John Sinclair - Free the Weed #116 - February 2021

 

A Column By John Sinclair

Highest greetings from the Motor City to begin the fun-filled and frosty month of February, and to start off with a bit of good news, Bob García reports in Occupational Medicine that their largest study yet demonstrates that workplace safety is not impacted by cannabis use and that cannabis opponents who believe consumption leads to workplace accidents have no argument.

In a recent study on the “job discrimination aspect of employee drug testing programs,” Occupational Medicine reports that employees with a history of cannabis use over the past year have “just as good job safety records” as do non-consumers.

The study was based on a sample of 136,500 Canadian workers and found “no association between past-year cannabis use and work-related injury” for employees in any occupation, including those who worked in high injury risk occupations.

Paul Armentano of NORML points out that “It is time for workplace policies to adapt to this new reality and to cease punishing employees for activities they engage in during their off-hours that pose no workplace safety threat.’’

Each instance of proving that the anti-marijuana mythology is ill-founded and incorrect just demonstrates how completely the entire fabric of the War On Drugs was manufactured out of the sick minds and paranoid racist fantasies of the lawmakers and opinion shapers of America.

For 80 years these criminal thugs have harassed and persecuted people like ourselves just because they could get away with it. They’ve tracked us down, kicked in our doors, confiscated our stashes and belongings, seized our bank accounts, arrested us, subjected us to trials and other legal proceedings, sent us to prison and barred us from assuming the lives of full citizens upon our release from incarceration.

Nowhere is there any evidence that this is necessary or intelligent behavior. Nowhere is there any proof that marijuana is a dangerous drug—or even a drug at all—nor is there a single indication that smokers should be punished for using marijuana.

Weed is simply a benevolent herb created and nurtured by nature that will get us high if we smoke it and ease our aches and pains when they give us problems. It enhances conversation and other human interaction and does wonders for our sex lives. 

Most important right now after 80 years of malfeasance by the authorities with respect to weed is that just about 2/3rds of all Americans see no problem with people like ourselves using weed and in fact want some for themselves as soon as possible and as often as they see fit.

Now the State of Michigan has undertaken a push to raise millions of dollars that would be used to improve diversity and help disadvantaged groups succeed in the cannabis industry.

Data collected by the Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency in December show that only 3.8% of those with an ownership interest in licensed recreational marijuana businesses in Michigan are Black and only 1.5% are Hispanic or Latino.

The voter-approved Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act of 2018 directed the agency to create a plan to “promote and encourage participation in the marijuana industry by people from communities that have been disproportionately impacted by marijuana prohibition and enforcement and to positively impact those communities.”

The agency purports that it “is committed to making Michigan the model agency in the country, including being a leader on diversity, equity and inclusion in the marijuana industry,” the report said.

Unhappily, they have recommended increased marijuana taxes to achieve their goals, which could easily be met by properly allocating the strenuous existing tax revenues to the problem instead of sticking up the marijuana community for more tax money.

Money raised by the new taxes, they say, could provide training and partnership programs “for social equity individuals who lack direct financial and professional operational experience to start a licensed business but meet a multitude of key social equity and social economic criteria as an eligible employee to ownership candidate.”

 

Andrew Brisbo, executive director of the Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency, said he will develop a permanent equity and diversity working group to follow through on the recommendations.

Here’s a bit of good news from Washtenaw County, where Lee DeVito reports that newly elected Prosecutor Eli Savit has announced a new policy directive aimed at combatting racial profiling and banning drug charges stemming from racist ‘pretext stops.’

Issued on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the 10-page policy directive prohibits assistant prosecuting attorneys from filing drug charges that stem from “pretext stops” by police officers — or when an officer detains a person purportedly as a result of an observed traffic or ordinance violation but are really looking for drugs or other contraband. The practice disproportionately harms people of color.

“Today’s policy directive is about rebuilding trust in our community,” Savit says in a statement. “We are sending a message that we are not interested in pursuing contraband charges that stem from racial profiling.”

Ranging further to the east,  Kyle Jaeger reports that 

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has called for marijuana legalization in his 2021 State of the State Address. The governor said enacting the reform will help fill a significant budget deficit and promote restorative justice.

“We will legalize adult-use recreational cannabis, joining 15 other states who’ve already done so,” Cuomo said. “This will raise revenue and will end the over-criminalization of this product that has left so many communities of color over-policed and over-incarcerated.”

The governor says that legal marijuana will “create more than 60,000 new jobs, spurring $3.5 billion in economic activity and generating more than $300 million in tax revenue when fully implemented.”

Finally, the latest news from Amsterdam is coming entirely from the negative direction. Cecilia Rodriguez and Senay Boztas report that “cannabis tourism” may be coming to an end in Amsterdam if the environmentalist mayor Femke Halsema gets her wish to ban foreign tourists from the city’s coffee shops by the time coronavirus travel restrictions are lifted.

Before Covid-19 lockdowns, the coffee shops, along with the renowned red-light district, attracted more than one million visitors a month. A total of 46 million people visited the Netherlands in 2019, with most coming to Amsterdam and many buying and smoking cannabis at the marijuana shops.

Now the public prosecutor and the police are supporting the mayor’s move, and he business community, particularly in the city center, has joined them. There’s a drive in the cityto control the flow of young tourists who arrive with the single intention to smoke marijuana. 

The proposal follows the example of other cities in the south of the Netherlands, including Maastricht and Den Bosch, which saw their coffee shops getting overloaded by visitors from Germany, France and Belgium and, as a result, already have banned tourists from their cities’ coffeeshops.

Cannabis trade has become “too big and overheated,” the mayor has said repeatedly. The shops have been allowed to remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic, but customers have to take their purchases outside.

The demand for cannabis in Amsterdam has kept growing year after year.  Research commissioned by the local government indicates that for 57% of foreign visitors, a trip to a coffee shop was a “very important” reason for their arrival.

According to the Ministry of Public Health, the Netherlands has 570 coffeeshops — 166 of them (30%) in Amsterdam.  Of the 166 coffee shops licensed in Amsterdam, the plans project that 68 would be enough to support local demand. 

Amsterdam in 2025 wants to have a city centre where a ‘different’ kind of visitor and ‘Amsterdammers want to come’, according to the new city plans. The City aims to rebuild ‘a valuable visitor economy’ by 2025, when Amsterdam will celebrate its 750th birthday. Good luck!

FREE THE WEED!

—Detroit

January 22-24. 2021

© 2021 John Sinclair. All Rights Reserved.

Tinfoil Hat Time! February 2021

 

“How smooth must be the language of the whites, when they can make right look like wrong, and wrong like right.”

– Black Hawk, Sauk Tribe, 1767-1838

Ahh, the wisdom of the Native American.  A people with an amazing culture, a storied and
ancient past, and a rock solid claim to being one of the most screwed over, ever. 

Native American history is even more interesting when coupled with the current state of industry affairs and the Bay Mills tribe.  Take Black Hawk, for example.  Some shyster tribal spokesman pretending to have the tribes best interests in mind and taking advantage of word games and the common mans’ lack of understanding of legal trickery, no doubt, managed to get a treaty signed that stole Black Hawks peoples rights and land in 1830.  Black Hawk then did what any sane person would (or should) have done, he defied the government.  He ignored the ridiculous piece of paper that was signed by false representation and acted as a free man.

In 1832 his free band of about 1,000 warriors, women, and children were confronted by the state militia and federal troops sent by Governor John Reynolds (D) as they crossed the Mississippi into Illinois.  Black Hawks community won an easy victory over their oppressors that day and what was to be known as the Black Hawk War had begun.

But before anyone starts thinking it would be cool to have a war named after them, like all other wars named after Native Americans, this one did not end well for its namesake.  Fellow tribal leader Keokuk sided with the new government, and without reinforcements and aide in that same year of 1832 the war was over.  Black Hawk surrendered, was paraded around east coast big cities in chains like a trophy, imprisoned, and then released into the custody of his freedom trading former associate Keokuk.  A final disgraceful blow to a proud man, once free.  Body, mind, and spirit.  

Lucky for native americans, flintlocks and arrows are no longer the preferred method of communication between our people.  Unlucky for Native Americans, sugar coated lies concocted by the tongues of white men and treacherous allies who side with the new government are still very much in fashion.

This is the part where it says tinfoil hat time in a different manner each month.  The exact same thing, over and over, reconstructed using the english language to be accepted as unique each and every time.  Smooth indeed is the language of the whites, and when it comes to legalese and public relations shpeels, we approach physics defying frictionless levels of smoothness.

Here’s a fine example of a superlubric quote, “We have state-licensed facilities on tribal lands, where the tribal group is essentially achieving some benefit from acting as a landlord so to speak, and taking the role of the municipality there.”  That’s MRA Director Andrew Brisbo in an article by Rick Thomspon on thesocialrevolution.org on November 14, 2020, describing the ideal relationship between his new government and the sovereign tribes of Michigan and their lands and rights.  Black Hawk’s tribal spokesman could not have said it better himself.  Now let’s see what this sounds like in plain, common, tongue.

A state regulatory agency (an unelected arm of the government with no checks or balances) wants to gain control over the lands and rights of the sovereign Native Americans in Michigan.  The Native Americans, like the ones in Bay Mills, will give up their current standing as sovereign entities that do not have to comply with MRA regulations, while this new government will then gain the power to regulate and control the businesses that are on their lands and collect taxes from sales.  In exchange for their right to fully regulate and collect all revenue from their own cannabis industry, and for the use of their tribal lands by predominantly white wealthy corporate interests, they will receive sub-authority over their own lands beneath the MRA, and a form of rent.  Turning sky is the limit, set their own regulations, pay no taxes, free autonomy into “some benefit” to the tribe, the rest to big cannabis and a government other than theirs.  So to speak.

Check out this smooth as ice Brisbo gem from the same article, “That’s an area where we need a statutory change that gives us the authority to enter into intergovernmental agreements.”  Of course, there, he is professing his clear distaste for the idea of tribes like Bay Mills maintaining their cannabis sovereignty and having the freedom to conduct business outside the MRAs big brother esque purview, while supporting the further influx of near limitless powers to his unelected position.  In the name of, you guessed it, ‘safety’. 

“We have a couple primary concerns.  At the top of that list is ensuring that products are safe.  We want to have some assurances that products were produced with similar controls and processes, as well as similar testing standards.”  Here we see Brisbo implying to a Four20post podcast audience that Native Americans are not able to safely grow, prepare, and administer a naturally occurring plant medicine on their own lands without his white government overreach.  A laboratory quality example of making right look like wrong, and wrong like right.  Maybe if the tribes are really lucky, Brisbo might even throw in some small-pox covered blankets to keep them warm and safe this winter, too.  What’s more appalling than an unelected official attempting to steal Native American sovereignty?  

Said unelected official using the same style of slick language that stole Native American sovereignty two hundred years ago while pretending like he is not.  Self proclaimed media personalities towing the line and endlessly reiterating ‘social equity’ rather than calling him out on it.  The entire echo chamber coming to one another’s defense while masquerading as ‘woke’ and sympathetic to the cause of minorities, too swept up in personal ambition and pseudo-fame to consult neither history, nor foresight.  Shape and form tricking humans into endless cycles of lies and oppression.  

One can only imagine the rhetoric and word play used against the indigenous people in this nation’s past.  Perhaps something like, ‘Well, Chief, that’s an area where we are going to need a statutory change that gives us the authority to take swift and bold action in order to empower your tribe into taking advantage of the new opportunities our government has created for you on what is a rather equitable and safe, albeit reduced so to speak, parcel of land where your tribe will achieve some benefit in the way of continuing to exist peacefully.  Now if you would please sign here, we don’t want everyone thinking you stand in the way of social progress, now do we?’.  The spider web that is the english language must have sounded like nothing short of magic spells woven by devils.

But one does not have to imagine the rhetoric and word play being used against indigenous people in the year 2021.  All one must do is listen to the MRA, or turn on a marijuana podcast.  Smiling faces spin yarns of benefits, and opportunities, knowing full well that what the MRA proposes will only transfer power and wealth away from the hands of the tribes and into the pockets of the government and a brotherhood of fat cat marijuana industrialists who seem to have exchanged their top hats and monocles for bleeding hearts. 

So what does the Bay Mills Indian Community have to say about Brisbo’s ‘Three Paths Forward’ that all converge into one?  “Bay Mills has no interest in turning over our sovereign lands to private, for-profit corporations who are regulated and taxed by the State of Michigan.”  

Ahh, the wisdom of the Native American.

Qulture Tea Parties

Anqunette Sarfoh, AKA “Q”, an emerging cannabis leader in Michigan known for her work on social equity, legalization and medical marijuana work, is finally about to launch her newest venture: Qulture Tea Parties.

The “Q”ulture Tea Parties are designed to bring people that are learning about the value of cannabis for medicinal and recreational purposes together in a safe virtual way. People pick up their tea kit for themselves and friends and join the party online with everyone. During the party, Anqunette and cannabis nurse Cathleen Graham discuss the best ways to use cannabis for wellness and Anqunette shows people the recipes she uses to improve health with food.  All while everyone sips on Q’s special blend of an immunity boosting CBD infused tea.  

Interested individuals can procure the Tea Party kits at participating provisioning centers around the state. Each party kit will include CBD tea, a grinder card, chillum and an informational Cannabis 101 fold out pamphlet. Provisioning centers will then add cannabis flower and/or an edible and sell it at a price set by the provisioning center, so prices will vary depending on where you pick up the Qulture Tea Kits. They will take place monthly, on the last Thursday of the month, starting on Feb. 25th at 7:00, so be sure to find your kit at one of these stores:

• Herbology, Battle Creek
• Herbology, Kalamazoo
• Herbology, Bangor
• Herbology, Ann Arbor
• Om of Medicine, Ann Arbor
• Premiere Provisions, Big Rapids
• Green Stem, Niles
• Bacco Farms, Flint
• Michigan Organic Solutions, Flint
• Huron View, Ann Arbor
• Green Genie, Detroit
• Utopia Gardens, Detroit
• The Clinic, Centerline
• Northern Specialty Health, Houghton
• Sticky Ypsi, Ypsilanti 
• Sticky Detroit, Detroit

The online event is being sponsored by Select and is free of charge to participate. Participants that also pick up a Select vape will receive a free battery. For more information and to sign up to receive a Zoom link to the party, visit: http://qultureclub.com

Michigan News - February 2021

 

Licensed Dispensaries Selling Moldy Weed?

Ann Arbor- Psi labs, in Ann Arbor, was one of the first labs in the State to be licensed to test marijuana for sale under the MMFLA. The lab tests both licensed products that are for sale at licensed facilities as well as cannabis products produced from home grows and kitchens. 

For months, PSI labs has been retesting weed from the licensed stores and discovered many samples with mold contamination. Ben Rosman, CEO of PSI labs, shared this with the State Marijuana Regulatory Agency.

“You want safe, quality product on the shelves,” Rosman said.  He recommended that dispensaries let consumers know about the possibility of mold on their cannabis, and how to report a complaint, similar to the MRA rules for caregiver pot that was originally used to supply the industry 

In a response to questions from the Detroit Free Press a spokesperson from the MRA explained: “There is no product recall at this time... As always, any consumer should report any adverse reaction to any marijuana product to the retail location and/or the MRA.”

Ben Rosman responded to our questions:

Why did you collect samples of products sold in licensed facilities and retest them?

There has been an ongoing debate amongst the state’s licensed testing labs about appropriate testing methodology for total yeast and mold. At PSI Labs, we’ve been using the traditional plating technique since 2015. 

We initially tried to validate the qPCR method for total yeast and mold, because it promised faster and more accurate results than traditional plating techniques. After a number of in-house studies, we were unable to validate the method. In short, flower that failed using on the plate passed using qPCR. 

As consumers, we were interested if this meant that there was flower on the shelves that exceeded the state’s action limits - so we conducted a number of “secret shopper” studies.

What can you tell us about the results of the research?

As we suspected, we found that there was cannabis product on provisioning center shelves (adult use & medical) with total yeast and mold in excess of the state’s action limit (up to 100x over).

When you provided this info to the MRA how did they respond?

MRA has a difficult job of gathering information from a LOT of different stakeholders with vastly different positions and interests. They had to attempt to make the best decision possible, knowing it had significant impacts on people’s businesses. They don’t take this lightly and because of this, they took action steps to both audit product on provisioning center shelves and follow the preliminary results of the AOAC study.

Do you feel confident that licensed facilities are committed to safety?

While we can’t speak to the commitments of other facilities, we know that there is a lot of room for growth in this industry when it comes to developing and following valid scientific methods.  We have to follow the science, and as is the case in so many industries, not everyone is capable and not everyone has the best intentions.

How has PSI labs been impacted as a result of this research that is committed to consumer safety?

We have always used a valid method, so there is no operational impact to our business. As an industry, we believe the AOAC results will help elevate the testing requirements and conversation around science in the industry as a whole and at a national scale.

MRA has yet to issue an advisory to any retail location of how to advise consumers about the mold problem.

Anti-Caregiver Ordinances Begin in Shelby Township

Shelby Township- New zoning requirements adopted in Shelby Township are preventing individuals and caregivers from growing in their own homes by way of weaponizing the permit system.

This new trick works by making it so permits are no longer granted for electrical upgrades greater than the standard 200 amps on a residential property.  “We’ve already experienced progress as we’ve denied people coming to the building department seeking these enhancements to the electrical system,” the words of township lawyer Rob Huth, “With Building Director Tim Wood overseeing it, the ordinances are working.”  Also included are limitations to an individual’s access to lighting and other resources required for cultivation.

Shelby Township Supervisor Rick Stathakis bluntly stated, “We know that there are state laws that allow such activities, and there is nothing we can do about that.  What we can and will do is make sure those activities do not infringe on the rights and property of our neighbors.  Just because someone in your neighborhood chooses to engage in this nonsense, it should not make your life more difficult or your home less desirable.” 

Any grow operations 72 plants or larger must move out of residential areas and into those zoned for industrial use.  “...a state Supreme Court case said, ‘look municipalities, if you want to take some action against residential grow operations, give these individuals somewhere else to grow.’  So the township board did.  Now we require these 72-plant operations move out of our neighborhoods and into our industrial districts.”

MRA Encourages Tribes to Enter Partnerships

Michigan- In November 2020 the first independent Native American owned and regulated marijuana dispensary in the state of Michigan, Northern Light Cannabis Company, opened for business in the Upper Peninsula.  On 500nations.com tribal counsel Whiteny Gravelle stated, “Bay Mills as a sovereign nation has always made its prerogative to control and regulate its own tribal lands.  By not opting into the state license and state jurisdiction, we’re able to control how we are regulating the product that we make.”

In December 2020 Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency Directory Andrew Briso, in online interviews and podcasts, stated that the MRA was encouraging the tribes to partner with pre-existing licensed cannabis businesses via the MRA.  The deal allows the tribes to take the role of the municipality, with the MRA regulating and taxing.  The partnered marijuana business would operate on tribal land, and pay the tribe for use of the space.

Lume Cannabis Company, with an estimated annual revenue of $13.6 million, has already entered into such a deal with the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.  Lume plans ten stores across the Upper Peninsula, it’s initial location opened January 15th. 2021, in Sault Ste. Marie.

In response to tribes like Bay Mills keeping their sovereignty and regulating their own market, Director Brisbo suggests a legislative change that would grant the MRA the authority to enter into intergovernmental agreements.  This would allow the MRA to negotiate with tribes over control of regulatory requirements and business to business operations with the state licensed market.

National News - February 2021

 

Journalist Reports on Dark Side of Last Prisoner Project

California- A December article by Politicos’ Mona Zhang claims the Last Prisoner Project (LPP), a star studded social advocacy group founded by pot celebrity Steve DeAngelo, may not be what it seems.  Interviews with several small advocacy groups involved with fighting to free prisoners of the War on Drugs accuse LPP of being more about stealing ideas, fundraising, and promoting brands than actually helping with the work on the ground, which many of them have been doing for years.

Lynn Lyman, former California director of the Drug Policy Alliance and co-founder of the nonprofit group Los Angeles Regional Reentry Partnership (LARRP), is one such person.  “What LPP is doing is so problematic because they are coming into a space and soaking up the very scarce resources that exist.”  LARRP has only raised $7,500 from the cannabis industry, despite the racially charged summer of 2020 and being led by two African American men who personally spent time in federal prisons.  Lyman calls George Floyd’s killing a “racial awakening moment” that made it “even more obnoxious that this white organization has ramped up their ability to grow off of this movement instead of supporting grassroots efforts.”

She also notes how donations from outside the cannabis industry dropped off after talk of the billions the industry would make.  Donors moved funds to other causes, expecting the industry to more than make up with donations of their own.  Instead the donations simply stopped, or ended up in the hands of LPP.

According to it’s 2019 tax filing, eight months after its founding in April, LPP had raised a little over $240,000, spending $90,000 on executive director and general counsel Sarah Gersten, and $54,579 on Director Mary Bailey.  Leaving approximately $100,000 for other listed expenses, such as professional fundraising fees, advertising, and travel.  LPP’s 2020 filing is expected to be much larger, as the bulk of their fundraising has taken place over the past year.

LPP’s board consists of not only DeAngelo, but Melissa Etheridge, Jim Belushi, and Damian and Stephen Marley.  Belushi, who started his own brand ‘Belushi Farms’, hosted a $1,000 dollar a plate cannabis dinner which raised $30,000 dollars alone.  While grassroots advocates welcome the attention to the cause, and understand how celebrities attract more money, they are concerned that the attention and resources are being used more for corporate branding and advertising, than actual social justice.

Jane West, an advocate with a cannabis lifestyle brand, questions how LPP manages to run so many different and varied programs when their staff primarily consist of celebrities with little to no experience with the actual work.

The report even questions LPP’s beginnings.  Two months before the founding of LPP a prison reform activist named Weldon Angelos called a meeting of cannabis professionals in Los Angeles to discuss his idea for an NPO called the Weldon Project, which would make the release of those imprisoned for drugs it’s mission.  Angelos served part of a 55 year sentence, before being granted clemency by Obama then a pardon by Trump.  DeAngelo was one of the cannabis professionals in attendance at the meeting.

After showing interest in becoming a board member for the cannabis specific part of the Weldon Project, known as Mission Green, former volunteer Stephanie Le sent DeAngelo details of their program, before DeAngelo declined and started LPP.

Le says in a surprise move LPP then contacted Mission Green asking to work with them, but she became suspicious,  “I started to get really uncomfortable because they were asking me really specific questions like ‘Who are the first 10 hires for Mission Green and can you give us their contact info?’”  She states she also gave DeAngelo an idea for a Mission Green sticker project that co-branded with cannabis companies, which LPP then used.

Other reported suspicious incidents also include meetings involving DeAngelo where new ideas are expressed, or information is shared with DeAngelo, by grassroots organizations, prior to LPP suddenly coming up with a new program that mimics theirs.

DeAngelo called for unity in an effort to accomplish “great things” and stated that, “We all need to get together and figure out how to work together without stepping on toes and disrespecting each others’ hard work.”

Conservative Group Applauds Biden's ONDCP Pick

The conservative group Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) recently sent an email bulletinto members announcing the appointment of their “longtime friend” Regina LaBelle to head of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).

In the email, written by President and co-founder of SAM Dr. Kevin Sabet, he expresses how honored he was to work with LaBelle during her time as ONDCP Chief of Staff under the Obama administration.  SAM then claims to be ‘hitting the ground running’ and announce they have sent LaBelle a comprehensive roadmap for drug policy.

“Chief among” their ideas for drug reform include removing criminal penalties for marijuana and replacing them with “directions to brief interventions, and, if necessary, treatment.”  Also expressed is the belief that “sensible policies, like increasing research, removing barriers to data gathering, and reforming federal laws in these areas are tangible policy outcomes that can be accomplished without the establishment of a commercial marijuana industry.” and that “Furthermore, given the widespread five-alarm fire that we are seeing with increases in substance use, the position of Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy must be re-elevated to its former status as a Cabinet-level position, with the Director’s position on marijuana mirroring that of the President-Elect.”

SAM concludes by stating they are also urging Biden to “immediately implement a public awareness campaign seeking to discourage young people from using marijuana and educating parents on today’s high potency marijuana.”

World News - February 2021

 

Over 330,000 Gummies Recalled in Canada

Canada- Canada’s TerrAscend announced on January 26th a voluntary recall of its wild berry infused gummies after receiving consumer allegations that some of the edibles contained mold.  Now a Health Canada expanded federal recall notice has added Sour Watermelon to the list stating, “The affected product may contain mold.”

Ten complaints in total initiated the recall, with no adverse reactions reported.  This is the second recall involving mold in Canada this year, AgroGreens Natural Products having issued a recall on January 7, 2021, for their Black Cherry Punch flower sold by recreational retailers in Saskatchewan.

Aurora Signs Deal as Medical MJ Up in AU

Australia- The number of approvals for medical cannabis in Australia has steadily increased since the program’s inception.  January 2020 saw 3,148 approvals, with the year ending in December at 5,630.  The highest single month was November 2020 with 6,356 approvals.  The year total ended at 17,958, up from the 2019 total of 17,040. 

These numbers come as Canadian company Aurora penned a five year deal with MedReleaf Australia, who becomes the exclusive supplier of MedReleaf, CanniMed, and Aurora brands.  Aurora is reported as holding a 10% stake in MedReleaf Australia.

CEOs Form Cannabis Beverage Council

United States- A Cannabis Beverage Council (CBC), the creation of the American TradeAssociation for Cannabis and Hemp (ATACH), seeks to “forge a new beverage market by harmonizing canna-beverage policies across the country,” according to American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp President Michael Bronstein.

Scott Coors, of Coors Brewing, stated, “At the repeal of alcoholic prohibition in the 1930s the industry came together to create an industry effort and agree on responsible consumption, policies, and best practices.  ATACH’s new council for cannabis beverages is modeled after this concept, which is why I am a part of this historic moment.”

The list of international founding members include:

• Jake Bullock, co-founder of Cann in Los Angeles
• Adophus Busch V, an Anheuser Busch heir and founder of ABV Cannabis Co. in Colorado.
• Scott Coors of the Coors Brewing family, an entrepreneur who serves on the board for SeroVita Holding Corp. in Colorado.
• Gary Kaminsky, director of legal compliance at Acreage Holdings in New York.
• David Klein, CEO of Canopy Growth in Ontario, Canada.
• Erik Knutson, CEO and co-founder of Keef Brands in Colorado.
• Josh Lizotte, CEO of Rebel Coast in California.
• Koji Pupo, vice president of business development at Columbia Distributing in Washington state.
• Bill Silver, president of new markets at CannaCraft in California.
• Chuck Smith, CEO of BellRock Brands in Connecticut.
• Christy Zhou, vice president of legal and regulatory affairs at Organigram in New Brunswick, Canada.

First One's Free in French Medical Marijuana Trial

France- The French Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) is starting a medical marijuana trial program where 3,000 patients will receive free meds, which will not cost either the patient or the government any money, and all costs will be absorbed by the suppliers.

Companies were given time to apply, and then were chosen for the program.  Emmac Life Sciences, based in the United Kingdom, were awarded two substitute lots.  Panaxia, a company based in Israel, received two substitute and two main supplier lots.  Canada’s Aurora Cannabis has been awarded three main supplier lots, with Tilray receiving two main lots and two substitute lots.  Finally, Althea was granted one substitute lot, and Little Green Pharma obtained two main lots and one substitute, both based in Australia.

With no certainty that they will remain suppliers after giving away weed in a trial program, experts still maintain the move will be advantageous for the companies in the long term.  Marijuana Business Daily quoted Nicolas Authier, professor and chair of the ANSM scientific committee on medical cannabis, “With hundreds of patients already treated (at the end of the experiment) and doctors used to prescribing their products, this is probably a marketing advantage.”