420 with CNW — Montana Legislators Override Cannabis Tax Distribution Bill Veto

Last week, lawmakers in Montana defied Governor Greg Gianforte’s veto yet again, this time overriding an appropriations bill that contains provisions for directing cannabis tax funds to a program aimed at enhancing habitats. The Montana Wildlife Federation, the Montana Association of Counties and Wild Montana all expressed their approval of the legislature’s decision to override Gianforte’s veto of HB 868, the appropriations bill.

The groups are currently suing the state’s secretary and Gianforte because of the governor’s veto of SB 442. The bill, which enjoyed widespread support, seeks to redistribute revenue from Montana’s cannabis tax toward county road funding, the Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program, the Habitat Montana program and other initiatives. Additionally, it aims to modify the structure established by lawmakers during the 2021 session.

In his veto letter for SB 442, which coincided with the Senate’s adjournment on May 2, 2023, Gianforte criticized the bill for not including an appropriation and therefore rendering it ineffective. However, supporters of HB 868 argued on the day of the veto and in the subsequent weeks that the bill included provisions for appropriating funds to SB 442.

An analysis conducted by the Program Planning and Budget Office confirmed that HB 868 indeed contained an appropriation for SB 442. However, it also noted that the inclusion of this language, along with coordinating amendments, seemed to fall outside the bill’s intended scope. As a result, the amendments and statutory appropriation appeared to be invalid.

Senator Mike Lang, the bill’s sponsor, along with the groups involved in its development, have maintained that the governor’s SB 442 veto was inappropriate. They argue that since the bill was not read on the Senate rostrum before the adjournment vote, legislators should be allowed to attempt an override through a poll.

The Montana Association of Counties filed a lawsuit against Gianforte and Christi Jacobsen, the state’s secretary, on June 7, 2023, seeking a court order to enable the legislature to do a poll override vote or to declare the bill as law due to alleged procedural violations by Gianforte.

The Montana Wildlife Federation and Wild Montana also filed lawsuits against Jacobsen and Gianforte on the same day. Their lawsuit sought the judge to order Gianforte to give Jacobsen the veto so that she could give lawmakers a poll on a veto override.

There is no established hearing date for either lawsuit. According to court documents, the plaintiffs’ lawyers are requesting subpoenas for Jacobsen and Gianforte in both cases.

But the associations expressed their satisfaction with the legislature’s decision to overturn HB 868. To override Gianforte’s veto, the override poll needed two-thirds of the votes in both the House and the Senate, which it received with 72 votes in the former and 35 in the latter. Since the end of the session, lawmakers have overridden four vetoes.

As the recreational cannabis market stabilizes in the state, we could see the mushrooming of various ancillary companies similar to Advanced Container Technologies Inc. (OTC: ACTX) rising up to the opportunity presented by the needs of cannabis firms.

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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 — Minnesota Marijuana Sales Expected to Reach $1.5B

According to a forecast from a top marijuana law firm, Minnesota’s legalized marijuana market will increase to more than $1.5 billion annually by 2029. Nearly 700,000 adult-use and medicinal marijuana users are anticipated to be served by Minnesota cannabis companies as the industry matures.

Travis Copenhaver, a partner at the psychedelics and cannabis law firm Vicente LLP, stated at a seminar on marijuana entrepreneurship recently held by Surly Brewing in Minneapolis that the state’s recent legalization of recreational cannabis highlights new economic prospects for entrepreneurs in Minnesota. Vicente’s market analysis suggests that Minnesota’s legal marijuana market growth will closely resemble trends observed in other states.

Upon the commencement of recreational cannabis sales, the market will experience limited supplies, resulting in higher prices. However, as more retailers and producers enter the market, supplies will rise, leading to a decline in prices. It is predicted that the state’s overall marijuana economy will reach its peak, approximately $1.5 billion annually, in the next 10 years. According to the projection, 650,000 Minnesotans, or 15% of the state’s population aged 21 and older, are expected to use cannabis once a month or more regularly.

However, convincing current recreational cannabis users to switch to the regulated market won’t happen quickly. The estimates predict that the great majority of people won’t be able to purchase marijuana from licensed merchants until 2030. Minnesota lifted its prohibition on cannabis last month, following Governor Tim Waltz’s signing of a bill legalizing recreational cannabis in the state. Starting August 1, 2023, adults aged 21 years and older will be permitted to possess up to two ounces of marijuana in public places. The legislation also permits persons aged 21 and older to cultivate a small amount of cannabis in their homes as well as possess up to two pounds of marijuana in private residences.

It also makes it legal for businesses to produce and sell cannabis, and it also permits the sale of recreational marijuana under certain conditions, subject to regulations developed and approved by the marijuana management office, a newly established state agency. The new organization will also control hemp-derived cannabis goods and medical marijuana.

According to Minnesota Public News, state authorities have set a goal date of May 2024 for when they will start accepting applications for recreational marijuana retail stores. Thereafter, sales are expected to begin in January 2025. Once regulated sales of recreational cannabis commence, adults will have the freedom to purchase eight grams of marijuana concentrate and edible products containing a maximum of 800mg of THC.

When this marijuana market opens and takes off, many opportunities could open up for many enterprises, including those that operate similar to Advanced Container Technologies Inc. (OTC: ACTX), supporting marijuana companies but not directly dealing with marijuana products.

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420 with CNW — Congress Passes Spending Bill Extending Blockage of Adult-Use Cannabis in D.C.

Washington D.C. residents won’t be purchasing recreational cannabis any time soon after Congressional lawmakers extended a ban on adult-use marijuana sales in the region. Although residents voted in favor of legalizing adult-use marijuana for adults in 2015, a federal spending bill rider prevents regulators from using local tax rules to create a legal framework for a commercial recreational cannabis market.

The rider has been part of fiscal fending passages every year since and has prevented D.C. from launching a commercial market for years.

Last week, the Republican-controlled House chose to renew the spending rider under the 2024 spending bill again, stating in a summary that it would “retain the ban on federal and local funds” as it pertains to adult-use cannabis legalization in D.C.

The move has been condemned by Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton, a key advocate for granting D.C. statehood and an outspoken critic of the anti-cannabis rider. Norton released a statement saying that while she was pleased with several of the provisions included in the spending bill, she was outraged by the repeated inclusion of the rider, stating that the rider limited the city’s ability to make its own regulations.

Although D.C.’s recreational cannabis market has so far failed to get off the ground, several other states have successfully launched their own markets. The state-legal recreational marijuana industry is now one of the fastest-growing sectors in the country, employing tens of thousands of Americans and generating billions of dollars in tax revenue. On top of that, most states with legal recreational markets have included social equity provisions to aid communities that were disproportionately affected by the failed war on drugs.

However, with the spending rider banning lawmakers from using local taxpayer dollars to launch an adult-use sector, D.C. residents won’t be seeing a commercial market any time soon.

Interestingly, the anti-cannabis rider has even been questioned by certain Republican members of the House. In May, House Oversight and Accountability Committee chair James Comer said that he would review the federal rider following testimony from Washington, D.C., mayor Muriel Bowser.

Bowser told the committee that the congressional appropriations rider had prevented the city from launching a recreational cannabis market for years and posed a threat to public safety. Comer noted at the time that the rider and its impact on cannabis legalization had “caught his attention” and that he would review the matter.

In the meantime, no lawmakers have moved to amend the financial spending bill in the full House Appropriations Committee or the floor.

This continued blockage is not only hurting residents who are interested in using cannabis recreationally, it also stifles entrepreneurs who would like to start companies that address the needs of marijuana companies, such as Advanced Container Technologies Inc. (OTC: ACTX).

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420 with CNW — Nevada Eases Rules on Cannabis Consumption Lounges, Issues Conditional Licenses

Last week, the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board unanimously passed a resolution that loosened rules for cannabis consumption lounges in the state. The measure, which also granted a trio of conditional licenses, reduced air-ventilation standards for cannabis consumption lounges in Las Vegas and other areas in the state.

Specifically, the number of complete air changes per hour in a single smoking room has dropped to 20 from 30. This is in line with similar venues, including taverns, cigar lounges and hookah bars. The board also reduced air revolutions in nonsmoking areas of marijuana consumption lounges from 20 times every hour to six times in an hour.

Prior to the board meeting, executives involved in the industry had voiced their concerns on regulations for consumption lounges, in particular those that cover indoor air quality and the hefty costs of air-ventilation system installation and maintenance. The regulators’ actions offer additional clarity for operators to proceed with design and construction plans while also making it easier and cheaper for lounges to launch in this tourist market.

Argentum Partners’ partner Scot Rutledge stated that these changes would allow new small businesses to operate safely while decreasing burdensome requirements that would cost thousands of dollars.

Sala Consulting President Chris Anderson stated in a meeting with regulators that the changes reduced the initial investment and operational costs of running the ventilation systems while also lowering the entry barrier for lounge operators. Sala Consulting represents one of the three companies that received a conditional license for a cannabis consumption lounge, Planet 13. The other two companies are Cheyenne Medical and Common Sense Botanicals Nevada.

In addition, regulators also approved the use of Billow, a smoke-elimination device that enables users to consumer cannabis via a closed-loop filtration system. The system’s inventor, Shanel Lindsay, stated that the company was thrilled that regulators approved the use of this device, allowing for innovative technology to be utilized in marijuana consumption lounges as an alternative to expensive systems. This, Lindsay noted, would allow equity businesses to thrive while also protecting employees of these businesses.

It is expected that other jurisdictions in the country will follow suit as these developments continue in Nevada, a tourist market that almost 40 million individuals visited in 2022.

At the moment, however, consumption lounges are still far from launch. This comes after the board signaled that further changes on air-quality standards in marijuana consumption lounges would be adopted at its next meeting.

As these lounges open and tourists flock in, product demand is likely to surge, and as a result, cultivation equipment of the kind that Advanced Container Technologies Inc. (OTC: ACTX) produces is likely to see increased sales.

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420 with CNW — Colombia Senate Rejects Recreational Cannabis Bill

Cannabis reform efforts in Colombia recently came to a screeching halt after the Columbia senate rejected a recreational cannabis bill. The Senate voted down a measure that would have legalized the sale of adult-use cannabis and opened Colombia up to a multibillion-dollar cannabis industry.

Despite the setback, cannabis reform activists in the country, including President Gustavo Petro, have pledged to continue their efforts to legalize recreational cannabis in Colombia.

Colombia currently allows the home cultivation of up to 20 plants as well as the sale of cannabis-derived products such as creams and oils for medical use. However, like most countries, the South American nation has outlawed the sale of recreational cannabis to adults.

Opponents of the adult-use cannabis bill celebrated its rejection, stating that the move would protect families and their children from drug abuse and all the ails it brings. The rejected recreational cannabis measure would have limited public consumption of cannabis and placed restrictions on its sale and use near and in schools and universities. It would also have established treatment centers for people suffering from substance abuse disorders.

Reform proponents such as Colombia Interior Minister Luis Fernando Velasco argue that the country’s continued prohibition of recreational marijuana is only benefiting the criminals running the cannabis black market. Activists in countries such as the United States and Canada have also argued the same, stating that criminalizing cannabis use makes it easier for criminal elements to step in and supply the demand. This puts consumers in danger of using potentially harmful products, harms the environment and robs governments of millions in much-needed tax revenue.

According to Liberal Party representative Juan Carlos Losada, the proposed adult-use measure would have reduced public interactions with illegal sellers and even saved lives. Shortly after the bill’s rejection, Losada released a public statement saying that the legislation’s backers didn’t expect it to go so far. Although the measure was approved by 47 senators and rejected by 43, it needed at least five more votes to advance.

Columbia now joins nations such as New Zealand, Mexico, Germany and Israel, which have announced ambitious plans to legalize recreational marijuana but scaled back their plans or ultimately failed to follow through.

Still, Losada said that he does not consider the bill’s failure to advance a defeat, stating that he and other backers managed to bring such a controversial issue to the forefront of the public debate. He plans on reintroducing the adult-use measure in the upcoming legislative session over the fall.

This setback in efforts to get adult-use marijuana legalized has denied various entrepreneurs an opportunity to conduct business in the way that U.S.-based companies such as Advanced Container Technologies Inc. (OTC: ACTX) serve indoor growers within U.S. states that permit medical or recreational marijuana sales.

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420 with CNW — LA Cannabis Consumption Lounges Face Delays in Opening

Las Vegas, a city that derives a significant portion of its annual revenue from tourism, is one of the many regions looking to tap into cannabis consumption lounges. However, it seems that industry stakeholders and consumers will have to wait a little longer before the city officially launches the consumption lounges.

More than a decade after America’s recreational cannabis industry started taking shape, the public consumption lounge segment has failed to make much headway.

Cannabis reform was always a controversial topic, and even though dozens of states now have either medical or recreational markets, cannabis still doesn’t enjoy 100% support. It is illegal at the federal level, and many local governments and municipalities still don’t allow cannabis-related trade within their spheres of influence.

Even so, stakeholders in several states are working to launch consumption lounges and corner a segment that could prove to be quite lucrative: cannabis tourism. It is becoming increasingly common for Americans in states without legal recreational cannabis markets to travel to states that allow adult marijuana use to indulge in the drug.

However, with most states banning public consumption of cannabis, these “cannabis tourists” often have no way of consuming cannabis unless they are friendly with a resident who could host them at their home.

Efforts to open cannabis consumption lounges in Nevada have been held back for months by limited funding, administrative hurdles, and evolving government regulations on smoke ventilation. Industry experts fear that these and other factors may hinder the launch of the marijuana consumption lounge segment to such a degree that only a few lounges may be open across the entire city by the end of the year.

Factors such as Nevada’s policies on indoor air quality coupled with the immense costs (up to hundreds of thousands of dollars) associated with installing and servicing approved air ventilation systems will likely lock out a large chunk of potential entrepreneurs. These costs would also make it borderline impossible for social equity licensees to gain a foothold in the market as they often come from economically underprivileged areas.

At the moment, the entire state of Nevada has just one legal consumption lounge; the site is located on tribal land and operated by the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe.

Fortunately, it seems that regulators are willing to find a compromise on air quality regulations. According to Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board (CCB) Executive Director Tyler Klimas, state regulators know they will have to tweak regulations to allow the launch of a successful consumption lounge program.

This delay to open consumption lounges doesn’t only affect companies that directly deal with the plant. Ancillary entities such as Advanced Container Technologies Inc. (OTC: ACTX) could also lose out on business since the boom in consumption would have triggered demand for extra cultivation equipment.

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420 with CNW — Nevada Governor Enacts Measure Reforming Cannabis Law

Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo recently signed a measure into law that makes a number of changes to the state’s marijuana legislation. The Republican governor signed the bill — State Bill 277 — on June 14, 2023.

The recently enacted legislation makes significant changes to Nevada’s cannabis laws. Notably, there will be a more than twofold increase in recreational cannabis purchase and possession limitations. One ounce of cannabis will now be replaced by 2.5 ounces as the maximum amount that one person may own or purchase. A quarter ounce will be the new maximum for cannabis concentrates, which will increase from one-eighth of an ounce currently.

Additionally, the legislation grants permission for all adult-use marijuana dispensaries in the state to sell their products to medical cannabis patients. However, starting next year, state marijuana regulators will no longer issue new licenses for medical cannabis businesses, except in areas where recreational marijuana dispensaries are prohibited.

SB 277 also relaxes Nevada’s prohibition on those with felony records working for or engaging in cannabis-related enterprises. The bill gives the Nevada Marijuana Compliance Board the authority to grant licenses to organizations whose stakeholders have a history of felony convictions.

Nevertheless, the board must determine whether issuing such permits would risk public health and safety or have a negative effect on the state’s cannabis sector. The board has the power to establish the required restrictions and requirements to protect the general welfare, prevent injury or death, and decrease any unfavorable consequences for the cannabis business.

Under the new law, individuals with prior marijuana-related felonies can petition the state to work in a licensed marijuana enterprise without the requirement of expunging their records. According to Vicente LLP’s law firm partner Meg Nash, these SB 277’s provisions reflect a fundamental principle of contemporary marijuana legalization plans.

Nevada’s new marijuana reform law also charges the state’s Cannabis Advisory Commission with undertaking research. The goal of the study is to investigate any potential repercussions of abolishing the federal prohibition of cannabis and delisting marijuana from Nevada’s Uniform Controlled Substances Act.

The act also mandates that state authorities consider any potential negative environmental effects of any proposed modifications to Nevada’s cannabis laws. If such unfavorable impacts are found, regulators must consider ways to reduce or eliminate those impacts without placing a financial burden on those who have licenses for adult-use or medical cannabis establishments.

The Nevada cannabis reform law will fully take effect on January 1, 2024, with some of the approved provisions taking effect right away.

It is expected that the increased possession limits will boost sales. That could, in turn, have positive knock-on effects upon the sales of ancillary entities such as Advanced Container Technologies Inc. (OTC: ACTX) as well as those of marijuana companies.

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420 with CNW — Governor Enacts Cannabis Expungements Resolution into Law

Last week, the governor of Louisiana enacted into law a measure that made it easier for individuals with first-time convictions on cannabis possession to apply for record expungement. This comes after the governor signed a resolution in 2021 that decriminalized the possession of no more than 14 grams of marijuana.

The initiative in question, which was introduced by Rep. Delisha Boyd, was advanced through the legislature about two weeks ago. This measure makes it so that individuals convicted of possessing no more than 14 grams of marijuana as a first offense can get their record expunged 90 days after they were convicted.

This approval by Gov. John Bel Edwards will reduce the relief timeline, especially since the current legislation allows people to clear their records after a five-year period.

Prior to its approval, the resolution was amended in a House committee to stipulate that cannabis possession cases that involved more than 14 grams weren’t eligible for expungement. The amendments also eliminated a provision that waived court processing fees for first-time marijuana expungements.

The measure, which will go into effect on Aug. 1, 2023, set $300 as fees for record expungement. The bill stipulates that the processing fees collected will be allocated in equal proportions to the sheriff’s general fund and the district attorney’s office. It also includes a template for a motion to clear records that individuals can fill and submit to the court in their jurisdiction.

Currently, 70% of people in the state of Louisiana support the legalization of recreational cannabis possession for adults. Results from the same survey also found that 90% in Louisiana support the legalization of medical marijuana.

Despite these favorable attitudes, cannabis legalization by the legislature has stalled. However, legislators have taken steps to reform marijuana laws and improve the state’s medical cannabis program. For instance, a measure that would ensure individuals remained eligible for unemployment benefits if they were registered medical marijuana patients was recently cleared by a House committee.

Additionally, regulators gave physicians a temporary go-ahead to continue issuing medical cannabis recommendations through telemedicine in 2022. Furthermore, a legislative task force passed rules in 2022 that provided worker protections for medical marijuana patients.

During the previous session, Gov. Edwards signed various cannabis reform measures, including one that would prevent law enforcement officers from conducting searches in individuals’ homes over the smell of marijuana. Another reform measure that was signed would increase the number of medical dispensaries that could operate in the state of Louisiana.

As more reforms are enacted in Louisiana and elsewhere around the country, business could improve for various enterprises, such as Advanced Container Technologies Inc. (OTC: ACTX), since the improved operating environment would support more growers that would in turn need more cultivation equipment.

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420 with CNW — How to Leverage Consumer Data While Marketing Cannabis

The cannabis industry exists in a precarious position. While dozens of states have legal and robust cannabis markets, the federal government still classifies cannabis as a controlled drug. This federal classification places significant restrictions on America’s state-legal cannabis industry, with cannabis marketing being the hardest hit. Cannabis businesses in most states have to contend with strict marketing limitations and can’t use most conventional advertising avenues such as social media to market their products.

Despite these barriers, businesses in the cannabis space can still optimize their marketing efforts by leveraging consumer data. Studying how different kinds of consumers approach cannabis use can help businesses tweak their marketing and attract more customers.

For instance, men and women deal with cannabis consumption differently. Women are more likely to avoid substance-use-like behaviors while men tend to engage in binge-like behaviors. In addition, according to a 2020 study from Canada, men tend to use cannabis to seek opportunities for intimacy with women while women are more selective.

Cannabis is a relatively new industry, and a lot of the consumer information companies are gathering is brand new. This data is an invaluable resource that can help businesses figure out consumers’ needs and wants and tailor their brands and marketing efforts to best meet these needs, industry experts say.

Aurora Cannabis, a medical cannabis provider headquartered in Edmonton, Canada, is one of the companies leveraging data aggregation to improve product development and ensure better customer experiences. The company recently partnered with the medical marijuana-use tracking app Stainprint to collect customer feedback. Stainprint allows medical marijuana patients to report things such as the symptoms they want to treat via medical cannabis and how the specific strains they took made them feel.

According to Aurora Cannabis’s vice president of innovation and customer preference Lana Culley, the app also allows the company to collect demographic data. Culley said the company would integrate the data collected through Stainprint into its decision-making pipeline and use it to glean insights on the market.

The data has shown Aurora that THC is still a major seller regardless of age, sex, gender or location, and has given the company more incentive to keep focusing on its cannabis breeding program, Culley said. However, she notes that consumer data collection is still a new field in the cannabis market and the industry still doesn’t have enough “robust tools” to gather consumer data and learn consumer opinions of various cannabis products.

As cannabis companies get better at leveraging data in their efforts to advertise their products within the space available to them, sales could improve, thereby also increasing the business opportunities for cultivation equipment makers such as Advanced Container Technologies Inc. (OTC: ACTX).

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420 with CNW — New York Authorities Clamp Down on Illicit Cannabis Shops

Cannabis has been the most used illegal drug in America for decades. Even now that dozens of states have legalized either medical or recreational cannabis, the cannabis black market is still responsible for a majority of the country’s marijuana sales.

In California, which is home to the largest legal cannabis market in the world, licensed players in the market are struggling to get by, thanks to the state’s behemoth illicit cannabis industry. With more states looking to launch recreational cannabis markets in the near future, regulators are keen on reducing the influence of illicit sellers to give licensed retailers a better chance at success.

Combating the illicit cannabis market would also ensure states obtain millions of dollars in cannabis taxes and halt cash flows to the criminal enterprises behind the illegal market. Many states are trying. Last week, Governor Kathy Hochul of New York announced that state regulators would begin clamping down on the 1,500 illicit cannabis shops in the state. The government announced measures such as seizures of illegal marijuana products, raids on illicit cannabis shops, and the launch of an interagency program to deal with the sale of untested cannabis products in illicit retail premises.

Speaking of the state’s recent legal recreational cannabis rollout, Hochul said that regulators would not stand idle while illegal operators sold untested cannabis products, particularly to minors. She said that the impending measures are meant to protect New York’s fledgling recreational marijuana industry and give citizens a shot at entering the industry and succeeding.

According to Hochul, officers from the Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF) and the New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) have already begun inspecting storefront businesses that aren’t licensed to sell marijuana in New York. Businesses that are found in violation of the state’s cannabis policies are receiving Notices of Violation and Orders to Cease Unlicensed Activity; the governor also promised to deliver similar action to other illicit businesses across the state.

Tremaine Wright, the chair of the Cannabis Control Board, said that “successful enforcement actions” against unlicensed trucks and storefronts selling marijuana in New York sends a solid message that the state is actively dealing with illegal sellers. She said the enforcement efforts are meant to ensure public safety and maintain the integrity of New York’s nascent recreational cannabis industry.

These efforts are designed to foster a “fair and regulated environment” that keeps consumers safe while supporting licensed businesses and protecting them from unfair competition.

As this clampdown weeds out illicit actors and leaves those who are licensed to operate in the cannabis industry, there is likely to be a bigger market for the products made by entities such as Advanced Container Technologies Inc. (OTC: ACTX), since growers will be encouraged by the sales they are making to expand their operations.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Advanced Container Technologies Inc. (OTC: ACTX) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/ACTX

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