420 with CNW – Marijuana Legalization Results in Fewer Illegal Grows in National Forests, Study Finds

New research shows that as marijuana started being legalized for recreational purposes in different states across the U.S., the reported cases of illicit grow sites within protected lands started falling.

The research findings, released in Ecological Economics, specifically point out that illegal grows on national forests saw a major decline in the Pacific Northwest after cannabis legalization started.

USDA’s Forest Service analyzed the available data on the illegal marijuana grow sites discovered and reported between 2004 and 2016. This data was in regard to 111 national forests. The researchers considered several factors, such as the retail price of pot, state laws, risks of being discovered running an illegal grow site, and many others.

The researchers then used that data to create six different simulations of what would happen to the number of illegal grows if marijuana policies changed.

For example, one simulation seeks to see how the number of these illegal grows would change if all the state laws legalizing both medical and recreational cannabis were revoked. Another simulation explores what would happen assuming that all the taxes on the legal marijuana on the market were waived/eliminated.

The researchers found that policies legalizing some form of marijuana are linked to a reduction in the number of reported cases of illegal grow sites within national forests.

The predictive models of the research also show that if the existing medical and recreational marijuana laws in different states were to be revoked, then the rate at which illegal grow sites would be discovered is likely to grow by double digit percentages while expanding the number of states with laws legalizing marijuana would reduce such grows by at least a fifth, as per the available 2017 data.

For example, if all the 23 states that had enacted medical cannabis laws by 2016 enacted recreational marijuana legalization laws as well, then the illegal grows within those areas would reduce by at least 35 percent and as high as 51 percent.

While the researchers found that marijuana decriminalization didn’t have any effect on illegal grows, they discovered that imposing harsher penalties on those convicted on charges related to illegal marijuana cultivation activities had an effect of reducing the number of illegal grows. Increasing law enforcement personnel in the national forests only had a negligible effect on the stats, according to the research.

The study concludes that of the two ways (legalization and increased enforcement) to reduce illegal grows in forests, legalization offers a more cost-effective way to preserve the forests from the attendant problems, such as the use of strong rodenticides, which come with the illegal grow sites.

Analysts think industry players like Chemistree Technology Inc. (CSE: CHM) (OTCQB: CHMJF) and Canopy Rivers Inc. (TSX.V: RIV) (OTC: CNPOF) aren’t surprised by the findings of this research since the cannabis industry has always asserted that legalization can stamp out the black market and its risks.

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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 – Congress Schedules Hearing on Ending Marijuana Prohibition

A major Congressional subcommittee plans to hold a hearing next week on ending cannabis prohibition. The Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security Subcommittee will discuss a number of proposals that are aimed at passing legislation to protect states which have enacted marijuana laws.

Considering the list of people who are expected to be invited to speak to the subcommittee on Wednesday (July 10), one is left to conclude that the subcommittee is interested in learning how prohibition can be ended rather than gathering views on whether reform should happen.

For example, one of the witnesses who is expected to testify during the subcommittee hearing is Malik Burnett, a leading physician at the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Previously, Burnett worked with the Drug Policy Alliance as its National Policy Advisor. In that role, he helped to secure success for a voter initiative to legalize recreational marijuana in Washington, D.C. in 2014.

Marilyn Mosby, the Baltimore State Attorney, is also on the list of those to testify. She is noted for announcing in January this year that her department would no longer prosecute any marijuana possession case.

David Nathan, a doctor and board president of Doctors for Cannabis Regulation (DFCR) is also set to make an appearance before the subcommittee. DFCR is a pro-legalization group of physicians.

As you can see, the people who are lined up to talk to the subcommittee all share a desire to see the end of marijuana prohibition.

While the legislators will not be voting on any specific bill, it is nonetheless an important hearing since it marks the most important Congressional sitting on matters of marijuana policy reform. The information that they gather is expected to be passed on to the powerful House Judiciary Committee under which this subcommittee falls.

The importance of this committee explains why Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) earmarked that committee as the one that will deliver the end of prohibition in his roadmap to cannabis legalization.

Worth noting is the fact that every Democrat on the full Judiciary Committee cast his or her vote in favor of the recent amendments preventing the Justice Department from taking action in states where marijuana laws have been passed. Six Republicans also cast their votes in support of the spending riders, and this is regarded as a positive sign that broader cannabis law reform can win bipartisan support in this crucial House committee.

It is widely expected that the entire cannabis industry, including entities like Canopy Rivers Inc. (TSX.V: RIV) (OTC: CNPOF) and Cannabis Strategic Ventures Inc. (OTCQB: NUGS), will be keenly following what transpires in the subcommittee.

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420 with CNW – New York Marijuana Decriminalization Expands as Full Legalization Fails

As plans to legalize marijuana fully appear to have hit a dead end in the New York State legislature, the lawmakers have agreed to expand the decriminalization of the drug in addition to providing for the automatic expungement of low-level cannabis possession convictions across the state.

On Thursday, Senators agreed to treat the possession of up to two ounces of cannabis as an infraction punishable by a $50 fine instead of regarding it as a crime. This measure marks a huge change in a state where thousands of residents have been caught on the wrong side of the law and been incarcerated.

The agreement on the expungement measure comes as a compromise deal after it became apparent that there wouldn’t be enough support to pass a full legalization measure. While legalization has failed, cannabis industry advocates still regard this approved measure as a step forward for the industry.

The bill passed with a 39-23 vote in the Senate as the legislative session dragged beyond its expected end on Wednesday.

Gov. Cuomo, who a couple of years ago called marijuana a “getaway drug” was all praises for the decriminalization measure. He said the measure will give relief to the thousands snared by the state’s criminal justice system because of marijuana.

This isn’t the first time that the State of New York is decriminalizing marijuana possession. In 1977, the state decriminalized the possession of a maximum of 25 grams. The new bill more than doubles that possession limit.

It should be noted that under the new law, the possession of more than 2 ounces of marijuana is still a crime and nothing has changed regarding smoking cannabis in public. It is still forbidden.

All the same, this limited measure is still a victory because New York has been notorious for its restrictive marijuana laws. For example, under the medical marijuana program which was legalized in 2014, smoking medical marijuana isn’t allowed.

Many Senators who spoke during the hearing on the measure were disappointed that the bill didn’t seek to fully legalize marijuana. They cited the fact that medical marijuana has been legal for years as proof that cannabis has some value, so they couldn’t understand why it still remained illegal in the state.

The legislators are also debating a proposal tabled by State Senator Diane Savino to expand the medical cannabis program from its “current overly restrictive design” to something more accommodative.

Republicans, who are now the minority in both legislative chambers in New York State, made futile attempts to block the decriminalization measure, calling it “harmful to people.” It isn’t yet clear how industry players like Chemistree Technology Inc. (CSE: CHM) (OTCQB: CHMJF) and Canopy Rivers Inc. (TSX.V: RIV) (OTC: CNPOF) will react to the current cannabis news coming out of Albany.

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420 with CNW – Canadian Flight Crews Banned from Consuming Marijuana 28 Days Before Flying

According to a new policy which has just been made public by Transport Canada (the federal transport regulator), flight crews as well as other industry employees will no longer be allowed to use marijuana within 28 days before they are due to fly.

The policy, which was announced on Thursday (June 6), takes immediate effect and it affects cabin crew, pilots and air traffic controllers. This policy was released in order to clarify the position of the regulator when recreational marijuana was legalized on October 17 last year.

Transport Canada asserted that aviation industry employees are required to maintain a certain minimum “level of fitness for duty” during the time when they are at work. Those employees must therefore refrain from using or being under the influence of any substance which can impair their faculties to a degree that can compromise aviation safety, the regulator added. Transport Canada also affirmed that their policy decision was informed by the current science available on the matter.

The announcement by Transport Canada isn’t altogether new in the Canadian aviation industry. The policy announcement comes after commercial airlines in the country, such as Westjet and Air Canada, had already issued blanket bans to their staff regardless of whether the employees wanted to consume recreational marijuana when they are off duty.

Speaking about Westjet’s radical policy on marijuana, the airline’s spokesperson said that the policy reflects the airline’s position as a leader in aviation safety, and that was why they were requiring Westjetters to report for duty while fit and stay that way throughout their shift.

Transport Canada has chosen to take the path similar to what the Department of National Defence decided to take on recreational marijuana. The military rules were updated to state that any serving military officer who wishes to use recreational marijuana should not do so within eight hours of starting their shift on duty.

The military rules also state that any personnel who operate weapons or vehicles aren’t allowed to consume recreational pot 24-hours before reporting for duty. Those that engage in high-altitude parachuting and those who serve on military aircraft are banned from using recreational cannabis in the 28 days prior to reporting for duty.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police also announced earlier that any of its personnel who serve in “safety-sensitive positions” are prohibited from using cannabis 28 days prior to reporting for duty.

It would be interesting to know what companies like Canopy Rivers Inc. (TSX.V: RIV) (OTC: CNPOF) and Cannabis Strategic Ventures Inc. (OTCQB: NUGS) think about these policies announced by aviation companies and regulators.

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420 with CNW – Canopy Growth Funds Digital Tools to Combat Underage Cannabis Use

Canopy Growth, one of the largest marijuana companies in Canada, has teamed up with two drugs awareness organizations to develop digital tools which will help to curb drug abuse among young people.

The two entities with which Canopy Growth has partnered are Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy and the second is Parent Action on Drugs. The collaboration has resulted in the creation of a text messaging service and an educational chatbot which will help parents, educators and youth to speak candidly about marijuana use.

Hilary Black, the Chief Advocacy Officer of Canopy Growth, revealed that the partnership was cemented two years ago at a time when recreational marijuana was not yet legal in Canada. The partnership was born out of the realization that once recreational cannabis was legalized, concerns and questions about the likelihood of minors abusing the drug would arise.

Black added that Canopy Growth has a responsibility to make sure that kids aren’t consuming cannabis and exposing themselves to the potential risks associated with underage consumption of the substance.

Canopy Growth therefore gave one grant to Dr. Jenna Valleriani. Valleriani serves as the strategic adviser for Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy. That grant was used to design the educational materials contained in the Sensible Education Toolkit. The toolkit has evidence-based marijuana education guidelines designed for young people.

Parent Action on Drugs received the other grant and they used the funds to develop a chatbot and message system to convey the educational information in the toolkit to the youth.

The chatbot can be accessed on the website of Parent Actin on Drugs. It provides an interactive experience through which parents and their kids can start a frank discussion about marijuana use.

Three types of activities are available once you start the chatbot. First, you can play a game of charades and if you identify the term provided correctly, the bot gives you a number of useful tips about marijuana use.

You can also opt for the Q&A activity on the chatbot. Here, you ask questions about cannabis use and the chatbot provides the answers. The third option is titled “Scenarios” in which different real-life situations of exposure to cannabis are raised and a discussion about what one would do in those situations begins.

One has to visit the Parent Action on Drugs website in order to sign up for the SMS service. The automated texts are sent to your phone once each day for a total of 54 days. The content of the messages varies from cannabis laws, effects of cannabis on the body, to suggestions of how one can reduce or quit cannabis use if they have already taken up the habit.

The “What’s with Weed?” campaign was launched on Tuesday (May 28) and it is expected to be a major hit due to its highly interactive design. Canopy Rivers Inc. (TSX.V: RIV) (OTC: CNPOF) and Cannabis Strategic Ventures Inc. (OTCQB: NUGS) salute Canopy Growth for making a contribution towards equipping youth with the information they need to make informed decisions about cannabis use.

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420 with CNW – Should California Reverse its Promise to Give Local Authorities Control Over Marijuana Businesses?

When Proposition 64 was passed, one of its “key” promises was that local authorities would have the right to decide whether to license recreational cannabis businesses within their jurisdictions or not. About 70 percent of all cities and counties have opted to ban recreational cannabis sales within their jurisdictions, and this has hampered the growth of the cannabis industry. Now some lawmakers are proposing that this tenet of Prop 64 be changed to rein in the power of local authorities on the matter. Several arguments have been presented in favor of and against this suggestion.

First, those in favor of Assembly Bill 1356, the bill which would force local authorities where a minimum of 50 percent of the voters supported Prop 64 to license some pot shops, say that the blanket ban on cannabis businesses has created room for the black market to thrive since locals have no access to legal marijuana.

Because of that black market activity, the state has been unable to regulate and tax those illegal cannabis sales. This creates public health safety issues. For example, the unregulated marijuana may have high concentrations of pesticides and other contaminants which can affect the health of consumers. The loss of tax revenue also denies the state the funds that it needs to deliver services to the people in addition to funding the regulation of the pot industry.

Proponents of AB1356 also say that by banning pot sales, local authorities are disregarding the wishes of the people in their areas. This is because there is overwhelming public support for legal marijuana.

The people who oppose the reversal of the promise in Prop 64 to let local authorities have a say in whether cannabis businesses should or shouldn’t be allowed in their areas say that this right was crucial in getting Prop 64 to pass. Reversing that promise would therefore tantamount to reneging on the principles which allayed the fears of some people and led them to support the ballot measure years ago.

Some people are also concerned about the risks associated with cannabis businesses since these businesses operate on a cash-only basis as a result of the federal status of marijuana. Marijuana is still illegal federally, so marijuana businesses cannot access banking services. This raises the risk of armed robberies and other opportunistic crimes. Local authorities should therefore reserve the right to allow or ban marijuana sales, they argue.

Canopy Rivers Inc. (TSX.V: RIV) (OTC: CNPOF) and Cannabis Strategic Ventures Inc. (OTCQB: NUGS) call on all concerned to think carefully about the future they want for the cannabis industry so that this standoff between the state regulators and the local authorities is resolved in a way that puts the will of the people at the center.

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420 with CNW – Michigan Retailers Ordered to Only Stock Cannabis from Licensed Growers

Michigan has been struggling to get a handle on the illegal cannabis market and their latest action has seen them instruct medical marijuana provisioning centers to stop accepting cannabis grown by caregivers and instead only accept supplies from growers licensed by the state.

LARA (Licensing and Regulatory Affairs) also says that caregiver growers can start selling cannabis to the licensed growers and processors, but the caregiver growers will have to meet the cost of testing their cannabis before the licensed processors and growers can accept it.

Rejecting the cannabis grown by caregivers is just another twist in the regulatory chaos as the state struggles to move from a largely informal industry to a regulated one. Their efforts in this direction have been met by legal challenges initiated by the unlicensed cannabis businesses which the regulators wanted to close.

Judge Stephen Borrello of the Court of Claims has variously described what the regulators are doing as “freakish or whimsical.” The Judge has so far made several rulings against LARA, the most recent being one in which unlicensed dispensaries can continue operating for 60 days after LARA has rejected their application for a license.

During that court session, the judge gave the regulators the liberty to decide whether caregiver growers could continue supplying medical cannabis to dispensaries. The regulators promptly acted on that and issued their guidelines barring caregiver growers from taking their cannabis to dispensaries.

This action by LARA has stirred what is an already sour relationship between the “corporate cultivators” and the caregiver cannabis growers. The caregiver growers see the large corporate cultivators as being only interested in making profit at the expense of patients while the big growers see caregiver growers as people who supply cannabis of questionable quality to undercut their profits.

Those accusations have some basis, because some of the cannabis from caregiver growers has tested positive for mold, E-coli, Salmonella and other contaminants. Nonetheless, consumers prefer the cannabis from caregiver growers because it is more affordable and is in tune with the needs of patients.

Critics of the action taken by LARA now say that the caregiver growers are simply going to start supplying the unlicensed sellers, to the detriment of the legal cannabis industry since these products will not have to undergo the costly testing processes required in the regulated market.

Canopy Rivers Inc. (TSX.V: RIV) (OTC: CNPOF) and Cannabis Strategic Ventures, Inc. (OTC: NUGS) hope that the regulators take well-considered decisions so that the medical cannabis industry in Michigan can finally stabilize.

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420 with CNW – Cannabis Users Tend to Weigh Less, Study Finds

New research shows that people who use marijuana tend to weigh less than those who don’t. These findings run contrary to a common perception that cannabis users end up becoming obese.

The researchers took data from the National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions and analyzed the BMI (body mass index) of 33,000 participants in the survey.

The analysis showed that out of all the cannabis users, 15 percent could be categorized as obese while the fraction of obese people among non-users of cannabis stood at 20 percent.

The data studied indicated that during the three-year period under scrutiny, all the participants registered an increase in weight. However, that increase was higher among those who didn’t use marijuana.

Granted, the weight difference between cannabis users and non-users was modest. For example, the difference was just two pounds for individuals weighing 200 pounds at the start of the research. However, that difference was observed throughout the study population.

These findings seem to suggest that people who use cannabis consistently have a lower likelihood of becoming obese over the years.

The lead author of the study, Assistant Professor Omayma Alshaarawy, wasn’t certain why those who use marijuana are less likely to become obese.

One of the possible reasons that he advances is that marijuana users may become more conscious about their eating habits due to the “munchies” associated with marijuana consumption. This behavioral factor can then explain why their weight stays in check.

Another possible reason that the researchers present is that marijuana may affect cells or receptors on cells to the extent that the tendency to gain weight is curbed. The researchers weren’t sure about the causative factor for this weight difference, so they called for more research to be done on the matter.

Alshaarawy was also quick to warn that their research should not be used as a reason for people to consume cannabis in order to manage their weight. He cautioned that the full extent of marijuana’s effects on the body hasn’t been understood yet, so people should use other methods of managing their weight instead of consuming cannabis as a weight-management technique.

For those who may be doubtful about the motivation of the researchers, remember that the study was funded by the National Institutes of Health, so there was no motivation to present marijuana in a favorable light.

Chemistree Technology Inc. (CSE: CHM) (OTCQB: CHMJF) and Canopy Rivers Inc. (TSX.V: RIV) (OTC: CNPOF) welcome the research which will help to dispel some of the misconceptions that have surrounded cannabis for long.

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420 with CNW – Washington State Passes Medical Cannabis in Schools and Marijuana Testing Bills

Two separate cannabis bills have been passed by the Washington state Senate. One has to do with the use of medical cannabis in schools and another regards testing cannabis products before they get on the market.

The bill on medical cannabis in schools is intended to help students with chronic illnesses for which they are being treated using medical marijuana. The bill will allow those students to get their medical cannabis treatment while at school.

More specifically, the treatment will be administered by a parent, and not a school official or a nurse. This provision was intended to eliminate any liability issues that can arise from the administration of medical cannabis to students.

Secondly, the stipulation that only parents can administer medical cannabis to their children at school will also remove any issues that could have arisen regarding the licensing of the people administering medical cannabis to kids.

The senate bill also bans smoking medical cannabis on school premises. Students can therefore only receive medical cannabis edibles and other forms of marijuana. Cannabis products whose THC content is high are also banned from school premises. Most medical cannabis plants are carefully bred to have a high CBD content and very low, if any, THC.

The bill has a trigger clause that allows schools in Washington State to suspend accepting medical marijuana for students once the federal government threatens to cut off the funding of the schools over the medical marijuana program.

In a related development, the senate also passed a bill to modify the marijuana testing requirements of the state. This bill looks at various testing parameters, such as potency, mold, and pesticides.

The lawmakers observed that the existing law had gaps which allowed players in the cannabis industry to make some claims that are hard to verify on their product labels.

The bill wants to transfer oversight of cannabis testing labs from the Liquor and Cannabis Board to the Department of Ecology.

If the bill becomes law, the ecology department will be expected to table new testing guidelines in 2020 and 2021. These guidelines will stem the tide of facilities springing up and claiming to be cannabis testing labs.

The two bills had already got the nod from the state Assembly. The “yes” vote from the senate therefore means that the modified bills will be sent back to the House so that the lawmakers there can approve the changes made by the senators. Canopy Rivers Inc. (TSX.V: RIV) (OTC: CNPOF) and Chemistree Technology Inc. (CSE: CHM) (OTCQB: CHMJF) welcome the two bills because they will not only inspire confidence in cannabis products but also make it easy for students to receive their medical cannabis treatment while at school.

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420 with CNW – Demand for Medical Cannabis Skyrockets on Rhode Island

As legislators on Rhode Island are thinking about legalizing recreational cannabis, the data on medical cannabis sales shows that the volume of products sold is setting state records year by year.

Currently, the state has three licensed dispensaries selling medical cannabis products. These dispensaries are on course to sell medical cannabis products worth about $56 million during the 2019 fiscal year.

If that target is hit, it will mark a 46.6 percent increase from the total sales of the previous fiscal year (2018). Medical cannabis sales for 2018 were also approximately 33.3 percent higher than what was registered in 2017.

As you can see, the medical cannabis industry on Rhode Island seems to be growing at an unstoppable pace year by year.

Rhode Island has a fairly short list of medical cannabis qualifying conditions when compared to other states where similar programs exist. However, the definition of those conditions is broad and it allows anyone with the symptoms of the listed conditions to access medical cannabis.

The state has about 18, 200 patients who are active on the medical marijuana program. Active patients are those who regularly buy medical cannabis products from the licensed dispensaries.

The uptick in medical cannabis sales has given the state a much-needed boost to its revenue. For example, the state earned $2.75 million as taxes on various aspects of the medical cannabis industry.

In this fiscal year, the state expects to earn almost double what it earned during the last fiscal year. Projections indicate that the state will collect about $5.4 million in taxes from the medical cannabis industry.

In the meantime, there are proposals to legalize recreational cannabis and also expand the medical cannabis sector. One of the proposals seeks to increase the number of dispensaries to nine.

Previous attempts to increase the number of dispensaries have been successfully resisted by the existing three dispensaries who argued that bringing in more players would hurt their businesses and result in possible closures.

However, those who want more dispensaries to be licensed argue that patients aren’t having sufficient access to dispensaries since the existing ones aren’t equally spread out across the state. Additionally, the lack of robust competition in the medical cannabis sector has denied patients competitive prices and access to a broader variety of products.

Advocates are therefore asking regulators to give priority to dispensaries that wish to operate in areas where none currently exists, and new operators should be brought on board before the existing ones are allowed to open additional compassion centers (medical cannabis dispensaries).

These reforms seem reasonable enough, and the regulators would be well advised to act upon the suggestions made. Cannabis Strategic Ventures, Inc. (OTC: NUGS) and Canopy Rivers Inc. (TSX.V: RIV) (OTC: CNPOF) hope that the state will act on the proposed reforms so that patients can have easier access a wider variety of products at competitive prices.

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