CCMA Political greenBrief
Thursday, October 18, 2018
www.cannabismanufacturers.org
Northern California Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) Is Urging The Expansion Of American-Grown Cannabis For Research Purposes
“The biggest issue is probably that 65% to 70% of cities and counties still ban commercial cannabis. We need more licensees, particularly retail and testing labs.”Alex Traverso, Spokesman For The Bureau Of Cannabis Control, On Southern California’s Recreational Market
“I am sure that here in California we would have anything they would possibly need for their research project. I don’t want to suggest this is some big business for our cannabis industry. I suspect it would be a small amount that would be involved. But it’s still galling that we would pass legal California sources and force the university to purchase from Canada.”Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) On The Urging The U.S. To Allow More American-Grown Cannabis
Sonoma Patient Group Seminar, October 26 (Santa Rosa)
Sonoma County’s longest permitted dispensary, is hosting an educational seminar regarding Prop 65 warnings and labeling requirements for the Cannabis industry. This will take place on Friday, October 26, 2018 starting at 10am with a 2-hour seminar followed by lunch and networking opportunities until 2pm, taking place at the Hyatt Regency in Santa Rosa. We are excited for attendees to have the opportunity to meet other licensed cannabis entities and professionals throughout the cannabis industry.
https://spg606.wixsite.com/prop65
Bay Area Congressman Urges More American-Grown Marijuana For Research (CA – Cannabis Research)
The Mercury News (October 17, 2018) Northern California U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman joined a bipartisan group of 12 other legislators in signing a letter sent seeking to allow more American-grown cannabis to be used for research. This comes on the heels of the Drug Enforcement Agency approving the import of cannabis from Canada for research. Since 1968, only one supplier has been approved to provide cannabis for research — the University of Mississippi — and they don’t have the THC and CBD capsules UC San Diego would like to use with its research. The letter goes on to state that U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions himself has said, “I think it would be healthy to have some more competition in the supply.” Yet two years later, the letter notes, no additional manufacturers have been approved.
Southern California Recreational Cannabis Firms Struggle With Product Shortages, Licensing And Black Market (CA – Illicit Market)
Marijuana Business Daily (October 18, 2018) “Growing pains” is an understatement to describe Southern California’s tumultuous recreational marijuana marketplace. New regulations that took effect July 1, product shortages, slow license approvals and a thriving black market are rattling what was already a turbulent sector of the California MJ industry. Southern California adult-use cannabis businesses, for their part, are facing a variety of curveballs and headwinds.
South Lake Tahoe City Council Moves Forward With Revised Cannabis Regulations (CA – Local Ordinances)
Tahoe Daily Tribune (October 17, 2018) At one point it seemed that South Lake Tahoe’s revised cannabis regulations were about to go up in smoke. After a brief recess, attempted lobbying at the dais and another round of debate, City Council landed on a decision. With a pair of 4-1 votes, council on Tuesday agreed to repeal its previous ordinance, which was the subject of a referendum, and move forward with a draft ordinance containing changes born out of a recent stakeholder meeting. Councilor Jason Collin was the lone “no” in both votes. Hopeful cannabis business operators viewed the outcome as a positive step — at least when compared to the alternatives.
Proposed South Lake Tahoe Cannabis Ordinance Adds More Licenses (CA – Local Ordinances)
South Tahoe Now (October 17, 2018) What started off as baby steps to legal cannabis businesses and regulations in South Lake Tahoe has morphed into a run to a proposed cannabis ordinance that could potentially bring 15 new licenses to town. The City Council had three choices during their October 16 meeting after a successful referendum put a halt to the City’s approved cannabis ordinance just days before it went into effect. They could repeal Ordinance 1118 and enact it in one year, send it to the voters without alteration at an election not less than 88 days after the Council order, or create an ordinance with substantial changes to withstand another referendum that could stop it again.
Sonoma County, Calif., Supervisors OK Recreational Cannabis Sales But Limit Marijuana Growing (CA – Local Ordinances)
The Press Democrat (October 16, 2018) Sonoma County supervisors Tuesday voted to allow recreational sales to begin at marijuana dispensaries as early as mid-November and limited most pot-growing farms to properties at least 10 acres or larger. The size requirement eliminates more than 5,100 properties previously eligible for cannabis cultivation, county staff said. This action and other rules for the newly regulated cannabis industry are the latest in a series of amendments to the ordinance governing marijuana cultivation, sales, production and other commercial activities outside city limits. This process began nearly two years ago to establish local regulations for a cannabis industry that previously operated either in the black market or under the state’s loosely defined medical marijuana laws.
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/8847687-181/sonoma-county-supervisors-ok-recreational
Santa Rosa Cannabis Operation Can Proceed Despite Neighborhood Protest (CA – Cannabis Manufacturing)
The Press Democrat (October 17, 2018) Santa Rosa has approved the city’s first cannabis extraction plant proposed next to a neighborhood, a step that came over the protests of nearby homeowners who highlighted the absence of any meaningful residential setback requirements for pot operations in the city’s commercial marijuana regulations. The vocal opposition generated against the project by residents in the Harvest Park neighborhood of southeast Santa Rosa likely foreshadows future disputes as the cannabis industry expands in the city. Under the 5-1 vote by the City Council on Tuesday, NT Ventures, a Hillsborough-based company, now has permission to proceed with developing a manufacturing facility for medicinal and recreational cannabis products at 444 Yolanda Ave. The roughly 3,900-square-foot facility sits on a 2.1-acre site zoned for industrial use and surrounded on three sides by similar parcels. It would be used for cannabis oil extraction, according to staff reports.
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/8850713-181/santa-rosa-cannabis-operation-can
Congressman Issues ‘Blueprint To Legalize Marijuana’ For Democratic House In 2019 (USA – Federal Legalization)
Forbes (October 17, 2018) A key Democratic congressman has a step-by-step plan to enact the end of federal marijuana prohibition in 2019 if his party takes control of the House, and he’s laying it all out in a new memo. “Congress is out of step with the American people and the states on cannabis,” Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) writes in the eight-page document addressed to House Democratic Leadership. “We have an opportunity to correct course if Democrats win big in November. There’s no question: cannabis prohibition will end. Democrats should lead the way.” House Republican leaders have blocked floor votes on dozens of cannabis-related amendments during the current 115th Congress. Not a single marijuana measure has advanced to a vote before the full body in 2017 or 2018.
North American Cannabis Industry Opportunities Balloon As Demand Could Eventually Outpace Supply (USA – Cannabis Market)
PR Newswire (October 18, 2018) An increasing number of Major Corporations are revving up for what should be an inevitable and growing widespread legalization of Cannabis use across North America. The global cannabis industry remains one of the more difficult industries to accurately forecast because its growth is so drastic and explosive that experts are constantly being forced to reevaluate and increase their projections for the space. The overall industry is well on its way to being a consistent multi-billion dollar sector of the economy and this growth is leading to rising levels of investment, both privately and publicly. Leaders in the industry are expanding operations in order to keep up with the rising levels of demand.
The Legal Way Canadian Marijuana Stocks Are Tricking Investors (Canada – Cannabis Investments)
The Motley Fool (October 18, 2018) The wait is over. Following nine decades of prohibition, recreational marijuana is officially legal in Canada, albeit the extent of who can buy, whether the plant can be homegrown, and where product can be purchased really depends on the province. The important fact here is that legalization is expected to usher in billions of dollars of added annual revenue to the industry. This expectation of a surge in sales — Wall Street is looking for approximately $5 billion in added yearly revenue once the industry is up to speed — is what’s behind the more-than-two-year rally in marijuana stocks. Mind you, many of the largest pot stocks have increased in value by 1,000% or more since the beginning of 2016.
https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/10/18/the-legal-way-canadian-marijuana-stocks-are-tricki.aspx
Can Legal Marijuana Save Small Towns? (Canada – Cannabusiness)
Tree Hugger (October 17, 2018) Smiths Falls, Ontario, is an interesting role model as cannabis becomes legal in Canada. The President may complain that Canada takes advantage of the United States in trade deals, but don’t tell that to the people of small towns across Canada that lost their jobs as American companies closed their branch plants. That’s what happened to Smiths Falls, where the biggest employer, Hershey’s, closed up in 2008 and stopped sending their chocolate north from their American and Mexican factories, laying off 550 people and leaving the 500,000 square foot factory empty.
https://www.treehugger.com/urban-design/can-legal-marijuana-save-small-towns.html
Iowa’s First Medical Marijuana Manufacturer Unveils Products (IA – Cannabis Products)
KCRG News 9 (October 17, 2018) MedPharm Iowa has been growing something special for medical marijuana patients in the state, and it’s almost ready to go on the shelves. By Dec. 1, the state’s first and only cannabis facility will have products ready for Iowans. “It’s been exciting to see some of the tangible results of what we’ve been doing,” said Lucas Nelson, the general manager of MedPharm. In the last several months, Nelson and his team at Medpharm Iowa have been staying busy building their facility, growing cannabis, and making medicine for Iowans.
Medical Marijuana Treatments Approved For Autistic Children (RI – Medicinal Cannabis)
WCVB 5 (October 18, 2018) Rhode Island health officials have approved a petition that will allow parents to use medical marijuana to treat autistic children. The state Department of Health says the petition will allow doctors to prescribe medical cannabis for autistic patients. Officials say the decision is “subject to judicial approval.” Parents had asked that cannabidiol (CBD) be permitted in treatment. CBD doesn’t contain THC, the compound that gives pot its high. The health department requires doctors consult with pediatric specialists and use “pharmaceutical grade forms of pure CBD.” Doctors will also be required to consider other medications before using medical marijuana.
https://www.wcvb.com/article/medical-marijuana-treatments-approved-for-autistic-children/23890468
Cannabis Is Legal In Canada And Colorado Companies Want In; Talented Workforce Could Be Poached (CO – Cannabis Employment)
The Denver Channel (October 17, 2018) Cannabis is now being legally sold in Canada and Colorado companies are already eyeing an expansion. As the green rush moves north, some experts worry Colorado could experience a drain on its workforce. Canada legalized marijuana on the federal level, making it a more attractive place to do business. Marijuana can be bought online and companies will have access to the banking system. Native Roots has 20 dispensaries in Colorado and will soon open four stores in Canada under the name Garden Variety. According to a spokesperson, Native Roots was the first U.S. company that was awarded a recreational retail license in Canada.
How A ‘Senator Beto O’Rourke’ Could Spur Texas’s Leadership In Cannabis Law Reform (TX – Cannabis Legislation)
Forbes (October 16, 2018) Even judicial appointments can’t help the reputation of the legislature with merely 17% of Americans approving the way Congress is doing what it was elected to do. That’s part of what makes pollsters this midterm election cycle anticipating a larger voter turnout than most non-presidential election years. Political activists and denizens who care their state make a difference are hoping Texas will be no exception. And that’s not going to be hard to do, as Texas ranks dead last in voter turnout in the entire nation. It’s also a state that’s been largely GOP-led since the early 1990’s.
