420 with CNW — Smokable Medical Cannabis Bill Enacted into Law in Minnesota

Although more than 30 states have passed legislation allowing the use of marijuana for medical purposes, the language in each of these medical cannabis bills varies widely. But one provision that several of these states share is a ban against smokable medical marijuana, forcing qualified patients to use other forms of consumption such as oils and tinctures. In Minnesota, however, patients will soon be able to access smokable medical cannabis after the governor signed a large-scale bill that expanded the state’s medical marijuana program.

Among other things, this bill includes provisions that grant medical marijuana patients access to smokable products. The legislation was sponsored by Minnesota House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler and was approved by legislators less than a fortnight ago.

The broader medical cannabis bill was approved by a bicameral conference committee as part of an omnibus health bill, with the House and Senate passing it in a 77 to 57 and 67 to 1 vote, respectively. Now that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has signed the bill into law, it must take effect by March 1, 2022.

Once it does, adults 21 years and older will be granted access to smokable cannabis flowers. Aside from allowing smokable cannabis, the legislation will also allow medical marijuana dispensaries to provide curbside pickup services. Additionally, it increases the number of registered patients designated caregivers can serve at once from just one to six. Winkler, who has been a major proponent of cannabis reform, predicted that the push for broader cannabis reform in the conservative state, especially adult-use cannabis, would inevitably lead to compromise legislation such as the expanded medical cannabis bill that is now state law.

Aside from the medical marijuana bill, Winkler is also behind a full legalization bill that advanced through the House but stalled in the Republican-controlled Senate. The legislation would allow adults aged 21 and older to buy and possess a maximum of one and a half ounces of marijuana. Additionally, adults would be allowed to grow a maximum of eight cannabis plants at home, with four of them being mature. Calling it the best cannabis legalization bill in the country, Winkler said that it would address the harms of the failed war on drugs by prioritizing social equity, promoting diversity in the licensing process and preventing corporate giants from taking over the adult-use industry once launched.

Just across the state lines, the Louisiana House approved a bill that would allow patients to access smokable cannabis, and that bill is currently awaiting action on the Senate floor. On the other hand, Alabama’s governor recently signed a medical cannabis bill that includes a provision banning smokable medical marijuana.

As many states and countries enact reforms that allow the use of marijuana in some form, the benefits of companies such as Pac Roots Cannabis Corp. (CSE: PACR) (OTCQB: PACRF) (FSE: 4XM) operating are becoming apparent as high-paying jobs and other industries emerge around the marijuana sector.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Pac Roots Cannabis Corp. (CSE: PACR) (OTCQB: PACRF) (FSE: 4XM) are available in the company’s newsroom at http://cnw.fm/PACR

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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 — Connecticut Legislators in Discussions with Governor about Marijuana Legalization

Gov. Ned Lamont will be meeting lawmakers in his office in the coming week to finalize negotiations on a plan to legalize cannabis in the state of Connecticut. A recent poll shows that the majority of voters in the state support the change in policy.

Enacting the reform, which has been an objective of various legislators as well as Lamont’s administration, has become a top priority now that the legislative session will be coming to a close less than a month from now.

Several meetings on the issue have been held to decide what a legal marijuana market should look like. Despite this, however, there are still a few things that need to be resolved. House Majority Leader Jason Rojas said that negotiations were currently focusing on the eligibility criteria to be used for social equity applicants. Any individual who could qualify as such would be afforded benefits in the process of marijuana business licensing.

Earlier this month, Matt Ritter, the House Speaker, stated that the legislature was open to discussing the issue during a special session in an attempt to sort out the differences between the legalization initiatives that had been presented by Lamont and legislators.

Marijuana advocates in the state are pleased with the discussions being conducted, with CURE CT policy director Jason Ortiz noting that it was encouraging to see legislators focusing on working to get things right. CURE CT is an advocacy group that supports the legalization of marijuana. Ortiz is also part of the legalization group assembled by the governor, which gave recommendations on social equity.

The aforementioned poll, which was conducted by the Sacred Heart University, shows that of the state’s residents, 64% are in favor of the legalization of adult use marijuana. Additionally, 62% of those who responded to the poll stated that they were in favor of the expungement of previous marijuana convictions while another 76% were of the opinion that cannabis had fewer effects than alcohol.

The survey was conducted between April 20 and 26, 2021, and involved 1,000 residents in the state. Its results are consistent with past poll results on cannabis legalization.

Earlier in April, a measure to legalize adult use cannabis that was presented as part of the budget by Lamont was approved by the Judiciary Committee after a few amendments were made by the panel. Lamont revealed that if the initiative wasn’t enacted in 2021, it would be brought before voters on the state’s 2022 ballot.

It is good to see legislators and the governor doing their best to ensure that cannabis policy reform takes place. Such occurrences may offer hope to marijuana industry players such as Canada-based Pac Roots Cannabis Corp. (CSE: PACR) (OTCQB: PACRF) (FSE: 4XM) that their US-based counterparts will one day have nearly uniform cannabis regulations governing all states as is the case across the border in Canada.

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420 with CNW — Massachusetts Firm Discovers That Tears Can Help Detect Drivers Impaired by Cannabis

Breathalyzers, blood tests and standard sobriety tests can be used by police officers to ascertain to a high degree of accuracy whether a driver has been impaired by alcohol. However, no such measures are available to law enforcement for the purpose of identifying drivers who are under the influence of marijuana. A company based in Quincy, Massachusetts, seems to have found a way to test for marijuana impairment, and the test relies on tears as samples for this test.

Impairment Measurement Marijuana and Driving (“IMMAD”) is working with the Biomedical Forensics Program of Boston University’s School of Medicine to refine how tears can be used to establish the quantity of active cannabinoids within a driver’s body as a measure of how impaired the driver may be.

The research team’s work established that a person’s tears are a good way to identify and measure which particular cannabinoids may be inactive or active. This particular sample is more specific and sensitive when compared to a person’s saliva or breath. The abstract of this research paper was discussed in April at a forensic science conference, and the paper itself will be presented later this year at a virtual conference of the Midwest Toxicology & Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Association.

Sabra B. Jones, a professor at Boston University, worked with Allen Mello, one of her graduate students, last fall and winter to document the efficacy level of relying on tears as an indicator of the magnitude of cannabinoids present in one’s body. The team relied on the understanding that since tears contain a lot more fat/lipophilic contents and since marijuana as well as its compounds are fat soluble, tears would give better test results when compared to one’s breath or saliva, which contain hardly any fats.

Recreational cannabis is legal in Massachusetts, and the research team recruited volunteers who used their own marijuana for the research. Tears and blood samples were then drawn for analysis. Mello conducted this research to fulfil the requirements of a course. The program trains people who would like to work as forensic scientists, and a chemistry/biomedical background is crucial for such forensic scientists, such as those working in crime labs. The research submitted must meet all the requirements of studies published in peer-reviewed journals, and Mello’s work met this criteria. What is left now is to develop the test further so that it can be commercialized.

Once this test method is finalized and validated by the scientific community, it could potentially play a role in the work of cannabis companies, including companies such as Pac Roots Cannabis Corp. (CSE: PACR) (OTCQB: PACRF) (FSE: 4XM).

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420 with CNW — Important Lessons to Learn from 4/20 Marijuana Sales Data

Cannabis lovers in the United States celebrated 4/20, a stoner’s holiday held on April 20 every year, almost a week ago. According to Headset, a marijuana data analytics firm based in Seattle, April 20 is the single largest sales day in the country each year since the legal sale of recreational cannabis began.

The data released by the firm shows that the proportion of sales that takes place on 4/20 increases year over year, except for last year. This can be attributed to the fact that April 20 last year fell on a Monday, which generally tends to have lower sales. Additionally, the decline in sales was likely affected by the coronavirus outbreak and consumers’ unwillingness to meet at in-store events.

Analysis conducted by the firm also shows that while sales in the 4/20 week were among the 10 top weeks of the year with regard to revenue, sales for the week before the holiday were often below average, with sales for the week after the holiday even worse. Given that many companies give discounts during the week of 4/20, it’s no surprise that this happens.

The company also looked at the combined sales of Washington D.C., Nevada, Colorado and California for 2018 and discovered that the week after the stoner’s holiday was the worst revenue week that year. Sales data also revealed that 4/20 celebrations made up most of consumer spending in the summer.

Additionally, the analysis found that in 2020, the sales for adult-use cannabis for the week of April 20 continued growing, despite the coronavirus pandemic. Data shows that the combined sales for the states of Nevada, Colorado and California, along with Washington DC, reached almost $159 million in that week alone, which is equal to a 24% increase, based on data from the previous year.

Despite this though, it’s hard to say whether this increase is normal, given that 2019’s April 20 week experienced a 42% year over year growth.

The high rates of unemployment, consumers’ hesitancy to buy products in-store, and the restrictions imposed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic last year may have also stunted sales during 4/20. For the first time in three years, revenue for the week of April 20 didn’t appear in the top 10, instead, occupying 40th place. However, retail sales increased in the following weeks, as consumers spent more between the months of August and December.

Cannabis executives are hopeful that vaccine rollouts will enable the industry to return to normal soon, and sector players such as Pac Roots Cannabis Corp. (CSE: PACR) (OTCQB: PACRF) (FSE: 4XM) would certainly appreciate having one less issue to deal with.

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420 with CNW — Tips for Getting a Cannabis Business Ready for GMP Certification

With the Democrats currently holding the Senate, House and White House, advocates have their hopes high that the federal government will legalize cannabis. If that were to happen, businesses in the cannabis space would have to deal with a myriad of regulations that legal businesses in other industries have been dealing with all along.

For instance, if the federal government legalizes cannabis and allows national and global sales, companies in the space will have to adhere to Global Manufacturing Practices (“GMP”). GMP is a set of cleanliness and safety protocols that manufacturers of consumer packaged goods are required to follow.

GMP certification can be quite expensive, with companies spending up to six figures to ensure their production facilities are compliant and to hire a certifying firm to confirm that the company is actually adhering to GMP requirements. According to Summer LaForce, director of Woodburn, Oregon-based hemp extraction company FSOil, cannabis and hemp firms looking for opportunities in the mainstream market will need this certification despite the hefty price tag. Depending on the kind of products sold, authorities will maintain different sets of GMP.

The first thing a cannabis business should determine is if the products they make could be categorized as food, cosmetics, dietary supplements or even pharmaceuticals. If the marijuana or hemp operation doesn’t involve any extraction or production of finished goods, owners should look at Good Agricultural and Collection Practices. These standards are set by the World Health Organization as well as the United Nations, and they cover everything from sanitation protocols to harvesting, drying and storing plants that are meant to be consumed by humans.

The entire process of getting a GMP certification is quite complicated, so owners should probably bring in an expert. The expert will examine the manufacturing and safety protocols that will need to be followed as well as ensure that all products are safe for human consumption. A few of the things an expert will check include the cleanliness and hygiene of manufacturing areas, ventilation and airflow, staff training protocols, and plans for recalling products deemed unsafe, among others.

Once the consultant has compiled a gap audit, which is looking for any gaps in the manufacturing procedures that should be fixed, the business can start working toward being GMP compliant. Note that a gap audit will cost a few thousand dollars. John Davis, chief technology officer for Entexs, says sometimes the cost can go as high as three times what companies project. However, he adds that it is ultimately the smart thing for most companies to do as more and more customers are getting curious about GMP requirements.

Companies such as Pac Roots Cannabis Corp. (CSE: PACR) (OTCQB: PACRF) (FSE: 4XM), which are based in Canada, started manufacturing with federal legalization of cannabis already in place. That could mean they have fewer legal complexities to contend with than their U.S.-based multistate operators, which have different legal regimes governing them in every state in which they are licensed.

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420 with CNW — New York Company Says Device Can Identify Drivers Impaired by Cannabis

As more states across the United States decriminalize or legalize recreational and medicinal cannabis, concerns about cannabis impairment have been floated, with some of the opinion that the plant’s legalization will bring about increased dangerous driving.

Various studies have been conducted on marijuana and driving while impaired. So far, it has been determined that knowing whether a driver’s ability has been impaired by cannabis is a distinctly different task than determining whether an individual has been driving with too much alcohol in their bloodstream. This is mainly because THC, which is the main active chemical in cannabis, can stay in an individual’s system for weeks. Its presence does not mean that the person recently consumed cannabis.

Cognivue, a company that was bought in 2018 by businessman Tom Golisano, is convinced that its computerized cognitive testing device may be a solution to this issue. The company, which was founded in 2005, designs and develops a proprietary cognitive assessment device that is largely used in medical settings. The device was the first device that measures cognitive impairment to be approved for use by the FDA.

According to company officials, a grant from the NIH’s National Eye Institute helped fund its initial research for the device, which was created after more than a decade of research. Cognivue’s clinical account manager Kristin Weber explained that the device had been clinically validated more than once, noting that the company’s objective is to become validated globally.

Company officials have already scheduled meetings with state legislators to notify them of the device, given that the process of testing its effectiveness is currently ongoing.

Last year, the firm tested the device in Philadelphia on 130 drug-impaired people and have scheduled a clinical test at the Green Lab in Denver, Colorado, in June of this year. Weber stated that the company chose Colorado because the state has had legalized marijuana longer than any other state in the country while the lab that was chosen happens to be the leading consultant for the marijuana industry.

Cognivue hopes that the tests prove the device’s reliability, which would allow law enforcement to begin using them as early as this year. The device has been designed to eliminate biases, such as sociological and physical, that may come with cognitive testing. It tests various traits, including visual and mobile responses.

As intended, the police would need to transport an individual suspected of impairment to the station, before administering the cognitive test. Weber asserted that the company wanted to address public safety issues while also making sure that individuals who are using cannabis responsibly and legally are not punished.

As different jurisdictions consider ways to detect motorists who are driving while intoxicated by cannabis, lots of companies, such as Pac Roots Cannabis Corp. (CSE: PACR) OTCQB: PACRF) (FSE: 4XM), are investing a lot to develop products which will appeal to the most sophisticated of clients.

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420 with CNW — Legislators in Washington Hear Drug Decriminalization Bill After Supreme Court Ruling

Legislators in Washington state are weighing their options after a Supreme Court ruling annulled the state’s law that criminalizes drug possession.

Of the many initiatives that have been introduced in response to the court’s February decision, it appears that Senate Bill 5476 will most likely be advanced before the end of the legislative session on April 25. If the bill passes, it would represent a shift toward a public health approach to substance use and abuse and away from the punitive war on drugs.

Under the bill, the possession of “smaller” personal use amounts of controlled substances by individuals aged 21 and older will still be decriminalized. Individuals found with any substances in these amounts or less may be referred to treatment and evaluation but will not be subject to any civil or criminal penalties. This statute has been adopted from Oregon’s decriminalization law, which was approved by voters during the November elections.

However, any individuals found using or opening controlled substances in public will be subjected to a $125 civil fine, which will be used to help cover administrative costs resulting from the abrupt decriminalization of these substances in the state. Additionally, the legislation would reinstate criminal charges for adults found with more than the small amounts stipulated as personal use in the bill. While individuals under 21 who are convicted of possession may be charged with a gross misdemeanor, those above 21 found with amounts exceeding personal use may be subject to a Class C felony.

The sponsor of the bill, Sen. Manka Dhingra, stated at the Senate Ways and Means Committee hearing that the outcome of the state vs. Blake case was unexpected, noting that within hours after the ruling had been given, police departments across the state had reported that they would stop arrests for drug possession immediately. This was soon followed by prosecutors filing orders vacating past convictions and dropping ongoing cases.

Meanwhile, voters in the state appear to be supportive of decriminalization, judging from a statewide poll commissioned by advocates. Only 35% of those surveyed revealed that they would prefer to return to the past system while 59% stated that legislators should use the court’s ruling to replace past drug possession legislations with more efficacious addiction and treatment alternatives.

Additionally, the poll found that 73% of voters in the state thought that the state’s approach to problematic drug use was generally a failure while 18% percent admitted to being unsure; only 9% referred to the state’s approach as a success.

As Washington state considers its proposed drug decriminalization bill, other jurisdictions are already registering success stories from the legalization of marijuana. Pac Roots Cannabis Corp. (CSE: PACR) (OTCQB: PACRF) (FSE: 4XM) is one example of a success story that the cannabis sector in Canada is proud of.

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420 with CNW — Mexico Cannabis Legalization Bill Passed by Key Senate Committee, Floor Vote Expected This Month

The Justice Committee of the Senate in Mexico has voted to approve the amended cannabis legalization bill as referred to the upper House by the Chamber of Deputies. This approval means that the bill now has to be cleared by two more Senate committees before it is sent to the floor for a final vote. That final floor vote is expected to happen this month.

On Monday, the Justice Committee passed the bill with a 6 to 5 vote; the panel didn’t make any changes to the bill that was sent back to Senate after the lower legislative chamber made changes to the version passed by Senate in December. It is generally expected that the remaining two Senate panels will not make any changes to this current form of the bill either, regardless of the voices of advocates calling for some sections to be revised.

For example, advocates had wanted the proposed law to have a provision ring-fencing a certain percentage of licenses for communities that had been worst hit during the futile drug war. This wasn’t included in the bill sent to Senate. Advocates are also unhappy that people who would like to grow cannabis at home will have to register with the government.

However, the Chamber of Deputies did make some amendments to the bill before passing it. The lower legislative chamber opted to place control of the cannabis industry in the hands of an existing government agency instead of creating a new agency.

The Deputies also passed a change stipulating that land currently occupied by forests would not be allocated for the cultivation of marijuana. Of concern to advocates is the change increasing the penalties for marijuana-related crimes. Campaigners feel that those stringent penalties could undo the social justice benefits of legalizing cannabis.

While there are still some disagreements regarding the contents of the cannabis legalization bill, most lawmakers, such as Senator Eduardo R. Aguilar, who is a member of the party in power, remarked that it was crucial that marijuana is legalized now and any needed changes can be made later once a law is in place.

Aguilar’s position can be looked at from the context of the looming Supreme Court-imposed deadline giving the lawmakers up to the end of this month to pass legislation enabling the recreational use of marijuana. Earlier in 2018, the highest court in the country had declared the prohibition of recreational cannabis use as unconstitutional. Consequently, it tasked the legislators with making the needed policy changes; however, lawmakers kept asking for deadline extensions, and the current extension runs out at the end of this month.

As the legalization wave sweeps through different jurisdictions, cannabis sector players will have to identify a winning formula that will keep them afloat when the competition magnifies. For instance, Pac Roots Cannabis Corp. (CSE: PACR) (OTCQB: PACRF) (FSE: 4XM) thinks its strength lies in leveraging top-notch genetics, and the Canadian company is pursuing that approach.

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420 with CNW — Marijuana Could Be Legally Available in Virginia This Summer

Democratic lawmakers in the General Assembly of Virginia are now in support of making recreational marijuana legal effective July 1, 2021, instead of having to wait until 2024 when a regulated market for the same is launched. This comes as Senate leaders push for an amendment to the law passed earlier in February stating that marijuana would only be legal in 2024 after the necessary mechanisms to regulate the market are established.

The provision to tie the legalization of marijuana to the date when licensed cannabis businesses can open was a major disappointment to marijuana advocates, and they made their views heard on this matter across the state. They were of the view that such a lengthy delay would only exacerbate the racial problems witnessed as marijuana laws are implemented by law enforcement agencies.

Such a continuation was, according to the campaigners, in stark contrast to the claims that the legalization law was intended to redress the disparities in enforcing laws within the state.

The bill that passed in February is now on the desk of Gov. Northam, and advocates are pleased that he has added his voice to those of the concerned groups that want the legalization date adjusted to this year rather than 2024.

While speaking to VPM News, Northam stated that he wasn’t in support of the continued arrest of members of society over a substance that is scheduled to be legalized anyway. He added that he had plans to present several amendments to the state legislature so that the needed changes to the bill could be made.

The legalization bill that the Senate sent to the Assembly had a provision indicating that the legal possession of marijuana, which didn’t exceed an ounce, could be legalized on July 1 this year, but the General Assembly struck out that provision saying that it could allow the black market operators to entrench themselves in the absence of licensed retailers of cannabis.

Now that the leadership in the House has changed its position on this provision, it is expected that the changes Gov. Northam hinted at will not meet any resistance. This comes after Chamiele Herring, the Majority Leader in the General Assembly, revealed that she was in support of moving the legalization date forward as long as plans were made to conduct public education and safety campaigns.

The governor now has until Wednesday to send his amendments to the legislature so that the House can consider those recommendations on April 7.

Marijuana companies that open shop in Virginia once legalization is implemented will most likely enjoy similar benefits enjoyed by those in other jurisdictions where marijuana is legal. A case in point is Pac Roots Cannabis Corp. (CSE: PACR) (OTCQB: PACRF) (FSE: 4XM), which has managed to ensure profitability despite the stiff competition on the Canadian cannabis market. The company succeeds by specializing in high-end genetics that yield superior products.

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420 with CNW — Delaware Legislators Introduce Bill to Legalize Marijuana

States that have legalized cannabis have seen lots of benefits, including the creation of thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenue. On top of that, most states have also focused on social equity, expunging the records of people with prior nonviolent cannabis-related convictions and giving individuals affected by the failed war on drugs a leg up in their respective cannabis industries. That is what a bill recently introduced by Delaware lawmakers seeks to achieve, despite the fact that the state governor isn’t a fan of recreational marijuana.

The legislation would create a regulated cannabis market in the state, allowing adults 21 years and older to buy and possess up to an ounce of cannabis. However, unlike recreational cannabis legislation passed in other states, it would not provide an option for home cultivation. The bill would also require the appointment of a marijuana commissioner who would issue cannabis regulations and provide licenses to qualifying applicants. Additionally, it would bestow regulatory responsibilities to Homeland Security, the State Department of Safety, and the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement.

Sponsored by Rep. Ed Osienski, the bill would also have a provision for the expungement of prior cannabis records, and it would create a business licensing category for communities disproportionately affected by the decades’ long war on drugs. This would include people living in areas that were adversely affected by prohibition, people convicted of a nonviolent cannabis offense, or the child of an individual with a prior cannabis-related conviction.

Social equity applicants would be granted access to a Social Equity Loan Fund, reduced fees, programs for technical assistance, an adjusted points scale, and the physical location requirement will be waived, says a press release from Osienski’s office. The legislation would allow industry regulators to approve up to 30 retail business licenses for the first 16 months, with applicants being scored based on a variety of factors, including whether or not they will pay their employees a living wage, provide health insurance and diversify their workforce.

The bill would also create a 15% sales tax, dubbed a marijuana control enforcement fee, that will be imposed at the point of sale. The tax revenue derived from cannabis sales would first be used to cover administrative costs and the legislature will then be tasked with apportioning additional funds. If the legislation is passed, the state could generate up to $43 million per year in revenue from a 20% excise tax, based on analysis by State Auditor Kathy McGuiness.

Bill sponsor Osienski believes establishing a cannabis industry in Delaware will strike a blow against the cannabis black market, create thousands of jobs for state residents and promote social equity for communities that were negatively affected by cannabis prohibition.

As the legislators in Delaware are discussing cannabis legalization, more established legal markets such as Canada have provides opportunity for companies to thrive. For example, Pac Roots Cannabis Corp. (CSE: PACR) (OTCQB: PACRF) has carved out a name for itself as a company that uses only high-end marijuana strains to manufacture the best products aimed at the medical and recreational markets.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Pac Roots Cannabis Corp. (CSE: PACR) (OTCQB: PACRF) are available in the company’s newsroom at http://cnw.fm/PACR

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