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Interest in New Mexico’s Medical Cannabis Program Continues to Flourish Following Adult-Use Legalization

The state’s medical cannabis program enrollment has grown roughly 72% in two years.

October 26, 2021

State by State: New Mexico Medical Cannabis

Interest in New Mexico’s medical cannabis program has continued to thrive, despite Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signing legislation to legalize adult-use cannabis in early April.

According to the Santa Fe New Mexican, the New Mexico Department of Health has processed almost 15,000 applications for medical cannabis patients since the Cannabis Regulation Act went into effect in June.

Medical program director Dominick Zurlo told lawmakers that the program had received several concerns about decreasing patient enrollment since the state legalized cannabis; however, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported the opposite.

The news outlet reported that the state’s medical program has experienced nearly a 72% growth since 2019, gaining roughly 52,000 patients between September 2019 and September 2021. There are now almost 125,000 medical cannabis patients enrolled in the program, with patients residing in every county of the state.

Zurlo expressed that the growth in enrollment shows a need for medical cannabis, according to the news outlet. “This shows that the medical program is serving and continuing to improve access to other patients within New Mexico who can utilize the beneficial effects of cannabis on their qualifying conditions," he said.

And Chris Kukulski, a New Mexico medical cannabis patient, told the news outlet that he is not surprised that enrollment has increased drastically, as he thinks the stigma of cannabis use is becoming less prevalent.

“I think the difference is people are becoming a little bit more comfortable with the idea of their neighbors and [other people] using it,” Kukulski told the news outlet. “The stigma isn’t there, and people aren’t afraid to come out of the dark corners anymore and go get their medical card and say that they’re a patient.”

MJ Holdings Inc.’s Board of Directors Appoints Roger Bloss to CEO; Announces Upcoming Meeting to Expand Cultivation at The Farm

Bloss was the interim CEO for the past year.

October 26, 2021

Posted by Tony Lange

Business and finance Grower/Agriculture State by State: Nevada

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 26, 2021 – PRESS RELEASE – MJ Holdings Inc., one of the largest sun-grown cannabis cultivators in Nevada, announced that its board of directors has appointed Roger Bloss to CEO, effective immediately. Bloss has served in the position of interim CEO for the last year.

Bloss’ innovative leadership style has landed him a trailblazer reputation. He brings over four decades of well-rounded experience from a lifetime in the hospitality space into the cannabis industry. Bloss served in pertinent senior leadership roles of nationally known hotel companies and franchisors before founding what became Vantage Hospitality Group Inc. in 1996. Under his direction, Bloss advanced Vantage’s growth from one hotel to more than 1,200 franchisees in less than 20 years, as the company achieved the status as a top 10 global hotel firm. In 2006, Vantage ranked on Inc. Magazine’s prestigious Inc. 500/5000 List of Fastest Growing Companies eight times in a row, making Vantage the only hotel company to do so in the history of Inc 500/5000.

“I am thrilled to continue my journey with MJ Holdings, taking what I’ve learned in the hospitality and entertainment industry, combined with my personal cannabis and health and wellness experience, and applying this knowledge and experience in my leadership role with MJ. I am so grateful for the opportunity,” Bloss said.

In his role as CEO, Bloss is also determined to shape the landscape of the cannabis industry in new and innovative ways. For example, Bloss looks forward to the development of a plan to create a first of its kind cannabis wellness, education and exploration campus to include a resort style hospitality option within the overall facility.

MJ Holdings founder and Board Chairman Paris Balaouras said, “I am so excited to have Roger in the position of chief executive officer. Roger and I work incredibly well as a team, and I’m confident in our ability to create an efficient operation this industry deserves. With Roger’s substantial experience in hospitality and entertainment, we will be able to take MJ Holdings to higher places and help move the industry forward in innovative ways.”

The announcement comes as MJ Holdings begins to activate its latest 260-acre venture “The Farm,” located in Amargosa Valley, Nev. With the company’s recent special use permit approval and passage of Nevada’s Cannabis Compliance Board inspection, MJ Holdings has been granted legal approval to develop specialized pods for cannabis cultivation that are expected to facilitate an agreement that could lock in 1 million square feet of outdoor, indoor, and hybrid cultivation and processing space.

With Nye County approval, the company can set its goals into motion to attain status as one of the United States’ largest cannabis grow facilities. MJ Holdings is scheduled to meet with Amargosa Valley officials to seek approval for the further project expansion on Nov. 2.

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Five Members Appointed to Massachusetts Cannabis Control Board

State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg nominated the individuals.

October 26, 2021

Andriana Ruscitto

Compliance News State by State: Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Board (CCB) recently gained five new members appointed by State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg.

The 25-member board provides the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) with recommendations regarding the regulation and taxation of cannabis in the state. The board is comprised of individuals who are experts in cannabis cultivation, sciences and toxicology, retail, product manufacturing, and legal services, WWLP news reported.

The new CCB members appointed by Goldberg are listed in the article as follows:

Amanda Rostiano, principal of Rostiano Strategies, a cannabis consulting firm. Rostiano is known for her expertise in cannabis product manufacturing.
Alan Balsam Ph.D., MPH, adjunct associate professor at Tufts Medical School and Boston University School of Public Health. Balsam is an expert in cannabis laboratory sciences and toxicology.
Marion McNabb, DrPH, MPH, president of Cannabis Center of Excellence, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit organization that conducts citizen-science-focused population studies and programs. McNabb was appointed for her knowledge in cannabis retail.
Michael Dundas, chair of the Cannabis Industry Subcommittee and head of Navigaire Advisors, a business and government consultancy. Dundas is also the former co-founder and chief executive officer of one of Massachusetts's largest medical cannabis companies. He is an expert in cannabis cultivation.
Laury Lucien, CEO of Major Bloom, LLC, a Massachusetts-based dispensary. Lucien is also a Massachusetts cannabis attorney and was appointed for her expertise in providing legal services to cannabis businesses.

"I am pleased to appoint these members to the Massachusetts Cannabis Advisory Board," Goldberg said. "I am confident they will have a meaningful impact on the regulation of the cannabis industry across our state."

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CBD Retailer Sues Texas Over Delta-8 THC Ban

Earlier this month, the Department of State Health Services clarified that delta-8 is a Schedule I controlled substance under Texas law.

October 26, 2021

Melissa Schiller

Hemp Legislation and regulation News State by State: Texas

A CBD retailer in Austin has sued Texas over its ban on delta-8 THC.

Sky Marketing Corp., which does business as Hometown Hero, filed a lawsuit in Travis County district court last week to block the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) from taking “enforcement action” against the sale of low-THC hemp products that the store owner argues are legal under both state and federal law, according to the San Antonio Current.

Earlier this month, DSHS added a statement to its website declaring that delta-8 THC is illegal under Texas law.

“Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 443 (HSC 443), established by House Bill 1325 (86th Legislature), allows Consumable Hemp Products in Texas that do not exceed 0.3% Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC),” the statement reads. “All other forms of THC, including Delta-8 in any concentration and Delta-9 exceeding 0.3%, are considered Schedule I controlled substances.”

Until the DSHS issued this statement, businesses in the state sold products containing delta-8 under a grey area of H.B. 1325, which Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law in 2019 to legalize the cultivation of hemp that contains less than 0.3% delta-9 THC. The law did not specifically address delta-8, however, leaving many manufacturers and retailers assuming that the compound was legal.

In its lawsuit, Sky Marketing alleges that DSHS and its commissioner, John Hellerstedt, did not seek proper input on the rule change, the San Antonio Current reported. The company argues that the ban on delta-8 will result in financial damages for Texas’ hemp industry, and claims that the Texas Legislature never meant to outlaw the sale of delta-8 products. The lawsuit notes that several bills have been introduced in recent legislative sessions to ban delta-8, but that none of the legislation passed the Legislature.

“The statement was added to the DSHS website to clarify for consumable hemp product licensees and retail sellers that Delta-8 and all other forms of THC are still on the list of Schedule I controlled substances,” the DSHS previously told the Dallas Observer, although it is unclear how the department plans to enforce the rule.

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Montana Regulators Prepare Adult-Use Cannabis Rules Ahead of January Program Launch

The Department of Revenue released its first package of proposed regulations last week.

October 26, 2021

Melissa Schiller

Legislation and regulation News State by State: Montana

Montana regulators have a lot of work to do ahead of Jan. 1, 2022, the first day of adult-use cannabis sales in the state.

The Montana Department of Revenue is preparing its rules to regulate the adult-use cannabis market, and the agency released its first package of proposed regulations last week, according to a KTVH report.

“The deadlines are aggressive,” Kristan Barbour, administrator of the Department of Revenue’s Cannabis Control Division, told the news outlet. “Really, the rules are our biggest challenge.”

The first set of draft rules, released Oct. 22, include 15 sections that lay out the business licensing process and fees, establish cannabis labeling requirements, and set policies for “exit packaging,” the packaging that cannabis products must be placed in when sold to consumers at dispensaries.

Barbour told KTVH that the department’s next set of rules, which are expected to be released as soon as this week, will cover inspections and enforcement.

The Department of Revenue will hold a public hearing on the first set of proposed regulations on Nov. 16 and will accept written comments on the draft rules through Nov. 29, KTVH reported. The department may then revise the rules based on the feedback received during the public comment period, and the rules are expected to take effect by the end of December.

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