CCMA Greenbrief April 26: UC San Diego Takes Lead In Cannabis Research… Cannabis Banking Advocates Keep Pushing Forward With Legislation… Former Cop Shop Turned Pot Shop In CA…


CCMA Political greenBrief
Thursday, April 26, 2018
www.cannabismanufacturers.org

Senator Bob Hertzberg, Moving Forward With SB 930 For Cannabis Banking

“What I’m trying to do is get as much cash into vaults as possible. Get the government paid as much as possible and take as much public safety risk out of the system as possible.”
Senator Bob Hertzberg, on Senate Bill 930

“The federal designation of cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug is one of the primary enablers of this problem. Unlike other substances whose use may increase risk or lead to abuse, such as alcohol or tobacco, currently there are no set standards for manufactures. Nor are there clear guidelines for the public as they make choices regarding if, when, and how to use cannabis safely for therapeutic purposes.”
Andy Noorda and Pelin Thorogood, at the Noorda Foundation

UC San Diego To Use Controversial Marijuana Compound To Treat Severe Autism (CA- Cannabis Research)
San Diego Union-Tribune (April 26, 2018) UC San Diego will try to alleviate severe autism in children by giving them a non-psychoactive chemical found in marijuana, a project funded by the biggest private donation ever made in the U.S. for such research.
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/marijuana/sd-me-cbd-autism-20180416-story.html

A Cannabis Banking System For California? Effort Moves Forward In Senate (CA- Federal Regulations)
KQED (April 25, 2018) California cannabis businesses are hopeful a bill making its way through the state Legislature could provide them with some banking solutions. Because it’s still illegal to use marijuana under federal law, most banks won’t work with cannabis businesses — and that means the industry operates largely in cash.
https://www.kqed.org/news/11664675/a-cannabis-banking-system-for-california-effort-moves-forward-in-senate

Oakland Assemblyman’s Bill Would Provide Workplace Protections For Medical Cannabis Users (CA- Local Ordinances)
KQED (April 25, 2018) With marijuana now legal for anyone over age 21 in California, a question still lingers over the workplace: Could employees still lose their job if they test positive on a drug test — even if they aren’t intoxicated at work?
https://www.kqed.org/news/11664390/time-to-end-the-medical-marijuana-drug-test-oakland-lawmaker-pushes-for-new-state-law

“Mother Company” Creates Opportunities For Women In Cannabis (CA- Cannabis Advocacy)
News Review (April 26, 2018) Year after year, women-founded businesses capture just 2 to 3 percent of all venture capital dollars in America. The cannabis industry follows the same pattern.
https://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/mother-company-creates-opportunities-for-women-in-cannabis/content?oid=26170653

California Residents Busted With Heroin, 130 Pounds Of Marijuana (CA- Cannabis Industry)
LaSalle News Tribune (April 26, 2018) Two California residents were charged with unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver after a TRI-County Drug Enforcement Narcotics Team K-9 dog indicated the presence of narcotic odors, TRI-DENT said.
http://www.newstrib.com/free/california-residents-busted-with-heroin-pounds-of-marijuana/article_9de8ce44-4965-11e8-a9cf-ff34ee602978.html

Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber Bets Big On Cannabis Industry (CA- Cannabis Advocacy)
Sacramento Business Journal (April 26, 2018) The Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce has hosted a series of discussion panels featuring cannabis regulators and industry leaders, and invited cannabis entrepreneurs into its membership and leadership.
https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2018/04/26/sacramento-asian-pacific-chamber-bets-big-on.html

Long Beach Pot Dispensary In Former Cop Shop Is A Symbol Of Legal California (CA- Cannabis Industry)
L.A. Weekly (April 26, 2018) A former police station in Long Beach is now a medical marijuana dispensary aptly named the Station. Having officially opened earlier this month, the Station plays off the theme of the building’s former purpose.
http://www.laweekly.com/news/long-beach-pot-dispensary-in-former-cop-shop-is-a-symbol-of-legal-california-9386310

How High Are Recreational Marijuana Taxes In Your State? (USA- Cannabis Taxes)
Tax Foundation (April 26, 2018) As public opinion increasingly favors the legalization of recreational marijuana, a growing number of states must determine how to tax legal sales of cannabis.

How High Are Recreational Marijuana Taxes in Your State?

Trading Wine For Weed? Experts Say Trend Likely To Accelerate Thanks To Legal Pot (USA- Cannabis Industry)
USA TODAY (April 26, 2018) Legal pot may reshape wine sales across the country as professionals, particularly women seeking to cut calories, set down their wine glasses and switch to cannabis, concludes a new analysis by one of Europe’s biggest banks.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2018/04/26/trading-wine-weed-legal-marijuana/550949002/

Sessions Admits There ‘May Well Be Some Benefits From Medical Marijuana’ (USA- Federal Regulations)
Marijuana Moment (April 25, 2018) U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions acknowledged before a key Senate panel on Wednesday that “there may well be some benefits from medical marijuana” and that it is “perfectly appropriate to study” cannabis.

Sessions Admits There ‘May Well Be Some Benefits From Medical Marijuana’