Ganjapreneur.com

Americans Want Federal Protection for States’ Marijuana Legalization, Report Indicates

12/09/2014

a word from our sponsors:

For generations, the drug war has been an international campaign — sparked by the U.S. government — that targets drug consumers, peddlers and producers. It has resulted in the systematic conviction and imprisonment of countless nonviolent offenders and the inception of widespread criminal organizations that flourish off satisfying the demands of a repressed and voracious black market. Time has demonstrated the utter failure of the War On Drugs, and the American public is beginning to realize the extent of the damage its caused.

According to a recent report released by Third Way, a centrist think tank, a majority of Americans believe that marijuana legalization on the state level should have the full protection and recognition of the U.S. federal government.

According to polls managed by the think tank, 60 percent of Americans think that states should have the right to pass their own laws regarding the legality of cannabis. Additionally, an even larger majority of Americans (67 percent) believe that feds should take action to protect law-abiding cannabis consumers — “A supermajority of Americans believe that federal policymakers… should act to provide a safe haven from federal law for states that have already legalized marijuana and are acting responsibly to strictly regulate it,” reads the Third Way report.

Four states and the District of Colombia have legalized recreational marijuana, and more than half the nation has legalized marijuana for medical purposes, yet there remains minimal federal effort to address the growing discord between the U.S. government and state laws regarding marijuana. In February, the Obama administration issued federal guidelines for the banking industry on how to handle accounts belonging to marijuana businesses — guidelines, however, do not change the law, and the cannabis industry continues to suffer from social stigmas and legal hurdles on many fronts.

To address these issues and the growing concern of the American public, Third Way proposes a federal “waiver” system to allow states to pass legalization programs that would operate outside of federal marijuana laws. Assuming said systems included appropriate regulatory restrictions, the waiver would clear the path for smarter and safer business management in the cannabis industry. “This ‘waive but restrict’ framework would provide consistency and protect public safety more effectively than either current law or the other policy proposals on the table,” reads the Third Way report.

Sources:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/08/marijuana-legalization-federal-law-poll_n_6291022.html

http://www.thirdway.org/report/marijuana-legalization-does-congress-need-to-act

Photo Credit: stixfigure

End

Steven Siegel: Pioneering Seed-To-Sale Tracking Systems

12/09/2014

by Ganjapreneur

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

As cannabis legalization has gone recreational, the demand for more regulation and oversight has grown significantly. In Washington State as well as other markets, authorities have stipulated that plants produced under the regulated market need to be tracked from the individual seed all the way to the point of purchase, to ensure that no black market products are being sold. This process has become known as “Seed-To-Sale Tracking.”

We recently had the opportunity to interview Dr. Steven Siegel, CEO of BioTrackTHC, a company which has been a leading pioneer of seed-to-sale tracking systems for cannabis markets. According to his website bio, Siegel is a serial entrepreneur who has “founded a health and nutritional products company (startup to $18 million in annual revenue), a chain of medical centers (startup to $7 million in annual revenue), a political auto-dialer technology firm, and a third-party financial clearinghouse.” We asked him about what it was like to transition from well-established industries to the fledgling cannabis industry, and what he predicts the future of legalized cannabis will look like.

Read the Q&A below:

Ganjapreneur: For anyone who doesn’t work in a store that uses BioTrackTHC, can you briefly describe how it helps cannabis businesses operate?

Steven Siegel: Compliance is essential to operating a cannabis business, both with regard to state law and to help avoid federal investigation. BioTrackTHC provides a rock solid means of compliance, from seed to sale, giving cannabis business operators great confidence in the propriety of their business. BioTrackTHC’s standard tracking program assigns unique numerical identifiers to every part of a company’s operations and inventory movements. The same assigned value is extended to cover exact monetary denominations made through the sale of each product, which can then be tied to individual bank, credit card, or debit transactions.

How many different states does BioTrackTHC serve, between recreational and medical markets?

We currently have customers in 16 states as well as three countries.

What was the transition like, as an entrepreneur who had started several successful businesses already, moving from well-established industries to an entirely new industry with virtually no infrastructure and plenty of legal inconsistency?

One word I would use to describe it is frightening. Normally, there’s data that you can research, even in a ditch market, to try to minimize risk and become an educated entrepreneur. With cannabis there was no data and it was just a gut feeling that me and my partner had. I also knew there was plenty of opportunity to provide leadership to help create an industry that works the right way and follows best practices. This industry is under particular scrutiny because of the differences between federal and state laws, so it was incumbent on those of us who were early in the sector to hold ourselves and each other to very high standards. That’s an important legacy that will serve the industry well into the future.

When did you first get involved with BioTrackTHC?

The company was officially formed in 2007, though we started working on tracking marijuana a few years earlier when we saw the industry coming. The company was created out of Bio-Tech Medical Software, which was in the business of tracking pharmaceuticals. This expertise was most helpful in our efforts to create a marijuana tracking technology and company, though it was still a major challenge. We spent several years in research and development to get the capability right for marijuana, which is complex to track.

How many people does the company employ?

We currently have 45 employees, though the number is growing quite rapidly.

A common theme in the cannabis industry is rapid response to opportunity. What was it like applying for Washington State’s seed-to-sale tracking system contract, and what were some of the obstacles you faced along the way?

It was an extreme experience for our team, several of whom moved to Washington state and lived and breathed the contract application process for months. We piled high many cans of energy drinks during that period of time and the biggest obstacles were that everyone was creating a new industry and means of regulation from scratch, both the regulators and our team.

It involved intricate communication to make sure that everyone was on the same page, not only with what we were trying to accomplish, but being certain we had the same understanding of terminology. This is unlike mature industries that have a well-understood and accepted language. A minor difference in meanings of words could have a major impact on the outcome of our mutual work with regulators. It’s a testament to everyone involved at the state and with our company that we collaborated in an effective manner that resulted in BioTrackTHC receiving the contract.

Where do you see the cannabis industry five years from now?

I expect it to be a very mainstream industry by then because there are so many business sectors that are becoming part of the legal cannabis industry. Insurance, law, accounting, marketing, banking, lighting, energy management, edibles, drinks and countless products and services of all kinds are becoming the norm. A federal law to legalize will of course hasten the process, but even if that has not occurred five years from now there will be many other legal states and the business in current states will have matured and provided tremendous economic and job growth for those regions. There will also be many real life stories of people being helped by cannabis, which will be tremendously beneficial to the industry.

Thank you for contributing, Steven! We look forward to seeing BioTrackTHC used by markets around the world as this industry grows.

If you have further questions, please feel free to post them in the comment area below or get in touch with BioTrackTHC via their contact page. Want more updates like this? Subscribe to our newsletter using the form in the sidebar, or download our Android app to get every story delivered to your smartphone or tablet!

End

Brief: Houston Police Chief Calls War On Drugs a ‘Miserable Failure’

12/08/2014

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

Houston Police Chief Charles McLelland, head of the nation’s fourth largest city’s police department, said in a radio interview on Friday that the U.S.-instigated drug war has been a “miserable failure.”

“Most of us understand, we do believe, those of us that are law enforcement executives, that the war on drugs, the 1980 drug policies, was a miserable failure, there’s no doubt about that,” McLelland told interviewer Dean Becker, host of the radio show ‘Cultural Baggage.’

McLelland explained how he believes current policies regarding crime prevention, drug rehabilitation and substance abuse have “disproportionately criminalized a certain segment of our population… It has a trickle-down effect, that a lot of young men who are minorities, in their early 20s, have a felony conviction on their resume, and now they’re unemployable. And we wonder why they don’t have jobs, they’re not working, they’re not contributing to society in a productive way, but we’ve put them in a position to where the odds are stacked against them.”

Becker presented McLelland with questions from members of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), such as whether or not McLelland has ever hired a deputy who had used marijuana, or how he felt the growing majority of Americans who support drug policy reform was influencing our elected officials. Other topics included police militarization in light of the recent Ferguson controversy, and the response of other Houston officials to Chief McLelland’s political stance against the drug war.

‘Cultural Baggage’ is a weekly, half-hour radio show aired on Friday evenings that focuses on discussing the war on drugs.

Sources:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/05/houston-police-chief-marijuana_n_6277018.html

http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/node/5119

Photo Credit: Ed Uthman

End

Brief: Hemp Bills Approved By Michigan Senate Committee

12/06/2014

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

The Michigan Senate Agriculture Committee passed a pair of bills on Thursday to allow the cultivation and production of industrial hemp. Both bills passed through the House earlier this year.

HB 5439, sponsored by Rep. Kevin Daley, sets up the necessary criteria for universities and other organizations to participate in the nationally-approved opportunities for pilot hemp programs. This bill passed in the House unanimously in May.

The other bill, HB 5440, was proposed by Rep. Peter Pettalia and was sponsored by 64 different Michigan House Representatives. Pettalia’s bill removes the criminal classification of hemp and scientifically segregates it from cannabis, hemp’s psychoactive cousin. The bill passed in the House with a 108-1 vote.

The Michigan legislative session is slated to end December 18. It remains unknown whether or not lawmakers will be able to pass legislation on hemp this year, or if the issue will have to wait until the next session.

“The Senate is ready to get this done and I am hoping for a unanimous vote in the Senate like we had in the House,” said Steven Sharpe, Board member of the Michigan chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. “It’s what’s best for Michigan,” he said.

Sources:

http://thecompassionchronicles.com/2014/12/04/hemp-bills-pass-michigan-senate-committee/

Photo Credit: David J

End

Brief: Majority of Medical Professionals Support Treating Epilepsy With Cannabis

12/05/2014

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

Survey results published by UCLA on Thursday have revealed that a vast majority of medical professionals in the U.S. consider cannabis treatment to be appropriate for severe cases of epilepsy. The general response from neurologists and epileptologists, however, did not agree with that majority: only 48 percent of such specialists said they would advise the use of medicinal cannabis.

Survey investigators reported 776 responses from participants across North America and Europe.

An 83 percent majority of all physicians, nurses, researchers and other health professionals said that — in the event of severe epilepsy — they would advise medical marijuana treatment. 78 percent of participants agreed that there should be some sort of pharmacological grade CBD compound available as medicine for epilepsy treatment.

More than half of the U.S. has legalized the use of medical marijuana for certain debilitative conditions. Currently, epilepsy is one of the most common conditions for which medical marijuana is prescribed.

Sources:

http://norml.org/news/2014/12/04/survey-physicians-endorse-cannabis-therapy-for-epilepsy

Photo Credit: Fotos GOVBA

End

D.C. City Lawmakers Approve Legislation to Regulate Recreational Marijuana Sales

12/04/2014

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

In November, D.C. voters passed Initiative 71 with nearly 70 percent approval ratings, and legalized the adult possession of up to two ounces of cannabis. Citizens are are allowed to grow up to six marijuana plants in their own home. However, the voter-approved Initiative 71 does not include a system for regulating and taxing recreational marijuana sales.

To address this fact, D.C. lawmakers approved pieces of legislation that would legally regulate and license the production, processing, distribution and sale of cannabis in the District of Columbia. The vote took place following a joint hearing on Tuesday, November 25 by the D.C. Committee on Business, Consumer and Regulatory Affairs and the Committee on Finance and Revenue.

Councilmembers voted to approve various sections of a 2013 bill, the “Marijuana Legalization and Regulation Act of 2013,” which was introduced by Councilmember David Grosso, an Independent. Ten sections of the bill remain unexamined, however, and lawmakers did not finish the process before the Council adjourned this month. Advocates suspect that Councilmembers will resume the push for a regulated marijuana market come January with a similar tax and regulatory bill.

“Today’s vote in support of regulating marijuana like alcohol in the nation’s capital is a validation of the overwhelming support among District residents for an end to the racial disparities and harm caused by marijuana prohibition,” said Grant Smith, deputy director of national affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance. “D.C. lawmakers have a clear mandate from the community they serve to pass a bill that regulates marijuana and restores those communities that have been harmed the most by decades of marijuana prohibition.”

“D.C. lawmakers must act quickly to end decades of failed marijuana prohibition laws that have criminalized tens of thousands and devastated communities of color,” said Smith.

Meanwhile, supporters of Initiative 71 are concerned that the voter-approved bill could still face opposition from the new GOP-led Congress, which reserves the right to tamper with local laws. However, experts have recently argued that such a move would prove too politically risky for Republicans, and many are predicting that the passing of Initiative 71 will not be drawn into question.

Sources:

http://www.thedailychronic.net/2014/39017/washington-d-c-takes-major-step-toward-taxing-and-regulating-marijuana/

http://www.govexec.com/state-local/2014/12/will-congress-let-dc-legalize-pot/100157/

Photo Credit: fortherock

End

U.S. Marijuana Legalization Working Against Mexican Drug Cartels

12/03/2014

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

Curtailing cartel profits has been one of the most popular reasons for legalizing marijuana, and recent developments suggest that such policy reform has been a great success. As NPR reports, Mexican drug cartels are beginning to feel the hurt as more and more U.S. states legalize cannabis for medical and recreational purposes.

NPR interviewed 24-year-old Nabor, a marijuana grower in the northwestern Mexican state of Sinaloa. Nabor, who declined to give his surname because his work is still highly illegal, explained: “Two or three years ago, a kilogram [2.2 pounds] was worth $60 to $90. But now they’re paying us $30 to $40 a kilo. It’s a big difference. If the U.S. continues to legalize pot, they’ll run us into the ground.”

As things currently stand, more than half of all U.S. states have legalized some form of access to medical marijuana, and four states — Washington, Colorado, Oregon, and Alaska — plus the District of Colombia have legalized recreational cannabis use. Additionally, as responsible markets develop locally and cannabis use continues to permeate pop culture globally, the desire for American-made cannabis has increased dramatically.

Though Nabor has been growing illegal cannabis since he was 14, he sees a time approaching when it won’t be a viable means of supporting himself or his family. “This is dangerous work to cultivate… and to sell [marijuana]. If the army comes, you have to run or they’ll grab you. Look here, we’re only getting $40 a kilo. The day we get $20 a kilo, it will get to the point that we just won’t plant marijuana anymore.”

Meanwhile, across the border, Lt. David Socha of the Austin Police Department’s narcotics section explains that he’s noticed a dramatic shift in the marijuana market. At one point, virtually all weed smoked in the U.S. was imported from Mexico — this, however, has changed. “We’re still seeing marijuana,” Socha said. “But it’s almost all the homegrown stuff here from the States and from Canada.”

NPR hasn’t been the only media group to report on the success of the legal marijuana industry. Last April, the Washington Post ran a story highlighting cartel actions that suggest they are falling off the cannabis drug trade and are investing more into heroin; additionally, VICE published an article in May that describes the steady decline of cartel-grown cannabis being found on the U.S. black market.

Sources:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2014/12/01/367802425/legal-pot-in-the-u-s-may-be-undercutting-mexican-marijuana

Photo Credit: MarihuanayMedicina

End

Brief: Uruguay’s Legal Marijuana Program Is Safe Under New President

12/02/2014

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

Uruguay’s nation-wide recreational marijuana program has garnered much international attention since its unveiling earlier this year. Recently, the program faced a possible threat of shutdown depending on the outcome of the country’s presidential elections. Thankfully, that danger has passed.

Former President Tabare Vazquez, who served his initial term as president from 2005-2010, beat his election opponent 53 percent to 40 percent during Sunday’s runoff election.

Vazquez’s opponent, Luis Lacalle Pou, has declared himself staunchly opposed to current President José Mujica’s widely-publicized recreational marijuana program. During the election, Lacalle Pou vowed to halt the program and undo the infrastructure for the nation’s retail marijuana market if he were elected president.

Vazquez, who NBC reports had “promised to continue the plan unless it produced negative results,” is an oncologist who’s first term actions proved markedly moderate. Much has changed in Uruguay’s political climate since then. This is largely a result of President Mujica’s passing of progressive laws on same-sex marriage, abortion, and marijuana.

Uruguay’s program is set to launch in 2015, and all cannabis offered in retail stores will be produced and processed by the country’s federal government.

Sources:

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/uruguay-tabare-vazquez-wins-continues-state-run-marijuana-plan-n259076

Photo Credit: Lisa Cyr

End

Minnesota MMJ Licenses Awarded to LeafLine Labs and Minnesota Medical Solutions

12/01/2014

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

The Minnesota Department of Health announced on Monday the names of the first two businesses to receive state-issued business licenses for the production, processing, and distribution of medical marijuana. The companies, LeafLine Labs and Minnesota Medical Solutions, were chosen from a list of twelve applicants — all of whom paid $20,000 in nonrefundable application fees — to become the state’s first MMJ manufacturers.

Minnesota’s medical marijuana law, which was passed earlier in 2014, only allows for non-smokable forms of cannabis. According to the department’s news release, “The two manufacturers will be responsible for growing the medical cannabis, processing it into pill or liquid form, and distributing the medications through a network of eight distribution sites (four sites per manufacturer) they will establish around the state.”

The companies were selected after a lengthy review process that considered all applicants’ operational stability, financial stability, business strategies, and many other factors. A panel of representatives from related industries — including the agricultural, pharmaceutical, public safety, commercial and financial sectors — oversaw the review process and made recommendations about the applicants.

The businesses were chosen because of their “commitment to the patient experience, technical proficiency in cultivation and the formulation of medicine, rigorous safety and security standards, and sound business planning and resources.”

Ultimately, the final selection was made by Minnesota Commissioner of Health Dr. Ed Ehlinger, who said:

“We are pleased to have two strong partners for Minnesota’s medical cannabis program. Our goal is to safely provide medical cannabis products to patients with qualifying conditions by the deadline of July 1, 2015, and our attention over the next few months will be on working with these two manufacturers to implement the program and safely grow, process and distribute the products.”

LeafLine Labs is a Minnesota company founded by two emergency medicine physicians. Their team brings expertise founded in medicine, law, patient advocacy, business (especially in a regulated environment), and high-quality medication manufacturing. The company’s manufacturing center will be in Cottage Grove, and they plan to open their first distribution center in Eagan on July 1, 2015. Other distribution centers are expected to open within the following year in Hibbing, St. Cloud and St. Paul.

Minnesota Medical Solutions is a group of doctors, pharmacists, scientists, greenhouse operators, building contractors, educators and other professionals. The company will be working with industry experts for training and consulting purposes. Their manufacturing facility is in Otsego and will be functional by the end of this week. Distribution centers will open in July in Rochester, Maple Grove, Minneapolis and Moorhead.

Sources:

http://www.health.state.mn.us/news/pressrel/2014/cannabis120114.html

http://norml.org/legal/item/minnesota-medical-marijuana-law

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/284327061.html

Photo Credit: Michael Hicks

End

Brief: Colorado Health Officials Propose $7M for Clinical Cannabis Trials

11/30/2014

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

State Public Health Department officials in Colorado have proposed a series of state-funded clinical trials to study the effectiveness and any dangerous side effects of cannabinoid treatment. The proposal includes $7 million in grant money to fund the studies.

The studies would include two clinical trials investigating the use of cannabidiol (CBD) to treat patients with pediatric epilepsy, two trials that will evaluate cannabis treatment for patients suffering from post-traumatic stress, and four other trials designed to test the efficacy of cannabis or CBD in treating Parkinson’s disease, brain tumors, ulcerative colitis, and general pain management.

California once funded a variety of studies into the efficacy of cannabis treatment for many other conditions, and in 2012 researchers concluded: “Based on evidence currently available the Schedule I classification [of cannabis] is not tenable; it is not accurate that cannabis has no medical value, or that information on safety is lacking.”

The proposed studies in Colorado now await grant funding approval by the state Board of Health, which will review the proposal in December. If the $7 million grant is approved, researchers will still require federal permission to move forward with the research.

Sources:

http://blog.norml.org/2014/11/26/colorado-health-officials-recommend-7-5-million-in-grant-funding-for-clinical-cannabis-trials/

Photo Credit: Håkan Dahlström

End

Brief: New Hampshire’s First Dispensary Could Open Within a Year

11/26/2014

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

New Hampshire’s first dispensary under the state legislators’ 2013 restrictive medical marijuana law could be open for business within the next year.

The Granite State Alternative Treatment Center presented a plan on Monday for a $2 million, 12,600-square-foot complex that would initially serve up to 100 patients per month — hpwever, as the industry takes off, that number is expected to grow dramatically. The hopeful dispensary, presented by hopeful manager Dennis Acton, is the first of its kind to be to be proposed to a municipal board.

The site of the facility would be in Ebbing, a small hamlet east of Manchester, though board members are carefully considering the dispensary’s influence on the area.

Acton aims to partner with PalliaTech, a company that already works in the medical cannabis industries of Colorado, New Jersey, and Montana, to help manage the dispensary.

New Hampshire’s medical marijuana law allows for up to four non-profit dispensaries in the state. Two MMJ business licenses should be issued by the state in January, and applications for the other two will be accepted starting in July.

Sources:

http://mmjbusinessdaily.com/1st-new-hampshire-dispensary-hopeful-starts-application-process/

Photo Credit: aeroSou

End

Brief: Celebrating Black Friday With Legal Cannabis

11/25/2014

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

Some businesses are calling it ‘Green Friday,’ but the annual day-long shopping spree that follows Thanksgiving is going to be celebrated throughout many facets of the cannabis industry, according to a recent Bloomberg News article.

At least one Denver dispensary, Grass Station, will be featuring some major deals in honor of the holidays. The store will sell sixteen ounces at $50 each (about one fifth the normal price), and sixty pre-rolled joints at $1 each. “We have really high expectations,” said owner Ryan Fox. “Now we’ve got the legal means for people to give marijuana as a gift, and that’s never really been something that was feasible in the past.”

Of course, businesses may have a hard time getting the word out on any of their offerings due to strict regulations regarding marijuana advertisements. Many shop owners report being too focused on compliance with regulations to even concern themselves with the holiday season.

The marijuana market nation-wide is estimated to be worth about $2.3 billion this year. Oregon, Alaska, and Washington D.C. will be opening their doors to the cannabis industry soon, which could lead to a $10 billion industry by 2018.

Sources:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-11-24/marijuana-shops-seek-holiday-surge-with-green-friday-.html

Photo Credit: Diariocritico de Venezuela

End

Two Competing Campaigns Aim to Put Marijuana Legalization On Maine Ballot

11/24/2014

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

Maine has been recognized as a likely candidate for one of the next U.S. states to legalize cannabis. Last week, however, a new group called Legalize Maine unveiled a legalization plan that will run counter to the Marijuana Policy Project‘s existing push for a statewide referendum.

In a press conference on Wednesday, Legalize Maine announced that their plan will focus on jobs and the industry’s opportunity for economic development in the state’s rural areas. According to Paul McCarrier, spokesperson for Legalize Maine, his organization is moving forward with their plan after hearing from individuals who worked with the MPP in other states. “We are not interested in being subjugated to MPP or the Washington D.C. policy,” he said during the press conference. “These will be competing measures and we will win.”

Catherine Louis, Director of Education for the Medical Marijuana Caregivers of Maine, also expressed concerns that a nationally funded campaign might pressure certain aspects of the medical marijuana industry in a negative way. She noted an example from Washington state’s legalization program: “They started trying to push people into the mainstream legalized market for tax purposes and it has made it so that some patients can’t access their medicine at all, and we can’t allow that here in Maine.”

The Marijuana Policy Project has been planning a referendum question for the Maine 2016 ballot for some time. During the most recent midterms, the group put legalization questions on the ballots of South Portland and Portland, where legalization passed, and also in Lewiston, where it failed. “Ideally it makes sense to have one initiative,” said David Boyers of the Marijuana Policy Project. “But if we can’t see eye-to-eye then we will move forward and we hope voters choose the plan that will make marijuana legal and stop punishing adults for using a substance safer than alcohol.”

The MPP was founded in 1995 and has been working closely with efforts to legalize marijuana across the country. The organization was involved in the successful legalization campaigns of Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and the District of Columbia.

In addition to Maine, reports indicate that at least six other states could see initiatives to legalize cannabis on the 2016 ballot: Massachusetts, California, Missouri, Hawaii, Nevada, and Arizona.

Sources:

http://www.wcsh6.com/story/news/politics/2014/11/19/marijuana-legalization-plan-maine-pot/19260973/

http://wallstcheatsheet.com/politics/5-states-and-one-city-ready-to-legalize-marijuana.html/?a=viewall

Photo Credit: Randy Pertiet

End

Colorado Cannabiz Credit Union Could Open By Jan. 1

11/23/2014

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

The world’s first banking institution established to serve legal marijuana businesses could be open in Colorado by January 1, the Denver Post reports.

The Fourth Corner Credit Union received an unconditional charter from the Colorado Division of Financial Services on Wednesday. The Fourth Corner still requires insurance via the National Credit Union Administration, and will also need a master account from the Federal Reserve System. Nonetheless, organizers report that the institution is almost ready for business.

Waiting on insurance from the NCUA could take up to two years, and being approved for insurance is by no means a guarantee (marijuana is still an illegal and controlled substance at the federal level). However, “A Colorado law of 1981 allows a credit union to open its doors while an application for share-deposit insurance is pending,” explained Mark Mason, one of the credit union’s organizers. “Now, the NCUA can come and look to see how it is functioning, and determine if they will issue the insurance,” Mason said.

Mason believes that federal regulators will approve the credit union’s business plan, which focuses on safety and exercising solid business practices. “The cornerstone is the compliance department, with a world-renowned anti-money-laundering expert and former regulators helping to write the first manual of its kind in how to handle marijuana money,” Mason said. “That was critical.”

Establishing reliable banking services is an important step in regulating and further legitimizing the industry. “In every other way, the industry has been a normal business, operating in every other way businesses do, but primarily in cash,” said Chris Nevitt, Denver City Councilman and one of nine founding board members for Fourth Corner. “The one missing piece in making it completely normal was banking, the one thing that wasn’t there. Now it will be.”

A statement from Gov. John Hickenlooper’s director of marijuana coordination read, “This is the end of the line from the state’s side. We’ve done all we can do.”

The Fourth Corner Credit Union will serve legal marijuana businesses in Colorado, as well as members of nonprofits that support legalized marijuana.

Sources:

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_26980328/colorado-pot-credit-union-could-be-open-by

Photo Credit: 401(K) 2012

End

Brief: California AG Sees Inevitability Behind Marijuana Legalization

11/20/2014

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

In a recent interview with BuzzFeed News, California Attorney General Kamala Harris disclosed that she’s “not opposed” to legalization in California. In fact, she sees a “certain inevitability about it.”

Harris also argued that states shohuld have a system ready for regulating the drug if they are going to consider legalization:

“It would be easier for me to say, ‘Let’s legalize it, let’s move on,’ and everybody would be happy. I believe that would be irresponsible of me as the top cop. The detail of these things matters. For example, what’s going on right now in Colorado is they’re figuring out you gotta have a very specific system for the edibles. Marueen Dowd famously did her piece on that…. There are real issues for law enforcement, [such as] how you will measure someone being under the influence in terms of impairment to drive.”

Harris, who is often considered one of the Democratic Party’s likely prospects for higher office in California, believes that future legalization programs should take efforts in Colorado and Washington into consideration before attempting a similar experiment.

Sources:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/adamserwer/californias-attorney-general-thinks-legal-weed-is-inevitable

Photo Credit: aSILVA

End

CEO of Marijuana Recipe Website Interviewed by Ganjapreneur

11/19/2014

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

Ganjapreneur, a website dedicated to cannabis business news and culture, recently published an interview with Matt Gray, CEO of The Stoner’s Cookbook, a resource for marijuana culinary enthusiasts to find and share infused recipes. In the interview, Gray discussed how he became involved in the project over a year ago.

“I was the co-founder and CEO of a successful education startup in Toronto called Bitmaker Labs,” Gray says. “We trained full-stack software developers and got them jobs at top tech companies across North America. After exiting that business I was eager to get into the cannabis industry. I saw it as the opportunity of a lifetime. I met the founders of The Stoner’s Cookbook through a mutual friend and I knew I could help them turn their passion into a high-growth business.”

The Stoner’s Cookbook currently has over 2.8 million followers on Facebook and boasts millions of website impressions each day. The types of recipes shared, Gray says, vary dramatically. “Our most popular recipes are most of the extraction methods (cannabutter, cannaoil) and then the classic edibles (space cakes, special brownies). That said, more and more people are looking for healthy options so we have tons of vegan recipes and teach people how to use cannabis-infused coconut oil.”

Additionally, the interview covered The Stoner’s Cookbook’s recent launch of a crowd-funding campaign for a hardcover cookbook, HERB: Mastering the Art of Cooking With Cannabis. The campaign has since surpassed it’s goal of $22,000 and it still has 26 days remaining. Whether the campaign will triple or quadruple its original goal remains to be seen, but given its early success it seems that many people agree with Gray that “The time is right for a cookbook that emphasizes craft and dignifies cannabis as an ingredient.”

Ganjapreneur’s interview with Gray is part of an ongoing series featuring prominent “ganjapreneurs” who discuss their experiences, struggles, and successes in the industry. The website recently launched an app on Google Play and has announced that it will soon be available in the Apple App Store.

End

‘Marley Natural’: The World’s First Global Marijuana Brand

11/19/2014

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

Seattle-based Privateer Holdings, the investment firm behind the popular Leafly smartphone app and online cannabis strain database, is partnering with the family of Bob Marley to create the world’s first international brand for marijuana and marijuana-related products.

As early as next year, Marley Natural plans to offer “heirloom Jamaican cannabis strains inspired by those Bob Marley enjoyed,” as well as tinctures, lotions, and other marijuana accessories. Obviously, the products will only be made available in regions that have legalized and regulated cannabis use.

“We are joining Privateer Holdings because they understand and respect our father’s legacy,” said Marley’s son, Rohan Marley, in a news release announcing the global brand.

“My dad would be so happy to see people understanding the healing power of the herb,” added Cedella Marley, Bob’s daughter. “He viewed the herb as something spiritual that could awaken our well-being, deepen our reflection, connect us to nature and liberate our creativity. Marley Natural is an authentic way to honor his legacy by adding his voice to the conversation about cannabis and helping end the social harms caused by prohibition.”

Rita Marley, mother to Rohan and Cedella, believes that her humble husband would wholeheartedly approve of the business venture being launched under his name. “This is what we dreamed of,” she said, referencing the growing acceptance and legality of Marley’s beloved herb.

The Marley family has already been marketing Bob Marley’s musical legacy for years. These ventures have included unique brands of coffee, musical equipment, as well as rolling papers and t-shirts targeting the cannabis community. Not until Marley Natural, however, has the family actually committed to joining the cannabis industry and becoming ganjapreneurs themselves.

Brendan Kennedy, the CEO of Privateer Holdings, calls the new brand a “partnership of two cannabis pioneers.” He plans to run the Marley Natural brand out of New York City, so it’s clear that any direct handling of cannabis by the company is going to be many years out at the earliest. Marley Natural, however, can still license out its brand to state-approved marijuana producers in those regions that have legalized such activities.

“This is what the end of prohibition looks like,” Kennedy explained. “Bob Marley started to push for legalization more than 50 years ago. We’re going to help him finish it.”

Sources:

http://blogs.seattletimes.com/pot/2014/11/18/investment-firm-behind-leafly-to-launch-global-brand-with-bob-marleys-family/

http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/legal-pot/stir-it-bob-marley-headline-corporate-cannabis-brand-n250286

http://www.marleynatural.com/press/

Photo Credit: monosnaps

End

Matt Gray: From a Recipe Website to a Crowdfunded Cookbook

11/18/2014

by Ganjapreneur

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

Special brownies have been around for a long time, but only recently has the general public become aware of the many other applications of cannabis as an herb used for cooking. The Stoner’s Cookbook is a website dedicated to marijuana culinary enthusiasts for sharing infused recipes.

We recently had the pleasure of interviewing Matt Gray, CEO of The Stoner’s Cookbook, about his experience with the company and what their plans are for the future. Spoiler alert: they just launched a crowdfunding campaign for a new cookbook, which is already at 99% with 27 days to go!

Read the full interview below:

Ganjapreneur: How did The Stoner’s Cookbook get started?

Matt Gray: The Stoner’s Cookbook was started by Dan Crothers and Lucas Young 8 years ago in New Zealand. It was made as a resource for friends to share popular cannabis-infused recipes.

When did you get involved personally? Were you hired to fill the role of CEO or did you start out in another position?

I joined the company over a year ago. I was the co-founder and CEO of a successful education startup in Toronto called Bitmaker Labs. We trained full-stack software developers and got them jobs at top tech companies across North America. After exiting that business I was eager to get into the cannabis industry. I saw it as the opportunity of a lifetime. I met the founders of The Stoner’s Cookbook through a mutual friend and I knew I could help them turn their passion into a high-growth business. It’s been an amazing journey and I’m so fortunate to be a part of this awesome team.

How long did it take for the project to become profitable?

The site has been profitable for 3 months now. We have put a ton of work into it over the past 8 years and we’re excited for what the future has in store.

How many people does The Stoner’s Cookbook employ?

The Stoner’s Cookbook currently employs 3 people.

What are some of the largest obstacles you have faced while growing the business?

Growing traffic while making sure we stay true to our users. We are customer-centric and want to make sure we give people extremely high-quality, trustworthy content. It’s important that people come to our site, find what it is they are looking for and tell their friends. We want to be leader’s in the cannabis industry.

It’s always a challenge finding high quality chefs to contribute recipes. We help millions of medical and recreational users worldwide find recipes to cook with – it is a mission that we don’t take lightly. We want to make sure all the recipes are amazing and are something we would try ourselves. We have a team of 10 chefs that contribute recipes on a regular basis, but we’re always looking for more!

What types of recipes are most popular with your users? Do you think that edibles manufacturers should do market research via The Stoner’s Cookbook?

Our most popular recipes are most of the extraction methods (cannabutter, cannaoil) and then the classic edibles (space cakes, special brownies). That said, more and more people are looking for healthy options so we have tons of vegan recipes and teach people how to use cannabis-infused coconut oil.

Edibles manufacturers could learn a lot from our audience and their preferences. We are always here to help and want to make sure that people are enjoying edibles safely.

I noticed a recipe for Infused Sweet Potatoes when I searched for “Thanksgiving Recipes” on the site, and it looked delicious. Do you have a personal favorite recipe (or a few)?

I personally love making smoothies with cannabis-infused coconut oil. Very similar to this recipe http://www.thestonerscookbook.com/recipe/blueberry-canna-bliss-smoothie.

Would you say that your audience is more on the recreational side or the medical side of the cannabis consumer spectrum?

I would say it’s around 50/50.

How do you see the culinary side of the cannabis industry growing as prohibition is repealed across the country (and globally)?

I see more and more research being done and more people getting into cannabis cuisine – both chefs and users. The more people involved in the space the more ideas and experimentation – I think the future is bright! I foresee cannabis restaurants opening, lots of more amazing edibles being produced and increased attention towards edibles safety and dosing. With more research in the space people will learn the exact effects that cannabis has on them and be able to enjoy them safely and receive the desired effect.

What’s next for The Stoner’s Cookbook?

The moment and market. Prohibition is crumbling. Cannabis is legal in Colorado and Washington State, with legalization working its way through myriad other state houses. Canada is in the process of legalizing cannabis at the national level. Cannabis is increasingly mainstream and (North) Americans—from millennials through baby boomers—have never been more curious about or open to enjoying cannabis. Importantly, cannabis is being elevated from “stoner” culture into the pantheon of refined and urbane inebriants, no different than boutique rye or fine wine. The time is right for a cookbook that emphasizes craft and dignifies cannabis as an ingredient.

The book, Herb: Mastering the Art of Cooking with Cannabis fills the public’s need for a tasteful, mainstream, and informative cookbook that teaches us how to enjoy cannabis as exactly what it is—just another “herb.” By treating it as simply another ingredient, Herb desensationalizes cannabis and removes any remaining stigma. Indeed, Herb stands alone on its merits as a testament to cuisine and technique—one that plays on the increasing tide of natural and organic cookbooks. But Herb is also a cultural marker in the repeal of prohibition, something people will be proud to display on their bookshelves rather than hide away in a drawer.

Who are some of the chefs that contributed to HERB?

Melissa Parks is our main chef. She in Cordon Bleu trained and is an overall amazing person. Here is her bio:

http://www.thestonerscookbook.com/chef/melissa-parks

Natalie Martinez is unbelievable and makes a lot of vegan and gluten-free dishes that I love:

http://www.thestonerscookbook.com/chef/natalie-martinez

Is it too late to get in on the crowdfunding campaign for the book? Where can people go to contribute?

It’s never too late. They can contribute to the campaign and pre-order a copy of this definitive cannabis cookbook, HERB, at www.herbkitchen.com.

What advice can you offer to aspiring ganjapreneurs?

The time is now. Prohibition is crumbling and these are exciting times for aspiring ganjapreneurs. I think it’s important to find a mentor in the space and begin developing your idea into a viable business. If you have any questions or if you need advice I’m always happy to help. I can be reached at matt@thestonerscookbook.com.

Thanks again for sharing, Matt, and best of luck with the crowdfunding campaign. At the rate it’s going, it’s looking like a major success already!

If you have questions or comments for Matt, you can reach him via email, or post your thoughts in the comments below:

End

Brief: Maryland Slaps Massive Price Tag On MMJ Licenses

11/17/2014

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

Some good news: Maryland’s long-awaited medical marijuana program was finally approved by a state panel last week.

But, of course, there’s also bad news: prospective ganjapreneurs will be looking at some major front-end costs to get in on the Maryland market. The two-year licenses are going to cost $80,000 for dispensaries and $250,000 for growers — these licensing fees are higher than any other state’s except Illinois.

In 2013, the state passed a medical marijuana law that expected academic institutions to voluntarily distribute the drug — when such centers failed to step forward, however, something else needed to be worked out. Maryland lawmakers unveiled the reexamined and redrafted program earlier this year, which includes slots for 15 growers state-wide and a currently unannounced number of dispensaries.

According to John Pica, a lobbyist representing investors with plans to enter Maryland’s medical marijuana industry, these high fees aren’t necessarily going to doom the industry. In fact, “With only 15 growers, and the perceived demand, there may be plenty of business to go around,” he explained to the Baltimore Sun.

Now, the program must be approved by the state’s health secretary and attorney general before it can be officially proposed for final public review, a process that’s expected to take at least a few more months.

Medical cannabis should be available in Maryland by 2016.

Sources:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-medical-marijuana-20141113-story.html

Photo Credit: Charlie Stinchcomb

End

Seattle Mayor Announces Symposium On Medical Marijuana

11/15/2014

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray has announced that a public symposium will be held on Nov. 20 to discuss the future of the city’s medical marijuana program.

Though Washington was one of the first states to legalize and regulate recreational marijuana, the state’s medical marijuana program is known for being largely unregulated, thereby running a higher risk of federal prosecution against patients and medicine-providers.

Currently, medical marijuana patients and business owners in Seattle are in an unfortunate state of limbo: dispensaries have been required by the city to obtain a state-issued license to stay in business beyond July 1, 2015. In fact, the city of Seattle issued 330 letters in October to hundreds of dispensaries, warning that the businesses could face a shutdown soon if they weren’t properly licensed. The problem is that the state-issued licenses don’t actually exist yet, and there’s currently no timeline for the licenses’ release.

As a result, Mayor Murray has been working with interested parties to establish a regulatory framework for patients to safely access their medicine. “We are still looking to Olympia to enact broad medical marijuana reform next session, but we need to take action here in Seattle to address immediate concerns of patients, businesses and neighbors,” Murray said. “Even if the state acts, we know implementation could stretch into 2016. We don’t want patients and businesses waiting in limbo, even as they face increasing legal risks.”

The symposium will feature panel discussions on a wide variety of issues relating to the medical marijuana business industry, according to an announcement released by Mayor Murray’s office earlier this week. These issues will include the testing of products for purity and strength, best practices for the manufacturing of medicated products, packaging and labeling requirements, and the locations of MMJ dispensaries and collective gardens.

“The panels will feature patient advocates and medical providers, marijuana business representatives, testing providers, community representatives and city agency leaders,” reads the mayor’s announcement. “The symposium will be convened by Patricia Lally, Director of the Office of Civil Rights, who will offer introductory remarks.”

Questions from the public regarding current MMJ policies and the program’s future are strongly encouraged. The event is scheduled to take place at City Hall in the Bertha Knight Landes Room on Nov. 20, and will run from 5 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.

Sources:

http://murray.seattle.gov/mayor-murray-announces-symposium-on-medical-marijuana-law-enforcement/#sthash.O7aSSA7i.dpbs

Photo Credit: Maëlick

End

Brief: Hype Around Warren Buffet’s Cannabis-Focused Subsidiary

11/14/2014

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

Cubic Designs, Inc., a subsidiary company of Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., made its first foray into the legal cannabis industry earlier this year, as reported by Bloomberg News.

The company, which offers industrial platforms built to maximize floor space in warehouses, recently sent about 1,000 fliers to Colorado marijuana dispensaries offering to help increase revenue by doubling their available growing space.

The move sparked James Winsor, CEO of ATV, Inc. (a technology and systems provider dedicated to the cannabis industry), to comment on Buffet’s involvement in the nascent and still federally-illegal industry.

Winsor noted that Mr. Buffet — who has become the third wealthiest person on the planet through a series of major investments in Dairy Queen, See’s Candies, and Coca-Cola — always generates a lot of business hype when he invests in an industry. “With the marijuana industry growing rapidly and gaining both acceptance and momentum,” Winsor said, “there are tremendous opportunities for companies that supply products, services, and technologies to this market.”

Sources:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-12/buffett-s-berkshire-has-unit-that-helps-marijuana-growers.html

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/warren-buffets-berkshire-hathaway-enters-142000963.html;_ylt=AwrBT9pfwGRUYlcA5Q9x.9w4

Photo Credit: Medill DC

End

Brief: Portland Prosecutors to Dismiss Current and Future Marijuana Cases

11/13/2014

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

Within days of last week’s vote for legalization, the district attorney’s office in Multnomah County — which contains Portland, Oregon’s largest and most populous city — announced they will be dismissing a swath of pending marijuana cases. Additionally, the prosecutors will not pursue future marijuana cases that will soon be legal under the new law.

50 pending marijuana cases will be dismissed.

In a statement released to the Oregonian, Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill’s office explained:

“Because it is clear that a significant majority of voters in Multnomah County support the legalization of marijuana in certain amounts, this office will dismiss the pending charges related to conduct which will otherwise become legal July 1, 2015. Any remaining charges not impacted by Ballot Measure 91 will be prosecuted.”

Voters in Multnomah County passed Measure 91 with an overwhelming 71 percent majority. Meanwhile, prosecutors in other Oregon counties are still deciding how to proceed in light of legalization.

Sources:

http://www.oregonlive.com/marijuana/index.ssf/2014/11/multnomah_county_district_atto.html#incart_m-rpt-1

Photo Credit: Stuart Seeger

End

An Alternative to the Cannabrand Controversy

11/12/2014

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

Aquarius Cannabis has aims to instill an efficient, cohesive order of operations in an otherwise unorganized cannabis distributing industry via an emphasis on consistency. Despite billion dollar valuations, and forecasted valuations exceeding 10 billion just five years down the road, there’s a lot left to improve before cannabis distribution evolves as an entity that lives up to its potential.

Aquarius Cannabis and their provided mission statement hones in on the glaring weakness prevalent in so many marijuana product exchanges; consistency in regard to cannabis strain is ordered and what is finally delivered. Consumers are quick to forget a particular strain name such as Purple Haze, and its smell, taste, and effects on the mind/body will be unique most every time across growers, dispensaries, markets, etc. Simply put, Purple Haze from Seller A will fly you to the moon and back with an obligatory stop at a McDonald’s drive-thru, while Seller B’s Purple Haze might make your toes tingle for a minute, and that might’ve just been your legs falling asleep. Do consumers really want to risk paying for the latter unknowingly?

When consumers track down the strain that’s everything they want in a cannabis experience, they’re likely to stick with it for a while. Aquarius Cannabis declares themselves revolutionarily consistent, and the ultimate in U.S.-based branding companies within the cannabis industry.

Through launching a micro-brand program in both California and Oregon, the company will have the ability to help individual master growers formulate and thereafter solidify brands unique to their mission, product effects/taste/smell/etc. How does Aquarius Cannabis benefit from all this? They co-own the intellectual property of each product sold, and forego selling the cannabis product themselves.

In contrast, Cannabrand; a Denver-based cannabis industry ad agency startup once looked upon as bearing great promise, is now suffering collective distaste from the very market their agency depends on. As an ad agency, the last thing you want to do is alienate your clientele through irrational public statements. ‘We’re trying to weed out the stoners,’ as they told the New York times, just isn’t going to get it done. Cannabrand adopted an overbearingly presumptuous tone when they threw out lines such as, ‘we’re want to show the world that normal, professional, successful people consume cannabis.’ A statement like that is unintentionally driving a wedge in the cannabis consumer community by stereotyping the ‘stoners,’ while paying lip-service to ‘the successful, accomplished individuals.’

Aquarius Cannabis has executed their launch with grace, and planned moves that seek to improve the system for the cannabis consumer by taking into account the lack of consistency the average consumer is presently plagued with. Aquarius Cannabis has in no way alienated Cannabis consumer society, and it’s this overriding fact that speaks to the reality that Cannabrand is but a small time player with big aims caught in the shadow of a big league baller with a strategy to better the cannabis industry as a whole.

Photo Credit: Prensa 420

End

Read the Q&A below:

Read the full interview below:

Get the daily briefing