New Hampshire Senate Judiciary Committee Votes to Kill Cannabis Legalization Bill

5/11/2023

by

The New Hampshire Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday recommended the state’s cannabis legalization bill as “inexpedient to legislation,” which could doom the measure in the full chamber, the New Hampshire Bulletin reports. The party-line vote was 3-2. 

Senate Majority Leader Sharon Carson (R), the chairwoman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, told the Bulletin that while she recognizes “the diverse opinions surrounding the legalization of recreational drugs, now is not the right time for such a measure.” 

“New Hampshire, like many other states, is grappling with the devastating impact of the drug crisis on individuals, families, and communities. … We have an existing medical marijuana program that serves the needs of individuals with legitimate medical conditions. Our focus should remain on ensuring that patients have access to the care they need while also prioritizing public safety.” — Carson via the Bulletin 

State Sen. Becky Whitley (D), who voted not to kill the bill, noted that polling has found more than 70% of New Hampshire residents back the reforms, which were passed by the House in early April. 

“…I just think it’s pretty rare to have an issue or a policy that is so broadly supported,” Whitley said in an interview with the Bulletin. “And so I think not acting on that – I think sends a pretty strong message to our constituents.” 

Gov. Chris Sununu (R) opposed cannabis legalization in the state and at a press conference earlier this month suggested the state should not legalize cannabis until its other drug problems are under control. 

“You don’t legalize more drugs for money,” Sununu said during the press conference. “Like, that’s just that’s not why you do it.”  

The Senate is expected to vote on the bill on Thursday.  

End

Kenosha, Wisconsin to Consider Reducing Cannabis Possession Penalties

5/11/2023

by

The Kenosha, Wisconsin Public Safety and Welfare Committee on Monday passed an ordinance and resolution to reduce the fine for first-time possession of cannabis and reduce the bond for those arrested for possession, the Kenosha News reports. The measure passed the committee 3-2 and moves next to the full city council. 

If approved, adults found to be in possession of 25 grams or less of cannabis will face a citation of $1 plus the costs associated with prosecution. Currently, fines for possession range from $10 to $750. Individuals caught possessing more than 25 grams will continue to be referred to the District Attorney’s Office for state criminal prosecution. 

The resolution would reduce the bond for a first offense of cannabis possession to $62.26. Currently, the municipal bond for cannabis possession is $313. The bond would remain the same for those found consuming up to or fewer than 25 grams of cannabis while in a vehicle, possessing cannabis on school property, and for those who or are under the age of 18, the report says. 

Anthony Kennedy, one of the sponsors of the ordinance, said he believes citizens support the reforms and that they will pass the city council. He noted that the resolution and ordinance do not decriminalize cannabis but lessen the impact of getting caught possessing cannabis. 

Currently, cannabis possession is illegal throughout Wisconsin, except for Madison, which passed a decriminalization ordinance in 2020. Last November, residents in Milwaukee approved a non-binding referendum supporting broad cannabis legalization in the state. 

End

Florida Passes Bill Requiring Medical Cannabis Licenses for Black Farmers

5/10/2023

by

Florida lawmakers have approved a bill that would require the state Department of Health to issue cannabis licenses to Black farmers who were qualified for the licenses but ultimately left out of the final awarding of the permits, WOKV reports. In October 2021, the state received 12 applications from Black farmers to grow medical cannabis, and in September officials awarded one license to Terry Gwinn but the license has not been finalized because of legal and administrative challenges. 

The measure would require the health department to issue the licenses to Black farmers whose applications did not have any identified deficiencies, regardless of what scores they received from the private contractors that evaluated the applications. It also would require the agency to award licenses to applicants whose applications were deemed to have met “all requirements for licensure” by an administrative law judge, and the bill would give those whose applications were found deficient a 90-day “cure” period to address the problems. 

Sen. Darryl Rouson (D) said Black farmers in the state faced discrimination from state and federal agriculture officials and “from societal and business norms that their counterparts did not have to deal with.” She said it is “shameful” that the licenses were not issued six years ago “when it was directed to be issued.”  

Jim McKee, an attorney who represents Gwinn, said the bill “will prevent any further delay” in allowing his client “to immediately move forward with licensed activities upon the bill becoming law.” 

The bill moves next to Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) who can either sign it or allow it to become law without his signature. 

End

Rhode Island House Approves Cannabis Advertising Bill

5/10/2023

by

The Rhode Island House on Tuesday unanimously approved a bill to allow state-approved cannabis companies to advertise on billboards, the Boston Globe reports. Under the state’s cannabis legalization law, Rhode Island businesses were not allowed to advertise on billboards; however, companies in neighboring states, including Massachusetts and Connecticut, were advertising on billboards in the state.  

State Rep. Scott A. Slater (D), who introduced the cannabis legalization and advertising bills, said the state’s dispensaries were at “a serious disadvantage” because they were not allowed to advertise on billboards while out-of-state companies were already doing so. 

“Now that Rhode Island’s recreational cannabis industry is up and running, our dispensaries are facing a significant obstacle when competing with our neighbors in Massachusetts and Connecticut. … This bill will correct this inequity while also supporting these new local businesses in Rhode Island by hopefully keeping Rhode Islanders from crossing the border to shop for their cannabis in neighboring states.” — Slater to the Globe 

The bill allows the state Office of Cannabis Regulation to provide cannabis companies with forms, policies, and requirements for advertising products in the state. 

The measure still requires approval from the state Senate and by the governor.   

End

Oklahoma Gov. Signs Bill Prohibiting Undocumented Workers at Cannabis Farms

5/10/2023

by

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) has signed a bill extending the moratorium on new medical cannabis cultivation licenses in the state through 2026, KTEN reports. The measure also prohibits undocumented workers from working on state-approved cannabis farms.  

“If there is a medicine that is going to help someone, then Oklahomans have a big heart and we want that to help somebody, but this has gotten out of control. We have to make sure we have law and order to get illegal people and organized crime out of the State of Oklahoma.” — Stitt via KTEN 

The law also includes provisions to punish cannabis farmers who employ undocumented workers and implements stricter licensing measures. Under the law, cannabis farmers who are caught employing undocumented workers face a misdemeanor punishable by one-year imprisonment or a fine up to $500, or both. The state also has the option to revoke a grower’s license and deny future license applications, according to the bill text.  

Oklahoma lawmakers have been passing laws trying to reign in the state’s cannabis cultivation industry after a series of arrests of so-called “ghost owners” — individuals who obtained cannabis cultivation licenses for third parties, including foreign nationals. In March, the Senate passed a bill to let the state’s medical cannabis agency shut down non-eco-friendly cannabis cultivation operations, and last month Stitt signed a measure requiring growers to hold a $50,000 bond before they can begin operations.

End

Missouri Cannabis Sales Reach $350M During First Three Months

5/09/2023

by

Cannabis sales in Missouri have topped $350 million during the first three months of adult-use sales, the Missouri Independent reports. And while sales have remained strong, there was a slight dip in cannabis sales in April as adult-use sales fell about 3% from March, to $91 million, while medical cannabis sales slipped nearly 8% to $30.1 million, KSDK reports.  

Missouri cannabis sales nevertheless remain on track to achieve $1 billion in annual sales this year. 

Comparatively, it took seven months for neighboring Illinois to reach $300 million in cannabis sales after starting adult-use sales in January 2020. Illinois didn’t reach $1 billion in sales until 2022, according to the Independent. 

Missouri officials are also still processing nearly 100 requests for new cannabis businesses or changes to existing facilities. In February, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHSS) had 121 total pending requests – 39 for cultivation facilities, 36 for manufacturing facilities, seven for transporters, and one testing lab. The state has so far approved 23 of those requests, department spokeswoman Lisa Cox told the Independent, adding that 29 other requests are in final review and should be approved this month.  

Cox noted that the Division of Cannabis Regulation is also upping its staff and is about 30% through its hiring plan. She expects the agency should be fully staffed by the end of the year. 

End

Ohio Cannabis Advocates Again Collecting Signatures for Legalization Initiative

5/09/2023

by

Cannabis legalization advocates in Ohio are again collecting signatures to put the legalization question to voters in November after state lawmakers missed the deadline to pass a citizen-authored initiative to enact the reforms, WCMH reports. The Ohio Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol needs to gather 124,046 signatures to get the issue on ballots, spokesman Tom Haren said.  

“We’re building on an existing medical marijuana program that is popular, shown that it can be effective and provide safe, tested products to Ohio medical patients. This is a framework that works and will provide a quick alternative to an illicit market.” — Haren to WCMH 

A Spectrum News/Siena College poll from September found 60% of Ohioans back the reforms with 37% opposed and 3% unsure. 

The measure includes home grow provisions and imposes a 10% tax on cannabis products.    

Under Ohio’s initiated statute process, once a campaign submits enough signatures, lawmakers have four months to pass the bill, or an amended version, and if they fail to do so, the campaign can collect the remaining signatures needed to put the issue to voters. The group submitted the petition language and the required signatures on January 28, but lawmakers never took up the legislation. 

Haren told WCMH that cannabis legalization in Ohio could generate $400 million in revenue for the state. 

End

Creso Pharma Acquires Australian Psychedelic Medicine Company

5/09/2023

by

Creso Pharma has signed a deal to acquire 100% of Australia-based Health House International (HHI), which is focused on international distribution of medical cannabis products and possesses a number of licenses to store, distribute, import, and export controlled substances, including psilocybin and MDMA.  

In a statement, Creso CEO Willam Lay said HHI “has an enviable set of licenses” that Creso can use to its “immediate benefit, and adds another growing revenue channel to the group.” 

“The application for an import license for psychedelics marks another exciting opportunity for Creso Pharma, and we look forward to advancing this initiative to create a first mover advantage in the Australian market.” — Lay in a statement 

Combining Creso Pharma’s revenue and HHI cash receipts as a proxy for revenue, the unaudited pro forma revenue for the combined group is $8.26 million or over $33 million on a last quarter annualised basis, the company said in a press release. 

HHI trades on the ASX under the HHI symbol. 

Creso said it will also continue to examine the potential to import the finished product from its wholly owned psychedelics subsidiary Halucenex, which is currently conducting ongoing phase II clinical trial testing synthetic psilocybin on symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder. 

In February, Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration announced that medicines containing psilocybin and MDMA for prescription by specifically authorized psychiatrists for the treatment of certain medical conditions would be permissible in Australia beginning July 1. 

End

Oregon Licenses State’s First Psychedelic Medicine Treatment Center

5/08/2023

by

Oregon regulators last week licensed the state’s first psychedelic medicine treatment center, the Oregonian reports. The license was granted to Epic Healing Eugene which is expected to start serving patients this month. 

Angie Allbee, head of psilocybin services for the Oregon Health Authority, told the Oregonian that “It may take some time for licensees to set up operations once they are issued a license.” 

“Each licensed service center, and the licensed facilitators who work for or with them, will set their own costs and manage their own operations and communications.” — Allbee to the Oregonian 

In a press release, Cathy Rosewell Jonas, founder and owner of Epic Healing Eugene and a licensed social worker, called the approval “the first step” and said the company “will soon work to create more access for people to this life-changing therapy through scholarships and creating ways for people to sponsor services for other people.”  

“Witnessing clients engage in their deep interpersonal journeys within themselves, as well as my own personal experience working with healing psychedelics, has enabled me to work through the challenges of opening up a service center in Oregon,” she said in a statement. 

Voters approved the reforms in 2020. Under the program, people 21 and older can take regulated amounts of psilocybin under the supervision of trained facilitators in licensed facilities. The state has already approved training programs, facilitators, workers, manufacturers, and one testing lab. 

End

Tennessee Legislature Passes Hemp Cannabinoids Regulation Bill

5/08/2023

by

The Tennessee General Assembly last week gave final approval to a hemp-derived cannabinoid regulation bill, sending it to Gov. Bill Lee (R), WATE reports. The legislation aims to regulate the production, sale, and distribution of hemp products that contain delta-8 and delta-9 THC.  

Under the measure, manufacturers and sellers of hemp products that contain THC must obtain a license from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture by January 1, 2024. The bill also requires that hemp products that contain THC are tested for safety at an accredited third-party laboratory. 

The legislation would also impose a 5% tax on the sale of hemp-derived cannabinoid products sold in the state. Under the bill, the revenues must be deposited into a special account in the state general fund and allocated to the agriculture department to be used exclusively for the regulation of products containing hemp-derived cannabinoids. 

The bill will also create new criminal offenses, such as a Class-A misdemeanor for a person knowingly selling or distributing hemp-derived THC products to individuals under 21 years old and selling or distributing the products in or on a public street, sidewalk, or park. 

In Tennessee, neither medical nor adult-use cannabis is permitted.  

Lee is expected to sign the bill into law. 

End

Scammers Use Boston Address for Cannabis Pickup Scheme

5/08/2023

by

A Boston family’s address has been used as part of a cannabis delivery scam for which perpetrators created a fake business, known as Starlight Greens Delivery Dispensary, and collected money from would-be customers but delivered no product, WCVB reports.

Denise King, the Boston homeowner, said several people have shown up at her home seeking an order they placed through the website – but Starlight does not exist in the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission database. King noted that the Starlight Greens website had no telephone number, no 21-or-older site protection, and requested people pick up their order from the address listed, which runs contrary to its description as a cannabis delivery service.

King and her husband Jimmy have filed a police report with the Boston Police Department. Jimmy said he was concerned that some people can be violent.

The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office told WCVB that it is investigating the incidents after receiving a report from the family.

The website, excellentcannabisdelivery.com, was offline as of Monday morning. A message on the site shows that the account has been suspended. A Google Maps search for “Starlight Greens Delivery Dispensary” leads to a listing in Chicago, Illinois with a website containing a misspelling – “greenleafdispentsary.com.” The link forwards users to smartcannabisdelivery.com which contains the same look as the suspended site and is also, likely, a scam.

End

Maryland Gov. Signs Cannabis Legalization Bill

5/05/2023

by

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) on Wednesday signed the bill to legalize cannabis in the state, Maryland Matters reports. After signing the legislation Moore said it will “ensure that the rollout of recreational cannabis in our state drives opportunity in an equitable way.” 

“The criminalization of marijuana harmed low-income communities and communities of color in a profound way. We want to make sure that the legalization of marijuana lifts those communities now in a profound way.” — Moore via Maryland Matters 

Will Tilburg, acting director of the newly created Maryland Cannabis Administration, said the agency is “working quickly to implement the legislation and develop Maryland as a model for equity and safety in cannabis regulation.”

Moore’s final approval of the legislation came two days after his administration announced that the governor had created a blind trust for his assets, which included about $1.2 million in stock for Chicago, Illinois-based cannabis company Green Thumb Industries.

Don Murphy, a former Republican lawmaker from Baltimore County who now serves as the director of federal policies for the Marijuana Policy Project, said he would have preferred a bill with “no limits” on the number of cannabis licenses allowed in the state.

“Let the market decide,” he told Maryland Matters. “If you want equity applicants to benefit, they have to get in the game. When you limit the number of people who can get in the game, they’re just always going to be underrepresented.”

End

Cannabis Clones & Seeds Now Available via Massachusetts Retailers

5/05/2023

by

The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) on Tuesday authorized the sale of cannabis seeds and clones. The products can be sold by adult-use and medical retailers and through licensed delivery services. 

If licensees sell seeds or clones at wholesale or to consumers, the CCC requires that they be tracked via METRC, the state’s seed-to-sale tracking system. Seeds will be tracked in packages, while clones are tracked as immature plants. Clones are also subject to pesticide screening in accordance with state regulations. 

In a statement, CCC Executive Director Shawn Collins said the agency encourages home growers “to follow public awareness tips available through MoreAboutMJ.org.”  

“Safety is paramount to us at the Commission. I’m proud that for the first time ever, Massachusetts residents will now be able to purchase both seeds and clones from licensed retailers and dispensaries that are closely regulated and tracked.” — Collins in a press release 

Retailers may sell up to six clones to an individual customer per day but there is no limit on seeds. Massachusetts law allows adult consumers aged 21 or older to grow up to six plants at home, or up to 12 plants in households with more than one person over 21. Registered medical cannabis patients who have received a Certifying Healthcare Provider recommendation as part of the Medical Use of Marijuana Program may grow up to 12 vegetative plants, 12 flowering plants, and possess an unlimited number of seeds. They may purchase six clones per day, which are not counted against their 60-day cannabis supply. 

End

Oregon Cannabis Trade Group Asks Lawmakers for Stricter Regulations Against Expansion of Bad Actor Businesses

5/05/2023

by

In a letter to lawmakers, the Cannabis Industry Alliance of Oregon asked that a bill currently being considered by the House be amended to prevent La Mota – the cannabis company that had hired former Secretary of State Shemia Fagan as a consultant – from continuing its expansion in the state, according to a Willamette Week report outlining the letter.

In the letter, the organization said that “Companies that display a flagrant disregard for state laws and fair business practices have no place in Oregon’s cannabis industry” and calls out La Mota for allegedly owing cannabis companies throughout the state more than $1.5 million for product for which they are facing lawsuits. 

“The owners of La Mota have funded and accomplished their expansion by remaining in significant arrears with the Oregon Department of Revenue and [Internal Revenue Service], by refusing to pay vendors for products sold in their stores, and by taking advantage of the OLCC’s unmetered issuance of licenses.”— Cannabis Industry Alliance of Oregon, in the letter, via Willamette Week 

La Mota is not a member of the Alliance but is a member of the Oregon Cannabis Association, which did not sign the letter to lawmakers.  

The Cannabis Industry Alliance of Oregon suggests that House Bill 2515, which is currently being considered by the House Committee on Rules, should include “language that restricts the [Oregon Liquor and Control Commission] from renewing or issuing licenses to businesses that refuse to remain in reasonable good faith with the Oregon Department of Revenue” and provisions to “ensure vendors are paid for cannabis sold at retail stores.”    

“It’s imperative, as integral as this industry is to our state, that Oregon cannabis businesses pay their taxes, meet their obligations to vendors,” the association wrote in the letter, “and never again attempt to use ill-gotten funds to push personal political agendas.” 

La Mota had donated to the political campaign of Fagan before hiring her as a consultant. On Monday, Fagan quit that gig and then resigned as secretary of state the following day. 

End

4/20 Marks the One Year Anniversary of Freedom Grams and Their Fight to Free Cannabis Prisoners

5/04/2023

by

“Freedom Grams” Created by Industry Coalition Continues to Advocate for the Release of More than 40,000 People in the U.S. Still Incarcerated for Non-Violent Cannabis Possession

NEW YORK (May 3, 2023) — April 20, 2023, was the one-year anniversary of the non-profit cannabis brand Freedom Grams, launched by cannabis platform provider AROYA, retailer and manufacturer GABY Inc., and non-profit Last Prisoner Project. Each pack of Freedom Grams comes in the exact amounts of cannabis for which people are still in prison. All proceeds from Freedom Grams are funding the release of cannabis prisoners, as well as general cannabis justice reform.

Coming off the heels of 4/20, the biggest day for cannabis in the U.S., limited edition Freedom Grams kits are being sent out to influencers, journalists, and policymakers to amplify Freedom Gram’s message of cannabis criminal justice reform. Each box includes branded accessories to remind cannabis consumers of the double standards in the treatment of cannabis prisoners.

“We launched Freedom Grams to bring people together and create a real connection to cannabis prisoners. It’s great to see that more partners have joined us in this fight,” says Christian Hertel, VP of Marketing at AROYA.

Freedom Grams has received many accolades and recognition in the industry with a Grand Clio at Clio Cannabis and several other awards including the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, New York Festival, The One Show, and more.

Launched through California-based dispensary Mankind, Freedom Grams has connected with many more partners in the industry including Ball Family Farms and Dewey Cannabis Co. The initiative has expanded its reach to new states like Washington with over 60 retail partners.

Freedom Grams is an open-source brand. This means that other industry participants — growers, retailers, brands, or individuals — can join by creating Freedom Grams labels for their own product, with every partner donating their proceeds to Last Prisoner Project. The group was formed with one goal in mind: to work toward the release of people imprisoned for nonviolent cannabis offenses.

“I am happy to support Freedom Grams and the work they do in partnership with Last Prisoner Project to free the tens of thousands of people currently serving time for cannabis. There are multiple ways to support our incarcerated cannabis community, and this is a crucial one,” says Stephanie Shepard, Partnerships Manager at Last Prisoner Project.

Since October 2022, which saw President Joe Biden’s pardon of federal prisoners convicted for simple cannabis possession, the government has not made much progress. It took five months for pardon applications to open up and in its current state, it does not apply to state-persecuted individuals. All this while the cannabis market is estimated to reach over 31.8 billion USD in sales by the end of 2023.

Last Prisoner Project’s policy team has been working around the clock to ensure cannabis legislation across the country contains resentencing and record-clearing mechanisms. One of the big initiatives they launched in 2023 was the Pardons to Progress campaign, which urges governors to issue clemency grants to those incarcerated on state-level marijuana charges.

“Freedom Grams is a reminder that the fight doesn’t end with legalisation. It ends when every cannabis prisoner can go back home and be reintegrated into society without a record,” concluded Christian Hertel, VP of Marketing at AROYA.

Freedom Grams is an initiative by AROYA in partnership with Last Prisoner Project and GABY Inc., idea and execution by Serviceplan Group, together with design studio Moby Digg, type designer Michael Clasen, and creative coder Daniel Kuhnlein.

About AROYA
AROYA is a cannabis production platform. They specialise in cultivation sensors and analytical software for producing high quality yields. They believe in using the power of data to empower their consumers. Visit www.AROYA.io for additional information.

About Last Prisoner Project
The Last Prisoner Project (LPP) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to cannabis-related criminal justice reform. LPP works to redress the past and continuing harms of inhumane and ineffective laws and policies.

About GABY Inc.
GABY Inc. is a California-focused retail consolidator and the owner of Mankind Dispensary, one of the oldest licensed dispensaries in California. Mankind is a well-known, and highly respected dispensary with deep roots in the California cannabis community operating in San Diego, California. GABY curates and sells a diverse portfolio of products, including its own proprietary brands and distributes all its proprietary brands through its wholly-owned subsidiary, GABY Manufacturing.

About Serviceplan Group
Serviceplan Group is one of the largest independent, partner-managed agency groups worldwide. Serviceplan Group has developed the concept of the “House of Communication” — a fully integrated agency model that combines all modern communication disciplines from the areas of creative and content, media and data, and experience and technology commerce under one roof.

End

New York Budget Includes $16M to Combat Unlicensed Cannabis Dispensaries

5/04/2023

by

New York’s budget bill includes $16 million in funds to combat unlicensed cannabis dispensaries, the Buffalo News reports. The legislation, which was signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) this morning, increases fines for illegal operators from $500 to up to $7,500 for the first offense and increases the monetary penalties to up to three times the amount of tax that would have been collected on the sales.

The bill also gives the state authority to mandate store closures, seek restraining orders, charge unlicensed shops with tax fraud, and allow landlords to evict unlawful dispensaries.  

Language in the bill is careful to differentiate that the rules would pertain only to illegal cannabis shops and not private citizens.  

Cities throughout the state, particularly New York City, have seen unlicensed cannabis dispensaries proliferate as the state has been slow to issue adult-use retail licenses. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) had previously proposed fines of up to $10,000 per day for unlawful cannabis storefronts but the language in the budget proposal would give the state even more options in closing the shops.  

A report authored in February by MPG Consulting on behalf of multistate cannabis operator Acreage Holdings suggests that if New York state does not get cannabis businesses licensed soon, it could cost the state $2.6 billion in related tax revenues over eight years.  

New York’s budget is more than a month late.

End

Florida Legalization Campaign Nearing Signature Threshold to Put Issue on 2024 Ballot

5/04/2023

by

The Florida campaign seeking to put a cannabis legalization question to voters has collected 94% of the signatures required to get the question on ballots, Ballotpedia News reports. Smart & Safe Florida has collected 841,130 valid signatures of the 891,523 valid signatures required to put the issue on 2024 ballots. 

The campaign began signature gathering in August 2022 and has collected an average of 23,360 valid signatures each week since the approval, the report says.  

Smart & Safe Florida has raised $30.5 million so far, all from multistate cannabis company Trulieve Cannabis Corp. The campaign has so far spent $27.42 million on signature gathering, according to financial reports outlined by Ballotpedia, and has paid Axion Strategies and Vanguard Field Strategies $23.07 million on the signature collecting effort. 

If approved, the initiative would legalize cannabis for adults 21 years old and older and sets possession limits at three ounces of flower and five grams of concentrates. Existing Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers would be authorized under the initiative to sell cannabis to adults for personal use and lawmakers could pass additional laws to license businesses other than current medical cannabis operators to grow and sell cannabis products. 

Medical cannabis was legalized in Florida in 2016 by a 71% to 29% margin. In Florida, constitutional amendments require a 60% supermajority to pass. A University of North Florida poll released in March found 70% of respondents would back a constitutional amendment to legalize cannabis for adult use. 

End

Colorado Cannabis Firm Cancels Plan for New York Facility Due to State’s Licensing Delays

5/04/2023

by

A Colorado-based cannabis company has canceled its plans to build a production facility in Auburn, New York that was expected to create about 100 jobs, due to delays in the state’s licensing process, The Citizen reports. Peter Marcus, vice president of communications for Terrapin, told The Citizen that the delays have made it “impossible” to move ahead with the facility. 

“Terrapin was very hopeful the New York cannabis market would be an exciting opportunity in one of the most dynamic markets in the country. Unfortunately, we have watched implementation of the program crippled by painful delays and lawsuits. Ultimately, cannabis retail has not launched adequately to justify entering the market with a production facility at this time.” — Marcus to The Citizen 

The company had announced the plan in October 2021 and the Auburn Industrial Development Authority approved a letter of intent submitted by the company that month. The facility would have been located in the Auburn Technology Park and Terrapin said it would cost between $20 million and $30 million to build.  

In an interview with The Citizen, Auburn City Councilor Jimmy Giannettino called Terrapin’s decision “disappointing” and “indicative of the dysfunction in Albany in launching the adult-use market, which was approved by lawmakers more than two years ago. 

End

Why Is The Czech Republic Banning CBD Products?

5/04/2023

by

Editor’s note: This article was contributed by Johnny Green, Media and Content Director for the International Cannabis Business Conference.

Policymakers in the Czech Republic recently expressed a strong desire to legalize cannabis for adult use, building on the momentum occurring across the border in Germany. Germany is trending towards adult-use legalization and the Czech Republic has expressed its own plans for legalization. However, the Czech Republic’s Ministry of Agriculture recently announced that it will be instituting new restrictions on CBD products, which is leaving many international cannabis observers scratching their heads.

“The State Agricultural and Food Inspection … is preparing measures of a general nature, which will prohibit the marketing of cannabidiol (CBD), other cannabinoids obtained from hemp, and products containing these substances. According to the EU, food with CBD cannot be marketed in any EU country. Their effects on human health have not been sufficiently scientifically investigated,” a recent Ministry of Agriculture press release (translated from Czech to English) stated.

Previous messaging

Back in October 2022, the Czech Republic’s top drug policy expert seemed optimistic about his country’s chances of passing an adult-use legalization measure in the near future.

“At the moment, there is a political consensus for me to create this proposal for the regulation of cannabis, a substance which is illegal at the moment. We want to regulate it with the help of the market and we believe that this regulation will be more effective than the current ban,” Czech drug policy leader Jindřich Vobořil told members of the press at the time.

Immediately following a legalization presentation to Germany’s federal cabinet by Health Minister Karl Lauterbach in October 2022, Vobořil posted on his Facebook page that “Germany and the Czech Republic [will] go to a regulated market at the same time.”

“Today, Germany announced through the mouth of its Minister of Health that it is launching the legislative process. It won’t be quite the free market, as some would expect. For example, colleagues from Germany talk about the allowed amount, they do not have cannabis clubs that we are supposed to. I’m pretty sure I want to hold on to cannabis clubs until my last breath. I find this model very useful, at least for the first years.” — Vobořil, in the October 26, 2022 Facebook post

“However, we are in live contact with our colleagues from Germany and have repeatedly confirmed that we want to coordinate ourselves, even practically by consulting each other on our proposals. I will also want their expert assessment of our proposals, which we will prepare in the above mentioned working expert group,” Vobořil also stated in his Facebook post.

Conflicting goals?

In addition to Vobořil’s comments late last year, government officials in the Czech Republic indicated mere weeks ago that they will be pursuing an adult-use legalization model that involves a consumer registry. And while pursuing a CBD ban while also simultaneously pursuing adult-use legalization, the Czech Republic recently punished a cannabis educator for “inciting and promoting toxicomania.”

It is clear that much of the rhetoric coming out of the Czech Republic right now seems to be conflicting. Ultimately, the Czech Republic needs what every other country in Europe needs – a comprehensive national cannabis policy that is based on reason, logic, compassion, and sensibility.

The European continent is experiencing a big push right now to try regulating cannabis instead of prohibiting it in order to boost public health. The current continental legalization strategy, which is being led by Germany, is straightforward: the strategy recognizes that adult cannabis consumption will always occur and that it is better for overall public health outcomes for the products being consumed to be regulated versus unregulated. Clearly, that logic applies to hemp-derived products as much as it applies to products derived from cannabis plants that contain amounts of THC that put it above the legal hemp threshold (typically between .2% and 1% depending on the jurisdiction).

Readers can learn more about what is going on in the Czech Republic, and how it fits into the larger legalization push in Europe, at the upcoming International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin on June 29-30.

End

Oregon Secretary of State Resigns Amid Cannabis Consultant Controversy

5/03/2023

by

Oregon’s secretary of state resigned on Tuesday amidst the controversy surrounding her role as a consultant for a cannabis company, Oregon Live reports. Shemia Fagan announced on Monday that she had left the consulting role after Republican lawmakers called for her to resign from her office and Gov. Tina Kotek (D) had requested an ethics probe into her cannabis gig.  

“While I am confident that the ethics investigation will show that I followed the state’s legal and ethical guidelines in trying to make ends meet for my family, it is clear that my actions have become a distraction from the important and critical work of the Secretary of State’s Office. Protecting our state’s democracy and ensuring faith in our elected leaders – these are the reasons I ran for this office. They are also the reasons I will be submitting my resignation today.” — Fagan, in a statement, via Oregon Live 

Fagan’s cannabis consulting job with Veriede Holdings, an affiliate of the cannabis chain La Mota, had paid her $10,000 a month. 

In a statement, Kotek said she supported Fagan’s decision to step down.  

“It is essential that Oregonians have trust in their government. I believe this is a first step in restoring that trust,” Kotek said. “During the upcoming appointment process, my office will do everything possible to support the hard working staff in the Secretary of State’s Office and ensure this will not disrupt the May 16 election.” 

Deputy Secretary of State Cheryl Myers will take over for Fagan until Kotek appoints a new secretary of state to serve out the remainder of Fagan’s term, which runs until January 2025. 

End

Florida House Passes Hemp Bill with Age Limits for THC But No Potency Caps

5/03/2023

by

The Florida House on Tuesday approved a bill that sets an age limit of 21 for hemp products that contain THC but does not impose THC caps included in the original version of the bill, Florida Politics reports. The measure passed the state Senate late last month and moves next to the desk of Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). 

The measure includes a ban on cannabis product packaging that is “attractive to children.” The bill that was first introduced in the House had included a limit of 0.5 milligrams of THC per dose and 2 milligrams per container, but those provisions were removed before being approved by the chamber. The measure does not include regulations for topicals, such as creams, lotions, shampoos, or other non-ingestible hemp products. 

The bill also includes testing protocols for hemp-derived edible products. 

The legislation is backed by hemp industry stakeholders, who had opposed the original version due to the THC caps, and by the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. 

A report by Whitney Economics suggests the Florida hemp industry employs more than 100,000 people and generates $3.5 billion in wages. A survey of hemp industry operators in the state found that 67% of respondents said restrictions included in the original House bill would have forced them out of business. 

End

More Feds Relax Drugs-Related Hiring Restrictions

5/03/2023

by

More federal government agencies are relaxing their drugs-related hiring rules in an effort to attract younger hires, the New York Times reports.

The shift is likely due to the growing liberalization of cannabis policies throughout the country: 22 states plus Washington D.C. have now legalized adult-use cannabis, 38 states have legalized access to the plant in some form for medical purposes, and the majority of Americans say they support the end of federal cannabis prohibition.

During the past five years, more than 3,400 military recruits who failed the initial drug test were given a grace period to try again, the Times report said.

Meanwhile, the FBI already walked back some of its cannabis-related hiring restrictions in 2021 in an effort to attract younger and more tech-savvy recruits, and the CIA followed suit with similar changes last year, according to the report. Additionally, the U.S. Secret Service announced this week that its cannabis-related hiring policies had been updated to reflect the state of growing reforms at the state level, Marijuana Moment reports.

While federal employees still must abstain from using cannabis once they are hired, a federal proposal by Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) would allow for admissions of cannabis use in security clearance interviews.

“We don’t want to be disqualifying half of the population, tens of millions of people, for having done something that most of our recent presidents have done. You’re taking huge numbers of people off the field.” — Raskin, via the New York Times

Along a similar vein, Marijuana Moment reported this week that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has updated its policies to allow saliva-based drug tests. The move should lead to more cannabis-friendly hires because urine tests — which have been the longtime standard for employee drug testing — are particularly good at catching cannabis use but not much else.

End

Blind Trust for Maryland Gov. Includes $1.2M in Cannabis Company Stock

5/03/2023

by

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s (D) administration on Monday announced he has created a blind trust for his assets, which includes about $1.2 million in shares of stock in a cannabis company, NBC 4 Washington reports. The Green Thumb Industries stock comprises about 46% of the governor’s assets now in the trust. Moore had served on the company’s board of directors from 2018 until March 2022. 

Carter Elliott, a spokesperson for Moore, told NBC 4 that creating the blind trust “will ensure the governor is removed from even the appearance of potential conflicts of interest that could arise as a result of his duties as governor and further demonstrates his commitment to serving the people of Maryland to the best of his ability ethically, transparently, and effectively.” 

The trust is required to be diversified and a large portion of his Green Thumb stock is likely to be sold. 

Maryland voters approved an adult cannabis use ballot initiative last November and last month lawmakers approved legislation greenlighting a licensing plan which aims to get adult-use cannabis licenses issued by this summer. 

Moore is expected to sign that legislation this week. 

Green Thumb holds a dispensary license in Maryland under its RISE brand. 

End

Cannabis Research for Veterans Bill Potentially Dead After Senate Rejection

5/02/2023

by

Following the Senate’s rejection of a bill last week to require the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study of veterans who use medical cannabis, Sen. John Tester (D-MT), chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, told Military.com that the measure, and other veteran-focused bills, “may all be dead.”  

“At this moment in time, there is not a specific path forward. I just don’t like it when the Senate votes against their veterans. That’s what happened yesterday. Forty-one of them did.” — Tester to Military.com 

In a procedural vote last Wednesday, the Senate voted 57-42 to advance the cannabis bill, three votes short of the 60 required to pass. 

The bill, which included provisions related to the VA caregiver program and home ownership for Native American veterans, would have required Veterans Affairs to conduct a “large scale” observational study of veterans who use cannabis and have chronic pain or post-traumatic stress disorder to see how it affects their health and whether those veterans reduce their use of opiates or alcohol. 

Following the observational study, VA officials would have reported back to Congress about the study results and whether the agency would move forward with a clinical trial looking at how cannabis use affects chronic pain and PTSD.   

“If we’ve got veterans out there that are able to use cannabis and have it deal positively with PTSD and chronic pain, who am I to say no?” Tester told Military.com. “Because pain kills. I mean, it literally does kill.” 

The measure had bipartisan sponsorship from Tester and Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Republicans on the Veterans Affairs, which had unanimously approved the bill in February, viewed the bill as a sensible way to examine the effects of cannabis, which many veterans are already consuming. 

A study published in March by researchers at the University of North Texas Health Science Center and College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign found one in 10 military veterans reported using cannabis over the past year.    

End