MjLink Cannabis Business News and Press

Hawaii lawmakers are considering multiple adult-use cannabis legalization proposals this year, according to the Hawaii Tribune-Herald.

H.B. 7, sponsored by Reps. Jeanne Kapela (D-South Kona, Ka’u), Nicole Lowen (D-North Kona), Mark Nakashima (D-Hamakua, Hilo) and Richard Onishi (D-Hilo), aims to legalize the personal use, possession and sale of cannabis for adults 21 and older, the news outlet reported. The legislation would also create a system for licensing cannabis businesses, as well as levy an excise tax on adult-use sales.

Kapela, along with Reps. David Tarnas (D-North Kona/South and North Kohala) and Chris Todd (D-Hilo), have also introduced H.B. 238, a separate adult-use legalization measure that goes a step further to allocate an unspecified percentage of excise tax revenues for Hawaii’s counties, according to the Hawaii Tribune-Herald.

In the Senate, lawmakers have introduced S.B. 704, which also aims to legalize adult-use cannabis and establish a commercial marketplace with licensed businesses, which would be subject to excise taxes, the news outlet reported.

Also pending in the Senate are three cannabis decriminalization bills, according to the Hawaii Tribune-Herald. S.B. 47 would decriminalize the possession of up to 1 ounce of cannabis or up to one-eighth of cannabis concentrate, and would eliminate the penalty for transferring up to 1 ounce of cannabis or up to 5 grams of cannabis concentrate to adults 21 and older.

Maryland Senate Finance Committee Vice Chair Brian Feldman (D-Montgomery) has introduced a new adult-use cannabis legalization bill that is backed by Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City), according to a Maryland Matters report.

The bill, S.B. 708, is also co-sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Nancy J. King (D-Montgomery), Budget and Taxation Chair Guy J. Guzzone (D-Howard), Judicial Proceedings Committee Chair William C. Smith Jr. (D-Montgomery) and Vice Chair Jeffrey D. Waldstreicher (D-Montgomery).

The legislation would not only legalize adult-use cannabis and tax and regulate its sale, but would also direct funding to communities disproportionately impacted by prohibition, Maryland Matters reported.

Maryland’s existing medical cannabis businesses would be required to pay fees into a social equity fund, which would be used for low-interest loans to help minority businesses participate in the industry, according to the news outlet.

In addition, the legislation earmarks a portion of the tax revenue generated from adult-use sales to a Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund, which would provide housing assistance, scholarship aid, re-entry programs and other programs in communities disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs, Maryland Matters reported.

After a failed attempt to legalize adult-use cannabis last year, the New Mexico Legislature is once again taking up the issue, this time placing a greater emphasis on social equity.

RELATED: New Mexico Lawmakers Introduce Competing Adult-Use Cannabis Legalization Proposals

Four legalization bills have been introduced in the legislature to date—two in the Senate and two in the House. Lawmakers are essentially considering three different versions of legalization proposals, as one of the Senate bills is identical to the House version.

“They all have some similarities, but there’s really only one that truly centers [on] equity and social justice, and that is of critical importance to Drug Policy Alliance, but even more so to the communities in New Mexico that have been harmed by prohibitionist policies,” Emily Kaltenbach, senior director of resident states and New Mexico for Drug Policy Alliance, told Cannabis Business Times and Cannabis Dispensary.

That bill, Kaltenbach said, is House Bill 12, sponsored by Reps. Javier Martinez and Andrea Romero.

PRESS RELEASE - The Office of Administrative Law (OAL) approved the proposed emergency regulations, 2021-0122-01E, to implement processes for cannabis businesses to authorize release of information to financial institutions.

Text of the Adopted CDFA Regulations

The regulations were filed with the Secretary of State on Feb. 1, 2021, and are now in effect.

The state cannabis licensing authorities have developed two forms to implement these regulations. The same forms are being used by all three state cannabis licensing authorities, streamlining the process for licensees and financial institutions: 

Completed forms should be sent via email to [email protected] or by mail at the following address:

Illinois Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago) is renewing a push to create new cannabis retail licenses in the wake of a controversial licensing process aimed at issuing 75 dispensary licenses in the state, according to The Chicago Sun-Times.

Ford introduced legislation Feb. 3 that would create up to 110 additional retail licenses, the news outlet reported.

The Illinois Senate approved a similar bill last month that would have created a new lottery for 75 additional dispensary licenses, but the House did not call the legislation for a vote before the lame duck session ended, The Chicago Sun-Times reported.

The awarding of the 75 original cannabis retail licenses has been delayed and held up in legal disputes since regulators announced in September that only 21 social equity applicants would be included in a lottery to win the licenses.

Ford’s bill would allow the lottery for the original 75 licenses to take place once unsuccessful applicants amend and resubmit their applications under a process outlined by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in an attempt to include more applicants in the lottery.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf included adult-use cannabis legalization in his state budget proposal Feb. 3, according to a local WNEP report.

Wolf’s call for legalization is part of a broader plan to combat the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, and follows a similar legalization push he made last summer.

Pennsylvania’s state budget must be approved by the end of June, WNEP reported.

The Mississippi State Department of Health confirmed during a Feb. 3 meeting that regulations for the state’s medical cannabis program will be in place by a July 1 deadline outlined in the ballot initiative that legalized medical cannabis in the state, according to an AP News report.

Mississippi voters approved Initiative 65 on Election Day, allowing patients with one of 22 qualifying conditions to access medical cannabis.

The initiative sets an Aug. 15 deadline for the state to start issuing cannabis business licenses and patient ID cards, AP News reported.

The State Department of Health said it could take months beyond that time for medical cannabis products to reach patients, according to the news outlet, as cultivators get their operations up and running and product undergoes testing before hitting dispensary shelves.

Meanwhile, the Mississippi Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in a lawsuit filed by Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler challenging the initiative process that legalized the state’s medical cannabis program.

Willie Nelson’s cannabis brand, Willie’s Reserve, has hit the Arizona market through a recently announced partnership with Hana Meds, an Arizona-based vertically integrated cannabis company.

Willie’s Reserve is a national cannabis brand inspired by cannabis activist and American music legend Willie Nelson. The brand focuses on various cannabis products like pre-rolls, flower, vape cartridges and more. 

Hana Meds is processing, packaging and distributing Willie’s Reserve pre-rolls across Hana Meds’ retail locations in Kingman and Green Valley, Ariz., and at its wholesale customer locations, Giving Tree Dispensary in Phoenix and MedMen Scottsdale, said Matt Pinchera, Hana Meds president.

“We are starting off with launching pre-rolls only, and then we’ll look at other products as it makes sense,” he said. “We definitely want to expand the product line, but right now, we’re focusing on the pre-rolls first.”

Hana Meds eventually hopes to expand the number of dispensaries the product is sold in, he said.

“We are in the process of ramping up production, so, hopefully, we’ll be able to expand the wholesale customers as we expand our production capabilities,” he said. “We’ve got two dispensaries who partnered with us to launch the brand and want to make sure that we keep them in stock of a product. So, you know, we don’t want to expand too quickly. It really needs to be tied to our production increases.”

In a blockbuster deal to kick off the 2021 international cannabis M&A season, Jazz Pharmaceuticals has inked a deal to acquire GW Pharmaceuticals, manufacturer of the FDA- and DEA-approved Epidiolex, to the tune of $7.2 billion. As Bloomberg noted, GW’s stock skyrocketed about 46% Wednesday morning as the headlines hit the wires.

The transaction maintains a spotlight on the pharmaceutical side of the international cannabis market.

“Jazz Pharma’s acquisition of GW Pharma, at a significant premium, demonstrates that pharmaceutical companies are recognizing the value and future potential of cannabinoid based medicines,” said Jason Wilson, cannabis and banking expert at ETF Managers Group, the issuer of $MJ. “It is also another example that the cannabis industry is continuing to normalize and evolve beyond the traditional cultivation of flower, with potential well outside of our borders.  For investors, the acquisition of GW Pharma is another reminder that investing in cannabis touches many verticals globally, requiring a diverse approach beyond traditional cannabis cultivation companies.” 

RELATED: DEA Greenlights Epidiolex. What’s Next for CBD and the Cannabis Industry? 

So, who is Jazz Pharmaceuticals? From the team at Bloomberg: “Jazz has an array of medications for cancer and other conditions and diseases, but is best known for its high-priced narcolepsy treatment Xyrem, which had sales of $1.64 billion in 2019. However, with the drug due to lose exclusivity soon, revenue from it was expected to peak at $1.75 billion in 2020, according to analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg.” The company is based in Ireland.

The cost to Jazz will be borne by a mix of cash and debt financing. For GW Pharma shareholders, the transaction will deliver $200 in cash plus $20 in Jazz stock per share.

LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / February 3, 2020 / PRESS RELEASE - Planet 13 Holdings Inc., a vertically-integrated Nevada cannabis company, has announced that the company has received all building permits and has begun construction of the Orange County Cannabis SuperStore Entertainment Complex, located at 3400 Warner Ave Suite A, Santa Ana, Calif. The start of construction is consistent with the previously released timeline, with completion expected near the middle of 2021. 

Two New Mexico senators introduced competing adult-use cannabis legalization proposals Feb. 1, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican.

Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto (D-Albuquerque) has sponsored S.B. 13, which would leave New Mexico’s existing medical cannabis program in place and establish a new Cannabis Regulatory Office within the state’s Regulation and Licensing Department to oversee an adult-use program, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported.

The legislation levies a 21% tax on adult-use cannabis sales, according to the news outlet, and revenues would be split evenly between the state, counties and cities.

Sen. Cliff Pirtle (R-Roswell) introduced a competing measure, S.B. 288, which would create the Cannabis Control Commission to regulate an adult-use industry in the state, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported. Dispensaries would have to be located at least one mile apart under Pirtle’s proposal, and adult-use cannabis would be taxed between 13% and 15%, depending on the rate set by each jurisdiction. The legislation would give cities and counties each 4% of the revenue, with the remaining funds directed to the state, according to the news outlet.

Additional adult-use cannabis legalization bills are expected in the coming days, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported.

The Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee has voted 9-5 to approve an adult-use cannabis legalization bill, sending it to the Finance and Appropriations Committee for consideration, according to The Center Square.

S.B. 1406, which is sponsored by Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria) and backed by Gov. Ralph Northam, would legalize the production, sale and use of cannabis for adults 21 and older, The Center Square reported.

The bill originally allowed adult-use sales to launch Jan. 1, 2023, but changes have since postponed the market until 2024, according to the news outlet, in order to give the state more time to issue business licenses and prepare for legalization.

The legislation includes an automatic expungement process for past cannabis-related convictions, The Center Square reported. It also allows municipalities to opt out of the adult-use cannabis market if they want to prohibit sales within their borders.

Del. Steve Heretick (D-Portsmouth) has also proposed an adult-use legalization bill in that chamber, reintroducing a measure from past years.

LAS VEGAS, NV (February 3, 2021) – Cannabis Conference, the cannabis industry’s leading conference for cultivators, retailers, extraction specialists and hemp growers—will return to the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino from August 24-26, 2021. Presented by award-winning media brands Cannabis Business Times, Cannabis Dispensary and Hemp Grower magazines, Cannabis Conference will bring together current and prospective cannabis business operators, university professors, consultants, technology and solutions providers and more for three dynamic days of education and expo.

“We look forward to reconvening at our annual event in-person this August and offering valuable networking opportunities that will push this rapidly evolving industry forward,” Group Publisher Jim Gilbride said. “Our team at Cannabis Conference works diligently to offer the highest level of education for attendees, coupled with the most relevant exhibitors that will help improve their day-to-day operations and bottom lines.”

Cannabis Conference’s education program will address the most pressing issues plant-touching businesses face, as well offer tangible solutions operators can implement into their own businesses. Sessions are being crafted with the assistance of Cannabis Conference’s 2021 Advisory Board, including:

“We simply would not be able to provide the level of programming we offer without the help of our esteemed and experienced advisory board members, who are constant sounding boards about the current challenges and opportunities in the cannabis industry,” Editorial Director Noelle Skodzinski said. “Whether you are planning to enter or new to the industry, or an experienced plant-touching business, you’ll come away with valuable lessons to help you and your business succeed by attending Cannabis Conference’s educational sessions.”

In addition to dozens of sessions on everything from cultivation to facility buildout, operations, and retail and cultivation business strategies, Cannabis Conference will also feature 100+ exhibitors on its trade show floor, including experts in: horticultural lighting, nutrients, growing media, pest control, structures, drying and storage, IT services, marketing solutions, accounting and finance, POS software, packaging and labeling, and much more.

For additional information about Cannabis Conference 2021, including registration information, a current list of exhibitors and sponsors and more, visit www.cannabisconference.com.

Minnesota House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler reintroduced an adult-use cannabis legalization bill alongside other Democrat lawmakers Feb. 1, according to a local KSTP.com report.

RELATED: Minnesota Lawmaker to Reintroduce Cannabis Legalization Bill

Lawmakers say the legislation is based on a series of public discussions that were held across the state to gather public input on legalization ahead of the 2020 legislative session, the news outlet reported, and the bill aims to address criminal justice inequities caused by prohibition.

“The failed criminalization of cannabis has resulted in a legacy of racial injustice that can no longer go unaddressed,” Winkler told KSTP.com. “Adults deserve the freedom to decide whether to use cannabis, and our state government should play an important role in addressing legitimate concerns around youth access, public health and road safety. Veterans and Minnesotans with serious illnesses like PTSD deserve better access to our medical program, which is not working well for most people. It’s time to legalize, expunge and regulate.”

Winkler’s proposal would expunge past cannabis convictions; direct funds to public health awareness campaigns, youth access prevention and substance abuse treatment; provide grants, loans, technical assistance and training for businesses; require the testing and labeling of medical cannabis products; place restrictions on product packaging based on dosage size; and allow home cultivation, according to KSTP.com.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has proposed that the state should legalize medical cannabis to expand the state’s Medicaid program, according to a local KSHB report.

Kelly said the tax revenue generated from a medical cannabis program could fund Medicaid expansion for low-income residents, a priority that has been blocked in the state’s Republican-controlled legislature due to concerns about the cost, the news outlet reported.

Meanwhile, lawmakers introduced a medical cannabis legalization bill last month in the hopes that a regulated cannabis market could help boost the state’s economy.

Alabama Sen. Tim Melson (R-Florence) is again sponsoring a medical cannabis legalization bill, according to the Alabama Political Reporter.

Melson announced plans last month to reintroduce medical cannabis legislation that he proposed in both 2019 and 2020. The Alabama Senate approved the measures both years, but the bills ultimately stalled in the House.

This year, Melson reintroduced his proposal in the form of S.B. 46, the Compassion Act, which would allow Alabama residents diagnosed with a qualifying condition, as well as designated caregivers, to access medical cannabis in the state, according to the Alabama Political Reporter.

The legislation would create the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission, which would be charged with establishing and overseeing a patient registry; issuing medical cannabis cards; granting cultivation, processing, dispensary, transport and testing licenses for businesses; and outlining regulations for medical cannabis from seed to sale, according to the Alabama Political Reporter.

Melson’s bill would prohibit the smoking or vaping of cannabis, the news outlet reported.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 2, 2021 – PRESS RELEASE – Eteros Technologies, owner of Mobius Trimmer, a top brand of high-end cannabis and hemp processing equipment, has acquired California-based Triminator, a pioneer in harvesting equipment for professional growers of cannabis and hemp. The acquisition provides the Canadian-based Eteros Technologies with a broader product range and increased access to the U.S. market. Financial details were not disclosed.

The Mobius and Triminator product lines combine to form the world’s largest manufacturer of cannabis and hemp harvesting and processing equipment. Eteros Technologies, parent company of the Mobius line, plans to retain Triminator employees and leadership, and the company said both brands will continue to operate independently. Working in synergy, each will marshal greater engineering, sales, training and support resources to offer customers a comprehensive suite of processing solutions. This acquisition also means that the full Canadian designed-and-built Mobius line and full U.S.-built Triminator product line will be stocked and available across North America.  

“Just like Mobius, Triminator has built an amazing business from the ground up,” said Aaron McKellar, CEO of Mobius Trimmer. “Using innovation and ingenuity, Triminator’s team created machines that helped define the post-harvest process in modern cannabis and hemp agriculture. We look forward to building upon each other’s strengths to help even more farmers increase the efficiency of their harvest.”

The two product lines complement each other precisely because of their differences. Each is focused on providing full support to a specialized market. Triminator is committed to the cannabis and hemp farmer by building a community of hands-on brand ambassadors who have their own farms and can mentor other end-users on the craft of processing. The Mobius line has been focused on equipping and supporting growers who are operating in a large-scale, highly regulated environment, where SOPs and often GMP requirements drive processing operations and investing heavily in developing the training resources and technical documentation necessary to serve these end-users.

“This acquisition could not be a better fit from our perspective,” said Dana Mosman, CEO of Triminator. “We equip some of the most advanced farms across the globe and maintain our commitment to supporting farmers. Now our options to help these cultivators just increased exponentially. We look forward to continuing to meet the needs of the farming community, to help growers increase productivity and profitability in the rapidly evolving cannabis market.”

Each brand serves different customer segments. Mobius is one of the most technologically advanced harvesting options available, holding a number of patents in trimming technology and the largest market share in Canada among large-scale cultivators. Triminator has focused on the agricultural sector and small-to-midsize cultivators. The acquisition will give Mobius access to these businesses while providing Triminator access to Mobius’ customer service and technology.

Idaho lawmakers voted Jan. 29 to advance a joint resolution that would implement a constitutional ban on cannabis, according to an AP News report.

The Senate State Affairs Committee voted 6-2 to approve the proposed constitutional amendment, which would ban all psychoactive drugs that are not already legal in Idaho, the news outlet reported. The list of banned substances could then be adjusted if drugs are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, according to AP News.

The amendment’s supporters argue that neighboring states have legalized cannabis through voter-approved initiatives, which could also happen in Idaho, while those opposed said medical cannabis should be available for residents suffering from chronic or terminal illnesses, the news outlet reported.

The joint resolution needs to pass the Idaho Senate and House with two-thirds majority in each chamber, according to AP News, and would then go before voters in the 2022 election.

The New Jersey Assembly Community Development and Affairs Committee voted 4-2 on Jan. 29 to advance a new adult-use compromise bill, according to an NJ.com report.

The legislation is lawmakers’ second attempt to pass an adult-use implementation bill that Gov. Phil Murphy will sign into law, the news outlet reported.

Murphy refused to sign an earlier version of adult-use legislation until lawmakers added penalties for underage cannabis use, but that attempt at a “cleanup bill” fell apart when Black lawmakers voiced opposition to the proposal, arguing that the penalties outlined in the legislation would disproportionately impact minorities, according to NJ.com.

While the first version of the bill would have imposed a fine of at least $250 for those ages 18 to 20 who possess up to 6 ounces of cannabis, as well as a fine of $500 or more for those who possess more than 6 ounces, the new legislation lowers the fines to $50 for the possession of less than 6 ounces and $100 for the possession of more than 6 ounces, the news outlet reported.

The legislation would also prohibit law enforcement from stopping and searching a young person solely based on the odor of cannabis, according to NJ.com.

The Mississippi Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in a lawsuit filed by Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler that challenges the initiative process that legalized medical cannabis in the state, according to an AP News report.

The court issued an order Jan. 28 that schedules the hearing for April 14, the news outlet reported.

Butler filed the complaint in late October, just one week before Election Day, to challenge the petition process that qualified Initiative 65, the state’s medical cannabis legalization measure, for the ballot.

The measure, which voters ultimately approved, requires the Mississippi State Department of Health to implement a medical cannabis program by the middle of this year, AP News reported, but Butler’s lawsuit seeks to block the program, arguing that the proposal should not have been on Mississippi’s ballot in the first place because the initiative process is outdated.

According to the state constitution, petitioners must collect and equal number of signatures from five congressional districts, according to AP News, but Mississippi only has four congressional districts following the 2000 Census. In her lawsuit, Butler argues that with four districts, more than one-fifth of the signatures must come from each, the news outlet reported.