San Diego City Council Votes to Reduce Tax on Cannabis Producers

2/16/2022

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The San Diego, California City Council on Tuesday voted to reduce the tax rate on cannabis production facilities from 8% to 2% despite budget analyses suggesting the city would lose between $2 million and $4 million over the next five years by lowering the tax, according to a San Diego Union-Tribune report. The tax rate reduction does not include dispensaries, which will still pay the 8% rate.

The reduction comes as just 19 of the 40-city approved cannabis production facilities have opened, which has created local supply chain gaps, led to the creation of fewer jobs, and greater opportunities for unregulated sales.

Gina Austin, the leading attorney for the region’s cannabis industry, said the Independent Budget Analyst report was based on the flawed assumption that approved-but-unopened cannabis production facilities would eventually open without a tax cut, which she said was “absolutely not true.”

“They do not intend under any circumstances to stay here if the tax rate does not decrease.” – Austin to the Union Tribune

Councilmember Monica Montgomery Steppe, who opposed the changes, said she has a “major, major issue with reducing the tax rate for an industry that we have not opened up to everyone.”

Critics of the city’s cannabis rules have long complained that it still doesn’t have a social equity program, the report says, although city officials have maintained that the program would be in operation sometime this year.

Councilmember Joe LaCava proposed delaying the date of the tax reduction from May 1 to January 2023 so that the equity program will be in place, but the proposed amendment didn’t receive enough support. Another amendment that would have added a three-year sunset clause to the reduction also did not receive enough support.

The proposal still requires second approval from the council. That vote is expected next month.

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Virginia Senate Passes Bill to Launch Adult-Use Sales in September

2/16/2022

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The Virginia Senate on Tuesday passed legislation that would allow adult-use cannabis sales to begin September 15, NPR-affiliate VPM reports. The bill includes provisions requiring the state’s three current medical cannabis companies to pay $6 million each to the state to start sales early and would let hemp producers start cultivating cannabis for the program for a $500,000 fee.

Other prospective retailers would still be required to wait until January 2024 to start selling to adults.

The legislation sponsored by state Sen. Adam Ebbin (D) also requires the medical cannabis firms to “incubate five qualified social equity applicant retailers for a period of six months or support and educate qualified social equity applicants that wish to participate in the cannabis market.” Ebbin told VPM that the social equity program would “ensure the little guy – especially those most disadvantaged by the prohibition on cannabis – receive the seed funding and startup support necessary to slingshot small Virginia businesses into economic success.”

Three Senate Republicans voted in favor of the bill but committees in the GOP-controlled House of Representatives have so far avoided taking up the legalization issue.

Advocates have warned that allowing some businesses a head start would shut out smaller operators and create an oligopoly in the state. Critics ranging from the Minority Cannabis Business Association to the libertarian-leaning Americans for Prosperity previously told VPM that Virginia is giving big operators a blank check by giving them a 15-month head start.

Currently, Jushi, Columbia Care, and Green Thumb are the only three businesses licensed to sell medical cannabis in the state. Columbia Care has estimated that the state’s cannabis industry could be worth $3 billion annually by 2026.

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Ascend Counters MedMen Claims About Influencing New York Politicians

2/16/2022

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In its legal battle against MedMen in New York, Ascend Wellness Holdings is accusing the company of fabricating a narrative that it “exerted undue influence on New York State government officials in order to obtain regulatory approval” for its $73 million takeover of Medmen’s New York operations, the Times Union reports.

The two multistate cannabis companies have been at odds since December when both Ascend and the state Office of Cannabis Management claimed the companies had the regulatory approvals necessary to go through with their deal but MedMen claimed that the state regulators’ approvals could not be considered final and that officials’ assurances to that effect had been unduly influenced by Ascend’s political giving. Earlier this month, MedMen motioned to subpoena Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office, claiming her administration used its influence to help Ascend purchase MedMen’s New York business as the firm was looking to end the deal.

The Times Union notes that those subpoena requests were approved last week but in Ascend’s recent Supreme Court motion, it outlines MedMen’s own 2018 donations to former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s campaign and state Attorney General Letitia James.

In the updated complaint, Ascend said it has already made “almost $8.5 million in cash payments to bail out MedMen” since the takeover deal was signed a year ago. Ascend’s Chief Financial Officer Dan Neville told the Times Union in January that the payments had been made at a time when MedMen was in dire need of a cash infusion.

MedMen had agreed to the deal a year ago but has sought not to move forward in the last few months as the state started the adult-use licensing process. Ascend argues that “MedMen is essentially challenging the regulators’ authority and ignoring the regulations of the state’s medical program.”

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Parallel CEO Apologizes, Calls Out Corporate Cannabis Lobbying in Open Letter

2/15/2022

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James Whitcomb, CEO of multistate cannabis operator Parallel, published an open letter today decrying systemic inequities in the cannabis industry and pledging to support fundamental changes to make the industry more equitable. The letter highlights a failure by Parallel and other multistate operators (MSOs) to honor the “social responsibility” that comes with operating in the cannabis industry, which was built on tireless advocacy work and which exists alongside ongoing racist and classist drug-related persecution of disenfranchised communities.

In the letter, Whitcomb admits: “we did not take the time to honor the long-time cannabis producers … who laid the foundation for us,” that “we did not follow the path laid out by activists … who fought for our right to participate,” and “we did not understand the [industry’s] responsibility … to use legal cannabis as a tool for restorative justice.”

“As the new CEO at Parallel, I pledge that going forward, Parallel will be a model among all large cannabis operators in bridging the business with the social responsibility of our industry,” he writes.

Referencing the Minority Cannabis Business Association’s (MCBA) recent National Cannabis Equity Report — which analyzes inequity in the industry and provides a toolkit for recognizing and rising to the social responsibility that comes with working in cannabis — Whitcomb pledges to “commit our resources to help advocate for the fundamental changes the report highlights as necessary for the cannabis industry to become truly equitable.”

The letter also seems to confirm suspicions held by many independent cannabis operators that large trade organizations which cater to multistate brands are maneuvering to make the industry difficult to enter for smaller startups and legacy growers. “It’s time for us as a multi-state operator to stop hiding behind the veil of ‘safety and transparency’ that has led to … exclusionary, protectionist policies,” Whitcomb wrote.

Given that Parallel is itself a multistate brand, and one that counts billionaire chewing gum heir Beau Wrigley among its founders, some in the cannabis industry will likely view this move with a healthy degree of skepticism. When asked about this specifically, Whitcomb said, “We have a lot of work to do to win people’s trust. For people who are skeptical, I ask them to pay attention and hold us accountable. If we fall short of the commitments we are making, I want to hear about it.”

Amber Littlejohn, Executive Director of the MCBA, said in an emailed statement to Ganjapreneur, “I commend James and Parallel. This isn’t an MLK post on social media or even a single social equity investment. This is stepping up to lead and call for systemic change to create real equity instead of playing kingmaker to a handful of businesses in an otherwise captured market.

“Markets captured by a few will never out-compete the legacy market that doesn’t carry the extraordinary compliance costs of legal businesses,” Littlejohn said. “Good companies, with good products, who are truly committed to equity should have nothing to fear in opening the industry to others. In fact, they are leveling the playing field.”

When asked how Parallel plans to make this a lasting change, Whitcomb told Ganjapreneur the company will be “implementing several initiatives internally and externally” to help jumpstart the process, but “the most important change … is the way in which we lobby or advocate for expansion of the markets in which we operate.”

“The big operators in our industry must stop pretending that the best way to grow a cannabis market and create opportunities for economic empowerment is by concentrating all the opportunity amongst a few large companies. It hasn’t worked. We will no longer advocate for the exclusionary, protectionist policies that have allowed MSOs to dominate legal cannabis markets, and we hope our fellow large cannabis companies will join us in advocating for the end of an industry structure that has largely blocked people of color from using cannabis as a pathway to economic empowerment.” — James Whitcomb, CEO of Parallel, in a statement to Ganjapreneur

Parallel holds multiple cannabis industry licenses across a mix of medical and adult-use markets — the company operates in Florida through the Surterra Wellness brand, in Texas and Pennsylvania under the goodblend brand, in Massachusetts as New England Treatment Access (NETA), and in Nevada through a joint venture with Cookies.

Read Whitcomb’s full letter below:

If only we knew then what we know now. When we started Parallel (then Surterra) in 2016, those of us jumping into the legal cannabis market for the first time made a number of mistakes: we did not take the time to honor the long-time cannabis producers and suppliers who laid the foundation for us to build our business, we did not follow the path laid out by activists and advocates who fought for our right to participate in this industry legally, we did not understand the responsibility our industry had to use legal cannabis as a tool for restorative justice, including the scope of the opportunity for cannabis to be a true mechanism for social equity, and we did not advocate for an industry structure that would allow those opportunities to be realized in legal markets across the country. Hindsight is unfortunately 20/20.

Cannabis is now legal in some form in nearly 40 states. While I’m proud of so much of the work we have done to increase access to cannabis for tens of millions of people across the country, in hindsight, it’s clear that Parallel has not handled the social responsibility that came with being in such a privileged position in the markets we serve. While I can’t speak for every large cannabis company out there, I can speak for our company when I say, “I’m sorry, it’s past time for us to do better.” So, what does that mean?

As the new CEO at Parallel, I pledge that going forward, Parallel will be a model among all large cannabis operators in bridging the business with the social responsibility of our industry.

Over the past few months my top priority has been to listen and learn from our talented, empathetic, and truly passionate team about the work they are doing and the impact they know we can have. These conversations, as well as conversations our team has been having with activists and advocates in the cannabis community, have led me to the realization that it’s time for leaders of large cannabis companies to take a step back and learn from those who have been in this space a lot longer than we have. That is the only way we are going to realize the industry’s so far unfulfilled promise to be a catalyst for economic empowerment and restorative justice.

Last week, the Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA) commissioned a full report on the current inequities in the legal cannabis industry and has put together state and federal policy recommendations aimed at creating a more equitable industry in the future. MCBA’s report focuses on several key parts of the industry; analyzes and confirms how unequitable the industry has become; and provides a toolkit with recommendations on what new and existing legal cannabis markets can do to ensure a more equitable structure moving forward.

We are honored to provide our full support of this report and pledge to commit our resources to help advocate for the fundamental changes the report highlights as necessary for the cannabis industry to become truly equitable. In the states where we operate, we will work with state legislators to advance policies that foster an equitable industry and create real restorative justice measures. In the states we plan to operate in, we commit to providing as many opportunities to communities of color as possible, through financial support to entrepreneurs and a diversified supply line that supports those in ancillary markets.

Many people may ask why we are joining these efforts, given that the report and the partners promoting the report are advocating for a breakdown of the industry we helped create, and which has been built to support the creation of well-regulated oligopolies. Quite simply, it’s because it’s the right thing to do, and will create long-term stakeholder value.

We have an obligation as a participant in the legal cannabis industry to ensure that we are paving a pathway for entrepreneurs of color. It’s time for us as a multi-state operator to stop hiding behind the veil of “safety and transparency” that has led to advocacy for exclusionary, protectionist policies. By working with advocates and activists to expand the industry in an equitable fashion we will develop the next phase of an industry that will create real opportunities for economic empowerment for underserved communities; foster innovation; and expand access to a plant we all believe can create a paradigm shift in health and wellness around the world.

A modern corporation should also understand that becoming more inclusive and equitable, and supporting the communities you serve are key pillars to growing a sustainable business. Doing this work will allow us to grow the industry and innovate, continue to create thousands of jobs by reaching untapped talent and build shareholder value, all by doing the right thing.

Like many large cannabis companies, Parallel has taken a number of meaningful steps —partnerships with local organizations to provide training in communities of color and increase hiring diversity; fostering entrepreneurship by working with the Nu Project, as well as partnering with Black Canna Conference (on the ongoing Hot Box Pitch Competition); supporting regular restorative justice and expungement initiatives to reverse course and address some of the industry’s fundamental issues of inequity. However, it’s been made abundantly clear by our partners that we as operators must have a multifaceted approach to addressing equity, one that includes financial support, a commitment to building a diverse workforce and supporting awareness of inequity, and most importantly and meaningfully, an approach that includes using our voice and our resources to promote legislation and policies that create an equitable industry, rather than one that only benefits a few large corporations. MCBA’s toolkit gives us what we need to advocate for meaningful policy changes at the state and federal level.

Over the past year, instead of funding the cannabis trade organizations who have pushed for exclusionary, protectionist policies at the state and federal level, we are proud to have diverted our resources to consistently support the MCBA’s legislative advocacy efforts. We will continue to use our resources to support advocacy efforts that represent the underrepresented in our industry: communities of color, veterans, small business owners, and patients/customers. We hope our fellow MSOs will join us in abandoning the narrow-minded policies that have put us in such a privileged position and begin utilizing MCBA’s landmark report and toolkit to lock arms and help lift up those who have created this incredible opportunity for all of us.

 

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More Than 40% of Connecticut Municipalities Opt Out of Cannabis Industry

2/15/2022

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Over 40% of Connecticut towns have opted to place bans or moratoriums on adult-use cannabis businesses, including 75 out of the state’s 169 municipalities, according to Hearst Connecticut Media Group data outlined by the New Haven Register. The opt-outs are mostly in small towns and suburbs.

Connecticut’s adult-use law was approved by lawmakers in July 2021. Like many states, it includes provisions that allow localities to outright ban or take a “wait and see” approach to the new policy. In all, 25 of the towns implemented bans, while 53 implemented moratoriums. In the surveys and interviews conducted by Hearst Media, some leaders say they still need time to review the new law to craft regulations. Notably, cities like Greenwich cited a conflict between Connecticut and federal law as the reason for their ban.

“When the Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed the zoning regulations regarding the ban, the merits of recreational or medicinal marijuana were not considered on-topic,” said Katie DeLuca, Greenwich’s director of planning and zoning. “The reason is that they found that there was a legal conflict between state and federal law in that state law permits such uses and federal law does not. In such instances, federal law takes precedent.”

Industry experts like Aaron Smith, executive director of the National Cannabis Industry Association, maintain towns that wait or ban cannabis businesses are missing out on tax revenue and economic growth. He is quick to point out the bans do not change buying habits, but consumers will “end up driving to another jurisdiction” to purchase cannabis.

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Indiana Senate Passes Bill to Intervene With Prosecutors Who Refuse to File Cannabis Charges

2/15/2022

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A bill proposed in Indiana that would allow the state attorney general to intervene with the decisions of county prosecutors has passed the state Senate, WRTV reports. Although the bill sponsor, Republican state Sen. Mike Young, did not name specific prosecutors, he indicated the measure is meant to address “social justice prosecutors.”

The measure would target officials like Marion County prosecutor Ryan Mears who in 2019 said his office would no longer prosecute simple cannabis cases so it could focus on violent crimes.

“It is disappointing that legislators are spending their limited time focusing on this rather than the real issue: marijuana. This is an issue that members of their caucus and a majority of Hoosiers believe deserves an earnest discussion.” – Mears in a statement

Young told WRTV that it’s not up to county prosecutors “to decide which laws to enforce or not enforce.”

“I began seeing these articles about social justice prosecutors and they weren’t prosecuting certain drug laws, paraphernalia,” he said in the report. “They weren’t enforcing theft laws.” Young explained that the bill would require counties to pay for a special prosecutor if their elected prosecutor is considered non-compliant under the law.

“We don’t want the taxpayers, someone, that is doing their job, to have to pay for someone who is not doing their job,” he added.

The measure would not allow citizens to request the assistance of the state attorney general if they are frustrated that a county prosecutor declined to file charges.

The bill is supported by Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita whose legislative director, Jared Bond, said that while the AG’s office believes “in individual prosecutorial discretion” it does “not feel that a prosecutor should categorically refuse to prosecute crimes created by the legislature.”

The Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council opposes the proposal and indicated it has opposed similar bills in the past.

“Anytime there is a bill that attempts to limit prosecutor discretion, prosecutors will oppose it,” the council said in a statement, “and we have been against several similar bills in the past that have been offered.”

The measure has been sent to the House Courts and Criminal Code Committee. It must be heard by February 25 or it will not move forward this year.

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Cannabis Could Be Allowed As Workplace Accommodation for People with Disabilities in New Hampshire

2/15/2022

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A New Hampshire Supreme Court ruling could require businesses to allow cannabis use as a workplace accommodation for people with disabilities, according to a New Hampshire Business Review report. The ruling does not say that businesses must allow cannabis as an accommodation, rather cannabis should be tolerated as one of many accommodations considered.

The plaintiff in the case, Scott Paine, worked for Ride-Away as an automotive detailer. He suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and was enrolled in the state medical cannabis program for the condition. Paine said that he was drug-tested regularly at Ride-Away and requested an exception from the company’s drug-testing protocol. His request was limited to off-duty conduct only and he never requested to use cannabis or to be under the influence of it while at work, the report says. Ride-Away denied Paine’s request and ended their employment relationship, according to the lawsuit; however, the reason the request was denied was not made clear.

Paine sued for failing to accommodate treatment of his disability under New Hampshire’s anti-discrimination law while Ride-Away contested the lawsuit on the grounds that the definition of “disability” excludes the “current, illegal use of or addiction to a controlled substance as defined in the Controlled Substances Act,” according to the opinion. Because cannabis remains a federally-outlawed substance, Ride-Away argued that it had no legal obligation to accommodate Paine’s use of cannabis to treat his PTSD despite New Hampshire’s medical cannabis program.

The court disagreed and found that Paine was entitled to an interactive process and that, while illegal drug use is not a protected disability, the law does not preclude treatment of a disability with cannabis and perhaps other federally-controlled substances.

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Michigan Consolidates Hemp and Cannabis Regulatory Agencies

2/15/2022

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Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) last week consolidated the state’s cannabis and hemp regulatory agencies, which she says will increase efficiency, help grow the sectors’ economies, create jobs, and increase investments in local communities.

“Consolidating multiple government functions into the newly named Cannabis Regulatory Agency will help us continue growing our economy and creating jobs. And to be blunt – safe, legal cannabis entrepreneurship, farming, and consumption helps us put Michiganders first by directing the large windfall of tax revenue from this new industry to make bigger, bolder investments in local schools, roads, and first responders.” – Whitmer in a press release

Currently, the state Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) regulates hemp, while the Marijuana Regulatory Agency regulates medical and adult-use cannabis. The executive order renames the Marijuana Regulatory Agency as the Cannabis Regulatory Agency and tasks it with regulating the processing, distribution, and sale of both hemp and THC-rich cannabis starting when the order takes effect in 90 days.

Oversight of hemp cultivation will remain with MDARD but the governor’s office said the restructuring “will allow for a more effective, efficient administration and enforcement of Michigan laws regulating cannabis in all its forms.”

“Consolidating the regulation of the processing, distribution, and sale of marijuana and hemp into a single state agency will allow for more effective and efficient administration and enforcement of state laws relating to cannabis,” the order states.

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New York Cannabis Regulator Predicts Licensing by Fall

2/14/2022

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New York Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) Executive Director Chris Alexander expects the state to release its proposed cannabis industry regulations in May, which would open the window for the state to begin accepting licenses in October, November, or December, according to a Mondaq report. Alexander’s comment came during a webinar last week during which Alexander said the agency would allow a five-to-six-month window, including a 60-day public comment period, in order for stakeholders to assess the regulations and allow for changes by regulators.

Alexander also explained the decision by regulators to recently send cease-and-desist letters to more than two dozen businesses accused of illegally ‘gifting’ cannabis – or giving cannabis to patrons as part of the purchase of another, usually overpriced item. He said the agency has “been aware for some time” of the practice and that “even though the police aren’t coming to knock down your door, this activity is still not legal.”

“And for us as the regulating body, it’s concerning that we’ve taken this step and still in the law said, ‘Don’t do this thing or wait for a license’ and folks are still taking that step.” – Alexander via Mondaq

He added that the agency is not interested in cracking down on ‘legacy operators’ – those that have been “operating on the fringes” prior to the passage of the adult-use law.

“Those operations continue,” he said during his remarks. “We have not ‘cracked down’ on those operations. It’s the acknowledgment that there are operators in the space, in communities et cetera, who have used cannabis to support their families and all that stuff. That’s part of the broader strategy.”

He said that regulators are seeking creative ways to allow those operators to get licensed.

“We’re starting with education and we hope that people heed our warnings and if they don’t, we have to take additional steps. But hopefully, the message has been made clear: legacy folks still understand that there’s a space for them to participate in this market,” he said. “We’re learning, we’re trying to figure out the best ways to do so, that work is not done. But we do want them to know that they’re welcome and that needs to be a part of the conversation.”

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Washington Bill to Increase Penalties for Cannabis Shop Robberies Passes Senate

2/14/2022

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A Washington bill increasing the penalties for robbing licensed cannabis retailers has passed the state Senate, KIMA reports. The bill matches the sentence that for those who rob pharmacies, adding one year on top of any robbery conviction.

State Sen. Jim Honeyford (R), the bill sponsor, said the bill is needed as the number of robberies of cannabis retailers“ is on the rise.” The Cannabis Professionals Network counted more than 30 cannabis-shop robberies in the state since November, the report says. Honeyford told KIMA that the bill “would make improvements for not just the benefit of the retailers themselves, but for the public safety of the community as a whole.”

However, Alexis Kaiser, the manager at Yakima’s Fire Cannabis Company, said the bill wouldn’t make much of a difference, and that what the industry needs is access to financial and banking services which would help reduce its reliance on cash.

“If somebody’s going to go rob, and especially use guns, I don’t think they’re really thinking about the consequences. I get what they’re trying to do, and yes I’m glad that you’re worried about us too but I just don’t think that that’s going to be the solution.” – Kaiser via KIMA

In an interview with NBC Right Now, Honeyford said that cannabis stores are “a target for robberies and a magnet for criminals” because of federal banking rules. The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the SAFE Banking Act, which would normalize banking for the cannabis industry six times, most recently last week as part of the China competition bill. It has never been considered by the Senate.

The Washington bill passed the Senate unanimously last week and moves next to the House.

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Alabama to Consider Bill to Reduce Penalties for Simple Cannabis Possession

2/14/2022

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Alabama lawmakers are set to consider a bill this week to reduce the penalties for cannabis possession in the state ABC 33/40 News reports. Under the proposal, the first two convictions for possession of two ounces of cannabis or less will still be a misdemeanor but would be met with lower fines than current state law and would not include incarceration.

Possession of any amount of cannabis for personal use under current Alabama law is punishable by up to a year in prison and a maximum fine of $6,000, according to NORML. The reform measure would replace those penalties with a $250 fine for the first offense and a $500 fine for the second offense. The third offense would be adjudicated as a felony punishable by a $750 fine but no jail time, the report says.

Under the measure, possession of cannabis for non-personal use would be a Class C felony, but the bill does not implicitly set those limits, according to an AL.com report.

According to the Marijuana Policy Project, Alabama is one of just 19 states that still jails people for simple possession of cannabis. The measure, introduced by Democratic state Sen. Bobby Singleton, includes provisions allowing convictions on first or second-degree possession to be expunged after five years.

Singleton was also the sponsor of the state’s medical cannabis bill, which was approved by the Legislature and signed by the governor last May.

The bill is set to be heard on Wednesday by the Senate Judiciary Committee, which approved the legislation last year, but it failed to get a vote by the full chamber.

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New Jersey to Miss Deadline for Launching Adult-Use Sales

2/11/2022

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New Jersey will not meet the February 22 statutory deadline to open its adult-use cannabis market, according to a TapInto report. The date was included in the state’s legalization law but the state’s top cannabis regulator indicated last month that officials were not on track to meet the deadline.

Shaya Brodchandel, president of New Jersey Cannabis Trade Association (NJCTA) and CEO of the Harmony Dispensary, told TapInto that while she believes the state Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) is “working diligently” to get the market online, “that deadline won’t be made at this point.”

“The biggest thing that we need to do at this point is have a regular ongoing communication with regulators and policymakers, so we can understand what is the time we are going to be permitted to begin the adult-use market.” – Brodchandel via TapInto

He added that cannabis cultivators and producers need about six months to get from seed to sale and expressed frustration with the lack of clarification from regulators.

“Not having a clear indication as to when that date will come, you’ll start having inventory issues, their stockpiling, employment issues, supply issues that all affect the launch of this market,” he said.

The legalization law had included a September deadline for license administrations; however, the state didn’t begin accepting industry license applications until December.

Brodchandel said that one of the major roadblocks to licensing dispensaries in the state is the 63% opt-out rate for New Jersey municipalities. Jeff Brown, the executive director of the CRC last month called the opt-out rate “one of the biggest deficiencies” facing regulators as they work on launching adult-use sales in the Garden State.

Brodchandel said, though, that the CRC licensing process does seem to be prioritizing licensing for social equity applicants, which “is going to benefit the communities tremendously.”

“Giving them opportunities for local business entrepreneurs who have been impacted by the war on drugs and now being able to benefit from this industry is really important,” he said.

In an interview with NJ.com last month, Brown called getting the sector launched “the priority” of the CRC but the agency has “to do it in a way that’s compliant with the law.”

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California Announces $35M Grant to Support Cannabis Social Equity Businesses

2/11/2022

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California’s Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) is providing $35 million in grant funding to jurisdictions to support social equity in the state’s cannabis industry.

Jurisdictions are able to use the funding to develop their cannabis equity programs and assist their equity program applicants and licensees by providing low and no-interest loans or grants, reduced licensing fees or waived fees, and technical assistance, including one-on-one consulting and training, and navigation assistance with cannabis licensing and regulatory requirements.

Over $29.5 million of the funding, in the form of low and no-interest loans or grants, will be allocated to cannabis equity applicants and licensees specifically identified by local jurisdictions as being linked to populations or communities that were negatively or disproportionately impacted by cannabis criminalization, the governor’s office said in a press release.

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Chief Economic and Business Advisor and Director of GO-Biz Dee Dee Myers said that the new round of funding brings the state’s total commitment for the program to $90 million since California passed legalization in 2016.

“Cannabis Equity Grants will help level the playing field for those that have borne the brunt of past federal and state anti-drug policies while striving to make California’s Cannabis Industry more equitable and accessible to those individuals.” – Myers in a statement

The majority of the individual disbursements – more than $5.7 million – are being earmarked for Los Angeles, while Oakland will receive more than $5.4 million. The city and county of San Francisco will see more than $4.4 million from the program, and Sacramento will receive more than $4.3 million. Other grants range from $3.4 million (Humboldt) to $550,000 (Monterey) and another five jurisdictions will receive $75,000 each for cannabis equity assessment and program development.

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New York Sends Cease-and-Desist Letters to Businesses Suspected of ‘Gifting’ Cannabis

2/11/2022

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The New York Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) on Tuesday sent cease-and-desist letters to businesses suspected of “gifting” cannabis in violation of state law. The agency said that businesses that do not comply risk being disqualified from getting a cannabis license along with possible fines and potential criminal penalties.

The practice of gifting is when businesses include cannabis with the purchase of another, often overpriced product.

OCM Executive Director Chris Alexander said regulators “want to make sure these operators fully understand the law and the consequences they face.”

“And now that these letters have been sent,” he said, “we fully expect them to cease and desist their activities – if they don’t, we will take action.”

Cannabis Control Board Chair Tremaine Wright said that “violators must stop their activity immediately, or face the consequences.”

“We have an obligation to protect New Yorkers from known risks and to strengthen the foundation of the legal, regulated market we are building. We will meet the goals of the [Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act] to build an inclusive, equitable and safe industry.” – Wright in a press release

The agency indicated it has sent letters to more than two dozen businesses suspected of breaking the law.

In November, Wright suggested that the state would not begin accepting industry licenses until spring of next year at the earliest, despite the legislature-approved law having included a launch date of April 1, 2022.

During the board’s October meeting, Wright said that the practice of gifting is not allowed under New York law and violations could be met with “severe financial penalties.”

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South Dakota Senators Vote to Strip Affirmative Defense from Medical Cannabis Law

2/11/2022

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The South Dakota Senate has voted 25 to 10 to strip an affirmative defense provision from the state’s medical cannabis law, the Mitchell Republic reports. The provision — which was included in the state’s medical cannabis initiative, approved in 2020 by more than 70% of state voters — would have allowed patients caught by police in possession of cannabis products to get out of the charges by demonstrating a medical need for cannabis, even if they don’t have their medical card yet.

Senate Pro Tempore Lee Schoenbeck (R) had been skeptical of the affirmative defense language and compared the voter-approved initiative to a “magician” pulling rabbits from a hat, with each rabbit as a new reduction to the state’s cannabis penalties.

“It’s like 27 of them,” he said referencing subsections of the law. “The major purpose was not to decriminalize medical marijuana.”

Other Republicans had similar reservations — “Why even have a law?” asked Sen. Timothy Johns.

But Sen. David Wheeler (R) spoke against the legislation. “If you have a bonafide medical need, we’re not going to care anymore,” he said referring to the program. “We’re not going to … [treat you as] a criminal anymore.”

The removal of the affirmative defense had been recommended by an interim study conducted by lawmakers over the summer. The measure now heads to the South Dakota House for consideration.

South Dakota was part of a flurry of states that passed medical cannabis in 2020. At the same time, voters passed an adult-use initiative but that was eventually struck down after a lawsuit by law enforcement ended with the Supreme Court throwing out the measure entirely. The high court said that the ballot initiative had illegally covered more than one issue. Although the state’s medical cannabis program was not included in that lawsuit, regulators and the Legislature have struggled to develop a working medical cannabis system.

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Dr. Greenthumb’s x G Pen Connect Vaporizer Review

2/11/2022

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The Dr. Greenthumb’s x G Pen, a collaboration between legendary Cypress Hill rapper B-Real and Grenco Science, is a discreet and stylish way to get amazing vapor at home or on the move. Featuring B-Real’s signature “green and graphics” packaging and a compact easy to use design, G Pen does not disappoint when it comes to style, flavor profiles, and vape production.

A fistful of vape!

The G Pen fits tightly in the palm of the hand for easy operation and is great for those times when you may need to be a little more private with your vaping activity. Heating up in less than ten seconds, the compact unit is basically two pieces: a battery/chamber portion and a magnetic modular mouthpiece with a silicon sleeve.

The glass glazed stainless steel chamber works really well to spread the heat all around the dry herb to generate the best hits. The silicon-sleeved mouthpiece comes completely apart for easy cleaning. B-Real adds a final touch with a keychain tool that aids in filling and re-filling the chamber.

Powerful performance

When the indicator light stops blinking and the G-Pen gives a quick vibrate, you know it’s time to vape. An automatic shut-off is timed perfectly for complete herb vaporization, about five minutes. Using the variable temp function — which includes options for 375F/190C, 401F/205C, and 428F/220C, — you can set the temp for just the right experience depending on the different types of dried material. Those adjustable temps make the pulls smooth and tasty until the end every time.

For heavy hitters, back-to-back (to-back) chamber re-fills are possible with the unit’s impressive battery life, so do not be fooled by the G-Pen’s small size. When the battery does go quiet, the unit charges quickly with its pass-through charging capability via Micro-USB.

Dr. Greenthumb’s X G-Pen, along with merch and other G-Pen models, are available online.

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Thailand Officially Removes Cannabis from Narcotics List

2/10/2022

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Thailand’s public health minister on Tuesday signed a ministerial announcement officially removing cannabis and hemp from Category 5 of the nation’s narcotics list, The Diplomat reports. The move effectively decriminalizes cannabis in the Southeast Asian nation.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said during the signing ceremony that cannabis “has plenty of medical benefits, not different from other herbs” and that officials are trying their best “to make the Thai people enjoy both medical and economic benefits from it.”

Thailand legalized medical cannabis in 2020 — the first Asian nation to pass the reforms. The delisting will take effect 120 days after its publication in the Royal Gazette; however, the law still includes some penalties for extracts containing more than 0.2% THC, the report says. A bill to clarify the reforms is expected to be introduced in the nation’s parliament.

At the signing ceremony, Charnvirakul described the move as a “new history for cannabis” in Thailand.

Tonnam Niyamapar, a member of The Alliance of Citizens’ Cannabis Association, a lobbying group, told the Associated Press that he hopes the country “will finally liberalize cannabis for both medical and recreational use like the United States or Canada.” Tonnam added that he understands full legalization “will take more years” to occur.

Canada legalized cannabis for adults in 2018, while in the U.S., cannabis remains federally outlawed; however, 18 states have passed laws allowing adult use.

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Leafly Now Trading on NASDAQ

2/10/2022

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Leafly Holdings Inc. — a leading cannabis discovery marketplace and digital information portal discussing cannabis strains, products, and companies — on Monday commenced trading on NASDAQ. The company is trading under the ticker symbol LFLY.

Leafly completed its listing by combining with Merida Merger Corp., which has adopted the name Leafly. The plan was first announced last August. Leafly CEO Yoko Miyashita remained at the head of the company while Peter Lee, the former president of Merida, has taken a director position at the new combined company.

“We are thrilled to begin trading as a public company today and to enter the next phase of our company’s journey. This achievement is a testament to the tireless work ethic of our entire team, the support of our investors, and the unique value we deliver to consumers, brands and retailers. Now, with access to new capital and momentum across our industry, we are poised to execute our growth strategy and continue making cannabis a force for positive change in our world.” — Leafly CEO Yoko Miyashita, in a press release

Since its founding in 2010, Leafly has experienced several shifts as a company. Leafly’s primary services include its strain explorer, which patients and consumers can use to help predict the effects of any given strain; its dispensary locator, on which cannabis retailers can register to list their menus and become more easily discovered by customers; and its platform for consumer reviews, which can cover anything from the retail experience, a cannabis strain, or even specific products made by a specific company. The company also has a media arm dedicated to recent happenings in the cannabis space.

From 2012 to 2019, the firm was owned by Privateer Holdings, the parent company behind the Marley Natural brand and Tilray, a licensed Canadian cannabis producer.

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Oklahoma Governor Supports Medical Cannabis Law Reforms 

2/10/2022

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Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) indicated during his annual State of the State address that he will support the push to reform the state’s medical cannabis law as authorities seek to crack down on the number of illegal operations in the state, FOX23 News reports. The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN) told FOX23 that between April 2021 and the time of Stitt’s speech, it had disbanded 85 farms that were operating without a license.

The smallest grow thwarted by the agency was 5,000 plants and the largest was 40,000 plants, the report says. OBN spokesman Mark Woodward told FOX23 that the agency has linked illegal operations in the state to organized crime gangs in Mexico, China, and Bulgaria and that some illegal operations were Americans growing cannabis in Oklahoma and then selling to higher use states, like Colorado.

“I’ve directed our law enforcement to crack down hard on the black market. Agents have been in the field making arrests. Let me be clear. Drug cartels, organized crime and foreign bad actors have no place in Oklahoma. We will find them, and we will bring them to justice.” – Stitt via FOX23

Stitt noted that in Arkansas, which borders Oklahoma, there are eight licensed cultivators for the state’s medical cannabis program, while there are 8,300 in Oklahoma.

“You know as well as I do that not all of that product is being sold legally,” Stitt said during his remarks.

Currently, medical cannabis cultivation licenses in Oklahoma cost a flat $2,500 fee for any operation of any size and Stitt has signaled he would consider increasing that fee structure.

A bill introduced last month by State Rep. Rusty Cornwell (R) would put a pause on all medical cannabis licensing and allow regulators to implement moratoriums as they deem necessary.

Last summer, Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) requested $4 million in federal funds to establish a unit to combat illegal cannabis cultivation in Oklahoma.

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Study: 2 in 5 Drivers Who Use Cannabis & Alcohol Have Driven Under the Influence

2/10/2022

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A new study from researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health found that two in five drivers who reported using alcohol and cannabis in the past year drove under the influence of alcohol, cannabis, or both. The study included a sample of 34,514 individuals, including drivers 16-and-older who reported any past-year alcohol and cannabis use in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2016 to 2019.

Priscila Dib Gonçalves, the study’s first author from the Department of Epidemiology at Columbia Mailman School, noted that “alcohol and cannabis are two of the most common substances involved in impaired driving and motor vehicle crashes in the U.S.”

The substances are also the most commonly used drugs in the U.S.

“Examining the effect of simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use on self-report driving under the influence of alcohol-only, cannabis-only, and both substances using a nationally representative sample could contribute to better understanding the impact in adolescents and adults.” – Gonçalves in a press release

From 2016 to 2019, 42 percent of drivers with past-year alcohol and cannabis use reported any past-year DUI, with 8% reporting driving under the influence of only alcohol, 20% reporting driving under the influence of only cannabis, and 14% reporting driving under the influence of both alcohol and cannabis. The study found that simultaneous use was associated with 2.88 times higher odds of driving under the influence of cannabis, and 3.51 times higher odds of driving under the influence of both alcohol and cannabis. Daily use of alcohol and cannabis increases the odds of driving under the influence.

“Our study is unique in that it reports more recent nationally representative data (2016-2019) and compares different types of DUI categories,” Gonçalves said in a statement. “From a harm reduction perspective, identifying which population subgroups are at high risk for DUIs could assist the development of more focused prevention strategies. Future research should also investigate the potential impact of low or ‘promotional’ cannabis prices with higher levels of use, intoxication, and simultaneous use of other substances.”

The study was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and National Center for Injury Prevention and was published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

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Utah Passes Bill Protecting Public Employees in Medical Cannabis Program

2/10/2022

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Both chambers of the Utah state legislature have passed a bill to protect public employees from termination if they choose to have a medical cannabis authorization, St. George News reports.

The legislation was crafted in response to a case involving firefighters in Ogden City who were placed on administrative leave and asked to turn in their medical cannabis prescriptions before they would be allowed back to work. One of the firefighters, Levi Coleman, filed a lawsuit claiming the city’s action violated the state’s medical cannabis law.

The proposal approved by lawmakers simply clarifies the existing statute and does not change the intent of the Medical Cannabis Act, said state Rep. Joel Ferry (R), a prime sponsor of the proposal.

“What this bill does is it provides some clarity to what the legislative intent was … in recognizing medical cannabis as a legitimate use of cannabis for treating certain ailments such as chronic pain and other issues that exist. I think it’s a strong move to help reinstate the rights of these patients.” — Ferry via St. George News

Law enforcement and the Ogden City Attorney Gary Williams testified against the bill at a hearing in January. Williams said the legislation was singling out the Ogden City fire department and the measure did not “balance the risk” for cannabis-impaired firefighters. He said the city was “following the law” when they suspended the firefighters. Randy Watt, a former Ogden City Police chief and representative of the Utah Chiefs of Police Association and Utah Law Enforcement Legislative Committee also testified against the bill, saying the medical cannabis “card opens too broad an avenue at this point and should be turned off.”

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David Hua: Streamlining Cannabis Retail With Technology

2/09/2022

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While the business of retail cannabis requires a significant amount of ancillary partnerships to operate smoothly, perhaps none are more important for operating a successful and compliant cannabis dispensary than versatile, intuitive, and reliable point-of-sale software.

We recently connected with David Hua, CEO and co-founder of Meadow, to discuss how smart point-of-sale software can help unlock a cannabis entrepreneur’s true potential. This interview covers Meadow’s early days and team culture; the company’s new Dynamic Delivery service, which helps legally convert vehicles into mobile cannabis dispensaries; Meadow’s focus on community events; and more!

Scroll down for the full interview.

Ganjapreneur: What is the company culture at Meadow? Does Meadow take steps to preserve this culture?

David Hua: At Meadow, we have a team that is small but mighty. We believe in cannabis and care deeply about the success of the industry in California and beyond. We are here for the long haul; in fact, the majority of our team has been here since we first launched.

We started as a group of California cannabis patients who wanted to build better tools for dispensaries and their customers. We’re committed to our mission of building the best software in cannabis. We believe that cannabis is medicine and is essential, we advocate for wider access, and we fight for a more equitable, inclusive, and compassionate industry. We adapt to changes quickly, we have deep expertise in our fields, and we only ship the best.

Preserving this culture is extremely important to us, so we hire slowly and with intention. We also prioritize and invest heavily in our team — we know that in order to have a team that invests in our mission and our customers, we have to first prioritize investing in them.

How did your experience in the startup accelerator Y Combinator help Meadow succeed?

In 2015, we graduated from startup accelerator Y Combinator (YC) as their first-ever cannabis company. They believed in our vision and took a bet on us. At the time, California was the epicenter of both technology and cannabis but the two hadn’t converged. We wanted to change that, and YC saw the potential in our exceptional technology, product-market fit, and the traction we were gaining among dispensaries and their customers. Fast forward 7 years, we now process billions in legal cannabis sales with a system dispensaries say they can’t live without

Our experience with YC taught us to be relentlessly resourceful, to challenge assumptions, and to always make things people want. They taught us to be disciplined, to go deep in our areas of expertise, and to build really great products. They taught us how to pitch and secure funding from the best investors and venture capitalists in the game, including all-stars like Justin Kan, Steve Huffman, E40, Joe Montana, Slow Ventures, SOMA Capital, and Poseidon Asset Management.

What was the first service that Meadow built, and how do you decide which features and integrations will come next for the platform?

We started with delivery in 2014. Living in San Francisco, everything was delivered and on-demand, making this “last mile” a great place to start — getting cannabis to customers in a way that was fast, convenient, and delightful. We gave customers the power to grab their phones and order from local dispensaries with professional delivery they could trust.

When deciding what to build next, we talk to our dispensary clients and spend a lot of time with them. We really get to know their day-to-day operations, best practices, and pain points. We get a wide perspective from dispensaries and delivery operators of all sizes, and use that to create our product roadmap and build exactly what they need.

This is how we grew from delivery to the most comprehensive cannabis retail system available. We understand that our customers want a single system that is foolproof, easy to use, and makes compliance painless. They want features that drive sales, cut costs, engage customers, and give them a competitive edge. That’s why Meadow’s system now integrates Point-of-Sale with inventory, menus, marketing, CRM, loyalty, compliance, analytics, strategic integrations, and, of course, delivery.

Meadow offers a wide array of features with a super clean interface. Are there SOPs in place to maintain these standards as you continue building out the platform?

The number one piece of feedback we get is that Meadow’s system is easy to use and well designed. Here’s an example, the operations manager at Vapor Room in San Francisco, Allie Felton, said “Meadow makes my life a lot easier as manager because the interfaces are clean and that keeps each task really simple.” This is the feedback we love to hear. There is so much complexity in cannabis retail and in Meadow’s software, so we utilize clean interfaces, good design, and easy flows to make the system simple for everyone from top management to the new budtender starting on his first day.

We also make sure new features are easy to adopt and incorporate into a dispensary’s day-to-day flow. We have training resources so teams get up to speed on new features like marketing, inventory forecasting, or analytics in minutes, and can see the value, ROI, and increased revenue right away.

One way we maintain these standards is with extensive testing, both internally and out in the field. We maintain a tight feedback loop between our clients and the engineering team, so we stay informed about how operators are using new features and can make quick, effective updates when needed. We also stay close to the regulations and build compliance into every facet of our system. No one wants to make a reporting error that could get flagged or jeopardize their license, so we put systems and guardrails in place to keep that from happening.

What kind of R&D did Meadow’s Dynamic Delivery service undergo before launching? How long did the process take?

Meadow’s Dynamic Delivery is a new model of cannabis delivery for retailers that allows vehicles to operate as mobile dispensaries — roaming inventory and packaging hubs with their own product offerings, menus, service areas, marketing, and more.

Our Dynamic Delivery journey really started in 2015 when we lobbied for safe, legal delivery to patients across California, despite local retail bans. Delivery-for-all was a huge win that continues to serve residents and retailers throughout the state. Dynamic delivery was a natural evolution of our existing system, layering in functionality for a new type of delivery that is optimized for speed and scale. Before launching, we spent a lot of time consulting with dispensaries and delivery operators to make sure we made exactly what they needed. When we built the first version of Dynamic Delivery, we launched a closed beta with a select group of Meadow dispensaries. This allowed us to test the software out in the world, see how it was being used, gather feedback, and make improvements.

Delivery is now more in-demand than ever, with Covid accelerating an already growing trend. At the same time, there are not enough licenses in California for retailers that want to scale. Dynamic delivery helps retailers harness growth by scaling delivery operations and making each drop count. One of our clients, Cannable, said using Dynamic Delivery cut their delivery times from hours to 20 minutes. When we got that feedback in our beta, we knew we were ready to launch and bring Dynamic Delivery to dispensaries and their customers throughout the state.

Has Dynamic Delivery been tested outside of Meadow’s home city of San Francisco? Can the feature be used in all types of locations, from rural towns to cities?

Absolutely. In fact, Dynamic Delivery is an incredible tool for delivering to the 65% of California that does not have legal cannabis retail. In California, there is a system of local control whereby each municipality chooses whether to allow commercial activity, like cultivation and retail. While the majority of the state still does not allow for legal retail, cannabis can be delivered anywhere. Retailers can now put vehicles on the road that serve defined zones and do not have to travel back and forth between a storefront or inventory hub. This makes delivery faster, more efficient, and scalable, so operators can grow their fleet and reach new territories throughout the state.

Another unique aspect of the Dynamic Delivery model is that any location can be defined as a delivery zone – from an entire county or a single address. Imagine Warriors game night at Chase Center. If a local retailer wanted to capitalize on the thousands of fans coming to the area, they could designate the stadium as a zone, create a customized menu for fans, and allow them to order from their mobile devices for delivery in front of or near the stadium. Dynamic is giving dispensaries a new delivery toolset to meet customers exactly where they are, with exactly what they want, exactly when they want it.

How do events like Hall of Flowers and Emerald Cup use Meadow to help event-goers conduct compliant cannabis sales?

Meadow’s point of sale technology has made it easy for distributors, retailers, and brands to work together to sell cannabis at some of the largest legal cannabis events in the state, including The Emerald Cup, Hall of Flowers, Secret Sesh, and Northern Nights.

Events are extremely important in the cannabis industry because they allow brands to have direct, face-to-face interactions with customers. Meadow’s system is easy to learn, easy to use, intuitive, and fast for a seamless experience. We also build compliance into every workflow to remove the burden of regulations; this allows brands to focus their time and energy on customers so they can make meaningful connections and drive sales.

After our last Emerald Cup, Ranesha Mattu from Nabis said “Meadow is super fast. I’d never used it before and it’s really intuitive. The usability is awesome.” We love this kind of feedback and plan to continue powering cannabis event sales in California and beyond.

What role have community events played in Meadow’s growth?

Events have been part of Meadow’s DNA since the beginning. Coming out of YC in 2015, we hosted events where we brought together entrepreneurs, operators, activists, regulators, and other stakeholders. We learned that if you’re not at the table, you’re on it, and there was room for everyone who wanted to show up, put in the work, and be a part of the community. These events allowed us to connect with the community, learn directly from operators about what was going on in their worlds, disseminate information and resources quickly, and work together collaboratively.

Since then we have hosted or been part of hundreds of events, including educational and equity workshops, festivals, social events, regulator roundtables, investor meetups, and more. Our aim is to build connections and find collaborative solutions to issues the industry faces. Meadowlands is the largest event we host, bringing hundreds of cannabis operators and stakeholders together for a weekend in the Mendocino redwoods.

Why did the brand decide to throw the first Meadowlands cannabis industry retreat in 2018?

In the summer of 2018, we hosted the first annual Meadowlands, a cannabis industry retreat in the heart of the Emerald Triangle. We started this gathering because we wanted to create a space where cannabis operators could share knowledge, build valuable alliances, and celebrate that we’re still standing. We wanted to take cannabis events out of busy hotel lobbies and conference centers where cannabis consumption is banned, and bring them closer to the cultivators and the heart of the community. We wanted to get back to our roots, get back to nature, and bring together the community in a meaningful way.

It’s important we carve out time to reconnect, remember we’re not in it alone, and find the fortitude to keep building this industry together. Meadowlands has become a truly singular event, facilitating important conversations on everything from local compliance to the future of psychedelics. Cannabis has always been about community, so it’s critical to maintain these connections and channels of communication as the industry continues to grow and evolve.

What is an essential component to building a SaaS that is both functional and useful?

A component that is essential to our team, our community, and our software is resilience. The ability to recover quickly from setbacks, to work with ever-changing regulations, to continually improve, and to stick around for the long haul. Just like the cannabis plant, we’ve learned to adapt and change, which has ultimately led to tremendous growth and strength.

Smooth seas do not make good sailors, so we have learned how to operate and build in uncertainty, how to navigate cumbersome restrictions, how to pivot and stay flexible. We know how to make it work.

At Meadow, our team cares deeply about the cannabis industry and the operators we serve. We’re in it for the long haul so we don’t take shortcuts. It takes this kind of resilient, solid, and consistent team with a shared mission to build truly exceptional products.

A huge “thank you” to David for answering all of our questions! Learn more about Meadow and CEO David Hua at GetMeadow.com.

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Bill Aims to Reform Federal Hemp Laws

2/09/2022

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A bill introduced in the U.S. House on Tuesday would increase allowable THC limits in hemp products, remove requirements that hemp be tested at Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)-registered laboratories, and eliminate the 10-year ban on individuals with drug-related felony convictions from receiving industry licenses.

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) said while the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp production, it “created overly complicated regulations and hardship for farmers and small businesses in the process.”

“My bill takes a commonsense, straightforward approach to correct these unintended implementation problems and works to make the hemp industry more profitable and more equitable. My bill also provides a clear path forward for this industry and will support a thriving hemp economy.” – Pingree in a statement

Pingree noted that in her home state of Maine, there are currently no laboratories registered with the DEA with the capability to test hemp products. While more than 2,000 acres of hemp were planted in Maine in 2019, only 111 farmers received licenses to grow hemp in 2020, accounting for just 211 acres, she added.

In a statement, the U.S. Hemp Roundtable said the organization is “deeply grateful” to Pingree for spearheading the legislation.

“The U.S. Hemp Roundtable is proud to have led a broad-based industry effort to propose the policies that underlie this legislation and to have worked closely with Rep. Pingree’s excellent staff throughout the drafting process to ensure our concerns were taken into consideration,” the group said. “Rep. Pingree’s vision and tenacity will make a significant and meaningful difference for our emerging industry.”

The Hemp Roundtable is joined by 13 other hemp industry organizations in backing the legislation.

Pingree is also a co-sponsor on the Hemp and Hemp-Derived CBD Consumer Protection and Market Stabilization Act and voted in favor of the MORE Act in December 2020.

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Cannabis Included on NFL ‘Restricted List’ for Super Bowl Ads

2/09/2022

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The National Football League (NFL) is including cannabis in its restricted category for Super Bowl advertisements, which will prohibit industry commercials during the big game this Sunday, The Verge reports. The ban applies to all ads, including in states where cannabis is legal for adult use.

In 2019, CBS rejected a potential Super Bowl ad from Acreage Holdings that would have focused on the benefits of medical cannabis.

Juanjo Feijoo, COO of Weedmaps, told The Verge that it asked its ad agency to look into getting a spot during this year’s Super Bowl but the company was told “it was a blanket ‘no.’”

The game will be played at Los Angeles, California’s SoFi Stadium, and feature the stadium’s home team, the L.A. Rams. Cannabis is legal for adult use in California and the state is the largest cannabis market in the U.S.

Weedmaps has released a digital ad focused on cannabis censorship, featuring “Brock Ollie” – a broccoli character who bemoans his likeness being used as a substitute for cannabis as the broccoli emoji is often used to represent cannabis online.

A 2022 version of the NFL’s restricted ads list is not available, however, the 2017 list includes bans on contraceptives; dietary and nutritional products not approved by the Food and Drug Administration; distilled spirits; establishments that feature nude or semi-nude performers; weapons; fireworks; gambling; male enhancement products; pornography and escort services; social cause and issue advocacy advertising, unless otherwise approved in advance by the league; and tobacco products. The league did revise its list in 2017 to allow distilled spirits, the report says, and notes that this year’s ad lineup includes cryptocurrencies and a spot from sports betting site Draft Kings, the second year the NFL will allow the gambling company to advertise.

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