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A bill introduced in Nevada’s Senate would outlaw the sales of all cannabis-infused “candy” in the state and lawmakers are considering other amendments that would eliminate all sugar-containing products and colorful products that might appeal to children, the Reno Gazette-Journal reports.

Sen. Patricia Farley, who introduced SB.344 to the Senate Judiciary Committee last week, said the bill “is just the start” on plans to add restrictions to cannabis products in Nevada.

“We have to draw a little bit stricter of a line in the sand,” she said in the report. “This is another way to make sure that Nevada leads the nation in its marijuana practices.”

Nevada Dispensary Association Executive Director Riana Durett indicated that many dispensaries have already implemented some measures of the bill – which includes limits on THC in edibles, and packaging and labeling requirements. She said the association would like to work on defining “candy” under the bill because it is such a broad term.

Cindy Brown, a medical cannabis advocate, argued that some gambling and alcohol establishments use mascots and cartoons and if such restrictions are placed on the cannabis industry they should apply to other adult-oriented industries as well.

“Let us have the mascots. What happened to personal responsibility of parents? We keep trying to over-regulate people,” she said. “What about children with cancer? We shouldn’t have to give them something yucky looking. Give them something pretty that they like.”

Joe Pollock, deputy administrator for the state Department of Health said he would like to see individual THC doses capped at 25 milligrams and that all edibles are required to be in opaque packaging.

The legislation has not yet been moved from the Judiciary Committee.

End

Montana Legislation Would Require Legislators to Study Rec. Cannabis

4/07/2017

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A measure has been introduced in Montana’s House of Representatives that would direct a legislative committee to “examine the legalization, regulation, taxation, and public health and safety aspects of recreational marijuana in Montana,” the Montana Standard reports. The legislation would require the results of the study to be presented to the 2019 Legislature.

The proposal would create an interim legislative committee to conduct the study, which would examine whether Montana’s liquor control system would make good model for an adult-use cannabis system, how tax revenues have been affected in legal states, public health and safety spending, and child drug use.

Democratic state Rep. Mary Dunwell, who introduced House Joint Resolution 35, said cannabis legalization is not a question of if but when, and that being armed with research when that time comes is better than trying to cram a bill blind through a 90-day session.

“You don’t have time to do good research,” she said in the report.

House and Senate leaders on the bipartisan Legislative Council would appoint the committee that would meet for 20 months. They would seek input from the Department of Public Health and Human Services, the Revenue, Justice, and Agriculture departments, lobbying groups, local police, district courts, and schools.

If the resolution passes – and is voted by lawmakers as one of the top 20 proposed interim committees – the study would be completed by Sept. 15, 2018.

End

Richard Pine: Preparation and Education for Ohio’s Medical Cannabis Program

4/06/2017

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Richard Pine is the founder and CEO of Cleveland Cannabis College, an institution in Independence, Ohio that offers quality, in-depth schooling on the cannabis plant. Classes at the Cleveland Cannabis College cover the plant’s historical significance, its many medical properties, the culture of cannabis and the legalization movement, as well as actual cultivation and preparation processes.

In this episode of the Ganjapreneur.com podcast, Richard joins our podcast host TG Branfalt for a discussion about the college’s founding, available curriculum, and Ohio’s medical cannabis roll out. Richard also shares what it’s like being a young (28) entrepreneur in the nascent cannabis space and he talks about transitioning from the retail investment industry to cannabis.

You can listen to the episode below or keep scrolling down to read a full transcript of the interview.

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Listen to the podcast:

Read the transcript:

TG Branfalt: Hey there. I’m TG Branfalt, and you are listening to the Ganjapreneur.com podcast. The Ganjapreneur.com podcast gives us an opportunity to speak directly with entrepreneurs and experts who are working on the front lines of the industry to normalize cannabis through responsible business, education, and activism. As your host, I will do my best to bring you actionable information to help you plan, grow, and manage your cannabis business.

Today, I’m joined by Richard Pine. He is the founder and CEO of Cleveland Cannabis College. How are you doing today, Richard?

Richard Pine: I’m doing pretty good, Tim. How are you?

TG Branfalt: I’m all right. I’m still a little stunned from Spicer’s comments last week, and we’ll probably get into that a little bit later. But for now, I want to learn more about you, learn more about the college. So let’s start with your background. What did you do before getting involved in the cannabis industry?

Richard Pine: It started off, I graduated college at Kent State University here in Ohio with my degree in entrepreneurship and a minor in marketing, and then shortly after, I moved down to rural Georgia on a small farm, and really focused on my real estate investing career. And then in was House Bill 523 that really decided … had me move back up to Ohio in December of 2016.

TG Branfalt: And you’re like the third person that’s been on this show that has a background in real estate. Why do you think that many people who are involved in that industry end up in the cannabis sector?

Richard Pine: I think it might go kind of both ways. I think that some of the people in the cannabis sector go into real estate for financial reasons, just for being able to claim profits and things like that. And then on the other side, people that started real estate investing, community, go over into cannabis because they have assets that they can, you know get money out of. They have a passive income that is continually coming in so that they can focus on another industry like Cannabis.

TG Branfalt: And so why’d you decide to not only get into the cannabis industry but specifically this education sector that’s emerging nationwide in legal states?

Richard Pine: Well, you know. Ohio’s really setting the bar as far as … At least in my opinion. As far as their legislation and with the requirement in Ohio for documented education with the state for the various different levels of cannabis. So for example, you know the doctors have to have continuing medical education credits to write the recommendations.

Employees at dispensaries and processors have to have documented education with the state. And so, I saw an opportunity because there is no … There’s nowhere you can really go to get an in-depth, really in-depth education in cannabis. And also, with Ohio looking into the research aspect of cannabis is also what really spiked my interest. By a year … Year and a half ago, I was actually in Uganda and Africa looking at legalizing out there, talking with parliament about the possibilities of that just because I wanted … I was passionate about the education and passionate about the research, and that wasn’t being, you know … Available anywhere in the US.

With the laws changing out West and with recreation and the Ohio … You know, getting ready to go into the medical marijuana, I realized that my time and money would be a lot better spent here in the US and that they were moving forward with the ability to educate and possibly do the research. … So I saw that opportunity and the fact that it’s an ancillary business, I don’t have as much of a high startup cost that they’re requiring for the licensing and stuff here in Ohio. It’s a required part of the cannabis industry in Ohio with education. And like I said, there was nowhere else that I could find that did a year, year and a half … course in cannabis.

TG Branfalt: And what was the process like for you to set up the school in Ohio?

Richard Pine: Well, it wasn’t too hard. I had some of the ground work already laid out for my idea of setting up in Africa so we kinda had the basic idea of what I wanted to do. It was just bringing together the different organizations and different people that were very passionate as well about medical marijuana. So to come up with the curriculum and to come up with the educators. So it’s been a lot of networking and a lot of time. A lot of long days of setting this all up.

TG Branfalt: And did you have any trouble finding a place to host it? I know you’re an ancillary business but did you approach any properties or landlords or anything and they were like, “eh, we don’t want this here.”

Richard Pine: Yeah, we had a little bit of push back, but. You know, a lot of these guys, they knew … We were very up front with them, telling them what we wanted to do. And we were pretty specific in the area and what we were looking for and in our price range. And so when we found the location that we’re at, we didn’t really have any issues. The only issue we really had was some of the pictures and the shirts that we had hanging up on our store front were a little controversial, I guess to some people, that they felt offended, so we just worked with management on moving those and covering the windows up. So that there wouldn’t be any issues. But we really just wanted a place that was centrally located, a place that wasn’t too busy but not too rural. And then somewhere that we could expand on. So right now, we’re a little over 2 thousand square foot office and we’re in the process of looking at adding on about another 2 thousand or 21 hundred square feet to our office space come June.

TG Branfalt: And why don’t you tell me about the … You know, we understand the purpose but what are you offering over there at the Cleveland Cannabis College? What are the details of some of these programs?

Richard Pine: Yeah, sure. So … We have an intro class that we require. We require two courses, the intro class and the history class to go any further with us in your education. Obviously because we want a strong foundation, want everybody to be one the same … You know, the same foundation furthering education and be able to have intellectual conversations about medical marijuana with people.

And we don’t focus on just people that want to work in the industry. We also offer our classes to people that are just interested. So patients, possible patients. Also, we recommend that … To get educated before they go out and try this new medication. We’ve had everybody from 18 years old all the way up to 80 years old. I mean, we really don’t … Have a set person we’re looking for, let’s say. And we offer … Right now we’re offering three major certifications. So, in horticulture, one in manufacturing and dispensing, and another with more of a medical background for like, a patient navigator or a caregiver.

TG Branfalt: And so far, what’s the response been like?

Richard Pine: It’s really, really awesome. We opened our doors January first of this year, this building. Our first class was the last weekend in January. We had about 70 to 75 percent attendance. And then we had our grand opening event, the weekend after Valentine’s day. And it was on February 18th. We had … It was called Weed Dating. And we had a panelist, a couple tables set up with panelists and you could go for five minutes to each table and get your questions answered. We had about 150 plus people show up at that event. A lot of news coverage. And that really launched things off.

We had 100 percent attendance at our last class this past weekend on the 25th and 26th of February. We already are 100 percent booked for our March class and have since decided to start with two of the intro classes in April, one of which are already half way filled up. So we’re really happy with the interest, we can’t answer the phones fast enough.

TG Branfalt: How’s tuition compared to other trade schools?

Richard Pine: Well, as far as trade schools go, the price of trade schools really vary. From state to state and from area of interest. So you know, like an automotive … Like an automotive trade school is about 27 hundred, three thousand dollars, I’d say. And then going out there to be like, a vet tech or something, it’s gonna be a bit more. So we’re kinda right down the middle. Our … From one certification it is 52 hundred dollars. And that’s payable, that’s throughout your education. And the new also offer our executive course which is 9 thousand. And that covers your required courses and then the certification for all three areas of study, in horticulture, manufacturing and dispensing and the medical side.

TG Branfalt: And where are you seeing the most interest in your programs? Is it the horticulture side or is it more the dispensing side or?

Richard Pine: Yeah. Right now we’re seeing the most in horticulture.

TG Branfalt: And you mentioned that you’d had a panel at one of your … kind of grand openings. What kind of questions were asked, you know? What was the most prevalent question asked at that panel?

Richard Pine: Let’s see. The number one question is probably how to get into the industry. We had people from all different walks of the industry. From growers to dispensers to neuro-pharmacologists, to talk about how the … how marijuana effects the brain in a neurochemical aspect. We had representatives from Ohio patient network. We had the president of Ohio NORML, the president of Cleveland normal, answering the activism and advocacy questions. But I’d say in general, if you had to put a number one question … What was asked at the panelists was, “how do I get into the medical marijuana industry in Ohio?”

TG Branfalt: So, we’re gonna get into a bit more details on your program. But before we get into that we have to take a short break. I’m TG Branfalt, this is the Ganjapreneur.com podcast.

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TG Branfalt: Welcome back to the Ganjapreneur.com podcast. I’m your host, TG Branfalt here with Richard Pine. Founder and CEO of Cleveland Cannabis College.

During the break, you had actually mentioned that you’re a young guy. You’re younger than me. 28 years old, you know. How do you think that plays into the whole development of the program, and your approach to the industry?

Richard Pine: Well. You know, having that … I am a big younger does give me the upper hand in the fact that I have the energy and tenacity still to tackle something like this. And when I say this, I don’t joke. It’s seven days a week. So I feel like, that still being young gives me the opportunity to do that.

Also, the medical marijuana industry is something that the younger generation is very … Something that they’re very passionate about. And a lot of us have been growing up since … I mean I think Ohio first had medical marijuana in 1996, then it was obviously turned over in 1997. So I was still really really young back then, and so we kinda grew up with this fight starting out west and moving east. And seeing how the country has developed.

Not to say that older people are out of the industry, but it’s a chance for my peers to go into something that they might enjoy more, let’s say, than the typical desk job. But it’s also really interesting to see how age does not play a factor in how people communicate. So when we have these classes, it’s the young guys talking with the older guys. We’ve had physicians in our class that are retired physicians and just still looking to do something. And they all can communicate with each other with this common interest in medical marijuana with helping people get access to this medication, and figuring out the ropes together.

So, luckily I haven’t been faced with any adversity, being young and being discredited or anything like that. So I’m really beneficial in that aspect. I haven’t had anybody look down on me for my younger age. So again, I think that just goes with the industry. People just being a little more open minded that kind of tend to follow this track.

TG Branfalt: So moving backwards a little bit. You guys over there, you guarantee that full-time students get jobs six months after graduation. That’s a lot, you know. I was a professor at a small private college in Upstate New York and worked closely with their career development program, helping students write resumes and that sort of thing. And that’s not even a claim they could fulfill. So how do you plan on keeping that promise?

Richard Pine: First of all, I want to make that really clear. We were a little bit misquoted, that not every single one of our students is guaranteed a job. It is our executive program, the 9 thousand dollar full time program that covers every aspect that we offer. So I want to get that straight off the bat.

Second of all, we offer that to all of the new students coming in, and that’s not something that we’re gonna offer forever. We’ve already had people that are … Companies that are submitting the applications. For example the horticulture and production facilities, call us asking about our students. So we already have people looking for employees. I’ve had attorneys call me that represent companies here and companies out in Colorado wanting to speak with us about our students and connecting in the future. And since we are one of a kind, and we put up top quality, top of the line students, we feel that there’s not going to be an issue at all getting them placed into these businesses.

I mean, put yourself in the shoes of someone that’s got a couple million dollars in a 25 thousand square foot grow facility in Ohio. Are you going to spend the money to get someone from out west, hundreds of thousands of dollars? Because that’s what they’re making out there. Or are you going to hire someone that’s local and had the knowledge and has spent some time in another professional facility, for a lot less?

We feel that it’s gonna be kind of a no brainer for these companies. And we also have partnerships in other states that are legalized. So we can find employment for these students, whether it’s in Ohio or in one of the surrounding states that it’s now legal in.

TG Branfalt: Well, and recent reports show that the industry’s expected to outpace government jobs and manufacturing jobs by 2020. So the trends seem to indicate federal weather permitting, that the opportunities are kind of endless at this stage.

Is that kind of what you’re seeing so far?

Richard Pine: Yeah. Yeah, we’re definitely seeing that. And we also want to keep in mind that the jobs that will be available for our students aren’t going to be just in dispensaries, extracting companies and grow facilities. We have to keep in mind all of these, the ancillary business that are going to be popping up around medical marijuana, that having a background in one of these aspects will help them get a job in that ancillary business as well.

TG Branfalt: And you said that research was something that was important for you. And you guys are offering students incubator space, you know. How important was that to the development of your college? And what sort of projects are you anticipating coming out of these incubator projects’ space?

Richard Pine: Yeah, so right now we have two extra offices. So we didn’t want to leave those empty. And with my degree being in entrepreneurship at Ken State, they had incubator space. And that was what kind of gave us the idea for this. I saw the importance of it and being able to use these incubator spaces in college, to have office structure support. To have some operation support, ask questions and build your network in an office setting.

It really helps startup companies get their feet off the ground. And right now, we decided that we would give the Cleveland NORML chapter an office space because they didn’t currently have somewhere, and we also let them hold all their meetings here for free. As well as any other cannabis club or discussion group, or activism group or anything like that. We allow, our doors are open to those groups to use our facility here for free.

And then the other space that we have we decided to bring in a new company called Connect the Dots, LLC. And what that does is they hook up people in the cannabis industry with financing, with investors. So it’s connecting the dots literally, from the money to the worker. So whether it’s companies out west or companies here in Ohio that begin to sprout up, it’s a link that … We’re using our wide network to bring investors to these startups that need these large amounts of money. And as we grow, as our space grows, we’re gonna obviously have a couple more incubator spaces available. And we plan to hold … Probably about once every three months or so, a cannabis shark tank, if you will. Where we have a exclusive group of investors, they get to meet and sit on the panel and allow these cannabis startups to pitch their ideas to the different investors.

TG Branfalt: So, where are you finding not just the financiers for these sort of projects and the companies that want to do this, but where are you also finding your staffing for this sort of thing? Ohio doesn’t … The program’s not rolled out yet. So where are you finding the instructors? Where are you finding the financiers? Where are you finding these people in Ohio?

Richard Pine: Again, it really stems from networking. I’m always in Columbus, I go to all the different classes that are offered, so these different traveling classes. I try to attend as many of those as possible, to get to network and know people. As well as our local NORML community have brought a lot of people to our door that we partnered up with.

And then we get a lot of people just calling in, from seeing either our ads or they knew someone that took a class. But, so different … Ohio Patient network has been invaluable to us. Obviously like I said, the NORML community has been invaluable to us. And then as far as the investors go, like I said we … My basis is in real estate investing so I have been surrounded by investors since college.

So we just have a large network of people that we’ve reached out to and again, there are a lot of investors that are looking to get into the cannabis space, but they don’t want to have to navigate it. They just want to profit from it and help other people profit from it.

TG Branfalt: And are you finding a lot of instructors? Are they coming from out west? I know a guy, John Cachat, I’m sure he told me that he had done your keynote and he was from California. From Ohio, moved to California, moved back to Ohio. So are you seeing a lot of these kind of migrants who end up working for you as instructors or are they coming from different industries entirely?

Richard Pine: It’s a mix. Doctor Jonathan is a great guy, first of all. Real smart, smart guy, really forward thinking. We’re really happy to have met. Actually I … Originally I met his father at one of the committee meetings out in Columbus and we had lunch and had talked about some things. They ended up coming out for a meeting and it was during one of our classes, and the horticulture section was coming up next. And we were just kinda like, “hey, Doctor Cachat, why don’t you jump up there?” And he just, “sure, okay.” And he got up there are just went at it and taught our horticulture section.

It kind of was off the cusp and, that comes with his knowledge and his passion. And that’s just the type of people that we see coming to us and just being … By the grace of God being placed in front of us. So yeah, he has a lot of experience out west. A lot of our instructors are mostly Ohio based. Now that doesn’t mean that the content that they’re teaching is obviously from Ohio. We have a lot of different consulting companies and professionals throughout the country that are helping us come up with our content. So it’s not as much who’s teaching it, but what they’re teaching.

But Bryan Adams, who’s one of our primary instructors. He’s like, the Cleveland … I think his actual title is executive director of the Cleveland Chapter for normal. He does a lot of our speaking. We have different law groups come and teach the law sections, since the legal landscape is literally changing daily in Ohio right now. From class to class, that is always changing. So we always have one of our legal representatives that are up on the legislation come and teach that section.

We have Rob Ryan come up from Cincinnati and teach our patient access section. He’s from the Ohio patient network. So a lot of the people are from Ohio. And then like I said in Doctor John’s case, people that have left Ohio and then have come back due to the law changing.

TG Branfalt: So I want to get into more about these rules that will dictate the Ohio program. But before be do that, we gotta take one more short break. I’m TG Branfalt, this is the Ganjapreneur.com podcast.

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TG Branfalt: Hey, welcome back to the Ganjapreneur. Com podcast. I’m your host TG Branfalt. I’m here with Richard Pine, founder and CEO of Cleveland Cannabis College. Before the break, we were talking about how the legal landscape in Ohio is changing every day. We know what some of the draft rules are. Found out today, what’s very unique about the program is that it will be dispensed … Cannabis will be dispensed based not just on weight but also THC content. I’m sure that you tailored your programs for the state regime, so what considerations were made during that class crafting process? And can you give me a specific example of a course that you had to adapt for Ohio’s regs?

Richard Pine: Yeah, like I said earlier. The legal section is really what we’ve had to adapt the most. Cannabis grows the same at an indoor facility here as it does an indoor facility anywhere else, so as far as that aspect, that stays the same.

The laws is something that’s continuously changing. And that’s something that we update literally the day before every presentation. So that’s kind of an ongoing change to the classes. And that … We leave that up to our legal representatives. They’re the best at that, so we just leave that to the pros.

The Ohio law, once it’s finished being written … So we’re at … We aren’t teaching things yet until they’re written in stone with Ohio. But there’s a lot of little things that go into starting up these different businesses that we’re taking into consideration. So for example, the security systems and the type of safe that’s needed at a dispensary is very specific under Ohio law. The state has to be able to access your video feed of your security cameras. You have to save your security footage for 45 days. Your security cameras have to be able to take a high resolution picture.

There’s a lot of little nuances that are being written into the Ohio law that we have to take into consideration and adapt for ourselves when we’re teaching our dispensary course. We have to make sure that we’re covering a huge section on just security. So it’s … We have the bones … Like I said we got the bones and we’re just filling in the meat and potatoes as we go along. We have the basic structure and we’re just fine tuning it as the laws come out.

TG Branfalt: And were there any surprises for you as the proposed rules get made public? Are there any surprises for you so far?

Richard Pine: Yeah, there’s a lot. Like I said, I go down to Ohio when they have the medical marijuana committee meetings. And it’s really kind of a cool thing to see, how they’re doing it. And taking public comment into consideration. The numbers of these facilities have continually gone up in their discussions.

They’re basing it off of … I think I said it was like 18 thousand patient pool, which I think is a bit low. Especially with over 3 and a half million opiate prescriptions being written last year in Ohio alone. So I think those numbers, you’re gonna see are a little low. The high application costs, I thought was a little ridiculous and creating a lot of barrier to entry for people that really have the desire and passion to get into it.

And then other … Another little thing that I thought was interesting, and that some people might think positively on, some people might thing negatively on, but actually treating marijuana as a medicine. They are requiring the seed to sale system to be tracked, everything’s gotta be tracked from seed to sale. And that each patient will also have their medial marijuana linked to the OARR system which is the Ohio Automated RX Reporting system.

So all the … Just like if you were going into a pharmacy, a real pharmacy like CVS or something, it’s being reported the same way for your medical marijuana. So they’re allowing you the 90 day supply, and this system will be able to keep track of that. Of how much of each individual’s 90 day supply has been bought. If it’s all be bought, and so on and so forth. So I thought that was a pretty interesting part of the rules that they’re proposing.

TG Branfalt: And they’re basing that supply on not just weight, but THC content which is … I mean that’s the first time that’s been done. So is that something you guys were kind of prepared for? Because this is something that just came out over … Friday, I think.

Richard Pine: No, it’s not something we were necessarily prepared for, it’s something else to take into consideration when teaching the classes and teaching, especially when we’re talking about the extraction and the testing side of things. To be able to tell what levels of the different cannabinols are in the product. So it’s definitely something we have to take into consideration. But being an entrepreneur, it’s … We’re used to adapting. I’m used to adapting, so we just take it, we get the information, we work it into our course.

TG Branfalt: And do you have any indication when the first dispensaries will actually open? I know every state, they say this date and that date. But it’s most often thrown by the wayside two weeks in, so what are you guys sensing over there?

Richard Pine: So from my understanding, they’re allowing the growth facilities to start first, and then they growth facility applications, and the manufacturing applications to be put in first. So I’m assuming those will be put into play so they can have the product available and then everything mile high well everything has to be set into play as of September eighth, 2018 I believe. So, I can see that no later than that date will there be the dispensaries. So September of 2018 there will be dispensaries in Ohio fully stocked and ready to go.

TG Branfalt: And would you say that they’re on track to meet that date?

Richard Pine: Personally, I think so. I mean, they got a lot of time, they got a lot of time ahead of them to get these things together, got another year and a half to go, so.

TG Branfalt: So, and then finally you had said earlier that one of the most common questions you got at the Q and A was, you know, how do people get into the cannabis industry? So what’s your advice for entrepreneurs or individuals looking to get into the space?

Richard Pine: Yeah, and I’d like to tell you a little bit about the legal part of the class. The lawyer’s always up there and she goes … He or she goes over the application fees and you just kind of … The whole class, you kind of see their head just sink down into the table. Like, “wow, why am I here? I don’t have 100 thousand dollars lying around.” And so we always step in and kinda just reassure our students on a couple things.

So first of all, if you have the passion, if you have the plan and the desire to make this work, the money’s out there. I tell all of our students, do not, by no way, let the financial aspect of starting a company … A grower, dispenser, or extraction company be the reason that you don’t do it.

The money’s out there and if you have the right plan and you can show that to someone, you can get the money. And that stands true with all entrepreneurs. And then also, we tell our students to not have blinders. So don’t just stay focused on the grows, the dispensaries and the manufacturing.

The opportunities are limitless. Really look into the ancillary businesses. We use the story of the gold rush out west. And how it wasn’t so much the miners that made the money, but the people that were selling them the shovels. That’s … Levi Strauss who makes Levi’s the jeans companies, he got developed … Was out there during the gold rush.

It’s the ancillary businesses that also stand to make a really good profit in this business, and they come with a lot less risk, a lot less startup costs, and a lot less risk of the federal government coming after you, so. That’s kind of the two things that we tell our students. Keep your eyes open to ancillary businesses, and that if you really truly are passionate about getting into the actual medical marijuana business and you’re just being turned away because of financing, to not let that be the reason you don’t pursue your dream career in cannabis.

TG Branfalt: And that’s really great advice. I speak to a lot of people on this podcast and writing stories, and that’s how I met Doctor Cachat, was writing a story about lights, and how he’s been successful growing with a certain light, so I think that just speaks to your point. That the ancillary market is going to thrive right alongside of the market that quote, unquote ‘touches the plant’.

Richard Pine: Right, and what Doctor John is doing is more than just a way to … A new way to grow, but it’s saving money on electricity, it’s saving the very important resource of water. What he’s doing is huge for the growing community.

TG Branfalt: Is there anything written in the Ohio law that looks to save energy at all? Or put caps on kilowatts used or water used?

Richard Pine: Not that I know of. I have not read the entire house bill 523, as it’s really really really long. But I haven’t heard anything specific yet.

TG Branfalt: All right, so finally. Would you mind telling our listeners where they can find out more information about the college?

Richard Pine: Yeah, absolutely. Our website is www.clevelandcannabiscollege.com and if you’re an Ohioan or in the northeast Ohio area, or just feel like taking a trip to come visit us, we’re located at 5755 Granger Road, Suite 100 in Independence, Ohio.

TG Branfalt: Well, it’s very very interesting, what you’re doing over there in Ohio. And you know, I really want to congratulate you on your success, getting everything up and running. I mean, I’m sure that’s a huge undertaking in and of itself.

Richard Pine: Thanks Tim, I appreciate it.

TG Branfalt: And thanks for being on today’s episode. You can find more episodes of the Ganjapreneur.com podcasts at the podcast section of Ganjapreneur.com and the apple iTunes store. On the Ganjapreneur.com website, you’ll 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.

This episode was engineered by Jeremy Sebastiano. I’ve been your host, TG Branfalt.

End

Attorney General Jeff Sessions during the 2016 presidential election.

Sessions Requests Review of Cannabis Policies as Part of Violent Crime Reduction Strategy

4/06/2017

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In a memo to the 94 U.S. Attorneys, Attorney General Jeff Sessions has directed the Justice Department Task Force on Crime Reduction and Public Safety to review federal cannabis policies as part of a strategy to combat violent crime.

“Task Force subcommittees will…undertake a review of existing policies in the areas of charging, sentencing, and marijuana to ensure consistency with the Department’s overall strategy on reducing violent crime and with Administration goals and priorities,” Sessions wrote in the April 5 memo.

Last month, Sessions indicated that he may leave the 2013 Cole Memo – which effectively barred federal agencies from interfering with state cannabis laws – mostly intact; although he hinted at possible adjustments.

The Task Force and its subcommittees are expected to issue their recommendations to the Justice Department no later than July 27 – which means that if a federal crackdown in states with legal cannabis is looming it likely won’t be carried out before that date.

End

The state flag of California flying on a clear, blue sky day.

California Governor’s Plan to Solve Conflict Between Rec. and MMJ Draws Mixed Reviews

4/06/2017

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California Gov. Jerry Brown’s Office has made recommendations to solve the conflicts between the state’s medical and adult-use cannabis industries as part of his 2017-2018 budget, according to an Orange County Register report. However, his plan includes vertical integration – allowing a single business to hold licenses to cultivate, distribute, manufacture, and sell cannabis – which drew the ire of state law enforcement officials.

According to Ken Corney, president of the California Police Chiefs Association, the governor’s plan could turn traditionally small cannabis businesses into larger ones by allowing them to control the entire supply chain which could open the door for criminal elements to stake their claim in the industry. Under the state’s current medical cannabis laws, businesses are prevented from holding both cultivation and distribution licenses.

“The proposal favors big marijuana grows over the welfare of our communities,” Corney said in an Associated Press report.

Even members of the cannabis industry were split on the proposal.

Nate Bradley, executive director of the California Cannabis Industry Association, said the association was “extremely happy” with the governor’s proposal, which also includes language to limit larger farms.

However, Hezekiah Allen, head of the California Growers Association, said allowing entities to hold multiple licenses “could lead to mega-manufacturers and mega chain stores.”

The proposal requires legislative approval before it is enacted.

End

A large cannabis cola inside of a licensed grow facility.

Cannabinoid Research Center Officially Launches at Israel’s Hebrew University

4/06/2017

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The Hebrew University of Jerusalem has launched the Multidisciplinary Center of Cannabinoid Research which will conduct and coordinate research on cannabis and its biological effects in an effort to determine its commercial applications, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reports. Raphael Mechoulam, the chemistry professor who is credited with discovering THC in 1964 and later identified the endocannabinoid system, will continue his research with the center.

Dr. Joseph Tam, the director of the center, said the 27 researchers at Hebrew University will work with specialists at the Hadassah Medical Center to study agriculture, chemistry, pharmacology, chemical development, and drug delivery while incorporating fields of nanotechnology, and pain and brain science.

“There is so much interest in cannabis at the moment, but a lot remains unknown about its mechanism of action,” Tam said in the report, noting that the center also plans on collaborating with scientists and biotech companies. “My belief is that our multidisciplinary center will lead global research and answer these questions.”

Last month, prior to its official opening, the center signed a memorandum of understanding with The Lambert Institute, an Australian medical cannabis research center at the University of Sydney. It had also funded research projects on the use of cannabinoids on traumatic brain injury, the effects of a cannabis extract on pain and painkillers, and the cancer-fighting potential of a cannabinoid receptor.

Mechoulam indicated that the center will study cannabinoids as a potential therapy for cancer, head injury, bone formation, obesity, and addiction.

“It has been shown that modulating endocannabinoid activity has therapeutic potential in a large number of human diseases, hence research on cannabinoids may lead to very significant advances, not only in basic science but also in therapeutics,” he said.

Tam said that the cannabis research being conducted in Israel is made possible, in part, by an increasingly lenient political environment.

End

The city skyline of Toronto, Ontario in Canada.

World’s First Cannabis ETF Launches on Toronto Stock Exchange

4/06/2017

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The world’s first cannabis-related exchange-traded fund began trading yesterday on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The Horizons Medical Marijuana Life Sciences ETF, which offers exposure to the performance of a basket of North American publicly listed life science firms and other companies with significant business activities in the cannabis industry, is being traded under the ticker symbol HMMJ.

The ETF is a passively managed index seeking to replicate the performance of Solactive’s North American Medical Marijuana Index net of expenses. The Index selects from a current roster of companies whose operations may include biopharmaceuticals, bioproducts, medical manufacturing, distribution, and other ancillary businesses related to the cannabis industry.

Steve Hawkins, president and co-CEO of Horizons ETFs, called the offering “another made-in-Canada ETF milestone” noting that the nation “is the birthplace of ETFs.”

“The rapid growth of the medical marijuana industry, which includes the growth in the size of companies and the number of companies that are publicly listed on North American stock exchanges, has created enough market depth and liquidity to make launching an ETF with this unique theme possible,” Hawkins said in a press release. “It’s rare that investors get an opportunity to invest in what is essentially an entirely new sector of stocks. Despite the recently strong performance of many of these companies, we do think that we’re still in the early stages of what could be a unique long-term growth opportunity.”

Horizons ETFs has more than $7 billion of assets under management, with 77 ETFs listed on the TSX.

End

Kansas City, Missouri Voters Pass Cannabis Decriminalization Measure

4/05/2017

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Voters in Kansas City, Missouri have overwhelmingly passed a cannabis decriminalization measure that replaces current criminal penalties with a civil fine and directs law enforcement officers to no longer target citizens for possession.

The measure, which passed 74-26 percent, amends local laws regarding possession of up to 35 grams of cannabis by adults 21-and-older, from a misdemeanor, previously punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, to a civil offense that carries a $25 fine with no arrest or criminal record.

Jamie Kacz, executive director of Kansas City NORML, said the vote brings an end to “the era of reefer madness in Kansas City,” adding that “no longer will otherwise law abiding citizens be targeted or arrested for the mere possession of marijuana.”

“We could not be more excited about the positive impact passing Question 5 will bring to the communities of Kansas City,” Kacz said in a statement. “We fought long and hard for this result and could not have done it without the support of our volunteers.”

Erik Altieri, executive director for NORML’s national organization, called the initiative’s passage “not just a victory for the people of Kansas City, but for the democratic process.”

“When concerned citizens stand up, stand together, and fight back against unjust laws, we will win,” he said in a press release. “The overwhelming majority of Americans want to end our nation’s war on marijuana consumers and politicians across the country should take heed of the message voters sent in Missouri: if you don’t reform our marijuana laws through the legislature, we the people will do it for you.”

End

Building in Annapolis, Maryland -- the state's capital city.

Maryland House Passes Bill Adding 5 MMJ Cultivation Licenses

4/05/2017

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Maryland’s House of Delegates have passed legislation that would allow five additional medical cannabis cultivation licenses after a study is conducted as to whether minorities had undergone discrimination in related industries, the Baltimore Sun reports. The study could yield legal justification for awarding the additional licenses to minority applicants.

The reform, which passed the House by a veto-proof 90-45 vote, was headed by the Legislative Black Caucus, who has been fighting for equity in the medical cannabis licensing – which is required under the state’s law – after none of the 15 companies initially awarded a preliminary cultivation license in August 2016 were minority-led.

The measure was opposed by both the companies that were selected for the preliminary licenses and most House Republicans.

Del. Cheryl Glenn, sponsor of the bill and chair of the caucus, said the bill’s passage shows that minorities will not be locked out of participation in the industry.

“Less than 1 percent of the licenses held in the entire country are held by African Americans and other minorities,” Glenn said in an Associated Press report. “I’m very proud at the state of Maryland that we are passing this legislation. Nothing is perfect, but this is really moving us along the path of having a fair system in the state of Maryland.”

Three minority-led companies that were denied preliminary licenses have pending lawsuits against the state’s medical cannabis commission, asserting that they failed to follow the letter of the law which requires regulators to “actively seek and achieve” racial and ethnic diversity in the industry.

The measure must still be passed by the Senate before being sent to the governor.

End

Colorado- Governor John Hickenlooper (center) talks with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack (right) about how most Colorado schools have produce gardens to educate and supplement the schools nutrition program, during the National Governors Association Education, Early Childhood and Workforce Committee in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012. USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.

Hickenlooper Signs Bill Banning Cannabis Ads by Unlicensed Entities

4/05/2017

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Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper has signed legislation making it illegal to advertise cannabis sales unless the advertiser is a licensed medical or retail cannabis provider, KOAA News 5 reports. The measure is meant to stem so-called gray market producers and sellers from advertising on sites like Craigslist, where many ads offer cannabis in exchange for ‘donations.’

The law, which takes effect in September, covers ads on the Internet, newspapers, magazines, handbills and other printed publications. Violators could be charged with a Level 2 misdemeanor drug charge if convicted.

The new law is the latest in Colorado aimed at stemming the illicit cannabis trade in the state.

In November, the Democratic governor called the gray market a “clear and present danger,” adding that illicit sales were “one of the things [he] worried about in the very beginning.” Last month, the Colorado House gave preliminary approval to a measure that would reduce the number of plants allowed to be grown at a patient’s residence from 99 to 16.

“Anything that the state legislators can do to clear up and eliminate the gray market is definitely beneficial for us,” Sean Mandel, Commander of Metro Vice, Narcotics & Intelligence Division, said in the report.

Currently, Colorado is the only state with legal cannabis that allows homegrows of more than 16 plants.

End

Extra crystallized cannabis cola from a licensed Washington cultivation site.

Australian Cannabis Researchers Net $466K Government Grant

4/05/2017

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Australia’s government is giving $466,000 to researchers who are hoping to improve how parts of the cannabis plant used for pain relief are extracted, according to a Herald Sun report. The pilot program, which will also research which cannabis crops grow best in Australia, will be conducted by the University of Melbourne, who have partnered with Under The Three Biopharmaceuticals.

The researchers say the project could lead to the development of a local cannabis industry – which they estimate could be worth $150 million annually with yearly demand for more than 17,600 pounds – and prevent patients from obtaining their medicine and treatments from the illicit market.

Education Minister Simon Birmingham said partnerships between universities and businesses allow some of the “best minds…to come up with solutions to problems Australia faces.”

“We’re backing this project because we can see the clear benefits of having local medicinal cannabis production and a local supply chain for the many patients that stand to gain from the use of medicinal cannabis products,” Birmingham said in the report.

According to the Herald Sun, the Victorian government harvested its first medicinal crop this year, and last month medical cannabis was imported from Canada in order to provide immediate treatment to 29 children suffering from seizure disorders.

Last month, Cannoperations Pty Ltd. was the first company issued a license to grow and harvest medical cannabis in Australia.

End

Indoor cannabis grow under California's medical cannabis regime.

Cannabis Industry and Unions At Odds in California

4/04/2017

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Cannabis companies and labor unions could be headed for a showdown in California over concerns about how deeply embedded the latter should be in the rapidly growing industry, according to a San Francisco Chronicle report. Under California’s medical cannabis law the International Brotherhood of Teamsters has first rights to transport and deliver cannabis products in the state; however such rights are not included in the language of the adult-use measure.

This disconnect will force lawmakers to determine which law takes precedence – Proposition 64 or the state’s medical cannabis laws. The state Legislative Council has indicated Prop. 64 takes precedence, but Barry Broad, the Teamsters’ state legislative director, said the vertically integrated structure under the voter-approved law – which allows growers and manufacturers to self-distribute – could lead to corruption.

“Right now 80 percent of the marijuana produced in California is sent to other states, which is illegal,” he said in the report. “We want to organize the industry, but we want to organize an industry that is well regulated. If you have vertical integration, you are watching yourself.”

Another union, the United Food and Commercial Workers, has partnered with the City College of San Francisco and Oaksterdam University in an apprenticeship course to help train individuals in some aspects of the cannabis industry; but parts of the UFCW plan has forced Dale Sky Jones, executive chancellor of Oaksterdam, to question whether the agreement is something they want to pursue.

Under the UCFW plan, the union would set training standards and provide trainees to the City College program, which would be partially funded for students by union dues, UCFW director Jeff Ferro said. Non-union students would only be allowed for an extra fee.

“The cannabis industry has traditionally been very sensitive to workers’ rights, and the people who have been working in cannabis tend to be happy,” Jones said. “They are not oppressed workers. So the question is, if the workers don’t need representation against management, then what are they getting for their union dues?”

City College spokesman Jeff Hamilton said the details of the program still need to be worked out and did not indicate whether the college supported the UCFW plan.

Ferro said that if cannabis retailers want to be a “traditional mainstream business” they must provide employees with retirement programs, access to skills and health, and welfare training programs.

“There are people in this business who are happy to work with us, and there are people in it who are angry they have to work with us, but the industry is going to have to contend with labor around cannabis in California,” he said.

End

Wide fan leaves off a licensed cultivator's crop in Washington state.

Governors from Adult-Use States Ask Feds to Maintain Status Quo

4/04/2017

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In a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, the governors of Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska asked that federal authorities maintain Cole Memo and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network guidance that provides “the foundation for state regulatory [cannabis] systems” vital to maintain state control.

In the letter, dated April 3, the governors explain that overhauling the Cole Memo – a product of the Obama Administration – would “produce unintended and harmful consequences” and likely divert existing cannabis products into the illicit market. The governors say the policy guidance “strike a reasonable balance” between state and federal laws.

“Likewise, without FinCEN guidance, financial institutions will be less willing to provide services to marijuana-related businesses,” the letter says. “This would force industry participants to be even more cash reliant, posing safety risks to the public and to state regulators conducting enforcement activity.”

Last month, Sessions indicated that he may maintain guidelines set forth by the Cole Memo.

“The Cole Memorandum set up some policies under President Obama’s Department of Justice about how cases should be selected in those states and what would be appropriate for federal prosecution, much of which I think is valid,” Sessions told reporters in Virginia during a question-and-answer session. He added that while he “may have some different ideas…in addition to” the memo, federal authorities would “not be able to go into a state a pick up the work police and sheriffs have been doing for decades.”

End

A batch of cannabis clones in a row on a shelf inside of a Washington state cultivation facility.

LeafLink Seed Round Led by Lerer Hippeau Ventures

4/04/2017

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In their first investment in the cannabis space, Lerer Hippeau Ventures – who counts Buzzfeed, Venmo, and Casper among its investments – led e-commerce startup LeafLink’s $3 million seed round as the New York City-based company expands into Oregon and Nevada.

According to a company spokesperson, LeafLink is currently doing $65 million per year in orders for flower, edibles, concentrates, and topicals in Colorado and Washington through the year-old platform, with plans to launch next in California. Ryan Smith, LeafLink’s chief executive and co-founder, said the platform serves more than 800 Colorado and Washington retailers – more than 70 percent of the license holders in those states.

“Even though it appears we’re focused on the recreational market, what we’re really focused on is markets that are not vertically integrated,” Smith said in a Crain’s interview. “The platform is most helpful in connecting people who are really great at making THC-infused products and people really great at retailing those products.”

Eric Hippeau, a managing partner at the venture capital firm and former Huffington Post chief executive, said his firm had been “looking for companies providing infrastructure” to cannabis companies.

“We wouldn’t know where to invest when it comes to brands sold directly to consumers,” he said.

Although LeafLink is based in New York, they have no plans to serve the state’s medical cannabis market.

End

Big Pharma Positioning for Federal Approval of Cannabis Drugs

4/04/2017

by Craig Brand

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In my most recent publishing, I wrote that our hemp/CBD industry was being hijacked from us.

“Us,” being those who have fought against the establishment (Government, the law, Big Business, corrupt officials, and those who have financial gain in opposing any cannabis resurgence) to legalize a plant that is embedded into the very fabric of humanity; a plant that was the first ever human planned commercial grow (approximately 10,000 years ago in Taiwan). This same plant is discussed at length throughout the bible for its influence and religious prowess, throughout history in trade, religion, social status and medical literature. This little green plant (a.k.a. Colorado Christmas Tree or Colorado lettuce) was used to create the fabric of the first Spanish vessels to sail across the Atlantic and reach the Americas, and to create both pages of the Declaration of Independence and the fabric used by Betsy Ross in sewing the original American Flag.

While we all believed that we have been making progress in the revitalization of cannabis, so too has Big Pharma – against our interests. We fought the fight for our weed, believed in its cause, stood up to the law to make our point, and finally uncovered the truth that cannabis was only outlawed over a collaborate conspiracy by Randolph Hearst in order to protect his newspaper and tree farm fortune, as well as the unconscionable actions of Harry Anslinger, the first commissioner of the U.S. Treasury Department‘s Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN).

Anslinger and the financially and politically connected Hearst demonized cannabis (which was the legal alternative to alcohol during the Prohibition years), in order to achieve their needs: Hearst to save his business empire and Anslinger to save his job, department and men, as Congress was repealing the Prohibition Act. Alcohol legalization would have ended Anslinger’s department. Cannabis never had a chance with Anslinger in public power.

Anyway, back to the point. While we have been fighting to legalize cannabis for our use, enjoyment, health benefits, and good old American entrepreneurship, the pharmaceutical industry has been opposing us, demonizing cannabis and denying any medical benefit whatsoever, so that they could continue selling us their expensive medicines.

If cannabis has no legitimate healthcare benefits, how can the FDA approve these companies’ studies and grant approvals? If the Pharmaceutical industry is correct and that there is no medical benefit in cannabis, then why should any of us buy their medicines?

While we were not looking, Big Pharma has been at work with the FDA in attempts at approval.

For example:

“Sativex,” manufactured by GW Pharmaceuticals. Sativex is a mouth spray that is derived from natural cannabis plant extracts, containing both THC (delta 9 tetrahydrocannabibinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). Sativex is now licensed to none other than the pharmaceutical giant Bayer, who last year merged with Monsanto. (It does not take much imagination to understand the damage to the independent cannabis industry that these two powerhouses could single-handedly manage).

“Dronabinol”/ “Marinol,” manufactured by Unimed Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Solvay Pharmaceuticals. Given that cannabis maintains its status as a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance, Unimed couldn’t patent natural THC and thus would not be able to maximize profits, so it chose to develop a Synthetic Delta-9 THC! We shouldn’t touch the THC created by Mother Nature but we should trust in Big Pharma’s synthetic version. In any event, Solvay convinced the FDA to downgrade it’s medicine to a Schedule III. Thus, Mother Nature remains a Schedule I on par with cocaine, heroin, meth.

“Nabilone” / “Cesamet,” manufactured by Valeant Pharmaceuticals International. Nabilone is also a synthetic cannabinoid similar to THC.

“Dexanabinol,” manufactured by Solvay Pharmaceuticals – later acquired by Abbott Laboratories in 2010. Dexanabinol is a Synthetic THC used as naturally produced CBD enzymes in that it is non-psychotropic and blocks NMDA receptors and COX-2 cytokines. The medicine was promoted as a neuroprotective for use after cardiac surgery, a drug that helped regain memory and other high-level brain functioning following trauma as well as anti-cancer.

“CT-3,” manufactured by Indevus Pharmaceuticals. CT-3 was being promoted as a Synthetic THC that had strong anti-inflammatory properties. (Sounds like natural CBD to me).

“Cannabinor,” manufactured by Pharmos. Cannabinor is a Synthetic chemical that specifically binds to the brains secondary cannabinoid receptor (CB2). (Sounds exactly like what natural CBD does).

“HU 308,” manufactured by Pharmos. HU 308 was another form of Cannabinor and was also promoted as a Synthetic chemical that specifically binds to the brains secondary cannabinoid receptor (CB2).

“HU 331,” manufactured by Cayman Chemical. HU 331 according to the FDA write-up is a Synthetic chemical compound composed of central cannabinoid (CB1), peripheral cannabinoid (CB2), and non-CB receptor medicated pharmacology. Suggested use: memory treatment, weight loss, appetite, neurodegeneration, tumor surveillance, analgesia and inflammation. (Sounds like full-spectrum hemp oil).

“Rimonabant” / “Acomplia,” manufactured by Sanofi-Aventis. Pimped as a weight loss medication and smoking suppressant. It is a synthetic form of THC that blocks endocannabinoids from being received in the brain. This product does not appear to be permitted on the marketplace anymore.

“Taranabant,” manufactured by Merck. Taranabant was manufactured with cannabis related properties but ran into FDA problems when all of it’s test subjects were getting high!

For legal battle purposes, the cannabis industry should be yelling that cannabis is a safe, effective and natural alternative to the already legal and regulated alcohol and synthetic or chemically composed pills being pushed. This is different from trying to justify the legality of cannabis because of its health benefits, which only plays into the hands of politicians, haters, big pharma, USDA, and the FDA. Just look at recent medical cannabis proposed laws, many of which will only let you take cannabis in a pill form (with limited exceptions). Some states have even gone as far as written proposed legislation to have cannabis medicine dispensed only through a pharmacy with a prescription.

America, be careful what you wish for. Without realizing it, and without curving your marketing, you might be the cause of legalization – not for the ganjapreneur, but for Big Pharma.

End

The life of a business entrepreneur: glasses, laptop, determination.

Canopy San Diego Launches Spring Accelerator Program with 8 Companies

4/04/2017

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Canopy San Diego has chosen eight companies for its Spring 2017 accelerator program, including a “turnkey” laboratory technology company, a ticketing and registration platform for cannabis-centric events, a peer-to-peer social marketplace for cannabis friendly accommodations, and a customer experience management platform.

The companies will be given office space for up to four employees, receive at least $20,000 in seed capital, and be eligible for another $50,000 in follow-on funding prior to graduation. Six of the eight companies are based out of San Diego, California.

“We’re excited to have such a diverse spring class of startups that perfectly complements our Fall 2016 cohort, and gives our investors a balanced portfolio of early-stage cannabis tech companies,” Jack Scatizzi, managing director of Canopy San Diego, said in a statement.

The companies selected for the program include:

San Diego-based Urban Labs, described as “the first scalable cannabis laboratory to embrace the peer to peer economy,” who offer “turnkey technology and processes” to “de-skill” previously complex lab processes into affordable business opportunities.

Traffic Roots, also based in San Diego, a digital display advertising company who plan on introducing a programmatic self-serve advertising platform.

MJ Hybrid Solutions, a San Diego-based start-up training platform that “aims to fill the cannabis sales voids with compassion to increase company profits and retain customer loyalty.”

San Diego’s EventHi, described as “the world’s first ticketing and registration platform that is built for the cannabis culture.” The company plans to offer an online technology where app users can buy event tickets, verify their medical cannabis program registration if required for the event, buy merchandise, and write reviews.

Verticann, a San Diego company that offers turnkey vertical commercial cannabis cultivation that claims their design can halve production costs “while increasing the canopy size by up to 500 percent” compared to traditional methods.

Collectif, a San Diego-based peer-to-peer marketplace for cannabis-friendly accommodations and “cannabis-inspired experiences.”

Oregon-based Ripe Metrics, who plans to offer a customer experience management system with “analytics and marketing automation” to help dispensaries increase engagement in order to increase customer lifetime value.

And;

Toronto, Ontario, Canada’s BudTendr, a mobile app which allows users to purchase medical cannabis licensed dispensaries through mobile devices through licensed dispensaries.

Canopy San Diego holds a 6-9.5 percent equity stake in each of the companies accepted into the accelerator program. Between Canopy San Diego and Canopy Boulder, the accelerator network holds a combined portfolio of 64 companies.

End

Business taxes are in the cannabis industry are made extremely complicated by the plant's federally prohibited status.

Is This the End of Section 280E?

4/03/2017

by Craig W. Smalley

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Recent legislation introduced in the Senate and House of Representatives would end the federal prohibition of cannabis and replace it with a system that would regulate and tax marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol or tobacco.

According to a press release dated March 30, 2017,

Bills filed by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) would remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act, leaving states to determine their own marijuana policies, and impose federal regulations on marijuana businesses in states that choose to regulate marijuana for adult use. Wyden’s bill would also enact a federal excise tax on marijuana products. In the House, the tax is being proposed in a separate bill introduced by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR).

Wyden and Blumenauer also filed marijuana policy “gap” bills that would eliminate many of the collateral consequences associated with federal marijuana convictions without removing marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act.

That legislation has been introduced in the House and Senate, where it will be argued by the various chambers. The House and Senate must come to an agreement in order for an Act to be contrived for the president to sign. The president could either sign or veto the bill; if vetoed, it would return to Congress and they would need a three-fourths majority vote to override the veto.

Who knows what will happen with this legislation — but if it becomes a law, it would end Section 280E. Dispensaries and growers would be able to deduct salaries, rent, and all other necessary and ordinary expenses, just like any legal business. This would be huge for the legal cannabis industry.

Section 280E says:

No deduction or credit shall be allowed for any amount paid or incurred during the taxable year in carrying on any trade or business if such trade or business (or the activities which comprise such trade or business) consists of trafficking in controlled substances (within the meaning of schedule I and II of the Controlled Substances Act) which is prohibited by Federal law or the law of any State in which such trade or business is conducted.

Tax Court has left the door open for tax accountants like me that look for ways around a stupid and oppressive law. What is typically done in states that allow it is the dispensary does some other business in addition to being a dispensary as a way to write off the expenses other than Cost of Goods Sold (COGS), which is basically the cost of the cannabis for dispensaries. If the state doesn’t allow it, then a creative way of calculating COGS is done.

This legislation would also open banking opportunities up to dispensaries and growers; the only thing they would still have to fight is the stigma following the cannabis industry.

A big reason behind this bill’s introduction is Congress having seen what a cash cow cannabis could be. Every state with legal cannabis has imposed taxes on it, some as high as 15%. If you reread the excerpt of the press release, it mentions an excise tax similar to alcohol.

One thing is certain — I will be watching this closely and updating you as news arises.

End

Colorado Takes Back 4/20 with 5th Annual World Cannabis Week

4/03/2017

by Chloe Sommers

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The OG of cannabis festivals, World Cannabis Week, is taking over the city of Denver for a full celebration of cannabis culture from April 19 – 23, 2017. The 420-friendly events will give locals and visitors to Denver ample opportunities to get lit with the most innovative and popular cannabis brands in the country – while also learning about the state of cannabis from industry experts.

The week-long celebration of Colorado’s billion-dollar cannabis market allows consumers a safe and legal way to consume with 420-friendly hotels, consumption areas, and free 420-friendly shuttles between events.

Dubbed the “SxSW of Cannabis,” the Denver-based World Cannabis Week will have informative, and interactive experiences for consumers. For those looking to kick back and relax, there’s promise of hefty dispensary discounts, and amazing swag (sometimes reason enough for some to attend)!

For music lovers, there’s the highly-anticipated return of Redman and Method Man to Colorado’s beautiful outdoor stage, Red Rocks Amphitheater, for a ‘420 Eve on the Rocks’ concert.

For 2017, World Cannabis Week is introducing a network of My420Tours luxury cannabis consumption shuttles, free for registered attendees. One of the shuttle stops will bring cannabis enthusiasts to the mecca of cannabis reform in the state that started it all – the legendary 420 Rally in Downtown Denver.

The pro-pot rally is held yearly, on 420, at 4:20 at the city’s Civic Center Park.

Another must-see stop on the 420-week itinerary is the new 420 Bazaar – a private event hosting over 50 vendors, food trucks, art installations, live entertainment, and private consumption areas.

Admission to the 420 Bazaar is free for those who register ahead of time.

A special cannabis-themed scavenger hunt is also slated for the weed-centric week. The game is an added, interactive element to World Cannabis Week, and registered attendees can win prizes

So, while The High Time Cannabis Cup uproots itself and moves further West, Denver’s World Cannabis Week remains rooted in the Mile High City as the premier event to bring together budding entrepreneurs, sophisticated cannabis lovers, and industry professionals.

Calling all ganjapreneurs!

The people behind World Cannabis Week are still looking to highlight and invite cannabis-focused businesses to participate in what may be the largest World Cannabis Week to date.

For more information on World Cannabis Week and to register for free, visit www.WorldCannabisWeek.com.

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Cannabis Club in Modesto, California Provides Cannabis Oil to Kids and Support for Parents

4/03/2017

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A cannabis club for children has opened in Modesto California where kids can obtain CBD oil and families can network with others who are using cannabis products to treat their children, according to a Fox4KC report. Jason David, the president of Jayden’s Journey, named after his son, said the dispensary is necessary because “when a child is sick the whole family is sick.”

Among David’s patients is 6-month-old Zya Mao, who suffers from epilepsy. Her father, Jhoson Mao, believes cannabis oils are a better alternative to prescriptions and his daughter’s doctor is not advising against it.

“We noticed… she feels present, her eye is not as wobbly as it used to be,” Mao said in the report.

Sherry Poe, the mother of 8-year-old Zoe who suffers from ADHD ADD extreme, said her daughter “started getting ticks” and “crying all the time” while on prescription drugs, and at one point told her mother “she didn’t want to live anymore.” Zoe has been using cannabis oil for a year and a half.

“She sleeps. She’s gained weight,” Poe said. “She’s happy; she smiles; she laughs.”

“If it doesn’t work, throw it away,” David said for parents considering using cannabis oil treatments for their children. But for many patients, he said, “it changes your life like it changes my son’s life.”

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Amendment to Bill in West Virginia Would Explicitly Legalize Hemp-Derived CBD in the State

4/03/2017

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West Virginia lawmakers have clarified language in a bill adding substances to the drug schedule that would allow the sale, distribution, and prescription of hemp-derived CBD oils, according to a Herald-Dispatch report. The amendment differentiates between CBD products derived from hemp and CBD derived from cannabis plants containing more than the .3 percent THC allowable under federal law.

The changes by the Senate Judiciary Committee were made after the Director of the West Virginia Hemp Industries Association Morgan Leach said the original version would cause confusion regarding CBD classifications.

Leach indicated that making the “cash crop” available will help the state become “a catalyst for entrepreneurship and innovation.”

“This revision protects West Virginia hemp farmers’ ability to cultivate and process hemp for CBD. This is one of our biggest revenue streams that will help make our farmers more money as they begin to develop this crop in West Virginia,” Leach said in the report. “Our goals are to (build) industries around food products, dietary supplements, cosmetics and topicals, paper, textiles, bio-plastics, advanced battery technologies and much more.”

Democratic state Sen. Bob Beach, whose wife teaches an industrial hemp course at Pierpont Community and Technical College, said lawmakers are still undergoing an “education process” with regard to hemp.

“Any time you can clarify sections of code, it’s a positive step in the right direction with any piece of legislation,” Beach said. “In this particular case, it’s definitely a step in the right direction.”

The measure has been sent to the Senate with a “do-pass” recommendation.

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New Zealand Police Confiscate MMJ Supply of Tetraplegic

4/03/2017

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Police in Auckland, New Zealand have confiscated the medical cannabis supply of a 25-year-old tetraplegic that his family had hoped would have lasted him through the rest of the year, the New Zealand Herald reports. Ben Clifford, who has been a tetraplegic since 2015 after breaking his neck diving into a swimming pool, uses cannabis to help control his spasms and muscle pain.

“It can mean the difference for me not being able to drive my powerchair, to being able to drive it,” he said in the report.

Shortly after the police left, his Accident Compensation Corporation-funded Life Plus caregiver – which he requires around the clock – was pulled from the home. Clifford said the ACC, Life Plus, and all of his caregivers knew about his cannabis use.

Kellie Atchison, Clifford’s mother, was told the caregiver was pulled due to “health and safety reasons.”

Hans Wouters, chief executive of the New Zealand Spinal Trust, said caregivers are usually only pulled in “extreme” cases where there is an “extreme danger, like weapons or anything where the carer is in danger.”

“It is extremely unusual in New Zealand,” he said.

Life Plus General Manager Michelle Batchelor declined to comment to the Herald because, “it is part of an ongoing police investigation.”

New Zealand does have a limited medical cannabis program, although it is not clear whether Clifford was authorized under the laws. No one was arrested at the home, which Atchison shares with Clifford and his six-year-old daughter Alizay.

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Jeff Sessions Found High Having Heart-to-Heart with Lincoln Memorial

4/01/2017

by Sampson Simpson

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WASHINGTON, DC – Attorney General Jeff Sessions says he isn’t a “bad person” after he was discovered smoking pot at the Lincoln Memorial late Friday evening, but claims he had a conversation with the 16th President that was “mind-blowing.”

Sessions admitted that it was the first time he had consumed marijuana, adding that he “felt great” but was “hungry as a opossum during a Mobile summer.”

“Look, I know I’ve said some things, made some comments, that I now regret,” Sessions told reporters at the Justice Department. “President Lincoln, well, he sat with me on those stone steps, took a toke – I think that’s what it’s called – and helped me realize that it’s time to reconsider the status of cannabis in this country.”

While the White House admits it’s “unnerving” that Sessions believes he actually spoke to Honest Abe, Press Secretary Sean Spicer said it was about time Sessions “chilled out.”

“Jeff, he’s a guy with a lot of experience – he’s a grandpa and a baby simultaneously which, I know, is very tough to have no idea what is going on at all. It’s all still very strange and we are still trying to work through some of these issues that are killing the buzz of the entire White House staff and advisers and those that work in the highest levels of government,” Spicer said, adding that “it’s not like it’s illegal for an adult to possess marijuana” in the district.

Officer Reggie Walter, the Capitol Police officer who found the Attorney General, said he was “relieved” Sessions had a change of heart. “I was worried that I would actually have to start arresting people for weed again,” Walters said following Sessions’ press conference.

President Trump® chimed in with one of his trademarked Tweet-decrees:

When pressed about where he obtained his stash Sessions replied, “Not the National Institutes of Health, that’s for sure.”

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Delaware Lawmakers Confident They Have Enough Votes to Legalize Adult-Use Cannabis

3/31/2017

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