti-medical marijuana efforts in Florida in 2014. That measure required enactment by 60 percent voter approval because it was a proposed constitutional amendment – it was defeated with 57.6 percent support. Alderson has yet to inject any money into anti-marijuana PACs this election cycle.

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Pennsylvania Governor Wants to Decriminalize Cannabis Possession

9/01/2016

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Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) said that he supports the statewide decriminalization of personal amounts of cannabis during a “Smart Talk” radio interview on August 29th.

Gov. Wolf told interviewer Scott LaMar, “too many people are going to prison because of the use of very modest amounts or carrying modest amounts of marijuana, and that is clogging up our prisons, it’s destroying families, and it’s hurting our economy.”

Decriminalization is the “first step” in solving those issues, the governor said. Both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have already decriminalized the possession of small amounts of cannabis — “I think we need to do that in a more systematic fashion,” said Wolf.

According to a Philadelphia magazine report, Gov. Wolf has previously stated his support for decriminalization. He was also a supporter of the movement to establish a medical cannabis program in Pennsylvania.

He has not warmed as much to the idea of recreational legalization, however, citing health and economic unknowns to be his reasons for wariness. “I think we can watch and see what happens in Colorado, Washington and Oregon,” Wolf said. “I think we have to wait and see.”

A proposal to seek statewide decriminalization in Pennsylvania is expected soon, according to a memorandum posted in April. That legislation, announced by Rep. Ed Gainey (D), would “protect Pennsylvanians from the lifelong collateral consequences of a narcotics conviction by imposing a fine and a summary conviction for an individual possessing thirty (30) grams or less of marijuana or eight (8) grams or less of hashish.”

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Large, cured cannabis nug lying on its side.

First Two Cannabis Testing Labs Licensed in Oregon

9/01/2016

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The Oregon Liquor Control Commission licensed two Portland laboratories to test cannabis before it hits dispensary shelves, The Oregonian reports. Pixis Labs and Green Leaf Lab are the first labs licensed by officials, who expect to approve four more by Oct. 1, the first official day for recreational cannabis sales in the state.

Currently, cannabis must be tested before being sold to consumers but the labs are not subject to state oversight. The new regime requires labs to be certified by the liquor commission and the State of Oregon’s Laboratory Accreditation Program. So far, 17 labs have submitted applications to the commission to test cannabis. The marijuana accreditation is separate from other accreditations, such as water and food.   

“Now businesses are licensed to start testing product which will allow its movement through our regulatory system and the industry supply chain,” Steve Marks, OLCC executive director said in a Patch report. “We expect additional lab capacity to come online to meet the needs of the fall marijuana harvest.”    

The commission estimates that labs will test about 2,500 samples each month to meet demand, based on figures from Colorado and Washington. The state has already issued nearly 200 producer licenses; most of them for large-scale grows.

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Bill Offering Limited Tax Amnesty to CA Dispensaries Ready for Gov.’s Signature

9/01/2016

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A bill that would provide tax amnesty to medical marijuana shops in California who have yet to pay their taxes has been sent to Gov. Jerry Brown, according to a report from the Los Angeles Times. The scheme would allow operators to temporarily avoid the typical 25 percent to 50 percent penalty on late tax payments, but would also prevent continuing violators from being issued new state licenses.

State officials say that dispensaries owe about $106 million in back taxes, representing a 66 percent non-payment rate, according to the state Board of Equalization.

Assemblyman Mike Gipson, who sponsored the legislation, said many dispensaries have not registered with the state or paid their taxes out of fear of criminal prosecution due to marijuana’s federal status as a Schedule I substance. The amnesty plan comes after the legislature approved a plan last year that would issue licenses to dispensaries in starting in 2018. In November, Californians will vote on legalizing cannabis for recreational use.

“Now that California has officially taken steps to establish a regulatory framework for cannabis, we have an opportunity to engage these businesses to ensure they pay their dues,” Gipson said in the report.

The six-month amnesty period would begin on July 1, 2017, ending on Dec. 31. It would apply to tax payments due prior to Jan. 1, 2015.      

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Terminally Ill Patients in Delaware Can Now Apply for Medical Cannabis

9/01/2016

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Delaware Gov. Jack Markell (D) signed “Bob’s Bill” into law yesterday, allowing terminally ill adults and terminally ill patients under 18 with pain, anxiety, or depression to apply for medical marijuana cards, The News Journal reports.

The bill gets its namesake from Robert Jester, a Delaware man who was diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer in 2014. Due to the state’s medical marijuana program restrictions, Jester was unable to apply for a medical marijuana card, instead relying on cannabis oil from his wife who had a medical marijuana card to treat fibromyalgia pain.

The cannabis therapies seemed to work — Jester was eating again and his tumor had shrunk by one-third. However, once his oncologist discovered he was using the oils illegally, the treatments were shut down and Jester was back on opioid-based painkillers. Jester passed on Jan. 7.

His son, Rich Jester, lobbied the government to make the change hoping that others with a terminal illness will find some relief.

“Ultimately this is the best way I could think of to honor his memory,” Jester said during a press conference.

Under Delaware’s 2011 medical cannabis law anyone can petition to add new conditions to the list of those approved by the Health Department.

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Court Upholds Decision to Ban Gun Sales for MMJ Patients

9/01/2016

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The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco has ruled that the federal ban on firearms sales to medical marijuana card holders does not violate the Second Amendment, according to an Associated Press report.

In their 3-0 decision, the judges ruled that Congress reasonably concluded that cannabis and other drug use “raises the risk of irrational or unpredictable behavior with which gun use should not be associated.” The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has told gun dealers that they can assume that a medical marijuana card holder uses cannabis, thus disqualifying them from gun ownership.

The ruling stems from the lawsuit filed by S. Rowan Wilson who attempted to buy a gun for self-defense in Nevada in 2011. The dealer refused, citing the federal rule barring gun sales to illegal drug users.

Chaz Rainey, Wilson’s attorney, is planning to appeal the ruling, saying there needs to be more consistency in applying the Second Amendment.

“We live in a world where having a medical marijuana card is enough to say you don’t get a gun, but if you’re on the no-fly list, your constitutional right is still protected,” he said in the report.

The court’s jurisdiction applies to the nine Western states, including Washington and Oregon where cannabis is legal for recreational use.       

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Poll Finds 60 Percent Favor MMJ Delivery in San Jose, CA

8/31/2016

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A poll released today by medical marijuana delivery company Eaze, found that 60 percent of residents in San Jose, California support medical marijuana delivery, with just 26 percent opposed. The poll comes about two months before the City Council will consider changes to its medical marijuana regulations. The poll surveyed 500 registered San Jose voters.

A breakdown of the poll numbers show that 53 percent of respondents supported delivery services “because medical marijuana should be accessible just like other prescription drugs are.” Another 58 percent said delivery services would provide safe access to patients who do not have transportation options and would help them manage their chronic conditions. A strong majority, 65 percent, said that home delivery would allow for safeguards to be implemented in the program, such as GPS tracking and locked shipments.

Keith McCarty, CEO of Eaze, said the poll outcome shows that voters “clearly desire” access to a medical marijuana delivery program.

“We are encouraged that the San Jose City Council, City Manager, and San Jose Police Department have spent substantial time doing due diligence into the safest delivery model for patients, McCarty said in a press release. “With strong ties to Silicon Valley and our experience working with regulators throughout the state, we understand how technology can help cities manage collective deliveries safely while effectively reducing illegal marijuana activity.”

Other California cities – such as Oakland, San Diego, and San Francisco – allow for medical marijuana delivery.    

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Nine Cannabis Startups Picked for Canopy’s Business Accelerator Program

8/31/2016

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Cannabis investment firm Canopy has announced $180,000 in investments to nine cannabis startups who will participate in a 16-week entrepreneurial boot camp in Berkeley, California as part of the company’s marijuana businesses accelerator program.

The startups represent the fourth class to participate in the program; the previous 29 companies have raised nearly $15 million total from a variety of investors. Entrepreneurs selected for the program receive $20,000 in seed capital and up to $50,000 in follow-on investment from the Canopy investment fund. Canopy receives a 6 percent to 9.5 percent equity stake return.

Included in the Fall class:

  • Grass-Pass, a method for dispensaries to incentivize and attract new customers.
  • The Peak Beyond, streamlined point-of-sale systems with interactive smart tables to help educate customers.
  • HookItUp, a cannabis-friendly, but not cannabis-specific, professional social network.
  • Blu Jays, rolling paper packs that include pre-rolled papers and herbal storage.
  • Campfire, a cannabis event-centric mobile app.
  • MyStrain, a standardized database for the most popular strains to help increase consumer-recognition.
  • Gupta-Daniel, marketing and sales data visualizations to help dispensary owners identify trends and acquisition options.
  • AcroVape, a battery-powered vaporizer for concentrates.
  • Printabowl, 3D-printed smoking accessories.

“The teams accepted into the Canopy program in Berkeley will have a unique opportunity to capitalize on the California legalization movement,” Canopy CEO Patrick Rea said in the release. “Now is the time to launch a cannabis business.”

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Changes to NY Cannabis Program Include Home Delivery, Nurse Practitioner Participation

8/31/2016

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Officials in New York have made two changes to the state’s medical marijuana program aimed at increasing patient access to the program, according to a Pix 11 report. The new rules allow for the home delivery of medicine and permit nurse practitioners to certify patients for marijuana therapies.

Both of the recommendations were included in the Department of Health’s two-year report and are the only measures currently being integrated into the program from about a dozen endorsed by the department.

“We are constantly evaluating the program to make it more effective for patients and practitioners, and we believe that the implementation of these recommendations will do just that,” Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said.

Stephen Ferrara, executive director of the Nurse Practitioner Association NYC, said that nurse practitioners have the education and experience to diagnose patients suffering from the serious conditions for which medical marijuana use is approved in New York.

“Allowing nurse practitioners to participate in New York’s program will provide greater access to New Yorkers of all ages and health conditions, since these New Yorkers are increasingly choosing a nurse practitioner as their health care provider,” he said.

Other changes being considered to the program include allowing medical marijuana to be held and administered in schools and doubling the number of registered organizations permitted to sell the drug from five to 10.

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Little Interest So Far in Growing Cannabis for the Feds Following DEA Policy Changes

8/31/2016

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A report by Stat News has found little interest from a dozen agricultural colleges to grow cannabis at the behest of the Drug Enforcement Agency, following an announcement by the agency that they would expand their federally sanctioned research program.

Cornell University, the University of Kentucky, Virginia Tech, Michigan State University, the University of Vermont, the University of California, Davis, Western Kentucky University, the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Oregon State University, Colorado State University, Purdue University — all indicated that they had no plans to grow cannabis for the government.

“I think everybody is just thinking about how to approach this,” Dr. Igor Grant, director of the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research at the University of California, San Diego, said in the report. “What will it really take to get one of these DEA licenses?”

According to the report, interested organizations would need to show that they have security measures in place to protect the federally outlawed plants, and be willing to comply with a litany of additional requirements. A grow under the program would also likely involve significant funding to get up and running.

Currently, only the University of Mississippi has a federally-approved license to grow cannabis for government research.

Individuals and private companies can also apply for the program; however according to a memo announcing the policy change, individuals with Controlled Substances Act violations would likely be disqualified from participation. According to the document, any person or entity that applies for the program will be entitled to due process and the agency will “show cause” if an applicant is denied.      

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NY Health Department Considering Allowing MMJ in Schools

8/30/2016

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A proposal that would allow schools to “possess, secure and administer medical marijuana products under limited circumstances” is being considered in New York, according to a Fox 32 report. The proposal was one of a dozen recommendations for the program from the state Health Department’s two-year report.

Democratic Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, who championed the original legislation, said the recommendations “all go in the right direction,” but that the Health Department Commissioner should be announcing that he is making changes to the statute, instead of releasing reports with proposed fixes.

“After two years, DOH should be taking action, not proposing a study,” Gottfried said in a press release. “Health facilities and schools already accommodate patients and students who have prescriptions for much more potent and dangerous drugs.”

During an appearance on “Fox and Friends Weekend,” Republican State Sen. Martin Golden argued that allowing medical marijuana in schools raises more problems than solutions.

“Could you imagine other kids in the city knowing one child possesses medical marijuana pills? We jeopardize that kid,” Golden said. “What are we going to do with the medical marijuana? Where are we going to store it? How are we going to store it?”

While the plan is still in the very early stages, the Health Department has not announced any strategies to implement any additional changes to the limited medical marijuana program.

“These recommendations continue to treat medical marijuana as if it is a dangerous substance, which is not true,” Gottfried said in the release. “The excessive restrictions in the medical marijuana law and regulations are not justified by the nature of medical marijuana, the experiences of other states, or federal requirements.”

Colorado, Maine, New Jersey, and Washington all permit medical marijuana products to be stored and administered in schools.      

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Israel Planning to Export Medical Cannabis Abroad

8/30/2016

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Israel Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel announced plans for the country to export medical marijuana abroad, estimating that it would take two years for protocols to be in place to allow farmers to grow cannabis, according to a Times of Israel report.

“The Agriculture Ministry has set up specific areas for the research and trial of growing cannabis, a plant whose foremost use is the medical treatment of patients around the world,” he said in an interview with Israel Radio.

The announcement comes two months after the government approved a plan to ease restrictions on growing cannabis. Under the plan, proposed by Health Minister Yaakov Litzman, there would be no limit on the number of government-approved growers, more doctors would be permitted to write prescriptions, and medical marijuana would be available in pharmacies. There are more than 23,000 medical marijuana patients in Israel.

The Justice Ministry is also considering decriminalizing cannabis. The proposal, backed by Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, would decriminalize possession of up to 15 grams of cannabis for people over the age of 21. People caught with a personal amount of cannabis in their home would pay a $78 fine, while those caught with a personal amount in public would pay a $390 fine.    

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Initiative to Allow Cannabis Clubs in Denver, CO Fails to Meet Signature Requirements

8/30/2016

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The campaign to allow social cannabis use in Denver, Colorado failed to get the required signatures for the proposal to appear on November ballots, according to an Associated Press report. However, a second proposal to allow cannabis use at some bars and restaurants is still awaiting word whether or not it will be put to voters in the general election.

The failed question would have asked voters whether to allow for 21-and-over cannabis clubs.

The current Colorado law does not outright ban public use. Instead, public use bans are a patchwork of local policies, according to the report. There are no cannabis clubs in other states with recreational-use cannabis laws; lawmakers in Alaska, however, are considering regulations to allow consumption where cannabis is sold, but that proposed system is not currently in place.

The Responsible Use Denver initiative, backed by Denver NORML, needed 4,726 signatures to qualify for inclusion on November ballots. The campaign submitted more than 7,500 signatures, but just 2,987 were verified as eligible by the Denver Elections Division, the Denver Post reports.

The review of the signatures for the Neighborhood-Supported Cannabis Consumption Initiative should be completed by next week. Backers of that campaign submitted more than 10,800 signatures, leaving them a bit more room for error. Under their plan, cannabis consumption would be “subject to regulation in a manner similar to alcohol,” with only non-smokable methods permitted. The pilot program would sunset by 2020 unless extended by the City Council or another voter initiative.

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MA Citizens’ Review Panel Presents Arguments For and Against Legalization

8/30/2016

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The Massachusetts Citizens’ Initiative Review released their key findings after analyzing the recreational legalization ballot question and hearing testimony from experts, advocates, and opponents of Question 4, MassLive reports.

The 20-person panel determined that the proposal “provides significant control” to municipalities by allowing safeguards on marijuana establishment operations, and protects businesses and landlord rights because it prohibits public consumption. The panel noted that the system would be “controlled, transparent and accountable.”

In their statement of support for the measure, proponents said that cannabis purchased in the formal market would be safer than its informal market counterpart, because the proposal calls for product testing and labeling. The ‘yes’ group also considered that legalization could help people “avoid opiates, addiction and worse problems” and would create new jobs in the state.

“Question 4 legalizes recreational marijuana in the Commonwealth, creating new jobs and adding to the Massachusetts economy. This initiative includes measures for economic sustainability, regulatory responsibility and ensures access to safe products,” the statement says. “Safety, responsibility, justice, fairness and freedom are the basic values at stake in this matter.”

Opponents argued that legalization in Colorado has not put an end to the informal market and that there is no definitive method of testing for cannabis-impaired drivers. They said that there are too many unknowns in the referendum to support it “at this time.”

“There is a lack of transparency as many regulatory policies and procedures will not be defined until after the passage of the referendum. The long-term effects of recreational marijuana use on society, not fully understood, present a threat to our communities and roadways. There is a lack of credible evidence regarding the financial stability and economic gains,” the statement says. “Safety, responsibility, and public health and welfare are the core values at stake in this matter.”

Voters in the state will decide on Question 4 in November.

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