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Massachusetts Regulators Allow Cannabis to be Transported to Islands

6/18/2024

Massachusetts cannabis regulators last week issued an administrative order allowing cannabis to be transported from the mainland to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket islands, the Associated Press reports. The decision comes following a lawsuit by Martha’s Vineyard dispensary Island Time which argued that the ban on transporting cannabis from the mainland to the island is arbitrary and puts an undue burden on dispensaries on the island, who must rely on cannabis grown only on the island.

State regulators had taken the position that transporting cannabis by either boat or plane risked violating federal law and banned the transport of cannabis to the Massachusetts islands. The order says that any cannabis transported from the mainland to the islands must remain entirely in state territorial waters, meaning cannabis cannot be transported via the ferry and must be transported on alternative, approved boats.

Island Time owner Geoff Rose told the AP that he was still working out the details, but he expected he’d be able to reopen sometime this week. Rose also indicated plans to drop the lawsuit.

Ava Callender Concepcion, the acting Cannabis Control Commission chair, told the AP the commission reached out to federal authorities and did not receive any pushback to the plan.

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Study: Psychedelics Use Linked to Better Cognitive Function in Older Adults

6/17/2024

Older adults who have used psychedelics tend to exhibit better cognitive function and fewer depressive symptoms than those who have not, according to new research in the journal Gerontology & Geriatric Medicine outlined by PsyPost.

Researchers hypothesized that “the use of classic psychedelics and other hallucinogens would improve cognitive functions and reduce depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older adults.”

For the study, researchers analyzed data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study, which investigates the midlife development of Americans in the areas of physical health, psychological well-being, and social responsibility. Researchers analyzed data from 2,503 study participants in 48 U.S. states with an average age of 64 years, and 55% were women. The data was collected via phone surveys and self-administered questionnaires submitted by mail, and participants reported their use of cannabis, LSD, and other hallucinogens such as peyote, ecstasy/MDMA, and mescaline. Participants were also assessed on their executive functioning and episodic memory, and tested for extended depressive symptoms.

“The current findings revealed that psychedelic use was associated with improved cognitive function, assessed by executive function, partially supporting our hypothesis; however, the same association was not evident with episodic memory. Further, psychedelic use was associated with a reduction in depressive symptoms. Although our participants were limited, the results corroborated earlier findings in a lesser-explored area of research.” — Excerpt from the study

Recent research into psychedelics has found that hallucinogens like psilocybin and MDMA show promise against treatment-resistant cases of depression and PTSD.

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Maryland Gov. Issues Sweeping Cannabis Pardons

6/17/2024

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) has announced the mass pardoning of about 175,000 cannabis convictions in the state, the Washington Post reports. The sweeping pardons should affect about 100,000 individuals, one of the nation’s largest mass forgiving of cannabis crimes taken to date.

The governor said that low-level cannabis convictions block peoples’ access to jobs, housing, and education and that cannabis-related criminal penalties disproportionately affect Black and Brown people. And the pardons — announced on the weekend ahead of Juneteenth, the federal holiday celebrating the end of slavery in the U.S. — represent a step toward healing decades of social and economic injustice, the report said.

“I’m ecstatic that we have a real opportunity with what I’m signing to right a lot of historical wrongs. If you want to be able to create inclusive economic growth, it means you have to start removing these barriers that continue to disproportionately sit on communities of color.” — Moore, via the Post

The pardoning action in Maryland is the latest sweeping gubernatorial pardoning action for cannabis crimes after President Joe Biden (D) in 2022 pardoned low-level federal cannabis crimes and called on governors to take similar actions at the state level. At least nine other states have taken steps since then to pardon some cannabis-related convictions.

Maryland’s cannabis pardons are surpassed only by those issued by Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D), who this year issued sweeping pardons for all cannabis misdemeanors ever handed down by the state, an action that is thought to have affected potentially hundreds of thousands of people.

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New Hampshire House Lawmakers Table Cannabis Legalization Bill

6/14/2024

Despite recent signs that New Hampshire lawmakers were close to a deal on legalizing adult-use cannabis, lawmakers in the New Hampshire House of Representatives on Thursday voted to table the proposal, according to a WMUR9 report. House lawmakers voted narrowly to table the legalization bill despite initial appearances earlier this week that the Legislature was close to reaching a deal on the reforms.

The now-tabled proposal, House Bill 1633, would have made the possession of cannabis by adults aged 21+ legal and established government-run dispensaries throughout the state — the state-run dispensary model had been requested by Republican Gov. Sununu, who opposes cannabis legalization but previously said he would sign such a bill if it created state-run retailers.

The House and Senate had each individually passed their own legalization proposals this year but neither bill was able to reach the governor’s desk. The proposal was likely the last chance New Hampshire had at legalizing cannabis this year.

New Hampshire is bordered by three states with cannabis legalization laws in place and polling suggests that a strong majority of voters would support adult-use cannabis reforms in the Granite State.

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Cannabis Doctors Warn Florida’s Adult-Use Legalization Bid Could Reduce Patient Access

6/14/2024

Some medical cannabis doctors and advocates are warning that the adult-use cannabis legalization proposal headed to Florida voters soon could negatively impact cannabis access for the program’s 882,000 patients, Politico reports.

The primary concerns laid out in the report are:

That adult-use legalization could lead to medical cannabis patients and patient-focused products getting crowded out of the market, and
That under a so-called “poison pill” piece of the state’s original 2017 medical cannabis law, the entire medical cannabis program could be sunsetted six months after voters adopt another cannabis-related amendment.

“Any sun setting of the current regulatory scheme would put the State in violation of the original medical marijuana amendment. Of course, there is no guarantee how the Legislature will act. The responsible course would be to repeal the poison pill to remove any trace of doubt.” — Smart & Safe Committee statement, via Politico

Florida voters will be deciding on the constitutional amendment to legalize adult-use cannabis in the upcoming November election; constitutional amendments in the state require 60% voter support to pass. If the amendment is approved, licensed medical cannabis dispensaries in the state would be allowed to begin serving adult-use customers — state officials would also be tasked with figuring out a new cannabis industry licensing process, among other regulations. The proposal has been primarily funded by Trulieve, the state’s largest medical cannabis operator.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who does not support the legalization amendment, recently sought unlikely allies against the reforms by vetoing a hemp regulations package that would have banned products containing hemp-derived delta-8 THC and other intoxicating cannabinoids.

The legalization campaign’s constitutionality was previously contested by the state Attorney General but the Supreme Court overruled the challenge and approved the amendment for November ballots.

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New York Gov. Appoints Three New Leadership Members to OCM

6/12/2024

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) on Monday appointed three new leadership members to the state Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), which her office said will “end the bottleneck of license applicants, improve communication with applicants and licensees, and reaffirm the agency’s commitment to the social equity goals” included in the state’s adult-use cannabis law.

Felicia A. B. Reid, who previously served in the Office of Children and Family Services for the past six years as deputy commissioner, was appointed executive deputy director and acting executive director for OCM. In a press release, Reid called cannabis “an enormous opportunity” for the state and that “OCM is obligated to ensure that its work makes those opportunities accessible, transparent, and responsive to the industry’s movement and trends.”

Susan Filburn was appointed chief administrative officer, a new position focusing on stabilizing and formalizing administrative functions of OCM to support licensing, compliance and enforcement operations, according to the press release from the governor’s office. Filburn has more than two decades of experience in New York government, serving the previous four years as deputy commissioner of employment security at the Department of Labor.

Jessica Woolford was promoted to the position of director of external affairs and is tasked with building out OCM’s first customer service team to provide transparency to applicants, licensees, and consumers about the agency’s processes and the state cannabis marketplace.

Hochul launched what her office describes as a “sweeping operational overhaul” last month. Chris Alexander, the inaugural executive director of OCM resigned from the role late last month following criticism by the governor.

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Vermont Gov. Allows Medical Cannabis Expansion Law to Take Effect Without His Signature

6/12/2024

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R) allowed a medical cannabis expansion bill to become law without his signature, Vermont Public reports. The law allows existing retailers to qualify for a medical cannabis license to sell specifically to qualified patients who can access higher potency products without a sales tax.

In a statement to Vermont Public, James Pepper, chair of Vermont’s Cannabis Control Board, noted that some of the state’s qualifying medical cannabis patients have to make long trips to a medical cannabis dispensary. Pepper said that patients who live in the Northeast Kingdom region may have to drive as much as 2-and-a-half hours to access a medical cannabis dispensary.

“We actually don’t need to preserve the existing medical dispensary paradigm the way it was conceived back in 2011. However, patients still need the benefits of a medical program.” — Pepper to Vermont Public

Scott had voiced concerns that some of the higher potency medical cannabis products might find their way into the retail market, and has urged lawmakers to address those concerns next year.

The bill passed the Legislature on May 10 and took effect without Scott’s signature on June 10.

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Connecticut Approves Autism, Female Orgasmic Difficulty as Medical Cannabis Qualifying Conditions

6/12/2024

The Connecticut Medical Cannabis Board of Physicians last week approved autism spectrum disorder and female orgasmic difficulty/disorder as qualifying conditions for the state medical cannabis program.

There are now 42 qualifying conditions for adults and 11 for individuals under 18-years-old. The two conditions were approved by the board unanimously.

An observational study published earlier this year in the journal Sex Medicine found 41% of 410 women “face challenges achieving orgasm.” Seventy-one percent of women included in the study found cannabis beneficial for helping them achieve orgasm.

“Cannabis may be a treatment for women with difficulty achieving orgasm during partnered sex… Cannabis-related treatment appears to provide benefit to women who have female orgasm difficulties or dysfunction.” — Assessment of the effect of cannabis use before partnered sex on women with and without orgasm difficulty, 5/6/24, Sex Medicine

According to NuggMD, 14 states – Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Utah –and Puerto Rico had previously approved autism as a qualifying condition for medical cannabis access.

In Connecticut, medical cannabis is not subject to sales and excise tax at dispensaries and hybrid retailers, medical cannabis patients receive priority entry at hybrid retailers, patients may purchase up to 5 ounces of medical cannabis per month, and patients can access certain products, including those with higher potency and some dosage forms.

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New York Licenses 105 New Cannabis Companies & Approves Final Home Grow Rules

6/12/2024

The New York Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) on Tuesday awarded 105 new cannabis licenses and gave its final approval to the state’s cannabis home grow rules, Syracuse.com reports. The agency also introduced Felicia A. B. Reid as the OCM’s interim director following last month’s departure of Chris Alexander, the agency’s inaugural executive director.

The new licensees include 17 retailers, 22 microbusinesses, 25 cultivators, 22 distributors, and 19 processors, bringing the total number of cannabis licenses awarded in New York to 654, the report said.

The home grow rules were first approved by regulators in February. The rules underwent a 60-day public comment following that first approval and no significant changes were made.

“Similar to how people like to brew their own beer or make their wine, it kind of provides that access outside of a regulated framework. I will say there is a prohibition on using volatile solvents like butane or propane … we’ve heard horror stories where people are doing things in garages and basements, so please don’t blow yourselves up.” — OCM Chief Operating Officer Patrick McKeage, via Syracuse.com

The home grow rules allow adults aged 21+ to cultivate up to six mature and six immature cannabis plants at their home, regardless of the number of people living there.

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Slovenia Votes to Legalize Adult-Use Cannabis

6/12/2024

Voters in Slovenia last weekend approved non-binding resolutions to let medical cannabis patients grow their own cannabis plants at home for personal use and to legalize adult-use cannabis access in the country, according to a Benzinga report. Notably, while the votes demonstrate Slovenians’ eagerness for significant cannabis reforms, lawmakers are not legally required to take action.

The medical home grow proposal was passed with 66.6% of voters backing the resolution. The second proposal, which asked voters whether the government should “allow the cultivation and possession of cannabis for limited personal use on its territory,” was passed with 51.55% support, the report said.

Currently, Slovenia only allows for the cultivation of industrial hemp containing less than 0.2% THC.

The weekend votes — which coincided with the wider 2024 European elections — signal that support for significant cannabis reforms is growing throughout Europe, particularly following the recent April 1 launch of Germany’s new cannabis legalization policy. If the voter-backed reforms are adopted in Slovenia, the Central European country would be the fourth member of the European Union to adopt adult-use cannabis reforms after Germany, Malta, and Luxembourg.

Cannabis reforms are also growing more popular throughout the world — earlier this month, South Africa became the first African country to legalize the personal possession and use of cannabis.

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Schedule III Will Bring New Opportunities to the Pre-Roll Industry

6/11/2024

The pre-roll industry has exploded in recent years, becoming one of the most lucrative avenues for cannabis operators to take, even in declining markets.

Moving cannabis to Schedule III will only increase the opportunities in this category. Pre-roll manufacturers can expect new money, new consumers, and new products. Leveraging these new opportunities will determine who flourishes after Schedule III and who gets burned by the competition.

New Money

When cannabis is rescheduled to Schedule III, the 280E tax code currently burdening all plant-touching cannabis businesses will be removed from the industry, creating new opportunities by way of tax savings.

Pre-roll brands should expect competition to heat up. With the lift of 280E, new operators may feel more inclined to enter the cannabis market, and existing brands will have more revenue to back marketing efforts and new product lines.

Existing pre-roll brands should consider using these tax savings to upgrade their current pre-roll products, like choosing high-quality flower over leftover shake and trim, updating branding/packaging to better catch a shopper’s eye, and rolling the joint versus stuffing a cone to produce a better drag.

The removal of 280E also makes purchasing new equipment more feasible as operators will now be able to depreciate their equipment for tax purposes. Upgrading to an automatic pre-roll rolling machine and ditching the cone-stuffer will be within reach for brands looking to improve their products.

New Consumers

Markets could also potentially see a surge in revenue from new customers who may be willing to try cannabis once its federal status is updated. Using the savings from the removal of 280E to increase marketing budgets and focus on this potential new audience could lead to a boost in sales. Even if the bump in cannabis consumers is minimal, increasing marketing budgets to prioritize building a loyal following will be the key to success after the rescheduling spikes competition.

Although the reschedule doesn’t open interstate commerce, it puts the industry one step closer to it. Once those doors open, competition will no longer be siloed by state. Consumers will be free to explore products from around the country.

Establishing your loyal audience now will be crucial to staying alive once interstate trade becomes legal. It may be years down the road, but the reschedule demonstrates the federal government’s willingness to participate in the cannabis industry, so it could happen sooner than we think. Start nurturing your audience now.

New Products

New money and new customers will innately lead to new products on the market, but there’s another reason Schedule III could open the door to new products—new research.

As it stands, getting approval to do any type of cannabis research is incredibly difficult. Moving cannabis to Schedule III will make it easier for scientists to explore the plant and learn more about how it interacts with the body. This new research could eventually inform new products, especially if there’s fresh data on how specific strains work and impact humans.

Consistency Will Reign Supreme

Above all, the move to Schedule III will reinforce what we already know—a consistent product is key to a successful brand. On the medical side, the FDA will now be involved in operations, and their demand for consistency may be even greater than your customers’. For both med and rec markets, manufacturers can anticipate new products and brands on the scene, increasing the need to create a consistent pre-roll experience in order to build and maintain a loyal customer base.

Using a cone-stuffing machine to create pre-rolls could leave your brand in the lurch once the plant is rescheduled. While those machines may create a consistent experience, having a pre-roll that consistently canoes and/or consistently burns hot is not the consistency customers are looking for.

Customers want a consistent pre-roll experience that burns evenly, pulls easily, and provides the same effects each time. To achieve this, manufacturers should consider rolling their joints with the BlackBird. This machine rolls pre-rolls; it doesn’t stuff cones. The joint it produces does not canoe or require a hard pull because the flower isn’t compacted on one end. Plus, the machine requires moist, fluffy flower, as opposed to the dry flower cone-stuffing machines need, so it can deliver a more intentional high while using less product.

Prepare for Schedule III

As with anything in government, moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III will take time. However, there is precedent for a fast turnaround, so it could come sooner than we think. Either way, the time to prepare is now.

If you’re ready to upgrade your pre-roll so you’re prepared for the new customers and competition headed your way, get in touch with RollPros. We’ll walk you through the BlackBird’s rolling process so you can enter this next phase of the cannabis industry ahead of the pack.

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FOX News Poll Finds Majority Support for Florida Cannabis Legalization Question

6/11/2024

A FOX News poll released last week found Floridians back the proposed constitutional amendment to legalize cannabis for adults by a wide enough margin that it would pass in November. According to the poll published June 6, 66% of Florida voters said they would vote in favor of the amendment, with 32% opposed.

Support for the amendment included 76% of Democrats, 71% of independents, and 57% of Republicans.

In an interview with FOX 13, Chris Cano, founder of Suncoast NORML, said “It’s promising to see cannabis reform finally becoming a bipartisan issue.”

“Cannabis is a safe drug and that when it’s properly regulated and patients have saved in quality and affordable access, it works. It increases property values, it helps the economy. And this is going to be a great thing for Florida.” — Cano to FOX 13

The Republican Party of Florida’s Executive Board opposes the measure despite the support from the majority of Republican voters polled by FOX News.

A USA TODAY poll in April found just less than half – 49% – of respondents backed the reforms with 36% opposed.

The amendment would legalize cannabis for adults 21-and-older and would allow Florida medical cannabis dispensaries to serve adult-use customers. Possession limits would be capped at 3 ounces of flower and five grams of concentrate products. The amendment requires 60% of voters support in order to become law.

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Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Legalizes Adult-Use Cannabis

6/11/2024

The Tribal Council for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), based in North Carolina, last week voted to legalize adult-use cannabis sales, Smoky Mountain News reports. The approval comes about nine months after EBCI members voted to pass the reforms.

The Council also passed an amendment to allow enrolled tribe members with medical cannabis cards to cultivate up to four plants at home as long as no minor children are living in the home where the cannabis is grown.

The tribe’s first medical cannabis dispensary opened last April. North Carolina has not legalized cannabis for any purpose but non-tribal members who are over 21-years-old and residents of the state can apply to the EBCI Cannabis Control Board to obtain a medical cannabis card.

Adult-use sales are not expected to begin right away. During the May 30 work session, EBCI Attorney General Mike McConnell said the tribal dispensary, Great Smoky Cannabis Company operated by Qualla Enterprises, is still at least two to three months away to have the capacity to serve adult-use customers. In an interview with the Citizen-Times, Qualla Enterprises General Manager Forrest Parker estimated the regional adult-use market could reach about 80,000 pounds of cannabis.

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New Hampshire Lawmakers May be Nearing Adult-Use Cannabis Legalization Deal

6/11/2024

Negotiators in New Hampshire’s House and Senate have reportedly reached a compromise on a cannabis legalization bill, according to the New Hampshire Bulletin. Lawmakers have until Thursday to reach a deal before the end of the legislative session.

Last month the state Senate approved a bill that would allow adult-use sales through state-run shops – a demand of Gov. Chris Sununu (R) who has said he would veto any cannabis legalization bill that does not include this provision. The compromise bill keeps the state-run model included in the Senate-passed legislation, despite opposition from House members.

The compromise bill also includes the Senate-favored 15% tax on cannabis sales. The House version included a 10% tax.

The latest version would also decriminalize possession of up to 1 ounce of cannabis as soon as the bill is signed into law – the limit is an ounce less than what was included in the House version but would take effect immediately rather than six months. Under current state law, individuals can possess up to three-quarters of an ounce.

Senate negotiators also agreed to a demand by their House counterparts that the Cannabis Control Commission created by the law include two industry representatives. The bill would also give current medical cannabis companies in the state an advantage if they seek one of the 16 adult-use licenses.

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Florida Gov. Vetoes Bill to Ban Delta-8 THC Products

6/10/2024

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) on Friday vetoed legislation that sought to ban products containing hemp-derived delta-8 THC and other intoxicating cannabinoids, CBS News reports.

Voters will decide later this year whether Florida will legalize adult-use cannabis — and the governor’s recent veto is thought to be a strategic effort that will protect the entrepreneurs and companies participating in the state’s booming hemp consumables industry, and to help prop up a major cannabis industry competitor, which he publicly opposes.

“Small businesses are the cornerstone of Florida’s economy. While Senate Bill 1698’s goals are commendable, the bill would, in fact, impose debilitating regulatory burdens on small businesses and almost certainly fail to achieve its purposes. — Gov. DeSantis, in his veto statement

The Florida Healthy Alternatives Association said in a statement, “The Legislature heard our concerns, but didn’t fully appreciate the impact of their legislation. Governor DeSantis understands that everyday Floridians rely on hemp and CBD products to stay away from harmful and addictive medications and that thousands of Floridians have built local businesses to serve this critical need.”

Meanwhile, the bill’s primary sponsor state Sen. Colleen Burton told CBS News, “As prime sponsor of Senate Bill 1698, related to food and hemp products, it is very disappointing this legislation was vetoed.”

The governor was reported last month to be considering a veto for the proposal, which was passed unanimously in the Senate and by a 64-48 split House during the final days of the legislative session, the report said.

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Dallas Voters Could See Cannabis Decriminalization Question

6/10/2024

Voters in Dallas, Texas could get to consider a cannabis decriminalization initiative during this November’s election if the City Council approves the Dallas Freedom Act for local ballots later this month, the Texas Tribune reports.

Council member Chad West will formally introduce the issue during the City Council’s June 27 meeting after advocates submitted more than 50,000 petition signatures supporting the initiative. If advanced by the council — and then passed by voters — the Dallas Freedom Act would instruct police to stop writing tickets or making arrests for possessing up to four ounces of cannabis.

“Voters in our city and across the country want to decriminalize marijuana. Our already burdened police should focus their attention on serious crime, not arresting people with small amounts of marijuana. Bringing this to voters through a City Council-proposed Charter amendment instead of a petition will save the city time and resources.” — West, in a statement via the Texas Tribune

The following six Texas cities have already adopted local cannabis reforms: Austin, Denton, Elgin, Harker Heights, Killeen, and San Marcos. However, state Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) has filed suit against many of the cities and city officials over the local decriminalization policies, arguing they violate state laws and the state constitution.

City officials in Harker Heights, meanwhile, were sued separately by advocates after they refused to carry out the proposal after it was approved by voters in 2022.

Amid the attorney general’s crackdown on municipalities with voter-backed local cannabis reforms, voters in Lubbock, Texas recently rejected a cannabis decriminalization proposal.

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Report: Michigan Monthly Cannabis Sales Outpace California for First Time

6/07/2024

The Michigan cannabis industry sold more legal cannabis products in March than any other state, even beating out California, which has until now been the country’s top-selling state, according to BDSA data outlined in an SF Gate report.

The data showed that Michigan retailers sold 22 million cannabis products in March this year, while California cannabis shops sold just 21.3 million products. It was the first time cannabis industry data showed that a state other than California had sold the most cannabis products.

But while Michigan may have sold more cannabis products overall, the California industry still generates more revenue, according to sales data showing that California sold $1 billion worth of cannabis in the first three months of the year, while Michigan retailers sold just $786 million, the report said.

The disparity between products sold and overall revenue is most likely due to significant price differences between the states that results in Michigan offering cheap, legal cannabis products while the California market continues to struggle with high prices. Michigan also benefits from having neighboring states without legal cannabis programs in place, whereas California’s neighbors have already adopted adult-use reforms.

“Michigan is unquestionably better at running the legal cannabis market than California. Michigan illustrates the ways that California has squandered the opportunity.” — Cannabis consultant Hirsh Jain, via SF Gate

The BDSA data tracked purchases including cannabis flower, edibles, or vape pens but did not include the purchasing of paraphernalia including rolling papers or pipes.

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Ohio Dispensaries Can Apply for Adult-Use Permits Starting Today

6/07/2024

Starting Friday, Ohio’s 132 licensed medical cannabis dispensaries can apply for permits allowing adult-use sales per last year’s successful legalization voter initiative, 3News reports.

The applications could take up to two weeks to process, which would keep the state on track to meet regulators’ anticipated launch of adult-use sales by the end of the month.

Meanwhile, the state’s existing medical dispensaries are making plans for their expanded operations under the anticipated adult-use sales permits, the report said. AJ Caraballo, the retail director for the Cleveland Heights-based dispensary Amplify, said their company was making a special effort to maintain its regular services for registered cannabis patients.

“We want to make sure that our medical patients will be able to skip the lines and still get priority care here while we’re still excited to welcome our adult-use (marijuana) consumers.” — Caraballo, via 3News

After the initial wave of adult-use licensing, officials plan to continue working on the state’s cannabis regulatory framework so that newcomer cannabis companies can get their shot in the industry, the report said. The full adult-use cannabis industry launch is expected sometime in September.

As of May, several dozen Ohio towns and municipalities had opted for at least temporary bans on adult-use cannabis companies in their jurisdictions.

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Alabama Medical Cannabis Rollout Still Months Away

6/05/2024

The rollout of Alabama’s medical cannabis program is still months away – at least – as the state Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) remains embroiled in lawsuits, WBRC reports. Licenses were issued nearly a year ago but since then, missteps by the commission and related lawsuits have forced the program to a halt

During an appearance on the Capitol Journal, AMCC Director John McMillan described “most” of the lawsuits as “frivolous” and said that “nobody’s more frustrated” than the commission and its staff.

“But they have been used as a delaying tactic. I hope, to some extent, a lot of the litigation came from the fact of – ‘let’s just block everything, let’s just keep the commission from being able to do anything. Let’s just shut this program down through the courts and get something settled in the legislature.’” — McMillan via WBRC

In an interview with WBRC, William Somerville, an attorney for Alabama Always, one of the companies denied a license by the AMCC which is suing the commission, described McMillan’s comments as “just not true” but admitted he could understand where the commissioner was coming from – “knowing that this is just dragging out.”

“The commission violated the law in numerous ways, and continues to violate the law,” Somerville said. “The only thing that holds the process back is their refusal to comply with the law. If they followed the law, this would all be over with and patients would be getting the medication they need.”

McMillan said he is hopeful the program could launch “within a matter of months,” however, Somerville described that as “optimistic.”

“I think there’s still a possibility to get this done within a year,” Somerville said, “but the courts have to get involved with it and force the commission to follow the law.”

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Canopy Growth Acquires Acreage Holdings

6/05/2024

Canadian cannabis firm Canopy Growth on Tuesday agreed to acquire all of the issued and outstanding Class E shares of Acreage Holdings, paving the way for a full takeover of the company. Canopy also recently acquired Wana Wellness, LLC and the CIMA Group, LLC, and 77% of Lemurian, Inc, or Jetty, which CEO David Klein described in a press release as “major steps forward and consistent with the strategy outlined by Canopy Growth.”

“With the acquisition of Jetty and two of the three Wana business units now complete, Canopy USA is demonstrating its executional capabilities, and we anticipate that these actions will drive growth and the realization of commercial synergies across Canopy USA’s operational platform.” — Klein in a statement

Closing of the Acreage acquisition remains subject to closing conditions. Canopy will also acquire Acreage’s $99.8 million in outstanding debt in exchange for $69.8 million in cash and the release of approximately $30.1 million that was held in escrow pursuant to the agreement.

“…We’re excited to see this advancing as more of Canopy USA’s priority markets come online for adult use across the Midwest and Northeast,” Klein said in a statement.

Another Canopy acquisition — of Mountain High Products, LLC — is expected to close in the first half of fiscal year 2025.

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U.S. House Approves Spending Bill Amendment Allowing VA to Recommend Medical Cannabis

6/05/2024

The House of Representatives this week approved amendments to a major federal spending bill that would authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to accept medical cannabis use by veterans, and expand research efforts into psychedelics, Marijuana Moment reports. The amendments have been attached to the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilConVA) Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations Bill.

Under the medical cannabis amendment brought by Congressional Cannabis Caucus co-chairs Reps. Brian Mast (R-FL), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Barbara Lee (D-CA), and Dave Joyce (R-OH), veterans would no longer be barred from participating in state-legal medical cannabis programs. Lawmakers approved the amendment on Tuesday in a 290-116 vote.

“My proposed amendment, I believe, is common sense. It allows doctors in the VA — those that deal with veterans — to give advice to their veteran patients. That seems simple enough, but under the status quo, VA doctors are limited in essential treatment options that they can offer to their patients and treatments that patients that are not veterans can readily assess in many states.” — Mast, in a statement

“It’s unfortunate that the Department of Veterans Affairs is trapped in time, not giving veterans the full benefits of medical cannabis,” said Blumenauer, who has announced he will be retiring later this year at the end of his term.

Similar VA-focused cannabis provisions were approved last year in both the House and Senate but the reforms ultimately failed to reach the final version of the bill, the report said.

Lawmakers also approved on a voice vote two psychedelics-focused amendments: one that calls on the VA to support research investigating psychedelics as a treatment for conditions common among military veterans, and another calling on the VA to send Congress a report detailing the potential implementation of MDMA-assisted therapy if the drug were to become federally approved.

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South Dakota Legalization Bid Approved for November Ballots

6/05/2024

South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson announced the validation of a petition to put a cannabis legalization question before voters during the 2024 general election, the Associated Press reports.

It will be the third election in a row that South Dakota voters have considered legalizing adult-use cannabis — the last time voters considered it in 2022, the proposal was defeated with 53% of voters rejecting the reforms. Meanwhile, voters passed sweeping cannabis legalization language in 2020 but that measure was ultimately struck down by the state Supreme Court.

Measure 29, supported by South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws (SDBML), seeks to legalize cannabis possession for adults aged 21 and older and allow for limited cannabis home grows. The proposal does not include rules for a regulated cannabis marketplace but legalization supporters plan to work alongside lawmakers to that end if the initiative is successful.

We qualified for the November 2024 ballot! To everyone who gave their time, energy, or signature to this petition, we thank you – qualifying an initiative for the ballot is the first step towards reforming South Dakota’s cannabis policy in 2024. pic.twitter.com/kfKDteF6ei

— South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws (@southdakotamj) June 3, 2024

“We firmly believe that South Dakotans deserve to make their own choices on how they live their lives, including the freedom to responsibly use cannabis.” — SDBML’s political director Zebadiah Johnson, via the AP

Ballot proposals in South Dakota require at least 17,508 valid voter signatures to qualify; this year’s legalization proposal was validated with 22,558 signatures.

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South Africa Broadly Decriminalizes Cannabis

6/03/2024

Before last week’s elections, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa gave final approval to a bill to decriminalize cannabis, making the nation the first in Africa to legalize cannabis for personal use. President Ramaphosa signed the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act on May 28, which removed cannabis from the nation’s Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act.

In a press release, Ramaphosa said the move “will further enable amendment of the Schedules to the Medicines and Related Substances Act and provide for targeted regulatory reform of the Plant Breeders Rights Act and the Plant Improvement Act, as well as other pieces of legislation that require amendment to allow for the industrialization of the cannabis sector.”

“The Bill further guides the medically prescribed administration of cannabis to a child while also protecting children from undue exposure to cannabis. It provides for an alternative manner by which to address the issue of the prohibited use, possession of, or dealing in, cannabis by children, with due regard to the best interest of the child. It also prohibit the dealing in cannabis.” — Ramaphosa in a statement

Ramaphosa’s party, the African National Congress, lost its majority in Congress during elections on May 29.

Under the law adults in South Africa may possess unlimited cannabis seeds and seedlings, up to four flowering plants per person or eight per household in a private place, up to 100 grams of flower in a public place; and up to 600 grams of dried cannabis per person or 1,200 grams per household in a private place. Adults may smoke and consume cannabis in private places and gift, without remuneration, up to 30 seeds or seedlings, one flowering plant, or 100 grams of cannabis flower.

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