Oklahoma Gov. Signs Bill Requiring $50K Bond for Cannabis Cultivators

4/24/2023

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Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) last week signed a measure requiring all state-approved cannabis growers to hold a $50,000 bond, which lawmakers hope will combat the illegal grows in the state, FOX 23 News reports. The law requires the bond to be paid upfront before the new operations can begin and can be recalled to fund any remediation of the site if it is abandoned or if the license is revoked.  

In a statement, Attorney General Gentner Drummond applauded the bill’s passage and the governor’s approval. He described the legislation as “an important tool to recover after eliminating one of these criminal enterprises.”  

“This measure requires bonding for commercial marijuana grow operations in Oklahoma, meaning that the State will have the resources necessary for environmental cleanup after an illegal marijuana farm is busted and shut down.” — Drummond, in a statement, via FOX 23  

Oklahoma has one of the country’s most permissive medical cannabis programs and state law enforcement officials have been cracking down on illegal operators while lawmakers have been passing bills to reign in unlawful operations. The Senate last month passed a bill that would allow the director of the state Medical Marijuana Authority to shut down cannabis operations that are damaging the environment. 

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Cookies CEO Berner Responds to Recent Lawsuits

4/21/2023

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Rapper and cannabis entrepreneur Berner, the CEO of Cookies, issued an Instagram video response on Wednesday to lawsuits filed against him and several other Cookies executives, employees, and associates.

One such lawsuit, first covered by Alex Halperin for WeedWeek, was filed by Cookies investors BR Co. and NedCo in February; the suit claims that Berner and other defendants engaged in “pervasive self-dealing” leading to “millions of dollars in personal benefits and kickbacks,” among other allegations.

In the Instagram video, Berner — legal name Gilbert Milam — discussed the legal battle publicly for the first time, suggesting the plaintiffs are “predatory investors” who “saw a good opportunity to make a move on me and the leadership over at Cookies,” and who “made extremely false, harmful damaging claims about me [that are] completely not true.”

Berner also likened the lawsuits to a “loan-to-own” plot and thanked the brand’s fans and investors who still support him. “I’m looking forward to the day in court that we can prove that these claims are false,” he said. “They’re fucking bullshit.”

The lawsuit cites another California lawsuit against Cookies by Florida-based Cookies Retail Products (CRP), which claims to have an exclusive license agreement for national delta-8 THC product sales under the Cookies brand. That suit, filed in January for $38 million, accuses Cookies executives of pushing CRP to “use only suppliers that were affiliates of defendants…so that defendants could take kickbacks,” according to the report.

The BR Co. and NedCo lawsuit further alleges:

  • Defendants have used Cookies resources to promote personal interests.
  • Defendants insisted Cookies and its licensors use a specific construction company despite costing “more than double” because the company was owned by an executive’s brother.
  • And defendants have attempted to negotiate with third parties by having employees tell them “that they needed to pay [defendants] kickbacks or give them other personal benefits in order to do business with Cookies…These tactics were used to steal cannabis strains and other intellectual property from third parties,” according to the report.

Ultimately, the plaintiffs demand that Berner and two other directors be removed from the company’s four-person board, and the lawsuit calls for an “order imposing a constructive trust on all funds or gains that defendants have and/or will otherwise unjustly obtain at the expense of Cookies.”

Update (5/1/23): Florida-based CRP said in an April 28 press release that it has “voluntarily dismissed all suits and claims, and expresses a sincere regret for any misunderstandings CRP’s allegations may have caused.”

“CRP is unaware of any unethical behavior by Berner, Berling, or Cookies’ Management,” the release says. “In fact, as a matter of record, CRP has never implicated or named Berner in any action nor made any claim that he has ever conducted himself in any manner other than professional, kind, and a leader in the space.”

Paul Rock, CEO of CRP, further clarified in a statement: “Certain third parties influenced us to file suit based upon allegations that we learned were not true, so we took immediate steps to rectify the mistake by dismissing the suit.”

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Small Majority of Americans Believe Open Cannabis Consumption is Socially Acceptable

4/21/2023

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A small majority of Americans believe consuming cannabis openly is socially acceptable, according to a CBS News/YouGov poll. The survey found 53% of respondents have no problems with open, social, cannabis use, with 47% opposed.

The poll found 64% backed adult-use cannabis legalization with 36% opposed. Those backing the reforms included 73% of Democrats, 53% of Republicans, and 66% of independents; while 27% of Democrats opposed adult-use legalization along with 47% of Republicans and 34% of independents.

In the poll, 67% of respondents said their opinions of family members and friends would not change if they were to use cannabis, while 26% would “think worse” of them and 7% would “think better” of them. More than half of respondents (54%) said most of their family and friends’ opinions of them would not change were they to consume cannabis openly, while 38% said those close to them would think worse of them and 8% said they would think better of them.

The poll found 11% of respondents said “most” of their family and friends use cannabis, while 32% said some do, some don’t. Another 28% said very few of their family and friends consume cannabis and 29% said none of their family and friends use it.

Forty-four percent of those polled who consume cannabis said most people know about their use, while 34% said some do, some don’t, and 22% said very few or no one knew they consumed cannabis.

Poll respondents were split about whether they wanted a cannabis business in their neighborhood, with 31% favoring a cannabis business in their neighborhood, with 37% opposed, and 32% saying it wouldn’t matter. Among those who favored a cannabusiness in their neighborhood, 85% said it would be easier to regulate, 83% said it was already widespread, 81% said it would boost the local economy, 77% said it would lead to more tax revenues, and 54% said they would personally use the dispensary.

Among those opposed to cannabusinesses in their neighborhood, 87% said it would lead to more cannabis use among minors, 83% said it would make their neighborhood less desirable, 82% said it would lead to an increase in crime, 80% said cannabis is harmful to health, and 72% cited the fact that cannabis is federally outlawed. In all, 28% of respondents already had a cannabis business in their neighborhood, 25% didn’t know whether there was a cannabusiness in their neighborhood, while 46% did not have any cannabis operations around them.

The poll included 1,582 U.S. adult residents.

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Study: Worms Can Get the Munchies

4/21/2023

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A study published Thursday found that nematode worms under the influence of cannabis preferred high-calorie foods – behavior similar to humans when they get the munchies after consuming cannabis, according to a Washington Post report.   

Shawn Lockery, a University of Oregon Institute of Neuroscience professor, and one of the study’s authors, told the Post the study “helps us place ourselves in the universe of animals in a new way by reinforcing the commonality between humans, with this massive and marvelous brain, and a tiny little microscopic worm.”

“This is the first time that the munchies has been demonstrated in an invertebrate organism. So this is a big step from what we currently believe to be the sort of limit of the munchies.” — Lockery to the Post 

For the study, researchers poured a cannabinoid called anandamide onto about 50 of the nematode worms, which were then transferred to a T-shaped maze. The researchers placed high-calorie food on one side and low-calorie food on the other. 

While the worms usually prefer calorie-dense foods, they ate them at a higher quantity after being exposed to the cannabinoid, and they avoided low-calorie foods more than usual. In follow-up experiments, researchers found that anandamide sparks neurons to become more sensitive to the odors of high-calorie foods. 

Lockery added that the study was scheduled to publish last month but Current Biology delayed it until 4/20 – the unofficial holiday celebrating cannabis.  

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Report: Hemp Production in West Virginia Nosedives 

4/21/2023

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Cultivation of industrial hemp in the open in West Virginia fell nearly 50% from 2021 to 2022, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) data outlined by WBOY. In all, there were 65 acres of hemp planted in the open in the state in 2021; in 2022, that fell to 35 acres.  

The total area of hemp harvested in the state for all purposes also fell from 43 acres in 2021 to 30 acres in 2022, the report says. Hemp grown indoors or otherwise protected by a structure in West Virginia also saw a hit in yearly production, with total growing area falling from 21,371 square feet to 5,967 square feet from 2021 to 2022. 

The production of industrial floral hemp produced nationally also fell from an estimated 18,000 pounds in 2021 to an estimated 6,000 pounds last year – a 66% decrease, according to USDA data. The fall in production led to less crop yield, reduced price per pound, median yield, and total value, the report says. 

Nationwide, the USDA reports that the total open planting area for industrial hemp fell 50% while the value of hemp production fell 70%. The USDA did not offer an explanation for the dramatic decreases.

 

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Report: Colorado Cannabis Sales on the Decline

4/20/2023

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Combined adult use and medical cannabis sales in Colorado were $124 million in February, a decline of 14.2% from the same month in 2022, according to state Department of Revenue data outlined by KDVR. In all, adult-use cannabis sales in Colorado have declined 12.7% year-over-year, while medical cannabis sales have fallen 23.7% year-over-year, according to state data.

Cannabis sales tax collections in the state were down 19% last month compared to March 2023, according to the revenue department. The state also saw the loss of 10,481 cannabis jobs last year, according to the Vangst 2023 Jobs Report outlined by KDVR.

Tiffany Goldman, board chair of the Marijuana Industry Group, told KDVR that the organization is “already seeing business owners close their doors and leave Colorado, taking critical jobs and tax revenue with them.”

“Our industry supports thousands of jobs and public programs that Coloradans care about like affordable housing, public safety, mental health and addiction treatment, education and more. Unfortunately, cannabis small business owners will not be able to withstand continued increases in taxes and regulations, dated and draconian federal regulations, and a growing unchecked and unregulated intoxicating hemp industry for much longer.” — Goldman to KDVR 

Colorado was among the first states to legalize cannabis for non-medical purposes, joining Washington state in 2012 via ballot initiatives.  

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Poll: South Dakota Voters Split on Cannabis Legalization

4/20/2023

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A new poll released Monday by the School of American and Global Studies at South Dakota State University suggests that South Dakota voters are open to legalizing cannabis for adult use despite rejecting the reforms last year.  

In 2020, voters had approved the reforms 54%-46% but the measure was voided on procedural grounds by the state Supreme Court. Two years later, a similar measure was rejected by voters 53%-47%. 

The poll found 30% of respondents “strongly” supported the reforms while 19% “somewhat” backed adult-use legalization – 49% total. Another 30% “strongly” opposed the reforms, with 11% “somewhat” opposed – 41% total – while just 10% had no opinion. 

“While South Dakota does trail behind other states in the level of support for legalization, it is following the national trend. We quite literally would not be having the same conversation 20 years ago because of the staunch opposition. Should this issue appear yet again on the ballot, its passage is very much within the realm of possibility.” — David Wiltse PhD and Filip Viskupič PhD, ‘The Political Fight Over Recreational Marijuana is Far from Over’ 

The majority – 52% – of Republicans polled were strongly opposed, while 11% were somewhat opposed. Just 11% of Republicans strongly supported adult-use legalization, with 12% somewhat in support and 13% had no opinion. Among Democrats, 42% were strong supporters, while 28% somewhat backed adult-use cannabis legalization. Just 1 in 10 Democrats remained strongly opposed, 12% somewhat opposed and 8% with no opinion.     

The poll included 747 registered South Dakota voters.  

Late last year, South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws, the group behind both previous ballot initiatives, indicated they may try for a third time to put the issue to voters in 2024.  

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Ohio Pharmacy Board Would No Longer Regulate Medical Cannabis Dispensaries Under Gov.’s Proposed Budget

4/20/2023

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Under Gov. Mike DeWine’s executive budget, the Ohio Board of Pharmacy would no longer have responsibilities regulating the state’s medical cannabis dispensaries, Cleveland.com reports. The governor’s plan would transfer some of the pharmacy board’s responsibilities to the Department of Commerce, but the pharmacy board would still be responsible for reviewing and adding qualifying conditions to the medical cannabis program.  

Currently, there are three agencies that regulate the Ohio medical cannabis program: the commerce department, pharmacy board, and State Medical Board. 

Dan Tierney, DeWine’s spokesman, told Cleveland that the “proposal is a consolidation for efficiency, as a significant portion of staff support and expertise in this field is at the Department of Commerce currently.” 

The Board of Pharmacy has been responsible for licensing and regulating dispensaries in the state since lawmakers approved the state’s medical cannabis law in 2016. Under the law, the Department of Commerce is responsible for the licensing and regulation of medical cannabis cultivators, processors, and testing labs.  

Matt Close, executive director of the Ohio Medical Cannabis Industry Association, told Cleveland.com that the organization “are all for the transfer.”  

“It’s a pretty convoluted scheme that we have to deal with right now. We’re not looking for less regulation. We’re looking for streamlined regulation that makes sense.” — Close to Cleveland.com 

The governor’s budget requires approval by state lawmakers and State Rep. Jay Edwards (R), Ohio House Finance Committee chair, said he expects DeWine’s request to be in the budget that his committee passes. He added that he met with a top official from the Board of Pharmacy, who did not object to the change.  

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My 4/20 Behind Bars

4/20/2023

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Editor’s note: This editorial was contributed by Edwin Rubis, who is currently more than two decades into a 40-year prison sentence handed down for a nonviolent cannabis crime. His release date is 2033.

April 20 is making its rounds again this year. But it isn’t a celebration for me. Far from it. I will again spend it locked in a ten-by-twelve prison cell, going through the motions of another long and tedious day, feeling the deprivation of my freedom … the insatiable longing for my mother, father, sons, and the rest of my family.

The 24 years I’ve already served feel exhausting, burdensome, and claustrophobic. The resulting effects of committing a non-violent marijuana crime. Unjust, harsh, and wrongful. But not in the eyes of the politicians and judges who have the power to set me free. Not in the eyes of the people who have forgotten about me.

I detest sounding like a victim. The circumstances compel me.

The year was 1998 when I was hauled away to serve my time in the belly of the beast. I was struggling with a monkey on my back, yes. I was trying to make an extra buck, more than surely. But did it make sense to rip me away from my family (for decades on end) for selling cannabis to the highest bidder? Particularly when no guns, drugs, or money were found on me? “Hearsay testimony is all we need,” the prosecutor in charge opposingly said.

The inappropriateness of my arrest and conviction, and the severity of my 40-year sentence should call into question the execution of the drug laws in our country. But then again, who the heck am I to question those who legislate the law? In 2023, I’ve been incarcerated for 25 years for a non-violent cannabis crime and shall remain so for the next 10 years.

I shall try to keep on surviving in the land of the living dead, where there’s no 4/20 celebration, no profit margin to gain; just lonely prison days coupled with iron-fisted rules to subdue your self-will, to limit your life choices such as what to eat, what to say, what to read, who to call, and even when to pray; where the hostile, unfriendly, negative environment can utterly demoralize you, wear you down. And if you happen to throw the typical prison privileges into the equation for formality’s sake — the few hours of prison visits on the weekend, the 15-minute phone calls from a 500-minute monthly allowance, the basic channels on television, the limited, over-priced commissary snacks and processed food, the bare minimum assistance of health care, the leather and wood shop hobby participation, and the old acoustic guitars for the music program — then you have a picture of humanness … but if you carve under the surface, you’ll soon discover the corroding waves of carceral oppression, the restlessness, the human uneasiness, the insufferable woe, which compels anyone, well, let me say, everyone, to question their purpose for living.

How the heck do you survive such a place? I honestly don’t know. Only by God’s grace, I’ve been able to maneuver along the path of great resistance, filled with unexpected inmate drama and uncalled-for violence on the most inopportune occasions. Only by God’s grace, I’ve been able to overcome the gargantuan trauma and mental anguish I’ve suffered over the past several decades behind bars, to find the strength to accomplish over thirty education and rehabilitation programs, which include three college degrees. But what does this mean in the eyes of the decision-makers who have the power to grant me reprieve?

Nada.

My non-violent cannabis crime as it stands today resembles a crime for felony murder. Because the average time a convicted felon serves in federal prison for murder is 23 and a half years and, by this time, I’m way past due.

The only hope I can now cling to is for my fellow cannabis advocates, my unknown friends, to empathize with my heartless, cruel, and unjust situation, with my life (if it has any value … if it has any worth), and extend a lifeline to my family’s fundraiser, to help them set me free.

Without such help, the years will keep mounting up season after season, my life rusting away, little by little, without the consoling love of those who care about me, those I love. I’m reminded of the bitter emotions I felt the day I was taken away. The gavel struck and passed judgment: 40 years. My mother screamed and my wife cried. Tears rolled down my eyes. Saltiness touched my lips. My heart in pain, burning emotions choking my breath. Then led away by force, without a say so, without consent, to face the years I’ve already served … and the 10 I have left.

Edwin Rubis is a cannabis prisoner serving a 40-year sentence in federal prison working towards his Ph.D. in Christian Therapy. His release date is 2033.

You can help Edwin: https://fundrazr.com/829bk6?ref=ab_7CEpSd

You can send him a personal text message: (256) 695-0223

To learn more about ways to get involved, please visit www.lastprisonerproject.org.

ABOUT LAST PRISONER PROJECT
The Last Prisoner Project (LPP) is a national, nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to cannabis criminal justice reform with the goal of releasing every last cannabis prisoner and helping them rebuild their lives. As the United States moves away from the criminalization of cannabis, giving rise to a major new industry, there remains the fundamental injustice inflicted upon those who have suffered under America’s unjust policy of cannabis prohibition. We work to redress these harms through legal intervention, direct constituent support, advocacy campaigns, and policy change. Visit www.lastprisonerproject.org or text FREEDOM to 24365 to learn more.

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Federal Bill Aims to Prepare Feds for End of Cannabis Prohibition

4/19/2023

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A bipartisan bill reintroduced in the U.S. House on Tuesday aims to prepare the federal government for the end of cannabis prohibition nationally. The Preparing Regulators Effectively for a Post-Prohibition Adult Use Regulated Environment (PREPARE) Act is sponsored by Republican Rep. Dave Joyce (OH) and Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY).

In a joint statement, the sponsors said the measure “creates a fair, honest and publicly transparent process for the federal government to establish effective regulations to be enacted upon the termination of its 86-year prohibition of cannabis.”

The PREPARE Act would direct the Attorney General to establish the Commission on the Federal Regulation of Cannabis to advise on the development of a regulatory framework modeled after federal and state alcohol regulatory frameworks.

The legislation would direct federal regulators to develop a regulatory and revenue framework to ensure safe production and consumption of cannabis, which the authors say, “would account for the unique needs, rights and laws of each state, and present such a framework to Congress within one year.”

The sponsors said the proposal builds upon the Obama and Trump Administrations’ efforts to “remedy the unjust consequences of the war on cannabis, particularly those suffered by minority, low-income, and veteran communities.”

Additionally, the bill would:

  • Help grant medical professionals critical research access and training.
  • Develop protections for the hemp industry, including cross-pollination prevention efforts.
  • Help ensure that absent the physician-prescribed treatment of a minor, cannabis remains an adult-only product.

In a statement, Joyce said the “end to federal cannabis prohibition is inevitable.”

“Now is the time for the federal government to respect the will of our constituents and begin the conversation on fair and effective cannabis regulation. The PREPARE Act will give lawmakers a bipartisan platform to legislate not only a fair and responsible end to prohibition but also a safer future for our communities.” — Joyce in a press release

Jeffries added that the legislation, “is one of the bipartisan solutions that will lay the groundwork to finally right these wrongs in a way that advances public safety and boosts our economy.”  

“Americans across the political spectrum recognize that now is the time for cannabis reform, and the federal government should be ready to embrace and lead this change,” Jeffries said in a statement. “Since the failed war on drugs began over 50 years ago, the prohibition of marijuana has ruined lives, families and communities – particularly communities of color.” 

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New Jersey Regulators Reverse Denial of Curaleaf’s Adult-Use Cannabis License

4/19/2023

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The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) on Tuesday reversed its decision to deny the renewal of Curaleaf’s adult-use cannabis license, New Jersey Business Magazine reports. As part of the approval, Curaleaf will provide the commission with additional information regarding its labor practices and confirm its ongoing compliance with state law.   

When the CRC voted to deny Curaleaf’s adult-use license last week, members cited the company’s clash with unionization and lack of transparency and said the decision was due, in part, to its closing of one of its cultivation facilities and laying off of 40 employees. 

Following the reversal, Curaleaf CEO Matt Darin said the CRC decision “is an incredible victory” for the company’s 500 employees in New Jersey. Darin said the renewal is “vindication” for what the company “knew all along: Curaleaf is in good standing with the CRC and has fulfilled every requirement necessary for the renewal” of its adult-use licenses. 

Following the denial, Curaleaf Chairman Boris Jordan pledged to use “any legal means necessary” to “ensure renewal” of the license. Jordan said after the CRC decision to renew the license that it represents a “victory” for the firm, noting it generates “tens of millions” of dollars in state tax revenues and has invested “upwards of $75 million” to support the New Jersey cannabis industry.

“Curaleaf remains open for business,” Jordan said in a statement, “and will continue working collaboratively with the CRC Board and its staff to ensure our good standing in the State of New Jersey.”

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Veriheal Launches Fourth Annual Scholarship Fund

4/19/2023

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Colorado-based cannabis company Veriheal on Tuesday opened submissions for its fourth annual Innovation in Cannabis Scholarship Fund and announced it had increased its award funding from $25,000 to $30,000. The fund will award $10,000 to three students that they can use for college tuition and fees. 

To apply for the scholarship, students are asked to submit a 1,000-word essay about how they would improve the cannabis industry. 

Joshua Green, Veriheal co-CEO, noted that “Many students are still recovering from financial strain due to the COVID-19 pandemic.” 

“With the Innovation in Cannabis Scholarship, Veriheal is hoping to help relieve some of that strain and set up the next generation of cannabis industry leaders for success. Cannabis has enormous potential, whether that’s in medicine, industry, or cultural impact. Our scholarship helps young innovators fully understand and harness the benefits of the plant,” — Green in a press release 

The scholarship is open to current college students, recent high school graduates, and high school seniors who are starting college classes early. Submissions will be accepted until July 30 with winners notified in the fall. Winners will be chosen based on the creativity and sustainability of their ideas. Historically, submissions have included cannabis-derived art supplies, dispensary co-ops, yeast-based cannabinoids, and treatment for various debilitating medical conditions. 

The scholarship first launched in 2020, awarding $1,000 each to 10 individuals. 

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House Bill Would End 280E Tax Restrictions for Cannabis Companies

4/18/2023

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House Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) reintroduced a bipartisan proposal yesterday that seeks to let state-licensed cannabis companies throughout the country take the standard tax deductions afforded to any normal U.S. business. Originally co-sponsored by Reps. Blumenauer, Nancy Mace (R-SC), and Barbara Lee (D-CA), the Small Business Tax Equity Act addresses IRS Code Section 280E, a 1982 provision that prohibits the standard business tax deductions for operations associated with illegal drug trafficking and which — because the plant remains a federally scheduled substance — has vexed modern, state-legal cannabis operators for years.

If approved, the bill would exempt state-legal cannabis companies from the restrictions of 280E. The proposal has been introduced in previous sessions but never advanced.

“State-legal cannabis businesses are denied equal treatment under 280E. They cannot fully deduct the cost of doing business which means they pay two or three times as much as a similar non-cannabis business. This grotesquely unfair treatment incentivizes people to cut corners. If Congress wants to get serious about supporting small businesses and ending the illicit cannabis market, it is common sense that we allow legal cannabis operations to deduct business expenses, just like any other industry.” — Congressman Blumenauer, in a statement

In a press release following the latest unveiling of the bill, NORML Political Director Morgan Fox said the cannabis advocacy group “commends the sponsors of this legislation for their efforts to end the unjust federal overtaxation of licensed, state-regulated cannabis businesses.”

“Allowing [cannabis companies] to take the same federal tax deductions that most other businesses enjoy will facilitate new opportunities in the legal cannabis industry and make it more competitive with the unregulated market, which will directly benefit consumer health and public safety,” Fox said.

“The unfair application of the outdated 280E provision on state-licensed cannabis businesses is preventing our industry from reaching its full economic potential and our ability to successfully replace criminal markets in accordance with the will of the voters and state legislators that have implemented modern state marijuana programs across the country,” said National Cannabis Industry Association CEO Aaron Smith in a statement. “We commend Congressman Blumenauer and the bill’s original co-sponsors for leading this narrowly-crafted, sensible legislation that would resolve this unforeseen consequence and bring our tax code into the 21st century.”

Adult-use cannabis has been legalized in 21 U.S. states and a recent Pew Research Center report found that 48% of Americans have local, legal access to cannabis products.

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Nearly All Federal Cannabis Charges in 2022 Related to Trafficking

4/18/2023

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Nearly all federal cannabis charges – 98.8% – brought last year were for drug trafficking as federal charges for cannabis comprised just about 4% of all federal drug offenders, according to the U.S. Sentencing Commission 2022 Sourcebook of Federal Sentencing Statistics.

The majority of federal drug cases last year were methamphetamine related (48.5%), followed by powder cocaine (17.3%); fentanyl (12.6%); heroin (8.1%); crack cocaine (5.6%); and “other” drugs, which include Oxycodone/Oxycontin (301 cases); MDMA/ecstasy/MDA (72 cases), and synthetic cannabinoids (59 cases.)  

In all, federal law enforcement officials brought 806 cannabis-related federal charges, of which 796 were for drug trafficking, while seven were for possession in “protected locations,” which includes courts, and one charge related to continuing a criminal enterprise. 

The majority of the federal drug trafficking charges for cannabis were for between 100,000 and 399,999 grams – 137 cases in all. Another 38 charges were for trafficking between 1 million and 3 million grams, while 16 charges were for between 5,000 and 9,999 grams.  

A decade ago, federal law enforcement officials charged nearly 7,000 people for violating federal cannabis laws, which was more than any other drug violation charged at the federal level. 

The average sentence imposed on those convicted of breaking federal cannabis laws was 33 months, by far the lowest sentence, on average, for someone convicted of breaking federal drug laws.

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Here’s What We Know About Germany’s Upcoming Adult-Use Cannabis Pilot Programs

4/18/2023

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Last week in Germany, federal ministers from key parts of the nation’s government held a press conference in which they announced long-awaited components for what will serve as the foundation for the country’s national cannabis policy soon.

Throughout the press conference, Germany’s Health Minister Karl Lauterbach described components that will be very favorable for cannabis consumers’ personal freedoms. A possession limit of up to 25 grams of cannabis and a cultivation limit of a maximum of three plants is expected, with the legal age set at 18.

“In a first step, cultivation in non-profit associations and private cultivation should be made possible nationwide,” government officials stated in a press release after the historic press conference.

“In a second step, the sale in specialist shops will be implemented as a scientifically designed, regionally limited and time-limited model project. In the model project, the effects of a commercial supply chain on health and youth protection as well as the black market can be scientifically examined in more detail,” the press release also stated.

Local cannabis commerce pilot programs, which is what is being proposed in Germany, are not a new thing in Europe, although they do not seem to be common in other parts of the world. A cannabis commerce pilot program is already in operation in Basel, Switzerland. Starting back in February, 180 adults in Basel began making legal purchases through the local program, which expected to expand to 374 consumers in the future. Another pilot program is expected to start in Zurich in the future involving 2,100 consumers.

The following pilot program details were released after last week’s press conference in Germany:

  • The project duration is five years from the established supply chain.
  • There is a spatial restriction to delivery points and adult residents of certain districts/cities in several federal states (opt-in approach).
  • Within the framework of the law, approval of the sale of edibles is being examined in compliance with strict youth and health protection regulations.

“The previous restrictive handling of cannabis in Germany has failed. Banning cannabis criminalizes countless people, pushing them into criminal structures and tying up immense resources from law enforcement agencies. It’s time for a new approach that allows more personal responsibility, pushes back the black market and relieves the police and public prosecutor’s offices. We trust people more – without downplaying the dangers that can emanate from cannabis consumption,” stated German Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann after the press conference.

According to Germany’s most recent Epidemiological Addiction Survey, roughly 8.8% of Germany’s population reported having consumed cannabis at least once during the last year.

“Cannabis is a common stimulant. It is often offered and used illegally in Germany. This is often a health hazard. Adolescents in particular are impaired in their social and cognitive development by cannabis. Despite this, more and more young people are using the drug. The black market goods are often contaminated and create additional health hazards. We can no longer accept this. That’s why we dare the controlled sale of cannabis to adults within clear limits and push back the black market, flanked by preventive measures for young people. Health protection is the priority. The previous cannabis policy has failed. Now we have to break new ground.” said German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach about cannabis policy in Germany.

As mentioned previously, another key component of the first phase of Germany’s legalization plan will be noncommercial associations or clubs. Membership will be capped at 500 consumers per club.

“Membership fees cover the cost price, staggered according to the quantity supplied (possibly with a basic flat rate and an additional amount per gram supplied). The number of members per association is limited to a maximum of 500 with a minimum age of 18 years and domicile or habitual abode in Germany. The number of associations can be limited by population density,” the previously cited press release stated.

“The use of cannabis is a social reality,” said Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir after the press conference. “Decades of prohibition policies have turned a blind eye to this and, above all, caused problems: at the expense of our children and young people, the health of consumers and the law enforcement authorities. Now we are creating a coherent and pragmatic cannabis policy from a single source, from cultivation to consumption. Nobody should have to buy from dealers without knowing what they are getting. Through controlled cultivation and distribution within the framework of cannabis clubs, we strengthen youth and health protection. And: We cut the ground for organized crime, which does not even shy away from selling it to children. With a regional model project, we are also exploring the possibilities of a commercial supply chain.”

“The cornerstones of the 2-pillar model (“ C lub A nbau & Regional -Modell/ CARe ”) have been developed by the Federal Ministry of Health as the leader, as well as the Federal Ministry of the Interior, the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, the Federal Ministry of Economics and the Federal Foreign Office in accordance with the technical responsibilities. The EU and international law limits were taken into account. On the basis of the key issues paper, the federal government will now present a draft law at short notice,” said officials.

“The federal departments are working on all parts of the project within the scope of their respective responsibilities under the overall leadership of the BMG. Both pillars are incorporated into concrete draft laws, with the working draft for pillar 1 being presented in April 2023, followed by the draft law for pillar 2. The results of the scientific report already commissioned on the effects of the legalization of recreational cannabis on health and youth protection in other countries are taken into account for both pillars,” government officials also stated.

The battle to legalize adult-use cannabis sales nationwide in Germany will continue, with the goal of eventually getting the European Union’s approval.

“At the same time, the Federal Government is continuing its efforts (particularly through the missions abroad) to promote its approaches to its European partners and is also examining the extent to which a sufficient number of EU Member States can initiate the initiative in order to comply with the relevant EU legal framework in the medium term to be made more flexible and developed further,” government officials concluded in their press release.

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University of Iowa Conducting Study Using Psychedelics as Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment

4/18/2023

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University of Iowa (UI) researchers are conducting a pilot study using psilocybin and ketamine as a treatment for alcohol use disorder, the Daily Iowan reports. The study will be conducted as a head-to-head comparison of the compounds; half of the study participants will be given psilocybin and the other half will be given ketamine and neither the researchers nor the subjects will know which the participants will receive. 

Study participants will start by having an MRI scan and a meeting with a therapist. They will then be administered their dosage and will receive another MRI scan after that. Researchers then evaluate the subjects over time and subjects will receive one last MRI scan three months after the drug was administered. 

Mark Niciu, an assistant professor at the UI’s Department of Psychiatry and the Iowa Neuroscience Institute, told the Daily Iowan that “There’s really a great need for better treatments for alcohol use disorder.” 

“…At least medication-based treatments with several [Food and Drug Administration] approved medications, but even so many patients don’t have adequate response to that. It’s all about providing relief from mental health disorders.” — Niciu to the Daily Iowan 

Candida Maurer, lead therapist for the study and licensed psychologist, said there is a two-hour meeting with a licensed psychologist before the administration of the medicine during which a history of the participant will be taken. Maurer said she will be using a mixture of body therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, meditation, relaxation, inner-child work, and mind-body therapy with the subjects. 

The study is a first of its kind at the university.  

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Missouri Bill Would Only Allow Delta-8 Product Sales at Dispensaries

4/18/2023

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A bill proposed in Missouri aims to put the regulation of delta-8 THC products under the purview of the state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and permit the sale of such products only at DHSS-licensed cannabis dispensaries, FOX 2 Now reports. State Rep. Kurtis Gregory (R) said the reason he introduced the bill is because there are no age limits on who can purchase the products. 

During a hearing on the bill last week, both Democrats and Republicans pushed back on putting the products under the DHSS umbrella, arguing that the move would allow a “marijuana monopoly” to take over due to the limited number of cannabis licenses in the state.  

The measure also contains provisions prohibiting businesses from manufacturing or selling “any product that contains synthetic cannabinoids or cannabimimetic agents” which some lawmakers contend would hurt the state’s hemp industry.   

State Rep. Peter Merideth (D) described the bill as “sort of using a hammer instead of a scalpel to address this problem.” 

Missouri does not have a state hemp program or state hemp regulators, relying instead on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to administer hemp licensing and oversee farms. The USDA only regulates the concentration of delta-9 THC in raw hemp. 

Sean Hackmann, president of the Missouri Hemp Trade Association, indicated that there are about 20 companies in Missouri processing hemp for delta-8 products. 

“They call it unregulated, which technically, it is,” he said in the report. “It’s self-regulated, except for the fly-by-night idiots who don’t care. We spent a lot of money on testing these products to make sure there’s no metals… contaminants or anything in these products.” 

The measure remains on the House calendar but without a date for consideration for a vote. 

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Canadian Supreme Court Upholds Quebec’s Ban on Cannabis Home Grows

4/17/2023

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The Canadian Supreme Court last week ruled that Quebec’s ban on home cannabis cultivation is constitutional despite federal law allowing four plants to be grown by individuals for personal use, Reuters reports. The court’s ruling said the prohibition on home growing is intended to “ensure the effectiveness of the state monopoly on the sale of cannabis in order to protect the health and security of the public.”  

“The Quebec legislature saw the possession and personal cultivation of cannabis not as a social evil to be suppressed, but rather as a practice that should be prohibited in order to steer consumers to a controlled source of supply.” — The Supreme Court ruling via CBC  

The home cultivation ban challenge was brought by Janick Murray-Hall in 2019. Murray-Hall won in Quebec’s Supreme Court, but the ruling was overturned by the province’s court of appeals, leading to the Supreme Court of Canada case.  

On Twitter, Quebec Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette said officials “are satisfied with the judgment of the Supreme Court confirming Quebec’s full capacity to act in the matter,” the report says.   

In Quebec, fines for home growing run between CAD$250 and CAD$750. 

Maxime Guérin, Murray-Hall’s attorney, told the CBC that “There is certainly some disappointment, but it is the decision of the highest court, it’s a constitutional decision and we don’t have much choice but to rely on this.” 

The ruling by the court was unanimous.  

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Illinois Proposals Would End Vehicle Searches Based on Cannabis Odor & Let Parolees Use Cannabis

4/17/2023

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Illinois lawmakers are considering bills that would ban police from searching vehicles based solely on the odor of cannabis and allow some people on probation to use cannabis and alcohol, Capitol News Illinois reports. The bill prohibiting police from searching vehicles based on cannabis odor would still allow the practice for drivers under 21-years-old. 

During floor debate on the vehicle search reform bill, State Sen. Rachel Ventura (D) said “People – especially people of color – are unnecessarily pulled over far too often.”  

“The odor of cannabis alone shouldn’t be one of those reasons (for cars to be searched). Cannabis is legal in Illinois and it’s a pungent scent that can stick to clothes for extended periods of time.”— Ventura via Capitol News 

Atticus Ballesteros, an attorney for American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, testified that the organization has “concerns that the amendment to the bill creates a workaround, or a loophole, that could have the effect of incentivizing police to target youth for unnecessary traffic stops or vehicle searches.” 

The legislation passed the Senate last week 33-20. 

The bill allowing some people on probation to consume cannabis and alcohol would not allow use of either if the person is sentenced to a crime that involved “the presence of an intoxicating compound in the person’s body” and courts could still impose restrictions on offenders under 21 or those participating in courts designed to help people with mental health or substance abuse problems. 

That measure passed the Senate 34-21. 

Both bills move next to the House.   

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Curaleaf Chairman Plans to Use ‘Any Legal Means Necessary’ to Restore New Jersey Adult-Use Permits

4/17/2023

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In a statement released following the decision by New Jersey regulators to deny the renewal of Curaleaf’s adult-use cannabis license, Boris Jordan, Curaleaf’s chairman, said the company would use “any legal means necessary” to “ensure renewal” of the permits. 

In the statement, Jordan called the action by the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission’s (CRC) Board “unprecedented” and “disappointing” and that the decision “overrode the Commission’s own staff recommendation that our adult use licenses be renewed.”  

“We believe the CRC Board has wrongly interpreted the applicable regulations and that its decision to retaliate against Curaleaf for our need to consolidate production into one local facility is lacking in merit. Curaleaf has never been cited for such a violation and we believe there is no regulation requiring permission for the staff reduction we announced. Curaleaf is in good standing with the CRC and has fulfilled the requirements necessary for the renewal of our licenses.” — Jordan in an April 14 statement     

The CRC, on April 13, cited a decision by Curaleaf last month to close one of its cultivation facilities and lay off 40 employees as one reason for revoking the company’s adult-use license. Regulators also cited Curaleaf’s clash with unionization and the company’s lack of transparency as reasons for rejecting the license renewal. New Jersey’s adult-use cannabis law requires licensees to maintain business peace agreements as a condition and requires collective bargaining within 200 days after a dispensary first opens if the majority of employees vote to form a union. 

Curaleaf’s adult-use license expires on Friday. In the statement, Curaleaf said it “remains open for business and will continue working with the CRC Board and its staff to ensure renewal” of its adult-use licenses.

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New Jersey Regulators Deny Curaleaf Cannabis License Renewal

4/14/2023

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New Jersey cannabis regulators on Thursday declined to renew the license of Curaleaf to grow and sell cannabis for the state’s adult-use market, the New Jersey Monitor reports. Curaleaf is a multistate cannabis company and the biggest player in New Jersey’s cannabis industry.

With the denial, Curaleaf’s adult-use license expires on April 21; it’s unclear what the move means for the company’s medical cannabis patients.

The vote came a month after Curaleaf said it confirmed to state regulators that it was closing one of its cultivation facilities and laying off 40 employees. Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) members on Thursday cited the closure, Curaleaf’s clash with unionization, and the company’s lack of transparency as reasons for rejecting the license renewal.

CRC Chair Dianna Houenou said during Thursday’s meeting that “it’s important for the board to have staff at large to have proper insight and timely notice of major changes to facility operations.”

New Jersey’s adult-use cannabis law also requires licensees to maintain business peace agreements as a condition. The law requires collective bargaining within 200 days after a dispensary first opens if the majority of employees vote to form a union.

During the meeting, Commissioner Krista Nash noted that that provision “is an explicit mandate.”

“People have different definitions of what ‘maintain’ means. If you maintain your car, I don’t know if that means letting it sit in a garage. But it doesn’t mean, in this term, filing an agreement away in a drawer, but rather to implement the terms of what parties agreed to do.” — Nash via the Monitor

During the meeting, James Shorris, Curaleaf’s chief compliance officer, touted the company’s investments in the state, high sales to medical and adult-use consumers, and job creation with an emphasis on diversity. He also defended the closure of the Bellmawr cultivation site, citing changes in demand for flower and cost concerns.

Curaleaf has not responded publicly to the license denial.

The board did approve the annual licenses for other dispensaries run by Acreage, Rise, Terrascend, and Verano during the meeting.

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Survey: Majority of Finland Supports Cannabis Decriminalization

4/14/2023

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A survey by Finland’s Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) found 53% of respondents said cannabis use and possession should not be a crime, YLE News reports. Another 24% said cannabis should be legal for any use and 56% said cannabis should be legal for medical use. In 2018, those figures were 18% and 54%, respectively.

Additionally, the survey found 29% of Fins would support decriminalization of all drugs – a 9% increase from the previous survey in 2018. The survey found the same percentage of Fins had tried cannabis – a five-fold increase from the 6% of Fins who said they’d tried cannabis in 1992.

Another 57% of respondents said they thought trying cannabis once or twice carries minor health or other risks, while 20% said the same about other drugs. Karoliina Karjalainen, THL specialist researcher, told YLE News that the increase in drug use among Fins was expected.

“We know from previous research that a significant proportion of age groups born in the 1980s and 1990s have tried drugs.” — Karjalainen via YLE News

Pekka Hakkarainen, THL research professor, added that “Opinions about the criminality surrounding drug use are clearly changing.”

The survey also found increased support for monitored drug use facilities as a way to prevent drug overdoses, with 65% of respondents favoring the plan – an increase of 15% from the 2018 survey.

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New Hampshire Senate President Says Chamber Unlikely to Approve Cannabis Legalization Bill

4/14/2023

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In an interview with the Conway Daily Sun on Thursday, New Hampshire Senate President Jeb Bradley (R) predicted the chamber would not pass the cannabis legalization law approved by the House last week. The House has passed an adult-use cannabis legalization bill three times, but the reforms have never been approved by the Senate. 

“I have supported medical marijuana and decriminalization of three-quarters of an ounce of marijuana, I am not going to vote for recreational marijuana. I think when all is said and done, it’s not going to be enacted into law.” — Bradley to the Daily Sun 

Bradley added that “in the middle of a drug crisis,” he doesn’t “think it’s a good idea to legalize more drugs.” 

State Rep. Michael Costable (R) told the Daily Sun that while “the Senate has been a disappointment in the recent past” he was “optimistic that this time is different and the Senate will pass this on to the governor.”  

“I do believe pressure on the Senate and governor from constituents could help nudge them into accepting this excellent legalization bill,” he said in an interview with the Daily Sun. 

State Rep. Anita Burroughs (D) added that the “word on the street” is that Republican Gov. Chris Sununu – who has long opposed the reforms – would not veto the law but rather allow it to take effect without his signature.  

The Senate is expected to vote on the legislation next month. 

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Survey: Portland, Oregon Is Best American City for Cannabis

4/13/2023

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A survey published Monday by Real Estate Witch found Portland, Oregon is the best city for cannabis in the U.S., while Birmingham, Alabama ranked as the worst. Among cities where cannabis is legal for adult use, Richmond, Virginia was the lowest-ranked, followed by Virginia Beach and Washington, D.C. 

Portland earned the top spot due, in part, to the affordable cannabis prices in the city, where an ounce of “high quality” cannabis costs about $210 – about $106 less than the national average ($316). The survey found that an ounce of high-quality cannabis in D.C. costs $590 – 87% more than the national average.   

Portland also had the second most dispensaries per 100,000 residents – 13.7 – which is nearly 4.5 times the national average of 3.1. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma had the most with 48.7 dispensaries per 100,000 residents.  

According to the survey, the 10 best cities for cannabis in the U.S. are:

  • Portland, Oregon
  • Denver, Colorado
  • Buffalo, New York
  • Seattle, Washington
  • Baltimore, Maryland
  • Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Sacramento, California
  • San Diego, California
  • Los Angeles, California
  • San Francisco, California

The five worst cannabis cities in the U.S., according to the survey, are:

  • Birmingham, Alabama
  • Memphis, Tennessee
  • Louisville, Kentucky
  • Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • Indianapolis, Indiana
  • Nashville, Tennessee
  • Charlotte, North Carolina
  • Houston, Texas
  • Atlanta, Georgia
  • San Antonio, Texas

The report analyzed various criteria including the legality of cannabis, dispensary data, and cannabis prices.

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