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Dazed & Confused?

Exploring the Hazy, Complex World of Legal*

Cannabis Consumption

*The possession, manufacture, and distribution of marijuana remains illegal under federal law.

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So You Wanna Legalize “MariHuana” ?

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Federal Prohibition + Many “Known Unknowns” = It’s

Complicated!1) Botany of Cannabis sativa L. plant Botanists and Taxomonists

don’t even agree about whether there is one plant or three (or just subspecies)! (sativa, indica, ruderalis)

2) Chemical Composition >400 “cannabinoids” and some are known, like “THC” and “CBD” but MANY are still unknown! 1) THC= Psychoactive 2) CBD= Analgesic3) Terpenes4) “Entourage Effect” Theories

3) Endocannabinoid System Scientists only discovered in 1992!

And then we have….• “Shatter” “Wax” “Dabs” “Butane Hash

Oil” (Very concentrated resin) • Edibles• Lozenges• Dried Flower “Bud” • Vaporizers• Pipes and Bongs • Joints/Blunts/Spliffs• Concentrates (Hash, Tinctures, High-

CBD Oils)• Topicals

• Sativa (Higher THC) • Lambsbread (Bob’s Fave!)• Sour Diesel

• Indica (Higher CBD)• Granddaddy Purple• Northern Lights

• Hybrids• OG Kush• Girl Scout Cookies

• Primarily CBD & No/Low THC >.03% (Charlottes Web)

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Marijuana as Medicine?

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Other Public Health Considerations?

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How should we protect and inform Medical Patients? Physicians? Recreational Users? Children?

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Just Kidding

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Labeling Requirements:•Business Name/License #/Batch or Lot # of Product•Concentration of THC & CBD in Product• WA—Now requires ”General Use” “High THC” “High CBD” Warnings• CO—Now requires equivalency measurement b/t flower, concentrates, edibles

•Net Weight•Harvest and Manufacture Date•Any pesticides/solvents/additives use to make product

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Warning Labels:• Illegality– “This product may be unlawful outside of X state”• Edibles—”Up to 2 hour delay between consumption and

intoxicating effects of product”• “Warning: This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit

forming. Smoking is hazardous to your health.”• “There may be health risks associated with consumption of this

product.”• “For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of reach of

children.”• “Should not be used by women that are pregnant or

breastfeeding.”• “Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment.

Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug.”

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Exit Packaging Requirements:•Child resistant packaging—conforming to federal consumer product safety regulations (Poison Prevention Packaging Act- federal law) & ASTM standard •Opaque•Closable (if not intended for single use)• Individual servings separately packaged •Colorado Universal Symbol for Marijuana

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Products & Potency:• Maryland– Ban on edible products• Colorado– Ban on gummy bears/worms & “kid-friendly” shapes for edible products• Washington – Limit on amount of active THC (10%) in any given product• Colorado—recently rejected Amendment 139, which was introduced to limit flower/extracts THC to 16%• Quality Assurance Testing by Certified Third Party Laboratories

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The Future of Cannabis….• TODAY (!!) 9 States Vote on Ballot Initiatives for

Medical and Recreational Cannabis (5 Recreational California, Nevada, Arizona, Massachusetts, Maine) (4 Medical Arkansas, Florida, Montana (expanded), North Dakota)• Pew Research Polls Show Highest Rate Ever of Adult

Acceptance for Marijuana Legalization • Expanding research on chemical composition/botany of

cannabis sativa L. plant • More information = always a good thing! • Extracting cannabinoids from plant to manufacture

new drug compounds to treat diseases

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In the meantime…• Billion-dollar industry operates almost exclusively in CASH (lack access to banking)• Cannot deduct Business & Operating Expenses from Federal Taxes & must pay penalty for paying in cash (subject to intense scrutiny from IRS)• Lack federal trademark protections & limited patent protections (for now)• Local governments have tried to prohibit Cannabusinesses from operating in local community• Lee Carroll Brooker (75 year old disabled veteran sentenced to LIFE in prison with no possibility of release for growing three dozen marijuana plants for his own medicinal use in Alabama)

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High Time to Legalize and Regulate Cannabis?

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QUESTIONS? THOUGHTS? CONTRARIANS? DISSENTS? CONCURRENCES?