Colorado Governor Signs Legislation to Pardon Past Cannabis-Related Convictions
The bill grants Gov. Jared Polis the power to pardon those charged with the possession of two ounces or less of cannabis before Colorado legalized adult-use in November 2012.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed legislation June 29 that allows him to pardon past cannabis-related convictions, according to a Westword report.
House Bill 1424 grants Polis the power to pardon those charged with the possession of two ounces or less of cannabis before Colorado legalized adult-use in November 2012, the news outlet reported.
The new law takes effect Sept. 14, 90 days after the final adjournment of the legislature, according to Westword.
Those seeking pardons must initiate the process, the news outlet reported, since there is no state database that houses all the crimes, but the Polis administration is expected to implement a streamlined process in coordination with the Colorado Attorney General’s Office.
H.B. 1424 also establishes a definition for eligible applicants for Colorado’s cannabis business accelerator and future social equity programs, according to Westword. To qualify for the programs, an applicant must be a Colorado resident who has been arrested for or convicted of a cannabis-related offense, or subjected to civil asset forfeiture related to a cannabis investigation. Applicants may also qualify if they have lived a zone designated for low economic opportunity or high crime rates, and anyone with a family member convicted of a cannabis-related offense would also qualify, as would applicants with less than a to-be-determined level of household income.
Pix by Marti | Adobe Stock
West Virginia Reopens Application for Medical Cannabis Testing Labs
The application process will remain open indefinitely, and the state will issue an unlimited number of licenses.
West Virginia announced June 29 that the Office of Medical Cannabis will reopen the application process for medical testing labs.
The state will accept applications indefinitely and will issue an unlimited number of licenses, according to the announcement.
“This is a key step in the process to make medical cannabis available to West Virginians with serious medical conditions,” Office of Medical Cannabis Director Jason Frame said in a public statement. “We and many others continue to work toward a goal of providing eligible West Virginia residents the ability to procure quality-tested medical cannabis.”
The application process originally spanned two months and closed on Feb. 18, according to a West Virginia Public Broadcasting report, but only one lab applied for a license during that period.
West Virginia’s Medical Cannabis Act became law in April 2017, the news outlet reported, and although the state sought to make cannabis available to patients within two years, regulators now estimate that the program won’t be fully operational until spring 2021.
Trulieve Donates Over 150 Computers to Local Organizations Across Florida
One of Florida's largest cannabis companies is looking to support minority-majority schools during COVID-19.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., June 30, 2020 /CNW/ -PRESS RELEASE-Trulieve Cannabis Corp announced this week the continuation of dedicated investments in majority-minority communities by donating over 130 computers to local non-profits and organizations throughout the months of May and June. The computers were donated as part of Trulieve's ongoing diversity, equity and inclusion efforts to support student education and provide valuable resources to local majority-minority communities statewide, especially those hardest hit by COVID-19.
Partner organizations include the Northwest Neighborhood Community Center, which hired teachers to help students with schoolwork during coronavirus; United Against Poverty in Orlando; Lodging and Hospitality Association of Volusia County to distribute to various schools throughout the community; and the Junior League of Greater Lakeland, which distributed to smaller non-profits throughout Lakeland. These computers join the 20 donated in early March to Griffin Middle School in Tallahassee, benefitting the school's Pre-Information Technology Program, bringing the total donated this year to 155.
"As a company, we've always focused on giving back, supporting, and investing in the majority minority communities we call home. Coronavirus has affected everyone – not only patients, but students and seniors alike. Our goal is to ensure that as many of our neighbors as possible have the resources they need to succeed," said Valda Coryat, Trulieve's chief marketing officer. "Partnering with local organizations allows us to connect with these communities across the state and provide resources that they might otherwise not have had access to. We're always looking for ways to further invest in the spaces we move into and are excited to continue our social responsibility efforts."
Photo courtesy of GFive Cultivation
Optimizing Celebrity Collaborations in Cannabis: Q&A with GFive Cultivation’s Larry Smith
The company’s founder and CEO discusses the Las Vegas-based cultivator’s newest partnership with Cam’ron, as well as overall best practices for these collaborations.
GFive Cultivation, a minority- and family-owned and operated cannabis cultivation operation based in Las Vegas, has a history of not only collaborating with celebrities in its marketing efforts, but also going one step further to integrate those celebrity influencers into its business operations.
GFive produces Big Baby Bud in partnership with actor/comedian Darren Brand, and recently launched a new signature product line, Pynk Mynk, in collaboration with Cam’ron, a hip hop artist, fashion aficionado, entrepreneur and actor.
Here, GFive founder and CEO Larry Smith discusses this newest collaboration, best practices for cannabis companies when entering celebrity partnerships, and how these collaborations can help businesses advance their brands and connect with consumers.
Melissa Schiller: Why was Cam’ron a good partner to launch GFive’s Pynk Mynk product line?
Photo courtesy of GFive Cultivation
Pynk Mynk, backed by hip hop artist, fashion aficionado, entrepreneur and actor Cam'ron, is a sativa hybrid that boasts a sweet citrusy flavor and spicy woody aroma.
Larry Smith: Cam’ron has a very unique approach to business. We function in the same way. He has an iconic photo of him with a big pink mink back in the ‘90s during Fashion Week, and that was a very bold statement to make, especially for a hip-hop rapper. He’s just an overall great human being, a very honorable, hard-working, dedicated businessman. I know people know him from the rap side, but I was more intrigued by the other things he’s done business-wise that many people don’t know about, that he doesn’t really discuss. That’s why he was a really good fit for me overall.
Cam’ron is not a spokesman for GFive; he’s a part of GFive. He’s looking at getting into the space. Whereas some just want to be spokesman, he’s a little different. He wants to be an actual owner and build the brands and go from there. That’s what made it a good partnership for us to launch Pynk Mynk.
MS: What other celebrity collaborations has GFive been a part of over the years?
LS: We [launched] Big Baby Bud with Big Baby, which is Darren Brand. I actually saw Darren Brand on Instagram. The more I started looking at his page, I could tell he’s a part of the culture. He understands what this plant is really about, [so] I reached out to him.
Another one is Nokio from the R&B group Dru Hill. Knowing him as a friend, I knew he was going through some issues with depression. We ended up having pretty good conversations and talking about how cannabis can help.
I don’t want it to just be a face and they come in and go, “Hey, smoke this.” There has to be some kind of connection there. Big Baby really does love cannabis—he lives by it. And the depression is something that we’re going to highlight with Nokio, talking about how cannabis helped him get through his day. For me, it’s not just about putting a big name or a big face on there. There has to be a real connection to the plant. I think it brings people together a lot more than we think.
MS: What are some other qualities that GFive looks for in potential partners when seeking celebrity collaborations?
LS: A lot of that has to do with positive energy and good vibes. At the end of the day, I don’t care how famous you are. We’ve had opportunities to do business with some really famous people and we decided not to.
For me, it’s about being a good person all across the board. We want to make sure they’re good people. We want the brands to represent what we are and what we represent. If you look at the people I have, Cam is a really good guy. Big Baby is a really good guy. He’s a funny guy. It’s fun to be around him. Nokio’s a really good person. He’s been in the industry for years. I want to be around good people who are respected and bring something else, not just their celebrity. A person’s character means a lot to us. We represent a lot of positivity and being honorable, and we want to make sure that we are around those types of people, as well.
MS: What are some best practices for cannabis companies when collaborating with celebrities? What has worked well for GFive when entering into these partnerships?
LS: Obviously, they have to enjoy cannabis—that’s the No. 1 thing. We’re not here to sell you. This is a real lifestyle for us. Cam and Big Baby and Nokio, they literally come into the cultivation [facility] and they cut down plants. If people aren’t willing to really be a part of the process, then there’s probably not a good fit for us. Cam has come to the grow, and Big Baby, and they’ve cut clones. They’ve sat there for hours and did 1,000 clones. They didn’t just do it for a photo op and get up and leave. We’ve got [Nokio] out in the hot sun doing work, cleaning out buckets. They’re going to be a part of the process—we want them to be. Cam has done everything from cut clones to actually meeting with buyers to sell product. He wants to learn the process. These guys aren’t spokesmen with us. They’re people who are invested in GFive. They do everything, from packaging to decision making on the strains. We’re not just saying, “Hey, we have this for you, try this and smoke this.” We want them to understand what it is and how it helps.
The gratification for me is knowing that we’re able to help someone’s day who could be going through it. We’re not claiming that we can cure cancer, but I know that we can help give somebody a better quality of life, and that’s a huge win for me at the end of the day.
MS: Why is it beneficial for cannabis companies to collaborate with celebrities in their marketing efforts? How does it help them advance their brands and connect with consumers?
LS: Hip hop, music [is] a real part of our culture. The rappers help bring awareness to what’s going on, and we need the attention. In Las Vegas, we’re one of 100 cultivations, [and you need to] maneuver the right way [and] market the right way. People need to know what your brand is, what you represent and what you stand for. [Celebrity partnerships are] a really easy way for us to get our marketing out there and be effective. It’s a win-win for us. We get to [work with] people with two million [social media] followers who we really enjoy and like being around and we do good business with. It helps get the brand out there really fast.
Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited for style, length and clarity.
California Offers License Fee Deferrals to Additional Licensees
The deferral of renewal fees is being expanded to companies with state commercial cannabis licenses that expire in July and August
SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 29, 2020 -PRESS RELEASE- The three state cannabis licensing authorities of California announced today that businesses with state commercial cannabis licenses expiring between July 1, 2020 and August 31, 2020 may request 60-day deferrals of their license fee payments. This allows for fee deferral financial assistance to be provided to additional licensees.
The license fee deferrals are intended to provide immediate financial assistance to state cannabis licensees impacted by COVID-19. Though deemed an “essential business” under Executive Order N-33-20, the cannabis industry is excluded from federal or banking-dependent assistance for small businesses, due to cannabis’s status as a Schedule I controlled substance federally.
“We hope that today’s announcement will provide assistance to the industry as we continue to work together to address the challenges created by the pandemic,” said Lori Ajax, chief of the Bureau of Cannabis Control.
The Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC), California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) and California Department of Public Health (CDPH) are currently accepting requests for fee deferrals. Refunds will not be given for fees that have already been paid. Additional fee deferrals are not available for licenses that expired before July 1, 2020. License fee payment due dates for fee deferrals already granted are not extended.
A licensee who is unable to comply with a licensing requirement due to the pandemic may submit a disaster relief request to their respective licensing authority. To provide immediate assistance to licensees, licensing authorities have been providing relief from certain regulatory provisions unrelated to fees since the time of the first stay-at-home orders.
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