Welcome to Senior Cannabis Digest. This week we look at historic cannabis legislation in the House of Representatives, two helpful consumer education efforts, new products from Israel that highlight convenience, and more. Enjoy.
Legislative Matters
In the wake of voters in five states approving legislation that would legalize recreational or “adult use” marijuana, a senior member of the U.S. House of Representatives has signaled that in December the House will take up a proposal to legalize marijuana at the federal level.
That’s the word from Kyle Jaeger reporting for Marijuana Moment. Jaeger writes that House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) has announced that the legislation, originally proposed in September, will get a vote in December. According to Jaeger, that could also raise the pressure on President-elect Biden to embrace the legalization—a policy he’s declined to adopt despite supermajority support among Democratic voters.
The MORE Act, as it is known, would federally deschedule cannabis, expunge the records of those with prior marijuana convictions, and impose a federal five percent tax on sales, revenue from which would be reinvested in communities most impacted by the drug war.
As it is currently designed, the legislation could also create a pathway for resentencing for those incarcerated for marijuana offenses, as well as protect immigrants from being denied citizenship over cannabis and prevent federal agencies from denying public benefits or security clearances due to its use.
Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) is the lead sponsor of the bill. However, as Jaeger points out, even if the bill does pass in the Democratic-controlled chamber, as it’s expected to with some bipartisan support, it remains unlikely that the bill would pass the Senate.
If you want to learn more we encourage you to read Kyle Jaeger’s informative article in the November 9, 2020 edition of Marijuana Moment.
Tips For Mature Consumers
There’s good news for mature consumers who are new to the world of cannabis and feel they need to learn more about cannabis and how to shop for it.
Rosie Seifert, writing for The Active Times, spoke with budtenders—those are the folks behind the counter in a dispensary or shop— in several states to see what advice they would give to first-time buyers. Here are their tips.
Take your time: New consumers who are at a dispensary and are hearing words or measurements they aren’t familiar with should take the time to ask questions so they can understand what they are about to purchase. It will result in a better, safer experience for the consumer.
Different strains have different properties: Marijuana plants come in different varieties, or strains. The three main types are indica, sativa and hybrid. According to Zachary Irving, a budtender from Rogers City Michigan, the general rule of thumb is that indica is thought to be good for nighttime, aids in pain management, and helps with relaxation. Sativa is good for daytime because it can increase energy and induce euphoria.
Cannabis can affect different people differently: Carson Shipley, former budtender and now media coordinator for (Lux) Pot Shop in Seattle, told Seifert, “When people walk into our shop, I want them to know they’re being heard and have a personalized experience. Cannabis affects everyone differently.” This is why it’s important to take the time to ask questions — it can help budtenders recommend a product suitable for your experience and needs.
Start out slow: Across the board, budtenders interviewed by Seifert advised it’s best to start with a low dose and consume it slowly. Zachary Irving thinks a pre-rolled joint can be a good first purchase. That way, by taking one or two hits from it you can see if you are getting the effect you’re looking for.
For more tips you can read Rosie Seifert’s entertaining and informative article, “Shopping for marijuana for the first time? Here’s what budtenders want you to know.” In addition to The Active Times, it also appeared in the New York Daily News.
Consumer Education
There is more helpful news on the consumer education front. Historically, the cannabis industry has had only casual definitions for terms that are very important to the industry.
To help, Kellan Finney, RJ Hopp, Wes Burk, and John Abrams, prepared an article for the November 5, 2020 issue of the Cannabis Scientist that attempted to develop standard definitions for many of these terms.
Writing for Marijuana Business Daily, Kellan Finney summarized the paper and in doing so made it understandable for the consumer and those outside of the industry. Some of the key definitions included the following.
Biomass— Harvested cannabis sativa (including hemp) plant matter. This includes cannabis flowers, leaves and stalks and has been dried.
Flower—The flowering portion of the plant, generally denser in trichomes, cannabinoids and terpenoids than the rest of the plant matter such as stalks and fan leaves.
Distillate — Material refined from cannabis (including hemp) concentrate, using distillation to separate compounds of interest. Distillate is a highly refined extract typically containing a cannabinoid potency exceeding 75 percent.
To learn more, you can read Kellan Finney’s summary of the original article. It appeared in the November 6, 2020 issue of Marijuana Business Daily. You can also read the original article which appeared in the November 5, 2020 issue of The Cannabis Scientist.
mjbizdaily.com/guide-to-key-cannabis-business-terms/?
Stat of the Week
The statistic that got our attention this week was 68 percent—as in 68 percent of U.S. adults questioned in a new Gallup poll support the legalization of marijuana.
According to Aris Folley, writing for The Hill, the finding, which sets a record for support, represents a small increase from the 66 percent Gallup found in support of legalized marijuana in 2019. However, it is double the support found in the early 2000s.
Gallup said the poll was conducted from Sept. 30-Oct. 15, just weeks before voters in Arizona, Montana, New Jersey and South Dakota approved ballot measures backing legalized recreational marijuana use.
Of specific interest to mature consumers is the fact that legalization had support among 60 percent of those ages 50-64, and 55 percent among those ages 65 and older.
To learn more, you can visit Aris Folley’s article in the November 9, 2020 issue of The Hill.
New Product Spotlight
Two Israeli cannabis companies have introduced new products designed to allow for accurate, measured doses of cannabis extracts.
So says Idan Zonshine writing for The Jerusalem Post. According to Zonshine, the first—a smokable cannabis toothpick called “Moodpicks”—is made by an Israeli start-up, TrichomeShell. The second, also a toothpick-like stick made of pure cannabis extract, is called StickIt.
Since both products are made from 100 percent pure cannabis extracts and can be easily inserted and smoked in any standard cigarette, both do away with the need for rolling joints.
However, says Zonshine, the main upside to these smokable sticks is their consistency. Both products are designed to offer the consumer a consistent effect which, it’s thought, will make them easier to regulate.
To learn more, you can read Idan Zonshine’s article which appeared in the November 9, 2020 edition of The Jerusalem Post.
www.jpost.com/health-science/israeli-smokable-cannabis-sticks-to-hit-us-market-in-january-648430?
Senior Cannabis Digest is compiled and edited by Joe Kohut and John Kohut. You can reach them at joe.kohut@gmail.com or at 347-528-8753.
