In the days of the Armada, a fleet of warships, the scuttlebutt was the rumor or gossip that would spread throughout the ship. Today, Armada Law Corp presents The Scuttlebutt, a daily summery of news articles that people within the cannabis, hemp and plant medicine industries are chatting about along with links to the full articles.
In today’s news:
California Cannabis Regulators Deem National Agricultural Workers Union a Fake Labor Organization
#californiacannabis – “The California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) on Tuesday clarified that the National Agricultural Workers Union (NAWU) is not a bona fide labor organization and that cannabis licensees required to have labor peace agreements in place who entered into an agreement with the NAWU are out of compliance with licensure requirements.
The state had been investigating the organization as a “fake” union and had received a complaint from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in July, according to an MJBizDaily report. The NAWU had entered into labor peace agreements with licensees under the Caliva brand name, the report says.
An investigation into the Teamsters’ claims by the Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB) found that the NAWU had “no employees,” only one member, and that the NAWU’s total receipts for three years, including union dues, amounted to zero….”
Synergistic psychedelic – NMDAR modulator treatment for neuropsychiatric disorders
#psychedelics – “Modern research data suggest a therapeutic role for serotonergic psychedelics in depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders, although psychotomimetic effects may limit their widespread utilization. Serotonergic psychedelics enhance neuroplasticity via serotonin 2 A receptors (5HT2AR) activation and complex serotonergic-glutamatergic interactions involving the ionotropic glutamate receptors, tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) and the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDAR) channel antagonists, i.e. ketamine, and glycine modulatory site full and partial agonists, i.e., D-serine (DSR) and D-cycloserine (DCS), share some of these mechanisms of action and have neuroplastic and antidepressant effects….”
(PAYWALL) Read More: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-023-02312-8
Ohio governor wants changes – quickly – to adult-use cannabis initiative
#cannabispolitics – “Ohio’s Republican governor wants changes made to some aspects of the adult-use cannabis initiative that voters overwhelming approved at the polls Tuesday.
Gov. Mike DeWine, who opposed Issue 2 heading into the election, wants to see some child protections related to advertising and edibles as well as curbs to limit intoxicated drivers and public exposure to marijuana smoke, The (Cincinnati) Inquirer reported….”
Read More: https://mjbizdaily.com/ohio-gov-wants-changes-to-voter-approved-adult-use-cannabis-initiative/
Congress Report Provides Considerations For Cannabis Economic Development
#cannabisindustry – “The report – Recreational Marijuana and Economic Development – provides several considerations for Congress concerning economic development opportunities for the market.
It highlights that while many advocate that descheduling or legalising cannabis at the federal level would create economic benefits from taxes and jobs, assessing the economic effects of adult use cannabis is difficult as the industry is still young.
In this regard, it recommends that if Congress needs to collect further data it should “consider directing BLS, BEA, or other agencies to develop and collect metrics related to marijuana”, as obtaining information from nonpartisan sources “could help provide context for any potential legislative pursuits.””
Read More: https://businessofcannabis.com/congress-report-considerations-cannabis-economic-development/
Natural Medicine Division Details Plans for Commercial Psilocybin
#psychedelics – “An offshoot of the state Department of Revenue, which also oversees the cannabis and liquor industries in Colorado, the Natural Medicine Division was created by a bill passed by the state legislature earlier this year to address gaps in the voter-approved initiative and the powers it gave the state Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). Already experienced in the ever-evolving world of mind-changing-substance regulations, NMD leadership comprises Marijuana Enforcement Division staffers, including executive director Dominique Mendiola.
Similar to how the MED handles the cannabis industry, the NMD will license and regulate psilocybin production and sales and, potentially, edibles production and extraction. Mendiola and her cannabis-seasoned team are looking for a new policy advisor, and plan to fill more positions as Colorado’s psychedelic landscape grows — and they expect it to grow quickly. Applications for medical psilocybin facilitators and businesses could be available as soon as next year, while DMT, ibogaine and mescaline will be evaluated by DORA for potential medical legalization down the road….”
LA Judge Drops Case Over $200K Pot Loan
#cannabislawsuit – “A Los Angeles County judge has dropped on demurrer a suit alleging breach of contract from an investor who said a cannabis venture still owes him $200,000 for a loan, even after it reached a $350,000 settlement in another case against a growing and dispensary business.
Judge Upinder S. Kalra ruled in a Wednesday order that the remaining claims be dropped from Arthur Allen’s lawsuit, giving him 20 days to amend his claims. Allen says he entered into a $200,000 profit-sharing deal with defendant Raul Trevino, among others, in December 2017 for six harvests and 50% of certain net profits.
Citing oral argument and a tentative ruling, the judge’s order found in favor of Trevino, who backed demurrer by arguing the deal was “replete” with language affirming that Allen’s initial $200,000 was paid in consideration for 50% of the profits, with “no mention of a loan.”
“The only reasonable conclusion here is that plaintiff’s $200,000 was for 50% of the profits and not a loan,” Trevino contended in a reply earlier this month. But Allen understood that if there were no profits, then he would receive no profits in turn and that “this must be distinguished from his belief that he would be repaid for his initial loan investment.””
(PAYWALL) Read more at: https://www.law360.com/california/articles/1765397/la-judge-drops-case-over-200k-pot-loan?copied=1
Rhode Island marijuana cultivator to pay $625,000 fine, keep license
#cannabisindustry – “Rhode Island marijuana cultivator Fire Ganja must pay a $625,000 fine after a settlement agreement with state regulators, but the business will be able to keep its license.
Warwick-based Fire Ganja was under investigation by the Office of Cannabis Regulation for having marijuana that was not registered with Rhode Island’s track-and-trace system and for issues surrounding the ownership of the business.
The company, also known as STJ, had been ordered to stop selling cannabis, and a judge rejected a request in September to lift that hold.
The $625,000 https://armadalawyers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/blog-03-1.jpgistrative penalty levied on the grower must be paid in four installments through January 2026, according to the Oct. 31 agreement between Fire Ganja and the regulator, Providence TV station WPRI reported….”
Read More: https://mjbizdaily.com/rhode-island-marijuana-cultivator-to-pay-625000-fine-keep-license/
Chula Vista demands indicted cannabis licensee divest ownership of city’s first dispensary
#californiacannabis – “A Chula Vista cannabis licensee who was indicted earlier this year must divest himself of his interest in the dispensary or face closing the business, city officials have decided.
The decision comes months after Andres Camberos was accused by federal prosecutors of a long-running fraud unrelated to his Grasshopper Dispensary, the first legally licensed pot shop in Chula Vista….”