Denim Company Launching Collection Made with U.S.-Grown Hemp

4/18/2022

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Cone Denim is partnering with hemp processing firm BastCore on a U.S.-grown hemp denim collection using hemp cultivated in Alabama and U.S.-derived cotton dyed with natural indigo grown in Tennessee. Using hemp in the production of denim instead of cotton saves 50% of the water used in production and requires no chemicals, wet processing, pesticides, or herbicides, the report says.

In a statement, Cone Denim President Steve Maggard said the partnership with BastCore “opens great opportunities to create sustainable denim made from U.S. sourced agriculture products located in close proximity to Cone’s manufacturing operations in Mexico.”

“U.S. farmers have world-class sustainable growing practices and produce quality products used in Cone’s denims including cotton, corn for sizing starch, natural plant-based indigo, and more recently, hemp. We are proud to support the American agriculture industry and work alongside like-minded partners who share our passion and commitment.” – Maggard in a press release

Cone’s U.S. hemp collection includes a range of fabrics featuring classic 3×1 and comfort stretch to modern workwear constructions, the company said.

BastCore Managing Director Austin Bryant said the partnership with Cone is “a perfect fit” and meets the company’s “mission to bridge the gap between farmers growing hemp and industries demanding cost-competitive, sustainably produced raw materials.”

“The expertise and passion of Cone’s product teams provided great collaboration in navigating through those challenges to bring the many advantages of hemp fibers to denim,” Bryant said in a statement.

The collection will be launched at the Kingpins Amsterdam Show which runs from April 20-21.

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Senate Democrats Delay Cannabis Legalization Bill Until August

4/15/2022

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Senate Democrats expect to introduce a cannabis legalization bill in August after initially announcing plans to file a bill this month, The Hill reports. The effort is being led by Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (NY) and Sens. Cory Booker (NJ) and Ron Wyden (OR).

In a statement, Schumer said the proposal – the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act – would remove “cannabis from the federal list of controlled substances” and “help repair our criminal justice system, ensure restorative justice, protect public health, and implement responsible taxes and regulations.” The majority leader had previously indicated the bill would have been brought “towards the end of April.”

Last month the House passed a separate bill – the MORE Act – but the legislation has not been considered by the Senate, which is split 50-50 between the parties but controlled by Democrats as Vice President Kamala Harris holds the tie-breaking vote. Democrats would need 60 votes to overcome a likely filibuster by Republicans, which means they would need support from 10 members of the GOP in the chamber.

In December, a YouGov poll found that 57% of Americans back broad cannabis legalization at the federal level, including 70% of Democrats, 61% of independents, and 40% of Republicans. A November 2021 Gallup poll found that 68% of Americans backed the reforms, including 83% of Democrats, 72% of independents, and 48% of Republicans. It was the highest level of support for cannabis legalization that the pollster had found since it started asking about the issue in 1969.

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New Jersey Adult-Use Cannabis Sales Will Begin Next Week

4/15/2022

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Adult-use cannabis sales in New Jersey are set to commence on April 21 at 13 dispensaries run by current medical cannabis operators. Following the announcement, Gov. Phil Murphy (D), via Twitter, called it a “historic step” in the state’s work to “create a new cannabis industry.”

On Monday, the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ-CRC) approved applications from seven of the state’s medical cannabis operators to expand into adult-use operations. The NJ-CRC said the firms must first pass operational inspections and commission chair Dianna Houenou said she had received commitments from the companies that selling to all adults would not lead to “adverse effects” for patients.

Houenou on Thursday said the commission remains “committed to social equity” as the state moves from medical to adult-use sales.

“We promised to build this market on the pillars of social equity and safety. Ultimately, we hope to see businesses and a workforce that reflect the diversity of the state, and local communities that are positively impacted by this new and growing industry.” – Houenou in a statement

New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission Executive Director Jeff Brown said officials “have been intentional and deliberate to do everything in our power to set the market on good footing to start.”

“This is an exciting time for New Jersey,” he said in a statement.

A list of locations set to open on April 21 will be posted on the NJ-CRC website as soon as the operators confirm the date on which they will begin operations.

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New York Approves Adult-Use Cultivation Licenses

4/15/2022

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New York officials have approved conditional licenses for 52 cannabis cultivators. The approvals are for companies and farmers currently licensed to grow hemp; the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) said it had received more than 150 applications since the March 15 opening of the online application portal.

Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) in February signed a bill to create conditional licenses for the state’s current hemp operators.

“New York’s farms have been the backbone of our state’s economy since before the American Revolution, and now, New York’s farms will be at the center of the most equitable cannabis industry in the nation.” – Hochul in a press release

State Sen. Liz Krueger (D) said that the approval of the licenses “will help ensure an adequate supply of cannabis when the first round of social and economic equity adult-use retail stores open later this year.”

Officials also announced they are working on regulations to allow registered medical cannabis patients to grow their own plants. The rules for patients follow the requirements included in the state’s legalization law, allowing up to three mature plants and three immature plants per person and a cap of six mature and six immature plants within any private residence. Under the law, individuals cannot begin growing at home until sales commence. The proposal would also allow caregivers to grow up to six plants for one patient and one plant per additional patient. Patients would only be allowed to have one caregiver.

Office of Cannabis Management Executive Director Chris Alexander said the agency is “working hard” to finalize the regulations, which have already been the subject of one round of public comment and will be the subject of another 45-day comment period beginning May 4.

“We understand that patients are looking to this new option to access medication at a low cost, and we are doing everything possible to speed up this process while working within the rules of New York’s regulatory system,” Alexander said in a statement.

The OCM said it had received more than 160 comments on the regulations prior to the January 18 closing of the previous public comment period.

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CNN Report Misleads Readers by Failing to Provide Context for Cannabis Use Disorder

4/14/2022

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In a March 19 story, “Study raises questions about the risk of using medical marijuana for mood and anxiety disorders,” CNN spends the bulk of the article outlining the alleged risks of cannabis use disorder and the supposed dangers of medical cannabis use by patients with mood and anxiety disorders uncovered by researchers at the Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital with the Center for Addiction Medicine. But the report buries a key finding: those who participated in the study experienced “greater well-being” and “improvement in insomnia.”

Presence of bias:

Structural bias occurs in two ways: when the organization itself is bias toward a topic or issue or when the story is set up in a way that buries other important facts. The latter is especially harmful since 60% of people who share a story on social media do so without reading past the headline, according to a 2019 Columbia University study. We can extrapolate from the study that the same percentage probably doesn’t even read the whole article themselves and their opinions are based on just the headline. We at Ganjapreneur see it in our social media comments, too – too often someone comments with a question that is actually addressed in the story.

The study CNN reports on followed 269 adults from the Boston area with an average age of 37 who wanted to obtain medical cannabis cards, the participants were divided into two groups: one of which was allowed to get the cards immediately and begin using medical cannabis while the other group served as a control and waited 12 weeks before obtaining cards.

“All participants were able to choose their choice and dose of cannabis products from a dispensary as well as frequency of use. They could also continue their usual medical or psychiatric care. People who obtained cards immediately were twice as likely to develop cannabis use disorder, the study found. Ten percent had developed the disorder by week 12, and that figure rose to 20% if they were using marijuana for anxiety or depression.” – CNN, “Study raises questions about the risk of using medical marijuana for mood and anxiety disorders,” Mar. 19, 2022

Okay, now that sounds pretty damning but let’s provide some context since CNN isn’t defining their terms here. The DSM-5 outlines cannabis use disorder as requiring: “Use of cannabis for at least a one-year period, with the presence of at least two of the following symptoms, accompanied by significant impairment of functioning and distress.

There are 10 other qualifying symptoms associated with the disorder:

  • Difficulty containing use of cannabis- the drug is used in larger amounts and over a longer period than intended.
  • Repeated failed efforts to discontinue or reduce the amount of cannabis that is used
  • An inordinate amount of time is occupied acquiring, using, or recovering from the effects of cannabis.
  • Cravings or desires to use cannabis. This can include intrusive thoughts and images, and dreams about cannabis, or olfactory perceptions of the smell of cannabis, due to preoccupation with cannabis.
  • Continued use of cannabis despite adverse consequences from its use, such as criminal charges, ultimatums of abandonment from spouse/partner/friends, and poor productivity.
  • Other important activities in life, such as work, school, hygiene, and responsibility to family and friends are superseded by the desire to use cannabis.
    Cannabis is used in contexts that are potentially dangerous, such as operating a motor vehicle.
  • Use of cannabis continues despite awareness of physical or psychological problems attributed to use- e.g., anergia, amotivation, chronic cough.
    Tolerance to Cannabis, as defined by progressively larger amounts of cannabis are needed to obtain the psychoactive effect experienced when use first commenced, or, noticeably reduced effect of use of the same amount of cannabis
  • Withdrawal, defined as the typical withdrawal syndrome associate with cannabis, or cannabis or a similar substance is used to prevent withdrawal symptoms.

What CNN fails to provide is the context for the diagnosis of cannabis use disorder in the cohort – and let’s be real here, some of these are completely subjective. Dreams about cannabis? Does that mean I have a grief disorder because I often dream about my dead cat? Tolerance? That’s going to happen with any substance – I have a tolerance to caffeine, does that mean I have a caffeine use disorder?

Look, I’m not trying to go on a diatribe here about cannabis use disorder, I am not a physician and I’m not trying to play one, but CNN should have dug deeper into what symptoms the study participants reported to provide context and avoid context bias.

Adjective bias is also apparent in the report, wherein the second graph contains the word “weed” twice and makes sure to call cannabis use disorder “marijuana use disorder” and the author regularly uses “marijuana” when cannabis would be sufficient.

The accompanying video, which has really nothing to do with the study, also uses the word “pot” despite having an overall positive message pertaining to medical cannabis use. This could be considered photographic bias since the video is an old upload, plugged in just because it has to do with medical cannabis but not the study itself – it doesn’t really offer anything to the narrative.

How to remedy:

Oh, CNN, you’re quickly going to get a broad structural bias label as just about every story authored for your outlet shows some bias toward cannabis. As mentioned above, you would be greatly served by providing context, in this case: what were their alleged symptoms? Perhaps the inclusion of an outside expert would help balance the story as researchers will always back their conclusions even when ‘more research is needed’ as is the case with this study (only including one voice in an article is gatekeeping bias).

Including the non-alarmist parts of the study (improvement in insomnia and greater well-being) in the first or second graph would also help balance this particular article and maybe mentioning that at least 70% of study participants did not meet the criteria for cannabis use disorder would provide some additional balance and context.

So, let me rewrite that headline for you: “Study finds 70% of mood and anxiety disorder patients who receive medical cannabis report no adverse effects.”

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Medical Cannabis Patient Registrations Up 600% In Louisiana This Year

4/14/2022

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Medical cannabis patient registrations in Louisiana have soared this year, according to a KPVI report. The increase coincides with cannabis flower being made available to patients on January 1. In all, there is a 600% jump in medical cannabis recommendations compared to this time last year.

“It was immediate, yes January 3, it was a lot,” said Doug Boudreaux, owner of Hope Pharmacy in Shreveport. “The first couple of weeks we did have a line out the door and we implemented an online ordering system. So, now there are three different ways for people to order their medicine.”

Numbers from the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy indicate more than 29,000 patients made purchases in the first quarter of 2022, a 60% increase from the end of 2021, the report says.

Boudreaux told KPVI many patients enter his store looking for flower, “but when we tell them all the other options, they’re happy to do other things.” He said besides flower, his store offers tinctures, edibles, and salves.

Medical cannabis first went on sale in Louisiana in 2019 but the program had a slow start due to restrictive regulations. In 2021, the Louisiana legislature legalized the sale of medical cannabis flower and decriminalized small amounts of cannabis. Adult-use cannabis legislation was introduced in Louisiana last year but failed to make it to the governor’s desk.

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Mesobis: Infusing Cannabis with Latin American Culture

4/14/2022

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Mesobis, an amalgamation of “Mesoamerica” and “cannabis,” exists at the point where Latin American culture meets the industry. Co-founders Nelson Cury and Santiago Cervantes are old friends from boarding school who reunited to build a cannabis brand that embodies their cultures. Mesobis launches today (April 14) with a trio of Gomitas, which are all-natural gummy candies infused with THC in Latin American flavors. The founders filled Ganjapreneur in on the brand in a recent conversation.

Each gummy is molded into the shape of the Pyramid of the Sun and comes in three iconic flavors. California cannabis consumers can now find the following three flavors: Mango con Chile, Tamarindo con Chamoy, and Acai. Each flavor was inspired by either Cervantes’s original home of Mexico or Cury’s hometown of Brazil. While they started with gummies to match the flavors of their heritage, the team hopes to add more product categories to their line as the brand grows.

The co-founders aren’t just focused on the California adult-use market: the brand will also function as an art studio based out of their Van Nuys studio. Soon, they will release high-end streetwear and will continue collaborating with local artists on projects like a recent reimagining of the Gomitas flavors in the form of larger-than-life characters deemed ‘Mesobians’ from Mexico City-based artist Orly Anan. The art studio’s mission is to create a cannabis brand for Latin Americans that is infused with culture as well as THC.

“We believe in the power of creativity and empowering creatives to make pieces of art or experiences that can have some meaningful impact in people’s lives. That’s also our goal with the gummies – for people to learn about cannabis, learn about themselves, and learn about their culture. We just feel art and what we’re trying to do go hand in hand,” said Cervantes.

Their entry into the cannabis space was due in part to good timing. Cury has been in cannabis finance for some time and after reviewing pitch decks for years, he realized that nobody was marketing to him, a first-gen Latin American cannabis consumer. Simultaneously, Cervantes was creating a concept for a Mexican cannabis brand ahead of federal legalization in the country. Due to the stalled legalization process, that project was tabled. But the pair of old schoolmates happened to run into each other again in Los Angeles and realized they both had a passion for the cannabis industry. They combined Cury’s understanding of the space with Cervantes’s creative vision, and the concept of Mesobis was born.

Both men saw a gap in the market: while there are some Latin American-owned cannabis companies, few embody the culture in their products or branding. Cury noted that the majority of Latin Americans in the US were born in the states, and there is a renaissance of re-acculturation in that community. First-generation Latin Americans are searching for their history and Mesobis founders hope that their products can reconnect these consumers while also providing a taste of home to Latin Americans who have moved to the states.

“All this culture that is Latin America comes from a place and a time and we would like to be able to share that with people who are now living outside of their countries far away from their homes and have still a way to reconnect with their roots, remember who they are, and become more themselves,” said Cervantes.

It took months of R&D to finalize the Gomitas flavors, consistency, and packaging to ensure the flavors were right and the candies didn’t melt. They worked with multiple formulators to first get the shape, then the consistency, the flavor, and finally the outer chili coating, which took problem-solving to make sure it sticks to the candy in the package. The final result is a perfectly molded, chili-coated candy that has a soft consistency with a smooth bite. And this offering is just the beginning. Their intentional branding and offerings are an attempt to break the cannabis stigma that is still common in Latin American households.

While speaking with Cury and Cervantes, I couldn’t help but wonder why there aren’t more cannabis brands built for and by Latin Americans. It turns out that the stigma in Latin culture is still very prominent, and that stigma is one of the main reasons they infused Mesobis with so much intention. Cury explained, “It’s about elevating cannabis to a status that we haven’t seen in Latin America to try and break these taboos and making cannabis in Latin American culture so cool that it should motivate other people to start their own cannabis brand.” After starting Mesobis, both founders faced judgment and fear from their loved ones, but the way they see it is, if not them, then who will start the movement?

This connection to the culture is apparent when Mesobis reps bring Gomitas into Latin American-owned and operated shops; there is an immediate connection to the brand and the flavors. They believe that the same connection can lead their elders to see that cannabis can be healing and inspiring – it isn’t just a “gateway drug”.

“That was always the point with Mesobis, we knew that there needed to be a brand that looked a certain way, that felt a certain way, so that we could overcome these cultural barriers and these often misguided perceptions of what cannabis is, which comes out of the war on drugs,” said Cervantes. “Unfortunately, Latin America has had a lot of turmoil because of drug trade and cartels, so it’s understandable. When you look at our aesthetic, the reason we’re going so sophisticated is because we understood that if we want to have a brand that has a chance to later launch in Latin America, that my parents or my grandparents could look at and could feel comfortable consuming, it’s going to have to look like any other brand they would purchase, but it’s cannabis.”

Soon after the Gomitas hit shelves, Mesobis plans to drop their merch line of t-shirts, hoodies, and hats featuring prints from Mexican artists. In time, they will launch their full high-fashion streetwear line conceptualized and designed by Culiacán designer Esteban Tamayo. The line is built for the modern Latin American cannabis consumer and will be able to go day to night – from the airport to a fine restaurant – adding another layer of culture and class.

Ultimately, Mesobis founders are building their company with the intention that something as simple as a gummy candy can break the cannabis stigma built by propaganda and controversy. To find Mesobis Gomitas near you, or to stay tuned for their clothing drop, check the website or follow Mesobis on Instagram.

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New Jersey Regulators Approve Adult-Use Cannabis Applications for Current Medical Operators

4/14/2022

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The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ-CRC) on Monday approved applications from seven medical cannabis operators in the state to expand into adult-use operations. The companies, Acreage CCF New Jersey, Curaleaf, Columbia Care, Verano, GTI New Jersey, Ascend New Jersey, and TerrAscend, must first pass operational inspections before they can sell to adults without medical cannabis cards.

Dianna Houenou, chair of the commission, said that the “approvals were given based on commitments” of the medical cannabis firms – known as Alternative Treatment Centers (ATCs) – that there would be no “adverse effects” for patients with expansion.

“Expansion into the adult-use market – with a substantial advantageous start ahead of new applicants – is a privilege that must not be taken lightly. We expect these ATCs to uphold their promises to patients and communities; and that recreational customers will be adequately served. The NJ-CRC will be holding these businesses accountable to the commitments that led to their approvals. It is now on these expanded ATCs to keep up with demand – both medicinal and recreational.” – Houenou in a press release

The NJ-CRC also approved 34 conditional license applications for cultivators and manufacturers, bringing the number of conditional license approvals so far to 102, the agency said.

Jeff Brown, CRC executive director, said the approvals bring the state “closer to the opening of the market.”

“We are approving applications for new applicants and have now made way for the ATCs to expand,” he said in a statement. “We are now tasked with completing inspections of the ATCs and getting them permitted to open for business to the general public.”

The approved companies operate a total of 18 dispensaries in New Jersey but only 13 were granted approval to sell to adults.

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Michigan Cannabis Company Including Wildflower Seeds in Pre-Roll Tips

4/14/2022

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A Michigan cannabis company is adding beeswax tips that contain wildflower seeds to their pre-rolls, so when it is discarded it can plant a flower, according to a FOX 2 report. Jeff Dotson, president of Golden Shores Cannabis Co., said the seeds contained in the tip are for a “very hearty plant” that will “grow in almost any kind of soil.”

It is the only Michigan company to include wildflower seeds in the tips of their pre-roll.

Jimmie Caudill, the director of sales at The REEF in Detroit, one of several locations that sell Golden Shores’ products, said the product could help prevent waste caused by discarded tips.

“There’s so much waste within our industry. We’re trying to stop how much waste there is, so with this eco-friendly tip it’s going to help change that stigma.” – Caudill to FOX 2

Golden Shores products are also available at dispensaries in Adrian, Ann Arbor, Cheboygan, Clio, Grand Rapids, Sturgis, Hazel Park, Traverse City, and Wayne, according to the company’s website.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conversation Service says that wildflowers “provide critical habitat for pollinators, beneficial insects and wildlife, which is important for ecosystem function and pollination.”

“Wildflowers can improve soil health, prevent erosion, improve water quality, increase yields and enhance forage conditions for livestock,” the agency said.

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Oklahoma Allocates $2M from Cannabis Taxes to Fund Youth Substance Abuse Program

4/14/2022

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The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) is allocating $2 million from cannabis taxes to the state Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA) to fund substance abuse interventions. The state’s medical cannabis law requires that part of medical cannabis excise tax revenues are used to fund anti-drug and rehabilitation programs.

OJA will use the funds to provide an innovative, evidence-based intervention program called Functional Family Therapy (FFT), which is currently being implemented in 45 states and 10 countries. OJA is partnering with the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) to bring the treatment to the state to address adolescent substance abuse and the underlying behavioral health conditions that lead teens to misuse drugs and alcohol.

FFT is a leading treatment supported by the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the OJA said in a press release. OJA Executive Director Rachel Holt said the program “allows eligible youth to be treated in the community.”

“Treating young people in their own homes with their families has shown to have better outcomes instead of sending them to an out-of-home placement. Investing in the right treatments makes our communities safer because it meets the youth’s needs and demonstrates decreased recidivism.” – Holt in a statement

The agency indicated that when Ohio adopted the FFT program, it resulted in a 56% reduction in youth being placed outside of the home and substantially decreased the amount of subsequent serious and violent crime. In Ohio, the program costs about $5,000 per youth compared to spending $200,000 to place a youth in the Ohio Department of Youth Services.

“Substance abuse is associated with a multitude of lifelong negative impacts, including involvement within the justice system,” Holt said in a statement. “These are multi-generational issues for Oklahoma youth, and OJA is committed to working with youth and families to help end the cycle.”

The $2 million is included in OMMA’s fiscal year 2022 budget and OJA will provide quarterly project reports to OMMA.

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Emerald Cup Awards 2022 Is Heading to Hollywood

4/13/2022

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(Los Angeles, CA) — The world-renowned Emerald Cup Awards (www.theemeraldcup.com) presented by Boveda and PurePressure by Agrify is excited to announce that their highly anticipated 2022 Awards Ceremony will be moving to the historic Ricardo Montalbán Theatre (www.themontalban.com) in Hollywood, California on Saturday, May 14, 2022. Now in its 18th year, the iconic cannabis awards show will be an invite-only, private event that will welcome all competitors, winners, judges, and the Cup’s closest community to celebrate the best of the best in cannabis.

“Our journey to the 2022 Cup has been further elevated and we are excited to bring our esteemed awards ceremony to a historic Hollywood venue for an experience that our community will always remember and cherish,” says Emerald Cup founder and author, Tim Blake. “The iconic Montalban Theatre is part of the storied history of Los Angeles and an incredible stage for our triumphant return. To be able to celebrate the excellence of cannabis in this space will truly lift our awards into a spectacular new level.”

Last month, Emerald Cup revealed the full list of the esteemed judges for this year’s awards and unveiled a disruptive new cannabis classification system for the 2022 competition. This year’s team includes a diverse cast of leading experts, journalists, scientists, activists, celebrities, and cannabis aficionados. Globally recognized as the ‘Academy Awards of Cannabis,’ Emerald Cup judges are selected from a crop of worthy applicants to test out a broad spectrum of cannabis products created by California’s best cultivators, extractors and movers & shakers. The award is known for boosting brands and shaping the tastes of an entire industry with the distinction of “best in class” in each respective category – a highly coveted prize. The recognition from peers and consumers alike that comes along with an Emerald Cup achievement can be transformational for a brand as it highlights their commitment to the culture by crafting clean high quality cannabis. The California cannabis market is stronger when united and the 2022 Emerald Cup Awards will bridge the gap between the NorCal and SoCal markets, providing more opportunities for farmers and brands, as well as new options for consumers.

More information will be announced shortly via www.theemeraldcup.com and @theemeraldcup along with RSVP, travel, and hotel information for attendees.

Coverage of the 18th Annual Emerald Cup Awards at the Montalbán Theatre will be provided by ALTRD.TV. Fans across the world can catch all speakers, panels and the ceremony. 2022 coverage is part of their expanding Emerald Cup Channel with over 100 pieces of original programming to date.

Media needing to connect with The Emerald Cup and Emerald Cup 2022 Awards Show, or to speak with founder Tim Blake regarding this announcement, please reach out to Kenneth Loo, Chapter 2 at ken@chapter2agency.com.

Media looking to request for press access to our events, please submit to: Emerald Cup 2022 Media Credentials Request Form

For more information about the historic Ricardo Montalbán Theatre:
www.historictheatrephotos.com/Theatre/Ricardo-Montalban-Los-Angeles.aspx

Follow the fun on social media at @theemeraldcup as they continue their journey to Hollywood!

ABOUT THE EMERALD CUP:
Landing in Hollywood for 2022, Emerald Cup is now the world’s premier virtual cannabis destination and iconic live event. While advancing the concept of sustainable, sun-grown farming, the 17-year old organization’s reputation is firmly solidified as the largest, most-respected cannabis competition in the world. As a group, The Emerald Cup prides itself in bringing together the leading experts in the cannabis industry to educate and inspire our fellow farmers, patients, and patrons each year. A community celebration that has grown to become a global movement honoring the year’s finest, organic, sun-grown, cannabis harvest as well as the finest cannabis products available. The Cup has stood as a celebration of excellence and over the years has seen founder Tim Blake recognized as a guardian of the industry.
www.theemeraldcup.com

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Virginia Gov. Approves Bills to Ban Delta-8 and Improve Medical Cannabis Access

4/13/2022

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Editor’s note: This article was updated to reflect that the proposed delta-8 ban could still be overruled by state lawmakers.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) this week signed legislation to eliminate the requirement for medical cannabis patients to register with the state Board of Pharmacy before being allowed to purchase medical cannabis in the state and proposed changes to other legislation that would ban delta-8 THC products. The governor is also proposing increasing penalties for individuals caught possessing more than two ounces of cannabis.

The new medical cannabis rule, which takes effect July 1, will help clear a backlog of 8,000 patient registration requests, according to a Richmond BizSense report.

Del. Roxann Robinson (R), who sponsored the legislation in the state House, said “by eliminating the Board of Pharmacy registration, patients will have quicker access to acquiring their therapeutic prescriptions of medical cannabis.”

Patient registration with the board requires a 60-day waiting period and a fee. Board of Pharmacy spokeswoman Diane Powers indicated that there are about 47,000 medical cannabis patients currently registered in Virginia.

The move to ban delta-8 would also limit the sale of smokeable hemp, MJBizDaily reports. The law redefines THC in Virginia statutes to eliminate any mention of “delta-9,” which means hemp companies are no longer allowed to sell intoxicating THC isomers, such as delta-8, outside licensed cannabis businesses.

The legislation also prohibits the sale of cannabis edibles that could appeal to children, particularly those shaped like “a human, animal, vehicle, or fruit.”

Youngkin’s support for increasing penalties for possessing more than two ounces of cannabis follows a similar recommendation made by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) prior to the state’s legalization law taking effect, WRIC reports.

The amendment is included on a bill from Virginia Sen. Emmett Hanger (R) to which Youngkin also included a proposal to prohibit CBD sales to individuals under 21-years-old. Those amendments will be considered on April 27 by lawmakers who can either accept or override the proposals with a two-thirds majority vote.

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Open Cannabis Markets Are More Socially Equitable than Markets with a Social Equity Component

4/13/2022

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In February, I went to a cannabis conference in Albuquerque that blew me away. It wasn’t that the conference was fundamentally different from others I have attended; it was the air of HOPE that permeated the entire expo floor. People were excited. Coming from California, where I haven’t seen this level of excitement, ever — even in the beginning — I started to wonder why New Mexico residents had such a sense of buoyancy. Then I realized it was because they had a reasonable expectation that they would be able to enter the cannabis market if they applied for a license.

This is not the case for most applicants in other legalized states. We applied for licenses in New Mexico in February of this year and in less than two months, the fruits of our labor were realized. On March 15, we received our dispensary and manufacturing licenses less than 45 days after applying. Let me say that again in case you missed it: Less than 45 days after we applied in New Mexico, we received our licenses with a total capital output of $1,000.

There are people in California, Illinois, and Massachusetts who are still waiting for licenses, and those who have licenses who are waiting to realize the potential of their licenses. In New Mexico, there were no particular social equity hoops we had to jump through, no 600-page application (Illinois), no interview requirement (Fresno), no need to have a building (Los Angeles), and no requirement to incubate social equity applicants (Oakland). The truth is that in New Mexico, they did not pit BIPOC, the formerly incarcerated, our nation’s first people, and people harmed by the war on drugs against one another to obtain those licenses. The barriers enacted in social equity states were removed in New Mexico.

New Mexico’s cannabis industry model

New Mexico passed adult-use legalization on April 12, 2021, and in less than a year, the state has licensed more than 500 businesses, outdoor farms, greenhouses, retail outlets, and manufacturing facilities. During the new market’s opening weekend, New Mexico’s retail cannabis sales surpassed $4.5 million dollars. They have made their barriers to entry low and, so far, have no caps on the number of licenses they will issue.

Some may point to Oklahoma, another state that made its barriers to entry low, as a failed attempt at an open market. Although Oklahoma has had issues, they are nothing compared to what we have seen in states that tout themselves as champions of social equity where, despite the headlines, no successful social equity programs actually exist. For example, a friend of mine, who is El Salvadoran, has in hand one of those fabled Los Angeles dispensary licenses that he received during the city’s first lottery. After waiting for months for the local cannabis commission to move forward following a slew of lawsuits, he chose to move to Oklahoma in 2020. He opened his dispensary in less than 90 days and to this day, is very successful. He is still waiting for LA to get its act together, three and a half years after he won that license in the first lottery.

What is the difference between those states and New Mexico? The answer is simple: a limited license market touting a social equity component usually means it is exponentially harder for BIPOC, women, formerly incarcerated-led companies, and anyone not backed by large corporate and/or multi-state operator capital to get a license. An open market with low barriers to entry and little (New Mexico) to no (Oklahoma) social equity demands makes it easier and more cost-effective for BIPOC-, women-, and formerly incarcerated-led companies to get a license.

The problem with social equity

In my opinion, the whole movement around social equity has caused an infantilization of non-white and non-male cannabis entrepreneurs. Social equity applicants have to jump through hoops to prove they have been harmed enough to even be considered for a license. What in The Hunger Games is that? The applications for equity applicants in and of themselves are so complex that the going rate to get them written by lawyers or consultants is $25,000 or more… usually more. That is an entire ancillary industry created off the suffering of people and communities who were harmed by the war on drugs. Let that sink in. Where is the justice in that? The access to capital needed to realize the potential of your license does not exist for BIPOC, women, or the formerly incarcerated. Nor do current capital markets even understand how to assess the creditworthiness of this group of people in lieu of the fact that our financial system is built on a racist foundation designed to intentionally exclude us.

There is no better example than what we see coming out of New York. They announced a $200 million social equity real estate fund in January. In February, they did a state-wide virtual roadshow touting this groundbreaking fund. In March, New York state officials made a bold commitment to ensure the first 100-200 retail licenses go to those formerly incarcerated on cannabis charges and/or their families. Oddly though, they also sent out a request for information asking how to create, administer, and distribute this $200 million social equity fund that same month after announcing it. Do not announce a social equity fund when you don’t know how to create, administer and distribute this type of fund. To truly address the capital needs of the most vulnerable populations from the War on Drugs, New York will need to add much more than a real estate debt fund. They need to add recoverable grants as San Francisco did along with business development support. One, a stand-alone debt facility for real estate isn’t going to get us to an equitable industry. And its not the first, second, or even third step to getting us there.

We have learned that we cannot count on social equity legislation, municipal codes, or programs to help us. What we need and what we should demand now, from the existing regulated states and those to come, is lower barriers to entry. We can look to New Mexico as a roadmap.

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Dad Grass Unveils Cannabis Collection Honoring George Harrison’s ‘All Things Must Pass’

4/13/2022

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Cannabis brand Dad Grass is launching a product line honoring George Harrison’s 1970 album “All Things Must Pass,” according to a Billboard report. The collection, “All Things Must Grass,” includes CBD/CBG pre-rolls, rolling papers, an ashtray, a rolling tray, a limited-edition silk-screened poster, a button pack, a bumper sticker, and a stash box that looks like a cassette case.

Ben Starmer, co-founder and CEO of Dad Grass, said the company tends “to shy away from the high test blow-your-mind weed that kids are into today.”

“For this project, we set out to create a mellower kind of joint, something that blended together the type of high quality, low potency, and all-natural flower that was around when George was ‘having a laugh’ back in the early 70s. Just a classic smoke for a classic bloke.” – Starmer, in a statement, via Billboard

Joshua Katz, Dad Grass co-founder, said the CBD/CBG blend should take consumers “back to the good ol’ days when smokin’ a doobie helped you tune in, gave you a pleasant-but-manageable buzz and put you in a chilled out euphoric mood.”

The products are federally legal, containing less than 0.3% THC, and will be available online and in select stores later this month.

“All Things Must Pass” was Harrison’s first solo release following the breakup of the Beatles and was issued in a three-LP box set.

“We designed the Special Blend 5-Pack packs as a tribute to George and the diverse elements of his life’s journey,” Katz and Starmer told Vice. “The black Pantone you see throughout the collection is drawn straight from the ‘All Things Must Pass’ cover.”

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Poll: Majority of North Carolina Voters Approve of Cannabis Legalization

4/13/2022

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A SurveyUSA poll commissioned by WRAL News released Monday found 57% of North Carolina voters back adult-use cannabis legalization in the state, with 72% supporting medical cannabis reforms. The poll found 32% of voters opposed broad adult-use legalization, while 18% believed medical cannabis should not be legal.

Medical cannabis use was supported by 75% of Democrats polled, along with 64% of Republicans; 15% of Democrats and 26% of Republicans were opposed. Adult-use legalization was supported by 63% of Democrats and 45% of Republicans; with 26% of Democrats opposed along with 45% of Republicans, the poll found.

Young voters aged 18-34 supported adult-use legalization in the state 68%-23%, along with 64% of voters 35-49-years-old (29% opposed), 55% of voters aged 50-64 (33% opposed), and 37% of voters older than 65 (47% opposed).

Medical cannabis reforms were supported by 75% of 18-32-year-old voters (17% opposed), 76% of voters aged 35-46 (17% opposed), 72% of 50-49-year-old voters (16% opposed), and 65% of voters aged 65-plus (20% opposed).

A bill to legalize medical cannabis remains in the Rules and Operations of the Senate Standing Committee and could be considered when lawmakers return to the Capitol on May 18. The measure would allow patients to access the program if they are diagnosed with one of 11 qualifying conditions, any terminal illness where their life expectancy is less than six months or any condition when the patient is in hospice care.

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Mississippi Regulators Unveil Medical Cannabis Program Details

4/13/2022

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The Mississippi Department of Health (MDH) released some initial details about the state’s medical cannabis system, Ya’ll Politics reports. The release lists qualifying conditions, explains how patients will obtain registration cards, and how health care providers can become medical cannabis practitioners.

Under the proposal, qualifying conditions include multiple sclerosis, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, muscular dystrophy, glaucoma, spastic quadriplegia, HIV, AIDS, hepatitis, ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, sickle cell anemia, Alzheimer’s, dementia, post-traumatic stress disorder, autism, pain refractory to opioid management, diabetic/peripheral neuropathy, spinal cord disease, or severe injury, chronic medical treatment that causes cachexia or wasting, severe nausea, seizures, severe and persistent muscle spasms, or chronic pain.

Patients can register with the state after a doctor — with which they must already have a “bonafide relationship” — makes the program recommendation. Registration cards cost $25 each year and patients must attend a follow-up appointment every six months after their first in-person visit. Patient applications are expected to be available by June 2 and out-of-state patients will be eligible to obtain two 15-day passes per year to purchase Mississippi medical cannabis, the report says.

Physicians, physician’s assistants, nurse practitioners, or optometrists who want to recommend medical cannabis must attend eight hours of continuing education the first year and five hours each year thereafter.

Mississippi voters passed the medical cannabis constitutional amendment in November 2020 but the measure was quickly challenged in court and was eventually overturned due to an election law technicality. This led to a retracted discussion in the Mississippi legislature and multiple veto threats by Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) but the state ultimately passed medical cannabis regulations through the legislative process last year.

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Marlo Richardson: Custom Solutions for Bringing Cannabis Brands to Market

4/12/2022

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Marlo Richardson was already a successful entrepreneur before entering the cannabis space; now, she holds a cannabis license in California and helps get cannabis brands to market, having worked previously with successful brands like Napalm, Tremendo Treez, Just Mary, and Homeschool.

In this written Q&A, Richardson — the CEO and owner of Greenwood & Company — shares insights from her many businesses, explains finding success in social equity licensing, discusses launching and operating brands amid controversy, common challenges in the cannabis space, and more!

Read the full interview below:

Ganjapreneur: When was The Greenwood Company founded, and how does this company serve as a backbone for other cannabis projects?

Marlo Richardson: Greenwood & Company was founded in 2019. It serves as the parent company and holds all of the licenses to cultivate, manufacture, distribute and deliver cannabis products. The cannabis projects that we deal with usually have to deal with wholesale products that we either grow independently or purchase from another farm. It is also the way we create brands by manufacturing the consumer goods and packaging them for retail.

What is the benefit of working with The Greenwood Company to bring a brand to market?

The benefit of working with us is that we have the ability to customize solutions for the retail market. We have had great success in developing consumer products for wholesale and retail market. We don’t have a standard type of agreement. We are willing to work with brands so that they are completely satisfied with their products and the level of service they will receive working with us.

I have a very hands-on approach in regards to brands that we bring to market. My standards are very high, and I work with brands that want to create quality products and are willing to market and brand with us.

Did you have to navigate hurdles in the licensing process? How did you overcome these challenges?

Yes, so many hurdles it was unbelievable. It’s one of the pitfalls in this being a new industry. Everyone is learning and there are mistakes that are made. I’ve sent checks that were never received, been charged fees that I shouldn’t had been charged and were ultimately refunded. I’ve dodged a few bad partnerships and I’ve lost money, but I am still here. I was able to navigate the hurdles by being organized. I keep a file for everything. The bills, the communication, the screenshots and I keep notes. So, when something doesn’t work right, I know exactly where to go. It may be a skill that I picked up in law school. Everything potentially has evidentiary value.

Do you have advice for social equity applicants who are struggling to get licensed and operational in California?

Absolutely, all money is not good money and the most important thing they can do is to be selective with who they work with.

As someone with years of financial and entrepreneurial success, what do you find interesting or unique about the cannabis space compared to other emerging markets?

What is unique about the cannabis industry is the inability to market and advertise items that are for sale. Marketing is extremely challenging, but I am currently building an infrastructure to manage that as well.

How have your past successes contributed to your success in the regulated cannabis space?

I honestly believe I have had success because I am unafraid to fail. In life we all have experiences. Some of those experiences are great others are both horrible and tramatic. I refuse to be defined by mistakes that I’ve made. I take the good lessons and experiences along with the bad and use everything that I’ve learned as lessons on what to do, as well as what not to do. I feel like too many people fall victim to their fears or that they allow the fears of others to dictate how they proceed in life and in business. I don’t care how many stories I hear about a person that tried and failed; those people are not me and if I had listened to all of the things that people told me not to do, or to do it a particular way… I might be where they currently are. But, I am not; I am where I currently am because I believed in me and didn’t get discouraged.

What is your role in your partnership with Xzibit on Napalm Cannabis?

I am the owner and CEO of The Greenwood Company, the licensed entity that is capable of creating cannabis brands and bring them to market. The Greenwood Company is licensed to cultivate indoor flower, manufacture vapes, edibles, beverages, and distribute them to licensed dispensaries and deliver products direct to consumers.

There was outcry from the AAPI community regarding Napalm branded grenades and strains named after nuclear bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during WWII. Has this changed the branding strategy going forward?

No it it has not. Unfortunately, it was a reminder of how the world processes information. Napalm was the name of an album Xzibit dropped in 2012 and no one made mention of the album’s name. The minute the album name is affiliated with cannabis, it became an issue sparked by a small group. I spoke in several platforms in regards to the name and branding and the consensus from the consumers were that the name was clearly defined by the album and what Xzibit referenced in the songs back in 2012 and was in no way related to any historic event or group of people. I personally try to be aware of history and how it impacts the way that we think, see the world. It wasn’t by coincidence that my company has the name Greenwood in it. We respect everyone and their views but can’t allow all opinions of people that are either uninformed or misinformed dictate how we do business. We are motivated by culture, and want to help move it forward in a positive direction.

Tremendo Trees products dropped at the end of 2021, what products will make up the line and what differentiates that line from Just Mary and Napalm?

Tremendo Trees has a premium and mostly exotic 7 gram and 3.5 gram flower line, preroll packs and singles. Just Mary has taken on more of a Costco Wholesale approach and has one ounce cans and preroll packs designed more for the daily consumers that don’t want to have to place orders multiple times a week. Napalm in just a unique product line altogether, it’s like a novelty.

Are there benefits to opening a delivery service like Just Mary over a brick-and-mortar retail shop?

There will always be people that like to walk in a brick and mortar store. They want to be able to touch, see and smell the item. There are also people like myself that would prefer to never have to enter a physical store ever and would love to know that a product that is known to be consistently quality can be delivered to me directly; there is a lot of power in that.

You were inspired to enter the cannabis space after helping your mother seek alternative pain relief options — do the products carried by Just Mary reflect that mission of wellness?

Absolutely, I hand pick all of the strains and like to focus on strains that are equally balanced in grades to relaxation, focus and well being. The goal is to feel good, or to feel better.

What type of CBD products will Just Mary launch in 2022? How do you choose which products to develop in a saturated market?

Just Mary will be launching CBD products that are designed again for the daily consumer. To start, gummies in the morning and a beverage at night. There is room in the edible market because taste matters. I have given away the gummies that we are currently testing for market and the reviews are outstanding.

What areas are served by Just Mary and where can 21+ readers find the menu?

JustMaryDelivery.com will be live in a few weeks and the menu will be live on the site and consumers in the LA can order to have products delivered direct.

Thanks, Marlo, for answering all of our questions! Learn more at JustMaryDelivery.com

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Medical Cannabis Supply Strained by Adult-Use Sales In New Mexico

4/12/2022

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Two weeks into adult-use cannabis sales in New Mexico, some medical cannabis patients and stores have started asking how the state will strike the balance between serving patients and making adult-use cannabis profitable, KOB 4 reports. The state Cannabis Control Division (CCD) says New Mexico has sold over $8 million in adult-use cannabis in two weeks, but KOB notes the data shows medical cannabis demand remains high.

Stefanie K, a longtime medical cannabis patient, says stores have been telling her to keep her medical cannabis card although she feels there is no difference between the two systems at the moment.

“They’re telling us we should keep our cards even though it’s recreational. For what reason? What are we getting? What perks are we getting? We don’t get to get in line in front of anybody, we don’t get to pay less prices, we don’t get better weed. No, we get nothing,” she said.

She said the strains she uses for her anxiety have sold out of her dispensary, causing her to have to find them at a medical-only shop, which she says is becoming harder to find. Stefanie said now that adult-use has arrived, the shops are only concerned about “money signs, the dollars.”

Some New Mexico stores have tried to look out for patients as adult-use cannabis emerges. Ellie Besancon, executive director of Green Goods, told KOB her store wanted to “create display cases whereby we have only recreational offerings and only medical offerings.” But, she feels some of their loyal patients still have a “frustration level,” having to wait in long lines even though they “knew what they wanted.”

Besancon told KOB they want to make it through the 4/20 holiday and “then sort of gather ourselves up, pick ourselves up out of the dust, and kind of take another inventory of what we have.”

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Cannabis Sales In Montana Exceeding Initial Projections

4/12/2022

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Cannabis sales in Montana through the first quarter of the year have reached $72.9 million, according to state Department of Revenue figures outlined by the Associated Press. The total includes both medical and adult-use cannabis sales, but adult-use sales represent the bulk of the total at more than $43.5 million.

The state saw a new adult-use sales record last month with $15.9 million; medical cannabis sales were $9.8 million.

The Montana budget office had predicted $130 million in cannabis sales this year, but the state is on track to reach $174 million in sales and may see as much as $200 million.

J.D. “Pepper” Petersen, president and CEO of the Montana Cannabis Guild told the Montana State News Bureau that Montana has seen “a tremendous number of out-of-state customers coming into the dispensaries,” which he said was “just going to grow and grow.”

“This isn’t people growing weed in their shed anymore, this is big business.” – Petersen to the News Bureau

Yellowstone County has the highest sales figures for combined adult-use cannabis and medical sales, accounting for $4.5 million of the $25.7 million total in statewide sales in March, or about 18%, the report says.

Montana imposes a 20% tax on adult-use sales and a 4% tax on medical cannabis sales, so the state could see more than $50 million annually from cannabis-derived revenues.

Montana voters approved an adult-use initiative in 2020 to legalize the possession of up to an ounce of cannabis flower and the home cultivation of up to four plants for adults aged 21 or older. That initiative took effect on January 1, 2021. The state’s Republican-controlled Legislature later approved rules for the plant’s commercial distribution, which were signed into law by Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) last May, and the program launched on January 1, 2022.

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Survey: Majority of People Would Lie About Using Cannabis for Lower Life Insurance Costs

4/12/2022

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A survey by Forbes Advisor found that 56% of respondents said they would lie about their cannabis use to avoid higher life insurance quotes. Only half of those surveyed knew that cannabis use affects life insurance rates.

In all, nearly 60% of respondents said they would hesitate to apply for life insurance because of their cannabis use and 24% said they didn’t want to be denied coverage for using cannabis.

Providing false information to life insurance companies is considered fraud and insurers are likely to decline or cancel policies when they discover the truth.

Less than half of those surveyed knew that other types of cannabis use could affect life insurance quotes – just 46% of those surveyed knew that vaping cannabis could affect their quote, along with 44% of those that consume cannabis edibles.

Residents in the Northeast were the most likely to be untruthful about their cannabis use to get lower rates (64%), followed by the Midwest (62%), Southeast and Southwest (52%), and West (49%).

Cannabis users typically will pay more for life insurance, for example, the report indicates that a 30-year-old male who uses cannabis occasionally – two or fewer times a month – pays an average of 23% more than those who don’t use cannabis at all; a 30-year-old woman can expect to pay 22% more due to occasional use; and quotes can be even higher for those who use cannabis more than two times a month, as much as 47% more for males and 34% for females.

A majority (60%) of survey respondents agreed that recreational cannabis use should influence life insurance rates, while 13% disagreed; 57% of those surveyed said that medical cannabis use should be considered, while 14% disagreed.

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Massachusetts Senators Pass Bills for New Social Equity Fund, On-Site Consumption

4/12/2022

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The Massachusetts Senate last week unanimously approved a measure to create a social equity fund using cannabis taxes, the Lowell Sun reports. The measure, which still requires House approval, would include forgivable and no-interest loans.

The bill also includes provisions to allow municipalities to approve on-site consumption where cannabis is sold if authorized through a voter referendum or by an act of the City Council or Board of Selectman. The chamber rejected an amendment that would have required voters to approve any proposal to allow on-site consumption.

The Senate also unanimously approved an amendment to create a Special Commission on Drugged Driving, which would require research and development of technology and methods to reliably test individuals suspected of driving while under the influence of cannabis.

State Sen. Mike Moore (D) said that since Massachusetts legalized cannabis for adults, “there has been an uptick in incidents of driving under the influence of cannabis and this remains a significant public safety issue.”

“Drugged driving has long been an issue here in the commonwealth, however, the lack of a reliable test for individuals operating motor vehicles under the influence of marijuana has posed challenges to law enforcement. This amendment creates a commission to help ensure that we remain vigilant to advancements in technology and have updated policies for court proceedings to keep our roadways safe.” – Moore to the Sun

If the bill is approved by the House, the commission would be required to submit an annual report with its findings and recommendations for legislation by January 1, 2024.

The chamber rejected another amendment that would have created a state-funded Host Community Technical Assistance Fund to help municipalities with developing and negotiating host community agreements – which are required between cannabis businesses and the town or city they are seeking to open their business.

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DEA Acknowledges Cannabis Seeds are Legal Under Farm Bill

4/11/2022

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The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has acknowledged that cannabis seeds are considered hemp under the 2018 Farm Bill as long as they don’t exceed the 0.3% THC limit, Marijuana Moment reports. The DEA recently carried out a review of federal law and regulations in response to an inquiry from attorney Shane Pennington who shared the response on his “On Drugs” Substack newsletter.

“… Marihuana seed that has a delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis meets the definition of ‘hemp,” Terrence L. Boos. Ph.D., chief drug & chemical section diversion control division, wrote to Pennington in his response, “and thus is not controlled under the CSA. Conversely, marihuana seed having a delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol concentration more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis is controlled in schedule I under the CSA as marihuana.”

Pennington told Marijuana Moment that it is his view that “the letter is significant” because of confusion over the source rule – that is whether a cannabis product is a controlled substance based on the sample’s source or, as Pennington explains “the argument that the legal status of a cannabis product hinges on whether it is ‘sourced’ from marijuana or hemp.”

“The lesson here? When it comes to determining whether a particular cannabis-related substance is federally legal ‘hemp’ or schedule I ‘marihuana,’ it is the substance itself that matters – not its source. If the substance exceeds the .3% threshold (and isn’t a mature stalk, fiber, etc.), it’s schedule I marijuana. Otherwise, it’s hemp and not a controlled substance.” – Pennington, “The Source Rule is Dead,’ April 4, 2022

Pennington told Marijuana Moment that the letter makes the DEA’s reliance on the source rule “much harder to defend.”

Since both hemp and THC-rich cannabis seeds generally contain small amounts of THC, the letter effectively gives individuals the right to possess seeds that would produce THC-rich plants as long as the seeds contain less than 0.3% THC; however, it is still federally illegal to grow any cannabis plant that would exceed federal THC limits.

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Ohio Seeking to Expand Number of Medical Cannabis Dispensaries

4/11/2022

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The Ohio Board of Pharmacy, which regulates medical cannabis in the state, is seeking to add 73 new dispensary licenses, which would more than double the 58 that currently operate, Cleveland.com reports. A separate court case could create a 59th license from the first round of licensing, so, in all, there could be as many as 132 dispensaries, depending on the outcome of that case.

Regulators are seeking to expand the number of dispensaries as demand has so far exceeded projections. The board had estimated between 12,000 to 24,000 patients within the first two years but there are currently 252,139 patients enrolled in the program, the report says.

A study in 2020 found that 20% of the state’s medical cannabis patients traveled more than 30 miles to reach a dispensary as some areas of the state – namely rural areas in the northwest and west – do not host a dispensary. Some areas in southeastern Ohio only have one dispensary across several counties.

In November, the Board of Pharmacy received 1,400 applications for new dispensaries and the Ohio Lottery conducted a drawing to determine which companies would receive provisional approval. Justin Sheridan, the board’s director of medical cannabis operations, indicated that the agency is reviewing the winners to ensure they are compliant with state laws.

A recent study by the Ohio Medical Cannabis Industry Association (OMCIA) found that prices in Ohio double those found in neighboring Michigan; the price per gram in Ohio is $9.50, while the price per gram in Michigan is $4.22; however, Michigan’s market is more mature, launching in 2008 compared to 2019, when the first dispensary opened in Ohio.

Matt Close, executive director of the OMCIA, said the price discrepancy is due to the state’s “limited market” but he warned that “overexpansion can lead to oversupply, sending medical marijuana into the illicit market.”

Close told Cleveland.com that the organization believes that increasing the number of dispensaries “will drive the prices down.”

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New Jersey’s Rowan University Offers MBA in Cannabis Commercialization

4/11/2022

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New Jersey’s Rowan University is offering a Master of Business Administration in Cannabis Commercialization, which allows MBA students to select nine credits to satisfy the requirements. Two required courses include Evolution of the Cannabis Industry and Business Model Innovation in Cannabis.

“The rapidly evolving cannabis industry is anticipated to become a multi-billion dollar economic driver across the USA – and beyond. Career opportunities related to cannabis are vast, and cross-over talent is in high demand. Plant-touching verticals such as cultivation, extraction, manufacturing and/or retail need experts from other industries to adapt, extend, and expand best practices into the highly regulated cannabis market.” – Rowan University, Cannabis Commercialization Concentration Coursework

In addition to the required courses, students have four cannabis-focused electives to choose from, including Cannabis Legislation, Regulations, and Policy; Marijuana Legalization and Decriminalization in Work, Leisure, and Settings; Cannabis Research, Program Evaluation, and Policy Development; and Advanced Chemical Analysis of Cannabinoids.

The program also includes another 14 complimentary elective coursework, ranging from Community Justice to Capital Budgeting, to Strategic Planning for Operating Managers.

The university launched its Institute for Cannabis Research, Policy & Workforce Development last year, which it describes as an “interdisciplinary research institute to assist and advise policymakers, health care professionals, pharmaceutical industries, government agencies, and businesses.”

Tabbetha Dobbins, Ph.D., interim vice president for research at Rowan University, said at that time that “interdisciplinary collaboration is critically needed to help understand how these new cannabis laws will affect New Jersey.”

“We’ve seen the impact on other states and the possibilities,” she said. “Research and data will be necessary to help us navigate this monumental shift in our society.”

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