Hemp Product Advertisements Increased Slightly for Father’s Day 

6/22/2022

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During the Father’s Day advertising push, hemp was included in 2,266 of the 291,936 retail sales ads, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Retail Report for Specialty Crops. In all, hemp ads comprised less than 1%, or about 0.78%, of advertising during Father’s Day.  

The number of ads this year marks a decline from the same week last year when the USDA reported 2,412 of 335,073 retail specialty crop ads were for hemp but marks an increase in the percentage of hemp ads from the same time last year, which was about 0.72%.   

During this year’s Father’s Day advertising campaigns, watermelons, cantaloupes, avocados, corn, broccoli crowns, limes, asparagus, and grapes were highlighted while plums, nectarines, and peaches were featured by most retailers.

The week of Father’s Day saw 113 stores feature ads for hemp seed oil and 63 for 8-ounce packages of hemp protein while no retailers featured the products in advertising the week prior, according to USDA data. Ads for 16-ounce packages of hemp protein tripled from 31 the week prior to 94 the week of Father’s Day with average advertised prices falling from $19.99 to $15.83. The number of ads for 32-ounce packages of hemp protein remained at 113 from week to week with the average price also remaining stable at $14.99. 

Hemp seed ads for 8-ounce packages increased from 512 the week prior to Father’s Day to 523 the week of and advertised average prices fell slightly from $7.72 to $7.65. Advertising and pricing for 12-ounce packages of hemp seeds remain stable – 53 stores with ads with an average price of $12.50. The number of stores that carried ads for 16-ounce packages of hemp seeds dropped from 311 to 252 week-to-week while the average price rose from $13.76 to $14.90. 

The USDA data includes advertising and pricing from more than 3,000 stores throughout the U.S. 

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Louisiana Governor Signs Bills Related to Medical Cannabis and Hemp Testing

6/22/2022

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Louisiana Gov. Jon Bel Edwards (D) on Tuesday signed several cannabis-related bills into law, including allowing medical cannabis access for some out-of-state patients and providing prosecution protections for non-resident medical cannabis patients, allowing nurse practitioners to recommend medical cannabis, excluding pipes used to smoke medical cannabis from the stat’s definition of drug paraphernalia, and a measure to require testing of consumable hemp products. 

The medical cannabis-related bills come about a year after the first dispensaries opened in the state and the measures are meant to address problems that arose following the launch of the market and expand access to the program.  

The bill allowing access for out-of-state patients includes provisions allowing individuals who are either short-term Louisiana residents or those who have been residents of the state for less than 30 days. It allows visitors with medical cannabis cards from other states to access medical cannabis in Louisiana. A separate measure provides protections for those patients. 

The legislation allowing nurse practitioners to recommend medical cannabis also allows psychologists to recommend patients to the state program.  

Bel Edwards also signed a bill allowing the state Department of Health to regulate the industry and removing the Board of Medical Examiners and Department of Agriculture and Forestry from that role. The Board of Pharmacy will remain in its regulatory role under the new regime. The Health Department will also be allowed to charge and collect fees from the industry under the law.    

The hemp testing bill signed by the governor requires that, at a confidence level of 95%, no more than 1% of the industrial hemp plants in each batch subject test above a total delta-9 THC concentration of 0.3% on a dry weight basis. The bill excludes some hemp plants from the testing program, including seed that has been certified by the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies, seed for hemp produced for grain or fiber, hemp being used for research, hemp grown by producers that have “consistently produced compliant industrial hemp plants over an extended period of time,” and from producers “growing immature industrial hemp plants produced from industrial hemp seed of known compliant varieties and the plants will be harvested prior to flowering,” according to the bill text. 

Bel Edwards did not comment on the measures in his press release announcing that he has signed them into law.  

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DEA Reports Significant Increase In Cannabis-Related Arrests & Seizures

6/21/2022

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According to new data by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), cannabis arrests in 2021 rose to 6,606 — up from 4,992 in 2020 — according to annual data from the DEA outlined by NORML. Additionally, 5.53 million cannabis plants were seized last year, marking a 20% increase year-to-year from 2020.

The numbers represent the highest enforcement figures since 2011 when the agency reported 8,500 cannabis arrests and having confiscated over 6.7 million plants, the report says.

NORML’s Political Director Morgan Fox said, “The fact that these interdiction efforts are growing — at great cost to the taxpayer — despite increasing momentum for legalization is a testament to the failure of federal prohibition and unnecessarily burdensome state regulatory policies.”

“Lack of access to banking services and capital, high barriers to entry into legal cannabis markets, and exorbitant tax rates at all levels of government are clearly hampering the ability of licensed cannabis businesses to compete with the unregulated market.” — Fox, in a statement

Notably, the suppression and eradication report says the DEA and their local partners seized $103 million in assets in 2021, twice as much as in 2020. California takes the top spot for most arrests and plant seizures with 60% of all arrests and 86% of plant confiscations coming from it alone. The report also highlights the large amounts of plants taken in Kentucky (317,621) and Oklahoma (158,124), according to Forbes.

“The solutions to this situation are beyond obvious at this point, and they don’t involve law enforcement officers putting themselves at risk by dropping out of helicopters or conducting armed raids,” Fox said.

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Two Oklahoma Attorneys Charged with ‘Ghost Owner’ Medical Cannabis Scheme

6/21/2022

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Two Oklahoma attorneys have been charged with having their legal assistants lend their names to medical cannabis cultivation applicants, helping their out-of-state clients around residency requirements, The Oklahoman reports. The practice is referred to by officials as “ghost owners.”  

Eric Brown and Logan Jones were each charged with multiple counts of conspiracy, falsifying records, and cultivation of a dangerous substance. Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN) investigators said they interviewed four employees of the Jones-Brown law firm who admitted their names were used to apply for medical cannabis grow licenses with the state. 

Announcing the charges last week, Attorney General John O’Connor said there are more than 400 grow operations in the state that “listed the Jones-Brown law firm employees as the owners.”  

Ken Adair, who is representing Brown, said that the two were no longer partners and that his client’s “conduct and knowledge of what went on is inconsistent with the mental state or criminal intent required to violate the law.” 

One legal assistant told investigators that she was paid $3,000 for each license she put her name on, and at least $1,000 was paid back to the law firm. She said she “was meeting with clients so frequently this was the only type of work she was doing,” according to court documents outlined by The Oklahoman. 

OBN Director Donnie Anderson said the two attorneys had represented foreign individuals who were growing cannabis and shipping it out of state. 

This year, the state has passed several laws to reign in the state’s medical cannabis industry, including a bill that raises the penalties for transferring medical cannabis to non-patients. Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) earlier this month signed a measure to make the state Medical Marijuana Authority a standalone agency which House Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols (R), the bill’s co-author, told The Oklahoman would help officials deal with the complexity of regulation and compliance” industry and help “cut down on the black market” which he argues “threatens the wellbeing of Oklahomans and properly regulate the legitimate businesses approved by voters.”  

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Poll: Majority of Thai Citizens Support Recent Cannabis Legalization Reforms

6/21/2022

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A survey conducted by Thailand’s National Institute of Development Administration found that 58.55% of citizens agreed with the government’s decision to remove cannabis from the nation’s Category 5 narcotics list, the Bangkok Post reports. The survey found that 41.45% disagreed with the move, with 24.98% saying cannabis is harmful to children and youth and the government has been unable to control its use. 

The majority of respondents (67.02%) indicated they have no experience with cannabis while 32.98% said they had some experience.  

The poll found that 34.81% of respondents strongly agreed with the reforms, saying cannabis is a valuable plant that can be used for medical purposes and to generate income; 23.74% moderately approved of the action, saying cannabis is more useful than harmful. Another 16.56% of those polled moderately disagreed with the reforms, saying cannabis use is hazardous to health.  

Thai officials removed cannabis from the narcotics list in February and legalized the cultivation and trade of the plant earlier this month. 

The survey found that 42.44% of respondents were worried “a lot” about improper use of cannabis by children and youth, with 29.62% saying they were worried to some degree, 16.95% not at all worried, and 10.99% somewhat concerned.  

A little more than a third (34.05%) of respondents said they would use cannabis for medical purposes; 31.15% for recreational purposes; 22.21% for use in food and beverages; and 12.59% for various commercial products. 

Of those who responded that they have experience with the plant, 30.56% said they had smoked it; 21.06% used it for medical purposes; 6.94% had grown it; 1.39% had produced cannabis-based products for commercial purposes; 0.23% had been involved in the trade. 

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Respect My Region Launches 2nd Annual ‘North American Weed Tour’

6/21/2022

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Seattle-based cannabis events and media firm Respect My Region announced the return of its North American Weed Tour, the company’s annual podcast and product review series highlighting cannabis businesses, entrepreneurs, and products in legal markets throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

The tour will take place from July 10 to December 15, 2022, and is set to include 250 podcast episodes and Instagram Live Streams featuring legal cannabis products and the manufacturers, cultivators, and retailers behind them, as well as the technology firms and other ancillary services working behind-the-scenes in the cannabis industry.

“After last year’s overwhelmingly successful tour, we’re excited to scale the campaign to include more than just product reviews and podcast interviews,” Respect My Region Co-owner Joseph Brabo said in a press release. “This year, we’ve added 420 University, an educational series with Betty Krocker Bakes and myself, the Legacy Cannabis Podcast hosted by Adam Ill, and the Gas or Trash Instagram Live Stream and Podcast series hosted by Mistah Cannabis. Additionally, our team is launching the Canadian Cannabis Podcast, Northeast Cannabis Podcast, and the Midwest Cannabis Podcast.”

CEO Mitch Pfeifer said the new tour enables the company to further magnify “the stories of new brands and businesses across North America,” and that they crafted the tour “to have a greater impact on cannabis brands in emerging markets while also amplifying the success of industry leaders and innovators.”

Per the press release: “PR partnerships for the 2022 North American Weed Tour include 40 Tons, AZ Cannabis News, Beard Bros Pharms, The Bluntness, The Cannabis Library, The Cannigma, Ganjapreneur, Heady NJ, Honeysuckle Magazine, Illinois News Joint, Puf Creativ, and Skunk Magazine.”

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Kentucky Governor Names Members of Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee

6/21/2022

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Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) has announced the members of the Team Kentucky Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee that will help advise him on providing access to medical cannabis. The 15-member panel includes physicians, medical cannabis advocates, public health workers, and attorneys. 

Beshear convened the committee after lawmakers failed to pass medical cannabis reforms during the most recent session.  

“Polling suggests 90% of Kentucky adults support legalizing medical cannabis, while at the same time, far too many in our state who could benefit from it are suffering. It is simply time that something more is done. I want to make sure every voice is heard as I am weighing executive action that could provide access to medical cannabis in the commonwealth.” — Beshear in a press release 

The panel includes: 

  • Dr. Amber Cann of La Grange, pharmacy coach and adjunct professor at Spalding University; 
  • Julie Cantwell of Rineyville, advocate with Kentuckians for Medical Marijuana; 
  • Jennifer Cave of Louisville, member, Stites and Harbison; 
  • Eric Crawford of Maysville, advocate; 
  • Cookie Crews of Frankfort, commissioner of the Department of Corrections; 
  • Dr. John Farmer of Louisville, OB/GYN, medical director of Solid Ground Counseling and Recovery, addiction treatment provider in Louisville, Morehead and Hazard; 
  • Dr. Jonathan Hatton of Whitesburg, family medicine, Mountain Comprehensive Health; 
  • Brian Jointer of Jeffersonville, Indiana, certified public health worker in Louisville; 
  • Dr. Nick Kouns of Lexington, internal medicine, Clark Regional Medical Center; 
  • Alex Kreit of Cincinnati, Ohio, director of the Chase Center on Addiction Law and Policy at Northern Kentucky University; 
  • Dr. Linda McClain of Louisville, OB/GYN, Commonwealth Counseling Center; 
  • Andrew Sparks of Lexington, former assistant U.S. Attorney; 
  • Dee Dee Taylor of Louisville, chief executive officer, 502 Hemp Wellness Center; 
  • Julie Wallace of Morganfield, Union County Attorney; and 
  • Kristin Wilcox of Beaver Dam, co-founder of Kentucky Moms for Medical Cannabis. 

Beshear also announced the launch of a new website where citizens can learn more about the commission and submit their own feedback. The governor did not indicate when the committee would hold its first meeting but said the panel would also hold townhall meetings throughout the commonwealth.   

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Big Plan Holdings Acquires ‘Mission Critical’ New Jersey Property on Behalf of Ascend Wellness

6/20/2022

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Nashville, Tennessee, Monday, June 20th, 2022 – Big Plan Holdings Legacy Partners (BPH-LP), a subsidiary of Nashville, Tennessee-based Big Plan Holdings (BPH), is pleased to announce the acquisition of a strategically significant property located in Franklin, New Jersey, expanding their reach and that of Ascend Wellness Holdings (AWH), one of the nation’s largest multistate operating (‘MSO’) cannabis companies, in the process.

The acquisition has been appropriately timed to further embolden the New Jersey cannabis marketplace, which, since recent deregulatory measures were implemented, has begun to flourish Statewide.

Big Plan Holdings oversees an elite portfolio comprised of real estate holdings, cannabis businesses under management, a technology-powered management company, an intellectual property (IP) holding organization, in addition to hosting sub-divisions in hospitality, fashion, music and the entertainment industry. This latest acquisition and tactical investment into the cannabis arena bolsters the legacy and present footprint of Big Plan Holdings in the cannabis industry and in Executive Leaderships’ leading roles as investors, advisors and industry stewards.

BPH Co-Founder and CEO, Josh Joseph, formerly one of the founders of Grassroots Cannabis, which later sold to Curaleaf in 2020 (with an estimated company exit in excess of $875 million), then the largest privately-held cannabis company in the country, stated that, “We were pleased to witness the pragmatic transition of the State of New Jersey from historically providing a medical-use only cannabis program to today allowing for adult-use and recreational cannabis sales, in doing so forecasting exponential market growth. Make no mistake – This is a model replicable State to State, and the country over. We are privileged to continue to work alongside both the public and private sector, in this case Ascend Wellness Holdings, in growing our brand’s reach and their presence in the Franklin cosmopolitan area through this mission critical property acquisition.”

Just over one month into existence, New Jersey’s recreational marijuana market has seen over $24 million in sales. In step with this meteoric growth, the latest property acquisition secured by Big Plan Holdings will form a critical component of AWH’s 200,000 square feet of cultivation and processing operations in the Franklin region.

Concurrent to the New Jersey acquisition, Big Plan Holdings subsidiary BPH Legacy Partners’ nationwide interests and areas of focus include however are not limited to real estate and real estate financing, the securement of cannabis licenses as an operator, serving as an applicant for new operating businesses while offering a safe space for investments for minorities, women and all within the social equity and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) arena, both plant touching and non-plant touching. The company’s current State on State investments include Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maine and Florida, with future investment considerations underway in Georgia, New Mexico and indeed across the United States.

About Big Plan Holdings
Big Plan Holdings (BPH) BPH is a Nashville, Tennessee based family-office with diversified investments in cannabis, real estate, music, entertainment, and hospitality, among myriad strategic investments across the United States. BPH also hosts a philanthropic family foundation, The Joseph Family Foundation, with several different touch points of thematic, statewide, national, and global focus.

About Big Plan Holdings (BPH) Legacy Partners
Big Plan Holdings Legacy Partners (BPH-LP) is a cannabis portfolio company comprised of real estate holdings, cannabis businesses under management, a technology-powered management company and an intellectual property (IP) holding company.

BPH-LP is owned and operated by a seasoned and diverse management team committed to building highly efficient cannabis companies in meaningful partnerships with qualified social equity groups across the U.S.

BPH-LP operates by combining unique hands-on cannabis expertise, talent, technology, capital, and real estate experience in each of its ventures. The BPH-LP objective is to enable each company under management to thrive and economically scale. While each venture is unique, the company’s commitment to succeed remains the same.

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Mississippi Supreme Court Upholds Life Sentence for Cannabis Possession

6/20/2022

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The Mississippi Supreme Court last week upheld the conviction of a man sentenced to life in prison for cannabis possession, WLBT reports. The court found that Allen Russell’s life sentence – handed down in 2019 for possession of 43.71 grams, or less than two ounces – did not violate the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution which bars excessive bail, fines, and cruel or unusual punishment, and was in line with state law.

The conviction would typically carry a sentence of up to three years in prison but Russell was given the enhanced sentence under the state’s habitual offender law. Russell had been previously charged with house burglary twice and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

The Mississippi Court of Appeals had previously deadlocked on Russell’s case 5-5 last year, the report says. In a split decision, six of the nine Supreme Court justices affirmed the trial court’s ruling, finding that Russell received “the only sentence available.” The court added that Russell had a history of being a violent offender.

In the majority opinion, Associate Justice Robert Chamberlin, wrote that “It is pertinent to note that the arrest came while law enforcement was attempting to serve another drug-related warrant on Russell as well as execute a search warrant on his premises.

“Chemical gas had to be deployed to obtain Russell’s surrender. … Clearly, the trial judge was aware of Russell’s history as contained in the record and, therefore, considered ‘all matters relevant to’ the sentence which was placed before him.” — Chamberlin, in the opinion, via WLBT

In the dissent, Associate Justice Josiah Coleman said that burglary was not a “per se crime of violence until Mississippi Code… made it so as a matter of law on July 1, 2014.”

“Prior to July 1, 2014, burglary was only considered a crime of violence if actual violence took place during the burglary,” Coleman wrote in the minority opinion. “We do not know whether Russell’s burglaries involved actual violence, but the fact that he was allowed the opportunity by the sentencing court to participate in the Regimented Inmate Discipline Program tends to indicate they did not.”

The dissent also noted that Mississippi has recently legalized medical cannabis and that state lawmakers should take changing cannabis laws into account when writing sentencing laws.

“The majority undertakes the task of offering procedural guidance to courts faced with defendants in the same position as that in which Russell finds himself, yet it denies Russell himself the benefit of its guidance,” Coleman wrote. “In so doing, the majority leaves Russell in prison for the rest of his life.”

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California Bill Would Require More Warning Labels on Cannabis Products

6/20/2022

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A bill proposed in California would require cannabis products to carry labels that warn of the risks associated with cannabis consumption, including DUI, teen use and brain development, mental health risks including schizophrenia, and suicidal thoughts and actions, KCRA3 reports.   

The proposed warnings would read:

  • “WARNING: Do not buy illegally sold cannabis as it is more likely to contain unsafe additives or harmful contaminants such as mold or pesticides.”
  • “WARNING: Do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding. Exposure to cannabis during pregnancy may harm your baby’s health, including causing low birth weight.”
  • “WARNING: Cannabis use may contribute to mental health problems, including psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. Risk is greatest for frequent users and when using products with high THC levels.”
  • “WARNING: Cannabis use may contribute to mental health problems, including increased thoughts of suicide and suicide attempts. Risk is greatest for frequent users.”

Lawmakers are also seeking to force retailers to distribute informational brochures to first-time customers outlining the risks of cannabis consumption.

California already requires warning labels and marketing to children is banned. Lindsay Robinson, executive director of the California Cannabis Industry Association, told OPB that the bill “is really duplicative and puts unnecessary burdens on the legal cannabis industry.”

The measure passed the Senate 23-3 on May 25 and referred to the Assembly Committee on Business and Professions on June 2. If approved, the changes would be required to take effect on Jan. 1, 2025.

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American Teaching In Russia Sentenced to 14 Years for ‘Large-Scale’ Cannabis Smuggling

6/20/2022

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A former U.S. diplomat was sentenced last week to 14 years in prison by a Russian court for “large-scale” cannabis smuggling, CBS News reports. Marc Fogel, a teacher at the Anglo-American School in Moscow, was arrested by customs officers in Moscow in August 2021 after they found cannabis in his luggage.

Fogel maintains that he has a recommendation to use cannabis medically in the U.S.; however, Russia has not legalized cannabis for any purpose. Alexander Khurudzhi, a member of a Moscow human rights committee who visited Fogel in December, said Fogel “claims he was unaware of Russia’s ban” on medical cannabis.

Russia’s Interior Ministry has not specified the amount of cannabis Fogel was caught with but he told attorneys that he brought about 17 grams which would be considered a “significant” amount under Russian law, which defines a significant amount as anything between 6-100 grams; a large amount is anything over 100 grams, the report says.

Last week Russian authorities extended the detention of WNBA star Brittney Griner until at least July 2 after she was allegedly caught with cannabis vape cartridges while going through customs. Griner’s detention in Russia has been extended three times and she faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. She is considered “wrongfully detained” by U.S. officials.

Russia and U.S. relations have been strained by the former’s recent invasion of Ukraine. Additionally, several Americans are detained in Russian prisons, and vice versa.

The U.S. Embassy has not commented on Fogel’s diplomatic status which might have held as a member of the staff at the Anglo-American school, which was previously run by the embassy.

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Study: 39% of Millennial Cannabis Users Consume Multiple Times Per Day

6/17/2022

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In a recent study covering the unique attitudes and behavior toward cannabis exhibited by millennials, New Frontier Data found that about 39% of millennials who consume cannabis do so typically multiple times per day, the company announced in a press release. Millennials are the generation born between 1981 and 1996 and NFD noted that rapid changes in cannabis policy have occurred during this generation’s lifetime.

“Millennials came of age when cannabis-related social attitudes and policies were changing rapidly. As young adults, they watched the normalization of cannabis use mitigate negative stereotypes, and they have played a leading role in the emergence of the legal cannabis economy, both as participants in the market and as champions for change.” — Gary Allen, New Frontier Data CEO, in a statement

Other key findings from the study:

  • 49% of millennials shopping in the legal market spend between $50 and $200 per transaction at cannabis retailers.
  • 39% of millennials who use cannabis do so more than once per day but there is a greater disparity here between the consumption rates of men and women than compared to other groups.
  • 77% of millennials substitute cannabis for sleep medications.
  • More millennials recognize other sleep-related cannabinoids like CBN (15%) and THCP (22%) than members of other generations.
  • 66% of millennials, which currently comprise the nation’s largest generation, believe that “strain” is important when purchasing cannabis.

The study also found that, as new parents, consuming cannabis away from their home is more important to millennials than other generations.

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AMA Calls for States to Expunge Cannabis Criminal Records

6/17/2022

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The American Medical Association (AMA) has adopted a policy calling on states to expunge criminal records for individuals that were incarcerated for cannabis offenses that have since been legalized or decriminalized. The policy was adopted at the AMA’s House of Delegates meeting despite the organization’s opposition to broad cannabis legalization.  

AMA Trustee Scott Ferguson, M.D. said criminal records associated with cannabis affect “young people aspiring to careers in medicine as well as many others who are denied housing, education, loans, and job opportunities.”

“It simply isn’t fair to ruin a life based on actions that result in convictions but are subsequently legalized or decriminalized. … Expungement is no panacea. It can be a lengthy and expensive process. Automatic expungement would relieve people of having to figure out and pay for the bureaucratic steps necessary for sealing a criminal record,” — Ferguson in a statement 

The policy also calls for ending probation, parole, or other court-related supervision because of cannabis-related offenses. The AMA notes that Black people are 3.6 times more likely to be arrested for cannabis than White people despite similar rates of use.  

The AMA indicated that it will discuss expungement with the Association of American Medical Colleges, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, Federation of State Medical Boards, and other relevant medical education and licensing authorities to determine the impact of disclosure of a cannabis-related offense on a medical school, residency or licensing application. 

The organization said the policy “aims to introduce equity and fairness into the fast-changing effort to legalize cannabis.” 

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Cannabis Sommelier Featured on ‘Today Show’

6/17/2022

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The “Today Show” on NBC last week featured cannabis sommelier Derek Gilman as part of its On the Job series. Gilman is the managing director of Ganjier and the segment also featured former National Football League running back Ricky Williams, who now goes by Eric Myron and is working with Gilman

“The main thing I’m learning is the perception of flavor, taste, aroma, smell and being able to decipher and appreciate these things.” — Myron, via the “Today Show”

Myron has his own cannabis brand called Highsman.

Gilman explained that there are three steps to becoming a cannabis sommelier: online courses, in-person training, and passing three exams. Ganjier certifies those who pass the course.

“It’s thorough, it’s rigorous,” Gilman said in an interview with “Today.” The program was put together by a panel of experts and includes the history of cannabis, botany, cultivation, and business.

“We have students and now certified ganjiers in all parts of the cannabis industry,” Gilman said in the interview. “We have people who are looking to enter the industry and are looking for a valid credential, you know, to help them in that process to CEOs of companies to directors of sales for some of the largest cannabis companies on the planet.”

Gilman added that ganjiers are a “legacy” for the industry and he hopes that they can bring “professionalism” to cannabis and bring the industry “out of the shadows.”

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Pennsylvania Judge Rules Cannabis Companies Can Resume Selling Vapes with Added Terpenes

6/17/2022

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A Pennsylvania court on Wednesday decided that medical cannabis companies in the state can resume selling vapes that were taken off the shelves as part of a recall in February, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Judith D. Cassel, an attorney for the cannabis companies that sued state regulators in February, alleging that the recall was unfounded, said the plaintiffs “are thrilled about the decision.” 

“The vapes can go immediately back on the shelves, and the grower processors can continue or commence producing these vapes.” — Cassel to the Inquirer 

The recall included 670 types of cannabis concentrates for vaping – about 330,000 units, the report says. Regulators had said the companies had “added ingredients that have not been approved for inhalation” by the federal Food and Drug Administration. The additives at the heart of the case are added terpenes. 

Commonwealth Court Judge Michael J. Wojcik granted a preliminary injunction overturning the recall on June 2, ruling that the companies were likely to win a permanent injunction and that the group would suffer immediate and irreparable harm without the court order. The state Department of Health appealed the decision to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which automatically stayed the initial ban but Wojcik’s ruling ended the stay. 

In the opinion, Wojcik said regulators “failed to present any evidence to the court of potential harm to medical marijuana patients due to the recalled products, or more specifically due to the addition of terpenes to these products.” 

The companies involved in the lawsuit said they were facing more than $17 million in collective losses from the recall and that some products have already expired. 

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Cannabis Drinks Expo San Francisco and Chicago Are Back; Get Your Tickets

6/16/2022

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Discover fast-growing cannabis drinks brands at the 3rd Annual Cannabis Drinks Expo on July 28 in San Francisco and on August 2 in Chicago.

Cannabis Drinks Expo, a super hit b2b trade show returns in July, providing the cannabis and drinks industry a unique platform to do business, learn about the category and source amazing brands.

The theme for the 2022 show will be ‘Growing The Category’. The 2022 show will focus on helping anyone looking to get into the category learn and develop new products, it will help existing brands expand into other states by meeting other state manufacturers. It will help retailers and distributors develop their store own brands, it will find new ways cannabis beverages can be marketed and sold. It will find new ways cannabis beverages can be developed to grow end consumer market share.

The 2022 show will focus on increasing the overall category by showcasing exhibitors who can help do that and by creating networking opportunities and focusing on multi-state bottlenecks that are in place. The show will have an international and national focus instead of a state-based focus. This is where multistate operators will come to find synergies and do business with each other and help the category grow.

Hosted by the Beverage Trade Network, this expo will shine a spotlight on the skyrocketing legal cannabis market and provide insight into its future brimming with opportunity.

Dates and Location:
San Francisco: July 28, 2022 – South San Francisco Conference Center, 255 South Airport Boulevard South San Francisco, CA 94080, United States
Chicago: August 2, 2022 – Midwest Conference Centre, 401 W Lake St Northlake, Chicago IL 60164, United States

The cannabis entrepreneur who attends will be offered precious information on everything from the planning stages of crafting a cannabis-infused drink brand to formulation, regulations and compliance, branding, marketing, and the distribution of a cannabis drink product. We have outstanding experts in their field to clarify and explain the whole process. No stone will be left unturned. Cannabis-infused drinks are not just the ‘newest cannabis craze’. Studies show that in the US, consumers are steadily moving away from alcoholic choices.

Browse the extensive expo floor, and connect with companies that are on the cutting-edge of the cannabis industry. Connections and partnerships are key in this endeavor. The panel of experts will be presenting intriguing and vital information that will demystify the whole procedure of cannabis-infused beverages. There will be a full day of presentations that comprises some of the top names in the cannabis industry.

The population is becoming more health-conscious and looking for alternative beverage options. This is what attracts a whole new emerging segment of buyers to cannabis-infused beverages. The Cannabis Drinks Expo will attract people from all over the United States. Coming to inform themselves about this thrilling element of the cannabis industry. They will see firsthand what it takes to create a cannabis-infused beverage brand. Networking possibilities are endless.

Visitor Registration is now open, and you can get your passes now to save on tickets.

Here are the links to register yourself as a trade show visitor:
San Francisco Tickets | Chicago Tickets

If you would like more information, please contact Sid Patel at info@cannabisdrinksexpo.com or call +1 855 481 1112.

Website: https://cannabisdrinksexpo.com/en/

 

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Brazil Court Rules Patients Can Grow Their Own Cannabis for Medical Purposes

6/16/2022

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Brazil’s Superior Court of Justice on Tuesday ruled that three patients can grow their own cannabis for medical purposes, the Associated Press reports. The decision is likely to be applied nationwide in similar cases. 

The five-judge panel unanimously determined that all three plaintiffs could cultivate their own cannabis and extract the oil for use in pain relief. In Brazil, medical cannabis products can only be imported and home cultivation is not permitted. Judge Rogério Schietti said the court had to act because the government refused to take a scientific stance on the issue.  

“The discourse against this possibility is moralistic. It often has a religious nature, based on dogmas, on false truths, stigmas. Let us stop this prejudice, this moralism that delays the development of this issue at the legislative, and many times clouds the minds of Brazilian judges.” — Schietti, in the opinion, via the AP

Judge Antonio Saldanha described the government’s delay on the issue as “a deliberately backward action toward obscurantism.” 

Home cultivation of cannabis for any purpose is opposed by President Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro, a far-right politician, is currently behind in opinion polls against former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who led Brazil from 2003-2010, the report says. An advisor to Lula da Silva told CNN Brazil that, if Lula da Silva is elected, a government plan on broad cannabis legalization would be prepared with input from citizens and allied political parties. 

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Stone Road: Embracing Authenticity In Cannabis, From Cultivation to Marketing

6/16/2022

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Many cannabis farms are struggling to make ends meet, especially in California where there is a wholesale flower glut. Despite these challenges, the multi-state cannabis brand Stone Road has seen significant expansion in the last two years. Stone Road’s flagship farm is in Nevada City, California and its products are also available in Oklahoma and Massachusetts.

Founder Lex Corwin spoke with Ganjapreneur about his vision for the brand, the setbacks and triumphs along the way, and how they’ve achieved regular growth in the historically fickle cannabis market. The thread tying the brand together from its natural farming practices to its unconventionally beautiful marketing assets is authenticity: everything aligns with Corwin’s core values and taste. “We’re trying to go weird because I am weird and a lot of my friends are weird and we like weird and beautiful and interesting things. And so that’s honestly the pillar of how we approach branding,” he said.

The young entrepreneur first learned about cannabis farming from hippy elders in Northern Oregon and took that knowledge home to Southern California. Those first teachers are why the brand uses living soil and seeks out natural pesticides like ladybugs and predator mites rather than spraying OMRI-certified pesticides.

Stone Road purchased its Nevada City property out of foreclosure in 2016. Over the next year, they removed almost 10 tons of garbage and rehabilitated the remote 57-acre lot. As they rehabbed the land, they installed an artesian well, bringing the farm completely off-grid. Stone Road hires employees who are local to the area and teach them farming skills in the same way that Corwin got his start growing cannabis.

Currently, Stone Road cultivates greenhouse-grown cannabis on one acre and leaves the majority of their land natural and untamed. This is ideal for the local flora and fauna but can bring more pests. The team is realistic about growing in the woods and always seeks out the natural answer to their problems rather than disrupting their local wildlife. Corwin brought in a veteran farmer to consult on their pest issue in the first few runs and their advice was to look to nature for any potential pest’s natural predators. They use beneficial insects, fungi, amoebas, and more in the soil to keep natural predators at bay. They also spray plants down with water in the morning and at dusk to reduce native colonies of aphids or local mites.

The farm focuses on ultra-small batches, constantly providing new flavors rather than sticking to the same thing. Corwin travels to small farms to seek out specialty strains grown with Stone Road’s principles, which is one way that they procure strains with unique and notable aromatic profiles. They currently have 8 SKUs and within those, they may have 3-12 flavors at any time. Corwin explained, “Cannabis is an agricultural crop, a crop that hasn’t had a great deal of standardization, and people are always going to want something new. So for us, it made the most sense that we constantly push out new batches. We don’t have one product that is just our product that we keep making, it is constantly rotating.”

Stone Road’s flavors continue to change but the quality is always consistent. Corwin is passionate about only offering products that he would want to use himself. While in the early days, supply chain complications with partnering manufacturers forced Stone Road to push through product that wasn’t fully up to their standards in order to stay afloat, Corwin now only partners with like-minded people to sell Stone Road products outside of California. These partners include Solar Cannabis Co. in Massachusetts and other living soil, natural farmers in Oklahoma. The brand plans to expand soon into New York and other new states in the coming year. When Corwin is looking for like-minded partners, he’s not just seeking out natural farmers who grow clean cannabis, he’s also calling in fellow weirdos.

Stone Road’s branding centers around empowerment, being yourself, and celebrating every facet of beauty. “To us, we don’t do the sleazy thing of selling sex to sell, it’s more that we use a lot of sex-positive people that believe that the human body is beautiful in all its forms and iterations and we’re there to complement that. We want to show cool, beautiful — sometimes unconventionally beautiful — people consuming our products and enjoying them. Ultimately, that was born out of trying to show the cannabis industry as it actually is, because it is unbelievably diverse,” Corwin said. “We have a small contingent of very, very, very loyal followers. And I don’t know if it’s that they see themselves in the branding or, you know, as a proudly gay person having other gay and queer people supporting the brand because obviously, we gotta stick together!”

Stone Road doesn’t spend money on advertising but instead provides a platform for people who consume their products. A lot of models featured in their marketing reached out organically or the team noticed them and dug their look. Weird, interesting, and beautiful is Corwin’s preferred aesthetic and this is presented through the artistic, thought-provoking imagery that represents the brand. He is excited about their entry into the New York marketplace, where new team members are introducing a new wave of creativity for the brand.

Every step Corwin takes alongside Stone Road is sure-footed in authenticity and this may be the secret sauce that led to 700% growth in 2020, further growth in 2021, and record-breaking sales months in 2022. He doesn’t bother himself with comparing their products to other brands or bending their marketing to the trends; instead, the team creates products and a message that they would want to receive. “The thesis is working and we just need to create better and better products, and more consistently,” said Corwin, who also doesn’t pay himself a salary, choosing instead to put profits into paying fair wages and crafting great products.

In the coming year, they plan to eliminate petroleum-based plastic from their supply chain, which will be accomplished once they fully change their joint 5-packs packaging to air-tight, child-proof tins. They are also launching a gummy product in partnership with Sundae School made with all-natural fruit juices and sugars. The edible will be Sundae Schools’ first gummy made with solventless hash. Eventually, Corwin hopes to have a product in every form factor, and looks forward to further expanding across the US.

To learn more about Stone road visit https://stoneroad.org/.

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Montana Restricting Tribes to Smallest Tier of Cannabis Licenses

6/16/2022

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The director of the Montana Department of Revenue (DOR) wrote in a letter that Montana tribes are restricted to the lowest cultivation tier structure under the state’s adult-use cannabis law, the Montana Free Press reports.

In a letter to the Economic Affairs Interim Committee (EAIC) dated June 2, DOR Director Brendan Beatty contradicted the committee’s interpretation of the legalization law. Interpreting the law last year after its passage, the committee said tribes could start at the tier 1 level but expand their tier structure like any other licensee, according to the report. But the law included other restrictions, such as requiring facilities to be located off of tribal land and for cultivation and retail to be limited to the same building.

Lawmakers say these restrictions will hamper tribes’ success in the industry and disincentivize them from entering the market.

“During the last legislative session, a lot of the tribes and the legislators saw this as an opportunity, finally, for the tribes to get in on equal footing on the ground floor of the marijuana industry, and start bringing in additional revenue for themselves,” state Sen. Jason Small, a member of the Northern Cheyenne tribe, said in the report.

Small advocated for the combined tribal licenses. He said the DOR has been “trying to hamstring our (tribal) efforts.” So far, no tribes have applied for a tier 1 license and Small feels the restrictions have contributed to their absence:

“I’ve had conversations with a couple of different tribes that say, ‘Why even bother if they’re handicapping us here?’” – Small, via the Montana Free Press

Beatty cites language from the legalization law that says “a combined-use marijuana license consists of one tier-one canopy license and one dispensary license allowing for the operation of a dispensary.”

“Regardless of this committee’s stated desire to allow combined use licensees to increase beyond a tier one, the statute is clear and unambiguous and limits a combined use licensee to a single tier one canopy license,” the director wrote in the letter.

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Majority of Mainers Obtaining Cannabis Legally

6/16/2022

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The majority of Mainers are obtaining cannabis from legal sources according to a state Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP) survey which found that 64% of past-month cannabis consumers have made purchases at licensed retailers, with 36% using unregulated sources.

The survey also found that 6% of respondents who consume cannabis on a monthly basis exclusively use state-approved retailers compared to just 1% that will only use unregulated sources.

The agency also found the state has an oversupply of medical cannabis a year after adult-use sales commenced in the state, where there is about $1 in demand for every $6 of supply; comparatively, there is $1 in demand for every $2 of supply of adult-use cannabis.

The oversupply in Maine’s medical cannabis market is despite the fact that 54% of cannabis consumers who purchase from home-based caregivers don’t have a medical cannabis card and that 33% of consumers who make purchases at medical dispensaries or caregivers with adult-use options also don’t have a medical card.

Among past month’s cannabis users surveyed, 28% said they had “no idea” the typical THC potency of the products they were buying, with 9% of respondents saying their products contained more than 50% THC, 4% said between 35-50%, 11% believing the products contained between 25-35% THC, 20% between 10-15%, 8% between 10-15%, and 4% said their products had less than 10% THC.

Flower was by far the preferred product type among past-month consumers surveyed, with 82% making a flower purchase, followed by edibles (58%), concentrates (41%), drinks (22%), topicals and creams, balms, or sprays (21%), tinctures (17%), lozenges (7%), and other (11%).

OCP Director Erik Gundersen told Mainebiz that the report’s findings “point to policies and practices that promote and preserve public health and safety while allowing legal businesses to compete.”

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North Carolina Gov. Signs Bill Legalizing Pharmaceuticals Containing THC if FDA Approves

6/16/2022

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North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) on Tuesday signed a measure removing federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved pharmaceutical medications containing THC from the state’s list of Schedule VI drugs, WGHP reports. The measure does not include medical cannabis – which was approved by the state Senate earlier this month but will not be heard in the House – the lower chamber’s leader, Rep. Tim Moore (R), said.  

The law signed by Cooper will automatically legalize any drug containing THC so long as it is approved by the FDA, the Drug Enforcement Administration makes the change to the federal controlled substances schedules, and the North Carolina Commission for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse does not object to excluding the drug from the state’s Schedule VI.

Cooper does support broad medical cannabis legalization in the state along with most of his Democratic cohorts in the Legislature; however, both chambers are controlled by Republicans. In the Senate, two Democrats voted against the reforms – which passed 35-10 – along with eight Republicans. 

An April poll conducted by SurveyUSA on behalf of WRAL found that 72% of North Carolina voters support medical cannabis legalization, with 18% opposed. The poll also found a majority (57%) of voters back adult-use legalization. 

However, House Speaker Tim Moore said the chamber would not take up the legislation this session, likely killing the bill this year. He also declined to say whether the House would hear the bill next session.  

“I want to see where our folks are on it. I really do,” he said in an interview with WRAL. “That one has just kind of been thrown down, and I don’t see an appetite to take that up in the shorter session. As far as the long session, I won’t say one way or the other.” 

Cooper is still considering a measure to allow the state’s hemp farmers to produce CBD products. That bill was passed on June 2. 

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Klean Scissors Completes Phase II Trials for ‘Deresinator’ Scissor-Cleaning Product

6/15/2022

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CALIFORNIA (6/15/2022) — Klean Scissors Inc is pleased to announce the successful completion of its Phase II trials for the corporation’s flagship product, the revolutionary Deresinator.

The Phase II trials involved over one hundred hours of successful scissor cleaning in several processing facilities in Northern California. After Phase I trials, the company made slight modifications to the brush assembly and machine aperture so that the Deresinator is now compatible with all brands of trim scissors, including curved blades.

The Deresinator is the world’s first automatic cannabis trim scissor cleaning machine. It eliminates the current messy and time-consuming process of soaking the scissors in open containers of solvent for five to ten minutes and then wiping them off. It cleans resin-coated scissor blades in seconds.

The Deresinator will save growers and processers both time and money as well as offer a safe, enclosed space for potentially hazardous solvents in the workplace.

“We now have three working prototypes and patents in both the USA and Canada on a groundbreaking tool that will save an enormous amount of time when processing cannabis, an industry that is only going to grow,” said Dave Timoney, President and CEO. “We are seeking capital to begin manufacturing this break-through technology. We will also consider selling the patents and invention for the right price.”

For more information (and video): https://cleantrimming.com/

Contact
Dave Timoney (530) 277-0411
Davet19@gmail.com

 

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Cannabis Farmers Unable to Access USDA Disaster Aid

6/15/2022

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State-approved cannabis farmers will be unable to access federal U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Emergency Relief Program funds due to cannabis’ Schedule I status under the Controlled Substances Act, Leafly reports. In an email to Leafly, a USDA spokesperson did indicate that hemp farmers would be eligible to receive aid from the program.  

“Marijuana is a controlled substance, and therefore is not eligible for federal farm programs.” — a USDA spokesperson to Leafly 

The program, announced by the USDA last month, includes $6 billion “for commodity and specialty crop producers impacted by natural disaster events in 2020 and 2021.” Cannabis farms were severely impacted by wildfires in the West during that period but will not be eligible for relief. THC-rich cannabis farmers are also prohibited from receiving aid from the federal Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program, which helps farmers whose uninsured crops are damaged or lost due to natural disasters. Hemp farmers, however, are eligible for relief under the program.

According to the Center for Insurance Policy and Research, private insurers are also discouraged from assisting cannabis businesses due to “conflicting state and federal laws” and “rapidly evolving regulations,” Leafly says. The organization said that cannabis growers face similar general liabilities and risks as other farmers, such as “workplace accidents, damage to property and crop failure” but are “especially prone to fires from both wild and internal sources,” the report says.  

Aid programs in other legal states also bar cannabis companies from accessing agricultural funds. But despite lacking federal recognition, Leafly notes that cannabis is still the fifth most valuable crop in the U.S.

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Russian Court Extends Detention of Brittney Griner

6/15/2022

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A Russian court has extended the detention of WNBA star Brittney Griner until at least July 2, according to a report by Russian state-run news agency TASS outlined by CNN. Griner has been detained since March by Russia which accuses her of drug smuggling after allegedly finding vape cartridges containing cannabis in her luggage at customs.

Griner is considered “wrongfully detained” by U.S. officials.

In the U.S., Griner plays for the Phoenix Mercury but has played in Russia for the last seven years during the winter offseason, earning $1 million per season, which is more than four times her WNBA salary.

In Russia, Griner faces up to 10 years in prison for the drug smuggling charge. Her detention has been extended three times since her arrest

State Department spokesperson Ned Price on Tuesday said the agency’s “position for some time on this has been very clear: Brittney Griner should not be detained.” He added that the U.S. had lost consular access to Griner last month.

“She should not be detained for a single day longer.” — Price, in a statement, via CNN

Russia and U.S. relations have been strained by the former’s invasion of Ukraine and many fear that Griner will be used as a political pawn. Her case is being handled by the office of the US Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs which leads diplomatic efforts to release Americans wrongfully detained abroad. The office helped free U.S. citizen Trevor Reed in April as part of a prisoner swap with Russia.

In a statement on Twitter, Griner’s agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, said the “extension is just further reinforcement” that Griner “is being used as a political pawn.”

“Her detention is inhumane and unacceptable,” Kagawa Colas wrote. “She has not had a single phone call in her 117 days of wrongful detention.”

Following Griner’s arrest, the Russian Federal Customs Service issued a statement indicating that it had opened a criminal investigation into the large-scale transportation of drugs but did not name Griner.

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