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New Mexico Lawmakers to Pre-File Cannabis Legalization Bill

The legislation will include recommendations from the state’s governor-appointed work group, which was charged with suggesting what an adult-use cannabis program should entail.

January 2, 2020

Melissa Schiller

Legislation and regulation News Politics State by State: New Mexico

New Mexico Rep. Javier Martinez (D-Albuquerque) will pre-file an adult-use cannabis legalization bill in the coming days that incorporates recommendations from the state’s governor-appointed work group, which was charged with suggesting what an adult-use program should entail.

Martinez’s legislation will establish a private adult-use cannabis industry in the state and regulate the market similar to alcohol, according to a local KRQE report.

In an effort to protect the state’s existing medical cannabis program, the legislation would remove sales tax on medical cannabis products and create subsidies for low-income patients, the news outlet reported.

Martinez participated in New Mexico’s work group alongside 21 other policy leaders from across the state, including law enforcement, medical professionals and politicians. The group submitted its recommendations for an adult-use cannabis program to elected officials in October, and focused on prioritizing the state’s medical cannabis patients and providing a large portion of adult-use proceeds to law enforcement and public health programs.

The New Mexico House passed an adult-use legalization bill last spring by a narrow margin of 36-34, but the legislation ultimately stalled in the Senate.

This year’s legislative session begins Jan. 21, and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has indicated that she wants cannabis legalized this time around, according to KRQE.

Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton makes one of the state's first cannabis purchases Jan. 1, 2020, at Sunnyside.

Courtesy of Cresco Labs

Adult-Use Cannabis Sales Begin in Illinois

Sales began at 6 a.m. on New Year's Day at most retail locations, and businesses made sure to greet the customers who got up early to take advantage of this historic day.

January 2, 2020

Eric Sandy

Dispensary News Legislation and regulation News State by State: Illinois

Long lines and mix of happy and frustrated customers marked the first day of adult-use cannabis sales in Illinois. While some of those customers encountered supply shortages or point-of-sale glitches (or dispensaries that they only thought were licensed for adult-use sales), many on the ground in this newest cannabis market reported smooth sailing.

Sales began at 6 a.m. at most retail locations, and businesses made sure to greet the customers who got up early to take advantage of this historic day.

“The early bird gets the herb!” Oak Park resident Jack Fitzgerald shouted as he left Seven Point in the morning, according to the Chicago Tribune’s roundup of the day’s activities. The Chicago Sun-Times noted that some customers had started lining up outside stores as early as Tuesday night.

In stores throughout the state, the mood was often jovial—despite the frigid temperatures—and raucous cheers were a common refrain amid the day’s business.

At this point, the state has licensed 43 dispensaries to sell adult-use cannabis products. (On Jan. 1, six of those dispensaries were reportedly not ready yet, according to the Chicago Tribune.) More retail licenses are expected, and we’ve been watching the lottery process unfold in highly contentious neighborhoods in Chicago.

Among the first customers in the state was Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, who purchased gummies at the Clark Street Sunnyside* location.

“We’re ecstatic for our Sunnyside* dispensaries to begin serving recreational customers on such a historic day that launches a new era of cannabis and the development of an industry that will bring greater justice, social equity and business ownership opportunities throughout the state,” Charlie Bachtell, Cresco Labs CEO and co-founder, said in a public statement. “With 13 million residents and 100 million annual tourists, Illinois is predicted to be one of the largest recreational cannabis markets in the United States. Cresco is uniquely positioned in the supply-constrained state, with permission for the largest cultivation footprint at 630,000 square feet and ten retail dispensaries, including three in high traffic areas in the city of Chicago.”

Across the state, Jan. 1 was hailed as an historic day. And the first day of sales followed another cannabis achievement in Illinois, when on Dec. 31 Gov. J.B. Pritzker pardoned more than 11,000 cannabis convictions in the state.

“Today is historic not only for Illinois, but for the U.S. cannabis industry," Revolution Global CEO Mark de Souza said in a public statement. "The Illinois adult-use market has enormous potential to do good for the state and all Illinoisans. Today would not have been possible without the tireless work of countless individuals in government, cannabis, and community groups who saw the power and potential of the plant.”

Convergence Laboratories Receives Type 8 Testing Laboratory License from California Bureau of Cannabis Control

The company operates in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, with an additional location opening in 2020 in Salinas, Monterey County.

January 2, 2020

Posted by Melissa Schiller

Vendor News

Santa Rosa, CA, Dec. 23rd, 2019 – PRESS RELEASE – Convergence Laboratories has announced that after a three-year journey, the company has officially received a Type 8 Testing Laboratory license to operate in the state of California from the Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC). BCC License #C8-0000116-LIC was formally issued to Convergence Laboratories on Dec. 23, 2019. This license takes precedence over their previously awarded temporary license and allows Convergence Laboratories to “offer or perform testing of cannabis goods to manufacturers, individuals, and distributors in the state." In addition to licensing, Type 8 laboratories are required to obtain ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation.

The company, which provides valuable testing of cannabinoid-based products to patients and consumers in the state of California, operates in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County with an additional location opening in 2020 in Salinas, Monterey County. The comprehensive services provided by Convergence Laboratories are one of the most vital ancillary businesses catering to the hemp and cannabis sectors today. It is through services such as the ones offered by Convergence Laboratories that brands can ensure the quality and potency of their products, and consumers can be assured the purity of what they are consuming.

According to co-founder and CEO Nicole Griffith Barbieri, “To me, this industry isn’t about being the first or the biggest. It’s about being true to oneself, your ideas and focused on the vision. Timing, perseverance and integrity has brought Convergence Laboratories to life. I would like to thank everyone who supported us and worked so hard to get to this point. I am excited to see what the future holds."

New Colorado Marijuana Rules Go Into Effect Jan. 1, 2020

Rules promulgated from the 2019 legislative session are the most extensive since retail marijuana was legalized in 2012.

December 31, 2019

Posted by Melissa Schiller

Legislation and regulation News State by State: Colorado

DENVER, Colo. December 31, 2019 -- PRESS RELEASE -- Marijuana rules stemming from the General Assembly’s 2019 legislative session go into effect on Jan. 1, 2020 for all regulated marijuana businesses across Colorado, most notably allowing, for the first time, state licensing of hospitality establishments and the issuance of permits for residential delivery of medical marijuana. Final rules were adopted by the State Licensing Authority on Nov. 5, 2019 after a summer of extensive stakeholder engagement led by the Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED).

“Feedback from our stakeholders through work groups and public comment has always been a MED priority,” said Jim Burack, MED Director. “But this year, we encouraged an even more collaborative approach to rule development where work group participants utilized their experience and expertise within stakeholder teams to engage more directly in the drafting of rule language.”

Highlights of notable key rules that go into effect on Jan.1 include:

Marijuana Hospitality Businesses (HB19-1230):

Creation of two marijuana hospitality business licenses, subject to local jurisdiction approval, including 1) “Marijuana Hospitality Business” license (may be mobile), allowing consumption of marijuana on the licensed premises, and 2) “Retail Marijuana Hospitality and Sales Business” license (cannot be mobile) allowing for the sale and consumption of retail marijuana on the licensed premises.
MED will maintain a list of approved hospitality businesses on the Division’s website.

Regulated Marijuana Delivery (HB19-1234):

Creation of a permit to allow delivery of regulated marijuana to private residences from medical marijuana stores, subject to local jurisdiction approval.
Delivery to private residences from retail marijuana stores begins on Jan. 1, 2021, also subject to local jurisdiction approval.

Sunset Regulated Marijuana (SB19-224):

The Retail Code and Medical Code are integrated to create a single code, which will streamline operations for both regulators and businesses.
Criminal history disqualification provisions are amended so that felony convictions within the past three years will typically preclude licensing as an owner or employee.
Industrial hemp can be used in the manufacture of marijuana products and sold in retail marijuana stores. Prior to this legislation, the sale of industrial hemp products by licensed marijuana businesses was limited to medical marijuana stores. Beginning July 1, 2020, industrial hemp used by medical and retail marijuana manufacturers and sold in medical and retail stores will be subject to testing and can only be sourced from persons registered with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Retail and medical marijuana stores and hospitality establishments can collect marijuana consumer waste for purposes of reuse and recycling. This includes containers, packages and cartridges, among other waste components left after the marijuana is consumed.

Other notable rule changes:

Vitamin E Acetate, Polyethylene glycol (PEG) and Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT Oil) are expressly prohibited for use in the manufacture of regulated marijuana concentrate or regulated marijuana products intended for inhalation. Read more here.
In an effort to further simplify the licensing process, there are now only two (instead of three) license categories for individuals working in the regulated marijuana industry: 1) owner and 2) employee.

To view the Colorado Marijuana Rules, 1 CCR 212-3, in its entirety, please visit: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/enforcement/med-rules.

New Mexico Lawmakers to Pre-File Cannabis Legalization Bill

Cannabis Conference Pricing Deadline Extended to Jan. 10

Adult-Use Cannabis Sales Begin in Illinois

Convergence Laboratories Receives Type 8 Testing Laboratory License from California Bureau of Cannabis Control

New Colorado Marijuana Rules Go Into Effect Jan. 1, 2020

Legislative Map