Industry News
DEA Says It’ll Get Around to Approving Marijuana Cultivator Applications… Eventually: The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is again claiming that it is actively reviewing applications for bulk marijuana manufacturers to supply cannabis for research purposes, even though it has so far approved a grand total of zero more than two years after launching a program aimed at expanding the number of legal growers. Earlier this year, the agency announced that it was increasing its quota for marijuana production from about 1,000 pounds in 2018 to more than 5,400 pounds in 2019. But the number of federally sanctioned cultivators has remained at one—the same University of Mississippi facility that has maintained a monopoly on legal cannabis growing for half a century—in spite of the fact that the DEA pledged to approve additional manufacturer applications back in 2016. Marijuana Moment
Where Presidential Contender Elizabeth Warren Stands on Marijuana: Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) is widely known as an advocate for consumer protections and Wall Street regulation, she’s also developed a reputation as a champion for modernizing marijuana laws. That wasn’t always the case, as the senator was previously somewhat dismissive of cannabis reform attitudes, and declined to endorse her home state of Massachusetts’s legalization ballot measure ahead of Election Day 2016—but her position quickly evolved as public opinion on the issue shifted demonstrably in favor of reform, particularly among Democratic primary voters. Marijuana Moment
The government of Canada is Now Officially Warning Canadians to Buy Legal Marijuana with Cash to Protect their Personal Information: The Privacy Commissioner of Canada released a “guidance document” today explaining why he feels it best that Canadians use cash when purchasing marijuana, even at legal and licensed dispensaries. The guideline also advises Canadians to provide as little personal information as possible when making purchases of marijuana. Because cannabis is an illegal substance in most other countries, the personal information of Canadians who are making legal purchases within Canada is very “sensitive,” according to the guide. 420intel.ca
Massachusetts Bill Planned to Prevent Firing of Workers Who Consume Pot at Home: Massachusetts State Senator Jason Lewis plans to introduce legislation next month that would prevent workers from losing their jobs solely for consuming marijuana on their own time. Lewis, who opposed legalization, drafted the measure after hearing about Bernadette Coughlin, an occasional marijuana consumer who was fired from Sodexo after breaking her wrist at work and having to take a drug test. Boston Globe
Oregon Bill Proposes Interstate Cannabis Export: Oregon is reviewing legislation to allow legal marijuana exports to other states in 2019. If it passes, it could potentially speed up the end of federal prohibition or trigger a Department of Justice crackdown. Marijuana Moment
Illinois Marijuana Legalization Debate Shifts from ‘When’ to ‘How’ Proposed plans for the legalization of recreational marijuana use in Illinois have shifted from “when” to “how. Democratic Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker campaigned on the legalization issue and its corresponding tax revenue of as much as $1 billion a year. And Democratic Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is on board. Two key Democratic lawmakers, Sen. Heather Steans and Rep. Kelly Cassidy, have been meeting with interest groups ahead of the legislative session that begins in January. Both have worked on the issue for years. The Steans-Cassidy plan would allow Illinois residents to purchase and possess 30 grams of marijuana for recreational use. Non-residents would be allowed 15 grams. Associated Press
Nevada Generated $31.72 Million in Marijuana Tax Revenue in the First Four Months of the Fiscal Year: which is more than 45 % of the total projected for the entire fiscal year ending June 30, 2019. In a statement Monday, the Nevada Department of Taxation reported year-to-date sales of nearly $198 million. Clark County, which includes Las Vegas and Mesquite, accounts 80 percent of those marijuana revenues, and Washoe County’s share is close to 14 percent, the agency said. Fox News
First Study to Track EU Cannabis Products Finds Increased Price and Potency: A new study released on Dec. 28th in the journal Addiction, by researchers from the University of Bath and King’s College London, has tracked the changes to both resin and herbal cannabis in the EU market for the first time. Some of the key findings of the study were that resin potency increased from 8.14 percent THC in 2006 to 17.22 percent in 2016. The study concluded that this increase was due to the use of new resin production techniques developed in Europe and neighboring markets. The study also noted that EU herbal cannabis also increased in potency from 5.00 percent THC to over 10 percent THC in in the same time frame. In addition to the increased potency the market saw an increase in price for both products. The growth op
Thailand Becomes Latest Asian Country to Legalize Cannabis: As the New York Times reports, Thailand’s military government unanimously approved medical marijuana use, which would make it the first country to legalize cannabis use in any form in Southeast Asia. In order to become law, King Maha Vajiralongkorn will need to give his seal of approval as well. It should be noted that earlier this year, similarly conservative South Korea also legalized medical marijuana and other CBD products, though in that case the drug it will be strictly regulated and dispensed only in special government-run facilities. In Malaysia, a country where drug offenses have long accounted for the largest number of executions, the death penalty has now been abolished and the medicinal value of marijuana is being considered by the government. forbes
Israeli Lawmakers Approve Law to Export Medical Cannabis: Israel’s parliament, has finally approved a law that will allow the export of medical cannabis, enabling Israel to become actively involved in the industry globally. The new law could pave the way for cannabis to become as important to Israel’s economy as technology. However, there is a sticking point: the law still requires approval from the country’s cabinet ministers and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. forbes
Study: THC in Cannabis Linked to Genetic Mutations in Sperm: For a study published today in the journal Epigenetics, scientists at Duke University compared the sperm of two groups of rats: those who had been given tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, and those who had not. Then they compared the sperm of 24 human men who smoked marijuana weekly versus a control group who used marijuana no more than 10 times in their life and not at all in the past half-year. In both cases — rats and humans — marijuana changed how genes work in sperm cells. In both rats and humans, the cannabis affected many different genes involved in two different pathways. (Think of pathways as another set of instructions, this time for regulating various bodily functions.) One is important for organs to reach full size, and one plays a role in cancer and suppressing tumors. The Verge
Federal Marijuana Prosecutions Are Dropping in Era of Legalization, Chief Justice Reports: As more state marijuana legalization laws come online, federal cannabis prosecutions are dropping, according to an end-of-year report released 12/31/18 by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. “Drug crime defendants, who accounted for 28 percent of total filings, grew two percent, although defendants accused of crimes associated with marijuana decreased 19 percent,” Roberts wrote.States that approved legalization in 2016 began to implement parts of their laws during the Fiscal Year 2018 period Roberts’s report covers. Marijuana moment
Legal Medical Marijuana Sales in Ohio Could Start in Days: While the first legal sale of medical marijuana didn’t happen in 2018 as Ohio’s law allowed, officials say the slow-to-develop program is ready to deliver.“There will be product available really, really soon,” Mark Hamlin, a senior policy advisor at the Ohio Department of Commerce, said recently. “We know the initial product will be very small.” “It will be limited as well, and it will be plant material only as we wait for processors to come online.” It took longer than officials expected for four major aspects of the program to become established and meet state approvals. Cultivators, testing labs, dispensaries – as well as doctors and patients – all require certain certifications. Only plant material for vaping will be available at first because no processors have been approved to begin making products like edibles, oils and tinctures. Smoking medical marijuana is forbidden by the law approved in 2016. At least three cultivators have marijuana grown and dried for market.55 dispensaries have provisional licenses, according to the Ohio Department of Commerce. Dayton Daily News
Facebook Removes Local Retailers’ Pages as CBD Oil Gains Federal Approval: The new year looked like it would be a good one for CBD retailers after inclusion in the 2018 Farm Bill. But some local businesses have logged on to find out their Facebook pages have been shut down. A media representative for the company told FOX4 she’d look into the matter. FoxNews
Pennsylvania to let State Schools Team with More Than One Medical Cannabis Firm: Pennsylvania regulators are opening up applications for more medical marijuana companies to partner with the eight state medical schools to research the health effects of cannabis. Moving forward, state medical schools will be allowed to team with more than one MMJ company to conduct research. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Pennsylvania health department widened its net to find suitable MMJ firms for the program after all eight applicants were rejected earlier this month for incomplete or mistake-laden applications. MJBizDaily
If New York OKs Recreational Marijuana, Unions May Become Big Business Issue: A union official told the New York Post that labor hopes to unionize many thousands of workers” if the state legalizes recreational cannabis – a move that could affect firms trying to break into the market. The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union represents a few hundred workers in New York’s medical marijuana program. The most recent version of the bill for legalization in neighboring New Jersey required unionized labor. Labor Unions are increasingly becoming a part of the marijuana landscape, with unionization already happening in markets such as California, Minnesota, Washington state and Canada. MJ Biz Daily
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