California begins issuing recreational pot licenses

December 16, 2017

In a boost to recreational cannabis market, California issued its first batch of business licenses for the sell and transport of recreational pot. The sales are scheduled to begin from January.

The State will issue 20 temporary licenses in the first phase. “We plan to issue many more before January 1,” Lori Ajax, the state’s top marijuana regulator, said in a statement.

The first temporary license was distributed to Pure CA, which does business as Moxie brand products, a company known for its cannabis extracts.

“I couldn’t be more excited.California has been without regulations for a very long time. So there is going to be a transition period,” said Moxie CEO Jordan Lams, after receiving the license.

The first license for recreational retail sales was awarded to Torrey Holistics in San Diego, who gave credit to his detailed application for helping him get the first license for recreational pot shop. The store had submitted 60-page lease, diagrams and a detailed business plan.

“I think it’s how we conduct our business. We all have a professional background,” he said.

Hall, who opened the shop two years ago, said he sees recreational marijuana taking off like the wine and craft beer industries.

“California has been without regulations for a very long time. So there is going to be a transition period,” he said.

At Hall’s shop, customers go through an electronic security gate manned by a guard. Once inside, the business looks like a stylish pharmacy with wood floors and Christmas decorations.

“The taboo part is slowly going to be removed and this is going to be like any other business,” Hall said.

California approved legalization last year when the voters approved sales of recreational cannabis to adults.

Michigan starts accepting licenses for marijuana business

December 16, 2017

Michigan began accepting medical marijuana license applications from Friday, for setting up of the State’s new, regulated medical marijuana facilities.

People flocked in at the state Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs on Friday morning. The Department also accepted 48-page online application which costs $6,000, which can be paid via credit card or electronic check.

The state will be accepting applications for five categories of medical marijuana licenses - grower, processor, testing facility, secure transporter and dispensary.

Michigan had already approved a law for its growth and use in 2008. So far, the state has 42,406 caregivers and 265,607 patients. However, the law didn’t speak much about the commercial use of marijuana.

In 2016, a tighter and more regulated Medical Marijuana Facilities Act was developed, which set up a broader framework for the licensing and regulation of commercial marijuana use.

The licenses are expected to be rolled out in the first quarter of 2018.

The applicants have two options to fill for obtaining the license - applicants can either turn in their application for per-qualification purposes, which allows the businesses to fill out and submit the application before it has received approval from the local community in which it wants to locate. In such a situation, the state will do a full background check. The other method – the applicants can go for license qualification, which includes all the necessary information for a license, including a location and approval from a community.

The elected officials in many communities are yet to take a call on whether they will allow medical pot business to flourish in their locality.

Michigan is expected to generate $711 million in sales and $21 million in tax revenues for the state. There is no limit on the number of licenses the state can issue.

Teen pot use drops in most states post legalization

December 16, 2017

The teen use cannabis has shown a decreasing trend in most of the states which has legalized it, report suggests. As per data compiled by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the percentage of marijuana use among teens in Colorado is down by three points in 2015-2016 as compared to 2014-2015.

For Colorado, the rate of past-month marijuana use by teens between 12 to 17 years dropped from 11.3 percent in 2014-2015 to 9.08 percent in 2015-2016. The survey had used pooled two-year periods to increase sample sizes and statistical accuracy for state-level data. Colorado was ranked number 1 in teen cannabis use last year.

Colorado now ranks at seventh position nationally, in teen marijuana use. Alaska, Maine, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermontare ranked higher.

The results are contrary to objections raised by people against legalization of cannabis. Similarly, in Washington D.C., there has been a three-point drop in pot use among teens.

The drop in annual teen marijuana use was seen across the USA, but was less significant on other areas besides Colorado and Washington. The two states are the first ones to legalize marijuana. A marginal decline was also observed in Oregon. The data in Alaska, on the other hand, showed a slight increase in cannabis use among teens.

However, the data also shows an increase in the use of pot among young adults between 18 to 25 years and adults above 26 years.

The survey is against the belief that legalizing marijuana would lead to substantial increase in use by the adolescents. However, advocates argue that regulating the market has given teens less access to cannabis.

Medical Marijuana curriculum in Massachusetts!

December 04, 2017

Yes, it's official! The Massachusetts Medical Society has prepared a medical education curriculum on medical marijuana. While the society continues to oppose both medical and recreational marijuana use as a matter of its policy, it could take into account the ground reality, which shows the urgency for many patients who use marijuana.

Medical marijuana became legal in Massachusetts in 2012. The recreational marijuana was approved in 2016. The Medical Society admitted that it has to see how the law can be implement with least injury, toxicity and without causing more damage to mental and physical health of the people.

The medical marijuana curriculum was developed by TheAnswerPage.com, a medical education website. It will teach doctors about dosing of marijuana and drug interactions as well as about the medical, physiological and mental health impacts that marijuana causes.

The course will also teach about the use of medical marijuana to treat specific diseases such as cancer, epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis etc. It also sheds light on how federal law views medical marijuana and its impacts.

Currently, only 210 doctors in Massachusetts have been authorized to recommend marijuana to patients. It clearly shows majority of doctors are not comfortable with it and need more training. The Medical Society may not try to convince the doctors to write recommendations for marijuana, but believes that they need to be educated about the pot.

Michigan: Pro-Marijuana Group claims of getting required support

November 17, 2017

Leaders of a pro-marijuana group, which has been spearheading a campaign to legalize recreational marijuana, have claimed that they have gathered enough signature to put the issue statewide in 2018 ballot. While, 252,523 votes are required to be on the ballot, the group has gathered at least 360,000 signatures.

The Committee to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol , has confirmed the development. The group now needs only about $30,000 to pay off a signature-collection vendor before its leaders can submit truckloads of signed petitions to the Michigan Secretary of State.

They would hold a press conference in Lansing November 20 before submitting the signatures to the state. They want to make it legal for adults 21 and older to be able to use marijuana with safety measures in place.

The group in Michigan was bolstered by the recent surprise success of pro-marijuana initiatives in Detroit, as despite strong opposition from Detroit City Council members and church leaders, voters passed two ballot measures by huge margins to withdraw regulation on city's medical marijuana shops.

The tough ordinance forced closure of shops/dispensaries near parks, churches, schools and day care centers. However, the voters rejected the ordinance, freezing the process of closures. 60% voters give thumbs up to allow more such facilities, while 58% favored easing of zoing rules on the businesses.

Indiana Prosecutors strongly oppose Medical Marijuana Legalization

November 09, 2017

Indiana's county prosecutors have opposed to marijuana legalization stating that the plant’s not medicine.’

In a letter sent to Republican Governor Eric Holcomb last week, the Association of Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys have warned that any type of marijuana legalization would come with grave consequences.

 “Reports abound of efforts to legalize marijuana in the state of Indiana. We respectfully ask the (administration) to formally oppose the legalization of marijuana in any form, for any purpose,” wrote David N. Powell, the association's executive secretary.

“We strongly believe both medicinal and recreational marijuana legalization are wrong for Indiana. We urge you to take a stand against these policies that would cause further harm to communities already suffering from the devastating effects of drug abuse.”

The argument comes after Representative Jim Lucas’s statement that he will “100 percent full-throttle”support the legalization of medical marijuana.

The Prosecuting Attorney’s group have made three points in their plea.

“Marijuana use increases the risk of the abuse of opioids and other controlled substances, it claimed that marijuana is not a medicine and it argued that the legalization of marijuana has had ‘devastating effects’ in other states,” the group has cited.

Though marijuana is considered illegal under the Federal Law, most of the states, have legalized medical marijuana for the treatment of patients who hold a license.

The prosecutors, however, say the legalization could worsen drug crisis, citing those who argue that marijuana can be used as medicine are relying on “half-truths and anecdotal evidence.”

In 2016, Holcomb had signed a law allowing epilepsy patients in Indiana,to use cannabidiol, often referred to as CBD.

Cops seize 97 pounds marijuana while searching for suspect

October 31, 2017

Police have arrested three persons from Crown Heights Apartment in Brooklyn for possessing 97 pounds of marijuana and nearly a million in cash, officials have informed. The accused have been identified as Humphrey Olivo, 36, Yazmin Olivo, 30 and Jose Pichardo, 28.

The cops raided 899 Montgomery StreetTroy and Schenectady avenues, after securing a search warrant of the building. The warrant was issued following a joint operation by the NYPD and Jersey City Police into a drug ring operating out of the building. According to authorities, the officers were assisting the Jersey City police track down a man wanted for arson and terrorist threat charges.

When the police reached the spot, another person answered the door and even invited the cops inside, despite having the drugs in plain sight. After obtaining the search warrant, the police unearthed more marijuana and cash at their home.  However, there is no information on whether the person the cops were looking for, has been found.

The Olivos have been charged with criminal possession of marijuana, criminal sale of marijuana and criminal use of marijuana. Pichardo was charged with criminal possession of marijuana, criminal sale of marijuana and criminal use of drug paraphernalia.

Humphrey and Yazmin Olivo are living at 899 Montgomery Street and Pichardo is a resident of a building on Rivington Street on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

The drugs and $931,000 amount in cash have been seized by the police during the raid which was carried out on Friday.

Police bust marijuana racket at abandoned liquor store

October 31, 2017

Police officials have busted a major marijuana racket at an abandoned liquor store, right across the street from the 11th precinct station in north-east Detroit.

The police found about $127,420 worth of marijuana in a building that used to be Piper Liquor, informed Chief James Craig.

Officers in the 11^th precinct station smelled a strong odor on Sunday, which was unusual in the area. Though they couldn’t figure out where it was coming from, but they recognized it as cannabis, Craig said.

“Today, they just started sniffing around. Through some diligent police work, they were able to identify this location behind us: a closed liquor store. As they (got close to) the liquor store, the odor was very strong. They went and got a search warrant and once they got in, what they found was significant,” said James Craig.

Police searched the building and found ready-to-be harvested 46 marijuana plants, which comes to about 12,742 grams.The plants were approximately seven feet tall.

The officials suspect the operation has likely been going on from six to eight months.

“It’s bold and brazen.We were standing in the parking lot and started smelling it yesterday.But if you kind of think about it, you’ve got the best security, being right across from the police station,” said Cpl. John Siejutt.

The police have found suspects with $10,000 on them while they were executing the warrant, the official informed.

Though the police said they are yet to trace those behind the operation, the investigation is on and there are “a couple of individuals” in custody.

Confusion prevails as California set to legalize recreational pot from January

October 31, 2017

Ahead of January 1, when California is set to legalize recreational marijuana, the State seems unprepared for the move.

With the cities and municipalities yet to chalk out the actual details of recreational marijuana in their jurisdictions, there might be limited options for consumer on legal pot purchase.

“The bulk of folks probably are not going to be ready January 1,”said Cara Martinson of the California State Association of Counties.

The recreational sales of marijuana will merged with medical cannabis market, which will also have much stronger regulation from January. For now, marijuana in California will be treated like alcohol and will be accessible to people above 21 years who can possess up to an ounce of recreational pot and grow up to six marijuana plants at home.

While the State will start rolling out temporary licenses from January, it is yet to release the set of regulations on the plan govern the market, which is estimated to be $7 billion and USA’s largest legal cannabis economy.

However, the people in the pot industry seem to have found out potential conflicts or contradictory plans and raised concerns. 

The state expects licensed industries to work only with others that hold them, but it has raised concerns businesses who are wondering what happens if their supplier decides against joining the legal market.

Moreover, most of the banks have refused business with marijuana industries as cannabis is still considered illegal under Federal Law. This would lead to limited insurance options for the businesses. 

In a similar manner, many cities including Los Angeles and San Francisco are still struggling to release local rules for marijuana shops and growers.

Cleveland City Council votes for medical marijuana zoning legislation

October 31, 2017

The Cleveland City Council, on Monday, voted to adopt the new zoning legislation that will prevent sale of medical marijuana in about 95 percent of the city.

The legislation which was approved 15-1, “allows state-licensed medical marijuana cultivators, processors, retail dispensaries and testing laboratories to operate in certain zones in the city.”

As per the legislation, the location of the marijuana dispensaries will be limited to only cultivation sites, production and refining facilities and research sites. It further has state restrictions, which includes limiting pot dispensary operations within 500 feet close to schools, parks, churches and libraries.

The council members are trying to tightly regulate the businesses without forcing them out from the city out to the suburbs.  

Flushing marijuana dispensaries would lead the city to be cut out of potentially thousands of dollars in tax revenues from the new cannabis industry. It would also deny access to medical pot a few residents who have license for medical marijuana due to lack of transportation. 

“Medical marijuana is happening. If the closest access to this for medicinal use ... is in Independence, for example, I know a lot of my residents won't be able to get there,” said Kerry McCormack, a Council member.

Medical pot was in Ohio legalized on September 8, last year. However, the legislation rules were completed only this summer.

As per the legislation, the municipalities can regulate the processing and sale for medical pot under their jurisdiction. The state of Ohio will allow 24 growers and up to 40 processors to make various marijuana products.

Constellation Brands confirms 9.9 per cent stake in Canopy Growth

October 31, 2017

Constellation Brands, one of the world’s largest alcohol companies, have confirmed that it has acquired a minority stake in Canada-based Canopy Growth Corporation, a leading provider of medical cannabis products.

It will invest $245 million in Canopy Growth in exchange for the 9.9 per cent stake in Smith Falls, an Ontario based company. The transaction is expected to close during the Company’s third fiscal quarter in 2018.

“Canopy Growth has a seasoned leadership team that understands the legal, regulatory and economic landscape for an emerging market that is predicted to become a significant consumer category in the future. Our company’s success is the result of our focus on identifying early stage consumer trends, and this is another step in that direction,” said Rob Sands, Constellation Brands President and Chief Executive Officer.

The investment also entitles Constellation Brands the option to purchase an additional ownership interest in the future. The two companies said they will work together to make cannabis-based drinks for distributions where medical pot products is legal.

“In Constellation we have a strategic ally that will join us as we lead the global cannabis sector into the future,” said Canopy Growth CEO Bruce Linton in a press release.

"We have also strengthened our balance sheet to fund the ambitious expansion efforts we have planned heading into 2018 – a year that will see unprecedented growth in medical and adult-use opportunities."

Canopy Growth Corporation is one of the earliest commercial company in Canada’s legal pot business. The company, which has a market cap of more than C$2 billion, has a diverse collection serving international markets where medicinal cannabis products are legal.

Florida’s Medical Marijuana ID process to incur more delays

October 29, 2017

For medical marijuana patients in Florida, who are already experiencing long delays in receiving their identification cards, might have to wait longer.

The latest roadblock in the process is a protest filed by a rejected company, challenging the hiring process.  Automated Health Systems has challenged the State’s Office of Medical Marijuana Use following its hiring of Veritec Solutions LLC to process medical pot identification cards.

The challenge could mean delay in the whole process of outsourcing identification cards.

“We are very disappointed in the delay that this will put in outsourcing our card program. We will continue to do everything in our power to process card applications as quickly as possible to serve Florida's patients,” Department of Health spokeswoman Mara Gambinieri said.

Christian Bax, executive director of the Office of Medical Marijuana Use, had earlier informed that 20,000 patients have received their cards against the 46,952 who had registered.

Bax told legislators that cards are being processed in an average of 30 days, while patients claim they have to wait for the cards for anything between 35 to 90 days. 

Besides, the State Office of Medical Marijuana Use is also facing the heat for having missed the deadline to award five medical marijuana treatment licenses by October 3.

Florida had revised the laws after voters had passed a constitutional amendment allowing medical marijuana in November last year. The issuance of identification cards to medical marijuana patients were part of the law which was signed by Governor Rick Scott.

As per the law, the patients who suffered from epilepsy, chronic muscle spasms, cancer and terminal conditions were allowed to receive either low-THC cannabis or full strength medical marijuana. An Amendment 2 had added people with HIV and AIDS, glaucoma, post-traumatic stress disorder, ALS, Crohn's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and similar conditions to the list of eligible medical pot patients.

New Jersey issues warning about marijuana-laced candies this Halloween

October 28, 2017

Ahead of the Halloween, New Jersey is sending out warning to parents to keep watch on people slipping marijuana-laced candies to their children. A document published by the state attorney general's office is being shared by law enforcement agencies around New Jersey and beyond.

“There is a significant presence of marijuana candy and other edible forms in New Jersey and nearby states. The presence of these edible forms of marijuana poses a great risk to users, especially to children, who may accidentally receive marijuana candy during Halloween. Adults should check for unusual candy packaging (e.g. homemade packages, such as plastic bags). Currently, there is no information indicating that anyone would intentionally give out marijuana candy,” says the document.

Owing to the possible threat, the Police department has asked the parents to be cautious with the candy packaging.

“Because of the similarities between marijuana candy and brand name candy, it is often difficult to distinguish the difference based on appearance alone. In addition to the packaging, marijuana candy can have an odor similar to that of the marijuana plant making it easier to identify,” the alert reads.

The warning also cites an example of a 10-year-old New York boy who was taken ill after consuming candy infused with cannabis found in his family’s car.

“In May 2017, a 10-year old boy from Ramapo, New York was sent to the emergency room after ingesting a marijuana infused sour gummy candy. The boy experienced symptoms of nervousness and nausea,” the post read. However, the incident had no link with Halloween.

With no evidence of such an act, the advocates battling for legalizing the drug say it could be a mere Halloween scare tactic.

Regular pot users tend to have more sex, reveals Study

October 28, 2017

A medical research on marijuana has revealed that regular marijuana users tend to have more sex than those who refrain from smoking cannabis.

A study conducted by the Stanford University School of Medicine in California, and published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, has revealed that pot users have around 20 per cent more sex than others.

The conclusions were reached by the researchers after a retrospective analysis of data on 50,000 Americans between the age of 25 and 45. The data was compiled from 2002 to 2015 by the National Survey of Family Growth.

The study negates previous studies which had suggested that marijuana use could impair sexual desire or performance.

“Frequent marijuana use doesn’t seem to impair sexual motivation or performance. If anything, it’s associated with increased coital frequency,”said Dr Michael Eisenberg, the study’s senior author and assistant professor of urology at Stanford.

The study was based on how many times the respondents had heterosexual intercourse in the past four weeks and how frequently they have smoked marijuana over the past 12 months.

The study found that women marijuana users had an average of 7.1 times sex in a month, while those who denied using pot had sex around 6 times in a month. For men, marijuana users reported to have sex an average of 6.9 times in a month, compared to 5.6 for non-users.

“In other words, pot users are having about 20 percent more sex than pot abstainers,” said Dr Eisenberg.

However, Dr Eisenberg cautioned that the study should not be misinterpreted as having a causal connection and that more study was required.

“It doesn’t say if you smoke more marijuana, you’ll have more sex,” he said.

Florida couple get 65 pounds weed on Amazon order

October 27, 2017

To the surprise of a couple living in Florida, they received 65 pounds of marijuana in their UPS delivery through Amazon. The couple who had ordered 27 gallon plastic storage bins, were surprised to find marijuana instead.

After receiving the shipment, the couple immediately contacted the Orlando police who seized the delivery and have begun investigation into the incident. As per reports, the shipment was originated at Amazon’s warehouse Deals facility in Massachusetts and was delivered through UPS.

The shipment which was wrapped in boxes and in totes gave a wrong impression to the customers the moment they picked it up. It emitted a strong odor and after uncovering several layers of packing, the woman discovered marijuana from the shipment.

“They were extremely heavy, heavier than you would think from ordering four empty bins,” the anonymous woman reportedly said in an interview.

Even though after repeated complaints and demanding explanations from Amazon, the woman said she had got no response.

“Unable to do anything at this time,” was the reply of the sender via email. The couple also received a $150 gift card certificate from the company.

However, the couple feel the move is not enough and want an apology and an explanation as to how the marijuana shipment was delivered to them.

“There was no concern for a customer's safety. I mean this could have turned into a worst-case scenario,” she said.

As per reports, the couple stayed away from home for several days after receiving the shipment as they feared someone might try to break into their house.