HOW TO HAVE A WEED WEDDING 2
CANNABIS AND BROCCOLI QUICHE 3
LEGALIZATION A RACIAL JUSTICE ISSUE 3
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SENATE HOLDS HISTORIC CANNABIS BANKING HEARING By Matt Nagle matt@tacomaweekly.com The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee held a hearing on July 23 to discuss how legally operating cannabis businesses can access banking and financial services, a critical need among cannabusinesses and becoming more so every day considering the amount of money the industry brings in on a daily basis. A bi-partisan bill, the Secure and Fair Enforcement Act (SAFE) of 2019, would allow federal banking regulators to work with cannabis businesses without suffering penalties or prosecution. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) introduced the act in April and garnered 31 sponsors. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Ore.) introduced its House component, H.R. 1595, and is co-sponsored by 206 representatives. In March, H.R. 1595 cleared the House Financial Services Committee and is expected for consideration on the House floor after the August recess. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) gave opening remarks. “The legal cannabis industry is one of the fastest growing in the United States and employs hundreds of thousands of people,” he said. “No matter how you feel about marijuana itself, we have a duty to look about for the workers who work in this industry and the communities they represent.” Testifying witnesses included Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.). “There has been a dramatic shift in Americans’ views of cannabis in recent years. Polling shows that about 65 percent of Americans support legalization of marijuana, 93 percent support medical marijuana,” he said. “In fact, majorities of both parties support legalization. In a time when all the talk is about how divided we are, it’s hard to find that sort of support for an issue. In short, the states are leading on this issue, and the federal government has failed to respond. It has closed its eyes and plugged its ears and pretended the issue will go away. It won’t. “Keeping those dollars out of banks
means we lose the ability to trace where the dollars go,” he continued. “It also makes it harder to ensure all taxes are being paid. It makes it easier for criminals in the illicit market to pose as legitimate. And it leaves hundreds of millions of dollars of cash in the state. But we were sent here to deal with the difficult topics. It’s an important step forward. First hearing we’ve had on this issue as the federal government wakes up to the reality that the cannabis issue is not going to go away and we must have action.” John Lord, board chair of the Cannabis Trade Federation, noted that conflicting state and federal laws make banks and credit unions reluctant to serve cannabis businesses or have refused to do so altogether. “In some cases, banks that were willing to work with cannabis companies were discouraged or prevented from doing so by their reg-
ulators,” he said. “As a result, we have frequently struggled to obtain and maintain bank accounts with egregiously high fees. Resolving the banking issue could significantly aid cannabis businesses in securing business loans. This is critical to small business owners who may not have access to other sources of capital.” Also CEO of LivWell Enlightened Health, Lord said that there are significant compliance costs associated with serving cannabis customers under existing policies. “Financial institutions charge cannabis businesses substantial monthly fees. Our company pays in excess of $3,000 per month for the mere privilege of having an account. The current situation is especially challenging for small businesses. While we, due to our size, are able to absorb the additional costs associated with cash management and exorbitant bank fees, many small businesses are not.” Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) point-
ed out that the lack of availability of financial services for cannabis-related businesses has created a scenario in which businesses are forced to operate in all cash, a risky situation to be in. “Financial institutions support legal clarity and certainty and a legislative hearing would provide an opportunity to address outstanding questions and ensure a better understanding of the proposed bipartisan legislation,” he said. Merkley expressed hope that committee members would benefit from hearing directly from witnesses who have direct experience with the challenges facing the financial sector, the cannabis industry, and law enforcement. He said that the way things are now is an invitation to money laundering and much more. “It is an invitation to organized crime. It is an invitation to robbery. It is an invitation to cheat on u See BANKING / page 3
COALITION GATHERS FOR FEDERAL MARIJUANA REFORM The Marijuana Justice Coalition Launches, urging Congress to reform marijuana laws with emphasis on racial justice
OFFICE OF NATIONAL AFFAIRS
Queen Adesuyi, policy coordinator at Drug Policy Alliance’s Office of National Affairs.
WASHINGTON, DC – A broad coalition of 10 national groups has joined forces to create the Marijuana Justice Coalition to advocate for federal marijuana reform through a racial justice lens. The new coalition includes ACLU, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, NORML, Drug Policy Alliance, Center for American Progress, and more. On July 9, the group released a set of principles for federal marijuana reform (www.drugpolicy.org/sites/default/
files/mjc-principles_0.pdf ), encouraging Congress to include criminal justice reforms and promote diversity as members develop legislation. The coalition launch is timed to coincide with “Marijuana Laws in America: Racial Justice and the Need for Reform” – the first ever hearing in Congress to contemplate an overhaul of federal marijuana laws, which took place on Wednesday, July 10. Below is a statement from Queen Adesuyi, policy coordinator at Drug
Policy Alliance’s Office of National Affairs: “This coalition was formed with the goal of reforming federal marijuana laws, but doing so in a way that gives back to the communities most impacted by the war on drugs. Black and brown people have been traumatized by our racist marijuana laws and, as the federal government embraces reform, our groups will make sure that any proposal will repair the damage done to those communities.”
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Sunday, July 28, 2019 | WEEKLY WEEDLY NEWS
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How to Have a Weed Wedding SKIP THE OPEN BAR By Alden Linn, Owner, World of Weed
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If you’re going to be having a weed wedding, you may want to skip on the open bar. With crossfading (consuming both alcohol and marijuana) posing such a big problem – one you don’t want, or need, at your wedding – it’s best to just stick to serving THC/CBD and regular beverages.
As marijuana legalization continues to spread, “weed weddings” – cannabis-focused weddings – are growing in popularity. But, saying your stoney “I dos” with a beautiful weed wedding takes a bit more work than just having a bunch of weed available for your guests. Here are fun and classy ways to incorporate cannabis into the celebration of your love.
TELL YOUR GUESTS FAR IN ADVANCE It shouldn’t come as a surprise (or shock, for some!) that you’re having a weed wedding. Let all of your guests know what you’re planning, and theme your wedding website so everyone knows this is a cannabis-centric celebration. Include important information, such as reminders to start out with small doses and to be careful about edibles. And don’t forget to include information about marijuana regulations in Washington, including laws that apply to travel. Your guests CANNOT take the cannabis out of the state!
BUDGET FOR QUALITY
There’s more to having a weed wedding than just having some joints available and considering it good enough. This isn’t some house party with weed. This is your wedding. Hiring a budtender provides a classy, luxurious experience for your guests. Not only do they act as bartender by moderating servings and creating cannabis cocktails, but they also serve as an education point by answering questions and addressing concerns. Professional budtenders have a wealth of knowledge that adds to the experience for your guests. Budtenders know the best strains for certain needs and preferences, understand the effects of the products and strains, and can help guests find the best strain for them. Be sure to let your budtender know if there will be any guests under the age of 21, so they will be sure to check ID before serving.
HAVE A NON-SMOKING AREA You may be having a weed wedding, but that doesn’t mean everyone attending is going to partake. Set up a separate area for those who don’t want to smoke, so everyone will be kept comfortable. This is especially important if there are children attending, or people sensitive or allergic to smoke.
INCORPORATE CANNABIS INTO THE DÉCOR
If you’re doing a weed wedding, you want to do it right. That means budgeting for only high-quality product and expert staff. This is your wedding. It should be special. Which means not skimping and going with lower-quality product just to save money. The experience won’t be the same – and neither will your high!
What would a weed wedding be without some cannabis in the decor? You can include cannabis leaves and flowers into the floral arrangements and bouquets. Have ornate clocks with the time set to 4:20. Carry the theme of your wedding website out into the world, and make cannabis part of your elegant wedding decor.
BE UPFRONT WITH VENDORS
PROVIDE A WIDE SELECTION
When choosing a venue for your wedding, you need to be upfront and honest with the vendors. Not all vendors are going to be open to cannabis being served during an event, so use that as a criterion. Find a vendor team that will make sure everything goes smoothly, safely, and is properly regulated, ensuring your weed wedding goes on without a hitch. If you’re not sure how to go about finding and approaching vendors, your wedding planner will be able to work on your behalf. When you’ve chosen the venue, give that vendor information about how cannabis will be served and consumed, and your plan for how to ensure safe and responsible marijuana consumption. Be sure to familiarize yourself with Washington’s laws about the quantity you can have available and how much you can purchase by yourself.
Work with your hired budtender to select the best strains to serve at your weed wedding. Choose a selection of different strains, with different flavor profiles and effects. Provide little menus detailing each strain, so guests know what to pick and choose from. Have loose flower, pre-rolled joints and blunts, dabs, beverages, and edibles. Advise guests to bring their own pipes, bongs, or dab rigs, or have sanitizing alcohol wipes available to clean the mouthpieces between each use.
SERVE INFUSED BEVERAGES Just because you’re having an alcohol-free bar doesn’t mean you
can’t sip cocktails with your guests. Serve cannacocktails – beverages that include single servings of THC and/or CBD instead of alcohol. You can purchase packs of cannabis sodas to serve in glasses, in addition to having your budtender(s) whip up cocktails as guests order them, using THC/CBD tinctures. These drinks are fun and delicious, and give the same feeling of celebrating and celebrating with a drink in hand – and they get you high! Beverages take effect in only 30 minutes, with a high that lasts from 30 minutes to an hour, unlike edibles that are delayed and last for hours. Best part? Nobody will have a hangover the next morning!
SERVE EDIBLES WITH CAUTION Edibles take about two hours to kick in, and the effects can last for up to six. It’s also very easy to over-consume with edibles, which can lead to your guests having a less than pleasant time. Or falling asleep! Caution guests consuming edibles to stick to a small, single serving and wait 45 minutes before eating more.
MAKE THIS A SAFE WEED WEDDING Way before your big day actually arrives, go through a checklist and make sure you’ve provided everything your guests could possibly need for a fun, memorable evening. Things to provide include: • ride shares (Uber, Lyft), taxis, shuttle services, and/or designated drivers; • bottles of CBD for each table. If anyone gets too high, they can counteract the effects of the THC by consuming CBD; and • wristbands for partaking guests. Limit the amount each guest consumes to avoid people getting too high – especially if you’re providing dabs and edibles.
GIVE CANNABIS GIFTS Many couples give gifts to their bridesmaids and groomsmen. Do the same with your weed wedding, and give thoughtful gift bags with products that have clear labels and dosage. If they live outside of Washington, be sure to include information about traveling with cannabis. As in, DON’T do it. As a cannabis enthusiast, you shouldn’t be forced to choose between your dream wedding and getting lit. A weed wedding doesn’t mean a party-like, stoner wedding. Cannabis is beautiful, and that beauty can be part of your wedding in a classy, elegant way. We’ll help you out. World of Weed has been voted the #1 pot shop in the state out of 400+ retail stores on Leafly.com for 2016 and 2017. Find all of the tasty treats mentioned in this article and so much more at this excellent cannabis shop: 3202 Portland Ave. E., and shop online at www.WorldOfWeed.com.
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WEEKLY WEEDLY NEWS | Sunday, July 28, 2019
Cannabis and Broccoli Quiche CannaMilk
Time required: 45 minutes Yields: 6 servings What You Need: Large saucepan 2 tablespoons butter 1 onion, chopped 1 garlic clove, minced 2 cups fresh broccoli, chopped 1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese 4 eggs, beaten 1 ½ cups CannaMilk Salt and pepper to taste
Steps: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. • Melt cannabutter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. • Add onions, garlic, and broccoli. Stir occasionally until the vegetables are soft. • Spoon cooked vegetables into unbaked pie crust and sprinkle with the shredded mozzarella. • Pour beaten egg mixture over the vegetables and cheese. • Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Courtesy of https://eatyourcannabis. com/cannabis-and-broccoli-quiche
t BANKING
There are a variety of cannamilk recipes that call for anywhere from ½ ounce to 3 ounces of cannabis per 1 gallon of whole milk. The potency of the recipes on this site depends on the concentration of cannabis in your essential ingredient. The amount of cannabis in the recipe below is just a suggestion and can be modified according to your personal dosage. Time required: 1 hour What you need: Large saucepan 1 gallon whole milk 1 ounce cannabis (finely ground) Cheesecloth Spoon Tupperware container with lid Rubber band (one that will stretch around the rim of your Tupperware)
Steps: 1. Heat the milk in the sauce pan on a medium setting. Do not let the milk boil. 2. Add your cannabis to the hot milk and stir gently. 3. Simmer the mixture for at least one hour. Stir occasionally. 4. Prepare your Tupperware container by taking 2 sheets of the cheesecloth and securing it over the lid of the bowl using the rubber band. 5. Pour the cannamilk mix slowly over the top of the cheesecloth and into the container. Repeat this step as necessary to strain all of the milk from the plant. 6. Cover the container with a lid and place in the refrigerator. For original recipe, visit http://thejointblog.com/recipes-cannabis-butter-oil-milk.
your taxes or cheat your employees,” he said. “Let’s fix this. Let’s honor the states’ rights vision of all of the states that have said this makes sense here in our location for our citizens.” Joanne Sherwood, American Bankers Association president and CEO of Citywide Banks, testified on behalf of the American Bankers Association. “Although the SAFE Banking Act does not cure all of the cannabis-related banking challenges, it would help the 33 states that have legalized cannabis in some form to make their communities safer, collect their taxes, and regulate their cannabis markets effectively,” she read from a written statement. “It would also help banks and their customers in states without legal cannabis regimes by addressing the unintended consequences
for unrelated businesses that provide products and services to the cannabis industry, their employees or service providers, without undermining each state’s ability to prohibit cannabis sales and use within their borders.” Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) noted the significance of holding a hearing on this important topic. Menendez is a member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee and also a bill co-sponsor. “I don’t like using the word ‘historic’ too easily, but it is a historic hearing because we have never had a hearing specifically on how to we bank the marijuana industry in and of itself. We’ve come to the point that a full formal hearing of the banking committee on this issue has now created a maturity that it’s something that needs to be dealt with. There’s an increasing consensus that, to the extent that states have legalized marijuana either for recreational or medicinal purposes, we should find a way to bank them.”
Testifying witnesses included Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), who said that the hearing is a critical first step.
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) introduced the Secure and Fair Enforcement Act (SAFE) of 2019 in April.
From page 1
MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION IS A RACIAL JUSTICE ISSUE BY CHARLOTTE RESING Policy Analyst, ACLU Washington Legislative Office Marijuana has been a key driver of mass criminalization in this country and hundreds of thousands of people, the majority of whom are Black or Latinx, have their lives impacted by a marijuana arrest each year. But the tide is turning against the remnants of a drug war targeted at Black and Brown people that was never meant to increase public safety in the first place. Legalization is an important step towards ending the war on drugs, and it cannot come soon enough. Legalizing marijuana must come with expungement, with reinvestment in the communities most harmed by enforcement, with limitations on how police can interact with people who they suspect of a marijuana offense, with legal nonpublic spaces for smoking marijuana for those who cannot smoke in their residence, with a prohibition on deportation for people with marijuana convictions, and with full inclusion of those most impacted by criminalization of marijuana in the new marijuana industry. Currently, nine states and the District of Columbia allow for recreational use among adults, while 31 states allow for medical use of marijuana. The laws reflect growing public support. Two out of three Americans are in favor of legalization, which has majority support in all age groups and political affiliations. While progress in reforming our nation’s drug laws is vital, we must remember that if we legalize without righting the wrongs of past marijuana enforcement, we risk reinforcing the decades of disproportionate harm communities of color have faced and endured. People in the United States use and sell marijuana at roughly the same rate regardless of their race, yet a Black person is almost four times more likely than a white person to be arrested for marijuana possession nationwide. In addition, roughly 13,000 people were deported or separated from their communities and families in 2013 alone for drug-related offenses. While it is not a panacea for past harms, thoughtful legalization can help us forge a more equitable future. Today, overcriminalized communities continue to suffer from the fallout of our nation’s drug laws, even in states that have legalized marijuana and seen dramatic drops in the number of people arrested for marijuana crimes. That’s because legalization has not eradicated the indefensible rate at which Black and Latinx people are arrested for marijuana offenses in these states. In fact, many states have seen an even steeper rise in the percentage of Black and Latinx people having their lives impacted by a marijuana arrest. Two years after decriminalization in the nation’s capital, a Black person is 11 times more
likely than a white person to be arrested for public use of marijuana. This is one of the main reasons enforcement is key to reform. When it comes to drug law reform, policing, which more rightly can be titled over-policing, is at the headwaters of the injustices communities of color suffer. We must address, combat, and eventually eliminate discriminatory policing practices and the structural racial bias at every step of our criminal legal system. Legalization measures must have equity as a vital component to avoid continuing to harm certain groups and to address the years of hardship and stigma that criminalizing marijuana has wrought. Along with the harm of incarceration and conviction, a simple marijuana charge has a negative ripple effect. Having a marijuana conviction on your record can make it difficult to secure and maintain employment, housing, or secure government assistance for the rest of your life. This is why clearing people’s records of marijuana convictions is a necessary addition to any legalization measure. If we believe that marijuana is not worthy of criminal intervention, then it is only right we stop the suffering inflicted on people by a marijuana prosecution. Especially since we know this disproportionately falls on the shoulders, and families, of low-income communities and communities of color. Such efforts to extend racial justice must explicitly be tied to a program of
economic justice. People who have been harmed by the enforcement of marijuana must have a place in the bourgeoning marketplace created by legalization. Indeed, any legalization bill should include provisions that enable people who have struggled to find employment due to a marijuana conviction to participate meaningfully in the marijuana industry. Excluding people directly impacted by marijuana criminalization from the industry further entrenches the outsized impact that the war on drugs has had on communities of color. If we legalize without mindfulness of the full ecosystem of the criminal legal system and how it impacts people, then corporate and industry-backed legalization efforts will lead us away from what is right and just. That is why we must support legalization legislation that truly help roll back overcriminalization, end the failed war on drugs once and for all, and usher in a more equitable future through drug law reform nationwide. https://www.aclu.org/blog/criminal-law-reform/drug-law-reform/marijuana-legalization-racial-justice-issue
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Sunday, July 28, 2019 | WEEKLY WEEDLY NEWS
OREGON CANNABIS LITIGATION: BUSINESS BETWEEN FRIENDS LEADS TO $4.2M LAWSUIT
By JESSE MONDRY
“A friendship founded on business is a good deal better than a business founded on friendship,” said John D. Rockefeller. In our experience, this adage applies with force in the cannabis industry where –because of its black-market origins – people became accustomed to business arrangements founded on a handshake when recourse from the legal system was not an option. Times have changed and so should the practice of cannabis businesses as demonstrated by a $4.2 million lawsuit recently filed in Oregon state court. The principals of Mason Family Farms (Mason) were close friends with Edward Passadore. In 2015, Mason sought to enter Oregon’s recreational marijuana market by establishing a 15,000 square foot indoor cultivation facility in Lowell, Oregon. Passadore, who owned a property management company and founded several other companies (together referred to here as “Passadore”), convinced Mason that he and his associates had the expertise and experience to construct and deliver a licensed “turnkey” grow operation. The year 2015 was a heady time for Oregon’s newly legalized recreational marijuana industry. Mason anticipated that its cultivation operation would produce approximately 5 ½ harvests per year of 463 pounds of marijuana per harvest. At a wholesale price of $2,000 /
lb, Mason expected to net approximately $711,000 in profit per harvest. (Regular readers know that by early 2019, Oregon’s supply had vastly exceeded demand, causing prices to crater and that Oregon recently adopted various measures intended to curb supply). Sometime in early 2016, Mason and Passadore reached an agreement by which Passadore would construct the grow operation for $1,000,000. According to the complaint, Passadore agreed to secure all necessary permits and licenses, construct the project, secure water rights, set up security, and take all other necessary actions. The parties anticipated the project would cost $1,000,000 of which 17.5 percent total project cost would be paid to Passadore, for a total anticipated cost of $1,175,000. Passadore allegedly orally promised the project would be completed by December 2016. Remarkably for a $1 million deal, the contract was apparently a combination of oral and written promises and Passadore retained the only signed copy of the contract. The unsigned version of the contract attached to the complaint does not include an integration clause, which typically exclude from the contract terms all prior oral or written agreements. (This is contract law 101.) The writing does not contain a deadline for completing the project and is missing numerous other terms you’d normally see in a build-out arrangement, e.g.: change orders, permit requirements, indemnity, insurance, third-party liability, contractor-subcontractor, found in basic construction contracts. (Check out the AIA contract documents
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at www.aiacontracts.org.) The written contract called for an initial deposit of $500,000 – which Mason provided to Passadore by the end of March 2016. In May 2016, Passadore ordered two large greenhouse kits for delivery. In July 2016, Mason provided Passadore the remaining $500,000. The time for completion came and went and in January and May 2017, Mason provided Passadore with additional money, bringing the total money deposited to $1.6 million. Construction on the project dragged on into the summer of 2017 and then ground to a halt when the electrical subcontractors stopped work after learning that Passadore had not obtained the required permits. Construction recommenced in the fall of 2017, but by early 2018 Mason had taken over and terminated its relationship with Passadore. Mason then spent another $672,000 to get the operation up and running by April 2018. By then, the wholesale price of marijuana had dropped to $800/lb. (Note: Mason earned a 1st Place – Greenhouse award at the 2018 Oregon Growers Cup for its White Tahoe Cookies #1 strain). Meanwhile, Mason had become suspicious of the documentation Passadore had provided concerning the costs of the project. Mason repeatedly demanded supporting documentation, which it never received and came to believe that Passadore had falsified or misreported numerous charges. Passadore also allegedly commingled funds between companies and changed the names of various companies to confuse Mason and attempt shield assets.
This brings us to complaint. Mason alleges causes of action for declaratory judgment, equitable accounting, breach of contract, and seeks to pierce the corporate veil of Passadore’s various entities. (For the unfamiliar, veil piercing is briefly discussed at www.cannalawblog.com/ oregon-hemp-cbd-litigation-another-tale-on-the-importance-of-due-diligence-before-contracting). The complaint seeks $897,000 in contract damages as the difference between the contract price and the amount Mason expended to complete the project and $3,357,000 in lost profits based on the theory that Passadore caused Mason to lose out on seven harvests. The lessons here are obvious, but we keep seeing marijuana and hemp businesses make the same avoidable mistakes. For some primers on entering into and succeeding in the cannabis industry, take a look at: • www.cannalawblog.com/staringa-cannabis-business-whatagreements-do-you-really-need • www.cannalawblog.com/ marijuana-contracts-the-troblewith-forms • www.cannalawblog.com/running-acannabis-business-write-it-down • www.cannalawblog.com/ cannabis-real-estate-leases-theroots-of-your-cannabis-businesspart-1 • www.cannalawblog.com/ avoid-hemp-litigation-with-a-realagricultural-production-contract
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WEEKLY WEEDLY NEWS | Sunday, July 28, 2019
WHY IS BIG PHARMA HEADING TO CANADA
AMERICANS FOR SAFE ACCESS RELEASES FOR ITS CANNABIS PATENTS? ‘PATIENT’S GUIDE TO CBD’
By Jihee Ahn Currently, seven of Canada’s top 10 cannabis patent holders are major multi-national pharmaceutical companies, according to a joint research project by Washington D.C.-based New Frontier Data and London-based cannabis bio-technology firm, Grow Biotech. The list includes Ciba-Geigy AG (Switzerland) with 21 patents; Pfizer Products (United States) with 14; and Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
to Canada because the status of “marijuana” in the United States as a Schedule I substance creates patent-related issues that mega companies want to avoid (such as giving sworn statements to the USPTO that the company is, in fact, possessing marijuana in conjunction with its patent application). On a much simpler, practical note though, they’re probably heading there because it proves to be cheaper and quicker to obtain cannabis patents in Canada. Given how rapidly the cannabis industry is evolving, obtaining patents in the cannabis field first presents several advantages (such as being able
By Reenal Doshi Americans for Safe Access
u See CANADA / page 6
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to assert your patents against competitors or using your patents with definitive claims to improve your negotiation position during business transactions). Looking into the process, it may be a year after the request for examination is made before CIPO issues a first examiner’s report in a Canadian patent application. In some cases, the subsequent examiner’s report or Notice of allowance may issue in about six to nine months after the applicant’s response. This means it may take a little less than two years (or more) from the time of requesting examination to obtaining a Canadian patent, which is comparable to the timeline in the United States. But! The Canadian patent system offers an excellent option for accelerating examination via a request for special order. A special order may usually be obtained without difficulty upon payment of a government fee of CAD $500 (at the time of writing this article, that’s USD $382.31). In comparison, a similar program in the United States for accelerating examination, namely the Track 1 examination program, has a filing fee of USD $4,000. Under CIPO’s current service standard, a Special Order will get the applicant a response within two months
The “Patient's Guide to CBD” is available for download at www.SafeAccessNow.org. Original post: www.safeaccessnow. org/patientscbd_press
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(Sweden) with 13. Merck Sharp and Dohme Corporation, the fourth largest pharmaceutical company in the world, has 11 cannabis-related patents, and recently announced a partnership to pursue collaborations with Intec Pharma Ltd., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that has developed a propriety oral drug delivery system for delivery of CBD and THC in treating pain. This got me wondering: why are the mega companies choosing to file their cannabis patents in Canada as opposed to the United States? With cannabis now legal in Canada for both medical and recreational use, as well as legal for medical use in 33 states and D.C. and recreational use in 11 states and D.C., it’s no secret companies are ramping up their R&D and rushing to pursue patent protection. As we’ve referenced before, data shows that the number of U.S. cannabis patent holders has nearly quadrupled since 2016. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued 127 patents containing the words “cannabis” or “cannabinoid” in their claims in 2018. Similarly, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (“CIPO”) issued 22 such patents in 2018. While numbers on both sides of the border are growing, it could be that the pharmaceutical titans are heading
Americans for Safe Access (ASA) has released the “Patient’s Guide to CBD” in response to the May 31 public hearing at the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) regarding products containing cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds. During the hearing, ASA was one of nearly 140 speakers chosen to formally present scientific information with slides and data about cannabis, cannabidiol (CBD), and other cannabis compounds at the hearing. The “Patient’s Guide to CBD” is a comprehensive resource that covers a wide range of topics, including, available forms for use, what to look for on package labels, how to read a certificate of analysis, how CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system, the current state of research, the compound’s legal status, and how to talk to one’s doctor about CBD. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (also known as the 2018 Farm Bill) legalized industrial hemp (canna-
bis plants containing not more than 0.3 percent THC), which has sparked much interest, as well as confusion, regarding CBD products. “ASA created the guide to be an educational reference so that patients, healthcare providers, consumers, policy makers, and regulators could have an accurate and scientific source to turn to in order to make informed decisions regarding CBD,” said Debbie Churgai, ASA interim director. ASA will also be submitting written comments to the FDA to supplement the information provided in their oral presentation. “With the submission of our written comments, our in-person testimony, and the comprehensive ‘Patient’s Guide to CBD,’ we can provide the FDA the scientific information for which they are looking and also provide patients the voice and resources they deserve,” said Heather Despres, the director of ASA’s Patient Focused Certification (PFC) program, who presented at the FDA hearing. To date, 1,128 comments have been submitted to the FDA through the agency’s online portal. "We look forward to providing the FDA with additional data to inform their decision-making and are eager to clear up any misunderstandings or misinformation and contribute to the body of knowledge regarding cannabidiol through the release of our ‘Patient's Guide to CBD,’" said Steph Sherer, president and founder of Americans for Safe Access.
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Sunday, July 28, 2019 | WEEKLY WEEDLY NEWS
t CANADA
Where to Shop
fications). Since it’s possible to obtain patents for inventions related to cannabinoid formulations, etc. in both Canada and the United States, maybe the best approach is to build a balanced Canadian and U.S. patent portfolio. This would allow a company to protect its assets and maximize its shield against competition in both jurisdictions.
From page 5 from when the correspondence is received. Therefore, by using a special order, it may be possible to significantly shorten the length of time from requesting examination to patent grant. One thing to note is that in Canada, certain subject matter is excluded from patentability. One major example: plants. Plants are not patentable in Canada because its laws provide that “higher life forms” (which includes plants and animals) are not patentable subject matter. In contrast, a cell of a higher life form, methods of making higher life forms, as well as use of a higher life form, may constitute patentable subject matter. So, in order for a breeder or grower to obtain a patent, they must be able to show that the new cannabis cultivar can be identified by technical features (like genetic modi-
Find a cannabis retailer near you and pick up your copy of the Weekly Weedly
Jihee Ahn is an experienced complex commercial litigator in international lawfirm’s Harris Bricken’s Portland office. She represents clients in business, intellectual property, and real estate matters. Having worked extensively in both federal and state courts, Jihee advises her clients from case intake through arbitration and trial.
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IN E S S
3833 Pacific Ave. Tacoma, WA 98418 https://NaturesRec502.com (253) 572-5544
The Pot Zone
4002 S. 12th St. Tacoma, WA 98405 www.DiamondGreenTacoma.com (253) 301-3148
816 72nd St. E. Tacoma, WA 98404 www.PotZone420.com (253) 212-2884
Emerald Leaves
Tacoma House of Cannabis
2702 6th Ave. Tacoma, WA 98406 www.EmeraldLeavesTacoma.com (253) 507-4591
2632 S. 38th St., Ste. A Tacoma, WA 98409 www.TacomaHouseOfCannabis.com (253) 212-3711
The Gallery
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M AT T
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13005 Pacific Ave. S. Tacoma, WA 98444 https:TheGalleryCo.com (253) 531-4000
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Collar i oGreen 10422 Ave. S., Ste. B n s ?Pacific
World of Weed
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Green Token
Zips Cannabis – S. 38th St.
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3002 6th Ave., Ste. 100 Tacoma, WA 98406 www.MaryMart.com (253) 507-4735
8001 S. Hosmer St. Tacoma, WA 98408 www.FindClearChoice.com (253) 444-5444
WEEKLYW E E D FIND AL L Y L YOU NE ED AT B E C AU
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Jesse Mondry heads the Portland business litigation team for international lawfirm Harris Bricken. He has an extensive civil litigation background, and he has represented clients in a wide range of industries, including construction, retail, manufacturing, real estate, and banking. Original post: www.cannalawblog.com/oregon-cannabis-litigation-businessbtween-friends-leads-to-4-2-millionlawsuit.
• www.cannalawblog.com/oregonhemp-odas-new-total-thc-standard-isa-key-operations-and-contract-issue
W E E D LY
3310 Auburn Way N. Auburn, WA 98003 www.LucidMJ.com (253) 249-7730
2128 S. 37th St. Tacoma, WA 98409 (no website) (253) 507-5180
• www.cannalawblog.com/how-tokill-your-cannabis-trade-secret-withone-simple-sentence
• www.cannalawblog.com/thetop-5-most-dangerous-cannabiscontracts-in-california
E E K LY
Lucid Auburn
10707 Pacific Ave., Ste. D Tacoma, WA 98444 www.BloomCannabis.com (253) 617-4550
Cannabis Oasis
From page 4
W W W .W
7924 River Rd. E. Puyallup, WA 98371 www.LucidMJ.com (253) 604-7156
Bloom – Tacoma
Original post: https://www.cannalawblog.com/why-is-big-pharmaheading-to-canada-for-its-cannabispatents
t OREGON
• www.cannalawblog.com/hempcontracts-what-business-can-learnfrom-oregon-states-new-researchfacility
Lucid Puyallup
2128 S. 37th St. Tacoma, WA 98409 https://420tacoma.com (253) 507-5180
N E WS
ERS
5917 N. 26th St. Tacoma, WA 98407 www.GreenTokenCannabis.biz 0 5 .1 2 .1 (253)9267-5428 FREE
3213 S. 38th St., Ste. C Tacoma, WA 98404 www.ZipsCannabis.com Phone: (253) 292-0197
WORLD OF WEED WEEKLYWEEDLY Seeks Writers op celebr
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High Society
Once re creati Washin ‘go-to-w gton stat onal marijuan ork side’ 3111 S. Pine St. a was e town, it be on th and we lega was a th and shops beg e want to an to op lized in ing to go to see w Tacoma, WA 98409 going h ‘go-home side. en arou hat each around ’ o If m you’re nd and visi one was tomers and righ e, you can ge t them ju fou like www.420HighSociety.com t right in t out.” st it almost nd their #1 favo . Over a short Just on time, cu rite place ex e year sern or gr clusively like (253) 302-3121 and now World after o they wo ocery st st o f ic p k to uld a pre o place is big way Weed got noti ening, ferred ta World o re. For a lot of ce b y d b f p veing in a Weed at eople, th World shop o 3202 Po eir go-t ut of 40 voted the #1 p rtland A o compet of Weed has ev ot 0+ store Washin itive pri ve. E. erythin gton by s across 3502 S. 74th St. g – grea ces, a ge edgeab L sa ea t selectio me hon nuinely fly.com le staff o . an n fr r s, iendly an repeate This ed on th d Tacoma, WA 98409 W o d rl e corner easy access ju d of d know in 20 st off of lAvenue of East Leafly.co Weed was incl 17, and IEast, a www.TheJointLLC.com uded in m’s top traffic li 32nd Street an 5. Locatgetting te n list in d ght allo Inside, in and 2018. ws for co Portland out. Th World he shop’ (253) 272-4444 m o o er f st n e’s parki Weed h venience sp pleasan ng on-s as a t atmo eople lo arking lot nex buildin treet or sphere. t to the oki g is hu in buildin T h m oblem at ng to pop in e an id ified like t humid g. For b and ou W usy or to ke a git quickl eet bein orld of Weed. as fresh y, A g a dea as can b ep the product d end, it ctually, with E it’s no own dri e. Emplo cu st o as m ’s veway fo t li ers like yees an r custom ke World of W 32nd d it p. the in too, as eed doors ers to ea it keep comfort Meet th sily acce has round. Starbuck able ye s es ss the s is kin arowner; N e friendly face d o don’t kn Linn orc aom s at Wor ow it,” sa f our mentor, h es to tr ld of W ry manag i, shift superv modelin ated a ly open even th id owner is ee lo ed the d er; and g o t of reugh MATT NA to mak Alden L Timara, or/budtender; Sa d: (from left) GLE oo it is tod 015. “T A budtende ay, brin e the World of m, budt hey alw rs at World of inn, who ofging a w Weed b ender; K lden Linn, r. ays hav Weed o neighbo e and co u elcomed ayla, inve ilding w n June e great rhood. H e nvenien w as h fr p n“We’ve at rod quite a t locati 410 Ronlee Ln. a cannab among the ea seen a ch eshening up to bit ons. Th ucts, great rl the is retail ange fo ing the ,” he said from ey’re o enliven shop in y entrepreneu r th his n the st rs to opOlympia, WA 98502 the upp Tacoma, and mo reets below. “I upstairs office e better en er first rou and it d re mello overloo t’s gettin nd when end of Portla kw all th g more nd Aven id a lot www.420Carpenter.com to ninth li e time.” eight lice walkab u censee e. le n “I se n the s wer bu someon e got ki t dropped dow e up, I was th(360) 915-9242 ck e n to eigh the first round.” ed off the list. So I was th when the last of u See W E E 422 Carpenter Rd. SE D / page 3
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Zips Cannabis – S. 72nd St. 317 S. 72nd St. Tacoma, WA 98408 www.ZipsCannabis.com (253) 302-4192
ent off st
orewide The Joint
Do you enjoy writing about all things cannabis? Are you looking to get your work published? The Weekly Weedly needs you! Whether you author your own original articles or want to take assignments for local cannabis news and features, your work could appear in the pages he Seattl of the Weekly Weedly each week, month or eupplem based leader of en C r purch ts for the active BD powdered ase acro lifestyle tive pro your schedule allows. All cannabis , is now ss Wash is one of whatever duct is in very im nership ts in Nor the fastest-grow gton’s Bartell porta wit th Amer ing con b y supply h OLEO suppor nt to us. This sumer ica and t powder ing Barte n ts both OLEO isrelated ed CBD C of those ew p B ll’ topics are –art-from D s with welcome drin proud CBD’s toCBD and nation’s beverag ol e tal body ident of k mixes,” said B a unique line of initiatives OLEO’s y of OLE dest family-ow trusted and suppor rent Bee merchan powder en ned dru O’s flavor b O ed d e, LEO team ising. “W senior vi product t for post-wor gstore THC-fre tire ets, mu e are to ce pres, storytopics kout reco line is 10 related entertainment, lti-packs ed and flavorlehemp e b to andculture ig fa an se made in n ve e 0 d produ s of the ss sin, and b our cust mmedia “O L the USA percent guaran ry. en ct E u omers' O’s pow lk tely in brand!” . teed reaction line. We can’t tire all Barte jar options d potent and del ered CBD drin s to the wait ll’s that icious w k product Skyler B carry educational pieces. and OLEO’s ay to co mixes are the m issell, C and growth, E nsu os par O th
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Send your writing sample(s) to Matt@tacomaweekly.com or via mail to 1412 54th Ave. E., Fife WA 98424
Olympia
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Olympia Weed Co.
420 Carpenter
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Lacey, WA 98503 www.420Carpenter.com (360) 915-9920
420 Capitol
5980 Capitol Blvd. SE Tumwater, WA 98501 www.420Carpenter.com
401 93rd Ave SE Olympia, WA 98501 www.OlyWeedCo.com (360) 915-6071 3203 Martin Way E. Olympia, WA 98506 www.THCofOly.com (360) 539-7291
THC of Lacey
6725 Martin Way E. Olympia, WA 98516 www.THCofLacey.com (360) 515-0258
Green Lady
Dank's Wonder Emporium
Green Lady Westside
Lucid Olympia
2405 Harrison Ave. NW Olympia, WA 98502 www.GreenLadyMJ.com/west-olympia (360) 529-0099
7294 Martin Way E. Olympia, WA 98516 www.LucidMJ.com (360) 628-8174
Gypsy Greens
Euphoric 360
3044 Pacific Ave. SE, Ste. B Olympia, WA 98501 www.GreenLadyMJ.com (360) 339-6096
234 Division St. NW, Ste. B Olympia, WA 98502 www.GypsyGreens.org (360) 943-9338
6906 Martin Way E Olympia, WA 98516 628-8940 https://danks.com
6326 Martin Way E., Ste. 103 Lacey, WA 98516 www.Euphoric360.com (360) 350-0862
7
WEEKLY WEEDLY NEWS | Sunday, July 28, 2019
DEA REPORT: FEWER MARIJUANA SEIZURES, BUT MORE ARRESTS IN 2018 By By Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director Federal agents seized fewer total marijuana plants in 2018, but made more arrests for cannabis-related offenses, according to annual data compiled by the US Drug Enforcement Administration. According to figures published in the DEA’s Domestic Cannabis Eradication/ Suppression Statistical Report, the agency and its law enforcement partners confiscated an estimated 2.82 million marijuana plants nationwide in 2018. This total represents a 17 percent decline from the agency’s 2017 totals and a 66 percent decline since 2016. Driving much of the year-over-year decline was a nearly 40 percent reduction in the seizure of outdoor plants in California, which fell from 2.24 million in 2017 to 1.4 million in 2018. Adult-use retail sales of cannabis began in Cali-
fornia in 2018. However, while the total number of DEA-seized plants fell in 2018, seizures of indoor cannabis plants nearly doubled – rising from 304,000 plants in 2017 to just under 600,000 in 2018. The agency also reported 5,632 marijuana-related arrests in 2018, a 20 percent increase over 2017 figures. The agency reported over $52 million in confiscated assets in 2018, more than twice what the agency reported in 2017. Jurisdictions reporting the greatest number of total plant seizures in 2018 were California (1.8 million marijuana plants seized), Kentucky (418,000), Washington (112,000), Mississippi (70,000), and West Virginia (68,000). Original post: https:// blog.norml.org/2019/07/16/ dea-report-fewer-marijuana-seizures-but-more-arrestsin-2018/
SOURCE: https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2019-07/FY2018%20Program%20Stats%20For%20Website.pdf
Budtenders of the Week IMPROVE YOUR CANNABIS EXPERIENCE – ASK THE EXPERTS!
Who is your favorite budtender? Send e-mail to matt@tacomaweekly.com with their first name and the cannabis shop where they work. We’ll give them the kudos that they deserve.
Alondra
Jonathan
What is so great about Alondra? Everything! “I love my job,” she says. “It’s my favorite thing in the entire world.” Always with a big smile, Alondra is a favorite among Urban Bud customers.
Jonathan has been working in cannabis for seven years. “I just try to be myself and to be honest bringing knowledge to our customers,” he says. You can count on Jonathan for all your needs at Green Token.
8
Sunday, July 28, 2019 | WEEKLY WEEDLY NEWS
North Tacoma’s Best Bud Tacoma’s Best Budtenders
Monday: 20% off Lucky Devil Tuesday: 20% off STORE (some products may not be discountable)
Wednesday: 20% off Lilac City and PÜR Thursday: 20% off Blüe Roots & Artizen Friday: 20% off ReFine & Gabriel Saturday: 20% off From the Soil & Magic Time Sunday: 20% off Green Revolution
greentokenllc@yahoo.com
GREEN TOKEN CANNABIS 253-267-5428 • 5917 N 26th St. • Tacoma WA 98407 Monday - Saturday: 8:00AM - 12:00AM • Sunday: 9:00AM - 10:00PM
This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit-forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination and judgment. Do not operate vehicles or machinery. There may be health risks associated with consumption of thes product. For use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of reach of children.