Poll: 65% of U.S. Voters Support Giving Cannabis Companies Banking Access

9/07/2022

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According to an Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) poll released on Tuesday, 65% of U.S. voters support allowing cannabis businesses to have access to financial services in states where cannabis is legal. The poll was commissioned by Morning Consult. 

The poll found that 71% of respondents agree that allowing cannabis businesses to access baking services would help reduce the risk of robbery and assault at the businesses. Another 55% said that with some cannabis-related businesses owned and led by people of color, women, and the LGBTQ community, allowing for cannabis banking would help these underserved communities.   

In a statement, ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey said the poll shows “U.S. voters have made clear that current law inhibiting access to the banking system for cannabis-related businesses has a negative impact on local communities.” 

“With a supermajority of U.S. voters voicing support for allowing cannabis-related businesses access to the banking system, the Senate should act now on bipartisan cannabis banking legislation that the House has passed seven times.” — Romero Rainey in a press release 

ICBA’s polling also found that more than 80% of voters agree that businesses that operate exclusively in cash have a higher risk of robbery or theft; 62% believe that restricting cannabis-related businesses from accessing the banking system poses a threat to public safety; 63% say that allowing cannabis-related businesses to access the banking system will help improve public safety, and 58% agree that a Senate vote on establishing a cannabis banking safe harbor is important. 

ICBA was the first national banking trade group to support the SAFE Banking Act and to testify before Congress on its behalf. 

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Arkansas Medical Cannabis Sales Total $23.7M in August

9/07/2022

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Medical cannabis sales in Arkansas reached $23.7 million in August, totaling 4,245 pounds of product sold, KNWA/KFTA reports. The total pounds sold is a new record for the state, Scott Hardin, spokesperson for the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, told KNWA/KFTA. 

“Since January 1, 2022, patients have spent $181 million to obtain 32,027 pounds. With $2.7 million in state tax revenue collected from medical marijuana in August, a total of $78.68 million has been collected since the industry launched in mid-2019.” — Hardin to KNWA/KFTA 

In July, the state’s dispensaries sold $23.3 million worth of medical cannabis, led by Natural Relief Dispensary in Sherwood which also had the highest sales totals in August. 

In all, there are 89,983 active medical cannabis patients in the state. 

Last month, however, a lawsuit was filed that could doom the state’s medical cannabis industry. The lawsuit seeks to use the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, commonly known as RICO, to target medical cannabis company plaintiffs accused of deceptive trade practices. The lawsuit claims some medical cannabis was sold in Arkansas with a potency different from what was advertised – a deceptive trade practice – and that cannabis businesses are subject to RICO because cannabis is federally outlawed.

Adult-use advocates in August also submitted enough signatures to put a broad legalization question on November ballots; however, the state Board of Election Commissioners rejected the initiative’s popular name and ballot title, claiming it didn’t fully explain the constitutional amendment and that the measure would repeal the state’s current THC limit on medical cannabis products. 

The Arkansas Supreme Court, however, is conditionally allowing the question to appear on November ballots although the court has not said whether or not it would allow the votes to count.

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Air Force & Space Force Consider Changing Cannabis Policies for Recruits

9/07/2022

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The Air Force Recruiting Service is considering changes to its cannabis policy, the Air Force Times reports. Under the policy update, recruits who test positive for cannabis (THC) would no longer be automatically disqualified from joining the Air Force or Space Force.

Major General Ed Thomas, a recruiting boss for the Air Force, told the Times that officials are considering waivers for positive THC tests at Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS).

“If applicants test positive for THC when they go to the MEPS (right now), they’re permanently barred from entering the Air Force or the Space Force. But as more states legalize cannabis, there is an increased prevalence of THC-positive applicants.” — Thomas to the Times

It’s unclear when the change will take place or how many people have been turned down due to a positive THC test.

“We have to be realistic today,” Thomas said. “We need to exercise common sense.”

All service members, regardless of the branch they serve in, cannot use cannabis of any kind, including CBD; however, each branch can set its own rules on how to approach cannabis use among new recruits, the report says.

The Navy has a pilot study underway evaluating a similar change where prospective sailors that test positive for THC can retry after a 90-day waiting period. The Navy has granted waivers for cannabis use to trainees at Recruit Training Command for years, a Navy spokesperson told the Times.

Thirty-eight states and Washington, D.C. have legalized cannabis for medical use, while 19 states and Washington D.C. have legalized adult-use cannabis. More than half of all new recruits come from one of the states with adult-use reforms in place, the report says.

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North Carolina Rejects Hemp Defense and Upholds Conviction of Man Caught Mailing Cannabis

9/07/2022

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A North Carolina court has upheld the drug convictions of a man who was caught mailing cannabis via FedEx, the News & Observer reports. Joe Teague had appealed the conviction arguing that law enforcement lacked probable cause to search the package because of state and federal laws legalizing hemp and, because hemp and THC-rich cannabis look and smell alike, that agents on the scene had no way of telling the two apart without a chemical test.  

The state Court of Appeals on Tuesday unanimously rejected Teague’s arguments, saying “law enforcement officers complied with the requirements of the Fourth Amendment” at “every stage of the investigation” from the removal of the package from the FedEx conveyor belt to the drug dog sniff at the facility.     

In 2018, a Wake County drug agent had stopped the package at the facility noticing it had been taped along all the seams, which, along with a phony phone number – (888) 888-8888 – raised suspicion. The officer called in a drug dog which reacted to the package and triggered a warrant. The package was found to contain 15 pounds of cannabis packed in vacuum-sealed bags. 

“The legalization of industrial hemp, which is reported to be indistinguishable from marijuana without quantitative chemical analysis, raises compelling legal issues for our courts. However, we conclude that Defendant’s arguments in the instant case are without merit. Accordingly, these arguments are overruled.” — North Carolina Court of Appeals, State v. Teague

The search at the FedEx facility led to an investigation and ultimately to Teague. Officers found a nearby storage facility and deployed the drug dog to the units where they uncovered more cannabis, and later more cannabis flower, concentrates, paraphernalia, and vacuum-seal bags at Teague’s home.   

The court ruled that Teague’s Fourth Amendment rights were not violated by the “mere removal” of the package from the FedEx conveyor and that the 5 to 10-minute on-site search at the FedEx facility by a dog wasn’t an unreasonable seizure. The court cited a previous decision which found that although citizens have a legitimate interest that their package not be opened and searched, they cannot reasonably expect that postal employees won’t open and view the contents. 

In the appeal, Teague argued that law enforcement agents did not determine how much THC was in the contents of the package and, therefore, could not have made the legal distinction and the trial court should have granted an order to dismiss. 

However, the judges ruled that hemp legalization “in and of itself, did not modify the State’s burden of proof at the various stages of our criminal proceedings.” 

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California Gov. Signs Medical Cannabis Patient & Physician Protection Reforms Bill

9/06/2022

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Friday signed into law a bill to protect the right of patients to medical treatment if they use cannabis and the rights of doctors and clinics to treat them, Bay City News reports. The law clarifies that physicians cannot be punished for treating patients who use or test positive for cannabis, despite its status as an illegal drug under federal law.  

The bill also prohibits the automatic elimination of patients who use cannabis from pain management programs by specifying that a positive drug test for cannabis should not be the sole basis for denying medical treatment under such programs. 

In a statement, Dale Gieringer, director of California NORML, one of the sponsors of the bill, said that the law was needed as “many physicians are under the mistaken impression that they can’t prescribe medication to patients who test positive for cannabis.” 

California NORML said the organization regularly hears from patients who are terminated from pain management medications due to their medical cannabis use. In an online survey with nearly 600 respondents, the advocacy group found that 18.5% of respondents had been denied prescription medications by a doctor due to their medical cannabis use.  

In 2019, the House of Delegates of the California Medical Association voted to adopt a recommendation stating, “That CMA opposes policies of health plans, health systems, and hospitals that have pain management programs that automatically eliminate patients who use therapeutic cannabis.”  

Newsom on Friday also signed a bill to allow terminally ill patients to use cannabis in certain healthcare facilities. Hospitals were resisting implementing the law, claiming a conflict with federal law.

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GOP Minnesota Governor Nominee Says Voters Should Decide Whether to Legalize Cannabis

9/06/2022

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Scott Jensen, a former Republican Minnesota state senator and current GOP gubernatorial nominee for the state, said last week that he thinks Minnesota should consider decriminalizing “trivial amounts” of cannabis and should let voters decide via the ballot whether to adopt cannabis legalization reforms, Marijuana Moment reports.

Jensen, who sponsored an unsuccessful bipartisan legalization bill in 2019 while serving as a state senator, said in an interview last week that he supported letting voters decide on the issue.

“If we can have a discussion and then put it on the ballot as an amendment, I think that makes a lot of sense.” — Jensen, via an interview in The Star Tribune newsletter

Jensen’s opponent, the incumbent Gov. Tim Walz (D), called in his supplemental budget proposal earlier this year for the state to legalize cannabis and even set aside $25 million to create a Cannabis Management Office to oversee the program.

Last year, the Minnesota House passed a cannabis legalization bill but the GOP-controlled Senate ultimately let the legislation die without being considered on the Senate floor. At the time, Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka (R) said, “Making legalized pot for fun, we just don’t think that’s a good idea.”

However, Minnesota lawmakers did approve a bill to legalize small quantities of THC in hemp-derived food and beverage products; Gov. Walz signed that bill into law in June and the new rules took effect on July 4.

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Colorado Cannabis Company Facing $45K in Fines for Festival Violations

9/06/2022

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A Colorado cannabis company is facing $45,000 in fines due to violations at Denver’s Mile High 420 festival last April, the Denver Post reports. Denver Packaging Co., which also operates as Keef Brands, admitted to seven violations, including unlawful acts and packaging and labeling violations, according to city documents issued last week outlined by the Post.  

The fines stemming from the festival are due to the company having products on-site at the festival, a violation of city and event rules. During the event, Denver Department of Excise and License Inspector Brooke Bearman said she had visited the company’s booth and witnessed products on display, a large advertising sign, and two coolers full of products. Event organizer Adam Schmidt told Bearman that “he had communicated with sponsors that they were not allowed to have any product onsite,” according to city documents outlined by the Post. 

When told about the violations, Denver Packaging Co. Owner Andrew Veron removed the products from the event. 

“Denver Packaging Co. takes pride that for nearly the entirety of its eight years operating in Colorado, it never ran into any regulatory issues or complaints. Unfortunately, a misunderstanding on April 20th occurred between third-brand promoters, city investigators, and our staff, culminating in a documented violation by local regulators. (The city’s) allegations were very serious, and we accept full responsibility for our actions.” — Vernon, in an email to the Post    

Following the event, the Department of Excise ordered the company to appear on July 21 to show why its retail and medical MIP manufacturer licenses shouldn’t be suspended or revoked. The order signed last week allows the company to continue to be licensed, the report says.  

The company will have to pay a $15,000 fine immediately, while an additional $30,000 fine is being held in suspension for a year, in case of future violations. Denver Packaging Co. must pay the fines within 90 days. 

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Canapa Now Offering Automated Pre-Roll & Tray Loading

9/06/2022

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Complete End-of-Line Automation to Get Your Pre-Rolls Retail-Ready

September 6, 2022 – Canapa by Paxiom has added to its industry-leading lineup of automated pre-roll solutions by introducing the first pre-roll tube loading and tray loading systems available on the market.

Fully customizable to meet the exact needs of their pre-roll clients, both systems integrate seamlessly with their industry leading JuanaRoll pre-roll machine as well as other brands of semiautomatic machines and manual joint filling processes.

When paired with the fully automatic JuanaRoll, the tube loading system uses their intelligent elevating conveyor to automatically convey pre-rolls up to their inspection conveyor to be inspected and check-weighed prior to being robotically or manually loaded into tubes, capped and sealed. For those operations using semiautomatic or manual pre-roll filling processes, Canapa has designed this system to be manually fed or partnered with a SCARA robotic pre-roll loader.
Their pre-roll tray filling solutions apply the same principle as the tube loading system. Pre-rolls are conveyed, weighed and inspected prior to being delicately placed into the client’s tray by a customized SCARA robot. This system is driven by their Vision camera system to ensure precise pre-roll placement into the designated tray packing pattern.

With additional system options available for labeling, bagging, cartoning, case packing and robotic palletizing, Canapa by Paxiom can provide complete A-to-Z automation options that will improve efficiency, increase production and decrease product waste for any pre-roll producer.

To learn more about these tube loading and tray loading systems, the JuanaRoll pre-roll machine and the WeightCheQ check weigher, visit www.canapasolutions.com/pre-roll-packaging-machine.

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Study: Cannabis Consumption Not Linked to Increased Apathy

9/05/2022

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A new study published in the International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology on August 24 suggests that cannabis consumption is not associated with increased apathy, effort-based decision-making for reward, reward wanting, or reward liking in adults or adolescents. The small study also found that non-cannabis consumers had higher levels of anhedonia, or the inability to feel pleasure. 

The researchers from the University College London (UCL), the University of Cambridge, and King’s College London, used data from the CannTeen study, which included 274 adult (26- to 29-years-old) and adolescent (16-17) cannabis consumers who used cannabis one to seven days a week in the past three months. 

Participants completed questionnaires to measure anhedonia, asking them to rate statements such as “I would enjoy being with family or close friends.” They also completed questionnaires to measure their levels of apathy, which asked them to rate characteristics such as how interested they were in learning new things or how likely they were to see a job through to the end.

Cannabis users scored slightly lower than non-users on anhedonia – in other words, they appeared better able to enjoy themselves – but there was no significant difference when it came to apathy. The researchers also found no link between the frequency of cannabis use and either apathy or anhedonia in the people who used cannabis. 

Lead author and PhD candidate Martine Skumlien from UCL Psychology & Language Sciences and University of Cambridge, said the survey results were “contrary to the stereotypical portrayal we see on TV and in movies.” 

“We were surprised to see that there was really very little difference between cannabis users and non-users when it came to lack of motivation or lack of enjoyment, even among those who used cannabis every day.” — Skumlien in a press release  

Co-author Dr. Will Lawn from UCL Psychology & Language Sciences and King’s College London, described the study as “one of the first to directly compare adolescents and adults who use cannabis,” and it “suggests that adolescents are no more vulnerable than adults to the harmful effects of cannabis on motivation, the experience of pleasure, or the brain’s response to reward.” 

“There’s been a lot of concern that cannabis use in adolescence might lead to worse outcomes than cannabis use during adulthood,” he said in a statement. “In fact, it seems cannabis may have no link – or at most only weak associations – with these outcomes in general. However, we need studies that look for these associations over a long period of time to confirm these findings.”

“We’re so used to seeing ‘lazy stoners’ on our screens that we don’t stop to ask whether they’re an accurate representation of cannabis users. Our work implies that this is in itself a lazy stereotype, and that people who use cannabis are no more likely to lack motivation or be lazier than people who don’t,” Skumlien said in a statement. “Unfair assumptions can be stigmatising and could get in the way of messages around harm reduction. We need to be honest and frank about what are and are not the harmful consequences of drug use.”

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New Task Force to Increase Scrutiny of D.C.’s Cannabis Gray Market

9/05/2022

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Editor’s note: This article was written by Ethan McLeod and was originally published via Outlaw Report. It has been republished with permission.

Unlicensed cannabis businesses operating in the District of Columbia’s gray market can expect more inspections and heightened regulatory scrutiny after the end of Labor Day weekend.

Tuesday, September 6 marks the launch of inspections by the new Cannabis Joint Task Force, as well as the end of a 30-day grace period for businesses announced last month by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Administration. The task force, made up of 10 local regulatory and law enforcement agencies, will be inspecting cannabis “gifting” shops across the District for operating licenses and tax, building and health code compliance beginning September 5.

“Regulatory agencies regularly conduct inspections at businesses under their authority to ensure awareness of and compliance with DC laws and regulations,” said ABRA Chief of Staff Jared Powell in an email to The Outlaw Report. “The upcoming joint inspections represent District Government agency’s [sic.] efforts to more closely collaborate together on compliance and education initiatives.”

ABRA did not make officials available for an interview for this report.

The start of inspections by the task force marks the latest move by D.C. government to address a sizable, unregulated gray market that has evolved in the eight years since voters legalized cannabis possession, growing and gifting for adults by approving Initiative 71. While D.C. remains legally barred from taxing and regulating cannabis under a budget rider included annually in the federal budget approved by Congress, businesses for years have taken advantage of a loophole to “gift” cannabis to customers who purchase a non-cannabis item or service.

Many I-71 entrepreneurs view the task force as a new step by local government to punish businesses working within the limited space afforded by D.C. and federal laws — and one that has included sparse communication between agencies and business owners about what to expect during forthcoming inspections.

“We’re not sure what to fear because they haven’t really listed out guidelines,” said Mackenzie Manns of the Generational Equity Movement, a coalition of seven Black-owned cannabis businesses in Washington. “This doesn’t seem like they’re working to bring us into conversations. It does follow a similar trend, that they are trying to crush small businesses.”

Last month’s task force announcement followed multiple attempts by D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson over the past year to crack down on gray market companies with legislation that would have imposed heavy fines, revoked business licenses and shuttered storefronts. Following public backlash, Mendelson scrapped such language in a bill he had initially proposed last October. Then, in April, the Council rejected another bill that would have allowed for increased regulatory enforcement against such businesses after pushback from I-71 business owners, who argued punishments would disproportionately harm Black entrepreneurs. The Council subsequently passed a law in June allowing D.C. residents to “self-certify” as medical patients — without also increasing enforcement actions against gray market businesses — to help support the city’s limited medical cannabis market that has struggled with competition from gray market operators.

The new Cannabis Joint Task Force includes ABRA, the District’s Departments of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA), Fire and Emergency Medical Services (FEMS) and Health, as well as the Office of the Attorney General for D.C., the Metropolitan Police Department, the Office of Tax and Revenue, and the Department of Forensic Science. ABRA will be serving only as a coordinating agency, Powell noted — its enforcement duties are limited to businesses licensed to produce and sell alcohol and medical cannabis, he said — while the inspectors will be from the Health Department, DCRA, and FEMS.

Regular inspections at businesses will aim “to ensure awareness of and compliance with DC laws and regulations,” Powell said. The Office of Tax Revenue will also be reviewing business registrations independently, but its personnel won’t accompany inspectors on visits. The Department of Forensic Science will test items seized during inspections.

A newly published investigation by Capital Community News, supported by the investigative journalism grant-making organization Spotlight D.C., identified 60 I-71-operating storefronts citywide, and determined roughly half are operating without a Basic Business License and 25 businesses lack a Certificate of Occupancy.

Asked whether MPD will be shifting its enforcement approach for I-71 businesses, public affairs specialist Alaina Gertz said that while the task force’s focus “is on administrative violations under the jurisdiction of other agencies, they will refer any potential criminal matters to MPD.”

Some operators have said they feel threatened by a lack of dialogue between the task force and businesses leading up to August task force announcement or the end of the grace period next week. In a statement to The Outlaw Report, the I-71 Committee, a coalition representing D.C. cannabis “gifting” businesses, said in a statement that “District businesses continue to be in the dark as to what the goal and motivation is behind ABRA’s intentions to single out only I-71 businesses for investigation and enforcement.

“There is no discernible threat that ABRA is responding to nor is there any likely benefit to public safety, to the District’s economy, or to the quality of life of District residents. Shuttering our doors will only result in additional public safety concerns,” including more pop-up cannabis retail events (rather than established brick-and-mortar businesses), disruptions to business leases and displacement of companies and workers.

Such effects would be “ultimately, leaps backwards in cannabis legislation progress, which on a national level is only moving forward,” the I-71 Committee said.

Manns, of the Generational Equity Movement, said shops in GEM’s coalition support government monitoring businesses for compliance with local laws.

“We want to be part of a regulated industry, and the businesses involved in [GEM] have worked hard to make sure that their businesses are operating within the standards that D.C. sets out for small businesses,” she said.

However, operators remain uncertain about what inspections will look like at this point, as well as their implications if a company is fined or referred for further investigation — particularly if an operator hopes to apply for licensure if D.C. is eventually allowed to set up a regulated market.

“I think the fear comes more from the unknown, that we don’t entirely know,” Manns said.

Asked about such future implications if regulation of a legal market moves forward, Powell said “warnings and citations are an administrative function and will not affect applicant eligibility.”

ABRA this month will be issuing its first set of medical cannabis business licenses since the agency took over regulation of the city’s medicinal market from the Department of Health in 2020. On September 28, ABRA plans to award five new licenses: two new cultivation centers; one dispensary, to be located in either Ward 3 or 5, and two testing labs.

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Pennsylvania Gov. Announces ‘Large-Scale’ Pardoning for Non-Violent Cannabis Convictions

9/02/2022

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Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf and Lieutenant Gov. John Fetterman announced on Thursday a one-time, large-scale pardoning project for people with select minor, non-violent cannabis criminal convictions. The Democrats said the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons is accepting applications for the PA Marijuana Pardon Project through the end of the month.

Eligible convictions under the program include possession of cannabis and possession of a small amount for personal use.

In a statement, Wolf said he has “repeatedly” called on the state’s Republican-led General Assembly to legalize cannabis for adult use but they’ve not met the call for action.

“Until they do, I am committed to doing everything in my power to support Pennsylvanians who have been adversely affected by a minor marijuana offense on their record. This pardon project has the potential to open the door for thousands of Pennsylvanians – the college grad looking to start their career, the grandparent who’s been wanting to chaperone a field trip, or any Pennsylvanian who’s been told ‘no’ for much needed assistance. Now’s your chance.” — Wolf in a press release 

Fetterman, who is running for Senate against Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz – who rose to fame as a daytime television host – said that “nobody should be turned down for a job, housing, or volunteering at your child’s school because of some old nonviolent weed charge.”

“…Especially given that most of us don’t think this should be illegal,” he said.

It is estimated that thousands of Pennsylvanians are eligible due to convictions over the past several decades, even pre-dating cannabis’ inclusion as a Schedule 1 drug under the Controlled Substances Act.

Since taking office, Wolf has granted 2,098 pardons, the governor’s office said, and of those, 326 were part of an expedited review for nonviolent cannabis-related offenses. In the 15 years prior to Wolf’s term, only 1,805 pardons were granted in total.

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A Tale of Three Outlets: How FOX News, CNN, & the Daily Beast Covered the ‘Cannabis Users More Likely to End Up in ER’ Study

9/02/2022

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Late last month, headlines were ablaze with a study that found cannabis consumers were 22% more likely to end up in the emergency room than non-consumers and while it is not the mission of Cannabias to take on studies, it is the mission of Cannabias to break down these headlines and the stories they accompany.

Specifically, we’re going to look at three news outlets’ coverage of the study: the Daily Beast, FOX News, and CNN. The Beast is a snarky, opinion-oriented, publication, while FOX and CNN represent the right and left, respectively.

All three articles employ gatekeeping bias by only including the voices of the researchers who worked on the study. This is problematic because they must advance their narrative – it’s in their best interest. The CNN report goes a step further by mentioning previous, unrelated, studies that found cannabis consumers have higher levels of smoke-related toxins in their blood and urine and another, again unrelated, study that found teenagers were about twice as likely to report “wheezing or whistling” in the chest after vaping cannabis than after smoking cigarettes or using e-cigarettes.

Interestingly, in his CNN interview, study author Nicholas Vozoris, assistant professor and clinician investigator in the division of respirology at the department of medicine at the University of Toronto, said that “respiratory reasons” came in a “close second” behind bodily injury for ER visits among cannabis consumers; while FOX states that “the researchers didn’t find a strong association with marijuana use and emergency department visits or hospitalizations specifically related to respiratory issues or death from any cause.”

So which is it? We know by now that CNN is a clear example of structural bias when it reports on cannabis (structural bias is when the outlet itself shows bias on an issue on a regular basis) and the story concludes by citing several other previous studies purporting the harms of cannabis, and with a quote by Vozoris that the study should set off “alarm bells.”

FOX also ends its story with a Vozoris quote, but from a press release, which is far more measures than what he’s quoted as saying in an email to CNN. FOX’s headline also uses the term “cannabis” while CNN uses “marijuana” (adjective bias).

Of the three, though, the Beast is the only one to point out that “correlation doesn’t equal causation.”

“Just because pot smokers find themselves in the hospital more often than those who don’t smoke doesn’t mean that it’s the weed that’s doing it. It could be that those who smoke pot might just tend to be the type of people to accidentally harm themselves, or another reason entirely.” — the Daily Beast, “Put Down the Bong – Pot Users More Likely to Land in Hospital,” June 28, 2022

And this is a major, major caveat that neither FOX nor CNN brings up. The study doesn’t conclude whether the person in the ER was under the influence when the accident occurred; simply, they use cannabis and ended up in the ER.

This is not to say the Beast story isn’t rife with adjective and adverbial bias (“pot heads,” “weed,” but not “marijuana”) but it does provide additional context about the study – that 22% of cannabis consumers wound up in the hospital with an injury while 14% for respiratory-related issues (which is a non-negligible, 8% difference, CNN).

I mean, if you’re a bong half-full person, you could read this to mean that cannabis consumers may be more active, may work on their houses more, may actually do things that can lead to accidents (I’m just musing here since the last time I ended up in the ER was related to a home improvement project) compared to non-consumers, but I digress.

Remedy: CNN and FOX could have brought in other voices not associated with the study to add a little balance. CNN could have not used “nearly 25%” in their headline (I’m a stickler for this sorta thing, just say 22% if it’s 22%, facts are facts), substituted “cannabis” (seven instances) for “marijuana” (nine instances), and perhaps covered studies that did not find negative outcomes associated with cannabis use to maybe balance their tone.

FOX, overall, did a better job covering the study and could have used “cannabis” (31) instead of “marijuana” (although the former outnumbers the latter in the coverage 31-23) but the report is more balanced than the one authored by CNN.

And, while we shouldn’t expect much from the Beast, considering it leans into snark, they could have also used an alternative voice to provide some additional context.

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Study: Pharmaceutical Stocks Dip Following Cannabis Legalization Reforms

9/02/2022

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A study published on Thursday suggests that the stock market value of major pharmaceutical firms decreases following the passage of cannabis legalization laws. The researchers from California Polytechnic State University and The University of New Mexico found that stock market returns for major pharmaceutical firms were 1.5-2% lower 10 days following the passage of cannabis legalization reforms and that the implications of the annual sale from this reduction were an estimated $9.8 billion. 

The study, “U.S. Cannabis Laws Projected to Cost Generic and Brand Pharmaceutical Firms Billions,” was published in PLOS One. It concludes that cannabis acts as a new competitor in pharmaceutical drug markets and the study authors estimate a near 11% reduction in conventional pharmaceutical sales.  

Dr. Sarah Stith, co-author of the study of the University of New Mexico Department of Economics and an affiliated researcher with the university’s Medical Cannabis Research Fund, said that “currently, cannabis patients and their providers have little information to guide them towards the most effective treatment for their condition.”  

“The future of cannabis medicine lies in understanding the prevalence and effects of the plants’ components beyond THC and CBD and identifying ways to categorize cannabis by measurable characteristics that are known to yield specific effects. Mimicking conventional pharmaceuticals through standardization may not be the optimal endpoint for cannabis, as the variability inherent in the cannabis plant is likely driving its ability to treat so many conditions.” — Stith, in a statement 

The researchers also found that adult-use cannabis legalization had more than twice the impact on pharmaceutical stocks than medical cannabis legalization and that branded drug manufacturers were more affected than generic drug manufacturers, likely due to a greater competitive impact from cannabis entry on drugs without any existing competitors.

The study concludes that conventional pharmaceutical manufacturers may benefit from investing in cannabis markets rather than lobbying against them and that regulatory policy should facilitate further research into the risks and benefits of using cannabis for both medical and non-medical reasons.   

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Illinois Completes First Cannabis Retail Social Equity Licensing Round

9/02/2022

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Illinois completed its first round of social equity licenses on August 19, according to an Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) press release. The agency said in addition to the 182 social equity licenses granted in July and early August, three more conditional adult-use dispensing organization licenses had been issued for the 2021 license lottery winners.

“Illinois is a pioneer, leading the way in cannabis legalization that is equity-centered. With all 185 conditional licenses now in the hands of social equity applicants, we have reached a tremendous milestone. Now, we look forward to getting these businesses up and running, creating jobs in the communities most harmed by the failed drug war, and cementing ownership in Illinois’ cannabis industry as the most diverse in the nation.” — Gov. JB Pritzker (D), in the release

Forty-one percent of the businesses selected were Black-owned, 7% white-owned, 4% were Latino-owned, and 38% did not disclose their racial make-up. The awardees now have 180 days to find a physical location and complete the remainder of the requirements for an Adult Use Dispensing Organization license. If unable to find a physical location, licensees will be able to request an additional 180 days.

“I am pleased the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation fulfilled its statutory requirement and issued these 185 conditional dispensary licenses,” Mario Treto, Jr., secretary of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, said in a statement. “The release of these remaining licenses means ownership of cannabis dispensaries in Illinois is now more inclusive and diverse than ever before, and we look forward to taking the next steps together to continue implementing the most equitable cannabis program in the country.”

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SEC Investigating Dan Bilzerian’s Cannabis Company

9/02/2022

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The Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) is investigating Ignite International Brands, the Canada-based cannabis company run by social media influencer Dan Bilzerian, the Globe and Mail reports. The company is also under regulatory investigation in Canada.  

The company had previously traded on the Canadian Securities Exchange (“BILZ-CN”) but went private on Monday. At its peak in 2019, the company had a market capitalization of more than $750 million, but it was worth about $170 million when it stopped trading in both Canada and the U.S., the report says.  

The company pulled out of Canada in October 2021 citing the “government’s excessive restrictions,” the report says.  

The SEC on Monday filed a request with a California court to compel Ignite to comply with a subpoena it sent in May. In the court filing, the SEC said Ignite faces multiple investigations in the U.S. Ignite also revealed it is facing “numerous requests from the regulatory authorities” in Canada. 

SEC staff attorney Patricia Pei said in the court filing outlined by the Globe and Mail that the agency is seeking information regarding “possible violations of the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws” by Ignite and that says SEC staff uncovered information “that indicates it may have filed public financial statements that include false or misleading representations” about its revenue in 2020. 

“The SEC seeks an order from the court directing Ignite to show cause why the court should not compel it to produce documents as required by the subpoena. The SEC further seeks an order from the court, following its ruling on the order to show cause, directing Ignite to comply fully with the subpoena. The SEC is continuing its fact-finding investigation and, to date, has not concluded that any individual or entity has violated the federal securities laws.” — the SEC in an Aug. 30 statement  

Ignite was first subpoenaed by U.S. authorities in May but the company sought a stay of that action, which was denied by the SEC. The agency said it gave the company “multiple accommodations” but Ignite “failed to produce the full set of requested documents.” 

The case is listed as Securities and Exchange Commission v. Ignite International Brands, Ltd., No. 2:22-mc-00172 

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British Columbia Worker Strike Has Caused 50 Cannabis Retailers to Close

9/01/2022

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The ongoing worker strike in British Columbia, Canada has, in part, led to the closure of 50 cannabis shops and about 500 job losses, Jaclynn Pehota, executive director of the Retail Cannabis Council of B.C. (RCCBC), told the National Post. The British Columbia General Employees’ Union (BCGEU), which represents about 33,000 public-service workers across the province, set up picket lines at four BC Liquor Distribution Branch (BCLDB) wholesale and distribution centers earlier this month.

While retail cannabis and liquor stores are not part of the strike, which is over wages, the cannabis division of the Burnaby customer care center is part of the action and, in response, the BCLDB said its cannabis distribution center will neither ship products nor assemble or process orders, which has led to product shortages at B.C. dispensaries.

“We’re going to be looking at between 50 and 70% of private retailers closing their doors in B.C. due to product shortages.” — Pehota to the Post 

Pehota added that retailers “don’t have a month’s worth of product on hand, because that month’s worth of product becomes 50% less valuable after 30 days.” 

“There was no way for the industry to prepare for what’s happening to them,” she told the Post, “and the failure of this monopoly supply chain means there’s nothing legally they can do to keep their businesses open.” 

The store closure and shortage of legal cannabis at the state-run shops are forcing consumers back into the unregulated market, George Smitherman, president and CEO of the Canada Cannabis Council, told the Post. He said that in B.C., legal sales had penetrated about 30% into the unregulated market but that “estimating the size of the illicit market is a very tricky art because actual data collected by governments is decidedly thin.”

In a statement following the start of the strike, BCLBD said it did “not know the extent of any future job action” and could not “speculate on the inventory levels held by wholesale customers nor customer demand and buying behaviors in this dynamic environment.”

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Police Raid Afroman’s Ohio Home, Confiscate Vape Pen & Some Roaches

9/01/2022

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The rapper Afroman, 48, legal name Joseph Foreman, posted security camera footage to his Instagram and TikTok pages last week of a raid on his Ohio home by the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. The raid, which took place on August 21, included multiple police vehicles and heavily armed officers carrying automatic weapons, body armor, and a ballistic shield. Afroman was out of town for work at the time of the raid.

“Good thing my kids weren’t home,” Afroman said on one of his Instagram uploads.

“… All of this for a vape pen,” he said.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by O.G. Afroman (@ogafroman)

In another video, he says police searched through his clothing and found $4,300 he had been paid for a rapping gig in one of his suit pockets, which they confiscated.

Afroman told TMZ Live in an interview that police took “some roaches, a vape pen, and a jar of CBD,” but that he was most upset about the damage to his property.

“I think they thought I had like hundreds and thousands of pounds [of cannabis] or something like that,” he said. “They didn’t have to run up my driveway with AR-15s and all kinds of assault weapons, I would have gladly just given that to them. So I don’t know what’s behind destroying all my property.”

Afroman said after the raid, the Adams County Sheriff’s Office asked him to come down to the station and make a statement. “I need a lawyer — Ben Crump, if you’re listening, I’m trying to get ahold of you,” he said, referencing the well-known American civil rights attorney.

Afroman is best known for his songs “Colt-45” and “Because I Got High.”

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Two Convicted in Ponzi Scheme Involving Cattle and Cannabis

9/01/2022

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Two people accused of running a $650 million Ponzi- like scheme involving cattle farms and cannabis have been convicted on a variety of charges, according to a report from Drovers, a beef industry trade magazine.

The pair — Reva J. Stachniw, 70, of Galesburg, Illinois, and Ron Throgmartin, 58, of Buford, Georgia — was convicted last week by a federal grand jury on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, five counts of actual wire fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Court documents outlined by Drovers said the pair ran the scheme from 2017 to 2019 and that the victims were roped into the scheme with promises that their money was backed up by short-term investments in cattle. Victims were also solicited to invest in a fraudulent Colorado dispensary, Universal Herbs LLC. Prosecutors say the defendants made millions from the theft but used very little of their own money.   

“Other victim-investors gave the conspirators money based on false promises that investment money would be used for legitimate business activities related to cattle or marijuana, without having the investment money linked to specific investment opportunities.” — Federal prosecutors, via the Gwinnett Daily Post

Defrauded investors were promised returns of up to 10% to 20% in a matter of weeks. At no point were victim-investors told their money was being used to pay back other investors in the Ponzi scheme, the report says. 

The pair faces up to 20 years for each wire fraud case and 10 years for the money laundering charge. Their sentencing is expected on January 6, 2023.

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Missouri Democrat Launches Group Opposing Cannabis Legalization Ballot Initiative

9/01/2022

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A Missouri Democratic state representative on Tuesday announced the formation of the Impactful Canna Reform Coalition, a group opposing the ballot measure seeking to legalize cannabis in the state, the Kansas City Star reports. Rep. Ashley Bland Manlove said she formed the group along with “like-minded community partners” because they realized “people from politicians to Bob on the street didn’t know the details” on the proposed constitutional amendment. 

“The capitalism monster loves to exploit you, and that is what’s happening with this petition.” — Bland Manlove, in a statement, via the Star 

The question was approved for November ballots earlier this month and early data from the campaign suggests voters will pass the reforms. Impactful Canna Reform Coalition is criticizing the amendment for not offering social equity provisions and for civil penalties included in the question, including a $100 fine for smoking cannabis in public, the report says.

The group includes the founders of the Kansas City-based WyldKard Lyfestyle Veteran Creative Lifestyle Brand which specializes in cooking and catering; Alycia Hightower, COO of holistic wellness company The Natural High Company; Makeda Peterson, a Kansas City community organizer and founder of Inyanga Herbal Remedies; Andrew McDowell, the co-founder of The Funky Skunk, a medical cannabis company; and Mac Mayberry with cannabis company Major Pac. 

The coalition also criticized the amendment’s automatic expungement provision for non-violent cannabis crimes, saying that the state’s poor rehabilitation programs would leave those who have their records expunged at the risk of “repeating the mistakes that caused their run-ins with the law in the first place,” according to the group’s statement outlined by the Star. 

In a statement, Adolphus Pruitt, president of the St. Louis NAACP, said that while the group applauds Bland Manlove’s “leadership on the issue,” it does “not believe that the Missouri General Assembly will be willing to pass a comprehensive marijuana legalization measure anytime in the near future.” 

“The legislature has had years to act on this and has been either unwilling or unable to do so,” Pruitt said in a statement, “and know from long experience that the politicians in Jefferson City are rarely allies in the fight for equity and justice.” 

A SurveyUSA poll released in May found 76% of Missouri Democrats supported adult-use legalization, with 14% opposed, along with 49% of Republicans (38% opposed) and 66% of independent voters (20% opposed). 

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Tyson 2.0 Partners with Hexo to Bring Product Line to Canada

9/01/2022

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Cannabis company Hexo Corp. is partnering with Mike Tyson’s cannabis brand, Tyson 2.0, to bring its products to Canada. The exclusive partnership includes Tyson 2.0’s full line of flower, pre-rolls, edibles, and vape products.

Tyson 2.0 products are slated to roll out in Canada in the fall.

In a statement, Hexo CEO Charlie Bowman said the Tyson 2.0 brand “fits perfectly into Hexo’s market-leading portfolio.”

“We know that Canadians have been eager to try the Tyson 2.0 line and we’re excited to have signed this deal with Hexo, the ideal partner to produce the high-quality premium and affordable, cannabis flower, concentrates and consumables that we’re known for.” — Tyson in a press release 

In Canada, Hexo’s brand portfolio includes Hexo, Redecan, UP Cannabis, Original Stash, 48North, Trail Mix, Bake Sale, and Latitude. The firm also operates in the nation’s medical cannabis market, along with Israel’s. In the U.S., Hexo products are available through Truss CBD USA, a joint venture with beer maker Molson-Coors.

Chad Bronstein, co-founder, president, and chairman of Tyson 2.0, called Hexo “the obvious choice in Canada” due to the company’s dedication “to bringing innovative cannabis products to market and Hexo’s strong reputation as the leader in quality standards.”

Tyson, a multi-time boxing world champion, serves as Tyson 2.0’s chief brand officer.

Bronstein last year raised $100 million for his companies which include Tyson 2.0, Fyllo, and Wesana. 

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Lilli Keinaenen: Sustainable Cannabis Branding & Packaging Designs

8/31/2022

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Cannabis packaging creates a large volume of landfill waste and much of this can be traced back to compliance requirements. As the industry has developed, design experts have stepped into the space to encourage growth toward compliant yet more sustainable cannabis product packaging options.

Lilli Keinaenen started Changemaker Creative because she needed change, loved sustainable design, and was very interested in cannabis. What has proliferated is a consulting and design business that is changing how we package and unwrap our cannabis products. This Q&A covers why Lilli first moved into the cannabis space, the most common issues with cannabis packaging, upcoming projects that most excite her, and more!

Keep scrolling to read the full interview.

Ganjapreneur: Why did you leave the environmental and social justice nonprofit design for cannabis?

Lilli Keinaenen: The honest answer? I was tired of the work, having been doing it for over a decade by then. Every nonprofit functions on the same cycle with fundraising and campaigns, so my life was a rollercoaster of busy and slow seasons. It felt like it was time for something new, and I had already shifted to working with sustainable consumer products at the time, and one cannabis client, when the opportunity to jump into cannabis came along.

It’s a funny story, really: someone I knew had gone to a cannabis event, she realized the cannabis market had matured and finally “arrived” – moving away from the bongs and thongs look into a more sophisticated consumer product. She called me the next day, pitching the idea to start a cannabis agency together, and I said “sure, why not?!”. That’s how the agency was born, in late 2016. I jumped in both feet into cannabis, learning everything I could about the industry. I left Cannawise to start Changemaker Creative on my own.

Have you always had an interest in sustainability?

I know it’s a cliche, but yes, I’ve always been a little eco warrior. I’ve always wanted to save the planet: from convincing my sister to stop using bad-for-the-ozone layer hairspray back in the 80s (and she had big big hair!), to saving earth worms from drowning during the rain (which made me chronically late for school), and asking my parents if I could go join a protest where people were chaining themselves to trees to keep them from being cut down (I was like 8 years old at the time), it’s always been a thing for me.

What is Changemaker Creative? How many people work at the company?

Changemaker Creative is my solo agency; it’s just me, working with a network of other talented folks. It’s mainly focused on working with cannabis products with soul. What that means to me, is, that the companies I work with, have the products and a vision to make the world a better place. I come in to help them create a brand that matches the quality of the product, and reflects that ethos, connecting emotionally to the new conscious consumer.

I have designed award-winning brands that stand out on crowded dispensary shelves and connect with consumers. As a classically trained designer with a Bachelor of Arts and decades of experience, you can often find me presenting about packaging sustainability and cannabis brand marketing. My advocacy work includes cannabis legalization locally and globally, and ecology efforts. I am the Changemaker, and Changemaker is me – when your day is filled with passion projects, work is fun!

You wear many hats at Changemaker, what type of continued education or courses have you utilized to stay knowledgeable about copywriting, web design, packaging, and other skills?

You know how you know you’re old? I’ve started to become annoyed when design software changes and they add new stuff! Old lady yelling at clouds… Things change, and one has to keep with the times! Despite being a curmudgeon on software updates, I do subscribe to a ton of design newsletters, just to keep on top of trends. Also read books on strategy and design thinking, just finished a really good one called OBSESSED, which is about creating brands people feel emotionally connected to, great read. Print design I learned back in college, and the basics of it haven’t changed so so much. Packaging on the other hand, is constantly changing; new materials, new shapes, new inventions for function. Love checking out websites like the Dieline to keep up with the newest packaging inspiration, going to packaging tradeshows, as well as following people and companies in the packaging field, who come up with cool things like algae plastics or augmented reality for print design. The world has so much cool shit happening!

If I were to go back to school, I’ve been toying with the idea of taking a course on sustainability – there’s a lot there to understand more deeply, on a scientific STEM level. Last course I took was a workshop on modern calligraphy and lettering at the Typeform Archive. It was really fun to break out the brushes and ink and do things by hand, so much of my regular day-to-day is digital nowadays.

What’s keeping me the most busy, though? It’s how much there is to keep up with with cannabis! New regulations, new states, new science, new products – sometimes it’s dizzying. Spent many an afternoon reading up regulations text with a highlighter, most recently reviewed the New York state new regs, and gave commentary on the environmental packaging aspects they propose.

How does the company center sustainability?

It’s really coming from my personal passion for saving the planet (and general climate angst). It’s also a great way to focus working with good people – I have very little interest in working with broey douches, and with the sustainability focus, I am attracting the kind of people I love to work with, and probably repel the ones in it to just make a quick buck.

Sustainability is part of everything I do: my home office runs on renewable energy, I guide my clients towards sustainable packaging options, speak about sustainability issues and the new conscious consumer widely. Even how websites and email newsletters are designed has an effect on the carbon footprint!

Do you take courses or keep up with newsletters or publications to help you stay at the forefront of sustainable packaging design?

It’s a constant effort – there’s so much innovation happening at all times, and also lots of conflicting information. It’s sometimes a struggle, weeding through the greenwashing into what’s actually true. I follow sustainability news, and also packaging industry news a lot, and my background working with environmental nonprofits also helps me understand some of the nuances. Do I feel like an expert? Some days, and some days I feel like I know nothing – it’s one of those things, where the more you know, the more you know you don’t know anything! Imposter syndrome can be a real bitch sometimes. But I approach it with an open mind – I’m constantly learning, and if I make a mistake, I’ll fess up to it and change. I guess that’s also a part of Changemaker ethos – constantly learning and improving.

What do you find inspiring about packaging concepts and design?

The world is filled with wonder and beauty! Consumer product packaging is such a fun field to be in, because a $500 bottle of artisanal tequila and a $5 can of beans can both have amazing design, for completely different audiences, but both can be taken in as inspiration for cannabis packaging. That’s the coolest thing about working in weed: it’s so many things all at once. It’s an everyday wellness supplement, it’s serious medicine, it’s a relaxing treat for winding down, and also a fun times for Saturday night kind of product. It’s for young people, and old people, and parents, and surfers and lawyers and moms and people from all walks of life. So it’s really like designing for many different kinds of products – luxury cosmetics, alcohol, food, snacks, personal care, vitamins, pharma… it’s all of the things, all at once.

What projects have you been working on?

One project I’m currently working on will feature some interesting plays with shine – the name of the brand implies movement, so really wanting to implement some kinetic energy into the design. We’re also toying with the idea of an augmented reality design, where reading the container with a QR code reader would open and unscramble a secret message!

Another project I’m proud of on a form factor side is an oldie but a goodie – back in the early days of recreational cannabis in California in the olden days of 2017-2018. At the time, this was all new, so finding child resistant packaging for an eye cream and face serum, while retaining the luxury cosmetics feels, was a tall order. And I mean that literally – had a hard time finding any boxes to fit the product! We ended up with a gorgeous heavy duty rigid box from Contempo, with custom metallic foil, and custom coated heavy glass bottles on the inside. Infused every single detail, down to the tamper-evident sticker, with some delightful design element. We get so many compliments on the packaging, it has that special something. (I’m a co-owner in Green Bee Botanicals).

Favorite project I finished up recently? The Honeybee Collective, it’s just 100% serotonin and happiness as a brand. The preroll case has a “day of the week” design on the inner tray, you get one a day on weekdays and two on Saturday! We wanted to go with aluminum for the flower jar and preroll multipack, and the singles tube is a compostable plastic with a compostable label. Honeybee also gives 10% back to the community, and works with small farms.

What is the most common design mistake you see in the industry?

Thinking your product target market is for everyone. Everyone CAN buy your product, but you have to have a clear target audience in mind who you’re selling to, otherwise you end up making your product brand so bland and generic it won’t tug anyone’s heart strings. And a great brand has an emotional connection, where the product feels like your personal friend. Also, in some products, you, the company owner, might not be the target market yourself, so what you like is not relevant. Of course, a lot of times, the product idea comes from a personal problem they wanted to solve, in which case you can be the target audience yourself.

When did Changemaker add website building services its services? Why expand into the web design space?

My original freelance business was a little all over the place, due to the fact I know how to do so many different kinds of things, from Powerpoints to animation and illustration to book layout and even textile pattern design. So with Changemaker Creative, I wanted to truly focus, so I scrapped everything except branding and packaging. But now, with clients are asking me for more things, I’m slowly adding some of the things back to the mix.

Copywriting, for example, is one of those things. Despite not being an English major (or even a native English speaker), I help most of my clients with their copywriting. While brilliant at what they do, most of my clients are not particularly good at talking about their product in a clear and emotionally compelling way. Instead, too often they’re focused on listing all the technical features, nuts and bolts, rather than explaining how it makes people’s lives better. In these projects, there often isn’t a budget for hiring a professional copywriter, so I step in! Messaging work is always a part of my strategic branding projects anyways, and that often turns into a pitchdeck project (also something I offer).

With the new addition of website creation as a service – the answer to your question is that I got tired of seeing my clients hire some rando to make them a website, where the content is terrible and the design doesn’t match the branding at all. There were some truly terrible websites my clients were paying way too much money for. They needed my help! Simple as that – there was a need, I can help, and truly, websites are more about the content, design, and messaging than about the coding (I code like it’s 1999, but luckily, that doesn’t matter with the modern website frameworks, it’s more about vision than your coding chops).

What aspects of the market, product, and stores does Changemaker consider while building the creative marketing strategy for a product launch?

Part of my branding strategy is a deep dive into finding the “secret sauce”, the magical “why this matters to anyone”. We collect inspiration from all over the world and different markets, do comparisons with competitors making sure we’re differentiating and finding the white space in the market that is currently underserved. A lot of thought and planning and talking goes into strategic branding, it’s so much more than just the visuals. It’s the whole big idea behind the company, condensed into a snappy message and visuals that are uniquely yours. I also guide my clients towards thinking about visibility and promotions as part of their brand building – thinking about where their clients hang out, and what would be appropriate venues for reaching their audience, connecting them with professionals who can help them get there.

Would Changemaker take a client who is uninterested in sustainable packaging options?

Most of my clients come to me specifically for the sustainability angle.

As with everything, things aren’t so black and white, sometimes budgets and ROI mean some compromises need to be made. And that’s okay. All of my clients care about these things, and make the best decision for their company based on analyzing the options. Sometimes it means moving forward with something that gets the job done, and leaving the supergreen custom packaging option on the wishlist for a later production run after the initial launch.

I have a strict “no assholes” rule, and I’ve dropped clients in the past. Usually due to them not respecting me as a professional, or those who spew sexist, or racist, or ableist hate. In my experience, those are also the people who have come to cannabis in hopes of making easy money, usually cutting corners and screwing people over and wrecking the planet in the pursuit of the mighty dollar. And that’s just not my scene. They typically don’t like me, and I don’t like them, and I’m in the privileged position where I can be selective of who I decide to work with.

As a result, my clients are awesome. A lot of them are women, or POC, typically self- or crowdfunded, and with a solid triple bottom line approach to business, people-planet-profit. And that’s what makes me smile every day – I’m helping good people helping other people, for a hopefully better tomorrow.

Thank you Lilli, for taking the time to answer our questions. If you’d like to learn more about Changemaker Creative check out changemakercreative.com.

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California Passes Law to Protect Workers from Punishment for Off-the-Clock Cannabis Use

8/31/2022

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California lawmakers on Tuesday approved a measure that would stop employers from punishing workers that fail urine or drug tests for cannabis, ABC News reports. Under the bill, employers could still punish employees for failing other types of drug tests, such as saliva tests, that are meant to determine whether someone is currently under the influence of drugs.  

Cannabis is legal for adult use in California.

Assemblymember Bill Quirk (D), the bill’s author, told ABC News that “nothing” in the bill “would allow someone” to be under the influence of drugs while at work.

Matt Bell, secretary-treasurer for the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 324, told ABC News that the legislation is necessary as “using outdated cannabis tests only causes employees to feel unsafe and harassed at work, it does not increase workplace safety.”

The measure does not protect employees at companies that receive federal funding or comply with federal contracts or anyone working in the building and construction trades, which benefits from federal funding.

The California Chamber of Commerce opposes the bill, saying in a letter to lawmakers that it would “create a protected status for marijuana use” in state law that bans discrimination in the workplace.

“Put simply: marijuana use is not the same as protecting workers against discrimination based on race or national origin,” the letter states.

The measure moves next to Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), who has until the end of September to decide whether to sign it into law. If approved by the governor, it would take effect on January 1, 2024.

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Florida Sets New Limits for Medical Cannabis Purchases

8/31/2022

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Medical cannabis patients in Florida are facing stricter purchasing limits starting this week after new rules took effect on Monday, Yahoo News reports.

The limits are the result of an emergency action taken by the Florida Office of Medical Marijuana as requested by the legislature, which wants to crack down on what they see as overprescribing by some doctors.

Florida’s 745,000 medical cannabis patients are now limited to 24.5 grams of THC every 70 days (350 milligrams a day) or 2.5 ounces of dried flower every 35 days, the report says.

“Patients are settling in and finding out what they need, and they woke up this morning and their supply has been cut in a third,” Jodie James, president of Florida Cannabis Action Network, said in the report. James is worried some cannabis patients will now either go without or simply turn to the unregulated market.

Josephine Cannella-Krehl, head of clinical community relations for Flowery Dispensary, said patients who use multiple types of cannabis products would be most affected by the law.

“So, a patient who uses inhalation at the maximum levels is now not even going to be eligible to qualify to use a topical.” — Cannella-Krehl to Yahoo

“And we want to make sure that our patients who are trying to do the right thing never have to wonder about whether or not they have too much medicine and they’re over their legal limits or worse that they’re not going to get enough medicine,” she said.

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Michigan Judge Dismisses Lawsuits Challenging Detroit’s Adult-Use Cannabis Laws

8/31/2022

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A Wayne County, Michigan judge on Tuesday dismissed two lawsuits challenging Detroit’s adult-use cannabis licensing ordinance, the Detroit Free Press reports. While Wayne County Circuit Judge Leslie Kim Smith called the city’s ordinance “a complicated scheme,” she ruled it is “unambiguous and provides a fair licensing process” comporting with the mandates of the state’s legalization law. 

The ordinance was approved by the city in April but was challenged in two separate lawsuits. One brought by medical cannabis operators in Detroit asked the court to allow existing, licensed, medical cannabis companies to also receive adult-use licenses; while another, also brought by a currently-licensed medical cannabis firm operating in the city, asked the court to stop the licensing process altogether. In the latter lawsuit, Smith said there was no preference for social equity applicants because non-equity applicants may apply at the same time and that nothing in state law limits a municipality from developing its own criteria and scoring system for awarding cannabis licenses.

In the lawsuit asking that medical cannabis companies also receive adult-use licenses, Smith ruled that the plaintiffs were incorrect in their interpretation that the ordinance prevents them from applying for adult-use licenses until 2027.

Mike DiLauria, general counsel for House of Dank, one of the plaintiffs, told the Free Press that “there’s no doubt” they would appeal the ruling.

Detroit’s adult-use cannabis business ordinance sets aside half of the planned licenses for so-called equity applicants, which includes longtime Detroiters and people who live in communities where cannabis-related convictions are greater than the Michigan average.

John Roach, a spokesperson for the city of Detroit, told the Free Press that “the law department is reviewing the recent rulings and … will know more about the licensing process and application timeline in the next couple of days.”

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