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In testimony to the House Financial Services Committee, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he supports allowing canna-businesses access to banks, according to a Forbes report, adding that the department is “reviewing the existing guidance” and doesn’t want to rescind it without having a new policy in place.

“I assure you that we don’t want bags of cash. We want to make sure that we can collect our necessary taxes and other things.” – Mnuchin to the House Financial Services Committee via Forbes

The pressure is on federal regulators to address the cannabis industry banking issue. Last Month, Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded the Cole Memo, which provided protections from federal interference for state-approved cannabis businesses; however, regulators at the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) subsequently said they were not informed prior to the policy change and indicated that the agency’s 2014 guidance was still in place. Later that month, attorney generals from 17 states, Washington, D.C., and Guam sent a letter to Congress urging them to advance legislation allowing legal canna-businesses “to bring that commerce into the banking system.” A bi-partisan group of senators also sent a letter to the agency asking them to explicitly allow banks to serve the industry.

According to Sept 2017 data from FinCEN, more than 300 banks and nearly 100 credit unions are currently providing services to legal cannabis operators.

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A field of CBD-rich cannabis plants at a farm outside of Portland, Oregon.

Adult-Use Cannabis Bill Introduced in Georgia

2/07/2018

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Georgia Democratic state Sen. Curt Thompson has introduced a measure to legalize cannabis for recreational use in the state, WSB-TV2 reports. Thompson estimates that a taxed-and-regulated cannabis economy could bring in $340 million a year in tax revenues.

This isn’t the first time that Thompson has introduced adult-use legislation; however, he indicated that this is the first time he has gained any co-sponsors to the measure, which would amend the state’s constitution to allow for cannabis legalization.

“When I first started this, I was the only sponsor. There’s now six sponsors on the retail bill. There’s about 17 or 18 on the medicinal marijuana statute.” – Thompson to WSB-TV2

Thompson acknowledges that legalization is an uphill battle in the deep south, but that “historical” and national “political trends” are on the side of cannabis reforms.

The chances of legalization in Georgia are slim. The Legislature is controlled by conservative Republicans and it’s an election year, which will likely prevent most lawmakers from supporting what is viewed as controversial legislation. Moreover, all of the bill’s co-sponsors are Democrats, which will make it harder to gain traction in either legislative chamber.

The measure has been moved to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.

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Marketing Decisions: The Value of Casting a Wide Net for Your Cannabis Brand

2/07/2018

by Doreen Sullivan

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When it comes to marketing your cannabis brand, you need to cast the widest net you possibly can — but what does that mean? How do you navigate an ocean of marketing choices without drowning in the clutter?

As a cannabis business, there are so many ways to get discovered, collaborate, advertise, and associate yourself, but it can quickly become overwhelming. Many options are expensive and not feasible for a small business owner. They say it takes seven times for a product to be seen before it’s noticed by a consumer, so how do you get there without breaking the bank? These are the things you need to know to keep your boat afloat.

Be open to possibility

We are a progressive industry, and the creative possibilities are endless. Many business owners are quick to advertise with traditional media options, but those can be costly and not the right option for you. So where do you go? Look at every connection you make and find the opportunity. Our industry is abundant with pioneers committed to helping other business owners succeed.

Do you need photography for a product? Reach out to photographers who are talented and looking to break into the cannabis industry. Look at the local college creative departments. There are thousands of people who are looking for an opportunity in the cannabis space. Help them find one. This dynamic creates a symbiotic relationship that can ultimately benefit you both.

Need packaging recommendations? Work with local firms who are interested in gaining cannabis clients. Many firms will offer a lower rate to a company who is equally committed to promoting them in the cannabis industry. Find the creative opportunity to partner with people who are also navigating the cannabis landscape.

Add some variety

I’m a huge fan of non-traditional advertising and it happens to be great for our industry. Since traditional advertising dollars add up quickly and can carry multiple legal restrictions, I suggest you try some non-traditional approaches to get noticed. Look closely at your surroundings and find the hidden gems right under your nose.

For example, consider Comic-Con: I’ve had the opportunity to work this iconic event for a few entertainment companies in the past, and advertising costs there can be outrageous so we chose a more creative path. We decorated a few coffee shops near the venue rather than pay the huge venue advertising fees. We brought flash dancers in costume to perform to the thousands of people waiting in line to get in, and we brought in 20 Harley’s with bearded riders wearing our branded merchandise to drive up and down the streets promoting our client’s new project. Just the sound alone will make you turn your head to look! We knocked out several touch points before consumers even walked into Comic-Con at a fraction of the cost.

Widen your target market

I have worked hard to get noticed in the cannabis industry. Like many of you, I have attended cannabis trade shows either as a vendor or an attendee or as part of a collaboration. These shows are great and amazing opportunities surround them — but if you ask yourself what you might you be missing, and look beyond your obvious customer, you may find yourself pleasantly surprised.

Here’s another great example: last summer, I attended our local Pride festival as a vendor. I went in with few expectations and high hopes for some positive feedback on my new line of vases. We were a huge hit! I think the LGBTQ community deals with stigmas so often that they relate to our industry completely. Realizing this potential target market has benefitted our company beyond the event and now the LGBTQ community is one of our top target markets. I’m planning a Pride vending tour this summer and so many fabulous new followers are having a blast with my product.

What other industries connect to your product or service? Cast that net beyond just cannabis! Reel in the canna-curious customers!

Don’t be afraid to try something different

We are creatures of habit and often limit ourselves as a result — it surprises me how many people talk about their one or two channels of marketing. Our industry has many restrictions, and they’re all the more reason to try something innovative and fresh.

One of the fears many have about trying new opportunities is the fear of failure. We become so consumed with fear that we find ourselves not doing anything. So let me be clear… there are going to be moments when you fail. When this happens, remember this:

EVERYTHING IS AN OPPORTUNITY, NOT AN OBSTACLE.

What did you learn from your experience? How can you create an opportunity out of it? Who can you collaborate with at the event you attended? There will always be unexpected connections who wind up in your net. Your job is to figure out how to find the opportunity for your business when reviewing them.

It is our role as leaders in the cannabis industry to help others explore opportunities while moving our own agendas forward. Some of your choices aren’t going to be successful at first glance, and that is where you must take a breath and search for the opportunity you aren’t seeing. Think about who you want to connect with; what do THEY need? How can you present your product or service as a way to solve their problem? What’s “floating their boat”?

When casting a wide net in the cannabis industry, you don’t always know what you’ll “catch” each day, but you’ll never catch anything if you stop fishing. Approach each challenge as an opportunity to grow and find a creative solution.

And remember — go as far as you can see, and when you get there, you’ll see further.

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Israeli PM Netanyahu Blocks MMJ Export Plan Pending Review

2/07/2018

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is preventing medical cannabis companies from exporting products – a move that was approved in August by Finance and Health Ministers – pending a policy review by the Health Ministry and the National Economic Council chairman, according to a Haaretz report. The program suspension comes after the Public Security Ministry released data suggesting “spillover” of medical cannabis products into the illicit market.

MK Tamar Zandberg, chair of the Knesset Committee on Drug Abuse, lamented the decision, saying officials would “live to regret the decision to stop important progress that Israel has already started making, which will erase the competitive advantage that Israel has developed in the marijuana market that is breaking ground worldwide.” She said she would convene the Drug Abuse Committee for an emergency hearing on the issue.

“Netanyahu’s decision to stop marijuana exports is a destructive one stemming from ignorance and fear. Israel merited being an agricultural power, and, yes, in the marijuana field, too. It’s good for the economy, it’s good for agriculture and it’s good for the sick” – Zandberg to Haaretz

The Finance and Health Ministries estimated that cannabis exports could bring in between NIS 1 billion ($279 million) to NIS 4 billion ($1.1 billion) in revenues.

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Seattle CannaCon to Feature Cannabis Career Fair Next Week

2/06/2018

by Featured Announcement

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CannaCon, one of the cannabis industry’s premier networking and educational events, is coming to the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle next week on February 15-17.

The event promises hours upon hours of engagement with some of the industry’s brightest minds and most noteworthy pioneers, but this year — in addition to the regular lineup of expert speakers and educational panel discussions — tickets to CannaCon Seattle include entry to the first-ever CannaCon Career Fair, produced in partnership with Mac&Fulton Talent Partners.

Running from 10:20 am to 4:20 pm on Saturday, Feb. 17, the CannaCon Career Fair will offer everything a prospective cannabis worker might want to help get their foot in the door. The career fair will be a general mingling of cannabis employers and prospective employees. Company representatives will be there, searching the crowd for the right hire, and hopeful employees will have access to informational booths illuminating the many different cannabis career paths.

Career fair participants can expect to find:

Guidelines for job-searching in the cannabis industry
A resume writing workshop to help identify and beef up your qualifications for the cannabis space
The ability to hear from/speak with cannabis industry operators about their typical workdays
Information and presentations about pursuing a career in the cannabis industry
Explanation of ideal candidate traits and skills, complete with print-outs and questionnaire cards to help practice for the real deal.

All attendees to the CannaCon expo are invited to attend the career fair, which is conveniently timed for the final day of the three-day event so attendees won’t be missing the conference’s keynotes.

This year, keynote presentations will include Washington’s Governor Jay Inslee and Vincente Fox, the former President of Mexico. Gov. Inslee will speak on Thursday, Feb. 15 about Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ act of rescinding of the Cole Memo and how Washington state will continue to stand by and expand its voter-approved, regulated cannabis industry; President Fox will speak on Saturday, Feb. 16 to the perils and downsides of the Drug War and the many advantages of ending prohibition.

Attendees will also have access to one of the most extensive and all-inclusive exhibition floors in the cannabis industry. With more than 400 exhibitors from around the country coming to Seattle this year, the networking opportunities alone should be game-changing for entrepreneurs and investors alike.

CannaCon Seattle kicks off in just over a week, so don’t wait to buy tickets — purchase now using the promotion code CANNACON30 and you will receive a 30 percent discount off your ticket price.

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A sunset settling behind a row of small, toy American flags.

Republican Senator Says Cannabis Legalization Debate ‘Likely’ This Congress

2/06/2018

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In a letter from Republican Sen. Thom Tills to North Carolina attorney Rod Kight, who works with cannabis companies, Tills suggested that cannabis legalization “will likely be discussed this Congress.” The letter from the Senate Judiciary Committee member was obtained by Business Insider.

According to the report, the letter to Tills was to urge him to support the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2017 and the Marijuana Justice Act which would both effectively legalize cannabis federally.

“Proposals to legalize marijuana should not be taken lightly. I understand that many individuals believe marijuana use is benign. The fact remains, however, that marijuana use can result in adverse health consequences, particularly among adolescents. It goes without saying that a product which has adverse psychological and physiological impacts on its user can ultimately harm third parties. For me, it is crucial that we continue to educate ourselves on all the short-term and long-term consequences of marijuana use before we consider unrestricted legalization of the drug. It is my goal to pursue policies that protect our nation’s youth from the dangerous consequences of illegal drug use and help produce productive and responsible members of society.” – Tills in the letter to Kight

Tills is a co-sponsor of the MEDS Act which would encourage cannabis research on a federal level.

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The Indiana State Capitol Building photographed on a sunny, Autumn day.

Indiana Senate Approves Bill Allowing Broad Use of CBD

2/06/2018

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Indiana’s Senate has approved legislation to legalize CBD products in the state, according to an NWI.com report. The measure passed the chamber 35-13, while a similar bill was approved unanimously by the House last week. Both authorizes the manufacture, sale, and use of CBD products containing less than 0.3 percent THC but, in order to move to Gov. Eric Holcomb’s desk, the Senate must vote on the House proposal or vice versa.

The vote comes more than a month after state Attorney General Curtis Hill released an official opinion maintaining that CBD products were unlawful in the state unless possessed by an epilepsy patient as allowed under the state’s limited medical cannabis law. The following week, Holcomb said that retailers had 60 days to remove the products from their shelves.

State Sen. Mike Young, the bill’s sponsor in the Senate, pointed out that since the passage of the CBD-only medical cannabis law, no one in the state has been arrested for possessing CBD oils.

“My hope with this bill is that more Hoosiers will be able to use this product to treat their ailments. Since we are limiting how much THC can be in the product, there is no risk for people to use this to get high.” – Young to NWI.com

Both the Senate and House versions classify CBD as an industrial hemp product which prevents it from being considered a controlled substance under federal law.

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Virginia Legislature Approves ‘Let Doctors Decide’ MMJ Expansions

2/06/2018

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Both chambers of Virginia’s Legislature have unanimously approved a measure allowing physicians to prescribe CBD or THC-A oil for anyone who may need it, according to a News Leader report. In the Senate, the measure was championed by Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant, a doctor, who said the decision to try the oil should be between a physician and patient, rather than the Legislature.

“I finally decided that I needed to advocate for the physicians being the decision makers. We, physicians, are the ones that follow the literature and know which treatments are best for different conditions. The literature on medical cannabis is going to be evolving rapidly now, and because of this, it is not a decision that should be in the hands of the legislature. Instead, it should be with physicians.” – Dunnavant to the Leader

Jenn Michelle Pedini, executive director of Virginia NORML, said that the measure could help the state stem its opioid crisis.

“Medical cannabis laws have demonstrated significant impact on the opiate crisis. States with such laws see on average a 25 percent reduction in opioid fatalities. We are losing three Virginians every day to opioid overdose. It’s time to give doctors in the Commonwealth the ability to utilize this powerful tool in mitigating addiction and overdose.” – Pedini to the Leader

The measure vastly expands on the state’s limited medical cannabis program. Gov. Ralph Northam, also a physician, is on record supporting so-called “let doctors decide” medical cannabis laws.

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House Democrats Seek Review of Cole Memo Repeal in Letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman

2/06/2018

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In a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Bob Goodlatte, 11 Democrats are calling for a hearing by the body to review Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ decision to rescind the cannabis protections of the Cole Memo, according to a copy of the letter obtained by Vice. The Democrats say they are “deeply concerned” by the action which “will promote an inefficient use of limited taxpayer resources and subvert the will of voters” in states with legal cannabis programs.

“Rather than targeting individuals in states that had legalized marijuana and consequently set up complex regulatory systems, [under the Cole Memo] the government focused on priorities that were significant to the federal government. These included preventing gangs and cartels from profiting from marijuana sales and ensuring that state-authorized marijuana was not used to hide other illegal activities.” – Democrats’ letter to Goodlatte

The letter is signed by Democratic representatives from states permitting both medical and recreational cannabis use along with Tennessee Rep. Steve Cohen, who represents a state that does not allow cannabis use in any form.

On Jan. 24, 52 members of Congress sent a letter directly to President Donald Trump seeking to have the memo reinstated. That letter included signatories from both sides of the aisle.

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A California cannabis patient's indoor home grow box/closet, complete with LED grow lights and several mature cannabis plants.

Cannabis Home-Grow Bill Introduced in New Jersey

2/05/2018

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New Jersey Deputy Majority Leader and Lawrence Township municipal prosecutor Reed Gusciora has introduced a bill to allow adults to cultivate up to six cannabis plants if adult-use legislation is approved in the state, the Philadelphia Enquirer reports. The measure, which would be “melded” with the recreational use legislation introduced by Sen. Nicolas Scutari, would require the plants to be grown indoors.

“Looking at the marijuana laws in place in California, Oregon, Washington and the like, I thought that homegrown should be an essential element of the New Jersey law, too.” – Gusciora to the Inquirer

The prosecutor calls cannabis enforcement “an expensive proposition for everyone,” noting that the state foots the bill for the police officers, lab technicians, and attorneys to try each case.

“Ninety percent of the arrests on the municipal level are about a joint found in an ashtray. The person faces up to six months in jail, a $1,000 fine, a six-month loss of their driver’s license and $800 in other fees that the state assesses.” – Gusciora to the Inquirer

Gov. Phil Murphy strongly supported cannabis legalization on the campaign trail; however, a Feb. 1 poll by Fairleigh Dickinson University found just 42 percent support for adult-use legalization in the state.

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German Police Association Calls for Cannabis Decriminalization

2/05/2018

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A German police association is calling for the decriminalization of cannabis throughout the nation, and André Schulz, the head of the organization, predicts that “cannabis will not be banned for long in Germany,” according to a report from The Local.

“The prohibition of cannabis has historically been seen as arbitrary and has not yet been implemented in an intelligent and effective manner. In the history of mankind there has never been a society without the use of drugs; this is something that has to be accepted.” – Schulz, head of the Association of Criminal Officers, to the Bild newspaper via The Local

Schulz suggested that officials should focus on education for consumers and youth but said that driving under the influence of cannabis should remain outlawed, noting that, under current law, there are “uncertainties and loopholes” between laws for driving while impaired by cannabis versus alcohol. According to the report, Germans can have their licenses revoked if passengers are caught with cannabis in their vehicle, while only drivers can be punished for consuming alcohol and driving. The report notes that German courts do not have a consensus on how much cannabis can be consumed before a driver is deemed impaired.

Could legalization be on the horizon? In March, Germany implemented a more broad and comprehensive medical cannabis regime which has led to more than 13,000 new applications for access to the program, according to a report from three German health insurance companies. However, a survey by research institute Forsa found that just 34 percent of Germans believed cannabis should be legal for adult use, compared to 63 percent opposed.

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A Cocker Spaniel dog jumps for a treat thrown to his mouth.

Cornell University Study Finds Hemp-Oil-for-Dogs Product ‘Efficacious’ for Pain

2/05/2018

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A Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine study has found that a hemp oil product for dogs manufactured by ElleVet Sciences is “efficacious for pain in dogs with osteoarthritis, chronic joint pain and geriatric pain and soreness; with dramatic beneficial effects in our more geriatric patients.” The eight-month study, the first of its kind, was placebo-controlled and double blind.

A key component of the study was to determine how the product is metabolized and how to identify dosing accuracy and frequency. The soft chews also include glucosamine and chondroitin, two naturally-derived chemicals believed to improve mobility in arthritic dogs.

According to a press release announcing the study’s results, more than 80 percent of dogs who used ElleVet Mobility soft chews saw a dramatic improvement. Vets who worked on the study called the product “a game changer that will change the face of veterinary medicine.”

Dr. Joseph Wakshlag, an associate professor and Cornell and veterinarian who led the study, wrote a letter to the veterinarian community endorsing the product, adding that, due to the “very promising initial results” the researchers will continue working with ElleVet Mobility to examine whether it can treat post-surgical and oncology pain.

The Cornell, ElleVet partnership is also conducting a study on a hemp oil product for cats known as ElleVet Feline.

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View from under the canopy of a licensed indoor cannabis grow operation.

South Korea Lawmaker Pushing for MMJ Reforms

2/05/2018

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A South Korean lawmaker is urging his colleagues to legalize cannabis for medical use, saying that the nation’s drug laws are having adverse effects and leading to arrests of people buying hemp oil, according to Korea Biomedical Review.

“The law strictly forbids the sale and purchase of cannabis, which led to a recent case of a mother being arrested and sentenced in court for buying cannabis oil from abroad to treat her son with brain cancer.” – Rep. Shin Chang-hyun in the Review report

Under the proposal, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety would need to approve the medical conditions for access to the program. Under current laws, cocaine, morphine, and opium are allowed to be used in some medical cases; however, cannabis remains banned.

Cannabis is the second most smuggled illicit drug in South Korea – behind methamphetamines – according to Korea Customs Service data, comprising 13.6 kilograms of the roughly 70 kilograms of illegal drugs discovered by customs officials last year, the report says.

The KCS claims that California legalization could lead to more cannabis being sent to South Korea because the state has the U.S.’s largest Korean community.

The reforms face long odds, however, as the nation has a reputation as a “drug-free” country and has a particularly hardline stance against cannabis.

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Ean Seeb: Balancing Business and Philanthropy in the Cannabis Space

2/02/2018

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Ean Seeb is co-founder and partner at Denver Relief Consulting and has been navigating Colorado’s medical and adult-use cannabis industries since the beginning.

In this episode of the Ganjapreneur.com podcast, our host TG Branfalt sits down with Ean for a chat about Colorado’s early days, his two-time role as chairman for the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA), how he has balanced smart business practices with an instinct for philanthropy, and some of the other cannabis-themed projects that he has recently gotten involved in — including the recent buyout of High Times and his strategic involvement in cannabis brands throughout several different states.

Listen to the interview below, or keep scrolling down to read through a full transcript of this Ganjapreneur.com podcast episode!

Listen to the podcast:

Read the transcript:

TG Branfalt: Hey there. I’m your host, TG Branfalt and you are listening to the Ganjapreneur.com Podcast where we try to bring you actionable information and normalize cannabis through the stories of ganjapreneurs, activists and industry stakeholders. Today I’m joined by Ean Seeb. He is the co-founder and partner of Denver Relief Consulting and he’s got, you’ve sort of got your fingers all over this industry, man. Before we get into that, tell me about yourself. How is it that you got started in this space?

Ean Seeb: Well first of all, thank you very much for having me on your show. I’m excited to spend a few minutes with you today, Tim.

TG Branfalt: I’m delighted to have you, really.

Ean Seeb: Oh, thank you. I feel the same way. How did I get started? The short story is I was helping, I learned of a doctor who was writing patient recommendations to people who had legitimate reasons to have medical marijuana in Colorado so long as they had medical records. I got my medical cannabis license in early 2008. Late 2007, early 2008. As a result of that, I recognized that people didn’t know how to go about doing that. I started from there, and it took off.

TG Branfalt: I had read a bit that you were in real estate before starting businesses in the cannabis space. What’s interesting to me is you’re probably the fifth or sixth person that’s appeared on this show that actually has that background. Can you tell me how those two industries sort of work together and why there is a lot of people who were in real estate that end up migrating to the cannabis space?

Ean Seeb: Sure. Certainly from my own experience, I had several different jobs. Out of college I was doing some IT stuff, but I really came to the understanding that I work best for myself and that having a boss was not the way that I wanted to live the rest of my life, so that’s why I chose to get into real estate. I was involved in the foreclosure market. At the time Colorado was leading the nation in 2006, ’07, ’08 in foreclosures. We were a little bit ahead of the curve. As that started to peter out, is when I got my medical cannabis license.

As far as the crossover, I think that as I was just suggesting, so many people like to work for themselves. Real estate affords people the opportunity to do that and real estate, as with any other industry, is cyclical so when you’re in kind of the low end of it where there’s not as much on the market and not as much opportunity, I think it’s natural that people who have an entrepreneurial spirit are going to start looking around for other things.

Although I was still doing okay in real estate, the reason why I actually left real estate is because cannabis starting take up so much of my time because it was getting so successful that I didn’t have the opportunity to do both, but I really feel that the entrepreneurial crossover allows for people to naturally move from real estate into cannabis.

TG Branfalt: Describe now your experience in the early stages of Colorado’s market and eventual migration to adult use.

Ean Seeb: Sure. In the early stages it was crazy, TG. We started off as a delivery service, so the way that we started was we put in $4,000. I threw in $2,000, Kayvan threw in $2,000, and our other business partner threw in $2,000 worth of cannabis at the time when it was $4,000 a pound. We bought some car magnets from Vistaprint and bought some business cards and put a tiny ad in Westword, the Village Voice Media on the back page, the outside cover, that said, “Denver Relief…We Deliver.” We started this delivery service.

In the early days, it really was kind of the wild west. We followed all laws that were on the books, which was that we were only selling to patients and we only sold what we were allowed to sell. We only carried what we were legitimately authorized to carry through Amendment 20 of the Colorado Constitution, which is the original amendment to our Constitution that allowed for medical marijuana.

There weren’t a lot of rules. We had a couple negative things happen in the beginning, or some challenges. My original business partner, who we got rid of early on, didn’t follow our business protocol and he got carjacked making a delivery the first time to a stranger. Everything ended up okay. They ended up with some cannabis and some money. The car was found, nobody got hurt. Nobody that we were aware of.

Then we had a run-in with the Denver Vice squad and their Drug Task Force network, and that was because we were making a delivery and it was in a Burger King and Starbucks parking lot because the first time we’re meeting somebody we like to do it in a public space for obvious safety reasons, and there was a security guard, it happens to be near the University of Colorado downtown, and there was a security guard guarding the lot to make sure students didn’t park in the lot and go to class, and he saw this interaction going and he actually called the police. I showed up, the police showed up, and in the end they asked us if we wanted to press charges against the guy who called the cops because he pulled my delivery driver out of his car without being authorized to do so. In fact, we weren’t violating or breaking any laws. Yeah, it was pretty crazy. It was pretty crazy.

We’ve had some crazy stories. I did get followed by a crime syndicate early on. It was, we believe, a mob syndicate here in Denver. It had to do with us stealing their phone number very early on. Our phone number of our dispensary, before we sold it, was 303-420-MEDS and when we got the phone number originally the phone company called us back and said, “We messed up. You can’t have that number,” and that it belonged to somebody else. It’s another long story, but we ported it over to a cell phone and then we got followed and we had a conversation with some people and luckily I’m still here today to tell the tale.

TG Branfalt: You described sort of this early-going wild west. When the market moved over to adult use, what’d you do then?

Ean Seeb: We waited. Well first there was the whole regulations of medical use. This was prior to medical regulations being enacted that actually allowed for the sale and distribution through dispensaries. We had to set up the regulatory regime for that first in Colorado, and that took a few years to get going and then we had the election in 2012 and it authorized adult use cannabis to be sold beginning January 1, 2014.

What did we do? We waited. We were not the first to do it this time. We took a little bit more of a wait and see approach, rather than being the first ones to open. There was a lot of uncertainty as to whether the feds would come in immediately and shut people down, whether or not they would be a target, whether or not it would be good for medical cannabis dispensaries. Certainly I was in favor of it. Many people in the industry were actually opposed to it because they thought that it was going to welcome the federal government coming in and shutting our medical regime down.

TG Branfalt: You’ve been involved since the early days. The rules keep changing. The rules continue to change. There’s some new laws taking effect within Colorado that were signed by the governor. Can you tell me about these rules and what’s your reaction to them and the industry reaction?

Ean Seeb: Well there’s rule-making that’s going on right now. There’s work groups meeting. I think there’s five different work groups that are meeting and there’s several different changes that are being proposed, but with every step of the way, there’s going to be some pushback from the industry that sees in general that some of the regulations are very expensive and onerous. In some capacity, the industry wants to see the rules change in a positive way and that there’s perhaps less regulation for things that we realize that there has been overregulation on.

The governor’s always signing different, not always, but has been a pretty good supporter over the past couple years, but it seems like they’ve had to make lots of changes and perhaps what you may be referring to is that the governor had to call a special session of our State Legislature back into session because there was a small drafting error and the error actually prohibited the state from being able to move tax money over to schools and rec centers and youth prevention programs and it was done in error, so the governors called everybody back in to fix that. I’m sure that we’ll see some other things that are slipped in as well.

TG Branfalt: You also for a time served as the chair of the National Cannabis Industry Association. What’s the importance of these organizations, especially in Colorado, which has a far more mature market than most other states right now?

Ean Seeb: Yeah. National Cannabis Industry Association, for your listeners who don’t know, it’s the largest trade association in the country for cannabis operators. In fact, it’s the only national trade association that was created specifically for operators and we work on Capitol Hill. There’s over 1400 members and we lobby the legislative branch to try and change the laws so that we can be treated like any other business.

The industry is of tantamount importance. We’ve been told by legislators time and time again that they have supported what it is that we’re doing and cosponsored and gotten behind bills as a result of their constituents coming in and talking to them about cannabis and the fact that it’s not as dangerous as people thought, that youth use is not going up and in many cases going down, and their state seat to regulate it, it’s probably better for the legislators in those states that they back their people and the will of the voters. In most cases that’s how medical cannabis exists in 30+ states. There’s a few where it’s passed through the Legislature, but by and large it’s always been a vote of the people.

TG Branfalt: I want to talk to you a bit more about the Denver Relief Consulting and the charity work that you’ve done throughout your time in this industry, but before we get into that, we got to take a short break. This is Ganjapreneur.com Podcast. I’m TG Branfalt.

If you are looking for a job in the rapidly growing and highly competitive cannabis industry, Ganjapreneur.com is the place to look. Visit the Ganjapreneur job board today to browse current openings with cannabis companies throughout the United States, from entry level bud-tender positions to executive level career opportunities. You can also create a profile and upload your resume to be discovered by cannabis recruiters. Visit our job board at Jobs.Ganjapreneur.com to create your profile today.

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TG Branfalt: Hey, welcome back to the Ganjapreneur.com Podcast. I’m your host, TG Branfalt, here with Ean Seeb, co-founder and partner of Denver Relief Consulting. The NCIA, the National Cannabis Industry Association, I just want to take a quick step back. What are some of the things that you guys have lobbied for or against or are lobbying for or against now?

Ean Seeb: Sure. It’s a great question. Quite simply, we want to be treated like any other business. There’s a lot of challenges with working with a product that is scheduled and is federally illegal. As a result, we don’t have access to traditional banking services, especially merchant services and lines of credit. It’s virtually unheard of in the industry.

We have very difficult time paying our taxes in that we’re penalized with a punitive tax called 280-E that was created in 1982 as a result of a cocaine trafficker who was deducting all his business expenses. We’re not allowed to make regular business deductions, so banking and taxes are the two main things that NCIA has been fighting and will continue to fight for until we’re treated like any other business in America.

TG Branfalt: It’s totally nonsensical that you guys are operating with a state legal industry, and you’re subjected to this federal penalty that was for drug dealers. Just a totally bizarre, I mean, there’s no other industry that has those sorts of handcuffs at all.

Ean Seeb: No. There is no other industry that has those sorts of handcuffs. You’re absolutely right. It’s crippling to some businesses. We can’t deduct our labor. We can’t deduct our marketing expenses. The only thing that we’re able to deduct is the cost of goods to produce the cannabis that we sell. That’s it.

TG Branfalt: I’ve spoken to many people from Denver and from Oregon and that whole thing and people think well, they’re in the cannabis industry, they’re just rolling in money. The reality that I’ve been told is that the taxes and the fact that you can’t use these deductions takes away from your bottom line and actually … People think oh you know, they’re just rolling in money, but it’s sort of counterintuitive when you think of all the other, the 280-E and the fact that you can’t deduct these things.

Ean Seeb: Yeah, it’s pretty punitive and it makes it very hard to conduct business. It is a misconception that people involved in cannabis are just rolling in money when in fact most of it’s going to the feds.

TG Branfalt: I want to switch gears a bit. I want to talk to you about your charity work. A lot of this you’ve done with the Denver Relief Consulting. You fought for civil rights issues as a cannabis industry operator. Can you tell me a little bit about how you’ve done that, before I talk to you about Ekar Farm?

Ean Seeb: Yeah. We’ve always felt that being involved in our community was an important thing. That’s not something that came about as a result of being in the cannabis industry. Just the way I was brought up, I was brought up to try and make the world a better place and I think both Kayvan and Nick, the three of us come from very different backgrounds, but all three of us want to see the world in a better condition than when we got here.

We started incorporating charitable work into what we do in early 2010 shortly after we opened the retail store, and it’s continued and we now actually have an organization that as of a couple weeks ago is now a 501(c)(3) and a 501(c)(4) that is focused on doing community service-based activities with and for the cannabis industry.

TG Branfalt: Preparing for this interview I spent a lot of time reading up about the Ekar Farm Project and it made me really excited because it’s a really beautiful sort of pursuit. Could you tell our listeners more about that project and what you do there?

Ean Seeb: Yeah. Ekar Farm is a community farm here in Denver, Colorado. The land has been gifted to the farm by the Denver Academy of Torah, actually, which is a religious school here in Denver. It’s a couple acre farm that cultivates fruits and vegetables, and then they do a number of things with them.

One, they donate it to a couple food pantries. The Jewish Family Service food pantry, the Weinberg food pantry, which is available to all. They work with Denver Urban Gardens. They work with a restaurant called SAME Café. SAME Café is a café on Colfax, one of our main streets here in Denver, and SAME stands for So All May Eat, and it’s a restaurant where you pay what you can afford to pay to eat there.

Our Green Team has been going there for, we’re working on the farm for, this is our seventh season in a row working on the farm. We do everything from helping them weed the garden to planting seeds early on to harvesting fruits and vegetables later on in the year. It’s a very small organization. They have only really two full-time staff members and are largely dependent upon volunteers to help them get through. The majority of their volunteers, while very helpful, are school-aged children and so having 40, 50, 60 able-bodied adults come out once a month for a weekend night and work a couple hours in the garden is the same thing as them working two, three and sometimes even getting a month’s worth of work done in an evening, given the small staff that they have on hand.

It’s been a pet project of ours for the past several years. It’s also been a point of charitable contributions for us. We now have the ability to pick and choose some of our clients and in some of the days where people were boasting of their wealth, we dared them to put their money where their mouth is and were able to secure some large contributions for Ekar Farm as a result of some of our clients who went on to win licenses, recognizing the same values that we do, that community service is important.

TG Branfalt: Was the farm sort of something that you saw as kind of a perfect fit considering you’re in an industry that grows things?

Ean Seeb: Yeah, it really did. It was a natural fit when we first started working with them. We’re cultivating cannabis, they’re cultivating fruits and vegetables. There’s a lot that goes into, a lot of it is very similar, albeit they’re outside in an open space and we’re in secured buildings, but certainly growing plants and vegetables, there’s a lot that we have in common.

It allowed us also to help, we help them construct some hoop houses and we’ve been able to, in small scale, been able to get used equipment and supplies over to them as well.

TG Branfalt: That’s really, really incredible man. I just want to commend you on the project, because I think farming’s really essential for any community, really, and so the fact that this farm provides for the SAME Café and for food banks, I really applaud and commend your work on this.

Ean Seeb: Well thank you. I applaud and commend them for doing it for so many years and I applaud and commend our volunteers. It was just my idea to work with them, but it’s not my man hours that go into it. It’s the industry and it’s the volunteers and it’s the people that believe in what we’re doing that allow organizations like the Green Team to thrive.

TG Branfalt: I got to talk to you about another couple projects that you’re working on or have worked on. Before we do that, we got to take our last break. This is the Ganjapreneur.com Podcast. I’m TG Branfalt.

At Ganjapreneur, we have heard from dozens of cannabis business owners who have encountered the issue of canna-bias, which is when a mainstream business, whether a landlord, bank, or some other provider of vital business services, refuses to do business with them simply because of their association with cannabis. We have even heard stories of businesses being unable to provide health and life insurance for their employees because the insurance providers were too afraid to work with them. We believe that this fear is totally unreasonable and that cannabis business owners deserve access to the same services and resources that other businesses are afforded. That they should be able to hire consultation to help them follow the letter of the law in their business endeavors, and that they should be able to provide employee benefits without needing to compromise on the quality of coverage they can offer.

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Our business service directory is intended to be a useful and well-maintained resource, which is why we individually vet each listing that is submitted. If you are a business service provider who wants to work with cannabis clients, you may be a good fit for our service directory. Go to Ganjapreneur.com/Businesses to create your profile and start connecting with cannabis entrepreneurs today.

TG Branfalt: Hey, welcome back to the Ganjapreneur.com Podcast. I’m your host, TG Branfalt, here with Ean Seeb, co-founder and partner of Denver Relief Consulting. You are one of the investors behind the recent High Times buy. I’ve been reading High Times probably since I was old enough to read and buy it. 13 years old, I was probably reading my first High Times Magazine. It’s not even an exaggeration. How does it feel to be part owner of one of the most noticeable counterculture publications in history, man?

Ean Seeb: It’s kind of crazy. I’m in the same boat as you, man. I started reading High Times or saw it for the first time when I was in high school. I think one of my friend’s parents had one that we saw and it was back when everything was very, very much underground. It was the brand, right? It was the only cannabis brand that really existed back when I was growing up. Yeah, it’s kind of crazy to be part of the ownership team there. It’s been a fun experience so far. The people that I’ve gotten to work with over there, Adam Levin, Matt Stang, Kevin Giles, Danny Danko, they’re fascinating people and I consider myself fortunate to be a part of that project.

TG Branfalt: How did you end up getting involved in that purchase? How’d you find out about it? How’d that go down?

Ean Seeb: I found out about it through Arcview. Arcview is, to my knowledge, the largest investor forum that is out there for people who are looking to get involved in cannabis or looking to present an idea and High Times was going to be doing a pitch for the Arcview investor members and for whatever reason they ended up not doing it and I reached out to the gentleman who was putting it on, and that was Adam, and I didn’t realize it at the time but come to find out Adam and I had actually met several years prior, this is pretty funny, in a hotel room that Sheldon Adelson gave me to throw a party in Vegas.

TG Branfalt: That’s bizarre.

Ean Seeb: Yeah. It was pretty crazy. Yeah. Adam and I met in one of Sheldon Adelson’s personal hotel rooms. Sheldon Adelson being the notorious anti-cannabis casino magnate, and the rest is history. Now we’re in business together.

TG Branfalt: Hold on. What’s the story with Sheldon Adelson?

Ean Seeb: I was there, I happened to be in Vegas. I do a lot of work in the Jewish community here in Denver. One of my friends who also spends his time equally between Denver and LA does a lot of work with the Republican party and he was there in Vegas doing something with Young Jewish Republicans. I was in Vegas doing something with young Jews who support charity and philanthropic work, and the two of us came together and we threw a party and with his connections, he was able to get Mr. Adelson to donate one of his own personal rooms to host the party for us.

TG Branfalt: You have some strange bedfellows, my man.

Ean Seeb: It was crazy. This was even before the last election. This was when he was working to push Obama out of office and was unsuccessful in doing so. This was many years ago. I take that back. It was in early 2012, so yeah, I guess it was before the election. Before the 2012 presidential election.

TG Branfalt: What’s next for you, man? You have all these projects going on, the philanthropy work, the Denver Relief Consulting. What’s next for you?

Ean Seeb: What’s next for me is that we sold Denver Relief last year and we’ve been working with a lot of our ancillary and non-ancillary partners around the country. We have a dispensary in Las Vegas called Silver Sage Wellness. We are partners in Cresco Labs, which is in almost every dispensary in Illinois. We’re also going to be opening in Puerto Rico. My heart goes out to everybody in Puerto Rico, by the way, with everything going on there.

We are one of four companies that won both cultivation and dispensary licenses in Pennsylvania, so we’ll be opening three dispensaries under the Cresco Yeltrah brand out in Pennsylvania. We have a whole host of ancillary companies that we work with. You mentioned High Times. Also have Vapor Slide, which is the first dual-use vaporizer that you can hit dry or invert and put into a bong. Work with Manna Molecular Science, which is doing some disruptive and groundbreaking technology things as it relates to transdermal technology and using 3D printing technology.

Continue to work with Dymapak, which is formerly Stick Sac. We’ve been working with them for years. They were the very first company to have a child-resistant package for the cannabis industry. Still on the board of Mass Roots, and I’m doing a lot of work with a new organization called the National, it’s fairly new, it’s a couple years old, called the National Association of Cannabis Businesses, which is, unlike NCIA, which works at the legislative branch, this organization is a self-regulatory agency that’s working at the executive branch, so working with the former Chief of Staff of the DEA, the former head of Homeland Security, one of Vice President Biden’s former senior advisors, and working with this organization to help create some national standards and bring some self-regulation to the industry. Definitely staying busy, Tim.

TG Branfalt: Yeah, I guess so. When do you sleep?

Ean Seeb: When my wife lets me.

TG Branfalt: Finally man, you obviously know a little bit of everything and a little bit more of everything else. What’s your advice …

Ean Seeb: And a whole lot of nothing. I feel like I don’t know very much when it comes to the cannabis industry, believe it or not.

TG Branfalt: What’s your advice for entrepreneurs working in this space, my man?

Ean Seeb: I have several pieces of advice. Get involved. Make sure that you’re active in your community and you have a good reason for getting involved. Listen. There’s a whole lot of knowledgeable people out there. Sometimes it’s hard to separate the true business people from the people that are looking to just pass the buck, but by and large I’ve learned a whole lot from listening to other people. Three, be involved in the community in a grand scale. It’s very rare in one’s lifetime that you have the opportunity to create a new industry, and all eyes are on us. Being attentive to the communities that are allowing you to be in this business and helping them improve and get over their challenges is a huge opportunity for any entrepreneur who’s looking to get into this industry.

TG Branfalt: Well Ean, I really want to thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to be on the show. Thanks to Ezra Soiferman for getting us together. He’s a great guy. Shout out to you, Ez.

Ean Seeb: Yes, thanks Ezra. Over at Tweed, up north.

TG Branfalt: Yeah, yeah. I’m hoping that he travels through Burlington again here shortly. Again man, thanks for taking the time. I think that I might have to reach out to and have you on the show again because there’s just not enough time in 35 minutes to discuss everything that you do and really sort of pick your brain. You might be hearing from me in the near future.

Ean Seeb: I would be happy to. You have a great show, great podcast. You’ve had many wonderful guests, people that I look up to on your show and I’d be happy to chat with you any time, Tim.

TG Branfalt: I appreciate it, man. Definitely keep us in the loop on everything that you’ve got going on.

Ean Seeb: Thank you so much for your time today. Thanks for having me.

TG Branfalt: You can find more episodes of the Ganjapreneur.com Podcast in the podcast section of Ganjapreneur.com and at the Apple iTunes store. At the Ganjapreneur.com website, you will find the latest cannabis news and cannabis jobs updated daily, along with transcripts of this podcast. You can also download the Ganjapreneur.com app in iTunes and Google Play. I’ve been your host, TG Branfalt.

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Premier Cannabis Convention CannaCon Visits Seattle, Detroit and Boston

2/02/2018

by Shango Los

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If you own a cannabis company, you know that finding good business partners, vendors and allies is an essential part of your role. And building your business in a new industry like cannabis doesn’t always make that easy. In every locale, cannabis business owners prioritize attending meet-ups, cannabis business trade groups and other local industry events to meet with like-minded professionals to share experience, inside information, opportunities and even emotional support.

Conventions seem to evolve as states move towards legalization. During a state’s early days, “conventions” are often a warehouse gathering of those brave enough to grow and share medical cannabis in public before the laws that protect them even exist. These gatherings have a wide array of products being sold, are very unregulated and could potentially run afoul of the law. As a state’s legislature catches up with the will of the people and pass medical marijuana laws, these gatherings garner more legal protections, but are still dependent on the whim of local law enforcement. Once a state has created safeguards for businesses and new investment begins to appear, that is when true B2B events start to appear. These conventions are much less about producers meeting customers (B2C) and are much more about producers, extractor technology providers, package designers and printers, horticulture suppliers and other business services coming together to build a cogent local industry (B2B).

CannaCon is a premier cannabis business and networking event and is coming to Seattle, Boston and Detroit in the first half of 2018 and the halls will be filled with every kind of ally cannabis business owners might need. Technology, horticulture, packaging, marketing, legal, accounting, human resources and media — everything needed for a cannabis business will be there.

CannaCon’s Nick Smart shared that it is not uncommon for some vendors to do a million dollars in business over the course of the event.

The “educational pathway seminars” held during the event feature nationally recognized speakers and the opportunity to have serious conversations with cannabis business peers and investors. Seminar speakers for the upcoming Seattle event on February 15th, 16, and 17th include former Ganjapreneur podcast guests and contributors Tad Hussey, Colin Bell, Ben Cassiday, Jeremy Moberg, Neil Juneja, and Cat Jeter. Washington Governor Jay Inslee will provide the keynote address on the 15th. The keynote on February 16th is the former president of Mexico, Vicente Fox.

You can view the full list of speakers here: https://cannacon.org/seminars-seattle/

The producer’s of Amazon Prime’s “The Marijuana Show,” aka the Shark Tank for the cannabis industry, will be there for a special panel breaking down how to develop and deliver your pitch to investors. Attendees could possibly be chosen to star in Season 4 of The Marijuana Show or have their product sold on their new shopping show.

If you are still looking for your place in the cannabis industry, there will be a career fair too with staffers present to review your resume and offer guidance. More information here: https://cannacon.org/seattle-cannacon-career-fair/

Vendor booths are already sold out for Seattle but booths are now on sale for Detroit in June and Boston in July. Attendee tickets are still available for all three events.

Visit www.CannaCon.org for tickets, booth reservations and more information.

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Report: Utah Lawmakers Considering Adopting MMJ Bill with Language Tying Rollout to Fed Policy

2/02/2018

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According to a Utah Policy report, state lawmakers may attempt to stymie activists’ efforts to legalize cannabis for medical use by adopting the same language in the ballot proposal as a bill but including language that would prevent the measure from taking effect until the federal government reclassifies cannabis as a Schedule IV drug.

The move would prevent the proposed ballot initiative from moving forward because its language would already be codified as state law. Although the ballot proposal includes language to override existing state law, the report says that legislative lawyers have concluded that adding the Schedule IV language would not present a “conflict” with the ballot language, therefore not allowing the initiative to supersede the state statute.

In the report, House Speaker Greg Hughes said he was unaware of such a plan but that “it makes sense” to tie the law to the federal reclassification of cannabis.

D.J. Schanz, director of Utah Patients Coalition, compared the rumored legislative plan to a 2014 ballot initiative called “Count My Vote,” which would have replaced the state’s caucus selection process for candidates for public office with a mandatory primary election. That language was partially adopted by the legislature and a compromise that favored established lawmakers was signed into law by Gov. Gary Herbert.

“We are moving forward with our efforts to give patients access to the medicine they need and that the public wants. These efforts by unscrupulous politicians and bureaucrats to undermine the political process and the public will, will, fortunately, be viewed as parlor tricks from a desperate legislative body to put their thumbprint on an issue and patients that they’ve ignored and kicked down the road. This isn’t ‘Count My Vote’ in 2014, and we aren’t playing chicken. This will be on the ballot in November of 2018 for the people of Utah to decide on, regardless of the shenanigans being toyed with.” – Schanz, in a statement to Utah Policy

Three polls have found more than 70 percent of Utah voters support medical cannabis reforms. The coalition needs 11,143 signatures of registered voters by Apr. 15 in order to get the measure to voters.

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Texas Dispensary Delivers State’s First MMJ Product to 6-year-old Patient

2/02/2018

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Texas dispensary Knox Medical has delivered the state’s first medical cannabis products to a six-year-old suffering from intractable epilepsy, the Texas Tribune reports. The delivery comes more than two years after Gov. Greg Abbott signed legislation creating the limited program.

“For Texans suffering from intractable epilepsy, the wait for medical cannabis is finally over. This is a historic day for Texas and we will work tirelessly to uphold the trust and responsibility the state has placed in Knox Medical.” – José Hidalgo, founder and CEO of Knox Medical, to the Tribune

The program only provides access for individuals suffering from intractable epilepsy and only provides for low-THC CBD oil.

Just three dispensaries are authorized to cultivate and distribute medical cannabis in the nation’s second-largest state. To qualify for the program, patients – who must be permanent Texas residents – must have tried two Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs to no avail and get approval from two physicians registered with the state. Fewer than 20 doctors are signed up with the state’s Compassionate Use program. According to the report, about 160,000 Texans – less than 1 percent of the state’s population – are diagnosed with intractable epilepsy.

A second dispensary will reportedly begin selling products on Feb. 8.

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Maine Governor Puts New MMJ Rules on Hold Until May, At Least

2/02/2018

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Maine Gov. Paul LePage has agreed to delay the implementation of new medical cannabis rules that were set to take effect Feb.1, which included allowing unannounced caregiver inspections by the Department Health and Human Services, the Portland Press Herald reports. The new regime is on hold until at least May so the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee can have time to adopt a new plan.

“While I believe strongly that the medical marijuana program needs improved and increased regulation, waiting until May to ensure we do not create unnecessary confusion and complication is a reasonable approach,” LePage, in a letter to Rep. Deborah Sanderson, via the Press Herald.

Sanderson, who had made the request to delay the new rules, told the Press Herald that it was not an attempt “to avoid more regulation” but an attempt to do so “in a thorough, thoughtful way.”

Sanderson and LePage agree that parts of the medical cannabis program, including regulatory control, oversight, compliance, licensing, packaging, labeling, and testing, can be consolidated with the state’s voter-approved recreational cannabis program. In his letter, LePage said that having two programs overseen by different agencies “will undermine” both programs.

Last month, the state’s Marijuana Legalization Implementation Committee voted 5-1 to delay social cannabis use allowances until 2023. A Legislative vote on the proposal could come this month.

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Photo of Staten Island in New York, captured from the Staten Island Ferry.

iAnthus Finalizes Deal for New York MMJ Company

2/02/2018

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iAnthus Capital Holdings has completed its $18 million acquisition of New York medical cannabis company Citiva Medical, LLC. Citiva is one of just 10 medical cannabis licensees in the Empire State.

The $18 million deal was satisfied mostly through iAnthus shares – $14.4 million – and $3.6 million in cash. iAnthus is traded on the Canadian Securities Exchange. Citiva’s license includes a cultivation and processing facility and four dispensary locations which will be located in Brooklyn, Staten Island, Dutchess, and Chemung counties. Once open, which is expected in the fourth quarter of this year, the Staten Island dispensary will be the only one to serve the island’s 500,000 residents.

“We expect that experience to translate well into developing an effective medical cannabis business throughout the state. With the closing of the New York transaction, iAnthus now has operations in six states, and is currently the only publicly traded company which holds a New York Registered Organization.” – Hadley Ford, CEO of iAnthus, in a press release

The deal, first announced in August, comes less than a month after iAnthus announced it had agreed to acquire Florida medical cannabis licensee GrowHealthy in a $48 million deal. In addition to New York and Florida, iAnthus own and operates medical cannabis licensees in Vermont, Colorado, Massachusetts, and New Mexico.

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Nighttime view of the San Francisco sprawl with a full moon above it.

San Francisco to Expunge Some Cannabis Convictions

2/01/2018

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San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón will retroactively apply criminal justice reforms in the state’s cannabis legalization law to misdemeanor and felony convictions dating back to 1975.

Who’s Affected? Individuals with prior cannabis convictions that would not be crimes under the new law. The District Attorney’s Office plans to review, recall, and resentence up to 4,940 felony cannabis convictions and dismiss and seal 3,038 misdemeanors.

Although the law allows individuals with convictions to petition to have the charges reduced or dismissed, Gascón’s plan will require no action by the individual. According to the Drug Policy Alliance, just 4,885 Californians have petitioned the courts to have their cannabis convictions expunged since the initiative’s passage.

“While drug policy on the federal level is going backwards, San Francisco is once again taking the lead to undo the damage that this country’s disastrous, failed drug war has had on our nation and on communities of color in particular. Long ago we lost our ability to distinguish the dangerous from the nuisance, and it has broken our pocket books, the fabric of our communities, and we are no safer for it. While this relief is already available pursuant to Proposition 64 for anyone with a conviction, it requires that they know it is available and to retain an attorney to file the expungement paperwork. A criminal conviction can be a barrier to employment, housing and other benefits, so instead of waiting for the community to take action, we’re taking action for the community.” — Gascón, in a press release.

According to the office, there were an estimated 2,756,778 cannabis arrests in California between 1915 and 2016.

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Indiana House Approves Industrial Hemp Bill

2/01/2018

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The Indiana House has unanimously approved a measure that would allow the state’s farmers to grow industrial hemp, the Indy Star reports. Additionally, the measure would exclude products derived from the crops containing 0.3 percent or less THC from the state’s controlled substance definition, allowing the products to be sold commercially.

In November, state Attorney General Cutis Hill said that CBD products were unlawful in the state, and a day later Gov. Eric Holcomb gave retailers 60 days to remove CBD products “containing any level of THC” from their shelves.

According to the bill’s fiscal statement, the measure would require interested farmers to undergo a background check at their expense and would repeal the state’s Cannabidiol Registry. An Industrial Hemp Commodities Review Board would also be convened.

According to the bill text HB.1137:

“Amends the definition of “industrial hemp” by: (1) specifying that plant resins are included in the definition; (2) removing a reference to the percent on a dry weight basis determined by the federal Controlled Substances Act; and (3) removing the exclusion of industrial hemp commodities or products. Specifies that the agricultural pilot program administered by the state seed commissioner is for research and scientific study in conjunction with a state educational institution.”

The measure next moves to the Senate where it currently carries three sponsors.

“Everything I’ve seen says industrial hemp is probably a harmless crop. I have no problem with that, I’m just not sure the federal government issue isn’t still holding us back.” – Senate leader David Long, to the Star

If approved, licenses would be issued beginning on June 30, 2019.

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A blue-tinted photograph of a police car with its lights activated.

Vermont Public Safety Commissioner Pushes for Roadside Saliva Tests

2/01/2018

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Vermont Commissioner of Public Safety Tom Anderson has told members of the House Transportation Committee that their highest priority this session should be passing legislation to allow law enforcement to use saliva drug tests if a driver is “reasonably suspected” of being impaired, according to a VT Digger report. The Vermont American Civil Liberties Union told the committee that if such legislation was enacted, the organization would sue.

Anderson’s push for the controversial drug test comes five months before the state’s cannabis legalization law takes effect.

“We’re on the cusp of (marijuana) legalization, for all of Vermonters’ sake we should be doing all we can to prevent people from driving impaired.” – Anderson, to the House Transportation Committee, via VT Digger

The saliva tests would not be used to establish a “per se” limit for THC intoxication, rather it would be used to determine whether the driver tests positive for drugs, Anderson said, adding that he wasn’t sure whether the saliva samples could even be used as evidence in court, saying that it would “take a year or two before ultimately it’s decided in court that it’s admissible or not admissible.”

Chloé White, policy director at the American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont, called the test “much more invasive of privacy and bodily integrity than a breathing test” because DNA is also removed in the tests, despite the bill forbidding it.

“As many policymakers, scientific and civil liberties advocates already said repeatedly in the past, there are multiple fundamental problems with roadside saliva testing. Some studies have shown that THC can remain in a subject’s saliva up to eight days after their last exposure to cannabis.” – White to the committee, via VT Digger

According to the report, a similar measure passed the House two years ago but was rejected by the Senate.

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Willie’s Reserve Raises Capital for Product Line Expansion

2/01/2018

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