Detroit Has More Dispensaries Than Grocery Stores

1/09/2015

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“Detroit has three casinos, 23 libraries,  107 parks, 115 grocery stores, and – wait for it – 180 medical marijuana dispensaries.”

That’s the opening line of a recent Daily Caller article highlighting the explosive growth of the Detroit medical marijuana dispensary scene, which has really taken off in recent years. Currently, Michigan state law allows medical marijuana use for qualifying patients, but the issue of dispensaries has remained largely unregulated.

In an interview with CBS Detroit, City Councilman James Tate called the industry “the next big thing in the city of Detroit.”

Observing the flow of new businesses, however, Tate has expressed concerns about the possible over-saturation of dispensaries. “It’s not about being against it. It’s about making sure that we’re able to regulate it in a way that ensures the best quality of life for the residents who live in that area.”

A medical marijuana bill was considered by the legislature in December, but failed to pass through the Senate. That bill, however, did not address the issue of dispensaries. Rather, it would have given patients access to non-smokable medicine such as marijuana-infused edibles or tinctures.

Concerned individuals are now looking to the state legislature to set up regulations for dispensaries.

Sources:

http://dailycaller.com/2015/01/08/detroit-has-more-medical-marijuana-dispensaries-than-it-can-count/

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2015/01/08/180-marijuana-dispensaries-pop-up-in-detroit-this-is-the-next-big-thing-in-the-city/

Photo Credit: paul bica

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Ganjapreneur Announces New Cannabis Domain Name Market for Start-Ups and Venture Capital Firms

1/08/2015

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Ganjapreneur, a website dedicated to cannabis business news and culture, has recently announced the launch of their Cannabis Domain Name Market. “Ganjapreneur is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs in legal cannabis space optimize and grow their business, and ultimately, a great domain name goes a long way to helping them achieve that through a highly visible online presence and strong brand. With our background in the domain space and understanding of the importance and value of a great domain name for any entrepreneur, a domain market was a clear next step and perfect fit for Ganjapreneur.com. We plan to launch many more business services in the near future for our audience as well,” said Andrew Rosener, Founder and CEO of Ganjapreneur.com.

The market consists of hundreds of marijuana keyword and brandable domain names available for immediate purchase, sorted by category, type, and price. The market is designed to be a resource for venture capital firms and start-ups looking to get involved in the cannabis industry, and it is launched in partnership with Escrow.com, the leading escrow service for domain name transactions in order to make transactions safe and easy.

Ganjapreneur is a joint venture of Media Options, Inc. and THC Media Group, Inc., which launched in the summer of 2014 and has steadily grown in scale. The website now offers a live feed of cannabis job board listings from around the web, a large body of original news articles, editorials, and interviews with business owners, as well as a dictionary of marijuana slang terms, a mobile app, and a business directory for B2B service providers in the cannabis industry.

The domain name market is the latest addition to Ganjapreneur’s array of features geared toward cannabis industry start-ups and investors. It includes premium domain names such as Oregano.com & MyCannabis.com with price tags over $25,000, although the majority are listed between $2,000 and $10,000. Available options include dot-com domains such as SourDiesel.com and MarijuanaButter.com, as well as alternative top-level extensions such as Cannabis.cruises and Grow.xyz.

Over the past six months, Ganjapreneur has published several interviews with prominent cannabis industry entrepreneurs, or “ganjapreneurs,” including a founding partner in a cannabis-focused investment firm, the owner of the first recreational cannabis day spa in Colorado, and the founder of a Seattle-based recruiting and staffing firm which connects cannabis industry employers and hopeful job seekers. The website also covered the first sales of edibles and concentrates in Washington state, and was the only media outlet to capture the moment on video.

The announcement of the domain market marks the site’s latest expansion of its services geared toward marijuana business owners and investors. “This is just one of many resources we are developing to help ganjapreneurs start or grow their business,” said Noel Abbott, Ganjapreneur’s CTO. “We are excited to announce our domain name market, and we have many more announcements coming in 2015.”

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Four Methods for Growers to Lower Their Electricity Bills

1/08/2015

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A hot topic in the new marijuana mainstream is electricity use. Considering that four states and Washington D.C. have voted for recreational marijuana, half the country has legalized medical marijuana in some form, and that many more legalization laws are expected on the ballot in 2016, the stress on electrical grids from production companies in the marijuana industry is likely to only keep growing.

In 2012, the Weed Blog reported that Arcata, CA was planning to tax growers — who used three times the normal amount of electricity — an extra 45% of their monthly power bill. USA Today reports Boulder, CO has responded to the high demand by placing a tax on power that will result in an extra 100 dollars per kilogram of cannabis. Additionally, the governor of Washington is presenting a cap and trade bill in the next legislative session, which will likely raise electricity costs for large scale growers.

The following are four different ways that growers can start lowering their electricity bills.

The Basics

In a paper entitled “Top 10 Things a Greenhouse Grower Can do to Improve Efficiency,” Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences recommends some common sense ideas for improving energy savings. The paper suggests that the biggest energy waster in a greenhouse is often a lack of insulation. This idea can be carried over to the grow room, as well. All pipes, water tanks and walls should be well insulated. In order to better maintain a uniform temperature, growing areas should be completely sealed. Growers can keep their system running as efficient as possible by conducting routine equipment maintenance. It’s also important to keep fan blades dusted, fan louvers airtight when closed, and to closely monitor automated controls like thermostats for malfunctions.

LEDs

Traditionally, indoor marijuana has been grown with High Pressure Sodium (HPS) bulbs and/or Metal Halide lamps. Both use large amounts of energy. Additionally, these bulbs produce extraordinary amounts of heat, which necessitates even more energy to cool grow rooms and extra water to feed thirsty plants. Alternatively, LEDs emit far less heat, and use less electricity. Brian of Busy B LEDs, a commercial LED manufacturer, says “LEDs can save a grower up to 40%…. the biggest cost is upfront.” He continues, “LED light is intense, but it doesn’t spread out like HPS bulbs.” Brian estimates it takes two or three LED lights to cover the same square footage as one HPS. He points out movable track lighting is another way to overcome LED directional issues. Despite the upfront cost, investing in LED technology can save money in the long term.

Solar Panels

Solar power is a great way for commercial growers to offset their energy costs. A grower can expect the panels to last the life of the building, which makes them a great long term investment. According to Chris Herman of Seattle’s Sunergy Systems, a northwest solar panel installation company, a business can expect to pay off the cost of a solar system in four years. Additionally, Chris’ company has decided to cater directly to marijuana growers in the Seattle area. Looking at the public sector, Colorado and Washington have generous State tax credits for new solar customers. Washington State will pay 54 cents per kilowatt per hour (kw/h) for extra electricity produced on  locally-manufactured solar modules and inverters. The Federal Government recently extended a plan that provides a 30% tax credit on the installation cost of a solar system. If that wasn’t enough, new solar customers are eligible for a 5 year accelerated appreciation plan. In addition to these government incentives, many solar panel companies offer free installation, making solar even more affordable for growers who want to save on their power bill.

Energy Cooperatives

In this sense, a cooperative is a member-owned group of individuals — or businesses — who have come together under a common purpose to lower costs. Growers who install solar panels can group together to form their own coop, or join existing energy coops in their area. In addition to accumulating large amounts of sellable electricity, these co-ops become a place for members to also exchange ideas, thus strengthening the knowledge base of the community.

In the meantime, Colorado has pledged to use extra tax money to help growers become more efficient and lower the cannabis industry’s impact on the state’s electrical grid. Private companies like Sunergy systems are helping by offering industry-specific deals to marijuana growers. And, with legalization trends continuing the way they are, it may not be long before members of the cannabis industry are recognized as early leaders in sustainable agriculture.

Photo Credit: Joshua Heyer

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Reports Show Conflicting Predictions Over Legal Marijuana Revenues In NY

1/08/2015

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“Depending who you ask, tax revenues from legalizing marijuana in New York could raise revenues of $25 to $400 million in New York City alone, according to reports from the city’s Independent Budget Office and former City Comptroller John Liu.

The New York City Independent Budget Office report released last November estimates that legal marijuana could net the city $25 million in tax and sales revenues. Their report uses the legalization measures outlined in Sen. Liz Krueger’s (D-Manhattan) bill (S.6005) which would see a 4.5 percent sales tax on sales of recreational marijuana. The bill estimates New York would see $5 million to $22 million in revenues, based on figures from Colorado’s legal marijuana market.

The former city comptroller’s report, from August 2013, also bases much of its estimation on tax revenues but the IBO’s Chief of Staff Doug Turetsky said that Liu’s report assumes higher consumption, a shift away from the black market and indirect revenues.

“The [comptroller’s] report presented a preliminary estimate of the fiscal impact statewide from legalization and considered not just potential tax revenue but also savings,” Turetsky testified during a Dec. 17 hearing on legalization. “The savings derive from avoided police, judicial and correctional spending from marijuana-related arrests and incarcerations. Indirect revenues also would be realized from taxes on salaries from the jobs created in starting a new retail market.”

Liu’s report estimates $31 million in savings to the city derived from legalization by cutting low-level marijuana arrests. New York City saw more than 50,000 misdemeanor pot arrests in both 2010 and 2011 and about 39,000 in 2012, according to the report.

Julie Netherland, the Drug Policy Alliance’s New York deputy state director, says there are “a lot of variables” in determining which amount of revenue is a more likely outcome.

“The most recent numbers out of Colorado is $45 million in taxes and revenues since they launched their program and it is a much less populace state than New York,” she said. “I would anticipate New York would be much closer to the higher number than the lower number.”

Colorado’s recent figures also do not take into account the indirect revenues Liu accounted for in his report. Netherland said that the potential savings from policing and jailing low level marijuana offenders would be significant in New York because the state spends $75 million a year in New York City alone arresting people on low level marijuana charges.

New York City is notorious for their “stop and frisk” policies by which many of these arrests are made. Stop and frisk allows police to stop a person on the street and search them, forcing them to empty their pockets. If they are in possession of marijuana, once taken out of their pockets it becomes “in plain view” and an arrestable offense.

Netherland agreed that the larger estimate might be a better benchmark due to the rural makeup of upstate New York, home to the majority of the state’s agriculture industry. Although she says without a comprehensive study of the impact to the farming industry it is not exactly clear what economic boon legalization would have to the region.

Steve Ammerman, manager of public affairs for the New York Farm Bureau, said that while legalizing marijuana “is in the public discussion” they do not have a position on the matter unless it were introduced and voted on by the legislature. He noted that in the legal states there are regulations as to how marijuana is grown and he wasn’t sure whether the plant would be allowed on open farmland. Krueger’s bill does not specify whether marijuana would be allowed to be grown in that manner.

Kate Gurnett, press secretary for the state Comptroller’s Office, said the office does not have “any data or reports on the potential fiscal impact” of legalization in the state.

Photo Credit: Nana B Agyei

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New CNBC Documentary Explores Colorado’s $600 Million Marijuana Industry

1/07/2015

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A CNBC documentary — ‘Marijuana Country: The Cannabis Boom,’ — was released on Monday. The movie sets out to explore many unique avenues of Colorado’s widely watched and much publicized legal marijuana market.

CNBC correspondent Harry Smith interviews professionals, patients, and politicians about the intricacies of the nascent industry.

Smith uncovers modern cannabis culture in a way that mainstream media outlets often fall short of, with entire sections dedicated to the profiling of successful ganjapreneurs in Colorado and the struggles of a “medical refugee” family, who came to Colorado to have legal access to the high-CBD marijuana strain, Charlotte’s Web. Smith also investigates the legal market’s impact on the black market, which remains a very real option in Colorado.

The documentary premiered Monday evening, but is available at CNBC.com with your cable provider login.

Sources:

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/marijuana-country-cannabis-boom-tv-review-article-1.2062500

http://www.cnbcprime.com/marijuana/

Photo Credit: Coleen Whitfield

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D.C.’s New Mayor and Attorney General Will Continue Fight for Legal Marijuana

1/06/2015

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The congressional challenging of Washington D.C.’s voter-approved Initiative 71, which legalizes recreational marijuana for adults aged 21 and older in the District, has gotten a lot of attention in recent weeks. Sparking the controversy is the political rider sneakily attached to this year’s cromnibus spending bill by Maryland Rep. Andy Harris, which bans the enactment of laws that affect the legality of Schedule 1 substances in the nation’s capital.

However, two recently elected city officials — Mayor Muriel Bowser and Attorney General Karl A. Racine — have separately announced their intentions to continue fighting for the District’s autonomy on the issue of legal marijuana.

Before taking office, Bowser explained that “My job is to uphold the will of the voters, and the voters overwhelmingly support legalizing marijuana in the District.” She was sworn in on Jan. 2, and now says D.C. is prepared to “explore every option” to see that the voter-approved marijuana market is enforced in the nation’s capital, even if that means a lawsuit against Congress over the issue.

This statement, issued in an appearance alongside D.C.’s Police Chief Cathy Lanier on Sunday’s Meet the Press, was reinforced by a previous statement of Bowser’s to the Washington Post: “I continue to think that public safety is best served by having clear and enforceable laws.” Essentially, the D.C. police force needs to have a very clear understanding of what is legal and what isn’t regarding marijuana in the District, and — if this is truly a democratic society — the District’s voters should be the principal authority on such issues.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Racine has also announced that he will pursue the validation of Initiative 71 on behalf of D.C. voters. His belief, which coincides with many top D.C. and Democratic officials, is that Initiative 71 was officially enacted on Nov. 4 when voters expressed overwhelming support for legalization, and that Rep. Harris’ cromnibus rider should only target the future enactment of such laws.

Racine holds the unique position of being the District’s first elected attorney general. Formerly, the position was mayor-appointed and required confirmation by the city council. Racine’s successful campaign placed a heavy emphasis the intention to steer the District’s juvenile detention system “in a way that focuses more on rehabilitation and restoration as opposed to mere incarceration,” a stance that naturally sympathizes with the District’s desire to remove criminal penalties for petty marijuana possession.

Sources:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/karl-racine-first-elected-dc-attorney-general-prepares-to-get-to-work/2014/12/30/df51f13e-8a47-11e4-9e8d-0c687bc18da4_story.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/protests-planned-as-congress-upends-dc-pot-legalization/2014/12/10/d39436a8-8084-11e4-81fd-8c4814dfa9d7_story.html

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2015/01/04/meet_the_press_interview_with_muriel_bowser__the_three_women_running_dc.html

http://mmjbusinessdaily.com/dc-mayor-city-will-fight-for-rec-marijuana-law/

Photo Credit: tanjila ahmed

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The Evolution of Cannabusiness: Education Is Key

1/06/2015

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For years, marijuana growers, dispensaries and other businesses have spent much of their energy dodging legal inconsistencies in the system. Finally, some of these constraints are lifting. You might be tempted to breathe a sigh of relief, but in fact, there’s still a lot of work ahead to change cannabis’ image in the mainstream.

Support for medical marijuana is strong, even among some conservatives, but its recreational use still exists in a murky gray area. Unless you live in one of the country’s pot-friendly hubs, chances are, you’re going to come up against a lot of misunderstanding about using cannabis for anything other than a serious medical condition. One of the biggest hurdles facing ganjapreneurs today is moving cannabis out of the pothead/lazy stoner image into a more realistic representation of today’s cannabis consumers.

In a recent Ganjapreneur interview, investor Douglas Leighton mentioned that one thing setting ganjapreneurs apart from people in more well-established industries is “the passion for the industry as an entirety, and the desire to propel the movement forward… the people in this space want to educate that section of the population on why this plant can help so many people.” Education — through blogs, industry white papers, and responsible marketing — may be where new business owners decide to focus their efforts.

But how exactly is this to happen? Cannabis has not taken a mainstream route in its journey to legitimacy and it needs innovative visionaries to help educate the public as it emerges into the viable spheres of business, medicine and lifestyles.

One example of an entrepreneur attempting to bridge the gap between medical and recreational marijuana is Miz D’s Project. Miz D developed the “cannatherapy concept,” and it has been growing into a grassroots movement based on self-healing and an individualized program. Cannatherapy treats marijuana as a complete experience, only to be mindfully approached. With cannatherapy, the individual experience is stressed, and Miz D encourages new consumers to try it on their own as a tool for introspection rather than in a social, partying atmosphere. As well as her boutique in Vancouver, Miz D offers a series of podcasts geared to educate cannabis beginners.

Other innovative businesses like Danielli Martel’s cannabis-themed Primal Wellness spa in Englewood, Colorado and Denver-based artist Heidi Keyes who offers “cannabis friendly” art classes help the public see cannabis in a new light.

Social and political stigmas can be erased. It takes vision, education, and the commitment to challenge popular misconceptions.

Photo Credit: M a n u e l

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Hawaii Takes Another Step Toward MMJ Dispensaries

1/05/2015

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A legislative task force in Hawaii recommended last week that the state medical marijuana program should be expanded to include a system for dispensaries. Currently, Hawaii is one of the few states that has legalized medical marijuana but does not have a regulated system for dispensing the product.

The task force included a list of specific recommendations for getting the dispensary system up and running. Democratic Rep. Della Au Belatti of Oahu, who headed the task force, explained, “The recommendations are really just a starting point, some… will be taken up and some of them won’t.”

The program recommendations call for at least one dispensary in each county, and that general dispensary licensing should be addressed at a ratio of 500 patients per 1 dispensary. The task force also suggested that the application for a dispensary license should be $20,000 — with $18,000 being refunded to applicants who are not chosen — and that the annual license renewal for a dispensary should be $30,000. The licenses for producers would cost less, but get more expensive based on how many plants the licensee plans to be growing. The recommendations also include restrictions on marijuana dispensary and cultivation sites’ proximity to schools.

Additionally, Hawaii’s unique island status creates an interesting scenario for the discussion of medical marijuana, as it’s the only place where the transportation of medicine — via boat or plane — is an important consideration for the program as it moves toward a regulated, dispensary market. The task force suggested that the Department of Health set up security requirements for the transportation of medicine between the state’s many islands.

The first wave of licenses would be released January 1, 2017.

MMJ was legalized in Hawaii in 2000 as a treatment for the following conditions: cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, cachexia or wasting syndrome, severe pain, severe nausea, and seizures.

Sources:

http://westhawaiitoday.com/community-bulletin/task-force-recommends-hawaii-medical-marijuana-dispensaries

Photo Credit: Floyd Manzano

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Washington State Received $16 Million In Marijuana Taxes for 2014

1/03/2015

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2014 was a big year for marijuana. The Washington state recreational marijuana market garnered $16 million in excise tax revenue for the state between opening day in July and the year’s end, according to figures released by the Washington State Liquor Control Board.

There are a current total of 99 licensed retailers that together distributed $64 million worth of retail pot in 2014. New Vansterdam, a Vancouver retailer, produced the most revenue with $2,748,875 worth of cannabis products sold. Two Seattle stores, Herbal Nation and Cannabis City, were 2nd and 3rd place with roughly $2.6 million and $2.5 million respectively.

Experts predict that 2015 will be even more successful as the amount of cannabis sold (and therefore the amount of taxes collected) is expected to reflect the continual growth of retailers, growers, and processors who are affecting the market.

Sources:

http://thejointblog.com/washington-state-garners-16-million-taxes-legal-cannabis-2014/

Photo Credit: Nicolas Raymond

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Colorado Requests Access to Legal Marijuana for State Colleges, Universities

1/02/2015

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Colorado has requested that federal health and education officials allow the state’s colleges and universities to access marijuana from sources other than the federal government, the Denver Post reports.

“Current research is riddled with bias or insufficiencies and often conflict with one another,” writes deputy attorney general David Blake in the request sent to federal officials last month. “It is critical that we be allowed to fill the void of scientific research, and this may only be done with your assistance and cooperation.”

Because cannabis remains federally illegal, institutions who rely on federal funding are not allowed to perform marijuana research without going through a lengthy process to acquire the substance from the only marijuana producer that operates in good graces with federal law: the University of Mississippi’s National Center for Natural Products Research. Not doing so could result in the loss of federal funding.

The Colorado attorney general’s letter, however, argues that cannabis products provided by the federal government simply cannot compare to those currently available on store shelves in Colorado.

Sources:

http://www.denverpost.com/marijuana/ci_27242925/colorado-seeks-federal-permission-state-colleges-grow-marijuana

Photo Credit: Dank Depot

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Former Senator Mike Gravel to Helm Cannabis Sativa Subsidiary

1/02/2015

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Former Democratic Senator Mike Gravel will serve as the new CEO of KUSH, a subsidiary of Cannabis Sativa, Inc. (OTCQB:CBDS). Headed by former New Mexico Governor and 2012 Libertarian Party presidential nominee Gary Johnson, Cannabis Sativa announced that KUSH will act as a separate business entity that will focus on the development and sale of recreational and medicinal marijuana products, including a lozenge called the “Kubby.” KUSH Executive V.P. and COO Michael Pickens announced that Gravel’s primary role as CEO would be to “direct the company to get products in states that will legally allow it.”

Gravel served as an Alaska Senator from 1969 to 1981, and has long been critical of the War on Drugs. “It’s so controversial because there’s a lot of stupid people locked into stupid policies,” he stated in 2007 during his bid for the democratic presidential nomination. “There are a lot of people on drugs all the time — what’s the big deal about it?” Indeed, Gravel noted that one reason he took the job at KUSH is that he “[feels] very deeply about the failure that is marijuana prohibition… Nixon is the one that put marijuana into a Schedule I. People forget that story, I lived through that. I thought it was horrible.”

The former Senator maintains that he will remain active in politics, stating that “it hasn’t changed my whole political posturing. I’ve been very active in the last month or so over the torture debate.” Gravel had called on Sen. Mark Udall (D-CO.) to put the Senate Intelligence Committee’s torture report into the public record in November, before the Committee released its executive summary of the report. Such a move would have echoed Gravel’s monumental 1971 entrance of 4,000 pages of the Pentagon Papers — the report detailing the Johnson Administration’s misleading of Congress and the public during the Vietnam War — into the congressional record, ensuring their publicity.

Cannabis Sativa’s chairman of the board Steve Kubby referred to Gravel as a “true American hero” in a statement, and went on to say that “Senator Gravel stood up to Nixon, stood up to the Pentagon, and now he is standing up to those in power who would keep the healthful benefits of cannabis from those who need them.”

Gavel’s straightforwardness has carried over to his work in the private sector. KUSH COO Michael Pickens noted that he has been “very active and outspoken” in his role at the Cannabis Sativa board of directors. “I specifically requested to work with him for his track record of taking action and holding people accountable in government, and now he gets to use those skills to advance another worthy project,” he added.

Sources:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/30/mike-gravel-marijuana_n_6396646.html

https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2014/11/10/mike-gravel-senator-put-pentagon-papers-public-record-urges-udall-torture-report/

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/12/mike-gravel-kush-marijuana-113878.html

http://www.cnbc.com/id/102300821#.

Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore

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Founder of Marijuana Investment Group Interviewed by Ganjapreneur

12/31/2014

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As public support for the legalization of marijuana has grown, so has the speculation that the cannabis industry could be poised for a major boom if the US federal government changes its policy toward the drug. Like any other emerging market, the cannabis industry has piqued the interest of many venture capital and investment firms around the globe. Recently, Ganjapreneur, a website dedicated to the growing industry, published an interview with Douglas Leighton, founding partner of Dutchess Capital, an investment group which has recently focused its investments on cannabis start-ups.

In the interview, Leighton discusses how Dutchess Capital came to view the cannabis industry as an opportunity and what led to their eventual decision to invest in several start-ups. “It took us about 10 months of due diligence before we were comfortable to make the first investment,” he states. “We joined ArcView, the angel network for the cannabis industry, in the summer of 2013 and met Isaac Dietrich of MassRoots and subsequently made the first investment.” MassRoots is a popular, pseudo-anonymous social network for cannabis users. Leighton elaborates, “They are largest social networking site for the cannabis community and have grown over 2,000% year over year. They are anonymously collecting a tremendous amount of data from their user base such as a user’s strain preference, time of day they consume, consumption method among other key data collection points. They will be able to monetize this data via sponsored posts of either localized merchants and/or national brands.”

Leighton also discusses his predictions for the future of the industry as more and more states begin to legalize cannabis. “The largest market will be pharmaceutical marijuana. This will be a genetically modified version of what is used today for medicinal purposes. The power of this plant is not fully understood; once big pharma understands it, they will get involved.”

Beyond a thriving medical market, Leighton believes that every niche associated with cannabis or hemp will likely see major growth over the next several years. However, this doesn’t mean that every business will prove to be successful. Leighton explains, “investing in this industry is like playing chess without being able to see the board. Eventually ignorance will abate, the banking issue will be fixed and the drug will be rescheduled.”

The full interview can be found on Ganjapreneur’s website, or via their Android app which was launched on the Google Play market earlier this year. Ganjapreneur has announced that their app will also be available in the Apple App Store in the near future. The site launched over the summer, and has since published a large volume of business-related articles and interviews pertaining to cannabis.

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Illinois MMJ Program Expanded to Include Patients Under 18

12/31/2014

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The Illinois medical marijuana program is expanding to include patients under 18 years old who suffer from certain health conditions, including epileptic seizures, the Associated Press reports. The changes are part of emergency rules posted by state health officials last week.

According to the Illinois Department of Health, children will require two separate doctor signatures that certify the patient will benefit from cannabis treatment before being allowed access to medical marijuana — adults only require one doctor’s signature to partake in the program. The annual fee for children, however, will be slightly lower.

The new rules have also added two spots to a medical advisory board: one spot is to be held by the parent or caregiver of a patient younger than 18, the other spot is for a medical professional whose focus is in pediatrics. These changes are to help ensure minors have their needs carefully considered in the wider context of the program.

These emergency rules only remain in effect for 150 days, permanent rules will be drafted later.

Sources:

http://www.thedailychronic.net/2014/39600/illinois-medical-marijuana-program-expanding-to-include-children/

Photo Credit: Matt Turner

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Five Methods of Dealing With Bad PR

12/31/2014

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Legal marijuana is a fast-growing and controversial sector of new business. Dispensaries have thousands of customers who buy their products without reservation or shame. It is an emerging and bustling market that has been widely spotlighted by the mainstream American media. Traditionally, the media’s number one goal is to publish stories that sell, and for a long time that meant publicly bashing marijuana culture and the shaming of marijuana users, whether they are medicinal or recreational users.

Therefore, it’s good to remember that although the majority of Americans now favor legalization, public opinion can still quickly be turned against a particular cannabis company or entrepreneur. Our industry is new, and Americans will require time to get used to dispensaries cropping up in their neighborhoods and towns. These are some tips to remember if you ever find yourself on the uncomfortable end of public scrutiny.

Don’t pick fights with the media.

Thicken your skin. Media outlets are in business to sell papers and airtime, so they normally they don’t have a real issue with you as long as you don’t start a fight. Let them publish their dirty old rag. Keep a healthy attitude about criticism, and you will live a long and happy life. This includes fighting with other dispensary owners or suppliers, and always avoid slights with the local authorities.

It is okay not to respond.

You pick up the paper and see a filthy article about how your business is spreading death and chaos around the community, and your blood boils. You want to go out and do press interviews and make releases to get your side of the story across. Sometimes, all this does is fan the flames. Sometimes, you can keep your mouth shut and that article in the newspaper or website will go away eventually.

Listen to negative comments to gain knowledge about customer issues.

True journalism should have some basis in fact — there may be marketing opportunities in there. Sometimes the press reveals public attitudes and thought processes that could be marketing opportunities. For example, some articles may provide hints about where the majority of your customers live. Other articles could help you learn about and address negative perceptions regarding your business. Not all criticism is bad: ignore the useless rants, but read through and record the helpful data.

Bad press is an opportunity.

Some bad press can increase business. Press, good or bad, will inform people where your business is and whether or not it is successful. The best dispensaries have dependable markets and sell what their customers want — sometimes the press can bring you more customers depending on your market. Monitor your sales very carefully after a press release, you may find a nice surprise.

Be good to your customers and grow your business, and people will forget bad press.

This tip can be summed up with one word: performance. Provide good products for your customers, and your business will grow — it’s simple. Negative press only lasts a while, and your business can outgrow every PR challenge if you keep level headed and proceed without irrational responses.

Photo Credit: Petras Gagilas

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Massachusetts Dispensary Licensing Snafu Rooted In Early Mistakes, Report Finds

12/30/2014

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Massachusetts voters overwhelmingly approved medical marijuana in 2012, and it was originally believed dispensaries would open in the summer of 2014. Now, after many months of delay and dozens of lawsuits against the state health department, the Boston Globe has released a report that identifies how things went wrong during the medical marijuana program’s launch.

According to the report, the whole implementation process was, “hobbled by too little time, too many conflicts of interest, and questionable work from highly paid contractors.”

“Massachusetts underestimated the time commitment it would take, and now it’s taking more time because they have had to backtrack,” explains Todd Brown, vice chairman of the Department of Pharmacy and Health Systems Sciences at Northeastern University. Brown served on a committee that was appointed by the state health department to recommend recipients for provisional dispensary licenses.

In June, that committee had to backpedal on nearly half the applications they had initially selected, citing issues that ranged from the companies’ financial structures to the way their background checks had been mishandled during the screening process.

The state originally contracted two different companies to get things underway. ICF International was hired to review and provide consulting on 100 marijuana business applications. Creative Services Inc. was hired to background check the more than 600 people who were involved with said businesses. Neither company, however, was tasked with actually verifying claims made by hopeful marijuana businesses in their applications.

Problems arose when locals felt their enthusiasm for the industry — or lack thereof — had been misrepresented in certain applications. Additionally, one couple who had their Colorado dispensary license revoked due to violations were not initially detected during the Massachusetts background checking process.

With public scrutiny growing, the two companies originally contracted to do the job had their contracts extended to address the growing concerns. The state of Massachusetts has now spent more than $1 million on its flawed system, and more money is yet owed.

Meanwhile, Massachusetts is one of many states gearing up for a 2016 push for the legalization of recreational marijuana.

Sources:

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/massachusetts/2014/12/27/state-effort-license-medical-marijuana-dispensaries-went-off-rails-from-start/9UfRwaG7TpxtvTspkSFDkI/story.html

Photo Credit: Navaneeth KN

 

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Examining Legal Marijuana’s DUI Landscape

12/29/2014

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Marijuana culture is changing rapidly in the United States. As more states decriminalize and even legalize marijuana use for medicinal and recreational reasons, the herb is quickly finding a new place in the American consciousness.

This progression has spurred new developments in other industries and areas of the law. Most notably, these changes have caused lawmakers and civilians alike to rethink our current DUI laws and penalties for drivers under the influence of THC.

Current Cannabis and Alcohol DUI Laws

Currently, every state has the right to make its own laws regarding what constitutes driving under the influence. Throughout the country, it is illegal for an individual to operate a motor vehicle if his or her blood alcohol content is .08% or higher. This is known as a “per se” law. That means that it is banned outright with no regard to how alcohol might affect different individuals. Although one driver might show no signs of intoxication or impaired behavior with a blood alcohol content of .08%, another might show such signs with a blood alcohol content of .04%. Legally, the former is intoxicated and the latter is not.

Currently, eleven states have a zero tolerance policy for drivers under the influence of THC. This means it is illegal for an individual with even a trace of THC in his or her blood to operate a motor vehicle.

Proposed Laws

With the recent mainstreaming of cannabis use among Americans, some states have attempted to amend their DUI laws to reflect this change. Some examples of such laws are:

– In California, AB 2500 proposed to make it illegal for an individual to drive with any THC in his or her blood. This included medical marijuana patients. This bill did not pass.

– HB 1325, a Colorado bill that recently passed in the state senate, making it illegal for an individual with more than five nanograms of THC in his or her blood to operate a motor vehicle.

– A recent ballot petition in Missouri to scale back DUI charges for drivers who test positive for THC.

Why It’s Not So Simple

Numerous studies, including the recent “Understanding the Limitations of Drug Test Information, Reporting, and Testing Practices in Fatal Crashes” published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, have shown that per se laws do not work for catching drivers impaired by THC as easily as they work for catching drivers impaired by alcohol. This is for a few different reasons.

For law enforcement, proving that a driver is under the influence of THC is much more difficult than it is to prove that a driver is under the influence of alcohol. This is because unlike alcohol, which can be detected through a Breathalyzer, an individual’s THC level can only be detected through a blood test.

With a per se THC limit for drivers, completely sober drivers can face DUI charges because traces of THC can stay in the body for up to a month after an individual uses marijuana.

Studies have also proven that driving under the influence of THC is safer than driving under the influence of alcohol. With this in mind, we can not simply prosecute drivers under the influence of THC in the same way we prosecute individuals who drive drunk. Alcohol and cannabis are two completely different substances with unique effects that, although both can inhibit an individual’s driving ability, can not be generalized this way.

Photo Credit: Michael Gil

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Florida Lawmakers Consider 2015 MMJ Legalization

12/29/2014

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The 2014 Florida campaign for medical marijuana was a hard-fought battle. And though the fight was narrowly lost, the message was delivered: the majority of Florida voters want medical marijuana, and it’s only a matter of time before the push for legalization comes back stronger than ever.

As a result, some Florida lawmakers may consider working through the legalization process via the state legislature. The advantage to this approach is it would give lawmakers more control over the industry and its regulations from the very beginning.

Jeff Sharkey, a lobbyist who works with the Medical Marijuana Business Association of Florida, explained, “Fifty-eight percent of positive voters clearly sends a signal to them that there’s strong interest. I think they feel that in a presidential election year a lot more younger folks would come out, probably push that over the 60 percent, but I think they’re also, at the same time, interested in seeing what the Florida Legislature might do.”

Whether or not lawmakers take action on MMJ this year, advocates are regrouping and will soon begin collecting signatures for another voter initiative for 2016.

Sources:

http://www.mynews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/bn9/2014/12/23/medical_marijuana_su.html

http://mmjbusinessdaily.com/florida-mmj-initiative-may-be-taken-up-by-lawmakers-in-2015/

Photo Credit: David Trawin

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Cannabis Concentrates Are the Same as MMJ, CA Court Rules

12/28/2014

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Medical marijuana patients in California have had their right to possess cannabis concentrates reaffirmed.

The state’s 3rd District Court of Appeals in Sacramento — following an opposite ruling by El Dorado Superior Court Judge James R. Wagoner — voted unanimously that all forms of cannabis concentrates are indeed legal under California’s Compassionate Use Act (CUA), the 1996 voter initiative that legalized medical marijuana.

The hearing was a reevaluation of the prosecution of 22-year-old Sean Patrick Mulcrevy, who was charged in 2013 with unlawful possession of cannabis concentrates, a misdemeanor. And, when charged with a misdemeanor, Mulcrevy was also found to be in violation of his parole, which worsened the circumstances.

Mulcrevy was a registered MMJ patient and had legally bought the concentrates from a medical marijuana dispensary. Nonetheless, Judge Wagoner extended Mulcrevy’s probation by two years and was prepared to issue harsher penalties, had his decision not been overruled and brought in line with the CUA.

Sources:

http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/health-and-medicine/article4708713.html

Photo Credit: Andres Rodriguez

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Douglas Leighton: Investing in Cannabis Industry Start-Ups

12/26/2014

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Dutchess CapitalGanjapreneur is excited to present our latest interview with cannabis investor Douglas Leighton. Leighton is a co-founder and principal partner at Dutchess Capital, an investment group which manages world-class investment funds for start-up, pre-IPO, and publicly-traded companies. Dutchess has been advocating for and investing in the legal cannabis industry since 2012.

In this interview, Leighton describes how Dutchess came to see the cannabis industry as an opportunity, and what some of his predictions are for the next several years. He also discusses some of the group’s current investments, including the popular cannabis social network MassRoots, the edibles producer Dixie Brands, and several others.

Read the full interview below:

Ganjapreneur: When did Dutchess Capital first begin to look at the cannabis industry as an investment opportunity?

Douglas Leighton: We began looking when The Commonwealth of Massachusetts was about to pass the medical marijuana bill via voter approval on question 3. It took us about 10 months of due diligence before we were comfortable to make the first investment. We joined ArcView, the angel network for the cannabis industry, in the summer of 2013 and met Isaac Dietrich of MassRoots and subsequently made the first investment.

In a fully-legalized system, which market would you say is the most significant: recreational cannabis, medical marijuana, or industrial hemp?

The largest market will be pharmaceutical marijuana. This will be a genetically modified version of what is used today for medicinal purposes. The power of this plant is not fully understood; once big pharma understands it, they will get involved. I think the second will be recreational, due to the sheer population size and the fact that people will likely come to realize it is better for you than alcohol with far less side effects. Recent studies have shown there are also less side effects on society from cannabis than there are from drinking alcohol, including violence, addiction, drunk driving, etc.

What do you think some of the most promising niche sectors are related to cannabis?

First I’d say consulting. I think the “top-down” approach has the most potential. I will equate it to the concept of selling picks and shovels to miners during the gold rush. In the case of cannabis, it is the consultants providing guidance to all of the marijuana startups in cultivation and retail and then selling the related products to growers on a B to B platform. There will also be a need to create better efficacies in the current markets as the product becomes commoditized. An example of this is one of our portfolio companies, American Cannabis Consulting (AMMJ:OTC). They are at the forefront of this industry with about 12 major clients in the US and Canada. They provide solutions for businesses operating in the industry through consulting and advisory services, as well as supplies business with equipment and products.

I also like the technology sector. One of our first investments in the industry is the semi-anonymous social network MassRoots. They are largest social networking site for the cannabis community and have grown over 2,000% year over year. They are anonymously collecting a tremendous amount of data from their user base such as a user’s strain preference, time of day they consume, consumption method among other key data collection points. They will be able to monetize this data via sponsored posts of either localized merchants and/or national brands.

Dutchess also likes companies in various sectors with that are building a brand of consumer products and goods. Tripp Keber has done a remarkable job with his branding efforts of Dixie Elixirs. I also think a brand such as Foria, the world’s first THC infused personal lubricant for women, has done a stellar job with its branding, and it shows; they were recently featured in British GQ.

Is there a particular niche that Dutchess Capital has focused on, or are you casting a wide net on the industry?

The industry is so new that we are casting a wide net. In saying that, we like businesses that have long-term contracts or high barriers to entry. We put particular focus on the people behind the products and services; are they hard working, passionate and driven to succeed?

What is the most important thing for an aspiring ganjapreneur to do if they are looking for an investor to help fund their business?

Know your business inside and out. Know every number and statistic off the top of your head. You need to live and breathe your work. Be able to explain it in 2-3 sentences what it is you do, or what you are looking to do. Have your proforma and deck ready at all times. Be able to show how you are going to scale your business with investment. Have a reasonable valuation and realistic expectations of growth. You are not going to sell your business to a fortune 500 company; please don’t tell me that.

Can you discuss any of the cannabis industry projects that Dutchess Capital has invested in to date?

Sure. We have invested in Dixie Brands, the industry leader in edibles and consumables; Mile High Entertainment, a license play with celebrities; Kandy Pens, a vaporizer company; Foria, a marijuana-infused personal lubricant company; American Cannabis Company, a consulting and B to B supplier; MassRoots, a social media company, as well as several grows around the country to name a few.

Have you noticed any common traits among the entrepreneurs you see in this industry, which set them apart from the people in more well-established industries?

I would say the passion for the industry as an entirety, and the desire to propel the movement forward. They also want to educate people who are ignorant to the cannabis plant. People have been lied to for years about the cannabis plant, and the people in this space want to educate that section of the population on why this plant can help so many people.

What do you think the next five years has in store for the industry?

Growth. There will be many bumps in the road, and more growth. Investing in this industry is like playing chess without being able to see the board. Eventually ignorance will abate, the banking issue will be fixed and the drug will be rescheduled.

How about the next fifteen years?

Industrial hemp will be everywhere; pharmaceutical grade cannabis will be prescribed by a doctor and covered under insurance. It will be legal in all 50 states and people will talk about the multi- generational wealth that had been created from the people brave enough to invest at the dawn of this industry.

Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions, Douglas! Ganjapreneurs from every niche and sector in the industry would be wise to heed your suggestions while seeking investors.

If you have comments or questions of your own, feel free to post them below. Or, get in touch with Dutchess Capital directly via their website. Dutchess has also published a guide for cannabis industry entrepreneurs, which you can download by clicking here.

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Mayor’s Plan for Seattle Dispensary Permits May Be Scrapped

12/24/2014

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Seattle Mayor Ed Murray’s office has been working to find a way to properly regulate the city’s medical marijuana dispensaries, but may need to scrap a plan for dispensary permits that was discussed last month during a public symposium. Seattle dispensary owners have waited close to a year for proper regulations so they start adhering to them, but for now the difference between Washington’s unregulated MMJ program and the recreational marijuana market created when voters passed Initiative 502 is stark — and looks to be staying that way a while longer.

In October, the city of Seattle sent 330 letters to dispensary owners, warning that if they didn’t get properly licensed soon, it could warrant a forced shut down. The irony then was that the licenses didn’t even exist yet — now, officials aren’t sure if such licenses will ever exist.

According to Seattle Weekly, one major issue with the mayor’s licensing plan was whether or not the city even has the legal ability to implement a local medical marijuana program that supersedes the statewide program.

Meanwhile, some recreational marijuana store owners have argued that the mayor’s proposed plan would give medical dispensary owners a significant advantage, not having to face the many I-502 restrictions that recreational stores must deal with regarding their location’s proximity to schools, parks, and other places where children gather.

State Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles has expressed her own concerns regarding Seattle’s intentions, noting that medical legalization came at the state level and that regulations for the medical market should therefore be addressed by the state legislature. Kohl-Welles has already announced a bill for this session that would integrate the state’s recreational and medical marijuana programs under one system — legislators failed to take action on a similar bill she proposed last year, however, and if it happens again it could mean another year of unregulated madness for Seattle’s expansive MMJ industry.

Whether or not the city succeeds in issuing licenses, Seattle officials will likely issue guidelines of some other kind to offer dispensary owners and other MMJ industry professionals temporary regulations as protection from from city prosecutors until there is some kind of statewide system reform. Even if state lawmakers reach an agreement, however, implementation of the new rules could possibly take another whole year.

Sources:

http://www.seattleweekly.com/home/955925-129/mayors-office-is-changing-medical-marijuana

Photo Credit: Andrew E. Larsen

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Ohio Legalization Proposal Would Enforce a Marijuana Monopoly

12/23/2014

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A quiet campaign to legalize medical and recreational marijuana in Ohio could result in a cannabis industry dominated by government-backed, marijuana kingpins.

The campaign is pushing for a constitutional amendment that would grant marijuana growing rights to around ten individuals, who would essentially become the new Ohio weed barons. The campaign has already received commitments from certain unidentified property owners to aid the amendment’s passage, Cleveland.com reports.

The campaign’s strategy is very similar to a successful 2009 political campaign run by gambling interests that legalized the creation of four casinos across the state (the only four locations allowed to offer gambling services, still).

A campaign earlier this year by the Ohio Rights Group failed to put the legalization of medical marijuana on the state’s ballot — the Ohio Cannabis Rights Act, as it was called, died during the signature-gathering process. John Pardee, president of the Ohio Rights Group, said the group now plans to pursue another MMJ amendment, but that he is, “against creating a marijuana monopoly.”

Sources:

http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2014/12/campaign_to_legalize_marijuana.html

Photo Credit: Erik Drost

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D.C. Council to Submit Initiative 71 for Congressional Review

12/23/2014

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Washington, D.C. Council President Phil Mendelson has stated that he will submit Initiative 71, D.C.’s voter-approved initiative to legalize marijuana possession, home cultivation, and sharing, to Congress early next month.

The initiative, as well as Mendelson’s decision to transmit it to Congress, have been the subject of recent controversy following the passage Rep. Andy Harris’s (R-Md.) rider aimed at reversing the initiative. Once Mendelson transmits it, however, Congress will have 30 legislative days to reject the measure; otherwise, it will go into effect automatically.

“The duty to transmit is not discretionary in my view,” Mendelson said. He responded to insinuation that the decision to transmit the measure to Congress was provocative in an interview with Roll Call:

“I’m not trying to defy anybody. I’m responsible for transmitting the initiative. I have a very clear requirement in the Home Rule Act to transmit the legislation. Congress has the ability to step in when that legislation is transmitted, so I don’t see anything that’s provocative here and I certainly don’t intend any provocation.”

Harris and his co-author, Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.) intend to reverse the initiative using their spending bill rider, which states that “none of the funds contained in this Act may be used to enact any law, rule, or regulation to legalize or otherwise reduce penalties associated with the possession, use, or distribution of any schedule I substance.” But the legal case for the rider taking precedence over the will of D.C. voters is feeble: the rider refers specifically to enacting laws, not carrying them out (the language was changed to avoid confusion about drug laws currently in effect). According to D.C.’s congressional delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, Initiative 71 “was enacted when it was approved overwhelmingly by voters in November.”

Harris took advantage of the cover provided by the spending bill to avoid dealing not only with Democrats who support more legislative freedom for D.C. voters, but also with federalist Republicans wary of forcing marijuana prohibition on districts that vote green. The spending bill contains another rider, introduced by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.), which prevents the Justice Department from using any money to stop D.C. and the states from “implementing… laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana.”

Harris and Pitts argue that Congress has the authority to control legislative policy in the District of Columbia, and that legalization will lead to increased drug use among teens and “legal chaos” there. But D.C. Council Member David Grosso, author of a bill that would authorize licensing and regulation of marijuana growers and retailers, instead sees Harris’s rider as yet another example of the District “being used as a political pawn by the Congress”: “To undermine the vote of the people—taxpayers—does not foster or promote the ‘limited government’ stance House Republicans claim they stand for; it’s uninformed paternalistic meddling.”

Sources:

http://reason.com/blog/2014/12/17/andy-harris-explains-why-he-blocked-mari

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacobsullum/2014/12/11/rider-aimed-at-stopping-marijuana-legalization-in-washington-d-c-is-a-prohibitionist-victory-that-signals-defeat/

Photo Credit: www.GlynLowe.com

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The Cannabis Commodity Xchange, Bringing MJ Closer to the Mainstream

12/22/2014

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Commodities in commerce are any goods that are interchangeable with other goods of the same type. Commodities vary in quality from producer to producer. They usually are goods that are used to make other products. The first commodity exchange was the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) — since then, many other commodity exchanges have formed around the country, accompanied by various attempts of government to regulate their sale and trade. In 2012, when marijuana was legalized in Colorado and Washington, a new type of commodity exchange germinated in the soon-to-be fertile ground of legal cannabis.

First planting roots in Colorado, The Cannabis Commodity Xchange (CCX) is now rooting a clone in Washington State. CCX is an online trading site for marijuana based goods. The online trading site allows users to register for free and see trades. However, without registering as a legitimate state licensed business, users can only spectate . Once a user applies and is approved, they can begin using the color coded app to securely buy, sell, trade and collect data. The app allows users to list and browse product requests, interact and negotiate with potential buyers, then easily buy or sell their products. This is all accomplished on a simple, single-screen app.

The Cannabis Commodity Xchange was founded by a diverse group of ganjaprenuers with backgrounds in business, law and web development. Maz Momeni, co-founder of CCX, says,

“We really saw the need for businesses to be able to trade easier. With all the changing regulations, spotty inventory and other hiccups in the legal cannabis market, we founded CCX to give users more of a professional business to business experience. By bringing together our diverse team we can really approach the cannabis market from all angles. We have a MBA working on the business and trading side.”

“I used to be an attorney which prepared me for the networking skills and understanding needed for starting a new business in such a regulation-heavy industry.” Momeni said. “Topping it off, our web developer has really created a nice and easy to use app.” Momeni holds that their knowledge of cannabis and how cannabis works is what really makes them stand out from the competition.

Momeni and team are looking to the future in the cannabis market. They plan on expanding to states that are coming on board to marijuana legality. For now, they are focusing on Colorado and Washington. They hope to be able to one day trade cannabis products on a national market. Unfortunately, Maz points out, “The recreational market is not quite ready for that step due to no uniformity in regulations.” By changing marijuana from a Schedule 1 narcotic, the federal government can lead the way to regulating marijuana as a commodity.

Photo Credit: Peter Hellberg

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Teen Marijuana Use Decreasing With Legalized Markets

12/21/2014

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The number one argument against marijuana legalization — that legalizing such a substance will ultimately result in more children being exposed and getting addicted to it — has been completely contradicted by the 2014 Monitoring the Future government survey. The survey results were published earlier this month by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

Despite the massive shift in public opinion regarding marijuana (evidenced by the nation’s multiple voter-enacted recreational markets and the sheer number of other states that have legalized medical marijuana in some form), the use of cannabis and other drugs among U.S. teenagers has actually been decreasing.

Even in Colorado, where retail marijuana stores opened one year ago, the numbers reflect what advocates have been spouting for decades: marijuana prohibition doesn’t work. Instead, legalization and a program for the regulated distribution and sale of the drug is what’s needed to address the problem in a realistic manner.

NIDA’s survey coincides with similar findings from the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use, a poll from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which also noted decreasing trends of drug use among minors.

Both surveys reinforce the argument that education is the best weapon against drug abuse. The most important part of educating kids about a drug is maintaining an honest representation of the substance — something that was incredibly uncommon with marijuana until recently. With scientific evidence from experts beginning to replace the ideological rhetoric and propaganda from politicians, public discussions about marijuana are becoming more and more one-sided, as they should be.

The real message inferred is that decades of hardball drug prohibition have failed to address drug use, among adolescents or otherwise, in addition to bringing about the imprisonment of thousands of non-violent drug offenders and the destruction of countless American families. However, after a year of watching and participating in highly publicized and regulated markets, we’re already seeing progress.

Sources:

http://www.drugabuse.gov/trends-statistics/monitoring-future/monitoring-future-study-trends-in-prevalence-various-drugs

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marsha-rosenbaum/marijuana-legalization-education-parenting_b_6255728.html

http://www.leafly.com/news/headlines/teen-marijuana-use-has-decreased-since-legalization-government-su

Photo Credit: Matthew Yaktine

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