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Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) had a busy July in relation to approving applications for medicinal cannabis products.

Australia’s Special Access Scheme (SAS) enables suitably authorised health practitioners to access therapeutic products not included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG). The only cannabis product currently included in the ARTG is Sativex (nabiximols), which contains THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol).

There are several different pathways to gaining approval for cannabis medications through the SAS – categories A, B and C. Medical cannabis applications are generally via the Category B pathway.

Up to 31 July 2020, the TGA had approved more than 56,000 SAS Category B applications for unapproved medicinal cannabis products. That number is a cumulative figure over a very long period of time – since 1992, so nearly 30 years.

Approval numbers have certainly picked up in the last year or so. Updated figures from the TGA indicate 5,564 approvals were issued last month, so nearly 10% of all approvals ever made under SAS Category B occurred in July this year. July’s figures were well up on June’s (4,630) and more than double July last year (2,207).

The U.K. Anti-Doping organization is changing its rules, reports Canex.

Athletes who fail drug tests for cannabis and cocaine use will face shorter bans as the organization looks to place a greater focus on performance-enhancing drugs. The reform is part of a wider movement focused on athlete welfare, and the acceptance of widening cannabis use.

Additionally, it brings the organization in line with the World Anti-Doping Agency, which announced similar changes this week.

Under the new WADA rules, testing positive for recreational drugs out of competition will result in a one to three-month ban, instead of two years, reports CBC.

“We have developed the new rules to ensure that we are able to meet the latest challenges threatening clean sport and that athletes and the public can have confidence in clean competition,” said UKAD Chief Executive Nicole Sapstead.

For years, cannabis stocks were the greatest thing since sliced bread on Wall Street. The expectation of ongoing state-level legalization in the U.S., coupled with Canada becoming the first industrialized country in the modern era to give marijuana the green light, was forecast to send pot stock valuations into the heavens -- and for a period of time this is precisely what happened.

However, marijuana stock investors have received a dose of reality since the end of March 2019. Supply issues have been persistent throughout Canada, whereas exorbitant tax rates on legal weed remain problematic in the United States. Though the long-term outlook for the legal pot industry is still very compelling, the near-term appears challenging.

This is especially true for the Canadian marijuana industry.

Canadian pot stocks appeared to have a clear path to outperform in Q2

Canada was expected to be a cannabis leader, but it completely blew its chance to be the industry's blueprint due to regulatory-based miscues and overzealous capacity expansion.

Then again, Canada looked to be turning the corner during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. According to Statistics Canada, revenue from licensed cannabis stores has been hitting record highs. Here are the latest monthly cannabis store sales figures (all figures in Canadian dollars (CA$)):

Thailand’s ailing economy, particularly its tourism and agriculture sectors, is poised to get a boost from new rules that ease the private cultivation and sale of medical marijuana.

The Cabinet amended the Narcotics Act on Aug. 4, pending Parliament’s approval, to allow private medical operators -- a category including some traditional medicine practitioners and farmers -- to grow and trade the crop including for both export and import. The move expands a cornerstone policy of Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who bet that the controlled legalization of marijuana would boost the wellness, travel and agriculture sectors.

The latest plan will lift limits imposed when the country in 2018 became the first in Southeast Asia to legalize medicinal use of the herb. It also follows the opening in January of a medical-marijuana clinic in the Health Ministry facilities that offer free medicine to its patients. This does not include the 147 authorized clinics in the country that are currently able to prescribe it.

So long as it is extremely difficult and expensive to start and run a licensed cannabis business, there will be people who opt for the illicit market.

It seems like every week, there’s a new announcement of state or local enforcement actions or raids of allegedly unlicensed cannabis operators in California. Some time ago, this would have been welcome news to many licensed cannabis businesses in the Golden State that pay large sums of money to get licensed while illicit market operators can offer cheaper, tax-free products to consumers at a huge competitive (though not legal) advantage. Nevertheless, it’s becoming clearer that nothing the state is doing is really changing the illicit market, and this offers little solace to the participants in the regulated market.

To date, legislative efforts to ratchet up penalties haven’t really disincentivized unlicensed activity. For example, AB-97, a bill that passed in mid-2019 that authorized penalties of up to $30,000 per day for unlicensed activities, didn’t end California’s illicit market. In fact, a few months after that law passed, I wrote a post citing a then-recent audit that showed that there were nearly 3,000 unlicensed cannabis businesses in the state.

As I write this post, California continues to struggle with its illicit market. The state is considering adopting another bill (AB-2122) that would authorize similar, $30,000/day penalties against landlords and other third parties that aid and abet unlicensed operators, and the state indicated it would like to expand its police enforcement team. This is on top of the seemingly weekly news of raids and other enforcement activities.

Will these enforcement efforts really end or even significantly hamper California’s illicit market? In my opinion, the answer is a clear “no”–at least without a lot more help. As I wrote in 2019:

Late Friday, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge James Smith ruled that the Smart and Safe Act ballot initiative to legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older in Arizona did not mislead voters about key provisions in its 100-word summary, as a frivolous lawsuit by a local anti-marijuana group claimed.

Overcoming the lawsuit and getting the initiative’s signatures certified by the Arizona Secretary of State are the last hurdles for the initiative to get onto the ballots this November, Arizona Capitol Times reported. In early July, the initiative submitted 420,000 signatures to the Secretary of State, which was about 180,000 more than the state required.

“At 100 words, the summary also cannot include everything,” Smith wrote. “That is why the full initiative must accompany the petition.” He continued, “This initiative is plain: It wants to legalize recreational marijuana. That is the principal provision. It is unlikely electors signing these petitions would be surprised by cascading effects of legalizing a formerly illegal substance.”

The lawsuit also claimed that marijuana legalization would lead to minors being exposed to marijuana-related advertising.

In his response, Smith said, “Voters will not be surprised that sellers (dispensaries) may advertise a now-legal product if the initiative passes.” He said it’d be no different than other adult products that are already advertised, from medical marijuana products to “condom commercials to ubiquitous beer advertisements.”

The industry doesn't have the political clout or voter passion behind them to push weed over the finish line, but you can help.

Despite evidence that two-thirds of Americans support legalizing cannabis, federal moves towards legalization have been small and halting. Even simple measures, such as regulating banking in states where cannabis is legal, have a tough time getting support in Washington. Think about that.  How many issues in today’s polarized society have a two-thirds consensus? You’d think politicians could unite to present a rare bipartisan win and get on with it. You’d also think that presidential candidates scrambling for votes in a close election would want to tap into that 66 percent.

But unfortunately, you'd think wrong. What is going on?

Powerful opponents, little passion 

It’s true that some of the most influential people in politics oppose cannabis legalization. Mike Crapo, the chair of the Senate Banking Committee, comes to mind. Joe Biden has some personal opposition to legalization, as he was complicit in the War On Drugs back in the day. Recently, Biden successfully avoided supporting full legalization of marijuana in his unity message with former rival Bernie Sanders and in the Democratic Party platform. President Trump has been hot and cold on the subject, honoring an agreement with Colorado Senator Cory Gardner to hold back federal raids on state-legal cannabis operations but also appointing two consecutive anti-legalization Attorneys General. The second one, Bill Barr, has abused the antitrust laws to frustrate the industry.

But despite this opposition, individual actors, no matter how powerful, could not stop a large bi-partisan move towards legalization. The reason legalization is not moving forward is that its support is wide but not deep. A solid majority of Americans want legal cannabis, but it’s not a particularly important issue. 

Gary Widdowson, 34, had the cops visit on an unrelated matter. But then they found cannabis in the house.

Authorities were at Gary Widdowson’s house on an unrelated matter but what they stumbled upon landed the 34-year-old a prison sentence.

Police found more than 40 plants growing in his home, in addition to scales and dried cannabis. Widdowson, a resident of Vicars Walk, U.K., was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to “two counts of possession with intent to supply at a previous hearing,” Worksop Guardian reports.

Although he received a 16-month prison sentence it was delayed for two years, which happens, U.K.-based legal resource, In Brief, points out if the court decides to allow an individual probation period, undertake medical treatment, or meet conditions in the community.

Medical cannabis has been legal in the U.K. since 2018, but it is illegal for recreational use.

Supporters are concerned the 69-year-old diabetic, who is not set to be eligible for parole until he reaches his late 80s, may not survive the ordeal

Although Michael Thompson has been in jail for more than 25 years for selling weed, he may be facing a death sentence.

Thompson is Michigan’s longest-serving non-violent offender. He was convicted of selling three pounds of cannabis to a police informant in 1994 and was incarcerated in 1996 after being sentenced to 42 to 60 years in prison.

He has now been hospitalized with presumptive COVID-19 along with a group of fellow prisoners from Michigan’s Muskegon Correctional, reportsBenzinga Cannabis. Supporters are concerned that the 69-year-old diabetic, who is not set to be eligible for parole until he reaches his late 80s, may not survive the ordeal.

Thompson previously expressed concerns about the spread of the coronavirus in prisons and how it may impact him, saying in June that if he contracted the virus, “it’s over with. I don’t want to die. I’ve done almost 25 years and then to die from something, some virus. When is someone going to finally hear the cries?”

The U.S. House of Representatives has voted to pass an amendment that prevents the Department of Justice from spending taxpayer dollars to enforce federal anti-cannabis laws in otherwise legal cannabis sates, according to NORML.

The Blumenauer-McClintock-Norton-Lee amendment protects legal marijuana programs by restricting spending on anti-marijuana efforts in the majority of states that regulate the use of either recreational or medical cannabis.

“This is the most significant vote on marijuana policy reform that the House of Representatives has taken this year,” said National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws political director Justin Strekal in a news release. “The importance of this bipartisan vote cannot be overstated as today; nearly one in four Americans reside in a jurisdiction where the adult use of cannabis is legal under state statute. It is time for Congress to acknowledge this reality and retain these protections in the final spending bill.”

Strekal also noted this move on the part of the House should be followed by the end of prohibition and the era of cannabis criminalization.

The vote comes after several moves to adjust spending when it comes to anti-cannabis laws, tracing back to 2014. Since then, members of Congress have passed spending bills that protected those involved in the legal use, production, and dispensing of medical cannabis from prosecution by the Department of Justice.

Cannabis tourism is not a new concept.

For many decades vacationers have flocked to cannabis hotspots like Amsterdam, Jamaica, Thailand, and other international destinations often associated with cannabis, albeit unregulated cannabis.

Options for legal cannabis tourism have increased in recent years with the spread of cannabis reform.

Canada is a particularly popular destination these days because of the implementation of cannabis legalization.

Uruguay has also legalized cannabis for adult use, however, tourists are not able to take advantage of the new law because of restrictions.

The House voted to approve Part B Amendment #87 Thursday evening, which is a provision to prevent the federal government from using any funds to interfere with state medical or adult-use programs or target individuals and businesses that are in compliance with state cannabis laws. The bipartisan amendment to the Commerce, Justice, and Science appropriations bill was introduced by Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Tom McClintock (R-CA), and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC).

“The existing policy of prohibition is an abject failure,” said Rep. Blumenhauer, adding that criminalization disproportionately impacts communities of color and has driven mass protests against police violence. “This selective enforcement of nonsensical policy has posed huge problems for black Americans.”

The amendment passed in a voice vote on Thursday and was then followed by the House of Representatives roll call vote of 254-163. Six Democrats declined to vote in favor while 31 Republicans did vote in favor. The same amendment was passed by the House last year but it did not end up in the final budget bill. Since 2014, Congress has approved has continually approved such language. However, another representative began offering other amendments that would have taken federal money from states that legalized cannabis.

“Today’s House vote aligns with the overwhelming majority of Americans who oppose federal interference with the successful cannabis programs operating throughout the country,” said Aaron Smith, executive director of the National Cannabis Industry Association. “Now, it’s time for the Senate to do the right thing and ensure this sensible provision makes it into the final budget legislation so that states can continue to forge their own path on marijuana policy without federal intrusion.”

The legislation though needs to be approved by the Senate. Last year, similar language was stripped out, which the President signed. So far the Senate has not begun reviewing appropriation bills for the 2021 fiscal year.

The majority of NJ voters across the political spectrum said they’d support legal cannabis, but probably wouldn’t use it.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy suggested earlier this month that legalizing recreational marijuana would be “an incredibly smart thing to do.” According to a new poll, New Jersey residents across the political spectrum agree, with almost 7 out of every 10 registered voters saying they support a November ballot measure to legalize recreational cannabis.

The Brach Eichler Cannabis Poll, which was conducted by DKC Analytics and released Tuesday, showed 68% of registered voters would approve the upcoming initiative. Democrats supported the measure more than any other political base, followed by Independents and Republicans. However, the majority of each political faction would vote yes on the ballot initiative.

Back in April, a Monmouth poll found 61% of respondents would approve recreational marijuana in the state. Brach Eichler, LLC, a New Jersey cannabis-focused law firm that would benefit from legalization, surveyed 500 registered voters that mirrored the 2016 voting electorate for the poll.

“The polling results confirmed our belief that there is overwhelming support for the creation of a regulated, adult-use cannabis marketplace in New Jersey,” John D. Fanburg, co-chair of Cannabis Law at Brach Eichler, told The Fresh Toast in a statement. “Respondents supported it because it will create tremendous opportunity. It will create vitally needed new businesses, the state will receive significant tax revenues and illegal sales will be dramatically reduced, if not eliminated. 

Read more at Benzinga

Racial and gender diversity in the marijuana industry "is still lacking — especially in ownership and executive positions," according to MJBizDaily Research Editor Eli McVey.

While the industry has taken steps to improve, more is required from it, McVey noted.

With the national spotlight currently focused more intently on civil justice reform, changes could be on the horizon.

'Quite Isolating'

Minority business leaders say there are significant barriers in critical institutions that keep many from becoming significant players in the space. 

The European Commission (EC) has suspended new applications for food products containing natural CBD while it considers labelling such products as “narcotics-related.”

The commission has reached a “preliminary conclusion” that extracts from the flowerings of hemp plants should be considered a drug under the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, reports Hemp Today. 

“The Commission’s preliminary view is that CBD extracted from the flowering and fruiting tops of the hemp plant should be considered as a narcotic falling under the United Nations Single Convention,” the EC said.

In response, the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) said in a statement to Hemp Today that this decision could be the “final blow to the sector.”

“Industrial hemp and its downstream products are not narcotic or psychotropic drugs, and therefore are clearly exempted from the scope of the Single Convention,” the association argues. 

It’s one thing to decriminalize cannabis, but it’s another to encourage use with marketing and advertising that reaches kids.

And that’s the problem: Almost all commercial advertising makes its way to the eyes and ears of children. If we care about public health, we should ban all cannabis ads.

San Diego banned cannabis billboards within 1,000 feet of schools, public parks, playgrounds and daycare centers. But kids in cars go everywhere, especially teenagers, which means marijuana messaging is still seeping into young minds, associating pot smoking with fun activities like rollerblading.

When I would fly to Palm Springs for work — as I did routinely before the pandemic — the first thing I saw when I get off the plane was a large, shiny, well-lit picture of cannabis buds advertising the name, address and phone number of a nearby dispensary. Only a few feet later, I saw a similar sign advertising cannabis tours.

At the baggage claim, all eyes were on a large sign for the Cannabis Consumption Lounge: “Smoke It. Eat It. Drink It. Enjoy It.” Cannabis advertising is everywhere these days, just like the pot shops themselves, including the rather baffling drive-through dispensary I saw on my last trip to the Golden State, and the cannabis delivery services that have surged in popularity amid the pandemic.

Delegates of the Democratic National Committee voted down a proposal to include the federal legalization of cannabis in the party’s 2020 platform on Monday. Platform committee delegate Dennis Obduskey of Colorado had introduced an amendment to include marijuana legalization in the platform, but the proposal was rejected by the committee with a vote of 105 to 60.

Several delegates spoke in favor of the legalization platform plank before the vote, including Stacey Walker, a county supervisor from Iowa, who referenced the words of civil rights activist and former Georgia congressman Rep. John Lewis in his comments.

“I’m imploring all of you to approach this with an open mind and heart. Do something big here,” Walker said to members of the platform committee via a video conference. “Take one small but meaningful step toward changing the course of history. If my Black life matters to you, you will consider this amendment. We want to get in good trouble today, and I urge you to do the right thing and support it.”

Draft Platform Supports Marijuana Decriminalization

Instead, the draft party platform, which is slated to be voted on by the close to 4,000 members of the full DNC prior to next month’s convention, calls for the decriminalization of cannabis.

This is the approach favored by likely Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.

Black markets and grey markets pervade daily life in nearly every way. The idea of below board brands, or fakes markets are certainly nothing new. What do they mean to the newly legal cannabis market? And what are the problems that have been popping up as cannabis becomes the new darling of legally sold goods?

As legal cannabis markets grow, both medicinal and recreational, governments are tasked with figuring out regulatory structures to govern the production, supply, and sale of products, because that’s how things are done. This process of making laws to govern it, whereby it can be put in a legal store, and sold as a part of the standard economy – complete with tax, and reported revenue to the government – changes the manner in which something is made and sold, as well as who is able to profit from it.

Legal cannabis markets don’t look much like the black-market setup, and they certainly seem to cost more, but they offer specification in products, and enhanced forms of otherwise scarcely-found cannabinoids, and if safety regulations ever really get firmed up, a way to control for pesticides and other bad substances.

What’s the difference between a black market and a grey market? And where do fakes fit in?

Let’s start with some basic definitions.

Black market

“A black market is one where the buying and selling of products and services take place in an illegal manner. A black economy is a highly organized and vast market where the regular taxation rules and norms of trade are not adhered to. A black market is known by several names, including black economy, underground market, shadow economy, underdog and parallel economy.”

Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate stopped by Bluewater Hemp’s facility in Decatur Tuesday to check out its operation.

Pate says Alabama’s hemp growers are meeting the mark so far.

He wants to see farmers raise the bar when it comes to production so Alabamians can purchase products made in the state.

“I’m looking forward to Alabama products, Alabama-grown hemp, and Alabama-processed CBD oil being on the market because that’s the ultimate thing,” said Pate.

Hemp is high in CBD but has no THC, which is found in cannabis.

Estimates show legal marijuana could produce $1 billion in tax revenue, and long-time opponents now seem open to the idea.

Slowly but surely the idea of recreational marijuana has gained steam in the unlikeliest of states — Texas. The Houston Young Republicans and Texas NORML called upon Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott to legalize and tax the sale of cannabis in order to offset a looming $4.6 billion budget deficit.

Lawmakers have voiced similar ideas. In a recent webinar, State Rep. Dustin Burrows, a Republican, discussed recreational marijuana and gambling as alternative revenue streams to explore in Texas. GOP Speaker Dennis Bonnen presented the idea in a recent local TV interview, but was hesitant to call legalization a cure-all.

“The state budget is so large, there’s no singular solution to a budget challenge,” said Speaker Bonnen. “So legalization of marijuana should be considered next session by those who want to bring it forward, but it probably doesn’t produce a solution to the budget challenge we’ll be facing. It certainly could be a help. It could augment the shortfall. But I don’t believe it’s anywhere near a singular solution.”

Original image from Carol M. Highsmith’s America, Library of Congress collection. Digitally enhanced by rawpixel.