Over 40 D.C. cannabis gifting stores and landlords defendants named in civil lawsuit
The Alliance of Legal Cannabis Entities-DC filed a second civil complaint against unlicensed cannabis stores and landlords in federal civil court, alleging damages to their legal business from the illicit shops. The complaint names over 40 defendants, including well-known franchises like Hotbox, and alleges that the landlords failed to do basic due diligence to check if the businesses were operating illegally. ALCE seeks damages equal to the dispensaries’ profits for the last three years and asks that the property owners be held liable for profiting from “illegal sale and distribution of cannabis.”
- ABC Board Meeting Wednesday Oct. 9, 2024 at 10:30 A.M. Watch here, agenda.
- Georgetown’s historic Dixie Liquor may be replaced by a medical cannabis dispensary.
Third union forms at Maryland dispensary chain
The Cannabis Workers’ Rising Program was at the forefront of Apothecarium dispensary workers in Salisbury Maryland unanimously voting to join the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW). Salisbury’s Apothecarium makes the third successful unionization in Maryland with Cumberland and Burtonsville workers also voting and joining the local 27 and 400 unions. Cannabis workers are finding themselves among the many Americans approving of labor unions to give them an amplified voice in the workplace and garnering stronger work relationships. With the UFCW there should be a strengthening of conditions and wages for cannabis employees.
Virginia attorney general pushing back on harmful THC retailers
Virginia’s attorney general, Jason Miyares issued a letter against the retailer Good Vibes Shop selling THC products in Radford, VA. The letter alleged the store was retailing products that lacked child resistant packaging, ingredients lists, age restrictions and more. This lack of information is in violation of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. With Virginia marijuana policies being in limbo for several years this action against THC retailers is the most recent attempt to protect consumers during developing federal and state cannabis regulation.
Virginia Beach lawyer suspected in 1,000 pound cannabis scheme.
Lawyer Matthew Taylor Morris, 38, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, was suspended as of Oct. 1 as a result of Morris allowing a marijuana conspiracy to take place under his supervision. Morris is alleged to have constituents storing 1,000 pounds of cannabis at his Virginia Beach based law firm and disseminated cash proceeds, according to prosecutors. Morris also allowed conspirators to store cash at the law firm with the marijuana product’s value ranging from $800,000 to $1.6 million. Morris has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, he’ll be sentenced on Jan. 22, 2025.
East Coast Roundup
The lead warehouse technician for multistate cannabis operator, Green Thumb Micheal Potter filed a petition asking for vote on behalf of several hundred of his coworkers at five New Jersey locations to remove United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) as their union representative. This comes with union officials’ ability to demand workers pay union dues or fees to maintain employment. Potter acknowledged how the UFCW doesn’t advance the interests of the workers and how they would be better off without the union in the workplace. Attorneys from the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation are providing free legal aid to Potter.
Advocate and regional organizer for NORML, Chris Goldstein discussed legislation to enact legalization of cannabis in Pennsylvania with long-time opposing Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward. Ward told advocates she’s against arresting people for cannabis, marking a positive step against the halt on cannabis reform in Pennsylvania.
Officials behind a report from New York’s Office of Cannabis Management say the state is “poised for success” despite slow roll-outs, “predatory deals” and issues with leadership during the first few years of legalization. The report outlines regulators’ outlook on “the successful efforts” in realizing cannabis laws in New York and drawing back the impact prohibition has had on communities to develop a thriving industry.
Culture & More
The Tinley beverage company has announced the production of a run of hemp derived Delta-9 THC infused Beckett’s Tonics. The beverage will be sold at Total Wine and More’s over 80 locations around Texas and Florida in all four of Beckett’s non-alcoholic flavors, including Stone Daisy Lime Margarita, Flying Mule Moscow Mule and more.
Shauntel Ludwig, CEO of Synergy Innovation wants to breathe new life into her vaporizer company, DaVinci as well as Eyce post the near collapse of both brands. Ludwig is buying back the DaVinci brand from cannabis distributors, Greenlane Holdings after 2 years with hopes to rebuild the company’s success from the ground up.
A research letter published in the JAMA Network Open says 71 percent of patients experiencing chronic pain as well as 59 percent of physicians are in support of legalizing medical cannabis use nationally with a shared support for having insurance companies cover the cost of medical marijuana. However the support for adult use legalization is less with 38 percent of doctors backing recreational use and 55 percent of chronic pain patients in support.
Around the Country
A report from the group Pregnancy Justice finds that in the wake of The Supreme Court’s decision with Roe v. Wade, pregnant women are being prosecuted for using cannabis or other drugs during pregnancy. 133 criminal cases were identified with conduct associated with pregnancy in relation to drug use with cannabis being the second most cited substance in court charges.
FEATURED: Tallahassee based cannabis company Trulieve is suing the Florida Republican Party for claims of their campaign intentionally misleading voters about Amendment 3, the measure legalizing cannabis in the state. Despite the public’s popular support of legalization resistance from Republican Gov. Ron Desantis and the Republican party are making Trulieve out to being handed a marijuana retail monopoly.
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In Arkansas, secretary of state John Thurston determined there weren’t enough signatures collected for Patient Access to qualify adding an amendment to extend access to medical cannabis on the state’s November ballot. The required number of signatures for a proposed constitutional amendment is 90,074 with Arkansas coming up short at 88,040 signings.
With Ohio’s 124 dispensaries allowed to distribute medical and adult use cannabis, the state’s recreational sales have gone past $76.2 million within less than two months. Recreational cannabis sales in Ohio started on August 6 and sales were able to top $11.5 million in less than a week as there’s also a 10 percent tax on non-medical marijuana transactions in the state.
From the swamp
In a leaked dossier on Sen. JD Vance, vetting researchers found his oppositional stance on cannabis legalization under a list outlined “notable vulnerabilities” with voters that may be moderate. The document mentions Vance’s position on cannabis over the past decade, pointing to how increased use post legalization can be concentrated among the lower class hosting social issues, while also pointing to states rights to determine marijuana regulation.
Sen. Rand Paul has introduced his Hemp Economic Mobilization Plan (HEMP) Act, proposing an increase in the amount of THC in legal hemp. Paul said the legislation is to acknowledge federal overreach as well as foster transparency in government regulations.
The House cannabis banking bill has one new cosponsor for the total of 130.
