A medical researcher handles medical equipment inside of a sterile work zone.

Sacramento Testing Lab Surrenders License, Major Recall Likely

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Sacramento-based Sequoia Analytical Labs has surrendered its license to California state regulators after it was revealed that the lab’s now-former director was falsifying pesticide testing results, FOX 40 reports.

The incident is expected to signal the state’s largest cannabis product recall, yet.

According to an email and social media update from Sequoia, the company voluntarily surrendered its license to the Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC) and will cooperate with regulators in hopes of having its licensed returned by January 1, when a new host of testing requirements will take effect.

“During a BCC inspection on Tuesday, November 27, it was discovered that pesticide testing here at Sequoia Analytical Labs was not in compliance with BCC regulations. 22 of the required 66 pesticides, primarily, Category 2 pesticides, were not being correctly tested due to a faulty instrument. It was further discovered that the Lab Director knew about this and was secretly falsifying the results … from July 1 to November 27.” — Excerpt of official Sequoia Analytical Labs statement

The responsible director was promptly fired and replaced and the lab says it has already started working to fix the faulty instrument and revamp company procedures. “Management and ownership were horrified to learn about this severe breach of a very important safety regulation,” the company statement reads.

Sequoia’s general manager Steven Dutra told MJBizDaily that the BCC, “is not demanding that product be pulled in and destroyed;” rather, regulators want to see the affected products recalled and retested. It is not yet clear if the products will need to be completely retested or just retested for pesticides.

According to Dutra, there were some 700-800 batches of cannabis products affected by the faulty instrument and unscrupulous lab director, making this the largest product recall the California industry has ever faced.

In its official statement, Sequoia urged its clients to contact the BCC if they believe they may have received affected products and have not yet heard from the regulatory agency.

“We are very sorry for the inconveniences this incident will cause our clients,” the statement reads. “We have always made client and patient safety our top priority and we will be taking aggressive steps to insure that such incidents never happen again at Sequoia.”

End


Boulder, Colorado

Boulder, Colorado to Erase Prior Cannabis Convictions

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Prosecutors in Boulder, Colorado are taking things a step further over the state and moving to completely erase previous cannabis convictions, the Boulder Daily Camera reports.

Boulder County District Attorney Ken Kupfner has made a list of nearly 4,000 possession convictions in country records since 2008 that would qualify to be vacated and sealed. Kupfner said the goal is to eventually erase even older convictions.

Boulder is going further for cannabis criminal reform than the state of Colorado, which passed a state law last year allowing people previously convicted of cannabis possession to have their charges sealed — but not erased.

“This is really a program based on fundamental fairness. This is conduct that is no longer illegal. It just seems like the right thing to do in these circumstances is to vacate and seal those convictions. … This is really designed for people who would not have found themselves in the criminal justice system today.” — District Attorney Ken Kupfner to the Boulder Daily Camera

Charges of possession of 2 ounces or less, or 1 ounce or less alongside paraphernalia charges qualify for erasure. Charges with any reference to distribution or other related crimes do not qualify.

On January 10 and 15 at the Boulder Justice Center — located at 1777 Sixth St. in Boulder — there will be a clinic where those with previous cannabis charges can have their case looked up to see if they qualify for expungement. An application to seal and vacate previous charges will also be posted on the District Attorney’s Office.

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Columbus, Ohio

Ohio Cannabis Patient Registry Site Now Online

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The online portal for registering as a medical cannabis patient in Ohio is now live and taking registrations, according to The Toledo Blade.

The Ohio Board of Pharmacy sent notices to physicians, patients, and caregivers that had previously requested information about the program’s launch.

Only state-approved physicians can register new patients on the website, and patients will be charged $50 per year to participate in the registry. Once a patient is registered, they may print proof of registration, or save it to their mobile phones, which will give them access to dispensaries.

Some confusion was caused by the registry’s delay, with some patients believing they were allowed to possess cannabis before they were on the registry due to the “affirmative defense” language in Ohio’s medical cannabis law. That language, however, has been inconsistently applied by judges. Furthermore, the “affirmative defense” language expires when the registry and dispensary programs have been fully rolled out.

State officials said that medical cannabis should be available for patients at licensed dispensaries in Ohio within 60 days.

End


New York Stock Exchange

Canadian LP Aphria Accused of Fraudulent Financials

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Gabriel Grego of Quintessential Capital Management has accused Canadian producer Aphria of playing a shell game with shareholders by purchasing non-existent assets for the sole profit of the company’s founders, according to a Financial Times report.

Grego is a well-known short seller. Short selling is the trading term for betting that a stock is overvalued and will soon fall in price. Grego does stand to make a profit on the fall of Aphria’s share price, which started shortly after the report’s publishing.

Aphria issued a statement denying the claims by Grego and Quintessential Capital Management.

“Allegations that have been made by the short seller Quintessential Capital in the report that they published this morning are false and defamatory. The company is preparing a comprehensive response to provide shareholders with the facts and is also pursuing all available legal options against Quintessential Capital.” — Aphria, in a statement emailed to the Financial Times

Grego has previously called out fraudulent activities by Greek jewelry chain Folli Follie. He claimed the chain’s Chinese sales numbers  were fraudulently inflated, which he discovered while checking on the retail outlets supposedly in operation in China. There were far fewer retail outlets than claimed, backed by a later investigation by Alvarez & Marsal, a professional services firm. Grego’s Quintessential Capital Management also discovered fraudulent activity by technology company Globo PLC in 2015.

According to his report, Grego visited the locations of three of Aphria’s recent acquisitions in the Caribbean and Latin America, bought for a total of CA$280 million. Grego said that there were only empty buildings at the locations and that he did not see any employees or executives. The only assets that seem to exist are conditional cannabis licenses, he said.

Grego said rival Canadian companies like Tilray have also made international cannabis deals in Latin America but that those deals were completed for a fraction of the price and the companies purchased real assets.

The outcome of any legal action by Aphria — as well as any proof of value to shareholders — remains to be seen. By the end of trading on Monday, Aphria’s shares had fallen 30 percent.

End


Rainy day on the streets of Manhattan, in New York City.

New York Lawmakers Hold Another Legalization Hearing

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New York State Assembly members are hosting a public hearing today to discuss potentially legalizing adult-use cannabis in The Empire State, according to The Associated Press.

The hearing, which kicks off at 10:30 a.m. at the Babylon Town Hall on Long Island, is intended for gathering input and experience from other state-legal cannabis markets. It is the fourth public hearing related to cannabis legalization that New York lawmakers have held this year, though a long series of listening sessions earlier this year demonstrated a legislative willingness to hear public input on the issue.

At the most recent public hearing — held November 20 in Binghamton — Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard Gottfried said the hearings are supposed to cover more than just whether or not New York should legalize.

“Not only about is it a good idea or bad idea. But also about what are the mechanics of it. Creating a new industry is a complicated thing. We haven’t done that in New York since the end of prohibition in 1933.” — Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard Gottfried, via Metro.us

Assemblyman Gottfried has been a champion for cannabis reforms in New York for a large part of his career, having started first advocating for medical cannabis there some 20 years ago and recently having introduced a bill that would subsidize medical cannabis with health insurance.

Legalization is growing more and more attractive to New York as nearby Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont have already passed adult-use cannabis laws (though only Maine and Massachusetts have established rules for a taxed-and-regulated system).

Lawmakers are expected to begin seriously looking at legalization legislation once the 2019 legislative session kicks off next month.

If it successfully legalizes cannabis next year, New York would be the 10th U.S. state to allow for adult-use cannabis.

End


Utah Lawmakers to Vote On Changing Voter-Backed Cannabis Measure

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Utah lawmakers are expected to vote on Monday for several alterations to the state’s voter-approved medical cannabis initiative, the Associated Press reports.

Lawmakers will meet today in a special lame-duck session to discuss and vote on changes to Proposition 2, which was approved by 53 percent of voters during Utah’s midterm elections despite heavy opposition by lawmakers and the Mormon Church. Specifically, the legislature aims to slash the number of medical professionals who would be qualified to recommend medical cannabis, reduce the number of qualifying conditions, and remove rules allowing patients who live far away from a licensed dispensary to grow their own cannabis plants.

Proponents of the “compromise legislation,” which was first mentioned in October, say the proposed changes would still give medical cannabis access to those who truly need it while doing more to keep cannabis away from children and dissuade any broader legalization attempts in the future.

Note: even before lawmakers decided to change it, the smoking of medical cannabis was not allowed under the voter-backed Proposition 2.

Last month, cannabis advocacy group Together for Responsible Use and Cannabis Education threatened to sue state lawmakers and the Mormon Church if Utah’s recently-passed medical cannabis initiative is not implemented as it was written.

“It’s an almost complete disregard for the will of the people once they’ve spoken through the initiative process.” — Rocky Anderson, an attorney for cannabis advocates, via the AP

However, representatives from another advocacy group — the Utah Patients Coalition — support the compromise bill, arguing that, because Utah state law allows the legislature to change or even throw out any voter-approved measure, it is wiser to remain at the bargaining table and work with lawmakers and the anti-cannabis lobby on the issue.

End


Iowa Launches Limited Medical Cannabis Industry

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Medical cannabis products went on sale in Iowa over the weekend, marking the launch of the nation’s latest — albeit limited — cannabis product marketplace, The Associated Press reports.

Iowa’s medical cannabis rules are particularly stringent about what patients are allowed to do and use. The program is also unique in that it only allows for CBD-rich products — note: while some THC is allowed, the Iowa program caps any THC content at just three percent.

“I think the biggest thing that people should realize, and one of the things that’s kind of confusing, is that the products available in these dispensaries are not what most people think about when they think about marijuana — there won’t be smoking products, there won’t be joints, there won’t be edibles.” — Sarah Reisetter, Deputy Director of the Iowa Department of Public Health, via the AP

Currently, the products in Iowa’s cannabis market are manufactured by MedPharm Iowa, who supplies dispensaries in Council Bluffs, Davenport, Sioux City, Windsor Heights, and Waterloo. Under state law, only two CBD product manufacturers are allowed.

The program was established via the 2017 Medical Cannabidiol Act, which allows patients to purchase medical CBD products from a licensed dispensary if they suffer from one of the following qualifying conditions: cancer, seizures, Crohn’s disease, “untreatable” pain, multiple cclerosis, AIDS or HIV, ALS, Parkinson’s disease, or any terminal illness with a probably life expectancy of less than one year.

End


Volcano Vaporizer

Study: Vaping Delivers More THC Than Smoking

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A recent study has shown that vaporizing cannabis delivers more THC to the bloodstream than smoking, according to Live Science.

In the study, which was conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and John Hopkins School of Medicine, 17 subjects were gathered for six separate 8.5-hour sessions, separated by a week or more. All participants had not smoked or ingested cannabis in the month before the study was conducted and were tested for compliance and other impairments before the study sessions.

The participants were asked to either smoke with a pipe or vaporize using a volcano measured doses of cannabis containing a total of 0mg, 10mg or 25mg of THC over the course of the six sessions. Each time, participants were asked to fill out an impairment questionnaire as well as had their vitals measured and blood taken.

Subjects who vaporized weed had significantly higher amounts of THC in their blood compared to those who smoked an equal dose. Results from the impairment questionnaire also showed increased effects, as those who vaporized not only self-reported more side effects like dry eyes or mouth but also made twice as many mistakes on cognitive tests.

Researchers theorize that the difference is likely due to losses of THC due to combustion as well as “sidestream smoke,” or smoke that is created but not inhaled.

The study also found a disconnect between blood concentrations of THC and subjective drug effects and impairment. Researchers saw little to no correlation between blood content and continuing effects. Often, the subjective effects of cannabis intoxication as well as motor skill effects continued well after blood concentrations declined below levels that should show an effect. This is further proof that a blood test for cannabis is not a reliable measure of impairment.

Researchers concluded that the amount of THC or other cannabinoids should not be the only consideration when attempting to accurately dose cannabis. Regulators and consumers both should be aware that the method of consumption — even between seemingly similar methods like smoking and vaping whole plant cannabis — can make a big difference in how high a user becomes or how much of a given medicinal cannabinoid enters their body.

End


New Mexico Removes Final Hurdle Blocking Hemp Production

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New Mexico is on the verge of allowing industrial hemp production after the New Mexico State University (NMSU) Board of Regents voted in favor of a proposal crafted by state agriculture officials, according to an NMSU press release.

Interested parties can apply for a license from New Mexico’s Department of Agriculture, which will regulate the program.

“In terms of economic development, it is highly desirable for our state and New Mexico State University to explore opportunities to diversify our economy. It’s another tool that allows New Mexico farmers to diversify their crop base and seek new market opportunities. I appreciate NMDA for working closely with stakeholders to develop the regulations to guide this emerging industry.” — New Mexico State Sen. Mary Kay Papen, in a statement

NMSU staff said the university is now collecting resources and information to help the state’s prospective hemp farmers and processors.

New Mexico’s industrial hemp ambitions were stymied when Gov. Susanna Martinez (R) vetoed a state hemp legalization bill in March 2017. The veto was contested as lawmakers, farmers, and advocates continued to push the agricultural and economic benefits of hemp.

Meanwhile, the 2018 Farm Bill is expected to end the federal ban on industrial hemp.

End


Dispensary Accused of Unlicensed Smoking Area, Giving Free Samples

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A dispensary in Lacey, Washington is accused of providing free samples to undercover officers and operating an unlicensed space in the building to consume them, The Olympian reports.

Dank’s Wonder Emporium, the dispensary in question, claims that the social media posts identified by undercover officers as “advertisements” were in fact personal social media posts and that the business did not directly offer free samples. Random Vaughn, owner of Dank’s Wonder Emporium, said that officers in fact “raided” his media production company and had no contact with the licensed cannabis business he also operates.

Washington tracks cannabis products from seed to sale. The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) claims that Dank’s Wonder Emporium was diverting tracked product to be used for free samples. While it appears officers did not receive any cannabis from the dispensary, they were given access to the media production space above the dispensary, where they were then given cannabis.

It is not immediately clear where that cannabis came from and if it was freely given or if the space and the cannabis provided to officers were part of a larger sales strategy.

A spokesperson for the LCB said felony charges for operating a marijuana club had been referred to the Thurston County prosecutor’s office, which is deciding whether it has grounds to prosecute.

Vaughn said he plans to appeal the violations that could result in the revocation of his license. Dank’s remains open while the case moves forward.

End


Lawmakers Reach Farm Bill Deal, Hemp Legalization Incoming

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Lawmakers in federal Farm Bill negotiations said Thursday they have reached an “agreement in principle” that would break a months-long standoff over commodity policy and food stamps disagreements, Bloomberg reports.

The bill’s hemp language, which was inserted by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), is reportedly intact after Sen. McConnell personally followed up with the Farm Bill conference committee to ensure it was included. The hemp provisions will reclassify the plant as an agricultural commodity, removing it from the list of federally controlled substances and allowing farmers to pursue crop insurance for their industrial hemp.

The Farm Bill negotiations were not at all related to the hemp provisions it contained but rather to a request by President Trump that lawmakers include provisions expanding work requirements for people who receive federal food stamps. Supporters have nonetheless waited impatiently for news that the $867 billion spending bill would pass without having its hemp legalization language stripped away.

House Agriculture Chairman Mike Conaway of Texas (R) said the compromise leaned more towards the Senate version of the bill.

“”The certainty that the farm bill brings to the table for the next five years is the win. … Everything we had in the House bill was important but we made the compromises we needed to make to get this deal done.” — Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Texas), via Bloomberg

The bill requires a few more minor details to be hashed out. It will be made publicly available sometime next week before full floor votes in the House and Senate, after which the bill will go to the president’s desk for his signature.

End


Lansing, Michigan

Michigan Helps Dispensaries Fight Shortages, Approves Home Delivery

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A looming cannabis shortage in Michigan has been averted after the Michigan Medical Marijuana Licensing Board introduced a measure to allow dispensaries to continue purchasing cannabis from previous suppliers, according to The Detroit Free Press.

Michigan has been operating under a hodge-podge of old medical cannabis laws, emergency interim rules, and new laws since passing adult-use legalization during the midterm elections. Before the new measure, dispensaries were given just 30 days following licensure to transition to new producers. However, the state only started handing out licenses to growers in August, so there are virtually zero mature cannabis plants currently available from those suppliers and more than 40 dispensaries were about to transition to the new suppliers.

Previously, dispensaries in the state could get their medical cannabis from caregivers, which are small-scale cannabis growers that were licensed under the state’s 2008 medical cannabis law. Caregivers are allowed to grow up to 12 plants to supply their own needs and 12 each for the needs of up to five others, for a maximum of 72 plants. The state’s emergency rules allow the caregivers to supply medical dispensaries with any cannabis not given to medical cardholders.

The dispensaries — who have already paid more than $75,000 each in regulatory fees — now have some breathing room while the newly licensed cultivators finish growing their first crop.

Michigan’s Medical Marijuana Licensing Board also approved rules allowing for home delivery that take effect immediately. The rule change allows licensed dispensaries to deliver up to 2.5 ounces to a patient’s home and send out up to 10 deliveries in the same vehicle.

Michigan regulators continue to attempt to unify old laws, emergency rules, and new regulations. The state is also attempting to resolve a lawsuit brought by the City of Lansing and others following an attempt by the state to shutter unlicensed cannabis businesses by October 31. A judge squashed that deadline but the lawsuit is still pending.

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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Brazil Advances Medical Cannabis Legislation

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A ballot measure introduced to the Brazilian Senate by an online petition has received an important committee’s approval, Marijuana Moment reports.

The measure received over 100,000 citizen votes. It would legalize cannabis for anyone with a doctor’s prescription. The bill is separate from a bill introduced by Brazil’s Worker’s Party, which would completely legalize adult-use cannabis.

On Wednesday, the Brazilian Senate’s Social Affairs Committee approved the medical cannabis legislation. It now moves on to be considered by the Commission on Constitution and Justice, followed by the Chamber of Deputies. Should the bill pass those committees, it will go to the desk of Brazil’s President-elect Jair Bolsonaro.

President-elect Bolsonaro is expected to be the bill’s major hurdle. Bolsonaro has said he is against all legalization and plans to enforce harsher drug laws. Brazil loosened its drug laws regarding cannabis in 2006, decreasing penalties for possession to community service and mandatory attendance of a drug education program. Some fear Bolsonaro will return to earlier, harsher sentencing guidelines for drug convictions.

Senator Marta Suplicy, a supporter of the bill, encouraged other lawmakers to think of those who would be most helped by medical cannabis.

“We cannot relegate the issue to mere political discussion. More than anything, we need to empathize and put ourselves in the place of the other. In this way we can, as legislators, defend the true essence of health care, which is to mitigate human suffering.” — Brazilian Senator Marta Suplicy, via Marijuana Moment

There are several countries in South America that already have medical cannabis programs but Brazil, the continent’s largest and most populous country, remains a notable hold out. Brazil’s southern border also touches Uruguay, which was the first country in the world to end cannabis prohibition and legalize the plant for adult use.

End


Cash

Bipartisan Cannabis Finance Legislation Supported By Banks

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New legislation being crafted by Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), co-sponsored by 82 Democrats and 13 Republicans, is expected to pass the House Financial Services Committee and has good odds for being approved by the full House, according to Politico.

The “blue wave” that took back the House of Representatives in the midterms not only ousted long-time opponent of cannabis Pete Sessions, but also chairman of the House Financial Services Committee Jeb Hensarling (R-TX). Former Rep. Hensarling’s will be replaced by Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), who said she will not continue the practice of suppressing the discussion around cannabis reform bills.

Rep. Perlmutter, who is also a member of the House Financial Services Committee, said that the American Bankers Association has assisted with developing the bill. Other banking associations, including The Independent Community Bankers of America and the Credit Union National Association, had previously stated support for recent cannabis banking reforms, which is expected to carry over to the latest legislative attempt.

Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ removal will also bolster the reforms attempt, depending on whom Trump appoints as his permanent replacement. Other Trump-administration appointees are far more supportive of reforms than AG Sessions, including top banking regulator Joseph Otting, Comptroller of the Currency. Otting told reporters last month that a legislative solution for cannabis banking was needed and he was “hopeful there’s enough momentum in that direction.”

An analyst with Compass Point, a financial sector investment and research firm, said that while his organization puts the likelihood of full cannabis legalization in the next congressional session at only 25 percent, research indicates the odds of cannabis banking reform passing are at 75 percent.

The next session of Congress — which is when Rep. Perlmutter’s banking legislation is likely to enter its final stages — begins January 3, 2019.

End


Massachusetts Cannabis Sales Thrive Following Market Launch

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Massachusetts’ two licensed cannabis retailers grossed $2.2 million in sales over just five days, MassLive reports.

The information was released by the state Cannabis Control Commission, which compiled sales data from the state’s two retailers: Cultivate, in Leicester; and New England Treatment Access (NETA), in Northampton. During the market’s first five days, Cultivate and NETA collectively sold 56,380 “units” of cannabis, with products ranging from just flower to edibles and hand lotion.

Sales on Tuesday, the market’s opening day, reached just over $440,000. Wednesday’s numbers were slightly higher and, while both stores were closed for the Thanksgiving holiday, sales continued to surge later during the holiday weekend.

The market launch has been so successful in part due to the draw of so-called “cannabis tourists” from nearby states, including New York City. Some community members in Leicester were incensed by the uptick in local traffic caused by long lines at Cultivate.

Resident Kim Miczek complained of people urinating on her front lawn while waiting in line, according to another report. “My road has become a long parking lot. I don’t like it,” she said during a Leicester Town Hall emergency meeting on Monday night.

However, another Leicester resident John Shocik said that though he didn’t originally vote for legalization, he was pleased by the extra attention and business it has brought to the town. “I didn’t vote for it but people did. We want more businesses … here there is a business,” he said.

End


Michigan state Capitol building in Lansing, Michigan.

Michigan Legalization Takes Effect December 6

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Michigan’s voter-approved cannabis legalization initiative takes effect on December 6, 2018, exactly ten days after the election results were certified by the state Board of Canvassers, The Detroit Free Press reports.

Michigan voters delivered on a successful cannabis legalization bid during the 2018 midterms — the state’s legalization plan will allow for adults 21+ to possess up to up to two and a half ounces of cannabis, allow the home cultivation of up to 12 plants, and will establish a taxed-and-regulated cannabis marketplace.

Michigan prosecutors have already quietly begun dismissing low-level criminal cannabis charges. Last week, Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith issued a memo to his staff instructing them to begin the process of dismissing all charges that would have been allowed under the new law — according to the report, Oakland County’s prosecutors and have done likewise.

“Now that Proposal 1 has passed, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office is committed to following the law regarding the prosecution of marijuana cases. … Although the law is not retroactive, in the coming weeks we will assess the tickets that have already been charged, as well as those pending review, taking the new law into consideration.” — Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, in a statement.

“It’s a huge relief, it was a two-year process for this campaign, but there are people who have been working on this issue their entire adult lives,” said Josh Hovey spokesperson for the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol.

According to Sally Williams, director of elections for the Secretary of State, Michigan voter turnout this year broke records with more than 4.3 million ballots cast. “For a gubernatorial year, we smashed the record for turnout,” Williams said. “It looked more like a presidential year.”

 

End


Mushrooms

Medical Psilocybin Initiative Planned for Oregon 2020 Ballot

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The Oregon Attorney General has approved the wording of a medical psilocybin ballot initiative, which is the final step before supporters can collect signatures to place the issue on the 2020 ballot, Marijuana Moment reports.

No U.S. state has attempted yet to reclassify psilocybin, one of the mind-altering chemicals in “magic” mushrooms, as medicine. If the Oregon Psilocybin Society (OPS) is able to collect the 140,000 signatures necessary to get the measure on the ballot, Oregon will be the first.

“We’re excited to gather signatures in support of establishing a community-based service framework, in which licensed providers, along with licensed producers of psilocybin mushrooms, can blaze new trails in Oregon in accordance with evolving practice standards.” — Tom Eckert, OPS co-founder, via a press release

There is a fair and growing body of evidence that supports the use of psilocybin in the fight against depression, addiction, and other conditions. Research shows that psilocybin encourages the formation of new brain cells in a process known as “neurogenesis,” among other effects.

Psilocybin is classified, like cannabis, as Schedule I by the federal government, which means that research into the therapeutic benefits of mushrooms containing the chemical is decades behind where it should be.

Describing a battle familiar to cannabis advocates, the OPS said that it had to, “fight for neutral and accurate wording,” during the approval process for the potential ballot measure. However, the organization was able to talk the Attorney General’s office down to a wording that the organization was “generally satisfied” with.

The final ballot measure wording can be seen on the OPS website.

OPS is now tasked with collecting the 140,000 signatures necessary for participation in the 2020 elections. OPS has contracted a marketing research company to help reach that goal.

End


South Korea Legalizes Medical Cannabis

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South Korea became the first East Asian country to legalize medical cannabis following a pivotal vote this week by the country’s National Assembly, MJBizDaily reports.

Lawmakers voted to revise South Korea’s Act on the Management of Narcotic Drugs to allow for the prescription of low-THC, CBD-rich medical cannabis products. The plant will be regulated by the Korea Orphan Drug Center and patients will be given access on a strictly case-by-case basis.

“South Korea legalizing medical cannabis, even if it will be tightly controlled with limited product selection, represents a significant breakthrough for the global cannabis industry. The importance of Korea being the first country in East Asia to allow medical cannabis at a federal level should not be understated. Now it’s a matter of when other Asian countries follow South Korea, not if.” — Vijay Sappani, CEO of Ela Capital in Toronto, via MJBizDaily

The move was surprising for a culture and country that — following Canada’s landmark legalization efforts — has distanced itself from cannabis reforms and suggested to its citizens they could be prosecuted if they were discovered to have used cannabis while living, traveling, or studying overseas.

Nearby, Thailand and Malaysia have also considered medical cannabis reforms but, for now, South Korea joins Sri Lanka in being the only countries in Asia that have taken steps to reform the absolute prohibition of cannabis.

End


Cannabis Leaf

Ancient Virus Created CBD and THC, Genome Map Reveals

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Researchers at the University of Toronto have completed the first total chromosome map for cannabis sativa, discovering that ancient viruses changed the plant’s DNA to cause the evolution of CBD and THC, according to ScienceDaily.

The map reveals the genes that control the creation of THC and CBD are surrounded by garbled DNA that is associated with long-ago viral infection. Viruses will change the DNA of a host in order to continue making copies of themselves, which is exactly what happened to the cannabis plant millions of years ago. That “junk DNA” spread into areas of the gene that were responsible for creating cannabinoids and altered which chemicals it was creating.

The mutation was beneficial, so it stuck around. Human selection of the cannabis plant further reinforced and tuned the changes.

Tim Hughes and his team at the University of Toronto, Jonathan Page of the University of British Columbia and Aurora Cannabis, and Harm van Bakel of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt Sinai collaborated to write the paper describing the chromosome map and its associated discoveries. The co-authors published their report’s first draft in 2011 but did not reach the more interesting conclusions until this year.

Other discoveries from the complete genome map include confirmation of separate genes for CBD and THC — meaning it should be possible to produce a cannabis plant that does not make any THC, though attempts so far have been unsuccessful.

The team also discovered the gene for a little-known cannabinoid called cannabichromene (CBC). There are hundreds of cannabinoids known to be produced by the cannabis plant, many of which remain unidentified and unstudied.

Researchers point to cannabis prohibition and the associated lack of research to explain the delay in completing a total genome map for cannabis.

“Mainstream science has still not done enough because of research restrictions. Legalization and looming ease of research regulation really provide for opportunities for more research to be done. And Canada is leading the way.” — Jonathan Page, co-author of the study, to ScienceDaily

The study was published in the journal Genome Research. Researchers hope the map will allow easier study of the cannabis plant now that federally-funded research is possible in Canada.

End


Prague, Czech Republic

Aurora Completes First Shipment of Cannabis to Czech Republic

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Canadian licensed producer Aurora Cannabis has completed its first shipment of medical cannabis products to the Czech Republic, MarketWatch reports.

The Czech Republic is the 21st country to have its medical cannabis needs met by Aurora Cannabis. The Czech Republic started its medical cannabis program in 2013. Patients in the country are allowed 180 grams of dry flower a month, which must be prescribed by an approved doctor.

“This supply arrangement demonstrates our ability to enter into new jurisdictions as the partner of choice in new markets with strong barriers to entry, and is testament to the strength and business execution of our European business development team.” — Neil Belot, Chief Global Business Development Officer for Aurora Cannabis, in a press release

Aurora Cannabis is one of the largest producers of cannabis in Canada. The company was recently approved to list on the New York Stock Exchange, making them only the third cannabis company to trade publicly in the U.S.

Despite an influx of good news stories for Aurora — including the Czech delivery — the company’s share prices continue to fall. Most other publicly-traded cannabis companies are seeing the same, having previously enjoyed a boom from investor speculation on the newly-legalized industry, but initial excitement for the industry is starting to wear off.

End


New Jersey Lawmakers Advance Legalization Plan

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New Jersey lawmakers have started to consider legislation that would legalize adult-use cannabis throughout the state, the Associated Press reports.

UPDATED: The New Jersey budget committee voted in favor of advancing the legalization legislation. The proposal now moves toward full floor votes in the Assembly and Senate.

Lawmakers convened Monday for a joint Democrat-led Assembly and Senate budget committee to discuss the state’s latest cannabis legalization legislation package. The proposal has been championed by Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Union), who opened today’s discussion with nods toward the potential economic benefits of legalization.

“It’s going to stimulate the economy of New Jersey like nothing ever has before — an entire new industry that people can actually start from the ground level up,” Scutari said. “We’re on the precipice of a historic event here, starting something and creating jobs like not other Legislature has done before. We have that opportunity.

The proposed legislation package includes several amendments to New Jersey cannabis laws:

  • One bill, S2703, would legalize adult-use cannabis and impose a 12 percent state tax with options for local municipalities to levy another 2 percent tax on the industry. The bill would allow possession of up to one ounce of cannabis flower.
  • Two other bills, S10 and S2426, would raise medical cannabis patients’ possession rates and mandate the issuing of 34 new medical cannabis licenses, respectively.
  • A fourth cannabis bill, S3205, would “revise certain procedures for expungement of records of conviction” — S3205, however, has not yet been introduced.

“We stand on the verge of a major change here in New Jersey. It’s been a long road but today we’re on the verge of something very significant, and it’s not something that’s been done haplessly or recklessly. As we go through this bill, there’s a great deal of thought reflected.” — New Jersey Assembly Budget Committee Chair John Burzichelli (D-Salem)

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) supports the end of cannabis prohibition but has not weighed in yet on this specific legalization plan. On the campaign trail, then-candidate Murphy said he would call for cannabis legalization within the first 100 days of his administration. Failing that, however, the governor and his party adjusted their goal to legalizing by year’s end.

“We have to take our head out of the sand. We have to realize that what we tried to do simply isn’t working,” Sen. Scutari said on Monday.

Deliberations were still ongoing at the time of this article’s publishing.

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Mt. Hood, Oregon

Oregon Inspectors: One-Quarter of Growers Not Compliant

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The Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) inspected more than half of the state’s outdoor grow operations this season and found 27 percent to have regulatory compliance shortcomings, according to a Canna Law Blog report.

Inspectors looked at grows across the state during the fall growing season in “Operation Good Harvest.” They inspected 354 of Oregon’s 628 licensed operators — of those 354 licensees, 27 percent had “deficiencies,” or issues with compliance. In total, inspectors found 41 violations that were serious enough to give cause for the state to revoke a licensee’s business license, pending reviews.

The OLCC reported a wide variety of violations, though the majority were issues with cameras and security surveillance equipment. Other issues included:

  • Entries in the Cannabis Tracking System (METRC) not matching plants or product
  • Cannabis not tagged and entered into the Cannabis Tracking System
  • Failure to provide the OLCC with harvest information
  • Using unapproved scales to weigh product
  • Making unapproved alterations to licensed grow area

The state executed Operation Good Harvest as a part of a program aimed at reducing diversion of legal cannabis into the illicit market.

“The inspections reflect our agency’s effort to prevent diversion from Oregon’s legal cannabis market, and we’ll continue compliance activity across all license categories to maintain the well-regulated market that Oregonians expect.” — OLCC Executive Director Steve Marks, in the report

Overproduction is considered a big part of the problem when it comes to Oregon’s cannabis diversion, in part because it keeps prices too low to fully cover the costs of licensed grows. To help the industry survive this wave of bad business tidings, the OLCC has promised to pause the approval of new cannabis licenses — this is expected to help address falling prices.

The OLCC notified growers of upcoming compliance checks in June. The agency has tightened up enforcement over the last year after the U.S. District Attorney for Oregon Billy J. Williams called Oregon‘s cannabis program “out of control.”

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Raleigh, NC

North Carolina Lawmakers Meet to Discuss Cannabis Reform

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North Carolina state Representative Kelly Alexander (D-107) said he is meeting with other lawmakers to discuss legalizing cannabis this week, CBS 17 reports.

Rep. Alexander said that he’s hoping to push the idea of legalizing with plenty of local control, much the same way North Carolina currently regulates alcohol.

“We have dry counties. We have wet counties. We have portions of counties that may be wet, and the rest of them are dry. All of those are driven by local option decisions. Either by the decisions of local-elected boards, or by votes of the people.” — North Carolina Rep. Kelly Alexander (D) to CBS

The North Carolina chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) backs Rep. Alexander’s move. Abner Brown, a NORML representative, said the organization is organizing supporters for a rally in January at the state capitol in Raleigh.

“We’ve sent letters out and have contacted all of our elected officials in North Carolina to get their responses about how they felt about cannabis reform,” Brown said.

Though both Rep. Alexander and NORML are looking to advance the state towards legalization, resistance to pro-cannabis reforms remains throughout North Carolina.

“It’s time now for the legislators in North Carolina to catch up with the people,” Rep. Alexander told CBS.

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Ganjapreneur Gift Guide

Ganjapreneur 2018 Holiday Gift Guide

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If you’re looking for great cannabis gifts for the ganjapreneur or cannabis aficionado in your life, look no further. We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of the most interesting, useful and entertaining gifts available.

Storage

Anyone who takes their cannabis seriously will undoubtedly have all kinds of equipment they need to keep track of. Why not grab a unique storage solution for all those loose pieces?

Black Rock Originals Smell-Proof CarryallCarryall

This smell-proof bag from Black Rock OG is perfect for the cannabis professional in your life. The carry-all is discreet and its smooth style doesn’t clash with business attire.

The Black Rock Carryall is the size of a Dopp kit, or toiletry bag. It will hold a few jars of flower or concentrate and all of your accessories, pipes, papers, and other cannabis accoutrement. It truly is smell-proof, too, making sure that your medicine keeps its scent to itself. Best of all it comes with a combination lock that will keep your kids, pets or co-workers out of your stash.

Black Rock also offers other sizes of smell-proof stash organization, like the smaller safety case or the larger backpack.

AnnaBis Aroma-Bloc HandbagAnnabis

For the stylish ganjapreneur that might tote a purse, there’s another smell-proof solution. The AnnaBis line of Aroma-Block handbags fuse beauty and functionality for the cannabis professional with a more feminine appeal.

The bags feature multiple style choices. There are two separate smell-proof compartments inside each bag — one that’s in plain sight and a larger one that lives under a concealed flap of fabric. The bags also contain details like cell-phone pouches and sleeves for pens, lip gloss, or lighters.

Hakuna Supply Locking Book BoxesStash Book

Hakuna Supply is known for their amazing stash boxes. Those can make great gifts on their own, but we wanted to include a gift for the future ganjapreneurs who live in places where cannabis prohibition is still in effect.

The book boxes are real metal safes concealed within a faux-leather book exterior. The inside is lined with soft felt to keep your glass pipes and jars safe from jostling. The books lock with a metal hinge, concealed beneath the cover. It’s a perfect way to corral your stash and keep things discreet in your office or home.

Smoking Supplies

Love the ritual of rolling a joint or loading a new smoking piece? Give these standout smoking-gear gifts to help a colleague or loved-one imbibe in style!

Luxe Luxury Rolling PapersLuxe Rolling Papers

Exotic rolling papers are one of the best ways to stand out at the holiday party or win that round of white elephant without breaking the bank.

Luxe makes a fantastic line of beautiful, unique rolling papers in a variety of patterns. All the patterns are inspected by master paper-makers at printing and produced using only organic ingredients and vegan glue. Some of the patterns were even created by famous brands like Versace and Louis Vuitton.

Shine 24K Gold Rolling Papers24K Rolling Papers

While some rolling papers might make a great gift for the under-$10 crowd, for those who want to let the world know their cannabis startup just got acquired we recommend the Shine 24K gold rolling papers.

The papers are made with hemp and a layer of real 24K gold on the outside. As they burn — nice and slow to savor the cannabis — the gold becomes mixed into the ashes, letting everyone at the acquisition party know who the high-roller is. They even make blunt wraps!

Zong Glass No-Spill WaterpipesZong Glass

For the ganjapreneur who prefers using a classic waterpipe to consume their cannabis — but who deserves something unique, nonetheless — we recommend Zong Glass.

Zong has been making custom glass pipes since the early 1990s in San Diego. They’re a piece of cannabis history, originally crafted in a time when you really needed to pretend that your pipe was for tobacco. Their trademark kink keeps the bongwater inside the piece if tipped over. The classic zong can be laid entirely on its side without spilling, in fact.

Danglebong Titanium Water PipeDanglebong

Some people like to go light and fast in life and in cannabis. Made from titanium, the Danglebong is light-hearted in name and light in weight too, perfect for the outdoors enthusiast in your life.

The titanium water pipe is unbreakable and has a small handle that clips perfectly to the outside of a backpack, under the seat of your bike or to the belt-loop of your jeans while you pop out on that mind-expanding hike. Danglebong also makes a variety of other ultralight titanium pipes for those that want something even more compact.

Tools

Help someone on your cannabis Christmas list get that joint rolled or that pipe packed with these awesome cannabis pocket tools!

Nugtool Alox CollectionNuggy Alox

 

The Nuggy Hybrid and Nuggy Vape are both great multitools for the serious cannabis consumer. Anyone who regularly uses a vape or pipe knows how often you need some sort of tool to help with loading or cleaning.

The Nugtool has a scraper, cutter, tamper, a roach clip, and more. It’s encased in an aluminum shell and comes shipped in a white gift box. It folds down and stores easily in your stash box or bag so you never have to be without your multitool.

The LighterbroThe Lighterbro

Lighter cases are a common piece of swag and personalization for the cannabis enthusiast — but what if there were tools like scissors, a knife, or a stir stick built-right in? That’s exactly what the Lighterbro is.

Not only does it function great for your smoke sesh, it also works great in everyday life. There’s a micro-Phillips screwdriver for working on those tiny screws in your eyeglasses or electronics and a bottle-opener built into the bottom of the case so you don’t have to damage your lighter just to get that bottle of beer or cannabis-infused soda open. Available in a variety of finishes and colors!

Banana Bros. Automatic Grinder & Cone RollerBanana Bros. Roller

For those among us obsessed with gadgets or just plain lazy like I am, there’s the unique Banana Bros. Automatic Grinder and Roller. This handy device will not only grind your cannabis — it’ll also pack it into a filter cone.

It’s almost unbelievable but you can go straight from bud out of the stash jar to joint without any work on your part. Not only is it easy, but it packs it the same way every time to prevent canoeing, waste, or uneven dosing. It’s battery-powered, too, so it travels as well as you do!

Cannabis Books

Fill your business partner’s heart with joy and head with facts from these informative and entertaining cannabis books.

Heart of Dankness: Underground Botanists, Outlaw Farmers and the Race for the Cannabis CupHeart of Dankness

Mark Haskell Smith’s narrative non-fiction foray into cannabis culture is a must-gift to anyone who appreciates old-school cannabis culture or new-school cannabis research. Smith goes around the world from California to Amsterdam chasing down exactly what a perfect strain is and the people who make it happen, written in a page-turning-novel format.

Hailed as “an insightful and fascinating story” by the Los Angeles Review, Heart of Dankness is the perfect gift for a business major who’s just stepping into the cannabis industry or for that passionate cannabis advocate in your life.

The Leafly Guide to Cannabis: Handbook for the Modern ConsumerLeafly Guide to Cannabis

This guidebook is an amazing resource for all aspects of the cannabis experience. Leafly has collected information on the history, chemistry, and methods of consumption of the cannabis plant. They’ve even got a “troubleshooting” section to help talk you down from being too high.

This guide is a great gift for the cannabis beginner who wants to learn how to roll a joint or the old-school smoker looking to catch up on terminology and modern strains. Leafly is a known authority on cannabis, possessing one of the largest databases of strains and their effects currently available on the internet, and the Leafly team’s book is a great way to get some of that knowledge for yourself.

Green: A Field Guide to MarijuanaMarijuana Field Guide

This beautiful, photographic field guide to cannabis strains is perfect for the reception area of your cannabis startup or the coffee table in your home. Green is filled with hundreds of pages of large, high-resolution photos of cannabis buds and the effects, taste, and lineage of those strains.

If you have a cannabis aficionado in your life whose coffee table is empty or if a cannabis entrepreneur in your life needs a little more flash in their waiting room, pick them up a copy of Green. There is no other cannabis book on the market that can compete with this one’s quality of photography.

CBD

Cannabis is medicine. Because they’re THC free, these CBD gifts can even be given to loved-ones in states that still prohibit cannabis.

Club Hemp CBD Hemp Oil Products

Club Hemp

Club Hemp has a number of Hemp oil and CBD-rich products that may appeal to gift-buyers this season. Club Hemp likes to say they sell unique experiences, and the three different formulas of hemp oil extracts in their Power Pack — each designed to produce a specific feeling — certainly indicate that. They also make other wellness products, like pain-relieving sprays and beauty products like hemp body butter. Club Hemp’s offerings don’t stop at gifts for other people, either — they also offer a variety of CBD products for your fur baby.

Nothing is as important for an entrepreneur as maintaining a focused and relaxed mind. Club Hemp’s offerings are made from trustworthy, pure hemp oil from plants grown in Colorado. Use coupon code “thanksgiving” to receive 25 percent off if buying on Cyber Monday!

Bluebird Botanicals Hemp CBD Extract and Hempseed Oil CapsulesCBD Softgels

Bluebird Botanicals produces a number of hemp extract, CBD-rich supplements. Our favorite in the Ganjapreneur offices, however, are the hemp oil capsules. Containing 15mg of CBD per dose, these capsules are a quick and easy way to kill pain or take the jittery edge off that tenth cup of coffee.

Bluebird Botanicals prides themselves on the purity of their products. They also use a full-spectrum hemp extract that includes other phytochemicals and cannabinoids for true healing. If there’s someone in your life that has a need for medicine without the altered state of mind from THC, we recommend Bluebird Botanicals.

Innovetpet CBD Hemp Dog TreatsHemp Dog Treats

Your dog deserves a gift this holiday season just as much as anyone else — and maybe more. These crunchy CBD dog treats will help your old dog feel young again or take the edge off their anxiety.

The Innovetpet treats come in several flavors, including steak & cheese, salmon & sweet potato, and maple bacon & berries. If your dog is anxious or has painful joint inflammation, these treats just might bring back them back to puppy shape!

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