MjLink Cannabis Business News and Press

How is a cop supposed to tell the difference between a consumer using a legal product, and an illegal consumer using or transporting a product from the illicit market?

Law enforcement wants to take marijuana-intoxicated drivers off the road. But roadside testing devices are still unavailable.

They want to help stop the illicit cannabis market. But one person’s ounce of weed looks like another’s.

They have their drug dogs at the ready. But drug dogs hit on hemp and marijuana, legal or not, and are being phased out or overruled.

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The sale of recreational marijuana in Illinois generated $7.3 million in cannabis tax revenue last month, the Illinois Department of Revenue announced Monday.

The Revenue Department also reported that an additional $3.1 million was generated in retail sales tax revenue.

Dispensaries across the state sold nearly $40 million in recreational pot last month.

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Associated Press ~ 

Builds on Regional Cannabis Regulation and Vaping Initiatives Previously Announced With Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Massachusetts Governor Cuomo: “I’m going to visit Massachusetts, Illinois and California or Colorado, which are three states that have legalized it and have different versions, and bring my team to meet with them, discuss what they’ve done, Read the full article...

Michigan’s Lake Superior State University (LSSU) launched Cannabis Chemistry and Cannabis Business majors in the fall of 2019, and on Feb. 21, the university held a ribbon cutting for the opening of a new cannabis research center, which will provide hands-on training for students in the Cannabis Chemistry program, according to an MLive.com report.

The 2,600-square-foot Cannabis Center of Excellence will help train undergraduate students through “hands-on, innovative experience using state-of-the-art instrumentation and industry protocols,” the news outlet reported.

LSSU students can earn an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in the chemistry program, and a bachelor’s degree in the business program, according to MLive.com, and graduates from the chemistry program are expected to be in high demand for safety labs and quality assurance positions in the cannabis industry and beyond.

LSSU is not the only Michigan university with cannabis programs, MLive.com reported—Northern Michigan University launched a Medicinal Plant Chemistry program in 2017, and the University of Michigan in 2019 launched PharmSci 420, a course that covers cannabis biology, chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, epidemiology and pharmacokinetics.

The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission has announced plans to hire additional staff in order to cut the average wait time for cannabis business licenses from 121 days to 60 days, according to a MassLive.com report.

The agency unveiled its plan at a Joint Ways and Means Committee budget hearing Feb. 24 to address one of the most common complaints from prospective cannabis entrepreneurs, the news outlet reported.

The commission plans to achieve its goal in its 2021 fiscal year and will take a total fiscal 2021 operations budget of $12.4 million, a $2.8-million increase from last year, MassLive.com reported. The total budget request is $16.3 million, which includes regulation of the medical cannabis program and a statewide public awareness campaign, according to the news outlet.

The commission launched in 2017 and to date, has licensed 246 cannabis businesses, MassLive.com reported.

Tax revenue from Illinois adult-use cannabis sales surpassed $10 million in January, according to a Chicago Tribune report.

Illinois collects sales tax, as well as an additional cannabis tax, on adult-use sales, and January sales brought in more than $3.1 million in sales tax revenue and more than $7.3 million in cannabis tax revenue, the news outlet reported.

At this rate, the state is on track to top Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s budget estimates, which projected that the state would collect $28 million in cannabis tax revenue before June 30, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Adult-use cannabis sales reached nearly $40 million in January, after legal sales launched Jan. 1.

RELATED: Cannabis Industry, Chicago Alderman Respond to End of Prohibition in Illinois

Montpelier, VT — PRESS RELEASE — On Monday, Vermont’s House Appropriations Committee voted in favor (6-5) of a bill that would legalize, regulate and tax cannabis sales for adults 21 and older. S. 54 previously passed the House Government Operations Committee in a unanimous vote, the House Ways and Means Committee in an 8-3 vote, and the Senate in a 23-5 vote.

The bill is now expected to proceed to the House floor for a vote later this week.

Laws regulating and taxing cannabis for adult use have been enacted in 10 states. Vermont and Washington, D.C. are the only two U.S. jurisdictions where cannabis is legal but not regulated for adult use.

A new poll conducted by Public Policy Polling and commissioned by the Marijuana Policy Project found that an overwhelming 76% of Vermont residents support allowing adults 21 and over to purchase cannabis from regulated, tax-paying small businesses. The complete results are available here.

Matt Simon, New England political director at the Marijuana Policy Project, said, “Vermonters should be proud of their elected officials for heeding the will of voters and advancing this important legislation. Cannabis regulation is necessary in order to protect consumers and address important public health and safety issues facing the state. It’s time for the House to join the Senate in recognizing that prohibition has failed, and that Vermonters are overwhelmingly ready for a more sensible approach to cannabis."

Americans may want to rethink the stereotype of the pot-loving teen: More U.S. seniors are using the drug now than ever before.

The proportion of folks 65 and older who use pot stands at 4.2%, up from 2.4% in 2015, according to figures from the U.S. National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

"The change from 2.4 up to 4.2, that's a 75% increase," said senior researcher Joseph Palamar, an associate professor of population health at New York University Langone Medical Center. "It didn't double, but 75% is a pretty big increase, I think."

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Dennis Thompson ~ HealthDay.com ~ 

The Bahamas National Commission on Marijuana expects to complete a crucial public survey on whether cannabis should be legalized by mid-April.

The commission was split on whether adult-use cannabis should be legalized. It agreed to put the matter to a public poll in a bid to break the deadlock.

Commissioners must first decide on whether to use the Department of Statistics or turn to a private company to conduct the survey.

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Martin Green ~ Grizzle.com ~ 

A new report from Statistics Canada adds to a growing body of evidence that marijuana legalization dissuades adolescent use.

It would be wrong to state that marijuana legalization causes a drop in teenage use, due to a lack of rigorous scientific studies on the matter.

A coloration is developing, however. According to a new report from Statistics Canada, teenage use of cannabis has declined following adult-use legalization in the country.

In ending prohibition, the Canadian government wanted to ensure they were creating a system where cannabis couldn’t easily end up in youth’s hands. 

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MARYLAND:  U.S. retail sales of cannabis and CBD products reached $14 billion in 2019, and are on pace to increase 18% per year to $33 billion in 2024, according to data published in Cannabis and CBD: U.S. Retail Market Trends and Opportunities, the latest report by leading market research firm Packaged Facts. Cannabis products can be segmented by delivery format—i.e., the Read the full article...

NEW YORK: Cannabis use continues to increase in popularity among adults 65 years of age and older in the United States, according to a new study from NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Published today in JAMA Internal Medicine, researchers estimate that cannabis use in adults age 65 and older increased from 2.4 percent to 4.2 percent in the United Read the full article...

What do Willie Nelson and Snoop Dogg have in common? Their own cannabis strains! See how Artists’ favorite weed strains connect with their music. By Kate Patterson Over the years, Denver, Colorado, has gained the reputation for being the biggest ‘reefer town’ in the U.S. The “Mile High City” certainly has had its share of Read the full article...

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced at a press event Feb. 20 that he plans to tour legal cannabis states as part of his effort to legalize adult-use cannabis in the Empire State this year, according to a Times Union report.

Cuomo plans to visit Massachusetts, Illinois and either California or Colorado to find out which aspects of their legal cannabis program have worked and which have not, as well as their lessons learned, the news outlet reported.

In this announcement, Cuomo said social equity is one of his main goals for legalization in New York, and he and his team plan to discuss with other states how aspects of social equity and law enforcement have worked for them, Times Union reported.

Last year’s legislative effort to legalize adult-use cannabis in New York stalled in the Senate, but the state did manage to pass a decriminalization bill during last year’s legislative session.

Last fall, Cuomo hosted a Regional Cannabis Regulation and Vaping Summit with the governors of New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania to explore a unified approach to cannabis legalization and regulation.

Four new companies have been approved to cultivate cannabis for research purposes in Pennsylvania in partnership with the state’s medical schools, according to a TribLive.com report.

Laurel Harvest Labs LLC partnered with Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University in Philadelphia; CannTech PA, LLC partnered with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) in Erie; Organic Remedies, Inc., partnered with Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Philadelphia; and Curaleaf PA, LLC, partnered with The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, the news outlet reported.

Under state law, eight companies—called “clinical registrants”—can grow, process and dispense cannabis for research institutions. The four new licensees bring the total number of clinical registrants to seven, TribLive.com reported.

Pennsylvania launched its medical cannabis research program last summer with the announcement that three partnerships had been approved, including partnerships between Drexel University College of Medicine and Agronomed Biologics LLC, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University and MLH Explorations LLC, and Penn State College of Medicine and PA Options for Wellness.

The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is now the only approved medical school in the program without a clinical registrant partner, TribLive.com reported. Applications for the final clinical registrant will open Feb. 27, according to the news outlet.

New Mexico will honor medical cannabis cards from other states starting July 1 under a reciprocity rule signed by Health Secretary Kathyleen Kunkel, according to a Las Cruces Sun News report.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a law Feb. 20 that reinstated a residency requirement for patients enrolled in New Mexico’s medical cannabis program, the news outlet reported.

S.B. 139 aimed to reverse a change in a state law that was enacted last year and that allowed qualifying non-residents to enroll in the program. The legislation passed the state legislature Feb. 18 when it earned approval from the New Mexico House.

At least 613 non-residents have enrolled in New Mexico’s medical cannabis program since the residency requirement was eliminated last year, Las Cruces Sun News reported. These patients will not be able to renew their New Mexico medical cannabis ID cards under the new law, but will be able to access medical cannabis in the state starting July 1 under the reciprocity rule using valid medical cannabis ID cards issued by their home states.

As Cannabis Conference 2020 gets closer and closer, we’re continuing to unveil much of our educational schedule, a three-day roster of expert speakers delivering the industry’s most relevant perspectives and research for plant-touching businesses. This is our fourth year of planning Cannabis Conference, and this is our most ambitious show yet.

Thanks to the Cannabis Conference advisory board, we’ve been connected with the leading voices in the cannabis industry, the industrial hemp industry, the plant and cannabinoid science community and the extraction industry. We’re bringing them to Las Vegas this April to give you a leg-up on the competition in your market. You will return home to your business a more informed leader after Cannabis Conference 2020.

With that, here are some of the recent additions to the Cannabis Conference 2020 lineup.

Latest speakers—Cultivation

Darren Brisebois, President, OGEN by Bloom Cultivation

 

Mackenzie Ditch Wilcox, Counsel - License Applications, Cresco Labs

This week, the New Mexico Legislature approved legislation that would prohibit non-residents from enrolling in the state’s medical cannabis program, sending the bill to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. Elsewhere, medical cannabis legalization bills advanced in Alabama and Kentucky, while a bill to legalize the possession and limited cultivation of cannabis for adults cleared the New Hampshire House and advanced to the Senate for consideration.

Here, we’ve rounded up the 10 headlines you need to know before this week is over.

New Mexico: The New Mexico Senate has approved S.B.139, legislation that would prohibit non-residents from enrolling in the state’s medical cannabis program. Supporters of the bill hope to reverse a change in a state law that was enacted last year and that allowed qualified non-residents to obtain medical cannabis ID cards in the state. Read moreThe New Mexico House also approved S.B.139 this week, sending the legislation to the governor. If the legislation is signed into law, the more than 600 out-of-state residents who have enrolled in New Mexico’s medical cannabis program will be able to keep their ID cards until they expire, but then will not be able to renew them. Read moreIowa: The Iowa Medical Cannabidiol Board held its first meeting of the year, where it rejected adding panic disorder and ADHD as new qualifying conditions to the state’s medical cannabis program and upheld its recommendations on placing limits on the amount of THC that patients can purchase. While current state law maintains a 3% THC limit for medical cannabis products, the board has recommended a change that allows patients to access 4.5 grams of THC over a 90-day period. Read moreWashington: The House approved a bill this week that aims to address racial inequity within the state’s cannabis industry. H.B. 2870 would allow the state to issue additional cannabis retail licenses for social equity purposes, prioritizing applicants representing communities disproportionately impacted by prohibition. Read moreVermont: A new poll conducted by Public Policy Polling and commissioned by the Marijuana Policy Project found that 76% of Vermont residents support allowing adults 21 and over to purchase cannabis from regulated, tax-paying small businesses. These results are significant as they come days before the Vermont House is expected to vote on S. 54, a bill that would legalize, regulate and tax cannabis sales in the state. Read morePennsylvania: Rep. Jake Wheatley has introduced new legislation to legalize adult-use cannabis in the state. House Bill 2050 would establish a licensing process for cannabis growers, processors and dispensaries, and aims to lower the initial application and licensing fees in an effort to make the market more accessible for businesses. Read moreUtah: The Senate Health and Human Services Committee approved legislation Feb. 18 that would make several changes to the state’s medical cannabis program before its March 1 launch. S.B.121, sponsored by Sen. Evan Vickers, contains several amendments to the Utah Medical Cannabis Act, which the legislature approved in December 2018 to make changes to the state’s voter-approved medical cannabis ballot initiative. Read moreAlabama: The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Feb. 19 to pass legislation that would legalize and regulate medical cannabis in the state. The 8-1 vote advances the bill to a full Senate vote. Read moreNew Hampshire: The House of Representatives approved a bill in a 236-112 vote that would legalize the possession and limited cultivation of cannabis for adults 21 and older in New Hampshire—similar to Vermont’s legalization law. H.B. 1648 now heads to the Senate for consideration. Read moreKentucky: The House of Representatives has voted in favor of a bill that would legalize medical cannabis for patients with debilitating medical conditions in the state. This marks the first time a bill to legalize medical cannabis has received a full House vote in Kentucky, and the legislation now proceeds to the Senate for consideration. Read more

Last week, Cannabics Pharmaceuticals announced new pre-clinical findings on the cannabinoids cannabinol (CBN) and cannabichromene (CBC) and their acidic forms, CBNA and CBCA, demonstrating their efficacy against human colon cancer cells.

Necrotic effect of CBN on Colon Cancer: Nuclear (blue) and Necrosis (yellow) dyes were analyzed using fluorescent microscopy. Left: untreated cells. Right: cells treated with CBN.

The new research builds on previous investigations by the U.S.-run company whose Israeli research labs focus on understanding and developing personalized cannabinoid medicine for cancer and the side effects of conventional cancer treatment.

RELATED: CBG and CBC Kill Gastrointestinal Cancer Cells in Preliminary Study

What Is CBN?

This mildly intoxicating cannabinoid is a natural byproduct of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive component of non-hemp cannabis cultivations. It is formed when THC, or its parent cannabinoid cannabigerol (CBG)—notably found in higher concentrations in hemp cultivations—are exposed to oxygen and light.

Similarly, CBNA is the non-intoxicating oxidative byproduct of these cannabinoids still in their acidic forms, THCA and CBGA.

Generally found in minute amounts, CBN content in cannabis flower can increase over time and with improper storage.  However, unlike a bottle of wine soured from exposure to air, cannabinoids don’t go “bad” in the traditional sense; they simply change into new types with their own mechanisms of action and potential for therapeutic effects.

TORONTO and DENVER, Feb. 19, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PRESS RELEASE -- MJardin Group, Inc., a cannabis producer, has announced that one of its indoor cannabis cultivation facilities “GRO”,  located in Dunnville, Ontario, has received its cultivation and processing license from Health Canada. The facility is a joint venture between MJardin Group (75%) and Grand River Organics (25%).

The 11,000-square-foot facility is estimated to produce 1,200 kg of premium flower and 396 kg of trim for a total of 1,596 kg of product per year and is expected to reach full production capacity in Q3 2020. “GRO” houses five compartmentalized flower rooms of equal size. The facility is equipped with optimal HVAC and fertigation systems that will ensure workflow efficiency and consistency in cultivation of product.

“We are pleased to have reached this important milestone and are eager to begin cultivating at this facility,” said Pat Witcher, CEO of MJardin Group. “Our Canadian footprint continues to successfully come online via cultivation and sales of our high THC premium product and we look forward to reaching even more of the market in 2020 with our strategic partners. This is a very exciting time for our group.”

The company has been awarded four cultivation licenses and two sales licenses in the Canadian portfolio and eagerly anticipates the completion of construction and full roll-out of its Canadian assets.