December has come and gone, and with it a round of news from the last month of 2021 that may impact your cannabis business.
To help you stay on top of any big cannabis news for Michigan, we collected what we feel cannabis business owners and stakeholders need to be aware of so you don’t have to spend your time searching out information that matters to you and your business.
New Law Cuts Red Tape for Marijuana Businesses
The governor signed a bill Dec.8 that amends the Michigan Medical Marijuana Licensing Act to allow medical marijuana growers to submit financials to the Marijuana Regulatory Agency every three years instead of the current annual submission.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed HB 4921 in an effort to make it easier for business owners to deal with state government, she said in a press release.
“This bill will streamline the financial reporting process for medical marijuana businesses in our state by allowing them to submit financial records to MRA and their local municipalities every three years instead of five of each fiscal year, cutting red tape for marijuana businesses,” she said.
Recall Lifted Despite Health Complaints
At least 18 people complained of “mild allergic reactions,” and other health concerns, including hospitalization, after consuming recalled marijuana from Michigan, a state licensing officials testified in December.
Despite uncertainty about what led to those health issues, Michigan Court of Claims Judge Christopher M. Murray lifted the recall on a large portion of the recalled marijuana.
In the recall issued Nov. 17, the Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA) warned that “consumers with weakened immune systems or lung disease” were at the “highest risk for health-related incidents such as aspergillus.”
Aspergillus is a mold that may cause fungal infection. The MRA never notified the public that some customers were experiencing health issues after having consumed the recalled marijuana.
The vast majority of marijuana impacted by the recall was tested by Viridis between Aug. 10 and Nov. 16. Extracted THC products that don’t undergo testing for yeast or mold were not included.
The recall impacted more than 400 sales locations statewide, and an estimated 64,000 pounds of marijuana worth almost $230 million based on court filings, although the MRA has never disclosed how much total product was recalled or sold to the public.
Customers who experience any negative reactions to recalled marijuana, or any products sold in the licensed market, are asked to report it to the MRA at MRA-Enforcement@michigan.gov, or (517) 284-8599.
New Dispensary Projects Include Michigan Site
Cannabis Facility Construction (CFC), a national cannabis design-build construction firm, completed construction on three new dispensaries for Justice Cannabis Co., including a 3,200-square-foot recreational dispensary at 200 East Main Street in Benton Harbor.
The other two projects include a 4,000-square-foot recreational dispensary in Middleborough, Massachusetts, and a 3,400-square-foot medical dispensary in Valley Park, Missouri.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Justice Cannabis Co. to support their recent expansion, and partner with them on multiple new projects in Massachusetts, Michigan, and Missouri, in addition to our previous work together,” said Andy Poticha, Founder & CEO at Cannabis Facility Construction. “Our ability to provide speed to market and deep design-build expertise has proven essential for our clients to open quickly and correctly.”
For more information on these and other projects by Cannabis Facility Construction, visit www.cannabisfacility.net.
Clio Cannabis Awards Year’s Most Creative Ads
Clio Cannabis, the awards competition celebrating creators at the forefront of cannabis marketing and communications, announced winners on a streamed event Dec. 8.
Zerotrillion’s “Nothing to Hide” won the competition’s highest honor, the Grand Clio Cannabis Award, in the Film/Video medium. Other big winners included McCann Health Sao Paulo for Ease Labs, Mischief @ No Fixed Address for Monogram, Green Thumb Industries, CANN and Puffco.
“We’re so proud to be able to recognize the incredible creative growth that this industry is rapidly undergoing, and we enthusiastically celebrate everyone who has had a hand in driving the positive changes we’re seeing across the marketing and communications space,” Executive Director Michael Kauffman said in a statement.
Visit www.cliocannabisawards.com/winners_2021.html for a gallery of the award-winning works.
Online Course Available for Cannabis Cultivation
Oaksterdam University in Oakland, California, is offering a Budtending Certification Program LIVE course, as well as a self-paced option. The course will be available online beginning March 16.
The school’s Budtending Certification Program offers an introduction to cannabis cultivation and extraction with a background in cannabis history, law and advocacy.
Students who complete the course receive an Oaksterdam University Budtending Certification, which is valued industry wide. Registration is now open.
Oaksterdam is America’s first cannabis college. The school’s cross-disciplinary curriculum covers the most recent developments in cultivation, business, and policy, and is grounded in the legacy of the cannabis legalization movement. Visit oaksterdamuniversity.com for more information.