420 with CNW – Canadians Unhappy About Plastic Packaging of Cannabis

Canada legalized recreational cannabis on October 17 and the ongoing shortages aren’t the only thing that is having Canadians concerned. Many have expressed their displeasure regarding the amount of plastic packaging that comes with each gram of marijuana that they buy.

Some keen consumers have even measured the total weight of the plastic packaging and they found that a gram of cannabis could be packaged in as much as 70 grams of plastic! That amount of packaging raises concerns since plastic is not biodegradable.

Furthermore, Canada currently lacks a program targeted at recycling the plastic waste generated by the cannabis industry. This creates the risk that all that plastic may end up in the ocean, especially in communities that live close to the shore.

Some Canadians have even taken to social media to post the pictures of the packaging materials that come with the cannabis that they buy. The views and comments that such pictures attract show that concerns about plastic packaging aren’t isolated to environmental protection fanatics alone.

Customers who used to get their marijuana from medical marijuana dispensaries say that the medical cannabis was packaged in simple, plastic zip lock bags. That form of packaging wasn’t as wasteful as what is being seen with the cannabis that comes from recreational cannabis retail outlets.

The question therefore becomes, is there a reason to explain why recreational cannabis is packaged “excessively”?

The information available on Health Canada’s website doesn’t appear to dictate the way cannabis should be packaged. The website states that the immediate packaging of cannabis should clearly reveal when tampering has occurred. That packaging should also be child-proof while keeping the cannabis dry and free from contamination.

Manufacturers are therefore free to choose how they package their products as long as the options they choose meet the requirements of Health Canada.

One can therefore conclude that the manufacturers have opted to use plastic packaging probably because it is cheap and can keep their production costs low. Glass is a more eco-friendly but costlier material to use.

What about the zippered plastic bags? Manufacturers may have pushed them to the sidelines because they may not have been as child-proof as Health Canada would like. Remember, concerns about access to recreational cannabis by minors was one of the biggest objections to legalization.

As things stand, suppliers of cannabis to the recreational market need to go back to the drawing board and find ways to avail their products without harming the environment. After all, cannabis has always been seen as the eco-friendly (natural) option to the problems that come with synthetic drugs. It wouldn’t be fair for the footprint of this green remedy to be soiled by the containers in which cannabis is carried and distributed. Sunniva Inc. (CSE: SNN) (OTCQB: SNNVF) and Supreme Cannabis Company Inc. (TSX.V: FIRE) (OTCQX: SPRWF) wouldn’t want cannabis to have its reputation mired in a plastic mess.

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420 with CNW – 3 House Bills Seek to Reform Cannabis Policies for US Veterans

A team of Republican and Democratic lawmakers revealed that they will be tabling three bills aimed and reforming the different marijuana policies that affect veterans in the country. The bills, if enacted, would formalize the protections offered to veterans who seek medical marijuana as an alternative to opioids as well as create mechanisms for such options to be implemented in a safe way.

The first proposed bill is titled “Department of Veterans Affairs Policy for Medicinal Cannabis Use Act 2018”. The intention of this bill is to amend and codify the existing policy at the VA office through which veterans are protected from any adverse consequences in case their healthcare providers learn that the veterans are using medical cannabis.

This new bill plans to clarify what the roles and responsibilities of veterans/patients and their healthcare providers are on the subject of medical cannabis. The bill would also require that the policy is displayed prominently at all facilities set up by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The second bill is titled “Department of Veterans Affairs Survey of Medicinal Cannabis Use Act 2018”. This bill seeks to make it possible for research to be done by the VA department in order to get concrete information about how veterans are seeking and using medical cannabis.

Such information can be vital in designing interventions which will help the veterans to get medical cannabis in a way that doesn’t compromise any other treatment which they may be receiving for their conditions. The bill is informed by the fact that just over a fifth of all veterans have used some form of medical cannabis, so the process needs to be understood by the authorities.

The third bill is titled “Department of Veterans Affairs Medicinal Cannabis Education Act 2018”. The purpose of this bill is to make it possible for the Department of Veterans Affairs to create partnerships with medical universities that are conducting training on medical cannabis. Such a partnership would help to educate primary healthcare providers about medical cannabis so that veterans benefit from that better understanding of how medical cannabis can be added to the other treatment plans of veterans. This education would take the form of continuing education.

As you can see, the bills are well-intentioned and they deserve a favorable treatment by Congress. It remains to be seen how they will be received and the final form in which they will be passed, if they get to that stage. Cannabis industry players like Sproutly Canada, Inc. (OTCQB: SRUTF) (CSE: SPR) (FRA: 38G) and Sugarmade, Inc. (OTCQB: SGMD) have a high regard for all veterans and hope that the bills make it through so that the veterans can access medical cannabis in a formal way.

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420 with CNW – US Federal Government Sends Out Advert for Cannabis Cultivators

The Federal Business Opportunities website recently featured an advert of great interest to the cannabis industry. In that advert, the federal government was inviting entities to submit their capability statements if they felt they could grow or supply different quantities of marijuana strains or products.

The advert stipulates that any firms interested in the opportunity should have the capacity to store at least 5000 kilos of marijuana.

This advert is good news to the cannabis industry because for long, it has been difficult to get hold of cannabis for research purposes. This is because the only federally-licensed producer, Mississippi University, could not meet the quantity and quality requirements of the marijuana needed for clinical trials and other research purposes. The sole cultivator was licensed in 1968 and that is how the situation remained for all these decades.

The advert also explains that any prospective cultivator should have the ability to grow or procure cannabis having different concentrations of CBD and THC from reputable foreign sources.

It will also be mandatory for the selected suppliers to manufacture standardized cannabis cigarettes.

Needless to say, the advert also asked interested companies to apply only if they have the capacity to ship cannabis securely to scientists in different locations around the country. FDA quality requirements will be adhered to for any manufacturing or storage facility used by the producers.

You should remember that this announcement comes a few months after University College San Diego got permission to import marijuana capsules from Canada since those needed products couldn’t be obtained within U.S. borders. The cannabis was to be used for clinical trials aimed at finding a treatment for childhood autism.

The invitation sent out by the federal government will therefore open the way for large cannabis industry players to take part in making it possible for scientific research on cannabis to be conducted in the US.

This business opportunity advert comes at a time when the news of the resignation of Jeff Sessions as Attorney General is still fresh in the cannabis industry and around the country. Could his presence in office have delayed the making of such decisions since he was so opposed to any form of cannabis legalization?

Industry players like Redfund Capital Corp. (CSE: LOAN) (OTC: PNNRF) (Frankfurt: 03X4) and SinglePoint, Inc. (OTCQB: SING) can only hope that the companies which will be selected at the end of the screening process will deliver cannabis whose quality is high enough for research purposes unlike what has been previously available from federal sources.

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420 with CNW – California Judge Rules in Favor of Marijuana Home Growers

When California legalized recreational cannabis, it allowed people to grow a maximum of six plants for their own use. The state permitted cities and other local authorities to pass their own additional ordinances or regulations to implement the law passed at state level. Some cities, such as Fontana, took this liberty as a chance for them to put such severe restrictions that various aspects of state law, such as home growing, would practically be impossible within their jurisdictions. Someone sued, and a judge has ruled striking down several sections of the Fontana ordinance on cannabis.

The issues in contention were the strict inspection and permitting process for anyone who wanted to grow cannabis at home for his or her own use.

For example, each applicant for a permit had to pay in order to have a background check performed before the home growing license could be issued. The annual permit fees were also high, starting at $411 for the year in which the application was made and then $253 for each year that an approved applicant wanted to continue having a permit to grow marijuana at home.

In addition, applicants had to allow a city official to come and inspect their residence in order to confirm that the property conformed to all city requirements.

The plaintiff argued that the restrictions went against the spirit of the state law which legalized recreational cannabis. For example, the ordinance in Fontana allowed the city to deny an applicant the license to grow marijuana if that applicant had any outstanding city dues.

Additionally, state law didn’t envisage any permitting process for anyone who wanted to grow cannabis at their residence.

It is not surprising that not a single permit has been issued to a Fontana resident to grow cannabis at home so far.

David Cohn, a superior court judge, agreed with the plaintiff and struck down several sections of the city ordinance for being in violation of state law. He explained that the city could not claim to be implementing federal law since it wasn’t a federal entity.

What are the implications of this judgment delivered in the first week of this month? The city authorities have not revealed whether they will appeal against the judgment, but indicators are that they may modify the ordinance while leaving as many restrictions as they can.

Several local authorities have tried to do whatever they can to frustrate marijuana legalization in their jurisdictions. This judgment is likely to make them think twice before they pass restrictions which are “unreasonable” and go against the intention of the enabling state law.

The judgment is also unlikely to be used as a precedent in other cases since it was made by a lower court. However, the case may give other residents the courage to challenge the laws in other localities in case those laws make it very hard for them to enjoy the freedoms given under state law.

As Phivida Holdings Inc. (CSE: VIDA) (OTCQX: PHVAF) and Plus Products Inc. (CSE: PLUS) already know, plenty of time is required to change the mindset of various stakeholders after cannabis is legalized. The prayer is that the adjustment period doesn’t drag on for too long.

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420 with CNW – Israeli Researchers Look into Treating Endometriosis Using Cannabis

Gynica, a startup in Israel, has announced that it will conduct research in order to find a new cannabis-based treatment for endometriosis. The startup will use the newly licensed Lumir Lab found within Hebrew University in Jerusalem for this research.

Gynica specializes in providing marijuana-based solutions to the problems affecting the health of women. The lab will focus on medical cannabis research and product development.

Lumir Lab is headed by Lumir Odrej Hanus, one of the leading researchers on cannabinoids in the world. He is an analytical chemist.

Lumir Lab will collaborate with Gynica in this quest for a treatment for endometriosis. Endometriosis is a health condition in which tissues from the lining of the uterus migrate to other parts of the body. The condition causes a lot of pain among its estimated 180 million sufferers across the world.

Current research shows that the reproductive system of females is the second to the brain in terms of having the biggest number of endocannabinoid receptors within the body.

This reality creates an opportunity for cannabis to be used to influence the reproductive system so that uterine lining tissues reduce or stop moving from the uterus to the other internal organs of affected females.

The planned research by Gynica and Lumir Lab is intended to understand how cannabis works to alleviate the symptoms of endometriosis, or even stop the tissues from migrating. The research will also try to find the specific cannabinoids that give the greatest effects in preventing tissue migration or curbing disease recurrence in a way that leaves the ovulation cycle intact.

In the long run, the lab plans to set the standard by which cannabis research and product development is done around the world. Such research will help to address the concerns and reservations within the scientific community regarding cannabis as a treatment for various health conditions.

Currently, many of the cannabis treatments available are largely based on evidence that may not stand up to strict scientific scrutiny. Lumir Lab wants to end all this by bringing clinical analysis, validation and product development to the medical cannabis field. Terpene and cannabinoid profiling will also be done at the lab.

It is this type of research that will make cannabis treatments mainstream since no one will be able to claim that they don’t have any scientific backing behind them. Cannabis industry companies like Net Element (NASDAQ: NETE) and NUGL Inc. (OTC: NUGL) welcome every attempt to gather evidence in support of the different uses of cannabis, including the new efforts launched in Israel by Lumir Lab and Gynica.

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420 with CNW – Highlights of the 2018 Las Vegas Marijuana Business Conference

The 2018 Marijuana Business Conference held in Las Vegas came to an end on Friday last week after drawing record numbers of attendees. Several key issues can be identified from what transpired in Las Vegas during the conference.

Approximately 30,000 people were at this marijuana business conference. They ranged from marijuana business owners, vendors of cannabis products and investors gathering information before they make a decision to put money into the industry.

Such a huge interest can only confirm that marijuana is arguably the fastest growing industry across the world. This conclusion is valid given the rate at which different states within the U.S. and across Europe are legalizing some form of cannabis.

One of the biggest things to watch in the coming year are the changes that will be made in the way cannabis is grown. These changes are needed in order to grow as much as possible while cutting the cost of bringing the product to the market.

Some of the “smart” growing systems that were showcased could track various grow conditions, such as temperature and moisture level. The system can trigger the affected condition to be adjusted in a small area, such as a single grow bench.

In this way, you can minimize the inputs going into the cultivation process while increasing productivity. Such technologies will be key in the process of reducing the cost of producing each kilo or pound of cannabis.

Another trend to watch in the coming year and beyond is the growth in the number of pot lounges in states or countries where recreational marijuana has been legalized.

Pot lounges will play an increasing role in the cannabis industry for a number of reasons. First, different jurisdictions will have varying laws regarding the public smoking or use of recreational cannabis. A pot lounge therefore provides a haven where marijuana consumers can indulge without any fear of breaking public consumption laws.

Secondly, pot lounges provide an opportunity to create a cannabis lifestyle among consumers. The facilities can be designed and fitted in innumerable ways based on the wishes of the proprietors. This will create brand differentiation and build customer loyalty. A clear example of this is Planet 13, the largest cannabis retail store in the world located in Las Vegas. The establishment is already causing a stir in the industry and other places will have to take their cue from the standard that it has set.

Marijuana Company of America Inc. (OTC: MCOA), Medical Cannabis Payment Solutions (OTC: REFG) and other industry players may have left this conference confident that the outlook is bright for the entire cannabis industry.

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420 with CNW – First Cannabis Restaurant in the UK Set to Open

A restaurant that will offer meals infused with cannabis is due to open in the UK on December 1. The vegetarian and vegan dishes served at this Brighton restaurant will be infused with CBD compounds extracted from the cannabis plant.

The Canna Kitchen aims at changing the way people look at marijuana. The range of vegan and vegetarian dishes infused with CBD will show that marijuana isn’t just for recreational use. The restaurant wants to show the different fragrances, flavors, therapeutic and nutritional benefits inherent in the cannabis plant.

However, a client will first place an order to have his or her meal infused with CBD. This means that vegans or vegetarians who aren’t interested in sampling the cannabis-infused offerings can still dine at the restaurant.

It should be remembered that cannabis is a restricted substance in the UK and only became legal for medicinal use on November 1 this year. Those found in possession of cannabis may be jailed for five years while those found distributing it can be imprisoned for 14-years or face huge fines.

So, how will “The Canna Kitchen” operate legally? The laws in the UK permit the use of the non-psychoactive compounds in the marijuana plant. This means that the restaurant can freely use CBD and other non-psychoactive cannabinoids in its dishes without contravening any existing laws.

Cannabis is still highly restricted across the world. Only a few countries, including Canada and Uruguay, have legalized recreational marijuana. Ten states in the U.S. have permitted recreational marijuana and there are campaigns to end prohibition in more states.

Medical marijuana has fared better across the world with more countries making it legal nearly every month. This growing interest in cannabis has prompted many huge multinationals like Coca Cola to explore avenues of making cannabis-infused drinks so that the companies cash in on the wave of popularity that has engulfed marijuana. That wave of popularity is projected to be worth approximately $75 billion by 2030. That is such a huge magnet to anyone looking for a money-making opportunity.

Against that backdrop, the idea behind The Canna Kitchen is likely to trigger other entrepreneurial ventures all geared at bringing more cannabis-infused products to the market. After all, marijuana is now the new “cool” and even politicians are falling over each other to show support for legalization.

Existing industry players like GreenBox POS, LLC (OTC: GRBX) and Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTCQX: LXRP) welcome the initiative taken by the brains behind The Canna Kitchen. Such efforts will be remembered when the cannabis industry becomes fully established around the world.

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420 with CNW – Canadian Tech Firms Gear Up For Cannabis Legalization Benefits

The legalization of cannabis in Canada has opened the door for different tech companies to cash in on the new opportunities presented by the cannabis industry. Several companies are testing or offering tech products and the consumers are loving those products.

Lobo Genetics is one such Toronto-based tech company that has a bright future if the preliminary interest in its latest product is anything to go by.

The company makes a handheld genetic testing device which only requires the user to take a swab from his or her mouth in order to assess whether that individual will metabolize THC (the major psychoactive ingredient in marijuana).

People who are genetically predisposed to metabolize THC are unlikely to develop adverse reactions when they consume cannabis whether for recreational or medical purposes.

The testing device was initially developed with the medical cannabis market in mind, but players in the recreational space have shown massive interest in it as well.

Strainprint Technologies Inc. is another Toronto-based startup that has designed an app for the cannabis industry. This app can help people track the strains, dosage of cannabis and any side effects that they notice as they use pot.

“Save the Drive” is another tech product being finalized in Winnipeg. It is intended to help people hire someone to buy and deliver cannabis to their addresses instead of driving out to a store themselves. The current supply shortages are the only reason why this platform hasn’t been launched as yet.

However, it is not just Canadian companies getting a piece of the action. A number of US-based tech companies have also thrown their hats in the ring.

“High There!” is a social networking platform with roots in Florida. The platform gives its users an opportunity to locate cannabis users with whom they can meet and enjoy a joint. The platform saw a massive 300 percent spike in new registrations when recreational cannabis became legal in October.

The founders of “Weedmaps” are based in California. Like the name suggests, “Weedmaps” helps people to locate places in Canada where one can buy cannabis. You therefore don’t have to drive randomly in a new place looking for a store selling cannabis.

Such tech innovations paint a very optimistic future for the opportunities available to the different industries with recreational cannabis now legal. It is hard to mention a single industry that may not benefit from the nascent marijuana industry. Golden Developing Solutions, Inc. (OTC: DVLP), Green Hygienics Holdings Inc. (OTC: GRYN) and other existing players welcome the new tech firms which have seen a gap that can filled in order to serve customers better.

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420 with CNW – Why Michigan May Have Decided to Levy Lower Cannabis Taxes

Michigan voters approved recreational marijuana in the recent mid-term elections and the state is now one of those with the lowest tax rates for cannabis. Didn’t Michigan need the revenue marijuana can bring? Was it playing for higher stakes? Several arguments can explain why Michigan chose the path it took.

First could have been concerns about the black market. The tax policy implemented by any state that legalizes marijuana influences whether consumers keep buying from the black market or switch to the legal product.

Michigan seems to have learnt from the pioneer states that legalized cannabis first. California has some of the highest taxes on marijuana, and it continues to struggle with the black market since illicit marijuana still costs much less than the marijuana from regulated suppliers.

Not many consumers would be willing to pay higher prices just because what they are buying is putting money in state coffers.

The low taxes set by Michigan may be geared at driving out the black market since the legal product would be priced competitively.

Secondly, Michigan may have designed their marijuana tax policy with cannabis companies in mind. Industry players are struggling to stay competitive and profitable in the states where taxes are very high.

The prospect of setting up shop in a state with low taxes may be attractive enough to lure many players into the Michigan cannabis space.

The third possible reasons why Michigan may have decided to levy lower taxes on recreational cannabis is the need to make the product affordable to as many willing consumers as possible.

The projections of the potential volume of retail sales often factor in how many people will consume the product on a regular basis. Those calculations can come to nothing if the target buyers see it as too expensive for them to afford.

Imposing lower taxes may therefore be a smart move to bring more consumers into the industry so that the sector can have a sustainable client base.

Generally speaking, taxes on marijuana have been falling as more states legalize adult-use cannabis. California and Washington which impose taxes in the range of more than 40 percent are increasingly becoming isolated as other jurisdictions levy lower taxes.

Fortunately, voters seem to have understood the logic behind the tax policy in Michigan. They voted the ballot measure through, unlike the voters in North Dakota who voted against the proposal.

It remains to be seen whether the reasoning behind the low cannabis taxes in Michigan bears fruit or not. Generation Alpha, Inc. (OTCQB: GNAL), Global Payout, Inc. (OTC: GOHE) and other industry players wish Michigan all the best on the journey it has started as one of the latest states to permit recreational cannabis use.

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420 with CNW – Canadian Employers Meet to Discuss Cannabis Legalization Implications

The cannabis forum of the Retail Council of Canada (RCC) met last month to discuss the workplace implications of cannabis legalization. The forum speakers and participants raised some issues that all employers need to think about as they adjust to the new reality in the country.

The first issue related to the medical cover provided to employees. Employers were asked to think about how they would respond if employees filed claims for medical cannabis benefits. Does the law compel the employer to provide such cover, or it is left to employers to decide whether to provide those benefits?

The second concern had to do with preventing impaired employees from showing up at work. Questions were raised about how the right of the employees to consume recreational cannabis could be married to the need to prevent impairment at work.

There was a suggestion that employers can impose consumption guidelines similar to what other sensitive sectors, such as the airline industry, impose on employees. For example, pilots are instructed to refrain from taking alcohol within a certain number of hours before they are scheduled to fly a plane.

The employers were cautioned to avoid imposing a blanket ban on cannabis consumption since that would be illegal and expose them to liability issues. Only those employers who could prove that the job required total abstinence could take such action. For example, it would be reasonable to restrict security guards from consuming recreational cannabis on the job or some hours before their shift begins.

There was a call for scientific data on how long someone can be impaired after consuming cannabis. Such data would provide a basis upon which employers can draft cannabis policies for their employees.

The issue of impaired customers was also raised. It is one thing to provide guidelines for your employees and it is a totally different matter when it comes to impaired customers in retail outlets.

Members in attendance suggested that employees need to be given some training regarding how to handle customers who visit retail establishments while apparently impaired after consuming cannabis.

The possible fear of being stigmatized for consuming recreational marijuana also came up. A speaker at the forum predicted that some employees may falsely claim that they are medical cannabis users in order to explain away their impairment while at work.

Other members suggested that it would be reasonable for employers to ask employees for a copy of their documentation for medical cannabis to prevent such false claims. However, the employer should not ask for the diagnosis upon which the authorization card was issued since that would be overstepping the acceptable boundaries.

The forum ended with members agreeing that more sessions need to be organized so that people can continue to share experiences and ideas regarding the workplace implications of cannabis legalization. Such healthy and progressive discussions are music to the ears of cannabis companies like Earth Science Tech, Inc. (OTCQB: ETST) and FinCanna Capital Corp. (CSE: CALI) (OTCQB: FNNZF) since such discussions differ from the polarized, adversarial pronouncements that are made in some jurisdictions.

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