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Lawsuit Accuses Cannabis Companies of ‘Chicago Cartel’

4/22/2022

A federal lawsuit filed April 18 accuses cannabis companies in Chicago of running a “cartel” and alleging state-licensed cannabis businesses are violating anti-trust law under the Clayton Act, the Chicago Tribune reports. The lawsuit was filed by True Social Equity in Cannabis, which includes consumers, workers, and potential competitors in the industry, and seeks to force the state to drop limits on licenses and legalize all amounts of cannabis.

The defendants in the case include Akerna Corp., Green Thumb Industries Inc., ILDISP LLC, Verano Holdings Corp., and Surterra Holdings Inc. The lawsuit aims to stop all of the companies from selling cannabis and divest them of all of their assets.

Edie Moore, a founder and legislative co-chair of Chicago NORML and a cannabis business license applicant, told the Tribune that the suit is “crazy talk” and the solution to adding licenses is for the state to issue pending licenses for social equity applicants which remain in limbo due to legal challenges.

“People who keep suing don’t do anything but slow it down. It doesn’t help anyone.” – Moore to the Tribune

Michael Sampson, a cannabis industry attorney who has represented one of the defendants but has no connection with this case, told the Tribune that he is unsure the lawsuit “would survive a motion to dismiss.”

“There are a lot of general outlandish unsupported allegations,” he said in an interview with the Tribune. “This type of name-calling harms the entire industry.”

The lawsuit alleges proof of the “Chicago Cartel” is evidenced by the fact that the companies sell each others’ products; however, state law requires that dispensaries sell the products of their competitors.

Akerna, which is an industry software company, said the lawsuit “has multiple inaccuracies,” including claims that it is a plant-touching company.

The lawsuit also alleges the family of Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) is controlling Akerna – a claim he denied in a statement to the Tribune.

“From the very beginning, the Pritzker administration has prioritized equity and accessibility in establishing the legal cannabis industry,” the statement says. “While the issuance of new licenses currently remains on hold due to a court order, the administration remains committed to helping applicants from diverse backgrounds enter and remain part of the state’s cannabis industry and we are hopeful the courts will allow us to move forward with issuing licenses soon.”

The lawsuit was filed by attorney Mark Lavery in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

While it remains unclear whether the lawsuit will bring actionable information to light, the issue of large cannabis corporations lobbying to prevent smaller operators from entering the market has been widely criticized within the industry and is frequently cited as one of the main contributing factors to the racial discrepancy in cannabis business ownership, with a disproportionate majority of cannabis licenses awarded to white applicants in virtually every market. This type of lobbying was acknowledged in an apology letter to the industry from James Whitcomb, CEO of the multistate cannabis operator Parallel, earlier this year (Parallel was co-founded by a member of the Wrigley family, which was criticized in the suit).

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Nearly One-Third of Employees at Major Companies Used Cannabis While Working

4/22/2022

A new survey by the professional social media outlet Blind found nearly a third (29%) of workers at some of the largest companies in the country have used cannabis at work or while working from home in the last three months, according to a News Observer report. The 2,500 workers surveyed worked at 35 companies in the financial, tech, or corporate services sector.

The survey asked about both medical and non-medical cannabis use.

“I have spent most of my pandemic high,” says one response from a software engineer at Wayfair. “[I] haven’t noticed it affect[ing] my performance that much… most of the work on my plate was simple enough anyway.”

A majority of workers at Robinhood and Splunk said they have consumed cannabis on the job in recent months. The financial sector workers consumed less cannabis with 33% of employees at companies like Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan-Chase saying they have used cannabis on the job in the last three months. Less than 20% of workers at other firms like Apple, Coinbase, and ServiceNow reported using cannabis while working.

The News Observer points out that a 2021 Gallup poll found over half of Americans have consumed cannabis in their lifetime and 18 states and D.C. have legalized adult-use cannabis, implying these “on the job” cannabis consumption findings are not outside the norm in 2022.

“I use it recreationally to be more focused. I find technical topics… much more enjoyable and insightful with that focus,” a verified MathWorks employee said. “[It] helps me think more abstractly.”

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How A Group Of D.C. Weed Activists Ended Up On A Relief Mission To Ukraine

4/22/2022

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

Adam Eidinger’s activism has taken on many forms over the years.

At home in D.C., he’s best known as the Phrygian-cap wearing, 51-foot-joint carrying local who in 2014 successfully spearheaded I-71, a historic ballot initiative that legalized the use of recreational weed in the District.

But Eidinger has never stopped at just pot proselytism. He’s been arrested more than a dozen times for protesting things from genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to the International Monetary Fund. For the last year or so, he’s been hard at work getting another proposal on D.C.’s next ballot — this time to increase the minimum pay for tipped workers, like restaurant employees.

Earlier this month, the 48-year-old decided it was time to embark on a different kind of mission, far away from the daily grind of D.C. politics.

As Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine was getting underway, Eidinger started trying to figure out how to get vital supplies to Ukrainians fleeing their war-torn homes to neighboring countries. He could have donated money to the Red Cross or to any other international group responding to the crisis, but as a grassroots organizer, he felt he needed to do things his own way.

“I started looking into ways to get relief supplies fast,” Eidinger told The Outlaw Report. “It wasn’t really ideal to me to just give money to a big group and trust that it was going to get there.”

He called an old friend at the Grassroots Aid Partnership—a North Carolina-based nonprofit that provides food to disaster zones—and the two started planning the mission.

In a little over a week, they had found funding, gathered supplies, and assembled a small crew of 10 volunteers—many of them from Eidinger’s network of weed activists—to deliver essential goods to the Ukrainian border. The obvious choice would have been to head to the Polish border where the crisis has been the most intense, but they settled on Romania, which has seen the second largest influx of Ukrainian refugees.

So on March 22, the volunteers flew to Bucharest with roughly 2,000 pounds of supplies that included feminine hygiene products, tylenol, underwear, socks, energy bars, nuts, and about $30,000 worth of vegan chocolate.

“We wanted to bring things that we knew were hard to find for folks and that could show the love,” Eidinger said.

Eidinger managed to get Dr. Bronner’s, a socially-engaged soap company he has worked with since 2001, to donate thousands of Magic All-One Chocolate bars, a name that nods to the company’s support for legalizing psychedelics. (To be clear, the chocolate doesn’t contain any mind-altering substances.)

“It’s very useful to have chocolate in a war zone, it turns out,” Eidinger said, pointing to the high-energy snack’s use by American soldiers during World War II.

The crew split up into smaller teams that spread out across the country, hoping to get a clearer picture of the needs on the ground and to plug into existing volunteer networks.

Among them was Kristin Furnish, the co-founder of Maryland Marijuana Justice and a regular on D.C.’s cannabis activism scene, and Jon Lubecky, a Marine Corps and Army veteran who has fought for legalizing psychedelic drugs like MDMA (ecstasy) for treating PTSD and other mental health conditions.

“He’s a good guy to have around because he’s situationally aware a little more than most,” Eidinger said of Lubecky.

Eidinger’s team wound up going to Siret, a small town on Romania’s northern border with Ukraine that has seen a steady influx of refugees who arrive by car, bus, and on foot.

“We saw everything from weapons and supplies being brought in, to loads of foreign nationals who had been stuck in bomb shelters for the entire war and were trying to go back to their countries,” he said.

Though cannabis is still illegal in Romania, the volunteers quickly found fellow weed enthusiasts on the ground, especially among aid workers. “People were using cannabis to de-stress after going out on a 12-hour shift, day after day, working with refugees,” he said.

After eight days in Romania, the group ran out of supplies and headed home to the District. Immediately, Eidinger started planning a second trip, this time to the Polish border, where his friend Mike Zuckerman had set up a Burning Man-inspired encampment to welcome refugees.

Soon, Eidinger and his gang were off to Warsaw, with about half as many supplies and a reduced crew of just five volunteers. They rented a van and visited multiple refugee centers, dropping off supplies at warehouses and occasionally making their way into Ukrainian territory.

Though he said he never feared for his safety in Poland, Eidinger said he worried the supplies wouldn’t make it to the refugees. Fortunately, he benefited from the network Zuckerman had already set up. “They knew who was legit and who wasn’t, and we didn’t have to create that from scratch,” he said, adding that he would get photo confirmation when goods had arrived.

On Thursday, Eidinger was on his way to the District back from Poland, already planning his next move, a May 9 demonstration to urge the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency to allow terminally-ill patients to try experimental psilocybin therapy.

He also had his sights on a third humanitarian mission to the Ukrainian border. “I realized this trip that I absolutely have to come back. And we have to bring more stuff. And we have to get better at what we’re doing too.”

But rather than bringing chocolate, this time he hopes to bring trauma kits for civilians injured on the battlefield. At least 4,890 civilians, including hundreds of children, have been killed or injured in Ukraine since the Russian invasion began, according to a Tuesday update from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

“This is about the civilians,” Eidinger said. “They’re dying in bigger numbers than the soldiers. Their whole towns are being leveled. It’s apocalyptic for them,” he said.

Eidinger said he’s concerned the U.S. government is too focused on supplying arms to Ukrainian soldiers, while civilians aren’t getting the basic relief they need.

“We’re late to the game as Americans here, and we need to step up to have everybody’s back.”

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Alabama Democrats Launch ‘Free Weed’ Website on 4/20

4/22/2022

The Democratic Party of Alabama launched a “free weed” website on 4/20 this year to draw attention to the state’s stalled cannabis legalization efforts, AL.com reports. Although the Deep South state has a medical cannabis program, decriminalization and adult-use proposals have failed in the Republican-controlled legislature in recent years.

The FreeWeedAL.com website draws attention to the disproportionate effect the “Alabama War on Marijuana” has on Black Alabamians using a 2018 Alabama Appleseed Center for Law & Justice and Southern Poverty Law Center study. The data found that Black cannabis consumers in Alabama were four times more likely to be arrested for cannabis than their white peers, despite similar rates of cannabis use between the two groups, the report says.

“Alabama’s Republican politicians seem hellbent on wasting money criminalizing ordinary people, ruining lives in the process,” said Chris England, chair of the State Democratic Party. “Rather than pursuing policies that create opportunity and make our state more equitable, taxpayers are now strapped to a $1.3 billion prison project.”

England believes legalizing cannabis “can bring new economic opportunities to Alabama” and “correct decades-old policies based on outright racism.”

State Republican Party Chair John Wahl issued a statement saying the Alabama GOP supports “traditional family values” and “recreational use of marijuana does not encourage these principles.” He called the website “a stunt.”

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Kentucky Gov. Mulls Executive Options for Legalizing Medical Cannabis

4/22/2022

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) is considering executive action to legalize medical cannabis in the state after the Senate majority leader effectively killed the bill approved by the House last month, the Associated Press reports. During his weekly news conference, Beshear said he would seek input as his legal team explores his options to unilaterally enact the reforms as governor.

“I want to be clear, I am for medical cannabis. I want it done in the right way. And we’re going to be looking at our legal options very closely. And at the same time, we want to hear from you.” – Beshear via the AP

Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron warned Beshear would risk overstepping his legal authority by legalizing medical cannabis via executive order.

“The General Assembly is the policy-making body of this state,” Cameron said in a statement, “and we’ve seen the problems that result when the governor tries to circumvent the legislature and make unilateral policy decisions.”

Republican Senate President Robert Stivers also pushed back on any plan by Beshear to legalize medical cannabis without the buy-in from the Legislature.

“He simply can’t legalize medical marijuana by executive order,” Stivers said. “You can’t supersede a statute by executive order because it’s a constitutional separation of powers violation.”

Beshear argued that he believes it’s his “obligation to see what’s possible, given the will of the people and their desire to move forward on this.”

A February 2020 Kentucky Health Issues Poll found nine in 10 Kentucky adults backed medical cannabis legalization in the state.

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New Hampshire Senate Committee Rejects Bill to Legalize Cannabis and Put Liquor Commission In Charge

4/22/2022

The New Hampshire Senate Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday voted 5-0 against a bill that would legalize cannabis for adult use and put the state liquor commission in charge of regulation and sales, the New Hampshire Bulletin reports. The measure was approved by the state House of Representatives earlier this month.

The committee deemed the legislation “inexpedient to legislate” and the recommendation will appear before the full Senate for a vote in the coming weeks.

The bill was opposed by cannabis legalization advocates on the panel over monopoly concerns and potential issues with cultivation.

State Sen. Erin Hennessey (R) also expressed concerns over the state competing with current medical cannabis operators, how the generated revenues would be used, and that the measure does not include the legalization of edibles.

“I would love to be able to fix this bill, but there’s just too many questions that we’ve received that do not make it fixable for those who would like to see marijuana legalized in the state.” – Hennessey via the Bulletin

State Sen. Cindy Rosenwald (D) pointed out that the measure lacks any social equity provisions or criminal justice reforms.

“I’m overall concerned about the Liquor Commission’s ability to take on another responsibility,” she said.

Devon Chaffee, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire, supported the legislation but admitted it is not “the perfect bill.”

“But what I will tell you is that we are done waiting for the perfect bill on this issue,” he said.

The House this year also passed a bill to legalize personal possession of cannabis and allow cultivation, but the measure has not been taken up by the Senate.

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Cannabis Excise Taxes Outpace Those of Alcohol in 11 States

4/21/2022

Cannabis excise taxes last year in adult-use states exceeded those of alcohol by 20% with cannabis taxes in most states outpacing those of alcohol, according to an Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) report. However, neither cannabis nor alcohol taxes reached the revenue of tobacco taxes.

In all, the 11 states that had functioning adult-use markets from 2021 through April 15 collected $2.958 billion in cannabis excise taxes, compared to the $2.474 billion collected from alcohol excise taxes in those states. Tobacco excise tax revenues reached $5.9 billion in those 11 states during that time.

Only Alaska, Maine, Michigan, and Oregon saw more revenues from alcohol excise taxes than that from cannabis excise taxes, according to ITEP figures. Notably, Alaska has a higher alcohol tax rate than most states (15 cents per shot of liquor, for example), and Maine, Michigan, and Oregon are so-called “control states” that generate profit directly at state-run liquor stores, the report says.

Colorado raised seven times more in cannabis excise taxes than it did on excise taxes on alcohol. The state has among the lowest alcohol tax rates in the nation: 2.7 cents per shot of liquor, 1.3 cents per glass of wine, or 1 cent per pint of beer. Cannabis taxes in Colorado are levied at higher rates per serving – a 5-milligram edible might incur around 16 cents of state tax, the report says. Colorado joined Washington State as the only two states that saw cannabis tax revenues outpace those of tobacco; state-level tobacco excise taxes in the 11 states range from 9 to 18 cents per cigarette.

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Adult-Use Cannabis Pilot Program Set to Launch This Summer in Basel, Switzerland

4/21/2022

A few hundred people in Basel, Switzerland will be allowed to purchase cannabis for recreational use this summer after officials approved the pilot program which was proposed last May. Despite cannabis being broadly outlawed in the nation, individuals participating in the trial will be allowed to buy various cannabis products during the two-and-a-half-year study.

The Federal Office of Public Health said in a press release that the project aims to increase understanding of “alternative regulatory forms” for cannabis that could be the basis for future legislation. The project is a collaboration between the local government, the University of Basel, and its Psychiatric Clinics. Participants will be questioned regularly on their cannabis consumption and on their mental and physical health, the report says.

The program participants will include current consumers that are over 18-years-old. The Office of Public Health said that individuals who divert cannabis from the pilot program will be penalized and anyone doing so repeatedly will be disqualified.

The Health Office indicated that Zurich, Geneva, and Bern have also applied to conduct similar trials, which were approved by the Swiss Parliament in September 2020.

In 2008, nearly two-thirds of Swiss voters rejected a ballot initiative to decriminalize cannabis use. The Office of Public Health estimates there are 220,000 regular cannabis consumers in Switzerland despite federal prohibition, although medical cannabis use is allowed.

A recent poll commissioned by Curaleaf International and conducted by Hanway Associates found that 55% of adult Europeans support legalizing cannabis for adults, with 25% opposed and 20% indifferent. The poll included adults 18-and-older throughout France, Germany, Italy, Spain, The Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland, and the U.K. between February 24 and March 14.

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Northern Nights Music Festival Will Have Cannabis Retailers Located At Stages

4/21/2022

Organizers for the Northern Nights Music Festival announced this week that the 2022 edition of the event will be the first music festival to have dispensaries located at stages and the first to feature multiple, on-site cannabis retailers.

The event is set to take place July 15-17, 2022, at the Cook’s Valley Campground in Piercy, California.

The featured dispensaries will be scattered throughout the event and will feature “takeovers” from the industry’s top brands, according to a press release. Northern Nights was the first-ever music festival to offer onsite cannabis retail services and will maintain its primary dispensary, The Tree Lounge, as both a retail and lounge option for concertgoers. The Tree Lounge will be taking on a more rustic, farmers’ market vibe from other years, organizers said.

The event is also teasing expanded wellness programs for attendees, which include Yoga Classes, Meditation and Breathwork, Sound Bowls, Community Sharing, Education Circles, and more. The wellness programming is offered in partnership with Movement Makers Retreats and will also include “cannabis-themed activities.”

“We must be able to take time to explore ourselves, to reconnect with body+mind and the natural environment. If you’re coming to Northern Nights [2022], you can expect plenty of mindful movement offerings along with a supportive community to help guide you on your journey.” — Nate Mezmer, Co-Founder of Movement Makers Retreats, in a statement

Tickets and additional info are available via the event’s website at NorthernNights.org.

Musical acts will include Claude VonStroke, TroyBoi, CloZee, Elderbrook, SNBRN, and more.

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to clarify that cannabis retailers will be present at multiple Northern Nights stages but not all of them.

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Washington DC Enacts Medical Cannabis Tax Holiday

4/21/2022

During the week of 4/20, Washington D.C. officials are providing a tax holiday for medical cannabis patients and retailers, NBC 4 Washington reports. Officials hope to attract patients back to the District’s seven medical cannabis dispensaries, which say they face stiff competition from the city’s “gray” adult-use market.

“Through Sunday, [April] 24th, the 6% sales tax is waived,” said Fred Moosally, director of D.C.’s Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA). “This is the first time in the District this holiday has ever happened.”

Moosally explained that also through April 24, patients could get a two-year card for free and that the doctor’s recommendation requirement would be waived for patients 65-or-older, allowing them instead to self-certify. The tax holiday is open to medical cannabis patients from other states like Florida, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, NBC 4 notes.

Washington D.C. passed an adult-use cannabis initiative in 2014 that made it legal to possess, cultivate, and gift small amounts of cannabis in the District. However, the city has so far been blocked by the federal government from establishing its own regulated cannabis market — in fact, the Biden Administration opted in March to include a legislative rider in its budget approval that prevents the implementation of adult-use sales. The ongoing obstruction has led to a gray market that retails cannabis under the guise of “gifting.”

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ACLU of Nevada Sues State Over Continued Schedule I Status for Cannabis

4/21/2022

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Nevada is suing the state Board of Pharmacy to remove cannabis as a Schedule I drug, arguing that continuing to include it on the list post-legalization wastes taxpayer dollars as criminal convictions persist.

In a statement, ACLU of Nevada attorney Sadmira Ramic said that “police departments and district attorneys in Nevada have wasted an immense amount of taxpayer dollars by seeking criminal convictions and penalties for small-time cannabis possession.”

“Despite Nevada voters’ explicit desire to have cannabis treated like alcohol, it is readily apparent that they are treated very differently. The failure to remove cannabis as a Schedule I substance not only goes against voters’ will, but it violates the Nevada Constitution which unequivocally recognizes cannabis’s medical value.” – Ramic in a statement

Despite the passage of the Nevada Medical Marijuana Act in 1998 and the Initiative to Regulate and Tax Marijuana, the lawsuit argues that the state, specifically the State Board of Pharmacy, “has failed to take action to comport with the will of Nevada voters, the Nevada Constitution, and Nevada Revised Statutes.”

“Instead of removing marijuana, cannabis, and cannabis derivatives from NAC 453.510’s list of controlled substances, the Board has continued to regulate them as Schedule I substances, a category reserved for substances that have no medical purpose and cannot be safely distributed such as methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine,” the lawsuit states. “This failure to amend Nevada’s Schedule of Controlled Substances is necessarily a constitutional and statutory violation that can only be remedied by removing marijuana, cannabis, and cannabis derivatives from the list of Schedule I substances.”

Cannabis Equity and Inclusion Community Founder A’Esha Goins said it is “disheartening that we are four years after legalization and we’re still dealing with policies that can derail people’s lives over cannabis possession.”

“We’re consistently fighting for policy changes that will ensure freedom for Black and Latinx people that choose cannabis as a treatment,” she said in a statement. “The classification of cannabis as a Schedule I substance must be stopped.”

The lawsuit was filed on April 15 in the Eighth Judicial District Court.

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Cannabis Legalization Reduces Demand for Prescription Drugs

4/20/2022

Adult-use cannabis legalization reduces demand for prescription drugs through state Medicaid programs, according to research published last week in the Health Economics journal. When states approve adult-use reforms, the number of prescriptions within the drug classes that align with the medical indications for pain, depression, anxiety, sleep, psychosis, and seizures significantly decline, the researchers from the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy and Indiana University found.

In an interview with the Cornell Chronicle, Shyam Raman, a doctoral student in the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy, described the study’s results as having “important implications.”

“The reductions in drug utilization that we find could lead to significant cost savings for state Medicaid programs. The results also indicate an opportunity to reduce the harm that can come with the dangerous side effects associated with some prescription drugs.” – Raman to the Chronicle

The study used data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in all 50 states from 2011 to 2019 – in 2012, Colorado and Washington State became the first states to legalize cannabis for adult use.

A separate study published last November in the journal Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids found that 65% of survey respondents reduced or stopped taking at least one prescription medication after enrolling in a medical cannabis program. Another study published in January in the Rambam Maimonides Medical Journal found that medical cannabis patients diagnosed with ADHD were likely to use fewer prescription drugs for their condition.

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Leafly Rings Nasdaq Opening Bell

4/20/2022

It’s 4/20 and this morning Leafly rang the opening bell on the Nasdaq stock exchange.

The company began trading on the exchange in February under the ticker symbol “LFLY.” The ceremony was led by Yoko Miyashita, who became the company’s CEO in August 2020 after serving as its general counsel. She was joined by Leafly employees and friends.

“We couldn’t be more excited to ring the bell at Nasdaq. Being invited on 4/20 really underlines how special of a day this is to Leafly. As more states like New Jersey come online, Leafly will be there as a place to research and order cannabis. The industry is growing so quickly and I am looking forward to the next stage of growth, for the company and the industry.” – Miyashita in a statement

Lots of enthusiasm for Leafly ringing the opening bell at the Nasdaq. Story coming later… pic.twitter.com/XhHTpEGh9U

— SteveGelsi (@SteveGelsi) April 20, 2022

Leafly launched in 2010 as a website to lookup cannabis strains and their various effects, then added stores and product menus, and eventually product pickup and delivery options. Leafly’s website now has over 125 million annual visitors and sells advertising to stores and brands, as well as facilitates online ordering.

In 2018, Canadian cannabis company Tilray rang the NASDAQ closing bell following its first day of trading on the exchange.

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Celebrating 4/20? Remember to Tip Your Budtender

4/20/2022

Every year April rolls around and the 4/20 pitches start overpopulating my inbox. As I read them each morning, I can’t help but sigh — then I try to take a moment and remind myself that I wasn’t always this jaded about 4/20. I used to regard the 20th day of April as a high holiday before working in the cannabis industry.

The first time that I celebrated 4/20 was my freshman year at San Francisco State University. A few of my soccer teammates invited me along to Hippy Hill, a hill just through the bridge from Haight Street that connects the famous street to Golden Gate Park. Each year, people from all cultures who have weed in common gather at the Hill to picnic, smoke herb, sell their wares, and enjoy the company of fellow stoners.

My first time walking out from under the darkened tunnel, where you’ll always hear an errant whisper offering party favors, it felt like walking into a new reality. As the sun shone back into my eyes I saw a woman sitting atop the Janis Joplin tree, people covering the grass of the hill, and strangers dancing to a full reggae band doing their thing in the shade. I thought to myself, “this is why I came to this iconic city for college, because this is something special that is only available right here, right now.” From that day forward, April 20 was a day I held in high esteem.

That same sense of wonder is what drew me to apply to every dispensary in the city in 2011, desperately hoping to snag a coveted budtender job. Just days from graduating from college with no answer from any of the shops where I had dropped resumes, I decided to pursue other work. Around the same time, a friend took me to a burner party in Oakland where I met a bunch of his friends, including one who was the manager of one of those dispensaries. The next day, he called me because he was looking for new budtenders and ran into my resume in “the stack.” It turned out that he also had been playing the congas in that reggae band in the shade at Hippy Hill — that’s how kismet the cannabis industry can be.

But that air of good vibes and industry excitement was soon washed away by the realization that what was once a medicinal plant providing me comfort and solace was now a tool of capitalism that I was using to pay my bills. On top of that, the industry is so heavily regulated and saturated that the struggle of trying to create something can sometimes drive the good vibes right out of a retail dispensary. But the intensity of this realization didn’t hit me until I was working at my third or fourth pot shop — those first few shop experiences had been blessed with my initial optimism. And that’s the progression when you start a budtender job: the newbies are stoked. The second generation, who haven’t become oldtimers at the shop yet but have been there long enough to have opinions, have a tenacity about them. And then there are the grizzled veterans who are jaded by the realization that promoting from within and progressive change are the last things their bosses are interested in.

“For the budtender, 4/20 is an exhausting gauntlet of wall-to-wall customers and feet that ache long after you clock out.”

By the time I was working in my fifth shop in my third state, watching the same shit take place, I had officially settled into the jaded, grizzled old-timer category. By that time, the magic of 4/20 was gone and I have commiserated with many other career budtenders about this same experience. At one time, I would excitedly get on the bus down to Hippy Hill on 4/20 for an afternoon that organically evolved into a raucous good evening. But once you’re in the industry, 4/20 consumes the whole month of April with planning specials, orchestrating special buys, and planning events that help you stand out from the five other dispensaries within a mile. For the budtender, 4/20 is an exhausting gauntlet of wall-to-wall customers and feet that ache long after you clock out.

Each 4/20 that I worked, I would sit down after finally calling it a day and think fondly of that one afternoon when I witnessed stoner harmony on Hippy Hill for the first time. And I somberly wonder if my dad was right when he told me that no matter how much you love something if you do it as a job it will eventually end up feeling like work. To me, that is the reality of cannabis now. What was once a subculture filled with freedom and excitement has become another sector of American business. As each new capitalist venture takes a foothold in the space, another layer of culture peels away from the activist-built industry. That isn’t all bad, but it’s something that has been weighing on me.

The question of whether a cannabis industry and cannabis culture can exist simultaneously seems, to me, like a similar quandary facing a seasoned budtender pondering the meaning of 4/20. Hell, it’s the same as a teenager who feels both pride and remorse as their favorite band makes it big and becomes beloved by the masses. So this 4/20, I will try to tap back into the original sense of wonder that brought me here in the first place. I’ll tap into the wonder even when I feel disdain watching people treat budtenders like garbage because they’ve been waiting in a long line. I’ll try to remember the whimsy of the 4/20s of past as I empathize with the farmers and inventory workers who build cool sales and promotions only to hand over astronomical amounts of their earnings to the state in the form of taxes.

With this story in mind, I hope you walk into this 420 with an empathetic heart for the budtenders serving you behind the counter, the inventory manager crunching numbers, the marketing team watching their promotions play out, and the transit companies bussing bud around town. All of these people make sure consumers enjoy themselves instead of celebrating the high stoner holiday themselves – so please remember to always tip your budtender.

But enough from me — check out some more 4/20 budtender reactions below! Thankfully, not everyone here is as jaded as I am (yet).

Melina Luz Baeza — current budtender
“For this 4/20, I really would’ve loved to see a celebration of cannabis employees being essential workers throughout the ongoing pandemic. Instead, it’s a Black Friday, goodie grab bag vibe for clients. Which is totally expected. I suppose I just thought some of that appreciation would come back around to those of us doing those work.”

Randi W. — former budtender (now works for a cannabis processor)
“Working in the stores on 4/20 was wildly busy, but I do miss the camaraderie between my coworkers and I – and an after-work joint with the team really hits different after a day that busy. It does feel more like a day for folks to stock up on cheap weed and be irritated that they have to wait in a line than a day of celebrating the plant, but I guess that’s capitalism for you. I’m just happy we have a dedicated cannabis holiday – we’ve worked hard and we deserve it.”

Martha M. — former budtender, now a cannabis PR agent
“4/20 was a huge deal for me before I started working as a budtender just because it was a day that me and my friends could call our own and really go all out for. At the time, cannabis wasn’t as mainstream so it was almost like a secret or inside joke for us. Once I started working in dispensaries and had to work on 4/20, it became like any other holiday to me. While still a special occasion, it became like any other day because as a budtender, every day is pretty much 4/20.”

Lisha D. — current budtender
“I would always plan around 4/20 to be a day where I could honor my relationship with cannabis. When my dog came into my life, it felt cosmic that his birthday was on April 20th. Often times in my past corporate life, I would find myself with a job that did not excuse 4/20 as a legitimate holiday. There was always some sense of shame associated with smoking but never with drinking, or maybe it was internalized shame. But 4/20 was always a day for me and my girl Mary Jane. A reminder of the beautiful plant and what she has offered me. Now as a new budtender, or as I like to call it, a cannabis consultant, I want to continue to elevate my cannabis relationship and ritual in an intentional and conscious way.”

Danielle Z. — current budtender
“Back in the day when I still lived in Virginia, on 4/20 a few of us would pitch in on a quarter and roll it up into one big blunt… Occasionally, someone would make rice crispy treats. But those were also the struggle days of stretching out a $60 eighth by strictly smoking gravity bongs, so anything “extravagant” was only for celebratory occasions. I’m now lucky enough to live in Washington and work in this industry, so now I smoke and consume as much cannabis as I want with no need to wait for a “holiday” to indulge. This will be my sixth 4/20 doing inventory and receiving… and I must admit, it’s no longer a day I celebrate. It’s like the Black Friday of the retail cannabis world. I’m normally exhausted and looking to book a vacation by the time it’s all said and done. But as I’m writing this and smoking my eighth joint of the day, I try to remind myself that my younger self would be so stoked to be where I’m at today.”

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Florida Ag. Commissioner Sues Biden Administration Over Cannabis Question on Gun Forms

4/20/2022

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried (D) today filed a lawsuit against the Biden Administration to try and block a federal rule that prohibits medical cannabis users from buying firearms or holding concealed-carry permits, NBC News reports.

The lawsuit argues that the question about cannabis use on the federal form required to purchase firearms violates the Second Amendment rights of state-approved medical cannabis patients and violates a congressional budget provision preventing federal agents from interfering with state-approved cannabis laws.

The form asks whether the purchaser of a firearm is an unlawful drug user, and cannabis remains illegal under federal law. Registered medical cannabis patients must answer “yes” to that question or risk a five-year prison sentence for making a false statement on a federal form.

“Medical marijuana is legal. Guns are legal. This is all about people’s rights. And I don’t care who I have to sue to fight for their freedom.” – Fried in a statement to NBC News

Fried’s office oversees both concealed weapons permits and medical cannabis dispensaries in Florida. Florida voters approved medical cannabis reforms in 2016 with 71% in favor – there are also 2.5 million concealed weapons permit holders in the state.

A spokesperson for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives told NBC News that the agency “can’t speculate on possible litigation or discuss any pending litigation” but blamed federal lawmakers for not changing the Controlled Substances Act and the Gun Control Act, which respectively regulate cannabis and firearms.

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Ben & Jerry’s Teaming with ACLU for Cannabis Reforms

4/19/2022

In response to the U.S. Senate’s inaction on cannabis reform, ice cream giant Ben & Jerry’s is teaming up with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on April 20 to ask fans to pressure the U.S. Senate to pass reforms similar to the House, Marijuana Moment reports.

Ben & Jerry’s has used 4/20 in the past to raise awareness about cannabis but this effort takes aim at the body that has been holding up federal progress under both Democratic and Republican control – the U.S. Senate.

Fans and supporters are asked to submit a pre-written letter describing the patchwork of cannabis laws across the U.S. and the racially biased enforcement of those laws. Noting the passage of the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act in the House, the pre-written letter says, “it’s time for the Senate to act.”

“The Black and Brown community have borne the high cost of cannabis prohibition and the system of mass incarceration that it has fueled, while white men reap the financial benefits of the legalized cannabis industry. That’s why the Senate must immediately pass legislation that begins to right the wrongs of the decades-long war on drugs by legalizing cannabis and expunging records while restoring equity to the booming legal cannabis industry.” — Chris Miller, Ben & Jerry’s Global Head of Activism Strategy, in a release

The U.S. House passed the MORE Act last week followed shortly after by the Senate claiming they would take the issue up this month. However, that timeline has already been pushed back, leaving activists to wonder whether the legalization reforms are likely to come this year. As for President Joe Biden (D), he has not come out in favor of the MORE Act but White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said he “agrees that we need to rethink our approach” on the issue.

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Climate Crisis and Cannabis Converge for Historical ‘420PPM on 4/20’

4/19/2022

As Earth’s carbon dioxide concentration reaches 420 PPM, its highest average reading in 3 million years, concerned climate activists, journalists, environmental filmmakers, and regenerative cannabis farmers come together to discuss the potential of cannabis to disrupt and mitigate the effects of global warming or very quickly exacerbate it

VENICE, Calif., April 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — On Wednesday, April 20, 2022, thought leaders across climate science, regenerative agriculture, media, and cannabis invite conscious consumers to The Hopper Compound (the storied home of late movie star Dennis Hopper) for an event centered around the convergence of the climate crisis and global cannabis 4/20 holiday. Channeling the pro-environmental values of cannabis consumers into direct climate action, the ‘420PPM ON 4/20’ event aims to raise awareness about the very real potential of cannabis to help cool, or further warm the planet.

“The 420 numeral holds a high place in cannabis culture. Breaching the 420 ppm milestone creates this one-time convergence of climate and cannabis where we can activate a space for people to channel the positive energy of the cannabis community into climate action, particularly with regard to the increasingly overwhelming choices facing cannabis consumers,” explained organizer, climate scientist, and journalist, Peter Deneen.

Research shows that the annual total amount of energy used to power indoor cannabis grows is equivalent to powering 2 million homes, with emissions equal to 3 million U.S. cars. Additionally, we now know that indoor cannabis cultivation labs produce 25 times more CO2 than outdoor grows, with regenerative outdoor grows not only having a carbon footprint of virtually zero but also helping to sequester carbon.

Produced by New Rituals in partnership with Sun+Earth Certified, Onda Wellness, Sespe Creek, Flying Embers Kombucha, Chemistry, Brother David’s, and Cornerstone Wellness – whose collective vision is to support a world wherein cannabis products are grown under the sun, in the soil of Mother Earth without chemicals, regeneratively and sustainably, by fairly paid farmers and farmworkers – the ‘420PPM ON 4/20’ begins at 4:20 pm and includes an inspiring afternoon-to-evening of conversation and workshops dedicated to climate solutions and intentional cannabis consumption.

Added co-event organizer, Alexis Kafkis: “When you see how detrimental industrial-scale cannabis cultivation is for the environment, you can’t unsee it. It’s time to move past the novelty of legal cannabis and become more mindful of the integrity of the cannabis products we put in our bodies—where was it grown and how was it cultivated? Our purchasing decisions impact the environment. It doesn’t make sense to eat organic food, but smoke industrially grown, chemically-treated cannabis. We have an opportunity right now, while the cannabis industry is young and emergent, to instill values that will guide us toward regenerative practices. This plant can help us do right by the planet, and together with our ‘420PPM ON 4/20’ partners, we look forward to educating consumers as to how.”

In addition to a preview of the documentary film, Tending the Garden, ticket holders will enjoy high yoga as well a series of panel discussions featuring Tina Gordon (founder of regenerative cannabis farm, Moon Made Farms), Stephen Smith (founder of Onda Wellness, first certified biodynamic CBD oil + world’s first verified regenerative CBD oil), Heather Dunbar (director of marketing and communications for Sun+Earth), Aura Vasquez (community organizer), Chelsea Sutula (founder of Sespe Creek Collective, the first Sun+Earth-certified cannabis dispensary), Mary Carreon (drug + culture journalist), Daniel Stein (owner of regenerative cannabis farm Briceland Forest Farm), Lynne Lyman (former director of California State Drug Policy Alliance), and Tending the Garden documentarian, Claire Weissbluth.

“Everyday consumer choices, whether it’s the food you eat, the soap you use, or the cannabis you smoke, all impact the world for better or for worse,” said David Bronner, founder of Brother David’s, the first Sun+Earth Certified cannabis brand in California. “Regenerative organic agriculture promotes soil and community health and mitigates the effects of climate change by sequestering carbon in soil. Chemical-intensive cannabis grown indoors under fossil-fueled lights is making things worse. It’s as crucial to choose sungrown regenerative organic cannabis, as it is to choose regenerative organic food. We are at a critical point where we have to profoundly shift the cannabis industry toward a more ecological climate friendly model.”

Website: www.420ppm.live Instagram: @420ppm / Doors open at 3:00PM

PRESS CONTACT: Holly Aubry / HUMAN NATURE / HAUBRY@HUMANNATUREPR.COM
Peter Deneen, 420 ppm co-creator: peter.f.deneen@gmail.com
Alexis Kafkis, 420 ppm co-creator: high@createnewrituals.com

ABOUT THE ORGANIZERS
Pete Deneen is an environmental writer focused on human impacts to natural systems. His storytelling focuses on solutions to the spiraling crises of climate, plastics, water, soil, and social and environmental justice, with the intent of inspiring action to address the challenges facing humanity and the natural world.

Lexi Kafkis is a creative director who partners with brands, start-ups, and individuals in the cannabis, wellness, and lifestyle spaces to do good for people and planet. After years of work in bicoastal cannabis communities, she saw the need for spaces for conscious consumption and connection with the cannabis plant, leading her to found New Rituals, a brand pioneering new standards of cannabis experiences.

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The Clarendon Hotel & Spa: Fusing Hospitality With Social Cannabis Use

4/19/2022

Following the recent launch of Arizona’s adult-use cannabis market, The Clarendon Hotel & Spa, a 4-star boutique hotel in Phoenix, has diverted from the norms of the hospitality industry and started encouraging guests to light up in one of their new, cannabis-friendly rooms. The Midtown hotel was purchased in 2019 by Pro Hospitality Group which decided to take the cannabis-friendly route after the passage of Arizona Prop 207. Ganjapreneur recently sat down with Daron Brotherton, owner of The Clarendon and Pro Hospitality Group, to learn more about what the hotel offers to the cannabis crowd, how they are expanding these offerings, and their expansive plans for the future.

“We decided to become cannabis-friendly and embrace Prop 207 in Arizona and let people know that there’s a four-star hotel embracing cannabis as a lifestyle rather than a stoner culture,” said Brotherton. “We’re trying to embrace cannabis as a wellness lifestyle and eventually create a platform that will carry that torch and extend to wine, spas, hotels, and good living in general.”

Sixteen of the hotel rooms are currently cannabis-friendly and over time they may convert a total of 40 rooms, or about 40% of the hotel. Guests are provided with air purifiers for their rooms, which are also deep cleaned and aired out for four hours after check-out. Because large parts of the hotel are not designated as cannabis-friendly, guests are encouraged to partake in their room or at designated areas of the hotel grounds during their stay. As the hotel further expands its offerings, it will extend unique advertising opportunities in cannabis-friendly spaces. For example, brands will be able to lease a cannabis-friendly room for 6-12 months — much like they could a billboard — and during this time, the company can place their choice of promotional materials and decor in their room, as long as it stays within their contract with the hotel.

Guests who want to consume flower outside of their room can visit the cannabis lounge which is also available to members and day pass holders. A pass into the cannabis lounge gains visitors access to various smoking devices, the pool, discounts at the restaurant & spa, and complimentary shuttle rides to a dispensary. The lounge also serves mocktail refreshments but the hotel is legally required to keep alcohol and cannabis use separate.

This summer, the team will suspend the alcohol license at the pool for designated cannabis consumption hours where vaping and edibles will be permitted. The rooftop Skydeck will be another potential cannabis smoking space during events because the liquor license can be suspended upstairs but kept intact in the bar down below.

The team also hosts budtender appreciation parties where brands and retailers sponsor budtenders’ complimentary passes throughout the year. In addition, the team is planning an art walk featuring live installations and cannabis consumption zones.

As their offerings grow, the events calendar will too, and many of the events will feature the work of their Head Chefs Chef Jordan Savell, a Hell’s Kitchen alumni, and cannabis Chef Derek Upton, who both have experience in fine dining and cannabis infusion. Currently, the chefs serve a specially designed seasonal tapas menu at partner restaurant The Edgemont on Central on Thursdays and Fridays. They look forward to crafting menus for infused six-course VIP meals and small plates alongside whiskey tastings and wine dinners. The Clarendon team is still developing its events calendar and is currently open to discussing any event size or concept.

The newly cannabis-infused luxury boutique art hotel is the prototype for a larger vision for Pro Hospitality Group. The team that purchased The Clarendon currently owns seven other hotels and plans to raise that number to 10 this year. Eventually, the group will build out five to ten cannabis-friendly hotels under Elevations. The Elevations brand intends to encompass far more than just a hotel chain and hopes to grow into a platform for bringing cannabis into the fold of luxury wellness.

Opening up the first hotel in the franchise to cannabis consumers is only the beginning of this process, which Brotherton speaks of with open excitement. “We’d like to see our cannabis franchise branch off throughout the country and that’s what we’re working on right now. Some of these hotels we’d like to see dispensaries in them, not in all of them, and then just taking it back to the platform, now we would have a lifestyle platform with franchised hotels and you can be a member and just earn points like you would for a Marriott or a Hilton.”

Eventually, there will be a direct booking option on The Clarendon Hotel & Spa website. For now, those visiting Phoenix, Arizona (or Phoenicians looking for a staycation) can book cannabis-friendly rooms at The Clarendon through Bud and Breakfast or by calling the front desk. Learn more about The Clarendon Hotel & Spa, their events, advertising opportunities, and more at goclarendon.com.

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Michigan Regulators Place Hold on Cannabis Products Without Explanation

4/19/2022

Michigan cannabis regulators last week placed a hold on products from Sky Labs but have not publicly offered any explanation, MLive reports. Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA) spokesman David Harns told MLive that he “can’t acknowledge or confirm an investigation.”

Attorney Denise-Policella, who represents Sky Labs, told MLive that the hold was placed last Thursday on all of the company’s products, all worth more than $5 million.

“At 4 p.m. they received a call from a client and literally all of their product started going on administrative hold. [The CRA] said it’s related to an investigation. It does not appear to be a public health or safety matter, but I’m speculating, because they didn’t issue a recall.” – Policella to MLive

Policella said the products that were placed on hold by the CRA all seem to originate from the same licensed grower and includes products that have passed testing and already been shipped to licensed retailers. She added that Sky has previously had a batch of products placed on hold by the CRA for 13 months without explanation.

“The (CRA) is welcome to investigate whatever they would like,” she said in the report. “It is my opinion that the (CRA) does not have the authority – and should not have the authority – to deprive companies of their product. It has the ability to drive people out of business and blame it on … an ongoing investigation that they’re not required to tell us the details of.”

In November, Michigan regulators issued a recall of products tested by Viridis Laboratories and Viridis North which affected products at more than 400 retail locations throughout the state. That move led to a lawsuit by Viridis which ultimately led to a judge blocking part of the recall, saying it was “in all likelihood based upon an arbitrary decision.”

Policella speculated that the reluctance of the CRA to issue a formal recall on the products may be due to that case in which the Court of Claims judge questioned some of the CRA’s actions leading up to the recall, which was the largest ever recall in Michigan.

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New York City Mayor Would Like Cannabis to Be Grown in Rooftops of City-Run Housing

4/19/2022

New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) said during a panel discussion earlier this month that his administration is exploring whether the city could allow cannabis cultivation on the rooftops of New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) facilities which would be overseen by staff and residents, Gothamist reports.

The plan would likely receive pushback from the federal government, which subsidizes more than half of NYCHA revenues through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Olga Alvarez, a spokesperson for HUD’s regional office, told Gothamist that the agency “has not been approached on this issue.”

“There isn’t much more to say, marijuana is illegal in public housing.” – Alvarez, in an email, to Gothamist

Adams said that under the plan, “the proceeds and education can go right into employing people right in the area.”

In a statement, Charles Kretchmer Lutvak, a spokesperson for Adams, admitted that federal law was a roadblock to Adams’ rooftop cultivation plan.

“(Federal) laws still on the books continue to harm the same communities that have been targeted for decades,” he said in the statement to Gothamist. “The House passed legislation to this effect earlier this month, and we need those who are obstructing progress at the federal level to follow New York’s lead.”

The House of Representatives passed the MORE Act on April 1 – which would legalize cannabis federally – but the measure has not been taken up by the Senate. Democratic leadership in the Senate has indicated they would introduce a separate proposal, the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, in August.

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The Seed Connect to Launch the Cannabis Crypto Seed Headz NFT Collection on 4/20 at 4:20 PM EST

4/19/2022

Real-World Cannabis Seed Company Backing its NFT With Real-World Benefits

April 19, 2022, TEMPE, AZ – (Business Wire) – Today, Tempe, Arizona-based Seed Connect, LLC, a cannabis seed supplier with one of the USA’s largest marijuana seed banks, announces it will be launching its Cannabis Crypto Seed Headz Non-Fungible Token (NFT) collection.

The official day of launch is April 20, 2022 at 4:20 PM EST, which coincides with the international day of celebrating cannabis worldwide.

In this inaugural collection of 2,000 NFT Cannabis Crypto Seed Headz, Seed Connect will celebrate cannabis by capturing the spirit and personality of some of its favorite seeds in its artwork.

“This is the first marijuana NFT collection minted, where marijuana growers of all skill levels can gather to celebrate the exquisiteness of the sacred seed through our artwork, as well as get substantial smokin’ deals in the real world that are backed by one of the leading brick and mortar marijuana seed businesses,” says Dante Anthony, Seed Connect Co-Founder.

In addition to owning a unique, limited-edition piece of art, Cannabis Crypto Seed Headz NFT holders will get many benefits such as free seeds from its seed bank, mega discounts on future seed purchases, Zoom conferences and events, access to a private Discord community, whitelisting for future NFT releases, as well as access to a future, private club in the metaverse.

Cannabis Crypto Seed Headz will use the Polygon network known for its quick transactions and low fees, with an opening mint price for each NFT at $120.
“Holders are going to get much more than that in value since the seeds we are including with every minted NFT are worth that alone,” says Dante. “We sourced great artists to represent our NFT collection, but what was equally important was creating some significant utility for our holders to enhance our NFT’s value.”

With only 2,000 prized NFTs in the collection and an April 20 NFT launch, it is highly recommended that potential purchasers sign up for a Coinbase digital wallet and set up a Metamask account with Polygon MATIC cryptocurrency for purchase of this unique NFT collection.

About Seed Connect
Based in Tempe, Arizona, Seed Connect is a cannabis seed supplier with one of the largest marijuana seed banks in the USA. With both brick-and-mortar and online operations, Seed Connect is committed to our customers’ success with the supply of high-quality cannabis seeds and complementary support services. Our staff is well versed in growing marijuana plants, and we share our passion with our customers so they can have the best growing experience in the places that permit such horticulture and use.

For more information on purchasing a Cannabis Crypto Seed Headz NFT and setting up a digital wallet, go to www.nftseedheadz.com

For more information on Seed Connect, visit www.theseedconnect.com or contact Dante Anthony at dante@seedconnectllc.com or call (602) 318-9728.

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60% of American Adults Believe Cannabis Has Positive Impact on Society

4/18/2022

A new Pollfish poll found 60% of respondents believe that cannabis has a positive impact on society, while 61.5% said they felt cannabis plays an important role in supporting economic growth in the U.S., and 62.6% believe the cannabis industry “is important for the local economy,” according to a Forbes report.

Another 67.6% also supported the lifting of federal banking restrictions on cannabis companies.

In all, 43% of the 1,100 Americans 21-and-older polled lived in a state that has legalized cannabis for adult use, while 26% lived in a state with only medical cannabis access; 22% lived in a state where cannabis is fully outlawed.

Among cannabis consumers polled, 67% had purchased cannabis through legal channels, with 31% of those saying they consumed cannabis for medical use, 22% for stress, 16% for recreational purposes, 13% for sleep, and 10% for wellness. More than half – 55% – said they had tried cannabis for the first time in the last year, while 40% consumed cannabis one to two days per week.

Among the non-consumers, 33% had never consumed cannabis legally, with 21% saying they were not interested in using cannabis at all. Twenty-four percent of non-consumers said they would be interested in trying cannabis for medical reasons, 21% would try it to deal with stress, 15% would be interested in trying it for recreational purposes, 10% for wellness purposes, and 8% for sleep. The majority of non-consumers said they would be interested in trying an edible product first.

The poll was conducted on behalf of Jushi Holdings between March 17 and March 30 and was overseen by Julian Scaff, associate professor at ArtCenter College of Design, interaction designer, futurist, and Jushi experience director.

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New Jersey Attorney General: Police Can Use Cannabis Off-Duty

4/18/2022

New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin issued a memo last week outlining that it is acceptable for police to use cannabis while off duty, the New Jersey Monitor reports. On-duty use would still be cause for disciplinary action, including termination.

“To be clear, there should be zero tolerance for cannabis use, possession, or intoxication while performing the duties of a law enforcement officer. And there should be zero tolerance for unregulated marijuana consumption by officers at any time, on or off duty, while employed in this state. The safety of our communities and our officers demands no less.” – Platkin in the memo

The policy also prohibits employers from firing or refusing to hire workers “solely due to the presence of cannabinoid metabolites in the employee’s bodily fluid.”

“Should there be reasonable suspicion of an officer’s use of cannabis while engaged in the performance of their duties, or upon finding any observable signs of intoxication-related to cannabis use (including following a work-related accident subject to investigation by the agency), that officer may be required to undergo a drug test,” the memo states, clarifying that any drug test must also include a physical examination as THC can remain in the bloodstream for weeks after use.

Adult-use cannabis sales are set to begin in New Jersey on April 21 after the state Cannabis Regulatory Commission approved applications from seven of the state’s medical cannabis operators to expand into adult-use operations.

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