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Alabama Awards Medical Cannabis Licenses for Third Time This Year

12/05/2023

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The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) last week awarded 20 medical cannabis industry licenses, Alabama Daily News reports. It is the third time this year the commission has awarded licenses – the previous two attempts were negated by claims of incorrect application scoring and lawsuits that alleged the AMCC violated the state’s Open Meetings Law and had no right to revoke the originally awarded licenses in the first place.

During this round of licensing, license hopefuls gave presentations to the AMCC directly. Commission member William Saliski noted that the presentations were influential in helping the AMCC rank the applicants.

“I have to say that some of the top people that are on this list had some of the most sensational presentations, and I’m so encouraged by their readiness. I think they could probably start growing plants tomorrow if we asked them.” — Saliski via Alabama Daily News

Of the 20 licenses issued last Friday, seven were not among the companies awarded a license during the AMCC’s previous licensing attempt.

The 20 companies awarded licenses are:

Cultivator License

CRC of Alabama, LLC
Greenway Botanicals, LLC
Gulf Shore Remedies, LLC
Native Black Cultivation
Creek Leaf Wellness Inc.
Twisted Herb Cultivation, LLC
I AM FARMS

Processor License

Organic Harvest Lab, LLC
Coosa Medical Manufacturing
1819 Labs, LLC
Jasper Development Group Inc.
Dispensary License
CCS of Alabama, LLC
GP6 Wellness, LLC
Capitol Medical, LLC
RJK Holdings AL, LLC
Secure Transport License
Alabama Secure Transport, LLC
Tyler Van Lines, LLC
Pick Up My Things
International Communication, LLC

State Testing Laboratory License

Certus Laboratories

The approved companies have until December 15 to submit their application fee to the commission which will then investigate the companies’ sites before awarding the final licenses, which are expected later this month.

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New Jersey Bill Would Let Patients Grow Their Own Medical Cannabis

12/04/2023

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A bill introduced in New Jersey would legalize home cannabis cultivation for the state’s medical cannabis patients, NJ Spotlight News reports. New Jersey has legalized both adult and medical cannabis use but home cultivation is not permitted under either law.

State Sen. Troy Singleton (D), the bill’s sponsor, told Spotlight News that lawmakers “tried to give the [state] an opportunity through its regulatory powers to put some pricing controls in place” but that he believes “it’s time for the legislature … to interject some price controls in this space.”

Just this week Gov. Phil Murphy (D) told News 12 that he is “very much open-minded” to allowing adults to grow their own cannabis.

“I would bet – if I were a betting man – that down the road that that’s exactly where this would land. I understand, having said that, why wasn’t in our initial regs, because I think there’s a rightful objective to get this industry up on its feet and make sure that the folks who are in this as a matter of commerce are successful and, again, with a huge amount of focus on equity.” — Murphy to News 12 via Spotlight News

Under current New Jersey law, home cultivation of cannabis is a felony that could lead to a five-year prison sentence, despite cannabis being legal in the state for adult use for nearly three years.

Under the proposed law, patients could grow up to four mature and four immature plants at a time.

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Poll: 67% of Floridians Back Adult-Use Cannabis Legalization Ballot Question

12/04/2023

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A poll released Thursday by the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab (PORL) found that 67% of respondents planned to vote ‘yes’ on the proposed ballot question to legalize cannabis for adult use in the state, with 28% opposed.

The proposal was supported by 78% of Democrats polled, 55% of Republicans, and 69% of those affiliated with a third party or with no party affiliation, along with majorities from all age groups, and other demographics.

The organization had found 70% support for the reforms in the spring and 76% support in the spring of 2022; however, in those polls, the question was posed more broadly. In a statement, Dr. Michael Binder, PORL faculty director and professor of political science, noted that in previous surveys, PORL “simply asked if folks support or oppose legalization of recreational marijuana,” but this time respondents were asked about “the specifics of this proposed amendment.”

“Yet again, it looks like it has a good chance of passing, if the measure makes it through the courts, and that is a very big ‘if’.” — Binder in a press release

The state Supreme Court heard arguments on the ballot question last month but seemed poised to allow the measure to appear on ballots next year. State Attorney General Ashley Moody argued that the initiative’s wording is misleading and violates the single-subject rule on ballot questions. During a hearing on the issue, Justice Charles T. Canady said he was “baffled” by the argument laid out by Chief Deputy Solicitor General Jeffrey Paul DeSousa of the Florida Attorney General’s Office, which claimed that the initiative will make voters believe that approving the measure will protect Floridians from federal cannabis law violations. Canady responded to this argument by pointing to the 74-word initiative, which explicitly says the provisions of the constitutional amendment “Applies to Florida law; does not change, or immunize violations of, federal law.”

Chief Justice Carlos G. Muniz pointed out that while the measure would legalize cannabis and authorize current medical cannabis operators to sell products directly to adults, he didn’t see how those two provisions are “not directly connected” and, therefore, a single subject.

Canady added that Moody’s office was “turning the single-subject requirement not into anything other than a straitjacket on the people.”

A poll in September from the University of South Florida and Florida Atlantic University found that 60% of respondents backed adult-use legalization in the state.

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South Carolina Bill Would Regulate and Tax Intoxicating Hemp-Derived Cannabinoids

12/04/2023

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A bill proposed in South Carolina aims to regulate and tax intoxicating hemp-derived products such as delta-8 and delta-10 THC. The measure would also require laboratory testing of the products.

Under the proposal, hemp-derived cannabinoid products would carry a 5% tax which would be deposited into a special account in the state general fund and allocated to the state Department of Agriculture to be used exclusively for the regulation of hemp-derived cannabinoid products, according to the bill text. The measure would also set an age limit of 21 to purchase the products.

The bill would also impose a $500 annual licensing fee for producers and a $250 annual fee for retailers that’s sell the products, require safety labeling and child-resistant packaging.

The measure would impose the regime on seven intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoids – including delta-8, delta-10, THCo, THCp, THCv, THCa, and hexhydrocannabinol – but excludes non-intoxicating cannabinoid products, such as CBD, CBG, CBT, CBL, CBE and CBN.

In 2021, the state Attorney General’s Office issued an opinion that bolstered an analysis by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division that the state’s Hemp Farming Act “did not legalize THC except when defined in lawful hemp.” Last month, in a letter to South Carolina’s Law Enforcement Division chief, state Assistant Attorney General David S. Jones said that delta-8 THC – or any other forms of THC derived from hemp – is not legal under the state’s hemp law.

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Ohio Lawmakers Want to Overhaul Voter-Approved Legalization Bill

12/01/2023

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Ohio lawmakers are seeking to make changes to the voter-approved cannabis legalization bill, including removing provisions that barred municipalities from banning cannabis operations and home cultivation, the Ohio Capital Journal reports. The proposal would also change how cannabis-derived revenues are earmarked in the state.

Under the ballot measure approved by voters, towns and cities would have been unable to ban cannabis industry operations and home grows and would have been unable to add special taxes or fees on cannabis operations; the bill introduced by state Rep. Gary Click removes those provisions.

The voter-approved measure also created five funds in the state treasury – the adult-use tax fund, the cannabis social equity and jobs fund, the host community cannabis fund, the substance abuse and addiction fund, and the division of cannabis control and tax commissioner fund – but under Click’s bill the substance abuse fund would be split in two and a law enforcement cannabis training fund would be created.

The bill would also change how the revenue for the newly created funds would be allocated. The law would earmark just 19.4% of revenues, instead of 36%, for both the cannabis social equity and jobs fund, and the host community cannabis fund; another 19.4% would be used toward the substance abuse research and addiction education fund, instead of the 25% allocated under the voter-approved measure, while 19.4% would be allocated for both the substance abuse addiction and recovery fund, and the law enforcement cannabis training fund.

The law takes effect on December 7, but House Speaker Jason Stephens (R) indicated to the Journal that he was unsure whether the measure would make it to the floor in the coming week.

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Oklahoma Cuts Cannabis Grows to 3,200 Amid Crackdown on Bad Actors

12/01/2023

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Officials in Oklahoma on Tuesday said the number of cannabis cultivators in the state is now about 3,200, down from 9,400 in 2021, KSWO reports. The sharp decline comes amid a crackdown by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN) and Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) on illegal businesses operating under the guise of the state’s medical cannabis program.

In August, OBN said it had shut down more than 800 unlawful cannabis farms over two years that had used the state’s permissive medical cannabis system to cultivate cannabis for the illicit market; but in Tuesday’s update, OBN said that figure had climbed to more than 1,000. Officials said that the enforcement actions have led to more than 200 arrests and the seizing of more than 700,000 pounds of cannabis.

According to an Oklahoman report, OMMA has completed nearly 7,000 inspections and 4,600 operational status visits since becoming an independent state agency on Nov. 1, 2022. The agency said it has seized nearly five tons of cannabis and embargoed around 3,000 pounds and 71,200 plants. State officials said that the illegal grows were conducted by transnational criminal groups from Mexico, China, and Russia.

OBN spokesman Mark Woodward said during a press conference on Tuesday that while the state was once considered “the Wild West and a safe haven” for illegal cannabis cultivation, “Word has gotten out…that Oklahoma now has some of the most efficient, effective regulatory enforcement practices in the country.”

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New Hampshire Gov. Wants Maximum of 15 Cannabis Retailers & Cannabis Lobbying Ban

12/01/2023

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New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) on Monday introduced two apparent non-negotiables to any adult-use cannabis framework in the state: a 15-store cap and a ban on lobbying and political contributions by any cannabis licensee, the New Hampshire Bulletin reports. The demands came as the state commission studying a state-run model – similar to the state’s liquor model – was preparing to wrap up its duties.

David Mara, Sununu’s adviser on addiction and behavioral health, told the Bulletin that the administration is “adamant about that number, 15” as they “don’t want to see a proliferation of what’s happening in other states.”

“The worry here is that we don’t want to create a big tobacco atmosphere here in New Hampshire. We don’t want it to be where a lot of money is being thrown around.” — Mara to the Bulletin

Initially, the commission had discussed capping the number of adult-use dispensaries to the number of liquor stores in the state, of which there are 67.

Last April, the state House approved an adult-use legalization bill but the Senate voted down the legislation the following month as Sununu pushed back on the reforms, stating that he would prefer a state control model.

Mara said that in the future lawmakers could change the number of stores depending on “how things progress.”

A representative from Sununu’s office told the Bulletin that “The governor is open to discussing a franchisee-based system, but the success of such a model is in the details. The governor has been clear that any system meet his outlined framework – or be met with a veto.”

Sununu has generally opposed broad cannabis legalization in the state but said in May that the reforms are “probably inevitable in some way or form.” He said the state-run model would offer an “amazing tool to control location, to control where it is, to control how it’s marketed, how it’s distributed, keeping it away from kids.” He added that he wants to avoid what he describes as the “Marijuana Miles” in Massachusetts and Maine, which he says are stretches of “pot shop, after pot shop, after pot shop” which “completely changes the fabric of the town.”

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New York Settles Lawsuit That Prevented Adult-Use Dispensary Licensing

11/30/2023

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The New York Cannabis Control Board on Monday approved a settlement in a lawsuit that has prevented more than 400 adult-use cannabis dispensaries from moving forward with the application process, LoHud reports. Under the terms of the deal, which require final approval from state Supreme Court Justice Kevin Bryant, a group of four military veterans will receive dispensary licenses and other legal protections given to social-equity licensees.

State officials did not admit to any wrongdoing under the settlement. In a statement to the New York Times, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said the settlement will allow the state “to move toward this worthy goal, expanding the number of legal cannabis retailers as we continue our significant efforts to shut down illegal storefronts.”

The settlement will allow 436 provisional licensees to open their dispensaries or delivery services once their applications are finalized but state regulators would be prohibited from issuing any new or additional licenses through the Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary program until April 1, 2024.

In an interview with Spectrum News, Chris Alexander, executive director of the state Office of Cannabis Management, called the settlement “a significant moment.”

“We’re hopeful that folks get out the gate running,” Alexander said. “We want to have a lot of openings as quickly as possible.”

There were 23 businesses that were ready to open before the injunction.

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Report: 90% of Virginia Medical Cannabis Patients Obtain Products Outside of Legal Market

11/30/2023

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The price of medical cannabis in Virginia is “categorically higher” than prices in other states, which has resulted in 90% of the state’s patients purchasing products from outside the state’s medical cannabis market, according to a Cannabis Public Policy Consulting (CPPC) report authored at the request of the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority.

The report, which surveyed 1,827 cannabis consumers in Virginia, 476 of whom are registered medical cannabis patients, found patients on average spent $19 per gram for flower; however, publicly available price data from the state dispensaries suggests prices are about $14 per gram. Comparatively, CPPC found the average price per gram in Washington, D.C. was $8.73 per gram and a $9.27 average per gram price in Maryland. The CPPC found that 12% of Virginia medical cannabis patients traveled to D.C. or Maryland to obtain medical cannabis products.

The firm also found that about 57% of Virginia medical cannabis patients grew their own cannabis and that 65.2% of patients obtained cannabis from friends or family.

The report suggests that the high prices of medical cannabis in Virginia “are likely necessary for Pharmaceutical Processors to remain solvent given the current market and policy conditions and are unlikely to indicate an effort to intentionally overcharge medical patients.” The report suggests that Virginia medical cannabis patients are obtaining 76.4% of their cannabis grams from sources outside of the state’s regulated market.

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Wisconsin Bill Would Create Pilot Program to Study Psilocybin as PTSD Treatment

11/30/2023

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A bipartisan bill in Wisconsin aims to make it easier for researchers to treat patients with acute post-traumatic stress disorder with psilocybin, WPR reports. The measure would create a trust fund called the “medicinal psilocybin treatment program” that would be administered by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which launched a center for studying psychedelics to treat PTSD in 2021.

State Sen. Jesse James (R), one of the bill’s sponsors, told WPR that the “federal government has failed us when it comes to marijuana and the psilocybin and all these other variants that are out there in doing these studies.”

James and State Rep. Clinton Anderson (D), the measure’s co-sponsor, said they hope to include $100,000 in state funds to establish a trust that can be used for psilocybin research in the state.

“Let’s try to find some alternatives to treatment for our veterans who serve our country. And I think that’s something we should all be able to get behind. Otherwise, we’re just playing political theater when we talk about how important our veterans are.” — Anderson to WPR

Ander added that the bipartisan nature of the legislation shows lawmakers are “serious” and “not just throwing out a messaging bill.”

Under the proposal, individuals eligible to participate in the pilot program must be military veterans who are 21 years of age or older and who suffer from treatment-resistant PTSD. The bill text notes that “individuals who are law enforcement officers are not eligible to participate in the pilot program study.” The psilocybin therapy provided by the pilot program must be provided through pathways approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the research accomplished in the pilot program may be accomplished in conjunction with other medications approved by the federal FDA, the bill states.

The proposal was sent last week to the Senate Universities and Revenues Committee.

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Weedmaps Data Finds ‘Green Wednesday’ Cannabis Sales Outpace Black Friday Sales

11/29/2023

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Cannabis sales on the day before Thanksgiving surpassed sales on Black Friday, accounting for 21% of the weekly gross market value over the holiday week, according to order data from Weedmaps. The day before Thanksgiving has been dubbed “Green Wednesday” due to historically strong cannabis sales.

Weedmaps saw 42% growth in total order volume on Green Wednesday and the average basket value that day was 103% higher than the average Wednesday during the month of November; however, the day’s gross market value was down 4% compared to Green Wednesday 2022.

Orders for edibles increased most significantly on Green Wednesday, according to Weedmaps data, up 81%. Edibles also held six of the top 10 products sold on Green Wednesday – last year the category held five of the top 10. Vape pen orders also increased by 52% and flower increased by 48% over the average Wednesday in November, according to Weedmaps data.

So far this year, edible products hold seven of the top 10 selling products, while vape and flower products each hold two spots, according to Weedmaps data, which notes that while flower is still the most purchased product category overall, the firm reports an 18.5% year-over-year increase for edible products compared to a 9.37% increase in flower.

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Minnesota Tribe Creating Vertically Integrated Campus for Hempcrete Housing

11/29/2023

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A Minnesota tribe is constructing a campus to manufacture hempcrete, which, once complete, will grow hemp, process plants into the building material, and then build houses with it, according to a Grist report. The 20,000-square-foot complex is being built on the Lower Sioux Indian Reservation in southwestern Minnesota.

The campus will be the first of its kind in the nation: currently no facility in the U.S. is a vertically integrated hempcrete facility – meaning a site that grows the plants, processes them into the building material, and completes the construction, the report says.

The tribe is facing a housing crisis, with about half of the 1,124 enrolled tribal members in need of homes. Robert “Deuce” Larsen, the tribal council president, told Grist that “The idea of making homes that would last and be healthy was a no-brainer” but that the tribe “need to build capacity in the community and show that it can be an income stream.”

So far, the tribe has constructed two prototypes that are nearly completed. The tribal council used loans, government grants, and tribal funds to raise more than $6 million to build the processing campus and the two prototypes.

Jody McGuinness, executive director of the U.S. Hemp Building Association, called the project “fantastic,” adding that she is unaware “of any other fully integrated project like this domestically.”

The possible industrial applications for hemp, including for use in construction, have long been touted by cannabis advocates as one of the long-term benefits of legalizing the plant, and prior to its criminalization, hemp had been used widely for ropes and fiber. While over the past few years the hemp industry has been focused mostly on extracting cannabinoids, projects such as this hempcrete campus could help mainstream industries recognize the plant’s potential.

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University of Utah Health Launches Center for Medical Cannabis Research

11/29/2023

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The University of Utah Health is partnering with the state to launch the Center for Medical Cannabis Research (CMCR) which aims to “advance scientific understanding of medical cannabis and help patients and providers make informed health decisions about this increasingly common medication.”

Valerie Ahanonu, B.S., senior manager of the CMCR, said in a statement that the center’s overall aim is to “look at the methodology behind how people are using cannabis, and to create a translational approach to understanding its benefits and risks.”

The goal of the CMCR is to support research about medical cannabis within the University of Utah and statewide, improve patient, provider, and pharmacist education about cannabis risks and benefits, and work to instate a Drug Enforcement Administration-approved cultivation site for research-grade medical cannabis, according to a press release.

The center will work in partnership with Utah State University which has been growing cannabis for research purposes since 2019, with the Genetic Science Learning Center at the University of Utah to create educational materials about medical cannabis, and plans to work with the Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library to produce an accessible database of the most rigorous and up-to-date information in the field.

Jerry Cochran, M.S.W., Ph.D., interim director for the CMCR, describes the spectrum of research the center will support as “bench to bedside.” Starting with pilot grants to help scientists begin projects on medical cannabis, the CMCR will promote research ranging from chemical characterization of the active components of cannabis through to late-stage clinical trials.

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Study: People Who Consume Cannabis for Sleep Quit Sleep Aids

11/28/2023

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A study by Washington State University (WSU) researchers found people who consume cannabis to help with sleep quit using prescription and over-the-counter sleep aids such as melatonin and benzodiazepines. The study, published in the Exploration of Medicine journal, found 80% of the 1,255 cannabis consumers surveyed, no longer used the sleep aids, relying instead on high-THC cannabis products.

Half of those surveyed reported specifically using cannabis containing CBD and the terpene myrcene, 33.8% used cannabis edibles, and 14.1% used cannabis capsules.

In a statement, Carrie Cuttler, senior author of the study and associate professor of psychology at WSU, said that people were seeking out cannabis products with myrcene in them to help with sleep “surprised” her.

“There is some evidence in the scientific literature to support that myrcene may help to promote sleep, so cannabis users seemed to have figured that out on their own.” — Cuttler in a press release

Study participants reported varying morning outcomes and side effects – cannabis users more commonly reported feeling refreshed, focused, and better able to function in the morning after consuming cannabis, and said they experienced fewer headaches and less nausea compared to using traditional sleep aids. Cannabis consumers also reported feeling sleepier, and more anxious and irritable in the morning after consuming cannabis compared to other sleep aids and were also more likely to report experiencing dry mouth and red eyes after consuming cannabis.

“In general, the use of cannabis for sleep-related issues was perceived as more advantageous than over the counter medications or prescription sleep aids,” Cuttler said. “Unlike long-acting sedatives and alcohol, cannabis was not associated with a ‘hangover’ effect, although individuals reported some lingering effects such as sleepiness and changes in mood.”

More than 60% of study participants said they got six to eight hours of sleep when using cannabis alone, while less than 20% of participants said they got six to eight hours of sleep when using a sleep aid.

The study, “A large-scale survey of cannabis use for sleep: preferred products and perceived effects in comparison to over-the-counter and prescription sleep aids,” was published October 25 and appeared in the journal’s special issue titled Beyond Weed: Clinical Applications of Cannabis and Cannabinoids.

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BudTrainer™ Launches the BudCups™: The Earth-Friendly, Root-Friendly Alternative to Single-Use Seedling Pots and Cups

11/28/2023

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In another move towards sustainable gardening, BudTrainer just announced the launch of their 4th product, the BudCups: a reusable, better-performing alternative to single-use seed starting cups and pots. Engineered to optimize root development, the BudCups are a patent-pending invention set to redefine the standards of not just planting and transplanting, but environmentally responsible gardening.

First, they’re dishwasher-friendly, made from 100% recycled and food-grade plastic, and designed to be reused indefinitely, making them the most earth-friendly choice for gardeners committed to reducing waste. They were also designed without a single corner where pathogens can live, turning the washing process into a breeze.

Secondly, the BudCups feature a unique Triple-Drainage system that optimizes for runoff flow, promoting the best drybacks, ensuring optimal root health and growth, and preventing root rot or other pathogenic diseases.

The best part? The BudCups’ Shock-Free Transplanting mechanism was designed not only to minimize transplant shock to the roots, but also to make it easy and clean to transplant. Just pop the bottom, and the entire root ball comes out, untouched.

Henrique Dias, the innovative founder of BudTrainer, states, “Our vision with BudCups™ goes beyond just creating a better gardening container. We’re introducing a sustainable practice in home gardening, merging the love we have for the plant with the care we have for the planet.”

About BudTrainer™
BudTrainer™ is an innovative designer of cannabis gardening products and a community leader in the cannabis space. Renowned for its high-quality, earth-conscious, and user-friendly products, BudTrainer empowers home growers to achieve superior results in their gardens.

To purchase your BudCups on Indiegogo, visit this LINK, and to check out BudTrainer, visit this LINK.

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Georgia Issuing Final Medical Cannabis Licenses Following 2-Year Court Battle

11/28/2023

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Georgia cannabis regulators are issuing the state’s final medical cannabis licenses after a more than two-year legal fight, the Valdosta Daily Times reports. The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission (GMCC) had been unable to issue its Class II production licenses amid lawsuits from unsuccessful applicants but a recent Georgia Court of Appeals ruling against some of those applicants is allowing the commission to move forward.

The state’s medical cannabis law allowed for two Class I licenses and four Class II licenses and the state had received about 70 applications. In July 2021, the GMCC awarded the Class I licenses to Trulieve GA and Botanical Sciences LLC Class I licenses; however, due to pending lawsuits from Class II applicants, the commission had not issued the licenses to the chosen candidates: FFD GA Holdings LLC, TheraTrue Georgia LLC, Natures GA LLC, and Treevana Remedy Inc.

GMCC voted on November 15 to provisionally issue those licenses.

GMCC Chair Sid Johnson told the Daily Times that “the commission has determined that the issuance of these provisional awards furthers the objectives and purposes of the Hope Act, providing patients with meaningful opportunities to locally access low THC oil and products as recommended and approved by their physicians for medical treatment and medical relief.”

Under the state medical cannabis law, there are nearly 20 conditions to qualify patients for the medical cannabis program.

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Maryland Supreme Court Declines to Review Injunction Against State’s Anti-Intoxicating Hemp Products Law

11/28/2023

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The Maryland Supreme Court last week declined to review a lower court’s injunction against the enforcement of a state law to ban intoxicating hemp products, the Daily Record reports. The decision allows the injunction to remain in place and will allow the sale of the products, such as delta-8 THC and delta-10 THC, to continue.

The lawsuit against the rules was filed in July by the Maryland Hemp Coalition and several hemp farmers and businesses and in October Washington County Circuit Court Judge Brett R. Wilson issued the injunction in an effort to allow the businesses to remain operational while the case made its way through the legal process. In the ruling, Wilson said that the public interest weighs in favor of the cannabis companies because “this case is not about standardizing health and safety regulations but is about the ability of persons to engage in lawful business.”

Maryland officials argued that the unregulated sale of intoxicating cannabinoid products creates a public health risk.

A spokesperson for the Maryland Attorney General said the office is evaluating the Maryland Supreme Court’s decision and considering its next steps. The case will move next to the Maryland Appellate Court.

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Study: Massachusetts High Schoolers No More Likely to Use Cannabis Post-Legalization

11/27/2023

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A study by University of Massachusetts Amherst researchers found that high school students are no more likely to use cannabis after legalization but were more likely to use cannabis if they perceived that their family or friends used cannabis themselves.

In a statement, Faith English, a doctoral candidate in the School of Public Health and Health Sciences and lead author of a paper published in a special issue of Clinical Therapeutics, said “It’s not news that youth are influenced by peers” but described the paper as “the first to look at these three particular roles within a person’s social network and then look at changes from pre- to post-legalization.”

“One of the million-dollar questions as cannabis policies are being implemented across the country is whether or not youth use increases after legalization. There’s a lot of concern that underage folks will start using cannabis with greater frequency. The brain isn’t done developing until about age 26, so the messaging really is to delay use until after that age.” — English in a press release

The researchers analyzed two datasets collected by a local substance use coalition who surveyed students at two eastern Massachusetts high schools. After comparing data from 2016, prior to broad cannabis legalization in the state, and after legalization in 2018 but before retail cannabis stores opened, the researchers found no statistically significant differences in the prevalence of past 30-day cannabis use. Among the 2016 participants, 19% of females and 27% of males reported past 30-day cannabis use. In the 2018 survey, 20% of females and 28% of males reported past 30-day cannabis use.

After legalization, there was an increase in the proportion of adolescents who reported a perception that their parents used cannabis (from 18% before legalization to 24% after legalization), even before retail stores opened. Perceived cannabis use by a best friend – compared to perceived use by a parent or sibling – had the largest association with cannabis use by adolescents, the researchers found.

The study notes that “the impact of availability of retail cannabis for adult use could affect the associations observed in this study, but that was out of the scope of the present investigation.”

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Budtenders at Columbus, Ohio Dispensary First in State to Join Teamsters

11/27/2023

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Budtenders at Strawberry Fields in Columbus, Ohio last week voted to join Teamsters Local 413, becoming the first in the state to join the union.

In a statement Tony Jones, Teamsters International vice president at large and president of Local 413, said “This is the first of many proprietors” the union will be organizing in the state, “especially now that recreational cannabis is legal.”

“These workers are an amazing group of people who stood strong in spite of the company running a nasty anti-union campaign. I have no doubt that the tenacity, bravery, and solidarity they demonstrated during the lead up to the election will serve them well when we start negotiations.” — Jones in a press release

Estlin Hiller, a budtender at Strawberry Fields, called the vote “a huge moment for the Teamsters, Ohio, the labor movement, the cannabis community, and especially us.”

“By unanimous decision, after months of hard work by everyone involved, we won,” Hiller said in a statement. “We are ecstatic about this outcome, immensely proud of one another, and looking forward to bargaining our first contract. Strawberry Fields united, solidarity forever.”

Peter Finn, Teamsters Western Region International vice president and food processing division director, added that the success of the effort “is a clear message to the Ohio cannabis industry: workers demand and deserve respect.”

“This is just the beginning,” he said in a statement. “We’re on a mission to transform this industry one contract at a time, with sustainable, middle-class careers.”

The vote included 95% of eligible workers participating.

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Veriheal Awards $30k to Three Winners of Innovation in Cannabis Scholarship

11/27/2023

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Cannabis health-tech company Veriheal on Tuesday announced three winners for its annual Innovation in Cannabis Scholarship for 2023, with each winner receiving $10,000 for college tuition and fees.

The company said it had received a record number of submissions – more than 800 – which Joshua Green, co-founder of Veriheal said in a statement “speaks volumes about the passion and vision of the next generation of cannabis leaders.”

“We’re thrilled to support and empower the minds and futures of those who will undoubtedly shape the industry.” — Green in a press release

This year’s winners include Quemarr Moatamedi, a linguistics and anthropology major at the University of Montana, who proposed “an emulsion-based drug delivery system tailored for cannabinoids and made to tackle America’s diabetes crisis”; Maya Woods-Arthur, a sociology major at Harvard University who proposed a Bluetooth enabled cannabis bowl called buddie that tracks consumption; and Jensyn Huynh, a computer science major at Texas A&M who proposed how hemp could be used as a renewable resource for computer components.

Veriheal increased the awards in this year’s program – it had awarded $5,000 scholarships to five individuals in 2022 – because the company said it “recognizes that higher education is as expensive as it’s ever been.”

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Minnesota Launching Pilot Program for Saliva-Based Drugged Driving Tests

11/24/2023

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Minnesota’s Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) is pilot testing a saliva-based roadside cannabis impairment test, FOX 9 reports. The test will screen for six different compounds, including cannabis and opioids.

Mike Hanson, director of OTS, told FOX 9 that officials are “not looking to find somebody who used 10 days or 14 days ago” but rather for people who “used within the last couple of hours.”

The pilot program will be used for data-gathering purposes, so the samples will be voluntary and won’t be used to make arrests or suspend or revoke driver’s licenses, the report says.

“We’re going to get a good sampling not only in metro areas, but also in the greater Minnesota areas that will give us an idea of how prevalent drug impaired driving is on our roads.” — Hanson to FOX 9

The devices will be given to drug recognition evaluators, who are specialized law enforcement officers trained to recognize someone who’s under the influence of something other than alcohol. The state is using the SoToxa Oral Fluid Mobile Analyzer and the Drager DrugTest 5000 in the pilot program.

According to Minnesota state data, from 2018-2022, there were 15,810 drugged driving incidents in the state, compared to 8,069 incidents from 2013-2017.

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Alabama Cannabis Regulators Reach Deal to End Lawsuits

11/24/2023

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The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) this week reached a settlement with license applicants covering most of the issues that led to lawsuits against the agency, WBRC reports. The settlement still needs to be ratified, which is expected during the AMCC’s November 27 meeting.

Under the settlement terms, the AMCC will toss the scores of the original application evaluators, which the agency said in June had “potential inconsistencies” and led to a pause in the application process, and allow applicants in all categories, except for the integrated licensing category, to resubmit videos and briefing materials before the commission begins a new round of discussions and licenses for those categories.

The AMCC is on its third attempt to award industry licenses but said last month that it intends to finalize the licenses by December 12.

AMCC Chairman Rex Vaughn had previously indicated that commissioners could “choose to disregard the previous scoring,” but under the terms of the deal, the scores from the University of Alabama will not be considered at all.

The commission had first issued licenses in June but rescinded those permits after lawsuits related to scoring data, claims of violations of the state’s open meetings law, and pushback against voiding the previously awarded licenses.

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Lawsuit Filed Over 2022 Worker Death at Trulieve Facility in Massachusetts

11/24/2023

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The family of the woman who died last year at Trulieve’s Holyoke, Massachusetts cannabis facility has filed a lawsuit against the company and the people who worked on its HVAC system, NBC Boston reports. The lawsuit alleges negligence, recklessness, and misconduct surrounding the death of then-27-year-old Lorna McMurrey, who the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) said died after inhaling “ground cannabis dust.”

In the lawsuit, McMurrey’s family claims that she had an asthma attack about two months before her death while working at the facility and that “Truelive was aware of this incident, but took no steps to protect Lorna following her collapse while inside the Facility.”

A report published last week by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concluded that McMurrey’s death was the first reported occupational asthma death in the cannabis industry, although it did not name McMurrey in the report, NBC Boston reports. The report says the worker’s death “illustrates missed opportunities for prevention, including workplace exposures, medical surveillance, and treatment according to the current asthma guidelines.”

In January, Trulieve agreed to a settlement with OSHA that led to a $14,502 fine, reduced from $35,219.

In June, Trulieve announced plans to “wind down” its Massachusetts operations.

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Oklahoma Extends Medical Cannabis Licensing Moratorium Through 2026

11/22/2023

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Oklahoma has extended its moratorium on new medical cannabis licenses until 2026, Tulsa World reports. The legislation does allow the state Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) to end the moratorium if its leadership “determines all pending licensing reviews, inspections or investigations are complete.”

The state’s moratorium has been in place for more than a year and thousands of license reviews remain pending, the report says. Michael Kimball, OMMA communications manager, told the World that it’s “hard to imagine” the moratorium ending early.

According to state data outlined by the World, 5,905 cultivation licenses were active in November 2020, which swelled to 9,178 by November 2021. When the moratorium first went into effect in August 2022, the number of active cultivation licenses had dropped to 7,167, the report says. The moratorium does not prohibit current licensees from renewing or selling their licenses.

The moratorium came as the state began cracking down on problematic medical cannabis cultivators who were accused of diverting products. The state Bureau of Narcotics in August said that over the previous two years, it had shut down more than 800 unlawful operators operating under the guise of the state medical cannabis program. Last week, OMMA said it planned to revoke the licenses of 165 cultivation facilities for failing to post signage on their property as required under a bill that took effect last year.

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