MjLink Cannabis Business News and Press
In a long-awaited announcement, Colombia authorized exports of dried cannabis flower for medical purposes. For businesses in the country, it’s a move that increases the growth potential of the nascent cannabis industry.
Colombia had approved a regulatory framework in July 2016 governing the production, distribution, sale and export of seeds—as well as products like creams and other derivatives based on cannabis—but had prohibited the export of dried cannabis flower, fearing that such a move would allow diversion of legal cannabis products into the illicit marketplace.
The new decree, 811 issued July 23, modifies an earlier law that regulated the commercialization of medical cannabis, Justice Minister Wilson Ruiz said.
The new decree also allows manufacturers to produce goods such as oils, extracts, textiles or food containing “non-psychoactive cannabis”—so long as they are limited to biomass containing less than 1% of THC. (Colombia does not make distinctions between “cannabis” and “hemp,” as in other countries, but rather uses the “psychoactive” nomenclature at the 1% THC content threshold.).
Colombia President Ivan Duque signed a decree ending "the ban on the export of dried flower" in an event organized at a facility owned by Clever Leaves, one of the 18 multinationals that grows medicinal cannabis in Colombia.
"Colombia starts to play big, and with this decree we are putting ourselves at the forefront in terms of regulatory competitiveness, at least in Latin America and the Caribbean," he said, noting that the country is no longer only working in a pharmaceutical market. “We are opening the space to do much more in cosmetics ... [including] food and beverages and even textiles,” the president said.
A pair of Mississippi lawmakers are hoping to restore the will of their constituents through drafting medical cannabis legislation, which they plan to release next week. If all goes according to plan, a special session could ensue by mid-August.
Mississippians were originally poised to gain access to the benefits of a medical cannabis program after two-thirds of voters passed Initiative 65 in the November 2020 election. The citizen-led ballot measure prevailed over Alternative 65A, a competing measure put forth by the Mississippi Legislature.
Industry advocacy leaders said Alternative 65A was a cynical effort by lawmakers to misdirect voters, and, if they actually wanted to put a medical cannabis program in place, they would have done it legislatively.
“Just like we saw in the 2018 victory in Utah, Mississippi voters have proven that medical marijuana legalization is politically viable in even the most conservative states in the country,” Marijuana Policy Project Executive Director Steve Hawkins told Cannabis Business Times after the 2020 election. “This victory is especially significant considering voters were able to see past the Legislature’s attempt to derail Amendment 65 by proposing a confusing and unnecessary alternative initiative of their own.”
While Mississippi voters prevailed by majority on election night, passage of Initiative 65 was short-lived.
On May 14, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled that the voice of its people was not enough to influence public policy. Six of nine justices favored striking down Initiative 65 because of a signature gathering technicality stemming from the state’s outdated initiative process that put a five-district requirement mathematically at odds with the political structure of the state’s electorate following the 2000 Census, when Mississippi dropped to four congressional districts.
Columbus, OH – PRESS RELEASE – Today, the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol is formally launching its effort to legalize adult-use cannabis by submitting summary language of an initiated statute to the Ohio Attorney General’s office.
“We are proposing to regulate marijuana for adult use, just like we do for alcohol. Our proposal fixes a broken system while ensuring local control, keeping marijuana out of the hands of children, and benefiting everyone,” said spokesman Tom Haren.
For consumers, the proposed law:
Legalizes and regulates the cultivation, manufacture, testing and sale of marijuana and marijuana products to adults aged 21 and up. Legalizes home grow for adults aged 21 or older with a limit of 6 plants per person and 12 plants per person.Haren believes everyone should support the robust regulatory and taxation system. While regular state and local sales taxes will also apply, included is a 10% cannabis tax rate on adult-use sales that would be allocated as follows:
36% of the tax will support social equity and jobs programs - if passed, it is estimated this could generate $150 million or more annually for social equity and jobs programs in Ohio.36% to provide funding for communities who host adult-use cannabis dispensaries - if passed, it is estimated this could generate $150 million or more annually for the communities who have adult-use dispensaries. 25% to fund education and treatment for individuals with addiction issues - if passed, this statute could generate $104 million or more annually to research and treat substance abuse in Ohio.3% to the Division of Cannabis Control to fund the regulatory and administrative costs of overseeing the adult use cannabis industry.“Ohioans want this,” continued Haren. “They see marijuana legalization as inevitable. They want our leaders to seize the opportunity and take control of our future.”
NEW YORK,July 27, 2021 – PRESS RELEASE – CleverLeaves Holdings Inc., a leading multinational operator and licensedproducer of pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoids, and Biopharmaceutical Research Company(BRC), a specialty pharmaceutical company that holds federal licenses forimporting, analyzing and manufacturing controlled substances in the U.S., announceda joint partnership with the intent to study the DNA sequence variation ofthree Clever Leaves’ cannabis cultivars as part of their Project Change Livescampaign. The University of California, Davis, through an accepted researchsponsorship from BRC, will lead the extraction and analysis of DNA to elucidategenetic variants taken from various genetic lines of Cannabis sativa.
Project ChangeLives is a U.S.-based initiative sponsored by Clever Leaves, whereby the companyhas pledged to contribute up to $25,000,000 retail value of medical cannabisproducts to any eligible U.S. organization to help advance scientific researchinto the potential medical benefits of cannabinoids. By sponsoring ProjectChange Lives, Clever Leaves is offering to provide a historic amount ofpharmaceutical-grade cannabis to leading research institutions in one of themost advanced pharmaceutical markets in the world.
UC Davis willbe the first major research institution to collaborate in the investigation ofClever Leaves’ Colombian and Portuguese, pharmaceutical-grade cannabis as partof Project Change Lives.
Clever Leaveswill provide three of its cultivars to BRC for analysis at its facilities.Researchers from UC Davis will extract DNA for sequencing and analysis from thecannabis samples at the BRC facilities. The UC Davis scientists will also testnew approaches to extract RNA from dried material. If successful, researcherswill analyze the data to quantify global gene expression and will use availablepipelines to determine differential gene expression between the three linessampled. These data will provide foundational information to initiate newcrosses and a breeding pipeline for the future to ensure the genetic variationof Cannabis sativacan be utilized to provide novel and unique medicinal cannabis for newpharmaceuticals.
Moreover,analysis of the completed data will reveal the correlation between specificgenotypes of cannabis and the biochemical phenotypes for cannabinoids andterpenes. Upon completion of the study, UC Davis intends to provide a reportthat provides insight into the genetic diversity of the lines and thefeasibility of RNA extraction and gene expression from dried Cannabis sativa material.These findings will be made widely available for the benefit of the medical andscientific community—a result that meets one of the key goals of Project ChangeLives.
“We arehonored to collaborate with the UC Davis’ Plant Science department,” CleverLeaves CEO Kyle Detwiler said. “UC Davis consistently ranks as one of the topplant sciences programs in the world and shares our commitment to applying adeeper scientific rigor to cannabis research in order to further ourunderstanding behind the potentially life-saving applications of cannabinoidmedicine. We are truly excited that UC Davis has become the first U.S. researchinstitution to align with Project Change Lives, and we look forward to theexpansion of the initiative.”
The explosive, unregulated growth of delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is coming with a dangerous consequence: Poison control centers across the country are reporting a rise in calls from those who have ingested the cannabinoid.
At least four states have issued public warnings regarding the cannabinoid, according to local news reports: Michigan, West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina.
So far this year, as of July, the North Carolina Poison Control Center reported 157 cases related to delta-8, according to the Winston-Salem Journal. Virginia is reporting "dozens" of calls this year.
The rise in calls can be attributed to a number of factors, from the market's lack of standards to delta-8's accessibility to minors.
But perhaps the most concerning cause for an increase in delta-8 poison center calls is due to mislabeling--in some cases, consumers hoping to buy these products may be purchasing unregulated, illegal cannabis without knowing.
"This is part and parcel for what happens when you have an unregulated market," says Jonathan Miller, general counsel for U.S. Hemp Roundtable.
A bill to legalize medical cannabis in North Carolina has cleared its second Senate committee.
The Senate Finance Committee passed the legislation July 21, according to AP News.
The committee reviewed fees and revenues collected under the bill, and included amendments that would charge cannabis patients for ID cards, as well as require the state’s 10 licensed cannabis businesses to obtain licenses and send a portion of their monthly revenues to the state, the news outlet reported.
Another amendment stipulated that North Carolina’s medical cannabis program would be self-supporting and not require other state revenues to operate, according to AP News.
The legislation would allow patients with “debilitating medical conditions,” including cancer, epilepsy and HIV, to access cannabis products, and would allow cannabis businesses, licensed through a newly created state commission, to open up to four dispensaries.
Arkansas True Grass is reviving its efforts to gather enough signatures to place an adult-use legalization measure on the state’s 2022 ballot, according to a 4029 TV News report.
The group previously tried to get the issue before voters in 2020, but fell short on signatures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The organization’s proposed constitutional amendment would charge the Arkansas Agriculture Department with regulating the legal adult-use marketplace, 4029 TV News reported, and would clear all prior cannabis-related convictions in the state. The proposal would also allow residents to grow up to 12 cannabis plants at home, according to the news outlet.
Arkansas True Grass has until July 22 to gather enough signatures to qualify its initiative for the 2022 ballot.
KELOWNA,British Columbia, July 26, 2021 – PRESS RELEASE – Allied Corp., an international medical companyfocused on creating and providing health solutions to address today’s medicalmental health issues, is pleased to commend the recent announcement made by theColombian authorities allowing for the export of dried cannabis flower fromColombia to countries where it is legal to do so.
On July23, 2021, Colombia President Ivan Duque Marquez signed a decree lifting aprohibition on exporting dried cannabis flower. The directive also allows forthe expansion of sales of cannabis-based medicines and streamlines regulatoryprocedures in Colombia. While only a few Colombian companies have been able toexport cannabis derivatives, such as cannabidiol (CBD) distillate and isolate,up until now, the export of dried flower from Colombia has been prohibited.
"Thismeans Colombia can enter to play a big role in the international market,"Duque said after signing the decree. “Latin American cannabis exports could beworth $6 billion.”
Alliedcontinues to produce to European Pharmacopeia quality assurance standards. Thiswill position Allied flower to be sold into countries where it is legal to doso.
“Wehave been anticipating this decree. With this announcement, Allied is excitedto showcase our flower in those countries where it is legal to do so,” AlliedCEO Calum Hughes said. “The care and attention that we believe our production teamputs into the flower yields a premium product with the smell, taste andaesthetics that are all appealing to the flower consumer. We believe that basedupon our industry leading genetics and experienced production team that Alliedwill flourish in this new market segment. In our view, the flower market isdifferent that the extract market in that the quality, appearance, smell andtaste win customer loyalty. With flower, it has been our observation that it isvery hard to hide any impurities with regards to taste, smell and aestheticquality. We are proud to bring to market the Colombian flower that Allied hasproduced.”
]]>The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission doled out six licenses July 24 to companies who will be able to produce and sell low-THC medical cannabis oil (containing a maximum of 5% THC) to the state’s registered patients.
Sixty-nine companies applied for the licenses, which state law caps at six, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Trulieve GA Inc., an affiliate of Florida-based Trulieve Cannabis Corp., and Botanical Sciences LLC, a company located in Glennville, won licenses to grow up to 100,000 square feet of medical cannabis, while FFD GA Holdings, TheraTrue Georgia LLC, Natures GA LLC and Treevana Remedy Inc. secured licenses to cultivate up to 50,000 square feet.
The companies will have one year to begin operations, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported, and each licensee can open up to five dispensaries.
In 2019, Georgia established a regulated system for the production, processing and sale of medical cannabis oil, which patients had been legally able to possess since 2015, although they had no legal way to purchase it in the state.
Colombian legislative update now allows for the sale and export of raw cannabis materials, namely dried flower, to international marketsNew regulations position Colombia’s cultivators as leaders to supply the global cannabis market; dried cannabis flower continues to account for an estimated 50% of demand in major international markets, including U.S., Germany and AustraliaNew regulations allow for the manufacturing, sale and export of ingestible cannabinoid products in Colombia, increasing near-term revenue potential for Flora’s Kasa Wholefoods divisionFlora capitalizes on law change, signing a supply agreement with an international distributor based in South Africa to provide raw and finished medical cannabis productsUpdate allows for the promotion and advertising of cannabis brands and products in Colombia, increasing access to the growing Colombian cannabis market
TORONTO, July 26, 2021 – PRESS RELEASE – Flora Growth Corp., a leading all-outdoor cultivator and manufacturer of global cannabis products and brands, is pleased to announce that following an extensive consultation process, Colombia President Ivan Duque Marquez has accepted and signed into effect the revisions related to the existing Colombian cannabis laws. The reformed legislation is aimed at improving access to cannabis products for Colombians and positions Colombia as the leader to supply the global cannabis market.
Colombian Cannabis Cultivation
Located near the equator, select regions of Colombia have the ideal climate for the cultivation of cannabis 365 days a year. The country also boasts one of the world’s largest cut-flower industries, resulting in a labor force with substantial agricultural experience that can produce a high-quality cannabis product at low-cost. This combination of geographic factors and legislative updates positions Colombia as a major player in the international cannabis market due to its low-cost structure.
Flora’s Colombian cultivation facility, Cosechemos, has maximized this cultivation potential by achieving a production cost below $0.06 per gram (or roughly $27 per pound) of dried flower. This represents a 60% lower production cost than its closest competitor. With more than 12.5 hours of natural sunlight, natural water springs onsite and 247-plus acres of licensed all-outdoor organic cultivation, Flora Growth is well-positioned to benefit from this legislative update across a number of verticals.
Legislative Update Signifies Increased Revenue Potential
EDMONTON, AB, July 26, 2021 /CNW/ - PRESS RELEASE - Aurora Cannabis Inc., a Canadian cannabis company, announced today the appointment of Theresa Firestone to the company's Board of Directors, effective today. This is a newly created directorship that expands the Board to nine members, seven of whom are independent.
Firestone joins the Board following a distinguished career as a senior healthcare executive with leadership positions in Canada, Europe and Asia. An expert in strategic planning, operations and new business development, Firestone has served in various sectors such as retail, healthcare, pharmaceuticals and government. Her experience includes over 20 years of international P&L management, 15 years in senior roles at Pfizer Inc., over ten years at the Ontario Ministry of Health and seven years in retail and health and wellness, including Shoppers Drug Mart where she oversaw the design and launch of the company's Medical Cannabis business. In addition, Firestone has more than 20 years of public and private board experience including with Orion Biotechnology, Merus Labs International and several not-for-profit organizations.
Ronald Funk, Chairman of Aurora Cannabis, stated, "We are delighted to welcome Theresa to our Board of Directors. She brings to us extensive expertise in healthcare management and pharmaceuticals, global business restructuring, new business development and a proven ability to lead and manage change. Her background and well-defined skillset will be invaluable to us as we execute our strategic growth plans while managing costs more effectively. We look forward to benefitting from her many contributions to Aurora."
Firestone holds a Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of Guelph and completed the Executive Leadership Program at Harvard Business School. Accolades include induction into the Canadian Healthcare Marketing Hall of Fame, honored as one of 12 Outstanding Canadian Women by the Weizman Institute and awarded the prestigious Queen's Golden Jubilee medal.
BILLERICA, Mass., July 19, 2021 – PRESS RELEASE – Agrify Corporation, a developer of highly advanced and proprietary precision hardware and software cultivation solutions for the indoor agricultural marketplace, announced the opening of Agrify University, a brand new 3,500-square-foot, state-of-the-art indoor vertical farming facility featuring Agrify’s latest technology and advanced cultivation methods. We believe this new immersive, hands-on project-based learning experience will empower Agrify customers and next-generation growers with the knowledge and education to successfully cultivate cannabis with efficiency at scale by leveraging the power of Agrify’s vertical farming units (VFUs) and the Agrify Insights software solution.
Located in Billerica, Mass., Agrify University, led by David Kessler, Agrify’s Chief Science Officer, and a team of industry experts, horticulturists and scientists, will provide participants with in-classroom, on-site and on-demand learning options. The immersive, multisensory curriculum will enable customers and growers to expand their knowledge of how to apply novel scientific research, interpret cultivation data and leverage Agrify’s technology to improve their indoor cannabis cultivation practices.
“The cultivation methods used by many operators have not evolved as quickly as the industry itself, and we see an opportunity to use the power of data and cutting-edge techniques to dramatically improve the quality and yields from indoor cultivation,” Kessler said. “Agrify University utilizes our vast cannabis research data sets and technological innovation to provide a curriculum that we believe will support the long-term growth of our industry. We’re proud to add this valuable resource to our comprehensive Agrify ecosystem, and we look forward to welcoming our first cohorts.”
Agrify University classes are available now to all customers. For more information on how to apply and on available program resources, please contact Agrify at [email protected].
]]>LAS VEGAS, NV JULY 22, 2021 – Cannabis Conference, produced by parent company GIE Media Inc. and industry-leading Cannabis Business Times, Cannabis Dispensary, and Hemp Grower magazines, announces today Sherbinskis’ Founder and Chief Creative Officer Mario Guzman as the keynote speaker on Day 1 of its annual event, to take place Aug. 24-26, 2021, at Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino.
In a Fireside Chat led by Cannabis Conference Digital Editor Eric Sandy, Mario will share his dynamic cannabis story—from his humble beginnings as an entrepreneur working from his garage to becoming a world-famous tastemaker and curator of high-quality genetics. He will discuss lessons learned along the way, from scaling his business in California to finding multi-state and retail partners, as well as recognizing the importance of diversity and inclusion in his business model. Mario will also share emerging trends in cannabis genetics, medical research, ‘seed-to-scale’ cultivation and much more.
The keynote will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 24 from 2:10 p.m. – 3:10 p.m. PT.
Mario has been a key player in the medical cannabis movement for more than 20 years, breeding and cultivating internationally renowned genetics like Pink Panties, Sunset Sherbert and the Gelato line. Mario, who recently joined the Board of Directors for the Minority Cannabis Business Association, says his desire to serve stems from his motivation to ensure that the next generation of minority cannabis business professionals have the assistance and guidance from other minorities that he wasn’t fortunate enough to have.
“It’s exciting to participate in an event that’s curated for us—people in plant-touching operations. As cultivators and retailers of cannabis, we uniquely understand the labor of love it is to grow this plant, and how important it is to work through industry challenges with the utmost integrity and the consumer top of mind,” Guzman said. “I’m looking forward to sharing stories from my own journey these past two decades, as well as connecting with others pushing the industry forward and becoming vehicles for change for communities of color.”
“Mario has the respect of his peers in the industry and has achieved such strong brand recognition—something every plant-touching cannabis business strives for. We are thrilled to have him as such a big part of the Cannabis Conference,” said Cannabis Conference Editorial Director Noelle Skodzinski. “He is a trailblazer who has not only persisted but thrived over two turbulent decades in the cannabis industry, and long-time cannabis businesses as well as newcomers to the industry have much to learn from his experiences and successes.”
Cannabis cultivation in New York may be delayed for another growing season, as Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state Senate leaders have yet to establish an Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) and Cannabis Control Board (CCB).
However, New York state Sen. Jeremy A. Cooney introduced legislation July 20 to establish an "adult-use cultivator provisional license for cannabis growers," essentially speeding up the growing process.
RELATED: Issuance of Adult-Use Cannabis Licenses May Be Stalled in New York
According to a press release, the bill would permit farmers to plant, harvest and sell cannabis to retailers in New York until the OCM is fully operational. The measure also establishes the provisional infrastructure to allow growers to plant seeds by the 2022 growing season to prevent the economic benefits of cannabis legalization from being delayed another year, Cooney said.
"We passed adult-use recreational marijuana with the promise of investing in communities most negatively impacted by the failed war on drugs," he said. "This bill allows us to start fulfilling that promise by creating a supply chain of products for retailers in this new economy."
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July 1, 2021, marked four years since Nevada launched its first adult-use cannabis sales, and the market has certainly seen its fair share of rapid growth and regulatory changes during that time, not to mention the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.
From July 2017 to June 2018, the state saw $529,851,245 in taxable medical and adult-use cannabis sales, a figure that has steadily increased to $719,216,651 during the current fiscal year, which includes sales data from July 2020 to March 2021, according to the Nevada Department of Taxation.
Flexibility is the name of the game for cannabis operators looking to cash in on this rapidly growing market, according to Layke Martin, executive director of the Nevada Dispensary Association (NDA).
“I think this industry is ever-changing, and our owners know that and are prepared for that,” Martin told Cannabis Business Times and Cannabis Dispensary. “They’re flexible and ready to pivot.”
RELATED: A Snapshot of Nevada’s Cannabis Retail Market: Q&A with the Nevada Dispensary Association
A new lawsuit in Utah is challenging the state’s 2019 medical cannabis cultivation licensing process.
JLPR LLC, one of the unsuccessful applicants for one of the state’s eight grower licenses, alleges in a July 19 filing that multistate operators had an unfair advantage and that state officials coached certain applicants on how to secure licenses, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.
The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) awarded eight cultivation licenses in 2019 in a process that the lawsuit says was marred with corruption as regulators allowed personal connections to influence the licensing process.
JLPR says that while only Utah-based companies were originally eligible for cultivation licenses, UDAF made a last-minute rule change that allowed out-of-state operators to apply for the licenses, and the lawsuit alleges that the out-of-state applicants knew about the impending rule change ahead of time, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. The lawsuit points to the fact that four of the eight licenses went to multistate operators as proof.
JLPR also notes in its complaint that former UDAF Deputy Commissioner Scott Ericson left his position shortly before the application deadline and began working as a consultant for Ohio-based Standard Wellness, which ultimately secured one of the cultivation licenses, The Salt Lake Tribune reported.
Portland, OR -- PRESS RELEASE -- At a special commission meeting on July 19, 2021, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) approved temporary rules allowing the agency to work with the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) to begin field testing of hemp fields across Oregon; these tests are to determine if the grows are legitimate or illegal. The OLCC rules follow yesterday’s signature by Oregon Governor Kate Brown of House Bill 3000, which also establishes standards to prevent minors from purchasing intoxicating products derived from hemp.
The OLCC temporary rules establish a limit on the level of THC (the intoxicating ingredient in marijuana) that can be in a hemp-derived product. In addition, it creates methods for testing hemp in the field to distinguish between true hemp and marijuana.
This week, starting in southern Oregon, OLCC and ODA will begin to inspect registered hemp grow sites equipped with THC field testing units. “Our objective through the remainder of the summer and into the fall is to make sure that every field gets these tests done,” said OLCC Executive Director Steve Marks.
There are four main components to H.B. 3000:
Regulating cannabis intoxicantsCurbing illegal production of cannabisState program compliance with the 2018 Farm BillEstablishing a task force to address the regulation and marketing of growing cannabis in OregonUnder the new law, sales of adult-use cannabis items to minors are immediately prohibited. Previously a form of THC, Delta-8-THC, could be produced from hemp and used to make products with higher potency levels than marijuana. However, Delta-8-THC was being sold outside Oregon’s regulated market and could be found at neighborhood convenience stores, where children could buy it. In January of 2022, the OLCC, ODA and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) will set new potency and concentration limits for THC and other cannabis intoxicants in hemp products intended for sale to adults.
Market demand across the cannabis industry has generally followed a straightforward path: After legalization, consumers look for flower, then edibles and vape products, followed by more focused interest in concentrates. It’s that last and most varied segment that’s seeing tremendous growth recently.
Within the concentrates category, solventless concentrates are growing rapidly.
“What we're seeing with solventless is that as markets mature, their consumer bases are starting to look for higher quality products and different product experiences,” PurePressure Director of Marketing Eric Vlosky says. “A lot of people end up landing on solventless as they get more educated about what goes into their cannabis. You're seeing it happen very quickly in mature markets, and then other markets are following suit.”
Based on January-to-January growth, from 2020 to 2021, BDS Analytics predicts that 2021 solventless sales could hit $62.5 million in California.
In Oregon, another more mature market, it’s the same story. Solventless sales raced skyward from $7.4 million in 2019 to $17.8 million in 2020 to an anticipated $30.6 million in 2021.
To some degree, the story of cannabis in the U.S. is still one of mature markets signaling consumer trends that will follow in other parts of the country. As California and Colorado go, so goes the rest of the U.S., often enough. That’s the case when it comes to genetics, new products (THC-infused beverages, let’s say) and broader market categories like solventless concentrates. The momentum is here.
Once you’re in the solventless game, a galaxy of options reveals itself. Solventless extraction equipment can create dry sift, bubble hash and live rosin, each of which can be further honed into a number of popular products on the market.
“Live hash rosin is where most brands want to get to at the very beginning,” PurePressure Director of Marketing Eric Vlosky says. ”That's really where they want to start with solventless, unless you have a brand that is really focused on edibles or topicals and you don't do dabbable concentrates. For the vast majority of brands that we talk to and consult, it really comes down to: You want to make a high-quality hash rosin, which is made with fresh-frozen cannabis, and bring that to the market because that's going to be your highest margin product.”
Solventless concentrates are a rapidly growing category within the broader cannabis market. On dispensary shelves from more mature markets like California and Oregon to newer medical cannabis markets like Oklahoma and New York, customers and patients will find a variety of solventless products.
“A lot of the more advanced solventless brands that really put their name on the map with hash rosin early on started moving toward cartridges because they knew that it would enable them to expand their brand into a much bigger audience, because the number of people out there that will buy a vape cartridge and take it with them somewhere is quite a bit bigger than in the market that will take dabs, necessarily,” Vlosky says.
As consumer sophistication develops, the market broadens itself considerably. Because solventless extraction retains the chemical nuances of the original cannabis plant material, it’s an intriguing option for customers seeking something more focused to their tastes. And, increasingly, because retail staffers tend to be themselves sophisticated consumers, the educational engagement around these products on the sales floor is eager and in-depth.
That’s what makes the hash rosin vape cart such a prized end goal: Outside of flower itself, the vape cart is one of the most ubiquitous SKUs on the market. A solventless approach to that category is something that connoisseur customers want.
Transporting cannabis across state lines is not legal, even between two states that have legal markets and share a border. But that’s not the concern of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents in New York.
Cannabis is not something that security officers are looking for when they screen or pat down passengers, or search their luggage for contraband, at Albany International and surrounding upstate airports, Times Union reported. Rather, cannabis is something TSA agents sometimes find while conducting their security duties.
Bart R. Johnson, a former New York State Police colonel who is the federal security director at the Department of Homeland Security-TSA for 15 regional airports, including Albany International, told the daily newspaper, “We don’t seize it. We just look for threats—explosives, knives, guns; we don’t look for illegally possessed narcotics. When we notice something suspicious on a pat-down or something like that, and then we discover that it’s marijuana … so we’re looking to see if it’s a threat. … If it turns out to be something that appears to be an illegal substance, we notify law enforcement.”
Earlier this year, the New York Legislature legalized adult-use cannabis through passage of the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act, which Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed into law March 31. The act allows adults 21 years and older to possess up 3 ounces of cannabis and 24 grams of cannabis concentrate.
Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple, whose department patrols the airports in its jurisdiction, told Union Times that his deputies are no longer issuing tickets or making arrests if TSA officials call them to a security checkpoint and they find a traveler in possession of a state-legal amount of cannabis.
While local law enforcement is no longer seizing cannabis, nor punishing or taking travelers into custody for state-legal possession amounts, TSA agents are still required by federal law to notify the appropriate agency when they discovery what appears to be a federally illegal substance, according to the daily newspaper.
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