Report: International Medical Cannabis Market Could Reach $40B by 2028

10/26/2022

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A report by Research and Markets has found the international medical cannabis market could be worth over $40 billion by 2028, Yahoo News reports. Up from $11.7 billion in 2021, the growth represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19% from 2022 to 2028. 

The report says the approval of more medical cannabis products and increased acceptance of cannabis as a medicine will contribute to the growth. However, it notes the use of cannabis as a “street drug” and that continued misconceptions surrounding cannabis could hinder the market.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says about 80% of the world’s population utilizes cannabis or hemp as a medical treatment. Consequently, the increase in medical cannabis acceptance, production, and use in developing countries is a major factor in the market’s expansion, the report notes. 

Divided into dry plant material and extracts, the paper found extracts will have a slightly higher CAGR, 19.3%, over the measurement period due to higher demand for liquid extracts for “medical applications, increasing health and wellness trends with the consumption of natural health products, and rising awareness regarding the benefits of extracts over dried cannabis.” Additionally, segmented into treatments for pain management, Tourette, Alzheimer’s disease, migraines, depression and anxiety, multiple sclerosis, cancer, and other categories, the medical cannabis application that will see the largest growth from 2022 to 2028 was multiple sclerosis at 20.3% CAGR, Markets and Research found. 

The report also suggests that demand for natural foods during the COVID-19 crisis drove an increase in hemp food consumption. The report points to countries like Australia and New Zealand, which produce hemp products for the food and beverage sector; Japan, which allows CBD in food products like sweet drinks and lasagna; and China and India, which have yet to approve CBD food products; as indicators that the increased sale of cannabis and hemp will propel the market during the assessment period.

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CAKE: Lifestyle Canna Brand Hits Different with Innovative Technology

10/26/2022

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“She hits different,” is more than just a motto for California-based lifestyle cannabis brand CAKE. It’s also their ethos, centered around their products, processes, and experiences. At a time where social politics are beginning to overshadow the “experience” in “experiential,” CAKE is shifting its focus back to cannabis innovation to deliver a quality-canna time.

“I really wanted to present a more feminine brand identity in the space,” founder Chloe tells Ganjapreneur. “[From distribution] through manufacturing, we really wanted to create a safe space for women in cannabis.”

Chloe and her silent partner didn’t just wake up and focus on innovation. With nearly a decade in the cannabis industry, the CAKE team previously took a behind-the-scenes approach through growing, manufacturing, fulfillment, and brand creation for other companies. The Oahu-born, Los Angeles-based entrepreneur began working in the industry at age 21, where she met her now-business partner who taught her about cultivation and nurturing the plants. Eventually, Chloe learned about extraction including innovative new methods. Two years ago, the duo decided it was time to make their own forward-facing brand in CAKE.

CAKE, She Hits Different is known for its live resin rechargeable, disposable devices and Cake cartridges which are filled with high THC cannabis oils and three all-natural terpenes. Products are manufactured using only premiere food-grade stainless steel glass and ceramic plates, allowing them to preserve the flower produced through this process. So yes, it hits very different – a different level of freshness. The company offers over 10 strains, each fresh out of the cyro-cure freezer. A stylized photo of the respective strain artistically graces the package for each flavor. The brand sets out to let you have your CAKE and smoke it too — even some flower-loyal consumers have expressed surprise at the vapes’ freshness.

CAKE is an elite innovator, their cryogenic technology is what allows the “it” to hit differently. Chloe briefly breaks down the process, explaining, “Cryo cure resin refers to the process to cure the flower. After it’s harvested, it’s immediately put into a cryo-cure chamber, which is a fancy freeze-drying machine perfectly made for cannabis that allows curing to happen in 12-14 hours. It preserves more than 50% of cannabis properties compared to the traditional curing process, which loses quite a bit of terpenes. The freeze-drying process is closed-chamber, which allows terpenes, trichomes, and THC to be preserved.”

Cryo-terps are collected during the curing phase, before the extraction process. Once the curing is complete, then it’s ready to go into extraction. The cryo-cure process prevents THC-A degradation, which extends the shelf life of dried flower and concentrates.

The CAKE team loves to express its brand through events. CAKE’s events are also different: they mirror the vibrancy and good energy that is Chloe. A recent collaboration with cannabis production company Secret Sesh featured a CAKE dome, dab bar, and jungle. As a lover of festivals, art, and electronic-music DJing, Chloe says, “Creating immersive experiences is one of our passions. It’s incredibly fulfilling to witness others making memories in an experience we’ve created for them. Facilitating events allows our CAKE community to come together and celebrate just how far the cannabis industry has come. It has taken a strong heart to stay in the game for all these years so I’m proud to reflect on all we have built, and excited to see how far we take it.”

You may find its iconic pink fur with its unforgettable slogan in neon lights at one of its functions. Chloe reassures, “No couch-locking over here!” Eventgoers can also shop their cheeky and provocative apparel, along with the company’s disposable Cake carts.

In the future, CAKE hopes to continue to expand and grow, exploring new possible innovations. In the meantime, “Our gummies, pre-rolls, and flower are officially launching by October 15,” Chloe says. Keep a look out for their new flower strains, Sugar Baby and Dragon’s Dream.

You can find CAKE vapes and apparel online via their website and Weedmaps, and through local delivery services depending on your area. Follow CAKE on Instagram to look out for future product drops.

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BudPop Announces National Hemp CBD Flower Product Launch

10/25/2022

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Glendale, California (October 19, 2022) — BudPop is announcing the launch of its potent CBD flower line-up from the field to the marijuana dispensary. The use of CBD and related products has seen a rise over the months, especially after hemp flower products became easily available online. But finding the perfect product is still a task.

BudPop is announcing two CBD flower options, each of which is sourced from reputable US farms in Colorado. Sour Diesel is a sativa-dominant strain — as a result, users should feel more relaxed, focused, and energized, and it could even spark creativity. With a CBD content of 20.165%, you’ll get all the benefits of CBD, such as alleviating anxiety, pain, and everyday stress. It also has a low THC level of 0.094%, which means one won’t get any of the adverse effects associated with marijuana.

BudPop’s Northern Lights strain is their second CBD flower option, and it is ideal for unwinding after a long day. Since it’s an indica-dominant strain, users can expect soothing, relaxing, and sedating impacts, making it ideal for use at night or when you are having difficulty sleeping.

Both of these CBD flower strains are available in a wide range of pack sizes, which include 4.2g, 7g (1/4oz), 227g (1/2lb), and 454g (1lb), 28g (1oz), 114g (1/4lb)  Discount coupons are also available, as well as a rewards system for additional deals, enabling one to get the high-quality buds at a reasonable price.

BudPop utilizes customer-friendly policies like free delivery on all orders and the company ships its CBD flower products throughout the United States.

What Is CBD Hemp Flower?

CBD flower resembles the traditional cannabis buds that one is accustomed to seeing. However, because of the high CBD content, many people prefer hemp for the benefits it provides, such as boosting calm and leisure, among many other things. One will also avoid undesirable side effects commonly associated with marijuana, such as paranoia and anxiety, when using hemp. Instead, they get a soft smoke, no high, and a number of other advantages.

What Is The Amount Of THC Contained In CBD Flower?

To be legal, CBD flower must contain less than 0.3% Delta 9-THC.  When THCA is taken into account, it is feasible and apparently legal for CBD flower to contain a total amount of thc greater than 0.3%. Many cannabis labs use a proprietary mathematical formula that manages to combine D9-THC and THCA to find the total THC, which typically ranges between 0.1% and 0.8%.

CBD flower enables people to participate in and truly enjoy the routine of smoking, whether alone or in a social situation. Also, BudPop’s keenly manufactured CBD flower has helped millions of people with a variety of conditions and symptoms to overcome their shortcomings and return back to normal.

What Does CBD Flower Do To The Body?

While research into the full scope of this system is still ongoing, it is well known that CBD hemp flower improves communication between the body’s cells. As needed, our bodies produce endocannabinoids, which act on the CB1 receptor in the central nervous system and the CB2 receptor in the peripheral nervous system.

THC binds to such receptors and causes a variety of effects when one consumes it. CBD, on the other hand, does not connect to these receptors and instead inhibits the collapse of endocannabinoids. As a consequence, CBD has unique effects on the human body that lead some cannabis users to prefer it over THC-rich products.

About BudPop
BudPop is a reliable, trustworthy, and well-known brand with numerous positive user reviews to back up their claims. Their customer support staff is also excellent, as they are eager to assist customers with any concerns or queries they might have. Furthermore, all of BudPop’s CBD hemp flower products have undergone extensive third-party lab testing, indicating that they are safe to consume. Customers can examine and confirm the claims made for themselves by viewing the lab testing results, or Certificates of Analysis (COAs), on their website.

Contact Details
Riya Tyagi
riya@blueribbonmedia.com

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Mother Facing Felony Charges After Son Allegedly Dies by Delta-8 Toxicity

10/25/2022

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Virginia mother Dorothy Annette Clements is facing felony murder and child neglect charges after her four-year-old died after ingesting “a large amount” of delta-8 THC gummies, CNN reports. Although it is less potent, delta-8 THC carries similar effects as delta-9 THC, the most common cannabinoid found in cannabis. Delta-8 has also been ruled to be federally legal as a hemp-derived substance under the 2018 Farm Bill.

The death, which occurred on May 8 after the four-year-old was put on life support on May 6 due to a “medical emergency,” is considered by Virginia’s Department of Health to be accidental, and “the cause of death is delta-8 toxicity,” according to the CNN report.

“Detectives believe the child ingested a large amount of THC gummies,” Major Troy Skebo of the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office told CNN. “The attending doctor told detectives that if medical intervention occurred shortly after ingestion, it could have prevented death. Statements made to detectives by the mother did not match evidence seized at the home.”

Clements was indicted by a grand jury last week and taken into custody on Thursday. She told WUSA9 before she was charged that the toddler was sitting beside her when she noticed he was having trouble breathing.   

WUSA9 reported that Clements had realized the child had eaten a gummy and called poison control.

In September 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued warnings concerning the use of and experimentation with delta-8 THC products. 

“The health effects of delta-8 THC have not yet been researched extensively and are not well-understood,” the CDC wrote in a Health Advisory report. “However, delta-8 THC is psychoactive and may have similar risks of impairment as delta-9 THC. As such, products that contain delta-8 THC but are labeled with only delta-9 THC content rather than with total THC content likely underestimate the psychoactive potential of these products for consumers.”

There are currently zero recorded deaths attributed to a cannabis or THC overdose.

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Another Oklahoma Attorney Charged In ‘Ghost Owner’ Medical Cannabis Scheme

10/25/2022

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Another Oklahoma attorney is facing charges for allegedly helping set up illegal cannabis businesses under the state’s medical cannabis program, KOCO News 5 reports. Matthew Stacy is accused of registering more than 300 limited liability companies to get medical cannabis and manufacturing licenses. 

In June, attorneys Eric Brown and Logan Jones were each charged with multiple counts of conspiracy, falsifying records, and cultivation of a dangerous substance after Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN) investigators said they interviewed four employees of the Jones-Brown law firm who admitted their names were used to apply for medical cannabis grow licenses with the state.   

Following the multi-county grand jury indictment of Stacy, OBN Public Information Officer Mark Woodward said investigators were “just scratching the surface” of the inquiry. 

“These lawyers, these consultants, will recruit people to come to Oklahoma, and they will tell these people I will get you a 75% owner. … Meanwhile, the criminal organization is bringing their 25% work crew in. They’re the ones moving the plants, moving the money and the workers and the 75% owner in many cases knows nothing about the farm ” — Woodward to KOCO 

OBN said Oklahoma residents were recruited to become so-called ghost owners of the businesses, signing ownership paperwork but having no involvement in day-to-day operations. Instead, out-of-state clients operate the farms.  

According to the affidavit, “on many occasions” Stacy told officials that the businesses weren’t operating but investigators found “thousands of marijuana plants actively growing with sometimes dozens to hundreds of pounds of fully processed and/or packaged marijuana located on the premises.” 

Woodward said the illegal operations wouldn’t have been able to get a license “had it not been for a law firm that had stepped up and submitted fraudulent paperwork.”  

Woodward told KFOR that the ghost owners could also be charged with felonies for their role in the scheme.  

Stacy, a Lt. Colonel in the Oklahoma National Guard was also appointed to Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt’s COVID-19 response team and donated the maximum of $2,900, to Stitt’s re-election campaign. 

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Missouri Legalization Ads Pulled from YouTube After Police File Copyright Claim

10/25/2022

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The Missouri State Highway Patrol says it did not give permission for an individual wearing the agency’s uniform to appear in pro-cannabis legalization ads produced by Legal Missouri 2022, the Kansas City Star reports. The ads are no longer available on YouTube due to a copyright claim by the agency. 

“The Patrol is aware of Legal Missouri 2022’s advertisement featuring the Patrol. The Patrol did not give its permission for its emblem, name, or images to be used nor was permission sought.” — Missouri State Highway Patrol in a Facebook post 

The ads included video of a uniformed person who appears to be a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper riding a motorcycle and getting in and out of a vehicle. The ads argued that cannabis legalization would aid law enforcement in the state and “SUPPORT THE POLICE” appears on the screen. The narrator, voiced by actor John Dorman who played Baltimore police deputy commissioner William Rawls in HBO’s “The Wire,” said the legalization amendment is “a vote to let the police focus on serious crimes.”   

In a statement to the Star, Legal Missouri campaign manager John Payne said the officer used in the ad was “stock footage” meant to show “exactly why Amendment 3 will allow law enforcement to focus on fighting violent and serious crime.” 

Both the 15-second and 30-second ad spots were removed. 

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Bloom’s Cannabis AI Exceeds Human Visual Capability

10/25/2022

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Trimming Machine Distinguishes Cannabis Leaf, Flowers

WOBURN, MA — Bloom Automation Inc., an agri-tech company specializing in robotics and cannabis trimming equipment, today announced a new achievement for artificial intelligence: the ability to analyze cannabis floral structure with human-like accuracy.

The increase in visual acuity enables Bloom’s trimming machine to trim cannabis flowers more closely without the risk of damage or compromised market value.

Advances in machine learning prompted the improvements, along with a larger database of analyzed images and a software update.

“The new AI algorithms are 97% accurate in distinguishing leaf from flower,” said Jon Gowa, CEO and Founder of Bloom Automation. “That accuracy is far superior to the average human trimmer who’s subject to fatigue and inattentiveness on the production line.”

Gowa anticipates other cannabis applications for the AI, including automated defoliation in multi-tier grow rooms, harvest-weight prediction, and foliage density assessment to mitigate micro-climates that breed pathogens.

Bloom’s trimmer uses a robotic arm with rotary shears to remove leaves from flowers while they remain attached to the stem. Utilizing a stereoscopic sensor array and AI-driven algorithms, the machine quickly distinguishes flowers from leaves for precise trimming. An integrated vacuum on the robotic arm collects leaves as they’re removed.

The latest AI development signals a new era of automation for the multi-billion dollar industry, which is heavily reliant on manual labor. The Bloom trimmer reduces labor expenditures by processing cannabis at twice the speed of a human trimmer.

For more information about Bloom Automation or Bloom Artificial Intelligence algorithms, contact Shannon Hagerty, Marketing and Business Associate, at info@bloomautomation.com.

Contact: Shannon Hagerty
Phone: 781-835-5961
Email: shannon@bloomautomation.com

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Federation of International Hemp Organizations to Hold First General Meeting Next Month

10/25/2022

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The newly-formed Federation of International Hemp Organizations (FIHO) is set to hold its first annual general meeting next month in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, BusinessCann reports. The organization included 14 hemp groups from around the world. 

Ahead of the inaugural meeting, the FIHO says it envisions a 2,000% increase in hemp’s global footprint over the next decade. New figures released by the organization suggest that the crop’s global cultivation footprint amounted to 94,694 hectares in 1999 and the expected total would reach 228,000 hectares worldwide this year. 

Communications Officer Lorenzo Silva, president of the Latin American Industrial Hemp Association, told BusinessCann that “Hemp has tremendous potential for growth in the coming years.”  

“The crop is very well aligned with most of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and presents enormous potential for carbon sequestration projects due to its fast and vigorous growth in the field, therefore it is very attractive for most of the agro-industrial projects being funded globally nowadays, and that will receive funding and tax incentives in the near future.” — Silva to BusinessCann 

The 14 groups that comprise the FIHO are: 

  • Australian Industrial Hemp Alliance 
  • Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance 
  • China Hemp Association  
  • European Industrial Hemp Association 
  • Indian Industrial Hemp Association  
  • Latin American Industrial Hemp Association  
  • National Industrial Hemp Council of America  
  • American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp  
  • Kentucky Hemp Association  
  • Texas Hemp Growers Association  
  • Uttarakhand Hemp Association  
  • Hokkaido Industrial Hemp Association  
  • Mongolian Hemp Association  
  • New Zealand Hemp Industry Association  

Lorenza Romanese, managing director of the European Industrial Hemp Association told BusinessCann that the group aims “to advance the global production, consumption, and trade of industrial hemp by encouraging innovation, research and development and sharing knowledge and harmonizing standards.” 

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Indiana Gov. Will Not Issue Pardons for Low-Level Cannabis Convictions

10/24/2022

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Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) will not issue pardons for individuals with state-level cannabis possession charges, despite President Joe Biden (D) requesting governors to do so when he announced his plan to pardon federal cannabis possession charges, the Indianapolis Star reports. 

“The president should work with Congress, not around them, to discuss changes to the law federally, especially if he is requesting governors to overturn the work local prosecutors have done by simply enforcing the law. Until these federal law changes occur, I can’t in good conscience consider issuing blanket pardons for all such offenders.” — Holcomb in a statement via the Star 

Indiana does allow individuals convicted of simple possession to apply for expungement of those charges and seal their records. 

“I do agree that many of these offenses should not serve as a life sentence after an individual has served their time,” Holcomb said in the statement. “Expunged convictions cannot be disclosed to employers, to those who grant licenses, or when seeking housing.” 

A state legislative committee is currently studying the health benefits and potential decriminalization of THC products, including delta 8 and delta 9, but has yet to issue recommendations on the reforms.  

The 2018 Hoosier Survey by Old National Bank and Ball State University found eight in 10 Indiana residents supported legalization of either adult-use or medical cannabis in the state. 

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Curaleaf Settles Class Action Lawsuit Over Mislabeled Products

10/24/2022

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Multistate cannabis operator Curaleaf will pay $100,000 to settle the class-action lawsuit filed in 2021 after the company sold CBD drops that contained THC in Oregon, the Oregonian reports. The company in January settled 10 lawsuits over the mix-up.

In August Curaleaf agreed to a $130,000 fine and 23-day suspension handed down by Oregon cannabis regulators. The company recently settled a wrongful death lawsuit filed following the mishap, but the terms of the settlement are confidential, the report says.  

The $100,000 settlement, filed last week in the U.S. District Court in Portland, covers anyone who bought the mislabeled CBD drops. It’s estimated that 500 people will receive between $150 and $200 apiece, depending on how many claims are filed. The settlement does not restrict consumers from filing separate personal injury claims, the report says. 

Portland attorney Michael Fuller will seek a quarter of the funds as compensation for representing the plaintiffs while any unclaimed funds would go to the nonprofit organization Oregon Consumer Justice. Fuller said the average cost of the drops was $25 and consumers would get back six to eight times their purchase price. 

The class administrator will use state records, online notices, proofs of purchase, and personal testimonies to identify people who qualify, Fuller said.  

In August, Curaleaf was forced to remove tens of thousands of units of cannabis from dispensary shelves in New York after it switched to a new way of labeling product potency without approval from state regulators. 

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Poll: Support Shrinking for Cannabis Legalization Initiative in Arkansas

10/24/2022

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Polling surrounding the cannabis legalization initiative is getting tighter as a Talk Business & Politics-Hendrix College Poll conducted from Oct. 17-18, 2022 found 50.5% of respondents were for the amendment with 43% opposed and 6.5% undecided. One month ago, the TB&P-Hendrix Poll found 58.5% support with 29% opposed and 12.5% undecided. 

The poll found 36.5% of respondents were “definitely for” the reforms, 14% were “probably for,” 33.5% were “definitely against,” and 9.5% were “probably against.” 

Roby Brock, Talk Business & Politics editor-in-chief, described the polling around the amendment as seeing “tremendous movement over the past month.” 

“Opponents have been able to improve their standing by swaying undecided voters and even peeling off some soft support that was once there. I think the media campaigns for and against this measure make it the most interesting statewide race to watch on Election Night.” — Brock in a statement   

Dr. Jay Barth, emeritus professor of politics at Hendrix College, said the October survey allowed supporters and opponents to group themselves into “certain or probable” support of the measure – a change from how the previous poll was conducted.  

“Here, opposition is more firm in its views with more supporters of Issue 4 still open to changing their views on the issue between now and casting a vote,” he said in a statement. An issue that felt like a slam dunk before the Supreme Court action now feels like a very close call. Issue 4 is, for sure, advantaged but this one will likely be close.” 

The state Supreme Court in August ruled to allow the question to be put to voters after the state Board of Election Commissioners rejected the ballot’s name and title, which would have barred it from ballots without the court’s intervention. 

Gov. Ava Hutchinson (R) last month came out in opposition of the reforms, saying on Twitter that adult-use cannabis “leads to increased drug use among minors & more dangerous roadways.” 

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Class Action Lawsuit Alleges Cannabis Brand Inflated THC Levels on Some Products

10/21/2022

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A class action lawsuit was filed on Thursday against California cannabis company DreamFields Brands Inc. / Med for America Inc., claiming the company inflates the THC levels on the packaging of its Jeeter brand. The lawsuit cites a WeedWeek article that found the THC content for all Jeeter products was “materially less” than what was listed on the product label and “well below” the 10% margin of error allowed under California rules.  

The lawsuit, citing the WeedWeek report, uses Jeeter’s Baby Jeeter Fire OG Diamond Infused 5-pack preroll as an example, noting the product’s label claims 46% THC but that the actual THC content was between 23% and 27%, a discrepancy of between 70% and 100%. The company’s Baby Jeeter Churros Diamond Infused 5-pack preroll listed THC content at 37% on the label but the THC content was actually between 26% and 29%, the lawsuit also alleges.  

“Defendants’ labels are false and misleading to reasonable consumers. Reasonable consumers expect that the required THC content declaration on the label of cannabis products is reasonably accurate. In other words, reasonable consumers expect that the declared THC content is substantially the same as the true THC content. Reasonable consumers also expect that the labels of cannabis products comply with [Department of Cannabis Control] regulations, and so reasonably expect that the declared THC content is no more than 10% greater than the true THC content. No reasonable consumer expects that the THC content declaration on the label of the product is wildly inaccurate, and that the true THC content is far less than the declared content.” — Centeno, Wilson, et. Al vs. Dreamfields Brands Inc. and Med for America, Inc.   

The lawsuit claims the defendants “know or reasonably should know they are misleading consumers” and that they “have a direct financial incentive to overstate the THC content of their products.” Or, alternatively, the defendants “are willfully blind (and at a minimum negligent with respect to) to the fact that the THC content declared on their products is substantially and systematically overstated,” the lawsuit argues.  

The class action lawsuit is seeking unspecified damages, restitution, punitive damages, attorney’s fees, and an injunction. The lawsuit was filed by Christin Cho and Simon Franzini of Dovel & Luner, LLP.   

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Trulieve Pushes Back Against Media Coverage of Employee’s Death at Holyoke Facility

10/21/2022

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Trulieve is pushing back against what it describes as “false reporting” surrounding the death of Lorna McMurrey, the 27-year-old who died at the company’s Holyoke, Massachusetts facility caused by what the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) initially described as inhaling “ground cannabis dust.” 

In a press release, Trulieve outlined the air quality systems in place at the Holyoke facility, saying that “appropriate industrial air systems” were “installed and at all times operated” within the processing areas of the facility and that the Holyoke facility in particular “has a special industrial air filtration system that exchanges the air in the grinding room” which had been certified by an independent engineer. The company said it also uses Abatement Technology Air Scrubbers, described as “two stage air carbon filtrations for odor control” that exchange and clean the air at regular intervals.  

Trulieve said that its employees are provided N95 masks “contrary to reports” that claimed the company “only offered paper masks” and that McMurrey wore an N95 mask “for at least a portion of the day, contrary to reports” that allege she was wearing a paper mask. 

In the press release, Trulieve laid out what it describes as the events that led up to McMurrey’s death:   

“On January 4, 2022, Ms. McMurrey arrived at the Holyoke facility for her regular shift. She spent the day working in the pre-roll area, contrary to reports stating she was in the flower grinding room. 

When Ms. McMurrey indicated to her supervisor that she was not feeling well, she was told that she could take the day off with pay, contrary to reports stating we insisted she continue working. However, she opted to return to work in the pre-roll area. 

When Ms. McMurrey began to appear to be in distress, Trulieve followed appropriate protocols. A manager promptly called 911. A trained member of the Trulieve security team began to provide CPR, contrary to reports stating that no CPR assistance was provided. EMS arrived quickly and took over management of the response. 

Upon arrival at the facility, it took EMS personnel less than one minute to begin medical attention to Ms. McMurrey, contrary to reports stating that it took medics a long time to reach the patient once they arrived at the facility. 

Ms. McMurrey was taken to Baystate Hospital where, unfortunately, she passed away on Friday, January 7.” — Truvlieve in a press release, Oct. 20, 2022 

The company said its managers, security, and supervisors are “regularly” trained in the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and that all three employees who administered CPR to McMurrey had participated in “full certification CPR training” less than a month before the incident. 

Trulive said that “contrary to initial reports” the company reported that McMurrey had collapsed to both the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission and OSHA within 24 hours of the incident and reported her passing to both organizations the following day. 

Regarding the OSHA investigation, Trulieve said OSHA took “multiple air samples” which “complied with relevant standards” and the agency only issued citations “under the hazard communication standard.” According to OSHA’s website, the Hazard Communication Standard requires that “all employers with hazardous chemicals in their workplaces must have labels and safety data sheets for their exposed workers, and train them to handle the chemicals appropriately.”

Trulieve is contesting those citations, which totaled $35,219. 

“Our thoughts are with the McMurrey family for their loss. Trulieve will continue to operate its facilities in a manner that fully protects the health and safety of all employees,” the company said in its press release. “We are confident we did so in January and will continue to do so going forward.” 

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Green Thumb Industries to Open Dispensaries at Convenience Stores in Florida

10/21/2022

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Starting next year, Green Thumb Industries will launch its RISE Express medical cannabis dispensaries “adjacent” to Circle K stores throughout Florida, the first partnership of its kind in the U.S. The company plans to initially open 10 dispensaries as part of the collaboration. 

In a statement, Green Thumb Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ben Kovler described the deal as a “game-changer.”  

“The new RISE Express model is a huge step forward in making it easier and more efficient for patients to purchase high-quality cannabis as part of their everyday routine when stopping by their local convenience store.” — Kovler in a statement 

Green Thumb entered the Florida market in 2018 and currently owns and operates medical cannabis dispensaries in Bonita Springs, Deerfield Beach, Hallandale Beach, Kendall, Oviedo, Pinellas Park, and West Palm Beach. The company did not indicate which Circle K locations would host the RISE dispensaries.  

The products sold at the RISE Express shops will come from Green Thumb’s cultivation facility in Ocala, which is expected to come online by the end of the year. Green Thumb also has a cultivation and processing facility in Homestead. 

Through the exclusive agreement, Green Thumb can lease space from Circle K, where the convenience store retailer currently operates approximately 600 locations. 

According to Florida Department of Health figures, more than 700,000 Floridians are currently registered active cardholders in the state’s medical cannabis program. 

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German Government Outlines Proposed Cannabis Legalization Policies

10/20/2022

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In a policy document, the German government outlined its plans to legalize cannabis nationally, with plans to allow possession of up to 20 grams by adults 18 and older, the Australian Associated Press reports. The proposal was first reported by the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland media network, which had seen the document. 

The plan would limit THC in regulated products to 15% and also allow personal cultivation of up to two plants. The policy would also allow regulated sales, with limits on where dispensaries could operate, with a minimum distance from schools and children’s and youth facilities. 

Individuals under 18 caught with cannabis would be exempt from criminal punishment but youth welfare officers could advise that young people participate in prevention courses and the cannabis would be confiscated, the report says.    

In a statement, Niklas Kouparanis, CEO of Bloomwell Group, Germany’s largest cannabis company, said “It is important to note that this leaked copy is not the final version, rather unofficial information that should be treated with caution.”

“With these reservations in mind, we are pleased that the Federal Government is aiming for a nationwide supply at prices analogous to the illegal market in order to curb illicit operations and thus ensure more protection of minors, and quality control with the health of the consumer in mind.  However, the draft framework thwarts its own goals with certain measures. In order to be able to meet the demand of adult-use cannabis, we should make imported cannabis a reality as soon as possible. Domestic production alone will hardly be able to meet Germany’s demand for adult-use cannabis from day one. If home-grown cultivation booms in this case, this leads to products that are less controlled and regulated instead of more safety measures for consumers.” — Kouparanis in a statement

He added that the THC limits “may play into the hands of the illegal market.”

Germany’s Finance Minister Christian Lindner last month suggested that cannabis could be legalized next year; however, Drug Commissioner Burkhard Blienert said in July that it was unlikely that the law would take effect before 2024. 

Germany’s governing coalition is expected to present a draft law at the end of this year or the beginning of next year, the report says.  

Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has estimated that about 4 million adults in Germany consume cannabis. 

Last month, German officials visited cannabis businesses in California. In a tweet, the German consulate in San Francisco said officials “examined products of dispensaries with equity licenses” to better understand “cannabis legalization opportunities and risks.” 

In July, officials from Germany, Luxemburg, Malta, and The Netherlands discussed how Europe could move forward in legalizing adult-use cannabis.  

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Massachusetts Trulieve Facility Was Investigated Prior to Employee Death Following Complaints

10/20/2022

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A Trulieve facility in Massachusetts where an employee died in January after allegedly inhaling “cannabis dust” was under investigation prior to the death, Marijuana Business Daily reports. The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) began investigating the facility owned by Florida-based Trulieve in the fall of 2021 after employee complaints. 

However, CCC Chair Shannon O’Brien and Commissioner Bruce Stebbins say they were not aware of the death of 27-year-old Lorna McMurrey until hearing it on the Young Jurks podcast, the report says.  

Trulieve said they reported the death to the CCC three days after the incident, on January 10. A spokesperson for the CCC said the agency staff did not tell the five commissioners about the death at the time, explaining it is a “customary” practice designed to keep investigations independent until commissioners vote on accepting a probe’s conclusions or to issue sanctions, the report says.    

Originally, The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) found the employee died of “occupational asthma due to exposure to ground cannabis” while grinding and filling pre-rolls. However, the OSHA report no longer cites a cause of death and the agency says the investigation remains open. It has declined to comment on the change. OSHA issued Trulieve a $35,000 fine, which they have appealed. 

McMurrey’s stepfather said she had asked him to bring her respirators from his job as a mechanic as the “air (at her job) was full of dust.” A former supervisor at the site said paper masks were provided to employees, but many were afraid to speak up about working conditions, the report says. Personal protection equipment was available onsite 

“They (OSHA) tested the air quality throughout the facility and the samples were all well below acceptable ranges,” Trulieve said in an October 3 statement to Marijuana Business Daily. 

Hampden County District Attorney said the case is not being criminally investigated.

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Trial Begins for Former Cannabis Industry CEOs Charged with Fraud

10/20/2022

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Three former executives at CannTrust Holdings Inc., now operating as Phoena Holdings Inc., are facing charges of fraud, insider trading, and allowing unlicensed activity related to thousands of kilograms of cannabis grown in 2018, Cannabis Business Times reports. The case against former CEO Peter Aceto, former Board Chairman Eric Paul, and former Board Vice-Chairman Mark Litwin commenced Monday in the Ontario Court of Justice. 

The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) alleges the men did not report half of the growing space at a Pelham, Ontario facility, which was not licensed by Health Canada. Additionally, the agency claims the former executives used corporate disclosures to falsely claim they were in full compliance, the report says.

Two of the defendants, Litwin and Paul, face insider trading charges after the OSC says they traded CannTrust stocks while possessing undisclosed information about the unlicensed property. Aceto and Litwin are charged with creating a false prospectus and a false preliminary prospectus, which they would later use to raise money in the U.S.

The company board fired Aceto as CEO and forced Paul out in 2019. Litwin resigned last year. Charges were filed in 2021 by the OSC, marking the first time the agency has filed charges against a publicly traded cannabis company.

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Pennsylvania Seeking Proposals for $200K in Grant Funds to Boost Hemp Industry

10/20/2022

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Pennsylvania officials are calling for proposals from nonprofit marketing and promotion organizations for projects aimed at increasing sales, export, or consumer awareness of the state’s hemp products. The state Agriculture Department plans to award $200,000 in matching funds to reimburse up to half of the project costs with a minimum grant of $1,000.  

Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said the grants “will feed a new industry that was once a staple of Pennsylvania’s economy and is again presenting opportunities for farm income and jobs as well as new possibilities for climate-friendly, environmentally beneficial products.”    

“Hemp has presented a unique opportunity to grow an industry from the ground up, supplying seemingly limitless sustainable construction materials, fiber and food products.” — Redding in a press release 

The agency indicated it will give special consideration to projects that leverage other funding and public-private partnerships and that eligible projects may include regional or national promotion.  

In 2021, the Agriculture Department awarded more than $157,000 through the program to three projects to increase consumer awareness of hemp products and increase fiber and food hemp markets and opportunities in the state. In all, the state has invested $923,000 since 2019 on hemp-specific grant investments. 

Projects eligible for the current grants must have started on or after July 1, 2022, and must be completed on or before June 30, 2023. 

Qualified nonprofits may apply for grants through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development online application system. The application period closes Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, at 5:00 PM 

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Washington, D.C. Cannabis Brand Sues City Following 2021 Raids

10/19/2022

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A Washington, D.C. cannabis company is suing the city claiming police seized more than $700,000 in cash during raids last year, News4 reports. Following each raid at Mr. Nice Guys DC, the charges were dropped, or the attorney general chose not to prosecute. 

In all, co-owner Gregory Wimsatt said police have seized “close to about $800,000 in product and cash.” However, the business has also faced losses from product damage during the raids. 

The lawsuit seeks $750,000 in damages. 

While cannabis is legal for adult use in Washington, D.C., there is no legal mechanism for sales which has been repeatedly blocked by the so-called “Harris Rider” – named after Republican Rep. Andy Harris – which has been included in omnibus budgets since 2014 and prevents legal cannabis sales in the District. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) and the City Council have attempted to regulate the industry but were stymied each time by Congressional inaction as federal lawmakers set the city’s budget.   

Businesses, therefore, operate in the “gifting” gray market; Mr. Nice Guys sells customers non-cannabis products, such as art, and includes a free cannabis gift. 

In April, The D.C. Council voted down an emergency measure to ramp up enforcement against the District’s unregulated cannabis businesses.  

Mr. Nice Guys co-owner Damion West told News4 that the business operates “in a gray space that they created” and that they’ve “done nothing wrong.”  

Charles Walton, an attorney representing Mr. Nice Guys told the Washington Post that the “goal is to have them produce the information associated with the chain of custody of that money, and to just return it.” 

The lawsuit focuses on two raids that occurred on the same day in August 2021, when police with warrants searched two Mr. Nice Guys locations. 

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Unregulated Cannabis Farms Comprise Majority of Oregon Water Use Violations

10/19/2022

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Of 104 Notice of Violations issued this year by the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD), 89 of them were related to unregulated cannabis production, News 10 reports. In all the agency has seen a 160% increase this year in Notice of Violations issued to unregulated cannabis farms compared to 2021 totals.  

As of October 6, the agency issued 104 Notice of Violations statewide compared to 40 last year and 41 in 2020.  

Jake Johnstone, OWRD interim administrator of field services, said the increase is “a direct result from the additional staffing” the agency received in Senate Bill 5561, which was passed during a special session last year.  

The bill included $5 million for the agency “for the expansion and enhancement of water rights enforcement activities,” according to the bill text. 

“The majority of these NOVs are fair to say associated with raid operations, so these are situations where law enforcement, state or county, is serving a warrant. Frankly that’s one of the more safe scenarios that our staff have an opportunity to pursue water compliance under.” — Johnstone to News 10  

The Notice of Violation (NOV) is not a civil or criminal penalty, but rather a notice to any water user that they are violating state water regulations and must either terminate water use or resolve the violations to avoid further penalty. Civil penalties come at the end of the process. OWRD has not issued any violations this year to licensed cannabis operators.  

According to OWRD, compliance is achieved by unlicensed cannabis operations when the site is completely shut down. The Notices of Violation stands for three years and were the operator to resume their illegal water activity during that timeframe, the agency would continue the enforcement process, including issuing civil penalties.  

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Poll Finds 60% Support for Minnesota’s Edibles Legalization

10/19/2022

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According to a MinnPost/Embold Research poll, 60% of Minnesotans support the recently-passed law allowing up to 5 milligrams of hemp-derived THC in food and beverage products. The poll found that 21% opposed the legalization of any “edibles that get people high.” 

Another 7% of respondents said state lawmakers were “correct to legalize the sale of edibles derived from hemp, but not edibles derived from marijuana.”  

The edible legalization reforms were backed by 60% of women; 59% of men; 71% of respondents aged 18- 34 years old and those aged 35- 49 years old; 56% of respondents 50- 64 years old, and 49% of those 65-and-older.  

Sixty-one percent of people of color polled agreed with the reforms, 60% of White people polled, along with 60% of both college educated, and non-college-educated respondents. Three out of four respondents who voted for President Joe Biden (D) backed the reforms, along with 42% of those who voted for former President Donald Trump in the 2020 election – in all 76% of Democrats, 64% of independents, 43% of Republicans approved the edibles bill. 

Another 35% of Republicans said the state should not have legalized any edibles that get people high, along with 19% of independents, and 9% of Democrats.  

The poll included 1,585 voters across Minnesota between October 10 and October 14. 

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Czech Cabinet Considers Draft Plan to Allow Regulated Cannabis Sales

10/18/2022

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Yesterday, members of the Czech cabinet heard a draft plan on launching a regulated cannabis market and increasing drug addiction and treatment spending, ČTK reports. National anti-drug coordinator Jindřich Vobořil told ČTK that a regulated cannabis market could be worth billions of crowns worth of tax-related revenues to the national budget. 

The plan is part of a strategy to address drug addiction in the country by 2027. It was laid out by then Prime Minister Andrej Babiš but his anti-drug minister had not issued a plan for moving forward. Vobořil returned to the anti-drug post in October 2021, following the election of Prime Minister Petr Fiala.    

“The action plan will have five clear priorities. The controlled market, taxes, i.e. their improved collection, and a definition of the tax policy. This is something new in our action plans.” — Vobořil to ČTK 

In its policy statement, Fiala’s cabinet indicated the regulation of addictive substances should correspond to the extent of their harmfulness, which would also be reflected in the excise taxes imposed on the substances. The plan includes new taxes on tobacco and alcohol. The nation already collected about CZK 60 billion in excise taxes on tobacco products and CZK 13 billion in excise taxes on alcohol, the report says.  

The plan would also review taxes on gambling, which currently brings in CZK 5.1 billion to the national budget and CZK 4.9 billion to city budgets annually; however, the draft plan says society loses CZK 150 to 180 billion a year due to health and other consequences of addictions and early deaths.   

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Black People Still More Likely to Be Arrested for Cannabis Crimes in Virginia

10/18/2022

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Black people are still more likely to be arrested for cannabis-related crimes in Virginia despite adult-use legalization, the Washington Post reports. The reforms took effect July 1, 2021, and while arrests for cannabis have dropped overall, Black adults accounted for nearly 60% of such cases before the state’s district and circuit courts, according to the Post analysis.  

Black people account for about 20% of Virginia’s population. The bulk of the arrests is for distribution as legal sales have not yet commenced in the state. During the first year of legalization, possession of more than an ounce was a civil penalty carrying a $25 fine; however, following his election, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin proposed and signed into law a bill creating misdemeanor charges for possession of more than four ounces.   

The Post’s data was from a list of more than 1,700 cannabis-related code citations between July 1, 2021, and the end of June this year, provided by the Supreme Court of Virginia’s Office of the Executive Secretary in response to a Virginia Freedom of Information Act request. The analysis found, overall, cannabis-related citations dropped about 90% in Virginia from 2019. 

According to the Post analysis, Chesterfield County General District Court had the second highest number of arrests in the state behind Virginia Beach General District Court. In Chesterfield, Black defendants comprised 71% of the court’s 110 cannabis-related cases in the year following legalization. In the state’s most populous county, Fairfax, Black defendants made up just over 30% of the 108 cannabis-related cases in the year following legalization, the report says. 

In 2019, there were more than 26,000 cannabis-related arrests in Virginia. In 2020, that figure dropped to about 13,000 and fell to just over 2,000 in 2021, which included the six months after the adult-use reforms took effect.  

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Oklahoma Narcotics Bureau Cracking Down on Illegal Medical Cannabis Operators

10/18/2022

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Law enforcement officials in Oklahoma are cracking down on alleged criminal organizations operating under the guise of the state’s medical cannabis program, serving search warrants at nearly a dozen cannabis farms throughout the state over the last two weeks, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN) said in a press release. 

OBN Spokesman Mark Woodward described the enforcement action as “another phase” in the agency’s “ongoing focus to aggressively target criminals hiding within the state’s medical marijuana program.”   

“For over two years, OBN has identified numerous individuals and organizations that have moved to Oklahoma from out of State and used fraudulent business structures and so-called ‘ghost owners’ to obtain their Oklahoma Medical Marijuana licenses. These criminals try to blend into our state’s Medical Marijuana program while trafficking marijuana onto the illicit market around the United States, laundering money and moving millions of dollars in illicit drug proceeds overseas.” — Woodward in a statement 

The action led to the seizure of 79,157 illegally cultivated cannabis plants, 3,139 pounds of processed cannabis, and 16 firearms. Twenty people have already been arrested with more arrests expected, OBN said. 

“As these investigations continue across Oklahoma, we plan to focus on criminal growers and business owners,” Woodward said in a statement, “as well as the entities that helped facilitate the fraudulent documentation allowing these criminal organizations to get an Oklahoma Medical Marijuana license.” 

OBN Director Donnie Anderson said the crackdown is meant to make “it very clear that Oklahoma is not a safe harbor for criminals who think they can hide behind a Medical Marijuana license.”   

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