California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation July 12 to create the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC), which will consolidate the state’s three cannabis regulatory agencies into one.
Assembly Bill 141 creates a standalone cannabis regulatory body, which was proposed in Newsom’s 2021-2022 state budget. The change is intended to “improve access to licensure, simplify regulatory oversight and support California businesses,” according to a press release announcing Newsom’s signing of the bill.
“California has led the nation in progressive cannabis policies, beginning 25 years ago as the first state in the nation to legalize medicinal use of cannabis,” Newsom said in a public statement. “We’ve taken another significant step forward to fulfill the opportunities of legalization and better serve all Californians. We will continue building upon our efforts to foster a diverse and inclusive industry, protect consumer and public safety, safeguard our environment and advance economic opportunity for small businesses.”
Newsom has appointed Nicole Elliot as director of the DCC, which is a consolidation of three cannabis regulatory programs within the Department of Consumer Affairs’ Bureau of Cannabis Control, the Department of Food and Agriculture’s CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing Division, and the Department of Public Health’s Manufactured Cannabis Safety Branch.
“The state’s consolidation effort delivers on the commitment made by the Newsom Administration to listen to and work with California’s legal cannabis industry to streamline participation in the legal market by offering a central point of contact for licensed operators,” said Lourdes Castro Ramirez, agency secretary of the BCSH Agency, which houses the DCC. “One of the key missions of our agency is to build strong, equitable, and vibrant communities. This action takes bold steps in that direction.”
The California Cannabis Portal has been relaunched as the DCC website and will continue to be a centralized resource for cannabis information, and the prior websites for the previous three regulatory agencies will be accessible while the online content continues to transition to the new webpage.
Hemp Grower Conference Announces an In-Depth Education Program Addressing Challenges and Opportunities in Hemp
The event (Nov. 8-10 in Orlando, Fla.) will feature 25+ must-see sessions to help CBD/fiber/grain hemp growers succeed in a rapidly transitioning market.
ORLANDO, FL / JULY 14, 2021 – Hemp Grower Conference, produced by parent company GIE Media Inc. and industry-leading Hemp Grower magazine, today announced the educational program for its upcoming event, to be held Nov. 8-10, 2021, at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Fla.
The program is the most comprehensive in the industry, featuring 2.5 days packed with 25+ educational sessions covering essential topics for those growing hemp for fiber, grain and/or cannabinoids.
These in-depth sessions will provide attendees with insights into the industry’s most important challenges, solutions and opportunities within a global market that is projected to grow to $18 billion USD by 2025, according to Valuates Reports.
Some of the most anticipated sessions of the Hemp Grower Conference education program include:
What to Do With Unsold Biomass + Byproducts
How to Get Into Retail and Improve E-commerce
Strategies for Preventing and Mitigating Hemp Plant Diseases
Creating a Hemp Cultivation Business Model
Latest Research in Fiber and Grain Genetics
Crop Establishment in Fiber/Grain: Challenges and Opportunities
Action Needed Now: Equity and Inclusion in the Industry’s Infancy
The Latest Medical Research on Hemp’s Health Benefits
Master Hemp Drying, Curing and Storing
Organic and Sustainable Farming Practices and Certifications for Small and Large-Scale Farmers
The Hemp Grower Conference speaker roster includes leading hemp growers, business professionals, researchers and professors (with more speakers being added frequently), such as:
Rachel Berry – Farmer and CEO, Illinois Hemp Growers Association
Dr. Raymond Cloyd – Kansas State University – Department of Entomology
Dr. Alyssa Ann Collins – Director, Southeast Agricultural Research & Extension Center; Associate Professor Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology (Penn State University)
Dr. Allison Justice – Founder and CEO, The Hemp Mine
Jeff Kostuik – Director of Operations, Hemp Production Services and Hemp Genetics International
Bear Reel – Vice President of Cultivation R&D, Charlotte’s Web Inc.
Dr. Larry Smart – Professor, Horticulture Section, Cornell University
Luis Vega – Founder and CEO, ¡WEPA! Farms
Mason Walker – Co-Owner and CEO, East Fork Cultivars
Maureen West – Chief Compliance Officer, Functional Remedies LLC
Luke Zigovits – Owner, Higher Level Organics LLC
“Right now is a pivotal time for North America’s hemp industry, especially in the fledgling U.S. market. In addition to cultivation challenges, hemp growers (especially those growing for CBD) are combatting oversupply and resulting price declines, adjusting crop sizes and re-evaluating business models as the industry’s infrastructure develops,” Hemp Grower Editor Theresa Bennett said. “It’s crucial for both novice and experienced farmers to learn from those who have found success in business, as well as from experts in everything from cultivation to post-harvest processes. From the educational sessions to the networking opportunities, Hemp Grower Conference offers a place for hemp growers of all shapes and sizes to come together under one roof to help advance their businesses and the market as a whole.”
“Hemp Grower Conference is the ideal place for those growing and interested in growing hemp to gain valuable insights into important market trends that will impact their businesses this year and in years to come,” Conference Programming Director Cassie Neiden Tomaselli said. “Attendees will also benefit from networking with like-minded people, which is crucial to finding reliable partners and peers to share ideas with.
“We have a standout 2021 Advisory Board, which has helped craft the educational program by sharing candid feedback about the most pressing challenges and opportunities in hemp,” Neiden Tomaselli added.
Supplementing the educational sessions, Hemp Grower Conference will also feature an exposition of exhibitors showcasing cutting-edge technologies and solutions for hemp farmers and manufacturers.
For more information about Hemp Grower Conference 2021, including registration information, a full list of exhibitors and sponsors, FAQs and more, visit www.HempGrowerConference.com.
Early Registration is now available until August 13, 2021. Click here to review pricing and to register.
About Hemp Grower Conference
Hemp Grower Conference 2021 is produced by Hemp Grower, an industry-leading, award-winning magazine and digital media brand (HempGrower.com) that serves the North American fiber, grain and cannabinoid hemp market. The conference, which will take place Nov. 8-10, 2021, brings together members of the North American and global hemp communities who are seeking to gain greater insights into this dynamic industry’s challenges, solutions and opportunities, and to build lasting relationships. It also features an exhibit hall showcasing industry-leading technology and solutions providers focused on helping hemp businesses succeed. For more information, visit www.HempGrowerConference.com.
About GIE Media
GIE Media was founded in 1980 and has grown over 41 years into a leading marketing and communications business-to-business media company serving 17 industries -- including the horticulture industry through its Horticulture Group (Greenhouse Management, Produce Grower, Nursery Management, Garden Center, Cannabis Business Times, Cannabis Dispensary and Hemp Grower). The company employs nearly 100 editors, publishers, sales representatives, marketers and other professionals. For more information, visit www.GIEMedia.com.
The company has appointed James Hancock as the new president, replacing Craig Perlowin, who resigned from Hemp, Inc. to spend more time with his family and focus on other interests outside the hemp industry.
LAS VEGAS, Nevada, July 12, 2021 - PRESS RELEASE -Hemp, Inc., an company in the industrial hemp market, has announced that it has appointed James Hancock as the president of the Company. Hancock replaced Craig Perlowin, who resigned from Hemp, Inc. to spend more time with his family and focus on other interests outside the hemp industry.
Hancock has garnered recognition in numerous senior positions as a turnaround and merger and acquisition specialist throughout his 40-year career. Having served as VP of Sales & Marketing, COO and CEO within public and private companies in financial services, investment banking, mergers and acquisitions, telecommunications and payment processing industries.
Hancock earned a Juris Doctorate from California Western School of Law, San Diego, and a Bachelors of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam war.
According to Craig Perlowin, outgoing president of Hemp, Inc., "James Hancock is a creative force and forward-thinker with a vast amount of knowledge in the public company arena and will be a tremendous asset in the growth strategy for Hemp Inc."
"The decision to name James Hancock as the new President of the company is an excellent decision that will help Hemp, Inc. grow and gives me confidence that I leave the company in good, strong hands," Perlowin adds.
Katherine | Adobe Stock
Group of Senators Say Cannabis Businesses Should Be Allowed to Access SBA Loans
U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen led nine of her colleagues to send a letter to a Senate Appropriations subcommittee.
U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) has led a group of her colleagues to submit a letter to a Senate Appropriations subcommittee requesting that cannabis businesses gain access to Small Business Administration (SBA) loans.
The letter, dated June 22, is addressed to Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government. Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (D-VT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Cory Booker, (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Raphael Warnock (D-GA) cosigned the letter, which asks that businesses legally operating in states with regulated cannabis markets receive access to the 7(a) Loan Guarantee Program, Disaster Assistance Program, Microloan Program and 504/Certified Development Company Loan Program.
Rosen and her colleagues ask the Senate Appropriations Committee to include language in the 2022 Financial Services and General Government Related Agencies Appropriations Bill that would grant cannabis businesses access to these SBA loans, which remain off limits to the cannabis industry.
“In 2020, states collected an estimated $3 billion in tax revenue from legal cannabis sales,” the senators wrote. “However, SBA’s current policy excludes small businesses with ‘direct’ or ‘indirect’ products or services that aid the use, growth, enhancement, or other development of cannabis from SBA-backed financing. Consequently, small businesses in states with some form of legal cannabis must choose between remaining eligible for SBA programs and participating in or doing business with a rapidly-growing and legal industry.”
The letter goes on to say that “SBA programs would be especially helpful to cannabis small businesses because they would fill gaps left by the private sector and help mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Access to these SBA programs could ensure that small businesses—including those led by our minority, women, and veteran entrepreneurs—support job creation and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
This is not the first time that Rosen and other lawmakers have asked that the SBA extend economic assistance to the cannabis industry. In March 2020, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sens. Michael Bennett (D-CO), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Kamala Harris (D-CA) joined Markey, Menendez, Merkley, Sanders, Wyden, Booker and Rosen in sending a letter to leadership urging—unsuccessfully—that lawmakers include language in last year’s appropriations bill to prohibit the SBA from denying loan applications from state-licensed cannabis businesses.
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Former South Carolina Congressman Vows to Legalize Cannabis in His Run For Governor
Democrat Joe Cunningham is running to unseat Republican Gov. Henry McMaster.
With Virginia becoming the first adult-use cannabis domino to fall in the South, the race is now on among neighboring states to follow suit and end prohibition. South Carolina gubernatorial candidate Joe Cunningham hopes his state is the next.
The former one-term Democratic congressman, who represented South Carolina’s coastal 1st District from 2019-2021 in the U.S. House, narrowly lost his re-election bid to Republican state representative Nancy Mace, 50.6% to 49.4%, in the November election.
During his two years in Washington, D.C., Cunningham joined bipartisan bills the second most often compared to other House Democrats, and was the fifth most politically right compared to House Democrats, according to GovTrack.us.
Cunningham, 39, is now seeking his party’s nomination to challenge South Carolina Republican Gov. Henry McMaster, 74, in the November 2022 election.
joeforsouthcarolina.com
South Carolina Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joe Cunningham presents his proposal to end cannabis prohibition in a July 12 press conference.
While Cunningham announced his run for governor in April and has since announced his support of cannabis legalization, he formally released his plan to end cannabis prohibition in the state during a press conference July 12 in Charleston. That plan calls for the full legalization of medical and adult-use cannabis for adults 21 years and older, as well as for the expungement of cannabis-relation convictions.
“There are countless reasons to provide our citizens with a safe and legal marijuana option,” Cunningham said. “Legalizing marijuana would free up our law enforcement to focus on more serious crimes and more effectively tackle our state’s record-high murder rate. It would be a game-changer for people in South Carolina with debilitating health conditions. And it would generate tens of millions in tax revenue to finally provide critical funding for our state.”
According to South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division data, murders in the state were up nearly 25%, from 457 in 2019 to 571 in 2020. The 571 murders represent the highest yearly total since the state began tracking the statistic in 1960, CBS-affiliate WLTX reported.
In addition to legalization and expungement, Cunningham said his cannabis plan aims to raise revenue through responsible regulation and create jobs to give South Carolina farmers a boost.
Cunningham also claimed McMaster has failed to be honest about cannabis and its benefits.
“The people are no longer divided on this issue,” Cunningham said. “It’s the politicians that haven’t come around. Politicians like Henry McMaster who have spent their entire career perpetuating the myths about marijuana, scaring people into thinking it’s more dangerous than it is and, worst of all, keeping it out of the hands of the people who need it most. I think it’s time to tell the truth. Be honest. This governor might be stuck in the past, but I’m not.”
In response to the legalization proposal, South Carolina GOP Chairman Drew McKissick said Cunningham was playing stupid games.
“We’ve seen the problems legalizing marijuana has caused in other states, like Colorado,” McKissick said in a press release. “The rise in crime, the increase in health problems, especially suicidal thoughts and the negative effect on children’s development, all became worse when the state decided to legalize marijuana.”
McKissick did not provide data to support those claims. According to a study by the CATO Institute, a libertarian think tank founded by the Charles Koch Foundation, violent crime has “neither soared nor plummeted” in the wake of cannabis legalization. Koch is a known advocate of ending cannabis prohibition.
“If you want to play stupid games, you win stupid prizes,” McKissick said. “And Democrats like Joe Cunningham keep wanting to play with fire.”
McKissick went on and said he and his fellow Republicans stand with state law enforcement that cannabis should not be legalized, and with doctors who believe medicine is something that should be approved and regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. At least one fellow South Carolina Republican did not agree with McKissick’s stance.
The SCGOP’s stance on medical cannabis is “an intellectually lazy position that doesn’t even try to present medical facts as they currently exist …” state Sen. Tom Davis said in a tweet.
As the incumbent governor, McMaster has previously expressed his opposition toward the legalization of adult-use cannabis, and also has failed to voice his support for medical cannabis legislation, according to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).
McMaster assumed governorship of South Carolina on Jan. 24, 2017, when former Gov. Nikki Haley resigned to serve as the U.S. Ambassador of the United Nations during the Trump administration. McMaster, an early Donald Trump supporter who delivered the nominating speech for Trump during the 2016 Republican National Convention, then won his 2018 election to serve his first four-year term as South Carolina’s governor.
Cunningham won South Carolina’s 1st District that same election, claiming suburban voter support by demonstrating his interest in local issues, especially his opposition to offshore drilling. The first bill he introduced sought to ban offshore drilling and seismic testing off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts—it passed the House but stalled in the Senate—The State reported.
While a Democrat hasn’t won South Carolina’s governorship since Jim Hodges’ occupancy from 1999-2003, Cunningham’s ability to reach across party lines was a driving factor in his 2018 U.S. House victory, when he became the first candidate to flip one of the state’s congressional seats from red to blue in more than a decade. Before that, that last Democrat to win the 1st District was Mendel Jackson Davis in 1978.
Should Cunningham unseat McMaster in 2022, legalizing cannabis would still be a tough task in South Carolina, where Republicans currently hold 65% majorities in both chambers of the state Legislature.
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