[Press release] The United States Patent and Trademark Office recently granted trademark protection for Cannabis Basics’ company logo, which features a watermark of a Cannabis leaf with four hands inside. Cannabis Basics’ product line includes health and beauty products featuring hempseed oil as an ingredient. While registration of Cannabis Basics’ trademark is specific to its unique type of health and beauty products, it is a major step towards mainstream acceptance of Cannabis as an everyday consumer good.
According to Attorney Andrew Olmsted of The Olmsted Law Group, PLLC, “This was by far one of the most thorough going and interesting trademark matters I have worked on in my career. One of my favorite aspects of this project was the opportunity to address such a wide range of issues before the US Patent and Trademark Office to ultimately prevail. By working closely with the USPTO Examiners, we were able to demonstrate how my client’s line of health and beauty goods differs from substances deemed illegal under the Federal Controlled Substances Act. After many discussions and briefs to the Examiners, we were able to persuade them how the majority of Cannabis Basics’ unique products are not prohibited by the CSA and how trademark protection was warranted.”
Cannabis Basics’ trademark protection suggests a future where cannabis companies with legal products will be able to protect their intellectual property like other businesses. This protection is an indication of a positive change in popular opinion of Cannabis, and a step towards a public better educated on the non-recreational benefits of Cannabis and its byproducts.
This success comes on the heels of another very big victory for Ms. Warner, who co-authored Washington State’s Cannabis Health and Beauty Aids (“CHABA”) legislation, which defines such products as topically applied, less than .3% THC, non-intoxicating and not meant for human or animal consumption. According to the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA), is the first such legislation in the United States defining these niche cannabis products
What started out as stand-alone companion bills SB5493 and HB173 with bipartisan support, passed as an amendment of a much bigger adult marijuana use tax bill, HB2136 this was signed into law on June 30th by Washington State Governor Jay Inslee and went into effect July 1st.
The CHABA legislation defines products like Cannabis Basics’ line as not marijuana, even though the products have therapeutic amounts of THC. This action effectively removes CHABAs from the Washington Controlled Substances Act, allowing Cannabis Basics to sell its products in mainstream stores within Washington State, virtually anywhere health conscious consumers shop.
Washington Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles, the prime sponsor for the Senate Bill 5493 stated: “This bill is about promoting small businesses and allowing entrepreneurs to find new ways to drive our economy, without legal recourse, as we [in Washington State] continue to be pioneers in the marijuana legalization process.”
Ms. Warner started her hemp company in 1995 and say’s “ With in introduction of Medical Marijuana I discovered new science on human’s cannabinoid receptor system which lead to adding THC and other cannabinoids to produce a far superior product. Even my 85-year-old dad uses it for his inflammation, pain and skin issues”
