MjLink Cannabis Business News and Press

TORONTO, Sept. 7, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE - The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd., a sustainable global cannabis company, is pleased to announce that it has closed the sale of its Polish subsidiary, HemPoland. Under the terms of a share purchase agreement, TGOD sold its full interest in HemPoland to RAMM Pharma Corporation for $1.2 million on closing after customary closing adjustments, in addition to a $0.15 million non-refundable deposit provided in July that was used for operating expenses in HemPoland. In conjunction with closing, the loan payable to HemPoland by TGOD, of $4 million plus accrued interest, was forgiven. 

"We are happy to have concluded the sale process and can now focus on continuing to grow our core cannabis business in Canada. The proceeds from the sale will provide additional working capital to support this aim," said Sean Bovingdon, CEO of TGOD.

Do Arkansans know what they’ll be voting on this November?

Advocates from Responsible Growth Arkansas, a ballot petitioners group in favor of legalizing adult-use cannabis, are hoping to sway the answer to that question in their favor amidst a legal battle before the state’s Supreme Court.

On Sept. 2, Wright, Lindsey & Jennings LLC attorneys representing Responsible Growth filed a reply brief with the Arkansas Supreme Court arguing that the ballot title for the group’s initiated constitutional amendment properly informs voters and is sufficient for inclusion on the Nov. 8 ballot.

RELATED: 6 States That Could Legalize Cannabis Through 2022 Ballot Measures

The legal battle, in part, stems from the referendum’s aim to repeal the THC dosage limit—specifically in food and beverage products containing cannabis—under Arkansas Amendment 98, the medical cannabis ballot measure that voters passed with a 53.2% majority in the 2016 election.

“The [2022] ballot title exceeds what the Court has previously required by telling voters the specific provisions of Amendment 98 that will be amended, including the specific change at issue here,” Responsible Growth attorneys wrote in the Sept. 2 brief.

Updated figures from the Arkansas Department of Health show that the state’s medical cannabis sales surpassed $23 million in August.

The state’s 38 licensed dispensaries sold $23.3 million worth of products last month, according to a local 5NEWS report.

"August was the largest month for pounds sold in 2022 as patients purchased more than 4,245 pounds of medical marijuana," Scott Hardin, a spokesperson for the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, said, according to the news outlet. "Since Jan. 1, 2022, patients have spent $181 million to obtain 32,027 pounds. With $2.7 million in state tax revenue collected from medical marijuana in August, a total of $78.68 million has been collected since the industry launched in mid-2019."

Natural Relief Dispensary in Sherwood sold the most cannabis last month, with patients purchasing 423 pounds total from that location, 5NEWS reported.

Currently, 89,983 patients are enrolled in Arkansas’ medical cannabis program, according to the news outlet.

In recent weeks, California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC), California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) agents have traveled in unmarked vehicles to licensed cannabis farms in southern Humboldt County to conduct armed inspections, according to agency officials and cannabis cultivators interviewed by Cannabis Business Times.

Many Humboldt County farmers and industry members are shaken. They are calling the inspections traumatizing for compliant cultivators and their families, reminiscent of prohibitionist raids through the project Campaign Against Marijuana Planting (CAMP), which began in the 1980s, and Operation Green Sweep raids in the 1990s, KMUD News reported Aug. 26.

The DCC conducted inspections with agents from the State Water Board and an armed CDFW official Aug. 24 and 25 in the Redwood Creek watershed, said DCC Spokeswoman Maria Luisa Cesar, who emailed responses to CBT (which include input from CDFW unless otherwise noted).

During those inspections, she said, “A total of six environmental scientists took part in these routine inspections. DCC compliance staff were unarmed and one armed CDFW wildlife officer accompanied environmental scientists to ensure safety, as CDFW staff have been shot at it in the past while working in remote areas.”

Michelle Bushnell is supervisor of Humboldt County’s District 2, which includes part of the Redwood Creek watershed, where farmers have been visited by armed CDFW officials. “Outdoor cultivation in the Redwood Creek area—almost all of that is outdoor cultivation and small mom-and-pop farms. Those folks have been here for years and years,” Bushnell told CBT, adding of the recent armed inspections: “It feels very invasive to them, and like they’re outlaws again and they're not trusted.”

Cesar told CBT these were not enforcement operations but rather compliance checks to make sure cannabis farmers are not breaking laws, such as illegally diverting water from watersheds during a time of severe drought.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation last week to ban medical discrimination against patients who use cannabis.

Assembly Bill 1954, introduced by Assemblymember Bill Quirk, D-Hayward, protects the right of patients to medical treatment if they use cannabis, as well as the right of physicians and clinics to treat them, according to a KRON4 report.

The legislation, sponsored by California NORML and Americans for Safe Access, cleared the Legislature with bipartisan support before Newsom signed it into law Sept. 2, the news outlet reported.

The new law clarifies that physicians cannot be penalized for treating patients who test positive for cannabis, even though cannabis remains federally illegal, according to KRON4. It also specifies that a positive drug test for cannabis cannot be the sole basis for denying medical treatment in order to ban the automatic elimination patients who use cannabis from pain management programs.

A dozen lawsuits have been filed to challenge Connecticut’s adult-use cannabis licensing process, and all but one have now been consolidated to be heard as a single case, according to an SFGATE report.

The one not included, a lawsuit filed by Farmington-based Core Cult LLC, was excluded because the plaintiff “has not responded to requests” regarding the motion, the news outlet reported.

When Connecticut legalized adult-use cannabis last year, half the licenses were earmarked for social equity applicants who must meet income, residency and ownership requirements, and social equity license holders must own and control at least 65% of the business.

The now-consolidated lawsuits claim that Connecticut’s Social Equity Council, which is tasked with selecting the state’s first batch of adult-use cannabis cultivation and dispensary licensees, denied applications based on “incorrect information and arbitrary interpretations of the law,” according to SFGATE.

Missouri voters will make their voices heard on a proposed constitutional amendment to legalize adult-use cannabis in the November election, but a group of lawmakers hopes the state can enact cannabis policy reform in a different way.

RELATED: More Than Half of Missouri Voters Support Adult-Use Cannabis Legalization

A bipartisan group of Missouri lawmakers, in collaboration with activists, is calling for Gov. Mike Parsons to include cannabis legalization on the agenda for the Legislature’s upcoming special session, which kicks off Sept. 14 to allow legislators to debate Parson’s proposed a $700 million tax cut plan, the News Tribune reported.

Lawmakers and activists have also announced a campaign to defeat Amendment 3, the cannabis legalization measure that will appear on Missouri’s November ballot, according to the news outlet.

"Rather than settle for an ill-suited and monopolistic program shoehorned into our [state] constitution, the Missouri General Assembly has a unique opportunity to consider legislation that would legalize cannabis in a truly free market fashion," State Rep. Tony Lovasco, R-O'Fallon, said, according to the News Tribune.

Irina Dashevsky, partnerat GreenspoonMarder LLP in Illinois andco-chair of their cannabis practice group, anticipates that the federallegalization of cannabis could be a decade away, and if the industry wants tosee change at the federal level, it's going to take a joint effort.

"State after state islegalizing [medical cannabis] and then legalizing adult-use. So, there'sconsensus. And yet at the federal level, that hasn't caught up," Dashevskysays. "That's probably because cannabis isn't a bread-and-butter issue.It's not, 'Oh, my gas prices went up, and I really need the government to dealwith that immediately.' There are a lot of other important issues: wars,inflation, unemployment … that have the attention of our electedofficials."

Dashevsky says federal changewill take a concentrated effort, adding that the industry as a whole shouldcommit more time, focus and lobbying dollars to strategies that have helpedencourage legalization at state and local levels.

Connect With ElectedOfficials

To get more involved at thefederal level and engage in legalization efforts, Dashevsky suggests connectingwith elected officials. This could start with a congressman or Senator, butalso even a state representative, an attorney general or the Governor. 

Dashevsky also suggestsconnecting with officials who already focus on cannabis or those who supportlegalization. For example, she referenced Rep. La Shawn Ford in Illinois, whoseprimary focus is increasing equity and justice in the cannabis industry."[He] is the go-to person for when you have a cannabis concern [inIllinois]," she says.

Dashevsky added thatgovernors and attorney generals typically already have connections at thefederal level.

Last year, Illinois adult-use cannabis retailers didn’t eclipse the $1-billion benchmark until October. This year, they surpassed that sales total in August.

Recording more than $129 million last month, licensed dispensary operators have sold $1,015,700,115.70 worth of adult-use cannabis so far this year, according to the state’s Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). That 2022 figure represents a 16% increase from the $875 million Illinois retailers sold through August of last year.

RELATED: These 8 States Sold $12.8 Billion of Adult-Use Cannabis in 2021

While the state industry is experiencing year-over-year growth, the retail market has leveled off during the past six months, peaking at $135.7 million in July, before experiencing a 4.6% decrease in August.

But that July-to-August decrease was expected based on previous year trends as well as the calendar makeup for July 2022, which included five Fridays and five Saturdays—the two biggest sales days of the week for cannabis retail.

Out-of-state sales, which accounted for more than $41 million in August, held steady at roughly 32% of the state’s retail market last month.

HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 04, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PRESS RELEASE -- PA Options for Wellness, a provider of consumer products in the Pennsylvania medical cannabis market, announced today the opening of two new medical marijuana dispensaries, bringing its retail footprint to a total of six locations throughout Pennsylvania.

The first of the two new dispensaries to open will be Kennett Square, located at 716 West Baltimore Pike in Delaware County, Penn. The Kennett Square location will open to patients on Monday, Oct. 3.  The second location, located in State College, at 1653 North Atherton Street, will open to patients on Monday, Oct. 10. Both locations will feature on-site consultations, curbside delivery and an interactive pre-order menu with each dispensary open six days a week, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

"Vytal Options, a PA Options for Wellness medical marijuana dispensary, is excited to bring our excellent patient service as well as quality products to the State College and Kennett Square areas," CEO and founder Thomas A. Trite said in a statement. "We were one of the first three medical marijuana Clinical Registrants approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Health to conduct research. After undergoing an extensive review process, we were selected by the Penn State University and their College of Medicine to collaborate and research medical cannabis."

To celebrate the grand openings, each location will kick off with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 9 a.m. ET, with members of the Chamber of Business, Penn State Research, and Balanced Veterans Network. A partnership with grower/processer FarmaceuticalRX has also been developed to support the dispensary openings. The collaboration includes an exclusive, limited time offering of a premium vape cartridge named "Keystone OG." To join in the celebration, many of the state's Medical Marijuana Grower Processers will be on hand at both locations, educating patients and handing out promotional materials. In addition, PA Options for Wellness will commemorate its latest dispensary openings by making a charitable contribution to organizations within the State College and Kennett Square areas.

PA Options for Wellness proudly offers a curated selection of products across its brand portfolio selection of products across its brand portfolio, which includes byVytal, Mood, and Solventless. Patients can choose from a wide array of premium cannabis products, including full-spectrum RSO, access to a library of flower strains, solventless rosins, and their signature Troche sublingual. Vytal Options dispensaries will also offer top products from other highly requested brands in the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana marketplace.

BERLIN, Sept. 6, 2022 – PRES RELEASE – Tilray Brands Inc., a leading global cannabis and consumer packaged goods company, announced that the company has initiated a policy roundtable with German regulators on adult-use cannabis legalization in Germany. In this meeting, the German Drug Commissioner, Burkhard Blienert, presented the plan for adult-use cannabis legalization and repeated the German government’s announcement that a first draft of the bill would be presented in the coming months. With this event, Tilray reaffirms its leading role as a trusted partner to government regulators and contributes to German legalization efforts by sharing its long-standing expertise and experience in cannabis research, product quality and safety, supply management, patient and consumer protection, and cannabis education.

Participants in the meeting included key leaders from Germany’s health and legal committees including:

Denise Faltischek, chief strategy officer and head of International at Tilray Brands, said, “We are honored to have initiated this high-level exchange on one of the world’s most important cannabis endeavors. As a leading global cannabis company, Tilray Brands has unmatched experience partnering with governments and regulators to help develop responsible cannabis regulations that protect the health and safety of patients and consumers, as well as, supporting significant economic growth in countries in which it operates. We applaud the German government in leading responsible adult-use cannabis legislation in Europe and we are proud to support this effort.”

Sascha Mielcarek, managing director at Tilray Europe, said, “As a market leader in Germany and Europe, our highest priority for a successful launch of an adult-use market in Germany is to lead with the highest quality-control standards that are consistent and reliable for consumers and patients. Established quality certifications such as European Good Manufacturing Practice (EU-GMP) already enable manufacturers industry-wide to provide patients and consumers with cannabis of the utmost quality and safety. These standards have proven themselves in our everyday medical cannabis practice and can be considered best practices for the recreational market, as they ensure consistent quality products.”

Tilray Brands has a pioneering track record as a company committed to producing the highest-quality cannabis products available to consumers and patients in need around the world and was the first to successfully export medical cannabis from North America and import medical cannabis products into the EU in 2016. Tilray has made several strategic investments that are now resulting in first-mover advantages in Germany and Europe, and the company’s operational strength is reflected along the entire value chain with leading medical cannabis brands, a strong distribution network in Germany, and end-to-end EU-GMP supply chain, which includes two state-of-the-art EU-GMP production facilities in Portugal and Germany.

It’s been almost two years since voters in five states approved cannabis ballot measures in an unprecedented wave of reform that swept through nearly every U.S. region during the 2020 election.

RELATED: Cannabis Wins Big on Election Night as Five States Pass Legalization Measures

Much of the same could play out on Nov. 8, 2022, when registered voters 18 years and older could decide the fate of legalizing cannabis for those 21 and older in six states: Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

Editor’s note: See the state-by-state 2022 ballot measure breakdowns below

But even if cannabis ballot measures go six-for-six in the upcoming election (granted Arkansas and Oklahoma’s initiatives hang in the balance of Supreme Court decisions), uncertainly still awaits. If there was one takeaway from the 2020 election, it’s that legalization efforts are far from a done deal following citizen majorities at the polls.

The South Dakota Supreme Court overturned a voter-approved adult-use ballot measure roughly a year after the 2020 election on the basis that it violated the state’s single-subject rule. That measure had passed with a 54.2% majority.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said cannabis and CBD use “is an automatic disqualifier” for job applicants, even in state-legal markets.

FBI Denver posted a job opportunity to Twitter Aug. 25 for an FBI Contract Linguist. The Tweet welcomed people to interact in a live chat where individuals could ask questions about the open position.

One individual asked, “Marijuana and CBD are legal in Colorado, but I was told I cannot apply to the FBI if I use them. Why?”

FBI Denver responded, “Although the use of marijuana & CBD may be legal at the state level, their use is an automatic disqualifier for FBI employees and contractors. You must wait for at least one year from your last use of CBD or marijuana before applying to the FBI.”

A6. Although the use of marijuana & CBD may be legal at the state level, their use is an automatic disqualifier for FBI employees and contractors. You must wait for at least one year from your last use of CBD or marijuana before applying to the FBI. #FBILinguist

There’s been a recent uptick of break-ins at cannabis dispensaries in Missouri.

On Aug. 29, three dispensaries near the St. Louis area were broken into within 30 minutes, and just days later, another dispensary in Hazelwood was targeted.

The string of break-ins started Aug. 29 around 4 a.m., when “a group of suspects in two dark-colored vehicles attempted to burglarize the Star Buds Medical Marijuana Dispensary,” located at 1168 W. Gannon Drive in Festus—roughly 30 miles southwest of St. Louis, 5 On Your Side reported.

Festus Police Chief Tim Lewis told the news outlet that the individuals struck the front and back doors of the location with one of the vehicles. But the dispensary owner told the news outlet that the burglars were unsuccessful in their attempt to steal product and weren’t even able to make it past the lobby because “just hours before the incident, they finished reenforcing all of their doors and boosting security; a direct response to area break-ins that paid off,” 5 On Your Side reported.

“The vehicles fled north on Interstate 55, where officers stopped their pursuit,” the news outlet reported.

Lewis said, “What I want to stress is the owners in Festus were shrewd enough and smart enough to meet the minimum standards set by the state of Missouri, and then they stepped up their game.”

Nabis, a California-based cannabis wholesale platform, is partnering with Equity Trade Network, a California organization focused on promoting cannabis operators from and in communities marginalized by the war on drugs.

The collaboration between Nabis and Equity Trade Network will help ease brands’ entrance into the California market while also adding scalability without additional costs, according to a release. Additionally, the partnership will aim to eliminate barriers for BIPOC, LGBTQ and veteran-led cannabis brands to help them get shelf space in California dispensaries.

“Logistics continue to serve as a bottleneck for brands, especially for small business owners who lack access to private capital and other financial resources,” said Jun S. Lee, co-founder and co-CEO of Nabis. “With our extensive fulfillment footprint and wealth of data insights, Nabis can help Equity Trade Network businesses focus on vital efforts, like brand innovation, without getting bogged down by distribution challenges. Our goal is to make logistics turnkey for Equity Trade Network companies.”

Equity Trade Network also offers certification marks for businesses with at least 50% ownership stake of people impacted by limited access and opportunities. Certified brands include California Rolls, Cloud 9, Dolo Rolling Co, Elefante, Headstash, KGB Reserve, SF Roots, and more.

“When people buy these brands, they are supporting reinvestment into local communities and businesses, and voting with their dollars,” said Ramon Garcia, co-founder of Equity Trade Network. “This collaboration puts wind under the sails of so many outstanding and driven entrepreneurs from marginalized communities who still struggle due to failed policies that have stifled growth and success for too long.”

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told reporters this week that the state “should charge these people more” when it comes to medical cannabis business operators.

“I mean, these are very valuable licenses,” the governor said, according to a WLRN report. “I would charge them an arm and a leg. I mean, everybody wants these licenses.”

RELATED: Green Sentry Acquires MedMen’s Florida Assets, Announces Sunburn Cannabis

There are nearly 800,000 patients enrolled in Florida’s medical cannabis program, WLRN reported, although the DeSantis administration has delayed compliance with a state law that requires the Department of Health to double the number of medical cannabis operators in the state, which currently hosts 22 licensees.

The medical cannabis companies currently doing business in Florida paid just over $60,000 to apply for licenses in 2015, according to WLRN. These licensees must also pay $60,000 on a biannual basis to renew their licenses, the news outlet reported.

Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman has called on President Joe Biden to decriminalize cannabis ahead of Biden’s campaign stop in the state next week.

“It’s long past time that we finally decriminalize marijuana,” Fetterman, a U.S. Senate candidate, said in a statement to The Hill. “The president needs to use his executive authority to begin descheduling marijuana; I would love to see him do this prior to his visit to Pittsburgh. This is just common sense and Pennsylvanians overwhelmingly support decriminalizing marijuana.”

RELATED: Pennsylvania Governor, Lieutenant Governor Announce Plan to Pardon Cannabis-Related Convictions

A spokesperson for Fetterman’s campaign previously told The Hill that the Democrat would be pressing Biden on the issue of cannabis decriminalization when the president made his stop in Pennsylvania.

Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked about Fetterman’s statement during an Aug. 29 White House briefing, according to The Hill, to which she replied, “The president supports leaving decisions regarding legalization for recreational use up to the states, rescheduling cannabis as a Schedule II drug so researchers can study its positive and negative impacts and at the federal level, he supports decriminalizing marijuana use and automatically expunging any prior criminal records.”

LAS VEGAS – Sept. 1, 2022 – PRESS RELEASE – The Source+, with five dispensaries across Nevada, will support three local charities through its September Round Up initiative: Mondays Dark in Las Vegas, Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA) in Reno and Never Forgotten Animal Society in Pahrump.

Now through Friday, Sept. 30, customers may round up purchases while shopping in-store at The Source+’s Nevada locations to directly support each organization. The Source+ will also accept direct donations from customers or the public. The award-winning cannabis dispensary will extend its support for Mondays Dark throughout October, and customers may continue to round up their purchases at any of The Source+’s three Las Vegas locations from Saturday, Oct. 1 through Monday, Oct. 31. 

Mondays Dark is Las Vegas’ premier variety show for a cause. To support local charities, Mondays Dark gathers an eclectic cast of guests twice monthly for a variety show, with a mission to raise $10,000 in only 90 minutes. Funds raised by The Source+’s Las Vegas locations will be donated to Mondays Dark to benefit Serving our Kids Foundation, an organization that provides after-school and weekend meals to kids; United Citizens Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting healthy social, emotional and behavioral skills for children, adolescents, adults and families; Remissionaries, an organization that provides comfort during and after chemotherapy treatments to women battling breast cancer; and My Scars Are Beautiful, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting women, men and children who have experienced traumatic experiences.

Proceeds raised at The Source+’s Reno location will be donated to BACA, an organization dedicated to creating a safer environment for abused children through physical and emotional support.

The Source+’s Pahrump location will support the Never Forgotten Animal Society, a charitable organization created to rescue animals in need and provide low cost spay/neuter clinics in Pahrump. Its mission is to reduce euthanasia of healthy adoptable animals through its Animal Rescue clinics in the city.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman announced Sept. 1 a plan to pardon Pennsylvanians with select minor, nonviolent cannabis-related convictions.

The PA Marijuana Pardon Project is a one-time, large-scale effort that will accept applications online from Sept. 1 through Sept. 30, according to the press release from the governor's office.

“I have repeatedly called on our Republican-led General Assembly to support the legalization of adult-use marijuana, but they’ve yet to meet this call for action from myself and Pennsylvanians,” Wolf said in a public statement. “Until they do, I am committed to doing everything in my power to support Pennsylvanians who have been adversely affected by a minor marijuana offense on their record. 

“This pardon project has the potential to open the door for thousands of Pennsylvanians—the college grad looking to start their career, the grandparent who’s been wanting chaperone a field trip, or any Pennsylvanian who’s been told ‘no’ for much needed assistance," Wolf continued. "Now’s your chance.”

It is estimated that thousands of Pennsylvanians with convictions over the past several decades are eligible for the program. To qualify, individuals must have one or both of the following convictions:

The Office of Medical Cannabis within the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is accepting public comment on adding qualifying conditions to the state’s medical cannabis program.

According to the department’s website, the petitions for new qualifying conditions that are under consideration are gastroparesis, irritable bowel syndrome, obsessive compulsive disorder and opioid use disorder.

Written comments can be submitted via email to [email protected] or by U.S. mail to the Office of Medical Cannabis at PO Box 64882, St. Paul, MN 55164-0882.

Oct. 5 is the deadline for feedback.

RELATED: Minnesota’s Medical Cannabis Patients Can Access Edibles Starting Aug. 1