News For PeoPle oN the Grow

Spring 2015 FREEtheamericancultivator.com

Michigan at forefront of legal evolutionSpotlight newS p4

continued, PG. 11 see EpilEptic

IllInoIs Gov. Bruce rauner has announced the winners of cultivation permits and dispensary licenses for the Illinois Medical Cannabis Pilot Program. There are 22 cultivation center districts and 48 dispensary districts. Each licensee must pay a $200,000 fee and maintain a $2 million escrow account. There could be changes as some districts are pending further reviews and some awards have been legally contested based on allegations that state regulators mishandled the issuing process. As of press time these are the winning applications.

cultivation center perMit awardeeSdiStrict 1: GTI Clinic Holding, LLCdiStrict 2: To be awarded after further review.diStrict c (Districts 3 and 4): 1. To be awarded after further review. 2. Bedford Grow, LLCdiStrict 5: Cresco Labs, LLCdiStrict 6: Pharmacann, LLC District 7 GTI Clinic Holding, LLCdiStrict 8: Ace Delevan, LLCdiStrict 9: Cresco Labs, LLCdiStrict 10: Shelby County Community Services, Inc.diStrict 11: Progressive Treatment Solutions, LLCdiStrict 12: To be awarded after further review.diStrict 13: IESO, LLCdiStrict 14: Nature’s Grace and Wellness, LLCdiStrict 15: No applicantsdiStrict 16: In Grown Farms, LLC 2diStrict 17: GTI Clinic Holding, LLCdiStrict 18: Compass Ventures, Inc.diStrict 19: Atraxia, LLCdiStrict 20: Ace Barry, LLCdiStrict 21: Cresco Labs, LLCdiStrict 22: Wellness Groups Pharms

diSpenSary awardeeS authorized for regiStrationdiStrict 1: The Dispensary, LLCdiStrict 6: TGS Illinois, LLCdiStrict 7: Nature’s Treatment of Illinois, Inc.diStrict 8: 1. Nu Med RX, LLC 2. Trinity MMJ, LLCdiStrict 9: 1. To be awarded after further review. 2. Maribis of Springfield, LLCdiStrict 10: 1. Nu Med Rx, LLC 2. Phoenix Farms of Illinois, LLCdiStrict 11: 1. TGS Illinois, LLC 2. To be awarded after further review.diStrict 12: NH Medicinal Dispensaries, Inc.diStrict 13: Terra Herbal Health, LLCdiStrict 14: Evergreen Dispensary 2diStrict 16: 1. MedMar Rockford, LLC 2. Mapleglen Care Center, LLCdiStrict 17: Pharmacann, LLCdiStrict 18: Compass Ventures, Inc.diStrict 19: Kirkwood Pharmacy Group of Harrisburg, LLCdiStrict 20: Herbal Remedies Dispensaries, LLCdiStrict 22: Kirkwood Pharmacy Group of Anna, LLCdiStrict 24: 1. 3C Compassionate Care Center, LLC 2. EarthMed, LLC 3. Mindful Illinois, LLC

diStrict 25: Greenhouse Group, LLCdiStrict 26: 1. Healthway Services of West Illinois, LLC 2. Pharmacann, LLCdiStrict 27: 1. GTI Clinic Illinois Holdings, LLC2. PDI III, LLC 3. Northshore Alterative Therapy, LLCdiStrict 28: Alternative Treatment, Ltd.diStrict 29: 1. Midwest Compassion Center, Inc. 2. 3C Compassionate Care Center 3. Greenhouse Group, LLCdiStrict 30: NCC, LLCdiStrict 31: Pharmacann, LLCdiStrict 32: New Age Care, LLCdiStrict 33: Greenhouse Group, LLCdiStrict 34: Pharmacann, LLCdiStrict 35: Floramedex, LLCdiStrict 36: Future Transactions Holdings, LLCdiStrict 37: WCCC, LLCdiStrict 38: WCCC, LLCdiStrict 39: WCCC, LLCdiStrict 40: WCCC, LLCdiStrict 41: 1. Union Group of Illinois, LLC 2. To be awarded after further review.diStrict 42: 1. Harborside Illinois Grown Medicine, Inc.

children and MarijuanawellneSS p11

cannabiS StockS take wild SwingScannabuSineSS p14

American Cultivator

KImBerly cole, 42, is a professional. She works in a corporate environment in the automotive industry, and has a degree in engineering.

She has suffered from epilepsy since she was born, sometimes enduring multiple seizures a day. She was never a candidate for surgery, she says, because the seizures were on both sides of her brain.

For nearly her entire life, doctors preached to her the dangers of marijuana. That she should never use it, and that she could die if she did. It was for that reason she never tried it. Then, a few years ago, her neurologist at Henry Ford Hospital suggested she use it. She was shocked.

“It’s hard to get your head around doing something I had been told not to do my whole life,” she says.

So she read everything she could find about medical cannabis and epilepsy. Her doctor gave her some studies to consider. She got her medical card, and finally, in spring of 2014 she suffered so much she finally decided to give it a try. She went to Om of Medicine, a medical marijuana dispensary in Ann Arbor, a place her neurologist recommended to her.

She was nervous about it. The people she spoke with at Om spent time with her, and assured her she wasn’t going to overdose. At the time, she was on 11 medications, and doctors wanted to try new things on her, including some

clinical trials. Instead, she started using child-size doses of medicinal cannabis. By September, she decided to start getting off the pharmaceuticals.

“And then I just started dropping the pharmaceuticals,” she says, and by November, “I was not taking any. No anti-seizure meds. It was something I never thought would happen.”

Today Cole is pharma-drug and almost entirely seizure free. “It’s a miracle,” she says.

Cole describes the strains she uses as being high in CBD and low in THC — both cannabinoids (chemicals in marijuana) known for therapeutic properties. CBD has no psychoactive effect, and THC does. That feeling people describe as being “high.” She says she uses a vaporizer and capsules,

and sometimes oil “because it’s so quick” or hard candy, or a tincture.

“Periodically throughout the day, I take it in different forms, but always keep it in my system,” she says.

If Cole feels a seizure coming on, she’s able to consume some medical cannabis and prevent the seizure from happening. “At home I’ve had the auras coming on and was able to control it. It’s amazing. I never thought it would be this way.”

Cole describes how her seizures would cause her to lose consciousness and control of bodily functions, and that she was having so many she “would have to relearn to count again. And I’m an engineer” making her career that much more challenging.

This is the fewest number of seizures she’s ever had — just one in a long time, triggered when she fell on ice and broke her ankle.

Mark Passerini, co-founder Om of Medicine in Ann Arbor, says what Cole

Woman stops seizures with cannabis therapy

chocolate chip cookie recipewellneSS p10

By Valerie Vande Panne

continued, PG. 16 see WinnErs

"It’s hard to get your head around doing something

I had been told not to do my whole life."

Seizing control OF EPILEPSy

winners of illinois cultivation and dispensary permitsBy TAC Staff

Engineer Kimberly cole was shocked when her doctor recommended cannabis to control epileptic seizures.

| The American Cultivator | Spring 20152

The American Cultivator | Spring 2015 | 3

P.O. Box 1701Taylor, MI 48180844-226-6200

editorialMy Compassion – Publisher

Larry Gabriel – Editoreditor@theamericancultivator.com844-226-6200 ext 481

Joyce Mongrain– Advertising joyce@theamericancultivator.com 844-226-6200 ext 485

Donald Mongrain – Distributiondonald@theamericancultivator.com844-226-6200 ext 483

Content ProvidersMatt BergThe Cannabis ChefDerek CrossCasandra DowellValerie Vande PanneChelsea ShakerMike Whitty

PhotosIstock.com

Recreational Cannabis

layout & designPhilip Skarich

The American Cultivator retains full editorial

control of all submissions. We reserve the

right to edit all submissions for length and

content. The ads or articles contained in The

American Cultivator are not necessarily the

opinion of My Compassion.

The American CultivatorSpring and CannabiS are in the air

…a message from Director Heidi Parikh

InsIdeThIs Issue

Seizing control of epilepsy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1winners of illinois cultivation and dispensary permits . . . 1Michigan at forefront of legal evolution . . . . . . . . . . . . 4legalization trends across the nation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 cannabis news briefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5editorial: carerS act respects State laws . . . . . . . . . . 6cannabis reality in colorado . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6happy hemp farmer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8noah comes back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10chocolate chip cookies recipe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10children and Marijuana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Marijuana went Mainstream in 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13cannabis Staffing agencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Seems like old times . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18tac word Search . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Happy Hemp Farmer:Nothing goes to waste with this plant page 8

cannaBIs and chIldren are two of the most alarming words you can put together these days. The last refuge of

prohibitionists always seems to be, “we’ve got to keep this away from the children.”

That’s certainly a concern, but it’s no reason for unreasonable response to the knowledge that children or teenagers are near growing marijuana plants. This past year I have heard of three situations where school personnel have smelled the odor of cannabis on students and it caused trouble for the parents. Even before that there have been cases where children have been removed from their homes or the information has been used in custody battles to discredit a parent.

There have even been cases where children have been put in foster care because their parents used marijuana recreationally – and those children were killed by their foster parents. It seems that protecting children shouldn’t involve getting them killed.

The heavy smell of maturing cannabis flowers is distinctive and easily detected. It hangs in the air, and it sticks to clothing. Regardless the smell of a cannabis plant has no known effect, good or bad.

When a teacher smells cannabis on a teenager, they will confront the student, order a locker search, and escort them to the principal’s office. When they smell cannabis on a younger student, a teacher will interview the child without your knowledge or permission, record it, and report it to the authorities.

In the end things may turn out okay, but you don’t want to have to go through the turmoil. As a mother of four, I know it is unacceptable for any child to go to school smelling like they just walked out of a room in full bloom. My message is about using common sense when growing marijuana around children. Clear the air and stay within the law. Parents and legal guardians need to be aware of their surroundings and how it might impact their children away from home.

Remember; in Michigan observe the rules and the law is on your side. The MMMA reads as follows:

sec. 4. (a) A qualifying patient who has been issued and possesses a registry identification card shall not be subject to arrest, prosecution, or penalty in any manner, or denied any right or privilege, including but not limited to civil penalty or disciplinary action by a business or occupational or professional licensing board or bureau, for the medical use of marihuana in accordance with this act, provided that the qualifying patient possesses an amount of marihuana

that does not exceed 2.5 ounces of usable marihuana, and, if the qualifying patient has not specified that a primary caregiver will be allowed under state law to cultivate marihuana for the qualifying patient, 12 marihuana plants kept in an enclosed, locked facility.

sec. 4. (c) A person shall not be denied custody or visitation of a minor for acting in accordance with this act, unless the person's behavior is such that it creates an unreasonable danger to the minor that can be clearly articulated and substantiated.

This is all for when you child is not sick. If your child is sick and need of medical marijuana, remember that’s ok too as long as you get the correct certifications and try not to rub it in anyone’s face in a negative way. There are plenty of folks who smell marijuana and loose all common sense. Don’t give these others any extra reason to mess with you. The law is on your side.

My Compassion understands that as we transition to having legal cannabis in our homes that many of the current public service procedures are outdated. As a parent and patient I know the importance of keeping up on legislation that changes the structure at home. By educating teachers, social workers and police we hope the proper protocols are developed that fit the new laws.

It gives me great pleasure to announce, My Compassions will offer CME, CNE, CLE and CEU continuing education courses as part of our Community Outreach Program. For more information or to support our programs please visit mycompassion.org

There are plenty of folks who smell marijuana and loose

all common sense. Don’t give these others any extra reason

to mess with you. The law is on your side.

| The American Cultivator | Spring 20154

localNatioNal

worldwidespotlight news

Michigan rep. Jeff irwin, D-Ann Arbor, called for legalization of small amounts of marijuana in this 2013 press conference. He has announced he intends to introduce similar legislation in 2015.

There has Been an evolution in the way new marijuana laws, medical or recreational, are making it onto the books in states across the nation.

This whole thing got started through the efforts of dedicated anti-prohibitionists who used the citizen initiatives to change the laws in their states – although they had to depend on like-minded philanthropists to their efforts. Now the success of the petition initiative, and the seeming inevitability of the end of marijuana prohibition, has brought new players with different motivations into the game. Not only have legislatures – in order to shape the outcome – begun stepping in ahead of possible initiatives to loosen the laws, investors are stepping in and backing initiatives that further their interests.

“More Americans favor legalization today than those who don’t. Representatives who stand in the way of the people will be swept out of office,” said former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson at the Oregon Medical Marijuana Business Conference in March. Johnson is now the President and CEO of Cannabis Sativa, Inc. 

Michigan is the poster child for all three fronts. Two different groups are backing petition initiatives that would put the question of legalizing recreational marijuana on the 2016 ballot, and Rep. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) is gearing up to introduce legalization legislation in the state House.

Irwin has introduced similar legislation in the past that went nowhere. That happened with legislation addressing edibles and dispensaries in last year’s session. The Republican-dominated Legislature has shown little inclination to address anything relaxing access to marijuana. What makes this year any different?

The fact that the Michigan Comprehensive Cannabis Law Reform Initiative Committee (MCCLRIC) has announced its intention to circulate petitions to put recreational legalization on the ballot next year makes it different. Also, another group, the Michigan Responsibility Council (MRC), has reportedly been preparing their own petition for a different system of legalization.

The MCCLRIC campaign, known as MI Legalize, is made up of many of the activists and organizations that backed the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act and many of the municipal decriminalization efforts the past several years. The MRC was started by Suzie Mitchell, a Republican fundraiser, and Paul Welday, a former Oakland County Republican Party chairman. They have not announced their exact intentions but media speculation has said their plain might be similar to the ResponsibleOhio petition initiative for the 2015 ballot. ResponsibleOhio proposes to divide the state into 10 wholesale growing operations each controlled by investors. Both are aimed at the 2016 ballot. With legalization initiatives looming for a 2016 vote – and many prognosticators agree either initiative could make the ballot — the state Legislature might decide to step up and move on Irwin’s or someone else’s legislation.

“If [the Legislature] were to take our idea and run with it that would be great and I hope we’re pushing them to move ahead with this,” says Jeffrey Hank, chair of MI Legalize. “Then we could go home and relax.”

MI Legalize hasn’t finalized the wording of its proposed law, but Hank is already talking about some broad principles.

“Not amending the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act (MMMA) or in any way taking away a right, privilege or benefit of any patient or caregiver,” Hank says.

MI Legalize seeks a tax-and-regulate system for responsible adult use in which anyone 21 and over can buy marijuana.

There would be sales and excise taxes. Tax revenues would go 40 percent to roads, 40 percent to schools and 20 percent to local governments. And industrial hemp production would be legalized.

“A Michigan farmer would get a license to grow hemp,” says Hank. “That’s going to be regulated differently than marijuana.”

So far, MRC isn’t talking, although Tim Beck, who was a leader in creating MMMA and some local decriminalization campaigns, is a consultant to the group.

“I believe this group has the ability to make cannabis legally available to anyone over the age of 21 who wants to use it,” he says. “This has been my political goal for 14 years — to achieve legalization.”

So it seems that all three roads to recreational legalization are aggressively in play. It seems possible that the two organizations might talk. MI Legalize has grassroots activists with on-the-ground experience. The Michigan Chapters of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws and Americans for Safe Access are among them. The MRC looks to be able to raise funds quickly and can open doors with Republican legislators. Both could use what the other has.

Even if they don’t cooperate, the mere presence of the other could affect how they go about their campaigns. ResponsibleOhio originally did not include home grows in its plan but expanded to include them after taking heat on the subject from competing petition initiatives. There are four different efforts pushing legalization in Ohio.

Most legalization efforts seek to regulate marijuana like alcohol. Alcohol regulations allow enthusiasts to produce

By Larry Gabriel - Editor

three different paths could lead to recreational legalization

Michigan at forefront of legal evolution

continued, PG. 16 see ForEFront

shIfTInG PuBlIc attitudes have sparked plans for legalization ballot initiatives in 2016 across the country.  Several state legislatures are considering bills allowing some version of cannabis legalization or decriminalization.

California is the biggest prize in the eyes of activists and the media. It was the first medical marijuana state in 1995 and came close to legalization in 2010 with 46 percent of the vote. Another effort in 2016 is widely expected to be successful. Even though four other states – Colorado, Washington, Alaska and Oregon – and Washington D.C. have already legalized recreational marijuana, California’s 12 percent of the population would make it the biggest legalized state. It would also consolidate the West Coast as entirely legalized.

Its neighboring state Nevada, which has fairly friendly policies, is also looking at a legalization vote. If successful it would make the Western block even bigger. Another neighboring state, Arizona, has an initiative that may make the ballot although an Arizona State University poll shows only about 45 percent voter support in the state.

The northeast coast is another area of heavy action. There are two initiatives in Maine seeking to put the question on the 2016 ballot as well as possible legislation. Nearby Massachusetts has pending legislation and an initiative headed for the same goal. Rhode Island, Connecticut and Vermont all have pending legislation that would legalize marijuana.

The Midwest gets in on the initiatives with Missouri, Ohio and Michigan all setting up for the 2016 vote. Wins on this front might speed up the growing national trend toward legalization, showing Middle America that there are strategies to reform ahead of the timetable of the major national reform organizations. With limited funds, national organizations such as the Marijuana Policy Project put their resources into states that have the best chance to legalize. This year that means California.

The allure of 2016 is that it’s a presidential election year. That draws out more voters than of-year elections, and higher voter turnout bodes well for legalizations issues. Recent polls show about 52percent of Americans support marijuana legalization – and 75 percent believe legalization is inevitable.

A couple of potential Republican candidates have already spoken out on the subject. Sen. Rand Paul is for decriminalization, as well as Texas Gov. Rick Perry. The influential Brookings Institution has declared marijuana policy an issue in the 2016 presidential race.

If 2016 brings cannabis legalization in two or three states it will look like the tide has really turned on legalization. President Barack Obama recently said that if enough states decriminalize then Congress may reschedule marijuana. The bottom line is voters are setting this policy whether governments act or not.

Many states have begun debating

legalization trendS acroSS the nationBy Mike Whitty

continued, PG. 16 see trEnDs

So it seems that all three roads to recreational legalization

are aggressively in play.

The American Cultivator | Spring 2015 | 5spotlight news

Cannabis news briefsmore Illinois cannabis consideration

The Illinois Medical Cannabis Pilot Program is just getting off the ground but Illinois lawmakers will be considering several more marijuana-related bills this session. Various proposals would extend the now-delayed pilot program, which started its four-year time period on Jan. 1, 2014. However delays have kept medical marijuana from actually reaching patients yet. In the meantime, only about 2,500 patients have applied for medical marijuana cards in the state – with 1,600 getting approval.

Another bill would add post-traumatic stress disorder to the list of qualifying conditions.

Still another bill pushes the cannabis envelope further by calling for decriminalization for adults to possess or grow small amounts of marijuana.

connecticut may cleanse convictions

Thousands of marijuana convictions in Connecticut could be erased after a state Supreme Court ruling downgraded the offenses to a civil offense equal to a parking ticket. People who have been convicted will need to request the record-cleansing through legal channels.

It’s an issue many states will have to deal with as marijuana laws change across the country: what about the people convicted for something that is no longer a criminal offense? Last year Colorado’s second highest court ruled that some people convicted for possession could ask to have their convictions thrown out.

One of the potent arguments against marijuana prohibition is that it will save on policing and incarceration costs, and shrink prison populations.

nIda to pick up pot productionThe National Institute on Drug Abuse

(NIDA) is the sole provider of cannabis for research purposes in the United States. It’s grown at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, where a record 600 kilograms were produced in 2014. That’s only about 1,300 pounds, but it’s up from the 18 kilos it previously produced.

It’s also producing strains that staffers never grew before. NIDA pot has been known as pretty weak stuff and this year’s crop features a strain rich in CBD and other with more or less equal amounts of CBD and THC.

There are many bureaucratic hurdles that researchers must jump in order to be approved for research and receive marijuana. In December, Colorado state government asked federal officials for permission to grow marijuana at its state universities in order to make it more available for research there.

NIDA also supplies marijuana to a handful of patients through a now closed Compassionate Use IND program. Each patient receives 300 joints per month from the U.S. government.

dea agent reveals bad policyIt’s hardly news that law enforcement

officers can decide where and when to enforce laws. The numbers showing which communities get the brunt of attention are there for anyone who wants to dig in. That’s what the U.S. Justice Department found in its investigation about policing in Ferguson, Missouri. For instance, in Ferguson, 16,000 of 21,000 residents have outstanding arrest warrants.

Those kinds of disparities have been a major talking point in scrutiny on the war

against drugs in recent years – the fact that while whites and minorities use drugs at approximately the same rate, but the overwhelming majority of drugs arrests fall on minorities. Now someone from inside the system is speaking up. A former U.S. Marshall and DEA agent, Matthew Fogg, gave an interview for Brave New Films in which he said that when questioning why most operations were in urban areas he was told by the special agent in charge:

“You know, if we go out there and start messing with those folks, they know judges; they know lawyers, they know politicians. You start locking their kids up; somebody’s going to jerk our chain. They’re going to call us on it, and before you know it, they’re going to shut us down, and there goes your overtime.”

Not to mention the money garnered from asset seizures and acting with impunity in most situations.

Fogg went on to say, “What I began to see is that the drug war is totally about race. If we were locking up everybody, white and black, for doing the same drugs, they would have done the same thing they did with prohibition. They would have outlawed it. They would have said, ‘Let’s stop this craziness. You’re not putting my son in jail. My daughter isn’t going to jail.’ ”

But the children of minorities and the poor can get a record that tears their families apart and ruins their possibilities for a good life.

native tribes consider cannabisNative American Indian tribes are

seriously considering the implications and practicalities of the Department of Justice memo not to prosecute marijuana-related businesses on tribal lands. A Tribal Marijuana Conference held in Washington State in early March brought representatives from 75 tribes as well as policy organization representatives and cannabis industry leaders together to consider the legal and financial concerns of running a marijuana business, and the social concerns about marijuana use.

“A great deal more are considering this than I thought would be considering it,” attendee Ken Meshigaud, chairman of the Hannahville Indian Community in Michigan, told the Associated Press. “From an economic standpoint, it may be a good venture the tribes can get into.” 

According to the DOJ memo, federally recognized sovereign tribes will be viewed the way states that have legalized marijuana for medical or recreational use as long as they adopt and enforce appropriate regulations.

The Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians in southern California have already announced their intention to grow about 40 acres of marijuana this summer. They intend to supply organically grown medical marijuana outlets in the area. The tribe expects to eventually employ 100 people in the farming operation.

cBG may help with huntington’s disease

Cannabigerol (CBG) is showing promise in treating symptoms associated with Huntington’s disease. CBG is one of dozens of cannabinoids in marijuana. Cannabinoids are chemicals that have an effect on the human body.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has been known since the early 1960s as the main contributor to the marijuana high, although more recently it has been shown to have applications for cancer treatment and other uses. Cannabidiol (CBD) has recently become popular as a treatment for epilepsy.

Now a study published in the journal Neurotherapeutics in January 2015 reports that CBG reduced proinflammatory markers and restored antioxidant defenses in mice that had been injected with a toxin that produces Huntington’s Disease-like symptoms. It also improved motor functions. CBG shows anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and neuroregenerative properties.

nh regulators to announce dispensaries

Although New Hampshire legislators passed a bill allowing medical marijuana in 2013 the only thing that has happened is that regulators have been taking their time figuring out how it’s going to work. State officials will publicly announce the developers of the four treatment centers called for in the legislation once each has been notified and owners pay $10,000 of the annual $80,000 annual fee the state requires. The centers will grow their own marijuana on-site.

marijuana safer than alcoholScientists have confirmed what earlier

studies have indicated: that alcohol is the deadliest of recreational drugs while marijuana is the safest. Canadian and German researchers using data from the World Health Organization found that alcohol is the deadliest of legal and illegal drugs that people use, followed by nicotine, cocaine and heroin. The results published in Scientific Reports [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4311234/] said that alcohol is 114 times more deadly than marijuana, which had the lowest risk of death among the drugs studied. The authors suggested that for a low-risk drug such as marijuana regulation rather than prohibition is a better approach.

colorado asks court to dismiss suit

Nebraska and Oklahoma have joined together in a lawsuit against Colorado asking the U.S. Supreme Court to knock down the law legalizing marijuana. They argue that Colorado has created a dangerous gap in the federal drug control system. Apparently the Nebraska and Oklahoma state governments are upset that legal marijuana from Colorado is illegally making its way into their states.

"Marijuana flows from this gap into neighboring states, undermining Plaintiff States' own marijuana bans, draining their treasuries, and placing stress on their criminal justice systems," claims the lawsuit. The complaining states use the popular argument that Colorado does not have authority to pass laws that conflict with the federal prohibition on marijuana.

Colorado Attorney General Cynthia Coffman has asked the high court to dismiss the case. Coffman pointed out that if the Supreme Court guts the law it would take away the regulatory framework but leave the legalization vote intact – opening the gates for a Wild West of unregulated legal marijuana.

Washington State and Oregon, where voters have chosen to legalize recreational marijuana, state attorneys general have filed “friend of the court” briefs in support of Colorado. Any federal ruling on the Colorado case would have repercussion in those states.

Marijuana Majority chair Tom Angell has pointed out, “In their filings, these states make the important point that only legalization allows for control and

regulation of the marijuana market. If Nebraska and Oklahoma succeed with this misguided lawsuit, it will only put the market back into the hands of violent drug cartels and gangs. If they really want to stop illicit trafficking and cut enforcement costs, as they say in their lawsuit, they too will move to end prohibition one day. They should do that sooner rather than later and in the meantime should at least stop trying to prevent other states from enacting effective, modern marijuana policies.”

God made marijuanaTexas state rep. David Simpson isn’t

unique in filing a bill to legalize marijuana in his state, however his discussion of the issue goes places most others don’t go.

“I am proposing that this plant be regulated like tomatoes, jalapeños or coffee,” Simpson said in a written statement. He went on to say, “Current marijuana policies are not based on science or sound evidence, but rather misinformation and fear. All that God created is good, including marijuana. God did not make a mistake when he made marijuana that the government needs to fix.

“Let’s allow the plant to be utilized for good — helping people with seizures, treating warriors with PTSD, producing fiber and other products — or simply for beauty and enjoyment. Government prohibition should be for violent actions that harm your neighbor — not of the possession, cultivation, and responsible use of plants.”

Simpson is an East Texas Tea Party Republican and has championed limited government, individual liberty and personal responsibility. He is also an opponent of asset forfeiture laws.

During a Sunday morning political television show he piled on the pontification, saying, “God can do all things. I don’t put my trust in my colleagues. I put my trust in God.”

Several Texas Republicans have publically stated their opposition to Simpson’s bill.

Indiana law may free religious cannabis

Indiana’s new Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) has some possible unintended consequences with folks who want to smoke marijuana religiously. In response to the law Libertarian marketing consultant and cannabis activist Bill Levin filed paperwork for the First Church of Cannabis Inc. “Now we begin to accomplish our goals of Love, Understanding and Good Health,” Levin posted on the church’s Facebook page.

Levin is asking a $4.20 donation Lawyer and political commentator

Abdul-Hakim Shabazz wrote for Indy Politics: "I would argue that under RFRA, as long as you can show that reefer is part of your religious practices, you got a pretty good shot of getting off scot-free."

Jamaica changes lawThe Jamaican parliament has given

final approval of changes to the nation’s Dangerous Drugs Act. The new rules deem possession of up to two ounces of marijuana a non-criminal offense punishable by a ticket and a fine. The changes also move toward establishing medical marijuana production and industrial hemp industries.

nevada grower gets oKNevada regulators have given the

green light to the state’s first medical marijuana cultivation facility. Plans are for the cultivator, Sierra Wellness Connection, to open a dispensary this summer if those permits are approved.

| The American Cultivator | Spring 20156 spotlight news

one of The most important recent developments for medical cannabis has been the introduction of the Compassionate

Access, Research Expansion, and Respect States (CARERS) Act by Sens. Corey Booker (D-NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Rand Paul (R-KY). This historic legislation finally takes science and evidence into account and not just fear and propaganda in addressing marijuana.

This is a turnaround for the fear and hysteria-based, politically motivated scheduling of marijuana by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

CARERS would require the federal government to recognize and respect the medical marijuana laws in states that have enacted them. This removes fears for patients and providers that they could be prosecuted under federal law in medical marijuana states. It also eases the fears of those who would invest in medical marijuana businesses that they could be arrested for running a criminal enterprise. This should open things up for the industry to develop even faster than it already is.

It also blocks state law enforcement from going around local law to prosecute patients and caregivers in medical marijuana states. All too often law enforcement officers have been temporarily sworn in as federal officers in order to take down those involved with marijuana when state law allowed it. Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette has all too often claimed federal sovereignty on this subject in threatening medical marijuana activities.

Even more important, CARERS changes the classification of marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act from Schedule 1 to Schedule 2. Again, this recognizes the scientific evidence that marijuana does have medical applications – something the Schedule 1 classification denied. One of the biggest legal arguments against medical marijuana has been the Schedule 1 classification, which says that it has “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.”

The new classification would also relieve the contradiction of federal policy wherein the Justice Department says that marijuana has no medical use and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) says that it does. Schedule 2 drugs are also considered to have a high potential for abuse but less dangerous than Schedule

1 drugs. Heroin and LSD are Schedule 1 drugs; cocaine and oxycodone are Schedule 2 drugs.

The Schedule 1 classification also blocks most research into marijuana’s usefulness. Again relieving a contradiction where opponents can claim there is not research showing its usefulness when little research is allowed. In fact, when government research in the 1970s showed that substances in marijuana had anti-tumor properties the research was buried and ignored. CARERS directs the National Institute on Drug Abuse to broaden access to marijuana for research.

CARERS gives a boost to medical marijuana businesses by allowing banks to do business with them. In the past banks were reluctant to work with marijuana businesses for fear of running afoul of money laundering laws or other regulations regarding the financial matters of drug businesses. This will also open up the ability for potential entrepreneurs to get loans to open new cannabis-related businesses.

It will also allow Department of Veterans Administration doctors to recommend medical marijuana to patients in states where it is allowed. This is particularly important because a large number of veterans suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and marijuana has been found to be useful in treating these patients.

The bill also seems to expand the use of medical marijuana beyond the 23 states and the District of Columbia where medical marijuana has been legalized. It would remove specific strains of CBD oil from the federal definition of cannabis. CBD is a cannabinoid, as is THC and other chemicals in marijuana, which does not produce a high and has been found to useful in treating of epilepsy.

CARERS would also ease some restrictions on transporting marijuana between states. That would allow some patients in states without medical marijuana laws to access medication in states where it is legal. This provision would also seem to put pressure on states that don’t allow medical marijuana to somehow accommodate it.

Many of these provisions are those pro marijuana activist organizations have been seeking for years. The senators worked

carerS act reSpectS State lawSBy Larry Gabriel - Editor

E d i t o r i a l

continued, PG. 16 see EDitoriAl

The fIrsT year of legal retail marijuana is in the books for Colorado. The Colorado Department of Revenue’s  Marijuana Enforcement Division recently released its annual report for 2014. Not surprising is that 2014 was a big year for marijuana sales. Perhaps what is surprising is how much and how exact the data is, as much of the data from the report was captured with Colorado’s  METRC “seed-to-sale” tracking system.

For those interested in Colorado’s  marijuana numbers in 2014, 109,578 pounds of medical marijuana and 38,660 pounds of retail marijuana sold. There were 1,964,917 units of medical marijuana edibles and 2,850,733 retail edibles sold. According to Reuters, Colorado tax officials said sales were around $700 million in 2014, with $386 million of it medical and $313 million from the recreational market.

The report, called an Annual Update, was released on Feb. 27, 2015, and touted many firsts in the state of Colorado, including the “first-in-the-world comprehensive regulatory model overseeing cultivation, products manufacturing, and sale of marijuana for non-medical retail use.” When it says overseeing, the state is supposed to know where any product is between the time it is planted and the time it is sold.

The MED report affirms the state’s commitment to transparency and providing aggregated data on Colorado marijuana commerce, and then the report breaks down the year by medical and retail plants cultivated for sale, medical and retail edible units sold, and the edible testing when it came online in May of 2014. The report concludes with a look at the MED’s efforts as an office to regulate and respond to issues of investigative due diligence and investigations of complaints, among others.

For business licenses, MED reported an overall growth of 30 percent; 2,249 licensed premises at the end of 2014 compared to 1,734 at the start of the year. Of those licensed businesses, 1,416 were medical and 833 were retail.

In addition to business licenses, the report showed an increase in occupational licenses; the MED requires these licenses for those employed by marijuana businesses. January 2014 began with 6,593 occupational licenses, and that number increased to 15,992 occupational licenses by the year’s end. While that suggests growth in marijuana industry jobs, there are other circumstances that factor into the equation, such as renewal rates are low, suggesting high turnover rates drive the high number of licenses.

Only about 21 percent of the first batch

of occupational licenses issued beginning in May 2011 and expiring between May and December 2013 were renewed by the people to whom they were issued. The report said the MED occupational license renewal rate for marijuana workers increased to about 32 percent in 2014.

Beyond personnel, the report collected data on plants and products. METRC, Colorado’s seed-to-sale tracking system, was implemented at the end of 2013. It recorded over 37 million events in 2014, according to the report. On average, there were between 300,000 and 320,000 medical plants from February through December. There were about 25,000 cultivated retail plants in the system in January, and that number rose steadily every month to 200,000 cultivated plants in December.

All in all, 148,000 pounds of marijuana was sold legally in Colorado in 2014; 109,578 pounds of medical and 38,660 pounds of retail. And that just covers the plants. Edibles are another story.

The trend shows that edibles are far more popular in the retail market than the medical market, although edibles weren’t as readily available at retail stores early in the year, as reported in  MMJ Business Daily. Ultimately more medical edibles were sold than retail, 411,099 medical units to 359,412 retail edible units; however, the smart prediction, based on the report’s illustrated trends, would be that more retail units will sell in 2015.

After the section on edibles, the report turns to testing facilities. Testing regulations for retail edibles began in May 2014, for two types of testing: potency and homogeneity.

Since May 2014, 98.2 percent of the potency tests performed passed and 99.2 percent of the homogeneity tests passed. There were 3,893 potency tests conducted through the end of the year to ensure that no products were being sold that contained more than 100 mg of THC in a single unit. Only 72 units failed potency tests were reported by METRC. Over the same time period, there were 2,261 homogeneity tests ensuring equal distribution of THC in products, and only 18 units failed in 2014. Contaminant testing for residual solvents and microbials will become a regulation in 2015.

With Orwellian regulations and tools like METRC, the marijuana scene, as this report shows, is carried out under the very watchful eye of the government, which should give investors quite an insight into what to expect as more states legalize marijuana for medical and recreational reasons.

This article was originally published on MJINews.com, a publication dedicated to providing comprehensive investment information on the legal marijuana industry.

cannabis reality in coloradoBy Matt Berg

CARERS would require the federal government to recognize

and respect the medical marijuana laws in states that

have enacted them.

The American Cultivator | Spring 2015 | 7

| The American Cultivator | Spring 20158

for a hemP farmer, this wonder-plant, with its thousands of uses, is more than a product. It’s a lifestyle, a very healthy one that holds exponential promise.

The morning usually starts out with our breads, muffins, or cakes made from nutritious hempseed flour. We wake up ready to stretch our stomachs and minds, washing down a delicious meal with, of course, some freshly percolated hemp coffee or hemp tea and an occasional smoothie, knowing that hemp promotes health and wellness. We enjoy every bite

and every sip, feeling we are actually getting smarter and healthier with every bite we take; thank you omegas and superior protein!

As for the crop itself, hemp is a zero-waste crop that provides a wealth of fuel, fiber, food, and medicine. That means every part of the hemp plant can be used. A sustainable solution, hemp has the power to immediately start repairing our economy and our DNA.

Industrial hemp grows at a rapid rate, with new crops ready for harvest within 120 days. It’s thousands of uses from industrial materials to textiles to fuel to food supplements make it an economic juggernaut. Plus it sequesters carbon and producing oxygen while it grows; I’m totally hooked on that concept alone.

In the words of the late activist Jack

Herer, “I don't know if hemp's gonna save the world, but I'll tell you this ... it's the only thing that can.”

My partner and I have seen firsthand how hardy this crop really is and the amazing potential it brings forth. We were completely hands-on with our first commercial crop, grown primarily for our organic Colorado Hemp Tea line. We hand-planted, hand worked, hand-picked and hand harvested the entire crop, collecting as many precious seed as we could gather. The crop even survived an early hail storm; after which plants that were less than two feet tall and beaten down by hail actually grew to an average height of six feet. We had never seen anything like it.

All that, and it smells good, too. The sweet aroma of hemp is divine. The bees, ladybugs and grasshoppers all love it too!

I couldn’t be happier about being a hemp farmer. And there is absolutely nothing I can think of doing that holds more potential for this planet and the

wonderful mix of people who inhabit it. We all have the same basic needs and desires, and from where I stand, it looks like hemp is on the horizon.

Derek Cross is the cofounder of Colorado Hemp Tea. He grows hemp in Colorado; learn more at  www.coloradohemptea.com and www.hemp-solutions.org.

Happy Hemp farmer

By Derek Cross

Derek cross holds a bag of hemp at an industry event. Hemp tea can be elegant.

nothing goes to waste with this plant

Hulled hemp seed nuts are nutritious and tasty.

The American Cultivator | Spring 2015 | 9

| The American Cultivator | Spring 201510

healthmediciNe

scieNceWellness

Mike’s Mom’s Massive Chocolate Chip Weed CookiesDireCtions:Preheat oven to 375°F/190°C

Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl.

Beat Cannabutter, butter, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla in large bowl till creamy.

Add eggs 1 at a time.

Slowly add flour mix, then chocolate chips

Place in preheated oven for 9-11 minutes

This recipe came from www.thecannabischef.com/ — numerous other recipes and preparations can be found at the site.

Noah comes back

noah smITh was diagnosed with Dravet syndrome, a particularly tough form of epilepsy, at age two.

“Noah has had just about every anti-epileptic medication that is on the market,” says his mother Lisa Smith. “The majority of them he had bad reactions to.”

Noah has had diet therapy, and he uses a vagus nerve stimulator, which sends electrical waves to the brain to prevent seizures or stop them once they start. None of it stopped the array of drop, absent, complex partial and general tonic clonic seizures that plagued Noah throughout his day: every day. Drop seizures are when Noah would fall down. The absent seizures made him seem generally spaced out and unfocused. Complex partial seizures affected one side of his body. The general tonic clonic seizure – formally known as grand mall — would have him hospitalized every few weeks. In addition, Noah’s autism complicated things with violent behavior.

“I started researching in early 2013,” says Lisa, who lives in Belleville, Mich., with her son. “I got tired of my son declining with autism, developmental delay, and a lot of regression. We were running out of options. I had to do something to save him and bring my boy back.”

After hearing success stories and contacting some other parents through Facebook, Lisa got certified with the state and began treating Noah with Rick Simpson Hemp Oil in November 2013. The results have been dramatic.

“He calmed down quite a bit,” says Lisa. “He started to refocus and has been able to obtain skills. He wasn’t regressing anymore. Some of the behaviors, self-injury and hitting me stopped. He used to have a really bad oral sensory problem that has decreased considerably. His seizures improved greatly; he no longer has drop seizures and absent seizures. He’s more alert. He’s more focused. He’s

able to sit at a table and do puzzles and follow directions.”

Noah is at the forefront of a controversial avenue of medical marijuana: pediatric treatment. Fears about possible injury from marijuana are multiplied when it comes to children. For instance, the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act requires the recommendation of two doctors and written permission from a parent or guardian.

However the amazing results with small children with conditions similar to Noah’s, particularly when all other medications have not been successful, have convinced at least some that medical marijuana can be good for children. Some states have even passed so-called CBD only medical marijuana laws based on the belief that the CBD cannabinoid in marijuana – which does not get you high and is therefore consider safe by some – is the part that stops seizures.

Actually there are dozens of cannabinoids in marijuana that are just beginning to come to the attention of researchers. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

was the first identified and has taken the label as the compound that "gets you high." However research is beginning to show that the numerous cannabinoids work together in healing disease. Studies have shown that CBD and THC together are more effective in shrinking and killing

cancer cells. Cannabigeral (CBG) is another compound coming to light for its healing properties. Learning to balance CBD and THC is a key to establishing quality treatment with medical marijuana.

While the CBD-only thrust has been a mainstream concept popularizing marijuana strains low in THC. Anecdotal evidence shows that THC helps at different levels with different patients. Noah is one of them.

“Noah seems to do a little better on a higher THC ratio,” says Lisa. “There is some CBD, but we upped the THC and that helps. That’s what I’ve found so far. My physician knows that I use this with my son and he says as long as it’s helping him he’s all for it.”

Noah takes cannabis oil three times a day. Lisa says the only time Noah has seizures anymore is when he’s coming down with a virus. He had two general tonic clonic seizures

dravet syndrome patient responds to cannabisBy Larry Gabriel and Chelsea Shaker

continued, PG. 16 see noAH

Noah takes cannabis oil three times a day.

Lisa says the only time Noah has seizures

anymore is when he’s coming down with a virus.

IngredIents:1 and 1/3 cups flour (make the 1/3 cup heaping)

1 teaspoon baking soda1 teaspoon salt6oz/175g of Cannabutter1oz/29g of regular butter (1/4 of a stick)3/4 cup white sugar1 big cup brown sugar (don’t pack down)1 teaspoon vanilla extract2 large eggs1 and 3/4 cups chocolate chips

The American Cultivator | Spring 2015 | 11Wellness

describes is common. “From our experience, we’ve seen good results from CBD that includes small amounts of THC. All of our strains have at least a little bit of THC. We’ve heard bad [hemp derived] CBD stories”

Nonpsychoactive CBD obtained from hemp is popular these days because it has no THC content. Some states have instituted CBD-only laws to allow seizure patients, particularly children, access to cannabis-based medicines. Clinical and anecdotal evidence is emerging that shows a combination of CBD with a little THC to be more effective in medical therapies.

“We’ve seen great success with Cannatonic #4,” he says, a strain that’s 14-15 percent CBD and 1 percent THC. Om verifies cannabinoid amounts using a third party lab. . Cannatonic #4 is the kind that Cole first tried.

David Crocker, M.D., is owner and operator of Michigan Holistic Health clinics in Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids and Battle Creek, Michigan. MHH caters to 10,000 patients, of which more than 400 are adult seizure patients who use cannabis. While he, anecdotally, can point to good results with CBD-THC medical marijuana, he says “there’re not a lot of studies that address this.”

With medicinal cannabis, he says, “Patients are able to get off their seizure medications, and generally the patients are very happy with the results they get. Some patients found no benefit — it’s hard to tell if it’s the selection of strain, or the method of consumption.

“I think most of our patient use strains that have both THC and CBD, and they are happy with the result. We can’t administer the medication in our office legally, and we can’t provide it. Either [patients] grow it or get it from their caretakers.”

CBD is the dominant ingredient that affects seizures and doesn’t have a psychoactive effect, yet seems to

best work in harmony with even a very small amount of THC. It’s the entourage effect of the whole plant rather than just one cannabinoid.

“It’s curious to me how people poo-poo THC strains, when there’s clinical evidence,” that it works, he says. “There were basic studies that showed CBD appeared to reduce seizures. The U.S. government has a patent on cannabis CBD for the specific purpose of controlling seizures and glaucoma.”

“There’s not a lot of peer reviewed, double-blind, human studies that we can use to hang our hat on,” Crocker continues. “What we want is for cannabis to be rescheduled, so we can get access to these studies. It’s difficult to get studies on the benefits of marijuana. So it’s a catch-22; we can’t get the research to advocate for re-scheduling, but we can’t reschedule without the research. Ultimately, I think we’ll get it from popular demand and from anecdotal [evidence]. There’s never been an overdose fatality. Patients benefit and enjoy the side effects, unlike the side effects of pills.”

Crocker says that roughly a quarter of MHH’s seizure patients no longer use their seizure meds, noting that some people used to have hundreds of seizures a day, “and now they don’t. They’ve found something that works and isn’t dangerous.”

While Crocker is optimistic that marijuana will be re-scheduled so that appropriate research can be conducted, he laments, “It’s difficult to get common sense laws passed. There’s been a lot of propaganda against pot for decades. There’re a lot of older people who took what the government said as truth, and now have seen people like Sanjay Gupta say otherwise, and they’re realizing cannabis works and it’s not dangerous. Law enforcement still has a vested interest in keeping cannabis illegal.”

Valerie Vande Pane is a former editor of Detroit’s Metro Times and was a writer for High Times magazine. Check her out @asktheduchess.

epilepticcontinued from Front Page

the Green room at the om of Medicine where Kimberly cole made her first medical marijuana choice.

There are significant issues when it comes to children and medical marijuana.

If you are seeking cannabis therapy for your child it’s probably because conventional treatments have not worked and you are at your wits end. At least understand that you are not alone. Children everywhere are fighting from a disease or a disorder that cannabis has been shown to be effective in treating, multiple times over. The parents are desperate for the simple right and privilege to do anything in their power to try to heal their children. However some parents are being prosecuted for treating their kids with cannabis.

First you need to know what the law in your state is regarding medical cannabis and children. It’s typical that certification for pediatric use is more stringent. In Illinois and Michigan a recommendation is required from two doctors rather than the one that adults need. You also need to know the rules for edibles and extracts as much pediatric cannabis is consumed in these forms. Then get your child certified as a medical marijuana patient. You also may want to look into become a caregiver.

If your doctor knows anything about cannabis that’s a good start. A knowledgeable doctor can provide you with a lot of information although not cannabis. Reach out to other parents. If you know someone else who is using pediatric cannabis that’s a plus, but you will probably have to get busy on the internet searching for parent groups

where information is shared, articles written about pediatric patients and scientific studies. Conditions that pediatric patients have been finding success with are epilepsy, cancer, and autism.

If you are in contact with other parents they can help you with this, but you need to learn about marijuana and the strains that are helping other patients.

You need to learn about how and how often the children need medication. During this time you will learn about cannabinoids and the difference between THC and CBD, how they work alone and how they work together. Some patients respond well a very high CBD to THC proportion while others need a higher level of THC. This is something you are going to have to work out as you go.

Depending on where you live and who you come into contact with you may need to learn how to grow marijuana and how to make extracts yourself. Particularly if you need to guarantee that you have the exact same strain all the time.

One more thing, be prepared for some people to stigmatize you for using marijuana to treat your child. It may not happen, but there can be blowback from people you know or even law enforcement. Some people have been shunned and even arrested for medicating their children. That is where being in contact with a community of other parents whose children are being treated is very helpful.

If you are interested in cannabis treatments for your child, here are a few places to start: www.mycompassion.org, www.parents4pot.org, www.cureepilepsy.org, and www.projectCBD.org.

children and MarijuanaBy Larry Gabriel and Chelsea Shaker

Want to advertise with The american Cultivator?

Contact us at 844-226-6200 to place your ad today or download the ad kit on our RATES page at www.theamericancultivator.com

The American Cultivatorwww.theamericancultivator.com

| The American Cultivator | Spring 201512

The American Cultivator | Spring 2015 | 13

The American Cultivatorwww.theamericancultivator.com

The latest Cannabis News delivered right to your home!

4 issuesonly$1500

C/O My Compassion, P.O. Box 1701 Taylor, MI 48180 • 844-226-6200

I’m usually looking forward for what’s coming next with cannabis here, which is why I generally don’t do those year-in-review things looking back at what happened. But when you stop and think about it 2014 was the year marijuana went mainstream. And that’s worthy of some consideration.

Think about this: Tommy Chong, who is known for little else than marijuana, was a contestant on “Dancing with the Stars.” Judges consistently ruled the 76-year-old Chong’s dancing as substandard but the public votes kept him going all the way to the semi-finals.

Even what could easily have been a major black eye for legalization in Colorado

didn’t turn out so bad when New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd ate too much of an infused chocolate bar and had a very, very bad experience while in Denver. Dowd wrote in a June column, "As my paranoia deepened, I became convinced that I had died and no one was telling me."

Rather than a wave of fear, Dowd was the object of some late night jokes and inspired a Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) consume responsibly campaign in Colorado featuring a billboard depicting the scene of a Dowd-like model apparently not having fun in her hotel room. The MPP sent Dowd a Christmas card with the billboard pictured on it. Dowd was quoted saying, “I love it.” She also got some advice from singer Willie Nelson on using the herb.

Despite Dowd’s experience a month later the Times ran a groundbreaking editorial and series calling for the legalization of marijuana.

Actually another pot billboard from the MPP caught attention earlier in the year when the organization put up billboards near Metlife Stadium in New Jersey where the Super Bowl was being played. The billboards carried a message challenging the NFL on its marijuana policy.

Super Bowl 2014 also had a sidelight title as the Stoner Bowl because the opponents, Denver and Seattle, were from Colorado and Washington State, the two states that had voted to legalize marijuana at the time. Since then Alaska, Oregon and Washington D.C. have joined them in legalizing.

President Barack Obama told The New Yorker magazine, “I don’t think [marijuana] is more dangerous than alcohol. … [W]e should not be locking up kids or individual users for long stretches of jail time.” Not only do a majority of Americans agree with him, in a Wall Street Journal poll respondents said that cannabis poses less harm to health than tobacco, alcohol and sugar.

Celebrity names have begun popping up backing marijuana brands lately, but none more appropriate than the international brand Marley Natural. The brand, created in an agreement between Privateer Holdings and the Marley family, will market a number of medicinal creams and lotions in addition to heirloom strains. Members of Marley’s family appeared on NBC’s “Today Show” to announce the project.

Finally, the buds have been counted and the report is in. Nearly $700 million worth of marijuana in varying forms was sold in Colorado last year — $385.9 million for medical and $313-2 million for recreational. Out of that total some $76 million was paid in taxes. And that’s just one state.

Any way you look at it that’s a big pile of money. And there’s nothing more mainstream in America. Lots of folks are going to look at those economic figures and make their decision in favor of marijuana in 2015.

Marijuana went MainStreaM in 2014

By Larry Gabriel

| The American Cultivator | Spring 201514

eNterPrisetechNoloGy

commoditiesCannabusiness

InvesTInG In marijuana stocks is still in large part a chancy move. A year ago the “green rush” had inflated markets to highs that proved unsustainable and many formerly high-rolling stocks are showing much lower trading prices. Forbe’s ran a story touting the eight hottest publicly traded marijuana companies in Nov. 2014 — every one of them is down or flat since then, mostly down. But there are always hidden gems in a down market.

In this newest of markets there is going to be shakeout of some individual players but with legalization coming online in Oregon and Alaska this year, and several more states looking at legalization in 2016 elections marijuana-related companies have a solid basis for growth. That doesn’t even take into account developing medical applications and the emerging industrial hemp industry.

GW Pharmaceuticals (GWP.L) is one company that has bucked that trend. Stock for the British maker of Sativex, a whole marijuana plant treatment for Multiple Sclerosis, has been on a steady increase the past two years and has gone up in price by more than $150 over the past three months. So there are winners to be found. But investors need to be prudent as they would be for any investment when surveying the marijuana marketplace.

There will be successes and failures, but money continues to flow into marijuana businesses and it doesn’t look like it’s going to stop any time soon. Some stocks have substantial prices while many of them are literally penny stocks with prices less than $1 per share. There are hundreds of marijuana-related stocks out there, from medical researchers to grow suppliers to edible manufacturers. One good place to start looking is the website

http://marijuanastocks.com/content/list-marijuana-stocks/. Here is a sampling of some marijuana-related companies and their stock performance over the past year.

unITed cannaBIs (cnaB)Stock price: Oct. 24, 2013, $0.76; March

27, 2014 $6.65; March 20, 2015 $0.80United Cannabis does research on the

use of cannabinoids as medicine and is focused on developing CBD-heavy strains of marijuana. When Jamaica decriminalized marijuana in February United Cannabis announced a partnership with the country’s Cannabinoid Research & Development and the Scientific Research Council in collaboration with the University of the West Indies to bring its Prana Bio Medicinal line of products for analysis and preclinical trials.

fusIon Pharm, Inc. (fsPm)Stock price: April 1, 2013, $0.17; March

24, 2014, $6.38; March 18, 2014, $0.12FusionPharm, Inc, based in Denver, Co.,

manufactures and sells a line of cultivation containers made from used steel shipping containers under the PharmPod brand name in the United States. This product, with a built-in hydroponic growing system, is a suitable for marijuana growers or urban gardening in general. These growing rooms can be stacked inside a warehouse and you are ready to grow. The company touts that growing in these containers uses less than 20 percent of water used in other growing methods.

BreedIT (BrdT)Stock price: April 1, 2013, $0.13; March

21, 2014 $0.79; March 19, 2015 $0.05BreedIT represents the joining of an

Israeli medical marijuana grower and an American tech company to genetically breed strains of cannabis to treat specific health conditions. BreedIT seeks to create

designer strains of high CBD to THC ratios although some high THC strains will be researched for pain control. The company has already applied for the approval of two new proprietary medical cannabis strains with the Israeli government.

GW PharmaceuTIcals Plc (GWP.l)Stock price: March 27, 2013, $42; March

24, 2014, $309; March 18, 2015, $543The stock price for GW Pharmaceuticals

looked like it was pretty high a year ago when it was near an all time high, but it seems to keep performing well. GW engages in developing and commercializing cannabinoid prescription medicines. It primarily offers Sativex, a spray to treat MS symptoms, and neuropathic and cancer pain. Based in the United Kingdom, GW’s Sativex is the only natural marijuana extract approved for sale in some countries although it has not yet been approved for use in the United States.

ToTally hemP crazy Inc (Thcz)Stock price: Aug. 6, 2014, $0.02; March

18, 2015, $0.05This company markets a variety of

non-psychoactive hemp seed infused drinks under the Rocky Mountain High label. Totally Hemp Crazy is in discussions with various hemp and medical marijuana operations in addition to development of hemp oils, candies and chewing gums.

cannavesT corP. (canv)Stock price: March 27, 2013, $2.65; March

24, 2014, $57.00; March 18, 2015, $2.68CannaVEST Corp., based in Las Vegas, develops, produces, markets, and distributes hemp-based nutrients, dietary supplements  and  herbal products for consumers. Its product portfolio includes Real Scientific Hemp Oil branded an industrial hemp oil packaged in tubes; Cibdex branded cannabidiol (CBD) capsules

and flavored tinctures packaged in bottles; beauty products containing hemp oil, including lotion, body wash, salve, shampoo, conditioner, and hand cream under the Cibaderm brand; and a line of purified hemp oil under the CBD Simple brand.

cannaBIs saTIva, Inc. (cBds)Stock price: March 27, 2013, $0.84;

March 24, 2014, $9; March 18, 2015, $5.19Cannabis Sativa, Inc., through its

subsidiary, Wild Earth Naturals, Inc., develops, manufactures, distributes, and sells herbal based line of products, including Go Deep, a salve to reduce pain and inflammation when massaged into muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints; Face Garden, an antioxidant and moisturizing cream for the face; Body Garden, a moisturizing body lotion; and Lip Garden, an emollient balm, in addition to other products.

GroWlIfe, Inc. (PhoT)Stock price: March 27, 2013, $0.05;

March 24, 2014, $0.50; March 18, 2015, $0.03GrowLife, Inc., based in Seattle, Wash.,

manufactures and supplies equipment and expendables for urban gardening in the United States. The company offers nutrients and soils for the growing of medical marijuana. It also distributes and sells approximately 3,000 products, including the Stealth Grow line of LED lighting products and SG Sensors automated lighting and growing equipment. The company also manufactures hydroponic plant growing systems.

TWeed marIJuana Inc. (TWmJf)Stock price: April 4, 2014, $2.58; March

18m 2015, $2.12Tweed Marijuana Inc., a Canadian

company, grows medical marijuana and sells it. A video on its website says you will soon be able to order it online for delivery in Canada. It offers medical marijuana to treat symptoms such as chronic pain, seizures, muscle spasms, nausea, and loss of appetite.

GreenGro TechnoloGIes, Inc. (Grnh)

Stock price: March 27, 2013, $0.07; March 24, 2014, $0.52; March 18, 2015, $0.09

Cal i fornia - base d Gre enGro Technologies, Inc. makes aquaponic and hydroponic growing systems for indoors and outdoors, aimed at home consumers and commercial growers. The company’s vertical growing system uses space and light to improve plant yields.

novus acquIsITIon & develoPmenT corP. (ndev)

Stock price: March 27, 2013, $0.77; March 24, 2014, $0.06; March 18, 2015, $0.18

Novus Acquisition & Development Corp., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the healthcare sector of the medical marijuana field (MMJ). This Florida company provides health insurance and medical plans for patients who pursue alternative treatment with MMJ/hemp. It also offers professional risk management services to employers, municipalities, healthcare provider organizations, and businesses in various aspects of the MMJ industry, and compliance with state mandates and federal guidelines.

caNNabis stocks take wild swiNgs

By Larry Gabriel

The American Cultivator | Spring 2015 | 15

| The American Cultivator | Spring 201516 Cannabusiness

2. To be awarded after further review.diStrict 43: 1. Maribis of Chicago, LLC 2. Chicago Alternative Health Center, LLCdiStrict 44: The Cannabis Group 2. MedMar, Inc.diStrict 45: Nu Med Rx, LLC 3diStrict 46: 420 Capital Management, LLCdiStrict 48: Professional Pharmacy Management, LLC

cultivation center perMit applicantS Subject to further reviewdiStrict 2: Curative Health, LLCdiStrict c (Districts 3 and 4): Illinois Grown Medicine diStrict 12: Effingham Farms

diSpenSary applicantS Subject to further reviewdiStrict 9: Health Central, LLC District 11 Health Central, LLCdiStrict 41: Curative Health, LLCdiStrict 42: IL WelMed, LLCdiStrict 48: Custom Strains, LLC

winnerScontinued from Front Page

forefrontcontinued from page 4

trendScontinued from page 4

editorialcontinued from page 6

lIKe The California Gold Rush of the 19th century, the legalized marijuana trade is attracting industry hopefuls nationwide with great expectations for working in this booming nascent sector.

If federal legalization takes place, U.S. retail marijuana sales revenues could reach $35 billion by 2020, surpassing the NFL, according to a report by GreenWave Advisors. Alternatively, if federal legalization doesn’t take place by 2020, GreenWave Advisors predicts revenue to climb to $21 billion.

Employment opportunities are riding the coattails of this burgeoning industry. The legalized marijuana industry in Colorado created nearly 16,000 jobs in 2014, according to Colorado’s Marijuana Enforcement Division.

While many applicants are eager to develop new skills or share a certain expertise, the same facets of the industry that attract quality employees are the same that lure those who are ultimately a bad fit and lose businesses’ money through time spent in recruitment and training efforts.

Cannabis staf f ing agencies sort through the growing applicant pool, often saving businesses both time and money. “We are averaging close to 200 resumes a week,” said Stephen Sullivan, president of Denver-based  Ms. Mary Staffing LLC, adding that the number of applicants continues to climb.

According to Sullivan, growers, trimmers, budtenders and retail dispensary positions are currently among the most in demand. However Sullivan also reported that  the employee turnover rate is high. “Staffing agencies help lower that

because we find people who want a job in the industry and want to stay in it for the long haul,” he said.

Ms. Mary Staffing’s fee also includes a six-month insurance policy that will replace an employee who doesn’t work out during the first six months of being hired.

Much of the turnover can be attributed to the industry being so new, and both companies and employees are adapting to a “learning curve with company culture and employment law,” said Danielle Schumacher, partner at boutique marijuana recruiting firm THC Staffing Group. The company is based in both Boston, Massachusetts, and San Francisco, California.

“Some new employees find they’re not as committed as they thought,” Schumacher said. “You see high turnover across the board depending on what the job is and what factors lead that employee to be disappointed.”

For example, often those who are eager to work with marijuana plants underestimate the hard physical labor involved in cultivation.  “They have a misconception of what the job will entail,” she said, adding that there is an expectation for someone new to the industry to do a wide range of tasks.

In addition to providing a third-party human resources arm, many cannabis staffing agencies offer payroll and other services that can reduce in-house business costs.

“It’s often easier and more cost-effective for businesses to outsource the recruiting process,” said Shaleen Title, partner at THC Staffing Group. “Especially when you don’t have a dedicated human resource person, owning a marijuana business can leave you pressed for time,

particularly in the period before doors open in the newer markets.”

While some marijuana industry hopefuls might have unrealistic expectations about the jobs they seek, there are many qualified candidates who are bringing a range of skill sets to the sector.

“We see those with MBAs, those with prominent finance roles, those with PhDs in organic chemistry — they’re all looking to make a transition,” Sullivan said.

In addition, according to Title, the legalized marijuana industry presents a unique opportunity for a more diverse workforce than seen in other industries.

“Plenty of savvy business owners are seeking diversity in their hiring to be able to market to broader audiences,” Title said. “We’re seeing that a lot with businesses that hope to attract more women connecting with groups, like Women Grow. More diversity equals more innovation — and cannabis patients and consumers understand this. They reward businesses that reflect the values which changed the laws and created the industry.”

As interest in the sector continues to grow, cannabis staffing agencies are finding skilled and qualified candidates who fit the culture of the business quickly and efficiently, often saving businesses the time and money that would have been spent sorting through hundreds of applications. And by finding candidates who genuinely want a role in the industry, specialized recruiting firms help curb turnover by weeding out industry hopefuls who are a little too starry-eyed.

This article was originally published on MJINews.com, a publication dedicated to providing comprehensive investment information on the legal marijuana industry.

Cannabis staffing agenCies Challenge high turnover

By Cassandra Dowell

medical cannabis or legalization. The attendant media attention seems to be preparing the political ground for future success either legislatively or through ballot initiatives.

Mike Whitty is a member of MINORML, ASA, DPA, MPP, ACLU and the Coalition for Cannabis Policy Reform. Contact him at mikewhitty@prodigy.net.

with the Drug Policy Alliance, the Marijuana Policy Project, Americans for Safe Access and others in developing the act.

There’s still a long road from introducing an act to actually making it law. There have been a number of pro marijuana acts introduced over the past several years that never saw the light of day. However, the bipartisan sponsorship of the bill shows potential for wider support among lawmakers. The support is already there among citizens. A 2012 national CBS News poll found 83 percent support for medical marijuana, and a 2013 Fox News poll found 85 percent support.

It wouldn’t be unheard of for lawmakers to chose contrary to the popular sentiment, or contrary to the evidence, but it is becoming more and more difficult for them to do so — particularly when almost anyone can access information on the internet and more and more people are seeing the results themselves when family, friends and neighbors get good results from marijuana treatments.

This is another development in the long fight against marijuana prohibition. The stigma against any and all use of marijuana has fallen to the point where we can at least have a public discussion, and that discussion has reached the highest levels of our government.

It has to be considered at that level. When you see numerous states change their laws despite federal prohibition. The scientific evidence from Israel, Great Britain, and other countries, combined with the limited research allowed in the United States contradicts the politically and fear-driven public policies that have caused harm to citizens and helped create drug cartels that rival national governments.

It’s way past time to do the right thing.

this winter and one back in November.“It’s when winter starts to come on that

he has the most problems,” she says.Lisa suffers from fibromyalgia, arthritis

and COPD. She doesn’t use medical marijuana although she plans to discuss it with her doctor soon.

In the meantime, Noah’s doctor has sent several patients considering cannabis therapy for their children to Lisa to discuss the subject. She stays in contact with other parents as they compare their experiences and share information. It’s a big change. She’s been stopped by others who notice the big changes in Noah and want to what caused it. She tells them the truth.

“Life is less stressful and more enjoyable because I’m seeing my little boy come back,” she says. “I’m watching him grow and develop rather than regress.”

noahcontinued from page 10

www.theamericancultivator.com

limited amounts of beer and wine, so it makes sense to allow limited home grows for marijuana. Colorado law allows them.

“We’re willing to talk to them,” Hank says. “They’re quiet and haven’t announced their intentions. Until they come out publicly and say what they’re going to do or approach us we don’t know what they’re going to do.”

MI Legalize organizers are looking at what they consider the “best practices” in Colorado. They also predict $200 million in taxes for the state based on what they see in Colorado and bumped up for Michigan’s larger population, and a $300 million savings in law enforcement costs by not pursuing marijuana users.

The tax numbers and the plan to dedicate 40 percent to roads relates to current politics in the state and its terribly maintained roads. A recent poll on support for legalization in Michigan shows 50 percent for and 47 percent against; that’s a razor thin margin. However, a different poll found 64 percent support for legalization when the question included the provision that marijuana taxes pay for road repair – the so-called pot for potholes idea.

“We want to do a really good law, get feedback from everyone and get something we can live with and can pass,” says Hank.

However it goes, cannabis legalization is going to be a hot button topic in Michigan at least through next year.

The American Cultivator | Spring 2015 | 17

| The American Cultivator | Spring 201518

arts eNtertaiNmeNt

liFestylehemp Culture

Word Search

ARTHRITISHEPATITISNAUSEACANCER

GLAUCOMAHIV

AIDSCHRONIC PAIN

SEIZURESANOREXIAMIGRAINE

CROHNS DISEASE

FIBROMYALGIATARLOV CYSTSHYDROMYELIA

HYDROCEPSYRINGOMYELIA

MYOCLONUS

DYSTONIACAUSALGIA

CRPSLUPUS

WASTING SYNDROME

Medical Marijuana Qualifying conditionsThis is a list of some conditions that qualify patients for medical marijuana use.

This list is not complete. Different states have different conditions. Please check with local authorities for a complete list of conditions in your state.

“It doesn’t have a high potential for abuse, and there are very legitimate medical applications.”

– Dr. Sanjay Gupta

The creaTIve names for many of the numerous strains of marijuana on the market taxes the imagination. They range from the rough and tough (Beast Mode, AK47, NYC Diesel, Trainwreck) to the euphoric (Vanilla Sky, Fuzzy Sugaree, Northern Lights) to the fruity (Strawberry Cough, Blueberry). However when the 70-ish Joyce, who lives in Hamtramck, Michigan, started using medical marijuana to ease the pain of her rheumatoid arthritis she chose a strain she had heard of in her youth: Acapulco Gold.

Back in the day the handful of strains

available were named after the place they came from – Jamaican, Columbian, Hawaiian. There was no talk of sativa or indica, and nobody really knew about cannabinoids.

Joyce likes that Acapulco Gold is a sativa-dominant hybrid. “Sativa is a motivated body high and with indica-domiant strains it’s sort of like a couch potato,” Joyce says. “I like to be able to do my housework.”

Acapulco Gold is one of the most famous strains of all time – given a boost by comedians Cheech and Chong in their 1971 commercial for “Acapulco Gold filters,” the “herb superb.”

SEEMS LIKE old timeSBy TAC Staff

The American Cultivator | Spring 2015 | 19