Alaska Regulators Now Accepting Cannabis Business Licenses

2/24/2016

by

Regulators with the Alaska Marijuana Control Board began accepting applications today for state-licensed cannabis businesses, Becky Bohrer reports for The Associated Press.

Though applications can be submitted today, it may take three weeks to determine whether or not the application is fully completed in regards to state requirements. The Marijuana Control Board will then have up to 90 days to approve or deny a completed license application.

Applications are submitted online, where there are also several educational videos to help Alaska’s future ganjapreneurs through the complicated application process.

Under the current plan, regulators are expected to approve the first cultivation and testing facilities sometime in June, with the first retailer licenses following sometime in September. It will still be many months before adults 21 and over in Alaska can purchase recreational cannabis products.

The board is also pursuing a legislative fix to allow for national criminal history checks on applicants applying for a marijuana license. A Senate committee is scheduled to hear a bill addressing this issue on Wednesday.

Regulators finalized the state’s recreational marijuana laws earlier this month. The completed set of rules is available here.

End

Former Attorney General Eric Holder Says Cannabis Should Be Rescheduled

2/24/2016

by

In an interview on PBS’s Frontline last week, former Attorney General Eric Holder argued that cannabis should be rescheduled. The statement is not exceptionally surprising, considering that Holder signalled some support for the rescheduling of the drug in September 2014. It is still significant, though, as it is the clearest support the former Attorney General has ever expressed for such a move.

Frontline’s Martin Smith asked Holder if he thought marijuana should be decriminalized, to which Holder responded:

“I certainly think it ought to be rescheduled. You know, we treat marijuana in the same way that we treat heroin now, and that clearly is not appropriate. So at a minimum, I think Congress needs to do that. Then I think we need to look at what happens in Colorado and what happens in Washington.”

When pressed about harder drugs, such as cocaine and heroin, Holder was more conservative, saying that “It’s hard for me to imagine a situation in which those drugs ought to be legalized… If you look at the impact, the effect that the addictive qualities of those drugs [have], that’s problematic.”

He argued that alcohol is different than these drugs because of its cultural history and significance, and that it “is fundamentally different than meth, fundamentally different than crack cocaine, fundamentally different than heroin.”

Regarding the drug war, Holder said that it is “over:”

“Certainly calling it the drug war should be over. But the battle against the narcotics problem in this country has to go on. But we need to take some different approaches, and it should not all be seen as just a criminal justice problem. It ought to be seen as a public health issue.”

End

Review: Gro-Kashi

2/24/2016

by

Ganjapreneur Product Announcements and Reviews provide you with an opportunity to learn about cannabis-related products that you may not normally come across. We only write about products that are worth a moment of your time to check out. If you’d like to let us know about your product, email us at grow@ganjapreneur.com. We cannot reply to every email but we do read them all.

Product: Gro-Kashi

Gro-Kashi

gro-kashi2

Oftentimes, nature works best when partnered with other natural processes, and that’s the spirit embraced by the creators of Gro-Kashi.

Gro-Kashi is an intelligent specialty fertilizer, complete with nutrients and beneficial life forms. In fact, it’s technically a living product, biologically enhanced through an anaerobic fermentation process, which separates it from most powdered inoculates and fertilizers available on the market.

Gro-Kashi fully embodies the ideals behind probiotic farming: true gardening shouldn’t require pesticides or other special chemicals, but can be accomplished with smart, safe growing practices and through understanding the biological functions of a growing plant.

End

Oregon Senate Approves Bill Allowing Cannabis Retailers to Sell Tax-Free MMJ

2/24/2016

by

The Oregon Senate passed a law yesterday to allow licensed recreational cannabis retailers to sell tax-free medical-grade pot to registered patients.

Senate Bill 1511 was designed to officially blend the line between Oregon’s medical and recreational markets, reducing the redundancy of two separated, highly regulated cannabis industries. The bill was passed on party lines with an 18-10 vote following a failed motion to re-refer the bill to committee.

The law forbids taxation on cannabis products sold to medical marijuana cardholders or a designated primary caregiver who purchases medicine for a registered cardholder.

S.B. 1511 would also allow recreational consumers to finally purchase cannabis concentrates and edible products from retailers, options that currently are only available for medical marijuana cardholders.

The law includes a provision marking it as an emergency piece of legislation, meaning it would take effect immediately upon receiving the governor’s signature.

The Oregon legislature has been updating many aspects of its marijuana laws this session, including a measure — which currently awaits the governor’s signature — removing a 2-year residency requirement for marijuana license holders.

End

Vermont Senate to Vote on Cannabis Legalization Law

2/23/2016

by

The full Vermont Senate is expected to vote this Wednesday on a bill that would legalize recreational cannabis statewide, Vermont Business Magazine reports.

The bill advanced on Monday through the Senate Committee on Appropriations with a 4-3 vote. The Senate is expected to pass the bill, and then itwill then move to the House for a vote, where it’s future is more uncertain.

Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin openly supports the legalization proposal, and issued the following statement after Monday’s vote:

“This bill will allow Vermont to undercut the black market and get rid of illegal drug dealers, focus on prevention and treatment, and do a better job than we do currently of keeping marijuana out of the hands of children and addressing drugged drivers who are already on Vermont’s roads.

“The War on Drugs policy of marijuana prohibition has failed. We can and should take a smarter approach. I look forward to continuing to work with the Legislature as this bill moves forward.”

Meanwhile, Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell and two former attorneys general — Jerome Diamond and Kimberly Cheney — issued a letter last week publicly endorsing the Senate’s plan to end cannabis prohibition.

“The Senate has worked diligently and deliberately on this legislation,” said Matt Simon, the Marijuana Policy Project’s political director for New England. “Most Vermonters believe it’s time to end prohibition and regulate marijuana, and it appears most of their state senators agree. We are hopeful that the Senate will approve this commonsense legislation and send it over to the House for its consideration.”

End

Poll Finds 74% of Ohioans Support Medical Cannabis

2/23/2016

by

A press release by the Marijuana Policy Project cites a Public Policy Polling survey that found that 74 percent of Ohio residents are in favor of legalizing medical cannabis in the state. Just 22 percent of Ohioans are opposed to such a move. The poll’s margin of error is 3.8 percent.

The survey was conducted between February 17 and 18, and polled 672 randomly chosen Ohio residents. The poll results were released Monday, as medical cannabis advocates move to launch a campaign supporting the constitutional ballot initiative that would legalize medical cannabis for people suffering from terminal or debilitating conditions.

Mason Tvert, a spokesperson for Ohioans for Medical Marijuana (OMM), said that “it’s become pretty common knowledge that marijuana can be incredibly beneficial in the treatment of a variety of medical conditions.”

He continued:

“It’s not surprising that a vast majority of voters agree patients should be allowed to consume it if their doctors think it could be helpful. There are few laws still on the books that are as unpopular as those that prohibit sick and dying people from accessing medical marijuana.”

OMM is working with advocates to craft the constitutional initiative and eventually to begin the petition process to get the initiative on the November ballot.

“Ohio’s current marijuana policy is antiquated and inhumane,” said Tvert. “We hope to give voters an opportunity to change that this November. We’re confident that most Ohioans will support a well-written initiative that gives seriously ill people the right to use medical marijuana if their doctors recommend it.”

End

New England: The Next U.S. Region to Embrace Legalization

2/23/2016

by

Though the west coast has had a lock on U.S. cannabis culture for some time, the tides are turning nationwide, and it’s due time for some representation from America’s birthplace.

On the whole, New England is shaping up to be a promising locale for cannabis. Its growing medical marijuana industry includes Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.

Vermont has three pending legalization laws in the legislature, finally getting the chance to make official its long relationship with industrial hemp and cannabis. Lots of self-identified marijuana users hail from this state, and a recent poll showed that 56 percent of Vermonters support legalization while only about 34 percent would oppose it.

Maine is expected to legalize via voter initiative later this year, with a few years’ experience running a successful medical marijuana program already under its belt.

Massachusetts, though home to the business and technology hub of Boston, has had trouble gaining government support for adult use legalization. Two competing ballot initiatives faced off, but only one campaign collected enough signatures for 2016. With just a handful medical marijuana dispensaries just recently having opened, three years after the law permitting them was passed, Mass. pot shops are still having trouble doing business with low product supply and very high patient demand.

Rhode Island is also entering campaign season with a viable adult use initiative, which recently gained the support of a key legislator. Historically, Rhode Island citizens have had one of the highest rates of cannabis consumption in the country.

Connecticut has a medical cannabis program in place, but will likely not be legalizing adult use this year.

The New Hampshire House recently shot down a couple of legalization bills, but progress in neighboring states could provide a more supportive environment for policy change, especially given the fact that two thirds of voters showed their support for drug decriminalization, according to a recent poll.

Though New York is typically not considered part of “New England,” it’s the population center of the region and the state’s advances in medical cannabis policy cannot be overlooked. The state finally implemented its own government-supervised retail dispensary program last year, with a total of 393 physicians and 921 patients registered for the program in the first six weeks, and around a dozen storefronts either in operation or set to open soon.

Overall, the East Coast is home to a lot of individuals that support the legalization of marijuana; though stigma and federal illegality is still keeping many prospective New England patients out of the dispensaries. The legislative process seems to be the only hurdle here.

Even if for some reason these campaigns fall short, success is inevitable in the western states. If California, Nevada, and Arizona all choose to legalize adult use come November, it will create a cannabis super-region that will no doubt influence policy across the U.S. for the foreseeable future.

Will New England really be the next hotbed for cannabis, or will traditional values keep the industry low key? Time will tell – but what matters is that just about anywhere you choose to live in the United States, some form of legalization is well on its way.

End

NORML’s National Board Offers Early Endorsement of California Legalization Initiative

2/22/2016

by

The NORML Board of Directors voted on Saturday to endorse the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA), an initiative to legalize recreational cannabis in California.

Kieth Stroup, NORML’s original founder and the organization’s current top legal counsel, wrote in a blog post, “The Board took this action aware there are other proposed initiatives in California that… are even more consumer-friendly, but those alternatives have little chance of qualifying for the ballot or being approved by a majority of the state’s voters.”

According to Stroup, the Board decided to jump the gun — instead its usual procedure of waiting for an initiative to have fully qualified for the ballot before offering their endorsement — because they decided it “could have a greater impact on the eventual outcome if it came earlier in the process.”

AUMA will legalize the personal possession and use of up to an ounce of cannabis, and it will also allow for the personal cultivation of up to six cannabis plants. The bill would establish a state-regulated marketplace for the retail sale of recreational marijuana.

The campaign has been endorsed by the California Medical Association, the California NAACP, and a host of other pro-reform organizations. AUMA also enjoys significantly more funding than any Prop. 19 — the state’s last legalization attempt — including $1 million in contributions from tech-mogul Sean Parker, for an approximate $2.25 million in total funding for the campaign.

End

Oregon Dispensaries Procrastinate Recreational Tax Registrations

2/22/2016

by

Medical cannabis dispensaries in Oregon that sell recreational cannabis must pay their first taxes by February 29th. Nearly 25 percent of these dispensaries, however, have yet to register to pay taxes on their recreational sales.

A report by The Register-Guard found that 75 of the 320 medical dispensaries currently selling recreational cannabis have not created accounts with the Oregon Department of Revenue, despite the department’s threats of late penalties.

As of last Thursday, just 38 of the registered dispensaries had paid their January taxes, and another 60 have set up payment appointments.

Department of ­Revenue spokeswoman Joy Krawczyk said that the department sent letters reminding dispensaries of their fiscal obligations last month. “Our biggest concern is just making sure we get the word out there,” she said. “We are looking at an uptick of registrations as the deadline approaches.”

Despite the overall boost in profits that recreational cannabis has brought Oregon’s medical dispensaries, some owners remain critical of the recreational tax.

Travis Shafer, who owns the Twenty After Four Wellness Center in ­Eugene, said that the recreational tax makes cannabis more expensive for people who may be eligible for a medical card but have not, perhaps for financial reasons, obtained one.

“I have a lot of people coming in who are living off the cheap… It’s restricting access,” he said.

End

Potent Growth: Aqua Synergy, Organic Neem Wash & Microbe Food Plus

2/22/2016

by

“Ganjapreneur Product Announcements and Reviews provide you with an opportunity to learn about cannabis-related products that you may not normally come across. We only write about products that are worth a moment of your time to check out. If you’d like to let us know about your product, email us at grow@ganjapreneur.com. We cannot reply to every email but we do read them all.

Product: Aqua Synergy, Organic Neem Wash & Microbe Food Plus
Maker: Potent Growth

Aqua Synergy

The Aqua Synergy from Potent Growth first and foremost increases your plants’ resistance against extreme heat or cold. This can help protect plants against short-term equipment failures for indoor grow-ops and greenhouses, but can also help your outdoor crops survive particularly nasty drought or flood conditions. The product contains pure precipitated silica, and will not affect your soil’s pH — it was made using feed-grade ingredients, so Aqua Synergy is safe to use around pets and livestock.

Organic Neem Wash

neemoil

The Organic Cold Pressed Neem Oil Wash from Potent Growth is made from 100% organic, non-GMO and cosmetic grade ingredients, making the solution safe for use in homes and gardens with children and pets.

The wash can be mixed in cold water and is usable in foggers and atomizers without the clogging problems typically associated with neem oil. This product purportedly goes beyond most neem oil, offering a collection of cosmetic-grade essential oils, organic emulsifiers, and natural surfactants to ensure that the wash is both fast-acting and offers long-lasting results.

Microbe Food Plus

microbefoodplus

Potent Growth’s Microbe Food Plus is a water soluble formula containing all the amino acids your crops might need, helping both your plants and the beneficial microorganisms in your soil at the same time. The unique formula stimulates accelerated cell production, contains vitamins, enzymes and concentrated microbial processed nutrients. The product comes in the form of a powered concentrate, boasting a shelf life of at least five years.

We are excited to see how these products from Potent Growth perform in both commercial and consumer gardens.

Have you used any of the products listed above? Share your experience in the comments section below!

End

Colorado State Officials Issue First Health Advisory on Pesticide-Treated Cannabis

2/22/2016

by

Colorado state officials have, for the first time, issued a health-and-safety advisory for marijuana products from two Colorado Springs cultivation facilities found to be treated with an unapproved pesticide.

Issued in November, Gov. Hickenlooper’s new executive order declared marijuana containing banned pesticides a public health hazard — ensuring that any and all recalled products would be destroyed. It also established a state agency called the Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED) to investigate possible violations.

Over the last few months, Denver Department of Environmental Health officials have recalled a number of cannabis products that tested positive for banned pesticides. But this is the first time that state-sponsored MED has issued an official advisory. The advisory comes after Colorado Department of Agriculture inspectors discovered the fungicide Myclobutanil on products from the two facilities.

It’s up to the Colorado Department of Revenue’s enforcement division to decide whether the two culvitators, Dr. Releaf Inc and Levity Wellness, will face disciplinary action.

The advisory is for plants grown as far back as August 2015, and affects an unknown quantity of products.

“Over time,” said Andrew Freedman, director of the Governor’s marijuana policy, “we anticipate that compliance rates will improve and these instances will become less prevalent.”

End

Dispensary / Retailer Workshop 101 – Cannabis Collaborative Conference

2/19/2016

by

Ganjapreneur recorded this presentation on running a dispensary / retail business in the cannabis industry at the Cannabis Collaborative Conference (http://ccc-con.com) in Portland, OR.

This panel discussion about the dispensary/retail sector of the cannabis industry features Lori Glauser of Signal Bay (http://www.signalbayinc.com/), Matt Walstatter of Pure Green (http://puregreenpdx.com/), and John Spencer of Pulse Consulting (http://pulseconsults.com/).

End

Producers / Processors 102 – Cannabis Collaborative Conference

2/19/2016

by

Ganjapreneur recorded this panel discussion about running a cannabis production/processing business at the Cannabis Collaborative Conference (http://ccc-con.com). The video features Allan Abramovitz of THC Partners, Craig Henderson of Apeks Supercritical (http://www.apekssupercritical.com), and Aaron Silverman of Canna Group, Inc (https://cannagroupinc.com/).

End

Producers / Processors 103 – Cannabis Collaborative Conference

2/19/2016

by

Ganjapreneur recorded this panel discussion about running a cannabis production & processing facility at the Cannabis Collaborative Conference (http://ccc-con.com).

This video features Brad Zusman of Canna Daddy Wellness (http://www.canna-daddys.com) & Busy Bee, Realina Krikston of Haikuu Design (http://www.haiikuu.com/), Kristi Knoblich of Kiva Confections (http://kivaconfections.com), and Rowshan Reordan of Green Leaf Lab (http://www.greenleaflab.org).

End

Former Surgeon General Endorses Bernie Sanders’ Plan to Deschedule Cannabis

2/19/2016

by

With a proposal in the Senate to remove cannabis from the U.S. Controlled Substances Act, Sen. Bernie Sanders is irrefutably the most marijuana-friendly of this election’s presidential candidates — the Marijuana Policy Project has rated him an “A” in terms of legalization prospects.

Now, in an exciting new endorsement, former Surgeon General Dr. Joycelyn Elders told Marijuana Politics in an interview that she supported Sanders’ proposal to deschedule cannabis.

“You know, we don’t have cigarettes [on the Controlled Substances Act]. We don’t have alcohol on it,” she added. “So I think that marijuana should be removed and studied and looked at.”

Dr. Elders served as the nation’s top doctor under President Bill Clinton, until she was forced to resign after she suggested that schoolchildren should undergo sex education about masturbation. She had also previously suggested that the administration consider the legalization of drugs as a means to reduce crime, which, unsurprisingly, also did not go over well at the time.

Unfortunately, Sen. Sanders currently has not found a single co-sponsor for his law to reform cannabis prohibition, though a majority of Americans believe that legalization is in the country’s best interest.

To watch the video interview, visit the Marijuana Politics website.

End

Alaska Cities Hope to Loosen Cannabis Business Buffer Zones

2/19/2016

by

Two cities in Alaska have asked the state to revisit its policies on buffer zones for cannabis businesses.

Sitka and Petersburg, both in the southeastern portion of the state, hope that the state will give them more leeway in determining how far marijuana businesses have to be from certain locations.

Under current Alaska law, such businesses must be located at least 500 feet from schools, churches, correctional facilities, and recreational and youth centers. In small communities, including Petersburg and Sitka, such restrictions eliminate large swaths of the city center.

“There really are only a few slivers of land where someone’s going to be able to have a business. … It’s going to naturally restrict the industry,” said Emily Deach, the borough clerk of Skagway, another small town.

Petersburg borough manager Stephen Giesbrecht said that the current law leaves just one building available for a marijuana business in the city’s downtown.

“That’s not ideal for tourists who come in on a tour boat,” he said.

Although Alaskan cities can institute stricter rules on their own, such as banning marijuana businesses outright, they cannot unilaterally loosen rules.

Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office Director Cynthia Franklin said that the Sitka and Petersburg requests are unlikely to effect change in the near future: “It seems unlikely to me at this point that the board will revisit this right now.”

End

Cannabis Activist Charlo Greene Kickstarts New “Oprah For Weed” Show

2/19/2016

by

Marijuana activist Charlo Greene, the former Alaska news reporter who famously quit on live TV, has launched a new show on Kickstarter that she calls “The Oprah Winfrey Show — for WEED.”

After reporting on the broken medical marijuana system in Alaska, she launched a new career as a marijuana activist and entrepreneur. According to her Kickstarter, the new show, The Charlo Green Show, will showcase her cross-country journey to advocate for cannabis reform. “The funds [from the Kickstarter] will also go toward securing a mobile studio so we can literally take you on this revolutionary road with us,” she wrote on the Kickstarter’s page.

Greene originally intended the show to publish once a week online — thus the Kickstarter — but EBONY.com reports that she’s been approached by major networks about taking it to television for a five-day-per-week schedule.

The show will feature stories from the lives of people touched by cannabis, including families of children struggling with epilepsy. Greene will also focus on women and minorities entering the cannabis business.

“We’re covering a wide range of topics and we know it’s important to show how connected the movement is in different places,” she said. “The show is going to be a bit of everywhere.”

End

Ancillary Business Panel – Cannabis Collaborative Conference

2/18/2016

by

Ganjapreneur recorded this panel discussion about ancillary services in the cannabis industry at the Cannabis Collaborative Conference (http://ccc-con.com) in Portland, OR, moderated by David Rheins of the MJBA (http://mjba.net). Panelists include Paul Campbell of Leafly (http://leafly.com), Holly Alberti of Healthie Headie Lifestyle (http://healthyheadie.com), Brandon Gallagher of Vuber Technologies (http://vubervaporizers.com), and Scott Lott of Click Simply (http://clicksimply.com).

End

Neil Yorio Keynote Presentation – Cannabis Collaborative Conference

2/18/2016

by

Ganjapreneur recorded Neil Yorio’s keynote presentation at the Cannabis Collaborative Conference (http://ccc-con.com). Yorio began his career at NASA, where he conducted research on photobiology, plant physiology, and controlled environment horticulture. As an LED lighting expert, he now serves as the Vice President of Lighting Research for BIOS Lighting (http://bioslighting.com/).

End

The Top Five Safety Concerns in a Cannabis Extraction Facility

2/18/2016

by

Cannabis extraction is a complex process, and could be considered dangerous without proper preparation.

Considering the most important safety precautions for any extract production facility, we should first identify the most common risks of extraction. Only by recognizing these process risks can the right steps be followed to ensure the safety of both employees and products.

Fire

Let’s begin with the obvious. When dealing with flammable gasses or liquids in extract production, there is a risk of fire or explosion during the handling process. The easiest way to understand the risk of fire or explosion is to consider the fire triangle. Essentially, a fire needs three things to start: a fuel source, oxygen, and an ignition source. The basic philosophy here is that by removing legs from the fire triangle, we can make the process safer; by removing two legs, an operator can make their extraction process significantly less incident-prone. 

First, accomplish process isolation through the utilization of a proper enclosure, such as a vented hood, which will suck out vapors, removing a fuel source. Conducting extraction operations inside an enclosure with no available ignition sources removes one leg from the fire triangle, adding ventilation removes another. Finally, there are two tools that should be kept on site to make known the presence of unnoticed flammable vapors: a permanent LEL, or Lower Explosive Limit, monitor should be installed in the extraction room; and a handheld two or four gas portable monitor should be on site as well.

CO2 Exposure

The next identifiable risk is specific to carbon dioxide extractions. Running a CO2 extraction can release a dangerous asphyxiating gas that can lead to unconsciousness and death if it goes unnoticed. Arguably the simplest way to avoid CO2 exposure is to prevent its release from the point of operation before it can become a problem. Therefore, all emergency relief valves should be piped to the outside of the building. Conducting CO2 extractions in a room with proper ventilation is the best place to start safe-proofing the operation. Compliment this with the installation of a CO2 concentration monitor, which will offer ample time for operators to take evasive measures in the event of a leak. Concentration monitors will give a warning alarm sound at the OSHA-recommended 5,000 PPM, well below the Immediately Dangerous to Life limit of 50,000 PPM. Thus, if the alarm sounds, operators should be trained in taking action to isolate the operation and evacuate the area before a lethal amount of the gas is present.  

Cannabis Dust

Sometimes overlooked, operators of extraction facilities should also be weary of their employees being exposed to cannabis dust. These small particles can go unnoticed throughout the day, but their short and long term impacts can lead to serious health complications. There are two ways to combat dust-related health concerns. The first option is the installation of point-source ventilation. Working with trim or other dust-heavy materials with proper ventilation installed will effectively remove excess air particles from the area of operation. The second option is to make it a standard operating procedure step to wear NIOSH approved N95 disposable respirators.

Harmful Vapors

Even after the extraction process is completed, there are concerns that must be alleviated. The solvents used to produce cannabis-infused oils, such as isopropyl alcohol, heptane or ethanol, can produce harmful vapors if employees are over exposed. A facility should use either point-source ventilation or a dedicated ventilation system for this step of the production cycle to effectively remove vapors from the operation area. Additionally, following OSHA occupational limits for exposure to these vapors will keep operators safe from the threat of overexposure.

Hearing Loss

Finally, perhaps the most commonly overlooked risk in an extraction production process is also the easiest to alleviate. When running extraction machines, operators are often exposed to a high level of noise. As one might expect, the simplest solution is to ensure that wearing OSHA approved noise-cancelling earplugs, earmuffs or hearing bands are included in standard operating procedures. They only need to be worn during high-noise-level stages of production, but can guarantee lifelong safety of operators’ hearing. Hearing bands are best for labor-intensive operations, as they can quickly be slung around an operator’s neck when not in use.

Identifying risks in an extraction facility isn’t a small task, but it’s necessary to keep operations safe and sound. Some solutions to identifying risks might have seemingly high initial costs, like the installation of gas monitors or significant changes to standard operating procedures. However, keep in mind that theses costs are relatively small when they guarantee the safety of your operators.

End

Vermont Senate Finance Committee Approves Cannabis Legalization Bill

2/18/2016

by

Vermont’s Senate Finance Committee approved the details of a recreational cannabis legalization bill last Friday. The committee settled on a 25% sales tax and a half-ounce limit on possession.

Sen. Tim Ashe (D-Chittenden) had stated previously that the committee wanted to set taxes at a rate that would allow the legal market to compete effectively with existing black markets.

The committee approved the bill by a 6-1 vote, putting it on its way to a floor vote.

Gov. Peter Shumlin tweeted his support for the bill last Friday:

He also issued this statement:

“I want to thank the Senate Finance Committee for (its) work and Sen. Tim Ashe for his leadership. Today’s vote builds upon the good work started by Senator Sears and the Senate Judiciary Committee. I am encouraged by the deliberate approach the Senate is taking on this issue, using the lessons learned from other states to craft a bill that is well thought out. We can take a smarter approach and I look forward to continuing to work to get a bill that ends the failed era of marijuana prohibition in Vermont.”

The Senate Judiciary version of the bill had come under fire when senators removed a part of the bill that would have allowed citizens to grow cannabis at home. Judiciary chairman Sen. Dick Sears (D-Bennington) said the issue of homegrown cannabis was a “line in the sand.”

End

Colorado Cannabis Edibles Group Announces New Product Standards

2/18/2016

by

The Colorado Cannabis Chamber of Commerce (C4) announced Wednesday a new set of standards for the production and presentation of cannabis-infused edibles.

The new guidelines are aimed at preventing edible products from being too appealing to children.

According a press release issued by the organization on Wednesday: “C4 manufactures will no longer produce or sell marijuana infused edibles that are in the shapes of humans or animals. Animal shapes such as gummy bears, gummy worms, ‘sour patch kids’ and others items will be prohibited.”

All 43 members of C4 will be voluntarily adhering to the new standards, though companies like EdiPure — who has historically sold cannabis-infused gummy bears — are expected to suffer minor setbacks due to the changes.

The standards will be integrated over time, with all participating members expected to be in full compliance by October 1, 2016 — the same day that new labeling requirements for cannabis edibles take effect.

“There is a need for restraint in how close a marijuana product appears to resemble every day candy products,” said Senator Kevin Lundberg, Chairman of the Health & Human Services Committee. “I am pleased to see [the] industry recognizing the need for this restraint without requiring legislative mandate.”

End