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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British Columbia Will Allow Cannabis Cultivators to Conduct On-Site Sales

10/18/2022

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British Columbia, Canada will soon be accepting applications from adult-use cultivators to conduct on-site retail sales, according to a Cannabis Business Times report. The Producer Retail Store (PRS) licenses will be open to standard producers, micro-producers, and nurseries. Producers can begin applying on November 30 through the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch’s (LCRB) licensing portal.

By launching the program, the province hopes “to support the development of a robust, diverse, and sustainable legal cannabis economy that is inclusive of Indigenous and rural communities.” Additionally, PRS licensees will have the opportunity to join BC’s Liquor Distribution Branch’s (LDB) direct-distribution program. The program “allows federally licensed cannabis nurseries and small-scale producers processing as much as 3,000 kilograms (6,614 pounds) of dried, unpackaged cannabis or its fresh equivalent annually to deliver directly to licensed and authorized cannabis retail stores in B.C.,” the report notes. 

“The fourth anniversary of the legalization of cannabis in B.C. is around the corner, and we continue to look for ways to support [the] growth of the legal market while providing safe and accessible options for British Columbians,” Mike Farnworth, the B.C. public safety and solicitor general said. “The PRS license is another way we are working to support the success of B.C.-based producers.”

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Native Leaf Co Markets First & Only Whole-Leaf Hemp Wraps

10/17/2022

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Las Vegas, October 17, 2022 – Native Leaf Co launched its new line of hemp leaf wraps handpicked from the cannabis plant – becoming the first and only company to offer a natural hemp wrap from cured hemp leaves. Accessing these types of hemp leaves, known as fan leaves, has always been difficult for the everyday cannabis enthusiast as it involves growing the plant themselves – making it inaccessible for most. Creating wraps from fan leaves, which are typically discarded, makes the process completely sustainable. All of Native Leaf Co’s leaves undergo rigorous quality control testing, with each leaf inspected individually for proper condition and size.

Native Leaf wraps are available in three styles – LUCY, a double stacked hemp leaf sealed with organic plant glue for an easier rolling experience, ABEL, a wide hemp leaf sealed with organic plant glue for the ability to add more cannabis, and ARDI, a single hemp leaf with zero additives.

“The cannabis experience was diluted with non-natural wraps. Hemp was processed into paper, and natural leaf options weren’t hemp. On top of being the only whole-leaf hemp wrap in the market, our wraps are so clean, you’ll only taste herb,” said Sidney Quitorio, CEO & Founder of Native Leaf Co.

Hemp leaves contain chlorophyll, a pigment that gives the leaf its natural green color, but can add a harsh, grass-like taste. Native Leaf Co removes the pigment through a 30 day slow-curing process using Earth’s elements, maximizing the taste of each unique terpene when smoking. In addition, slow-curing converts the starches within the leaf into sugars, which allows for an effortless inhale from the smoothest smoke. Removing the chlorophyll turns the leaf into a stunning natural taupe brown color with a clean taste to match – fully unlocking the flavor from the flower.

All Native Leaf kits include three leaves, a Boveda for optimal moisture content, three filters for a barrier of separation, organic plant glue to assist with sealing, a mini leaf for any patching needed for a preservative-free wrap, and hemp wick to prevent lighting directly with butane and changing the taste of the herb.

Pricing and availability:
Native Leaf can be purchased directly from https://nativeleafco.com/.

Images of Native Leaf Co – download here

About Native Leaf Co:
Native Leaf Co exists to inspire greatness by empowering those who challenge what it means to smoke natural. As the first company to launch all-natural hemp leaf wraps, Native Leaf wants cannabis enthusiasts to smoke the way nature intended. Learn more at https://nativeleafco.com and keep up with Native Leaf Co on Instagram

Press Contacts:

Raveena Cheema
Native Leaf Co
raveena@nativeleafco.com

Samantha Quitorio
Native Leaf Co
samantha@nativeleafco.com

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Colorado to Vote on Psilocybin Legalization Next Month

10/17/2022

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Colorado voters next month will decide whether to legalize psilocybin and psilocin, the psychoactive compounds found in what is colloquially known as magic mushrooms, for therapeutic purposes, Colorado News Online reports. If approved, the Natural Medicine Act – or Proposition 122 – would also decriminalize personal possession of the fungi and allow people to grow their own. 

The measure would allow licensed “healing centers” to provide psilocybin and psilocyn for therapeutic purposes. 

Natural Medicine Colorado, the group backing the effort, told Colorado News Online that “Natural psychedelic medicines are non-addictive and can have profound benefits for people struggling with challenging mental health conditions including depression and anxiety and those struggling to find peace at the end of their lives.” 

An issue committee supporting the reforms reported more than $2.8 million in contributions, with nearly all of that funding coming from Washington, D.C.-based New Approach PAC, according to campaign finance disclosures outlined by Colorado News Online. New Approach PAC also supported the successful natural psychedelic decriminalization measures in Oregon and Washington, D.C., in 2020. Psychedelic mushrooms are already decimalized in Denver, which approved a measure in 2019 to make possession of the substances the city’s “lowest law enforcement priority.” 

Protect Colorado Kids, which opposes the reforms and was also opposed to broad cannabis legalization in the state, has reported raising just $750.   

If passed, the Natural Medicine Act would create a 15-member Natural Medicine Advisory Board to oversee the regulation of psychedelic substances. The first licenses for providers would be issued in September 2024. Pending recommendations from the advisory board, including adding other substances, such as DMT and mescaline, could be added to the program in 2026. 

According to a FOX31/Channel 2/Emerson College/The Hill poll published in September, 36% of voters said they would support the measure, with 41% opposed, and 23% unsure.  

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Uber Eats Partners with Leafly for Cannabis Delivery in Toronto

10/17/2022

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Uber Eats is now delivering cannabis in Canada in partnership with Leafly. Torontonians 19 and older can place orders from licensed retailers in the Uber Eats app and products will be delivered by the retailer’s CannSell staff.  

It’s the first time cannabis delivery will be available on a major third-party delivery platform in the world, Uber Eats said in a press release.   

Lola Kassim, general manager of Uber Eats Canada said partnering with Leafly helps retailers “offer safe, convenient options for people in Toronto to purchase legal cannabis for delivery to their homes, which will help combat the illegal market and help reduce impaired driving.”  

“Over the last few years, we have invested heavily in our delivery business and selection has expanded tremendously. Uber Eats has grown quickly to become a versatile platform usable by diverse businesses large and small.” — Kassim in a statement 

Customers in Toronto will see a “Cannabis” category on their Uber Eats app and retailers will be searchable. Customers must be within the delivery radius of the retailer and will be notified when the retailer accepts the order and be provided an estimated delivery time – just like when ordering non-cannabis products through the app. The order will only be delivered by the cannabis retailer’s CannSell-certified staff, who will also verify the customer’s age and sobriety as required by Canadian regulations. 

The first three retailers on the app are Hidden Leaf Cannabis, Minerva Cannabis, and Shivaa’s Rose.   

Marissa and Dale Taylor, owners of Hidden Leaf, which has three locations in Toronto, said the partnership is a “great way” for the company to expand its reach and grow its business across the city. 

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Missouri Campaign Backing Adult-Use Cannabis Initiative Raises $700K in Donations Since Oct. 1

10/17/2022

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Since October 1, Legal Missouri 2022, the campaign supporting the cannabis legalization amendment in the state, has raised nearly $700,000 in large campaign contributions, the Missouri Independent reports. The donations are coming primarily from the state’s medical cannabis operators, who will get first dibs for adult-use licenses if the amendment is approved by voters next month.

BD Health Ventures LLC, which holds two dispensary and three cultivation licenses under the medical cannabis program, donated $200,000 this month. Grassroots OpCo LLC, which holds five dispensary licensed but has links to at least 16 dispensaries in the state, donated $100,000, the report says. 

According to its July quarterly report with the Missouri Ethics Commission, Legal Missouri 2022 spent about $6 million getting the question on ballots.  

The opposition group, Save Our State, which was formed last month by former lawmaker and longtime GOP political strategist Scott Dieckhaus, has not reported any contributions. 

If approved, the measure would legalize cannabis possession and sales to adults 21-and-older and automatically expunge cannabis offenses on records for non-violent offenders.    

Beau Whitney of Whitney Economics has estimated that cannabis sales in Missouri could reach between $250 million and $300 million during the first few years and could grow to between $800 million and $900 million by 2025.  

A mid-September poll by Remington Research Group commissioned by the Missouri Scout newsletter, found 43% of respondents support the proposal, with 47% opposed and 10% unsure, according to a St. Louis Public Radio report. A poll by Emerson College Polling and The Hill released at the end of September found that 48% backed the reforms, with 35% opposed and 17% unsure. 

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Marijuana Packaging Launches New Vape Brand

10/14/2022

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Vernon, CA, United States — Marijuana Packaging, a leading cannabis packaging supplier, is launching the new vape brand hardware brand RAE™, short for Refined Atomizer Engineering. RAE™ aims to revolutionize the vape industry by using cutting-edge technology to push the boundaries of engineering and product performance.

RAE™ is committed to producing state-of-the-art vaping hardware that provides a supreme experience. Its product line-up includes vape cartridges, batteries, and disposable vaporizers crafted from FDA-approved materials.

RAE’s branding is centered around safety, compliance, and quality control. The brand aims to provide companies in the cannabis extracts industry with the best products to help represent them in the best light.

RAE’s Superior Technology

The technology behind RAE™ vaping hardware sets the brand apart from other manufacturers. RAE™ focuses on research and development to ensure the continuous production of its vaping equipment. The brand has heavily invested in research facilities and acquired top minds in aerosol science to spearhead production.

Similarly, RAE™ invests heavily into research and development. Not only does this ensure that the company continues to improve its products and processes, but it also helps attract and retain the best engineers in the industry.

Standard Coil

RAE’s Standard Coil is produced from the brand’s proprietary in-house ceramic. This premium material, coupled with the company’s heating element, helps create a high-porosity network that significantly improves the performance of any vaporizer. Furthermore, it facilitates better absorption of oils for smoother inhalation.

Mesh Coil

The engineers at RAE™ designed the mesh coil to heat up rapidly in low temperatures. This patented piece of tech can operate at just 160°C (320°F), allowing consumers to get a rich flavor without risking combustion or damaging the oils. The mesh design also increases the heating surface area for better performance.

Notch Coil

The Notch Coil by RAE™ is a heating element more than three times larger than other vaporizer coils in the market. Consequently, it has a more significant surface area, allowing it to offer incredible heat distribution. It also operates in relatively low temperatures of around 210°C, which reduces burning and preserves oil quality.

Ultra Core

The Ultra Core is RAE’s flagship nanofilm ceramic heating element. It is fully integrated with a ceramic wick, making it durable and reliable. The large surface of the Ultra Core allows it to perform at low temperatures. It also helps reduce the amount of carbon deposits by approximately 50% compared to thick film ceramic and 67% less than cotton cores.

Materials and Sourcing

While designing fantastic vape hardware may be a priority for RAE™, it wouldn’t be possible without sourcing the best materials. Essentially, this is the root of RAE’s operations, and the brand does not compromise when it comes to the quality of its materials.

Single-Source Ceramic

RAE™ only uses in-house ceramic for the production of all its cores. Doing this helps the brand maintain consistency and reliability. The brand utilizes its fully automated manufacturing facility to produce highly porous ceramic with a precise uniform structure, resulting in smooth consistent hits.

Stainless Steel 316L

RAE™ also utilizes stainless steel 316L, a corrosion-resistant metallic alloy of stainless steel, nickel, and molybdenum. It is very durable and resistant to chemical contaminants. For this reason, it ensures that RAE’s vaporizers prevent heavy metal leaching, which can cause numerous health issues.

Batteries & Power Supplies

RAE™ only sources Grade A ores from reputable suppliers for its batteries and power supplies. The brand also ensures its batteries are UL-certified and constructed using the best materials to guarantee maximum performance and efficiency.

Safety

RAE™ has developed rigorous testing methods to ensure it continues to produce unmatched vaping equipment that is safe for consumers. For instance, the brand ensures its products are heavy metal tested using in-house and third-party laboratories.

Similarly, RAE™ performs extensive accelerated testing on products to analyze their condition and longevity. This is unlike other manufacturers that only test their hardware immediately after production.

RAE™ also utilizes an automated manufacturing facility to ensure consistent quality and minimize production discrepancies. Moreover, the brand only uses 100% FDA-approved food-grade materials to ensure optimum safety.

Products and Customization

RAE’s line-up of products includes vaporizer cartridges, batteries, and disposable vaporizers. All these products make use of the brand’s ceramic cores, long-lasting batteries, and mouthpieces.

Moreover, RAE™ also offers a comprehensive customization library, allowing brands to be just as unique as the brand’s hardware. Clients can get everything from custom color finishes on their cartridges to attractive LED colors on batteries.

Customization is also a straightforward process that only involves a few steps. All clients have to do is pick their desired product, select their customization mods, and watch RAE’s team of creatives bring their vision to life.

About RAE™
RAE™ is a vaping hardware brand that combines innovative engineering with superior technology. Through extensive research and rigorous testing, the brand continues to find ways to push the envelope in the vaping sector.

RAE™ consists of more than 3,500 members including engineers and creative minds dedicated to transforming the vaping sector through the development of their technology. As a result, RAE™ has some of the most advanced vaporizer technology in the world.

Contact Information
Company: RAE™
Address: 3359 E 50th St Vernon, CA 90058, United States
Phone: (866) 942-4262
Email: info@raevapes.com
Website: https://raevapes.com/

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Kentucky Gov. Planning Low-Level Cannabis Possession Pardons

10/14/2022

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Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) on Thursday announced that individuals convicted of simple cannabis possession with otherwise clean records can apply for a pardon of the charges, WKYT reports. The announcement comes a week after President Joe Biden (D) announced he would pardon all federal cannabis possession charges and urged governors to do the same with state charges. 

“Let me be clear, I agree that no one should be in jail simply because of possession of marijuana. I know the vast majority of Kentuckians demand medical cannabis be legalized, and I am committed to keeping Kentuckians updated as we review the information and make plans to move forward.” — Beshear via WKYT 

Beshear indicated he has asked the Administrative Office of the Courts how many Kentuckians are eligible for relief under the plan and that his administration is working on developing the next steps.  

The governor’s website does include a general application for pardons and commutations but it’s unclear whether officials will set up a separate system to pardon low-level cannabis possession crimes. The application requires applicants to list all previous and pending charges and convictions and their employment history, include a letter explaining why they believe they deserve a pardon or commutation, and provide a minimum of three letters of recommendation supporting the application. Applicants must also authorize the governor’s office to conduct investigations of the applicants’ history and background, including their criminal and employment records.

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Arkansas Medical Cannabis Sales Outpacing 2021 Totals

10/14/2022

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Medical cannabis sales in Arkansas are on pace this year to top their 2021 totals, reaching $205 million so far this year, the Fort Smith Times Record reports. In 2021, medical cannabis sales totaled $264.9 million, Scott Hardin, spokesman for the Arkansas Department of Finance Administration, said.

“By the end of December, our overall sales for 2022 should certainly be above the $264.9 million sold in 2021. … The reason sales were so low in 2019 was the number of dispensaries in operation. There were only a few dispensaries open for an extended period in 2019.” — Hardin to the Times Record

Medical cannabis sales in Arkansas were $31 million in 2019 and $182 million in 2020. In all, there are 38 active dispensaries throughout the state

The state generated $2.9 million from medical cannabis taxes in 2019, $21.2 million in 2020, $33.1 million in 2021, and $23.9 million through the first nine months of this year. In all, that is $81 million generated in state tax revenue since mid-2019. Of that, $62 million was directed to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in an effort to win a designation as a National Cancer Institute, Hardin said in the report.

Arkansas voters will decide next month on whether to legalize cannabis for adult use. The ballot question was nearly tossed by Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston who had declared the measure “insufficient” to appear before voters after the State Board of Election Commissioners failed to certify the question’s popular name and ballot title.

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Alabama Medical Cannabis Association Forms with Government Affairs Veteran at Helm

10/14/2022

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The Alabama Medical Cannabis Association is now active, having launched last month, with businessman and government affairs veteran Patrick Lindsey as the group’s first executive director. 

“It is a true honor to serve as the first executive director of this novel association, which is launching at the perfect time to advance the wellbeing and future of Alabamians. With illicit and deadly fentanyl lacing street drugs and the opioid epidemic ravaging communities across our state, there has never been more of a need for safe, controlled, medically prescribed cannabis in Alabama.” — Lindsey in a statement to Alabama Daily News

Lindsey worked in governmental affairs for 17 years. 

The association says it will promote “safe, affordable, and accessible medical cannabis for Alabama patients by supporting the growth of a responsible and safely regulated business environment for its members.” 

The group named Alva Lambert as its deputy director. Lambert previously served as a deputy district attorney for The Office of The Montgomery County District Attorney, and as executive assistant to the governor. In 1997, Lambert was appointed as executive director of the State Health Planning and Development Agency where he remained for 21 years until his retirement from the state government in 2018. After leaving the agency, Lambert was named director of business development for Alabama for Bernhard Energy. 

The state is also home to the Alabama Cannabis Industry Association which was formed last year. 

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Kin Slips: Innovative Infusions & The Importance of Product Consistency

10/13/2022

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Cannabis products can fulfill a spectrum of needs from wellness to recreation. Kin Slips sublingual strips cater to a wide swath of that spectrum, from the Signature line to the new hemp-derived Essentials line. Kin Slips COO Josh Kirby and CEO Ron Richards recently told us more about the now-national brand.

The brand started in Washington’s adult-use market before moving to California ahead of the passing of Proposition 64. No matter their location, the team’s goal has always been on providing a product that would be the same every single time a consumer picked it up from the dispensary. Richards mentioned that they’ve been working together for a decade, an endeavor that started with developing a cannabis chewing gum.

While researching modes of ingestion for the gum, Kirby accidentally invented an infused dissolving strip. The strip soon became the focus of the brand. Absorbing the compounds sublingually allows them to bypass the stomach and first-pass metabolism in the liver, avoiding cannabinoid conversions (like the conversion of delta-9-THC to 11-hydroxy-THC) and absorbing the cannabinoids and terpenes directly into the bloodstream. In theory, this provides an ingestible experience that more closely resembles the effects of inhalation. This technology, which was originally invented for another purpose, is now the backbone of a national cannabis brand with four product lines.

Shut Eye, Park Life, Float On, and Cloud Buster round out the Signature line, which caters to experience. They launched the line alongside the California adult-use industry, and the team recognized that new consumers would enter shops and not know the nuances between Runtz and Apple Tartz. The Signature line provides a simple gateway to exploring the experiences cannabis has to offer, and the product name tells consumers what to expect.

The brand soon expanded and now includes the Flowerful line. These strips cater to the consumer who wants to know about the inputs, the farm, and the genetics of every product. “We wanted to create a line of products that would speak to people who were interested in strains but didn’t necessarily want to be inhaling them all the time, they could experience a full strain profile through the strips,” Kirby said. Flowerful products are released one batch at a time using the same run of a single strain which is only available while supplies last. The flavor may return again, but the packaging will indicate that it’s a new batch of that strain. This product line ushered in a new consumer segment for Kin Slips which, like their most recent endeavor, which has spread across the country.

Kin Slips Essentials is a new hemp-derived offering that is available nationwide. “One of the challenges we face is that we are a pretty niche product within the scope of cannabis,” Kirby said. “For us as a business, it’s really key to try to root out as many different people as possible so we can grow our consumer base. We really wanted to get access to the national market, that’s been a key objective of ours for a long time.”

When planning which hemp product to introduce to their nationwide audience first, research showed a high level of interest in getting a good night’s sleep. Thus the company’s first release is a hemp-derived version of Shut Eye from the Signature line containing 5 mg CBD and 5 mg CBN per strip, among other ingredients. The product aims to assist in regulating the body’s production of GABA, an amino acid that, when found in the body in low levels, may cause restlessness and wakeful sleep.

As someone who has struggled with getting a good night’s rest for over a decade, I had to test them out. I took a methodical approach and started a two-week Kin Slips experiment. I took one strip each night for two weeks, keeping a sleep diary during those two weeks and the following two weeks without any cannabis edibles before bed. The results were exciting — for the first time in a long time, I’m having more regular nights of restful slumber.

During the first week of the experiment, I’d go to bed and, as per usual, wake up around 3 am to toss and turn for a few hours until I got up. But something happened in the second week: I started sleeping through the night. On the 14th day, I was so relaxed that I turned off my alarm and went back to bed. In the next two weeks, I didn’t take Shut Eye slips or anything except the usual puffs off of a joint after the baby goes down, and my restful nights continued. When I did have a disruption from daily stress and started sleeping less soundly, I took another Shut Eye, and that restfulness returned. This is just a personal testimony but I am looking forward to seeing what Kin Slips comes up with next.

Kirby wasn’t able to share what their next hemp-derived product would be but he did make it clear they wouldn’t release hemp versions of every strip in the Signature line. The Shut Eye experience could be replicated within the guidelines of the hemp laws but not all of them can, and Kin Slips’ mission is to provide a reliable consumer experience. Expect a new product in the Essentials line at the end of the year, and those in California can find Kin Slips Flowerful and Signature lines in dispensaries throughout the state. No matter where you find them, Kirby makes one promise, “We want it to be the same wherever you go!”

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California CAMP Program Eradicates Nearly 1M Plants During 2022 Season

10/13/2022

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Nearly 1 million illegally grown plants were eradicated and more than 200,000 pounds of processed cannabis was seized under the California Department of Justice’s annual Campaign Against Marijuana Planting (CAMP) program, state Attorney General Rob Bonta announced on Tuesday. 

Bonta’s office said in the fall the seasonal eradication program will transition to a year-round task force called the Eradication and Prevention of Illicit Cannabis or EPIC. The attorney general’s office indicated the new task force “will allow the California Department of Justice (DOJ) to build out its cannabis enforcement work and investigate and prosecute civil and criminal cases with a focus on environmental, economic, and labor impacts from illegal cultivation.”    

“California has the largest safe, legal, and regulated cannabis market in the world, but unfortunately illegal and unlicensed grows continue to proliferate. The California Department of Justice’s CAMP task force works tirelessly each year to eradicate illegal grows and reclaim our public lands, but shutting down these grows is no longer enough. With the transition to EPIC, we’re taking the next step and building out our efforts to address the environmental and economic harms and labor exploitation associated with this underground market.” — Bonta in a press release 

Since 1983, the 13-week CAMP program has eradicated more than 33 million cannabis plants, according to Bonta’s office. During the 2022 season, CAMP teams operating in 26 counties throughout the state conducted 449 operations, recovering 184 weapons and removing nearly 67,000 pounds of cultivation infrastructure. 

CAMP is a multi-agency collaboration led by the California DOJ in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service; the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service; the California Department of Fish and Wildlife; the U.S. Department of Justice’s Drug Enforcement Administration; the California National Guard, Counter Drug Task Force; the Central Valley High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program; California State Parks; and other local law enforcement departments.   

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San Diego Creates Social Equity Program

10/13/2022

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The San Diego, California City Council on Tuesday approved a social-equity program for the city’s cannabis industry, including start-up loans, fee waivers, and other business assistance, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. San Diego was the first California city to approve an adult-use cannabis licensing plan in 2017 but it did not include social equity provisions. 

To be eligible for the San Diego social equity program, applicants must meet two mandatory eligibility criteria: being convicted of a cannabis crime or having had a family member convicted of a cannabis crime after January 1, 1994, within the San Diego city limits; and being a current or former resident — for at least five cumulative years between 1980 and 2016 — of Barrio Logan, Linda Vista, southeastern San Diego, Encanto, Golden Hill, North Park, City Heights, the College Area or San Ysidro. 

Applicants must also meet two other criteria, including having a household income below 80% of the area median income, which in 2022 is $106,900 for a family of four; lost housing in San Diego through eviction, foreclosure, or subsidy cancellation after 1994; attended school in the San Diego Unified School District for at least five years between 1971 and 2016, or placed in the foster care system at any time between 1971 and 2016. 

Council President Sean Elo-Rivera said during the meeting that the city “had some members of the community, especially the Black community, who were locked up and locked down as a result of participating in something that many other members of society were openly engaging in.” 

“And then the doors were thrown open to a market and those with the most resources were able to rush through and start hoarding the profits, all while folks were chained down by the actions of the past.” — Elo-Rivera via the Union-Tribune 

An analysis by the city found that since 2015, Black and Latino people comprised a greater percentage of arrests than they made up of the population; although local law enforcement agencies couldn’t provide records prior to 2015. 

A city-conducted survey of cannabis business owners throughout the county found that 68% of owners are White, despite the demographic making up just 44% of the population. Latinos hold 14% of licenses despite making up 34% of the overall county population. Black people controlled 7% of licenses while making up 5.6% of the county population. The study also estimates that 87% of license holders in the county are men while 13% are women. 

Since California started allowing equity programs in 2018, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Oakland, Palm Springs, Sacramento, and San Francisco have launched them, the report says, adding that Humboldt, Lake, and Mendocino counties also have programs, which are funded by state cannabis taxes. 

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Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce Created in California to Combat Illegal Cannabis Operations

10/13/2022

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California Gavin Newsom (D) has directed the creation of the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce, a multi-agency cross-jurisdictional taskforce of enforcement agencies designed to better coordinate agencies combatting illegal cannabis operations. The taskforce is co-chaired by the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and is coordinated by the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) through its Homeland Security Division.  

In a press release, Nicole Elliott, director of DCC, said illicit commercial cannabis activity causes “pervasive harm to California communities, the environment, consumers, and legal cannabis businesses.”

The taskforce has been operating since late last summer to work with federal, state, local, and tribal agencies to disrupt the illegal cannabis market in the state.  

In addition to the three main agencies, the taskforce is working with 23 other state agencies as partners. 

“Large-scale, illicit outdoor cannabis cultivation can be harmful to the environment. Non-compliant cultivation sites can negatively affect wildlife, vegetation, water, soil, and other natural resources when they utilize chemicals, fertilizers, terracing, and even poaching local wild animals,” CDFW said in the release. “Illegal cannabis cultivation results in the chemical contamination and alteration of watersheds, diversion of natural water courses, elimination of native vegetation, wildfire hazards, poaching of wildlife and harmful disposal of garbage, non-biodegradable materials, and human waste.” 

“California has an abundance of public lands set aside for conservation, recreational use, and the enjoyment of the people of this state,” CDFW director Charlton H. Bonham said in a statement. “Unfortunately, criminal organizations are impacting these areas by exploiting some of our most pristine public lands and wildlife habitats as grow sites for cannabis.” 

The press release notes that the taskforce would also increase “efforts to support entrepreneurs and businesses in the legal cannabis market.”  

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VP Kamala Harris on ‘Late Night’: ‘Nobody Should Have to Go to Jail for Smoking Weed’

10/12/2022

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During an appearance on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” on Monday Vice President Kamala Harris (D) said, “nobody should have to go to jail for smoking weed.” The appearance came less than a week after President Joe Biden (D) issued pardons for all federal cannabis possession charges.  

During the interview with Harris, a former prosecutor, Meyers said that while “not that many people are affected” by the federal pardon – about 6,500 citizens according to a National Public Radio review – the move still represents “such a big step in the right direction” for federal cannabis policy. 

Meyers: “What happens next, rather than just pressuring governors to do the same on the state level? Do you see legislation in the future?” 

Harris: “Well, you know, we’ve tried over the years but, let me just start with saying this – I strongly believe, and the majority of Americans agree, nobody should have to go to jail for smoking weed, right? Right? And so we start with that, and we are, to your point, urging – and the president has been very clear – we’re urging governors and states to take our lead and to pardon people who have been criminalized for possession of marijuana and ultimately, though, as with so many issues, if Congress acts then there is a uniform approach to this as so many other issues. But Congress needs to act.” 

Harris served as San Francisco’s district attorney from 2004-2010 and oversaw the prosecution of more than 1,900 cannabis convictions, the Mercury News reports. The News said those figures show “prosecutors appear to have convicted people on marijuana charges at a higher rate than under her predecessor, based on data about marijuana arrests in the city.” 

During her bid for the White House in 2020, Harris expressed support for federal cannabis legalization.  

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MLB Makes Charlotte’s Web ‘Official CBD of Major League Baseball’

10/12/2022

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Major League Baseball (MLB) is partnering with Charlotte’s Web Holdings Inc. in an exclusive multi-year deal to make the brand the “Official CBD of Major League Baseball,” CNBC reports. It is the first deal between a CBD company and one of the four major U.S. professional sports leagues.  

MLB announced in June it would allow teams to begin selling sponsorships to CBD brands. Previously, only Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and NASCAR allowed CBD sponsorships. Under MLB rules, all products considered for sponsorships must first pass a THC threshold analysis by the National Sports Federation (NSF), confirming they do not have active levels of THC. Daily Edge, one of Charlotte’s Web tincture products, is certified by NSF. Once the product is released, it will feature the MLB logo on its bottle. 

In June, MLB Chief Revenue Officer Noah Garden said league officials have been eyeing the CBD category “for a while and waiting for it to mature to the point” where the league was comfortable with it.  

While MLB is the first league to partner with a CBD company, other U.S. athletes have launched their own CBD brands or reached sponsorship deals, including former National Football League tight end Rob Gronkowski, U.S. Women’s National Team star Megan Rapinoe, and the Richard Childress NASCAR team. 

Charlotte’s Web has previously partnered with National Women’s Soccer League club Angel City FC. 

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New York Adult-Use Sales Will Begin Before the End of the Year

10/12/2022

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New York Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) Director Chris Alexander said last week that there would be some dispensaries open “before the end of the year,” Spectrum News reports. Alexander’s comments run contrary to remarks made just last month, when, at an event in Yonkers, he said the state would not begin accepting industry applications until “the middle of next year.” 

During a public forum in May, Cannabis Control Board Chair Tremaine Wright said adult-use cannabis products could be available from conditional cultivators in the fall but did not offer a firm date at that time. OCM and Cannabis Control Board members have yet to provide further details about when the state’s first dispensaries will open or an updated timeline, but officials have previously stated that the state’s first adult-use sales will happen before 2023.  

Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) has indicated that the timeline remains on track, with about 20 dispensaries coming online per month after the initial launch, the report says. 

During his remarks Friday, Alexander said farmers across the state that have received conditional cultivation licenses have grown a sufficient amount to stock dispensaries were sales to commence before the end of the year.  

“We know now, having toured the state, that the crop will be ready, that it will be high-quality, that it will be sun-grown. And before the end of the year, we’ll have some of our dispensaries open. … We can’t be more specific than that. It will be in a rolling wave, though. We’ll have them keep coming online as they continue to be secured and built out.” ” — Alexander via Spectrum News 

New York’s first adult-use dispensary licenses will be awarded to social equity applicants, under a plan announced by Hochul in March. In all, the state has received more than 900 retail dispensary applications for 150 available licenses. 

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California Department of Cannabis Control to Fund $20M in Cannabis Research

10/11/2022

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The California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) is currently accepting research proposals for projects that will “advance public understanding of cannabis and legalization.” The agency has earmarked $20 million in funding for researchers at the state’s public universities for studies that will address “gaps in scientific knowledge” and help guide future policy decisions. 

The DCC is prioritizing research that examines cannabis potency and health impacts, the health of California’s cannabis industry, monopolies and unfair competition, legacy cannabis genetics, and medicinal use of cannabis, the agency said in a press release. 

Research funded under the program will be required to be publicly available at no cost.   

DCC Director Nicole Elliot said officials hope the “research resulting from these grants proves beneficial not only to California policymakers but also to those across the nation and world.”   

“California continues to direct millions of dollars to accelerate scientific understanding of cannabis and evaluate the impacts of legalization. Decades of federal cannabis prohibition has hindered our collective knowledge related to these issues, to the detriment of consumers, communities, our environment and more.” — Elliot in a statement

This $20 million in grants builds on the $30 million in research grants previously awarded to California academic universities in 2020. In 2020, the agency awarded 33 grants ranging from $144,949 to $2 million to fund research conducted at the University of California (UC) San Francisco, UC Santa Barbara, UC Berkeley, UC Los Angeles, UC San Francisco, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, UC Davis, California State University (CSU) Humboldt, and CSU Dominguez Hills, according to the department website.

Grant proposals will be accepted from November 1 until November 30, 2022, and the winning research projects will be announced in February 2023.

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