Americans for Safe Access: Continuing the Fight for Patient Access

4/28/2022

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There are currently 38 states in the US with THC-inclusive medical cannabis programs and only a handful of states where patients have no access to medical cannabis products. But when Steph Sherer founded Americans for Safe Access (ASA) in 2002, only eight states had medical cannabis programs and their primary focus was to provide patients with legal and safe access to cannabis medicine.

There were only a few cannabis dispensaries in San Francisco at the time of ASA’s founding, and most operations were not fully compliant. ASA spent its resources helping cannabis businesses meet compliance and, in turn, helped patients secure safe access to cannabis medicine produced in a compliant supply chain. Resources also went to protecting dispensaries in the event of a raid, as ASA’s founding pre-dates the Cole Memo.

Twenty years later, ASA is still dedicated to leaving no patient behind but their action points have changed. Ganjapreneur interviewed Debbie Churgai, the Executive Director of ASA, who let us in on what they’re doing now: “We started out with just trying to protect the industry, trying to protect patients, and trying to make it legal. And now, twenty years later, we have about 48 states with some form of medical cannabis but 11 of those states are just CBD which we don’t really consider an actual program. But because a lot of states are finally coming aboard and because there are protections now for businesses, we’ve shifted our priorities towards making sure that all patients everywhere have equal access to medical cannabis.”

In February, ASA released its annual State of the States report which uses a grading rubric to assess each state’s cannabis program from a patient perspective. The report covered categories like barriers to access, civil protections, affordability of cannabis medicine, social equity, and product safety, among other key issues. This year the highest grade was 76% with a state average of 44%, highlighting that the legislation doesn’t always serve patients despite the strides made in adult-use legalization and regulation. The problem is complex and each state has different weak points and strong points. Some states restrict how much medicine can be purchased, some restrict which conditions can qualify for a recommendation, and almost every state has an issue with affordability.

There isn’t a single solution that can be applied to each state but in 2020, ASA launched the No Patient Left Behind campaign, which works to ensure that patients have access to cannabis medicine across the country despite the complexities of their market. Affordability has become an issue for patients in every state because health insurance doesn’t cover medical cannabis. Patients often have to pay for their medical card themselves, the doctor visit to get the recommendation for that card, and the cost of taxed medicine, which can total a lot of money. In Arizona for example, applying for your medical card with the state Department of Health Services costs $150 plus a doctor’s recommendation, and the price often doubles with the visit to the recommending physician or naturopath. Because of this cost, many patients filter into their states’ adult-use markets where they often have to find new products and reconfigure their treatment plans with little to no personalized guidance.

“We believe that these should be two different markets,” said Churgai. “Patients should have priorities, especially priorities for products they need. Unfortunately, what we’re finding in certain states when the adult-use market comes in is that patients are having a hard time finding the products that they need or their products are getting switched out for products the adult-use market utilizes more.” And although this is a problem, it is also a testament to the efficacy of cannabis medicine: “The fact that patients are paying for this (medical cannabis) out of pocket just shows how much they need it,” she said. “If it was not helping them they would not be paying money to be a patient, so it is really important.”

With No Patient Left Behind, ASA identified the people with restricted or limited access to cannabis medicine like federal employees, veterans who utilize VA services, patients who travel across state lines, people living in poverty, patients in treatment or hospice centers, people on the organ transplant lists in some states, and more, and they present action points that would extend patient access in these areas beginning with the No Patient Left Behind pledge. Following the pledge, prompts provide everything needed to write and call politicians who have the power to alleviate these pain points for patients.

People in the industry tend to get immersed in the day-to-day, often losing sight of the people left to fend for themselves in prohibition states, while ASA faces its issues as adult-use markets capture the attention of cannabis businesses. This has led to a decrease in support for cannabis patient advocacy organizations like ASA but Churgai hopes to bring more awareness to the issues at hand, like those presented in the No Patient Left Behind campaign. “People just don’t think about them and that’s why we named it No Patient Left Behind. As more and more people get access, they are so excited that they kind of forget that there are people struggling in other states and in other areas of their own state that don’t have access.”

In most states where cannabis is now legal, the first fight for legalization stemmed from the voices of medical cannabis patients. Now, as legalization is sweeping the nation, patients are being left behind to wade through complicated regulations and ever-changing dispensary menus to find products similar to those they bought in the medical market. Creating an affordable market, removing barriers for patients without explicit legislative protections, and an expansive extension of safe access to medical cannabis remains at the core of ASA’s mission. If you’d like to get involved, Take the Pledge to leave no patient behind, find patient resources, and/or support Americans for Safe Access, visit safeaccessnow.org.

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Study: 60% of CBD Sleep Products Are Mislabeled

4/28/2022

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Leafreport released a study this week finding that 60% of consumer CBD products currently marketed for sleep contain the wrong amount of CBD, CBN, or melatonin.

To conduct the study, the company purchased 52 different CBD sleep products including gummies, tinctures, and capsules. The products were third-party tested by accredited cannabis testing laboratory Infinite Chemical Analysis Labs, which returned Certificates of Analysis for each product measuring their CBD and CBN content and melatonin levels.

Two-thirds of the tested products said to contain melatonin were found to be mislabeled, while just over half with CBD carried inaccurate CBD levels, and nearly half labeled for CBN were also inaccurate. Some products were more egregious than others — one product said to contain melatonin actually showed zero traces of it, for example, while two others had three to five times more than was labeled, according to the report. And out of 32 products that were advertised to contain broad or full-spectrum CBD, 25% appeared to be mislabeled.

Capsules performed better than the other products in terms of labeling accuracy with 50% of tested products matching their label, followed by gummies (40%), then tinctures (30%).

“Frankly, the results of this research are shocking and continue to illustrate the need for a more transparent CBD industry. Consumers need to know when they buy CBD products that there are certain quality standards being met.”  — Gal Shapira, Leafreport’s Product Manager, in a press release

The company noted its investigation was not immune to error — each product was only tested once, after all, and they could have experienced cannabinoid degradation over time. Additionally, the products typically see some variation among batches. But the findings are similar to previous studies by Leafreport that found labeling inaccuracies in other consumer cannabinoid products, including CBD edibles, beverages, and pet treats, as well as other products containing CBG and even Delta-8 THC.

“Leafreport exists to help these same consumers make better-informed decisions about what they put into their bodies,” Shapira said. “We see this report as a critical service to help consumers ensure they buy products that actually work.”

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U.S. Attorney General: Federal Cannabis Laws ‘Not an Efficient Use’ of Resources

4/28/2022

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In a Senate Apropriations sub-committee hearing on Tuesday, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland stood by his previous comments that enforcing federal cannabis possession laws is “not an efficient use” of federal government resources, Marijuana Moment reports.

Garland, however, declined to answer questions by Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) about reinstating Department of Justice (DOJ) protections for states with legal cannabis systems. The protections had been set by the Obama administration through the Cole Memo but were later rescinded under the Trump administration’s DOJ.

“I laid this out in my confirmation hearing, and my view hasn’t really changed since then. The Justice Department has almost never prosecuted use of marijuana, and it’s not going to be.” — Garland, via Marijuana Moment

Schatz did not press the AG on the issue and said his answer was “good enough” for him.

During his confirmation hearings, Garland said in both written and oral testimony that the spirit of the memo would be followed but some activists have been pushing for the memo’s reinstatement as part of a larger federal legalization effort. Despite the comments, Garland has not started the process to decriminalize cannabis at the federal level, according to the report.

Last month, a group of bi-partisan Congress members filed a bill asking the DOJ to form a commission to look at regulating cannabis similar to alcohol. Known as the Preparing Regulators Effectively for a Post-Prohibition Adult-Use Regulated Environment Act (PREPARE Act), the bill is sponsored by Reps. Dave Joyce (R-OH), Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), and Brian Mast (R-FL).

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Cannabis License Hopeful Sues Georgia Commission Over ‘Backroom’ Application Process

4/28/2022

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A medical cannabis company has filed a lawsuit against the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission claiming the scoring and evaluations of industry applications were shrouded by “conflicts of interest” and licenses were “bought and sold through closed-door politics and backroom deals,” FOX 5 reports.

Cumberland Curative President Charlie Arnold said he believes his company, which filed the lawsuit, was cheated out of a chance to obtain a state medical cannabis license.

“If there is no wrongdoing or corruption, then why not turn these applications, evaluation sheets, etc. over to the public.” – Arnold to FOX 5

“We heard in December of 2020 before the applications were submitted, directly from high up, public officials in both Democrat and Republican Party, that four of the six licenses are spoken for,” Arnold told FOX 5.

Under Georgia’s medical cannabis law, winning bids are redacted and kept secret from the losing bidders, the public, and the media, the report says, and the scoring of applications – which is conducted by political appointees – is also secret.

State Rep. Alan Powel (R) said he tried to fix the problems caused by the secretive bidding process by adding all the companies protesting the bid awards to the list of winning bidders. He described the effort as “not perfect” but “the best solution” available to him.

“I smell a rat in the woodpile,” Powel told Fox 5, “this process was destined for handpicked folks.”

State Rep. Bill Werkheiser (R) introduced legislation to start the entire process over, but that bill was not approved by the House.

The lawsuit was filed in Fulton County Superior Court and seeks to disclose the bid processes.

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Cannabis Research Center Coming to University of Kentucky

4/28/2022

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Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) on Tuesday signed a bill to authorize cannabis research at the University of Kentucky (UK), the Associated Press reports. Beshear used his line-item veto authority to broaden the center’s work and allow more leeway in the selection of the center’s oversight board.

The legislation to create the research center was approved by lawmakers on the final day of the state’s legislative session and Beshear’s line-item vetoes will stand since the Legislature will not reconvene until January 2023 for its next regular session.

Beshear said last week that he is seeking options to legalize medical cannabis in the state via executive action after lawmakers failed to approve the reforms during the session. The state House passed a medical cannabis bill but Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer (R) never brought the bill for a vote in the upper chamber, claiming there were “not enough votes” to pass the reforms.

The bill signed by Beshear on Tuesday gives UK’s president the power to appoint members of the advisory board overseeing the research center’s work and finances. In the line-item vetoes, the governor struck language that listed UK officials to be considered for board membership, along with medical specialists.

“I am vetoing these parts because they limit the purpose of the center and dictate who the president of the University of Kentucky should consider appointing to the advisory board after giving the president of the university sole appointing power,” Beshear said in his veto message, adding that his other line-item vetoes on the center’s access to funding were required “because ongoing appropriations may be necessary.”

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Connecticut House Passes Bill to Regulate Cannabis Advertising & Gifting

4/28/2022

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Connecticut lawmakers on Tuesday passed legislation to regulate cannabis-related advertising in the state, eliminate cannabis gifting, and allow physician assistants to write medical cannabis recommendations.

The advertising bill passed the House 98-48, the Westerly Sun reports, and would ban ads from out-of-state cannabis operators, prohibit Connecticut licensees from using the cannabis plant in advertising, bar ads on illuminated billboards between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m., and prohibit any cannabis-related advertising within 1,500 yards of a school or house of worship.

The bill was amended to remove criminal penalties associated with the practice and language was added to expressly allow social gifting – which medical cannabis advocates said was often essential for some patients to access their medicine, the CT Mirror reports.

State Rep. Mike D’Agostino (D) said the measure is meant to reign in the practice of commercial gifting – the exchange of cannabis with the purchase of another often overpriced product – rather than individuals giving one another cannabis for free.

“You can gift to your friends and relatives. You can host a brownie party at your house.” – D’Agostino via the Sun

D’Agostino said the billboard rules stem from lawmakers from both sides of the Connecticut aisle “sick of seeing … billboards with cannabis leaves played across them.”

In addition to allowing physician assistants to write medical cannabis patient recommendations, the bill also seeks to eliminate fees for medical cannabis patient renewals and new registrants beginning in 2024.

The bill still requires Senate approval before moving to the governor.

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Cannabis Farms Excluded From California’s Drought Mitigation Plan

4/27/2022

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A new proposal by California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) that would pay farmers to leave fields unplanted in order to conserve water — a practice known as fallowing — excludes the state’s cannabis farmers, Marijuana Business Daily reports. Working with some of California’s largest water providers, the state is offering $268 million in funds to farmers who leave their fields empty this year.

The plan focuses on two critical Sierra Nevada watersheds in Northern California. The list of crops eligible for the funds includes water-intensive crops like rice, alfalfa, and nuts, and is part of the governor’s $2.9 billion water quality control plan, the report says.

Michael Katz, executive director of the Mendocino Cannabis Alliance, said it is an “unfortunate double standard” that some farmers “are deemed worthy” for state support, while cannabis farmers “are in a position where they have no ability to pause their operations and their tax burden without endangering their ability to remain in the licensed market.”

Spokesperson for the California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) Maria Luisa Cesar said the “policies are in their preliminary stages of discussion and development.” Cesar added that the DCC “is committed to supporting the administration’s efforts to respond to California’s drought and will continue exploring policies that assist small farmers and recognize their responsible stewardship of the environment.”

The Origins Council, which represents nearly 900 small and independent cannabis businesses, has been asking the state and local governments for six months to enact regulations to help cannabis farmers through the extreme drought conditions. In a statement to MJBizDaily, the group’s Executive Director Genine Coleman said:

“To date, they have not committed to creating a fallowing policy. The state has an ethical obligation to support our cannabis farmers in being able to fallow during this unprecedented historic drought.”

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DoorDash Partnering with Cannabis Retailer Superette in Toronto

4/27/2022

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DoorDash Canada is partnering with cannabis retailer Superette to provide cannabis pickup in Toronto, Ontario, marking DoorDash’s first foray into cannabis. This partnership will bring Superette’s in-store shopping experience onto the DoorDash app and give consumers access to curated menus and special collections that reflect the best of the locale in which each store is based, the companies said in a press release.

Drummond Munro, co-founder and chief brand officer for Superette, said the partnership with DoorDash would “continue to transform how consumers engage with cannabis.”

“In true Superette fashion, every element of the experience has been carefully considered with the goal of making our retail experience digital on the DoorDash platform.” – Munro in a statement

DoorDash and Superette will include age gates for customers to ensure that only customers 19-and-older can view cannabis retail store information, cannabis products, or anything related to cannabis, the companies said. Superette will verify IDs and strictly enforce the maximum possession amount at the store during pick up.

The partnership will also give Superette access to DoorDash’s large customer base across Toronto. Superette has five locations in the city, according to its website.

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New Hemp Industry Rules Take Effect in New York This Week

4/27/2022

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New rules governing New York’s hemp industry take effect this week, including stricter labeling and testing requirements, the Times-Union reports. The rules were adopted by the Cannabis Control Board in November, but several provisions were delayed to allow businesses to come into compliance.

The new packaging rules require a nutritional fact panel with an ingredient list, the country and company of origin, and a bar code or QR code linking to a certificate of analysis. Products must also now be tested by third-party laboratories for product components and substances such as mold, pesticides, and metals.

Allan Gandelman, president of the New York Cannabis Growers and Processors Association, told the TU that a lot of the “subpar products” being sold in the state are from out of state.

“Without these regulations, New York state inspectors had no way of pulling that stuff off the shelves.” – Gandelman to the TU

Control board member Jen Metzger said that cannabinoid products used for wellness and those intended for consumption needed to be placed in a different regulatory framework than other, industrial, hemp products.

“The complexities of regulating the new crop and all of the potential cannabinoid products derived from that plant warranted a more robust regulatory approach,” Metzger told the TU.

The new rules provide insight into how THC-rich cannabinoid products will be regulated in the state once adult-use sales begin in the Empire State. Earlier this month, the Office of Cannabis Management approved conditional cultivation licenses for 52 cultivators but no firm start date has been announced.

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Ganjapreneur Announces Cannabis Industry Survival Guide Series

4/27/2022

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Cannabis business resource and news outlet Ganjapreneur.com has announced the launch of a new series of downloadable content in the form of “survival guides,” intended to help industry operators navigate the complex and difficult reality of existing in a quasi-legal, hyper-competitive space.

The Ganjapreneur Survival Guide series will focus on different aspects of running a cannabis business and participating in the industry. The first edition is titled “How to Write About Cannabis Responsibly” and was written by journalist TG Branfalt, who has been covering the industry for nearly a decade. Following on the heels of Ganjapreneur’s new series “Cannabias” – also written by Branfalt – this guide highlights the importance of context and awareness for any journalist at a mainstream publication who is tasked with covering the industry.

Since well before legalization, cannabis advocates have pointed to the persistence of anti-cannabis bias and stigma in mainstream news coverage related to the plant. Due to the amount of propaganda that has historically been levied against cannabis and the people who consume it, journalists who write about the industry need to take extra precaution to avoid their own internal biases and to make sure their reporting appropriately considers the context of what they are writing about.

The Survival Guide highlights several key considerations for journalists to keep in mind in order to make sure their reporting doesn’t fall victim to common flaws and pitfalls that are often present in mainstream cannabis coverage, such as:

1) Use the scientific term “cannabis” over any slang reference like “pot” or “weed”

Branfalt points out the problematic history of how the word “marijuana” was used by the government to stoke xenophobia among white Americans in the 1930’s in order to justify cracking down on the communities of color who predominantly consumed the plant. While the term “marijuana” is still widely used and has become the official language of many of the new laws that have repealed prohibition, Branfalt argues a fair reporter should avoid it or any other term that comes with loaded stereotypes attached.

2) Avoid writing about scientific studies that you don’t understand

Branfalt highlights the problem of journalists attempting to interpret the results of scientific studies they don’t understand. Due to the prevalence of research funded by think-tanks, the tendency for relevant comparisons to be left out (i.e. comparing the health risks of cannabis to the harms of alcohol or tobacco), and the ubiquity of clickbait in the digital era, Branfalt argues that journalists who don’t have a scientific background should simply avoid trying to draw conclusions or interpretations from scientific studies altogether.

“Just because it makes a good headline, doesn’t mean you are providing quality information to your readers.”
-TG Branfalt

Other topics covered in the Survival Guide include how to choose one’s sources, the importance of relevant context, and the necessity for journalists to understand that people who consume cannabis are not defined by the negative stereotypes like “stoner” or “pothead” that people who don’t consume cannabis have been conditioned to understand them by.

Ganjapreneur plans to develop additional survival guides that will be written internally, as well as in collaboration with advertising partners. To learn about how to become a sponsor and co-author of our next survival guide, contact us via the website or email us at grow@ganjapreneur.com.

To download a copy of the Survival Guide, click here or fill out the form below.

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How Pandemic Pivots Impacted Digital Marketing for Dispensaries

4/27/2022

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The cannabis industry has been on the rise for over a decade, exceeding many growth projections. The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted just how far the industry had come when many government officials opted to declare dispensaries “essential businesses.”

Not only did the pandemic impact industry growth from a revenue standpoint, but it also pushed cannabis businesses to explore new acquisition and retention channels, specifically those related to digital marketing.

Cannabis Becomes Essential

Legal cannabis sales in the United States passed $17.5 billion in 2020, a 46 percent increase over sales in 2019. For many Americans, stocking up on marijuana was as essential as stocking up on toilet paper.

Where legally permitted, cannabis delivery businesses saw an increase in patrons. In some areas, cars lined up for curbside, social-distanced order pick-up. Customers stood outside dispensaries, six feet apart as they waited for their chance to enter. People wanted their weed and dispensaries figured out ways to get it.

After the rush to secure lockdown cannabis supplies subsided, owners and marketers were tasked with determining the best strategies for maintaining momentum in a new environment.

Digital Marketing for Dispensaries

With lockdowns in place, many consumers found themselves spending more time at home and online. Within a matter of weeks, digital marketing quickly went from “nice to have” to a necessity, focusing on five major areas:

  • Ease of purchase
  • Increased visibility
  • Consumer education
  • Customer engagement
  • Brand identity

Ease of Purchase: Online Orders

In a lockdown situation, consumers need to be able to get their products in the most efficient way possible. Standing in line for hours without knowing what would be available inside, is the opposite of efficiency.

Many dispensaries transitioned from a basic list of products on their website to a full menu of in-stock products and online order capabilities. Though marijuana cannot be purchased and shipped online, it can be ordered and ready to pick up at the local dispensary or delivered, cutting down on wait times, and, with timely inventory updates, ensuring product availability.

This convenient purchase method has become commonplace for many consumers who just want to purchase their product without having to wait to speak to a budtender.

Increased Visibility: Local Search

Dispensaries are brick-and-mortar businesses, which means that they cater to a specific area. With consumers required to limit travel, dispensary location became increasingly important during the pandemic.

Online directory listings are a powerful way to help customers find businesses near them. They are also an effective way to build a website’s domain authority, increasing search engine optimization (SEO).

These directories can essentially include anywhere that lists your business location such as your website, google business, social media, yelp, and cannabis-specific directories. They may also include customer reviews and photos, which help provide potential customers with a level of familiarity with the business prior to visiting.

More consumers use Google to evaluate local businesses than ever before. In 2021, 81% of consumers used this platform, compared to 63% in the previous year.

Consumer Education: Quality Content

Research from a 2022 digital overview report reveals that the “typical” global internet user now spends almost 7 hours per day – 6 hours and 58 minutes to be precise – using the internet across all devices. Much of this time is spent absorbing content about things they are interested in or find entertaining. Cannabis content can be both.

During the height of the pandemic, the internet played a crucial role in providing important information to people worldwide through various channels. Some channels are more trusted than others. Similarly, providing quality cannabis content that educates potential customers helps cultivate trust in your brand.

Educational content can take on many forms including product description pages, blogs, videos, graphs, social media posts, and more. With more time on their hands, consumers are able to more carefully research the products they intend to purchase. This research-first purchasing behavior has created a more value-conscious consumer even in the post-restriction Covid era.

Customer Engagement: Building Relationships

The pandemic removed many traditional options for face-to-unmasked face interactions, forcing dispensaries to find other options to build relationships with customers. According to Salesforce’s CMO Survey, 84% of customers say the experience a company provides is as important as its products and services.

Website live chats, social media interactions with customers, and a consistent email cadence, have made it possible for dispensaries to get and remain digitally engaged. Emails also provide cost-effective continual touchpoints with customers which can include the distribution of educational content, discounts, events, product launches, or feedback requests.

Integrating on-site customer reviews and loyalty programs have also become commonplace for customer retention.

Brand Identity: Dispensary Differentiation

During the pandemic, consumers became accustomed to empathy from brands. Whether that messaging involved putting people over profits, appreciation for essential workers, or sympathy for those struggling through illness, brand voice and authenticity became more relevant to attentive consumers.

A company’s values are digitally communicable through visual style, and voice as an overall indicator of brand culture. Digital marketing for dispensaries during the pandemic steered many brands to define their messaging and audience to emphasize their core values.

Dispensaries that are able to cultivate a distinctive brand identity have a higher probability of building sustainable brand loyalty.

Covid’s Impact on Digital Marketing for Dispensaries

As a relatively new industry, many dispensaries had minimal online presence pre-Covid, but digital marketing played a key role for dispensaries during the pandemic by providing channels to attract and capture new customers as well as engage with existing customers. Dispensaries that utilized search engine optimization, directories, blogs, social media, display advertising, and other marketing tactics had the edge over competitors and drove traffic to their stores.

Ultimately, the pandemic has made digital marketing a priority for dispensaries. In 2022 and beyond, new and established businesses must step up their digital marketing to provide increasingly better and more competitive customer experiences.

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Muha Meds Now Licensed In California & Available Through Multiple Retailers

4/27/2022

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CALIFORNIA (4/27/22) — Following the success of its launch in Michigan’s regulated cannabis market, Muha Meds — a legacy cannabis brand that got its start in the traditional California cannabis market about three years ago — is now officially licensed for the California adult-use marketplace, and Muha Meds products are available through select cannabis retailers around the state.

The company received its California license (C11-0001088-LIC) in February and today, its products are available at numerous retailers including the Elevate dispensaries, Backpack Boys, and others, and plans for additional locations are also in the works. For other locations that carry their products, visit their Weedmaps brand page.

Over the years, Muha Meds products have been enjoyed by thousands of cannabis consumers — in California, the company’s biggest seller so far is its full-gram, live resin disposable, which is rechargeable and comes in a variety of eight flavors. Each live resin disposable carries a guaranteed potency of at least 82% THC. The company also offers full-gram cartridges in 14 unique and fantastic-tasting flavors. Muha Meds has conducted extensive research and development in search of the best smoking experience.

Company leaders said that while they chose Michigan for the brand’s first license because of the state’s retail- and business-friendly environment, they are especially excited about the California launch because it is the birthplace of the Muha Meds brand.

“We’re just getting started, the community is really getting to see what they’ve been missing out on and the feedback has been tremendous,” said Muha Meds CEO Ali Gawari. “We have next-generation tech coming for solventless extracts, pre-rolls, and edibles. Everything that we do by the way is 100% in-house from seed to shelf — we made that a point when launching in CA and MI to ensure the level of quality we stand for.”

Visit MuhaMeds.com to learn more about this legacy cannabis brand’s offerings in California and Michigan.

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Experts Warn Against Mailing Cannabis In Light of Recent DEA Ruling

4/27/2022

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Earlier this month, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) acknowledged that cannabis seeds are in fact legal products under provisions of the 2018 Farm Bill as long as they contain less than the 0.3% THC legal threshold qualifying them as hemp. The attorney who sent the letter that sparked the review, Shane Pennington, who serves as counsel in Vicente Sederberg’s New York office, cautioned though that not much will change for the industry in the short term just because of the DEA’s letter.

“To everybody out there who is saying, ‘This is one simple trick to mail marijuana,’ please, please hear me – it is not. This is not what this is. Before you do anything consult your attorney – I would say consult your attorney and read the letter, because if the letter doesn’t say ‘You can mail it,’ I would not assume you can. I just want to be very clear about that.” – Pennington to Ganjapreneur

Pennington, who tries cannabis cases in federal court, sent the letter because it was obvious to him that the “governing principle” under the Farm Bill for distinguishing legal hemp from illegal cannabis under federal law was the 0.3% THC threshold, rather than the so-called “source rule” which dictates that anything derived from an illegal source, regardless of THC content, is illegal.

Under the source rule, seeds and clones sourced from outlawed cannabis are also considered controlled substances under federal law despite THC concentrations falling below the 0.3% threshold outlined in the Farm Bill.

Pennington said that many people in the cannabis industry argued that the source rule was the lay of the land and that the Farm Bill had no effect on the legal status of seeds and clones that could grow into THC-rich plants, prompting Pennington to ask the DEA for an official determination on the status of cannabis seeds.

“Of course, the DEA has been wrong about plenty of stuff,” Pennington said, “I sue them all the time. Nonetheless, they do speak with authority on the law and if I could get an official determination I could at least tell these people, ‘Look, we don’t have to argue anymore.’”

In the letter to Pennington, DEA Chief of the Drug & Chemical Evaluation Section Terrence L. Boos, concludes that “marihuana seed that has a delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3[%] on a dry weight basis meets the definition of ‘hemp’ and thus is not controlled” under the Controlled Substances Act – and not just seed, but “tissue culture and any other genetic material” containing less than 0.3% THC.

But, Pennington said, that letter didn’t end all arguments, which he said have evolved into claims that cannabis seeds, clones, and basically anything with less than 0.3% THC could now be mailed, brought across state lines, and shared between states that have legalized cannabis.

Nat Pennington, the founder and CEO of Humboldt Seed Company (and not related to Shane), pointed out that California’s adult-use law is very clear that seeds cannot be transferred in or out of the state regardless of current federal policies. Nat points out that in newly legal states there is often a baked-in “immaculate conception clause” which allows companies and cultivators to start growing for the program but turns a blind eye to exactly where that first batch of seed is sourced from. The DEA letter, in Nat’s view, takes some of the risk out of that first legal grow because the companies are definitely not violating the source rule by simply possessing the seeds, clones, or tissue culture as long as they don’t exceed federal THC limits for controlled substances.

While California’s rules on seeds are very strict, the rules in Oklahoma, another state where Humboldt Seed Company operates, are not.

“You don’t have to prove that they came from within the state’s system,” Nat said in an interview with Ganjapreneur. “And they also don’t keep track or want to regulate what happens to the seeds that are created within the system – they’re treated just like tomato seeds or anything else.”

Oklahoma does require all seeds in the state to be tested for invasive plants and germination rates, Nat said.

“As long as states don’t have a closed loop like California, there is more potential for seed sharing,” he said.

According to Nat, the big deal in the DEA’s response is that it likely opens the window for research and intellectual property and the ability to “follow normal seed laws.”

“There’s an opportunity to really have the states look at it differently – the industry could really benefit a lot from, for example, being able to bring cannabis seeds onto campus for genomic analysis. It’s silly to not be able to utilize that.” – Nat Pennington to Ganjapreneur

While many colleges and universities are offering cannabis-related certificates and degree programs, none of them have offerings that touch the plant (including seeds) because they receive federal funding.

In 2019, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) did release the following guidance about mailing hemp as defined under the farm bill:

“Hemp and hemp-based products, including cannabidiol (CBD) with the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration of such hemp (or its derivatives) not exceeding a 0.3 percent limit are permitted to be mailed only when:

  1. The mailer complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws (such as the Agricultural Act of 2014 and the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018) pertaining to hemp production, processing, distribution, and sales; and
  2. The mailer retains records establishing compliance with such laws, including laboratory test results, licenses, or compliance reports, for no less than 2 years after the date of mailing.”

Shane said that the issue of whether cannabis seeds could be mailed likely needs clarification by USPS officials in light of the DEA letter.

“All that this letter says is what DEA thinks the [CSA] means at the time that they wrote that letter with respect to these particular substances,” he explained. “It’s not saying it’s legal to mail stuff under federal law or state law – it’s not saying anything about state law. … This letter doesn’t change California law on this stuff. It doesn’t change was USPS thinks are verboten cannabis products.”

The letter, Shane said, doesn’t legalize interstate commerce of clones, doesn’t change any rules on marketing or advertising, or the positions of any other federal agency.

The real significance, Shane said, is that it offers some clarification for “third-party regulators” such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), state regulators, law enforcement agencies, because they “take their cues” from the DEA on controlled substances policy.

“If you read opinions from state courts about trying to draw lines under state law on hemp and marijuana, they will cite DEA regs and DEA guidance,” he said. “The point is that, while it’s not immediate, over time as these regulators and lawmakers realize that DEA’s views are more flexible than they realized, it is entirely reasonable to expect that they will loosen up some of their standards as well.”

Shane explained that what will really determine how quickly and dramatically those standards change is how quickly people use the letter to lobby state lawmakers, regulators, and other agencies.

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Veriheal Opens Applications for 2022 Innovation Scholarship Fund

4/27/2022

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Medical cannabis card facilitator Veriheal on Tuesday launched its third annual Innovation Scholarship Fund which will grant $25,000 in awards to five students to help with college tuition and fees. The total represents a $5,000 increase from the previous funding offering by the company program.

The scholarship is open to current college students, recent high school graduates, and high school seniors who are starting college classes early. Submissions will be accepted until July 30, 2022, with winners notified by September. Students must submit a 1,000-word essay about how they would improve the cannabis industry and are encouraged to be creative in crafting novel solutions to remedy the concerns facing the cannabis industry, from business, to technology, to product development, the company said in a press release.

Anthony Dutcher, CMO of Veriheal, said the program “not only sets up students for success, but it also lays the groundwork for a new generation of cannabis entrepreneurs and visionaries.”

“As both medical and adult-use cannabis access increases across America, we’ll have some issues to work out.” – Dutcher in a statement

Veriheal said that since the inception of the Innovation in Cannabis Scholarship, its award funding has increased by 66%.

“We’re excited to reaffirm our commitment to the community and help shape future cannabis industry leaders,” Dutcher added.

Previous winners are listed on the company’s website. Last year, 17 students received the award.

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Biden Marks ‘Second Chance Month’ By Commuting Just 75 Drug Conviction Sentences

4/26/2022

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President Joe Biden (D) is commuting the sentences of 75 nonviolent drug offenders today to mark Second Chance Month, according to a CNN report. It is the president’s first time wielding the clemency powers afforded to him by his office.

The move — which a senior administration official said “reflects the President’s broader commitment to reform our justice system and address racial disparities” — comes as there remain more than 40,000 individuals incarcerated for cannabis-related charges, and despite Biden’s purported belief that “Nobody should be in jail for smoking marijuana.”

“America is a nation of laws and second chances, redemption, and rehabilitation. Elected officials on both sides of the aisle, faith leaders, civil rights advocates, and law enforcement leaders agree that our criminal justice system can and should reflect these core values that enable safer and stronger communities. During Second Chance Month, I am using my authority under the Constitution to uphold those values by pardoning and commuting the sentences of fellow Americans.” — Biden, in a written statement via CNN

In addition to the 75 commuted sentences, Biden is also issuing full pardons to three individuals.

The Last Prisoner Project, an advocacy group fighting for the release of all cannabis prisoners, called out the move on Monday, tweeting, “President Biden, if you truly believe that ‘no one should be in jail because of drug use,’ it’s time to put those words into action.”

NORML’s Executive Director Erik Altieri described the move as “woefully inadequate.”

“It is well past the time for President Biden to make good on his campaign promise to expunge the records of all federal marijuana offenders and prove that justice isn’t just a buzzword he uses to gain votes during election season,” Altieri said in a statement.

Second Chance Month started in the U.S. in 2017 as an effort to raise awareness of the collateral consequences of criminal convictions and the country’s rampant incarceration rates. The month is observed to create second-chance opportunities for people whose past convictions have prevented them from fully reincorporating themselves into society.

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Jesse Parenti & Kirk Miller: Risk Mitigation In the Cannabis Industry

4/26/2022

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Between the cannabis industry’s nascency and its highly regulated and cash-rich environment, operators in the space face a formidable number of business risks. But while these risks are real, concerns can be eased with the help of risk management experts like Nine Point Strategies, an agency offering business insurance and human resources consulting for the cannabis space.

Ganjapreneur recently interviewed Nine Point’s Program Director Jesse Parenti and Executive Producer Kirk Miller about the insurance needs of cannabis operators and the firm’s approach to HR consulting across the industry’s many different types of companies, including cultivation, retail, and testing labs, and others. This Q&A interview also covers the various insurance types available to cannabis operators, which risks are the most overlooked in the industry, advice for entrepreneurs to reduce risk, and more!

Scroll down to read the full interview.

Ganjapreneur: As HR consultants do you use one blanket method for each company or do you adjust how you operate to match the client’s company culture? Why?

Jesse Parenti: While there are similarities between license types, we customize our approach based on the client’s needs, level of sophistication and exposure. For example, the larger vertical operators will have different needs than a small cultivator.

Will you explain the difference between basic and excess insurance options when it comes to coverage, cost, and assessment?

Kirk Miller: By basic you mean underlying limits, versus Excess Limits. You first have to have the underlying coverage to purchase Excess Liability. For example, an operator can have General Liability limits of 1MM Per Occurrence and 2MM Aggregate, then they can purchase 1MM up to 5MM of Excess Liability that would go over the underlying coverage.

Does an owner/operator take on more risk in one sector of the industry than another? Which sectors are more in need of risk assessment and why?

Jesse Parenti: All sectors have their Exposures, for example outdoor cultivators have wildfires while, retail stores have Robberies. Delivery and Distribution should be concerned about their Auto Exposure, as one accident can create an extinguishing event. Those Operators that have a strong Culture, that supports both Safety and Accountability and creating a safe workplace and are reducing risk within their organization.

What are some of the most overlooked risks in the cannabis industry?

Kirk Miller: Directors & Officers (D&O), Employment Practices Liability (EPL), Cyber, Excess Auto. Most privately held companies are not purchasing these lines due to the cost, perceived exposure, and perceived value. This is slowly changing as the market matures and more sophisticated operators enter the industry. As claims develop and the industry gains insights on the risks and exposures, operators will need to expand coverages to further protect their assets.

Why is it complicated for cannabis companies to find business insurance? How does this amplify risk for these companies?

Jesse Parenti: Commercial insurance in general can be complicated, and for cannabis operations, the carrier options are limited, and coverage can be restrictive. Which is why companies need to work with Risk Advisors that specialize in the Cannabis industry. It’s important for companies to choose their broker rather than shop their coverage. In the cannabis space, it is critical to work with a Risk Advisor that understands your unique exposures and the carrier’s coverage forms.

When is the optimal time for a company to hire a dedicated risk management team like Nine Point Strategies?

Kirk Miller: We like to start having conversations with our clients as early as possible. Since we have been in the space for over a decade our advice and insights assist the operator in making better business decisions. It also helps with forecasting as we typically start with the basics like Bonds, GL, Work Comp and Auto. Then as the business grows and matures, we expand coverages to meet their needs, which can include Property, Cargo, Employee Benefits along with D&O, EPLI, Cyber and Excess Liability.

What are the benefits of hiring an HR consultant for an already established brand?

Jesse Parenti: Working with an HR consultant offers a second opinion by an expert that can provide support and check and balances. Many small to midsize businesses do not have a dedicated HR Director. Hiring an HR consultant is a great way to fill the knowledge gap, ease the burden of hiring and onboarding new employees, while also keeping the company compliant with employment laws and regulations.

How did you stay up to date on OSHA and safety regulations to best consult with your clients?

Kirk Miller: Currently California is the only state that requires licensed operators to complete the CAL-OSHA30 Training. The law mandates that one manager and one employee complete the CAL-OSHA30 Training every four years for every cannabis license.

Do you need to be educated on each sector of the cannabis industry in order to properly consult with them? What informs your expertise in each sector?

Jesse Parenti: Nine Point Strategies has been protecting the cannabis industry for over a decade. There is not much we have not seen or experienced. Which is why it is important for operators to work with a trusted risk advisor that understands your exposures and has extensive claims experience.

What is the top piece of advice for reducing risk in the cannabis space?

Jesse Parenti: Hiring the right people can make or break your business. Build a strong culture that is reinforced with safety and accountability. Work with knowledgeable industry experts, consultants, and advisors.

Thanks, Jesse and Kirk, for answering these questions! Readers can visit NinePointStrategies.com for more info.

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‘Great Resignation’ Creates Cannabis Labor Shortages, Canadian Cultivator Takes New Approach to Employee Retention

4/26/2022

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Las Vegas, NV, April 26, 2022: — Unfilled jobs in the food-service and hospitality industries are making it difficult for cannabis companies to retain entry-level employees, prompting some cultivators to change how they operate to gain a competitive advantage in the labor market.

Safari Flower Co. — a licensed cannabis producer in Ontario’s Niagara region — is combating the so-called “Great Resignation” with automated processing equipment from Mobius, a cannabis automation and technology firm.

Implementing their new automation equipment enabled Safari to reduce the amount of time spent on trimming by approximately 75% and improve working conditions for the processing team. The net result has been a smaller and happier workforce with the ability to apply compensation programs based on meeting production efficiencies.

“The impact of technology and automation on our labor force has been very well-recognized as a retention strategy,” said Brigitte Simons, Safari’s Chief Executive Officer.

Before bringing automation to their processing operations, Safari would require two 8-hour shifts to buck and trim each harvest. The procedure involved separating the flowers from the stalks by hand and trimming each cannabis flower with scissors — a task that led to boredom, repetitive strain injuries, and high staff turnover.

The non-progressive, manual trimming procedures strained Safari’s labor force as it could not incrementally increase the company’s working capital towards employee compensation planning due to the lengthy inventory processing cycles. Further influenced by increasing wages in other regional job sectors, staff desired to participate in procedures under constant improvements.

Now, with the new Mobius processing system, tasks are more ergonomic and engaging. Even better, the harvest has gone from 5 days down to just one day.

Thanks to mechanical buckers (machines that separate the flowers and leaves from the stalks) and a high-speed trimming system that includes infeed and quality control conveyors, Safari has reduced repetitive strain injuries and increased employee satisfaction.

“If you can give your employees technology that brings value back to the operators, you will have a sustainable, committed workforce that will come every day with dedication to your efficiency measures,” said Simons.

To learn more about the Mobius automation system, visit mobiustrimmer.com/cannabis-automation.

To learn more about Safari Flower, visit https://www.safariflower.co/.

For more information about automated processing equipment — contact a Mobius representative at info@mobiustrimmer.com.

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Ohio Lawmakers Introduce Legalization Bill Authored By Cannabis Advocates

4/26/2022

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Two Ohio lawmakers have introduced legislation proposed by the campaign seeking to legalize cannabis in the state, The Center Square reports. The bill’s introduction comes after advocates successfully submitted enough signatures to trigger the state’s initiated statute process.

Under the initiated statute process, once a campaign submits enough signatures, the Legislature has four months to pass the bill, or an amended version, and if they fail to do so, the campaign – the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol – can collect another 132,887 valid signatures to put the issue to voters. The group submitted the petition language and the required signatures on January 28.

State Rep. Casey Weinstein (D), one of the lawmakers supporting the bill, said that cannabis legalization in Ohio is “overdue.”

“The hundreds of thousands of Ohio voters who signed this petition – and millions more who support legalization statewide – asked for action from our legislature. Instead, GOP leaders have ignored them.” – Weinstein to Center Square

State Rep. Terrence Upchurch (D), who is also sponsoring the legislation, said cannabis legalization “would create good-paying jobs and generate significant revenue” for the Buckeye State.

“We must listen to the overwhelming support from voters and take action to finally legalize cannabis in Ohio,” Upchurch told Center Square.

The duo had previously filed a cannabis legalization bill in July 2021 – the first legislative effort to enact the reforms in the state – but the proposal stalled in the House Finance Committee.

The bill proposed by the campaign would allow individuals 21-and-older to buy and possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis, 15 grams of concentrates, and grow up to six plants per adult, with no more than 12 per household. The proposal includes a 10% tax on sales, with the revenues earmarked for administrative costs, addiction treatment programs, municipalities with dispensaries, and a social equity and jobs program.

If the General Assembly fails to act and pass the language within the four-month deadline outlined by the Ohio Constitution, the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol has the option to collect additional signatures to submit the proposal for voters to vote on in November.

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Oregon Stops Issuing New Cannabis Licenses

4/26/2022

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The Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) has halted issuing new cannabis licenses of any kind to applicants who submitted their applications after January 1, KTVZ reports. The action is in response to a 2022 bill passed by the Oregon Legislature which ordered OLCC to stop granting new cannabis licenses.

“We see both sides of this issue,” Commissioner Matt Maletis said in the report. “There’s people that are very happy, and there’s people that are very unhappy, but the Legislature made a decision. We’ve always had a unique system in Oregon. There’s no easy way to do this.”

Besides the license moratorium, the commission also voted to undertake rulemaking for reporting human and sex trafficking in the cannabis industry and to create a system to reassign surrendered cannabis licenses. The OLCC plans on holding public meetings this summer to hear input on the new rules, the report says.

In March, two counties declared states of emergency related to cannabis, which allowed them to place moratoriums on issuing new hemp licenses. Jackson County Senior Deputy Administrator Harvey Bragg said that county officials needed “to kind of get a time-out” so they could catch up on applications and enforcement. Last year, state inspectors found 53% of licensed hemp grown in Jackson, and Josephine, counties were illegally growing cannabis under the guise of hemp.

Throughout 2021, law enforcement agencies in Southern Oregon have uncovered a host of issues at illegal cannabis grows, including workers living in poor conditions, water theft in a region hit hard by drought, improper use of pesticides and other chemicals, garbage, electrical hazards, and evidence of drug trafficking. Officials believe organized crime networks are backing many of the illegal cultivation sites.

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Two Canadian Hemp Processors Get Combined $900k in Government Grants

4/26/2022

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The government of Edmonton, Canada, and the federal government have awarded two grants totaling $900,000 to two hemp companies operating in the province to help build their processing facilities. INCA was awarded $400,000 while Blue Sky Hemp Ventures received $500,000.

INCA is planning a facility in Vegreville that is expected to cost $72 million, while Blue Sky has proposed a $75 million facility in Alberta. Both projects are funded through the Emerging Opportunities program under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, which supports initiatives that contribute to significant sector growth and job creation in Alberta.

In a statement, Marie-Claude Bibeau, minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, said that the province’s “hemp industry is helping to build a strong agriculture sector that creates jobs and brings tremendous opportunities to communities.”

“By producing, processing and creating value-added products within the province, the hemp industry can remain sustainable and agile, while seizing new opportunities in domestic and export markets.” – Bibeau in a press release

Doug Schweitzer, Alberta minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation, said “Alberta’s hemp industry has seen significant growth over the past two decades and is playing an increasingly important role” in the provincial economy by “creating jobs and generating value-added products for exports.”

The INCA Renewtech project is expected to create demand for 54,000 tons of hemp biomass per year while adding $270 million in additional farm income over 25 years. The project will is expected to create more than 70 manufacturing jobs.

The funding will allow Blue Sky to scale up production of its cold-pressed, purified hemp seed oil which is used in cosmetic and food applications, and to scale up production of a hemp protein concentrate from the resulting meal. The new facility will have the capacity to process up to 35,000 tons of hemp grain and will be the first large-scale hemp food processing facility in the province. The facility is expected to create more than 90 new jobs in rural Alberta and $45 million of annual farm revenue for hemp grain.

The grants are part of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, which is a five-year, $3 billion commitment by federal, provincial, and territorial governments that supports the nation’s agriculture, agri-food and agri-products sectors, including a $2 billion commitment that is cost-shared 60% federally and 40% provincially and territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by provinces and territories.

(Note: All figures CAD)

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North Dakota Organizers Launch Cannabis Legalization Campaign

4/26/2022

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A North Dakota group is renewing efforts to legalize cannabis in the state through the ballot process after a previous effort failed to gather enough signatures earlier this year, KVRR reports. Advocates will need to get a minimum of 16,000 valid signatures to advance their petition but are aiming to get between 20,000 and 21,000, Dana Owen, campaign manager for New Approach North Dakota, told KVRR.

“The question today is not do you support or do you oppose recreational marijuana, that question will come later. The question today we have is should people have the right to vote on recreational marijuana and I think those are two fundamentally different questions that people don’t understand.” – Owen to KVRR

The group’s bill is similar to one passed by the state House in 2018 that was never considered by the Senate.

“We thought the people deserved to have a vote on it so we took the bill, made some small strategic changes, we submitted it to the Secretary of State and now we’re approved to start circulating here,” Owen said in the report.

The campaign is seeking to get the question on 2022 ballots, so they must submit enough valid signatures to the Secretary of State’s office by mid-July.

Owen described the proposal as a “restricted” and “controlled” legalization proposal which he does not anticipate “a lot of problems.”

“It’s important to have the conversation because states are the testing ground for policy,” Owen said, “and the state of North Dakota has the power and authority to set policy that works best for its people.”

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Tennessee Looks to Regulate Instead of Ban Delta-8 THC

4/25/2022

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A Tennessee bill seeking to ban delta-8 THC has been amended by its author to remove language banning the compound and replace it with language to regulate the industry, the Johnson City Press reports. The amendment was approved by the House Criminal Justice Committee last week following a hearing during which the panel heard from both hemp industry advocates and law enforcement officials who opposed an outright ban.

Law enforcement officials told the committee that while they had public safety concerns about delta-8, a ban would strain the state’s crime labs which would be required to test products to determine whether they are legal hemp, a hemp-derived cannabinoid, or illegal cannabis.

Hemp industry representatives told the committee that they supported regulations. Cara Roberts, who owns Delta 9 Delivery with her husband Micah, said that since they don’t grow and process their own hemp, they rely on companies to provide them with safe products and would like to see state-level regulations requiring things like childproof packaging and more information and product safety standards on labels.

“This helps pave the way to help legalize marijuana when it comes, instead of shut the door on this completely.” – Cara Roberts to the Press

The amended bill passed the committee unanimously. If approved by the Legislature, it would prohibit the sale of delta-8 products to anyone under 21-years-old, impose a 5% tax on delta-8 products, and require businesses manufacturing or selling the products to be licensed, along with other requirements such as labeling requirements and child-proof packaging. The regulations would also apply to other cannabinoids such as delta-10 and THCo.

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New York City Mayor Proposes $4.8M for Cannabis Business Assistance

4/25/2022

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New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) is proposing $4.8 million in his Fiscal Year 2023 Executive Budget for cannabis businesses, including funds for technical and licensing assistance. The investments would focus on communities most impacted by the “war on drugs” and include a multi-agency outreach effort.

“The cannabis industry could be a major boon to our economic recovery – creating new jobs, building wealth in historically underserved communities, and increasing state and local tax revenue. With a new regulated adult-use cannabis market on the immediate horizon, now is the time for our city to make proactive investments to ensure the people disproportionately impacted by the criminalization of these substances can reap the benefits of the new industry.” – Adams in a press release

The plan is part of Adams’ “Renew, Rebuild, Reinvent: A Blueprint for New York City’s Economic Recovery” campaign plank, which calls for a partnership with state and local leaders to build the nation’s most equitable cannabis industry. In New York, the adult-use cannabis industry is expected to generate nearly $1.3 billion in sales in its first year and support between 19,000 and 24,000 jobs within three years, the Mayor’s Office said.

The multiagency effort will include targeted outreach and resources from the New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS), the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC), and the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ) which will work in tandem to begin identifying stakeholders in impacted communities, launching a public education tour, promoting an educational media campaign, and assessing the needs of interested parties so they can better tailor their services and programs to assist those interested in participating in the industry.

Chris Alexander, Executive Director of the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), said the agency is “working to build the most robust, equitable and thoughtful cannabis industry in the nation” and that the OCM “deeply appreciate[s] the support” of the Adams administration.

“New York City has been a cultural capital for cannabis for decades,” he said in a statement. “Governor Kathy Hochul has been a champion at the state level, and I appreciate Mayor Adams’ championing us at the city level by establishing multi-agency efforts to make sure New York City also becomes the business capital for cannabis too.”

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Cleveland, Ohio Officials Seek to Expunge 4,000+ Cannabis Convictions

4/25/2022

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Cleveland, Ohio officials earlier this month filed motions to expunge 4,077 cannabis-related criminal convictions. The effort is backed by Mayor Justin M. Bibb, Chief Prosecutor Aqueelah Jordan, and City Council President Blaine Griffin and aims to expunge the records dating back to 2017.

“Today, we are moving forward with clearing the names of over 4,000 residents who deserve a fresh start. This is just one way we can make progress on criminal justice reform to balance the scales and remove barriers to employment and re-entry.” – Bibb in a press release

In 2020, the Cleveland City Council passed legislation to reduce the penalties for misdemeanor cannabis possession cases to no fines or prison time. The measure also ensured those convicted would not have a criminal record and that they would not need to report the charge on applications for employment or licenses.

Griffin said the motion “is the natural progression” of what the council wanted to accomplish by passing the bill.

“…First to decriminalize, then to have records expunged,” Griffin said in a statement. “Before we passed the legislation, we put together a working group with activists and criminal justice experts. As more and more states legalized marijuana, we wanted to position the city in that direction. For me, this has always been about criminal justice reform.”

The Prosecutor’s Office indicated it had identified 455 individuals who had been mistakenly charged since the passage of the ordinance. The motions move next to judges in Cleveland Municipal Court and will take effect once they are approved by a judge.

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