CCMA Greenbrief August 2: CA Cannabis Lobbying Surges..Cannabis-Infused Drinks To Be Introduced By Molson Coors…State Legislators Push Feds To Respect State Cannabis Laws…

CCMA Political greenBrief

Thursday, August 2, 2018

www.cannabismanufacturers.org

Bipartisan Support Begins To Pave The Way For The Cannabis Economy

“The Quintana Cruz Co. and California Strategies & Advocacy remain two of the primary Sacramento-based lobby shops handling marijuana businesses and trade groups in the Golden State.”
Quarterly Filings With The State, According to Law.com
“Voters across the nation have shown support for the legal cannabis industry, it is time for the federal government to take the necessary steps and deschedule cannabis in order to promote safety, security, and remove barriers to much needed research.”
U.S. Senate Republican Leader Jackie Winters 

Cannabis Lobbying Spend Surges In California (CA – Cannabis Advocacy)

The Recorder (August 1, 2018) Spending on marijuana lobbying in California surged past $455,000 in the second quarter, fueled by a debate over cannabis delivery services and the drafting of final adult-use and medical regulations. Quarterly filings with the state showed that online dispensary locator Weedmaps was again the biggest advocacy spender in the industry at $75,000. The Irvine-based company lobbied—with the help of two Sacramento firms—the Legislature, Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration and five departments and agencies charged with writing the rules governing California’s marijuana market, according to filings.

https://www.law.com/therecorder/2018/08/01/cannabis-lobbying-spend-surges-in-california/

 

California Company Creates First CBD Oil Made From Hops, Not Cannabis Or Hemp (CA – Cannabusiness)

Merry Jane (August 1, 2018) Cannabidiol, more popularly known as CBD, is one of the hottest new trends in medicine and wellness, and patients and physicians across the country are uncovering new uses for this natural extract, ranging from the treatment of epilepsy to pain relief and anxiety. Although the medical evidence confirming the safety and efficacy of these treatments is overwhelming, the DEA still classifies CBD as a Schedule I drug in the U.S., since it’s typically derived from prohibited cannabis or hemp plants. This has left CBD in a legal grey area, as it has been approved in some form by 30 U.S. states, and is widely available for sale throughout the rest of the country despite the federal ban.

https://merryjane.com/news/california-company-creates-new-cbd-oil-made-from-hops-not-cannabis-or-hemp

 

Southern California Coalition, California Growers Association Will Collaborate On Political Interests And Industry Leadership (CA – Cannabusiness)

Cannabis Business Times (August 1, 2018) Representing more than 1,600 cannabis businesses across the state of California, two leading trade organizations are coming together to leverage institutional knowledge and bold political voices to advance the interest of those constituents. The Southern California Coalition and the California Growers Association have found common ground at a time when the state’s cannabis industry is still struggling to get out of the gate. The two groups represent a broad swath of the state’s licensed industry: cultivators, manufacturers, distributors and retailers. Brian Blatz, founder of Verdant Distribution and a board member of the Southern California Coalition, told Cannabis Business Times that the primary goal of this collaboration is to keep the focus on local and state licensing—and to ensure that all interested businesses have a shot at competing in the largest cannabis marketplace in the world.

http://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/article/southern-california-coalition-california-growers-association-partner/

 

One Of The World’s Largest Beer Makers Is About To Start Making Marijuana-Infused Drinks (World – Cannabis Products)

Business Insider (August 1, 2018) One of the world’s largest beer companies is jumping into the booming marijuana industry. Molson Coors Canada announced this week that it is entering a joint venture with The Hydropothecary Corporation to produce non-alcoholic, cannabis-infused beverages. Molson Coors will retain a controlling interest in the joint venture, and the deal is expected to close before September 30. The venture will be structured as a standalone company, with an independent board of directors and management team.

https://www.businessinsider.in/one-of-the-worlds-largest-beer-makers-is-about-to-start-making-marijuana-infused-drinks/articleshow/65232153.cms

 

How Luxury Cannabis Company Canndescent Is Winning In California (CA – Cannabusiness)

New Cannabis Ventures (July 31, 2018) Canndescent is doubling its revenue month over month and eyeing more growth – geographically and in its product portfolio – in the coming months. Founder and CEO Adrian Sedlin spoke with New Cannabis Ventures about the company’s founding, branding, and position in the California market. Lifelong entrepreneur Sedlin started and ran his first company while he was still an undergraduate at Georgetown University. The company went public in 1996, just as he was finishing his MBA at Harvard Business School. Ever since, he has focused on early-stage growth companies.

https://www.newcannabisventures.com/how-luxury-cannabis-company-canndescent-is-winning-in-california/

 

Big Opportunities In Cannabis Clients, Compliance (CA – Cannabis Industry)

Accounting Today (August 1, 2018) California has long been a pioneer in the cannabis industry, so it came as no surprise that many of the sessions at the recent Accounting and Finance Show in Los Angeles focused on demystifying the very young and evolving industry, and sharing advice on how to work with potential clients in the business. The web of cannabis taxation provides a big opportunity for accountants in the industry, and is what led the panelists of one conference session to form their own practice, DOPE CFO, to cater to this burgeoning vertical.

https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/big-opportunities-in-cannabis-clients-compliance

 

Post-Legalization, There Are Clear Benefits To Having A Medical Marijuana Recommendation (CA – Medicinal Cannabis)

Berkeley Side (July 31, 2018) Recreational cannabis in the Golden State is a big deal. Passed in 2016, it makes California the sixth state to legalize recreational marijuana. Many thought this new market would mark the end of medical cannabis, but that’s far from true. Two years later, a medical marijuana ID card (MMJ ID card) offers more benefits than ever, especially in the Bay Area where medical marijuana is flourishing. The rate at which the cards are being issued has increased, a clear sign that seeing a cannabis doctor is still worth your time.

http://www.berkeleyside.com/2018/07/31/post-legalization-there-are-clear-benefits-to-having-a-medical-marijuana-recommendation

 

Legislators From Across US Push Feds To Respect State Marijuana Laws (USA – Cannabis Legislation)

Marijuana Moment (August 1, 2018) A group representing thousands of lawmakers from around the U.S. is calling on the federal government to end marijuana prohibition so that states can enact their own cannabis policies without intervention. The other directive, which focuses on banking access for marijuana businesses, says that federal prohibition forces growers, processors and retailers to operate on a cash-only basis, which “attracts criminal activity and creates substantial public safety risks.”

https://www.marijuanamoment.net/legislators-from-across-us-push-feds-to-respect-state-marijuana-laws/

 

Bipartisan Bills Pave The Way For A Legal Cannabis Economy (USA – Cannabis Market)

Forbes (August 1, 2018) U.S. Senators Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) recently introduced the bipartisan “Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States (STATES)” Act. If passed and signed into law, it will be a big step in the right direction for the legal cannabis industry. States, aided by tech innovations, are already leading the way in developing robust enforcement and monitoring mechanisms that allow regulators to track cannabis products from seed to sale. This means that when a consumer purchases cannabis from a state-licensed dispensary, the entire supply chain is clear and transparent, providing layers of safety and accountability.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/bencurren/2018/08/01/5-key-takeaways-from-the-warren-gardner-states-act/#38af13541f0a

 

Cannabis Conundrums (USA – Cannabis Politics)

The Regulatory Review (August 2, 2018) “Don’t break out the Cheetos or gold fish too quickly.” That is what Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper said in 2012 following passage of his state’s voter initiative legalizing recreational use of marijuana. In the intervening years, eight other states and the District of Columbia have legalized cannabis for both recreational and medical use, and a majority of others have legalized it for purely medical use. But as Hickenlooper acknowledged, the federal government still classifies cannabis as a controlled substance, making possession of marijuana for either recreational or medical purposes a federal crime.

https://www.theregreview.org/2018/08/02/gunn-cannabis-conundrums/

 

Cannabis For The Win: Sports Leagues See The Light On CBD (USA – CBD Use)

Forbes (August 1, 2018) Consider it an early win: Basketball’s BIG3 has become the first professional sports league in the United States to allow its athletes to use cannabidiol (CBD), the nonpsychoactive ingredient in cannabis that many people use to manage pain and inflammation. This announcement, made in June, is great news for athletic — pro and collegiate — organizations that are starting to embrace cannabis’ healing properties. And if they’re not quite embracing them yet, well, at least more seem willing to educate themselves on their athletes’ medical needs and how cannabis (particularly CBD) might help.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/nickkovacevich/2018/08/01/cannabis-for-the-win-sports-leagues-see-the-light-on-cbd/#1eae1cde8577

 

How Do I Obtain A Medical Marijuana Card In My State? (USA – Medicinal Cannabis)

Pot Network (July 31, 2018) Medical marijuana laws are constantly changing across the United States, and with such changes, it can be hard to keep track of everything that’s current. If you are wondering how to obtain a medical marijuana card in your home state, PotNetwork compiled the following list to help you. Medical marijuana cards can come with application fees that range from $25 to $100, depending on the state. Medical cannabis cards must also be renewed regularly, although deadlines vary from state to state.

https://www.potnetwork.com/news/how-do-i-obtain-medical-marijuana-card-my-state

 

Pharmaceutical Industry Giving Attention To Cannabis ‘Cousin’ (USA – Hemp Industry)

Pharmacy Times (August 1, 2018) Ned Milenkovich, PharmD, JD, is chairman of the health care law practice at Much Shelist PC in Chicago, and former vice chairman of the Illinois State Board of Pharmacy. In this video, he discusses hemp, and why it is drawing increased attention from the pharmacuetical industry.

https://www.pharmacytimes.com/interviews/pharmaceutical-industry-giving-attention-to-cannabis-cousin

 

Poison Control Chart: Cannabis vs. Alcohol (USA – Cannabis Effects)

Leafly (August 1, 2018) The number of cannabis-related calls to California’s poison control centers has spiked in recent years, and it appears that this year—the first full year of legal sales to adults in the state—will see the biggest jump yet, according to the California Poison Control System. That’s no surprise. Under legalization, citizens are more honest about cannabis exposures. And as sales of cannabis products grow, so too do the chances that kids, in particular, will accidentally ingest edibles. There’s just more of the stuff around, and parents can be careless.

https://www.leafly.com/news/health/poison-control-chart-cannabis-vs-alcohol

 

Female Cannabis Entrepreneurs Are Pioneers In Science, Finance And Fashion (USA – Cannabusiness)

New Haven Register (August 2, 2018) Is cannabis yet another rapid growth industry that is essentially a boys’ club? Opinions differ. Some have praised the marijuana industry as a fantastic opportunity for female entrepreneurs. Others report that it’s still unclear how many opportunities women are getting for executive positions, such as this Associated Press article which states: “Cannabis remains a male-dominated industry.”

https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/Female-Cannabis-Entrepreneurs-Are-Pioneers-in-13125801.php