420 with CNW — DC Lawsuit May Set New Marijuana Smell Precedent

Nearly every state with a legal marijuana market has passed an outright ban on the public consumption of cannabis. Both medical marijuana patients and recreational users are only allowed to use cannabis within the confines of their homes, and each state has policies that require consumers to use their cannabis product privately and away from the eyes of the public.

Unfortunately, marijuana has an extremely thick and potent smell that tends to linger in spots without proper ventilation and can be recognized some distance away from the smoker. A Washington, DC, woman whose downstairs neighbor used legal cannabis finally got sick of the potent smell drifting into her home and took legal action. According to Josefa Ippolito-Shepherd, cannabis smoke from her downstairs neighbor constantly drifted up into her retirement home in Cleveland Park, and try as she might, she just couldn’t get rid of the scent.

Her first efforts to alleviate the issue were unsuccessful; her downstairs neighbor refused to stop smoking indoors,, and the landlord refused to evict the neighbor. Since cannabis is now legal under Washington DC law, Ippolito-Shepherd couldn’t call the police and bring criminal charges against the neighbor. In fact, police told her there was nothing they could do for her, and DC council chair Phil Mendelson said that undoing the legalization of cannabis would be the only way to fix her problem.

Consequently, Ippolito-Shepherd took her grievance to the court in August 2022, arguing that the smell of burning marijuana was a public nuisance. This was the first case of its kind against America’s burgeoning cannabis industry, but it may not be the last.

With most states now allowing some form of cannabis, there have been plenty of complaints regarding the strong scent of marijuana smoke. Worries about second-hand exposure to the smoke by people neighboring smokers, dispensaries and marijuana farms is also a concern.

The issue is tricky. Smokers say that complaints such as these impede their ability to enjoy medical or recreational cannabis within the confines of their own homes while nonsmokers argue that the smell is noxious and potentially harmful to their health.

Ippolito-Shepherd said that she has the “right to breath fresh air” in her own home, adding that she has no problem with people smoking cannabis in their own homes, but she just doesn’t want the smoke invading her home. She is asking Washington, DC, to ban indoor cannabis smoking in multiunit buildings, something that is bound to have nationwide repercussions if her efforts are successful.

California NORML director Dale Gieringer noted that cities in California are already considering the prospect of banning cannabis smoking in residential buildings and apartments to prevent secondhand smoke. San Fransisco also considered banning smoking in apartments, but the city did not pass a smoking ban after activists pointed out that cannabis users are already banned from smoking in public.

This lawsuit could have serious ramifications for the entire marijuana industry, and it is likely that enterprises such as Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: FLGC) are keeping tabs on proceedings to know how it pans out.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: FLGC) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/FLGC

About CNW420

CNW420 spotlights the latest developments in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry through the release of two informative articles each business day. Our concise, informative content serves as a gateway for investors interested in the legalized cannabis sector and provides updates on how regulatory developments may impact financial markets. Articles are released each business day at 4:20 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. Eastern – our tribute to the time synonymous with cannabis culture. If marijuana and the burgeoning industry surrounding it are on your radar, CNW420 is for you! Check back daily to stay up-to-date on the latest milestones in the fast -changing world of cannabis.

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CannabisNewsBreaks – Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: FLGC) Working Toward Global Leadership in CBD Space

Flora (NASDAQ: FLGC) has transitioned from the development stage to a full-scale international distributor with operations in over 12 countries worldwide, achieved under Luis Merchan’s tenure as CEO. “Merchan has also spearheaded several mergers and acquisitions, most notably JustCBD and Vessel Brand, which have since set the company up for rapid growth. Flora also secured $34.5 million in financing and signed deals with key retail distributors such as Tropi, a Colombia-based distributor, Walmart and Macy’s. The company also completed its first import of CBD-containing food and beverage products into the United States from Colombia under its Mambe brand. It has also signed an agreement with luxury clothing and lifestyle brand Tonino Lamborghini to distribute designer CBD beverages through this retailer,” a recent article reads. The piece further discusses Merchan’s confidence in the company’s strong progress while working toward market expansion and product diversification. “Under his leadership, Mr. Merchan is slowly turning Flora into a global leader in the CBD space while also helping it execute its strategy to achieve its short-term and long-term objectives.”

To view the full article, visit https://cnw.fm/K5bS9

About Flora Growth Corp.

Flora is building a connected, design-led collective of plant-based wellness and lifestyle brands, designed to deliver the most compelling customer experiences in the world, one community at a time. As the operator of one of the largest outdoor cannabis cultivation facilities, Flora leverages natural, cost-effective cultivation practices to supply cannabis derivatives to its commercial, house of brands and life sciences divisions. Visit www.FloraGrowth.com or follow @floragrowthcorp on social media for more information.

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CannabisNewsWire (CNW) is an information service that provides (1) access to our news aggregation and syndication servers, (2) CannabisNewsBreaks that summarize corporate news and information, (3) enhanced press release services, (4) social media distribution and optimization services, and (5) a full array of corporate communication solutions. As a multifaceted financial news and content distribution company with an extensive team of contributing journalists and writers, CNW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that desire to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. CNW has an ever-growing distribution network of more than 5,000 key syndication outlets across the country. By cutting through the overload of information in today’s market, CNW brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. CNW is where news, content and information converge.

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420 with CNW — Flooding, High Winds Ravage Marijuana Operations in California

The devastating storms wreaking havoc on California have had a wide-ranging negative impact on cannabis businesses, disrupting operations and perhaps even supplies. In a last-ditch effort to limit the damage, some cannabis companies temporarily shut down business and fortified their facilities. Several operators have been unable to reach their operations due to road closures and hazardous conditions, while numerous power outages have halted production and exposed plants to contaminants, such as mold.

This is the most recent climate disaster to hit the state marijuana industry, following a heat wave in September and wildfire season several years earlier.

Workers cannot access cultivation facilities due to washed-out roads, which may result in lost sales and production delays, including those for packaging and flower trimming. If the current conditions persist, many cannabis retail store shelves could soon be empty.

At least 15 people have died and tens of thousands have been evacuated as a result of the storms, which began on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2023, and more than 34 million people are currently under a flood watch.

Glass House Brands, a cannabis company based in Santa Barbara, California, shut down both of its cultivation facilities in Carpentaria earlier last week so that employees could return home to their families and avoid getting stuck on the wrong side of a closed road. Graham Farrar, the company’s president, noted that the recent spate of cloudy weather has resulted in the lowest light levels he can recall in years.

However, Farr was concerned about mold and botrytis contaminating cannabis crops because the business is an “indoor sun-grown facility” and only uses photoperiod lights as additional lighting.

Along with the destructive floods, numerous prime cannabis-growing counties, including Mendocino, Monterey and Santa Cruz, also experienced widespread power outages. According to Poweroutage.us, nearly 225,000 homes and businesses were without power on Tuesday of last week.

Aiden Rafii, CEO of Euphoric Life, was concerned that if the power outage continued, they would incur losses of close to $140,000. They had more than 2,800 pounds of frozen biomass stored in the company’s freezers, which would be ruined if it thawed. Euphoric Life’s products are not insured due to the federal marijuana prohibition. Fortunately, power was restored by Wednesday, saving the company and others from further losses.

Mendocino County cannabis department director Kristin Nevedal said growers who are close to burn scars, which can become mudslides after heavy rains, left by severe wildfires from a few years ago have received warnings. However, many of the growers in the Emerald Triangle (Humboldt, Trinity, and Mendocino Counties) are ultimately self-sufficient and able to survive without electricity.

The majority of rural homesteaders, according to Nevedal, “either have alternative energy sources or have learned how to use very little power.” As of Tuesday morning of last week, it appeared that Napa and the nearby Lake County, where several cannabis growers have operations, had been spared from significant damages.

The challenges California cannabis enterprises are facing are just a fraction of the issues that the industry has to deal with, such as the hoops companies such as India Globalization Capital Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) have to navigate just so they can conduct needed studies on this substance.

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420 with CNW — Cannabis Companies Overtake Advocacy Groups as Leading Funders of Reform Efforts

For years, advocacy groups have largely been responsible for pushing and funding cannabis reform efforts across the country. Such groups have traditionally funded reform initiatives to collect signatures and eventually get cannabis initiatives on the ballot, especially when the industry was in its infancy.

However, data from November’s election shows that cannabis companies have swiftly overtaken advocacy groups in the funding of marijuana reform efforts in America. Campaign finance records show that the cannabis industry essentially funded all five cannabis legalization initiatives that were on the ballot in last year’s midterm elections.

Campaigns to legalize adult-use cannabis in Missouri, Maryland, Arkansas, North Dakota and South Dakota raised almost $20 million combined with at least $10.05 million coming from businesses in the cannabis industry.

This was a stark difference from 10 or so years ago when cannabis legalization campaigns were largely funded by wealthy individuals and advocacy groups. It is representative of just how much the industry has grown in a little more than a decade, going from zero to a valuation of $33 billion in a relatively short time. Thanks to nearly limitless demand from consumers, cannabis businesses have sold tens of billions of dollars’ worth of cannabis products to cannabis consumers in legal states across the country.

Given that a majority of consumers still buy cannabis from the black market, the potential for growth could be immense if businesses manage to entice these consumers from the illegal market.

Businesses are now putting their weight behind cannabis initiatives that would expand the market and give it much more comprehensive regulations. The shift from advocacy groups to industry players has also been accompanied by a change in priorities.

Medical cannabis companies are pushing for limited-license markets in recreational cannabis states compared to prior advocacy-led campaigns that first asked voters whether cannabis should be regulated like alcohol before providing details later.

According to Marijuana Policy Project president and CEO Toi Hutchison, cannabis is now a “burgeoning industry that exists” and is past the need for initiatives about whether it should be taxed and regulated as is alcohol.

Groups such as the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, DC, and the Drug Policy Alliance in New York played an instrumental role in cannabis legalization efforts in Colorado and Washington states.

They have now passed the torch of legal change to the industry and moved on to other efforts such as the decriminalization of other controlled drugs and the legalization of psychedelics.

Given the immense challenges that the burgeoning cannabis industry faces, including lack of mainstream financing which has resulted in the creation of entities such as REZYFi Inc. to partially address this unmet need, it is only natural that the marijuana industry will roll up its sleeves and work to see reforms enacted across the country so that essential needs can start being attended to at a policy level.

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CannabisNewsBreaks – Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (NASDAQ: LEXX) Announces Pharmaceutical Expert as New Strategic Advisor

Lexaria Bioscience (NASDAQ: LEXX), a global innovator in drug-delivery platforms, has a new strategic advisor. The company announced that Julian Gangolli, the former president of GW Pharmaceuticals USA, has joined Lexaria as a strategic advisor. During his time at GW Pharmaceuticals, Gangolli managed US Food and Drug Administration approval of Epidiolex(R), the only pure cannabidiol (“CBD”) drug ever approved by the agency; he also oversaw the commercialization of the drug in the United States, which ultimately led to Jazz Pharmaceuticals acquiring GW Pharmaceuticals in a $7.2 billion transaction. In addition to his work at GW Pharmaceuticals, Gangolli served as North American president of Allergan and a member of its executive management team, which guided the sale of Allergan to Actavis. In the announcement, Gangolli noted that Lexaria has become an established force in the field of improved drug delivery, and he hopes to assist the company in its commercial development of DehydraTECH. “As we intensify our focus during 2023 on commercial execution of our robust DehydraTECH technology portfolio, I am very pleased to welcome Julian with his extensive pharmaceutical experience, to the broadening Lexaria team,” said Lexaria CEO Chris Bunka in the press release.

To view the full press release, visit https://cnw.fm/Q3aCb

About Lexaria Bioscience Corp.

Lexaria Bioscience’s patented drug-delivery technology, DehydraTECH(TM), improves the way active pharmaceutical ingredients (“APIs”) enter the bloodstream through oral delivery. Since 2016, DehydraTECH has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to increase bioabsorption with cannabinoids, antiviral drugs, PDE5 inhibitors and more. DehydraTECH has also evidenced an ability to deliver some drugs more effectively across the blood brain barrier. Lexaria operates a licensed in-house research laboratory and holds a robust intellectual property portfolio with 28 patents granted and many patents pending worldwide. For more information about the company, please visit www.LexariaBioscience.com.

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420 with CNW — Federally Funded Research Finds AUD Is Lower in States Where Cannabis is Legal

Research from the University of Colorado, which was recently published in the publication “Psychological Medicine,” found that recreational decriminalization was linked to increased marijuana use and reduced alcohol use disorder (AUD) symptoms but wasn’t linked to other maladaptations. The researchers advised, nevertheless, that this information is difficult to assess and deserves exploratory research in future studies. Although their results show that marijuana consumption is not risky, the researchers could not pinpoint major variations in these bad consequences as effects of legalizing marijuana.

They found that inasmuch as there was a negligible difference in average alcohol intake, individuals living in areas where cannabis was legal seemed more unlikely to get injured when they were under alcohol influence versus their twins who resided in regions where cannabis was still prohibited.

Additionally, in a study published in “PLOS One” last year, researchers from Michigan State University suggested that in states where marijuana is legal, cannabis sales volumes could be preceded by the increasing incidences of marijuana onsets for older individuals but not for barely legal individuals who cannot purchase recreational cannabis in a retail outlet.

Based on recent federally funded research, individuals living in regions where recreational cannabis is allowed showed lower levels of AUD than those who reside in places where cannabis is still criminalized. According to the study, young individuals who spent much of their puberty under legalization were neither more nor less likely to have used marijuana at 15 years of age than young people who spent minimal or no period under legalization.

Cannabis usage rates among teenagers were steady through 2022, based on the latest publicly financed Monitoring the Future poll, despite additional regions decriminalizing the substance and the ending of pandemic prohibitions that held many children back home under their guardians and parents.

Another study, published in the “American Journal of Preventive Medicine,” found no link between rising youth cannabis use and state-level decriminalization. Marijuana use disorder could be associated in some cannabis users with issues such as the use of other drugs, cognitive function, mental problems, motivation, interpersonal interactions and job performance.

Based on the findings of researchers who evaluated a broad spectrum of outcomes, such as other substance consumption, drug dependency, disordered nature, exacerbating as well as legal difficulties, relational agreement, job involvement, civic participation and cognition, the research, which was financed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), concluded that pursuing proven potential risks rather than concentrating on availability could be the most effective strategy to carry out prevention and intervention efforts.

As more of these studies document the wide-ranging benefits of marijuana and its constituent compounds, industry players such as Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: FLGC) will gradually be perceived a lot more fondly than prohibitionists currently give them credit for.

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420 with CNW — Survey Finds One in Five People Abstaining from Alcohol Are Using Cannabis to Beat ‘Dry January’

A new survey has found that one in five individuals who are not drinking alcohol this January have switched to marijuana as an alternative. The survey found that while 33% of those on a month-long break from alcohol weren’t replacing it with anything, 21% were opting for marijuana and CBD products to get through the month.

Cannabinoids and cannabis were the most common alternative, with the remaining opting for nonalcoholic beverages, including kombucha, soda and seltzer.

The survey also found that young people were more likely to consume marijuana over alcohol, with 34% of those aged 21 to 24 consuming marijuana. This is significantly higher than the 24% of people aged 25 to 34, 22% of those aged 35 to 54, and 9% of individuals aged 55 and above who admitted to consuming marijuana after ditching alcohol.

The survey’s findings highlight a trend showing that as more states legalize cannabis, more individuals are choosing to consume marijuana over alcohol and certain prescription medications.

Prior surveys have also found that most Americans believe that marijuana is safer than tobacco and alcohol. A separate survey released in 2022 discovered that more Americans were consuming marijuana-infused edibles and smoking marijuana in comparison to those that smoked cigarettes. The poll also found that more than twice as many individuals believed cannabis had a positive impact on its consumers and society as compared to alcohol.

This is consistent with the findings of another survey released in 2022, which found that more Americans thought it would be good if people drank less alcohol and switched to marijuana, in comparison to those who thought substituting alcohol for marijuana would be bad. A separate study funded by the federal government also determined that individuals living in states that have legalized the recreational use of cannabis were less likely to suffer from alcohol use disorder, in comparison to those that have not legalized the drug’s use.

The cannabis effect can also be seen in tax revenue generated, with the states of Washington and Colorado raking in significantly higher revenues from cannabis sales than from either cigarettes or alcohol in fiscal year 2022.

Data from Massachusetts also shows that the state collected more tax revenue from cannabis than alcohol. This has also been observed in Illinois, which collected roughly $100 million more from the sale of adult-use cannabis in 2021.

The state of Arizona also collected more tax revenue from legal marijuana sales than from the legal sale of alcohol and tobacco combined.

As the marijuana industry booms in different jurisdictions, a broader market is likely to be created for entities such as Advanced Container Technologies Inc. (OTC: ACTX), which focus on making ancillary products needed by cannabis businesses.

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420 with CNW — AMA Study Finds Patients Are Turning to Marijuana for Pain Management

According to a recent study published by the American Medical Association, approximately one-third of people with chronic pain use weed as a treatment option, with the majority of that group using it to replace other pain drugs, including opioids. The new study, published in the “Journal of the American Medical Association Substance Use and Addiction,” adds to the plethora of previous works affirming that cannabis can be used to treat pain effectively and as an alternative to some pharmaceuticals.

Researchers from Johns Hopkins University and the University of Michigan conducted the study, using information from 1,724 adults of ages 18 and older from 36 states. The study was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

According to the authors, more than 50% of adults who used marijuana to manage their chronic pain reported that doing so resulted in them using fewer over-the-counter, prescription nonopioid and opioid painkillers, and less than 1% reported that doing so resulted in them using more of these drugs. Additionally, the researchers noted that the high level of cannabis use as an alternative to opioid treatment highlighted the need for further studies to determine the efficacy and possible negative effects of cannabis.

Paul Armentano, deputy director of NORML, responded to the research in a blog stating that marijuana has shown to be effective in treating a variety of conditions, including chronic pain, and that its safety profile is comparable to or better than that of other regulated substances. “It is therefore not surprising that patients with legal access to cannabis are substituting it in place of other, perhaps more harmful and less effective substances,” he stated. Furthermore, the deputy director stated that the weed substitution effect will become more apparent in the future as legal access expands.

Several other studies have been conducted on this subject in the past, most recently by the American Medical Association (AMA), which found that the legalization of medical cannabis in some states is linked to a sharp decline in the prescribing and use of opioid painkillers among some cancer patients.

Similar results were found in a September study that showed providing patients with legal access to medical marijuana could help them cut back or stop using opioid painkillers without affecting their health. A different study published the same month revealed that the pharmaceutical industry suffers significantly in terms of revenue after states legalize cannabis. The study showed that the industry has lost more than $10 billion in revenue per legalization event.

In total, more than 4,300 studies on marijuana and its constituent parts were published in 2022, according to a NORML analysis.

This growing proof that cannabis is helping numerous patients to manage their health conditions suggests that entities such as India Globalization Capital Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) that are focused on developing therapeutic formulations using cannabinoids, including THC, could be onto something that may transform how various conditions are treated going forward.

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420 with CNW — New Report Shows Individuals with Previous Cannabis Convictions Receive Tougher Sentences

A recently published report shows that individuals with prior cannabis convictions receive tougher prison sentences at the federal level. The report, published by the United States Sentencing Commission, calls attention to the long-term consequences of marijuana convictions with regard to sentencing at the federal level.

It also shows how many defendants have faced lengthier sentences due to state-level cannabis possession offenses, even after their states decriminalized or legalized marijuana.

Earlier in October, the agency announced that it would be amending its guidelines to change how cannabis possession convictions affected an individual’s criminal history calculation in sentencing rulings. Its latest report includes data showing why revising its guidelines is crucial.

The report shows that in the 2021 fiscal year, 4,405 federal offenders had extra points added to their criminal history score because of a prior marijuana possession conviction. Of this number, 1,765 were classified in a higher criminal history bracket, which came with a longer sentence. The report showed that 40% of those in this category were Hispanic while 42% were Black.

It also demonstrated that about 97% of prior cannabis possessions were state convictions, with almost 23% of them coming from a state that had since decriminalized marijuana. Roughly 15% of them were convicted in a state that had since permitted the medical use of marijuana while 18.2% were convicted in a state that had since legalized marijuana possession.

Additionally, nearly 20% of those facing serious federal consequences were of possession in a state that facilitated record expungements or a combination of the aforementioned changes in policy.

The report’s findings highlight how the federal-state cannabis disconnect makes individuals from some communities more vulnerable to severe penalties, even as federal prosecutions decline and more states adopt reform.

In the recent years, federal marijuana possession cases have trended downward significantly. Data show that in 2014, 2,172 cases were recorded at the federal level. This is a high figure, especially in comparison to the 145 cases recorded in fiscal year 2022.

This decline is mainly attributed to decreased enforcement in the District of Arizona, which made up almost 80% of all federal cannabis possession sentencings since 2014. Cases in this particular district dropped to two in the 2021 fiscal year from a whopping 1,916 cases in 2014.

The report adds that while marijuana is still classified as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act, federal policy on cannabis possession seems to be shifting.

The struggle to end all the different manifestations of marijuana prohibition is still ongoing, and fairness in federal sentencing is just one front where this is being pursued. Access to funding is another as enterprises such as REZYFi Inc. step in to bridge the gap as advocates push for passing a cannabis banking law.

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420 with CNW — What Tourists Should Know About Marijuana Consumption in Thailand

Since the government delisted specific marijuana plant parts as narcotics last year, cannabis cafés and dispensaries have become more prevalent in Thailand. However, ongoing debates and conflicting legislative changes over what activities should be legal have led to the emergence of what has come to be known as a “marijuana Wild West,” which could put tourists on the wrong side of the law. Independent marijuana activist Kitty Chopaka claims that following legalization, nobody is entirely certain if they have the right information.

However, Mandel Menachem, of the weed information hub High, asserts that tourists have nothing to be afraid of as long as they follow basic guidelines and rules provided by Thailand’s ministry of public health.

So, what is permissible and what’s not? Let’s take a look.

Who is permitted to use it?

Anyone over the age of 20 is allowed to consume cannabis as long as they are not pregnant or nursing.

Where is its use permitted?

Cannabis can be smoked indoors, while marijuana-infused food can only be eaten from a restaurant with a permit. Smoking marijuana in public places such as temples, schools and malls is punishable by a $750 fine and a three-month jail term.

Chopaka advises being mindful to avoid invading other people’s space.

Where can you buy marijuana?

There are more than 2,600 dispensaries permitted to sell pre-rolled joints, marijuana flower, infused foods, CBD oil and edibles with less than 0.2% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). These dispensaries can be found in major cities such as Chiang Mai, Bangkok and Pattaya.

Can you cultivate it?

Individuals should apply for cannabis cultivation permits with the Food and Drug Administration. A license is also required to use marijuana buds for export, research or commercial use.

Is there a limit for consumption?

While there are no restrictions on personal consumption, the ministry advises against driving after using marijuana in any form.

What still violates the law?

Visitors are not permitted to bring into Thailand or take out of the country any parts of the plant. Furthermore, visitors must obtain permission to possess products with a THC content greater than 0.2%.

Although Thailand’s cannabis laws have come a long way, there are still new policies to be announced and details to be clarified. Those considering entering Thailand’s cannabis business scene are advised to keep up with new developments and seek legal counsel for expert guidance through the regulatory complexities.

As more international jurisdictions launch marijuana markets, internationally focused companies such as Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: FLGC) are likely to have a wide pool of foreign markets to expand into in the years to come as countries allow cannabis imports.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: FLGC) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/FLGC

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