MMJ Business Daily

MPP chief ready to barter for marijuana campaign donations

Rob Kampia wants to make a deal with people or groups willing to donate money to his legalization efforts. In return, he’ll give them a say in the wording of any MJ ballot measure.

The executive director of Marijuana Policy Project, Kampia called Marijuana Business Daily on Thursday after reading an MJBizDaily story about negotiations in Michigan over a likely ballot measure to legalize recreational cannabis in the state.

He solicited tobacco and alcohol business interests in Michigan in search of campaign donations to run what will likely be a multimillion-dollar, 19-month endeavor, but he said he was

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MPP chief ready to barter for marijuana campaign donations is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Week in Review: Oregon wine spat, MT medical marijuana rules, Canada’s black-market growers

By Bart Schaneman, John Schroyer and Omar Sacirbey

Oregon vineyard owners sue to halt nearby marijuana cultivation, Montana nears approval of a medical marijuana regulatory framework, and the chair of Canada’s legalization task force welcomes black-market growers.

Here’s a closer look at some notable developments in the marijuana industry over the past week.

Truce … or war?

Outdoor cannabis cultivation is consuming prime land in wine regions like California’s Sonoma County and Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Territorial conflicts are arising – like the lawsuit filed in Oregon by vineyard owners asking a judge to ban a

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Week in Review: Oregon wine spat, MT medical marijuana rules, Canada’s black-market growers is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

AG Sessions indicates to Colorado gov no rec marijuana crackdown

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper emerged from a meeting with U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions confident the recreational marijuana industry won’t face a widespread crackdown in the near future.

“He certainly was very direct and clearly said they’ve got a lot of priorities. And, at one point, he said, ‘Well you haven’t seen us cracking down, have you?’ I said, ‘No,’” Hickenlooper said during a Wednesday appearance on MSNBC, the Denver Post reported.

“He is very clear. He is anti-drugs in all forms and he’s not going to, in any way, encourage anyone

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AG Sessions indicates to Colorado gov no rec marijuana crackdown is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Maryland looks to increase diversity in MMJ industry

Maryland will conduct a study of the state’s developing medical marijuana industry to ensure opportunities for minority participation.

Gov. Larry Hogan on Thursday directed the Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs to work together with the state’s medical marijuana commission and the transportation department on the study.

The Republican governor ordered the study in response to concerns expressed by the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland. Legislation that would have created more licenses to grow marijuana to address a lack of minority ownership after a disparity study is conducted failed to pass in the closing minutes of the legislative session

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Maryland looks to increase diversity in MMJ industry is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

U.S. Postal Service says no to marijuana tax payment in Alaska

The U.S. Postal Service in Juneau, Alaska, refused to deliver a box of cash to Anchorage for a local recreational marijuana business that was mailing its regular tax payment to the state, saying the delivery would violate federal law.

The incident underscores the legal and operational obstacles marijuana firms face when forced to use cash to pay bills and salaries as well as purchase goods. Many banks and credit unions won’t do business with MJ businesses.

Rainforest Farms, a retailer and cultivator in Juneau, was mailing its state tax payment to Anchorage because it’s the only city in

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U.S. Postal Service says no to marijuana tax payment in Alaska is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Alcohol, tobacco interests eyeing Michigan marijuana market

By John Schroyer

At a time when Michigan’s medical marijuana regulations are being written – and adult-use proponents are finalizing a legalization measure for the 2018 ballot – representatives from the alcohol and tobacco industries have had a seat at the negotiating table.

It’s not yet clear how the alcohol and tobacco interests will be involved in the marijuana business.

But there are signs the tobacco industry is at least eyeing the retail end of the market. And MJ industry officials have raised the possibility that both tobacco and alcohol companies could be positioned to profit from secure

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Alcohol, tobacco interests eyeing Michigan marijuana market is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

PA gets hundreds of applications for medical cannabis licenses

Pennsylvania has received hundreds of applications from entrepreneurs interested in obtaining cultivation and dispensary licenses under the state’s new medical marijuana program.

In a live-streamed press conference, state regulators said Wednesday they had received more than 500 packages containing one or more grower or dispensary applications. The winners are expected to be announced by the end of June.

State regulators said 258 applications have been processed. They included 132 grower/processor applicants and 126 dispensary applicants.

Dr. Karen Murphy, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, noted that the state began accepting applications for 12 grower/processor licenses and

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PA gets hundreds of applications for medical cannabis licenses is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Canada legalization chief: Let black-market MJ growers join

The chair of the Canadian government’s marijuana legalization task force believes black-market growers should be allowed to participate in the country’s new recreational cannabis industry.

Such as move could affect business opportunities. The federal government’s proposal stipulated that newer, smaller cultivators would be given an opportunity to participate in the nation’s new rec industry, although existing licensed medical marijuana producers would get first dibs on the new licenses.

Anne McLellan, chair of the Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation, said black-market growers could make a valuable contribution to the rec industry’s development.

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Canada legalization chief: Let black-market MJ growers join is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Colorado lawmakers pass bill adding PTSD to MMJ conditions list

The Colorado Legislature has approved a bill that would add post-traumatic stress disorder to its list of medical ailments that qualify patients for medical marijuana, a move that could provide a shot in the arm to the state’s MMJ industry.

The state Senate signed off on the measure Tuesday, and the bill now heads to Gov. John Hickenlooper, who has not yet indicated if he will sign it into law.

If Hickenlooper does sign it, the move could result in a boost in the state’s MMJ patient registry, though many PTSD patients in the state already rely on recreational marijuana

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Colorado lawmakers pass bill adding PTSD to MMJ conditions list is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

What the cannabis industry can learn from the natural products business: Q&A with Loren Israelsen

By Bart Schaneman

Loren Israelsen feels the cannabis industry’s pain.

For more than three decades, he’s been dealing with regulatory and commercial issues in the global dietary supplement industry, including labeling and being viewed as a fringe business. Israelsen is the president of the United Natural Products Alliance.

The Salt Lake City-based trade association represents more than 100 natural products, dietary supplements and related companies. He’s watched firsthand the issues that arise when an industry goes from the margins to the mainstream.

Israelsen – who will keynote the Marijuana Business Conference & Expo in

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What the cannabis industry can learn from the natural products business: Q&A with Loren Israelsen is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs