MjLink Cannabis Business News and Press

Julia Jacobson, CEO of Aster Farms, founder her California-based cannabis cultivation in 2017, with the first harvest occurring in 2018. In the years since launching Aster Farms, Jacobson has seen the ups and downs of the California market, as well as the industry's continued growth not just in The Golden State, but across the U.S. 

As 2022 unfolds, Jacobson offers her perspective on the current state of the market in California and the industry as a whole, while also explaining the importance of honoring legacy operators, sustainable farming practices, and more.

Zach Mentz: How did you end up in the cannabis industry? And is this something that you ever thought you'd be doing as a career?

Julia Jacobson: I never in a million years thought that I would be running a cannabis company one day. Never. Even though I have been a consumer for decades, I didn't think that I would be here.

My personal path began with my chronic migraines, which started in my mid-twenties and became completely debilitating. I was having trouble showing up for everything in my life and was ending up in the hospital on a regular basis. I had tried everything from every kind of prescription medication, acupuncture, chiropractic work, shots of lidocaine in my forehead–you name it. And I was really kind of desperate. And one of the times I was in the hospital, the ER doctor said, if you have access to cannabis and you feel comfortable with it, for people who prescription medication hasn't worked for migraines, I recommend you use cannabis.

Even though I had been a daily consumer for years, when I have a migraine, the last thing I think to do is to light up a joint. I tried, and it completely changed my life. So, for me, that was the moment when cannabis went from something that was just a fun part of my life to an important piece of my ability to show up and live my life. It became incredibly important and it helped me look at the plant and the industry and cannabis in a completely different way.

Following a months-long review of vape products sold by Pennsylvania’s licensed cannabis operators, the state’s Department of Health (DOH) has issued a sprawling mandatory recall.

The list includes hundreds of vape products from PurePenn, PennAlt Organics, Pennsylvania Medical Solutions, MLH Explorations, Insa, Ilera Healthcare, Holistic Farms, Hanging Gardens, GTI Pennsylvania, Goodblend Pennsylvania, Franklin Labs, Curaleaf PA, Cresco Yeltrah, CannTech PA, Agri-Kind, and AES Compassionate Care. 

“After finishing this review, the Department has determined that certain vaporized medical marijuana products containing some added ingredients have not been approved for inhalation by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA),” according to the Feb. 4 memo. “Although some of these added ingredients may be considered safe in other non-inhaled products, patient safety is the top priority of the Medical Marijuana Program. Therefore, the Department has issued a mandatory recall for all affected vaporized products.” 

The review in question was first announced to the public on Dec. 1. The DOH targeted vape products “state-wide” to gather information on whether “added ingredients” were present in those products—some of which were being sold on dispensary shelves. Back on Nov. 16, the DOH had sent a message to all licensed cannabis business owners, asking for them to submit all vape products containing added ingredients for review (even those that had already passed state testing).

No rationale was provided for the review, although communication from the DOH referenced additive regulations in other states—presumably referring to regulations that may allow certain additives outside of Pennsylvania.

In a follow-up message to business owners, sent from Sunny D. Podolak, Assistant Director and Chief Compliance Officer with the DOH’s Office of Medical Marijuana, on Dec. 13, the phrase “additives” was qualified as “artificial terpenes or flavorings.”

Maryland House lawmakers are laying the groundwork to legalize adult-use cannabis, but first they want to hear from voters in the November 2022 election.

Del. Luke Clippinger, a Democrat from Baltimore City who chairs the Judiciary Committee, introduced House Bill 837 on Feb. 3—legislation that would allow adults 21 and older to purchase and possess up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis and decriminalize the possession of up to 2.5 ounces as a civil offense rather than a misdemeanor.

Under current Maryland laws and penalties, possession of 10 grams to 50 pounds of cannabis is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year of incarceration and a $1,000 fine, according to NORML.

The legislation also aims to ensure the automatic expungement of records for those who were previously found guilty of simple possession if it was the only charge in the case. Anyone currently held in a state prison or local jail for a cannabis conviction would be resentenced to end their term of incarceration, according to Clippinger.

H.B. 837 would serve as a companion bill to H.B. 1, the ballot question for November’s election, which Clippinger also drafted. A Maryland House hearing on H.B. 1 is set for Feb. 14.

NEW YORK, Feb. 3, 2022 – PRESS RELEASE – Columbia Care Inc., one of the largest and most experienced cultivators, manufacturers and providers of cannabis products in the U.S., announced Cannabist Williamstown, its first dispensary in West Virginia and 24th Cannabist nationwide, opened Feb 3. Cannabist Williamstown, located at 76 Thunder Road in Williamstown, is the first of five dispensaries that Columbia Care will open in the state this year.

“The level of demand and excitement for high-quality cannabis and best-in-class service in West Virginia is promising for such a nascent medical market. We’re here to be a leader and a resource for current and future patients, as we introduce them to the power of this incredible plant,” said Jesse Channon, chief growth officer of Columbia Care. “As the medical cannabis program continues to expand, we look forward to also serving as a wholesale partner to ensure that patient needs are met across the state with a variety of high quality options. We’re thankful to the local community for welcoming Cannabist and to the Department of Health and Human Resources for their continued support.”

Columbia Care began cultivation operations at its 40,000-square-foot facility in West Virginia in July 2021. The company holds five dispensary licenses to serve the growing number of registered medical cannabis patients across the state. Cannabist Williamstown staff held a series of educational events throughout the month of December. These events helped patients better understand the state’s medical cannabis program, including providing information on how to obtain a medical cannabis patient card and which products will be available, as well as connected prospective patients with registered medical practitioners.

Cannabist Williamstown will offer Columbia Care’s Seed & Strain brand in multiple forms, including whole flower and vape carts. The company’s other portfolio brands, such as Triple Seven and Classix, will be introduced in the coming months for patients and wholesale partners. Patients will also be able to use Columbia Care’s proprietary cannabis discovery tool, Forage, both in-store and online to help find strains and products to fit their needs.

The company is expecting to open three more Cannabist dispensaries in the spring with locations in Beckley, Morgantown and St. Albans, as well as a fifth location to follow later in 2022.

For more information on the company’s West Virginia locations, visit www.gocannabist.com/wv.

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 4, 2022 – PRESS RELEASE – Amuse, the fastest growing cannabis delivery company in California, announced its partnership with Cookies, an international cannabis brand and retail powerhouse. Amuse will serve as the first and primary cannabis delivery partner in California for Cookies' locations, starting in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose and Sacramento, with more coming in California throughout 2022. 

"There is no replacement for the Cookies in-store experience, but we see great value in providing our customers the option to get their favorite products delivered to their home via Cookies' new online digital experience delivered by Amuse. We could not be more excited to offer this to our customers," said Berner, co-founder and CEO of Cookies.

Cookies' top-shelf products, including Lemonnade, Collins Ave, Run the Jewels, Grandiflora, Minntz and Runtz, are available through pickup or delivery at select Cookies' retail locations.

"We are proud to partner with Cookies to help them unlock last-mile delivery," said Alex Becker, co-president and chief revenue officer of Amuse. "As the industry continues to evolve, it's more important than ever for us to collaborate with like-minded organizations, like Cookies, that drive the industry forward."

Amuse and Cookies' focus on authentic, quality products will accelerate safe, convenient delivery of Cookies' premier cannabis products to consumers statewide. For more information, please visit Amuse.com and Cookies.co.

In Missouri’s medical cannabis market, track-and-trace service provider Metrc will no longer levy tag fees on every plant grown by licensed operators in the state.

An appellate court handed down the ruling in late January, capping a lawsuit first filed by Metrc in 2019.

At issue was Metrc’s tag fee—a cost assessed against cannabis growers and other business owners to use the track-and-trace software mandated by state regulations. In other words, according to the lawsuit’s back-and-forth over the past few years, licensed cannabis businesses were forced to pay to use a service they were already being forced to use.

When the program was set up—and when Missouri originally decided to go with Metrc over competitor BioTrack THC—Metrc levied a $40 monthly charge for the software itself, and $0.45 for each plant tag and $0.25 cents for each package tag.

Those tag fees are now history.

Licensed businesses will continue to cover shipping and handling for those tags, however, and Metrc is setting new limits on the number of tags that may be ordered—limits meant to “match with the defined needs of each licensed business operating in Metrc.”

States that have already legalized medical and/or adult-use cannabis have taken two avenues: legislative action or voter-approved ballot measures.

Specifically, the first eight states to legalize adult-use cannabis did so through citizen-led petitions that put a question, measure or amendment before their voters on Election Day. Washington, D.C., was also in that boat via Initiative 71 in November 2014.

It wasn’t until January 2018 that Vermont became the first state to legalize adult-use cannabis through a legislature, which became official when Republican Gov. Phil Scott signed House Bill 511 (Act 86) into law.

Since then, five more states have legalized adult-use cannabis through their legislatures (Illinois, Connecticut, New Mexico, New York and Virginia) and four more have legalized adult-use cannabis though the election process (Michigan, Arizona, Montana and New Jersey).

Many more states have legalized medical programs, with Mississippi becoming the 37th state to do so without imposing strict restrictions, such as low-THC limits. And Mississippi has ridden both avenues to legalization: The voters passed an initiative in the November 2020 election, the state’s Supreme Court overturned it in May 2021, and state lawmakers passed legislation with bicameral veto-proof majorities in January 2022.

As the green reform wave continues to spread, nine states are amidst campaign efforts to put legalization or reform proposals before their voters in the November 2022 election.

The true point of having a voice is to offer a different perspective.

One general issue throughout the cannabis industry is minorities getting access to funds because most minorities don't have networks or even friends and family that can help them get started. I entered this space as an entrepreneur and, because I was an athlete, I have friends that have resources. The people that already have the resources also already have a head start.

However, there tends to be a higher barrier of entry for minorities.

Minorities also have to deal with a greater stigma surrounding cannabis, which affects minorities more powerfully than non-minorities. For minorities, there's a bigger taboo; like our parents thinking we're already at a disadvantage—‘don't do cannabis, it's going to ruin your life.’ For white families, they're just like, ‘it's just a phase.’ The stigma of cannabis consumption is heavier for minorities.

The cannabis space is great because it's new and there's room for additional innovation. For example, social equity is something we can build into policies and regulations as we move forward. We can say the war on drugs negatively affected minority communities in greater ways than others, and that's a conversation that we could have right now, but the question is: What are we going to do about it? To achieve social equity, we really have to think of how this industry can approach the equation differently.

Social equity comes down to education. The imbalance is really around educational opportunities. It's not enough to just offer people jobs; you need to offer them opportunities to educate themselves so they can make sure they're competent enough to succeed in those positions.

Los Angeles, CA - PRESS RELEASE - The Terpene Store has had its famous Skunkify product on the market for over four years and has decided to expand its Enhancers line to give customers more choices to precisely tune their flavor. Skunkify is a terpene enhancing solution that has an intense skunky aroma and flavor. The Skunkify product is one of The Terpene Store’s top selling products and is the inspiration for a whole new line of Enhancers.

The new Enhancers include Hazify, Kushify, Gasify, Milkify and Dankify. These products are designed to add those certain flavor notes that are essential to cannabis. These are highly concentrated and must be mixed with other terpenes before adding to the final product. A little goes a long way and each of these new Enhancers elevate existing terpene profiles. With the new Enhancer line, companies can upgrade their flavor for as little as one cent per product.

Oregon lawmakers are considering legislation that would allow state officials to pause cannabis cultivation licensing, but industry groups are asking legislators to expand this moratorium to include licensing for wholesalers, processors and retailers, according to a KGW8 report.

House Bill 4016 would give the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) the authority to refuse to issue new cannabis cultivation licenses “based on the supply of and demand for marijuana,” KGW8 reported.

The OLCC had this power until this year under a 2019 law that was enacted in response to market oversupply conditions, according to the news outlet.

Now, the coalition of industry groups is asking lawmakers to reauthorize the moratorium and expand it to other license types due to oversaturation in the market.

Oregon’s 2022 legislative session kicked off this week

Connecticut officials officially started accepting applications for adult-use cannabis business licenses Feb. 3.

The State Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) is taking applications for retail and social equity cultivation licenses, defined as those in disproportionately impacted areas, according to a wtnh.com report.

RELATED: Connecticut Will Begin Accepting Applications for Adult-Use Cannabis Business Licenses Next Month

The department is expected to hold a lottery to issue the licenses.

“There are several pathways in which people can apply for these licenses,” Andrea Comer, DCP Deputy Commissioner and chair of the Social Equity Council, told wtnh.com. “Some will be applied directly to the lottery. Others will be applying directly to open a cannabis establishment.”

A bill that has cleared the Utah Legislature would protect state employees who use medical cannabis from discrimination, according to a Deseret News report.

Senate Bill 46 requires state and local governments to treat medical cannabis prescriptions the same as they treat prescriptions for other controlled substances, the news outlet reported.

The legislation was inspired by Levi Coleman, an Ogden firefighter who was suspended without pay after he refused to give up his medical cannabis prescription, according to Deseret News. Coleman ultimately sued the fire department and the city last year, arguing that his suspension violated Utah’s medical cannabis law, which passed in 2018.

Rep. Joel Ferry (R-Brigham City) introduced S.B. 46 to close a “loophole” in the law that puts registered medical cannabis patients like Coleman at risk, Deseret News reported.

“What this bill does is it provides some clarity to what the legislative intent was ... in recognizing medical cannabis as a legitimate use of cannabis for treating certain ailments such as chronic pain,” Ferry told the news outlet.

An emergency rule that went into effect Jan. 13 increased the number of plants that New Mexico’s licensed cannabis producers could grow, but the rule did not apply to microbusiness licensees.

The New Mexico Cannabis Control Division’s (CCD) emergency rule allows the cannabis producers to double their plant count from 10,000 to 20,000 mature plants. The limit for microbusinesses, however, must be increased legislatively since it is set in statute, according to the Santa Fe Reporter.

RELATED: New Mexico Opens Licensing Process for Integrated Microbusinesses

Microbusinesses are authorized to grow up to 200 plants under the Cannabis Regulation Act that passed last year to legalize adult-use cannabis.

Senate Bill 100, new legislation sponsored by State Sen. Linda Lopez (D-Albuquerque) and Rep. Andrea Romero (D-Santa Fe), would increase this production limit to 1,000 plants, according to the Santa Fe Reporter.

The Nevada Dispensary Association has renamed itself the Nevada Cannabis Association, according to a release from the organization.

The newly-named Nevada Cannabis Association says it rebranded to expand its membership representation, which now includes cultivation, production, distribution, independent testing laboratories, and more, in addition to dispensaries.

The NCA, founded in 2014, assists Nevada cannabis businesses with business, education and compliance resources, community outreach, networking events, and government affairs news and analyses.

“From the start, the association has been dedicated to developing and promoting best practices among Nevada cannabis dispensaries,” said Layke Martin, executive director of NCA. “As Nevada’s industry has grown, our dedication to representing the cannabis industry has expanded to include cultivation, production and distribution licensees, independent testing laboratories, and other cannabis businesses. For these members, a voice within the NCA amplifies our collective goal of inclusivity, opportunity and unity within the industry.”

In addition, the NCA also appointed two new board members: Jennifer Gallerani, vice president of compliance and regulatory affairs for Blackbird, and Jerry Velarde, president and founder of NV 3480 Hacienda Partners Inc., which oversees Ego Brands, Evergreen Organix and Fleur Cannabis.

Gallerani also serves as chair of the board for the Cannabis Distribution Association, as well as chair of the National Cannabis Industry Association’s State Regulations Committee, Technology and Compliance Subcommittee.

CHICAGO – February 2, 2022 — PRESS RELEASE — Cresco Labs, a vertically integrated multistate operator and wholesaler of branded cannabis products, has announced the Clio Award-winning documentary short film, “The Sentence of Michael Thompson,” will screen at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival. “The Sentence of Michael Thompson” is the first documentary short film on the topic of social justice, criminal justice reform and cannabis decriminalization, and the first social justice-focused documentary produced by a cannabis brand (Cresco), to debut at the acclaimed film festival in Austin, Texas.

“It is humbling and an honor to have the opportunity to help share Michael Thompson’s story through such a prestigious film festival like SXSW,” said Chima Enyia, EVP of SEED at Cresco Labs. “Unfortunately, one of the themes central to Michael’s story is not unique; several hundred thousand Americans—predominantly Black and Latinx—continue to be incarcerated on marijuana-related charges every year. Over 40,000 people suffer in prison because of cannabis-related convictions at this very moment. Through this film, we hope to help audiences truly understand the gravity of injustice on the lives of people adversely impacted by The War on Drugs and advance the dialogue surrounding racial and social justice to help change our nation’s drug laws.”

The subject of the film, Michael Thompson, is the longest serving non-violent offender in Michigan history. In 1994, he was arrested for selling three pounds of cannabis to a close friend turned police informant. He was sentenced to 42 to 60 years and remained in prison after Michigan legalized the recreational use and sale of cannabis.

“The Sentence of Michael Thompson” follows Michael’s daughter Rashawnda and his lawyer Kim during the fight for clemency. It examines the harm the War on Drugs has caused on marginalized communities and explores paths forward as national cannabis legalization gets closer to becoming a reality. The filmmaking team includes Kyle Thrash, Haley Elizabeth Anderson, Ian Ross, Logan Triplett and Matt Schaff, who’s work have all been shown at SXSW, Sundance, Tribeca and other notable national and international film festivals. Released on Juneteenth 2021, the film’s trailer earned the Silver Clio Cannabis Award for Film & Video creative excellence.

SXSW Screenings:

Mississippi’s medical cannabis legislation was going to become law with or without Republican Gov. Tate Reeves’ signature, but the executive decided to ink his name to a bill that he fought most of the way. 

Reeves had until Feb. 2 to sign, veto or do nothing and let the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act become law without his signature. Although, a gubernatorial veto would have only delayed the inevitable—the state Senate and House passed the legislation with roughly 90% of lawmakers in support between the two bodies. 

Rather than risk another one of his vetoes from being overridden by the Republican-controlled Legislature, Reeves put pen to paper on Wednesday—456 days after Mississippi voters approved a medical cannabis legalization initiative in the 2020 election (which later was overturned by the state’s Supreme Court).

Mississippi is now the 37th state to legalize a medical cannabis program without strict restrictions. Flower will be capped at 30% THC while concentrated products will be capped at 60% THC under the new law.

Jax James, the state policies manager for advocacy group NORML, called the new law a significant step forward for Mississippi’s patient community.

“Marijuana access is long overdue for Mississippi’s patients,” James said in a news release. “The overwhelming majority of voters decided in favor of this policy change over a year ago, and for the past 14 months the will of the people has been denied.”

Port Washington, N.Y., Feb. 2, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE - The Hawthorne Gardening Company, a subsidiary of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, today announced that the Hawthorne Social Justice Fund has committed to a multi-year sponsorship of the John R. Lewis Social Justice Fellows program within the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Inc.

The Hawthorne Social Justice Fund, part of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation, is providing $600,000 over two years to support four John R. Lewis Social Justice Fellows to focus on research related to cannabis policy and social justice reforms and propose solutions to Congress. It is the largest single grant award to date of the Hawthorne Social Justice Fund, created in 2021 to support nonprofits devoted to social justice. Additionally, these are the first John R. Lewis fellows dedicated to cannabis issues.

“We’re delighted to partner with the Hawthorne Social Justice Fund in support of the John R. Lewis Social Justice Fellowship as we cultivate and equip early-career policy professionals and create a pipeline of young Black leaders,” said Paul Dumars, co-interim president and CEO, CFO and COO of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.

Hawthorne Gardening has sought to use its influence and resources to help shape criminal justice reform related to cannabis prohibition and create a more equitable post-prohibition cannabis industry. Since the establishment of the Hawthorne Social Justice Fund with $2.5 million, more than half has been given to worthy nonprofits around the country.

“There is no doubt that cannabis laws have led to systemic racial and social inequities, and we are grateful to be able to join with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation in finding ways to address this critical issue," said Chris Hagedorn, division president of Hawthorne Gardening Company and executive vice president of Scotts Miracle-Gro. “We’re also proud to be affiliated with a program named for John Lewis, whose lifelong commitment to social justice continues to inspire millions of Americans. It is our hope the four John Lewis fellows will inform the debate related to cannabis reform and work directly with policy makers in establishing a framework for impactful and positive change in Black communities.”

Fellows funded by The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation’s Hawthorne Social Justice Fund must demonstrate a commitment to creating and implementing public policy to improve living conditions for underserved and underrepresented people. Candidates must have at least five years of policy development, community activism or grassroots organizing in a leadership position, or, preferably, a graduate or professional degree completed prior to the fellowship start date. The fellows will work in Congress and as researchers in the Center for Policy Analysis and Research to analyze cannabis policy and social justice issues at large and criminal justice reform, in particular, through the lens of education, economic opportunity, incarceration, courts and law enforcement. Examples include reforms such as decriminalization, expungement, sentencing and incarceration; hurdles federal law presents for the emerging regulation of cannabis by states; and black wealth creation and solutions for supporting licensed ownership and successful operation of businesses in the emerging cannabis industry.

A Tennessee lawmaker has proposed a constitutional amendment to legalize cannabis for medical purposes.

If passed, House Joint Resolution 742, filed by Rep. Jason Powell, would allow Tennesseans to access medical cannabis for approved medical conditions, such as cancer, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis, according to an ABC 24 report.

The proposal would levy a 4% sales tax on medical cannabis, the news outlet reported, with a portion of the revenue earmarked to support health care for military veterans.

The National Football League (NFL) announced Feb. 1 that it has chosen the recipients of $1 million in funding meant to advance research on the impact of cannabis and CBD on pain management.

The funding has been awarded to two teams of medical researchers at the University of California San Diego and the University of Regina for studies that will investigate the effects of cannabinoids on pain management and neuroprotection from concussion.

RELATED: NFL, Players Association Provide $1 Million for Cannabinoid Research on Pain Management

The NFL initially issued a request for research proposals in June and received 106 total submissions. The NFL Research and Innovation Committee used the National Institutes of Health (NIH) format for scoring the proposals and selected 10 finalists, who gave oral presentations and provided written materials to the committee.

The University of California San Diego study, titled “Effects of Cannabinoids on Pain and Recovery from Sports-Related Injuries in Elite Athletes: A Randomized Clinical Trial,” will be led by Drs. Thomas Marcotte and Mark Wallace. The clinical trial aims to assess the therapeutic efficacy and adverse effects of THC, CBD and combined THC/CBD compared to placebo for the relief of post-competition soft-tissue injury pain in elite athletes.

The University of Mississippi has long been a federally approved cannabis cultivator, providing cannabis and cannabinoids to researchers whose projects are greenlit by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

Now, armed with that experience and inspired by Mississippi’s recent efforts to legalize medical cannabis, the university’s School of Pharmacy is launching the National Center for Cannabis Research and Education (NCCRE), which will conduct scientific research, data analysis, education and training on the health effects of cannabis.

“In the past, we were fairly restricted because it was a federal program, very restricted to doing what they contracted with us to do,” Larry Walker, Ph.D., the center’s interim director, told Cannabis Business Times. “Over the years, we’ve generated a number of other research projects and we felt like it was maybe time to begin something separate from our NIDA-funded project that could do some research and education that might benefit the state.”

As state-level cannabis programs continue to gain momentum across the country, Walker and his team felt that other states could also benefit from the cannabis research the university would conduct and use it to help build their regulatory structures.

“Our interest would be from the scientific and health perspective, just to give them whatever information they might need to make a decision when they’re setting policy,” Walker said. “Many times, … different state programs are having to do it with relatively little background knowledge on the science side. … So, we just want to be able to provide them seminars, white papers, things that might help them in this.”