NCIA Board Candidate Statement – Scott Van Rixel (Incumbent)

By Scott Van Rixel, Bhang Chocolate (NV)

I have been very proud to have served on the NCIA board during this last term. I am seeking re-election because NCIA truly stands up for the rights of business in the cannabis sector. Whether it is taxation, banking, or simply business equality issues, NCIA has worked to bring them to the forefront of those in legislative positions who can make a difference.

I feel that a continued seat on the board will allow me to be part of the positive change for our industry. As one of the three edible manufacturers on the board, I feel that I bring a unique insight to the needs of our category. I feel that if our sector is not represented at the table, our specific needs may go overlooked. My experience in this industry, as well as that of mainstream America, makes me a valuable resource to the board and the membership at large. My attendance of board meetings and contributions to those meetings have been an extremely high priority over the last term. While I don’t always agree with all of my peers on the board, I feel that our contributions have found a better and higher ground for the direction of it. I am not afraid to speak my heart and negotiate with my mind.

My business has been a proud sponsor of several events and has always been happy to help with additional funding. We also proudly support NCIA through the inclusion of the NCIA logo on our packaging. I have also been a strong vocal advocate for NCIA membership and never miss a chance to introduce new businesses to NCIA. I feel if my fellow board members were asked, they would express their appreciation for my past term and would be supportive of an additional one. I ask you my fellow board members and the voting general membership for your support in my reelection. Thank you, and I will serve you proudly again if given the opportunity.

See the full Board of Directors Voter Guide here.

NCIA Board Candidate Statement – Chelsea Hopkins

By Chelsea Hopkins, The Greener Side (OR)

I am very familiar with the working of a non-profit from an administrative and financial aspect, and as a cannabusiness owner, I have experienced every hypocrisy that comes with it. The cannabis industry needs reform that provides legitimate cannabis businesses the same rights as any other legitimate, responsible business, and a strong National Cannabis Industry Association has a huge role in rational reform. NCIA members are the roots that provide the strength to carry out its mission, which is the reason I want a seat on the board: to expand our voice, our impact and our potential to make great changes.

See the full Board of Directors Voter Guide here.

NCIA Board Candidate Statement – Jan Cole (Incumbent)

By Jan Cole, The Farm (CO)

I am proud to have supported NCIA since its inception and to have served as an active member its Board of Directors. My goal is to continue to support our organization and offer what I can to the industry as we continue to grow. Thank you for considering my candidacy for re-election.

See the full Board of Directors Voter Guide here.

NCIA Board Candidate Statement – Jan Carlos Byl

By Jan Carlos Byl, MedCanna Consulting (DC)

I am seeking a seat on the NCIA board because I want to strengthen the representation of cultivation-centric enterprises on the board. I would bring a strong commitment to electing of standards for cultivation and testing re: yields, quality, genetics, and labeling. My additional platforms would be construction standards, ecological standards in terms of “green” building, waste disposal, and energy consumption. I would push to see the industries’ cultivation services providers adopt a code of ethics and commitment to sustainable and ethical practices. I feel I would be a valuable asset to the board of NCIA as I have twenty-two years of experience with commercial cannabis, cannabis seed, hemp, and hemp seed production on a broad international level. I have a personal commitment to excellence and MedCanna is committed to providing the highest level of services to our clients in an ethical and socially and environmentally conscious way. I am passionate about the fact that those of us who have been a part of bringing the current change in legality about continue to have a loud voice in the future legal landscape of our industry.

See the full Board of Directors Voter Guide here.

Guest Post: Starting a conversation on 280E reform

By Hank Levy, Bridge West, LLC

This is the first of a series of blog posts that Jim Marty and I will do for NCIA. We will attempt to talk about our latest thoughts on the highly technical subject of 280E tax reform without boring you.

The latest development, of course, is that a new case just went up to the U.S. Tax Court. This was for the Canna Care Dispensary in the Del Paso Heights of Sacramento, California. Those of us experienced in the cannabis taxation field are extremely nervous about this case. None of us know Canna Care’s lawyer or their tax preparer. They are using religious beliefs as a defense against tax law (difficult!). And the judge is the same as in the Olive v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue case, which went very badly for the medical marijuana industry. The decision probably won’t be rendered for at least six months. As the Canna Care proprietors might say, let’s pray for the best.

Is there hope? In future posts, we are going to discuss some ideas we have about 280E:

The definition of trafficking, and seeing if this can help us.
How other “criminal activity” is handled in tax law.
The role of counseling and education in reducing the 280E problem.
How the new FINCEN regulations on banking may give us some ways to maneuver around 280E

So, stay tuned.

Hank Levy is the owner of a CPA/Consulting Firm in the Rockridge section of Oakland California, in existence since 1990. The firm specializes in income tax planning and tax compliance for individuals, corporations, partnerships, LLCs, trusts, estates and non-profit clients. It also does training/consulting on QuickBooks as well as prepares financial disclosure reports for political campaigns. Hank and his partner Jim Marty make up Bridge West, LLC, a firm providing expert business & tax consulting for the legalized marijuana industry.

How to improve profitability with infused marijuana products: Tips from a cannabis industry veteran

By Christie Lunsford, 3D Cannabis Center

Legal cannabis markets in the US are expected to grow over 60% in 2014. Currently, infused goods comprise 50% of the total market, with the fastest market growth happening in concentrates over the next year. How is your state-legal adult-use marijuana store or medical cannabis dispensary educating employees and consumers about the fastest growing sector in the cannabis marketplace?

It’s the dreaded scenario all cannabis enthusiasts experience – they want to try an edible, drink, or concentrate and have no idea how they work or what kind of an effect it will have on them. Having a staff knowledgeable about different cannabinoid delivery systems will help your team build sales and develop a loyal customer base. Here’s the basic cannabis uptake information every cannabusiness person needs to know to be effective in sales or advocacy.

Oral mucosal (soft tissues of the mouth) delivery systems are the most effective and efficient way to deliver the effects of THC and other constituents to consumers. Products including tinctures, mints, hard candies, and oral transfer film (OTF) all offer a quick onset head high with slight sedative effects.

Concentrates are the hottest cannabis trend in the combustible market and account for a large share of the growth in the infused products sector. Including CO2, butane extraction, and water hash, concentrates take the form of wax, shatter, glass, and hash and are consumed in a vape pen or combustion device. The uptake is very quick and the effects are easily prolonged by inhaling small amounts.

Edibles account for approximately 30% of the current infused market. A consumer favorite, edibles have slower onset and longer lasting psychoactive effect. Edibles take longer to show their effects because they are broken down by the stomach. Then the THC is transformed into delta 9 and passed into the blood stream via the liver. Some examples of edibles include THC-infused drinks like Dixie Elixirs sparkling beverages, chocolates, cookies, confections, and capsules. Capsules are a welcome and growing trend in the edible delivery format with a more palatable look and feel for the expanding medical cannabis markets.

Topical delivery systems are the most approachable to use, offering localized pain relief and no psychotropic effect. Simply rub on or in the case of Dixie Bath Soak, soak up the relief. Cannabis topicals are a great way to introduce cannabis products to elders and those who don’t have a deep relationship with the plant.

Understanding alternate cannabinoid delivery systems and how infused products work with each can help you and your staff offer better customer service, encouraging repeat customer business and strengthening your store’s bottom line. Always work with a reputable infusion company that offers additional services like cannabis education and will be a partner to your store’s long-term success.

Christie Lunsford is Director of Operations at 3D Cannabis Center and a cannabis industry veteran. As a board member of the Women’s CannaBusiness Network, a project of the National Cannabis Industry Association, she has worked to lobby Congress in the areas of fair taxation and banking laws for state-legal medical marijuana businesses. You can follow her cannabis industry exploits via Cannapodcast.

NCIA Member Profile: Avalon Realty Advisors

NCIA Member Profile: Avalon Realty Advisors

About: Avalon Realty Advisors is a commercial real estate management and consulting company specializing in property and construction management, brokerage and consulting services to the Medical Marijuana/Recreational Marijuana industries and mainstream businesses.

Cannabis Industry Sector: Real Estate

NCIA Member Since: 2014

Led by: Jason Thomas

How do you uniquely serve the cannabis industry?
Avalon’s Principal Jason Thomas has over sixteen years of commercial real estate experience, is a five year MMJ/RMJ industry stakeholder, and is a member of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP). Jason’s innate understanding of the MMJ/RMJ industries and the specific implications on real estate allows him to provide best-in-class real estate services to owner/occupiers, landlords, and real estate investors. We have managed over 2 million square feet of mixed use properties and $12 million in construction projects, and we have negotiated and closed 2.5 million square feet in leasing and sales.

Why should cannabusinesses looking for property use Avalon’s services?
We provide our clients with information and expert advice they need to make informed decisions in real estate matters. Whether leasing, buying, selling, or managing real estate, Avalon will guide you through the process as your trusted advisor. We are experts in helping avoid the pitfalls and managing risk, while also benefitting your bottom line.

Contacts:
720-323-0956
Jason@avalonrealtyadvisors.co
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NCIA Accepting Nominations for Board of Directors Election

The National Cannabis Industry Association’s annual board election begins April 30. As the only national trade association for the cannabis industry, NCIA prides itself on the democratic system it employs to select the Board of Directors who are tasked with overseeing the organization’s budget and strategic plan.

Any current Sustaining NCIA member may run for a seat on the board with the nomination of any other member. Nominations for board candidates are being accepted through this online form.

NCIA’s Board of Directors is made up of 20 elected positions and the executive director, who is hired by and reports to the board. Elected members serve two-year terms and elections are staggered with eleven of the 20 seats open this year. A list of current board members is available online.

The online ballot will open to members from Wednesday, April 30 until midnight Eastern Time on Friday, May 16. NCIA utilizes a weighted voting system. Each member business can cast one vote. That vote is then weighted according to membership status. A Sponsoring member’s vote carries twice the weight of a basic member’s vote and a Sustaining member is weighted at five times that of a basic member.

More information about the board election, including a voter guide with candidate information, will be made available to our membership in the weeks ahead.

NCIA Announces National Cannabis Business Summit – June 24-25 in Denver

NCIA is launching its first national conference, The Cannabis Business Summit, June 24-25 in Denver, Colorado. The summit will offer cannabis business leaders a national stage to discuss best practices and business developments from around the industry. The summit will include more than 35 sessions, more than 800 attendees, and an exhibition floor featuring more than 30 leading cannabis businesses over the course of two days.

This will be the largest, most exciting event NCIA has ever hosted, and we’re thrilled to invite you to join us in Denver.

Confirmed speakers include NCIA board members Jessica Billingsley of MJ Freeway, Troy Dayton of the ArcView Group, Steve DeAngelo of Harborside Health Center, Tripp Keber or Dixie Elixirs, Christian Sederberg of Vicente Sederberg, Ean Seeb of Denver Relief, and many more in NCIA’s cannabis industry brain trust.

You can read our press release about it here and find out more about the Cannabis Business Summit at www.CannabistBusinessSummit.com.

Sponsorship opportunities for NCIA member businesses looking to advance , please email Sponsorship@CannabisBusinessSummit.com.

NCIA’s 4th Annual Lobby Days Take the Hill by Storm

On Wednesday, March 12, more than 60 cannabis industry professionals from across the country descended on our nation’s capital for NCIA’s 4^th Annual Lobby Days. Led by NCIA director of government relations Michael Correia, these members spent two full days meeting with Congressional members and their staffs to talk about the critical federal issues facing the cannabis industry.

At a standing-room-only briefing on Capitol Hill Thursday morning, Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), and Jared Polis (R-CO) explained their support for cannabis policy reform, and prominent national pollster Celinda Lake shared up-to-date research showing that Americans’ support for legal marijuana has grown dramatically in recent years.

More than 60 official meetings with Congressional staff gave the visiting NCIA members a chance to make a personal case about the need for banking and tax reform for the industry and show the nation’s policy-makers what the true face of the legal cannabis industry looks like.

In addition to the busy schedule of meetings, NCIA’s Lobby Days garnered an impressive array of media attention from national news outlets, including the a front-page story in the Washington Post, as well as coverage from USA Today, and Yahoo News.

A Day in the Life of a Marijuana Lobbyist – Yahoo News

Marijuana Industry Delegation’s Pitch on Legalized Pot: It’s Just Good Business – Washington Post

Medical Marijuana Stores Blocked from Federal Tax Breaks – USA Today

NCIA Lobby Days Photos from Kim Sidwell of Cannabis Camera

2014 Northeast CannaBusiness Symposium Presentations

NCIA’s 2014 Northeast CannaBusiness Symposium was held in Boston on March 15, 2014. The presentation slides for each of the symposium’s speakers are provided here.

2014 Northwest CannaBusiness Symposium Presentations

NCIA’s 2014 Northwest CannaBusiness Symposium was held in Portland, Oregon on February 1, 2014. The presentation slides for each of the symposium’s speakers are provided here.

Obama administration clears banks to accept funds from legal marijuana dealers | Washington Post

The Obama administration on Friday gave the banking industry the green light to finance and do business with legal marijuana sellers, a move that could further legitimize the burgeoning industry.

For the first time, legal distributors will be able to secure loans and set up checking and savings accounts with major banks that have largely steered clear of those businesses. The decision eliminates a key hurdle facing marijuana sellers, who can now legally conduct business in 20 states and the District.

NCIA Blog Guest Post Guidelines

NCIA encourages member companies and allied nonprofit organizations to submit educational guest posts for the Members-Only Blog.

Guest posts are educational in nature and directed toward an audience of cannabis business professionals.
Guest posts are 200-800 words and may contain external links, images, video, and other forms of content.
While it is assumed that members writing guest posts will reference their member company and provide resources created by the company, the NCIA blog is not a forum for company advertisements. Pitches and advertisement-heavy posts will not be accepted for publication.
All posts are subject to editing by NCIA staff and become the property of NCIA upon publication.
Posts may be shared more widely by the author or NCIA through social media, email, or external media.

Send guest post submissions that meet these guidelines to bethany@thecannabisindustry.org.

NCIA Member Profile: Edible Events

About: Edible Events Co. is a full-service event-planning company specializing in cannabis event production. They are currently producing monthly, ticketed cannabis-friendly “BYOC” all-inclusive catered events, held in high-end, private spaces throughout Denver.

Cannabis Industry Sector: Corporate Cannabis Event Production

Founded: 2013

NCIA Member Since: 2014

Led by: Jane West, LLC

Edible Events is one of NCIA’s newest members. We caught up with founder Jane West to talk about her involvement in the industry and her vision for the future of cannabis events.

NCIA: What makes Edible Events Co. unique?

West: There are many companies now selling multi-day cannabis tourism packages in Colorado. Edible Events Co. instead produces singular events that are unique experiences including responsible, adult use of cannabis. With over 15 years of corporate event management experience, we are also a full-service event-planning company capable of large-scale fundraisers, festivals, and conference production.

Since its inception just 4 months ago, Edible Events Co. has received extensive press coverage spanning five continents, including an editorial by Maureen Dowd of the New York Times and excellent video coverage at The Telegraph (U.K.), covering our first event, which was held on January 24th.

NCIA: What’s on the horizon in 2014 for Edible Events Co.?

West: With ski season upon us, our private, discreet Après Ski packages are currently drawing the most interest. They are fully catered affairs created by our Executive Chef, Melissa Parks, that begin with a THC infused amuse’. Our next ticketed Denver event is cheekily entitled “A Threesome with Mary Jane” and will be held at Space Gallery at 765 Santa Fe Drive on Valentine’s Night.

While these events are the foundation of the company, Edible Events Co. is seeking out new endeavors in corporate cannabis event production. We have recently begun promoting our Executive Ideation Retreats to business news outlets.

NCIA: What drives your entrepreneurial passion?

West: I have been producing and directing events large and small my entire professional career. After completing a successful five-day conference held for 6,000 attendees of Obama’s 2013 inauguration, I decided it was time to work independently and create something truly unique. Edible Events Co. was created with one goal in mind – to maximize the cannabis consumption experience and stimulate attendees’ heightened awareness of taste, smell, sights, and sounds, via artfully choreographed events that are incredible experiences. We showcase the very best Colorado has to offer in the culinary, cannabis, and art scenes. That’s what I love most about my job; I get to interact daily with passionate cannabis professionals, artists, and chefs to produce sophisticated events. I love bringing people together.

NCIA: Where do you see the cannabis industry in 5 or 10 years?

West: I think the possibilities are endless. With more professionals joining forces to support our industry, I think we are truly changing perceptions and stereotypes of cannabis consumption and consumers. For me personally, I would like cannabis to eventually be seen as a widely accepted alternative to alcohol consumption within my demographic.

Banks still wary about marijuana business | Politico

When it comes to doing business with marijuana sellers, it’s going to take a lot more than a thumbs-up from Eric Holder to get paranoid bankers on board.

The U.S. attorney general made waves last week when he said the Obama administration plans to give banks the go-ahead to make loans or open accounts for marijuana dispensaries in states where they’re legal without running afoul of federal laws, which still consider cannabis an illegal substance.

While the reassurance from Holder is nice, bankers say it’s not that simple.

US marijuana policy edges toward acceptance | Christian Science Monitor

Uncle Sam isn’t ready to light up just yet, but the Obama administration and at least some Republican governors seem to be edging toward a more accepting attitude toward marijuana use. Or at least they’re falling in line with that majority of Americans – 58 percent, according to Gallup – who favor legalization of marijuana.

US Attorney General Eric Holder this week said the federal government will issue banking regulations for state-approved marijuana businesses licensed to sell the drug for recreational or medical use.

Intense Media Spotlight on Marijuana Bodes Well For Cannabis Industry | Marijuana Business Daily

This week alone, dozens of media outlets covered daily developments on everything from Florida’s medical marijuana legalization push and the latest favorable cannabis poll, to marijuana billboards near the Super Bowl and the first licensed cultivation operations in Connecticut. Others ran features on the top marijuana websites (TheStreet.com), the growing acceptance of cannabis (Christian Science Monitor) and the industry’s banking issues (Politco).

This is having a real-world impact on the cannabis industry.

The mainstream media’s intense coverage of all things cannabis not only reflects changing attitudes about marijuana in the United States, it’s also helping to accelerate that shift. The coverage has brought marijuana into homes and executive suites across the country, sparking conversations, spreading awareness and spurring debate among everyday Joes and politicians alike.

Medical marijuana firms face cash economy as banks steer clear | Boston Globe

The conflict between federal and state marijuana laws has become a bigger issue as more states legalize the drug for medical and, more recently, recreational, uses. Dispensaries in the other 19 states that have legalized medicinal cannabis have run into similar banking problems, requiring entrepreneurs to hide the nature of their business, establish separate holding companies, or just haul around bags of cash.

Last week, Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. said that legal marijuana businesses should have access to the banking system and that the Obama administration would provide rules aimed at easing banks’ concerns, mainly by making these activities low priorities for federal prosecutors.

Bank officials in Massachusetts, however, are far from assured, worried what might happen under different administrations. Their preferred solution: changing federal law.

DEBATE: How has marijuana changed Colorado’s image? | 9NEWS Denver

DENVER – A new NBC News-Wall Street Journal poll finds a majority of Americans support legislative efforts to legalize marijuana.

Fifty-five percent say they would support laws in which adults 21 and older are allowed to buy limited amounts of marijuana for personal use.

About a quarter would not approve of legalizing marijuana, but they wouldn’t actively oppose it either. Nineteen percent would actively work to oppose and overturn any legalization efforts.

There is no question that marijuana has changed Colorado’s image. Whether that’s for the better or worse is still up for debate.

“To the extent that the cannabis industry has changed Colorado. I think Colorado has even more changed the image of cannabis industry. We are showing the world that there is a sensible alternative to the underground black market for marijuana by taking it off the streets, out of the underground and putting it behind a highly regulated counter,” Taylor West of the National Cannabis Industry Association said.

Read more: How has marijuana changed Colorado’s image? | 9NEWS Denver

Medical marijuana in Oregon: Ashland conference draws packed house | The Oregonian

ASHLAND — If the packed meeting room Thursday at the refined Ashland Springs Hotel is any gauge, interest in Oregon’s medical marijuana industry is, pardon the pun, high.

The Oregon Medical Marijuana Business Conference, the brainchild of Ashland businessman Alex Rogers, opened Thursday morning with a keynote address by Troy Dayton, the man behind The ArcView Group, a San Francisco-based business that, for a fee, pairs marijuana entrepreneurs with deep-pocketed investors.

The sold-out two-day event in Ashland is one of two conferences this week that focus on the business of marijuana – the latest sign that the state’s once-underground industry has moved into the mainstream. Beginning in March, the Oregon Health Authority will register medical marijuana retail outlets, the first effort to regulate an already thriving trade.

Medical marijuana in Oregon: Be a good neighbor, California marijuana advocate tells prospective dispensary owners | The Oregonian

ASHLAND — Medical marijuana retailers in Oregon need to shift their focus from staying out of jail to being stand-up business owners who sweep their sidewalks each morning and donate to local charities, a California marijuana advocate told prospective dispensary owners on Friday.

Don Duncan, the California director of Americans for Safe Access, a medical marijuana patient advocacy group, spoke to about 150 people gathered here for the Oregon Medical Marijuana Business Conference.

The sold-out event is one of two major marijuana conferences being held this week in Oregon. The National Cannabis Industry Association, based in Washington, D.C., will hold a daylong symposium in Portland on Saturday.

Good Chemistry bring Colorado experience to Worcester medical marijuana dispensary | MassLive.com

WORCESTER — Medical marijuana is coming to Worcester’s canal district at 9 Harrison St, care of the Colorado medical marijuana dispensary Good Chemistry.

The company was one of two that received medical marijuana licenses in Worcester County Friday. It will be setting up shop at 9 Harrison St. between Water and Green Streets in Worcester’s canal district.

The Colorado company has two medical marijuana dispensaries located in Denver where they cultivate and dispenses marijuana, according to an informational folder that was given to MassLive. The company has 26 employees and grows over 60 strains of marijuana.

The storefronts in Denver have the atmosphere of a 1940’s apothecary, according to the company. The store is designated by a single lowercase “g” above the doorway. In addition to the storefront on Harrison Street, the company will also have a growth facility at another location in Worcester.

Obama on the problem of criminalizing marijuana use | CNN

Waukesha, Wisconsin – When it was pointed out that the President’s remarks to The New Yorker magazine about marijuana – which he described as a bad habit but not any worse for a person than alcohol – contradict the administration’s official policy on marijuana, Obama stood by his views.

The President declined to say whether he would support removing marijuana as a “Schedule One” narcotic, a classification that includes heroin and ecstasy.

“I stand by my belief based on the scientific evidence that marijuana for casual users, individual users, is subject to abuse, just like alcohol is and should be treated as a public health problem and challenge,” Obama said in an exclusive interview with CNN.

Barack Obama Says Marijuana Classification Change Job For Congress | TIME

President Barack Obama says in a new interview that that it’s up to Congress to remove marijuana from the federal government’s list of the most serious narcotics, implying but not explicitly saying that he might support such a move.

In an interview with CNN that aired Friday, Obama was pressed on recent remarks he made to the New Yorker that marijuana is no more dangerous than alcohol, and on whether he would push to remove pot from the Drug Enforcement Agency’s list of so-called “schedule I” narcotics.

First medical marijuana dispensary licenses awarded in Massachusetts | Boston Globe

After much anticipation, state health officials Friday revealed the names of the companies that will receive the first 20 licenses to open medical marijuana dispensaries in Massachusetts, although it will likely be summertime before any open their doors for business.

Colorado Pot Smokers Can Still Be Fired For Failing Drug Tests | BuzzFeed

DENVER — Brandon Coats was working as a customer service representative for Dish Network when he was given a random drug test in spring 2010. Although he had worked there for three years, the company fired him when the 30-year-old quadriplegic tested positive for marijuana.

Coats — who has used a wheelchair since age 16 after a car he was riding in crashed into a tree — says he uses marijuana to control his muscle spasms, which weren’t alleviated by other pharmaceuticals.

“It’s a matter of need, and not a matter of want,” Coats’ attorney Michael Evans told BuzzFeed of his client’s marijuana use.

Coats sued Dish Network, arguing that his medicinal marijuana use was legal and that he was never impaired while working, but the trial judge quickly dismissed the case.

Last April, the Colorado Court of Appeals upheld Coats’ firing in a divided opinion.

The court decided Colorado’s Lawful Off-Duty Activities Statute, which prohibits employers from firing employees for participating in legal activities during their free time, like gambling or drinking alcohol, doesn’t apply to marijuana. For the judges, the fact that marijuana is still a federal crime means it is unlawful across the board and the protections of the law don’t apply.

Illinois pot stores may just accept cash | The Herald & Review (IL)

SPRINGFIELD – Even after the state implements rules for the sale of medical marijuana, federal banking regulations could make Illinois’ budding cannabis industry a cash-only operation.

While Illinois already has moved to legalize the use of marijuana for certain medical conditions, federal regulations prevent marijuana dispensaries and related businesses from using federally insured banks.

“What it means for a lot of businesses is that they’re forced to operate entirely in cash,” said Taylor West, deputy director of the National Cannabis Industry Association in Washington, D.C. “That’s not just the sales side. It also affects the business side.”

Florida Medical Marijuana Constitutional Amendment Clears Final Hurdle

Yesterday, the language of the constitutional amendment to allow Floridians access to medical marijuana was approved by the state Supreme Court, placing the ballot question in front of voters this November, where it is expected to be approved given the strong support it already enjoys from Florida voters.

The initiative itself is quite brief in comparison to other laws which have recently passed and leaves most of the details of implementation to regulatory bodies. Importantly, patients with conditions such as PTSD, dementia, and other conditions aided by cannabis but not typically included in medical marijuana qualifying conditions will have the opportunity to legally access cannabis as the law allows patients to be qualified if their “physician believes that the medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the potential health risks.”

Additionally, the measure defines a “medical marijuana treatment center” as an “entity that acquires, cultivates, possesses, processes (including development of related products such as food, tinctures, aerosols, oils, or ointments), transfers, transports, sells, distributes, dispenses, or administers marijuana, products containing marijuana, related supplies, or educational materials to qualifying patients or their personal caregivers and is registered by the Department.” The Department of Health is required to issue regulations within six months instituting “procedures for the registration of Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers that include procedures for the issuance, renewal, suspension, and revocation of registration, and standards to ensure security, record keeping, testing, labeling, inspection, and safety.”

Importantly, the measure’s presence on the ballot could set the stage for the first election with national prominence where safe access to medical marijuana is a critical issue for candidates. As Reuters reports, a strong majority of Florida voters support the measure including a majority of Republicans. However, in what is expected to be a closely fought battle, Florida’s incumbent Republican Governor Rick Scott is opposed to the measure while his challenger, Democrat Charlie Crist, openly supports it. Marijuana policy advocates watching this race should expect to note a distinct increase in conversations — both publicly and privately — about the merits of legal medical marijuana among those interested in the race.

The United for Care campaign, a project of People United for Medical Marijuana, has received the bulk of its financial support from prominent Orlando attorney John Morgan, whose father and brother both benefited from the use of medical marijuana. The campaign is being managed by veteran Florida politico Ben Pollara, and has the support of many local and national organizations. And, while the measure is certainly expected to pass, the Florida legislature is currently considering other bills which would bring medical cannabis to Floridians even more quickly.

How to plan your Colorado “weedcation” like a responsible grown-up | Quartz

Visitors to Colorado are now welcomed at dozens of marijuana dispensaries, where they can buy up to a quarter ounce (7 grams) of pot for their own consumption. The new boom in weed tourism has meant long lines at Denver’s dispensaries, and a nascent but growing industry of packaged “green tours,” that are heavy on smoke-filled “magic bus” trips to local growers.

But what if you want to plan an upscale and, yes, responsible “weedcation” of your very own, taking full advantage of Colorado’s amazing outdoors and a serious foodie scene? Quartz asked police and people in the hospitality and cannabis business in Colorado their advice.