Cannabis in the Tri-State (NY, NJ, and CT + 1 (MA), and most important global news in the space. For those listening to the show --stunners!

Lets begin with NY 

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) has signed a bill to establish rules and regulations for the sale of hemp and CBD in the state. Cuomo described the state’s hemp industry as “exploding” and said the state regulations will ensure the industry’s “long term viability” and protect consumers.

“By establishing a regulatory framework for producing and selling hemp and hemp extract we can set the industry on a path to continued growth in a smart, safe way that empowers both farmers and consumers.” – Cuomo, said in a recent statement

The measure established a permitting process for hemp cultivators, processors, and help extract retailers, requiring laboratory testing and product labeling. Under the law, the Department of Agriculture and Markets will supervise hemp growers, while the Department of Health will have supervision authority over hemp extracts, such as CBD.

State Sen. Jen Metzger, chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee and bill sponsor, called the legislation a “nation-leading step forward” for the hemp industry which will provide “tremendous opportunity” for the state’s farmers and businesses “up the value chain” while protecting consumers.

Under the federal farm bill, approved last year, states are required to create their own hemp industry regulations which must be approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture before becoming permanent.

The regulations cap THC levels at 0.3 percent – on par with federal rules – requiring state licensing and an application fee of $500 and a per-acre license fee that will be determined by the state agriculture commissioner.

Lets move to NJersey

The constitutional amendment that would legalize marijuana in New Jersey is going before both houses of the state Legislature, as it inches its way closer to a spot on the 2020 ballot after multiple legislative hearings

“I thought New Jersey would be a leader in this, and I still think we have the opportunity to be leader of the East Coast," said state Sen. Nicholas Scutari, D-Union, who sponsored the measure. “I think it is time that we give voters a chance to weigh in on this.”

Testimony on the proposed question was heard before the state Assembly Appropriation Committee and the state Senate Commerce Committee.   The hearings are required for constitutional amendments.

Gov. Phil Murphy promised to legalize marijuana for those over 21, but the fight has seen several setbacks. Lawmakers pulled a vote on a legalization bill in March because the state Senate did not have enough votes to pass it. While another effort had gained traction in recent weeks, Senate President Stephen Sweeney announced late last month he would not take the bill to the floor, and would instead move it to the ballot for voters to decide.

“Today is an important day," Assemblyman Joseph Danielsen, D-Somerset. "It was my hope and the hope of many in my caucus that we could have legalized adult use cannabis legislatively, but unfortunately, that is not to be.”

Some opponents have accused lawmakers of abandoning their job and taking an easy route by pushing the issue to voters, who may not understand the implications of legalization.

There are a lot of people lining up pro and con….by moving it to a referendum, no one has to take a controvercial position.  

Listen to this quote from Melissa Robins, a field organizer with the group Smart Approaches to Marijuana. “Do you agree that the new drug dealers in America will be white men in suits?” ----“Why would we now unleash marijuana into our communities?” she asked…..

The ballot question leaves even those in favor of legalization wary, as it does not address revenue , --  racial--- and social justice in the ways detailed legislation would have.

Charlana McKeithen and Chris Goldstein of NORML, a pro cannabis group, voiced concern about the question’s wording, which would amend the state Constitution to “legalize a controlled form of marijuana called ‘cannabis.’” -----Instead, he said it should call for an end to marijuana prohibition and the elimination of penalties for possession, cultivation and use.

Jon-Henry Barr, a municipal prosecutor in Clark Township, said prosecuting marijuana offenses has been----- “a disaster.” Cases often clog the court, and many judges are throwing them out.----

“We need to do something and we need to do something now,” he said

Well I couldn’t agree more.  Keep in mind Ladies and Gentlemen, that once the state passes the referendum, it typically takes 497 days for the first adult use product to be sold….First there is state legislation, then each municipality votes yes or no.  Then each yes vote, must develop local zoning and licensing procedures.  Which must be applied for by applicants. ONLY THEN CAN  dispensaries BE assigned or new ones built….

Not exactly something that is “close at hand”----

Now lets look at CT.

After coming close this year, Connecticut lawmakers have yet to decide when to make another attempt at legalizing and taxing ADULT USE marijuana.

Legislators acknowledge it’s doubtful there will be a vote ANY TIME SOON.

DESPITE a desire by proponents to revisit the issue when the General Assembly reconvenes in February, it’s unclear whether that will happen. It’s a shortened legislative session and an election year for lawmakers.

‘‘It has been and still is an issue for us. We’re just not sure what the political appetite for it is right now,’’ said Representative5 Joshua Hall,

 a Democrat from Hartford who leads the General Assembly’s Progressive Caucus. There appears to be more support in the House of Representatives than the Senate for proposal, he said, which creates some hesitancy among lawmakers.

ON TO MASS –

Massachusetts marijuana stores can resume the sale of vaping products soon, but only those that are newly manufactured and tested for contaminants, regulators said Thursday.

The products must be manufactured Thursday or later, according to the order from the Cannabis Control Commission, so it’s not clear when customers will --actually be able to start buying vaping products in stores again.

In its announcement, the commission amended a quarantine, put in place Nov. 12, that effectively banned the sale of cannabis vaping products as the commission waited for more information about whether regulated products were causing any of the 93 confirmed and probable vaping illnesses in Massachusetts.

The commission’s executive director, Shawn Collins.

said investigating the illnesses has been a “moving target,” as health officials learn more about the products’ ingredients. le.

 “These protections exist in the legal market,” he said, emphasizing: "They do not exist in the illicit market.”

There you have it, what we believe are the key Cannabis issues in the Tri-state of NY CT and NJ, plus one - M

On to the next segment "stunning and amazing facts"….

Stunner #1

Cannabis-infused edible products went on sale last week  throughout Canada, except for in three provinces — Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta — where the edibles rollout will be delayed.

The delay is due to the provinces running their own distribution systems, needing to test the products before they hit store shelves, and, in Quebec’s case, stricter rules on edibles than all other provinces.

In July, Quebec banned the sale of potent THC-infused candies, confections, and deserts over 5 milligrams of THC per unit and no edible – regardless of potency – can be “appealing to children,” -----which means no sweeteners, colorants or other ingredients “that could increase the appeal of cannabis extracts.”

In addition to edibles, cannabis retailers will be allowed to sell concentrates, topicals, and other so-called “alternative” cannabis products.

Stunner #2

USPS Intercepts Hemp Shipment from Vermont

Yet another hemp shipment coming out of Vermont has been seized by authorities despite federal rules specifically allowing for the interstate transfer of industrial hemp.

This is becoming another challenge with Marijuana still Schedule 1 and hemp now legal.  It is very difficult for authorities to manage since virtually no police officer can tell the difference between a hemp and marijuana plant.  …..and so the beat goes on…..

Stunner #3

A bill to legalize cannabis for adult use in New Hampshire appears to have lost its momentum in the state Senate, where lawmakers in the Senate Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to kick the proposal to interim study, effectively killing the state’s 2020 legalization hopes, New Hampshire Public Radio reports.

The bill, which was approved earlier this year by the House, would have allowed for the adult possession of up to 28 grams of cannabis flower and the home growing of up to six cannabis plants; the bill also aimed to establish a regulatory committee to create rules and regulations for a legal cannabis industry and would have set a cannabis excise tax at 9 percent.

Senators also rejected a bill that would have let doctors make medical cannabis recommendations for “any condition.”

In New Hampshire, Democrats control both the House and Senate, though Republican Gov. Chris Sununu has already said he would veto any adult-use cannabis reforms that reach his desk — the governor, however, did sign a decriminalization bill into law in 2017.

New Hampshire is surrounded on all sides by legal cannabis markets, including Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Canada. Meanwhile, nearby New York is expected to make a strong legalization push in 2020.

Stunner #4

A top National Football League (NFL) team owner and a star player said this week that they’re expecting changes to the league’s marijuana policy after the MLB announced it is removing cannabis from the banned substances list for baseball players.

Both Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady touched on the possibility of the NFL’s marijuana rules being revisited.

“I think the world is sensitive to the issue regarding marijuana, and it’s also an issue that we are excited about being in-step with as it goes forward,” Jones said in an on-air interview with Dallas radio station 

Brady made similar points when asked about MLB’s move in an on-air interview with Westwood One Sports.

Of note: the NFl fined its players $4MM on substance abuse alone….

Stunner #5

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis was lauded in May when he signed into law legislation allowing outside money to be invested in the state’s cannabis industry.

Since the law went into effect Nov. 1, outside capital has already begun flowing into Colorado marijuana businesses.

For example:

• Denver-based Medicine Man Technologies 
• through the year announced an almost $300 million series of acquisitions in the state anticipating the new law and boosted by funding from Florida-based private equity group Dye Capital.
• New York-based multistate operator Columbia Care said on Nov. 5 it planned to buy Colorado dispensary chain The Green Solution for $140 million

But for all those who stand to benefit from the influx of out-of-state investment, there will be others who likely won’t – not the least of which are minority owners of Colorado 

Because of the lack of social equity programs in the Colorado marijuana space, minorities were not encouraged to become part of the state’s cannabis industry in its infancy – and the new law will do even more to enforce that, said Wanda James, owner and founder of Simply Pure, a dispensary based in Denver.

She believes, for example, that it simply isn’t a fair fight with no restrictions on the number of dispensaries a single group can own.

Dahlia Mertens, owner and founder of Telluride, Colorado-based cannabis topicals company Mary Jane’s Medicinals, voiced similar concerns.“The new law will make it harder for everyone who is marginalized to get into the industry,” she said.

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