Strib Ed Board shows support for new MN cannabis laws
1. No one is perfect
→ Last week, we published that the new cannabis laws passed by the legislature (and now officially signed by the Governor!) will go into effect on August 1, 2022. Turns out we were only half right. The changes actually go into effect on July 1 with the exception of the descheduling language that closes the Loveless Loophole which goes into effect on August 1—BUT, remember that the Board of Pharmacy passed an agency action earlier this year to temporarily close the Loophole, so August 1 just makes it permanent.
10-gallon h/t to lobbyist Cap O'Rourke for realizing that unrelated appropriations added to the omnibus bill that contained this legislation meant that the default enactment date….you know what, don't worry about it. That's what lobbyists are for.
2. Star Tribune Editorial Board gives a thumbs up
→ The Star Tribune Editorial Board voiced its approval for the new legislation while cautioning consumers to approach new edible products containing THC responsibly in the same manner one would with alcohol. From the editorial:
“Buying from a reputable retailer is also key. The Minnesota reforms should spur consumers to purchase responsibly from stores following the new laws instead of going through less reliable channels.”
3. Still on the legislative to-do list
→ The Strib also published an editorial by the Editorial Board of the New York Daily News on the need to update motor vehicle laws to delineate driving under the impairment of cannabis from mere use and possession. From the editorial:
“As long as marijuana was illegal, it made sense for any amount of cannabis in a driver to be a violation. With the substance now legal for recreational use and on the cusp of widespread availability, it is imperative to explicitly establish both that officers can check for marijuana impairment, and that mere use or possession does not in and of itself mean a driver is impaired.”
4. Bet the swag sucked…
→ Marijuana Moment reported that the Cannabis Regulators Association (CANNRA) held a closed-door, no-press conference this week of regulators from across the country and “members of certain cannabis coalitions and industry associations who were specifically invited by CANNRA.” The full agenda and speaker/panelist list is available in the Marijuana Moment article, but here are some highlights:
Session topics included: federal cannabis policy, interstate commerce, social and economic equity and social justice, preventing youth access, issues around novel cannabinoids, industry standardization, and more.
Cannabis coalitions and industry associations invited included: the U.S. Cannabis Council, the National Cannabis Roundtable, the U.S. Hemp Roundtable, Americans for Safe Access, the RAND Drug Policy Research Center, the National Cannabis Industry Association, the Minority Cannabis Business Association, the Truth Initiative, the American Trade Association for Cannabis & Hemp, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, and others.
Chris Tholkes from the Minnesota Office of Medical Cannabis moderated a panel on “Preventing Youth Access, Promoting Consumer Safety, & Protecting Public Health in State Markets.” Panelists included reps from Responsibility.org, Truth Initiative, National Safety Council, Public Health Institute, and the Association of Food and Drug Officials participating.
5. Listen up: How legalization can go wrong
→ In today’s episode of “The Intelligence” a podcast from The Economist, skip ahead to 9:54 to hear an excellent rundown of what’s going wrong in California’s legal cannabis market.
TL;DL: It’s all the stuff we’ve been griping about needing to get right in Minnesota: no municipal opt-outs and zoning, regulations, and taxes that make sense. Just look at California for what happens when you bungle it: a black market that’s stronger than ever and a legal market that’s on the brink of a total bust.
6. Local congrats
→ Eden Prairie Local News profiled the grand opening of Jes Naturals, a new CBD store in the town's Prairie Village Mall. The new store is Jes Naturals' second location (the first is in Excelsior). The company is owned and operated by mother-daughter duo Patty (a licensed registered nurse) and Emily (a U of MN marketing grad) Gilk. Per the article, Patty started the company after researching non-pharmaceutical options for alleviating menopause symptoms.
→ The DFL Party will honor SenateMinority Leader Melisa Lopez Franzen with the Joan and Walter Mondale Award for Public Service at this week's annual Humphrey-Mondale Dinner in Minneapolis. Senator Franzen has been a leading voice and force for progress in advancing adult-use legalization in Minnesota, as well as improving the state's medical cannabis program.
7. June events
RSVP now for 40 Acre Co-op's second annual Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 18, from 11AM-3PM.
Grounded Gardens is hosting its second annual Hemp Fest on Saturday, June 25, from 12-6PM in Silver Lake.
The Hemp Roundtable rides again on Wednesday, June 29, from 3-5PM at the offices of Hellmuth & Johnson in Edina.