MjLink Cannabis Business News and Press
OREGON: The OLCC has added a “Bulletins” section to its Recreational Marijuana Program website with important information for licensees and marijuana worker permit holders. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission is providing the following information to: recreational marijuana licensees. The bulletin is part of OLCC’s compliance education. It is important that you read it, and understand Read the full article...
CANADA: The regulation of cannabis in Canada has come a long way to where it is today. Since the federal legalization took place, it has proven to be an area that is performing relatively well. However, it’s still a sector that’s highly regulated; in essence, a prospective business owner has to go through stringent processes Read the full article...
Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana pulled off what many state cannabis legalization campaigns struggled with this year – collect the number of valid signatures needed to qualify for a ballot initiative in the middle of a pandemic.
Jared Moffat, who has worked on the campaign for more than a year through his role with the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), knew there would be opposition to the measure. But he said he was shocked when he learned Thursday afternoon that the Nebraska Supreme Court had ruled that the ballot initiative violates the single subject rule as outlined in the state constitution.
After getting the green light from Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen, who certified the initiative in August, and collecting nearly 200,000 signatures – well above the roughly 122,000 valid signatures needed to qualify for the initiative, Nebraskans will not be voting on medical cannabis legalization in November.
Opponents had submitted similar arguments that the ballot language included more than one question, but Evnen disagreed and said the initiative met the legal requirements to go before voters. The state supreme court disagreed, and their decision is the final word.
“This is an outrageous and deeply flawed decision by a group of activist judges,” Matthew Schweich, deputy director of the MPP, said in a written statement. “This ruling means that sick and suffering medical marijuana patients, including veterans, will continue to be criminals in Nebraska when they try to live healthier lives. This ruling tramples on the constitutional rights of over 190,000 Nebraskans who signed the petition and deprives the voters of Nebraska of their opportunity to decide this issue at the ballot box.”
The ballot language, which would have amended the state constitution, would have legalized possession, consumption and the purchase of cannabis for individuals with serious medical conditions if recommended by a licensed physician or nurse practitioner, and granted access by also allowing private entities to cultivate, process, produce, test and sell medical cannabis products, among other details.
Anavii Market, a premier online retailer of verified CBD oil, today announced the unveiling of a much-anticipated brand of Martha Stewart CBD. The new collection consists of six unique hemp products, including CBD tinctures, gummies and softgels, all developed and curated by Martha Stewart herself in partnership with Canopy Growth Corporation. This is the first-ever Read the full article...
To quote Kenneth Morrow in his piece “What to do with Surplus Cannabis” from Cannabis Business Times' August 2020 issue:
Health Canada, the federal agency that oversees the country’s cannabis producers, reported that as of April 2020, licensed producers (LPs) held in excess of 600,000 kilograms of unpackaged dried cannabis and an additional 46,413 kilograms of packaged flower. (This is not counting what is being held in stock by distributors and retailers) … I spoke about this surplus with multiple Canadian sources (who asked to remain anonymous), all of whom explained to me that the overstock cannabis held in storage by Canadian LPs is over a year old. They expressed that most of it would be considered undesirable to potential customers … If I were hoarding old cannabis, I could investigate the possibilities of profitably extracting or isolating alternative cannabinoids and research all potential alternatives for various applications. Otherwise they will end up disposing of it or turning it into compost because customers in the current adult-use cannabis market will not buy it, nor will it pass testing standards.
Cannabis producers in Canada and the U.S. alike may have read these proposals for the use of surplus cannabis and thought they sounded extremely appealing. With cannabis inventory still far outmatching (legal) demand across the continent, utilizing surplus stock before its shelf life is up would be ideal. And now, the move represents an even more important tactic in a time when many are facing financial constraints and calls for increased revenues.
But if manufacturers are to invest in the development of products that tap into this inventory, will consumers respond? Are these products, in fact, appealing and in demand? The short answer is: they appear to be, insofar as consumers know they exist.
According to Brightfield Group’s 2020 Canadian consumer survey data, minor cannabinoid awareness is on the rise among cannabis consumers, despite few products being available or advertised.
4.8% of consumers were aware of CBN in Q2, versus 4.3% in Q1. Among consumers with insomnia, figures went from 5.1% to 5.6% from Q1 to Q2.CBG awareness was 3.8% in Q2, versus 3.5% in Q1. Awareness is greater than double that among medical users.Furthermore, consumers have indicated a keen interest in a variety of minor cannabinoids, with 81% of those aware of each cannabinoid indicating they would be likely or very likely to purchase CBD and THC versus 67% for CBN and CBG, were it to be available. There is disproportionately strong interest among regular users in Canada—particularly experienced medical patients.
Maine’s Office of Marijuana Policy (OMP) today issued the state’s first six adult-use cannabis business licenses, paving the way for retail sales to begin in October. The businesses include three cultivation facilities, two retail storefronts and one testing facility.
As the Portland Press-Herald reported, the two retailers are Theory Wellness of Maine in South Portland, just outside the state’s largest city, and Sweet Relief Shop in Northport, farther up the coast.
Room 5, Gele and Grass Roots Marijuana each received a cultivation license. Nelson Analytics received the state’s first testing license.
More licenses are expected to be issued prior to Oct. 9.
“Maine will have the unique distinction of being the only state to launch its adult use marijuana program during a pandemic,” OMP Director Erik Gundersen said in a public statement. “Public health and safety are themes that have been part of the Office of Marijuana Policy’s mission statement since day one. Accordingly, our highest priority remains the wellbeing of this new industry’s employees and consumers.”
Now that many of us have settled into our work-from-home routines, we’re also discovering new ways to take advantage of virtual experiences, such as industry conferences and events. Rather than catching a flight, booking a hotel and blocking off multiple days to hobnob with fellow attendees face-to-face—nowadays, all you need are an internet connection, web camera and email log-in to create meaningful industry connections and expand your market knowledge.
Cannabis Conference Virtual (taking place Sept. 15, 22, and 29) is making this possible by bringing together hundreds of industry professionals for the highest quality networking and education the cannabis market has to offer, all from the safety of your home or office.
It's a little different than attending a conference in-person, of course, so the Cannabis Conference Virtual staff put together a few tips to help you make the most of your experience at events like this.
You can read the full list here.
Here's one, for example:
1. CHECK OUT THE EDUCATION SCHEDULE EARLY
Cannabis Conference Virtual’s education program includes most of the line-up from our originally scheduled in-person event. That means you’ll have your pick from dozens of sessions, with 65+ experts at the top of their game ready to share their insights with you. Just like an in-person event, you’ll want to peruse the program ahead of time to make sure you’re attending the sessions most relevant to your professional development. Our intuitive platform also includes a personalized schedule, so you can add your most desired sessions and networking breakouts in a streamlined calendar.
September 8, 2020, Frederick, MD – PRESS RELEASE – A2LA is pleased to announce the accreditation of Viridis Laboratories to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 for cannabis testing. Viridis, based in Lansing, Mich., is A2LA’s first cannabis testing laboratory accredited in the state of Michigan.
“Our company is incredibly proud of achieving this milestone of ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation through A2LA’s rigorous assessment program,” said Greg Michaud, Viridis Laboratories’ CEO. “The choice to partner with A2LA was a simple one due to their international reputation as a global leader in accreditation programs. Additionally, their partnership and certification program through the American’s for Safe Access strengthens our accreditation further and helps solidify Viridis as Michigan’s premier cannabis testing laboratory. “
“We congratulate Viridis Laboratories on achieving accreditation through A2LA”, said Chris Gunning, A2LA General Manager. “A2LA is excited to see the continued growth of our cannabis program into another state. This addition further promotes the value that accreditation adds in ensuring quality products in this emerging industry. We look forward to our continued relationship with Viridis Laboratories in serving their accreditation needs.”
Achieving ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation by A2LA is the pinnacle in third-party laboratory accreditation, as it confirms that laboratories have management, quality, and technical systems in place to ensure accurate and reliable analyses, as well as proper administrative processes to ensure that all aspects related to the sample, the analysis, and the reporting are standardized, measured, and monitored.
About A2LA
A2LA is a non-profit, non-governmental, third-party accreditation body, offering internationally recognized accreditation services to testing and calibration laboratories, inspection bodies, sole-sampling organizations, proficiency testing providers, reference material producers and product certifier.
About Viridis Laboratories
Our company’s roots start from decades of experience gained within the Michigan State Police forensic science laboratories. Our 75+ years of analytical knowhow ensures daily, that the highest quality and most ethical testing is being achieved, resulting in bringing maximum confidence to the consumer. We consider ourselves fortunate in keeping true to our mission of bringing health and safety to Michigan’s citizens.
EDMONTON, AB, Sept. 8, 2020 /CNW/ - PRESS RELEASE - Aurora Cannabis today announced that Miguel Martin has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Martin, a 25-year consumer packaged goods industry veteran who joined Aurora in July 2020 as chief commercial officer, was previously CEO of Reliva.
Michael Singer, who has served as Interim CEO since February 2020, has stepped down from his temporary role and will remain executive chairman.
This week, the Nebraska Supreme Court heard arguments to determine whether a ballot initiative to legalize medical cannabis can go before voters in November after opponents challenged the secretary of state’s decision to approve the measure for the ballot. Elsewhere, in Nevada, a judge ruled that the state can proceed with its cannabis licensing process after a two-year legal battle between the state and companies that were denied dispensary licenses in December 2018.
Here, we’ve rounded up the 10 headlines you need to know before this week is over.
Oklahoma: Supporters of an adult-use cannabis legalization initiative have withdrawn their petition, saying that gathering the 177,958 signatures required to get the issue before voters is unlikely due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The coronavirus crisis delayed the petition process for State Question 807, and by the time it advanced to the signature-gathering phase, it was already too late to qualify the measure for the 2020 ballot. Read moreVirginia: The Virginia Senate has approved legislation that would prohibit police stops based on cannabis odor in an effort to combat racial disparities in cannabis-related arrests. Senate Bill 5029 would outlaw search and seizures based on the small of cannabis alone, and now heads to the House of Delegates for consideration. Read moreMassachusetts: The Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) has voted to expand cannabis delivery in the state. Among the approved changes to the delivery license model, the CCC unanimously voted to divide the delivery licenses into two categories, which sets the stage for a courier-style license and a separate delivery license that would allow for the wholesaling and warehousing of product. Read moreMaine: Portland has received 38 applications for 20 available cannabis dispensary licenses, and after a recent court ruling declared the city’s scoring matrix unconstitutional, it is unclear how officials will decide who ultimately gets the licenses. Applicants had an Aug. 31 deadline to submit applications to operate medical and adult-use dispensaries within the city; four applicants are seeking medical cannabis retail licenses, while the rest would operate in the adult-use market, which is expected to launch Oct. 9. Read moreCalifornia: Since mid-August, wildfires have burned through more than 1 million acres of California land, another echo of a recurring environmental catastrophe in a state that more than 5,000 licensed cannabis growers call home. We spoke with Kaela Peterson, who’s family runs Sweet Creek Farm in the hills above Santa Rosa, about her experience and her tips for growers hoping to guard against the oppressive force of wildfire. Read moreA new lawsuit filed in federal court alleges that Los Angeles created new issues and inequities when it amended its cannabis regulations as part of a separate legal settlement earlier this summer. Three companies that share the same founder and that applied for cannabis dispensary licenses in the city—ARMLA One Inc., ARMLA Two Inc. and Gompers SocEq, Inc—filed the lawsuit Aug. 31, claiming that changes to the original rules favored certain social equity applicants over others. Read moreMississippi: California-based FM3 Research recently conducted a survey in Mississippi that revealed that 81% of the state’s voters support medical cannabis legalization. Mississippi voters will have the chance to vote on two competing medical cannabis measures on the November ballot after Mississippians for Compassionate Care succeeded in qualifying Initiative 65 for the ballot this summer and state legislators have introduced a competing measure, Alternative 65A. Read moreNebraska: The Nebraska Supreme Court heard arguments this week to determine whether a ballot initiative to legalize medical cannabis can go before voters this November. Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen approved the measure for the state’s ballot Aug. 28, but that same day, Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner challenged the measure, arguing that it violates state rules that mandate that ballot initiatives must focus on a single question. Read moreNevada: Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez ruled this week that Nevada can proceed with its cannabis licensing process after a two-year battle between the state and companies that were denied dispensary licenses in December 2018. The decision will allow some new retailers to open and some applications to be reviewed again by state officials, but some companies will still be denied licenses, and Gonzalez said she expects her ruling to be appealed to the Nevada Supreme Court. Read moreIllinois: Regulators announced this week that the long-delayed next round of cannabis dispensary licenses will be awarded later this month, when 21 social equity applicants will be included in a lottery to win the 75 licenses. Some of the applicants that qualified for the lottery share the same owners, and the system has drawn some criticism from those who have been denied access to the lottery. Read moreIllinois regulators announced Sept. 3 that the long-delayed next round of cannabis dispensary licenses will be awarded later this month, when 21 social equity applicants will be included in a lottery to win the 75 licenses, according to a Chicago Sun-Times report.
The 21 applicants, chosen from 1,667 total applications submitted, all received perfect scores and all qualify as social equity applicants, the news outlet reported.
Seventeen of the applicants included in the lottery have at least one minority owner, 13 are majority owned by people of color and 16 have at least one female owner, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Roughly two-thirds of the applicants qualified because at least one person listed on the application has lived in an area disproportionately impacted by prohibition for five of the last 10 years, the news outlet reported, and the remaining applicants met other qualifications, such as being majority owned by individuals who have been arrested for or convicted of an expungable cannabis-related offense.
Those awarded licenses will be able to open up to 10 dispensary locations, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Green Thumb Industries (GTI) is one of the world’s largest cannabis companies. In two quarters of 2020, business has already doubled since last year. In May, GTI announced first quarter revenues surpassing $102 million, making them the first U.S.-based firm to reach nine figures in a single quarter.
CEO Ben Kovler, who founded the company in 2014, credits their large numbers and success to a relatively small focus.
“We start with the consumer. The business is built for the American consumer. That’s where we stick, and that’s where we see a ton of momentum,” Kovler said in a phone interview.
The American consumer is certainly responding well in the company’s home state of Illinois, where recreational cannabis brought in $100 million in sales in its first three months. Now, despite a rocky year ending with a massively important election, GTI is ready to expand in both its patient service and contributions to correcting the notorious unfairness of the industry.
Eye on Nevada: Essence Acquisition & Partnership With Cookies
Last summer, Green Thumb announced it had closed on the acquisition of Integral Associates, the parent company behind the Essence cannabis brand. Essence owns eight licenses in the state of Nevada, including the only licensed dispensary on the Las Vegas Strip. As part of the deal, GTI also gained control of Cannabiotix, a 41,000-square-foot cultivation and processing facility.
“We had three stores and are now up to five in Las Vegas. It’s gone really well,” Kovler said of the acquisition. Essence opened two new retail stores during Q2. But GTI’s crown jewel in Vegas is yet to come: In August they announced a partnership with Berner’s high-end Cookies brand that famously claims responsibility for the original Girl Scout Cookies strain.
Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez ruled Sept. 3 that Nevada can proceed with its cannabis licensing process after a two-year battle between the state and companies that were denied dispensary licenses in December 2018, the Las Vegas Sun reported.
The decision will allow some new retailers to open and some applications to be reviewed again by state officials, but some companies will still be denied licenses, the news outlet report.
Gonzalez expects her decision to be appealed to the Nevada Supreme Court, according to the Las Vegas Sun.
The licensing process began in September 2018, when 462 businesses applied for 64 new dispensary licenses. Sixty-one licenses were awarded in December, based on local zoning regulations, bringing the total number of adult-use cannabis retailers statewide to 125, the news outlet reported.
Gonzalez’s ruling does not order a do-over of this licensing process, and winning applicants with plans to reopen their dispensaries are allowed to do so pending background checks on their executive officers, according to the Las Vegas Sun.
The Nebraska Supreme Court heard arguments Sept. 3 to determine whether a ballot initiative to legalize medical cannabis can go before voters this November, according to a Lincoln Journal Star report.
Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen approved the measure for the state’s ballot Aug. 28, after Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana submitted enough signatures in July to place the issue before voters this fall.
That same day, Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner challenged the measure, arguing that it violates state rules that mandate that ballot initiatives must focus on a single question.
Wagner’s attorney, Mark Fahleson, argued during the Sept. 3 hearing that the ballot question is “confusing” and could create “voter doubt,” the Lincoln Journal Star reported.
The initiative’s sponsors argued that the its provisions “share a natural and necessary connection with the measure’s purpose,” which is to provide Nebraskans legal access to medical cannabis for serious medical conditions in cases approved by a doctor or nurse practitioner, according to the news outlet.
A new lawsuit filed in federal court alleges that Los Angeles created new issues and inequities when it amended its cannabis regulations as part of a separate legal settlement earlier this summer, according to Law360.
Three companies that share the same founder and that applied for cannabis dispensary licenses in the city—ARMLA One Inc., ARMLA Two Inc. and Gompers SocEq, Inc—filed the lawsuit Aug. 31, claiming that changes to the original rules favored certain social equity applicants over others. The lawsuit also alleges that the city’s Department of Cannabis Regulation and its executive director, Cat Packer, colluded with certain applicants and awarded them licenses even though they had deficiencies in their application or code violations, according to Law360.
The plaintiffs claim that Packer revoked ARMLA One’s winning application because its dispensary would be located too close to a preschool that was set to open, but the preschool had not yet received a license at the time the application was submitted.
The Social Equity Owners and Workers Association and one of its members filed a separate lawsuit in April, arguing that Los Angeles’ licensing process was “flawed." The plaintiffs asked the court to force the city to vet all the dispensary license applications it received under its controversial first-come, first-served process that was initiated last fall.
As part of a settlement agreement, regulators amended the rules for its licensing process, and the lawsuit was dropped.
Botanacor Offers a New “Dry Weight Potency (USDA)” Test to Allow Hemp Producers to Achieve USDA Regulatory Compliance USDA Will Soon Require Hemp Producers to Test Crops for Total THC Calculated on a Dry Weight Basis COLORADO: Botanacor Laboratories, the widely recognized leader in accredited testing of hemp biomass and hemp-derived CBD products, today announced Read the full article...
California-based FM3 Research recently conducted a survey in Mississippi that revealed that 81% of the state’s voters support medical cannabis legalization, according to a local WLBT report.
The research company conducted telephone surveys with 600 Mississippians likely to vote in the November election, the news outlet reported, and four in five said they support doctors being able to recommend medical cannabis to patients with medical conditions and serious illnesses.
Mississippi voters will have the chance to vote on two competing medical cannabis measures on the November ballot. Mississippians for Compassionate Care succeeded in qualifying Initiative 65 for the ballot this summer, while state legislators have introduced a competing measure, Alternative 65A.
According to FM3 Research’s survey, voters favor Initiative 65, WLBT reported.
CANADA: SpeakEasy Cannabis Club has released a powerful new short film documenting the storied history of the Geen family, the generational farmers who founded the Okanagan based cannabis company. From cherries, apples, ginseng to peaches, and now cannabis, SpeakEasy Founder, Marc Geen, and his family are pioneers of agriculture with more than a century of Read the full article...
CALIFORNIA: The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) today launched a statewide public education and outreach campaign, “This is California Cannabis,” designed to promote the state’s legal cannabis cultivation market and highlight the support and guidance CDFA provides to help cannabis growers secure and maintain their legal cultivation license. “CDFA is committed to the Read the full article...
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the approval of hemp production plans under the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program for Maine, Missouri and the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, bringing the total number of approved plans to 58. USDA continues to receive and review hemp production plans Read the full article...
