As part of its coronavirus response, the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program (MMCP) has issued new guidance to help patients maintain access to medical cannabis.
Medical cannabis dispensaries are considered essential and can remain open under the state’s March 22 stay at home order.
The Ohio Board of Pharmacy has announced a temporary expansion of caregiver registration to allow patients to have up to three caregivers. Patients can add a caregiver by submitting an application directly to the Board of Pharmacy.
Due to the closure of Ohio’s BMV locations, the Board of Pharmacy has also adopted new photo identification requirements that allow patients to use an expired method of identification under certain conditions to purchase medical cannabis. Minor patients under the age of 18 may use a birth certificate as an acceptable form of identification.
In addition, the Board of Pharmacy will now allow patients and caregivers to place phone orders with the state’s medical cannabis dispensaries in an effort to protect patients, caregivers and dispensary employees.
Dispensaries are required to take steps to maintain clean and sanitary conditions for patients, including designating six-foot distances, providing hand sanitizer for employees and patients, and implementing separate operating hours for vulnerable populations.
Physicians are permitted to use telemedicine to replace in-person visits with patients to make medical cannabis recommendations and renewals.
Ohio joins other states, such as Pennsylvania, in making temporary changes to medical cannabis regulations in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Hightimes Holding Corp. Signs LOI to Acquire Humboldt Heritage Inc.
High Times will acquire the California-based cannabis holding company and its subsidiaries Humboldt Sun Growers Guild and Grateful Eight LLC.
LOS ANGELES, March 27, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PRESS RELEASE -- Hightimes Holding Corp., the owner of High Times, has announced the signing of an LOI to acquire the California-based cannabis holding company Humboldt Heritage Inc. and its subsidiaries Humboldt Sun Growers Guild and Grateful Eight LLC.
This announcement comes just before the culmination of High Times Regulation A+ campaign, which has recruited over 26,000 shareholders before listing on the public markets.
This acquisition provides High Times with cannabis growing, processing and product manufacturing capabilities direct from the most coveted cannabis community in the world, Humboldt County. Coupled with High Times' recent retail acquisitions, the resulting company will become one of the state’s largest vertically-integrated operators, and provide exclusive access to 18 unique Northern California-based brands including True Humboldt and leading cannagar producer Cuba Libre.
“High Times mission is to connect consumers to cannabis--not only the best access and experience, but by making the best products available to our consumers across the country, and eventually the world,” Adam Levin, Hightimes Holding Corp.’s executive chairman, said. “This addition adds 200+ of the best cannabis-producing farms in the world, and the rest of the capabilities we’ll need to grow into the future as a larger High Times family!”
"This allows our cultivators' and their artisan brands unprecedented exposure to consumers as High Times reaches millions of people all over the world. The farmers in Humboldt Country have been leading parallel missions to High Times over the past 45 years," said Barry Nachshon, CEO of Humboldt Heritage Inc. "Knowing that we will be part of the High Times family, as well as a key manufacturing and supply chain partner as the company enters the retail and delivery markets in California is very exciting for our team."
Herbology Opens in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Grassroots Cannabis opened its 3,094-square-foot Herbology dispensary March 3.
March 27, 2020 - PRESS RELEASE - Grassroots Cannabis has opened a 3,094 square foot Herbology dispensary located at 1220 Buchholzer Blvd, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221. Grassroots Cannabis grows, processes and sells cannabis and is one of the largest multi-state cannabis companies in the nation. A ribbon cutting ceremony in partnership with the Cuyahoga Falls Chamber of Commerce took place on opening day, March 3, at 10:00 a.m.
“We are excited to launch our presence in Ohio with this location, sharing our unparalleled expertise to provide patients access to safe and effective medical cannabis products," says Matt Darin, COO. “The Herbology experience enhances the communities we serve.”
Herbology has a warm, welcoming vibe that promotes inclusivity and invites customers to stay longer and come back often. The space will include one waiting room, one consultation room and five point of sale stations. Hours of operation are Monday- Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday- Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The philosophy of Herbology—the study of herbs—is clearly manifested in the dispensary decor, through an herb-focused aesthetic that includes exposed natural wood, glass and greenery. The atmosphere encourages exploration, with a personalized approach that makes it easy to connect deeply with the brand, products and people. Available products include: flower, vapes, extracts/oils, topicals and concentrates.
With relentless dedication to providing patients with high-quality products, personalized service and deep education, Herbology fosters an approachable community environment committed to the cannabis lifestyle. Herbologists, who go through extensive training and certification, share their knowledge of the cannabis plant and the science behind the products with the patients. Herbology is committed to working within the community to offer a unique, wellness and education-focused experience that includes events, support groups and education seminars.
“At Herbology, we are committed to educating our patients on the benefits of cannabis, providing high-quality and innovative products and creating an in-dispensary experience that is inclusive and welcoming to people from all walks of life,” says Talley Wettlaufer, Vice President and Head of Retail.
South Dakota Legalizes Hemp Cultivation
After more than a year of debating the details and logistics, hemp is finally legal in the state, though the coronavirus may affect funding.
South Dakota, once just one of three states that outlawed hemp cultivation, has finally legalized the crop.
On March 27, Gov. Kristi Noem (R) signed H.B. 1008 into law, which outlines regulations for hemp growth and production and allocates $3.5 million to create an industrial program.
But approving budgets in the age of a pandemic comes with a catch: that money may soon need to be reallocated to ward off COVID-19.
“At the moment, it is unknown how much relief the federal stimulus bills will give to South Dakotans. I’m signing these 15 bills with one caveat — we may need to come back in June and make drastic changes to both the current budget and next year’s fiscal year budget,” Noem said in a statement following the passage of a hemp bill, among others. “As we receive further guidance from the federal government on what resources may be available to us, I will provide updates to the legislature and the public.”
Noem has called for a special session in June to address budget issues, reports the Argus Leader. But for now, lawmakers and farmers can relish in the victory—if only briefly—of passing a law that’s been more than a year in the making.
The bill has gone through several iterations to appease lawmakers in the state, especially Noem, who was initially opposed to hemp but conceded earlier this year and said she’d be willing to pass the bill as long as it contained certain provisions.
The new law contained an emergency provision, meaning it goes into effect immediately. However, producers must wait to grow hemp until the state’s plan has been approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which could happen as late as June, the Argus Leader reports.
Mississippi and Idaho are now the sole two states in the country where hemp production is illegal.
Photo courtesy of Glass House Farms
Glass House Farms Gives Back to Local Santa Barbara Community Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
The vertically integrated cannabis operator has donated lab gowns to a local hospital and has launched efforts to support the local food bank and area restaurants.
Like many other states, California has deemed the cannabis industry an “essential” business that can remain operational during the state’s stay at home order aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19. For Graham Farrar, the founder and CEO of Glass House Farms, a vertically integrated cannabis operator based in Santa Barbara, Calif., this means cannabis businesses must step up to help those in need during this difficult and uncertain time.
“This is a time when we need everybody,” he told Cannabis Business Times. “If you’ve got a shovel, you need to get digging.”
The way Farrar sees it, the industry gets to be the light in an otherwise bleak time, and this is a great opportunity for cannabis businesses to shatter old stereotypes and stigmas while giving back.
“Sometimes you need help—and there have been a lot of people who have helped us along the way—and sometimes you get to be the helper,” he said. “We’re happy to return the favor to society and show how we can help out.”
Photo courtesy of Glass House Farms
Glass House Farms donated 1,000 lab gowns to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.
Glass House Farms recently donated 1,000 lab gowns to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, which needed masks, gowns and other personal protective equipment. Glass House Farms operates 500,000 square feet of pesticide-free greenhouse space, so the company has a large inventory of gowns that are used as part of the company’s strict biosecurity protocols.
"We use protective gear on our employees, so we don’t inadvertently spread pests throughout the greenhouse, and that approach is basically the same thing doctors do as they go from patient to patient,” Farrar said.
Glass House Farms’ philanthropic efforts don’t end there. The company’s dispensary, The Farmacy, is donating 5% of its sales to the local food bank, which is facing increased demand due to school closures, Farrar said. With schools closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the food bank is providing meals to children who would otherwise receive meals from their school.
The company is also part of a local cannabis farmers group, CARP Growers, which is soliciting a larger total goal of $200,000 to immediately support causes in its local community. CARP is also starting a local fund called the 93013 Fund (the zip code for the Carpinteria area where the farms are). CARP made an additional donation of $20,000 and is soliciting funds from the community to bring that up to $200,000 to support local causes.
The Glass House Farms team has also launched a Keep the Lights On program to help support the local restaurants in Santa Barbara that have been forced to reduce operations due to the pandemic.
“We’re a very tourist and hospitality town, and with every restaurant and bar closed, that’s probably 80% of our economy,” Farrar said.
To help keep the hospitality industry afloat, The Farmacy is buying its employees’ lunches from local restaurants through take-out orders. In addition, all the cannabis farms in the area, which Farrar said represent about 1,000 total employees, are ordering take-out lunches for their employees, as well.
“They’ve cut down to take-out only, so we’re going to try to step in and be their biggest take-out customers that they’ve ever had, ordering 1,000 meals a day to help them keep on keeping on throughout all of this,” Farrar said.
And while it works to help the broader community, Glass House Farms has not forgotten the safety of its customers and employees. The cultivation facility is currently operating in compliance with all CDC guidelines, including social distancing of at least 6 feet. Employees are working in shifts to limit the number of people working and taking lunch breaks at any given time, and anyone who is sick has been asked to stay home.
Handwashing and hand sanitizer stations are located throughout the cultivation facility, Farrar added, and at the end of each day, all surfaces are cleaned with a disinfectant.
Glass House Farms is also using a thermal camera to monitor the temperatures of employees in the cultivation facility.
“With the thermal camera, anyone over 99 degrees is being pulled out for a specific temperature check, so we’re keeping fevers and illness out of the scenario,” Farrar said.
At The Farmacy, budtenders started consulting with customers one-on-one to avoid large crowds in the dispensary, but the company has since implemented express pickup and delivery only.
“The process now is basically you place an order online, we’ll drop it off on your doorstep, or you can come to the store to pay and we’ll give you a ready-to-go package,” Farrar said.
Budtenders are also available in The Farmacy’s parking lot with tablets, so customers can walk up and place orders without even entering the dispensary.
“We’re making quite a few adjustments, but keeping things going,” Farrar said.
The company has seen an uptick in sales, he added, and many customers have expressed gratitude that the business is operational during this time.
“I think it keeps the staff going,” Farrar said. “It keeps the morale high when people say, ‘Thank you so much for being open. We’re so glad you’re here.’”
So far, Glass House Farms has maintained a stable supply chain, and the company plans to continue its efforts to protect its staff and customers while providing aid to the local community.
“We are working with the hospital to help them source things like masks,” Farrar said. “We’ve got some pretty good connections in China in terms of packaging, so we’re working with those suppliers to identify additional equipment for [the hospital]. Then, on our supply side, we stocked up pretty heavily, anticipating any potential disruption there. We diversified outside of China and other countries, as well, just trying to be as smart as we can to insulate ourselves for what’s to come.
“We’re one of the few businesses that have the horsepower to not just stay afloat but help out, and we want to do everything we can to put that to work and make the world proud and be contributing members of our community and help everyone else out."
Legislative Map
Cannabis Business Times’ interactive legislative map is another tool to help cultivators quickly navigate state cannabis laws and find news relevant to their markets. View More