Minneapolis Mayor Makes Some Psychedelics Enforcement Lowest Police Priority

7/21/2023

by

Minneapolis, Minnesota Mayor Jacob Frey (D) is set to issue an executive order today instructing the city’s policy to deprioritize the enforcement of laws related to some psychedelics, the New York Times reports. The move follows similar reforms enacted in Denver, Colorado, Detroit, Michigan, and Washington, D.C. 

Frey acknowledged that some residents might oppose any loosened enforcement of drug laws, but that he hoped the changes would contribute to a national rethinking of drug laws and draw attention to the role plant-based psychedelics can play for people dealing with depression, trauma, and addiction – claims which have been bolstered by recent studies.

“We have a mass proliferation of deaths of despair. This is something that is known to help.” — Frey via the Times 

Frey’s executive order does not legalize psychedelics but makes them the lowest enforcement priority for the city’s police. Psychedelic-related arrests in Minneapolis have been rare in recent years, city officials told the Times. The executive order would still allow people to be charged for distributing psychedelics in schools or for driving under their influence. 

The order applies only to naturally occurring psychedelics, like magic mushrooms, ayahuasca, mescaline and iboga, and excludes synthetic drugs like LSD and MDMA.   

Minnesota lawmakers in May created a task force that will outline a detailed proposal for legalizing medicinal psychedelics in the state.  

End

Teamsters Reach Agreement with Verano-Owned Chicago Dispensaries

7/21/2023

by

Teamsters Local 777 has reached tentative agreements for cannabis consultants and agents-in-charge at Chicago’s Zen Leaf dispensaries. Zen Leaf is owned by multi-state cannabis company Verano, and it is the third MSO the union has successfully bargained agreements with after it launched its campaign to organize the cannabis industry less than three years ago. 

In a statement, Jim Glimco, president of Local 777, said the “contract includes monumental improvements that the workers on this committee fought incredibly hard to achieve.”  

“…It’s been a pleasure working alongside such a dynamic, energetic, brilliant, and tenacious group of trade unionists. If past is prologue, the future of the Chicago cannabis industry belongs to us.” — Glimco, in a press release 

The agreement includes wage increases ranging from 17% to 20% over the next three years, paid time off, employer-funded retirement contributions, overtime allocated by seniority, and the replacement of “at-will” employment with a just process for addressing disciplinary matters, the union said.  

Peter Finn, Teamsters Western Region International vice president and director of the Teamsters Food Processing Division, called the contract “a guidebook on the various ways that MSOs can create a prosperous environment for their workforce, thereby incentivizing long-term careers in this business and reducing the loss of talent.” 

The Zen Leaf workers will vote on ratifying the contracts within the next two weeks. 

End

Michael Brosgart: Cannabis Vaporizer Innovation & Development

7/20/2023

by

Vaporizers are frequently lauded as a “smoother” or even “safer” alternative to smoking, but whether or not that’s true depends on the quality of the vape hardware in question. Additionally, not all vaporizers were designed to be used exclusively with cannabis, meaning that vape consumers are frequently faced with inconsistent — and even undesirable — product experiences. U.S.-based Advanced Vapor Devices (AVD) was founded to address these concerns.

In this written Q&A, we ask Michael Brosgart — the Chief Operating Officer for AVD — about the evolution of their technology, the company’s founding and R&D process, and what separates AVD vaporizers from products by other vape manufacturers.

Read his answers, and more, in the full interview below!

What was your career path prior to joining AVD?

Born and raised in the Bay Area, I was surrounded by cannabis culture. But when I graduated college in 2005, there was no career path in cannabis.

I worked for over a decade in the Latin American finance industry, providing corporations, banks, and governments in the region with access to global investors. I also worked in the luxury beauty industry and gained valuable experience in consumer packaged goods and how to sell them through B2B channels. All that knowledge became an asset as I entered the cannabis industry.

Before joining the AVD team, I was the VP of Sales and Marketing at The Arcview Group and worked with some of the top brands in the cannabis industry. That’s where I met Alex Kwon, CEO and Co-Founder of AVD, who was in the process of launching the company in 2018. The rest, as they say, is history.

What separates AVD’s technology from other vaporizers?

Cannabis knowledge is key: Unlike most vaporizers in the market that leverage e-cigarette technology and adapt it for cannabis oil, our product innovation is rooted in our team’s decades of experience working with cannabis and extracting its compounds.

To this end, we have our own manufacturing facilities and control every facet of our operation – from raw material supply to product delivery. This way, we can translate our plant knowledge into vape hardware that delivers the best possible performance for cannabis.

We’re known for engineering devices that provide an exceptional flavor experience. A key feature is our No-Burn Technology™ consisting of various elements that work together to preserve authentic flavors, including our proprietary ceramic core that smoothly absorbs oil for consistent heating, vaporization, and flavor retention. By embedding the heating coil in the ceramic core, hot wires are not directly exposed to oils. Instead, heat is evenly transmitted, preventing burnt oil.

Most AVD batteries feature PowerWave™. As the name suggests, the battery sends short intermittent pulses to the cartridge for optimal heating that avoids heat spikes, an essential aspect of flavor preservation.

How has your vaporizer hardware changed and evolved over the years?

Our technology has evolved to keep up with oil producers’ pursuit of consistent reliability, flavor, and innovation. Over the years, we have continued refining our components and experimenting with new material sciences, carefully curating new products, including the ever-popular all-in-one devices that are so prevalent these days.

Our fundamental approach to product development has stayed the same over the years – extensive R&D, stringent quality control, and adherence to international quality standards.

We also continue our mission to innovate for our clients’ benefit and advocate for the cannabis industry. We recently shouldered the litigation burden and won a year-long patent infringement lawsuit initiated by Chinese e-cigarette maker Shenzhen Smoore Technology Limited (parent company of CCELL) against some 30 U.S. vape companies.

What is the R&D process like at AVD?

Our R&D process is informed by the market, trends, and our clients. It generally takes two paths: invention and building new products from the ground up; and refinement and enhancing our existing technologies to suit a client’s needs. For example, we recently helped a major MSO launch an exclusive product designed specifically for their consumers and markets.

How does AVD grow its customer base?

At a deeper level, we value our relationships over any one transaction. This approach builds and fosters meaningful industry relationships. The outcome is an established customer base who advocate for AVD and spread the word.

What is something you wish more vape consumers understood about vaping technology?

It comes down to education and consumers’ understanding of what distinguishes a high-quality vape from a low-quality one. Not all vapes are equal, and this is most evident in consumer feedback about vapes that taste terrible and burn their throat and lungs.

Many consumers pick their vapes by association, meaning they choose the brand instead of the actual hardware. I wish more consumers would ask about brands’ manufacturers: the technology, raw material inputs, and standards they adhere to. This understanding would help avoid the unpleasant experiences often reported by cannabis vape shoppers.

What do you think the future holds for cannabis vaporizers and vaping technology?

Vapes are already one of the most popular formats for consuming cannabis, and they are growing in popularity by the day. As for the promise of the technology, I believe it will transcend the cannabis industry and influence other dosing technologies and delivery systems. A great deal of innovation is taking place in cannabis vaporization technology that could potentially impact and change delivery systems for medicine, oil, and other liquids.

What is your advice for entrepreneurs who are looking to join the cannabis space, whether at the head of their own cannabis company or an ancillary business?

Expect to fail fast. This business is not for the faint of heart—try your best to “fail forward” and learn from setbacks.

Respect the plant. We are liberating the plant from decades of prohibitionist stigma, and someone entering the industry should respect that mission. A cannabis license is not a license just to make money but to invest in this meaningful cause.

Have a vision and execute it. When you disrespect the process or think you have it all figured out, the industry will humble you.

Thank you, Michael, for answering our questions! Readers can visit AVD710.com to learn more.

End

New York City Business Owner Fined More Than $400k for Illegal Cannabis Sales

7/20/2023

by

A New York City business owner who illegally sold cannabis at several shops in Manhattan was ordered on Tuesday to pay more than $400,000 in taxes and proceeds from the sales, the Associated Press reports. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said that Rami Alzandani, the owner of the business, would not face litigation as part of a non-prosecution agreement and, as part of the deal can keep his stores open but cannot sell cannabis products. 

Azandani must pay $103,000 in restitution to the state Department of Tax and Finance, and forfeit another $300,000 in illegal proceeds, the district attorney’s office said, according to the AP. Azandani’s stores will be subject to regular inspections over the next three years to ensure they are not selling cannabis products, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg’s office said. All of the stores are located in Manhattan, except for one in Ridgewood, Queens. 

Under the agreement, Alzandani pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal possession of cannabis in the second degree and received a $5,000 fine. 

In a statement, Bragg said that public safety is undermined “when there is such a huge proliferation of unlicensed and unregulated storefronts selling cannabis products that have not been properly inspected.” 

His office said that it is pursuing other criminal investigations and is “in active conversations” with landlords to evict shops in violation of state law. Earlier this month, the New York City Council Committee on Public Safety approved a bill that aims to hold landlords accountable for knowingly leasing a commercial premises to a tenant who sells cannabis without a license.

Under the measure, the first time an unlicensed retailer is found operating at a leased commercial site, either the Sheriff’s Office under the NYC Department of Finance or another enforcement agency will issue a written warning to the landlord, which will provide the landlord with knowledge of the tenant’s unlicensed activity and allow the landlord to evict the tenant, the report says. If an unlicensed retailer is found operating in the same commercial premises after a warning has been issued, the landlord will be fined $5,000 for the first violation, and $10,000 for each subsequent violation.   

End

Massachusetts Testing Lab Accuses Cannabis Regulators of Retaliation After CEO Voiced Lab Fraud Concerns

7/20/2023

by

A Massachusetts cannabis testing laboratory is accusing the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) of retaliating against it after its CEO testified to lawmakers about public health concerns and lab fraud related to the state’s cannabis industry, the Boston Herald reports.  

During a hearing Tuesday testifying on bills that would change the way the cannabis industry operates in the state, MCR Labs CEO Michael Kahn said the “CCC enforcement staff may be misusing investigations as a pretext to silence and harass licensees.” 

“I reached out to the CCC with concerns about public health on multiple occasions over the past several years. Instead of listening or taking action, CCC staff, in my opinion, retaliated by opening an investigation into our laboratory.” — Kahn, during his testimony, via the Herald 

Kahn said that after he had given a presentation about lab fraud in the cannabis industry, eight CCC staff arrived at his lab and conducted a six-hour inspection that he described as “unfocused and unprofessional.” He said that the staff demanded about 20,000 pages of documents and about 30,000 hours of video.  

Dan Delaney, executive director of the Association of Cannabis Testing Laboratories, told lawmakers that Kahn’s experience is not unique. 

“Licensees recognize the power that the CCC has and understandably fear retaliation if they contest the commission’s intent or actions,” he testified to the panel. “I’ve heard it from other labs, and I’ve heard it from other licensees outside the lab testing space. The real problem is structural.” 

In a statement to the Herald, the CCC confirmed it “has several ongoing enforcement matters regarding MCR Labs.”  

“Relative to this licensee’s testimony, Commission staff completed an unannounced inspection in March 2023 at another Independent Testing Lab (ITL) the week prior to the MCR Labs inspection for some of the same reasons and looking for similar records,” a CCC spokesperson told the Herald. “With regards to other investigations referenced during the hearing that remain ongoing, the agency will not comment at this time.” 

The legislative panel was hearing testimony on S.58 and H.106, which aims to establish an internal special audit unit within the Cannabis Control Commission. 

End

Trulieve Sues Ohio Medical Cannabis Company Over Unpaid Debts

7/20/2023

by

Florida-based medical cannabis company Trulieve Cannabis Corp. filed a civil lawsuit last week against an Ohio medical cannabis company seeking payment of loans and other fees, Dayton Daily News reports. The lawsuit against Harvest of Ohio, which also operates Harvest Grows, is attempting to recover $23.8 million in debt from capital expenses, operating expenses, cash funding, payroll, licensing fees, and rent. 

Trulieve also claims that the debt total includes $4 million in interest and alleges that Harvest executives used the loans to “pay themselves six-figure salaries while simultaneously asking (Trulieve) to lend them even more money.” 

“We have a responsibility as a business and a fiduciary responsibility to our shareholders to collect this debt, and that is what this suit seeks to accomplish. … We agreed to loan them money and they agreed to pay us back, yet they have not paid a penny. Trulieve recognized that Harvest of Ohio and Harvest Grows were not negotiating in good faith and had no intention of repaying the almost $25 million debt and decided not to extend the terms any further.” — Trulieve, in a statement, via Dayton Daily News 

According to the complaint, the Ohio Harvest companies entered into several agreements with a company called Harvest Health and Recreation Inc. in 2020. The following year, Trulieve acquired the firm and continued to provide financial assistance to the companies.  

Nicole Yelland, executive director of communications for Trulieve, told Dayton Daily News that the company has offered more than a dozen deadline extensions for repayment and that the latest extension expires this month. 

End

Poll: 61% of U.S. Voters Back Legalizing Psychedelics for Therapeutic Use

7/19/2023

by

A majority – 61% – of registered voters in the U.S. back legalizing psychedelics for therapeutic use, according to the inaugural University of California, Berkeley Psychedelics Survey. Fifty-six percent of those surveyed supported obtaining Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for psychedelics by prescription. 

A supermajority of respondents, 78%, backed making it easier for researchers to study psychedelic substances, while nearly half of those polled, 49%, supported removing criminal penalties for personal use and possession, and 44% supported allowing psychedelic use for spiritual and religious use. 

Of the 61% who supported allowing therapeutic use of psychedelics, 63% said psychedelics are not “something for people like me,” 56% said psychedelics are not “something I am interested in learning more about,” while 47% said that psychedelics are not “good for society.” 

Among those who agreed with the decriminalization of the substances, 57% said psychedelics were not for them, 39% were uninterested in learning more, and 41% said psychedelics were “not good for society.” 

Just over half of respondents (51%) said they had a “first-degree” connection to psychedelic use – either they or someone close to them had used a psychedelic drug.

“Respondents with awareness and a first-degree connection to psychedelics are also more likely to support policy reforms, have positive perceptions of psychedelics, and trust in almost all sources of psychedelics information (with the exception of law enforcement). With the exception of research expansion, no psychedelic policy reform is majority-supported by voters who have no first-degree connection to use.” — UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics Unveils Results of the First-Ever Berkeley Psychedelics Survey, July 12, 2023 

The poll found that 47% of voters have heard something about psychedelics recently, with 48% of those saying that they have heard about psychedelics’ use for mental health treatments. Black people were least likely to have heard something about psychedelics recently (29%) and had a much lower first-degree connection to psychedelics use (26%) than other groups. 

Among those polled, liberal voters backed legalized therapeutic access to psychedelics by a huge margin, 80%, compared to 66% of moderates and 45% of conservatives. The majority of voters polled were comfortable with psychedelic therapy being used to treat those suffering from terminal illnesses (80%), veterans (69%), and people suffering from treatment-resistant depression and anxiety (67%); fewer were comfortable with open access to psychedelic therapy for anyone over the age of 21 (44%), or the use of psychedelic therapy to treat addiction (45%). 

End

Vermont Cannabis Businesses Affected by Floods Ineligible for Federal Aid

7/19/2023

by

Vermont’s cannabis companies are ineligible for federal disaster aid for losses caused by flooding in the state last week, VT Digger reports. During a press conference Monday, Carl Dombek, public information officer for the Small Business Administration, said the agency has to “follow federal law” and because cannabis is a Schedule I drug at the federal level, the agency is “not able to lend to cannabis dispensaries.” 

Chelsey Smith, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) individual assistance branch director, told VT Digger that the agency is also unable to provide aid due to cannabis’ status as a Schedule I controlled substance. 

John Roberts, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency executive director for Vermont, also indicated that cannabis farmers would be ineligible for assistance even if Gov. Phil Scott’s (R) emergency request for a USDA disaster declaration is approved. 

Federal and state officials did say, however, that cannabis industry workers who lose their jobs due to the floods will be eligible for unemployment because that program is state-administered. 

James Pepper, chair of the Cannabis Control Board, told VT Digger that the flooding may not pose a “catastrophic” threat to the state’s cannabis industry as a whole, but due to the “very interdependent relationship” of the industry, when one business is affected “it hurts everyone.”  

The state could consider aid for affected businesses, which could be considered by lawmakers during a special session, but a special session has not yet been scheduled.

End

Penn State Awarded $1M for Developing Industrial Hemp Projects

7/19/2023

by

Researchers at Penn State have received a $1 million National Science Foundation (NSF) Engines Development Award which will fund the development of the Pennsylvania Industrial Hemp Engine (PAIHE).  

The PAIHE, one of 44 projects funded nationally by the inaugural round of NSF awards, will support the manufacture and deployment of bio-based products for application in green building construction, packaging, fabrics, renewable energy, and land remediation. 

In a statement, Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi said the PAIHE launch reflects the university’s “commitment to groundbreaking research and to fostering economic development that enriches and empowers” the commonwealth.

“This is an effort undertaken in partnership with business, agriculture, government and fellow institutions of higher education – demonstrating the transformative power of public-private partnership and collaboration across industries and disciplines. I am grateful for the support of the National Science Foundation, and for the many partners who are helping make this important work possible.” — Bendapudi in a press release 

Penn State is partnering with Vytal Plant Science Research (VPSR), a nonprofit biotechnology corporation based in Hazleton, Pennsylvania; Emory University; Wharton School of Business; Ben Franklin Technology Partners; the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture; and several farms and private industries throughout the state to launch PAIHE.    

NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan described the awardees as “part of the fabric of NSF’s vision to create opportunities everywhere and enable innovation anywhere.” 

“They will build robust regional partnerships rooted in scientific and technological innovation in every part of our nation. Through these planning awards, NSF is seeding the future for in-place innovation in communities and to grow their regional economies through research and partnerships,” Panchanathan said in a statement. “This will unleash ideas, talent, pathways and resources to create vibrant innovation ecosystems all across our nation.” 

End

Revolutionizing Cannabis Processing: The Evolution of Post-Harvest Equipment

7/19/2023

by

As the cannabis industry continues to expand, cultivators and processors are constantly seeking innovative solutions to optimize their operations and deliver top-tier products to consumers. One area that has seen remarkable evolution is post-harvest processing equipment.

From traditional hand processing methods to the advent of machinery, the industry has experienced a significant shift towards favoring automation. For commercial producers in particular, maintaining quality and consistency while achieving high volumes can be difficult if the workflow is not scaled properly.

Early Methods of Cannabis Processing and Hand Trimming

In the early days of cannabis cultivation, processing the harvest was a long and labor-intensive task. Cultivators would meticulously buck, trim, and sort flower by hand, relying on their personal expertise to achieve desirable results. While this approach was sufficient for the early era of cannabis processing, it would prove to be difficult to scale as operations expanded.

Processing a cannabis harvest by hand is time-consuming, costly, and highly susceptible to inconsistencies with the products. As the industry grew, it became clear that a more efficient solution was necessary to meet the increasing demand for high-quality cannabis products.

The Rise of Early Cannabis Processing Machines

The first iterations of cannabis processing machines emerged as a response to the limitations of manual labor. Sourcing workers to manually process a harvest is difficult due to the seasonality of the work, risks with personnel, and inconsistencies with processing. In addition, manual processing takes significantly longer than machines.

These early machines, although rudimentary compared to more current technologies, represented a big leap forward in efficiency. Cannabis buckers, for example, automated the tedious task of removing buds from the stems, reducing processing time significantly. Although imperfect, these early machines laid the groundwork for further advancements in equipment to come.

The Shift to Modern Technologies

After a few iterations of processing equipment, the industry was introduced to highly sophisticated machines for post-harvest cannabis automation. This modern equipment like the Mobius Automation Suite combines cutting-edge technology with a scalable operation, allowing cultivators to find the workflow that best suits their needs. The Mobius Automation Suite provides unparalleled efficiency and quality control, with multiple checkpoints throughout the processing line. The Automation Suite includes machine trimmers, buckers, sorters, mills, and conveyors to connect it all together.

Machine processing has numerous benefits, allowing for faster processing times, better product quality, and more consistent results than hand processing. Because automation eliminates the reliance on manual work, cultivators reduce labor and operating costs, which also frees up personnel for other tasks. Additionally, these machines can process large quantities of flower quickly, accelerating production cycles and improving overall productivity.

The evolution of cannabis processing equipment from traditional hand methods to modern automation has been a game-changer for the industry. Growers and processors now have access to efficient, reliable, and consistent solutions that maximize productivity and quality. As the industry continues to evolve, the integration of cutting-edge equipment like the Mobius Automation Suite ensures that growers and processors stay at the forefront of innovation, delivering exceptional cannabis products to an ever-growing market.

End

New Mexico Regulators Revoke Cannabis License for Selling Products from California

7/18/2023

by

An Albuquerque, New Mexico cannabis retailer last week had their license revoked for selling cannabis products from California. On July 13, the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department ordered Paradise Distro LLC to terminate sales immediately.  

It is the first time state regulators have revoked a cannabis business license in the state.  

In a statement, Regulation and Licensing Department Superintendent Linda Trujillo said the “revocation should serve as a warning to those selling or receiving out-of-state cannabis products.”

“In the interest of public safety, the department is holding true to the intent of the Cannabis Regulation Act and taking action upon licensees that have violated the law. … Our compliance officers are ramping up inspections and we will work to remove bad actors from within the New Mexico cannabis industry.” — Trujillo in a press release 

According to the Licensing Department, Cannabis Control Division compliance officers found numerous violations at Paradise, including possessing, receiving, and selling cannabis products that were not native to New Mexico and marked with California stampings. The company was also displaying products such as edibles and concentrates that were not properly documented on the required shipping manifests, and inaccurately reporting sales data, including more than $56,000 in cash and $8,338 in additional funds that were reported in the licensees’ third-party point-of-sale system but not in BioTrack, the state’s required track and trace system. 

Representatives for the company did not attend an April evidentiary hearing and the recommendation to revoke the license was signed June 30. 

End

Ohio Adds IBS to Medical Cannabis Program; Rejects OCD, Autism

7/18/2023

by

The Ohio State Medical Board last week added irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as a qualifying condition to the state’s medical cannabis program, the Ohio Capital Journal reports. The panel, however, rejected the addition of obsessive-compulsive syndrome (OCD) and autism spectrum disorder as qualifying conditions. 

In all, there are now 26 total conditions for which Ohio cannabis patients can access medical cannabis.  

Charlie Trefny, the Ohio Medical Cannabis Industry Association’s director of government affairs, told the Journal that the organization was “disappointed” that the board did not approve OCD or autism spectrum disorder to the list.  

It marks the fourth time the Medical Board has rejected adding autism to the state’s medical cannabis program.  

A bill in the state Senate would add the condition, along with arthritis, migraines, spasticity or chronic muscle spasms, hospice care or terminal illness, and opioid use disorder to the list of qualifying conditions. That measure was introduced in January but has not been moved out of the chamber’s General Government Committee. The bill would allow medical cannabis products sold in the state to include pills, capsules and suppositories, oral pouches, oral strips, oral or topical sprays, salves, lotions, or similar items, and inhalers. 

Earlier this month, the Minnesota Department of Health added IBS and OCD to its list of qualifying conditions for accessing the state medical cannabis program. 

End

Minnesota Tribe Plans to Start Selling Adult-Use Cannabis Next Month

7/18/2023

by

NativeCare, a medical cannabis dispensary in Minnesota’s Red Lake Nation, plans to start retail sales to adults beginning on August 1 – the first day cannabis is legal in the state, FOX 9 reports. NativeCare is about 250 miles from the Twin Cities. 

NativeCare is likely to be the state’s first cannabis business in the state to begin selling to adults as Gov. Tim Walz (D) has previously indicated that retail sales likely wouldn’t begin in the state until January 2025, the report says. Walz has said he hopes to see tribal communities “thrive in this industry.” 

In a statement to Native News Online, Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, a White Earth Ojibwe tribal citizen, said she and Walz “have been committed to building strong government-to-government relationships with the eleven Tribal Nations within Minnesota.” 

“The law Gov. Walz signed to legalize adult-use cannabis is one of the strongest in the nation in honoring the sovereignty of Tribal Nations like Red Lake Nation to make decisions on the sale of adult-use and medical cannabis.” — Flanagan to Native News Online 

Samuel Strong, the tribal secretary for the Red Lake Nation, told KSTP-TV that the cannabis industry would help create jobs and serve as an “economic development and social venture” for the community. 

“We can provide a tested product, that is highly regulated, that is available to community members as well as others,” he said in the interview, “and really break down barriers for people who intend to use cannabis.” 

End

Study: 91% of Military Vet Cannabis Patients Say It Improved Their Quality of Life

7/17/2023

by

A study published last month in the journal Clinical Therapeutics found that 91% of military veterans who use medical cannabis said it improved their quality of life. Most participants in the self-reported survey said they used cannabis daily. 

The survey, which included 510 U.S. military veterans, found 38% of respondents had chronic pain, 26% suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, 9% reported having anxiety, and 5% suffered from depression. Many respondents said they consumed cannabis to reduce the use of over-the-counter medications (30%), including antidepressants (25%), anti-inflammatories (17%), and other prescription medications. Additionally, 21% of respondents reported using fewer opioids as a result of their medical cannabis use. 

“Medicinal cannabis use was reported to improve quality of life and reduce unwanted medication use by many of the study participants. The present findings indicate that medicinal cannabis can potentially play a harm-reduction role, helping veterans to use fewer pharmaceutical medications and other substances. Clinicians should be mindful of the potential associations between race, sex, and combat experience and the intentions for and frequency of medicinal cannabis use.” — “Self-reported Medicinal Cannabis Use as an Alternative to Prescription and Over-the-counter Medication Use Among US Military Veterans,” Clinical Therapeutics, June 2023  

The study’s authors said the findings “should inform clinicians who work with the veteran population, as cannabis may be an effective means of helping veterans, especially women and racially minoritized members of this population, to reduce unwanted medication use.” 

Among the participants, most identified as White (78%), followed by Latino or Hispanic (6%), Black (4%), and “other” (4%), while 9% of respondents preferred not to answer. Eighty-two percent of the respondents were men, 16% were women, and 2% preferred not to select a sex. 

The study included researchers from Boston, Massachusetts’ Cannabis Center of Excellence Inc.; the University of Utah; Rider University in New Jersey; Mansfield, Massachusetts-based Joint Venture & Co.; and the University of Massachusetts. 

End

Virginia Cannabis Sales Unlikely to Launch Under Gov. Youngkin’s Administration

7/17/2023

by

The administration of Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) has no plans to allow adult-use cannabis sales to commence in the state while he is in office, the Daily Progress reports. Adult-use cannabis sales were expected to begin in 2024 under a law passed by the legislature and signed by former Gov. Ralph Northam (D) in 2021; however, during a Virginia Cannabis Public Health Advisory Council meeting last week, Joseph Guthrie, commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said the public should not expect the market to roll out during Youngkin’s time as governor. 

“Governor Youngkin has stated that he is not interested in any further moves towards legalization of adult recreational use marijuana.” — Guthrie via Daily Progress 

Despite lawmakers approving the reforms two years ago, the regulated industry’s rollout required additional action from the Legislature, which was blocked by Republicans in the House of Delegates this year and last year.  

Sen. Adam P. Ebbin (D), sponsor of a bill to create the framework for adult-use sales, told the Washington Post that were Democrats to take control of the Legislature in the upcoming elections and pass the reforms, Youngkin could still veto the legislation. 

Portions of the 2021 law allowing cultivation, consumption, and possessing cannabis are in effect in the state.   

End

Missouri Enacts New Cannabis Packaging Rules

7/17/2023

by

Missouri officials have released new rules for cannabis packaging in the state, limiting colors on packages to one primary package color and up to two logos or symbols that can be of different colors, the Springfield News-Leader reports. The logos or symbols cannot be larger than the clearly printed word, “Marijuana,” which must appear on the packaging in black or white text. 

All cannabis product packaging must also feature a warning label that says: “Cognitive and physical impairment may result from the use of marijuana. Keep out of reach of children.” 

Any violation of the new rules carries a potential $5,000 fine. 

Tony Billmeyer, chief marketing officer of Show-Me Organics, told the News-Leader that the company is hoping for more “clarity” on the new rules. 

“The challenge with that is cannabis is an incredibly complex product that has lots of varying properties. If you imagine a similar category like wine … If you thought of walking into a wine store and all the labels are pretty much just about consumer safety, I don’t know if that’s actually going to help. People find a lot of benefits from just being able to navigate things visually.” — Billmeyer to the News-Leader 

Starting September 1, manufacturers will have to receive approval from the Department of Health and Senior Services’ (DHSS) Division of Cannabis Regulation for new packaging, labeling, and product design to ensure they are compliant with the new rules. If approved, the manufacturer will receive a number that must be printed on the product packaging. DHSS is allowing manufacturers to use existing packaging through January 31. Products that are not compliant with the new rules must be pulled from shelves by Feb. 1, 2024, and any products that do not have a Division of Cannabis Regulation-issued approval number will be discontinued. 

End

Massachusetts Cannabis Sales Hit New Record in June

7/14/2023

by

Sales of both adult-use and medical cannabis in Massachusetts reached record highs in June totaling $1.32 million and $1.079 million, respectively, according to state Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) data. The flower price-per-gram is also at its lowest point since the launch of legal sales in the state to $5.82. 

So far this year, the state cannabis retailers have sold $760.61 million worth of cannabis products, according to CCC data. Cultivators are also harvesting more plants than ever before – in April, the most recent month for which data is available, Massachusetts cannabis growers harvested 3,400 plants  

In all, adult-use cannabis sales in Massachusetts have topped $4.74 billion since the launch of the legal market. Medical cannabis sales in the state have totaled $1.08 billion since 2019.  

Flower is the most common product purchased in the state with more than $2.9 billion in sales since 2018. Vape products are the second most popular category ($857 million), followed by edibles ($685 million), pre-rolls ($622 million), and concentrates ($367 million). 

The per-ounce flower price in June was $164.97; in January 2020, the flower price per ounce was a whopping $416.54. Adult-use cannabis sales carry a state sales tax of 6.25%, a state excise tax of 10.75%, and a local option tax for municipalities up to 3%. Medical cannabis sales are not taxed. 

End

Ukraine Parliament Gives Initial Approval to Medical Cannabis Bill

7/14/2023

by

Ukraine’s parliament has given initial approval to a medical cannabis legalization bill, the Kyiv Post reports. The law must still pass a second reading following any amendments and finalization by lawmakers before moving to President Volodymyr Zelensky for his signature.

People’s Deputy Iryna Herashchenko said on Telegram the measure is “not so much about medicine as about the industrial cultivation of cannabis and corruption schemes by the government regarding permits and the development of huge financial flows.”

“The law is supposed to help treat PTSD, reduce cancer pain, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and other conditions. Therefore, it is important to clean up all the problematic corruption points there regarding the cultivation of hemp on a large industrial scale without proper control. The issue of drug prevention also remains important. Because now the law enforcement officers are crushing them, and this is big shady dirty money. The production and sale of tobacco and alcohol is under state control. It should be the same with cannabis. Ukraine must produce its own drugs for the medical use of cannabis, but under strict state control.” — Herashchenko via Telegram

The draft law backed by the Ministry of Health would establish a licensing system for the cultivation of cannabis strains intended for medical purposes and calls for strict monitoring of the production and distribution of medical cannabis and related products. Each batch of medical cannabis would be labeled with a unique barcode, ensuring tracking throughout the supply chain, the report says.

The plan is backed by Zelensky. A poll conducted alongside local elections in October 2022 found 65% of Ukrainians backed the reforms.

End

Michigan Ends Preemployment Cannabis Testing for Most State Employees

7/14/2023

by

The Michigan Civil Service Commission on Wednesday voted unanimously to lift a ban on hiring most state employees who fail pre-employment drug tests for cannabis, MLive reports. Drug screening for cannabis will remain the protocol for state-employed health workers, police, Department of Corrections Officers, and others employed in safety-sensitive positions.  

Nearly 350 applicants have failed drug tests for cannabis and have been denied employment since legalization five years ago, according to the Civil Service Commission. 

The change also ends current policies banning applicants who previously failed a drug test for cannabis from applying for another state job for three years. All employees may still be subject to testing if it’s believed they are under the influence of cannabis while on the job. 

Michigan Civil Service Commissioner Jeff Steffel, a former 28-year state police trooper who voted for the changes, told MLive that he’s “not totally on board” with the reforms.  

“Why is it the work done by our state employees any less important in terms of marijuana impairment than what it is for police officers, nurses, etc. So I think it is bad policy to not screen for marijuana and not prohibit those people from being employed.” — Steffel to MLive 

Civil Service Commission Member Nick Ciaramitaro told MLive that the change is necessary to comply with the will of voters who approved a cannabis legalization ballot initiative in 2018.

“Whether or not we agree with it or not is kind of beyond the point. Use of marijuana on the job is different than having used it months before you take the test,” he said in the interview with MLive. “It doesn’t make sense to limit our ability to hire qualified people because they took a gummy two weeks ago.” 

The new rules take effect on October 1. 

  

End

Adult-Use Cannabis Sales in Maine Reach New Record in June

7/13/2023

by

Adult-use cannabis sales in Maine reached a new record in June, topping $18.4 million, according to Maine Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP) data outlined by the Bangor Daily News. The previous high was $17.4 million, realized the previous month. 

In all, dispensaries in the state sold about 5,270 pounds of cannabis in June. Cannabis was legalized in Maine by voters in 2016 but retail sales didn’t commence in the state until July 2022. 

According to OCP data, there were 322,169 transactions at adult-use dispensaries in June, with an average flower price-per-gram of $7.69. 

So far this year, adult-use sales have totaled $97,408,138 in 1,671,054 transactions. If sales remain on this pace, 2023 adult-use sales in Maine will surpass last year’s total of $158.9 million.   

Flower represented the bulk of sales in June, totaling about $11 million. Concentrates were the second most popular product category, with sales reaching nearly $4.5 million, followed by infused products at nearly $3 million, with plant sales comprising the remainder.  

So far this calendar year, Maine’s average price per gram of flower is $7.90. 

The state has licensed 218 retail stores, 150 cultivators, 116 manufacturers, and five testing laboratories.  

However, a recent survey by the OCP suggests that the retail market has upended the state’s system of medical cannabis caregivers. That survey found that more than 1,350 caregivers left the program from the end of 2021 to the end of January 2023.    

End

Massachusetts Group Files Paperwork to Put Psychedelic Decriminalization Question on Ballots

7/13/2023

by

A group called Massachusetts for Mental Health Options last week filed paperwork with state regulators signaling plans to put a psychedelic decriminalization ballot question to voters, CBS News reports. In the filing, the group states its purpose is “To expand mental health treatment options in Massachusetts by providing new pathways to access natural psychedelic medicine therapy” and the ballot question would seek to create “access to natural psychedelic medicine therapy” and remove “criminal penalties for personal possession of these medicines.” 

Responding to an inquiry from CBS News, Ben Unger, of the group New Approach, which helped the passage of psychedelic therapy ballot questions in Colorado and Oregon, described the Massachusetts proposal as “still very much in the exploratory phase.” 

“The coalition is still forming and the policy is still going through a process of being vetted, discussed and finalized. As you can imagine, lots [of] details to iron out.” — Unger to CBS News 

The campaign has until August 2 to file an initiative petition for the 2024 election. New Approach is not listed on the paperwork submitted last week. The point of contact listed is MLM Strategies. 

Colorado and Oregon are the only two states, along with Washington D.C., that have legalized some psychedelics for therapeutic use and decriminalized possession of small amounts. In all three cases, the reforms were approved by voters in ballot initiatives.   

End

Rhode Island Dispensary Sues Over Labor-Peace Requirements for Cannabis Licenses

7/13/2023

by

A Rhode Island cannabis dispensary has filed a lawsuit over labor peace agreement provisions in the state’s cannabis legalization law, the Boston Globe reports. Greenleaf Compassionate Care Center argues that it was “coerced into entering an oppressive collective bargaining agreement” because of the 2022 law. 

The law included requirements that licensed cannabis dispensaries in the state enter into “labor peace agreements” with a “bona fide labor organization” even if the business existed prior to the law’s passage. Greenleaf has been a licensed medical cannabis dispensary in the state since 2013. 

In the lawsuit, filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island, Greenleaf argues that the business had “little bargaining leverage” with its workers, who voted in 2021 to organize under the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 328. The workers had initially voted to unionize in 2021, prior to the legalization law taking effect, but negotiations were ongoing when the legalization law passed in May of 2022, the report says. 

In an email to the Globe, Greenleaf CEO Seth Bock said that while labor negotiations were underway, the company realized they had lost all of their bargaining power with the passage of the adult-use law and its labor-peace provisions. 

In an interview with the Globe, Marc Gursky, the attorney for the UFCW Local, disputed the premise of Greenleaf’s lawsuit, noting the previous negotiations.   

“A labor peace agreement is about access, so that a union has a fair chance of organizing a workplace in exchange for giving up a right to strike. Greenleaf never entered into a labor peace agreement.” — Gursky to the Globe 

State Rep. Scott Slater (D), who sponsored the cannabis law, said unions and activists had lobbied for the labor agreement provisions and that the groups also successfully pushed for some cannabis licenses to be reserved for worker co-operatives. 

The suit names the state, all of the members of the R.I. Cannabis Commission, and UFCW Local 328 as defendants. 

End

Maryland Cannabis Sales Top $20M During First Week

7/12/2023

by

Combined medical and adult-use cannabis sales in Maryland totaled $20.9 million during the first week of retail sales, CBS News reports. The split between adult-use and medical sales was nearly even, but medical cannabis sales were slightly higher, the report says.  

The bulk of the sales were realized during the July 4 weekend. According to Maryland Cannabis Administration data, total medical and adult-use sales totaled $10,429,736 on July 4 and $4,518, 377 on July 5. During the weekend, adult-use sales far outpaced medical cannabis sales at $3,558,947 and $959,430, respectively.  

Linda Condon, clinical director at Nature Care Wellness, told CBS News that the business had “almost 2000 new customers come through in 7 days.” 

Adult-use cannabis sales in Maryland are taxed at 9%. Thirty-five percent of the proceeds are used for the community investment and repair fund established by the general assembly in the legalization law.  

Andrew Garrison, a representative of the Maryland Cannabis Administration told CBS News that the fund is meant “to help communities that have been disproportionately harmed by cannabis prohibition.” 

In January, the state expects to begin licensing social equity businesses, which are defined under the law as businesses owned by individuals who live in an area or have been personally affected by the war on drugs. 

End

North Carolina House Speaker: Medical Cannabis Legalization Bill Likely Dead for Session

7/12/2023

by

North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore (R) said Tuesday that the medical cannabis legalization bill is likely dead for the session, the Associated Press reports. Moore indicated the proposal was opposed by many of the chamber’s Republican members.  

Moore told reporters that there’s a rule within the House Republican Caucus that a majority of its members must be willing to vote for legislation on the House floor for it to be heard, even if it could pass the chamber with Democratic support. 

Complying with the rule “would require a number of House members who’ve taken a position of ‘no’ to literally switch their position to want to vote for it, and I just don’t see that happening,” Moore said to reporters on Tuesday. 

House Majority Leader John Bell (R) told Spectrum News that the reforms would likely come up during next year’s chief legislative session, which is likely to start in May. He added that there are members of the House GOP caucus that are “100% supportive” of legalizing medical cannabis in the state, while other members remain “100% opposed.” 

Since June 2022, the Senate has twice passed medical cannabis reforms, but the bill has never received a vote in the House. Both legislative chambers are controlled by Republicans.

End