Brief: New Poll Shows Majority of Delaware Residents Want Marijuana Legalization

10/20/2014

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A new University of Delaware poll has shown that a majority of voters in Delaware — one of the next target states for marijuana advocates — approve of legalizing recreational marijuana. The numbers indicate that 56% of Delaware citizens are in favor, with 39% opposed.

The poll was conducted from September 10 – 22.

Generally, support for legalization was shown to be extremely popular among younger residents, with nearly 70% of people under 30 years old in favor; meanwhile, the only demographic groups with strong trends of opposition were self-identified conservatives and citizens aged 60 and older. Only 39% of self-identified conservatives approved legalization, though 73% of self-identified liberals were in favor of such legislation.

The University polled 902 residents selected from all three of the state’s counties, and the general trend of support seems unhindered by geographic boundaries.

“I would say the numbers suggest solid support for fully legalizing marijuana in Delaware,” said poll supervisor and political communications professor Paul Brewer. “The results also reflect what’s going on in public opinion at the national level, where the trends show a growing majority favoring legalization.”

State Senator Bryan Townsend, who approves of legalization, commented, “I hope this is a wake-up call to the General Assembly that a majority of Delawareans support us moving in this direction.”

Sources:

http://hemp.org/news/node/4159

Photo Credit: Brett Levin

 

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Brief: Obama Nominates Supporter of MJ Legalization to Lead DOJ’s Civil Rights Division

10/17/2014

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President Obama will nominate Vanita Gupta, a lawyer from the American Civil Liberties Union, for the top position in the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, the Washington Post reports.

Gupta is currently the director of the ACLU’s Center for Justice. She has voiced strong opinions against mandatory minimum sentencing, particularly involving drug offenses, and has made a progressive name for herself in regards to cannabis reform, calling the War on Drugs “a war on communities of color.”

She wrote in an op-ed for CNN last month that harsh sentencing laws and current drug policies have “devastated families and communities, generated high recidivism rates, drained state budgets from more productive investments, and [have] reinforced generations of poverty and disadvantage that disproportionately fall on communities of color.”

She argues that the U.S. should follow Colorado and Washington’s lead by collecting tax revenue from recreational marijuana sales and investing it “in education, substance abuse treatment, and prevention and other health care.”

Sources:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/10/15/obamas-nominee-for-a-top-doj-slot-has-said-states-should-legalize-marijuana-thats-a-huge-deal/

http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/02/opinion/vanita-gupta-marijuana-life-sentence/

Photo Credit: DonkeyHotey

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Oregon MMJ Program’s Recent Growth Attributed to New Dispensary Industry

10/16/2014

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Since Oregon voters approved the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP)  in 1998, enrollment in the program has often fluctuated dramatically. In the past nine months, however, the number of patients grew 15 percent state-wide, and experts are attributing that growth to the recent launch of the state’s licensed and regulated dispensaries, the Oregonian reports.

Though medical marijuana has been legal in Oregon for sixteen years, the state legislature only passed a law to establish regulations for a dispensary system in 2013. The Oregon Health Authority began issuing business licenses earlier this year. Oregon has issued 193 licenses for medical marijuana dispensaries since March, and yet another 41 businesses have been issued provisional licenses.

At the beginning of October, there were 69,429 medical marijuana patients registered in Oregon — nearly 9,000 of those individuals signed up in 2014.

As the medical marijuana industry shrugs off the stigmas that once hounded it, the program has become more accessible to people who were once worried about legal repercussions accompanying the drug. “People are more comfortable putting their name on paper, with it becoming more recognized and accepted,” said patient Andrew Courtenay, who received his card in March.

According to Sandee Burbank, owner of three medical clinics that sign patients up for the program, the advent of dispensaries this year in particular has made the program feel much more legitimate. “They can walk in with their money and get what they need,” she said. The dispensary system is much more approachable than before, where patients had to either grow their own weed or know somebody who could do it for them.

Amy Margolis, a Portland-based lawyer who represents MMJ dispensaries and growers, agrees that the public perception of the program has improved. “People feel safer and they should feel safer,” she said. “It’s way different than it was five years ago, than it was two years ago, and I think people are recognizing that.”

Another factor contributing to the recent growth of the OMMP is last year’s expansion to the list of qualifying conditions, which now includes post-traumatic stress syndrome — state records indicate there are currently 2,433 patients listing PTSD as their condition.

Sources:

http://www.oregonlive.com/marijuana/index.ssf/2014/10/medical_marijuana_in_oregon_la.html#comments

Photo Credit: Dank Depot

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Brief: Major Labor Organizations in D.C. Endorse Marijuana Legalization

10/15/2014

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Three major labor organizations in Washington D.C. — the Service Employees International Union, United Commercial Food Workers, and D.C. Working Families — have endorsed Initiative 71, the district’s marijuana legalization initiative on this November’s ballot. If passed, Initiative 71 will allow adults age 21 and older to possess up to two ounces of marijuana and cultivate up to six marijuana plants in their own home.

Dr. Malik Burnett of the Drug Policy Alliance explains the significance of this development:

“These major labor endorsements show that the elimination of marijuana prohibition is an issue of significant importance to workers in the District of Columbia. Initiative 71 would eliminate unfairly harsh punishments for minors offenses, making it less likely that our young people get a lifelong criminal record that makes it harder to get a job, an apartment, or credit card.”

“The war on drugs has had a devastating impact on the ability of working families… to advance their economic standing,” said Delvone Michael, executive director of D.C. Working Families. “A progressive policy like Initiative 71, which removes marijuana from the criminal justice system, would serve as yet another step towards ending this failed policy in the District of Columbia.”

Washington D.C. took a leader’s stance on drug policy reform when the district decriminalized marijuana earlier this year, replacing the risk of arrest for possession of small quantities of cannabis (less than an ounce) with a small civil fine. However, if the legalization initiative passes on November 4, conservatives in Congress could attempt to overrule the voters.

Sources:

http://thestonedsociety.com/2014/10/14/d-c-marijuana-legalization-initiative-71-receives-endorsement-of-major-labor-organizations/

Photo Credit: Cliff

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Marijuana-Infused Edibles Companies Are Now Catering to Cannabis Rookies

10/14/2014

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Certain marijuana-infused edibles companies are now targeting weed lightweights with cannabis-lite products. These products are designed to give infrequent or inexperienced users a euphoric THC high without completely overwhelming them. Manufacturers have found that many consumers who are unfamiliar with the drug are drawn to edibles because its a much more conventional method of intake, but some products become so strong that users are often reporting very negative experiences.

“For a long time, the medical market was a race to the strongest edibles. Now it’s a new market, and people want something that won’t get them so inebriated they’re not functional,” explained Holden Sproul of the Growing Kitchen, the company that offers the ‘Rookie Cookie’ — Growing Kitchen is even beginning to phase out some of its older and more potent products.

“We still get people walking in here saying, ‘What’s the strongest thing?’ But more and more they’re asking about flavor, the experience, the whole nine yards,” said Tim Cullen, owner of two Colorado marijuana dispensaries.

Cullen draws a comparison between hard alcohol and the potency of marijuana edibles: “No one buys a handle of Jim Bean and thinks they should drink all of that in one sitting. But people do want to eat an entire cookie, an entire piece of chocolate. So these products allow you to do that and not have a miserable experience.”

This transition is not just about finding new opportunities in the market, however. The potency of marijuana edibles is an often vilified aspect of the drug, and prohibitionists and some media outlets have pounced on stories like New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd’s infamous stumble down the rabbit hole earlier this year. Further controversy surrounded the death of Levy Thamba, a 19-year-old college student who ate several cannabis cookies, began behaving erratically, and eventually jumped from his Denver hotel room balcony, killing himself and drawing the issue of potent cannabis edibles to public attention.

More specific labeling and potency warnings were introduced. Some Colorado dispensaries have responded even further through a “First Time 5” poster campaign, which encourages first-time or inexperienced users to only consume 5 milligrams of THC at first — this is one half of a dose, as per Colorado regulations — in order to avoid something akin to Dowd’s face-melting experience. One marijuana advocacy group has even rented billboards and put up magazine ads featuring the motto “Start Low, Go Slow.”

While high-potency edibles will always have a marketplace for thrill-seekers and patients who require heavy doses, the cannabis-lite strategy is opening the door to new consumers and expanding the cannabis industry from the inside out.

Sources:

http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/eats/pot-shops-selling-milder-edibles-novice-marijuana-users-article-1.1968649

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_25475533/denver-coroner-man-fell-death-after-eating-marijuana

Photo Credit: Ginny

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Brief: Colorado’s Legal Marijuana Markets Grew Another 10% in August

10/13/2014

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Since its opening on January 1, the Colorado recreational marijuana market has been steadily growing.

Between the months of July and August, legal marijuana sales in Colorado — both recreational and medical — jumped another 10 percent. Reports now indicate that Colorado has earned $45.2 million via taxes and license fees for the nascent industry since the start of 2014.

According to new numbers released by the Colorado Department of Revenue, the month of August saw $33 million worth of recreational marijuana purchased by consumers in Colorado. An additional $32.2 million worth of medical marijuana was sold in dispensaries. In total, the first eight months of 2014 boasted approximately $180 million worth of recreational marijuana sold, while MMJ dispensaries raked in about $255 million.

Recreational sales first began to outpace medical sales in July, and though the monthly difference currently appears to be less than $1 million worth of product, such differences are expected to become even more distinct with time as additional recreational businesses are launched.

“Every day that goes by, or at least every week, we have new recreational marijuana businesses opening in Colorado, and that helps explain the increase in tax revenue,” said Mark Elliott, the executive director of Colorado’s Marijuana Industry Group. “Within the next month we’ll have the first shops opening in Aurora, which is a huge city. What we’re probably going to see is a huge bump in the recreational sales numbers beginning in another month or two because of Aurora coming on line.”

Sources:

http://www.thecannabist.co/2014/10/09/august-pot-taxes-sales-colorado-jumped-10-theyre-slowing/21187/

http://mmjbusinessdaily.com/colorado-marijuana-sales-balloon-11-in-august/

Photo Credit: MarihuanayMedicina

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U.S. DEA Flexes Muscles at Americans Investing in Canadian MMJ Market

10/12/2014

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Marijuana law reform has been an increasingly popular issue in the U.S. for years: activists are fighting left and right for basic human rights, while entrepreneurs are constantly on the look out for business opportunities to advance, strengthen, and further legitimize the market. With the U.S. markets currently wallowing in political turmoil, however, the Canadian medical marijuana market — which has been legalized on the federal level — has attracted a significant amount of American marijuana investors.

Some experts are arguing that American investors in the Canadian market are violating the Controlled Substances Act because all money earned from marijuana investments is still recognized by the American government as drug money, and such business is legally considered to be money laundering.. In fact, a recent Reuters report has confirmed that the DEA is “most interested” in such investments, and has been closely monitoring American money in Canadian marijuana stocks.

Following this announcement, medical marijuana stocks in Canada began to fall: Organigram Holdings (OGI.V) fell 6.9 percent, Bedrocan Cannabis Corp (BED.V) fell 4.2 percent, and Tweed Marijuana Inc (TWD.V) dropped 2.8 percent.

There has not been any action by U.S. authorities against Americans investing in Canadian medical marijuana. In fact, DEA spokesperson Rusty Payne admitted that the U.S. agency has “limited investigatory resources” for pursuing such investors, meaning the DEA must set its sights on the marijuana investors with the deepest pockets.

Nonetheless, many investors see lucrative opportunities in the Canadian marijuana market, which is expected to grow tenfold over (up to $1.3 billion Canadian) within the next decade. And while the Canadian market is not the only option available to Americans willing to risk overseas marijuana investments, it has received more U.S. investments than any of the European markets.

“We really like the Canada model, which is really unlike any other in the world,” said Christian Groh of Privateer Holdings, a Seattle private equity firm and one of the region’s largest players in medical marijuana. “What we’re doing here does not violate local, state, and federal law (in Canada).”

Another American investor who owns stock in the Canadian market, who chose to speak with Reuters anonymously, said, “There are so many companies investing in the Canadian side, and this (money-laundering risk) is just not something that is coming up as an issue. You can invest in pharmaceutical companies (whose drugs are not approved) in the United States. This is just another medicine.”

Sources:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/10/us-canada-marijuana-investors-idUSKCN0HZ0ZY20141010

Photo Credit: Ken Teegardin

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Brief: Latest Poll Shows Alaska Marijuana Legalization Initiative is Winning

10/10/2014

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A recent poll conducted by Ivan Moore indicates that Ballot Measure 2 — Alaska’s hotly debated initiative to legalize, tax, and regulate marijuana like alcohol — is winning by about 18 percentage points. The exact numbers of the poll indicate 57.2 percent in favor, 38.7 percent opposed, and 4.2 percent neutral or undecided. The sample size was 568 voters, and the margin of error is 4.1 percent.

This news will be a relief for marijuana advocates, as the last widely-publicized poll in Alaska showed the legalization initiative trailing behind its opposition. The latest poll is especially significant because it presented the question exactly how voters will be seeing it come November:

There is an initiative on the General election ballot that would tax and regulate the production, sale, and use of marijuana in Alaska. Criminal penalties would be removed for adults over the age of 21 who possess up to an ounce of marijuana, and constitutional protections allowing home cultivation would be preserved.

The subject of Alaska’s legalization campaign dominated national headlines a few weeks ago when ex-TV reporter Sharlo Greene announced on national television that she was quitting her job for marijuana advocacy. Greene also owns the Alaska Cannabis Club, and ran a very successful Indiegogo campaign following her heavy media exposure that raised more than $11,000 for the legalization cause.

Sources:

http://amandacoyne.com/politics/new-ivan-moore-poll-has-pot-up-by-18-points/

Photo Credit: Coleen Whitfield

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Founder of Marijuana Staffing Agency Interviewed by Ganjapreneur

10/09/2014

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With the rapid growth of the medical marijuana industry in several states, as well as the recreational cannabis industry in Washington and Colorado, a vast number of businesses have sprouted to support, assist, and consult the companies that are actually involved with growing, processing, and selling the plant itself. Viridian Staffing, a recruiting agency based out of Seattle, WA, is one such company.

Ganjapreneur, a cannabis industry business media outlet which launched over the summer, recently conversed with David Murét, co-founder of Viridian, to ask him some questions about the company and how it has helped connect marijuana businesses with job-seekers. When asked what his favorite aspect of working in the cannabis industry was, Murét replied, “We would have to say the people. The industry has been such a magnet for dynamic free-thinking innovators who aren’t nearly as stiff and creatively stifled as you find in so many other, more established industries. We also love working in an industry which, on the whole, places such a high value on triple bottom line business practices, which are both socially responsible and environmentally sustainable, particularly here in the Pacific Northwest.”

Murét also discussed some of the obstacles that he and his co-founder, Kara Bradford, have faced while building Viridian into the business that it is today. Breaking through the “pre-legalization” mentality of keeping business practices private and recruiting only family members and friends has been one of the primary difficulties, he says. Many of these business owners have become so set in their ways that they frequently have “a hard time wrapping their minds around the benefits of leveraging the knowledge and skills of external professionals.”

However, Murét is cautiously optimistic about the future of the industry. “While we agree with the majority of our colleagues that we are currently at the tipping point of the end of prohibition and that there is little that is likely to put the toothpaste back in the tube, we also have to appreciate just how much of this hinges on having a cooperative administration in the White House.”

The full interview is available on Ganjapreneur’s website, along with several other interviews with cannabis industry pioneers. Last month, Ganjapreneur announced its pilot episode of a video series, featuring John Evich from Top Shelf Cannabis, a retailer in Bellingham, WA which was the first store to serve the state’s recreational market earlier this year. Ganjapreneur also launched a marijuana business news-reader app on the Google Play marketplace earlier this week, and announced plans to follow up with an app for the Apple App Store in the near future.

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D.C. Council Votes to Strengthen Record Sealing Laws for People With Marijuana Arrests

10/09/2014

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The Washington D.C. Council has voted unanimously to strengthen record sealing laws to help citizens in the nation’s capital move past marijuana infractions from their past. The Council is expected to take a second vote on the new system later in October (D.C. law requires the Council to vote twice on a bill), after which the bill will go to Mayor Vincent Gray for his approval.

“For the thousands of D.C. residents who are suffering the life-altering consequences of having a marijuana possession charge on their record, this legislation should help provide relief,” said Dr. Malik Burnett of the Drug Policy Alliance.

The DPA released a statement on the subject earlier this week:

The Record Sealing for Decriminalized and Legalized Offenses Act of 2014 (Council Bill #20-467) would improve the record sealing process for individuals previously arrested, charged, or convicted of an offense that has since been decriminalized or legalized, including records pertaining to marijuana possession. This legislation would speed up government review and decision making on motions to seal criminal records, place important limits on government discretion to deny a record sealing motion, and provide more certainty that a motion to seal certain qualified records will be honored by the government within a certain time frame.

The nation’s capital made waves earlier this year when the city voted to decriminalize cannabis possession, and citizens will be voting this November on Initiative 71, which sets out to legalize and regulate recreational marijuana. Since decriminalization took effect July 17, however, reports show that 77% of all marijuana-related tickets were written in neighborhoods home to primarily people of color. This troubling statistic demonstrates that there is still a gross disparity in marijuana enforcement between races, despite decriminalization, thus emphasizing the need for further political action in this direction.

“Initiative 71 will take D.C. another step toward removing marijuana from the criminal justice system and refocusing police priorities on more serious crime,” said Dr. Burnett. “The District has the opportunity to serve as a model for other jurisdictions looking to reduce racial disparities in the criminal justice system.”

Sources:

http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/2014/10/dc-council-votes-unanimously-strengthen-record-sealing-laws-relieve-people-prior-mariju

Photo Credit: Ed Uthman

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David Murét via Viridian Staffing: Connecting Employers and Job-Seekers in the Cannabis Industry

10/08/2014

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Recently we had the pleasure of interviewing David Murét of Viridian, a staffing agency for the cannabis industry based out of Seattle, WA. Viridian was founded in 2013 by David and his business partner Kara Bradford to offer staffing, recruiting, HR consulting, and outsourcing services to companies within the medical and recreational cannabis industries, as well as industrial hemp.

Up until recently, cannabis business practices have been largely secretive and kept private due to legal ambiguity, and employers have often hired from within their own social circles and families. However, with the rapid growth of the industry, many businesses are turning to professional recruiters and staffing agencies like Viridian.

Read the Q&A below!

Ganjapreneur: What does Viridian Staffing do for cannabis industry employers and job-seekers, in a nutshell?

David Murét: Viridian helps connect employers with the talent they need to succeed, and in doing so, also connects individuals with exciting opportunities.  We are also a full-service HR consulting practice and are here to provide resources, answer questions and solve problems.

When did Viridian Staffing get started, and what were you doing before you decided to start a company in the cannabis industry?

We founded Viridian back in 2013.  Prior to that, our co-founder and head recruiter, Kara, who has an MBA in Human Resources and Organizational Development spent over 14 years as both an agency and in-house recruiter for some of the top companies in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.  Our head HR Consultant, Carole, has a Masters in Human Resources Management with an emphasis on Organizational Leadership as well as over 20 years of experience assisting start-ups and organizations undergoing explosive growth.  My experience, as Chief Operations Officer, consists of a combination of Law, I.T., Finance and business development.

What are some of the obstacles Viridian has faced?

The main obstacles have been:

Being headquartered here in Washington State, just how long it has taken Washingon’s industry to come on line and all the turmoil many of our potential clients have and continue to face as a result of that messy process; the moratoriums, bans and draconian zoning requirements in particular.  It has taken a lot more time and resources than any of them anticipated.

This industry has also been relatively slow to warm up to recruiting and human resources.  While there are certainly some notable exceptions, those who have been at this for a while, pre-“legalization,” got so used to doing their own hiring and not really concerning themselves with employment best practices that they’re now having a hard time wrapping their minds around the benefits of leveraging the knowledge and skills of external professionals.

What are some of the risks that cannabis industry companies face if they hire based on word-of-mouth as opposed to professional recruiting?

It would really depend what sources this “word-of-mouth” was coming from, but in our experience that’s not how most companies in this industry have been staffing their operations. In most cases they are either hiring people they know, or friends and family of people they know, or trying their luck with the job boards. And while this may work for some positions, problems abound and many of our clients end up coming to us after these methods have failed. In the case of hiring friends and family, many have found that it unnecessarily complicates the employer-employee relationship as friends and family have a tendency to take their positions for granted in ways that other professional employees aren’t as prone to. And in cases where things aren’t working out, it can be especially difficult to let people go. Job boards present a different set of challenges. First, between the chronic underemployment inherent in the post-recession “new normal” and the intense media focus on our industry, most businesses that post positions end up getting inundated with more low-quality applicants than they have the time to sort through, much less vet, reference/background check, etc. And unless they happen to have considerable experience hiring people, they’ll be unlikely to discern the tell-tale signs of a successful candidate verses an undesirable one, or could easily end up running afoul of employment law in the application and interview process, which could come back to bite them if the individual doesn’t work out. Plus all the time they spent finding and vetting that individual would have gone to waste. In our case, we don’t get paid unless our candidates stick.

Have you seen much interest from people living in states where cannabis is still illegal, who are looking to relocate?

Absolutely! While we always prefer to source talent locally, when possible, sometimes the need is so specific that we need to cast a wider net. As a result we have already placed several candidates from out of state.

As an ancillary business who serves both the medical and recreational marijuana industries, which industry would you say is growing faster?

It’s hard to say.  Here in WA I think it’s fair to assume that i502 businesses are increasing at a faster rate than MMJs, but we also hear of plenty of would-be i502 operations that are starting up in the MMJ market with the intention of pivoting to their i502 operations, when fully licensed.  Beyond Washington State there is obviously greater growth within both MMJ states and all the new states who are in the process of coming on-line.

Have you worked with any businesses who have transitioned from MMJ into recreational retail / production?

Yes. Many of our clients began in the MMJ market, some still are, and a significant percentage are working on their pivot to i502 (“recreational”) as we speak. It is our hope that Washington State will incorporate MMJ into i502, so we’ll have one unified, regulated system that serves both sides of the market, like we see in Colorado.

What do you think the future of legalized cannabis in Washington looks like?

Not sure at this point, but we hope that WA takes some lessons from Colorado and finds a way to incorporate MMJ in such a way that preserves safe access for legit patients who need it, most notably children.

What is your favorite thing about working in the cannabis industry?

We would have to say the people.  The industry has been such a magnet for dynamic free-thinking innovators who aren’t nearly as stiff and creatively stifled as you find in so many other, more established industries.  We also love working in an industry which, on the whole, places such a high value on triple bottom line business practices, which are both socially responsible and environmentally sustainable, particularly here in the Pacific Northwest.

Least favorite?

The downside to working in a new industry like this is just how busy if not overwhelmed people are, which leads to a lot of hurry up and wait, flakiness, stop and go and last-minute requests.  It has certainly been the most challenging business environment we have experienced to date and is certainly not for everyone.  Especially anyone who expects it to be easy.

Do you think there is any risk of a crackdown on legalized cannabis from the federal government in the foreseeable future?

I’m going to have to answer this like a typical attorney and say, “It depends.”  While we agree with the majority of our colleagues that we are currently at the tipping point of the end of prohibition and that there is little that is likely to put the toothpaste back in the tube; We also have to appreciate just how much of this hinges on having a cooperative administration in the White House.  We have yet to learn who the major party candidates are going to be in 2016, but it certainly wouldn’t be surprising to see the Republican’s nominate a socially conservative candidate who is openly hostile to the legalization movement and could turn every branch of the Federal government against us, including the IRS.  And seeing as the President’s current stance towards Washington, Colorado and the various MMJ states is based on little more than a policy of tolerance, there is little to keep a future Executive from interpreting the supremacy clause strictly and claiming that Washington and Colorado’s current experiment is unconstitutional.  On the other hand, Wall Street has gotten pretty excited about Cannabis in the last year or so, and seeing as those interests more or less own and control both political parties, it may be less likely they’d allow their minions to kill the goose that’s laying the golden egg.

Cannabis legalization has frequently been referred to as a “gold rush” due to the industry’s rapid growth over the past few years. With such fierce competition, what do you think the biggest factors will be in determining who succeeds?

The experience and dedication of the team. You not only need to understand your niche better than the competition, but you’ve got to have the drive and tenacity to overcome obstacles without becoming discouraged and that only comes from genuinely loving what you do and why you’re doing it. Those who are only entering this market in the hopes of making a quick, easy buck are in for a rude awakening. We’ve seen plenty of these come and go already.

What advice can you offer to aspiring ganjapreneurs?

If you’re thinking of getting into this industry, make sure you’re the kind of person who thrives on change, is comfortable working with a great deal of unknowns and has a passion for what you’re doing.  If you’re looking to make a quick buck on a sure thing, this probably isn’t the industry for you.

Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions and provide such valuable insights about Viridian and the industry as a whole, David!

To learn more about Viridian Staffing, visit their website and follow them on Facebook. Questions? Post them in the comments area below:

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Brief: Creators of ‘The Marijuana Show’ Choose 22 Ganjapreneurs as Semi-Finalists

10/07/2014

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You may have seen the headlines last month about an upcoming TV show that plans to feature several ganjapreneurs and their dreams to make it big in the cannabis industry — if you didn’t see the headlines, or don’t remember the premise of the show, think along the lines of “Shark Tank” meets “The Apprentice,” but with weed.

Creators Wendy Robbins and Karen Paull have chosen 22 semi-finalist ganjapreneurs from the more than 200 who auditioned. The semi-finalists have since been assigned a series of challenges that are designed to test the contestants’ business strategies and emotional integrity. Of the 22 semi-finalists, only six individuals will chosen for the final shooting of the show.

“We wanted emotional stuff for the show too. … I made millions of dollars and didn’t have my emotional stuff taken care of, so I lost balance, and giving people challenges that take them to the next level is as valuable as giving them the financial tasks,” Robbins explained. “Many got financial challenges, too — to get customers, testimonials, etc.”

The finalists will participate in a 3-day business-themed “boot camp” this weekend, after which they will pitch their business plans to investors — one winner will be chosen as “the next marijuana millionaire” and will receive financing and mentorship. Business pitches can cover any aspect of the legal cannabis industry.

Season One will feature eight episodes that will be made available in December via the Roku  and other popular online streaming sources. Robbins and Paull plan to host a new series in each state that legalizes marijuana.

Sources:

http://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/22-semi-finalists-selected-marijuana-show/

Photo Credit: Théo

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Brief: Colorado Recreational Market Now More Competitive Than Ever

10/06/2014

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The start of October marked a drastic change in Colorado’s recreational marijuana market. With the new month, Colorado officials have opened the recreational industry to individuals from all walks of life — previously, to own a business in the retail marijuana industry, such ganjapreneurs needed to already have a state-licensed business such as a medical marijuana dispensary or cultivation site.

The Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division issued new retail business licenses to 46 hopeful ganjapreneurs, as well as 37 new permits for cultivation facilities and 13 licenses for marijuana-infused products companies. Local jurisdictions will have to sign off on these new licenses for the individuals behind them to begin their business forays into the legal weed industry.

Another change starting in October is that recreational shops are no longer required to grow at least 70% of the product they sell, making it easier for a start-up to focus purely on the retail side of the marketplace.

Current recreational marijuana businesses include 242 retail pot shops and 316 cannabis production companies.

All things considered, the Colorado recreational cannabis market should expect more competition than ever before. Consumers should expect that the profit margins for the businesses in question will be lowered as the price of retail marijuana begins to drop.

Sources:

http://mmjbusinessdaily.com/week-in-review-updates-on-2-forgotten-mmj-states-major-changes-in-colorado-whats-next-for-ca-regs/

Photo Credit: Brett Levin

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Brief: New Mexico Credit Unions to Close MMJ Bank Accounts

10/03/2014

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Credit unions in New Mexico have decided to close the bank accounts of many state-licensed medical marijuana producers. The credit unions claim they are unable to comply with the federal guidelines announced in February and are obliged to shut down the bank accounts of many marijuana businesses.

Producers in New Mexico now face the problem of finding new banking partners, or else they will have to return to operating in a cash-only economy.

“It is disappointing to see that the banking industry in New Mexico is failing to protect medical patients and small businesses in light of the assurances the federal administration has provided and a robust and thriving medical marijuana industry in the state,” said the Drug Policy Alliance’s state director, Emily Kaltenbach. “This abrupt move has all of us asking why they are unexpectedly ceasing to do business with the marijuana industry in New Mexico. We would like to know why they are unable to comply with the federal guidelines.”

The guidelines released by the Obama administration in February included the stipulation that banks working with the marijuana industry must keep tabs on the businesses they serve. Banks must also be able to guarantee that said businesses are properly licensed by the state and are not involved in any criminal activity under the state’s reformed marijuana law. Banks would still be held accountable for such violations, were they to occur.

Sources:

http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/2014/09/new-mexico-credit-unions-close-medical-marijuana-licensed-producer-bank-accounts

Photo Credit: Ron Cogswell

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Brief: 92% of MMJ Patients Say Marijuana Treatment is Effective

10/02/2014

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Despite endless accusations that medical marijuana programs are chalk full of fakers just looking for an easy fix, evidence is mounting that MMJ is a legitimate treatment for a wide variety of ailments. In fact, a recent survey found that 92% of California medical marijuana patients reported that marijuana successfully alleviates chronic pain and, among other things, symptoms of arthritis, migraines, and cancer.

“Our study contradicts commonly held beliefs that medical marijuana is being overused by healthy individuals,” the researchers explain.

The results were reported by the California Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, which surveyed 7,525 California adults.

The survey did find that, though there are similar rates of medical marijuana usage between men and women, younger generations are more likely than older generations to use medical marijuana. Nonetheless, the researchers explained, “Our study’s results lend support to the idea that medical marijuana is used equally by many groups of people and is not exclusively used by any one specific group.”

“The most common reasons for use include medical conditions for which mainstream treatments may not exist, such as for migraines, or may not be effective, including for chronic pain and cancer,” the authors write. The survey also concluded that approximately five percent of California adults have used medical marijuana to treat a “serious medical condition.”

Sources:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/10/01/92-of-patients-say-medical-marijuana-works/

Photo Credit: Mark

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NY Gov. Cuomo Asks for Permission to Import MMJ From Other States

10/01/2014

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New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has asked the federal government for special permission to import medical marijuana from other states.

Cuomo originally contacted US Attorney General Eric Holder in early August on this subject, then followed up last week with a second letter directed to Deputy Attorney General  James Cole. The governor wants to import limited amounts of certain cannabis strains — such as the CBD-centric Charlotte’s Web — which are specialized for treating children and young adults who suffer from severe cases of epilepsy.

Since New York’s medical marijuana bill was passed in July, at least three such children have died waiting for the program to take effect. Worse yet, the program must face a variety of bureaucratic obstacles before opening, and isn’t expected to launch until, at the earliest, January, 2016.

State health commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker wrote a letter of his own to Attorney General Cole. “This is an extremely important issue to us, and it well help many children and young adults,” he wrote. “As a pediatrician myself, I cannot urge you enough to consider this exception to the present law as we all only want the best for these young patients.”

While MMJ advocates are supportive of the governor’s request, many believe that he could have done more to help the seriously ill children. New York citizen Missy Miller is the mother of a child who suffers from regular, severe seizures. In a video describing the situation her family faces, she explained:

“My son Oliver, who has severe seizures from a brain stem injury, cannot wait much longer to get the medicine he needs. We asked Governor Cuomo to try a number of things to create an emergency access program after he removed language from the bill that would do just that. While reaching out to the DOJ is a meaningful first step, there are other additional steps he can and should take to get Oliver and other critically ill children the medicine they need ASAP. He needs to realize that every day that passes we lose more of Oliver to these seizures.”

As Miller described, the MMJ bill’s original wording included a provision to allow for emergency access to medical marijuana; the governor, however, removed this section of the bill before signing, adding in its place the stipulation that only marijuana products made in New York would be legal for patient use, making marijuana products from other states (like the ones he’s now specifically asking for) strictly illegal.

Therefore — in a painfully ironic twist — the state of New York will actually need further legislative action to carry out Cuomo’s plan, if the DOJ decides to allow the governor’s requests.

Meanwhile, Kate Hintz — the parent of another child suffering from a severe seizure disorder — described the governor’s responsibility to his citizens with blunt honesty:

“We are glad to see that the governor has engaged DOJ about the need to establish an interim, emergency access program for those who cannot afford to wait for full implementation to occur. Now, we need the governor to move forward on other avenues that might also help get medicine to those who need it. The governor has a moral obligation to try absolutely everything in his power to prevent New Yorkers from needlessly suffering.”

Sources:

http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/cuomo-seeks-us-waiver-on-medical-marijuana-20140928

http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/2014/09/cuomo-administration-asks-us-department-justice-allow-new-york-acquire-medical-marijuan

Photo Credit: Diana Robinson

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Brief: California Initiative to Defelonize Drug Possession Appears Poised for Victory

9/30/2014

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With so many eyes on the marijuana legalization bills in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington D.C. this voting season, it could be easy to overlook an important political battle that’s gathering steam in California.

California’s Proposition 47, a.k.a. the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act, is an initiative that — in order to fight the state’s high incarceration rates — would turn all drug possession felonies and several other low-level, nonviolent crimes into misdemeanors. The bill is sponsored by former San Diego Police Chief William Lansdowne and current San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon; the political campaign is being led by Californians for Safe Neighborhoods and Schools.

A poll from the Public Policy Institute of California shows that support for Prop 47 is at 62%, while only 25% of the population is strictly opposed.

About 10,000 people in California are arrested for drug possession felonies each year. A successful Prop 47 would be a monumental step forward for lowering the state’s incarceration rates — inmates already serving time for the crimes in question would be given the right to petition for resentencing in county jails.

If it passes, 65% of savings from Prop 47 would be invested in mental health and drug treatment, 25% would go to school programs for at-risk youth, and the final 10% would go to trauma recovery services for crime victims.

“When three out of four people go back to prison within three years — and it’s been that way for 30 years — it’s obvious that we need a new plan,” said Dionne Wilson of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice. “This measure will save a ton of money that would be wasted on incarcerating nonviolent people for nonviolent crimes, which will then be reinvested into trauma care for victims, mental health services, and drug treatment. I think that’s what a sound public safety strategy looks like.”

Sources:

http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2014/sep/24/ca_defelonization_initiative

Photo Credit: Rennett Stowe

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Pilot Episode of Ganjapreneur Web Series Published, Interview and Shop Tour with WA State Marijuana Retailer

9/29/2014

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Ganjapreneur, a website devoted to cannabis industry business news and culture, has recently announced the first episode of a web video series which will feature marijuana entrepreneurs and investors. The pilot episode is 20 minutes long and features John Evich, the primary investor in Top Shelf Cannabis, a Washington State recreational cannabis retailer which made history as the first store to serve the legal market in July.

In the video, Evich leads a tour of the shop and also discusses how he came to be involved in Top Shelf Cannabis, some of the obstacles that he faced while building the business, and what he believes the future of the recreational cannabis industry looks like in Washington. Ganjapreneur has included footage that they recorded prior to the interview, onsite at Top Shelf Cannabis for the first sales of edible and concentrate products in the recreational market.

Ganjapreneur.com announced their official launch over the summer. The website publishes daily news briefs, editorials, and curated headlines pertaining to the business of cannabis. They recently announced an open source cannabis slang dictionary as well as a marijuana job feed which publishes daily links to other job boards around the web.

The interview with John Evich is the third official interview that Ganjapreneur has published, although it is the first to be published in video format. Matt Brown of My 420 Tours, a Denver-based marijuana tourism company, as well as Zane Witzel from Cannador, a luxury cannabis storage device manufacturer, have also been featured.

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Holder Signals Support for Marijuana Reclassification Before Stepping Down

9/29/2014

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US Attorney General Eric Holder, currently the highest-ranking law enforcement official in the country, has announced that he will soon be retiring. This development comes just after Holder was interviewed by Yahoo’s Katie Couric, in which Holder disclosed that he believes the federal rescheduling of marijuana is a valid political issue and should be carefully considered.

As things stand now, cannabis is a Schedule I drug under the federal Controlled Substances Act. Schedule I substances are considered to have a “high potential for abuse” and “no currently accepted medical use” — a ruling that flies in the face of the 23 states that have legalized medical marijuana and seek to profit off the responsible regulation of this popular yet “illicit” substance.

Holder said:

“I think it’s certainly a question we need to ask ourselves, whether or not marijuana is as serious of a drug as heroin. Especially given what we’ve seen recently with regard to heroin — the progression of people from using opioids to heroin use, the spread and the destruction that heroin has perpetrated all around our country.  And to see by contrast, what the impact of marijuana is. Now it can be destructive if used in certain ways, but the question of whether or not they should be in the same category is something that we need to ask ourselves and use science as the basis for making that determination.”

While this is actually a progressive stance for the top law enforcement official in the nation, Holder’s little allowance fails to acknowledge the overwhelming scientific evidence that marijuana is indeed medically beneficial. Research indicates that cannabis can be used to combat cancer, epilepsy, depression, PTSD, and many other conditions.

Holder also fails to recognize mounting historical evidence that the War on Drugs originated in racist federal policies, and that its perpetuation offers enormous economic benefits to pharmaceutical companies and private prisons.

Meanwhile, legal marijuana markets in those states that have passed legalization legislation are being subjected to extremely high tax rates by the federal government. Dispensary owners around the nation are faced with effective tax rates that can range from 50 to 80%. Rescheduling marijuana as a Schedule III substance would help legitimize the industry, and would bring tax rates more closely in line with similar industries.

Couric asked Holder what he thought about marijuana’s status at the federal level. “I think we’ve taken a look at the experiments that are going on in Colorado and Washington, and we’re going to see what happens there, and that’ll help inform us as to what we want to do on the federal level,” Holder explained. In other words, the jury is still out on federal decriminalization. Holder has previously disclosed, however, that the Obama administration would be willing to work with Congress on the rescheduling of marijuana, if that was something they’d be interested in doing.

Tom Angell, chairman of the Marijuana Majority, expressed excitement over the Attorney General’s change of heart.

“It’s refreshing to hear these remarks from the attorney general, especially since the science couldn’t be any clearer that marijuana doesn’t meet the criteria for being classified as a Schedule I substance. Numerous studies confirm marijuana’s medical value, and if the administration is serious about taking an objective look at this issue, rescheduling is very achievable by the time this president leaves office. They can do this administratively without any further action from Congress.”

Could Obama reschedule marijuana via executive order? He has stated that such an action would need to come from Congress, but with paralyzing partisan gridlock preventing any kind of meaningful legislation, executive action may be the only available option to fix the nation’s broken drug policies.

Sources:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/25/eric-holder-marijuana-rescheduling_n_5884128.html

Photo Credit: North Charleston

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John Evich via Top Shelf Cannabis: Investing in Washington’s Recreational Market

9/28/2014

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In July, when we first contacted John Evich about the possibility of featuring Top Shelf Cannabis as the first installment in our industry pioneers video series, he invited us to come film the first sales of edible products and concentrates in Washington State, which was happening the next day. It wasn’t until a full month later that we got to sit down with him for the interview and shop tour with John, who is the primary investor in the company.

Top Shelf Cannabis also made history as the first retail store to open under I-502, which legalized the production, retail, and consumption of cannabis for recreational purposes in the state. They are located in Bellingham, WA, just 50 miles south of Vancouver, BC (Evich estimates that close to 15% of his business is due to tourism, much of which comes from Canada). Over the course of the interview, Evich went into great detail about how he got involved with the business, some of the challenges he faced along the way, and what he predicts for the future of legalized recreational cannabis.

We were honored by the invitation to film the first night of edibles sales, during which we got the exclusive footage of the first sale  in the state. We have included a recap of that evening in the full-length video interview and shop tour with John. Watch the full video below!

UPDATE: We also just received word that Top Shelf Cannabis has stocked their first batch of Legal Infused Soda from Mirth Provisions. Look them up via Facebook and their website to learn more!

Video Overview:

Start – 2:20 — Shop Tour

2:20 – 9:25 — Q&A

9:25 – 13:05 — First Night of Edibles

13:05 – End — Q&A

**Transcription coming soon.

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Brief: Seattle’s 2nd Retail Marijuana Store Opens on Tuesday

9/28/2014

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Another retail marijuana store in Seattle is finally ready to open its doors to the public this Tuesday — over three months following the launch of Washington’s recreational marijuana market.

The store is called “Uncle Ike’s” and will be located at 2310 East Union St.

Store owner Ian Eisenberg confirmed that the store is licensed and expects to open on Tuesday, Septeber 30, though there are “a million things that have to all come together in the meantime.”

The opening of Uncle Ike’s is sure to excite many Seattle cannabis connoisseurs who may have had trouble getting some legal, retail marijuana while supplies lasted.

Seattle’s other retail marijuana store, Cannabis City, has been open since the July 8 grand opening for pot shops in WA. As predicted, Cannabis City and many other retail stores around the state experienced initial product shortages and, as a result, often had to close early or go several days without any product.

Seattle residents of course had the option of visiting recreational pot shops in nearby cities such as Bothell or Tacoma, but now there will be two options to choose from without leaving Seattle city limits.

Sources:

http://blog.seattlepi.com/marijuana/2014/09/25/seattles-second-marijuana-retailer-plans-to-open-tuesday/

Photo Credit: aeroSoul

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Brief: Maryland Marijuana Decriminalization Becomes Effective October 1

9/27/2014

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Maryland is on the path to decriminalize marijuana effective October 1, as per a bill signed by Gov. Martin O’Malley last April. The new law changes the punishment for small amounts of marijuana from potential jail time to a civil fine.

Under Senate Bill 364, the penalty for possession of 10 grams of cannabis or less is, for the first offense, a $100 fine. A second offense will result in a $250 fine. On the third offense, the fine is raised to $500, the violators will have a court appearance, and may be ordered to attend a drug treatment program.

“The system doesn’t really change other than we’re not going to be criminalizing individuals with small amounts of marijuana,” said the bill’s sponsor Sen. Bobby Zirkin. “I think putting some 23,000 people through a criminal justice system is just a colossal waste of resources, which can be better spent on affecting behavior.”

Gov. O’Malley — despite facing pressure from local law enforcement and prosecutors not to sign the bill — explained that he signed because very few people convicted for marijuana actually went to jail, though their arrests and conviction records may still follow and hinder them through life.

Sources:

http://www.leafly.com/news/headlines/maryland-to-decriminalize-cannabis-effective-october-1st

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2014/04/14/gov-omalley-to-sign-marijuana-decriminalization-bill/

Photo Credit: Woody Hibbard

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Kentucky Hemp: First Crop Successfully Harvested, Industry’s Future Looking Strong

9/26/2014

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In May of this year, Kentucky sued the federal government for confiscating the state’s legally-acquired Italian hemp seeds, sparking a fiasco that enraged hemp supporters nationwide. The seeds were eventually returned and planted as part of a pilot crop for Kentucky’s industrial hemp industry. That pilot crop was harvested earlier this week and has been called a great success.

“There’s a great possibility that [hemp] could become a viable crop in Kentucky,” said David Williams, a University of Kentucky agronomist. Williams is an overseer of operations at the UK hemp research plot. “It’s not the most complicated plant to grow for farmers. I think they would pick up on it immediately with very little guidance.”

Six universities and twelve farmers were involved in Kentucky’s hemp experiment, which took place on about 15 acres of land scattered throughout the state. The UK plot reportedly grew quickly and easily: “The plants … have been allowed to grow on their own, and they’ve done just fine,” Williams said.

The hemp harvested this week was a variety grown for fiber production. The plants will remain in the field for two more weeks, however, as part of the curing process.

Hemp, the non-psychoactive sister plant to cannabis, was once considered a staple crop by Kentucky farmers. During the federal government’s crackdown on marijuana in the 1970s, however, growing hemp was also outlawed and the American hemp industry disappeared. Under the most recent Farm Bill, however, the federal government ruled to allow states that have legalized hemp cultivation to begin experimentation with industrializing the plant once more.

A thief reportedly stole several plants during the night last week. Adam Watson, the state’s hemp program coordinator, explained that the thief likely didn’t understand it was hemp and not marijuana being grown on the eastern Kentucky plot. “You can’t use it to get high,” he said. “So we expect it’s … a case of mistaken identity.”

Kentucky is not alone in its experimentation with industrial hemp. Twelve other states — California, Colorado, Hawaii, Indiana, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and West Virginia — have passed legislation allowing industrial hemp for research and/or commercial purposes. Meanwhile, actual licenses for growing pilot hemp crops were issued to farmers this year in Kentucky, Colorado, and Vermont.

Though this year’s hemp-growing season has concluded, Kentucky farmers are already looking forward to next year’s crop. After attending this year’s harvest, Everett McIntosh, a farmer from Garrard County, explained that he was curious about converting some of his own land into hemp production. “There’s so much work invested in farming that this would seem much more economical, if they can come up with processing locations,” he said. “That’s the only problem right now is to see who’s going to invest in that.”

Sources:

http://www.thedailychronic.net/2014/37136/hemp-crop-successfully-harvested-in-kentucky/

Photo Credit: Chris H

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Brief: Cannabis Smoking Lounge Could Turn Colorado Movie Theater Into the Ultimate Movie Experience

9/25/2014

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With Colorado’s recreational marketplace in full swing, we’ve witnessed a surge of ganjapreneurs stepping up their game to get a piece of the marijuana money pie. One innovative business plan has really caught our attention recently: meet the Scarlet Theater, the future safe haven for tourists and local Denver stoners to hang out, get high, and watch sweet movies in a cannabis-friendly environment.

The Scarlet Theater is currently an in-the-works project, but they have big plans. Patrons of the Scarlet Theater will be required to pay membership fees to enter and enjoy the club, but on the inside it sounds like a marijuana-lover’s dream. Featuring a world-class restaurant and a BYOC (bring your own cannabis) club policy, the Scarlet Theater aims to be much more than your average smoke spot.

As proprietor Kelly S. McGonigal describes, there are some key differences that make the Scarlet Theater stand out from other popular social clubs in and around the Denver area:

“Offering more things to do than just smoke and socialize — which are great in and of themselves, but sometimes people want to toke up, and maybe talk with people for a while, but then they want to go off and do their own thing. People who want to do that can go to the movie theater, they can go to the restaurant. And since they’re all operated by us, patrons will know they’ll be in a supportive, understanding environment.”

Check out the Scarlet Theater’s indiegogo campaign for more information or the chance to purchase early-bird memberships.

Sources:

http://www.hightimes.com/read/smoke-marijuana-movies-legally-denver

Photo Credit: Leo Hidalgo

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