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MLB to Allow Sponsorships by CBD Brands

6/29/2022

Professional baseball teams can begin selling sponsorships to CBD brands following a Major League Baseball (MLB) announcement last week; the organization is joining the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and NASCAR in allowing CBD ads, the Sports Business Journal reports. All products considered for ad spots must first pass a THC threshold analysis by the National Sports Federation (NSF), confirming they do not have active levels of THC. Additionally, each deal must get final approval from the MLB commissioner, the report says.

“We’ve been watching this category for a while and waiting for it to mature to the point where we can get comfortable with it,” MLB Chief Revenue Officer Noah Garden said. “Our fans are very much the kind of customers they are looking for, and we like being first. It’s a good opportunity for us and the clubs.”

Garden indicated the league is open to patch deals, but the company “has to have a brand that represents sports.” CBD vendors granted deals will be able to post ads during MLB telecasts, similar to sports betting ads, the Journal says.

Although CBD is federally legal and several athletes including golfer Bubba Watson, former National Football League tight end Rob Gronkowski, U.S. Women’s National Team star Megan Rapinoe, and the Richard Childress NASCAR team currently carry CBD sponsorships, sports, in general, have been slow to jump into the business of selling CBD ads.

Experts believe the MLB’s move into the space will spur other leagues like the National Basketball Association (NBA) to begin offering players and teams the opportunity to sell CBD spots, the report says.

Garden says the NSF certification gives the league “a comfort level to be able to move forward.”

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House Appropriations Committee Approves Protections for State-Approved Cannabis Programs

6/29/2022

The House Committee on Appropriations on Tuesday voted to approve an amendment to prevent the Justice Department (DOJ) from interfering with state-approved adult-use cannabis programs as part of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations bill for the Fiscal Year 2023, according to a report from NORML. The amendment had been approved by the full House as part of the annual spending omnibus bill for the last two years but was not included in the final versions.

Since 2014, Congress has included similar protections for medical cannabis programs in annual spending bills and has included the protections in the base appropriations bill since 2018. The amendment effectively prohibits the DOJ from using its resources to interfere with states, territories, tribal governments, or Washington, D.C. to implement laws and regulations governing the production, sale, and use of cannabis by adults or to target individuals acting in compliance with those laws.

In a statement, Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) said he “spearheaded the work to develop this language, which protects the state and tribal-legal programs that have been enacted laws to end prohibitionary policies and allow the development of both adult-use and medical marijuana programs.”

“Congress must honor the will of the voters and prevent wasteful Department of Justice prosecution of those complying with their respective state’s or tribe’s cannabis regulations.” — Blumenauer via NORML

In April, Attorney General Merrick Garland said that enforcing federal cannabis possession laws “is not an efficient use” of federal government resources. During his confirmation hearing, Garland said that prosecuting state-approved cannabis operators under federal statutes “does not seem a …useful use of limited resources.”

The amendment still needs to be approved by the full House and Senate to be included in the omnibus measure.

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Mattie Mead: Sustainable Construction with Hemp-Based Building Materials

6/29/2022

From hempcrete to hemp wool and even hemp-based fiberglass, it has been demonstrated time and again that hemp-based building materials are a sustainable alternative to more commonly used building supplies.

In this Q&A, we ask Hempitecture CEO Mattie Mead about the burgeoning hemp industry and what it could mean for the future of construction and, ultimately, the health of our planet. This interview covers the founding of Hempitecture, the company’s status as a Public Benefit Corporation, the differences between hemp-based building materials and more traditional products, efforts to train contractors in the use of hempcrete, and more!

Find the full interview below:

Ganjapreneur: How did you meet co-founder Tommy Gibbons and what was the initial spark that led to the idea for Hempitecture?

Mattie Mead: Tommy Gibbons and I went to high school together, over 15 years ago. We shared some overlap in school: classes together, sports teams, and even the student council. After high school, we took very different paths. Tommy went to Princeton University and I went to Hobart College, a small liberal arts college in Geneva, NY. While he was studying public policy, I was studying architecture and environmental sciences.

After we graduated college, Tommy went on to the institutional finance world, working at companies like Goldman Sachs. After finding that work less than fulfilling, he gravitated towards the San Francisco startup scene. He last worked for an educational technology startup before joining Hempitecture.

I launched Hempitecture, or at least the Hempitecture concept, as a student. It was part of my thesis study on sustainable building methods. In 2012, I gave my first pitch to a crowded room of 250 people. I didn’t know where these pitch contests would take me, but it turned out that putting myself out there and bringing the Hempitecture concept to the stage brought some modest press, some articles were written and shared.

One article traveled far and wide on social media, about a college student pitching homes of hemp.

This article reached a nonprofit organization in Idaho who contacted me directly not long after I graduated. They asked if I would build a hempcrete building in Idaho. This project brought me to ID for my first time, and Idaho is now my home. This project turned into other projects.

As the Hempitecture concept began to grow, I knew I needed other people with different skill sets than I had to help Hempitecture grow. Tommy and I reconnected in 2017 when he was working in SF. Tommy became interested in what Hempitecture was presenting, and as we began to talk more about it, it seemed more and more that Tommy would bring these essential skillsets to the business. In 2018, we became business partners and re-incorporated hempitecture as a public benefit corporation.

Was the company always a Public Benefit Corporation? Has this classification impacted any aspects of the business?

It wasn’t until Tommy and I came together as business partners that we decided to bring Hempitecture from an LLC to a PBC, or a Public Benefit Corporation.

This was a huge moment for the business and our future trajectory.

This decision was made because we wanted to embody the mission of Hempitecture at the heart of everything we did and do. That’s the great thing about a PBC, it means you lead with a mission and state your benefit to the public.

For Hempitecture, that means that we benefit both people and planet through the creation of more sustainable building materials. Our materials benefit both people and planet through capturing CO2, displacing unhealthy mainstream materials, and contributing to healthier, higher-performing homes and habitats.

How long did you research and develop the products before bringing them to market?

Hempitecture has been a consistent evolution. The concept that was once presented on stage as an undergraduate student is very different from where we are today.

Building a business is an iterative process. It’s not always “here’s the concept, this is the business.”

In our case, it started with a concept: building materials derived from sustainable, carbon-capturing feedstocks.

The form that the business, as well as our products have taken, have transformed dramatically over the years. We started with a focus on Hempcrete. We have built over a dozen hempcrete homes, while advising, consulting, and supplying over a dozen more. Today, hempcrete makes up 20% of our business, we’re now focused on sustainable nonwovens, such as HempWool insulation. We’re currently building a nonwoven manufacturing facility to produce this insulation on a large scale for the first time in the US.

What technology do you use to create these products, and what are the benefits of installing Hempcrete and/or Hempwool?

For hempcrete, we have worked with Limestrong to formulate a specific lime binder that works to bind decorticated hemp hurd.

For HempWool, we have acquired novel European technology to produce hemp-based nonwoven insulation. Our nonwoven facility in located in Twin Falls, ID.

Our materials are healthy, non toxic, and lend to better-built environments.

Where does Hempitecture source plant material?

We have a number of partners. One of our primary partners is IND Hemp, who we have a supply chain partnership with.

What are the biggest challenges working with hemp-based building materials?

Hemp-based materials present a few challenges compared to conventional materials. Conventional materials are commonly accepted by building codes and officials. Our materials are newer to the market, and therefore have a more difficult time being adopted. We are currently working on a number of codes and criteria for acceptance of HempWool into commercial and residential building projects in North America.

Organizations like the USHBA are doing a great job at bringing hempcrete up to code standards, through groups like the International Code Council. Hempitecture in 2019 was the first company to conduct an ASTM e84 test on hempcrete, conclusively proving it is a 100% fireproof material

How do hemp building materials compare to traditional building materials in terms of structural integrity and longevity?

They are comparable or superior.

Do contractors need to learn new skills to begin working with these products?

Contractor skills are the #1 thing holding back hempcrete adoption in the US. Hempcrete involves carpentry skills, masonry skills, and knowledge of how the material integrates with, interacts with, and impacts the structural elements of the build. For this reason, cast in place hempcrete is niche. Hempitecture has trained over 100 builders to learn hempcrete, in an effort to reduce this bottleneck.

HempWool on the other hand, is simple to install. It’s a natural fiber batt, similar to fiberglass, but without the itch or abrasiveness. It can be adopted by any contractor or insulation contractor.

Does Hempitecture provide customer support with building projects and the application of hemp building materials?

We offer consulting services to help clients with their installations of both HempWool and Hempcrete

How is changing from commonly used building materials to Hempwool and Hempcrete the more sustainable option for the planet at large?

Using plant-based resources in lieu of carbon-intensive resources such as plastics, earth minerals, or synthetics, mean that materials can have a lower carbon footprint. We must reconcile embodied carbon with operational carbon. What that means is we have to begin priortitizing materials that have low embodied carbon, that help our buildings save energy.

Have you worked with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) or any other building code or public agency to reach more people who can use these products?

Our HempWool product is the only USDA biobased insulation product in North America. This qualifies it for LEED points.

What kind of reception do you get from construction, architecture, and other applicable firms when introduced to hemp building options?

Overall, the reaction is positive, but there are always detractors.

I think the architecture community is more inclined towards sustainable alternatives, whereas the construction communities are slightly more resistant, as it means less predictable costs, uncertain labor costs, etc.

The future for natural materials, however, is bright. We only have one direction we can go, and it’s towards sustainability, not away from it.

Thank you, Mattie, for answering these questions and sharing your expertise! Visit Hempitecture.com to learn more.

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Pennsylvania Committee Moves to Protect Medical Cannabis Patients from Wrongful DUI Charges

6/29/2022

The Pennsylvania Senate Transportation Committee on Tuesday unanimously approved a measure to protect the state’s medical cannabis patients from wrongful driving under the influence convictions, PennLive reports. The bill would treat medical cannabis like any other prescription narcotic, requiring proof of impairment that interferes with an individual’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle for them to be charged with a DUI.

State Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R) said during the hearing that the state’s current zero-tolerance law for DUI allows medical cannabis patients to be arrested, charged, and convicted for using medical cannabis prior to driving, even if they show no signs of impairment. She added that the proposal doesn’t “give patients a free pass to drive while impaired by medical cannabis” and that, if convicted, the driver will “suffer the most serious consequences” of the state’s DUI laws.

“Senate Bill 167 is critically needed to protect the medical cannabis community as the penalties for a controlled substance significantly escalate.” — Bartolotta, during the committee meeting, via PennLive

The measure will apply retroactively to medical cannabis patients who have received a DUI despite not being impaired, the report says.

At a September hearing on the issue, Pennsylvania State Police representatives indicated they didn’t see the proposal as having a negative impact on road safety, since the legislation doesn’t allow for medical cannabis patients to use their status as legal cannabis consumers as an excuse for driving impaired in a DUI case.

The bill moves next to the full Senate for consideration.

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Texas Supreme Court Upholds State Ban on Smokable Hemp Products

6/28/2022

The Texas Supreme Court on Friday ruled to uphold a state ban on smokable hemp products, according to a Jurist report. The court rejected an argument by hemp companies that the ban violated article 1, section 19 of the state constitution which states: “[n]o citizen of this State shall be deprived of life, liberty, property, privileges or immunities, or in any manner disfranchised, except by the due course of the law of the land.”

The court ruled that “the due-course clause does not protect the interest the plaintiffs assert,” concluding that, since Texas has a “long history” of prohibiting and regulating the plant, “the manufacture and processing of smokable hemp products is neither a liberty interest nor a vested property interest the due-course clause protects.” Smokable hemp product manufacturing and processing, the court said, is “‘purely a personal privilege’” which the legislature may “grant or withdraw as they see fit.”

“Even if there had been a few months during which the manufacture of smokable hemp was lawful, this brief window would have existed only by a temporary administrative quirk in the process of the substance’s partial ‘decriminalization,’” the ruling states. “Such a fleeting ‘right’ was in no sense ‘vested’ in the Companies, which had, at most, mere anticipation that the government would allow a right it created to continue in existence. Nor would the uncertain state of the law for a few months transform the long-prohibited manufacture of smokable cannabis flower into the kind of ‘lawful calling’ to which courts have afforded constitutional protection.”

The decision permits a previous trial court decision to stand, allowing the state to continue enforcing its ban.

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UN: Cannabis Consumption Rising Due to Legalization, COVID

6/28/2022

A new UN report found a rise in cannabis consumption in places that have approved legalization reforms and a similar uptick related to the COVID 19 crisis, Reuters reports. Written by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the study focused on the U.S., Uruguay, and Canada.

“Cannabis legalization appears to have accelerated the upwards trends in reported daily use of the drug,” the Vienna-based UN office wrote.

The report suggests that the pandemic heightened the risk of depression and suicide and warns that alongside cannabis use rates, THC concentrations in cannabis products are also on the rise.

“The proportion of people with psychiatric disorders and suicides associated with regular cannabis use has increased.” — UNODC via Reuters

The report found teenage cannabis use “has not changed much” but there was “a pronounced increase in the reported frequent use of high-potency products among young adults.” Around 284 million people in the report said they used drugs like heroin, cocaine, amphetamines, or MDMA, representing about 5.4% of the world’s population, during 2020; 209 million of those consumed cannabis as well, the study says.

“Periods of lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic drove increases in the use of cannabis … in 2020,” the UN report says.

The data also reports that cocaine production is up. Seizure data suggests cocaine use in Africa and Asia is on the rise. The report says opiates remain the world’s deadliest drug with fentanyl driving a U.S. overdose epidemic. In 2020, 107,622 individuals lost their lives to opiates worldwide, the report says.

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The Next Generation Enters The Fight For Decriminalization: Introducing The TOQi Fellows for Cannabis Amnesty

6/28/2022

Why Cannabis Amnesty Matters

Cannabis legislation is like concrete, slowly being poured and malleable until a certain point. As tempting as it may be to press your hands into your mark, the permanence causes hesitancy. As the cement settles, modifications become obsolete – there’s no opportunity for true change without restarting the process. You hope it is stable enough to hold its own with the foundation laid. But will the area where concrete was laid ever be the same? Will the traces of its predecessor remain, hidden out of sight? Timing is everything when building a proper foundation – you have to lay solid ground before walking on it. This analogy was introduced to the TOQi Fellows on their first day on the job by Sameena Ibrahim, Cannabis Amnesty’s Director of Marketing and Communications. She expressed the long-lasting effect and permanency of cannabis charges Canadian residents have faced since legalization.

The TOQi Fellowship for Cannabis Amnesty is the result of the non-profit Cannabis Amnesty working alongside Aurora Cannabis and TOQi Technologies to systematically right the wrongs of prohibition laws. Sameena, Annamaria Enenajor, Stephanie DiGiuseppe, TOQi CEO/Founder Drew Henson, and Aurora teamed up to mentor two hand-selected candidates in a Fellowship Program co-sponsored by TOQi & Aurora. The Cannabis Amnesty Board Members and Drew will work closely with the Fellows Aisha and Sofia over the next 12 weeks in the not-for-profit sector of the cannabis industry. Aisha and Sofia will have opportunities to build skills in various areas including but not limited to: government operations, marketing asset creation, and communication strategies. The Fellowship is an opportunity for the corporate side of the cannabis industry to give back to the foundations it was built on: community.

The Fellowship

The TOQi Fellowship for Cannabis Amnesty consists of a 12-week program to educate and evolve the interns chosen to be mentored by pioneers in the decriminalization sector. The Fellowship offers interns a generous compensation package (above living wages in Toronto) designed to challenge the market’s chronic under-valuation of the work of people who come from marginalized groups. Interns will also receive a $500 scholarship toward an educational program. The TOQi Fellowship provides access to Cannabis Amnesty’s broad network of cannabis entrepreneurs and industry partners. In addition, the Fellows will assist the leadership team with creating content for the Cannabis Amnesty website and drafting marketing communications.

From right to left: Drew Henson, CEO/Founder – TOQi Technologies Ltd, Annamaria Enenajor, Founder/Executive Director – Cannabis Amnesty, Sofia Rodriguez Garzon – TOQi Fellow for Cannabis Amnesty, Aisha Abawajy – TOQi Fellow for Cannabis Amnesty, Stephanie DiGiuseppe, Director/Founding Member – Cannabis Amnesty, Kate Hillyar, Senior Manager Corporate Communications, Aurora Cannabis

The Fellows

She/Her Aisha, 2nd year Law Student & TOQi Fellow

Aisha from Halifax, Nova Scotia, recently relocated to Toronto during the COVID pandemic for law school. One year into her degree at the Lincoln Alexander’s Law School at Toronto University, she stumbled upon the TOQi Cannabis Amnesty Internship submission page on her school’s website. She described her initial interest in applying as found within the first paragraph of the information page, stating, “it checked all the boxes.” Aisha recalled her ties to political and social activism and eventually dedicated her career and life to establishing change as early as age 10.

“It came down to the work they do. It’s essential – supporting people who have had past convictions or have been charged with cannabis crimes. It really shouldn’t be an issue today. The fact these organizations are coming together to focus on systemic injustices and trying to create and build an approach to recognize marginalized communities having or that have had higher cannabis-related convictions was something I gravitated towards. The position also pays a living wage, and no one does that… The opportunities for mentorship that were discussed to build on skills are huge… The reason why I came into law is to give opportunities, support, and resources to marginalized communities like my own. But, unfortunately, many people don’t have access to these spaces, resources, finances, and opportunities, or even just access to even understanding how to navigate the legal system to benefit and enrich their lives.”

They/Them Sofia, Communications BA Graduate & TOQi Fellow

A week after turning 18, Sofia immigrated from Colombia to Canada on a journey to explore the community niches they were so driven to find. After relocating to the Greater Toronto Area, Sofia found the larger sense of community they were searching for within the 2slgbtqqia+ community; eventually leading Sofia to apply to the program.

Sofia continued stating, “…As an openly queer and trans person, I know what it’s like to rely on the community. So the fact that there are so many people rallying around with palpable support is encouraging. I think it is an important cause and initiative because I have ties to people and their families who have been affected by cannabis possession convictions.”

For individuals interested in the cannabis industry, but unsure about where to begin, opportunities such as the TOQi Cannabis Amnesty Fellowship open the door of possibilities to the new generation of cannabis workers. When being interviewed, Sofia shared their thoughts on the program stating “possession charges are only the tip of the iceberg… There’s an underlying racial bias that has been applied throughout, and in charging decisions and it’s so important to address the wrongs that have been committed in the past… If people knew more about not just production, sales, or consumption, but also the legal aspects behind cannabis, people would probably care a lot more.”

Looking to the Future

62% of Canadians “support or somewhat support pardons for people with criminal records for marijuana possession,” yet only 500 C-93 pardons have been granted out of 10,000 eligible cases. The TOQi Fellowship aims to guide the next generation of cannabis workers to continue increasing tangible support to people who have been impacted by decades of cannabis prohibition and its prejudices.

When discussing the future possibilities that may result from this experience, Sofia expressed the intrigue of community-based entrepreneurship and Aisha hopes in 10 years, she will represent diversity on the bench in Canada.

As for what the future holds for the TOQi Fellowship, Drew spoke to the team’s encouragement for other cannabis companies to join next year’s program to keep the Fellowship torch lit and burning brightly and build a better future for all.

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D.C. Council To Vote On ‘Self-Certification’ For Medical Cannabis Patients

6/28/2022

This article was written by Gaspard Le Dem (@GLD_Live on Twitter) and originally published by Outlaw Report.

The Washington D.C. Council is slated to vote on an emergency bill this Tuesday that would allow adults to register for the District’s medical cannabis program simply by “self-certifying” they use cannabis for medical purposes.

The measure, introduced by Councilmembers Mary Cheh (Ward 3) and Kenyan McDuffie (Ward 5), would eliminate the need for a doctor’s note to become a medical cannabis patient. If passed, adults 21 and older could theoretically walk into any of D.C.’s seven licensed dispensaries, sign a piece of paper, and purchase cannabis on the same day.

In April, the council narrowly turned down a similar proposal by Chairman Phil Mendelson because it contained provisions to crack down on cannabis “gifting” businesses –– storefronts and delivery services that use a loophole in local law to sell cannabis without a license.

Since last fall, local cannabis advocates and industry groups have fought back several attempts by Mendelson to pass legislation that would ramp up enforcement against unlicensed cannabis businesses. Groups like the I-71 Committee and Generational Equity Movement have rallied around the message that a crackdown on the gray market – whether through civil fines or criminal penalties – would take a disproportionate toll on the many Black D.C. residents who own and work at “gifting” shops.

Now, it appears their efforts have paid off: The council’s latest cannabis bill does away with the unpopular enforcement provisions, preserving only the self-certification part of the bill.

“Unlike the prior legislation, this bill does not include any enforcement provisions, and therefore will not have a direct effect on the gray market businesses or their employees beyond perhaps increasing competition for services,” says a June 23 letter from Cheh and McDuffie requesting a vote on the bill.

At a press briefing on Monday morning, Mendelson said he expects the bill to pass, describing it as “another effort at trying to help the medical cannabis industry.”

Though the bill drops any enforcement provisions, Mendelson reiterated his desire to rein in unlicensed cannabis businesses. “If we don’t get a handle on these pop-ups, what we’re going to see is the medical side […] will continue to see a loss of its customers,” he said.

The chairman, who recently won his re-election bid, has recently been on a mission to shore up D.C.’s medical cannabis industry, which he claims is struggling due to unfair competition from unlicensed cannabis shops that face fewer regulations and don’t pay special sales taxes on cannabis sales. Mendelson has already gotten several bills passed that aimed to give medical cannabis operators a boost, including one that lifted restrictions on dispensaries and cultivators and another that created a 4/20 tax holiday for the industry.

But the “self-certification” bill now before the council would likely have a much greater impact on licensed cannabis businesses by removing the burdensome and expensive requirement of obtaining a doctor’s recommendation for patients. That could convince cannabis users who favor the gray market to switch over to licensed dispensaries, though the cheaper prices of unregulated products would remain a deterrent.

Cheh and McDuffie’s letter says the bill would put medical dispensaries “on more even footing” with gray-market businesses when it comes to patient access.

“Permitting patients to self-certify now will provide a critical stopgap measure to help legal marijuana dispensaries retain and even win back patients,” the letter says.

It also says diverting customers away from gifting shops will lead to “better health outcomes” for patients because gray market products provide “no assurance that the marijuana has been tested or adequately labeled.” But as The Outlaw Report often notes, the District’s medical cannabis program still doesn’t have an official testing lab, and some patients have been harmed by products purchased at licensed dispensaries.

In essence, allowing patients to self-certify would transform D.C.’s medical cannabis program into a de facto recreational one, and could set off a showdown with Congress, which has for years blocked District officials from launching a regulated market for adult-use cannabis. However, as an emergency measure, it would expire 90 days after going into effect.

The council is also considering a more permanent medical cannabis bill by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser that includes a provision to authorize patient self-certification. That measure, which has yet to receive a vote, would require direct ratification from Congress.

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Connecticut Overdose Linked to Fentanyl-laced Cannabis Due to Cross Contamination by Dealer

6/28/2022

Last fall, the Connecticut Department of Public Health issued a warning that 39 opioid overdoses in the state had been linked to fentanyl-laced cannabis, which prompted the captain of the Plymouth Police Department to call for the legalization of adult-use cannabis; however, an investigation by the federal High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program has determined that just one cannabis sample was linked to an opioid overdose, NBC Connecticut reports.

The investigators said the cannabis sample found at the site of an overdose in Plymouth was not intentionally laced with fentanyl, rather it was cross-contaminated due to poor quality control by the dealer. HIDTA determined that 30 of the 39 overdoses involved people with a history of opioid use.

Robert Lawlor Jr., a drug intelligence officer for HIDTA’s New England district, told NBC Connecticut that “It was kind of hard to pinpoint whether or not these people actually overdosed from just smoking marijuana.”

“They’re using the same equipment to bag up their marijuana as they are their fentanyl, which can cause cross contamination.” — Lawlor to NBC Connecticut

The Department of Public Health agreed with the HIDTA report, telling Hearst Connecticut Media that the dealer “…failed to clean their instruments before processing the marijuana and cross-contaminated it with fentanyl.”

HIDTA did warn, though, that while the incident “may be isolated,” it “could very easily happen again.”

In 2019, 2020, and 2021, more than 80% of overdose deaths in Connecticut involved fentanyl, according to state Department of Public Health statistics.

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Maryland Court: Cannabis Odor Can Be Basis for Traffic Stop Despite Decriminalization

6/28/2022

The Maryland Court of Appeals ruled last week that the odor of cannabis is enough to prompt a brief “investigatory” stop despite the decriminalization of the possession of up to 10 grams, The Daily Record reports. In the 4-3 decision, the court ruled that cannabis odor gives police a “reasonable suspicion” that the person may be carrying more than the legal limit.

The court ruling does require the stop to end if officers do not find evidence the individual is in possession of more than 10 grams.

In 2020, the court ruled unanimously that the U.S. Constitution’s Fourth Amendment bars police from searching or arresting individuals based on cannabis odor, finding that the smell alone does not constitute probable cause if cannabis is decriminalized or legalized.

In the majority opinion, Judge Jonathan Biran agreed that cannabis odor still should not constitute an arrest but “the odor of marijuana by itself justifies a brief investigatory detention.”

“Given the important governmental interest in detecting, preventing, and prosecuting crime, the Fourth Amendment allows a brief seizure, based on reasonable suspicion, to attempt to determine if criminal activity is afoot. An officer who lacks probable cause to arrest is not required ‘to simply shrug his shoulders and allow a crime to occur or a criminal to escape.’” — Biran in the opinion

In the dissent, Judge Michele D. Hotten said cannabis odor alone “makes it impossible for law enforcement to determine whether the person has engaged in a wholly innocent activity, a civil offense, or a crime.”

“While reasonable suspicion is a relatively low barrier,” Hotten wrote, “law enforcement may not rely on a hunch that a person may possess 10 grams of (marijuana) odor in a non-medicinal capacity to form a basis of reasonable suspicion.”

Also writing in the dissent, Judge Irma S. Raker, a retired jurist sitting by special assignment, said allowing cannabis odor to be the basis for a stop “could potentially result in unnecessary and unwarranted police activity that may have a disparate effect in the community.”

Under state law, possession of fewer than 10 grams is a civil offense, punishable by a $100 fine unless the offender is in possession of legally obtained medical cannabis. Marylanders are set to vote on a constitutional amendment to legalize cannabis for adult use this November.

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Humboldt County Cannabis Growers Fined $209k for Sediment Discharge Into Mad River

6/27/2022

Three Humboldt County, California cannabis cultivators are facing $209,687 in fines by the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board in connection with sediment discharged into tributaries of the Mad River that posed a risk to aquatic life and water quality. The fines against Szagora LLC, Toshko Toshkoff, and Rudy Chacon were announced last week.

The agency accuses the cultivators of failing to obtain a permit to legally cultivate cannabis and says they did not respond to an enforcement order requiring them to maintain an access road on their property consistent with industry standards designed to protect water quality and beneficial uses, the agency said in a press release.

Claudia E. Villacorta, assistant executive officer for the board, said all three “put a waterway at risk” due to their actions. The complaint covers the period from July 1 2021 to May 9, 2022.

“By failing to obtain a required permit, follow industry standards and adequately respond to an enforcement order, the unlicensed cultivators gained an unfair advantage over legal cultivators.” — Villacorta in a statement

Sediment delivery to waterways negatively impacts the migration, spawning, reproduction, and early development of cold-water fish, the agency said adding that excess sediment delivery to streams can smother aquatic animals and habitats, alter or obstruct water flows resulting in flooding, and reduce water clarity, which makes it difficult for organisms to breathe, find food and refuge, and reproduce.

“The discharge of sediment in the Mad River watershed is especially problematic because it is listed as an impaired water body under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act due to elevated sedimentation/siltation and turbidity,” the board said.

A public hearing to consider the complaint and vote on whether to approve the fine is set for August 4 and 5.

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Connecticut Receives More Than 37k Cannabis Industry Applications for 56 Licenses

6/27/2022

Connecticut has received more than 37,000 applications for 56 cannabis industry licenses with the deadline for applications passing last week, the Hartford Courant reports. Most of the applications are for licenses in underrepresented communities.

The Department of Consumer Protection received 13,806 applications for the general lottery and 23,487 applications for the social equity licenses. In all, 15,606 applications across both license types were for retail businesses. The 56 licenses will be split evenly between general and social-equity businesses. Regulators will approve 12 retail licenses, four each for micro-cultivators and co-located adult-use and medical use retailers; 10 each for delivery and food and beverage businesses; six each for packaging and manufacturers; and four for transporters.

Michelle Bodian, a lawyer at the cannabis law firm Vicente Sederberg, told the Courant that the state made nearly $1 million in application fees in the first lottery round. Fees in the state range from $128 to $750, the report says.

The state’s social equity council is set to meet on July 12 and will select applications that meet the state’s social equity criteria; those not selected will be moved to the general lottery.

Connecticut legalized cannabis for adult use last year and has since banned retail gifting as the state moves forward with the application process. Future lottery rounds are expected later in the summer or early fall.

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North Carolina House Republicans Kill Medical Cannabis Bill During Closed-Door Meeting

6/27/2022

North Carolina House Republicans last week all but sealed the fate of the state’s medical cannabis bill, deciding not to advance the legislation during a closed-door meeting, Axios reports. The measure was passed by the Senate earlier this month but House Speaker Tim Moore (R) had already indicated the chamber would not take up the legislation.

The N.C. Compassionate Care Act is sponsored by top Senate Republican and powerful Rules Committee chair Sen. Bill Rabon and would allow medical cannabis access for patients diagnosed with cancer, epilepsy, post-traumatic stress disorder, HIV, AIDS, and Crohn’s disease. Chronic pain and anxiety are not included in the bill, which would be one of the strictest in the nation.

State Rep. Pricey Harrison has previously indicated that “most if not all Democrats” in the state legislature support the reforms.

A poll released in April conducted by SurveyUSA and commissioned by WRAL News found that 57% of North Carolinians support medical cannabis legalization, including 75% of Democrats and 64% of Republicans.

A poll released earlier this month from the Carolina Partnership for Reform, a conservative group, found that 82% of respondents supported the reforms. The group said it was “surprised” by the support which included 75% of Republicans, 87% of unaffiliated voters, 86% of Democrats, and at least 78% of men and women, white and Black North Carolinians, liberals, moderates, and conservatives. The poll found that 77% of evangelical voters also supported the reforms.

“In fact,” the group said in a post outlining the survey results, “it would be hard for us to point to an issue that we’ve surveyed in the last decade that unified our polarized electorate like legalizing medical marijuana does.”

The measure has a slim chance of being reconsidered as the state session is ongoing and budget negotiations between North Carolina’s Republican-controlled House and Senate chambers, which could revive the bill, are still taking place.

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Buddies Brand, Inc. Announces Strategic Alliance With West Coast Music and Television Personality, Xzibit

6/24/2022

LOS ANGELES, June 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Buddies Brand, Inc. (“Buddies”), a leading cannabis brand with products available on more than 1000 retail menus, today announced a strategic alliance with West Coast rap artist and television personality, Alvin ‘Xzibit‘ Joiner, and his cannabis brand, Napalm.

Buddies cannabis products are ranked #8 in the Nation for total sales volume per BDSA, the cannabis industry’s leading data and analytics provider. Buddies products are currently available in California, Oregon, and Washington.

As part of the strategic alliance, Mr. Joiner has been named the Creative Director for the Buddies and Napalm cannabis products. This new role will utilize his vast experience to provide assistance with product development and marketing operations. The alliance also includes an agreement for Napalm products to be manufactured at Buddies’ Redding, California manufacturing facility and distributed by NABIS, the leading licensed cannabis wholesale platform in the largest legal cannabis market.

“For Napalm, this partnership allows our brand to further streamline and expedite product development, vertically integrate, and provide distribution to our retail partners at a much higher level,” said Alvin ‘Xzibit’ Joiner, Founder of Napalm cannabis products. “West Coast cannabis customers love Buddies products and this partnership of two powerhouse brands, plus NABIS for distribution, will take us to new heights and help expand Napalm into more markets.”

Napalm cannabis products are currently available in California with plans to expand nationally through its strategic alliance with Buddies.

“We have worked very hard to build Buddies to become one of the most consistent, popular, and in-demand brands on the West Coast,” said Byran Cochran, President of Buddies. “This partnership with Xzibit and Napalm unites and elevates both of our organizations’ strengths. Alvin’s work ethic and his passion for cannabis and music is something we’re very excited about, and even more so when combined with our award-winning products, team, and strategic partners.”

For more information, or to speak with Alvin Joiner or Bryan Cochran, visit https://buddiesbrand.com or email info@BuddiesBrand.com.

About Buddies Brand Inc.
Buddies Brand, Inc. (“Buddies”) is a leading provider of affordable consumer products in cannabis. As a high-growth cannabis company known for its expertise, reliability, and premium quality, the Company and its brands, including BBrand, continue to provide industry-leading products and innovation in the concentrates, vapes, flower, pre-rolls, and health and wellness categories.

Contact Information:
Mitch Pfeifer
Public Relations at Buddies Brand
Email: Info@RespectMyRegion.com

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SAFE Banking Act Removed from China Competition Bill

6/24/2022

The SAFE Banking Act, which would normalize financial services for the cannabis industry federally, has been pulled from a bill aimed to increase competition with China, The Hill reports. The measure was included in House Democrats’ COMPETES Act but not the Senate’s bipartisan U.S. Innovation and Competition Act which passed last year.

In a statement, Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), the bill’s prime sponsor, said the Senate’s inaction on the legislation – which has passed the House five times since 2019 – would continue to allow people to be killed and businesses to be robbed while excluding the cannabis industry from the financial system.

The measure was removed from the China competition bill at the behest of Republican lawmakers who argue that the bill doesn’t belong in the legislation, while Democrats want to pair the bill with social justice measures which can’t be done in committee, the report says.

In a statement, Steven Hawkins, president of the U.S. Cannabis Council, said there remains “support and political will … to get the SAFE Banking Act across the finish line.”

“We are encouraged by conversations about pairing the bill with other helpful cannabis and criminal justice reforms,” he said. “We look forward to working with our members and allies to help get the job done.”

During their most recent meeting, the U.S. Conference of Mayors endorsed a resolution calling for Congress to pass federal cannabis banking reforms. The resolution stated that “the conflict between state law and the illegality of cannabis under federal law creates significant challenges and barriers for legally-owned and operated recreational and medical cannabis dispensaries and cannabis-related companies.”

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Spain Set to Allow Medical Cannabis Sales In Pharmacies This Fall

6/24/2022

The Spanish government has given the go-ahead for pharmacies to sell medical cannabis as soon as this fall, according to a report from The Local. Approved first by the Spanish Congress of Deputies and then the Health Commission, qualifying conditions in the law include multiple sclerosis, some forms of epilepsy, the side effects of chemotherapy, cancer, chronic pain, and endometriosis.

There are an estimated 300,000 potential medical cannabis patients in Spain according to the Spanish Observatory of Medicinal Cannabis (OECM), the report says.

Health professionals will prescribe the substance “in a context free of potential conflicts of interest,” the official text clarifies. Spanish patients can expect a registry, the report notes.

Spain is the latest country in the European Union to make moves toward cannabis policy liberalization. Switzerland has indicated that they would be amending their narcotics laws to lift the ban on medical cannabis, while Germany’s health minister recently announced the country would be legalizing adult-use cannabis soon.

Malta has legalized adult-use cannabis and began exporting medical cannabis to Germany. Luxemburg was the first country in Europe to allow adults over 21 to grow up to four cannabis plants at home.

The European cannabis market is expected to grow from 2019 – 2027 at a compound adjusted growth rate (CAGR) of 29.6% from$3.4 million to nearly $37 million, respectively, according to Research and Markets. Although adult-use cannabis is forecasted to see the largest CAGR , the report notes the COVID-19 crisis will stimulate an increase in medical cannabis market share.

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Supermajority of Americans Believe Cannabis Companies Should Follow Uniform Environmental Standards

6/24/2022

More than four in five Americans (81%) along with 84% of cannabis consumers believe that cannabis businesses should meet consistent environmental standards, according to a Harris Poll survey commissioned by SICPA, a leading provider of regulatory compliance solutions, and the Foundation of Cannabis Unified Standards (FOCUS). The survey also found that 72% of Americans and 80% of cannabis consumers believe that cannabis products are grown and produced using consistent product safety standards regardless of which state they are legally purchased in.

Moreover, the poll found that 77% of Americans and 81% of cannabis consumers believe cannabis industry employers are held to the same health and safety standards for their workers as every other industry.

In a press release, Karen Gardner, chief marketing officer for SICPA US, said the survey “shows Americans are wholly misinformed about the lack of basic safety and quality protections for cannabis products in many states.”

“Even cannabis consumers themselves aren’t aware that in states where products are legal, there are no uniform standards, leaving lots of room for unsafe, poor-quality products on the market.” — Gardner in a statement

Overall, 84% of Americans generally and those that consume cannabis supported setting federal standards for cannabis product safety and quality, while 83% of both Americans and those that consume cannabis supported the federal government setting standards for environmental protections that must be met by the U.S. cannabis industry.

The survey also found overwhelming support for broad legalization at the federal level, with 78% of Americans backing the reforms, along with 86% of cannabis consumers. The poll also found 74% of Americans supportive of federal decriminalization, along with 79% of cannabis consumers.

Just over half (55%) of those polled had used cannabis at some point in their lives, with 42% saying they had consumed cannabis within the past month, with 16% saying they had consumed cannabis for the first time within the past month.

A poll commissioned by SICPA last fall found that 83% of Americans supported requiring cannabis products to use secure labels that can’t be counterfeited on cannabis products to ensure potency and consumer safety.

The recent survey was conducted online within the U.S. between April 26-28, 2022, and included 2,069 adults, of which 1,220 had ever used cannabis products.

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Unionized Curaleaf Employees Not Given Juneteenth Holiday Pay

6/24/2022

Multistate cannabis industry operator Curaleaf did not provide holiday pay to members of its unionized workforce for the Juneteenth holiday despite paying its non-unionized employees, according to a company-wide email described by Grown In. Both union and non-union members of Curaleaf’s workforce did get the holiday off.

According to the email outlined by Grown In, non-union salaried employees would have the option to receive a day off within the same pay period, while non-salaried employees would get a day off or time and a half. Employees represented by a union are subject to collective bargaining agreements with their respective unions to work out holiday pay discrepancies, the report says.

Danielle “DJ” Jones, an employee at Curaleaf’s Worth, Illinois facility – where workers are represented by United Food and Commercial Workers Local 881 – told Grown In that cutting holiday pay is a tactic by Curaleaf to discourage other employees from unionizing.

“We love our jobs and we want to love the industry too, but this is such a massive slap in the face. This is very intentional and goes against the precedent they set. I’m furious that they’d do this in these especially trying times.” — Jones to Grown In

Jones added that, since unionization at the Worth facility, the company has “cultivated a culture of fear.”

“Our turnover is so high; more than half our staff is new from January,” he told Grown In. “Of the 50 people that we have on staff, only two people can request time off.”

A Curaleaf spokesperson denied the company was trying to punish unionized workers, telling Grown In that it is trying to follow the law as it relates to collective bargaining.

“Curaleaf is not prohibiting Illinois employees from celebrating Juneteenth,” the representative told Grown In. “Employees represented by a union are not receiving the holiday in 2022 if their contract is currently being negotiated or their existing contract does not include Juneteenth as a holiday.”

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U.S. Supreme Court Declines to Hear Medical Cannabis Workers’ Comp Cases

6/23/2022

The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear a pair of cases involving worker’s comp payments for medical cannabis, Marijuana Moment reports. The Department of Justice (DOJ) had asked the court to refuse the cases last month, saying such reforms should come from Congress or the executive branch.

The court made the decision on the bases of denying certiorari, which means fewer than four justices felt the case rose to the level of a Supreme Court case, but not that the court sided with lower court decisions. The two cases could have had wide-reaching implications on federal preemption over cannabis, the report says.

The two cases originated in Minnesota and in both instances, employees had asked their employers to pay for medical cannabis after experiencing on-the-job injuries. Both employers refused.

The plaintiffs, with the help of advocacy groups like Empire State NORML, disagreed, saying employers do not have to possess or manufacture cannabis in violation of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and only would have to provide monetary compensation for cannabis products. The Minnesota Supreme Court eventually sided with the employers on the basis that federal law preempts state medical cannabis laws, the report says.

When the case arrived at the Supreme Court, the justices sought input from the DOJ’s solicitor general, who replied with an amicus curiae last month reminding the court that several other state courts had weighed in on the issue; however, they said those cases had not “meaningfully considered all of the possible grounds for preemption” and recommended the court not hear the cases.

The plaintiffs disagreed and had filed briefs explaining why the court should hear the cases but with the latest development, the cases are now closed.

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Project CBD Report Highlights Risk Potential of Synthetically Produced Cannabinoids

6/23/2022

The modern advent of Delta-8 THC products and other synthetically produced cannabinoids has wrought the excitement and concern of cannabis enthusiasts across the country: excitement because many consumers can now legally access THC products for the first time in their lives, and concern because these synthetically produced cannabinoids have yet to be fully investigated and verified for consumer safety.

In a recent Project CBD report titled “Special Report on Cannabinoids & Chirality: The Promise and Pitfalls of Synthetically Produced CBD,” Dr. Matthew Elmes, Ph.D., details the process for creating these cannabinoids — an organic chemistry process called chirality, “which is rooted in simple elements of geometry” — and discusses its many possibilities and potential pitfalls.

Chirality describes when seemingly mirrored objects do not quite match up as a true mirror image would. For humans, the most recognizable example of chirality is the differences between our left and right hands: while they may appear at first glance to be mirrored versions of one another, the differences are immediately obvious as soon as you try putting your left hand into a right-handed glove. The same concept applies to naturally occurring chemical compounds like cannabinoids, and chemists can (and have) experimented with the chirality of such compounds to synthesize the creation of cannabinoids that both do and don’t already exist in nature.

According to the report, synthetically produced cannabinoids could “hold the key to turning THC or CBD into even better therapeutics — or alternatively it might unleash some new hidden dangers.” There simply has not been enough research to determine the potential pitfalls of the “unusual chiral permutations of these compounds,” and federal regulators have so far failed to address the issue.

Note: synthetically produced cannabinoids have already impacted the market, such as Delta-8 THC and even the pharmaceutical THC found in Marinol, an FDA-approved nausea medication. Additionally, synthetic compounds are already very common in other industries: caffeine, for example, is a naturally-occurring compound but the caffeine found in colas or energy drinks is almost certainly made in a lab, the report highlights.

“Agricultural cannabis will likely remain the predominant force within the industry, but synthetically produced cannabinoids will inevitably claim a significant share of the market in the coming years.” — Excerpt from Dr. Elmes’ report

To learn more, read the full report at ProjectCBD.org.

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Aurora Cannabis Lays Off 12% Of Its Workforce

6/23/2022

Canadian cannabis company Aurora Cannabis Inc. said on Wednesday that it is laying off 12% of its workforce as part of a reorganization strategy, CBC News reports. The company did not indicate how many employees would be affected by the cuts but Aurora said the move is part of a $70 million to $90 million cost savings.

Earlier this year, the company announced it would close three facilities, including one in Edmonton, Alberta, where 13% of its global workforce was employed, the report says. Over the previous fiscal year, Aurora cut about one-third of its workforce as part of a “corporate reset” while executives saw cash bonuses amounting to $700,000.

In announcing the most recent round of layoffs, Spokesperson Kate Hillyar told CBC News that the reorganization will allow Aurora to operate as a more agile, leaner, and future-focused company, positioning it for success. Hillyer added that the company identified the cost savings in its third-quarter earnings as key to its path to profitability.

A spokesperson told MJBizDaily that employees “will be fully supported as they transition from the company.”

“Today we delivered against that commitment as we announce a corporate reorganization that will allow Aurora to operate as a leaner, more agile, and future-focused company, fit for success in the evolving global cannabis industry,” a spokesperson said in an interview with MJBizDaily. “Aurora continues to make substantial improvements to our business as we work through the phases of our transformation plan, designed to deliver shareholder value, and secure Aurora’s future as a leading global cannabis company.”

Aurora had 1,643 employees as of Sept. 27, 2021, but the company told MJBizDaily that the figure is not current as facility closures and restructuring have occurred since then.

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New York Selects Chris Webber-led Firm to Manage Social Equity Investment Fund

6/23/2022

New York on Wednesday selected Social Equity Impact Ventures, LLC to manage the state’s $200 million Social Equity Investment Fund which will assist social equity licensees with costs associated with getting their businesses off the ground.

Social Equity Impact Ventures is headed by National Basketball Association Hall of Famer Chris Webber, entrepreneur Lavetta Willis, and a firm affiliated with Siebert Williams Shank (SWS), one of the nation’s leading minority- and women-owned investment banking firms, that will be led by SWS CEO Suzanne Shank and SWS Chief Administrative Officer and former New York City Comptroller William Thompson.

Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said in a statement that tabbing the organization “takes an important step forward in creating jobs and opportunity for those who, historically, have been disproportionately targeted for cannabis infractions.”

In a press release, Webber, who is also the founder of Webber Wellness, said “New York’s thoughtful and inclusive approach to establishing equity in the cannabis space and creating opportunities for those affected by the War on Drugs is truly unparalleled.”

“Together, we look forward to starting the healing process within the community nationwide and it starts by giving aspiring entrepreneurs in this state the education, resources and training to thrive in the cannabis sector. Our hope is that New York’s holistic approach can be replicated in other markets and help accelerate the growth of underrepresented businesses across the country.” — Webber in a statement

Shank described the fund as “a key tool to help level the playing field during New York State’s licensing and siting of cannabis retail dispensaries across the state,” adding that the “regulatory design will help disadvantaged entrepreneurs to compete fairly.”

Hochul also announced new members to the state’s Cannabis Advisory Board which will work with the Office of Cannabis Management to establish an equitable and inclusive cannabis industry in the Empire State. The panel now includes 20 members ranging from cannabis industry executives, state agriculture officials, attorneys, union representatives, and community-focused organizations.

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Another New Jersey Community College Offering Cannabis Degree and Training Programs

6/23/2022

New Jersey’s Hudson County Community College is now offering cannabis-related coursework including an associate degree program and two certificate programs. The college is also offering a four-week non-credit program focused on applying for and operating a cannabusiness in New Jersey.

HCCC President Dr. Christopher Reber said in a statement that the college “is dedicated to providing our diverse community with state-of-the-art programs that will lead to success and upward social and economic mobility.”

“We are committed to ensuring that those who were most harmed by past cannabis injustices are provided with the acuity to build and sustain profitable businesses.” — Reber in a statement

The associate degree in science for business administration is a 60-credit program offering designed to prepare students for ownership and operations opportunities in the cannabis industry, the college said in a press release. The curriculum includes communication skills, marketing, accounting, economics, finance, and business management.

The cannabis business agent proficiency certificate program requires 12 credits to complete and provides those who obtain it with job skills necessary for employment in entry-level positions within the industry. The credits are transferrable to the associate degree program.

The cannabis business management academic certificate is a 33-credit program that provides graduates with the knowledge and skills for supervisory positions in the industry. The credits also transfer to the associate degree program.

In an interview with NJ.com, cannabis attorney Jessica Gonzalez, of the Hiller, PC law firm who is involved with developing the college’s curriculum, noted that HCCC’s student body “is primarily Latino students, followed by Black students,” adding that she grew up in Jersey City where HCCC is based.

“It’s an important step for this institution to embrace cannabis to ensure that communities most harmed have access to cannabis education and are aware of the opportunities this industry brings,” she said.

HCCC joins Stockton University, Rowan University, Raritan Valley Community College, and Bergen Community College in creating cannabis programs in the Garden State.

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