John Sinclair - Free the Weed #106 - April 2020

Editor's Note:  The MM Report discourages any violation of the Michigan Governor's executive orders regarding gatherings and social distancing.  All non-essential people need to stay home.  Hopefully the events related to Hash Bash will be rescheduled and or postponed till next year.  This does not prevent folks from participating in spirit, on April 4th at high noon, from a distance and using modern technology to connect.  We urge the public to not show up in Ann Arbor for Hash Bash facilities.  



Hi everybody, and welcome to the annual Hash Bash issue of the Michigan Marijuana Report. It was nine years ago when I wrote my first column for this magazine’s 2011 Hash Bash issue, and here we are once again but in the light of startling new developments.

The City of Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan have cancelled the 2020 Hash Bash—the 49th annual—and the accompanying Monroe Street Fair on the grounds of public health preservation with respect to the coronavirus epidemic which as of this writing has claimed 25 deaths in our state.

The State of Michigan has additionally decreed that no public gatherings of 250 people or more will be allowed after April 5th, thus shutting down Adam Brook’s brilliant Hash Bash Cup festivities held at a pair of hotels on the west side of Ann Arbor where all rooms are purchased by Hash Bash Cup participants and smoking of the sacrament is allowed everywhere in the hotels but in one’s room.

The Hash Bash Cup is in this writer’s opinion the greatest marijuana event out of countless examples in the United States. It solves the question of where to get high at these gatherings by allowing smoking in all public areas and maintaining the reasonable prohibition against smoking in one’s room. Plus Brook presents top-quality music by people like Boogie Bob Baldori, the Planet D Nonet, and this writer’s ensemble, the Blues Scholars, without catering to the crass hip-hop bullshit featured by High Times and others at their gatherings.

It’s a shame to see this great event placed on hold, but all three gatherings will be staged at a later date when the fear of the epidemic has subsided. It’s hilarious to see the organizers of the UM Hash Bash and the Monroe Street Fair posturing as people concerned about public health when in fact the authorities have prohibited them from going forward with their events at this time.

The head of the UM Hash Bash, a character called Nicholas Zettell, not only puts forth this sanctimonious horseshit but has leveled a scurrilous attack on veteran marijuana warriors like Adam Brook, Tim Beck, Ben Horner and myself who have vowed to meet on the Diag to smoke some joints together at noon on April 4. 

“I would also like to address the defiant and hardcore attendees who are adamant about attending: Please reconsider….All this does is give cannabis people a bad name….There may be attendees, but their very action becomes nothing more than an act of defiance against a sensible public health decisions.  Zealotry may be displayed, but not channeled. Egos will be stroked, but not recognized. A protest may be had, but not against bad laws and instead against the very ideals of health and well-being we often espouse.”

What an unmitigated tissue of horseshit! What we will be doing is returning to the roots of Hash Bash when a bunch of us gathered on the Diag to smoke weed and protest the re-institution of the anti-marijuana laws after the statutes that named marijuana a narcotic were overturned by the Michigan Supreme Court in response to my appeal of a conviction for possession of two joints with a prison sentence of 9-1/2 to ten years.

Over the past 48 years Hash Bash has swelled into a gaudy, unwieldy event that features two hours of self-serving speeches on the steps of the Diag by politicians and minor celebrities followed by some lame musical acts. The Monroe Street Fair is closer to the spirit of the original Hash Bashes but likewise offers a slew of bad music and a serious money-grubbing festival of selling products.

Zettell, who took over the UM Hash Bash when Adam Brook was sent to prison for two years and transformed it into a showcase for the local money grubbers and their dispensaries, goes on to say that “Hash Bash is more than an annual event. It is a tradition, a holiday, a protest, a cultural phenomenon, a beacon of hope, and a community forum for speaking traditional event that encompasses more than you or me or any one person and has served as a beacon  [sic].

”This [cancellation] is difficult for all of us,….but believe me when I say this: we will be working very, very hard to make sure the next Hash Bash is the biggest and best ever.” Bullshit! The Hash Bash is not about bigness but about the quality of defiance with which the participants approach the government and the repressive legal system that continues to bully and oppress marijuana smokers and dealers even after we have voted the draconian drug laws out of existence in one of the few remaining examples of direct American democracy.

I know it’s not a popular view but I for one am sort of happy that the extravaganza they call Hash Bash on the Diag will not be held this year, and I’m hoping when it starts up again that it will seek to return to its roots as an informal gathering of potheads on the UM campus to smoke weed and get high together and raise our middle fingers in protest against the societal repression that follows the weed smoker around. We don’t need no Debbie Dingell to validate our existence!

I take great offense at this Zettell character who came to the Hash Bash as a student at UM, seized control of the event when Adam Brook was imprisoned, brought in some rich dude from California as the keynote speaker to teach us how properly to grub money from weed, graduated from college and became a weed salesman himself at Om of Medicine, and now poses as some kind of responsible spokesman for the marijuana movement who’s worried about the “bad name” some of us are giving it.

Me, I’ve had a bad name since I was first busted for selling $10 worth of weed in the fall of 1964. My second arrest came in August 1965 when I copped a small bag of weed for an undercover agent who drove me to the dealer’s house, after which I was instructed to withdraw from my graduate school studies at Wayne State University. My third and final (god willing) arrest came in January 1967 when I was charged with giving two joints to an undercover policewoman. I began my challenge to the state marijuana laws at that point and fought to get them declared unconstitutional for 2-1/2 years prior to my trial in July 1969 and then for the 2-1/2 years I was incarcerated at Jackson and Marquette prisons and the Wayne County Jail.

My successful appeal overturned the marijuana laws on March 9, 1972 and for three weeks there were no marijuana laws in Michigan until the new law calling weed a “controlled substance” went into effect ion April 1 of that year. It was at that point that we gathered on the Diag under the name Hash Bash to protest the reinstatement of penalties against smokers and affirm that we would continue to smoke weed whenever and wherever we wanted.

That’s what some of us will be doing on April 4, 2020—meeting informally on the Diag as citizens getting high together and celebrating our victory in legalizing recreational use of marijuana last November, and may I say that if Nicholas Zettell doesn’t approve, he can kiss my motherfucking ass. Free The Weed!


—Detroit
Friday, March 13, 2020

© 2020 John Sinclair. All Rights Reserved.

Spotlight - Herbology Cannabis Co. - March 2020

Interview by: Albert Jencic
Images: @Phlora.co


This month, The MM Report Magazine had the pleasure of interviewing TJ, the owner of Wayne County’s first recreational provisioning center. From the moment you first step foot into their building you notice the modern minimalistic, yet rustic style is very prominent and gives you a feeling of comfort and awe that sticks with you through your entire experience at their store.

How long has your store been open?

Herbology has been open since April of 2019, and we went recreational February 1, 2020.

What made you want to have your store sell recreationally and not just medicinal?

Besides the fact it’s good for business, a lot of people don’t want to get their medical cards because of their jobs, or they are worried that having their card will have them tracked by the government. You’ll be surprised how many people think they’ll be put on a list that is going to be spread everywhere and it’s going to limit their life professionally and personally. So being recreational really opens up the market to everyone. It’s just been great and its been great fun!

What sets your store apart from others?

With Herbology, coming in with already having experience from Herbal Healing (another licensed provisioning center in the area owned by TJ that is set to go recreational as well) I wanted to do something a little bit different. I wanted to not just be another new store that sells cannabis, I wanted to create an experience. As you see from our shop, when you first walk in from the overall design to the check-in, to all the care that the budtenders put in is all experience based. Obviously, we want to carry the best product and the best everything, but we also want to give them one hell of an experience, that’s what sets us apart. Our overall aesthetics and the vibe and feel you get coming with the best product lines. I hired an interior designer firm to really pull everything together, just driving by you see its open and not your typical store that’s all bricked up, which I think creates a more welcoming environment for med and rec, patients and customers, for those who are cannabis curious and get nervous just by seeing an all brick building or places completely covered up by decals. Its not a scary place here.

How do your budtenders consult first time users into what they should try?

This has been happening a lot since we’ve opened recreationally, they come in and they know cannabis and have only experienced flower, they’ve never had edibles, they’ve never had concentrates. So, the first thing we do is what they’ve tried, what they like, and what they’re open to try…which is usually everything! So, we literally walk them from showcase to showcase, from the concentrates section to the edibles section, then to the flower section and break down everything for them and give them all the knowledge we can.

Do you think your shop has made an impact on the community?

100%. And not just my stores but all the stores in the city of River Rouge. The stores generate a lot of additional traffic for the city, and that same traffic is stopping at the gas stations, they’re stopping at the restaurants,  getting coffee and donuts and really getting to know our area when normally they wouldn’t.  I definitely think we’re having a big impact.

What have been some of the challenges you’ve faced with opening recreationally?

Product supply. That was an issue in the beginning, but since then we’ve been able to maintain at least 10 different strains on the rec side.

Does Herbology have any plans in the upcoming future?

In the next few weeks we are launching our online ordering and home delivery! You can go to our website shophcc.com, place an online order and it will ask you for home delivery or in-store pickup. For pick-up, you just come into the store and the bag is ready, you cash-out and leave. It’s an express checkout as well where the in-store pickup trumps the rec line. As for the home delivery, we are doing a 20-mile radius from our store with specific slotted times we are available for delivery.  AND more stores coming!

Any advice for anyone trying to open a recreational provisioning center?

This goes for not just recreational, but any provisioning center in general. Have a LOT of capital. Plain and simple.

Herbert Huncke's America - Edited By Jerome Poynton Literary Executor - Ed Leary (1939-1944) Part 3 - March 2020

ED LEARY (1939-1944) PART 3

Continuing from the February 2020 MM Report...

Eddie proved an excellent manager of money—although we both steadily increased our own habits, however—cutting down the actual financial gain. One whore alone—a large, wholesome, and good-looking woman named Sal—did forty to forty five dollars of business with us a day. She was a good money-maker and we could always count on hearing from her—sometimes two or three times an evening. She became a good friend—frequently coming to see us—sitting and talking or shooting up—taking a rest in between her working periods. She was remarkable in that she showed absolutely none of the effects of the usual drug addict. She continued to remain large and healthy-appearing, with bright natural coloring. She was a heavy eater, smoked incessantly, and shot up no less than ten grains of morphine each day. She was amazingly good-natured—seldom indulging in self-pity—never gossiping and always anxious to help anyone. She’d set aside a few dollars a day—for handouts, to the less fortunate sisters or for the innumerable Time Square characters she knew out scuffling and trying to score in one way or another. Sal had a daughter somewhere—with someone—whom she supported. She loved her deeply and never failed—when occasionally the three of us went out for something to eat—often to Chinatown—to pick up some trinket to surprise her with. 

Our business venture proved successful and we began laying money aside for a trip the following spring to California. The holidays came and went and one day we realized we had been together almost a year. It seemed incredible. A whole year had passed with things going smoothly—a record for both of us. 

In the beginning Eddie had been a bit self-conscious about our relationship but even that had ceased to be of importance and he no longer considered it strange. We were unexcitably happy. We had arguments and sudden flare-ups of temper—but thus far nothing really serious. Eddie had gotten rather melancholy around the holidays but it had passed quickly. 

Most of the doctors we had started with were still with us. One suddenly had trouble with the law over an abortion case he was involved in and another had gotten cold feet after some junkies he had been writing scripts for took a fall—mentioning his name to the police—who had promptly paid him a visit. 

He refused thereafter to write any more for anyone. 

As for the rest—about six in all—most were not only writing prescriptions for us in our names but would also—for a few extra dollars— write scripts with other names which they’d readily honor when questioned by the pharmacist. There were several druggists as well that we had gotten to know who would always fill our scripts without question. 

Most of our doctors were located in Brooklyn. One afternoon I made a trip over to Brooklyn alone in order to pick up an extra script from a doctor who had been with us almost from the first. Eddie planned on seeing someone else—the two of us expecting to see each other back at our place late in the afternoon. 

It was a beautiful day—all golden and full of sunshine and the first hints of warm weather. 

I had seen the doctor—incidentally picking up a quarter-grain fix before leaving his office—returned to New York—stopped by a drugstore— had the prescription filled—stepped out onto the street—and was just getting ready to cross over to the other side—when I was suddenly gripped on the arm by a neatly dressed, unassuming appearing young man who—before I realized what was happening—reached into my pocket, removed the box of morphine tablets, and said, “Step over here, I want to speak with you,” flashed a badge, and further added, “Federal Agent.” 

I was so completely taken by surprise it was several minutes before I became conscious of just why I was being stopped. He was very polite, asking me about the box of morphine—inquiring whether I was an addict or not—and if so how long had I been an addict—but particularly how long this doctor had been taking care of me. 

He went on further to explain there had been a number of prescriptions written in his name. I answered his questions as honestly as possible without admitting the doctor had long known I was simply a drug addict and was merely doing business with me. 

He then asked me to step back into the drugstore—while he checked further with the druggist, who assured him that the script was legitimate—having called the doctor to make sure. He and the druggist spoke in undertones for a few minutes. He then turned to me and told me I could go—giving me back the morphine at the same time. 

I departed as quickly as possible. I used a somewhat roundabout way of returning home—feeling pretty sure at the same time the man undoubtedly already knew where I lived. When I got in, Eddie still hadn’t returned. I called the doctor immediately—describing in detail exactly what had happened—advising him to lay off writing scripts for a while at least. A short time later Eddie returned and I gave him a full account of what had taken place. 

Eddie was calm about the whole thing—saying only, “Well, man, that’s the end of another good doctor.” 

We discussed to some extent whether or not it would be wise to move—finally deciding in favor of staying—figuring if we were due for trouble we’d get it whether we moved or not. Eddie did make other arrangements with our customers for meets, etc. but otherwise we continued along pretty much as we had been. We never did have any further trouble directly as a result of this particular episode, but it did act as a turning point in our general good luck. 

Shortly afterwards one of our dependable sources of supply began getting nervous and cut us down to one script apiece a week. Almost the same thing happened with a doctor we had only recently contacted. All of them were getting jumpy. Several arrests had been made of doctors in New York and the papers had played the cases up big. 

We were becoming increasingly worried—having had to cut out one of our customers because we were unable to get hold of enough stuff steadily to take care of our own habit and handle the usual number of customers as well. 

We began looking round for new doctors, covering neighborhoods we had previously shied clear of. 

Then one day we solved the situation—we decided to write our own scripts. In the same way our first plan wasn’t original, this one wasn’t either. We were both conscious of the greater risk involved—but we were also aware that we were caught up in a situation we had to contend with no matter what else happened. The whole junk scene—insofar as the user was concerned—was growing worse instead of better. Junkies were becoming desperate—more and more of them turned to crimes of violence to keep up their habits. The stuff being pushed on the street was becoming more expensive and harder to get. 

There had always been a certain amount of criminal activity involved with junk, but prior to this period it had been kept somewhat to a minimum. Now anything went. Also—and what is probably the strangest aspect of the whole deal—more and more people were taking an interest in junk—becoming curious about it—experimenting with it. The idea was that if you handled junk—you automatically made money.

Eddie and myself were fortunate in that we were pretty well organized and, although our immediate predicament was unpleasant, we felt our new solution would be effective. And it was. 

The story will continue in the April 2020 MM Report!

Elizabeth Hollins Within the Mind of a Budtender - March 2020

There’s a tidal wave coming. No, it’s not red or blue-though we’ll be seeing a lot of that one in the next 9+ months, I’m sure. No, this tidal wave is gray and green and you’d better get ready for it, because it’s taking the industry by storm. 

Gramps & Ganj, Gma & Gmo, Boomers with Bongs, your grandparents are getting excited about the chance to puff down on a marijuana cigarette. 

Everyone grows old. This simple knowledge has led to inspire a plethora of great individuals. For many people, though, it can also bring fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of the mental health, and the physical health issues that can come up in our later years. Sometimes it leads to the question: what does “quality of life” really mean?

To me, it means being able to consciously enjoy and experience the later years of life to the fullest extent possible, happily and willingly. I don’t want to spend the last few years of my life in and out of the hospital just trying to extend my years by a couple of minutes. I would rather spend my time enjoying every second I can with family, friends, and myself. Enjoying nature, and all of the little things I may have come to take for granted. That is my idea of a wonderful quality of life.
  
In the last year, I’ve noticed quite the uptick in my older clientele. First they seem intimidated, then curious, then overwhelmed, then curious again, until they find what works best for them and relish the relief that it provides them. Perhaps it was relief that they never thought they could achieve. Watching someone take their discomfort level from a 7 to a 2-3 can change their day to day, and even the relationships they have with those around them.

Literally getting to see people turn their frowns upside down is one of the greatest parts of my job. It’s amazing to truly get to see in their eyes that they feel better than they have in years.

Cannabis. That’s what’s bringing all of this relief, all of this quality of life. A flowering plant. 

The best part, for those who develop lung or breathing issues, you don’t even have to smoke it. Smoking means you’d be inhaling plant material and other foreign bodies that could easily irritate the lining of your lungs. With topicals, or even edibles, you don’t deal with those same risks. You can enjoy spot relief, and even the aid of daily prevention with no more than using a lotion or eating a mint (plus, bonus, fresh breath). 

For truly deeper relief, a suppository or sublingual may be the direction you wish to take. Those exist in this market, too. The relief that can help bring genuine quality of life is just a quick visit away. A local, licensed provisioning center can help you find what you’re looking for, and help steer you on the right path. 

I’ve met women who used to turn their nose at any mention of the word “cannabis”, who now can’t wait to get home to eat their little pieces of chocolate and get a full night’s sleep. I’ve seen men who have battled with joint inflammation and pain throughout most of their lives, finally see a decrease in their discomfort within 15 minutes after using a sublingual (keeping something-an oil in this case-under your tongue).  

The conversation is not always an easy one to begin. The stigma surrounding cannabis still runs strong, so many of the older generation aren’t always keen to talking about it. With that being said, it’s an important conversation to have. Especially when we see those we love and care for continuously suffering. It can be excruciating to watch them endure such everyday pain, but we have to also remember that this journey has to be taken at one’s own pace. 

The worst thing we could do is push, push, push something on someone when they are neither comfortable nor ready. This does nothing but further their sense of uncertainty, and fear surrounding the very products that could have them living nearly fearless lives. I want our loved ones to come to these products willingly, looking to enjoy the comfort and relief that they can provide. It’s as simple as that. 

Finding pain-free moments of joy in the later years of your life shouldn’t be such a hard task to take on, and shouldn’t be such a taboo subject to talk about with your loved ones.

Michigan News - March 2020

MI Man Calls for MJ Friendly Doctor Transparency

Many Michigan marijuana users have run into difficulties with their doctors, despite legalization.  Patients are being told they can no longer be prescribed necessary medications if they are testing positive for THC, or in other ways being hindered from care they have come to rely on.  One St. John’s man is speaking out, bringing to light the issue, and advocating for a simple solution.

Doug Barnes, a 62 year old GM retiree, brought his grievance to the Lansing Pulse and journalist Kyle Kaminski took the case.  In an article posted online February 13th, 2020 (www.lansingcitypulse.com/stories/need-pills-for-pain-some-doctors-say-lay-off-the-weed,13845) Kaminski explains that Barnes, a lifelong sufferer of painful gastrointestinal bleeding, had been told by his doctor that he was being cut off of all medications until he could pass a drug test for THC.  Barnes, who eats an infused gummy to help with discomfort, told the Lansing Pulse “I couldn’t get anything for pain, stress, sleep or anything.  I was flabbergasted because it’s really been helping me.  Plus, it’s legal in Michigan.  It’s really like the new wine here in Lansing, but my doctor apparently just doesn’t see it that way.”

The issue is not uncommon, as the article goes on to quote Rick Thompson, owner of the Michigan Cannabis Business Development Group, “Physicians often make you choose between their medications or cannabis.” Prescription policies vary from doctor to doctor, and from hospital to hospital.  With licensing handed down federally it becomes a game of risk and reward that each practitioner must weigh.

Dr. Andrew Messenger has weighed and judged.  The owner of Clinton County Medical Center and a doctor at Sparrow Clinton Hospital told Kaminsky bluntly “We won’t do it.  The combination has never been tested.”  Messenger also cited a physicians oath to do no harm, “If MI don’t know what a medication or the combination of medications is going to do, how can I do that?”  Messenger at first only agreed to be interviewed if Kaminsky agreed to be tested for marijuana use, stating the need to verify the integrity of the journalist.  When Kaminsky declined, Messenger was still willing to be quoted.

Barnes then contacted the Michigan Marijuana Report to alert us of his story, and tell us more about his idea to help patients navigate the current healthcare environment with a simple bit of transparency.  In our conversation he first touched on the topic of do no harm, highlighting a bit of hypocrisy on the part of his physician.  As a test, he had asked for a prescription for Viagra, an erection medication that could potentially kill him, given his condition.  The Viagra was prescribed with no objections from his doctor.  Barnes is not buying the notion that a ‘do not harm’ oath prevented his doctor from filling his medications.  He has since been asked to leave as a patient.

In response, Barnes is advocating for legislation that would require doctors be placed on a list, revealing to all whether or not they are marijuana friendly.  This simple change would make the task of finding a lasting doctor patient relationship, primarily for cannabis patients, much easier.  As Barnes points out, “Just finding a new doctor can be costly,” as it generally requires driving to appointments and being charged for the visit, only to find out that you must keep looking.  It would also save anyone in this state from being blind sided by anti-weed doctors and denied medications, giving them the power to know up front and make the change in care providers on their terms.

At current the best method is to be honest and ask your doctor up front, while being prepared for the possibility of having to make a change.

Caregivers Limited to Supplying Flower

The planned phase out of caregivers supplying the retail marijuana industry begins on March 1st.  After this date only flower will be allowed for transfer from caregivers to licensed provisioning centers and processors, a change that has been known about for months.

Despite the forewarning, the move comes with mixed emotions.  The Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA) reported that in January 2020 38.2% of the 2,968 pounds of bud sold in licensed medical facilities came from licensed growers.  Which means 61.8% of the cannabis flower sales in provisioning centers still come from caregivers.  Not to mention the amount of caregiver bud currently being processed.

“It means the (expletive) prices are going to go through the roof again,” Stuart Carter, owner of Utopia Gardens in Detroit told MLive in a February article.  “Some of the processors are complaining because they are going to have a hard time getting oil.”  Utopia Gardens purchasing manager Matt Ruhle in the same article explained, “This industry is ran by majority caregiver extracts, especially caregiver distillate.”

The fact that flower is required for every single marijuana product from edibles to concentrates, as well as maintains high demand itself, places a heavy burden on supply.  Regardless, the MRA plans to completely phase caregivers out of the regulated retail market by September 2020.  Director Andrew Brisbo stated, “We have always put patients first when we make decisions regarding medical marijuana.  This phase out process is an important step in implementing the will of Michigan voters and making sure that patients continue to have access to their medicine.”

MRA Holds Public Meeting to Receive Complaints

The Marijuana Regulatory Agency will be holding a public meeting on March 26th.  Quoting the MRA announcment, “The purpose of this public meeting is to hear complaints and receive the views of the public on MRA’s administration of the authorities, powers, duties, functions and responsiblities under the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act, 2008 IL 1, Michigan Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act, 2016 PA 281, Marihuana Tracking Act, 2016 PA 282, and Michigan Regulation and Taxation Act, 2018 IL 1.”

The public may comment at the hearing, or in writing.  Written compaints should be mailed to the Michigan Regulatory Agency, Legal Section, P.O. Box 30205, Lansing, MI 48909, or emailed to MRA-Legal@michigan.gov.  Hoyt Public Library, 505 Janes Ave, Saginaw, MI, will be hosting the live meeting at 9:30 am Thursday, March 26th.

World News - March 2020

British Columbia Adds New Tax on Vape

British Columbia has recently added a new 20% sales tax for all liquid vaping products, which now include cannabis products as well. Alberta has set its sights using British Columbia’s vaping tax as a model to follow. 

“Further details on how the tax will apply to specific products will be available when the legislation is introduced in spring 2020 and when subsequent regulations are brought forward,” states Charlotte Taillon, Press Secretary for the Office of the Associate Minister, Red Tape Reduction,  in an email recently to Marijuana Business Daily. “The intent of the tax is to apply to all vaping liquids – including cannabis liquids – and all vaping devices.” The new taxes have been met with mixed criticism and praise from the public and industry alike. 

“Tobacco taxes have been very effective in reducing youth smoking over the years,” says Les Hagen, Executive Director of Action on Smoking and Health, “So we’re hoping to see the same for this vaping tax.” Unfortunately, some see this tax as mostly hurting the pocketbooks of legal adults who choose to use these products. “We all know that youth are particularly price-sensitive, and so when you make a product more expensive, and harder to access, youth will decline,” spoke the Finance Minister Carole James, who introduced the amendments to sales tax legislation in British Columbia. The vape tax has been estimated to generate around $10 million a year in additional revenues.

Former INCB President Now Heads Thai Cannabis Corp.

Viroj Sumyai, who was president of the United Nation’s International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) in 2017 through 2018, has recently been hired by Thai Cannabis Corp. to serve as their new president. Thailand has been making progress since the country allowed for medicinal cannabis since last year. 

“Over the last decade, the clinical effectiveness of medicinal cannabis has been scientifically proven,” states Sumyai, claiming to supply Thailand “with safe, effective and affordable formulations of this ancient Thai medicine.” With Sumyai taking the lead of the company, many see him as a strong asset to spearhead medicinal cannabis mainstream while keeping the company in compliance with international laws. 

An analyst at Cannabis Catalysts, Julian Vabil Sarwat states that “Viroj Sumyai is a domestically and internationally respected protagonist in the field of controlled substances, and he could strengthen the TCC’s (Thai Cannabis Corp.) relationship to regulatory deciders and industry actors even further.” There’s no doubt that progress will be made with this country’s rapidly growing market, as Cannabis Catalysts estimated it could be worth between $46-312 million by 2024 but has many factors that may contribute or hinder it’s growth.

Peepeekisis Cree Nation Open Cannabis Store

The Peepeekisis Cree Nation is a Cree First Nation, which are the predominant indigenous peoples in Canada south of the Arctic Circle. With a population of around 3,000 located east of Balcarres, Saskatchewan, the ‘Joint Adventures’ Medical Dispensary hopes to boost their local economy for this First Nation community.

“It’s a feasible operation for us to enter into, so we consulted our membership and did a consultation… This is going to be really great for our membership, young and old,” says Colin Stonechild, who leads the economic development for the Peepeekisis Cree Nation. After the idea was approved by members and elders, they soon began to develop their own guiding laws and regulations relating to cannabis. 

The new provisioning center has created 15 jobs and the sales revenue from cannabis and other items will go back into the community. “This will offset a lot of costs in our sports and recreation, emergency assistance, elders programs and health care.” Stonechild also sees this business as a way to improve the community’s health as well. “A lot of elders use CBD for chronic pain… For people’s overall wellbeing, THC and CBD combinations can benefit people.”

Lebanon Attempting Move Toward Legalization


Based on a draft law approved by parliamentary committees, then referred to Parliment for adoption, Lebanon may soon see the legalization of cannabis cultivation for medical and industrial use.  Even so, some are warning against the negative repercussions that such a decision might entail.

In support Agricultural Minister Abbas Mortada explains that the returns such a program would generate have been studied in detail, and fit in line with recommendations from the US McKinsey plan on developing the Lebanese economy,  An estimated 1 billion USD could be generated for the state treasury each year.


Opponents of marijuana point to the poltical and economic turmoil in Lebanon, and the lack of law enforcement, as reasons to not move toward legalization.  Some also question the validity of the reported return sum.

National News - March 2020

Clergy for a New Drug Policy in Connecticut

Religious leaders located from Connecticut have recently gathered at the State Capitol with something other than religion they are battling for. These members have created the group Clergy United To Regulate Marijuana with hopes that marijuana will be recreational, bringing in tax dollars and allowing the police to allocate their resources into other more serious crimes.

They bring many arguments in support for the legalization and creating a recreational market, such as how students in Illinois are already taking marijuana cultivation courses at community colleges. 

“It’s providing opportunities for kids that were very recently in back alleys selling unregulated marijuana to people,” says Rev. Alexander Sharp, a minister who worked on the Illinois bill last year. “One of the key features of the regulated system being discussed by lawmakers is that cannabis will be produced and sold by legitimate taxpaying businesses, instead of drug cartels and criminals,” said the Rev. Charlie L. Stallworth of the East End Baptist Tabernacle Church in Bridgeport. “Instead of continuing to fuel organized crime, the money spent on cannabis in our state can and should be used to help revitalize communities that have been disproportionately harmed by the enforcement of laws against cannabis.”

Dispensary Dumpster Diving Reported Nationwide

Provisioning centers around the country are reporting cases where their dumpsters have been scavenged through and left in shambles in purported attempts to hopefully score disposed cannabis products. These unfortunate attempts are costing store owners quite a bit in damages and some even resorting to putting their garbage bins under lock and key. 

Oklahoma’s News 4 reported that one dispensary left food available near one of the dumpsters located at their building, not knowing that hunger wasn’t the reason they were getting broken into. Each state has their own set of regulations on how to properly dispose of cannabis products. In Michigan, Rule 36 as posted by LARA Marijuana Regulatory Agency states that “Marihuana product that is to be destroyed or is considered waste must be rendered into an unusable and unrecognizable form and recorded in the statewide monitoring system.” It also details that “A licensee shall dispose of marihuana product in a secured waste receptacle using 1 or more of the following: (a) A manned and permitted solid waste landfill, (b) A manned compostable materials operation or facility, (c) an in-vessel digester, (d) In a manner in compliance with applicable state and local laws and regulations.”

Massachusetts Gets New Board, Rec Opening Soon

Boston is getting ready to open its doors to it’s first recreational marijuana store, Pure Oasis. Ahead of its opening, Mayor Martin J. Walsh has appointed five members to sit on a board panel, issuing licenses as well as advising his office regarding cannabis policies and regulations. The panel was created in November with hopes that The Cannabis Board would improve the process of licensing.

Massachusetts first decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana in 2008, approving medical marijuana in 2012 making it the 18th state in the U.S. to approve of medical marijuana, eventually leading to the legalization of recreational marijuana in Massachusetts as of 2016.

Feds Play Budget Games, More Drug Enforcement

The Trump administration has proposed ending the existing policy that protects states as far as creating marijuana legalization efforts.  A rider on the annual budget, renewed every year since 2014, prevents the Federal Justice Department from using funds to stop territories and states “from implementing their own laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana.”

Trumps budget plan also calls for a 90% cut in funding for the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), taking them from $425 million in 2020 to $29 million in 2021.  A portion of the funds would be transferred to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) for the purpose of impoving “coordination of drug enforcement efforts among Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies in the U.S.” with a new effort called the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program.  ONDCP, an office of the white house, were thrilled about the Presidents request for $35.7 billion to go toward counter drug efforts.  According to director Jim Carroll, “President Trump has brought a relentless, whole-of-government approach to combating the crisis of addiction in our country.”

The budget does promote hemp, calling for the comparatively tiny sum of $17 million in 2021 to create a national program for the now legal product.  Some point out it also calls for the removal of hemp protections at the state level, however, others point out that the rider is redundant now that hemp is federally legal.

While the Obama administration also called for the states marijuana protection rider to be removed from the budget, Trumps anti-drug stance makes this move one to watch.