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Israeli researchers presented a study at the European Gastroenterology Conference this week that showed a regimen of cannabis oil made a significant improvement on the symptoms of Crohn’s Disease, Heathline reports.

Crohn’s Disease is an inflammatory bowel condition that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, though most commonly it affects the small intestine. It leads to fever, abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, and bloody diarrhea. Sufferers of Crohn’s Disease are also at increased risk for bowel cancer.

In the study, 65 percent of patients given cannabis oil containing 15 percent CBD and 4 percent THC for two months were able to maintain remission of the condition, while only 35 percent of those given a placebo stayed in remission. Study participants given cannabis oil also reported a significant improvement in their quality of life over those with the placebo.

In an unexpected turn, checks for bowel inflammation via endoscope and chemical tests for markers of inflammation showed no difference in actual inflammation in the bowel compared to placebo. This means the mechanism that leads to cannabis oil’s effectiveness at treating Crohn’s is not fully understood and is probably not as simple as the anti-inflammatory properties of cannabis. Crohn’s Disease itself is still not very well understood, which further compounds the confusion.

Researchers said that, ultimately, no matter what the specifics of the chemical effect are, cannabis is favored as a treatment for Crohn’s simply because of the relief it provides. Cannabis is also safer than other traditional treatments for Crohn’s, such as corticosteroids or antibiotics.

More research is needed, though cannabis’ excellent safety profile and pain-relieving powers make it an easy choice for the treatment of Crohn’s.

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Candidates for Illinois Governor Split On Cannabis Legalization

10/25/2018

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The top two candidates for Illinois’ upcoming gubernatorial election — but not voters — are split on the issue of cannabis legalization, the Chicago Tribune reports.

During his governorship, incumbent candidate Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) has been timid at best on even minimal cannabis reforms. He has stated multiple times in the past that he is “very much opposed” to legalization and his campaign recently issued a statement calling legalization a “much newer and more complex issue that should not be considered by the state of Illinois until all possible positive and negative effects are understood.”

Meanwhile, challenging candidate J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, says he is in favor of legalizing the plant because it would generate between $350 to $700 million in taxes while improving safety and racial justice throughout Illinois. Pritzker has also promised to make sure minority communities who were most adversely affected by cannabis prohibition will be involved in running the new industry.

“J.B. knows we can legalize marijuana in a safe way that will benefit communities across Illinois and he is ready to do that as governor.” — JB Pritzker for Governor Campaign, via the Chicago Tribune

The majority of Illinois voters — like the rest of the U.S. — approve of cannabis legalization. The state, however, does not allow for citizen-driven ballot initiatives, so any substantial cannabis reforms will need to come out of the state legislature and receive the governor’s signature.

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Republic of Vanuatu Legalizes Medical Cannabis

10/25/2018

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The Republic of Vanuatu has become the latest nation to legalize medical cannabis, Benzinga reports.

The nation of about 80 small Pacific islands will allow for the cultivation, production, and consumption of medical cannabis products but, for Vanuatu’s 277,000 inhabitants, personal cannabis cultivation and the smoking of cannabis products will, for now, remain illegal.

“I am delighted to see the legalization of medical cannabis in Vanuatu and believe we are one step closer to treating the epidemic of diabetes within our nation and many of our neighboring Pacific countries.” — Dr. Santus Wari, Acting Director of the Department of Curative & Hospital Services at Vanuatu’s Ministry of Health, via Benzinga

The legislation will be officially presented to the country’s parliament later this year and experts predict the licensing process will be underway by December.

Already, Vanuatu officials have secured a partnership with U.S. company Phoenix Life Sciences International to produce a cannabis-based diabetes medication, which will help treat the 13 percent of Vanuatuans who suffer from the condition.

In a statement, Phoenix Life said it would “bring its line of all-natural, effective medication to the nation through its national health care system,” and that it is “working with internationally recognized doctors and researchers to develop several innovative pipelines of medicinal cannabis products.”

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New York May Subsidize MMJ with Health Insurance

10/24/2018

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A bill being considered by the New York state legislature could add medical cannabis to the list of medicines covered by public health insurance plans like Medicaid, Marijuana Moment reports.

The bill, introduced to the New York Assembly on Monday by Assemblyman Richard Gottfried with 17 co-sponsors, would not require commercial health plans to cover medical cannabis — though they could, of course, choose independently to do so.

Four public health plans, however, would be required to cover cannabis medications: Medicaid, Child Health Plus, workers compensation, and the Essential Plan.

“Cost is the primary barrier to patient access in New York’s medical marijuana program. Medicaid, other public health plans, and commercial health insurance plans do not cover medical marijuana, forcing patients to pay out of pocket. Some patients begin treatment only to stop due to inability to pay, while others turn to the black market.” — Excerpt from the bill

According to language in the bill, any federal funds for insurance coverage of cannabis medicine would have to be delayed until the federal government reforms its anti-cannabis stance. Traditionally, however, New York has covered conditions and medications that lack matching funds from the federal government.

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John Boehner Now Selling Advice for Cannabis Stock Investments

10/24/2018

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Former Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner has started selling tips for buying cannabis stocks.

First reported by FOX News, Boehner’s new pitch was made on Tuesday during the webcast launch of the National Institute for Cannabis Investors (NICI).

According to its hour-long webcast launch, which came across like an extended infomercial, the NICI aims to distribute “special reports” containing analysis on the industry and projections for certain types of cannabis investment opportunities — getting access to said reports, however, appears to require annual membership fees.

Earlier this year, Boehner joined the board of New York City-based cannabis company Acreage Holdings, which holds a portfolio of cannabis cultivation, processing, and dispensing operations across 11 U.S. states. Though he vocally disapproved of any cannabis reforms up until leaving office in 2015, the former House Speaker said in April that his “thinking on cannabis has evolved.”

According to Boehner, it’s time to go “all-in” on the burgeoning cannabis industry and you should pay for his advice — and the advice of his buddies — to gain an advantage over other investors.

“As you know, the prohibition on cannabis is almost over. Institutional investors are building their war chests and, with our help, you’re going to be able to beat them to the punch.” — Former House Speaker John Boehner, in an online pitch to sell cannabis stock tips

Cannabis stocks have ridden an exciting wave so far this year, with many companies surging in the hype before Canada’s federal legalization took place earlier this month. In recent days, however, cannabis stocks have plummetted, with some Canadian companies posting double-digit losses.

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This Week is National Expungement Week

10/24/2018

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October 20-27 is National Expungement Week, a national series of free legal clinics aimed to help victims of the war on drugs clear their records, Forbes reports.

National Expungement Week aims to help the 77 million Americans with previous convictions for drug offenses clear their records. The convictions can prevent access to housing, education, employment, and other basic services. It can also prevent employment in the rapidly expanding cannabis industry, which increasingly needs labor.

Expungement Fairs are scheduled in Boston, Chicago, Denver, Atlanta, Baltimore, Detroit, LA, New Haven, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and elsewhere. Participants are using National Expungement Week to raise the profile of their legal services, which are often available year-long.

“Considering America’s history of the war on drugs, the cannabis industry must bring justice and shared profits. As these expungement events become more common, we wanted to coordinate them to highlight the need for widespread and automated legal relief.” — Sonia Erika, spokesperson for Equity First Alliance

A number of states are allowing for the expungement of cannabis convictions following either the decriminalization or legalization of cannabis — few, however, have made it easy. California is the only state so far to offer automatic and retroactive cannabis conviction expungement.

National Expungement Week hopes to guide people through the process of expungement, which can differ state-to-state. A list of events can be found here.

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Utah Lawmaker Releases Video of His First Cannabis Experience

10/24/2018

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Utah State Senator Jim Dabakis (D-District 2) released a Facebook live video over the weekend of himself in Las Vegas eating half of a cannabis-infused gummy bear in his first-ever cannabis consumption experience.

Sen. Dabakis’ reasoning for the trip, which he expressed during the video, was that “at least one Utah legislator” should have experimented with cannabis before lawmakers begin imposing rules and regulations for the state’s expected medical cannabis program.

He reassured his followers that he had brought a driver for the occasion, that he would spend his time supervised and just lounging in the sun, and that he would not be bringing any leftover gummies with him back to Utah.

In the video, Sen. Dabakis tells the camera that his experiment is a “sacrifice for you, the taxpayers.”

He followed up his first video with updates throughout his experience. After one and a half hours, Sen. Dabakis said he ate the second half of the gummy bear and felt only a “little buzz.”

In a follow-up video posted upon returning home to Utah, Sen. Dabakis said that politicians who are anti-cannabis should try using the substance for themselves.

He also argued that Utah voters should still make sure they vote for Proposition 2 this November, which aims to legalize medical cannabis throughout the state.

“I think … the ‘Reefer Madness’ crowd, you guys — you need to try it. It’s not that big a deal. … I survived, it all went well. So vote for Prop. 2 because if you don’t, trust me, (Utah lawmakers) will either not pass medical marijuana or they will put such poison pills in there that no-one will be able to get medical marijuana — and they’ll say ‘well, you know, the people voted against it.’ So vote for it.” — Utah State Sen. Jim Dabakis, in a Facebook live video

Medical cannabis has become a contentious issue in Utah, where both the Mormon Church and lawmakers in the state capitol have come out against Proposition 2.

Recently, however, it was announced that cannabis advocates, church representatives, and lawmakers had reached a compromise on the medical cannabis issue that would be realized whether Proposition 2 wins or fails this November.

According to polling data from last month, 64 percent of Utah voters support legalizing medical cannabis.

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Canna Cribs Ep. 4 Features World’s Largest Outdoor Cannabis Farm

10/24/2018

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Canna Cribs Episode 4 — featuring Los Sueños Farms in Pueblo, Colorado — released today and is now available online via the series’ YouTube channel.

Canna Cribs is a viral mini-documentary series highlighting the immense amount of work and dedication that professional cannabis cultivators put into their craft. Presented by Growers Network and hosted by entrepreneur Nate Lipton, the Canna Cribs series has already given viewers first-hand glances into cannabis mega-farms in California (Episode 1), Washington (Episode 2), and Arizona (Episode 3).

Episode 4 is no different as Lipton and the Canna Cribs team jump straight into exploring the massive, 36-acre field of cannabis plants at Los Sueños Farms.

Los Sueños Farms is unique to most other cannabis farms because it is comprised of four licensed cannabis producers operating individually on the same property.

The four on-site producers are Farmboy LLC, Baseball 18 LLC, Los Sueños LLC, and Emerald Fields Grow LLC. Together, with 1.4 million square feet of canopy space to work with, they represent “the largest legal recreational [cannabis] farm in North America,” in terms of overall “footprint,” said Jarrod Mason, Director of Business Development for Los Sueños Farms, in a Canna Cribs interview.

Canna Cribs Episode 4 covers all aspects of cannabis production at Los Sueños Farms, including the use of drones to aerially monitor plant health and how growers rely on free-range chickens to hunt grasshoppers — which, we learn, pose one of the greatest threats to cannabis crops in the region.

Join Nate Lipton and the rest of the Canna Cribs crew via the player below to learn exactly how the growers of Los Sueños Farms operate to produce top-tier products for the Colorado cannabis industry.

Canna Cribs is an ongoing mini-documentary series produced by Growers Network that covers entrepreneurs and pioneers in the burgeoning cannabis industry. You can catch up on earlier episodes via the Canna Cribs YouTube channel.

Growers Network is a private online community for cannabis cultivators and entrepreneurs to share their experiences, discuss the industry, and work together to overcome the many obstacles facing modern cannabis professionals.

To learn more about Canna Cribs or the Growers Network platform, visit GrowersNetwork.org.

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Gallup Poll: Two Thirds of Americans Favor Legalization

10/23/2018

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A national poll released by Gallup shows that 66 percent of Americans — a new all-time high — support the legalization of cannabis.

The new poll shows an overwhelming majority of Democrats (75%) and Independents (71%) support legalization. Even Republicans show majority support, though just barely at 53 percent. Unsurprisingly, people aged 18-54 signaled strong support for legalization — but what is surprising in the poll results is a notable increase in support from those 55 and older, up from 50 to 59 percent.

Ten years ago, only the western U.S. showed majority support for legalization and, at 56 percent, it was just a slim majority. The latest poll, however, shows nearly equal support for legalization across the U.S., with every major region polling well above the majority in favor. 67 percent in the East, 65 percent in the Midwest, South and West.

Gallup has been tracking public opinion of cannabis legalization since 1969. In that year, only 12 percent of those polled showed support for legalization. The figure climbed slowly for the first 30 years that Gallup has been tracking, hanging just above 20 percent for much of the time. After the millenium, however, support began to climb more rapidly. Between 2000 and 2018 support has more than doubled.

It remains to be seen how or if the latest poll results will affect federal policy. There exists some Congressional support for legalization already, but officials in the Trump Administration have continued working to maintain prohibition.

Most recently, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions made headlines for continued delays in the licensing process for cultivators of research-grade cannabis.

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Aurora Cannabis Now Trading On NYSE

10/23/2018

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Aurora Cannabis, which applied to list with the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) earlier this month, had its application approved and is now officially open for trading, according to Business Insider.

Aurora will trade under the ticker symbol ACB but, despite being one of the largest Canadian cannabis producers, it is not the first to list on the NYSE. That honor went to Canopy Growth, who listed at the end of May. The first cannabis company listed on any exchange in the U.S. was Cronos Group, which listed on the Nasdaq in February.

However, it’s still a short list of cannabis companies trading stocks in the U.S., thanks largely to complicated federal money-laundering rules and the ongoing federal prohibition of cannabis. Many hope the status quo will change following Canada’s legalization on October 17.

“Our NYSE listing represents another important milestone that reflects our commitment to all stakeholders as we continue advancing domestic and international growth initiatives, which includes expanding our base of global institutional and retail investors. Aurora has rapidly developed into a globally mature organization with industry leading and technologically advanced production facilities available to produce at unprecedented scale to meet the growing demand for high-quality cannabis both in Canada and abroad.” — Terry Booth, CEO of Aurora, via a press release

Though current stockholders need not worry, Aurora intends to delist its over-the-counter offering, currently traded as ACBFF.

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North Dakota Poll Finds 51% Support for Legalization

10/23/2018

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A poll released on Sunday by cannabis advocacy group Legalize ND shows 51 percent of North Dakota voters are likely to support the legalization of adult-use cannabis, the Grand Forks Herald reports.

According to the poll, 36 percent of respondents were opposed and 13 percent undecided.

Legalize ND is the official ballot measure campaign behind Measure 3, which aims to legalize recreational cannabis in North Dakota. Measure 3 would legalize the use, sale, possession, and distribution of cannabis for anyone 21 years or older; anyone under 21 would be subject to a new, specific subset of non-felony penalties; the measure would also legalize cannabis “paraphernalia” and allow for the expungement of criminal records for anyone whose cannabis-related crimes would have been legal under the new law.

The group’s latest polling suggests a 5-point increase from the last time they polled the state in May, but opponents to Measure 3 say Legalize ND’s poll results are skewed and support is not nearly so high.

Legalize ND adviser Cole Haymond said he’s nonetheless encouraged by the poll results.

“The message of ending marijuana arrests is resounding in North Dakota, and these results demonstrate that voters are hearing our call for action. For months I’ve been saying this is not in the bag. It’s not a blowout that the last two polls have suggested. We just don’t think those polls have been in line with demographics of the state. Our support has grown as we got the word out. And this poll shows that we have gained.” — Cole Haymond, adviser for Legalize ND, via the Grand Forks Herald

A different poll posted by The Kitchens Group in Orlando, Florida found slim margins for Measure 3. The legalization initiative has, “strong support from voters under the age of 50,” pollsters said. But, “Passage of Measure 3 is greatly dependent upon the voters under the age of 50 voting…” and, “If the electorate is skewed toward the older, more conservative voters, passage could be problematic.”

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South Korea Warns Citizens Against Cannabis Use In Canada

10/23/2018

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Though adult cannabis use is now legal in Canada, South Koreans traveling or living abroad in the North American country are still barred from partaking, the South Korean embassy in Canada tweeted last week.

According to the New York Times, the embassy tweeted:

“Even if South Koreans are in a region where marijuana is legal, it will be illegal for them to consume it. Please take care not to commit an illegal act and be punished.” — Tweet excerpt from the South Korean embassy in Canada

For decades, South Koreans have faced prosecution for using illegal drugs (or performing any other illegal activities) while abroad, even if said activity is not illegal in the country they are visiting. Normally, authorities would not perform random drug tests on citizens returning home, but they have been known to closely monitor people who have been caught using cannabis in the past.

Under South Korean law, the cultivation, possession, transporting, or consumption of cannabis is a crime punishable by up to five years imprisonment or a 50 million won fine (about $44,000).

There are currently about 23,000 South Korean students on exchange in Canada and — as of May 2018 — 293,000 South Korean citizens were abroad in the newly legalized country.

Canada legalized cannabis nationwide last week, making it the second nation in the world and the first G7 nation to end cannabis prohibition.

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Van Solkov: Sharing Cannabis Culture with Tourists

10/22/2018

by Ganjapreneur

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Van Solkov is the owner and founder of Happy Travelers Tours, a cannabis industry tourism agency based out of Sonoma, California.

Van took some time recently to answer our questions and talk about cannabis culture in California and how he works to share that culture — and the unique experiences of cannabis industry entrepreneurs, workers, and professionals — with tourists. Check out our full interview below!

Ganjapreneur: When did you first have the vision for Happy Travelers Tours?

Van Solkov: In June of 2018 I was able to shift my focus from working in the tech sector where I managed B2B DemandGeneration, online marketing and digital marketing programs to starting Happy Travelers Tours (HTT). The inspiration for HTT came from my observation of the many wine tour buses that patrol the downtown square where I live in the City of Sonoma in Sonoma County, California.

As you might know, the City of Sonoma and the historic Sonoma Square is the location of the beginning of the State of California and is the “heart” of Northern California’s Wine Country. And, as we know, Wine Country is also Weed Country and that connection in my head is what sparked, no pun intended, the idea for HTT (when you sound it out, it sounds like “hit” and that IS intended!).

It is my opinion that a business based on the Sonoma Square has a strong opportunity for success for several reasons:

Tourists come to the Sonoma and the city square 365 days a year.

Sonoma, Wine Country and the corner of the square which is closest to where we live are all “destination spots” for domestic and international tourists.

We are able to promote our tours on the square by deploying Brand Ambassadors to share information about HTT when they’re approached. You can’t solicit but you can provide information if asked.

Over the many years we’ve lived near the square, there has only been one business to change ownership — even during the hard times, people come to Sonoma.

We’ve been operational since August 1, 2018 and we’re leveraging multiple channels to attract the attention of our guests, as well as raise our visibility online.

We’ve run:

Field Promotions like the Brand Ambassadors and an upcoming Women’s Expo

Online Promotions (use Promo Code 420 for 20% off!)

Email Marketing

Personal Selling via Referral Partners (hotels, restaurants and so on)

Networking

We understand that you followed a pretty unique path to the cannabis space — when/how did you first experiment with medical cannabis?

I am a patient of one of the first “215 Doctors” to open a medical marijuana practice in California. He’s been working with marijuana as a healing herb for many years and has a very strict practice for his patients. I started seeing Dr. Hergenrather in May of 2004.

The reason I went to Dr. Hergenrather for help was due to a bicycle accident I was in on Labor Day Weekend in 1993. I “celebrated” the 25th anniversary of the accident on Labor Day, 2018.

What happened on that sunny day only took a couple of seconds but the results changed my life and put me on a different path … one full of limited mobility, psychological challenges and constant, continuous, pain management.

Picture a perfect summer day — in fact, a perfect Labor Day. A large group of bicyclists was participating in an annual event organized by a family member of mine and on this particular day there was a total of about 150 riders all told. I was in a group of riders with about a dozen folks, all of mixed biking abilities and all on different types of bikes. As we were approaching a “Y” intersection, several people in my group were taking the right-hand road when they needed to turn left. I was the last rider in my group and I was coming down a hill towards the intersection. From my vantage point, I could see folks were going the wrong way so I shouted out: “You have to go LEFT” … to which folks started correcting their course.

Traveling down the hill, I was going about 25 MPH. When I called out to go left, one of the riders was on the right hand shoulder and, when she heard me, began to turn left … right in front of me. I had about a bike-and-a-half distance between her and me and I was moving fast. I knew that if I hit her, at minimum, I would hurt her very badly and, given the vector I was on, it seemed like I would have snapped her in half if I collided with her, so I hiked out my bike to the right side and managed to just get by her … however, as I went by her, I clipped her rear wheel and my bike tires hit some gravel, which caused my traction to give way and my entire bike to flip horizontally so I was parallel to the ground.

I hit the ground once, bounced, was able to kick my bike away from me, then I hit again, rolled to the shoulder of the road, and everything faded to black. I faded back in, surrounded by other riders telling me not to move. One of the support trucks showed up within a few minutes, driven by an ER nurse who triaged me by the roadside, had me loaded into the truck, and me raced to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital where I was x-rayed and treated.

My primary impact point was my left side rib cage (I put my arm up to protect my head). The damage to my spine was significant, with my sacrum, lumbar 3, 4 and 5, thoracic 5 and 6 and cervical 6, 7 and 8 vertebra all damaged by the impact.

Labor Day weekend 2018 marked 25 years since my accident. There’s no doubt in my mind if I had continued using the narcotic drugs which the doctors prescribed to me when I left the hospital I would either be an opioid addict or dead at this point. The amount of pain which I manage is significant, with 12 pain epicenters actively “talking” every day. Currently, I smoke between 2.5 and 3 grams of cannabis per day, typically Indica strains, and, for the most part, you’d never know it.

What should outsiders to California know about the state’s pioneering cannabis industry?

In my opinion, tourists coming to California need to be aware that it’s okay to ask questions and talk about cannabis. For example, ask your restaurant or bar server if they know about a local dispensary or, in our case, a tour company. Any adult over the age of 21 with valid ID can go into a retail dispensary and purchase the legal amount of cannabis products and then they can consume those products as long as they are either in their primary residence or on private property.

Conversely, at this time, you can not just spark up a joint and walk down the street, but — since you can’t open a bottle of booze and walk down the street drinking it — I don’t think that’s a hardship.

What has been your most rewarding experience thus far working in the cannabis space?

Educating guests about cannabis, the plant. It turns out, there’s been at least one person per tour who has a plant or two they are cultivating and they always have very detailed questions about the plants we show them.

Personally, I’ve grown both indoor and outdoor and so I can answer a lot of questions, however, I surround myself with folks who are much more knowledgeable than I am and I really enjoy watching them interact with our guests as they delve deeply into their conversations

How about the most difficult experience?

In order for HTT to remain compliant, we have to have a Mobile Retail Partner who can continue to get compliant products from licensed distributors. This has proven to be the most challenging aspect: finding a retailer who has inventory which complies with California new packaging rules, which went into effect on July 1st.

As a cannabis tourism company, what is the most important information/experience you want to share with your customers?

Our mission is to provide education and to destigmatize the use of cannabis and change the image of the cannabis consumer, so, we really work hard to bring this message home on all of our Tours.

Experientially we want our guests to have fun while learning about something which they may not have known much about, or, have had preconceived ideas about. By sharing a positive experience with them we can change mindsets.

What tips/advice would you offer to entrepreneurs who are seeking to take part in the cannabis space?

I learned something at a recent industry event in Santa Rosa (the Second Annual Wine and Weed Symposium, which talked about the convergence of the two industries). Specifically: the rules and regulations in California for getting into the Production Supply Chain (California’s Track-and-Trace System) for legal cannabis is arduous, expensive and complicated.

On the other hand, providing ancillary services (like what Levis Strauss did for the Gold Panning 49ers) is much less difficult.

Thanks again Van for sharing your thoughts and experiences! To learn more about Van Solkov and Happy Travelers Tours, visit HappyTravelersWeedTours.com.

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Report: UN’s International Drug War Has Failed

10/22/2018

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A report investigating the United Nation’s “war on drugs” released Sunday has found that international drug policy in the last 10 years has been a complete failure, CNN reports.

According to the report, the UN’s drug war has done nothing to reduce international rates of drug use while at the same time has negatively affected human rights, health, security, and development around the globe.

The report was published by the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC), which is composed of 177 national and international NGOs who focus on issues related to drug policy and drug abuse.

“This report is another nail in the coffin for the war on drugs. The fact that governments and the UN do not see fit to properly evaluate the disastrous impact of the last ten years of drug policy is depressingly unsurprising. Governments will meet next March at the UN and will likely rubber-stamp more of the same for the next decade in drug policy. This would be a gross dereliction of duty and a recipe for more blood spilled in the name of drug control.” — Ann Fordham, Executive Director of IDPC, in a statement

The report found that drug enforcement efforts in the last 10 years have led to heightened violence against civilians and police and the mass incarceration of otherwise innocent people.

Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark — who is a current member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy — wrote in the report’s forward that, “Since governments started collecting data on drugs in the 1990s, the cultivation, consumption and illegal trafficking of drugs have reached record levels,” and that “…the ‘war on drugs’ has resulted in millions of people murdered, disappeared, or internally displaced.

Last week, Canada became the first G7 nation to end the prohibition of cannabis, which is the most popular illegal substance in the world.

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Colorado Pushes Back vs. Denver Cannabis Lounges

10/22/2018

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A letter from five state agencies in Colorado to the Denver City Council has shot down indoor cannabis smoking or the use of cannabis at a liquor establishment, the Denver Post reports.

The letter has also called into question something that was at first thought acceptable — vaping indoors. The state indicated in the letter it wants to make sure that “all Coloradans can breathe clean air in public spaces and in workplaces, and that means protecting Coloradans from secondhand smoke as a result of tobacco, vape and marijuana.”

Denver officials are confused as to why the letter mentions vaping, which was believed to be allowed under the state’s Clean Air Act. Councilwoman Kendra Black said, “I don’t know if they’re sending a message. …But currently it is allowed.”

The letter came out strong against establishments offering both liquor and cannabis.

“This administration is concerned that allowing marijuana and alcohol in licensed premises will result in an increase in impaired roadway users. The Retail Marijuana Public Health Advisory Committee found substantial evidence that the combined use of marijuana and alcohol increases impairment and motor vehicle crash risk more than use of either substance alone.” — Excerpt from the letter

However, outside of shooting down the major issues, the state did not address many of the concerns over which the Denver City Council had sought guidance. Most of the confusion boiled down to language in Denver‘s cannabis laws that says cannabis use cannot be “open and public.” The law, however, does not define exactly what “open and public” means — in fact, weed tour buses have previously clashed with law enforcement over the term’s vague definition.

Since state regulatory agencies have declined to issue guidance on the issue, the Colorado legislature will need to offer guidance instead, hopefully in the next legislative session.

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MMJ Supporters Rally at Texas Capitol

10/22/2018

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Medical cannabis supporters met at the Texas state capitol on Saturday to rally for the reform of MMJ laws in the state, Spectrum News reports.

The rally, organized by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), was intended to show Texas legislators it’s time to change their medical cannabis laws, especially for veterans in the state who have limited treatments options for PTSD. More than 20 percent of veterans with PTSD also have a substance abuse disorder, which medical cannabis has also been shown to treat.

Political pressure to allow medical cannabis has been building in Texas. The Texas Republican party endorsed rescheduling cannabis earlier this year.

Texas Rep. Pete Sessions, a well-known enemy of medical cannabis who has blocked all cannabis legislation from reaching the House floor, is seeing increased competition in the coming midterms due to his prohibitive stance, including a new PAC dedicated to unseating him.

Meanwhile, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has said he supports decriminalization, but organizations like NORML, veterans, and patients want more comprehensive action.

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Cannabis Shortages Already Happening In Canada

10/19/2018

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Canada became the second nation in the world to legalize cannabis this week and it’s now plainly apparent that consumers’ appetite for legal cannabis is already outpacing the actual supply.

According to the CBC, both brick-and-mortar, government-run retail storefronts and the online marketplaces hosted by Canada’s licensed cannabis producers felt the strain of high consumer traffic starting Wednesday, aka Legalization Day.

Officials in Manitoba, Canada announced there was “substantially less cannabis than originally requested” and said that consumers should expect product shortages which might last for months.

In British Columbia, there is just one licensed retail storefront, though there still exist some technically illegal dispensaries who have nonetheless operated fairly openly and unhindered for years.

In Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, there are currently zero physical storefronts and the Ontario Cannabis Store, a government-run online marketplace, is currently the only option for buying legal cannabis.

While the shortages were expected, they still symbolize the ever-growing enthusiasm for cannabis and will send a message to the world that progressive cannabis reforms are a popular and potentially lucrative undertaking. And, since legalization took effect, it has emboldened Canada’s cannabis community.

Canadian MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith told CBC News in a televised interview that he is a cannabis consumer.

“Just as someone might have a glass of wine or a scotch on a Friday night, I would turn to my vaporizer. … Five years from now, no one will be interested in this question because we’ll all recognize we’re responsible adults, and this is far less harmful than alcohol, far less harmful than tobacco. And we should use it responsibly, yes, because there are potential harms.” — Canadian MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, in an interview with CBC News

Cannabis is legal for adults 18 and older (or 19 and older in certain provinces) throughout all of Canada. Currently, only cannabis buds and concentrates are legally available, but framework establishing regulations for cannabis edibles, beverages, and other infused products are expected.

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Colorado Still Breaking Cannabis Sales Records

10/19/2018

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Combined medical and adult-use cannabis sales in Colorado for 2018 have exceeded $1 billion as of August, according to the Denver Post.

August is the earliest month yet for the state to have cracked that sales milestone. The state of Colorado has collected $200 million in tax revenue from that $1 Billion as well. The state is on track to break its previous sales record of $1.5 Billion before the end of the year.

Sales growth was seen in edibles and concentrates, with nearly explosive growth in demand for the latter. Edible sales grew 13.8 percent while concentrate sales nearly doubled, growing 94.6 percent in the same time period.

Experts like Wana Brands CEO Nancy Whiteman said the growth is unsurprising. Whiteman attributes the increase in edible and concentrate sales to the changing market demographic — specifically, more women and elder people.

“I think in the early years of legalization a dominant story in the media was ‘This is not your parents’ THC. It is much stronger and you have to be careful, and I think that was off-putting for a lot of people who didn’t necessarily want that experience, but now there’s a lot more good options of them.” — Nancy Whiteman, CEO of Wana Brands

The explosive growth of the market is simmering down, however. Growth numbers in Colorado year over year are less exponential, having grown only 2.6 percent compared to the same point last year. There was 18.7 percent growth from 2016-2017.

More predictable growth or even maintenance of growth is to be expected as any market matures. What remains interesting is how consumer choices continue to move away from smoking and towards edibles and concentrates, an ongoing trend that shows no sign of slowing.

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First Stoned Driving Citation Issued One Hour After Legalization

10/19/2018

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A police officer in Winnipeg, Manitoba in Canada issued the nation’s first citation for stoned driving just an hour after legalization, according to The Drive.

While police were unsure if the cannabis had been obtained legally, they did not deem it worthy of an investigation and instead only issued the now-normal citation. Considering the hour — 1 a.m. on October 17 — they believed it likely was illegally obtained but were not concerned with that detail of the traffic stop.

Also, Canadian drivers should be aware of an important detail relating to packaged — and even unconsumed — edibles.

“If somebody has an edible in a car and we can prove it, that’s also an offense. Sometimes we can, sometimes we can’t. And when edibles are legally produced commercially, then it might be a little bit easier because there’ll be packaging and things that might be visible.” — Gord Spado, Winnipeg Police Service traffic division Inspector

Cannabis of any type may not even be stored in an accessible place while the vehicle is in motion on a public road in Canada.

The fine totaled CA$672, which is the standard amount for consuming cannabis in a vehicle. The fine for cannabis not stored properly in an inaccessible place is CA$237.

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Are Canadian Cannabis Stock Profits Exaggerated?

10/18/2018

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Cannabis companies traded publicly in Canada may appear more profitable than they actually are due to corporate income reporting standards that differ from U.S. markets, The Motley Fool reports.

Cannabis stocks have recently been turning heads with unexpected early profits. Some companies have already reported profits this year, despite the fact that seeing profitability so early in the development of a new market is unusual. Some people see it as a sign that the “Green Rush” is officially underway — the early profitability claims, however, may be misleading.

Companies traded publicly in Canada are required to report income using International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Under these rules, cannabis is considered an agricultural product, and agricultural products are measured by the fair value of the crop, minus any selling costs, before it is actually sold. This means that cannabis producers are basically just guessing at future income — it’s not guaranteed.

The placement of this already questionable asset relative to a company’s bottom line marks yet another quirk to IFRS that has resulted in profitability miscommunications. Canadian agricultural companies — including cannabis producers — are allowed to place their approximate asset either above or below their bottom line. Canadian publicly-traded cannabis companies have chosen to place the before-harvest value of their crop above the line, which reduces the cost of sales in the early stages of reporting, leading to the false appearance of overall year-over-year profitability.

Cannabis investors should understand the nature of IFRS reporting and should study closely any company they might buy stock, particularly once armed with that knowledge. Cannabis was legalized federally throughout Canada yesterday, which is expected to help these companies become more profitable in the future, but it will take some time.

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FDA Cannabis Rescheduling Comments Are Flooding In

10/18/2018

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The FDA has received input from more than 2,000 individuals on the rescheduling of cannabis and other drugs just over a week after putting out the call for public comment, Marijuana Moment reports.

The FDA announced on October 10 it was seeking public comment about the “abuse potential, actual abuse, medical usefulness, trafficking, and impact of scheduling changes on availability for medical use” for cannabis and other psychotropic substances currently scheduled.

Many comments include insightful personal stories and other anecdotes about the medicinal value of cannabis.

Some highlights:

From an anonymous commenter:

“I have severe chronic musculoskeletal pain from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome that has not responded to any medication. Pregabalin made me suicidally depressed and caused me to self-injure again after years of stopping that behavior.

“I live in Illinois and have a medical cannabis card. Cannabis is the only medication that has alleviated the existential dread that comes with knowing that I will continue to experience terrible pain for every moment of the rest of my life. It is a profoundly effective pain medication, appetite stimulant, and sleep aid. It is also physically impossible to die from a cannabis overdose unless you have an underlying heart condition, which just emphasizes the need to reduce harm by legalizing it so doctors can sensibly discuss its use with their patients.”

From Benjamin Schmidt:

“More evidence continues to show it has immense health benefits and is exponentially less harmful than Alcohol. Evidence shows it helps in many avenues and also greatly in withdrawal and transitioning out of hard drugs such as opiates and methamphetamine. In efforts to help control and reduce substance abuse among these dangerous drugs, we should follow suite with Canada and remove it from Federal classification as it is.”

From James Gould:

“The War on Drugs has shown to be a failure. End the War on Drugs – arresting people for personal possession does not reduce drug use rates, does not reduce drug overdose rates, and does not reduce youth access to substances. Our drug problem is one of public health, not a criminal problem. We should be joining countries such as Portugal, Canada, and the Netherlands in moving towards sensible drug policies based in compassion and reason.”

Of course, not all respondents were in favor of loosening cannabis restrictions.

Eric R. Eliason of Utah writes:

“Hi my name is Eric R. Eliason and I live in Provo, UT. While in college I took two puffs of a joint and my grades suffered.
I usually get As in math but the next semester I got Fs in all my classes (except an A in tennis where I cheated).
Marijuana impairs judgment and stays in your system for a very long time. Drugs are bad for you.
We need critical thinkers for our economy.

They say it stunts your growth if you do it before 25, but even after 25 you can still grow neurons.
It messes with the brain in many ways that are documented.”

The deadline for submissions to the FDA is October 31st. If you haven’t said your piece, now’s the time.

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CannMed 2018 Opens October 22-24 at UCLA Luskin Center

10/18/2018

by Featured Announcement

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Third Annual Conference moves west to reflect growing importance of California’s cannabis market, opens with Career Fair hosted by California’s EDD

WOBURN, Mass. — The nation’s premier medical cannabis conference, CannMed 2018, will be held at UCLA’s Luskin Conference Center October 22-24. The Conference is hosted by Medicinal Genomics, a pioneer in cannabis genomics technology and DASH Digital Cash.

CannMed will open with a pre-conference Continuing Medical Education (CME) workshop on October 22, 2018, where medical professionals can earn up to 8 hours of continuing medical education credits, and a Cannabis Career Fair presented by the State of California’s Employment Development Department (EDD). The Fair is free to job seekers and CannMed participants, and it will feature presentations by expert staff of the EDD for California-licensed cannabis companies and more than 75 exhibitors looking to fill jobs in every aspect of the rapidly growing industry.

At the Conference, more than 50 of the world’s top medical cannabis researchers and clinicians will present compelling case studies and the latest research on the efficacy of treating a variety of medical conditions, from cancer to opioid addiction, with cannabis. Cannabis industry leaders will also share the latest innovations in cultivation, testing, and the use of blockchain technology to improve transparency and product safety.

CannMed 2018 Session Topics Will Include:

Treating Cancer with Cannabis
Treating Neurological Disorders with Cannabis
Treating Pain and Opioid Addiction with Cannabis
Cannabis and Women’s Health
Applying Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Technology to the Cannabis Industry
Developments in Cannabis Genetics
Cannabis Regulations and Safety Testing Techniques
Innovations in Cultivation and Product Development

“We’re excited to be holding the 3rd annual CannMed on the west coast,” said Kevin McKernan, Medicinal Genomics’ Chief Science Officer. “It’s a move that reflects the growing gravitational pull of the cannabis industry in the West with the confluence of the industry’s most exciting developments — endocannabinoid-based therapies, genomics and cryptocurrency. It’s on pace to be our biggest and most important conference yet.”

Some of the presenters headlining CannMed 2018 are:

Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the research pioneer who discovered the endocannabinoid system and key active components of cannabis.
Dr. Michael Dor, Head of Community Medicine Division – Israeli Ministry of Health; Director of Emergency Walk-In Clinic – Jerusalem, Israel; and Deputy Director of All Medical Services – Israeli Ministry of Health.
Dr. Bonni Goldstein, Medical Director of Canna-Centers, a California-based medical practice devoted to educating patients about the use of cannabis for serious and chronic medical conditions and medical advisor for weedmaps.com.
Catherine Jacobson, Director of Clinical Research at Tilray and responsible for identifying opportunities for clinical research partnerships, fulfilling Tilray’s goal of advancing knowledge of cannabinoid science by partnering with physicians and medical institutions.
Dr. Dustin Sulak, Founder of Integr8 Health and osteopathic general practitioner, He also founded Healer.com, a medical cannabis patient education resource, and Cannabis Expertise, a medical cannabis continuing medical education curriculum.

For a full list of presenters and the latest conference information visit www.cannmedevents.com; follow CannMed Events on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; or follow hashtags #CannMed #CannMed2018. Note to editors: Passes are available for accredited media upon request.

About Medicinal Genomics Corporation

Medicinal Genomics Corporation has pioneered the genomics of cannabis to build a stronger scientific foundation for cannabis-based products. Our unmatched expertise in genetic science has helped cultivars, dispensaries and testing laboratories characterize and understand the quality and consistency of cannabis to ensure patients and consumers have access to safe, quality cannabis.

About DASH Cryptocurrency

DASH is a unique cryptocurrency designed to make instant, private payments online or in-store using a secure open-source platform hosted by thousands of users around the world. At DASH’s core is a unique fully-incentivized peer-to-peer network where miners are rewarded for securing the blockchain and masternodes are rewarded for facilitating instasend and privatesend functionalities. DASH’s unique governance model enables masternode voting on treasury spending and as a result grew faster than Bitcoin in 2017.

For more information on all CannMed 2018 activities and to register, please visit www.cannmedevents.com

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Rep. Blumenauer Calls On Democrats to Legalize in 2019

10/18/2018

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