Tiffany Devitt

Patients and consumers: Demand Safe Medicine!!! Demand Safe Products!!! Great news for product safety standards in California could be very bad news for cultivators who are not in compliance with Categeoy 4 testing requirements. What is Category 4 testing, you ask? Category 4 testing in California’s cannabis industry represents a distinct and voluntary elevation of safety standards, a refinement born of both necessity and virtue. While the state, through its Department of Cannabis Control, mandates the testing of 66 pesticides, this regime—though foundational—is but a baseline. Category 4 testing emerges as a more meticulous endeavor, screening for nearly 400 pesticides and contaminants. It is a broader net cast into the murky waters of potential impurity. This heightened vigilance stems not from regulation but from a moral imperative—a response to unsettling revelations. Reports, such as those by the Los Angeles Times, have unveiled the limits of existing protocols, with products deemed compliant still harboring toxic residues in disconcerting quantities. In light of such findings, some among the industry have chosen to lead where the law has yet to follow. Retailers and brands committed to Category 4 testing signal not only their adherence to consumer safety but also their defiance of complacency. This initiative is not dictated from above; it is a choice, a testament to the integrity of those who have embraced it. Brands like KANHA, adopting this elevated standard, underscore their fidelity to both the craft and the conscience of cannabis production. Category 4 testing, then, is more than a procedure—it is a declaration. It proclaims a commitment to cleanliness, transparency, and the highest good of the consumer. It acknowledges that in a burgeoning industry, trust is not merely earned through compliance but through the courage to exceed expectation. It is the voluntary standard setting that we want to see across the entire cannabis industry. Starting in California, this enhanced focus will spread to other states and, eventually, worldwide. Patients and consumers should know that the medicine and products that they put in their body are not only marginally clean, but are in fact contaminant-free and botanically pure. Bravo to those early adopters who are committed to consumer safety and who are raising the standards for cannabis safety everywhere.

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As the cannabis industry matures, we are starting to get reliable data. This can help make decisions based on real sales figures and not predictions. 10 years ago, there was only one state with adult use sales (#colorado) and a handful of states with medical seals. Now there is 24 sates with adult use sales and an additional 15 states with medical seals. At the moment #california leads with total seals but #michigan leads with per capita seals. #florida leads in medical seals. #missouri with a relatively small population and only 17 months since they launched their adult-use market, is already in fifth place. Thank you Debra Borchardt from Green Market Report for the financial update. #cannabisindustry #cannabiscommunity #cannabisnews #cannabiseducation #cannabispolicy #cannbislaw https://lnkd.in/gc96gcCh

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There is a 44-page proposal that has been circulating in political circles in #sacramento since June as an amendment to Assembly Bill 2223, which was originally intended as new rules for hemp businesses. It’s also reportedly backed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. There has been a artificial split between hemp and cannabis. In 2018 hemp was legalize nationwide through the farm bill. That opened a loophole to sell intoxicating hemp products with virtually no oversight. For the past two years there has been an attempt to regulate the hemp industry at the federal level through a new farm bill. Last year the bill got pushed to this year and it looks like the bill will be pushed again to next year. Some states such as #california are working on their own bills to regulate hemp-derived intoxicating products. The new adamant if attached to AB 2223 would require intoxicating hemp products to be overseen by the Department of Cannabis Control, potentially overloading the office. It would open up regulated interstate cannabis commerce, but only for hemp products and not for state-legal cannabis products, setting a new legal precedent that cannabis farmers could be left out of. It would give interstate import and export exclusivity to cannabis distributors, artificially creating some winners in the cannabis trade while disadvantaging others. We need to work together and not have hemp and cannabis producers being pinned against each other. We need one set of rules for both. We need a system that consumer safety, and access is the top priority. Thank you to John Schroyer from Green Market Report for the state update. #cannabisindustry #hemp #cannabiscommunity #cannabisnews #cannabiseducation #cannabispolicy #cannbislaw

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Hey #cannabisindustry, The WeedWeek newsletter is up! -- Pesticide questions pile up in California Link and lots more in the comments

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🚨 **Important Update for Cannabis Growers in Washington State!** 🚨 The WSDA has updated its list of approved pesticides with two essential columns: 1️⃣ **Section 3 Pesticides under Worker Protection Standard (WPS)**   2️⃣ **Section 3 Pesticides for "HG Only" Home-Grown Medical Cannabis** **Key Points to Remember:** - Products marked as “HG Only = Yes” are strictly for home-grown medical cannabis use and are **not permitted for commercial production**. - **Spray Adjuvants**: While not listed separately, any spray adjuvant labeled for food crops can be used with an allowed pesticide on cannabis, provided it complies with the adjuvant label. Check the WSU PICOL database for registered spray adjuvants in Washington. 🛡️ **Compliance Tips:** - Ensure all pesticides in use are on the allowed list. - Existing stocks of removed pesticides can be used up, but no new purchases are allowed. - A new active ingredient, **Metarhizium brunneum** (formerly Metarhizium anisopliae) Strain F52, has been added to the list. - Always follow the label directions and precautions for any pesticide use. **🆕 New Products Added:** - Drip Hydro Dip Rooting Gel (Section 3) - LalGuard M52 GR (Section 3) - Liquid Harvest Vinegar Weed & Grass Killer (Section 3) - HygroPunch (Section 25b) **❌Products Removed:** - Green Gobbler 20% Vinegar Weed Killer - Green Step II Caterpillar Control - Mosquito Bits Quick Kill - Onward - Plant Guardian Biofungicide Wettable Powder - Plant Guardian Insecticidal Soap - Prestop WG - Proof Cold-Pressed Neem Oil - Sil-Matrix Fungicide/Miticide/Insecticide - Vinagreen - Whitney Farms Insecticidal Soap - Zio - Banish - BH-B Botanohealth Fungicide - BugZooka - Dr. Earth Final Stop Slug & Snail Killer Spray - Procidic-C - Smite - TCC-IPM 🔍 **For the complete list and detailed criteria, visit the WSDA website.** **Contact Information:** - For Cannabis List inquiries: Laurel Schmalz, 📞 360-974-9759, 📧 [email protected] - For pesticide and fertilizer registration: WSDA Pesticide and Fertilizer Registration Section, 📞 360-902-2025, 📧 [email protected], 📧 [email protected] - For compliance with pesticide labels: WSDA Pesticide Compliance Program, 📞 360-902-2040, 📧[email protected] - For other questions, contact your Liquor and Cannabis Board enforcement officer. -For a consult with your favorite cannabis attorney, don’t hesitate to reach me at [email protected] or (509)900-6182 Stay informed and compliant to ensure the safety and success of your cannabis cultivation! 🌱💼#CannabisCompliance #WSDAUpdate #PesticideSafety #CannabisGrowing #lawmera #WSLCB #cannabislaw #lawyer For more details, visit the WSDA's website at (https://lnkd.in/gwyNeKAQ).

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Organic Cannabis?!? CCOF certifies (legal) cannabis in California to "OCal," a state standard designed to mirror the national organic standards. Cannabis remains ineligible for USDA organic certification, but OCal-certified Cannabis is held to the same level of oversight and production standards. Whatever your personal opinions may be, cannabis is a staple crop in California with a horrific track record of toxic pesticide use and damaging environmental practices. OCal distinguishes cannabis farmers who are committed to organic principles and safe production practices. In particular, our Board of Directors carefully considered medical cannabis consumers and their potential for chemical exposures when deciding to certify to this new California standard. Learn more about OCal producers in our new mini doc:

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While the California Cannabis Industry Association (CCIA) is still evaluating the investigative report prepared by Paige St. John and Alex Halperin, and released by the Los Angeles Times, we are deeply concerned by any data that suggests consumer safety is at risk. "California has some of the most stringent cannabis standards in the nation, designed to protect consumer safety and public health. However, the state’s continued failure to enforce against those who fail to comply — both inside and outside of the regulated market — has put the credibility of the entire adult-use market in peril, and now threatens the very consumers we aim to serve. "Due to overly burdensome regulations, high taxes, and a lack of oversight, the state has inadvertently created an environment where bad actors feel compelled to cut corners to compete and survive. This undermines the integrity of the market and compromises consumer safety. "It is the explicit role of a regulator to establish and enforce standards that protect consumer safety. Compliant industries rely on these standards to guide their practices. Given the known safety risks associated with certain pesticides, we would expect the state to implement the strongest protections with which we can effectively comply. "It is equally important to recognize that the findings from this report, based on a limited sample from a few brands, do not represent the industry as a whole. Many reputable operators work tirelessly to ensure the safety of their products, often far exceeding California’s regulatory standards while pioneering innovation across the industry. The actions of a few should not tarnish the efforts of those who are committed to compliance and consumer safety. "CCIA has been calling on policymakers for years to take action to address the thriving illicit market and non-compliant licensees that threaten market integrity and put consumers in harm’s way. Effective policymaking must be accompanied by rigorous compliance and enforcement. We remain committed to collaborating with the governor, the legislature, and all stakeholders to improve enforcement mechanisms, uphold high standards, and ensure that consumers can trust the safety and quality of the legal cannabis products they purchase. #California #Cannabis #ConsumerSafety

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We're continuing to see the aftermath effects of the recent bombshell investigative piece by the LA Times and WeedWeek that found legal cannabis products were contaminated with harmful pesticides. Now we learn that the California Department of Cannabis Control has issued a recall for some THC oil vape cartridges sold in California due to dangerous levels of the pesticide chlorfenapyr. This leads us back to what we've been advoating. Lab testing alone doesn't guarantee safe cannabis. A much broader, multi-pronged approach is needed to address the issue of toxic contamination and is crucial to reducing harm. These include: Stricter limits on product THC levels, improved lab quality checks, field and factory inspections, and more aggressive regulatory action when findings like these occur. Read Newsweek article for more: https://lnkd.in/gn3_74Gh #THC #CannabisPolicy #Cannabis #Marijuana #Recall #Chlorfenapyr

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📢 Attention New York Cannabis Retailers! The long-awaited BioTrack traceability system is rolling out soon! Within the next week, the OCM (Office of Cannabis Management) will provide more information on implementation. Retailers will have approximately two months to set up their Track and Trace integration, meaning data push to BioTrack could begin by late January. If you're a BLAZE customer, rest assured—our platform is already integrated with BioTrack's core framework, making the transition smoother for you. Just focus on your business; we’ve got the compliance side covered! For delivery operators, some added steps might be needed, but BLAZE’s delivery platform is fully equipped to handle the complexities. Our team has experience in other states, and we’re ready to adapt for New York as soon as the final specs are in. And remember, BioTrack compliance is mandatory, but their retail POS product isn’t! Choose the POS system that best fits your needs, as long as it integrates with BioTrack Track and Trace. We're here to support your compliance journey every step of the way!

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The Hemp Hound Agency has conducted a critical analysis of the FSA's 10mg ADI for CBD, referencing 14 key studies. The findings raise intriguing questions, ones that demand open discussion. It’s time for a public dialogue, because behind-the-scenes conversations won't help the industry move forward. Whether you agree, disagree, or want to challenge the findings, let’s engage and show the FSA that the industry is capable of constructive debate about the wider concerns and their management of the novel foods process. https://lnkd.in/eNF3NT5q

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The first cannabis testing lab in #california lost their license for allegedly faked test results and tampered with equipment so it could offer passing test results to cannabis products potentially contaminated with dangerous pesticides and mold. We all know that THC inflation has been a big problem for a long time. When California cannabis legalization went into effect in 2018, it stopped the practice where patients/consumers could see and smell the product they were buying. THC percentage become the top indicator of quality. With a lot more cultivation licenses compared to retail licenses there was limited shell space. Companies had to find the way to stand out including lab shopping. As the market matured the Department of Cannabis Control started cracking down on labs. As well consumers are becoming more sophisticated and are realizing that terpenes and how it was grown, are much better indicators of quality. Thank you Chris Roberts from MJBiz for the state update. #cannabisindustry #cannabiscommunity #cannabisnews #cannabiseducation #cannabispolicy #cannbislaw https://lnkd.in/gCR9T4TM

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This is a very good article on the GLP 1 impacts to big food. We have talked a lot at Manna Tree about the positive impacts these drugs will have on the growth of the nutrient dense foods that we invest in at MT, but big food will feel the opposite impact, especially those peddling junk food. #bigfood #GLP1 #CPG #healthyfood

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Department of Cannabis Control’s ‘inadequate oversight’ of $100M undermined California's licensing program for cannabis growers, according to California State Auditor Grant Parks. Parks determined the DCC ‘weakened’ the Local Jurisdiction Assistance Grant (LJAG) Program. The state’s LJAG Program, approved by the California Legislature in June 2021, provided the one-time funding source to aid thousands of small, legacy and equity cannabis businesses in complying with a state environmental mandate, which would enable them to transition from provisional to more permanent annual licenses. The whole provisional licensing program is “kaput” at the end of 2025, meaning cannabis cultivators who haven’t transitioned to annual licensure will find themselves up a certain creek with no paddle, Executive Director Genine Coleman of Origins Council -- a nonprofit that advocates for roughly 900 small, independent cannabis businesses and homestead farming families, primarily in the rural areas of Northern California -- told CBT. Read the full story by CBT Editor Tony Lange here: https://lnkd.in/eaxiecrw

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California tax revenue from cannabis has declined each of the last two years from a peak of 2021. (Source:DCC) Where do we expect 2024 to finish? It sure seems to be a broken system, with very few profitable operators. The state is trying, and AB 2223 will be a pivotal moment for the industry. Many brands have given up, and are finding better margins and consumer access in hemp, that allow them to do basic things like make payroll. I voted in favor of prop 64. At the time, I had faith that the state supported profitable industry to boost the economy and provide jobs. I didn't believe they had altruistic motives to improve access to a beneficial plant. I didn't think the mismanagement would be so bad that the industry would already be in a decline 3 years into it. Question: How much tax revenue would we generate for the state if we had low-dose cannabis beverages accessible everywhere alcohol was? How much would we need to tax cannabis beverages to achieve their goal? Allowing adult beverage producers, distributors and retailers to freely sell low-dose cannabis beverages isn't competing for revenue from the dispensary channel. People buy beverages where they already are. Someone ordering a Coke at McDonalds or a Red Bull at a concert wasn't going to buy the same drinks at a grocery store later that day. Please tell me where I'm wrong, or your ideas to fix this decline -

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🚨 Major Development in California's Cannabis Industry 🚨 Last week, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Rebekah Evenson made a landmark decision impacting California Cannabis Testing Labs (CCTL). Here are the key details: Court Ruling: Judge Evenson denied CCTL’s request for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to reinstate its operations after its license was revoked by the California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC). Background: Allegations: CCTL was accused of serious violations, including falsifying test results and manipulating lab equipment. These actions potentially allowed contaminated cannabis products, with dangerous pesticides and mold, to enter the market. DCC's Response: The Department’s findings led to several product recalls, raising significant concerns about public health and safety. Court’s Reasoning: Judge Evenson emphasized that while CCTL has a vested interest in continuing its business, the state’s obligation to safeguard public health outweighs the lab’s claims for due process. This case underscores the precarious nature of provisional licenses in California’s cannabis industry, which can be revoked at the state's discretion with limited recourse for recovery. Takeaway for Cannabis Businesses: Ensuring regulatory compliance and the integrity of lab operations is essential, but the DCC's revocation of provisional licenses without due process underscore a significant failure to uphold the basic rights of cannabis businesses, jeopardizing their operations with little warning and no formal hearing. This ruling serves as a crucial reminder for all cannabis businesses to maintain rigorous compliance and stay informed about regulatory requirements to avoid similar pitfalls. #CannabisIndustry #RegulatoryCompliance #CaliforniaCannabis #LegalUpdate #PublicHealth

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To say that the California Department of Cannabis Control over-regulates the industry would be an understatement. Here is a list of some of the regulations I think are the worst for the industry, in no particular order: ❌ 15023: Sets out the process for approval of "business modifications". This sounds benign enough, but has probably given me the most gray hairs of any regulation out there. Licenses cannot be sold per subsection (c), so asset sales are off the table. Licenses cannot be transferred to new locations per subsection (h), so new leases are off the table, leading to horrible results. There is an extremely stilted process for ownership changes per subsection (c)(1), which I have seen different DCC employees interpret in every imaginable way with almost no consensus. This rule is single-handedly responsible for making M&A transactions 10x harder in CA than other states. ❌15014: Establishes licensing fees, which can reach into the SIX-FIGURE range PER YEAR. ❌ 15043: Prohibits retail sales except between 6 AM and 10 PM. This rule, which as far as I can tell is NOT mandated by state law, virtually guarantees illegal market sales outside of the permitted window. Cities often restrict this window even further. ❌ 15415(d): Limits deliveries to within 15043's hours of operations window. In other words, drivers cannot leave a premises or return to the premises outside of that window. That makes delivery businesses' operational window even shorter. ❌ 15418: Prohibits delivery drivers from carrying more than $10,000 of product at any time. This makes deliveries into far-away locales that have restricted brick-and-mortal sales much more difficult. ❌ QR code rules: DCC's best idea to combat the market has been to require retailers to display a QR code linking to their license. As if that will really combat the illegal market. ❌ 17300: Prohibits a host of different products, some of which make little sense. Don't even think about dairy products, although butter is ok (?). And don't even think about products imprinted with the shape of a human (sorry to Mike Tyson's gummy ears). ❌ 15041.1: Licensees literally need agency permission to sell branded merch unless it's one of about 20 different kinds of items authorized by the state. And that merch has to list the licensee's license number. Not very easy for a licensee with multiple licenses. ❌ Track and trace rules: The bane of any licensee's existence. I've run out of room for more bad rules. I'd love to hear what other folks think in the comments below. [This post is informational only, is not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship.]