EP79(02.18.2019) Amanda of F.A.R.M.S. Inc.

On Episode 79, Amanda from F.A.R.M.S. Inc.
Amanda is the President of F.A.R.M.S. Inc., a non-profit organization in Southern Oregon defending the rights of craft cannabis farmers so they can focus on . . . growing good cannabis! They have big things coming in 2019.
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//CANNABIS NEWS// (February 11-18th 2018)

//HEADLINES//

• Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) filed three separate far-reaching marijuana bills, one of which is designated as S.420. Some of the provisions of the legislation would de-schedule marijuana, solve the 280E tax issue, create a system of permits for businesses to engage in cannabis commerce and authorize regulations on packaging and labeling, among many other reforms. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) introduced House companion legislation. H.R. 420, the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act, was the seventh-most-viewed bill on Congress.gov over the past week. 
• Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker testified before the House Judiciary Committee that international treaties prevent the US from approving more cultivators of marijuana for research. But the State Department said three years ago that the claim is false.
• Episode #1246 of the Joe Rogan Experience Podcast Featured a Cannabis Debate between Alex Berenson & Dr. Michael Hart. Alex Berenson is a former reporter for The New York Times and the author of several thriller novels and a book on corporate financial filings. His new book "Tell Your Children: The Truth About Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence" is available now via Amazon. Dr. Michael Hart is the founder and medical director of Ready-to-go clinic, a medical cannabis clinic in London, Ontario, Canada.
• Drug policy reform advocates are slamming pro-legalization members of Congress like Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Barbara Lee (D-CA), among others, for supporting an amendment that blocks people with drug felonies from certain employment opportunities. “House Democrats should be ashamed of themselves for using their new majority to promote Willie Horton politics,” the Drug Policy Alliance's top staffer in DC said.
• A federal judge ruled that Walmart improperly terminated an Arizona employee for state-legal medical cannabis use. In a significant decision that recognized a private right of action for employment discrimination under the AMMA, Arizona U.S. District Judge James A. Teilborg said last week that Walmart was not justified in firing the worker based on the company's idea that marijuana metabolites in her urine meant she must have been impaired at work.
• Idaho State Police officials say troopers made the biggest cannabis bust in agency history after a semi-truck carrying 6,701 pounds of cannabis was seized during a routine inspection. Idaho State Police officials say troopers made the biggest cannabis bust in agency history after a semi-truck carrying 6,701 pounds of cannabis was seized during a routine inspection. However, the Colorado company that bought the plants says the truck was hauling legal hemp. Big Sky LLC, which was shipping the products from Oregon to Colorado, said in a lawsuit that the truck driver was hauling hemp, which is now legal under the U.S. Farm Bill. Big Sky wants its product returned and demands an apology from Idaho authorities. Read More...
  
• Women Bought Twice As Much Cannabis in 2018 As They Did The Year Before. Green Entrepreneur - Many have called 2018 the Year of the Woman. And the cannabis industry was no exception. According to a new report by Eaze, an online market place and technology platform for legal cannabis, the number of women buying cannabis in California doubled in 2018 from the year before. "We see a strong majority of women are using cannabis for wellness reasons like personal care and improved sleep," said Peter Gigante, head of policy research at Eaze.The study also found a growth in the use of CBD products -- such as face and body creams and bath bombs -- among female boomers. Read Full Story

//Politics//

• Congressional Democratic leaders revealed the draft text of a marijuana banking billthey plan to pass this year. The document's release comes ahead of a Wednesday hearing on the issue by a subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee. The proposed legislation contains several new provisions that weren't part of cannabis banking bills filed in years past, including protections for ancillary businesses and those regulated by Indian tribes.
• Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), a presidential candidate, said in an interview that she listened to Tupac and Snoop Dogg while smoking marijuana in college. “I think that it gives a lot of people joy, and we need more joy in the world.” However, she's being called out for her impossible claim since they didn't release albums until years later. The episode exemplifies that in 2019, political marijuana scandals no longer have to do with simply whether a candidate consumed cannabis, which in and of itself isn't controversial any more.
• Former Bush administration Deputy Assistant U.S. Attorney General John Yoo—perhaps best known for authoring torture memos—says President Trump can and should order the Drug Enforcement Administration to stand down in states where marijuana is legal.
• Former Attorney General Eric Holder said he he would vote for marijuana legalization if he were a member of Congress, and implied that he lobbied unsuccessfully internally to get the Obama administration to reschedule cannabis.
• The House and Senate approved an appropriations bill that continues protections for state medical cannabis laws, as well as a rider blocking Washington, D.C. from spending its own money to legalize marijuana sales, through September.

​//Medical, Health & Research//​

• A review concluded that "evidence supports the use of cannabinoids, especially cannabidiol, in similar forms of refractory epilepsy including Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes."
• Another review found "strong evidence of CBD's benefit" for  refractory seizures and that "acute CBD dosing before anxiety‐provoking events like public speaking and the chronic use of CBD in schizophrenia are promising but not proven."
• A recent study found that "chronic pain is commonly experienced among young adult cannabis users and pain-relief is the primary motivation for users with pain."
• A study concluded that "many African Americans experience mental health issues (specifically depression and anxiety) due to direct and indirect consequences of drug penalties."
• A study's findings "suggest marijuana legalization may not contribute to the increase in traffic fatalities" in Washington State.
• The Canadian Journal of Cardiology published a case study of a 70-year-old man who had a heart attack after eating a cannabis edible. The journal also ran a related editorial.
• ​Prescribers’ Digital Reference, a source for doctors formerly known as the Physicians' Desk Reference, started listing CBD products for the first time.
• A Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration official argued that marijuana's risks are “downplayed by the marijuana industry and ignored by the states.”
• A review concluded that "adolescent cannabis consumption was associated with increased risk of developing depression and suicidal behavior later in life, even in the absence of a premorbid condition," though "individual-level risk remains moderate to low" and  "there was no association with anxiety."
• A study found that states that legalize medical marijuana experience reduced teen cannabis use rates. "Some people have argued that decriminalizing or legalizing medical marijuana could increase cannabis use amongst young people... However, we saw the opposite effect.”
• A study found that "the impact of decriminalization of marijuana did not seem to affect the incidence of drugged driving with marijuana in CA."

//Industry, Business & Financial//​​​

• Marijuana Stocks And 5 Reasons Cannabis Companies Go Public. The Fresh Toast - A number of cannabis companies have gone public over the last several years, with the majority listed on a small exchange in Canada called the Canadian Securities Exchange (“CSE”). Many have done so via reverse takeover—a merger transaction in which a private company acquires a public shell company, merges into it, and then takes it over and changes its name—rather than resorting to an initial public offering, a more common practice in which a private company sells shares to the public and is then listed on a public exchange. There are a number of reasons why companies choose to go public, including: Fundraising: It enables companies to raise large(r) amounts of capital from external investors. Publicity: Going public is a watershed moment, raising a company’s profile among investors, customers, competitors, and the general public. Credibility: Becoming and being a public company is somewhat of a status symbol. It shows that you’ve “made it” and can handle the rigorous disclosures and transparency required by investors and regulators. Liquidity: It allows longtime employees and investors to “take some chips off the table” by monetizing some or all of their holdings. Currency: Public stock can more easily be utilized for acquisitions. Read Full Story
• Aurora Cannabis Inc. reported a second-quarter loss of $237.8 million on revenue of $54.2 million (in Canadian dollars).
• The president of the American Bankers Association called for “Congress to step in and reconcile the gap between state and federal law when it comes to banking cannabis.”
• MedMen was asked to resign from the New York Medical Cannabis Industry Association over allegations of racist and sexist comments from company leadership.
• Harborside Health Center and Apothecarium both announced reverse takeover deals with Canadian companies.
• Dan Bilzerian's Ignite Cannabis Company is under fire for its ad campaign that focuses on scantily clad women.
• Colorado retailers have sold more than $6 billion in marijuana products since the launch of legalization in 2014.
• Harborside Completes Reverse Takeover of Lineage Grow Co.. The business combination will bring Harborside to the public trading floor of the Canadian Securities Exchange.
• DATA SUGGESTS MILLENNIAL INVESTORS ARE MIGRATING FROM TECH TO CANNABIS. According to recently released data, Aurora Cannabis outranked Apple and other tech companies for the number of millennial investors on the trading app Robinhood. Read More... 

//Legal//​

• Denver, Colorado officials held the city's first event aimed at helping people expunge past marijuana convictions.
• A Connecticut court is considering a lawsuit filed by a man disqualified from becoming a firefighter due to his legal medical cannabis use.
• The U.S. attorney for the Western District of Tennessee cheered the sentencing of an Oregon couple he prosecuted and who had previously appeared on a TV show called "Weed Country," saying, "we are not 'weed country,' and this office will enforce the rule of law by prosecuting marijuana cultivation, distribution, and possession aggressively, consistently, and unapologetically."
• The Minnesota Department of Corrections is being sued over allegedly preventing a man on parole from accessing medical cannabis.

//Hemp//

• A Food and Drug Administration spokesperson only vaguely responded to queries about whether it is helping to coordinate a crackdown on CBD products in states across the country.
• Vermont's agriculture secretary sent a letter asking the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve the use of CBD food products.
• Missouri regulators said they have "no legal authority to bar the use of CBD oil in combination with alcohol beverages as long as the oil contains no THC."
• Kansas regulators began accepting industrial hemp research applications.

//Culture//

• The Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League are filing a motion to sue Snoop Dogg for copyright infringement over his logo for Leafs by Snoop. The logo for Leafs by Snoop is a stylized cannabis leaf that vaguely resembles the Toronto Maple Leaf’s logo with a maple leaf, although they represent different plants. Representative of the team claim that the logos are “confusingly similar.” Read More... 
• Actor Patrick Stewart spoke about how he uses medical cannabis to treat arthritis.
• MedMen hired Spike Jonze and Jesse Williams to make a short film on the history of marijuana.
• A poll found that more Californians trust marijuana dispensaries and cannabis growers than social media companies. It also showed that 53% think the marijuana industry fuels some or a great deal of their local economies.

​//International//

• According to National Anti-Drug Agency Director General, Datuk Seri Zulkifli Abdullah, there is a provision in the Malaysian law that allowed for the cultivation of the cannabis plant in the country provided that it met some special conditions or permissions. The head of Malaysia's National Anti-Drug Agency said that the law allows growing medical cannabis with approval from regulators.
• Indonesian police physically dragged an American man arrested for marijuana possession to a press conference. The U.S. citizen was arrested after Indonesian authorities discovered about 45 grams of marijuana stuffed inside a computer keyboard. Bahri faces a maximum of 15 years in prison if he is convicted.
• The UK's top law enforcement officer revealed that she doesn't have the ability to smell cannabis. Cressida Dick, the Metropolitan Police's first female commissioner told the Radio 4 her sense of smell is very important to her, but it has a big blind spot.
• Forbes - Following reports about the World Health Organization (WHO) recommending a rescheduling of cannabis and several of its key components under international drug treaties, the European Parliament voted on Wednesday on a resolution that would help advance medical cannabis in the countries that form the European Union. While non-binding, the resolution seeks to incentivize European nations to increase access to medical marijuana, prioritizing scientific research and clinical studies. Same as the WHO’s recommendation, the European Parliament’s resolution shows how wide support for cannabis legalization is, but does not change any actual laws on the international or local levels.  Read Full Story

//Mexico//

• Former Mexican President Vicente Fox said he thinks his country will be the next to legalize marijuana.

​//North East//

• Massachusetts regulators ordered a medical cannabis dispensary to temporarily cease its operations over violations related to security, sanitation, waste disposal and product labeling. Separately, here's a look at legislation that lawmakers are considering to amend the state's legal marijuana law.
• Boston, Massachusetts officials have added an extra "secret" step to approval processes for marijuana business licensing.
• Prohibitionist group Smart Approaches to Marijuana is circulating an alternative "decriminalization" bill to New York lawmakers in an effort to siphon away votes from legalization.

//The South East & South//

• West Virginia delegates defeated an amendment on marijuana rescheduling.

//The Midwest//

• Michigan regulators projected that medical cannabis sales could generate $18.2 million in tax revenue for the current fiscal year.

//The West & West Coast//​

• The New Mexico House Health and Human Services Committee approved a marijuana legalization bill.
• The Arizona Senate unanimously approved a bill allowing state agencies to share medical cannabis sales data with one another.
• Utah's largest healthcare provider is moving to allow its doctors to recommend medical cannabis.
• The Idaho House Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to introduce a bill to lower marijuana possession penalties.
• Wholesale Cannabis Prices in Nevada Are Declining, and This Trend May Continue Through 2019. Pricing pressures felt as The Silver State’s adult-use market evolves.
• Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee's (D) initiative to issue pardons for certain past marijuana convictions has so far helped only a very limited number of people. In the month since Gov. Jay Inslee offered pardons to thousands of people convicted of misdemeanor marijuana offenses, just 13 have received the official act of forgiveness. But a more sweeping proposal in the state Legislature may be gaining momentum, offering the potential clearing of criminal records for hundreds of thousands of others.
• California regulators launched enforcement actions against unlicensed marijuana businesses. The Bureau of Cannabis Control (Bureau) and the Department of Consumer Affairs’ Division of Investigation-Cannabis Enforcement Unit (DOI-CEU) today announced enforcement action on two unlicensed cannabis businesses operating in Sacramento County and Los Angeles.\
• ​California Legislators Introduce Temporary Tax Cut to Cannabis Businesses. After one year of legal cannabis sales, state lawmakers think Assembly Bill 286 will help cannabis businesses grow. Assembly Bill 286, or the Temporary Cannabis Tax Reduction bill, would cut state taxes for legal marijuana retailers from 15 percent to 11 percent for three years. It would also suspend cultivation taxes through 2022, according to the bill.
• The Hawaiian Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection and Health Committee rejected a bill to allow the sale of medical cannabis edibles but they did advance legislation directing regulators to develop rules to potentially allow edibles in the future.

​//Oregon//

• ​Yerba Buena was recently acquired by Stem Holdings. The Oregon company underwent a three-month audit during which accountants pored through its financial records and SOPs. Under the agreement terms, Stem will acquire from Yerba Buena all the assets comprising Yerba Buena's business and assume the related liabilities. The consideration to be paid by Stem includes: (i) US$350,000 in cash payable on closing; (ii) a US$400,000 non-negotiable promissory note (iii) US$3.86 million in common share of Stem, according to a press release on the deal.