September 22, 2018
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ALEX HALPERIN
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Here's the news.
POLITICS
The NY Times asks, ' Where is New York on REC legalization ?" The answer is it depends on whether Republicans maintain control of the state senate in November.

Employees of the New York State Health Department are on a legalization listening tour . (Gothamist) For more see Cannabis Wire .

Bloomberg says New York can’t afford to wait for New Jersey to go REC and cede tax revenue across the Hudson. It adds that a New York, New Jersey, Connecticut market would be second largest in the country after California.

A new New Jersey REC bill features low taxes, delivery, and social use . (NJ.com)
Massachusetts REC shops may not open until November . (Boston Globe)

REC opponents are touring Michigan ahead of the November REC vote. (MLive)

Billboards in Utah quote Mormon scripture to support the upcoming MED vote. (Salt Lake Tribune)

The Northern Mariana Islands, a US territory, legalized REC . (Forbes-- Tom Angell)

The Canadian government is downplaying the risk of cannabis users, workers or investors being banned from the US for life, despite US authorities confirming the risk is real. (The Star)

One Canadian employment lawyer said those worried about the risk should work in a different industry . (The Star, BNN Bloomberg)

A South African court determined cannabis use is legal in private . (AP)

Protests by the Orthodox Church have led the nation of Georgia to suspend plans to legalize MED for export. (BBC)

BUSINESS
Tilray stock had a wild week of trading after the DEA approved its MED for import. (Marketplace) The stock climbed more than 100% to $263 and passed Canopy Growth as the world’s most valuable cannabis company before ending the week at $123. (MarketWatch, CBC)

Vox explains why Peter Thiel-backed Tilray was worth more than American Airlines . But short sellers are also heavily invested . (NYTimes)


Tilray CEO Brendan Kennedy talked to Axios’ Pro Rata podcast.

Bloomberg meets some cannabis millionaires and billionaires . Barron’s calls pot-stocks “ the new bitcoin. ”

After the DEA’s decision, Congressman Matt Gaetz asked “What happened to “Buy American, hire American”? (Marijuana Moment)

Next up, Massachusetts company Curaleaf hopes to reach a value of $4 billion going public in Canada. (Bloomberg)
Coca-Cola said it’s exploring CBD beverages but has “no interest in marijuana or cannabis.” The drinks giant reportedly spoke to Canadian grower Aurora . It may be a sign numerous consumer packaged goods companies want in . (Financial Post, Business Insider)

California’s seed to sale tracking system is coming online within weeks , creating another difficult transition for state cannabis businesses. California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) vetoed a tax break for cannabis companies. (Cannifornian, MJBiz Daily)

At Canna Law Blog, attorney Hilary Bricken looks at the seven big “don’t knows” for California cannabis law.

Leafly says “mids,” the equivalent of middle shelf brands, are the best thing in California cannabis right now.

A resident of Santa Barbara County says her rural area has been taken over by apparently unlicensed growers . (CalMatters)

After two of its drivers were arrested and up to $230,000 was seized,, a licensed California transport company is threatening to sue the feds . (MJBiz Daily)

To resolve Oregon’s cannabis surplus, an industry group wants to export product to other legal states , including possibly the east coast. As state farmer’s struggle, advocates think they can bring the unprecedented idea to fruition in two years. (Willamette Week)

Oregon MED patients don’t like new purchase limits designed to curtail the illegal market. (Oregonian)

A powerful Nevada gaming industry group called for a pause on social use in Vegas. (Las Vegas Sun)

Meanwhile, WestWord is impressed by SF’s consumption scene . “Give us a place to go, Colorado,” it beseeches. “A real place to go.”

Large multi-state operators are lining up for a crack at New Jersey market . (MJBiz Daily)

Problems with Metrc regulatory software have forced Maryland regulators to override state rules . (MJBizDaily)

Enterprise software company MJFreeway , which has suffered several prominent outages, raised $10M . Family office Batu Capital Investments led the round with significant participation by Cresco Capital Partners . (Press release)

Packaging company KushCo reported $51M in annual sales. (Press release)

Cannabis Wire asks if consumers’ data is safe at the dispensary . California Gov. Brown signed a new data security law for cannabis businesses. (Canna Law Blog)

Far-short of its $50M goal and the $17.2M it needs to go public, High Times extended its crowdfunding period . (MJBiz Daily)

Digiday says more marketing executives are leaving big mainstream companies for cannabis. Despite heavy restrictions, Canadian companies are getting their brands out there .


Canadian company AHLOT is hiring part-time cannabis connoisseurs to try its product for C$50 an hour. (Metro)

HEALTH & SCIENCE
A review of existing studies found that while MED use may not reduce pain it can help “with the experience of feeling pain.” Data showed cannabis could “modestly increase people’s threshold for pain and reduce pain’s overall sensation of unpleasantness.” (Inverse)
A Canadian condo board faces a conflict of medical needs between resident MED patients and another resident who says she has a potentially fatal cannabis allergy. (CBC)

Federal data shows cannabis use is as popular with baby boomers as teenagers . (WashingtonPost) Philly.com talks to some of them. NPR talks to some more.

A researcher said most cannabis labelling, (i.e. Indica, sativa) “doesn’t hold up to any genetic scrutiny.” (The Star)

FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb is more concerned about teens accessing weed than e-cigarettes and nicotine. (CNBC) E-cigarette use is way up among teenagers . (WSJ)

A Canadian study found PTSD sufferers who use MED are 60% to 65% less likely to suffer from severe depression and thoughts of suicide than those who don’t. (Globe and Mail)

Another study found MED use could help opioid users stay on methadone . (The Leaf)

Canadian researchers hope studying the illegal market and cannabis-related social media will give more accurate perspectives on marijuana use than questionnaires. (Global News)

Octopuses on ecstasy behave a lot like humans on ecstasy. 🐙 (The Atlantic)

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CRIMINAL JUSTICE
An event hosted by President Trump in New York will require attending nations to sign a non-negotiable plan for reducing drug use , which critics say will escalate the global drug war. (The Intercept)

Advocates of criminal justice reform say a little noticed line about synthetic drugs in the House, but not the Senate, opioids bill “ could restart the war on drugs. ”  (Washington Post)
California cops worry statewide delivery will lead to an increase in crime . (LATimes)

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) called on the Bergen County Sheriff to resign after racist, marijuana related comments the sheriff made were caught on tape. (WNYC)

In a weird story, a lawsuit alleges a Miami man was extorted for $50 bucks at a Denver airport rental car business and rented a car containing 40 pounds of weed. (Westword)

In Louisiana, African Americans are three times as likely as whites to be arrested for pot possession, a study found. (NOLA.com) A Louisiana congressman also proposed drug testing his colleagues in Congress. (Marijuana Moment)

Philadelphia is ending its much criticized asset forfeiture program . (Reason)

The Trump administration is dismantling a small agency designed to improve racial disparities in juvenile detention.

Canadian police will have more leeway to use REC than Canadian soldiers. (Vancouver Sun) 
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CULTURE
Maine said a restaurant can’t hotbox lobsters , even though the owner claims the practice calms the crustaceans before they’re plunged into boiling water. So far, it appears eating stoned lobster will not lead to a failed urine test, but experiments are ongoing.

The restaurant’s owner says the experiments will continue despite the law. (NYTimes, Bangor Daily News)
Las Vegas’s new cannabis museum is very Instagram friendly and features a 24-foot bong. No consumption allowed. (AP)

Northern California is implementing a long discussed system of cannabis “appellations” modeled on the French system for classifying wine. (Mendocino Voice)

I wrote about dabs and dabbing culture for the Guardian. And Bloomberg says hash is becoming more popular .
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