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Kạỵchā xs̄ạngh̄ārimthrạphy̒: Tlād thī̀ kảlạng teibto

nı k̄hṇa thī̀ xuts̄āh̄krrm kạỵchā yạng khng k̄hyāy tạw khwām t̂xngkār xs̄ạngh̄ārimthrạphy̒ thī̀ s̄āmārt̄h rxngrạb khwām t̂xngkār k̄hxng ṭhurkic kạỵchā k̆ chèn kạn tlād xs̄ạngh̄ārimthrạphy̒ kạỵchā sụ̀ng rwm t̄hụng thuk xỳāng tậngtæ̀ s̄ìng xảnwy khwām s̄adwk nı kār pheāa plūk pị cnt̄hụng kār c̀āy yā pĕn p̣hākh s̄̀wn thī̀ kảlạng phạtʹhnā thī̀ nả s̄enx xokās̄ phiṣ̄es̄ʹ s̄ảh̄rạb thậng nạk lngthun læa cêāk̄hxng xs̄ạngh̄ārimthrạphy̒

s̄t̄hānkārṇ̒ pạccubạn k̄hxng xuts̄āh̄krrm xs̄ạngh̄ārimthrạphy̒ kạỵchā khwām yāk lảbāk læa xokās̄ læa s̄ìng thī̀ cêāk̄hxng xs̄ạngh̄ārimthrạphy̒ læa nạk lngthun s̄āmārt̄h khād kārṇ̒ dị̂ nı xnākht ca kl̀āw t̄hụng nı bthkhwām nī̂ thậngh̄md

xuts̄āh̄krrm xs̄ạngh̄ārimthrạphy̒ kạỵchā pĕn xỳāngrị?

Pạccubạn tlād kạỵchā t̄hūk kḍh̄māy nı s̄h̄rạṭ̄hxmerikā mī mūlkh̀ā pramāṇ 2 h̄mụ̄̀n l̂ān dxllār̒ læa nı pī t̀x«pị khād ẁā ca k̄hyāy tạw māk yìng k̄hụ̂n tlād xs̄ạngh̄ārimthrạphy̒ kạỵchā kảlạng pheìm k̄hụ̂n neụ̄̀xngcāk rạṭ̄h t̀āng«xxk kḍh̄māy h̄ı̂ kạỵchā t̄hūk kḍh̄māy thậng pheụ̄̀x wạtt̄hupras̄ngkh̒ thāngkār phæthy̒ læa s̄ạnthnākār

kār kĥnh̄ā xs̄ạngh̄ārimthrạphy̒ thī̀ h̄emāas̄mnı kār dảnein ngān pĕn h̄nụ̀ng nı pạỵh̄ā h̄lạk thī̀ xuts̄āh̄krrm kạỵchā kảlạng pras̄b xyū̀ s̄āh̄etu s̄̀wn h̄nụ̀ng mā cāk khwām cring thī̀ ẁā kạỵchā yạng khng t̄hūk h̄̂ām nı radạb rạṭ̄hbāl klāng sụ̀ng thảh̄ı̂ s̄t̄hānkārṇ̒ thāng kḍh̄māy s̄ảh̄rạb cêāk̄hxng thī̀din læa p̄hū̂ prakxb kār kạỵchā mī khwām sạbŝxn

kạỵchā t̄hūk cạd prap̣heth doy rạṭ̄hbāl klāng h̄ı̂ pĕn yā tām tārāng thī̀ 1 sụ̀ng h̄māykhwām ẁā kạỵchā mị̀mī prayochn̒ nı kār rạks̄ʹā læa mī xokās̄ s̄ūng thī̀ ca nả pị chı̂ nı thāng thī̀ p̄hid neụ̄̀xngcāk kār cạd h̄mwd h̄mū̀ nī̂ cụng pĕn reụ̄̀xng yāk s̄ảh̄rạb xngkh̒kr thī̀ keī̀ywk̄ĥxng kạb kạỵchā nı kār k̄hêāt̄hụng tạw leụ̄xk kār ṭhnākhār kār prakạnp̣hạy læa kārngein bæb dậngdeim nxkcāk nī̂ yạng thảh̄ı̂ cêāk̄hxng thī̀din chèā h̄rụ̄x k̄hāy thrạphy̒s̄in k̄hxng tn h̄ı̂ kạb bris̄ʹạth thī̀ keī̀ywk̄ĥxng kạb kạỵchā pĕn reụ̄̀xng tĥāthāy

xỳāngrịk̆tām mæ̂ ca mī khwām yāk lảbāk h̄el̀ā nī̂ p̣hākh xs̄ạngh̄ārimthrạphy̒ k̄hxng kạỵchā yạng khng k̄hyāy tạw s̄̀wn h̄ıỵ̀ pĕn pherāa p̄hū̂ prakxb kār kạỵchā phr̂xm thī̀ ca c̀āy māk k̄hụ̂n s̄ảh̄rạb thrạphy̒s̄in thī̀ trng kạb khwām t̂xngkār k̄hxng phwk k̄heā

khwām pĕn pị dị̂ k̄hxng tlād xs̄ạngh̄ārimthrạphy̒ kạỵchā

xuts̄āh̄krrm kār pheāa plūk pĕn h̄nụ̀ng nı xokās̄ kār lngthun thī̀ h̄ıỵ̀ thī̀s̄ud nı tlād xs̄ạngh̄ārimthrạphy̒ kạỵchā kạỵchā cảpĕn t̂xng plūk nı phụ̄̂nthī̀ phiṣ̄es̄ʹ thī̀ mī kār khwbkhum s̄p̣hāph wædl̂xm thī̀ h̄lākh̄lāy rwm t̄hụng s̄æng xuṇh̄p̣hūmi khwāmchụ̄̂n læa kār rabāy xākāṣ̄

mæ̂ẁā s̄ìng xảnwy khwām s̄adwk h̄el̀ā nī̂ xāc mī rākhā s̄ūng nı kār s̄r̂āng tæ̀ k̆ s̄āmārt̄h s̄r̂āng p̄hl kảrị h̄ı̂ kạb cêāk̄hxng thī̀din thī̀ t̂xngkār lngthun cêāk̄hxng thrạphy̒s̄in s̄āmārt̄h chèā xākhār k̄hxng phwk k̄heā kạb bris̄ʹạth kạỵchā s̄ảh̄rạb kh̀ā phrīmeīym nı s̄t̄hān thī̀ thī̀ xnuỵāt h̄ı̂ plūk kạỵchā dị̂

xuts̄āh̄krrm kār c̀āy yā nả s̄enx khwām pĕn pị dị̂ xīk xỳāng nı tlād xs̄ạngh̄ārimthrạphy̒ kạỵchā mī kār s̄enx kạỵchā h̄ı̂ kạb p̄hū̂ brip̣hokh thī̀ r̂ān kĥā plīk thī̀ reīyk ẁā r̂ān k̄hāy yā pheụ̄̀x khwām plxdp̣hạy læa kār rạks̄ʹā khwām plxdp̣hạy k̄hxng p̄hlitp̣hạṇṯh̒ s̄ìng xảnwy khwām s̄adwk h̄el̀ā nī̂ t̂xng mī khuṇs̄mbạti bāng xỳāng chèn rabb rabāy xākāṣ̄ læa rabb rạks̄ʹā khwām plxdp̣hạy

rong b̀m yā xāc mị̀ t̂xngkārngein thun māk thèā rong b̀m pheāa tæ̀ khwām t̂xngkār yạng s̄ūng xyū̀ mī bı xnuỵāt c̀āy yā mị̀ kī̀ h̄æ̀ng nı h̄lāy«h̄æ̀ng thī̀ kạỵchā t̄hūk kḍh̄māy sụ̀ng thảh̄ı̂ yāk s̄ảh̄rạb bris̄ʹạth h̄ım̀«nı kār k̄hêā s̄ū̀ tlād

khwām yāk lảbāk nı tlād xs̄ạngh̄ārimthrạphy̒ kạỵchā

s̄p̣hāph wædl̂xm thāng kḍh̄māy pĕn h̄nụ̀ng nı pạỵh̄ā h̄lạk thī̀ tlād xs̄ạngh̄ārimthrạphy̒ kạỵchā kảlạng pras̄b xyū̀ kạỵchā yạng khng p̄hid kḍh̄māy nı radạb rạṭ̄hbāl klāng dạng thī̀ dị̂ kảh̄nd wị̂ læ̂w thảh̄ı̂ kḍh̄māy mī khwām tĥāthāy s̄ảh̄rạb cêāk̄hxng thrạphy̒s̄in læa p̄hū̂ prakxb kār kạỵchā

cêāk̄hxng thrạphy̒s̄in thī̀ h̄ı̂ chèā h̄rụ̄x k̄hāy thrạphy̒s̄in k̄hxng tn h̄ı̂ kạb bris̄ʹạth kạỵchā ca s̄eī̀yng t̀x kār t̄hūk dảneinkhdī thāng xāỵā neụ̄̀xngcāk kạỵchā pĕn s̄ìng t̂xng h̄̂ām nı radạb rạṭ̄hbāl klāng Cole Memorandum sụ̀ng pĕn mātrkār thī̀ rạṭ̄hbāl xo bā mā kảh̄nd k̄hụ̂n læa s̄ạ̀ng h̄ı̂ xạykār rạṭ̄hbāl klāng mị̀ kảh̄nd pêāh̄māy bris̄ʹạth kạỵchā thī̀ t̄hūk kḍh̄māy k̄hxng rạṭ̄h ch̀wy ld khwām s̄eī̀yng nī̂ dị̂ bāng s̄̀wn

xỳāngrịk̆tām bạnthụk k̄ĥx tklng khol t̄hūk pheikt̄hxn doy f̄̀āy brih̄ār k̄hxng thrạmp̒ nı pī 2561 sụ̀ng thảh̄ı̂ thậng cêāk̄hxng xs̄ạngh̄ārimthrạphy̒ læa ṭhurkic kạỵchā tk xyū̀ nı khwām mụ̄d yạng mị̀mī khwām chạdcen ẁā f̄̀āy brih̄ār k̄hxng Biden ca cạdkār kạb h̄ạwk̄ĥx kār rạbrxng khwām t̄hūk t̂xng tām kḍh̄māy k̄hxng rạṭ̄hbāl klāng xỳāngrị mæ̂ẁā phwk k̄heā ca s̄nạbs̄nun kār pt̩irūp kạỵchā k̆tām

kār mị̀mī h̄æl̀ng ngein thun thạ̀wpị pĕn xīk pradĕn h̄nụ̀ng thī̀ p̣hākh xs̄ạngh̄ārimthrạphy̒ kạỵchā t̂xng cạdkār ṭhnākhār læa s̄t̄hābạn kārngein xụ̄̀n «mị̀ tĕmcı thī̀ ca h̄ı̂ kū̂yụ̄m ngein kæ̀ bris̄ʹạth kạỵchā h̄rụ̄x cêāk̄hxng thrạphy̒s̄in neụ̄̀xngcāk kạỵchā yạng pĕn s̄ìng p̄hid kḍh̄māy nı radạb rạṭ̄hbāl klāng

d̂wy h̄etu nī̂ cêāk̄hxng xs̄ạngh̄ārimthrạphy̒ thī̀ t̂xngkār lngthun nı xs̄ạngh̄ārimthrạphy̒ thī̀ keī̀ywk̄ĥxng kạb kạỵchā xāc t̂xng h̄ạn pị h̄āngein thun s̄̀wntạw h̄rụ̄x h̄æl̀ng ngein thun xụ̄̀n thī̀ mị̀chı̀ bæb dậngdeim pheụ̄̀x pĕn ngein thun nı kār dảnein ngān læa khwām t̂xngkār d̂ān xs̄ạngh̄ārimthrạphy̒ xngkh̒kr ṭhurkic kạỵchā xāc t̂xng h̄ạn pị h̄ā h̄æl̀ng ngein thun thāng leụ̄xk chèn kār r̀wm thun h̄rụ̄x kār radm thun

meụ̄̀x lngthun nı xs̄ạngh̄ārimthrạphy̒ kạỵchā ca t̂xng khảnụng t̄hụng kār bæ̀ng k̄het læa kḍ rabeīyb nxkh̄enụ̄x cāk pạỵh̄ā thāng kḍh̄māy læa kār ngein s̄ảh̄rạb p̄hū̂ prakxb kār kạỵchā rạṭ̄h læa theṣ̄bāl h̄lāy h̄æ̀ng mī k̄ĥxbạngkhạbkār bæ̀ng k̄het c̄hephāa chèn kār yæk k̄hận t̀ả cāk k̄het thī̀ xyū̀ xāṣ̄ạy h̄rụ̄x k̄het rongreīyn nạk lngthun læa cêāk̄hxng thrạphy̒s̄in t̂xng k̄hêācı kḍ h̄el̀ā nī̂ læa t̂xng næ̀cı ẁā thrạphy̒s̄in k̄hxng tn pĕn pị tām kḍh̄māy thī̀ keī̀ywk̄ĥxng thậngh̄md

February 28, 2023Comments Off
Bienes raíces de cannabis: un mercado en crecimiento

A medida que la industria del cannabis continúa expandiéndose, también lo hace la demanda de bienes inmuebles que puedan satisfacer las necesidades de las empresas de cannabis. El mercado inmobiliario de cannabis, que incluye todo, desde instalaciones de cultivo hasta dispensarios, es un sector en desarrollo que ofrece perspectivas especiales tanto para inversores como para propietarios.

En este artículo se tratará la situación actual de la industria inmobiliaria del cannabis, sus dificultades y perspectivas, y lo que los propietarios e inversores pueden anticipar en el futuro.

¿Cómo le está yendo a la industria de bienes raíces del cannabis?

Actualmente, se estima que el mercado legal de cannabis en los EE. UU. tiene un valor de $ 20 mil millones y, en los próximos años, se prevé que se expanda aún más. El mercado inmobiliario de cannabis está aumentando a medida que más estados legalizan la marihuana con fines médicos y recreativos.

Encontrar el inmueble adecuado en el que operar es uno de los principales problemas que está experimentando la industria del cannabis. Esto se debe en parte al hecho de que la marihuana todavía está prohibida a nivel federal, lo que complica la situación legal para los propietarios de tierras y las empresas de cannabis.

El gobierno federal clasifica el cannabis como una droga de la Lista I, lo que implica que se cree que no tiene ningún beneficio terapéutico y tiene un alto potencial de uso indebido. Debido a esta clasificación, es un desafío para las empresas relacionadas con el cannabis acceder a opciones bancarias, de seguros y financieras convencionales. Además, dificulta que los propietarios alquilen o vendan sus propiedades a empresas relacionadas con el cannabis.

No obstante, a pesar de estas dificultades, el sector inmobiliario cannábico sigue en expansión. Esto se debe en gran parte a que los empresarios del cannabis están dispuestos a pagar más por una propiedad que cumpla con sus requisitos.

Posibilidades del mercado inmobiliario de cannabis

La industria del cultivo presenta una de las mayores oportunidades de inversión en el mercado inmobiliario del cannabis. El cannabis debe cultivarse en espacios especializados con una variedad de controles ambientales, que incluyen iluminación, temperatura, humedad y ventilación.

Aunque estas instalaciones pueden ser costosas de construir, también pueden ser muy rentables para los propietarios que estén dispuestos a realizar la inversión. Los dueños de propiedades pueden arrendar sus edificios a firmas de cannabis por una prima en lugares donde se permite el cultivo de cannabis.

La industria de los dispensarios presenta otra posibilidad en el mercado inmobiliario del cannabis. El cannabis se ofrece a los consumidores en tiendas minoristas llamadas dispensarios. Para la seguridad y protección del producto, estas instalaciones deben tener un determinado conjunto de características, como sistemas de ventilación y seguridad.

Es posible que los dispensarios no necesiten tanto capital como las instalaciones de cultivo, pero la demanda sigue siendo alta. Hay pocas licencias de dispensario disponibles en muchos lugares donde la marihuana es legal, lo que dificulta el ingreso de nuevas empresas al mercado.

Dificultades del mercado inmobiliario de cannabis

El entorno legal es uno de los principales problemas que está experimentando el mercado inmobiliario del cannabis. El cannabis sigue siendo ilegal a nivel federal, como ya se estableció, lo que hace que el panorama legal sea un desafío para los propietarios y las empresas de cannabis.

Los dueños de propiedades que alquilan o venden sus propiedades a empresas de cannabis corren el peligro de enfrentar un proceso penal porque el cannabis está prohibido a nivel federal. El Memorándum Cole, una medida implementada por la administración de Obama y que instruye a los fiscales federales a no apuntar a las empresas de cannabis legales estatales, reduce un poco este riesgo.

Sin embargo, el Memorándum de Cole fue revocado por la administración Trump en 2018, lo que dejó a los propietarios y negocios de cannabis en la oscuridad. No está claro cómo la administración Biden abordará el tema de la legalización federal, a pesar de su apoyo a la reforma del cannabis.

La ausencia de fuentes de financiación convencionales es otro de los problemas que debe afrontar el sector inmobiliario cannábico. Los bancos y otras instituciones financieras son reacios a prestar dinero a las empresas de cannabis o a los propietarios, ya que el cannabis sigue siendo ilegal a nivel federal.

En vista de esto, los dueños de propiedades que buscan invertir en bienes raíces relacionados con el cannabis podrían necesitar recurrir a financiamiento privado u otras fuentes de financiamiento no tradicionales. Para financiar sus operaciones y demandas inmobiliarias, es posible que las empresas de cannabis también deban recurrir a fuentes de financiación alternativas como el capital de riesgo o el crowdfunding.

Al invertir en bienes raíces de cannabis, se deben tener en cuenta consideraciones regulatorias y de zonificación además de las dificultades legales y financieras. Para las empresas de cannabis, varios estados y municipios tienen regulaciones de zonificación únicas, como separaciones mínimas de los distritos residenciales o escolares. Estas reglas deben ser entendidas por los inversionistas y propietarios, quienes también deben asegurarse de que sus propiedades cumplan con todas las leyes aplicables.

February 28, 2023Comments Off
Cannabis Real Estate: A Growing Market

As the cannabis industry continues to expand, so does the demand for real estate that can accommodate the needs of cannabis businesses. The cannabis real estate market, which includes everything from cultivation facilities to dispensaries, is a developing sector that offers special prospects for both investors and property owners.

The current situation of the cannabis real estate industry, its difficulties and prospects, and what property owners and investors can anticipate in the future will all be covered in this article.

How the Cannabis Real Estate Industry is Doing?

The legal cannabis market in the US is currently estimated to be worth $20 billion, and in the upcoming years, it is anticipated to expand even more. The market for cannabis real estate is rising as more states legalize marijuana for both medical and recreational purposes.

Finding the right real estate on which to operate is one of the main problems the cannabis industry is experiencing. This is partially caused by the fact that marijuana is still prohibited at the federal level, which complicates the legal situation for landowners and cannabis enterprises.

Cannabis is categorized by the federal government as a Schedule I drug, which implies that it is thought to have no therapeutic benefit and a high potential for misuse. Due of this classification, it is challenging for cannabis-related enterprises to access conventional banking, insurance, and finance options. Furthermore, it makes it challenging for landowners to lease or sell their property to cannabis-related firms.

Nonetheless, despite these difficulties, the cannabis real estate sector is still expanding. This is largely because cannabis entrepreneurs are prepared to pay more for property that meets their requirements.

Cannabis Real Estate Market Possibilities

The cultivation industry presents one of the biggest investment opportunities in the cannabis real estate market. Cannabis needs to be grown in specialized spaces with a range of environmental controls, including lighting, temperature, humidity, and ventilation.

Although these facilities might be pricey to construct, they can also be quite profitable for landowners who are willing to make the investment. Property owners can lease their buildings to cannabis firms for a premium in places where cannabis growing is permitted.

The dispensary industry presents another possibility in the cannabis real estate market. Cannabis is offered to consumers at retail stores called dispensaries. For the safety and security of the product, these facilities must have a certain set of features, such as ventilation and security systems.

Dispensaries may not need as much capital as cultivation facilities, but demand for them is still high. There are few dispensary licenses available in many places where marijuana is legal, which makes it challenging for new firms to enter the market.

Cannabis Real Estate Market Difficulties

The legal environment is one of the major problems the cannabis real estate market is experiencing. Cannabis remains illegal at the federal level, as was already established, making the legal landscape challenging for property owners and cannabis enterprises.

Property owners who rent or sell their property to cannabis enterprises run the danger of facing criminal prosecution because cannabis is prohibited at the federal level. The Cole Memorandum, a measure put in place by the Obama administration and instructing federal prosecutors not to target state-legal cannabis firms, somewhat reduces this risk.

The Cole Memorandum, however, was revoked by the Trump administration in 2018, which left both property owners and cannabis businesses in the dark. It is unclear how the Biden administration will address the topic of federal legalization, despite their support for cannabis reform.

The absence of conventional financing sources is another issue that the cannabis real estate sector must deal with. Banks and other financial institutions are reluctant to lend money to cannabis firms or property owners since cannabis is still illegal on a federal level.

In light of this, property owners looking to invest in cannabis-related real estate might need to turn to private financing or other nontraditional sources of funding. To finance their operations and real estate demands, cannabis enterprises may also need to turn to alternative financing sources like venture capital or crowdfunding.

When investing in cannabis real estate, zoning and regulatory considerations must be made in addition to the legal and financial difficulties. For cannabis enterprises, several states and municipalities have unique zoning regulations, such as minimum separations from residential or school districts. These rules must be understood by investors and property owners, who must also make sure that their properties abide by all applicable laws.

Future Perspectives for Cannabis Real Estate

The future of cannabis real estate is promising despite the obstacles. The demand for cannabis real estate will only increase as more states legalize cannabis for both medical and recreational purposes.

The Biden administration has also shown support for cannabis reform, which might result in amendments to federal legislation that would simplify the operation of the cannabis industry for businesses and property owners.

As the cannabis business continues to evolve, so too will the real estate market that supports it. In this quickly expanding industry, investors and property owners who are ready to negotiate the complex legal and regulatory framework of the cannabis industry stand to benefit significantly.

February 24, 2023Comments Off
The Basics of Hydrocarbon Extraction

Hydrocarbon extraction has arguably become the most popular and useful method of culling chemical compounds from cannabis leaves, buds, and trim. Extraction companies tend to like the process because the equipment doesn’t cost a lot and they can make products from parts of the cannabis plant that don’t look appealing to consumers.

What Are Hydrocarbons?

Hydrocarbons are a category of organic compounds that only consist of hydrogen and carbon. They don’t contain any atoms other than hydrogen and carbon.

There are several families within the hydrocarbon category, including alkane, alkene, and alkyne. Alkens and alkynes vaporize more easily than alkane, so the hydrocarbon extraction industry doesn’t use them.

That leaves alkanes as the most useful type of hydrocarbons when extracting compounds from cannabis and other plant materials.

Currently, the most popular alkanes used for hydrocarbon extraction are:

  • Butane (n-butane C4H10)
  • Propane (2-methylpropane C4H10)
  • or a blend of Butane or Propane

Benefits and Disadvantages of Hydrocarbon Extraction

Hydrocarbon extraction makes it possible for companies to create cannabis concentrates such as:

  • Shatter
  • Crumble
  • Diamond (Pure THCa)
  • Live resin
  • Wax

Some reports show that sales of cannabis concentrates could reach $8.5 billion by 2022. Concentrates often appeal to consumers who want to avoid smoking cannabis flowers. Many also find the concentrates useful for medical reasons because they maintain better control over their doses.

The growth of cannabis concentrates will expand the overall industry considerably. Without hydrocarbon and closed loop (more on that below) extraction methods, businesses can’t sell certain parts of the cannabis plant. For example, very few people would want to purchase cannabis leaves because the leaves don’t contain many useful chemical compounds. By concentrating the compounds found in leaves, companies can create products that fetch high prices.

Instead of losing money by throwing away parts of the cannabis plant, companies can enhance their profits by keeping plant materials and extracting compounds.

There are, however, some potential dangers connected to hydrocarbon extraction. Luckily, closed loop extractors practically eliminate problems that can arise while using hydrocarbons to extract compounds from cannabis.

Potential dangers of hydrocarbon extraction include:

  • Exposure to butane or propane, which can cause a variety of immediate and long-term health concerns.
  • Exposure to exhaust after using the solvents to extract compounds.
  • Fires or explosions that occur when the hydrocarbons get exposed to an ignition source like fire or an electrical arc.

Since closed-loop extraction mitigates the potential dangers of hydrocarbon extraction, businesses should make sure that they choose equipment designed to protect employees and consumers.

The Benefits of Closed Loop Extractors

Closed loop extractors have proven themselves the most effective and safe way to pull chemical compounds from cannabis. Any company that makes or wants to make cannabis concentrates should consider the benefits of closed loop extractors before purchasing equipment.

Closed Loop Extractors Improve Safety

Some businesses worry about using hydrocarbon extraction methods because they have heard about its safety risks. Most safety concerns that get reported come from individuals and small businesses that do not use professional closed loop extractors.

With closed loop equipment, employees never get exposed to butane or propane. Before starting the process, hydrocarbons stay in a solvent vessel. During the extraction process, solvents circulate through material vessels to collect compounds like terpenes, CBD, and THC. The butane or propane then returns to the solvent vessel. This closed loop means that companies can collect compounds and recapture solvents without letting anyone get exposed to potentially harmful chemicals.

Closed loop extraction’s safety works best when pressure stays below 250 pounds per square inch (psi).

Closed Loop Extractors Work Quickly

Closed loop extractors that use hydrocarbons can collect chemical compounds quickly. The speed varies depending on several factors, such as the size of the extractor and how much plant material gets put into the matter unit. Typically, businesses can expect closed loop extractors to process 1 to 1.5 pounds of plant material within a minute. That means a company processing 40 pounds of cannabis material can expect to collect compounds within 40 minutes to an hour.

CO2 extraction methods, which are not as popular as hydrocarbon extraction methods but still used in the industry, take 6 to 10 hours to do the same amount of work. That level of inefficiency makes CO2 extraction costly.

Closed loop extractors do most of the work on their own. Someone needs to monitor the machinery and adjust gauges as needed. Other than that, the equipment operates independently.

Closed Loop Extraction Boosts Yields

CO2 extraction methods have an extraction yield that rarely exceeds 8% by weight. With CO2 extraction equipment, companies can only hope to get 12.8 ounces for every 10 pounds of plant material. More often, the yield falls closer to an ounce per pound.

Hydrocarbon extraction used with a closed-loop system, however, gets yields between 14% and 30% by weight. With closed loop extraction, businesses can expect every 10 pounds of cannabis to produce 22.4 to 48 ounces of extract. On the high end, closed loop extraction that uses hydrocarbons can nearly double the amount of extract companies get from CO2 methods.

Closed Loop Extraction Offers Versatility

Closed loop extraction can use a combination of hydrocarbons to get versatile results. More often than not, users choose solvents with higher levels of propane. The mixture of hydrocarbons, however, depends on the expected result.

Concentrate May Offer Healthier Alternatives to Smoking Cannabis

Even people who benefit from the effects of cannabis compounds often feel reluctant to smoke the plant for THC or CBD. While cannabis smoke probably doesn’t cause as much harm as tobacco smoke, the American Lung Association encourages people to take cannabis in edible forms.

All smoke contains carcinogens and other irritants that may damage a person’s throat and lungs. People who have smoked marijuana before may have experienced coughing fits caused by the smoke.

Concentrates may offer a healthier alternative to smoking cannabis. Hydrocarbon extraction creates concentrated compounds that people can consume as liquids or pills.

Some studies show that vaporized cannabis may also cause less harm than smoking cannabis flowers. The full effects, however, are unknown.

Anyone looking for an alternative to smoking cannabis can explore concentrates to get the effects they want without inhaling the harsh smoke.

Temperatures and Pressures Used during Extraction

Companies that want to extract compounds from cannabis and hemp need to make sure that they stay within certain pressure and temperature ranges.

Most engineers that design professional extraction equipment say that pressure should never exceed 300 psi. At 300 psi, though, equipment pushes against safety boundaries. Keeping pressure at or below 250 psi makes maintains a safe working environment without decreasing the efficiency of closed loop extraction equipment.

Temperature ranges remain safe and effective when they stay between -30 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

Chemical Compounds That Extractors Can Pull From Cannabis

A 2017 study identified 62 compounds in cannabis. Hundreds more become available after heating plant matter. Researchers still have a lot to learn about the effects many of these chemicals have on the human body.

Currently, the cannabis compounds that show the most medical and commercial promise include:

  • CBD, which may offer benefits treating anxiety disorders, epilepsy, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and numerous other ailments.
  • THC, which could help people living with chronic pain, depression, glaucoma, and alcoholism.
  • Terpenes, which affect the taste and smell of cannabis and may even enhance the effects of CBD and THC.

Closed-loop hydrocarbon extraction makes it possible for companies to remove these compounds from cannabis. The extraction method is particularly useful when it comes to terpenes, which are very sensitive to temperature. Butane and propane have low boiling points, so hydrocarbon extraction techniques can remove terpenes from plant material without altering their chemical structures.

As scientists learn more about the effects of CBD, THC, terpenes, and other chemical compounds found in cannabis, it’s likely that hydrocarbon extraction will become even more useful for companies that want to target specific chemicals.

The Steps Involved in Closed Loop Hydrocarbon Extraction

Closed loop extraction may look complicated to outsiders who have never used the equipment. Professionals, however, tend to break the process into seven relatively simple steps.

Loading the Material Vessel

The first step involves loading cannabis into one or more material vessels. The cannabis put into the material vessel can include trim, leaves, flowers, or any other part of the plant.

Most companies choose materials that they cannot sell directly to consumers. The leaves of a cannabis plant, for example, contain low amounts of useful chemical compounds. The leaves, however, do not typically earn profits in dispensaries. Putting the unused parts of the cannabis plant into a closed loop hydrocarbon extraction system removes the desired chemicals so they can be sold as concentrates or similar products.

Creating a Vacuum

A closed loop extraction system works by sealing all of the vessels and creating a vacuum that pulls solvent from its vessel through the tubes and material vessels.

Controlling the Temperature of Closed Loop Extraction

Before the solvent can extract the right compounds from cannabis, the closed loop system needs to heat or chill the chemical. The best closed loop extraction systems come with chiller and heater units that can set the solvent’s temperature specifically.

Introducing Solvent to the Material Vessel

As solvent gets introduced to the material vessel, it extracts chemicals from cannabis plants. The compound that gets extracted depends on variables such as the solvent’s temperature and how much pressure gets created by the system’s vacuum.

Transferring Chemicals to the Collection Vessel

As the solvent gets pulled through the material vessel, it distributes extracted chemicals into the collection vessel. The plant matter left in the material vessel becomes refuse at this point because it does not serve a known commercial or medical use.

Distilling and Recovering the Solvent

After the solvent does its job, the system distills and recovers it so employees do not have to come into contact with potentially harmful chemicals. Distillation turns the solvent into a vapor that can float into the correct chamber. The solvent gets moved back to its original solvent vessel, where it remains safely. Depending on the type of solvent and the number of previous uses, the owner may perform another extraction with the solvent or swap the solvent with a fresh batch.

Removing Extract From the Collection Vessel

Removing extract from the collection vessel is perhaps the easiest and most rewarding part of closed loop hydrocarbon extraction. The collection vessel holds all of the chemicals that have been removed from the cannabis plant matter. Depending on the compound, it may have an intense citrus, pine, or skunky odor to it.

Employees need to take care when removing extracted compounds from the collection vessel. Skin contact probably will not harm the product’s usefulness, but it may lower its value. Ideally, the extracted compounds are kept free from any potential contaminants.

Additional Steps for the Best Hydrocarbon Cannabis and Hemp Extracts

Companies can add a few additional steps to improve hydrocarbon extraction and closed loop extraction processes.

Dewaxing Columns

Canabis concentrates often contain waxes, fats, or lipids that can interfere with purity standards. Adding a dewaxing column to a closed loop extraction system helps remove the wax for cleaner concentrates. It isn’t essential, but dewaxing can dramatically improve the quality and value of concentrates.

Color Remediation Columns (CRC)

Color remediation columns contain filters that help remove impurities from cannabis and hemp concentrates before they enter the collection vessel. Like dewaxing columns, CRCs can dramatically improve the purity and value of concentrates.

Secondary Separators

Companies can get the most from their cannabis and hemp plant material by adding secondary separators to their closed loop extraction systems. The secondary separator helps ensure that the solvents and concentrates get separated before reaching the end of the process. Adding this step improves the system’s efficiency and makes it easier to reuse solvents.

Using Crude Extract to Make Cannabis and Hemp Products

The crude extract that comes from hydrocarbon extraction systems can be ingested in a variety of ways depending on the intended results.

Many companies in the cannabis and hemp industries, however, process their crude extracts into high-value products that they can sell to medical and recreational consumers. By adding value to their products, the companies can earn higher profits.

The industry will continue developing new products as the technology improves and more states make cannabis legal. Currently, some of the most popular cannabis and hemp products made from crude extract include:

  • Tinctures – liquids with cannabis compounds suspended in them. Typically taken by placing a drop or two under the tongue, tinctures take effect within half an hour.
  • Capsules – gelatine capsules filled with cannabis oil or cannabis extract. Capsules are taken orally, so they must pass through the digestive system. People may not notice the effects of cannabis capsules for up to 2 hours.
  • Vaporizer cartridges – convenient cartridges that come loaded with CBD or THC extracts. The cartridges are designed to fit vaproizers that heat the extract. Cannabis compounds ingested as vapor may have effects within seconds or minutes.
  • Hash – a pressed, sticky version of cannabis concentrate that people can consume by vaporizing or smoking. Hash usually has noticeable effects within seconds or minutes of ingestion.
  • Shatter – also known as wax and dabs. Shatter is a refined version of crude extract that usually feature high THC profiles. The potent product can have immediate effects on consumers.

The Future of Cannabis and Hemp Consumption

No one knows how cannabis and hemp consumption will evolve over the next few decades. Extraction, however, will likely play an important role as people look for more ways to get the effects that they want from cannabis without smoking flowers.

Hydrocarbon extraction opens the door to a whole new world of ingestion. Thanks to reliable extraction methods, companies can add cannabis and hemp compounds to anything from pills to cocktails. As the types of available products expand, the types of consumers will probably expand, too.

State and federal governments may even play a role in helping the cannabis and hemp extraction industry grow. The Kentucky House, for example, passed a bill in February 2020 that could legalize medical cannabis (if the Senate passes it into law). The bill, however, does not permit smoking cannabis. Instead, it attempts to make medical consumption healthier by narrowing options to oral consumption methods, such as pills and tinctures.

It’s unclear whether such a restrictive law would appeal to other states that currently prohibit cannabis consumption. If other state governments, or perhaps the federal government, finds this approach more suitable than liberal laws that allow smoking, the extraction industry would likely experience explosive growth.

Few informed people deny that cannabis has medical value. How governments regulate access to the plant’s compounds, however, will partially define how the industry shifts over the next century.

January 2, 2023Comments Off
A Group of Republicans and Democrats Want Biden to Legalize Cannabis

Working in a state with a legal cannabis industry creates numerous opportunities to innovate and attract consumer revenue. Unfortunately, the industry still struggles under federal law. Plenty of legislators have tried to push for cannabis legalization at the federal level. Those attempts have been unsuccessful. Now, a bipartisan group is asking President Biden to support legalization and start making concrete steps toward building a legal industry across the country.

A Letter to the President

The Congressional Cannabis Caucus recently circulated a letter among congressional colleagues. The letter was presumably written by co-chairs Warren (D-MA), Dave Joyce (R-OH), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), and Brian Mast (R-FL).

The letter has been signed by 29 lawmakers, including Republicans and Democrats. In part, the letter states:

While we do not always agree on specific measures, we recognize across the aisle that continued federal prohibition and criminalization of marijuana does not reflect the will of the broader American electorate… It is time that your administration’s agenda fully reflects this reality as well.

The Congressional Cannabis Caucus’s letter likely refers to polls from organizations like the Pew Research Center. Pew’s latest survey results show 59% of Americans support legalizing cannabis for medical and recreational use. An additional 30% support legalization for medical use only. Only 10% of Americans believe cannabis should remain illegal.

The letter also points out that marijuana remains listed as a Schedule I substance. Schedule I substances have no medical use. Scientific research shows cannabis can treat health conditions like:

  • Pain
  • Anxiety
  • Epilepsy
  • Glaucoma
  • HIV/AIDS symptoms
  • Inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS)
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Tourette syndrome
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Nausea related to cancer treatments

Additionally, legal cannabis could help curb opioid use.

Cannabis clearly has medical usages and doesn’t belong on the list of Schedule I drugs. Despite ample evidence to the contrary, the federal government treats cannabis as an extremely dangerous drug without medical uses.

At the very least, Biden needs to encourage federal agencies to deschedule — or reschedule — cannabis.

Why the Federal Government Needs to Loosen Cannabis Laws

Federal cannabis prohibition puts an enormous barrier between the industry and success.

For example, cannabis companies cannot use traditional banks because banking institutions must follow federal law. Banking reform could have been addressed in the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) or December’s omnibus appropriations legislation, but Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) insisted on tabling the discussion for next year.

McConnell and his colleague Pat Toomey (R-PA) say they will revisit the topic in 2023. It’s unclear why McConnell and Toomey wanted to complicate matters and push cannabis legalization talks to 2023.

Does President Biden Support Cannabis Legalization?

President Biden has said that he doesn’t support cannabis legalization. However, he’s open to rescheduling, decriminalizing, and reforming cannabis laws.

Biden issued an executive order that pardoned federal prisoners convicted of breaking cannabis laws. The U.S. president doesn’t have the authority to pardon state prisoners, but Biden encouraged state governors to follow his lead. When Oregon took a similar approach to pardoning prisoners, Biden encouraged more states to follow Oregon’s example.

President Biden has also signed a cannabis research bill into law. The law makes it much easier for researchers to study cannabis and its effects.

While Biden hasn’t fully embraced cannabis legalization, he wants to learn more about the topic so the government can take a data-driven approach to crafting laws.

Unfounded Fears About Federal Cannabis Legalization

Some prohibition advocates worry that legalizing cannabis at the federal level would have negative effects on states. Most of their fears are unfounded. For example, some worry that federal legalization would force states to legalize cannabis.

Regardless of the changes made by the federal government, state, county, and city governments could still choose to ban cannabis. Updating federal laws would likely lead to a situation similar to today’s alcohol laws.

Most states allow localities to prohibit alcohol sales. Becoming a “dry county” or “dry community” usually involves an election in which residents vote in favor of banning or accepting alcohol sales.

Communities can also adopt “moist” rules that limit where and when to allow alcohol sales. Kentucky, a state famous for its bourbon industry, has 120 counties. Of those, only 53 are “wet.” Eleven counties are “dry,” so residents cannot buy alcohol within county lines. The rest (56) are mostly “moist” counties that might allow alcohol sales at restaurants while banning package sales.

It’s reasonable to expect cannabis legalization would lead to a similar situation. In fact, most states with legal markets let communities determine whether they want to allow dispensaries. Communities can also limit the number of licenses issued in their areas.

Can President Biden Legalize Cannabis?

It’s unlikely that the executive branch has the authority to fully legalize cannabis. However, it can encourage government agencies to spend more time and money researching chemical compounds found in the plant. The president also has influence over how the Department of Justice uses its resources. If the president doesn’t want the DOJ to enforce licensed cannabis companies, it almost certainly will not.

The president also has significant influence over Congress’s priorities. If a president signals openness to signing anti-prohibition bills into law, elected officials have more reasons to pursue legalization.

December 27, 2022Comments Off
Some Lawmakers in Washington Want to Approve Interstate Cannabis Commerce

Unlike most products, laws prevent cannabis from crossing state lines. If you cultivate cannabis crops in Michigan, you must sell to a dispensary or similar company in Michigan. Interstate cannabis commerce simply doesn’t exist.

A group of state lawmakers in Washington wants to change that, making it possible for cannabis companies in different states to collaborate.

What the Bill Says

A bipartisan group led by Senators Karen Keiser (D) and Ann Rivers (R) introduced a senate bill that would give Washington’s governor authority to make deals with other states that have legalized cannabis. The language explicitly states that Washington can only do business with licensed businesses, so it would not fund black market cultivators. The bill also specifies that all cannabis products sold in Washington must meet the state’s labeling rules and packaging requirements.

Even if the bill passes and gets signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee, it would only go into effect after one of two conditions is met. Either the federal government would need to approve interstate transfer of cannabis, or the Department of Justice would need to assure the legal cannabis industry that it plans to allow or tolerate cross-state commerce.

The State of Washington would need a written notice describing the policy change. At that point, the state might need to reconsider some of its internal regulations and make adjustments as needed.

Other States Want Interstate Cannabis Commerce

Washington is often at the forefront of cannabis laws. In this instance, it isn’t the first state to show support for interstate cannabis commerce. Oregon and California have similar laws that have already passed legislative bodies and gained approval from their governors.

Washington’s interest would make it much easier for the West Coast to dominate the cannabis industry. Interstate commerce between California, Oregon, and Washington would create a flexible sector that could pivot to maximize profits, avoid crop disruptions, and control costs. Eventually, states could create regional regulatory bodies.

New Jersey State Senate President Nick Scutari also sees benefits in interstate cannabis commerce. In August 2022, he filed a bill that would allow interstate commerce in New Jersey. Currently, the legislature has not voted on the bill.

Is Interstate Cannabis Commerce Possible?

The federal government must adopt new legislation before states can move cannabis across borders. There are several reasons for states to take precautions ahead of the federal government changing its laws:

  • Trucks using federally supported interstate highways could be held accountable for transporting Schedule I drugs.
  • While states have significant control over their internal laws, the federal government oversees interstate activities.
  • An interstate cannabis economy would need more banking support, which federal laws currently make impossible.
  • Provoking the federal government could encourage Congress or future presidents to enforce stricter regulations that would damage state cannabis industries.

Interstate cannabis commerce is possible, but it will require cooperation between state and federal governments. Until the federal government softens enforcement or changes its laws, you shouldn’t expect to see products from other states sold at your local dispensary.

Still, the states taking steps toward great economic opportunities will have a head start on those that see interstate cannabis commerce as an impossibility. Planning for a potential future positions Washington, Oregon, and California to take advantage of evolving laws more quickly than other states can.

December 27, 2022Comments Off
Shinnecock Nation Approves Rules That Will Bring Legal Cannabis to Long Island

Indigenous nations in North America argue that they have the right to legalize cannabis and develop a regulated industry without approval from federal or state governments. The communities have indigenous sovereignty, so they shouldn’t face many legal issues. Legalizing cannabis sales would be similar to allowing gambling establishments in indigenous nations.

Groups in Long Island are testing this legal concept. So far, it looks like they will succeed.

Shinnecock Nation Eyes Opportunities in Long Island

The Shinnecock Nation sits at the eastern end of Long Island. Historically, the people who live there speak Algonquian, although their proximity to federal U.S. and state of New York lands makes speaking English necessary. Recently, the indigenous nation has discussed openly legal cannabis dispensaries.

The motivation to open cannabis dispensaries on indigenous land primarily comes from New York’s struggle to implement regulations and approve licenses throughout the state. Two years after passing recreational cannabis, the state didn’t have any dispensaries licensed for recreational sales.

Members of the Shinnecock Nation grew tired of waiting for the state to catch up, so they decided to open a dispensary and wellness lounge in the Hamptons. The nation decided to put legalization to a vote. Members overwhelmingly voiced their approval. Only 30 voters disapproved, while 114 wanted to pursue legalization.

This vote created a tribally chartered company called Little Beach Harvest. Little Beach Harvest in Southampton is under construction and should open in early 2023. The location has an impressive design where professionals can cultivate, process, and sell cannabis. It’s a two-story building with a drive-through and wellness lounge.

A second vote didn’t have nearly as much pro-cannabis enthusiasm as the first. This decision would make it acceptable for members of the nation to start cannabis enterprises. It passed with 94 in approval and 50 against. The vote also authorizes the Shinnecock Nation to create a Shinnecock Cannabis Regulatory Division and build a regulatory framework.

Cannabis Could Become an Economic Generator

Shinnecock Nation sees cannabis as an opportunity for its people to attract revenues from nearby communities. Although located just minutes from Southampton’s business district, few people visit Shinnecock lands.

Establishing Long Island’s first cannabis dispensary would certainly bring more Long Islanders to the Shinnecock Nation.

Economic planners don’t envision the dispensary as an endgame. They’re actively recruiting business opportunities that will bring more stores to the area. They want Little Beach Harvest to become a magnet that attracts consumers. Once there, people will continue shopping at Shinnecock establishments. The area could become a retail destination.

The Iroquois Confederacy Members Consider Similar Options

The Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy have traditional lands that cover much of Upstate New York. Nations that participate in the Confederacy include:

  • Mohawk
  • Seneca
  • Cayuga
  • Oneida
  • Onodaga
  • Tuscarora

Some of these nations have lands in the most underdeveloped regions of Upstate New York.

A few nations already had unlicensed dispensaries operating on their lands. Not all nations approved this behavior, however. For example, the Cayuga Nation Police Department raided the Pipekeepers Tobacco & Gas store in Seneca Falls. Now, they can take a more regulated approach that ensures quality and shared revenues.

Tribal Nations operate independently of the U.S. government. They can, however, operate only on lands recognized by U.S. authorities. So far, New York has decided to recognize their sovereignty and let them establish their own cannabis rules.

Indigenous Nations Fill a Gap New York Created

Many indigenous nations within New York State started pursuing cannabis dispensaries because the state took such a long time to build an infrastructure and approve licenses. The state was clearly ready for legalized recreational cannabis. Yet, New York authorities failed to meet demand. Indigenous nations simply stepped in to fill the gap created by New York.

Could similar moves happen in other indigenous nations? So far, most seem satisfied with doing what they want without much U.S. government intrusion. In other words, they might allow members to grow and use cannabis without restrictions. They have not, however, built infrastructures and stores that would attract people from outside their borders.

Depending on how well states react to the concerns of their residents, more independent nations could decide they want to take advantage of the situation. The plan seems simple enough: Establish a legal dispensary that attracts visitors. Then, build retail stores around the dispensary to collect more money from those visitors. The approach could work well for everyone, except perhaps the states that refuse to recognize the overwhelming approval for cannabis legalization.

December 27, 2022Comments Off
Can Licensed Cannabis Dispensaries Compete With the Black Market?

Cannabis legalization gives consumers a safe, regulated way to purchase the specific products they want. The black market lacks regulation, so it can never offer that promise. Still, no one ever expected cannabis legalization to eradicate the black market. Legalization creates a way for law-abiding residents to acquire cannabis products they can trust, which should at least shrink the black market’s size.

Some cannabis companies worry that the black market has so many financial and regulatory advantages over licensed cannabis dispensaries that illicit sales make it nearly impossible for legitimate businesses to succeed.

Why Black Markets Thrive

The cannabis black market has several opportunities to thrive.

Cannabis Consumers Are Used to Buying Illicitly

Perhaps most importantly, it has existed for decades. No business could sell cannabis until 1996, when California legalized medical marijuana. Dispensaries couldn’t sell to recreational users until 2012, when Washington and Colorado became the first states to allow recreational sales. Nearly half of the states still don’t have recreational cannabis laws.

It took so long for the U.S. to legalize cannabis that the black market had ample time to build an underground distribution network. That network has evolved, but illegal operations remain flexible and can reach consumers virtually anywhere. The legal market doesn’t have that option because it must contend with a patchwork of regulations that differ from state to state.

Licensed dispensaries, like most retail stores, need to collect sales tax. In fact, some states rely on cannabis taxes to support government-funded projects. Increasing tax revenues make it possible for them to pay for education and substance abuse programs.

While dispensaries expect to collect tax, some face undue burdens that keep customers at bay.

In Washington, dispensaries must collect a 35% sales tax on cannabis products.

Colorado charges a 15% sales tax and a 15% excise tax.

Illinois has a confusing tax structure:

  • 7% for wholesale exchanges
  • 10% for cannabis with less than 35% THC
  • 25% tax on products with THC concentration over 35%
  • 20% on edibles and other products infused with cannabis

It’s easy to see why some consumers might prefer maintaining relationships with their black market sellers. While cannabis dealers charge somewhat high prices because they want to offset the risk of breaking the law, prices are often lower than what consumers find in dispensaries.

Regulators Have Responded to Challenges Too Slowly

States that pass cannabis legalization often take too long to write regulations and approve licensing applications. The time between legalizing cannabis and instituting a licensed infrastructure creates opportunities for black market sellers to come out of the shadows and pretend they’re legitimate businesses.

New York offers a prime example of how a slow licensing process hurts the legal industry and benefits the black market. Two years passed between the state’s legalizing recreational cannabis and finalizing licenses. During that time, dozens — if not hundreds — of stores opened in New York City. None of the stores were licensed, but many of them were selling legal products. Customers could walk into the stores, believe they are legitimate, and purchase cannabis they think has been regulated by the state.

The situation puts consumers and regulated dispensaries at risk. Consumers don’t know what they’re buying, and dispensaries lose money to stores operating without licenses.

The legal cannabis industry has several paths that could lead to success. All of them require cooperation from state and federal governments.

Some of the most important actions state governments can take include:

  • Charging reasonable taxes on cannabis products so frequent users feel less tempted to buy from the black market.
  • Making regulations and the licensing process part of cannabis legalization, instead of trying to finalize the details after voting.
  • Reviewing license applications quickly, so businesses can start generating revenues.

The federal government could also help by:

  • Removing cannabis from the Schedule I list of drugs.
  • Letting banks and other large financial institutions work with licensed dispensaries.
  • Creating a framework states can use to jump-start their regulatory processes.

Conclusion

The legal cannabis industry has some advantages over the black market. Customers looking for quality and consistency will choose licensed dispensaries over black market dealers. The legal industry has also developed several innovative products that the black market can’t duplicate. Licensed dispensaries can offer concierge experiences that direct new and experienced cannabis users to products that match their needs.

The legal cannabis industry can thrive, but governments will need to change how they approach their role. Instead of stymieing growth, governments should partner with the industry to ensure success. In the long-run, trusting partnerships between states and dispensaries will prove beneficial for everyone.

December 27, 2022Comments Off
Can Legal Cannabis Succeed in New York?

New York legalized recreational cannabis in 2021. Since then, the state has been establishing guidelines and preparing an infrastructure to ensure quality and collect taxes correctly. According to the new law, any adult age 21 and over can purchase and possess cannabis. They can also grow a small number of cannabis plants at home.

As of October 2022, the state still didn’t have any dispensaries selling recreational cannabis. The state legalized medicinal marijuana in 2016, so it already has a system to build on. The delay, and other factors, have led many people to wonder whether a legal cannabis market can succeed in New York.

New York has struggled to issue licenses for recreational cannabis dispensaries. The cannabis industry, however, was fully prepared to launch in 2022. A lack of licensing hasn’t held it back, especially in New York City.

New York City currently has ample bodegas selling cannabis products without requiring prescriptions. These unlicensed stores often look tacky, but they provide a service many New Yorkers have come to appreciate. One group says it operates nine cannabis stores in the city. NYC even has a “weed truck” selling diverse products on the go. Many residents say that it’s like the city has a weed bodega on every block.

Some of the business owners say they hope to qualify for licenses when they’re available. Until then, they plan to operate in a gray market and hope officials don’t crack down on violations.

Why Hasn’t New York Issued Cannabis Licenses Yet?

Plenty of states take a year to build the system needed to license businesses for recreational cannabis sales. The process in New York has seemed painfully slow, though, because it already had an existing infrastructure for these processes. Many dispensaries expected the state to add some requirements, list required taxes, and start distributing licenses quickly. After all, these dispensaries were already licensed to sell medical marijuana. Recreational sales should only add a few steps.

However, state legislators have spent a lot of time arguing about where tax revenues will go. Ongoing debates put the industry in a difficult situation, especially since the state has already licensed cultivators to grow crops to sell via recreational storefronts.

The state also said that it has been slow to issue licenses because it wants to focus on the needs of small- and medium-sized businesses. This requires a lot of redundant steps. Instead of licensing a large corporation and its individual storefronts, the state has chosen to license each shop individually. That approach might benefit the overall industry in years to come. At the moment, it has cannabis investors wringing their hands.

An unexpected delay occurred on November 10, when a US District Court Judge issued an injunction that halted the licensing process. The judge’s temporary block is the result of a lawsuit brought by the owner of Variscite, a cannabis retailer that wants to operate in New York. The owner was denied a license because of a previous cannabis-related conviction in Michigan.

Variscite wanted to open locations in five areas:

  • Brooklyn
  • Central New York
  • Mid Hudson
  • The Finger Lakes
  • Western New York

Technically, the state could start sending licenses to retailers outside of those areas. In reality, the legal challenge has encouraged cannabis regulators to take a pause and reevaluate their process. They still promise some retail stores will receive their licenses before the end of 2022. As time passes, that looks like an increasingly challenging goal to meet.

Cultivators Have Product to Sell… But Nowhere to Sell It

The disrupted licensing process in New York has very real economic consequences for the state. In late November, New York had issued enough cultivation licenses that businesses produced 300,000 pounds of the crop to sell. Without a legal market, though, cannabis flowers are left sitting in warehouses. Cultivators concerned about losing their crops and investments are doing everything possible to keep their products fresh. If quality drops, the legal market will likely reject it.

Cultivators risk losing about $750 million of cannabis. If those cultivators sell to the gray-market stores operating in NYC, they risk losing their licenses.

New York doesn’t expect that its legal cannabis industry will completely replace the black market. The sooner it can get stores open and selling, though, the more of an influence the legal market should have on businesses, consumers, and taxpayers.

November 26, 2022Comments Off
Cannabis Had a Good Election Night

Now that most states allow medical cannabis and nearly half of the states allow recreational cannabis sales for adults over 21, legalization doesn’t get as much media attention. When a state passes legal medical or recreational cannabis, it largely goes unnoticed outside of niche publications. The fact of the matter is that each state’s decision represents a critical step in reforming the nation’s stance on marijuana prohibition. The good news is that cannabis had a good mid-term election worth celebrating.

Maryland and Missouri Ballot Measures Legalize Recreational Use

Maryland and Missouri asked residents to vote on ballot measures that would legalize recreational cannabis. Voters in both states approved the measures.

In Maryland, nearly 67% of voters favored Question 4, which directs the state’s legislators to pass laws and regulations and create an infrastructure for distribution and taxation. Starting July 2023, all adults over 21 can use cannabis without prosecution.

Missouri Amendment 3 (the Marijuana Legalization Initiative) didn’t receive as much support as the ballot measure in Maryland. Still, over 53% of voters approved passing a law that will expunge the records of people with certain marijuana convictions, legalize possession, delivery, consumption, and sales for personal use, and create a 6% sales tax for cannabis products. 53% might not sound like a huge win, but it means 126,787 more voters approved than disapproved of the measure.

Most Americans Approve of Cannabis Legalization

When put to the public, ballot measures usually pass and make cannabis legal. Delays most often happen when legislators try to pass (or not pass) state government bills.

It’s not surprising that ballot measures succeed so often. The majority of Americans approve of medical and recreational cannabis. Exactly how much they approve depends on the survey you look at.

Pew Research Center study from October 2022 shows that only 10% of Americans think cannabis should not be legal. 59% say they support medical and recreational legalization. 89% support medical use only.

In November 2022, Gallup released poll results showing that more Americans than ever support cannabis legalization. The Gallup poll didn’t specify between medicinal and recreational legalization. It simply asked, “Do you think the use of marijuana should be legal, or not?” Even with this broad question, 68% of Americans agreed that marijuana should be legal. That’s part of an ongoing trend that has seen increasing support for legalization. A decade ago (2012), 48% of respondents agreed with legalization. In 2002, only 34% thought cannabis should be legalized.

Interestingly, the Gallup survey breaks responses into demographics to show what different groups of people think about legalization. 51% of people who identify as Republicans prefer legalization. The only groups that didn’t exceed the 50% mark were “conservatives” (49% of whom support legalization) and “attend church weekly” (46% of whom support legalization).

The highest levels of support come from non-religious people who identify as “liberals.” Even among the most conservative groups in America, though, a near-majority want to make cannabis legal.

Political Opposition Remains

If it were up to voters, cannabis would be legal in the United States. Despite overwhelming support, state and federal lawmakers continue to oppose legalization. President Joe Biden is an excellent example of this. While he pardoned thousands of people with marijuana convictions and says he opposes jailing cannabis users, he does not want to legalize cannabis. More than 80% of Democrats support legalization, so he’s at odds with the vast majority of his political party.

Struggles also continue at the state level. When South Dakota voters approved a ballot measure that would legalize marijuana, the state’s governor, Kristi Noem, took the issue to court, where it was struck down. Disagreeing with the majority of voters seems like an odd political strategy. Regardless, Noem easily won reelection with 63.1% of the vote in the 2022 mid-terms. This likely suggests that residents of South Dakota want to legalize cannabis, but it isn’t a priority for them.

Is Federal Legalization Inevitable?

Cannabis had a good election in 2022, but it remains illegal at the federal level. That creates all kinds of problems for the industry.

Despite the federal status, it looks like legalization is inevitable. Federal agencies have revised their job applications to reflect “changing societal norms.” Having used cannabis no longer means you can’t get hired by most federal agencies.

President Biden has also signed a cannabis research bill into law. The bill passed the House unanimously. The new law will make it much easier for researchers to study cannabis to evaluate potential benefits and problems. Having more information should help voters and legislators make data-driven decisions about the future of cannabis laws.

Currently, we see a softening of laws around the country and at the federal level. Assuming this trend continues, it’s almost inevitable that the federal government will reform marijuana laws within the next decade or two.

November 26, 2022Comments Off
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