Maine Legalization Initiative Fails to Qualify for November Ballot

3/03/2016

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A Maine legalization initiative backed by the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) has failed to qualify for November’s ballot.

David Boyer, Maine political director for the MPP, said on Wednesday that the group plans to challenge the ruling. He explained the situation in the following written statement:

“We are very disappointed by the Secretary of State’s determination. Based on documents they have provided, it appears that more than 17,000 valid signatures from registered Maine voters were excluded from the count because the signature of a single notary — whose notary commission has not expired — did not exactly match the signature the state has on file for that notary. We are exploring all legal means available to appeal this determination, and we sincerely hope that 17,000-plus Maine citizens will not be disenfranchised due to a handwriting technicality.”

Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap said that only 51,543 of the 99,229 submitted signatures could be validated — significantly less than the 61,123 signatures it would have required to qualify for the upcoming election. According to Dunlap, about 31,000 were invalid because of faulty signatures (either on the petition circulators’ or notary’s part), about 13,500 individuals were invalidated for not being registered voters in Maine, and the rest for additional paperwork errors and for signatures that could not be verified.

“We are going to fight to ensure that the 17,000 Maine voters whose signatures are in question have their voice heard, as well as the tens of thousands of other Mainers whose voices will be silenced if this doesn’t make the ballot,” said State Representative Diane Russell (D-Portland), a longtime supporter of ending cannabis prohibition.

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Tom Burns: Cannabis Business Philosophy

3/02/2016

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Tom Burns originally went to college to study engineering. Instead, he wound up becoming a yogi with a desire to turn his natural lifestyle into a symbiotic business venture, which eventually manifested itself in the form of the massively successful Yogi Tea, of which he was co-founder and CEO. Today, Tom has entered the cannabis industry as CEO of PDX Partners, Inc, a start-up incubator and venture capital firm in Portland, OR. He also recently gave a keynote presentation at the Cannabis Collaborative Conference, which Ganjapreneur attended.

Tom recently joined our host Shango Los to discuss the similarities of the nascent cannabis industry and the early days of the organic foods movement, the unique challenges cannabis entrepreneurs face, how positive energy can fuel entrepreneurship, and more.

Listen to the podcast below or scroll down for the full transcript!

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Listen to the Podcast

 

Read the Transcript

Shango Los: Hi, there and welcome to the Ganjapreneur.com Podcast. I’m your host, Shango Los, the Ganjapreneur.com Podcast gives an opportunity to speak directly to entrepreneurs, cannabis growers, product developers, and cannabis medicine researchers all focused on making the most of cannabis normalization. As your host I do my best to bring you original cannabis industry ideas that will ignite your own entrepreneurial spark and give you actionable information to improve your business strategy and improve your health and the health of cannabis patients everywhere.

Today, my guest is Tom Burns. Sent to Oregon State University to study med-allergic engineering, Tom Burns instead came out a yogi in the 1970s with a desire to turn his new-found natural lifestyle into a symbiotic business venture. He along with his fellow yogis in Eugene, Oregon started and built a cereal and tea business that grew up in the beginnings of the organic foods industry.

As a founding partner and the former CEO, Tom lead both companies to become leaders in this fast growth industry where Yogi Tea remains the number one tea brand. Tom Burns is now a member of the flagellant cannabis industry and CEO of PDX Partners. I recently saw Tom’s keynote address at the cannabis collaborative conference in Portland and asked him to come on the show to share some of his insights. Thanks for being on the show, Tom.

Tom Burns: Your welcome. Thank you for having me.

Shango Los: Many of the insights that you shared in the keynote Tom, were based on the similarities between the early organic food industry and the still very young cannabis industry. Where do you see the similarities?

Tom Burns: I think at first, I believe when I went to college it’s the late 60s, and we’re part of the counter-culture revolution. I had gone to college expecting, or at least my family expecting that I would come back and run their business, which was a third generation business. Instead, I got into yoga and meditation. I thought probably business was the most remote thing from what I was thinking about.

By necessity, being in a yoga situation and being in a ashram spiritual situation we needed a way to support ourselves, so it lead to the business side of it. But at the same time, I see looking back that there were the kind of inklings and the medicine growings of the cannabis industry, but of course at that time illegal, and in many states still illegal.

I think they came out at the same time, but natural foods and organic foods were in the legal space and was subject to all of the normal forces of business that bring it along and evolve it over time, and it got bigger and bigger, and more and more professional.

I think the cannabis industry now is opening up to that in certain states, and hopefully federally in sometime in the not too distant future. Those forces of business that we learned essentially by hard knocks going through it in the natural foods through the last nearly 50 years, I see applying to the cannabis industry. Something that will certainly help to actualize the potential that cannabis industry, which is vast.

Shango Los: So many commercial cannabis entrepreneurs are focused on their margins right now because it’s so competitive. Sometimes they miss the bigger picture. Right now as the industry leaders, we are initiating the arc that the cannabis industry will take for some time. Sometimes it feels we’re taking a low road. What are some perspective that you think would be helpful for cannabis CEOs to consider as they’re sculpting their businesses and how they do business?

Tom Burns: One of the things that I had mentioned in the keynote in the Cannabis Collaborative Conference a couple weeks ago is the sense of the sustainable business model. As you mentioned people are focuses on their margins, which I believe is a very good focus, but it’s not the only focus.

If you looked at the sustainable business model and what we would call the three legs of the stool. Meaning the economic, the social, and the environmental. Obviously the social and the environmental are equally important, but without the economic you’re not really going to get to the social and environmental. I would certainly support focusing on the margins, but at the same time how are you doing business?

I’d also had mentioned, for me, a foundation of doing business really begins with feeling good. Feeling good about the business yourself and having all of your employees feel good about being part of that business and from there, then I think you start to get the full capability for those that are working for you and your own full capabilities, so that that economic part, that profit part is the ‘be good’ part that I talk about.

You have feel good, then be good, then that profit comes out of there. Then, ultimately my way of looking at business, you get to the do good part, or the socially responsible part of business.

Shango Los: I would think that some of the cannabis entrepreneurs were listening to us, are thinking, my God I don’t have time. I barely have time to get my coffee in the morning before I start my day and he wants me to feel good. What is the case to be made, that feeling good actually has a monetary value to it? How can we help encourage entrepreneurs who are pretty focused on the bottom line that it is worth their effort to try things to feel good, so that they could do good?

Tom Burns: I think a couple of things. First off, it’s not going to happen overnight. If you think about, well we were trained in yoga and meditation, so they talk about the seven centers of energy. You start at the bottom and you move up through the top, the the crown, chakra, through the top of the head.

We looked at in a business way, to begin with you are in survival mode. You are concerned how the heck am I going to pay my bills? But as the business evolves it moves up to what we would say, the heart center. You become concerned about the welfare and the well being of your employees. Making sure that they’re well taken care of.

Then, ultimately as business grows and expands it could be focused in what we see as the top ultimate focus of business and that is in doing social good. By doing things that benefit the whole community where the businesses are, and society in general. Focused on, in some way making a social impact and make this world or planet where we live a better place to live.

I think that happens over time, but the sooner you can get to that and understand the direction of that the sooner you can treat your employees and yourself in a sense of using the Litmus test. If it feels good that helps to get the kind of results out of your business to have the kind of profit you need to grow and to be socially impactful.

If it doesn’t feel good, or if an employee working for you doesn’t feel good about it, there’s something to take a look at. What is that and find out what change may need to happen? If a particular employee may not really fit the mold. My sense is, and I’ve spoke to this, in the conference is that it’s important to follow the people principle. Bright people in the right place and I said as well, with the right pay. Because that will produce the greatest economic results and give you the greatest ability to grow, not only from the business side, but also grow in the do-good side, or the socially responsible side of business.

Which I think ultimately to me is really the purpose of having entrepreneurship. If you do this creative, caring entrepreneurship then a lot of social needs can be met by business itself.

Shango Los: When you’re hiring folks, I know that you consider much more than just a resume. Let’s say that somebody’s got the skills that you’re looking for, but you’re looking for a different kind of person. What are the extra attributes that you look for somebody that you think is going to be a feel good, do good, kind of an employee?

Tom Burns: That’s an interesting question. My sense is just a sense of the person. I don’t find myself trying to break it down into any particular formula, though I suppose you could. But for myself, it’s just making sure that the person genuinely really wants to work for us and it’s something that it’s not only about a paycheck. Its’ something about a place and a possibility to improve themselves as their own being, in more ways than just making more money, or having a 401k, or whatever it might be. That there is some sense that this involvement really has to do with my personal development. Hiring people that want to be part of this for that reason, in my experience, has lead to better results.

Shango Los: Everybody will probably have a better time at work as well. We got to take a short break. We’ll be right back. You are listening to the Ganjapreneur.com podcast.

Welcome back. You are listening to the ganjapreneur.com podcast. I’m your host Shango Los, and our guest this week is Tom Burns, founder of Yogi Tea and now CEO of PDX Partners.

Before the break we were talking about the importance of feeling good so that you have the ability to do good in your cannabis company. You know Tom there’s a really great schism in cannabis right now between medical growers and the newly licensed commercial growers. Each are suspicious of each other. The medical folks are the pioneers. They were here a long time, and many of them transitioned out of the black or informal market. Now suddenly there are a lot of new money and new entrepreneurs that are in. They’re grabbing the licenses and so there’s kind of a schism.

The new commercial folk want a lot of the prohibition and medical people to go away, because they see them as undercutting their margin at retail. On the flip side we’ve got all these prohibition era medical growers who are angry because they feel like the new commercial growers are eating their lunch and don’t respect the heritage of the plant. What advice do you offer for folks who are caught up in this kind of being angry inside of their business? Somebody is only going to be able to get so happy if they’re in this constant state of anger.

Tom Burns: That certainly goes against the feel good part that we were talking about earlier.

Shango Los: That’s for sure.

Tom Burns: I don’t know if I have an easy and simple solution for that. What comes to mind is really bringing those two together. I think working on common ground, finding that common ground … There’s always a lot more common ground than there is uncommon ground. I think sometimes the human nature is to focus on what’s different, rather than what’s common, and what’s the same. That’s what off the top comes to mind is to figure out where the common ground is.

I spoke to this in my keynote was the whole idea of the industry. The story of the industry needs to be good. Those that are in it, and those that see the direct opportunities and potentials of cannabis on the healing side, on all of the aspects that cannabis can provide understand that, but the outside — not necessarily.

We did talk about, I think there’s some figures that in the last twelve months in the US, 12% of the population have used cannabis, at least once. My sense is, what about the 88% that haven’t. I think that’s the important story to tell is the right story and the high road story, and the reason why cannabis can be useful to society in general. Directly or indirectly.

If with story being told, we’re going to go after the 88%. It’s important to be able to tell the right stories. Of those of us in the industry need to come together. You don’t want two different stories going out. It’s easy for people … because of the illegal history of cannabis over the last several decades to think that that’s all it’s about. Its’ about the black market. It’s about drug dealers standing on the corner and look at the lowest common denominator.

I think it’s important that the industry comes together and that the industry invest in itself to have the kind of administration of the industry in general to help to bring the different components together so that they’re not fighting each other but they look at the common cause out there. That the potential out there is vast for all of us.

I also talked about, if we don’t do it, you got a lot of the big Fortune 500 companies, the big products companies, pharmaceutical companies, just waiting in the wings until it becomes federally legal. Then they’ll come in and do it there way.

We have an opportunity to get embedded in the industry in a way that we can take advantage of that. Companies are going to sell out to larger companies or they’ll going to hold intellectual property, or methods, or processes, that these big companies would want to take advantage of. It’s the same in the organic industry. I would say a vast portion of that industry is now owned by major food companies and beverage companies. Either directly or indirectly. This is an opportunity.

Fighting against each other is really going to diminish taking advantage of the potential that we have in front of us, as people that have been involved in this cannabis business for the last several decades or new ones that are coming in.

I think particularly if we bring new people coming in, and I’ve been able to meet some along the way in the last several months, that have similar ways to doing socially responsible business, understand that opportunity, and that have had business experience that they can bring to bear here. I think it’s really to find the common ground and to focus on the common ground together, rather than focusing on what’s different and getting angry.

Getting angry doesn’t really accomplish much. I think it’s really self-serving. Set aside the anger, figure out what is the opportunity here and how do we work together as an industry and as the medical side and the recreational side. I’m not saying the laws are whatever. The legislatures are passing may necessary be fully facilitating that, but what it does underscore is that we need to get involved at the industry level so that we can help move this industry in a way that we’ll take it advantage of the potential. That will tell that good story. That will make everybody understand that this industry is about social good, and it’s not just about doing self-serving things that are short term looking.

That we’re looking at the long side of it. It is an opportunity for businesses that are coming out of this to ascribe to the social, responsible mentality that hopefully this industry can be known for making communities wish the businesses reside a better place for everybody, not just the people that are working for these businesses or somehow directly involved, but the whole community benefiting in some way from the success of this particular cannabis business or in general the whole industry.

Shango Los: Certainly being angry is not going to help us reach out to that 88% of people who have not have an opportunity to be healed with cannabis, and to bathe their endocannabinoid system in it. I can imaging that in the early days when you were putting the organic teas and cereals on the market that you kind of had your own 88%. You were bringing hippie food to the market and most everybody else was buying canned and commercial foods back then.

Now, everybody’s trying to eat healthier. Granola is super common. People are drinking teas for all sorts of reasons. What was your 88%? You clearly reached, and it became the sign of the times. What do you think that cannabis entrepreneurs right now can do to reach our 88%?

Tom Burns: If I look at the way that we came through our own business in the natural and organic foods industry, I think it’s figuring out how to operate your business as a real business with all the fundamental business aspects that need to be addressed in any successful business. Whatever those are and I realize some of the long term people in the cannabis industry just haven’t been able to do that, because it wasn’t legal, and it wasn’t open to that kind of input, and that kind of guidance and shepherding that the natural foods and organic industry was exposed to. It was in the normal business market where other food companies started to see that organic and natural food was selling better. It was the only double digit growth that was happening in the whole food industry. It attracted that in itself.

I believe the cannabis industry has the same opportunity, but what really makes a difference and the companies that are going to rise to the top and if they want to be sold, and they want to harvest their value, are those that are operating on the basic fundamentals of business practice so that when somebody comes in they have transparency. They can see that all the accounting is in order, all the human resources are in order, that their system is reporting and all of that and the businesses run very button up and tied down.

Shango Los: Well, we’re going to take another short break and be right back. You are listening to the ganjapreneur.com podcast.

Welcome back, you are listening to the Ganjapreneur.com podcast. I’m your host Shango Los, and our guest this week is Tom Burns, founder of Yogi Tea and now CEO of PDX Partners. Tom, you mentioned in your keynote at the Cannabis Collaborative Conference there in Portland that your family played an important role on many of your business decisions. What we’re finding now, start up mentality is sweeping our industry right now. People working 7 days a week, 12, 14 hour days, and sometimes at the neglect of their family. What’s some advice that you have to offer to entrepreneurs who are working these hours so that they can continue to sustain the family life that sometimes is the thing that feeds them most?

Tom Burns: That’s a very good question. I think for us, going back we were in our early 20s. We definitely built our businesses on sweat equity. I started out, I worked 7 days a week, probably 12 to 16 hours a day and didn’t think a thought of it. I didn’t have a family to begin with and so it definitely presents a different challenge if people are further along in their family development, and children, and whatever.

I think if you’re young and you know this is going to take a certain amount of that time to begin with and you’re aware of it, and you can balance out your life somehow. Maybe it’s mostly balanced towards business that’s fine. But if that’s not the case, then I think you need to find the financial support and investment to hire the people that can help share the load, so that you can balance your life.

To me in my own experience it happened over time. I started at a time when I was in my young 20s and could spend that kind of time. As the business grew and as we became knowledgeable about how to operate the business in a successful financial fashion on business fundamentals and we learned those more and more that allowed us to grow the business, which allowed us to hire the kind of people that can help share the load. It wasn’t this continual, all right I have to work 7 days a week, and I’m the only one that can do that.

I think the thing that I could offer, that I thinks the most impactful in this realm is that you need to find good people, and hire those good people, and put those people around you, and spread the responsibilities. When it comes down to, I’m the only one that can do this, and you find yourself with your employees thinking, well I have to do this, they can’t do this, they’re not able to do this as well as I can do that, that’s a good sign that’s something is not working. That really starts to limit the size of your business. I think a key element is that you have to hire the right people and put them in the right place. As I said, pay them the right amounts so that you can maintain those people and build on those people. That will build your business and hopefully that translates to more profit on the bottom line and ability to continue to expand.

I think that there is an amount of time when you start a business off of nothing or depending if you get the kind of investment that you can hire and put together the right kind of team, then you can manage the family, the life, and kids, and family balance with work. But I do think that overtime if you find yourself as a single entrepreneur thinking that you’re the only one that can do all of this stuff, then I would look really hard at making sure you’re opening up the business to putting other high level people … Probably people that do things better than you do in every aspect and making a team out of those people. That will give you the freedom to operate if you’re the head of the business, at the highest level, and use the potentials and capabilities of all these other high level people to make both the business grow, and to be more successful and more profitable, and at the same time give you more of a balance between your family life and your work life.

Shango Los: I think that sometimes entrepreneurs are a little short sighted  in that they don’t realize that, if I’m a little flexible with this employee, or if I pay for the education that they want to do their job better because they’re a good employee and they got the right skill sets. If the employee doesn’t leave there’s actually so much money saved because you don’t lose that corporate memory that leaves with that employee, and you don’t have to worry about training a new employee. If you’re investing in your employees that person … They say you can’t buy loyalty, which is true, but if you are investing in your employee and they know it’s because you value them, I bet you that they’re going to give you a level of work quality that you’re not going to get just by responding to somebody with a resume.

Tom Burns: That’s exactly what I believe. I think when we started out this, we talked about this whole concept of feel good, and that’s where I come to the social aspect even within your own company, and all of your employees looking at that Litmus test of, are we feeling good? Are they feeling good? Am I feeling good in the relationship? Is everybody in the business feeling good. That investment in whatever it is — education, or the time that people need to balance out their work and family life — all of those elements to me is all about the social aspect of a sustainable model.

If you’re looking to start some business and have it grow through time, and reach it’s potential, and to be a major factor, I believe that you need to focus on the people and make sure that everybody in the business feels good about themselves in the business, about the business itself, and about the leadership of the business, the direction of the business, and the results.

Shango Los: Well, that’s all the time we have for today. Tom, thank you so much for sharing your life’s experience with us. So many of us are moving so fast and jumping into our startups that sometimes we miss the bigger picture. Hopefully, the audience were able to take some of your life experience and apply it to themselves. So, thank you so much.

Tom Burns: You’re welcome. Glad to be able to have the chance to talk about it.

Shango Los: Tom Burns is CEO of PDX Partners, a cannabis company in Portland, Oregon. You can find more episodes of the Ganjapreneur Podcast at the podcast section at Ganjapreneur.com and in the Apple Itunes store. On the Ganjapreneur.com website you will find the latest cannabis news, product reviews, and cannabis jobs updated daily, along with transcriptions of this podcast. You can also download the Ganjapreneur.com app in iTunes and Google Play. You can also find this show on the I Heart Radio network app, bringing Ganjapreneur to 60 million mobile devices. Do you have a company that want to reach our national audience of cannabis enthusiast? Email grow@ganjapreneur.com to find out how. Thanks to Brasco for producing our show. As always I’m your host Shango Los.

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Las Vegas Tribe to Open Medical Cannabis Dispensary

3/02/2016

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The Las Vegas Paiute Tribe has announced plans to open Nevada’s first medical cannabis facility constructed on Native American land — just outside of downtown Las Vegas.

Tribal Chairman Benny Tso announced Monday that the tribe has partnered with the New Mexico firm Ultra Health, which already manages six facilities in Arizona and New Mexico.

The tribe plans to build a 3,000-square-foot dispensary on tribal land by Main Street and Washington Avenue, minutes from downtown. It also plans to construct an 84,000-square-foot production facility and another 10,000-square-foot production center on the Snow Mountain Reservation in the northwestern portion of the Las Vegas Valley, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

The production facility will also serve as a dispensary. The tribe already operates the Las Vegas Paiute Golf Club Resort on its reservation as well.

A ground-breaking ceremony was held on Monday. Ultra Health President and CEO Duke Rodriguez said the project should be completed by the end of the year.

“I’m a big believer that cannabis in America on tribal lands will be bigger than gaming,” said Rodriguez, who said he is also in talks with 20 other tribes in the Southwest.

Rodriguez said the operation should initially create 50 new jobs, a number that will likely grow to 100.

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The Advantages of Greenhouse Growing

3/02/2016

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With summer fast approaching, many of us growers are beginning to get back outside to set up for outdoor season. This can mean anything from cleaning up the yard to cutting and transplanting clones. Whatever needs to be done in order to have our plot ready for the coming warm weather months and the perfect amount of free light that comes with them. This is a time for planning: time to figure out the numbers, the layout, the dates, the plan and goals.

So in the spirit of this time of year, I am going to throw something out there for you to think about: greenhouses.  

If you already have and are utilizing greenhouses on your property, you will understand how much potential one can bring to your plot. And this writer is of the idea that one can never have enough greenhouse space (as long you’re not compromising too much outdoor plant space. A good balance is important). If you do not have greenhouses on your plot, now is a good time to consider putting a little bit of money towards building one… or two.  

When thinking about constructing or buying a greenhouse, it is important to know what you plan to use it for. One of the things that make having this kind of structure a great tool is how versatile it is. You can hang lights (fluorescent or HPS) and use it as a vegetation room to grow your plants to the perfect size before flowering, you can use a tarp to control light cycles on long days in order to flower your plants when mother nature isn’t quite ready, or use it in winter months to control temperatures and keep plants alive and happy. And it isn’t far fetched to have your greenhouse set up for all of these uses, depending on what you need at the time.

Properly used, a greenhouse can provide you with harvests all year round. If you can get multiple structures set up, it can be fairly simple to flower them at different times and have staggered harvests every month (although this would require at least three greenhouses, with one being used as a veg’ house).  Even with only one, however, you can begin a flower cycle in the spring and have a mid summer pull. Then, if you fill it back up with plants right away, get another pull late fall after the outdoor plants come down. You have now gotten two extra pulls out of one season.  

So much can be accomplished through the use of greenhouse structures, and often they can be built for very little money. There are kits available, but with a good plan, some wood and PVC pipe, it can be done on the cheap. I have also found that pop-up style car ports can make for a great frame that only needs to be wrapped in greenhouse plastic and anchored down to become a fully functioning greenhouse.

Of course there are specific details that you will need to work out for yourself.  Ventilation is extremely important to prevent mold and bud rot. Temperature control is another big factor when designing your greenhouse. You will need fans, and possibly shutters. Of course this is all dependent on your specific needs and environment, but with a bit of in-depth research, you can surely find a lot of good layouts, plans, and other resources to help you perfectly utilize your space and maximize your yields.  

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Study: Cannabis Shows Potential for Treating Gambling Addiction

3/02/2016

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New research indicates that cannabis may be beneficial in improving ‘choice performance’ in rats with gambling disorders.

The study, entitled “Effects of various cannabinoid ligands on choice behaviour in a rat model of gambling,” concludes that synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists, which imitate the effects of cannabis, can improve choice-making in rats with such disorders.

Gambling addiction occurs in humans at rates close to those of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, but receives less attention from researchers. Because of its neural complexity, scientists as yet know less about it than other addiction disorders. There are essentially no drug treatments for gambling addiction, but this new research points toward cannabis as a potential treatment.

In the study, published in the journal Behavioural Pharmacology, researchers identified a subgroup of rats that made gambling choices indicating they had a gambling addiction similar to that present in some humans. They then gave this group synthetic cannabinoids (which are more easily obtainable for research than is cannabis) and retested the group’s gambling choices.

The cannabinoids increased the propensity of the ‘addicted’ rats to make optimal (‘healthy’) choices. They had no effect on the group that was not initially identified as addicted. Not surprisingly, the cannabinoids increased the time it took both groups to make decisions.

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Dr. Daniela Vergara: Exploring the Cannabis Genome

3/02/2016

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Dr. Daniela Vergara is an evolutionary biologist and co-founder of the Cannabis Genomics Research Initiative (CGRI), and has been working on exploring the cannabis genome since 2013. CGRI’s main goals are to create an ultra-high density genetic map of Cannabis (which does not yet exist due to the federal government’s restrictions on scientific research), to understand the history of the evolution of cannabis and piece together the hybrid origins of its current varieties, and to identify morphologic differences between existing cannabis strains.

We recently had the opportunity to ask Dr. Vergara about her work and what the CGRI has discovered so far. Read the full interview below!

 

Ganjapreneur: What does the CGRI do, and what are your long-term goals?

Dr. Vergara: At CGRI we explore the Cannabis genome. The genome is the whole collection of genetic material from an organism, all of the DNA. Studying the whole genome gives a more comprehensive understanding of the organism than previous approaches where only few genes were studied.

We are currently determining specific genomic regions related to the production of important compounds such as cannabinoids and terpenoids, and to associate the genome to the physical characteristics of each plant. We would like to establish the differences between strains in these genomic regions and to resolve why the various strains produce different compounds.

In terms of the full scope of the task at hand, how far along would you say that you are? How long will it take to achieve the level of knowledge about the Cannabis genome that you are working toward?

All my life! Research is a never-ending task. There are always new things to discover, new techniques, new crosses, new diseases to battle, etc etc etc.

How did you first get involved with the CGRI, and why did you decide to focus your scientific career on cannabis?

I am the co-founder of CGRI along with professor Nolan Kane. When I started working with Nolan I wanted to learn genomics and bioinformatics, something that he is an expert on. I was initially going to work on sunflowers, but because of the possibilities of working on Cannabis in Colorado, I decided to work on Cannabis genomics instead. I also run a non-profit organization, the Agricultural Genomics Foundation, that aims — in educating the public about our scientific findings — to support breeders and growers in their efforts and CGRI in our research.

How does the Agricultural Genomics Foundation work to educate the public?

With public talks, blog posts, and through our website.

Just how limited is the current “canonized” scientific knowledge about cannabis compared to other plants?

The current knowledge in cannabis is extremely poor, for all other important crops (ie. soy, wheat, rice, corn) we have advanced genomic tools; tools that we are developing for Cannabis at CGRI and AGF. We don’t even have a complete understanding about the taxonomy of the Cannabis genus: is it composed of just one species as currently classified, or are there multiple species?

Interesting! So, when we think of “sativa,” “indica,” and “ruderalis,” we might be talking about different species? Or might the classification be even more specific?

We have found that those traditional groupings might not be accurate. The definition of a species is a tricky one, and there are several definitions. According to the biological definition, if you can intercross and produce fertile offspring you are the same species. Our studies have found that there is a lot of variation within Cannabis (including hemp), so much variation as there is between many species (ie. Humans and chimps) but in Cannabis these individuals can be intercrossed. There are definitely discrete groupings, but we don’t know whether or not these are species or not.

What has been the biggest obstacle preventing the necessary research from being done? Is the road now clear to move forward with scientific studies, or are there still restrictive limitations on what you can do?

Definitely the legality of the plant. The questions that we are answering have been answered for any other crop. There are still some limitations, but we are making progress with the resources we have.

What kind of impact could a comprehensive scientific understanding of cannabis have on its use as medicine?

The impact of a comprehensive scientific understanding of Cannabis in medicine is going to be huge. With our results, we will be able to breed specific strains for particular illnesses. Our results will allow understanding about the active genomic regions in strains currently used for epilepsy treatment (for example), and whether it is the strain, the person, or an interaction between both that provides the relief.

In many aspects of the cannabis industry, business owners report experiencing “Canna-Bias” from mainstream businesses who refuse to work with them. Is there a similar stigma in the field of genomics, or the hard sciences in general?

Not at all! I’ve felt the complete opposite in the sciences. They have been extremely supportive, helpful, and encouraging. They see the importance and use of our research and how helpful it will be for humanity.

Is cannabis seen as an opportunity for scientists do original research and make exciting discoveries now that the restrictions are beginning to be removed?

Yeah, totally. It’s a very interesting plant, it has a peculiar reproductive strategy that is not commonly seen (hermaphrodites, males and females); it is extremely versatile and can be used in food, constructing material, medicine, fiber, personal hygiene products etc.; it grows fast, it requires less water than many other crops, it’s a gold mine!

Would you recommend the field of cannabis genomics as a field of focus to young scientists who are looking for a career in cannabis?

Once it’s legalized, yes. Right now, no. It’s hard to get funding and there are many restrictions. I would recommend to study plant biology, or genomics in other organisms and the knowledge acquired can then be applied to Cannabis.

 

Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions, Dr. Vergara: we look forward to hearing what new discoveries CGRI makes in the future! To learn more about Dr. Vergara and her work, visit the CGRI website.

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Green Lion Extracted Oil Products

3/02/2016

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Green Lion was one of the first cannabis companies to set up in the now-famous SoDo district of Seattle. They started as a premium CO2 extracted oil company with a taste for lifestyle branding and a bombastic, playful attitude. The inside of their 1st Ave South warehouse is reminiscent of the early days of the Internet, with gorgeous floor to ceiling murals by both Ten Hundred and Charms Won.

Green Lion continues to stand for both tasty dabs and tasty style, but as they make the transition with other medical providers to the licensed recreational system, they have expanded their product array to meet a wider variety of needs.

greenlionconcentrate

The cornerstone of their offering is still their amazing CO2 extracted dabbable oils. Their experienced team of extractors are able to pull a nice stable oil with a wide terpene profile. At the moment, you can get their products in both medical and recreational stores but medical processing will be phasing out soon as they complete the transition with the state on July 1, 2016.

We like that the Green Lion dabs come in silicone instead of glass. We hate feeling like we are wasting a dab in the bottom of the glass containers many outfits use. We also appreciate the ever-changing variety of strain choices. Some producers get their few strains and continually produce those but Green Lion is always exploring new tastes and genetics so that customers can widen their palate.

greenlionco2b

Also, they’ve got these “tap-out joints” — they don’t call them tap-out joints, but everyone we know refers to them as that. Green Lion calls it a CO2B (pronounced: “see-oh-toobie”). Green Lion takes one of their already delicious pre-rolls, and then infuses it with CO2 oil. These things are powerful and can tap-out six people at a party. These come in a variety of flower and oil combinations and different potencies. The one we tried for this review was a Strawberry Lemon Purple cannabis joint infused with Dutch Skunk CO2 oil. They also do a High CBD line too and the one we tried was Cannatsu strain infused with a blended High CBD CO2 oil. It was delightful and some of the review team preferred it to the Dutch Skunk joint above simply because they really liked getting all that CBD mixed in with the THC experience.

greenlioncb2b2

Green Lion packages a special High CBD pre-rolled joint exclusively for the recreational market. They are called Third Kynde CBD and they are a carefully blended 1:2 ratio CBD:THC. The .75gr joint is comprised of Harlequin flower, kief and CO2 extracted oil. The potency test on the label read 11.38% THC and 6.35% CBD which is a very fun mix for hanging out and doing something creative alone or with friends. This is also powerful medicine for patients. Sharing with friends will be a win too because in this one joint is 85mg of THC and 49mg of CBD. There is plenty to share with a few folks.

There is also a high THC version of the Third Kynde pre-roll that is also flower, kief and CO2 extracted oil. Those have a whopping 150mg of THC!

greenliontopical

Green Lion’s topicals incorporate oils as well and, as of this writing, come in two varieties. Green Lion has a two ounce soothing hemp oil topical that goes on like a skin moisturizer and smells of rosemary & mint, coconut or tangerine scents. They also have an elegant liniment manufactured in cooperation with LeBlanc CNE. The liniment has a touch of lavender in a blend of several soothing oils and high CBD cannabis. This is a liquid.  Either one of these will ease arthritic and sore parts, as humans have been doing with cannabis throughout history.

We pretty much loved the Green Lion products we tried. Starting with really high grade CO2 oil makes their whole line of products exceptional.

More info at Green Lion.

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SCOTUS to Discuss Colorado Cannabis Lawsuit on Friday

3/02/2016

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The Supreme Court of the United States is scheduled to discuss a pending lawsuit against Colorado’s marijuana legalization law on Friday. The lawsuit was filed in late 2014, and argues that legal cannabis from Colorado has led to an uptick in marijuana-related crimes in the plaintiff states, Oklahoma and Nebraska.

The justices will decide on Friday whether or not they will take up the case, Tom Angell reports for Marijuana.com.

The Obama Administration urged in December that the justices dismiss the case, saying that because the state of Colorado is not actually allowing, encouraging, or endorsing these third party lawbreakers, it cannot be held accountable for their actions.

If the court agrees to hear the case, it would likely lead to a years-long investigation. Since the lawsuit was filed directly at the Supreme Court, the process would start with a trial court hearing to establish evidence and a factual record regarding the lawsuit. If the court were to ultimately side with the plaintiffs, Colorado’s cannabis industry would be held accountable for drug trafficking and likely disassembled.

The case needs the support of four justices to move forward, though with the recent passing of notoriously conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, many consider this outcome to be less likely than before.

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Denver NORML Submits Initiative to Allow Social Cannabis Use

3/01/2016

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The Denver Chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) announced Monday it submitted an initiative that would allow for adults who are over 21 to consume cannabis in a quasi-public setting.

Since Colorado’s cannabis market opened in 2014, there has been consistent criticism about the lack of social destinations for cannabis consumption. This has affected tourists to Colorado in particular, who have largely been forced to partake in the state’s legal cannabis in public — or in their hotel — which is ultimately illegal. Currently, cannabis consumption is only allowed inside of a private residence.

If the initiative passes, according to Denver NORML, “private 21+ marijuana social clubs will become legal, as will private 21+ events where marijuana can be lawfully consumed.” The clubs would not be allowed to sell or distribute cannabis, and existing nightclubs, bars, and restaurants would not be allowed to become private marijuana clubs.

“We expect there will be a wide range of clubs to serve Denver’s huge and diverse marijuana market,” said Jordan Person, executive director of Denver NORML. “What can’t continue is the current situation that leaves so many people frustrated, angry, and tempted to violate the law so they can enjoy a legal product.”

The issue will be sent to Denver voters with the coming November’s city ballot.

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Study: Medical Cannabis Increases Pain Relief, Decreases Opiate Use

3/01/2016

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In recent years, pundits and politicians have declared the uptick in opiate addiction and overdoses an epidemic.  Recent studies have shown in the 23 states where medical cannabis is implemented there has been a 25% drop in opium overdoses. Now an international study has shown that medical cannabis can reduce opium addiction, while at the same time improving pain relief.

The open label study published ahead of print in the Clinical Journal of Pain conducted in Israel title “The Effect of Medicinal Cannabis on Pain and Quality of Life Outcomes in Chronic Pain”, shows a decrease in opium use for treatment resistant chronic pain.

In addition to the lower dependence on opiates, 176 of 274 patients who completed follow up surveys also reported an increase in quality of life due to pain relief. Upon followup, the median score on the short form pain symptom survey dropped from 83.3 to 75.0. The pain severity score dropped from 7.50 to 6.25. Finally the pain interference score reduced from 8.14 to 6.71, and most impressive, the use of opiates dropped by 44%.  

The study reports, “cannabis in this open-label, prospective cohort resulted in improved pain and functional outcomes, and significant reduction in opioid use. The results suggest long-term benefit of cannabis treatment in this group of patients.”

Although medical cannabis is not for everyone: two individuals were removed from the study for adverse effects.

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Washington State Creates Cannabis Worker Protection Standards

3/01/2016

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The Washington State Department of Agriculture has released a set of worker protection recommendations for the cannabis industry.

The document, entitled “Worker Protection Standards (WPS): Requirements for Marijuana Growers,” was developed in response to the growth of the cannabis industry there.

Normally, worker protection standards in the agricultural sector are created by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). In this case, USDA officials are prohibited from inspecting and certifying cannabis working standards because they must defer to federal law. As such, no federal guidelines exist for cannabis worker protection standards, despite more than half of states’ having legalized medical or recreational marijuana.

Washington, in a move that will hopefully ignite a broader trend among state governments, decided to create its own standards.

The “WSP: Requirements for Marijuana Growers” document focuses largely on protecting workers from pesticides. To this end, it requires that workers undergo a pesticide safety training course with a certified WPS trainer before their employment begins.

The new regulations also specify that workers must don personal protective equipment (PPE) to avoid contact with pesticides. PPE comprises a respirator, chemical resistant gloves, and protective eyewear.

The rules are set to take effect in January 2017.

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Governor of Puerto Rico Announces Support for Cannabis Legalization

3/01/2016

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During his last public address as the leader of Puerto Rico, Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla has called for the legalization of cannabis throughout the U.S. territory.

Legalization would lower crime rates and reduce hypocrisy in the judicial system, Garcia argued on Monday. He said that at the very least, Puerto Rico legislators should approve a bill filed in 2013 that would decriminalize cannabis.

Garcia signed a bill to legalize medical cannabis in Puerto Rico last May, but lawmakers shortly passed restrictions that banned smoking the plant. A program for the cultivation and sale of marijuana infused products for medical purposes is expected to come into effect later in 2016.

Garcia will not be seeking reelection for a second four-year term, and the island will be holding general elections this November. Though his approval ratings have suffered heavily throughout his term, Garcia says his final actions as Governor will be directed towards solving the territory’s $69 billion public debt.

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overdose on marijuana

Cannabis Banking Woes Widen

3/01/2016

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For all the successful reforms and increasingly marijuana-friendly attitudes among politicians — not to mention a relentless, nation-wide cultural backlash against the failed policies of prohibition — most legal cannabis companies have remained stuck in a cash-focused industry, forced to tread a disastrously unfortunate line in regards to mainstream bank services.

In case you’ve missed it so far, this is a big deal: perhaps the biggest obstacle preventing cannabis from going irrevocably mainstream.

‘Dude, where’s my 401k?’

Since legalization first touched down in Washington and Colorado, there have been countless reports of cannabis companies waking up to realize their bank account had been shut down, or their credit cards canceled.

Mary’s Medicinals, however, has had a particularly brutal time in 2016. In addition to recently losing its Facebook community of more than 20,000 followers, the Colorado-based infused product manufacturer also lost its credit card processing, payroll services, and 401k — each offered through different banking institutions — within weeks of each other.

At this point, Mary’s has had its general banking services walked back on four different occasions, even though the company doesn’t have a retail storefront and operates entirely on the B2B back end of the industry.

But for Financial Director Robin Swinney, however, the liquidation of her employees’ 401k came as a surprise.

“The 401k didn’t even cross my mind as something that would be at risk. I just thought that the money we were putting in on our employees’ behalf [would be] safe,” she told Ganjapreneur. “But here we are.”

Swinney said she signed up for the 401k through Charles Schwab about three months ago. When the funds were liquidated, however, the company’s employees were slapped with federal penalties for allegedly accessing their 401k prior to retirement — not that they had any choice in the matter.

It’s an unfortunate side effect of working in legal cannabis, and one that Mary’s has decided to help alleviate by covering its employees’ liquidation fees. Mary’s will not, however, be offering another 401k setup to its employees until there have been some dramatic changes to the system.

“We value our employees. We want to be a company that gives incentives — but we can’t,” Swinney said. “We tried it, and we’re being penalized, so now we … cannot offer a 401k program, given the current landscape.”

Despite its 401k debacle, Mary’s Medicinals has one small advantage in regards to credit card processing: the company is able to sell CBD-rich edibles under its sister brand Mary’s Nutritionals. And, because these products’ THC content is lower than the federally legal threshold, they can be sold wholesale directly into the mainstream market.

However, for most businesses in the cannabis industry, it remains tough — and in some cases illegal — to secure even the most basic of banking services.

Checking accounts and credit card processing

“Access to commercial credit has been huge for the industry,” said David Rheins, founder and CEO of the Marijuana Business Association (MJBA). “And not just commercial credit, but really even getting a bank account: there are many banks that will just not give you [an account] if you are a licensed cannabis business. Many won’t give you an account if you have ‘cannabis’ or ‘marijuana’ … in the name.”

The result is a rapidly-growing industry that is completing the majority of its transactions — retail sales, wholesale sales, tax payments, and sometimes even employee wages — in a largely cash-based environment.

Occasionally, a dispensary or recreational retailer may actually have the option of purchasing their products with a credit or debit card, but Rheins warns business owners against this tactic: “If you use a Visa or MasterCard to process cannabis, you’re in trouble. That’s violating federal regulations. The credit card company and the major banks that back them will not allow [it].”

“There are some dispensaries that have [credit card processing]. What they’re doing is mis-coding those transactions, and ultimately that’s not legal,” Rheins said. “They can risk not only losing that credit card account, but … putting a black mark on their credit and forever be blacklisted.”

However, a cash-based billion-dollar industry is untenable at best, and some entrepreneurs have been developing strategies to help marijuana businesses and banks establish a working relationship.

Cashless transactions

In fact, several ancillary companies have begun to pop up that specifically target the industry’s cash problem. One California-based start-up claims to be the first payment system available in Washington that is designed to allow bankable marijuana commerce throughout the entire supply chain, from seed-to-sale.

PayQwick, according to the company’s co-founder and CEO Kenneth Berke, “is the first and only federally registered Money Services Business licensed by the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions for the recreational marijuana industry.”

After signing up for PayQwick, consumers receive a card that they can link to their personal bank account. They can transfer money onto their PayQwick card — which can hold up to $1000 at one time — and swipe that card as payment at any participating retail location.

For retailers, processors and producers, PayQwick aims to alleviate banks’ concerns about the legality of cannabis by taking over every aspect of ensuring compliance. Essentially, they promise to make sure a cannabis company is operating above-board before bringing them under the PayQwick umbrella. As a result, every company that successfully signs up with PayQwick gets access to a bank account.

“Not only do they guarantee you a bank account, but they guarantee you a bank account for $150 per month,” said Myles Harlow Kahn, attorney for the Foundry Law Group and advisory board member for PayQwick. Over time, Kahn has become all-too-familiar with the industry’s banking woes.

“As an attorney in this field with three dozen licensees as clients — producers, processors and retailers — my number one recommendation is use PayQwick because it makes your life easier and it’s the only legal solution out there,” he said.

As of this writing, PayQwick has 51 participating businesses and there are just over 100 others who are currently undergoing the company’s due-diligence compliance checks. Just over 1,000 consumers have signed up for the program.

What’s next?

Legal cannabis has become a mainstay in political discussions from both sides of the aisle — and we’re talking about it openly, not whispering about it in the corner.

The archetypal stoner has been replaced by the new cannabis consumer, and we’re not just some millennial version of the 1980s hippie or down-to-earth business jockeys who happen to toke up at the end of a long day — we’re everyone: your neighbors, your grandparents. The more spotlight it gets, the more mainstream cannabis becomes.

And with companies like Mary’s Medicinals — eager to begin a lasting financial relationship between themselves and their employees through 401k incentives that workers in most other industries can take for granted, but who have ultimately been slapped with financial setbacks at nearly every turn — the need for true federal reform is becoming painfully more obvious every day.

When asked about the frustrations of repeatedly having to start over on their financial situation, Swinney joked, “There’s a lot of cussing involved.” But it’s clear that sometimes perseverance and honesty is the only way forward in the industry. Today, Mary’s is secure in a full disclosure banking relationship, though it costs them “an insane amount of money.”

“We feel like we are past the point of getting our day-to-day bank accounts shut down,” she confirmed.

For PayQwick, they’ve decided to move forward despite the currently restrictive landscape. With real progress on the federal level continually seeming several years out, sometimes the better option is to make your own opportunities. And Kahn believes that even after the federal restrictions are lifted and the legal cannabis floodgates begin opening around the country, the PayQwick model will persevere because — even in a post-prohibition world — issues of compliance will continue to plague the industry for years to come.

“It’s so labor-intensive, it’s so specialized, that if they can be that buffer for the bank, and take care of that piece for them — even if the banks were willing to offer [cannabis] accounts, I think they would still rather do it through [PayQwick],” he said. We’ll have to wait and see.

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New Mexico Health Department Releases List of Medical Cannabis Growers

2/29/2016

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The New Mexico Health Department has published its list of licensed medical cannabis growers online for public viewing.

Prior to the release of this list, information concerning medical marijuana growers was kept confidential. State officials have said that the secrecy was due to privacy concerns — businesses and producers were at risk of being targeted by thieves.

A journalist challenged this policy last year, arguing that the state should be more transparent. After a series of public meetings on the issue, the Health Department agreed that the policy should be changed.

There is disagreement among growers regarding whether the move is a positive one for them. Some fear that the transparency could endanger their businesses. Others say that the move could help modernize the industry and help the public regard it with more respect.

The full list of growers can be viewed here.

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Court Decision Snuffs Out Montana’s Medical Cannabis Industry

2/26/2016

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The Montana Supreme Court passed a ruling on Thursday that will result in one of the most significant rollbacks of a U.S. medical marijuana industry to date.

The court voted to uphold a provision stating that medical cannabis caregivers can provide medicine to a maximum of three patients — a severe commercial limitation for the state’s 12-year-old medical marijuana program.

Justice Beth Baker wrote in the court’s majority opinion, “The Legislature determined that placing a limit on the number of registered cardholders a provider may assist serves the objectives of keeping marijuana away from large-scale manufacturing operations, making it less appealing to major traffickers.”

Other provisions upheld by the court include a ban medical cannabis advertising and a mandated review process for any doctor who issues more than 25 medical cannabis recommendations.

Montana voters legalized medical cannabis in 2004. Following a period of explosive growth in the industry, however, federal authorities raided several large-scale providers and cultivation facilities in 2011, which in turn prompted the state legislature to begin passing restrictions on the industry. Lawmakers even attempted to reinstate the prohibition of medical marijuana, but that bill was vetoed by then-Gov. Brian Schweitzer.

“Yesterday, there were 23 states providing for either full recreational use or medical use of marijuana,” said Jim Goetz, attorney for the Montana Cannabis Information Association. “Today, we have 22 1/2.”

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Utah Senate Passes Two Competing Medical Marijuana Laws

2/26/2016

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The Utah Senate has passed two medical cannabis laws that propose different approaches.

SB 73, sponsored by Sen. Mark Madsen (R-Saratoga Springs), gives people suffering from cancer, AIDS, epilepsy, chronic pain, and other ailments legal access to medical cannabis edibles, extracts, and oils with a doctor’s recommendation. The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 17 to 12.

“I am so excited, this is such a miracle, this is all because of God,” said Utah resident Enedina Stanger. “It was a hard battle, but it was just because of the miracles and by the love of human beings that we got this through today. I’m so excited.”

The bill now moves to the House of Representatives, where it will face opposition. Supporters of the bill are optimistic, though, that they have the momentum to obtain the 38 votes needed to pass the bill.

The Senate also passed SB 89, which would legalize CBD extracts only.

Advocates of SB 78 say that while CBD can be effective in treating certain ailments, such as intractable seizures, it is not as effective as cannabis containing THC for other ailments.

SB 89 passed the Senate 18-8 and also heads to the House for consideration.

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Vermont Senate Offers Final Approval of Cannabis Legalization Law

2/26/2016

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The Vermont Senate has given final approval to S. 241, a bill that would legalize cannabis in the state and regulate its possession, distribution, and cultivation by adults who are 21 or older. The law now moves to the House of Representatives.

S. 241 would legalize the possession of up to an ounce of marijuana. It would also establish a regulatory system that would include licensed cultivation sites, testing laboratories, and retail storefronts. The law does not currently allow commercial edibles production or include the home cultivation of cannabis, though a specialized commission would further investigate both of these issues if the bill becomes law.

“We applaud the Senate for advancing this important legislation,” said Matt Simon, the Marijuana Policy Project’s New England political director. “Like most Vermonters, most members of the Senate recognize that prohibition is a failed policy. They voted to regulate marijuana because it will make our communities safer.”

“We are confident that House members who take an objective look at the evidence will arrive at the same conclusion as their colleagues in the Senate,” he said.

Poll results were released on Monday by Vermont Public Radio that indicate 55% of Vermonters approve of a law to end cannabis prohibition — only 32% said they opposed such a move.

 

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Advantages of Organic Soil, Tad Hussey – CannaCon 2016

2/25/2016

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Ganjapreneur recorded this presentation about the benefits of organic soil by Tad Hussey at CannaCon 2016 (http://cannacon.org).

Tad Hussey of KIS Organics (http://www.kisorganics.com) received his BA from the University of Washington in 2000 and his Masters from Macquarie University in Australia in 2005. Tad manages the research and microscope testing for the company. Tad has given talks for the Western Regional Rhododendron Society, Seattle Rose Society, Seattle Garden Club, Organic Farmers in Kauai, Sustainability Conferences, Cannacon, and teaches regular classes at KIS Farm (http://www.kisfarm.com). He also consults with various 502 businesses locally. He is the co-founder of Logical Gardener (http://www.logicalgardener.org), a free, science-based horticulture forum.
*via CannaCon

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Ed Rosenthal and Farmer Tom Lauerman Q&A – CannaCon 2016

2/25/2016

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Ganjapreneur recorded this open Q&A session with Farmer Tom Lauerman and Ed Rosenthal at CannaCon 2016 (http://cannacon.org) in Seattle, WA.

Ed Rosenthal (born Bronx, New York, 1944) is a California horticulturist, author, publisher, and Cannabis grower known for his advocacy for the legalization of marijuana use. He served as a columnist for High Times Magazine during the ’80s and ’90s.[1] He was arrested in 2002 for cultivation of cannabis by federal authorities, who do not recognize the authority of states to regulate the use of medical marijuana. He was convicted in federal court, but the conviction was overturned on appeal. Rosenthal was subsequently convicted again, but was not re-sentenced, since his original sentence had been completed.

Farmer Tom, has had his hands in the ground since the age of 12, when he started landscaping. He went on to manage an organic seed farm, wildcrafting herbs, for the pharmaceutical and herbal industries, and he also was the Director of Manufacturing at Pacifica, a beauty brand, sourcing and developing new products. A lifelong surfer and champion downhill mountain bike racer, Farmer Tom’s life mission is all about clean living and embracing an organic, natural lifestyle. Farmer Tom’s organic farming techniques raise the bar for all farmers, and he has become a advocate for the independent small grower.

via CannaCon

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The Hash Series: RosinTech w/Jeff Church – CannaCon 2016

2/25/2016

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Ganjapreneur recorded this presentation on the RosinTech cannabis extraction technique by Jeff Church aka Cannabis Reverend (http://instagram.com/cannabisreverend) at CannaCon 2016 (http://cannacon.org).

Jeff Church has been extracting medicine from cannabis for over 15 years. He has worked with every modern solvent and solventless extraction processes including dry extraction, ethanol and ISO alcohol, water extraction, butane, CO2 and, of course, RosinTech. He is an internationally respected hash producer and researcher and VP of Research and Development at Thinc Pure ( in Washington State. He also consults for legal cannabis processors and pharmaceutical companies. He worked to develop and implement the medical marijuana hashish rating system for consumers and patients. Reverend Cannabis was formerly Dean of the Cannabis College and has worked extensively on cannabis reform with the Committee for Cannabis Standards and Ethics, the Cannabis Defense Coalition and the Patient Arrest Protection Group. -via CannaCon

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Women in Cannabis: Panel Discussion – CannaCon 2016

2/25/2016

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Ganjapreneur recorded this panel discussion featuring several leading women in the cannabis industry at CannaCon 2016 (http://cannacon.org). The video features Crystal Oliver of Washington’s Finest Cannabis (http://fineweed.us), Danielle Rosellison of Trail Blazin’ Productions (http://trailblazin.net), Sharon Whitson of Hempfest (http://hempfest.org), Shawn DeNae of A Cannabis Conversation (http://shawndenae.com), and Morgan Kristine of the MJBA (http://mjba.net).

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Oakland Museum Exhibition is First-Ever to Explore Realities of California Cannabis

2/25/2016

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The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) will open a first-of-its-kind exhibit on cannabis in April.

The exhibit, entitled “Altered State: Marijuana in California,” was “designed as a catalyst for conversation and reflection around the marijuana plant, its uses, evolving public attitudes, and the complex policy and social issues surrounding it.”

Sarah Seiter, the Associate Curator of Natural Sciences at the museum, writes:

“We hope this exhibit encourages people to think critically about marijuana, the research available on it, and how it is presented in the media. Our goal is that this exhibition will help people have informed conversations with their families and friends about what type of marijuana policy is right for California.”

The exhibition will include cannabis specimens (on loan), an installation by artist Cybele Lyle that challenges perspectives on space and time, and a “Cannabis Confessional” where visitors will be able to anonymously share their thoughts on the plant.

Of the exhibition, OMCA Director Lori Fogarty said:

“The roles of museums in today’s world are shifting. At OMCA, we aim to inspire Californians to create a more vibrant future for themselves and their communities. As part of this, we are dedicated to being a place where people can come learn about complex topics and, more importantly, add their voices and stories to the dialogue. This exhibition is proof of that in action.”

The exhibition will be broken down into the following ten sections: Cannabis Science, Medical Marijuana, Profitable Pot, Sacred Ganja, Criminal Dope, Creative Grass, Evil Weed, Politically Loaded, Youth and Marijuana and Recreational Reefer.

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Cannabis branches hanging out to cure after harvest season.

Confusion Over Home Cultivation in Arizona Recreational Cannabis Initiative

2/25/2016

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An Arizona cannabis legalization petition expected to be on the November ballot has been the subject of some scrutiny after there was confusion about whether cities would be allowed to ban home cultivation of the plant.

Under the proposed measure, adults 21 and older would be allowed to grow up to six plants per person or a maximum of 12 per household.

According to Ryan Hurley, a lawyer for the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Arizona (CRMLA), which is backing the initiative, municipalities would not be able to ban home cultivation.

The confusion over the petition’s implications arose when Carlos Alfaro, the Arizona Political Director of the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), which sponsors CRMLA, stated in a video that cities would in fact be allowed to ban home growing. In the video, Alfaro says that “In the law, it says that they have the authority to do [ban home cultivation]… If the city does not want . . . the sales or the home cultivation in there, they are able to do that.”

Tom Dean, a lawyer who supports another, more liberal proposal from Arizonans for Mindful Regulation, cites the portion of the initiative stating that cities would be allowed to “enact reasonable ordinances or rules that are not in conflict with this act” in arguing the same.

But a statement from the League of Arizona Cities and Towns dispels this argument. Ken Strobeck, executive director of the League, reviewed the proposal at the request of the Phoenix New Times:

“The short answer is the type of home grow operations that are allowed now under the medical marijuana initiative will continue to be allowed if the Act passes. The Act clearly states that aside from a few provisions, it does not affect any laws relating to medical marijuana, which currently allows home grow operations.”

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Canadian Medical Marijuana Patients Win Rights to Homegrown Cannabis

2/25/2016

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In a landmark ruling out of British Columbia, Federal Judge Michael Phelan has determined that Health Canada’s established medical cannabis framework is unconstitutional, granting Canada’s Liberal Party a six-month window to work out new medical marijuana legislation.

In the meantime, Judge Phelan has also ruled that patients should be allowed to grow their own cannabis once more — a right that was taken away with the 2013 introduction of the Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR).

The MMPR mandates that patients purchase their cannabis from a government-licensed producer. Not only did the system bar patients from growing their own medicine, but it also banned medical marijuana dispensaries and other retail storefronts.

Following Judge Phelan’s ruling, stock prices dropped for many of Canada’s publicly-traded medical marijuana companies, including Canopy Growth and Aurora.

John Fowler, President of Supreme — another of Canada’s licensed producers — said he hopes the Canadian government recognizes Judge Phelan’s ruling as a call for better regulations in medical cannabis. “I hope the Liberals look at the political issue here, at the fact that some Canadians can’t afford any medical marijuana, and come up with balance between the interest of [licensed producers] and the health interest of Canadians,” he said.

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