CCMA Greenbrief July 17: CA Residents To See Deliveries Regardless Of City Rules…Girl Targeted By #PermitPatty Receives Education Funds By Cannabis Industry…DOJ Refuses To Allow Cannabis Research…

CCMA Political greenBrief

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

www.cannabismanufacturers.org

Republican-Controlled Rules Committee, Led By Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX), Continues Its Efforts To Not Pass Any Cannabis Related Bills, Denying Them Access To A Floor Vote

“Our federal laws are outdated. The people in this country want the law to treat marijuana as we do alcohol. These large sums of cash make dispensaries an obvious target for robberies.”
Congressman Danny Heck (D-WA) During Rules Committee Testifying His Marijuana Banking Amendment 
“In May of 2017, I started devoting 100% of my time to the cannabis operations coming into our territory, knowing that all those companies were going to fill one portfolio of commercial account management. Some growers are extremely open and want us to learn,” McGregor said, “and some, we have just one conversation with and then we never see them again.”
Matt McGregor, Strategic Account Manager For The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), On Utility Companies Working With Cannabusinesses
EVENT: Metrc – California’s Track And Trace System And What It Means For Manufacturers, Retailers And Cultivators
Join the CCMA and Metrc experts from California and Colorado, which has already implemented Metrc, and get to know some of the software vendors that integrate with Metrc. Metrc is the track and trace system chosen by the state of California. Every license holder up and down the supply chain, cultivators, manufacturers, brands, testing labs, retailers, will have to report to the Metrc system. Are you prepared?
July 17th in Santa Monica. 6-9pm
 
California Residents May Soon Be Able To Have Marijuana Delivered To Them Regardless Of Cities’ Rules (CA – Cannabis Delivery)
California Healthline (July 16, 2018) The rules were proposed by state regulators in a long-awaited draft of permanent regulations for California’s cannabis industry. Cannabis retailers soon may be able to deliver marijuana anywhere in California, no matter what city or county rules say. Also, it’s likely that medical marijuana patients will be allowed to buy edibles infused with cannabis more potent than currently permitted under state law
Proposal Released For California’s Permanent Cannabis Regulations (CA – State Regulations)
Ganjapreneur (July 16, 2018) California’s Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC) released a proposal on Friday, July 13 outlining permanent cannabis industry regulations for the state. The 136-page document details every proposed rule for the burgeoning cannabis industry, but the BCC also released a fact sheet summary of industry changes under the proposed regulations. The proposal’s industry-wide changes include updates to the application process, the licensing process, advertising rules, security measures, and policies for product returns/destruction.
Cannabis Industry Holds Fundraiser For Girl Targeted by #PermitPatty (CA – Cannabusiness)
NBC Los Angeles (July 15, 2018) Local cannabis businesses in the Bay Area sponsored a fundraiser Saturday for the 8-year-old girl at the center of the viral #PermitPatty video. Companies and people in the community gathered at the Pergola at Lake Merritt in Oakland, California, Saturday to raise money for Jordan Rodgers’ education fund. Last month, Jordan was selling water outside her apartment near AT&T Park when neighbor Alison Ettel called police on the young black girl for “illegally selling water without a permit.”
How Soon Is It Safe To Drive After Smoking Cannabis? California Study Aims To Find Out (CA – Cannabis Research)
Newsweek (July 16, 2018) As states legalize cannabis, the day-to-day challenges presented by lifting such bans need ironing out. One such problem is how long to wait before driving after lighting up. It’s a question that researchers at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) aim to answer with a new study. And they’re inviting members of the public to help them find out.
City Council Set To Approve Cannabis Manufacturing Facility (CA – Cannabis Manufacturing)
SF Gate (July 16, 2018) The City Council is poised to approve Pittsburg’s first commercial facility for manufacturing and distributing medical and recreational cannabis products. Approval of a commercial cannabis permit for – and an operating agreement with – Canyon Laboratories is on the council’s agenda for tonight’s meeting.
Congressional Committee Blocks Marijuana Votes (Again) (USA – Cannabis legislation)
Marijuana Moment (July 16, 2018) Lawmakers on a key congressional committee once again blocked colleagues in the full House from being able to vote on marijuana-related amendments. One proposed measure, filed last week, would have allowed Washington, D.C. to legally tax and regulate retail marijuana sales and another would have prevented federal regulators from penalizing federal banks from working with businesses and individuals in the legal cannabis industry. But on Monday evening, the Republican-controlled Rules Committee, led by Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX), continued its recent tradition of preventing floor votes on any and all measures to scale back federal cannabis prohibition.
Electric Utilities Work With Cannabis Growers To Save On Power Costs (USA – Cannabis Resources)
Marijuana Business Daily (July 17, 2018) Despite knowing for years that electricity is a major expense that can significantly affect everyone’s bottom line, marijuana businesses – especially growers – are still struggling to keep costs manageable. The good news is that a burgeoning number of utility companies are working with cannabis cultivators to better manage costs.
DOJ Continues To Sandbag Medical Marijuana Research (USA – Cannabis Research)
The Fresh Toast (July 16, 2018) Some of the latest national polls show that 91 percent of the American population supports the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes. Yet, the Justice Department, which is headed up by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, continues to do everything in its power to prevent the scientific community from exploring the therapeutic potential of the herb. Essentially, Sessions has allowed his personal opinions get in the way of progress on something that even medical professionals admit is very real.
Don’t Fear the Reefer? Legal-Pot Push Shifts To Red States (USA – Cannabis Legalization)
Fox News (July 16, 2018) Since Colorado and Washington became the first states to fully legalize marijuana for recreational purposes in 2012, a green wave has swept across the country as more states OK marijuana use on at least some level. The initial surge of legalization measures, though, was mainly confined to liberal states. But as the midterm elections approach, a number of traditionally conservative states are considering legal-pot ballot measures this year. Public attitudes may be shifting, despite lingering warnings about the health and safety impacts of broadscale legalization.
Cannabis Markets Are Expected To Expand Worldwide (USA – Worldwide Industry)
PR Newswire (July 16, 2018) According to a report published by Ameri Research Inc., the global legal cannabis industry was valued at USD 14.3 Billion in 2016 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 21.1% between 2017 to 2024. The industry is expected to cross the USD 63 Billion value mark by 2024. The legal cannabis market is in a period of vigorous growth, which is a direct result of increasing legalization and decriminalization of cannabis products across North America. The report also specifies that the legalization trend is moving beyond the U.S., earlier this June, Canada legalized cannabis on a national level for both medical and recreational-use products
Georgia Cannabis: Three Years of Trials and Tribulations (GA – Medicinal Cannabis)
Pot Network (July 16, 2018) The reddest of the red states embrace medical cannabis in a big way. For example, Oklahoma citizens surprised the rest of the nation by passing an all-conditions-included medical cannabis bill. Indeed, many other southern states are emphatically stating that medical cannabis just makes sense, and voters are showing up at the voting booths to show their support. Georgia’s three-year march to medical cannabis represents an interesting microcosm of the trials and tribulations that southern and more conservative states have wrestled with as they legalize cannabis.
Oregon Plans New Cannabis Harvest Regulations To Combat Illicit Market (OR – Licensed Growing)
High Times (July 16, 2018) The Oregon Liquor Control Commission is gearing up to roll out new regulations for the state’s licensed cannabis growers. The regulations aim to give the state more control and oversight over cannabis harvests. But growers are already pushing back. They say the new rules could interfere with the delicate and often unpredictable timing of harvesting plants at their peak.