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

6/29/2022

by

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

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

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

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

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

The bill moves next to the full Senate for consideration. 

End

Texas Supreme Court Upholds State Ban on Smokable Hemp Products

6/28/2022

by

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

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

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

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

End

UN: Cannabis Consumption Rising Due to Legalization, COVID

6/28/2022

by

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

End

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

6/28/2022

by

Why Cannabis Amnesty Matters

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

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

The Fellowship

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

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

The Fellows

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

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

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

They/Them Sofia, Communications BA Graduate & TOQi Fellow

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

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

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

Looking to the Future

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

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

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

End

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

6/28/2022

by

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

End

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

6/28/2022

by

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

End

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

6/28/2022

by

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

End

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

6/27/2022

by

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

End

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

6/27/2022

by

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

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

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

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

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

End

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

6/27/2022

by

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

End

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

6/24/2022

by

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

End

SAFE Banking Act Removed from China Competition Bill

6/24/2022

by

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

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

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

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

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

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

End

Spain Set to Allow Medical Cannabis Sales In Pharmacies This Fall

6/24/2022

by

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

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

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

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

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

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

End

Supermajority of Americans Believe Cannabis Companies Should Follow Uniform Environmental Standards

6/24/2022

by

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

End

Unionized Curaleaf Employees Not Given Juneteenth Holiday Pay

6/24/2022

by

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

End

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

6/23/2022

by

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

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

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

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

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

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

End

Project CBD Report Highlights Risk Potential of Synthetically Produced Cannabinoids

6/23/2022

by

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

End

Aurora Cannabis Lays Off 12% Of Its Workforce

6/23/2022

by

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

End

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

6/23/2022

by

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

End

Another New Jersey Community College Offering Cannabis Degree and Training Programs

6/23/2022

by

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

End

Kim Stuck: Compliance Consulting for Hemp, Cannabis, and Psychedelics

6/22/2022

by

Regulatory compliance is an ongoing headache for plant-touching and ancillary cannabis brands alike — if a brand doesn’t properly follow regulations, for example, it faces fines or in the worst of cases, losing its business entirely. Brands in such highly regulated industries typically hire expert consultants to assess their operation and provide working solutions to help them get compliant, no matter the state of their operation.

Kim Stuck, the CEO and founder of Allay Consulting, left her job with the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment after identifying a need for compliance consulting in the cannabis space. We recently interviewed Kim about the founding of Allay, how her team stays fresh on the regulations in each region, the compliance complexities faced by companies in the cannabis, hemp, and psychedelics industries, and more!

Scroll down for the full interview:

Ganjapreneur: Why did you choose to go into cannabis consulting following your work with the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment?

Kim Stuck: I saw a huge gap in knowledge when it came to overall compliance with Denver’s cannabis regulations along with health and safety. It made more sense for me to work directly for cannabis companies rather than the government—I could make a much larger, overall positive impact. I saw that most companies weren’t out of compliance because they were being malicious, it was just a lack of knowledge and understanding. So now that’s what I help companies with every day.

What sets Allay apart from other consulting firms?

The Allay team stands out in a lot of ways—first, we have been in the industry since 2014 and have a regulatory background, which is obviously valuable and unique. We are all accredited as certified professionals of food safety (CP-FS) and certified quality auditors (CQA), which provides a degree of additional operations expertise not common in the consulting space. Secondly, all of our employees at Allay are full-time workers, not 1099 contractors. This means we can hold higher internal standards than contractor-based firms when it comes to consultancy, customer service and professionalism. Lastly, everyone on the team is very passionate about the industry and truly loves what they do. They all have their different areas of expertise and knowledge when it comes to cannabis, and their own personal relationship with plant medicine. We’re driven to help businesses overcome obstacles; our success is based on their success.

You mentioned that the team all has different areas of expertise and knowledge, what are the specific focus areas of Allay?

The Allay team covers a variety of fields—we work in all 50 states in the hemp, THC cannabis, and psychedelic spaces, so there are a lot of areas to keep up on. At this time Allay’s focus is on operational compliance that includes; all state regulatory requirements for THC cannabis, FDA, cGMP Certification, OSHA Compliance, Fire Code Compliance, ISO 9001/22000 Certifications, Organic Certification, and GAP/GACP Certification for cultivation facilities. Each member of our team is a certified professional on food safety (CP-FS) and certified quality auditors (CQA), and we are all ex-cannabis regulators. We assist with audits, writing SOP’s, documentation, logs, staff training, and with the entire certification process through accredited certifying bodies.

Allay has a lot of certifications like HACCP, SERVSafe, Metrc Certification, HAZWOPER, Six Sigma Black Belt Efficiency, and more. How does the company decide which certifications to pursue?

The certifications we hold at Allay are guided by what state and local health authorities require of their own employees. For example, to work for most health departments, you must be a certified professional of food safety (CP-FS). We are also certified quality auditors (CQA), meaning we are trained to assess any operational standards and objectively identify their strengths and weaknesses. We have to do a lot of continuing education for all of our certifications. The ones listed in this question aren’t rare, and most people can get them online. However, the CP-FS and CQA require years of experience, a seven-hour-long test and continuing education to remain certified. I will say that there are a lot of certifications offered that don’t hold a lot of water, so we do our research to know which ones are actually valuable.

When should a cannabis company bring Allay in for a consultation? Can an already established company benefit from your services?

Allay works with companies of all sizes and can come in at any point in their business journey. Many companies bring us in early on so that they can have certain compliances in place from the beginning in their operating procedures, or get a floor plan review during construction. Longtime operators hire us to address a specific compliance concern, or to get a certification like current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) or a quality management system (QMS) like ISO 9001/22000. We can enter a company at any time and be effective.

How do the compliance challenges that hemp and cannabis companies face differ? What are the similarities?

Companies licensed for state-regulated medical cannabis or adult-use markets are more focused on state regulations and receiving certifications that make their brand stand out such as cGMP, GACP and ISO 9001/22000. In the hemp sector, companies are more concerned with FDA /cGMP compliance and certification. Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) compliance is also top of mind since hemp is federally legal, and these entities could start regulating any day now. All of our clients on both sides are working toward some kind of long-term compliance goal and are trying to prepare for the future. Becoming compliant with these standards now will save them time, money and reputation when federal cannabis legalization goes into effect.

What is the most common compliance error that you see in cannabis and/or hemp facilities?

Common issues we see at Allay include standard operating procedure (SOP) compliance, batch number systems, staff training, proper logging of activities and overall health and safety in facilities. It is very hard to be completely compliant without third-party audits or outside assistance, and it’s just going to get more complicated in the future.

How does the team stay informed on the nuances of regulations from state to state?

At Allay, we have a number of different resources and regulatory contacts in every state that keep us up to date on shifting regulatory landscapes. Truly, we are just really skilled at reading and understanding regulations. If we don’t know something, we are very good at finding the relevant information and giving the most updated and accurate answer to our clients as possible. Since regulations change so often, we each read about 60 pages of regulations a day on average.

Is there a one-size-fits-all compliance strategy for cannabis companies in the same state?

I would love to tell you that it was that simple. In order to actually be compliant, your company has to have SOPs and other documents specifically written for your facility. A packet of SOPs purchased online is not a good choice—each company needs distinct items from different documents depending on products made, extraction methods and so on. At Allay, we have a structured way to evaluate companies and create a plan for them, and each plan is unique since each company is unique. We always conduct an initial gap analysis, then create an individualized plan for the company. We’ve done it so many times, we have it down to a science at this point.

Why is it so complicated for well-intentioned cannabis companies to be compliant and how could the industry members/consumers advocate to resolve these complexities?

Compliance is always complicated as almost any cannabis business owner knows. There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to operational compliance and a lot of different regulatory bodies to be compliant for. For instance, in the state of Colorado you have to be compliant with the cannabis regulatory regulations (MED), on top of that you have the fire department, building department, excise and license, local health department, and state health department. Additionally, if cannabis is legalized on a federal level, companies will also have to comply with FDA regulations and OSHA. Our job at Allay, is to make sure our clients are compliant with the regulations they have to be compliant with now and to prepare them for federal legalization. All of these regulations are hard to comply with by themselves, it’s almost impossible to be compliant with everything all the time. Having experts come in to do the heavy lifting is what most company owners are finding as the easiest and most cost effective solution.

What is The Canna Consortium and how does it serve the cannabis industry?

The Canna Consortium is a group of ancillary cannabis companies and nonprofits, including equipment providers, operations consultants, research advocates and others that have joined forces to be more efficient in assisting clients and helping the overall industry. The six founding members, including Allay, worked together for years and eventually decided to start a group of trusted and dedicated ancillary companies that are working together to better serve the ever-growing cannabis and hemp industries. Together, we are boosting these sectors by supporting B2B relationship building and efforts to destigmatize and normalize cannabis and hemp.

Big thanks to Kim for answering our questions! Learn more about Allay Consulting at allayconsulting.com.

End

How to Experience Cannabis Like a Connoisseur

6/22/2022

by

If you’ve been enjoying cannabis for a while, you’ve probably had a batch of flower that stands out in the smoky room of your memory. For most of us, it was some frosty combination of aroma, flavor, and effect that, in the context of our personal tastes and experiences, enshrined a particular bud as the best we’ve had.

With expanding legalization and evolving attitudes towards cannabis, standards of quality are emerging from an industry previously quieted by fears of legal consequence. Tossing the careless stoner cliche out with yesterday’s bongwater, serious cannabis connoisseurs are bringing decades of knowledge into the public discourse surrounding humanity’s closest plant ally. And, like the sommeliers of the wine world, their standards are high. Maybe higher than they are.

When prohibition ended in Washington DC, there were no broadly accepted standards as to what was worth buying. Every purchase was a dice roll on quality, and a pressing need for public education on cannabis emerged alongside the proliferation of companies hawking their green wares. At Toker’s Guide, our passion is helping consumers in the DC Metro Area fully enjoy cannabis, not as a means to an end, but as an immersive sensory experience. Our community of writers are connoisseurs who regularly review what’s available on the market, so our readers know what they’re buying before they place an order. But the larger goal is for our readers to become connoisseurs themselves.

Finding the best bud starts with knowing what that is. Think of cannabis as an orchestra. In this guide, we’re going to talk a little about the individual instruments, and a little music theory. To that end, we reached out to Derek Gilman, Managing Director of Ganjier — a rigorous cannabis aficionado certification program — and compiled a list of attributes that separate connoisseur-grade flower from the sandwich bag you scored in the parking lot of Whole Foods.

The Color

Beyond indicating proper cure (more on that later), color can reveal a lot about a flower. Take a minute to really look at a bud. Varying hues give each phenotype its own character. Purpling can hint at low nighttime temperatures during the flowering period, and speak to genetic lines. A bright, fresh green color may belie an improperly dried flower. The best flower should be dazzling in appearance beneath the trichomes. Nothing should be brown.

The Trim

It seems that in cannabis culture, sugar leaves have become regarded as old school, or simply undesirable. To an extent, this can be blamed on the proliferation of automatic trimming machines that tumble away everything but the hairy core of a cola (and more than a few trichomes in the process). If you’ve ever spent more than an hour trimming, you understand the appeal. However, if your bud has bounced through one of these contraptions, it’s not making the Ganjier’s cut.

“True ‘craft cannabis’ is always trimmed by hand,” says Gilman. “An ideally trimmed flower will have all fan leaves removed. Some sugar leaf is acceptable if the sugar leaf is heavily coated in trichomes, or if the coloration of the sugar leaf adds value to the appearance (purple for example), or if the structure of the flower is best served with the sugar leaves intact. Machine trimmed and overly trimmed flower will have less, if any, surface trichomes remaining intact. Always remember, an under-trimmed flower can still be made ideal, while the over-trimmed flower is forever diminished.”

The Structure

There’s some primal appeal to the coiled structure of a well-formed bud. It’s almost as though it’s the plant’s way of telling its story. Foxtailing — the tapered offshoot growth of bracts — for example, can be a desirable genetic characteristic, but it can also be a sign that the plant was subjected to excessive heat. While super dense colas seem to be all the rage, unless your flower is fluffy due to insufficient light exposure (like the larfy buds that form at the bottom of the plant), chances are that a little airiness has nothing to do with the quality of it. According to Gilman, those green rocks you see on Instagram may even be less potent.

“Density plays ZERO role in my personal determination of quality,” Gilman says. “I judge quality based on desirability. The densest buds typically have nested bracts. Nested bracts are so tightly packed together that there is no space for trichome development between the bracts. Therefore, the absolute densest buds have a much less desirable trichome to vegetation ratio.”

Bract Maturity

Most of us refer to these as calyxes, but that isn’t technically correct. The bracts of the cannabis plant contain the densest concentration of trichomes, and comprise the majority of what we call the bud. The last few weeks of the flowering period are crucial to the development of bud structure and, ultimately, the desirability of the finished product. While most growers these days harvest according to trichome maturity alone, some sommeliers are judging according to a broader, more complex set of criteria, and healthy, swollen bracts are part of that assessment.

According to Gilman, a flower harvested at its peak will be at least partially identifiable as soon as it comes out of the jar. “As a Certified Ganjier, I utilize our Systematic Assessment Protocol® to accurately assess flower quality,” Gilman says. “Flower Maturity is one of several criteria assessed during the Appearance evaluation. To be clear, flower maturity is mostly based on bract maturity (in combination with stigma coloration and posture) and does not relate to trichome maturity. As Frenchy Cannoli would always remind me, you cannot judge the maturity of a flower based on a secondary metabolite, as the bracts and the trichomes are maturing at different rates and with different indicators.”

The Trichomes

Crystals. Kief. Resin. They have a lot of names, but these tiny resin glands that cover our buds in a psychedelic forest of translucent mushrooms are the reason we love this plant. The capitate-stalked trichomes that we see coating the bracts and sugar leaves of mature flowers contain the highest concentration of cannabinoids and terpenes on the cannabis plant. Trichome maturity informs not just the cannabinoid content, but the effects of the flower we consume; an early harvest of clear to cloudy trichomes will result in a more energetic, uplifting high, while a late harvest of amber resin heads will result in a more sedate, relaxing stone. While this quality is a matter of personal preference, the size, health, and preservation of these little resin glands is not.

“All of the desirable magic lies within the trichome glands,” Gilman says. “Once the flower has been dried, the trichome glands are extremely fragile. The dried flower will degrade, through trichome loss, every single time it is touched. Rough handling throughout processing and packaging can ruin an otherwise beautifully cultivated flower. The gentlest of handling under extreme care is required to preserve the quality.”

The Aroma

There’s really no objective way to rate this. Rather, the idea is to be conscious of it. What leaps out at you? Citrus? Pine? Red, white, and blue popsicles at the swimming pool? Breathe deeper. What’s underneath? Mushrooms? Coffee? There are over a hundred different terpenes found in cannabis, and they all interact with each other in surprising ways. Spend time with this. It’s the easiest way to know if you’re going to get along with any particular cultivar. If you want to get a little more poetic with it, there are charts that can help. A fantastic flower will have layers of aroma that reveal themselves as you breathe. If you smell hay, ammonia, fresh cut grass, or mold, the bud is warning you not to smoke it.

The Flavor

Maybe you like tomatoes. Maybe you think they taste like compost. That’s cool. What we’re looking for here is something akin to the difference between an heirloom tomato and the kind they sell at Wally World. The flavor should be complex and harmonious. It can be unexpected, but still needs to relate in some interesting way to the aroma. If it smells like an orchard and tastes like orange La Croix, you’ve been set up for disappointment in the smoking process. There should be no hint of chemicals or unpleasant bitterness.

The Dry and Cure

It’s fair to say that much (if not most) of the 420-friendly population is unaware of the extent to which the drying and curing process affects what goes into their pipes. Growers, on the other hand, tend to be full of passionate opinions on the matter, and it’s not terribly uncommon to hear it described as the most important part of a grow. It is, in fact, related to every quality we consider in a batch of cannabis.

“A properly dried and cured flower will have an aroma that leaps out of the jar upon opening,” Gilman says. “There should be no indication of chlorophyll aroma. The flower should be pliable, but not moist. It should bounce back, rather than stay compressed when squeezed ever so slightly. The coloration will be more of an olive green color. The improperly dried or cured flower may have little to no aroma or may smell like a freshly mowed lawn of grass. It may compress when squeezed (if not fully dried) or it may turn to a fine dust if it has been overdried. If dried too quickly, it will smell like chlorophyll. If dried too slowly, it may have a urine or ammonia aroma.”

The Flush

Arguably the most controversial practice among growers, the act of withholding nutrients during the final weeks of the flowering period is known as flushing (not to be confused with the act of flooding your growing medium with water so as to correct nutrient imbalances, which is also known as flushing). Detractors denigrate the method as bro science, citing recent studies that were unable to demonstrate a noticeable difference between flushed and unflushed flower in chemical testing and blind taste tests. Adherents point to personal experience and longstanding tradition, claiming that unflushed bud retains a chemical flavor, and produces a harsher smoke, darker ash, and leads to unpleasant side-effects. The two camps appear about even in number.

Gilman comes down on the side of the flush. “The cannabis plant is known to store excess nutrients in the leaves and flowers,” he says. “If excess nutrients have been applied to the plant during its growth (and flowering) cycle and those nutrients are not utilized by the plant, these excess nutrients end up in the finished flower. Flushing is critical when synthetic nutrients have been applied and less necessary, if at all, for biological based cultivation methodologies. Headaches and sore throats are typically the consequence of consuming residual synthetic nutrients (or some topically applied pesticide or fungicide).”

True to Form

Does your Hindu Kush have to look and taste like Hindu Kush in order to be considered a pinnacle of genetic expression? There’s some debate. While outlier phenotypes offer exciting and unusual experiences, the desirability of the differences themselves come into play more than the textbook definition of any particular cultivar. While it would be hard to imagine a high score going to a bud that in no way resembles the name on its jar, strict adherence to the expected genotype isn’t entirely necessary, so long as the divergence is worth it.

“Our Ganjier Systematic Assessment Protocol® includes the identification of ‘Uniqueness’ in each of our four assessment categories (Appearance, Aroma, Flavor, and Experience),” Gilman says. “Whether or not the unique quality actually adds value is dependent upon the desirability of the unique trait being exhibited. For example, an outlier phenotype may smell like rotten eggs. That would rate lower on my desirability scale. While an outlier that smelled like roses would rate higher.”

The Freshness

Even under ideal conditions, cannabis degrades over time. Buds lose structural integrity. Terpenes diminish. THCA decarboxylates into THC and then declines. If your bud has proper moisture but is fragile and smells like the ghost of a garden, it’s probably been in storage for awhile. The smoke can have a muted flavor or taste stale, and produce a diminished high.

The Smoke

You might not get off if you don’t cough, but it’s kind of difficult to enjoy a Lebowski-style bath (Bob. Joint.) if your throat is burning from its noble sacrifice to the fire gods. Unduly harsh smoke is a ruined experience, and possibly an unhealthy one. Causes range from improper drying environments to the use of pesticides in the bloom period, and the effects are never fun. Smoking (or vaping) cannabis should reveal a landscape of flavor, not ruin your tastebuds for the evening.

The Effects

Drumroll, please. Every other characteristic you’ve examined has led up to this. It’s the high acting in concert with the sensory experience of cannabis that makes it truly magical, and separates a utility of altered consciousness from a deep appreciation of the plant that gives it to us. Whether you’re high or stoned, ready to do the dishes, paint a masterpiece, or fall asleep while attempting a Netflix marathon, the effects of cannabis are as varied as its terpene profiles. The finest flower produces a remarkable high. Of course, so does a sunrise over the ocean. For some. There are no real guidelines for this; if it makes you feel good, it’s good.

There is an unnamable quality to the greatest expression of any craft. Whether it’s wine, cigars, cuisine, or cannabis, you’ll find the stuff that really blows you away was created with passion, patience, expertise, and love. Cliche as it might be, it really is the secret ingredient.

Whether you’re a seasoned smoker, or just dipping your toe in the proverbial pond, everyone should have the chance to experience the best that this extraordinary plant is capable of. With Toker’s Guide, we help you know exactly where to go to find the best weed, without wasting valuable time or money by simply rolling the dice. It’s by highlighting the very best cannabis available that we hope to help influence higher standards and quality, in the Washington DC metro area at first, and then industry-wide.

Finding and enjoying the best cannabis isn’t about bragging rights or pretension, though. It’s not about competition, either (even though it’s certainly used for that). It’s about the act of discovery — literally internalizing the journey your flower has taken from seed to joint. About opening yourself to the vast olfactory orchestra contained in a single puff of smoke. It’s about tasting sunshine and cool nights before harvest, and finding the kushy melody buried in a citrus-forward hybrid. It’s the song that always feels like home, and the moment of inspiration that sends furiously composed odes to the grandeur of cannabis into the richest rooms of our memories. And it’s having an answer when someone asks why you love this so much.

So go forth, armed with your newly discerning eye (and nose, and palate), and get to know a flower. A visit to tokersguide.com will help you get started on this aficionado journey, but feel free to post any dissenting, supporting, or expounding perspectives under our reviews. The comments are always open.

Note: S. Preston Duncan of RVA Magazine contributed to the writing of this article.

End

Report: Global Cannabis Market Expected to Reach $90.4B By 2026

6/22/2022

by

The global cannabis market is expected to reach $90.4 billion by 2026, according to a MarketsandMarkets report. This equates to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 28% from the cannabis market’s $20.8 billion evaluation in 2020.

Within the cannabis market, concentrates are projected to have the largest CAGR through 2026 due to the wide variety of different types of concentrates including shatter, budder, rosin, wax, oils, and tinctures.

The medical cannabis sector is expected to dominate the market with the growing list of countries embracing medical cannabis and the increasing use of various types of CBD, the report says.

Additionally, the North American market is expected to continue expanding: Canada legalized adult cannabis use in 2018, the legalization process is in the works in Mexico, more U.S. states pass adult-use cannabis laws each year, and medical cannabis treatments across North America have never been more popular. The presence of large cannabis corporations like Canopy Growth Corp, Aurora Cannabis Inc., and Medical Marijuana Inc., will also spur investment in the North American market, the report says.

In Europe, Germany is moving forward with plans to legalize adult-use cannabis while Malta — the European Union’s first member nation to pass legalization — recently shipped its first medical cannabis export.

End

Study: Number of Medical Cannabis Patients Quadrupled from 2016-2020

6/22/2022

by

The number of individuals enrolling in medical cannabis programs in the U.S. has quadrupled from 2016 to 2020, with the total surpassing 2.97 million people, according to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine outlined by the Washington Post. The researchers found that 61% of enrollees are qualified for programs for chronic pain, while 11% are enrolled for post-traumatic stress disorder. 

The researchers noted that about a third of qualified patients use medical cannabis “for conditions or symptoms without a substantial evidence basis,” the report says.  

The figures do not include individuals using pharmaceutical drugs derived from cannabis that have been authorized by the Food and Drug Administration.  

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 37 states, Washington, D.C. and four U.S. territories had legalized medical cannabis as of February. 

In two states – North Carolina and Kentucky – medical cannabis bills were approved by one legislative chamber but were not brought for a vote by the other chamber. Mississippi was the only state to approve medical cannabis legislation this year after the state Supreme Court struck down a voter-approved initiative to enact the reforms. 

A Harris Poll survey conducted on behalf of Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. released earlier this month found that 91% of adults 21 and older who have ever used cannabis have done so for health and wellness purposes regardless of whether they are enrolled in a state program. The poll found that 75% of respondents preferred holistic health solutions over pharmaceuticals with 62% saying they would prefer to use cannabis rather than pharmaceutical drugs for a medical issue. 

More than half (52%) of survey respondents said they preferred to use cannabis to relax, 49% to help with sleep, 44% to reduce stress, and 41% to reduce anxiety. 

End