420 with CNW – Marijuana Law Changes in Mexico and Canada May Finally Change Texas Attitudes

The legalization of marijuana in Canada, and the impending legal change to marijuana laws in Mexico now leaves Texas isolated as the only jurisdiction in that area where cannabis isn’t legal. This “engulfment” is likely to generate sufficient pressure to cause a change in Texas sooner rather than later.

Already, public opinion in the state has shifted in favor of lesser punishment for those found in possession of small amounts of cannabis.

Moreover, Kim Ogg, the Harris County District Attorney, entered office in 2017 and started a new program in which small-time cannabis offenders would avoid jail time and a criminal record if they enrolled for a drug education class and stayed clear of re-arrest on similar charges.

This “diversion program” has also been replicated in at least one other Texas county. Ogg reasoned that it wasn’t helpful to devote badly needed resources to hunting down, prosecuting and incarcerating people on minor drugs charges and yet those resources could be put to better use to make communities safer by dealing with other pressing law enforcement issues, such as stemming the growth of child sex abuse online.

In a parallel measure that shows where Texan law is going, the state legislature passed a law in 2015 enabling doctors to prescribe CBD oil for patients whose conditions were unresponsive to the existing conventional drugs.

That law in effect shows that medical marijuana isn’t far off from being legally available as a complementary treatment beyond the narrow description provided as that bill was passed.

Interestingly, Texas also has the distinction of having the cities where the highest amount of cannabis is consumed despite the existence of prohibitionist laws. Research has it that Houston consumes approximately 21 metric tons of marijuana annually. This makes the city rank at number four on the list of the top ten cities in terms of marijuana consumption around the country.

Dallas is also in the top 10, coming in at number seven with an annual consumption of approximately 15 metric tons of cannabis.

So, where is all that weed coming from if no cultivation is allowed in Texas?

In the past, smugglers met the demand by moving cannabis from Mexico to the Lone Star state. However, the relaxation of cannabis laws in the states neighboring Texas has provided a domestic (U.S.) source for the Texas cannabis black market.

In fact, consumers now prefer the superior quality of marijuana produced within the U.S. rather than the crop from Mexico that doesn’t conform to any quality standards. It is now known that licensed growers in the states where medical marijuana is allowed produce much more than what can be consumed within those states. The excess product finds its way into the black market, and this reality has been causing federal prosecutors sleepless nights.

Wouldn’t it be wiser for Texas, and the federal government to legalize cannabis in order to end this cat and mouse game with the black market? Such a decision would ease many of the legal minefields in the way of Canopy Rivers Inc. (TSX.V: RIV), Cannabis Strategic Ventures, Inc. (OTC: NUGS) and the entire cannabis industry.

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420 with CNW – Cannabis is More Potent than it was a Decade Ago, Study Finds

Researchers who collected and analyzed data taken from at least 28 European countries have discovered that the potency and price of cannabis has increased significantly over the last decade.

The researchers from King’s College London and University of Bath found that the strength of cannabis has doubled from what it was 11 years ago. The data used in this study was taken from the data collected by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction.

The researchers looked at cannabis from two perspectives or categories. One was herbal cannabis and the other was resin cannabis.

The concentration of THC doubled from five percent to 10 percent between 2006 and 2016 in herbal cannabis. Similarly, cannabis resin had its THC content jump from eight percent to 17 percent between 2006 and 2017.

The price of herbal cannabis and cannabis resin also rose steadily during the years analyzed by the researchers. For example, the price of a gram of herbal cannabis rose from 7.36 Euros ($8.41) to 12.22 Euros ($13.97) between 2006 and 2016.

The researchers also observed that while the THC content of cannabis was increasing with time, there was no commensurate rise in the CBD content of cannabis over the same duration covered in the study.

This increase in the concentration of THC raises many concerns since users are more likely to show the psychoactive (and potentially harmful) side-effects of using marijuana. In contrast, a higher CBD content moderates the psychoactive elements of cannabis, so it would be beneficial to see CBD rising in tandem with any increase in THC content.

However, the seizures made by British police show that cannabis resin has stable or reducing levels of CBD and yet the THC content has been growing. This is in contrast to herbal cannabis whose CBD level has been relatively constant even if THC has increased.

Globally, approximately 192 million people use cannabis either for medicinal or recreational purposes. However, these numbers are likely to increase as more jurisdictions pass laws ending prohibition or allowing medical marijuana.

It is therefore necessary to conduct thorough research about the likely impact of this highly potent cannabis on the market. Similarly, regulators need to find ways to regulate the potency of the cannabis released into the market in a way that is similar to how alcohol potency is controlled. For now, consumers should take a cautious approach and remember that a gram of cannabis today may be the equivalent of more than two grams of cannabis a decade ago, so less can be consumed while still offering the same ‘high’.

TransCanna, Therma Bright, Inc. (TSX.V: THRM) (OTC: THRBF) and other industry players have been calling for the relaxation of prohibitionist laws in the U.S. so that the scientific community there can study marijuana and facilitate the growth of the industry without exposing users to avoidable risks.

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Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference Will Bring Cannabis Visionaries and Investors Together

Presented by Benzinga, the upcoming cannabis conference will be held at the Eden Roc in Miami Beach, Florida; it is the go-to source event for investors who want the latest news and opportunities from the burgeoning sector
The conference will kick off on January 15 with an invite-only C-Suite retreat for cannabis operators; the audience will be just 100 C-Suite executives; a pre-retreat reception will be held the night prior
The conference will feature company presentations, networking receptions and an all-star lineup of knowledgeable keynote speakers talking about the global opportunities for cannabis

Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference (CCC) will offer attendees a fast-paced comprehensive lineup of speed networking, a specially selected lineup of keynoters, corporate presentations for investors and a look at the future of cannabis internationally. It will be held January 15-16 at the Eden Roc in Miami Beach (www.BenzingaCannabisConference.com).

The attendee mix is expected to consist of 25 percent institutional investors, 20 percent retail investors, 40 percent public cannabis companies, 10 percent private cannabis companies and five percent media.

Reserve your place and book hotel rooms for CCC now at http://cnw.fm/42sPg. Be sure to learn more about how you can qualify for special discounted tickets and hotel rooms.

“Benzinga’s Cannabis Capital Conference brings together the crème de la crème of the cannabis world,” Neal Hamilton, vice president of marketing for Benzinga, stated in a recent press release. “Benzinga has long presided as a financial media leader, offering broad coverage relative to the cannabis space. We now bring that standout expertise to a live setting where entrepreneurs and investors can network, forge deals and learn from today’s top cannabis influencers, policymakers and innovators.”

CCC will showcase the following public and private companies:

AmeriCann Inc. (OTCQB: ACAN)
Aurora Cannabis Inc. (TSX: ACB) (NYSE: ACB)
Cannex Capital Holdings Inc. (CSE: CNNX) (OTCQX: CNXXF)
Harvest Health & Recreation Inc. (CSE: HARV)
CEDR HR Solutions
CuraLeaf Holdings Inc. (CSE: CURA)
DionyMed Brands Inc. (OTC: HMDEF)
Growcentia
iAnthus Capital Holdings Inc. (CSE: IAN) (OTCQX: ITHUF)
InMed Pharmaceuticals Inc. (OTCQX: IMLFF) (TSX: IN)
KushCo Holdings Inc. (OTCQB: KSHB)
LGC Capital Ltd. (TSX.V: LG)
Liberty Health Sciences Inc. (OTCQX: LHSIF)
MariMed Inc. (OTCQB: MRMD)
Medicine Man Technologies Inc. (OTCQX: MDCL)
Medipharm Labs Corp. (TSX.V: LABS)
MJ Freeway
New Frontier Data
Newstrike Brands Ltd. (TSX.V: HIP)
Plus Products Inc. (CSE: PLUS)
Pure Global Cannabis Inc. (OTC: PRCNF) (TSX.V: PURE)
Radicle Inc./Gage Cannabis
Starbuds/Compass Cannabis
Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE: TRUL) (OTC: TCNNF)
Valens GroWorks Corp. (OTCQB: MYMSF)
Wayland Group Corp. (OTCQB: MRRCF) (CSE: WAYL)
High Tide Inc. (CSE: HITI)

For more information, visit the event’s website at www.BenzingaCannabisConference.com

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420 with CNW – Cannabis Drinks Likely to Be a Big Hit in 2019

As calls for marijuana legalization sweep across the U.S., many companies are gearing up to provide yet another way to get your high, by sipping marijuana. Cannabis-infused drinks are poised to be a big thing in 2019 and beyond if the undertones surrounding the cannabis industry are to be believed.

First, industrial hemp is now legal to grow after the 2018 Farm Bill was signed into law. This means that companies will have a huge source of CBD (the non-psychoactive cannabinoid in hemp and marijuana) to use when making cannabis beverages.

Such drinks may be the first to become popular since name-brand giants like Coca-Cola have expressed an interest in making them. Those beverage giants have massive experience in building a brand from scratch and distributing it to all corners of the world cost-effectively, skills that will be crucial in getting the cannabis drinks to as many people as possible without affecting their cost.

Secondly, the medical use of marijuana is growing rapidly and more states are due to pass legislation or vote on ballot measures to legalize medical marijuana. This sector will also provide huge opportunities for cannabis drinks to take root and thrive. Already, one brewer has put a non-alcoholic cannabis beverage on the shelves of medical marijuana dispensaries. You can bet that more such drinks are in the offing, and consumers may be spoilt for choice by the end of 2019.

A number of craft beer makers have also gotten in on the action and it is now easy to find “cannabis beer” in states where recreational cannabis is legal. However, that beer just contains terpenes that give the beer flavors similar to cannabis flavors. Consequently, you aren’t likely to get a double-high (drunk on beer and high on marijuana). So, don’t be fooled when you see the image of a marijuana leaf or plant slapped on a beer can.

There’s a major reason why you are unlikely to find an alcoholic drink that contains THC. The existing laws in the country don’t allow any maker of alcohol to include THC among the ingredients used to make that alcoholic drink.

This legal provision has a firm foundation in logic, for you wouldn’t want to learn the hard way what a concoction of different intoxicating substances can do your body and mind.

If you didn’t know about that provision of the law, then you need to be first in line to get your ticket to the upcoming Cannabis Drinks Expo in San Francisco so that you can interact with different players in the cannabis industry, such as Youngevity International, Inc. (NASDAQ: YGYI) and VIVO Cannabis Inc. (TSX.V: VIVO) (OTCQX: VVCIF) as you sip on the different drinks available.

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420 with CNW – Malawi Drafts Bill to Legalize Marijuana Farming

The parliament in Malawi has drafted a bill that will make it legal to grow marijuana and hemp both medicinally and industrially. The bill comes at a time when the country’s export earnings have taken a huge hit as tobacco sales decline year by year.

Tobacco sales have been bringing in at least 60 percent of the country’s foreign exchange earnings, but the sustained anti-smoking efforts spearheaded by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other groups have triggered a downward trend in the number of people who smoke. Malawi is feeling the effects of those efforts.

Moreover, the estimated value of the largest tobacco companies in the world, such as Altria (makers of Marlboro) and British American Tobacco (BAT) has declined by at least 20 percent.

In the U.S. alone, there has been a 67 percent reduction in the number of smokers from 1965. Today, approximately 14 percent of the U.S. population smokes tobacco cigarettes, and this number continues to reduce year by year.

The cannabis and hemp industry has therefore been lobbying the Malawi government to pass enabling legislation so that the country can diversify its sources of foreign currency earnings. Their campaigns are bolstered by the global trends which show that cannabis and industrial hemp are on the rise as huge commercial crops.

For example, an acre of land on which 2,500 hemp plants are grown fetches approximately $60,000 annually in the U.S., while a similar number of tobacco plants on an acre of land brings a paltry $5,000 annually to Malawi. Making the switch to hemp and cannabis would therefore be a no-brainer when these statistics are considered.

Additionally, the cost of growing hemp and cannabis is likely to be much lower in Malawi given that the country has favorable climate that can allow outdoor grows throughout the year. This is unlike the climate of Canada and the U.S. where indoor facilities have to be used to have supplies of cannabis and hemp all year round.

If the bill is passed, then Malawi will join the ranks of South Africa, Lesotho and Zimbabwe where cannabis prohibition has ended. The question on everyone’s mind is, when will the U.S. federal government finally see the errors of continuing to prohibit marijuana while the rest of the world is legalizing marijuana and allowing researchers and entrepreneurs to understand and commercialize the plant? The Green Organic Dutchman (TSX: TGOD) (OTCQX: TGODF), The Flowr Corporation (TSX.V: FLWR) and other cannabis industry players are also asking themselves that question.

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420 with CNW – Study Finds That Veterinarians Want Cannabis Legalized for Pets

A recent survey has discovered that the majority of veterinarians want the laws on marijuana relaxed for both pets and humans. Many of those who participated in the survey felt that they were fairly informed about the medicinal use of marijuana, but they lamented that state veterinary associations or boards aren’t providing guidance to keep their members informed about how to handle the subject of cannabis for pets with clients.

The study, whose findings were released in Frontiers in Veterinary Studies (a respected industry journal), had more than 2,100 certified veterinarians sharing their views.

The researchers observed that just under five in 10 of the practicing veterinarians who took part in the survey revealed that they didn’t feel at ease discussing marijuana with pet owners. This hesitation was more noticeable among the veterinarians who had recently graduated, and were therefore new to the field.

Only eight percent of the respondents said that they had never been asked by a pet owners about CBD products for pets.

A significant proportion of the respondents (66 percent) admitted that they would never recommend marijuana for dogs while approximately five percent revealed that they routinely recommend CBD to dog owners.

Two key reasons were given to explain why the veterinarians were uncomfortable recommending marijuana to pet owners. First, 65 percent of the veterinarians felt that more research on the subject was needed. Secondly, 53 percent were reluctant because of the legal issues surrounding marijuana.

CBD was either recommended or discussed for pain management, fireworks or storms phobias, seizures or anxiety.

A huge majority (82 percent) of the study participants said that CBD should be removed from Schedule 1 while 70 percent of the respondents want marijuana rescheduled from where it is currently classified (Schedule 1).

The authors of the study wrote that the existing laws, and the polarization between marijuana advocates and those opposed to it, have made it hard for veterinarians to feel at ease when discussing marijuana with pet owners.

The authors therefore called on state veterinary boards and state veterinary associations to be more forthcoming with actionable guidance to veterinarians so that these professionals aren’t on their own when responding to queries from their clients.

The voices from different groups (alcohol retailers, mayors, etc.) are getting louder in their demands for marijuana law reform at the federal level. This survey of certified and practicing veterinarians is yet another addition to those calls. How long will the federal government wait before it listens and acts accordingly? Participants in the industry, such as Supreme Cannabis Inc. (TSX.V: FIRE) (OTCQX: SPRWF) and Sunniva Inc. (CSE: SNN) (OTCQB: SNNVF) hope that federal action is seen sooner rather than later so that even players outside the U.S. don’t have a cloud hanging over their heads.

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420 with CNW – Israeli Parliament Approves Export of Marijuana

The Israeli parliament voted unanimously in favor of a bill that would pave the way for Israel to start exporting medical cannabis. The approval of this bill by cabinet would allow Israel to be the third country in the world (following the lead of the Netherlands and Canada) to tap into the global medical marijuana market.

iCAN, an Israeli company that specializes in medical cannabis, welcomed the decision in parliament and added that the global medical cannabis market is likely to be worth $33 billion within the coming five years as the stigma directed at marijuana melts away.

This growing demand is likely to be entirely met by the few countries which have passed regulations to certify medical cannabis exports. For example, South Korea recently passed a medical marijuana law, and imports will only be accepted from countries that have approved cannabis products for medical use. Israel is now one potential source for medical cannabis for the South Korea market.

The stock market in Israel welcomed the news of the passing of this bill and cannabis companies registered massive gains (up to 10 percent) late on Tuesday (December 25) as the bill was passed.

However, the passing of this law didn’t come easily. For several years, the draft bill lay in limbo as there was massive opposition from law enforcement towards its enactment. The authorities were apprehensive that a significant portion of the medical marijuana which is exported may find its way onto the global black market.

To address these concerns, the framers of the bill added provisions that gave the Israeli police authority to supervise how medical cannabis export licenses are issued. The law imposes strict regulations upon the exporters, and those who violate that law face huge fines and prison time.

The Israel Securities Authority (ISA) immediately appealed to investors to avoid rushing to put their money in marijuana companies just because legislators had passed a law permitting medical cannabis exports. This appeal was similar to the appeal ISA issued regarding cryptocurrencies approximately one year ago.

The bill permitting the export of medical cannabis was passed just before parliament took a break so that preparations for the early elections called (due in April next year) can take place. Any additional delay would have compelled the House to postpone debate and voting on the bill until after the elections.

The export market is important to Israeli cannabis companies since the domestic market isn’t large enough to keep them growing and thriving. What is now left is for cabinet and Benjamin Netanyahu to approve the bill. However, there is some apprehension that the Prime Minister may avoid playing his hand on this controversial topic until after the elections on April 9, 2019.

Sugarmade, Inc. (OTCQB: SGMD), Sproutly Canada, Inc. (OTCQB: SRUTF) (CSE: SPR) (FRA: 38G) and other parties in the cannabis industry welcome the decision in Israel since it will add depth to the existing players at the global level.

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420 with CNW – Oregon Eases Access to Medical Marijuana

The authority in charge of overseeing cannabis in Oregon (the Oregon Liquor Control Commission) has released new rules that will make it easier for patients to access medical marijuana.

The new rules that are set to take effect tomorrow (December 28) will allow marijuana to be delivered to those areas where the local authorities have passed ordinances banning any marijuana-related business activity within their jurisdictions.

The new provision of the rules is welcome news to patients and caregivers because they will no longer have to travel long distances in order to replenish their medical cannabis supplies.

Additionally, the new rules have also increased the limit on how much cannabis one can buy at a go. Previously, a patient holding a medical cannabis card was only allowed to buy an ounce (28.3 grams) of cannabis.

This limitation was particularly hard on patients or caregivers from the areas where medical cannabis was prohibited. This is because such people would be compelled to make frequent trips to distant medical cannabis dispensaries.

The new rules now allow a patient or caregiver carrying a valid medical cannabis card to purchase up to 8 ounces (226.4 grams) of cannabis. This higher cap means that patients will now reduce how frequently they go to purchase replenishments.

Why the change of heart on the quantities?

It was previously feared that allowing medical cannabis cardholders to buy larger amounts of cannabis would create opportunities for the medical cannabis program to be used as a supply source for the recreational use of marijuana. However, this may have proved to be an unfounded fear.

Secondly, the inconvenience of having to go to a dispensary so frequently was burdensome to many patients and caregivers, so a concession on how much could be purchased was an inevitable compassionate step to take.

It is estimated that Oregon has approximately 50,000 people registered to access medical marijuana. The state legalized medical marijuana in 1998, and it has been updating its regulatory framework periodically, based on the changing realities within the state, and borrowing from the experiences of other states where medical marijuana has since been legalized. It is in this same spirit that plans are underway to pass permanent rules regulating CBD products and hemp in the wake of the passing of the Farm Bill 2018.

SinglePoint, Inc. (OTCQB: SING) and other industry participants like Redfund Capital Corp. (CSE: LOAN) (OTC: PNNRF) (Frankfurt: 03X4) welcome the changes Oregon has made in response to the persistent problems that patients and their caregivers were experiencing.

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420 with CNW – Cannabis Legalization Has Reduced Smuggling and Improved Border Security, Study Finds

A new study has shown that the legalization of marijuana in different states has reduced drug smuggling and made the Southern U.S. border safer. This research was conducted by the Cato Institute.

The Cato Institute analyzed data on how much marijuana has been seized by Border Patrol agents over time. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regularly releases statistics about the different drugs that have been seized at the different ports of entry into the country.

The analysis shows that over a period of five years, the quantity of marijuana smuggled has reduced by a whopping 78 percent. Similarly, the amount of marijuana seized by each Border Patrol agent has reduced by an average of 70 percent.

Colorado and Washington were the pioneers of marijuana legalization, and there are nearly a dozen states that have now ended the prohibition of marijuana. Many more are set to follow suit in the coming years as ballot measures and legislative action is already in advanced stages in several states as this year ends.

The Cato analysis is timely since it comes at a time when the White House is pushing hard for the construction of a wall on a large section of the border with Mexico. In fact, disagreement over the border wall even caused a partial government shutdown that is still ongoing.

The analysis of smuggling data shows that building a wall at the Mexican border isn’t likely to reduce the rate (and quantity) of the drugs smuggled into the U.S. Remember, the number of Border Patrol agents was dramatically increased between 2003 and 2009, but the CBP seizures data didn’t show any decline in the per-agent marijuana seizures. Only legalization has resulted in such a reduction since most consumers are more comfortable buying their cannabis from regulated sources instead of taking a chance with the smuggled substance for which no quality controls are implemented.

It is also worth remembering that the U.S. government constructed hundreds of miles of border fencing at about the same time when it doubled the CBP workforce, but there was no change in the data on smuggling. It may therefore be reasonable to expect that the wall may not fare any better since the real reason for smuggling (the lack of legal marijuana in some states) hasn’t been addressed.

As for the different marijuana industry players like Plus Products Inc. (CSE: PLUS) and Phivida Holdings Inc. (CSE: VIDA) (OTCQX: PHVAF), the Cato research is yet another piece of evidence that marijuana legalization has so many direct and indirect benefits.

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420 with CNW – Research Shows that Fewer Teens Consumed Cannabis in Washington after Legalization

Many opponents of cannabis legalization often argue that teens will use the substance once it is legalized. However, a recent study done in Washington State has found that such fears are unfounded.

The researchers carefully analyzed the data collected during the Washington Healthy Youth Surveys conducted in 2010-2012 and the data gathered during the 2014-2016 survey. The data clearly shows that the number of teens who reported that they use cannabis had declined.

Recreational marijuana was legalized in the state in 2012, so the researchers had a keen interest in comparing consumption rates before and after legalization.

The study found that marijuana use among eighth-graders dropped by nearly 3 percent from approximately 10 percent in the years just before legalization to approximately 7 percent in the data captured following legalization.

There was a drop of 2 percent among 10th graders since the rate stood at 20 percent in the data captured in the 2010-2012 surveys while the rate was 18 percent when those teens were surveyed in 2014-2016. There was no change in the percentage of 12th graders who consume cannabis.

However, the researchers were quick to point out that their findings do not in any way suggest that the drop in cannabis use among teens is entirely the result of legalization. They also added that their findings may not be an accurate indicator of what trend marijuana consumption among teens will take in the long-term.

The researchers suggested that more research needs to be done about the how the availability of cannabis in given neighborhoods affects the marijuana-use patterns of teens. Such research is necessary since what happens in the state capital may have little influence on what happens in particular neighborhoods.

The impact of advertising, packaging and the proximity of retail outlets should also be investigated to reveal how those factors influence the drug-use behavior of minors.

In the meantime, another study that was published shortly before the one on teenage cannabis use shows that the number of cannabis users in Washington State is almost twice what it was thought to be. This study makes the findings showing a lower prevalence of marijuana use among teens even more significant since it becomes clearer that legalization didn’t trigger a spike in the number of teens who can access and consume cannabis.

Cannabis industry participants like Net Element (NASDAQ: NETE) and Medical Cannabis Payment Solutions (OTC: REFG) are glad that verifiable scientific studies are disproving those who want to discredit cannabis at every opportunity.

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