420 with CNW – Activists to Halt Legal Challenge to Utah’s Cannabis Legalization Initiative

Back in 2018, Utah’s legislature passed a bill to legalize medical marijuana in the state and the move was met with quite the resistance from legalization advocates. Although voters in the state had voted to legalize medical marijuana via Proposition 2, state legislators supplanted it with the Utah Medical Cannabis Act, a more tightly controlled plan for providing marijuana-based treatment. According to Gov. Gary Herbert, the legislation acted as a bridge between opponents of Proposition 2 such as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and those who supported the initiative.

However, groups like Together for Responsible Use and Cannabis Education (“TRUCE”) and the Epilepsy Association of Utah were not comfortable with the medical cannabis initiative and filed a lawsuit against the legislature. Two years and countless court battles later, a spokeswoman for TRUCE has announced that the group will file in state court to withdraw the lawsuit. The case is being pulled due to the group’s inability to keep paying legal costs over the two year legal battle, explains TRUCE founder, brain tumor survivor and longtime cannabis activist Christine Stenquist.

“While this lawsuit is coming to an end, the fight for a real medical cannabis system for the state of Utah, which will meet all patient needs, continues,” she says. On the bright side, the lawsuit eventually forced Utah legislators to remove key portions of the medical marijuana bill, portions supporters of the voter-backed initiative claim were designed to curtail cannabis distribution in Utah against the public’s will. “We did get a big win out of that,” she says. “We absolutely crushed it.”

Although the group would have liked to continue wrangling over the larger issue of the limits of the Utah Legislature’s power when it comes to legitimate citizen initiatives, “the money is just not there,” Stenquist says. Instead, she urges a “broad coalition” of other interest groups in Utah to unite and pursue the legal cause. “Two years is a long time to push on a lawsuit and not get as far as we had wanted, but they have the means to push back on anything they want,” she says, referring to the state government’s near infinite supply of funds sourced from taxes.

According to Ross “Rocky” Anderson, a Salt Lake City lawyer representing the group, the case has been dismissed “without prejudice,” meaning it can be refiled at any point in the future. However, he notes that this isn’t the first time successful citizen initiatives have been altered by lawmakers. “The Legislature acts so contemptuously towards the right of the people. We believe it is high time that we get an answer from the Utah Supreme Court as to whether there is really any meaningful right of initiative legislation under Utah’s constitution.”

It isn’t clear whether cannabis companies like Pure Extract Technologies Inc. see the legal battle in Utah as failing in its objectives, or the changes to the law made make the effort worthwhile even if it was pursued to the end.

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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420 with CNW – How Switching to Hemp Paper Could Result in a Sustainable Future

Despite the fact that we are living in a digital age, the most digital our world has ever been, our paper consumption has grown in the last 2 decades by 126%. Each year, approximately 208 million tons of paper are used globally. Many of these products of paper are single use and after, they are thrown away.

So, is there a more environmentally friendly way of making paper that does not involve cutting down billions of trees every year? Yes, paper made from hemp.

In early American history, hemp paper was commonly used. However, the legal restrictions that have been imposed on the cultivation of hemp have made it hard for the paper industry to dive into this sector. Hemp activists are however not letting the matter rest as they continue educating the nation on the various ways that hemp paper could help in shifting our current environmental crisis into a more sustainable future.

Here are a few reasons why everyone should switch to hemp paper.

Hemp is a Renewable Resource

Hemp is a highly renewable paper source. This does not mean trees aren’t renewable, they are. Replacing a tree that has been cut down takes between 20-80 years while hemp plants can be planted and harvested in 4 months. Switching to hemp paper produces more paper for the amount of land being used to grow the hemp plants and also saves our forests from more deforestation.

Hemp Helps Purify the Soil

Hemp improves the soil it grows in. It does this through pulling the toxic materials out of the soil using its roots, a process referred to as phytoremediation.

Hemp is so good at this that it has been used around Chernobyl to help clean up radioactive contaminants, remnants of the famous nuclear explosion. The plant has also been used to remove dioxins in the soil in Italy, which is ironic since dioxins are the toxic chemicals that are used to bleach wood in order to make paper.

Hemp Does Not Require Toxic Compounds to Make Paper

When making paper using wood, dioxins and chlorine is used to whiten the paper. These chemicals are poisonous and can pollute waterways.

On the other hand, hemp is whitened using hydrogen peroxide, which does not poison waterways like dioxins, making it the more environmentally-friendly option.

Hemp is Both Stronger and Longer Lasting

Hemp creates paper that is more durable and much stronger in comparison to paper from wood. Paper from wood also yellows and decomposes quickly while hemp, which is one of the strongest natural fibers in the world, does not yellow or decompose with age.

Hemp can be Recycled More Times than Wood Paper

Recycling makes a huge difference in everything. While paper from wood can only be recycled 3 times before it becomes unusable, hemp paper can be recycled up to 8 times.

Despite these advantages, legal restrictions and having only 23 paper mills globally that can make hemp paper makes hemp paper expensive and also difficult to find.

With an increase in demand though, this may change. When buying paper products, ask for hemp versions, from packaging to printer paper to rolling papers. A small step by many in one direction may influence a huge change in the world, so shop hemp. That would answer the wish of cannabis companies like Pac Roots Cannabis Corp. (CSE: PACR) who firmly believe that different forms of cannabis aren’t only good for the economy, they are also outstandingly good for the environment.

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CannabisNewsBreaks – Willow Biosciences Inc. (TSX: WLLW) (OTCQX: CANSF) Achieves Scalable Production of Pure CBG

Willow Biosciences (TSX: WLLW) (OTCQX: CANSF), a Vancouver, Canada-based company focused on manufacturing pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoids via synthetic biology, today announced that it has successfully developed a scalable process, with demonstrated production at 500 litre scale, for producing cannabigerol (“CBG”) with greater than 99% purity and no detectable tetrahydrocannabinol (“THC”). “Achieving scalable production of pure CBG is a pivotal milestone for both Willow and our industry” said Willow’s Chief Executive Officer Trevor Peters in the press release. “The market opportunity for high-purity cannabinoids manufactured under GMP control is expected to be in the billions of dollars in the coming years, and as the first company to successfully produce product samples, Willow is poised to capture a sizable portion of that market. We anticipate being able to begin commercialization of CBG in the first half of 2021 and are currently selecting manufacturing partners to assist us in reaching both local and worldwide markets.”

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About Willow Biosciences Inc.

Willow is a Canadian biotechnology company based in Vancouver, Canada, that produces high purity, plant-derived compounds that provide building blocks for the global pharmaceutical, health and wellness, and consumer packaged goods industries. Willow’s current focus is in the production of cannabinoids for the treatment for pain, anxiety, obesity, brain disorders, among other significant indications. Willow’s science team has a proven track record of developing manufacturing technologies for high purity compounds in pain and cancer treatments. Willow’s manufacturing process creates a consistent, scalable and sustainable product that allows for the discovery and development of new life changing drugs. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.WillowBio.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to WLLW are available in the company’s newsroom at http://cnw.fm/WLLW

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CanadianCannabisWire (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 – How Barcode Labels Improve Marijuana Security and Traceability

Despite being insanely profitable, the nascent cannabis industry still has plenty of kinks to work out. At the moment, the industry lacks a cohesive, nationwide regulatory structure and this has allowed plenty of lower quality products to slip through. Studies have found that a statistically significant portion of cannabis products on the market are either contaminated with heavy metals or do not contain what is stated on their labels. That’s what makes third party testing coupled with barcode labeling so crucial to the industry’s long term survival.

Cultivators, processors, and distributors are already required to track their products at every step of the production process, from seed to sale. That’s a whole lot of information and consumers as well as regulators need access to it to ensure the products are compliant with all regulations and are of high quality. However, since all that important information cannot fit on a conventional product label, barcodes were introduced.

Paired with common business systems like METRC, BioTrack, and MJFreeway, accurate and secure barcode labeling will streamline the end-to-end process and allow players in the cannabis space to meet traceability requirements. The Cannabis Industry Journal reports that “it is crucial to implement accurate labeling processes from the beginning, whether growing for a customer or your own vertically integrated operation.” And with the industry under strict labeling regulations, being compliant right from the start also protects you from any possible issues in the future.

“Your barcode labeling solution should also include label-approval requirements, so you have role-based access and transparency with label changes and print history in case of issues or recalls,” the Cannabis Industry Journal states. “Whatever cannabis labeling regulations your business faces, label design software helps you create compliant cannabis labels throughout the supply chain, from grower to customer.

Additionally, the journal says, select regulations require growers to leverage RFID technology to track the location of the plants in their grow houses. This technology enables real time inventory analysis and helps to reduce labor costs as well as possible errors that can occur with manual counting. A barcode labeling system that can enable easy RFID tag encoding that integrates data from all your business systems will allow you to accurately encode RFID tags with variable plant data.

Most importantly, labeling gives customers access to third party test results. A product label on a cannabis product ought to contain the pass/fail chemical testing, final date of testing and packaging, identification of the testing lab, cannabinoid profile and potency and third party lab test results. “A lot of information needs to go on a cannabis label,” the Cannabis Industry Journal concludes.

Experts say entities like Sugarmade, Inc. (OTCQB: SGMD) may already have a lot of fool-proof traceability systems in place, and startups in the cannabis space need to borrow a leaf from these veterans of the industry.

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420 with CNW – Vermont Assembly Approves Expanding Marijuana Expungement, Decriminalization Provisions

Last Friday, the Vermont House gave an early approval to a proposal that would issue automatic expungements of cannabis convictions, thus allowing people to possess and also grow more marijuana without the risk of getting jailed for a longer time than is allowed.

In the bill, people who have been convicted for cannabis possession for amounts up to 2 ounces, 4 fully grown marijuana plants and 8 immature plants before January 2021 will have their records cleared automatically, and the individuals who are granted expungements will be notified through the mail.

Despite the state legalizing possession of up to an ounce of marijuana and the growing of 2 plants in 2018, possessing a second ounce of marijuana or 3 plants is still considered a felony. If the new bill is passed, this would change.

The legislation also states that from 2021, individuals who have basic marijuana possession convictions will be allowed to deny that record in license, civil rights or employment. This is regardless of whether they have obtained a notice of their expungement being processed or not.

This provision was included by the House Judiciary Committee, which acquired jurisdiction over this legislation after Senate approved the bill earlier in May this year.

Individuals who are caught in possession of the decriminalized amounts mentioned above may face a fine of up to $100 for a first misdemeanor, $200 for a second misdemeanor and $500 for any subsequent offenses.

Matt Simon, who is the political director of the Marijuana Policy Project, New England stated in a recent interview that Vermont had a chance to move forward in terms of cannabis policy and establish an equitable market if S.54 and S.234 were made into laws.

Furthermore, the Senate and the House both approved bills to create a tax-regulated model for cannabis sales. Up until now however, the bills have not been enacted and activists as well as legislators in the state are still calling for the legalization of cannabis sales.

In a draft platform for 2020, Democratic Party insiders from Vermont included plans to legalize cannabis sales and decriminalize drug possession. The document is still subject to change though, based on the comments from delegates and county committees at the party’s meeting Saturday.

Vermont is not the only state pushing for expungement of records. In Virginia, both chambers of the state legislature approved proposals last week that would help individuals expunge prior cannabis convictions from their records.

It is believed that the entire cannabis industry, including The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (CSE: WTER) (NASDAQ: WTER), is pleased that Vermont is pressing ahead with marijuana policy reform.

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CannabisNewsBreaks – Pac Roots Cannabis Corp. (CSE: PACR) Expands Portfolio to Add 250 Acres in Prestigious Fraser Valley Region

Pac Roots (CSE: PACR) (“PacRoots”), a Canadian cannabis company dedicated to producing premium-quality strains and products by leveraging a genetics-focused approach, today announced the closing of a share purchase agreement with 1088070 BC. LTD., a company existing under the laws of Canada (“1088”) and Dave Jonkman and Norm Tapp (together, the “1088 Shareholders” and each, a “1088 Shareholder”). Under the agreement, PacRoots has acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of 1088, which owns and controls nine parcels comprised of 250 acres of prestigious land in the Fraser Valley Region of British Columbia. “The addition of such a substantial package of land to our portfolio is a major step for PacRoots. We are pleased to have the opportunity to add significant acreage with an acquisitional cost base of $9,600 per acre,” PacRoots president and CEO Patrick Elliott said in the news release. “This land has no zoning restrictions and is not situated within the Agricultural land reserve, which provides for infinite development possibilities.”

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

About Pac Roots Cannabis Corp.

Pac Roots is focused on delivering the finest genetics to Canadians. Preserving the excellence of its elite strains while introducing the highest quality of new strains to the public is the company’s passion. Genetic variation and stability form the foundation that drives the decision making for Pac Roots Cannabis Corp.’s business. For more information about the company, visit www.PacRoots.ca.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to PACR are available in the company’s newsroom at http://cnw.fm/PACR

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420 with CNW – Missouri Injects $2.1M from Medical Marijuana Taxes into Veterans’ Health Programs

For most states that legalized either recreational or medical cannabis, earning tax revenue wasn’t the endgame. Although sales tax wouldn’t hurt, especially now that the coronavirus pandemic has drastically affected the economy, plenty of states pledged to use some of the tax revenue derived from cannabis sales to fund social justice initiatives like health programs for military veterans. Missouri was among them, and although medical cannabis sales are slated to start later this month, the Show-Me State recently completed the first-ever transfer of cannabis revenue to a state’s veteran fund.

More than $2.1 million was transferred from the Department of Health and Senior Services (“DHSS”) to the Missouri Veterans Commission (“MVC”) where it will be used to fund health services for military veterans. The money was sourced from the millions of dollars already collected from license and registration fees from businesses and patients. As soon as medical cannabis dispensaries open later this month, a 4% tax will be levied on sales.

“Facilities are up and running now, and the first testing laboratory is on track to be operational very soon. We are confident that medical marijuana will become available for patients this month, and I am grateful for all the hard work by so many that got us to this point,” says Lyndall Fraker, director of DHSS’s medical marijuana regulation section. According to the DHSS, a “formal presentation of this significant transfer of funds is being planned in the near future.”

“Missourians voted on this amendment because it allowed for a safe and well-regulated medical marijuana program for patients, but it also was written to simultaneously benefit our very deserving veterans through services MVC will now be able to provide,” says DHSS Director Randall Williams, referring to a provision in the state’s medical marijuana law passed by voters in 2018 which routes all state cannabis revenue after expenses to the veterans’ commission.

However, while the $2,135, 510 sent to the Military Veterans Commission is quite a hefty sum, it’s a tiny fraction of the total funds the state raised from cannabis revenue. State law requires that tax revenue is first used to pay operational costs and Missouri spent quite a sum to pay off operational expenses last year. The state’s licensing program for medical cannabis businesses came under fire last year, with Missouri spending $1.3 million defending itself against legal challenges from applicants whose applications for a medical cannabis license were denied.

The Post-Dispatch Report notes that the state medical marijuana program had generated $19 million as of this past November, “meaning the state spent nearly 7 percent of fees collected last year on legal expenses.” The program also spent $3.1 million on administrative fees. According to State Rep. Peter Merideth, the state’s opaque licensing process and arbitrary cap on the number of licenses available undercut the program’s economic promise.

“There are businesses across our state ready to get off the ground, and the government’s getting in the way and stopping them from doing it. Instead of raising money from this whole business development in our state, we’re spending that money to pay lawyers and fight businesses from opening.”

All the same, the fact that millions have been sent to the veterans’ health programs is seen by experts as satisfying to sector companies like Pure Extract Technologies Inc. who strongly believe that the industry benefits all sections of society.

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420 with CNW – New Jersey Residents to Vote on Marijuana Legalization During November Poll

The coronavirus pandemic and the coming presidential election have eclipsed New Jersey’s ballot for this year, its highest profile one in 2020. Despite this though, New Jersey may be the latest state to legalize recreational cannabis, that is, if the constitutional amendment gets a yes majority from the voters.

In the first-ever vote-by-mail election in New Jersey, ballots are set to be sent to registered voters in the state soon.

Apart from voting for president as well as the U.S. Senate and House, the people of New Jersey will also be tasked with deciding whether to amend the state constitution in order to permit individuals who are 21 and older to use cannabis. This amendment will also allow for the state to establish a regulated market for cannabis.

If the ballot is passed, New Jersey would be the 12^th state, together with the District of Columbia, to legalize recreational cannabis.

A poll that was recently conducted showed that supporters are optimistic, given that more than three fifths of the voters voiced their support for recreational cannabis legalization. There are, however, a few opponents who are convinced that they can still persuade the voters against voting for the legalization. Both the opposition and supporter side have launched campaigns.

In support, NJ Can 2020, a social welfare group is planning on running digital ads to support the ballot. The group is made up of organizations such as the Latino Action Network, the ACLU of New Jersey, Drug Policy Action as well as the New Jersey CannaBusiness Association, among many others.

The group supports this measure, stating that the legalization of recreational cannabis will help boost the state’s economy by creating employment opportunities and raising tax revenue. Additionally, its legalization will right a social injustice in terms of the disparities in possession arrests, with black residents more likely to face incarceration almost 3 times more in comparison to their white counterparts.

This isn’t the first time New Jersey has tried to pass this legislation. The motion was first introduced last year but failed to get enough support from lawmakers. So instead, in December of 2019, the legislature voted to give the choice to voters this year.

If the amendment is approved, the state commission that will be overseeing the medical cannabis program will also be in charge of establishing the recreational-use market. In addition to the age-restriction, marijuana will also be subject to the state’s sales tax of 6.625%.

However, it remains unclear how soon cannabis will reach the market after the legislation is passed. Experts say the entire marijuana industry, including Pac Roots Cannabis Corp. (CSE: PACR), will be waiting with bated breath to see what decision the voters will make in November.

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420 with CNW – Colorado Marijuana Farmers Risk Losing Millions as Early Cold Weather Sets In

Although growing cannabis can be quite a rewarding experience, it is fraught with numerous complications. The plant requires a specific set of conditions to thrive, and farmers could find themselves facing losses due to any number of reasons. This time, it was the cold. Colorado has seen uncharacteristically frigid temperatures this month. The second week of September saw especially cold temperatures that dropped below freezing and dumped inches of snow on the ground, potentially destroying millions of dollars’ worth of outdoor cannabis and hemp plants.

For most outdoor cannabis and hemp farmers in Colorado, the roughly 70-degree temperature swing came way too early in the season, and very few, if any, were able to preemptively harvest their crop. Farmers who didn’t have adequate weather protection had to stand and watch as their crops froze and stems and branches broke under the weight of the snow. According to Dr. Jon Vaught, CEO, and co-founder of Front Range Biosciences, a Colorado-based cannabis biotech firm with hemp growing operations, the storm was catastrophic for growers.

James Lowe, co-owner at the PotCo outdoor marijuana farm outside Pueblo was confident that he was ready for the coming low temperatures. However, the forecast didn’t prepare him for up to 9 inches of wet snow. The PotCo farm has grown roughly 7,000 plants, many 7-8 feet tall, in partnership with neighbor Next 1 Labs, and the low temperatures could cost them millions. “We were on pace for the largest harvest we’ve ever had. The weight of it was what ended up being the problem.”

He says that they may suffer losses of up to $4 million to $5 million, with the severity of the loss depending on several factors. If plants hang on long enough for the temperatures to increase, they will be able to harvest the flower as planned but if not, the entire crop would go toward extraction for a significantly lower price. “The THC is still out in the field, and it’s not going anywhere,” Lowe says, stressing that they won’t suffer a total loss.

Harvey Craig, a hemp grower in the San Luis Valley in Southern Colorado says that anything that was left outside “froze pretty solid.” 70% of his crop is in greenhouses, and although he used shade cloth, canvas, and plastic to protect the rest of the outdoor plants, the wet and heavy snow snapped uncovered plants at the stalk and broke branches. “This is devastating to a lot of farmers. I hope this doesn’t put people over the edge. The hemp industry is a tough struggle.”

The news coming out of Colorado regarding the early cold weather is likely bad news for the entire cannabis industry, including Sugarmade, Inc. (OTCQB: SGMD).

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420 with CNW – Marijuana Back in the Spotlight; Twitter to Blame for Bad Press

Twitter has partnered up with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to advocate for substance misuse treatment. When a Twitter user searches for “marijuana” or any other substance-related keyword, health warnings will appear. However, it turns out this only applies to marijuana.

In partnership with the same federal drug agency, Twitter began to add a notification above tweets on certain drug terms earlier this week. In addition to this, the notification also directs Twitter users to SAMHSA’s website and help line.

Advocates for drug policy reform have drawn attention to the fact that the message sustains the stereotype about drug use, which suggests that an interest in any of the ‘substances’ shows an indication that the users may have a problem with seeking treatment. Other than that, there are various reasons why people might have an online interest in marijuana, which may include wanting to follow news on policy debates that discuss its legalization. Additionally, a majority of people who consume marijuana are not dependent or addicted to it and many may not appreciate the suggestion that they may require professional help.

This is not to mean that advocating for substance misuse treatment is necessarily problematic. The problem lies in the fact that Twitter chose to attach these notices to marijuana and other drugs that are currently illegal while alcohol brands are still allowed promotions on their platform. For instance, when you search vodka in the search bar, alcohol companies pop up.

Similarly, when you search alcohol, wine or beer, no warnings are displayed alongside, which is a little worrying. This is because according to the World Health Organization, we lose more than 3,000,000 people due to the harmful use of alcohol, each year. On the other hand, the Drug Enforcement Agency has admitted that no reports of deaths have been made concerning marijuana overdoses.

What’s more interesting about this is the fact that only searches for “cocaine,” “marijuana” and “heroin” were flagged whilst searches for “LSD,” “cannabis,” “MDMA,” “pills,” “psilocybin,” “adderall” as well as other drug terms are not accompanied with invitations to seek help. This sheds the light on the arbitrary nature of this new feature on Twitter.

Its unexpected timing also coincides with Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden calling for the promotion of compulsory drug rehabilitation treatment of persons who are charged with possession. Many advocates of drug reform feel this reinforces the misconception about substance abuse.

Furthermore, the effectiveness of mandatory rehabilitation programs is scientifically questionable. It would be interesting to hear what companies like The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (CSE: WTER) (NASDAQ: WTER) have to say about this seeming improper portrayal of marijuana users and the substance itself.

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