Author: Johnny Green

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Thailand’s New Medical Cannabis Model Is Off To A Solid Start

Written by Johnny Green on January 20, 2020. Posted in Medical.

Thailand has historically been home to some very harsh cannabis laws. However, that has changed recently with leaders in Thailand taking a more sensible approach to cannabis policy. Thailand recently launched its first legal cannabis-based clinic where patients could seek safe access to medical cannabis treatment and information.

According to reports out of Thailand, the launch of the first clinic has resulted in thousands of patients receiving consultations, and many more signing up for appointments. Per The Star:

The country’s first marijuana-based clinic is bustling with patients just 10 days after it opened with more than 4,000 seeing the doctor and 12,000 people seeking appointments until March.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said many were interested in marijuana treatment, after he visited the marijuana-based clinic which is run under the supervision of the Health Minister.

The clinic has been visited by 4,639 patients, who had booked their appointments in advance through an application process.

As time goes by, these numbers will be dwarfed by considerably larger numbers as more clinics open up across Thailand. However, the medical cannabis program in Thailand is off to a good start, and it’s encouraging to see suffering patients receiving cannabis-based medicine that will hopefully help them treat their conditions in a way that is considerably less harmful than pharmaceutical drugs.

Thailand is currently in the process of setting up rules and regulations that would allow every household in Thailand to cultivate low-THC cannabis and sell it to the government of Thailand. It’s a very unique approach to medical cannabis policy and sourcing, and if it works in Thailand, it could become more common in other countries in the future.

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4 Reasons Why 2020 Will Be An Enormous Year For The Global Cannabis Industry

Written by Johnny Green on January 20, 2020. Posted in Business, Medical, Politics.

The last 25 years have seen the cannabis movement and support for reform go from being labeled as ‘political suicide’ by political pundits to becoming a mainstream political issue with overwhelming support from aspiring candidates and incumbents. The legal cannabis industry is larger than ever before, and by most measures is still just getting started.

Every year of the 2010s built on the previous year a cannabis movement momentum standpoint, and momentum for reform accelerated with each passing New Year’s Day. 2019, which by many accounts was not supposed to be a big year since it’s an off-election-year in many jurisdictions, proved to be a tremendously significant year for cannabis.

2020 is already shaping up to be the biggest year for the cannabis reform movement and emerging cannabis industry to-date, and we are just barely wrapping up the third week of the year. Below are 4 reasons why 2020 will be the biggest year for cannabis in modern history.

Adult-Use Legalization is Spreading

As it stands right now, Canada and Uruguay are the only two countries on earth that have implemented an adult-use cannabis law and related regulations. However, two other countries, Mexico and Italy, now have case law on the books that have struck down adult-use cannabis prohibition. This year those countries are expected to pass legislation to back up the court decisions, and that will be significant. With the list of legal countries doubling in 2020, it could influence other countries to take a harder look at joining the list and getting on the right side of history.

Cannabis Policy in the United States is at a Crucial Crossroad

If the United States has not already passed the tipping point for cannabis reform, 2020 will definitely be the year when it happens. Cannabis reform is reaching to the most conservative parts of the country, with medical cannabis having already made the ballot in Mississippi and is expected to appear on the ballot in Idaho on Election Day as well. Virtually every presidential candidate has expressed support for adult-use legalization, and several state legislatures are expected to pass reform measures this session. 2020 is doubtful from a federal legalization standpoint in the U.S., however, it’s less doubtful than it has been in modern history, and tailored reform measures, such as cannabis industry banking, have a great chance of being approved by federal lawmakers this year.

The Industry is Booming

The legal international cannabis industry is growing in size every single day, and at a tremendous rate at that. Reform measures in new markets are being explored with greater focus than ever before, established markets are maturing, and international imports and exports are ramping up in many countries with more on the way. The cannabis industry is more attractive now to investors than in years past, and opportunities are popping up for entrepreneurs on every continent in one form or another. The emerging CBD industry gets a lot of media attention these days, and rightfully so, however, the THC sector is becoming more and more accepted as stigma continues to fade. 2020 will no doubt be a monster year for the cannabis industry, and that will help further build momentum for global reform efforts.

Innovation is Coming

Now that the cannabis industry has gone mainstream and proven itself to be here to stay, investors are not only supporting cannabis cultivation and retail operations but also efforts to revolutionize the cannabis industry from a technology standpoint. Israel recently launched the first state-backed cannabis technology incubator, and it’s likely that other countries will eventually follow suit. Inventors and innovators are focusing hard on cannabis-related projects right now, and its likely impact on the cannabis industry will be on display across the globe throughout 2020. Don’t be surprised to see a lot of cannabis technology breakthroughs this year.

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Russian Authorities Propose Criminal Prosecution For Pro-Cannabis Online ‘Propaganda’

Written by Johnny Green on January 12, 2020. Posted in Politics.

If you are a cannabis advocate and you spend any amount of time on social media platforms or browsing the internet, there is a good chance that you will come across a pro-cannabis meme, post, or article. Cannabis content is extremely popular right now, especially memes and videos, and a really engaging post can easily go viral and be seen by millions of people.

In Russia, if authorities have their way, that popular content could land someone in prison. Per Talking Drugs:

Russian President Vladimir Putin proposes to toughen anti-drug laws and add criminal punishment for propaganda of drug use online. In addition, he proposed to block online information about drug preparation schemes and sites of drug distribution without a court warrant.

The Kremlin’s official web-site published the President’s commission to introduce changes to the Russian legislation regarding the “non-judicial access restrictions to online information about means of production and utilization of narcotic substances and new potentially dangerous psychoactive substances as well as about sites of their distribution.”

Specific penalties for the proposed initiative must be developed by the Cabinet of Ministers.

The proposal applies to all illegal narcotics in Russia, including cannabis. Once the Cabinet of Ministers develops the specific penalties, it’s quite possible that someone could be prosecuted simply for posting a story online about someone successfully overcoming their addiction to harmful substances, including opioids, with the use of medical cannabis. A light-hearted meme could prove to be seen as illegal by authorities.

Even with specific penalties for offenses be codified, what is considered to be an ‘offense’ itself could be very vague, and thus ripe for corrupt enforcement practices. Russia is a very tough place to push for cannabis reform, which is extremely unfortunate given how badly the nation needs sensible cannabis laws.

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Goldenseed Becomes First Private U.S. Cannabis Farm To Sell SEC-Qualified Stock To The Public

Written by Johnny Green on January 11, 2020. Posted in Business.

When it comes to stock listings and companies that cultivate cannabis, the United States is a land of regulatory hypocrisy. Whereas companies that are based in Canada have historically been allowed to offer SEC-qualified stock options to the public, the same is not true for companies based in the United States. That appears to be changing.

Goldenseed, a “California lifestyle cannabis and hemp brand” that is backed by music group Green Day’s bassist and co-founder Mike Dirnt, recently announced that it has become the first private U.S. cannabis cultivation company to be approved to sell SEC-qualified stock to the public. Per GlobeNewswire:

Mike Dirnt, bassist and co-founder of American rock band Green Day, announced that Goldenseed - a California lifestyle cannabis and hemp brand he advises and has invested in – is the first private U.S. cannabis cultivator ever qualified by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to sell stock to the general public. Anyone who wants to invest in and actually own stock in a privately-held U.S. cannabis farm, can now do so for the first time in history for as little as $100.

Dirnt has been involved with Goldenseed as an investor, brand ambassador and advisor since 2018. “I’m excited to be a part of a farm that grows cannabis and hemp the way Goldenseed does,” Dirnt said. “People who want to invest probably already love this plant, and are believers in what I, and many others, consider to be nature’s medicine. I think Goldenseed honors all of that in the right way.”

Whether this particular stock offering is a good buy or not is something that investors will have to determine on their own after conducting robust due diligence. However, regardless of the merits of the stock offering from a profit potential standpoint, the fact that the stock offering is SEC-qualified is historic.

Hopefully this is the first of many such approvals to come in the near future. There is no valid reason why U.S. cannabis cultivation companies should be hindered from following in the footsteps of Goldenseed. Allowing Canadian cannabis cultivation companies to list on the U.S. stock exchange, while forcing U.S. companies to seek listings on the Canadian exchange, makes zero sense and negatively impacts the opportunities for investors everywhere.

See Leading Cannabis Industry Expert Alan Brochstein At The International Cannabis Business Conference In San Francisco

Written by Johnny Green on January 6, 2020. Posted in International CBC San Francisco.

Leading cannabis industry expert Alan Brochstein is the founder of 420 Investor, an online community featuring ideas, research, and conversation about stocks in the cannabis industry.

Brochstein is also the co-founder of NCV Media, which is the company behind the popular cannabis industry media outlet New Cannabis Ventures, a publicly facing curated content aggregation site focusing on the most promising companies and investors in the cannabis space.

Alan possesses over 20 years of experience in fixed-income and stocks, and started his independent consulting firm, AB Analytical Services, in 2007 in order to offer independent, unbiased, and customized research to institutional clients. Brochstein is also a regular contributor at Seeking Alpha.

Navigating the cannabis industry, which is constantly evolving at a rapid pace, can be very difficult for investors. To make matters worse, not all companies in the cannabis space are upfront about their shortcomings and exert a lot of effort to over-hype their investment opportunities.

No one in the cannabis space does a better job of cutting through the chaos and investor misinformation to separate the facts that are vital from those that are not than Alan Brochstein.

In an industry where credible investor information is often lacking, Alan has proven himself over several years to be a tremendous resource for cannabis industry investors from all backgrounds and levels of experience.

The International Cannabis Business Conference is very excited to announce that Alan Brochstein will be moderating the Mergers and Acquisitions Panel at our upcoming event in San Francisco on February 6-7. You do not want to miss this opportunity!

A VIP reception on February 6th will kick off the networking at International Cannabis Business Conference San Francisco, as speakers, sponsors, and attendees gather at the Hilton Union Square Hotel. This will be a stellar opportunity for attendees to make connections with cannabis entrepreneurs and policymakers from all over the globe.

On February 7th the conference schedule will kick-off after an overview from Alex Rogers, CEO and Director of the International Cannabis Business Conference.

Conference topics will include:

California Cannabis industry regulations
How to succeed in the emerging CBD industry
Forming strategic partnerships in the cannabis space
Cannabis industry mergers and acquisitions
International cannabis import/export opportunities
Distributing cannabis in a constantly evolving industry
How technology is revolutionizing the cannabis industry

Following the conference curriculum, the International Cannabis Business Conference will host one of its famous after-parties. After-party entertainers and conference speakers will be announced soon.

California’s cannabis market is the largest in the nation and the state has long been a cannabis public policy leader. California was the first state to legalize cannabis for medical use (1996) and has had a vibrant cannabis community for decades.

Adult-use cannabis was legalized by California voters in 2016 and since that time the state has worked towards fully implementing a regulated adult-use cannabis industry. With the fifth-largest economy on the entire planet, the opportunities in California have enormous profit potential.

To learn the latest about California, and about other domestic and international cannabis industry opportunities, join us in beautiful San Francisco on February 6-7, 2020. Network with leading cannabis industry entrepreneurs and lawmakers from all over the world.

Tickets can be purchased at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/international-cannabis-business-conference-san-francisco-2020-tickets-56096475067

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About the International Cannabis Business Conference

International Cannabis Business Conference events are the premier cannabis events for entrepreneurs across the planet. With events in Canada, the United States, Switzerland, Spain, and Germany the International Cannabis Business Conference is where the world meets cannabis. Find out more at InternationalCBC.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

How Much Legal Adult-Use Cannabis Has Sold In Michigan And Illinois?

Written by Johnny Green on January 5, 2020. Posted in Business.

United States adult-use cannabis legalization started in the West when voters in Colorado and Washington State approved initiatives in 2012.

Legalization then spread to the East Coast when two years later voters in Washington D.C. approved an adult-use initiative. Unfortunately for D.C. residents, the initiative did not legalize adult-use sales and legal adult-use sales are still prohibited in the district.

The newest frontier for legalization in the United States is in the Midwest, where legal adult-use industries have launched in recent months.

Michigan launched legal adult-use sales last month and Illinois did the same at the start of the year.

Decades of Activism Result in Legal Adult-Use Sales in Michigan

Michigan is home to one of the oldest and most well-established cannabis communities in the nation. Activists have fought extremely hard for many years to get legalization passed.

Those efforts culminated in an Election Day victory in Michigan in 2018. Previous attempts to get an initiative on the ballot were thwarted by political special interests in Michigan.

Thankfully, political sabotage proved not to be enough to stop Michigan activists from achieving success, which is a testament to the unwavering dedication of Michigan’s cannabis community.

Legal adult-use sales launched in Michigan in December 2019 in a limited number of markets. First-month sales totals are now available.

According to sales data licensed adult-use retail outlets in Michigan sold roughly $6.5 million worth of cannabis products in December.

The per-month sales total will likely rise in subsequent months and years as more retail outlets open up and supply shortages become less common.

Illinois Makes History

The state of Illinois was not the first state to legalize cannabis for adult use. Illinois was not the first state to legalize cannabis for adult use via legislative action (Vermont was first).

However, Illinois still made history when it became the first state to ever legalize a regulated adult-use cannabis industry via legislative action.

Illinois also made history by becoming the first state to launch a regulated adult-use industry that resulted from legislative action.

That’s significant because not every state has a citizen initiative process, and as Vermont demonstrated, not every legislature is prepared to legalize adult-use sales.

What happens in Illinois will largely impact the opinions of state lawmakers in non-legal sates. So how are things going in Illinois?

According to sales data, licensed retail outlets in Illinois sold a whopping $3.2 million dollars worth of cannabis products – on the first day.

Cannabis consumers in Illinois were obviously very excited to take advantage of legal adult-use cannabis options on New Year’s Day, with reports of long lines everywhere sales were allowed.

Why Success in Illinois and Michigan is so Important

Only a handful of states in the West have refrained from legalizing adult-use cannabis sales, and while legal sales prohibition is still largely the norm on the East Coast, momentum is very strong in the region.

Lawmakers in many states in the Midwest are, for whatever reason, reluctant to pass a legalization measure that includes industry regulations.

That political stance will likely prove to be harder to cling to with consumers from surrounding states flooding into Michigan and Illinois to make a legal purchase, and with it, generate tax revenue for those states.

How long can lawmakers in the region watch cannabis consumer dollars go out of state, and with it the jobs that the economic activity creates before they get on the right side of history?

That largely depends on how successful legal sales prove to be in Michigan and Illinois. If the industries there shine it will increase momentum in other Midwestern states.

If you are part of the legal industry in Michigan or Illinois, know that you are operating under a microscope so proceed appropriately and cautiously. Other states are counting on you!

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Italy’s Supreme Court: Cannabis Cultivation For Personal Use Is Legal

Written by Johnny Green on December 29, 2019. Posted in Politics.

Italy’s Supreme Court has ruled that cultivating cannabis for personal use is not illegal. Italy’s current cannabis prohibition policies were first enacted in the 1990s.

In its ruling, Italy’s Court determined that the crime of cultivating cannabis should exclude “small amounts grown domestically for the exclusive use of the grower.” Per Independent:

The court’s logic behind the decision has not yet been made public and a thorough, in-depth ruling will not be released for weeks or even months.

As such, it is not clear what quantity of cannabis constitutes “small-scale cultivation”, but the ruling comes from a case where the offender possessed two plants.

The court decision established case law that is in favor of cannabis consumers that wish to cultivate their own cannabis for personal use, however, a lot of dust is still in the air regarding the court’s decision.

Before people start cultivating cannabis in their areas of Italy, it would be wise for them to contact local law enforcement agencies to see how cultivation laws will be enforced. Just because a court decision was rendered does not mean that arrests will instantly stop.

It’s quite possible that law enforcement could still bust people and make them pursue legal remedies in order to get charges dropped, which puts a huge burden on the alleged cultivator.

What ultimately needs to happen is lawmakers in Italy need to pass legislation that makes it abundantly clear what is legal and what is not, including plant cultivation limits.

The decision in Italy follows a similar court decision in Mexico from late 2018 in which Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled cannabis prohibition was unconstitutional and tasked lawmakers in Mexico with passing legislation to implement clear legalization policies. To-date Mexico’s lawmakers have failed to follow through, however, they are working to meet the mandate.

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Zambia Approves Medical Cannabis Production And Exports

Written by Johnny Green on December 22, 2019. Posted in Business.

The East African nation of Zambia has officially approved legal medical cannabis cultivation and exports. Cannabis reform is sweeping across the African continent as a growing number of countries are reforming their outdated cannabis laws to allow cannabis companies to operate.

It is estimated that Africa’s legal cannabis industry could be worth more than $7.1 billion (USD) annually by 2023 if the continent’s major markets see their laws reformed in a way that allows the emerging cannabis industry to thrive. Zambia’s recent policy change will help boost the chances of that projection becoming a reality.

Zambia’s cannabis industry model will be limited to start, however, as detailed by Zambia Reports:

The Zambian government has finally approved a proposal to legalize the production of Marijuana.

The production of Marijuana in Zambia will, however, be restricted to exports and for medical purposes only.

Companies wishing to trade in Marijuana in Zambia will be charged US$250,000 annual license fees.

The high barrier to entry for people to get in on the action in Zambia is unfortunate, as it will prevent a vast majority of Zambia’s citizens from being able to launch cannabis companies. It is also unfortunate that the industry will be limited to exports and medical purposes only.

With that being said, this is progress, and hopefully this move is treated as a step in the right direction rather than a permanent industry model. Even though the model is limited, it should create much-needed jobs in Zambia and boost local economies.

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Lesotho Wants To Export Cannabis To The Rest Of The World

Written by Johnny Green on December 22, 2019. Posted in Business.

Lesotho is one of the poorest countries on the African continent. The country is estimated to be home to roughly 2.2 million people and has a long history with the cannabis plant. Citizens of Lesotho have used cannabis for medical and spiritual purposes for many years.

With the legal cannabis industry spreading all over the globe, entrepreneurs and government officials in Lesotho want to be able to export the cannabis that they grow to legal markets in other countries. Per Time:

The Lesotho government is now trying to spur development of legal plantations supplying the burgeoning global medical cannabis industry to broaden its tax base—currently dominated by exports of diamonds, water and wool—and create jobs. About two-thirds of the country’s 2.2 million people live in rural villages, and many survive off subsistence farming. Cannabis is a critical piece of the government’s agricultural strategy, which it hopes will help fund basic infrastructure such as roads, electricity and water pipes.

If Lesotho is successful in its push to join the global cannabis industry via legal exports, it is vital that it is the residents of Lesotho that benefit from the policy and industry change, and not just wealthy individuals from other parts of the world.

Many countries in Africa have been exploited over several decades for their natural resources by individuals and entities with deep pockets, Lesotho included, and that cannot be allowed to occur with the cannabis plant.

It is likely that the demand for cannabis legally cultivated in Lesotho will yield lucrative financial results, and the revenue generated from legal exports needs to be used to help one of the poorest countries in Africa.

This is a prime opportunity for Lesotho to improve the conditions for its citizens via job creation, a boost to local economies, and to generate revenue via cannabis sales to consumers around the world. An opportunity like this one may not happen again for many years in Lesotho, if ever, so it’s extremely important that the push for exports is done in a responsible and equitable manner.