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Tag: Jesse Redmond

  • Will Marijuana Reschedule Usher In the Blockbuster Era

    Will Marijuana Reschedule Usher In the Blockbuster Era

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    For a small industry, cannabis has a ton of interesting players.  But will rescheduling force everyone to become grown ups?

    The marijuana industry has been around for thousands of years. In the US and Canada it was big until the 30s, then came Reefer Madness, the it was fairly low key until the 60s.  It is a key part of the counterculture era and some players still around from the era see it as more of a cause, something against and the main and pure bliss.  The bros who jumped in around 2017 see it more as a vehicle to being rich (or richer).  Steve D’Angelo, the self declared Father of the Legal Cannabis industry sees it more as yoga, a positive which “big companies” will ruin.  With rescheduling the industry will transform again, but is it moving to the Blockbuster Era?

    RELATED: Science Says Medical Marijuana Improves Quality Of Life

    When home video burst into the scene, it quickly gave birth to thousands of mom and pop stores who sold and rented videos. In every neighborhood one popped up and some areas had mini/local chains. This small stores helped fill and increase consumer demand. Blockbuster entered the market and soon took a commanding presence.  Following McDonald’s Ray Kroc‘s expansion philosophy, they grew quickly. At one point they were opening a new store every 24 hours. Due to size, technology and resources, they also quickly shut down the majority of their small competitors.

    With rescheduling, Safer Banking and potentially more, bigger players and the mainstream industry will be taking a harder look. The industry is full of mom and pop businesses who are struggling without the resources to grow and compete for customers. Dispensaries have it hard, and yet there are few chains.  But a couple of major players coming in – a Total Wine, a Bev Mo, and all the sudden the average consumer, which makes up 90 percent of the market, is picking up a vape, a 6 pack, dinner, detergent and a $15 bottle of wine for dinner. In one stop.

    “Looking out twenty years, we expect the current dispensary model to either not exist or evolve substantially. Cannabis will be sold directly to consumers (like wine clubs) and may be accessible in grocery stores, convenience stores, and online. The days of standing in line and waiting to show your ID to an armed guard before entering the waiting room are numbered.” shared Jesse Redmond, Managing Director Water Tower Research.

    Another example are beer speciality stores. Even big cities like Chicago, Dallas and Seattle have less than a dozen retailers who specialize in just beer. There are over 100 distinct styles of beer, from light blond ales to creamy stouts. This doesn’t count all the brands.  Yet, beer is sold primarily at grocery, convenience and gas retailers. Their entry into the market will be a boon for brands, but troubling for dispensaries.

    “Looking out twenty years, we expect the current dispensary model to either not exist or evolve substantially. Cannabis will be sold directly to consumers (like wine clubs) and may be accessible in grocery stores, convenience stores, and online. The days of standing in line and waiting to show your ID to an armed guard before entering the waiting room are numbered.”

    RELATED: California or New York, Which Has The Biggest Marijuana Mess

    In fact, the downfall of Blockbuster were grocery stores. Seeing the success of the video store, food chains began offering videos for rent of purchase, you could pick up dinner, drinks and movie in one location. The majority of the public like how easy it was and Blockbuster joined the mom and pop stores they squashed and eventually closed.

    The winner are the big brands who appeal to a large customer base, they will be carried and sold in huge numbers.

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    Terry Hacienda

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  • THE DEA DECIDES TO RESCHEDULE MARIJUANA

    THE DEA DECIDES TO RESCHEDULE MARIJUANA

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    In a historic move the Drug Enforcement Agency announced it plans to reschedule cannabis.  Monumental shift in the marijuana industry.

    After three years of waiting for President Biden to fulfill his promise of doing something about legal cannabis, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) announced its plan to reschedule cannabis. This follows the recommendations from Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Agency (FDA).  They are sending their recommendation to the White House Office of Management and Budget for review of the impact on the budget. The shifts acknowledged the medical benefits of cannabis and can pave the way for PTSD treatment for veterans, something the President and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA).

    RELATED: Science Says Medical Marijuana Improves Quality Of Life

    “Moving to Schedule III is the single biggest thing that can happen to the US cannabis industry. It removes the 280E tax burden, increases medical research, and opens the investor base. Today is truly a tipping point for this burgeoning industry.” declared Jesse Redmond, Managing Director at Water Tower Research.

    “This historic move from the Biden Administration to reclassify cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III reflects changes in the scientific and medical understanding of cannabis. It echoes moves in other countries around the world. Domestically, it lays the groundwork for federal tax benefits for the cannabis industry, as cannabis businesses will be treated like other businesses with regard to deductions and credits. It will also lower the costs and hurdles of conducting research on the plant and its products. Despite skeptics arguing that this spells the beginning of the end of the cannabis industry as we know, those doomsday scenarios fail to answer a basic question: why would the Biden Administration want to crack down on a substance that it classifies as “less dangerous” when it refused to crack down on the substance when it was a Schedule I substance? Little, if anything, will change at the state regulatory level, but that should not take away from the historic nature of this decision. Cannabis has been a Schedule I substance for 54 years, and despite multiple opportunities to reclassify it in decades’ past, today is the first time the US Government has been willing to say otherwise” shares John Hudak, Director, Maine Office of Cannabis.

    Hudak is widely respected in the industry and has been a thought leader for the growing industry. The move reclassifies cannabis from Schedule 1 of dangerous drug with zero medical benefits to to Schedule III such as ketamine, Tylenol with codeine, and anabolic steroids. The timing is still unsettled, but there is hope it will have an impact in 2024.  The industry as been struggling under schedule III despite a huge growth of consumers.  This will also open the door more for mainstream companies to become involved in the market.

    RELATED: Marijuana MicroDosing Can Improve Mundane Tasks

    “While this is great news for the cannabis industry, it’s too early to break out the Champagne,” said Lonnie Rosenwald, Partner at Zuber Lawler, LLP. “We don’t know yet when rescheduling will occur, or, perhaps more important, when the tax changes will take effect.  For companies and entrepreneurs considering entering the industry, rescheduling alone should provide an incentive to launch their businesses. But existing cannabis businesses will have to wait to see whether they’ll be able to deduct business expenses on their 2024 or 2025 returns. We expect answers to these questions in the coming weeks.” says Lonnie Rosenwald, an attorney for Zuber Lawler, a national law firm which covers the cannabis industry.

    This is a historic shift for the federal government and puts in more in line with the American Medical Association, most medical professionals, Canada and the general public.

     

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    JJ McKay

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  • Will Germany’s Legalizing Marijuana Push The DEA

    Will Germany’s Legalizing Marijuana Push The DEA

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    Yet another major country has legalized marijuana – hopefully the DEA is paying attention.  Here are some expert’s take on where it stands.

    Another major country made the commitment, but will Germany’s legalizing marijuana push the DEA to act? Germany joined Malta and Luxembourg in Europe. Officials shared  legalization would undermine criminal trade in the drug, guard against harmful impurities, and free police to pursue more serious crimes.  In doing so, they have ignored the UN ban and joins other countries including Canada, Uruguay, and South Africa.

    RELATED: Americans Are Choosing Marijuana Over Alcohol

    In the United States, the cannabis is still awaiting on decision from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) regarding rescheduling.  After a very slow start to his commitment, President Biden is moving now on his campaign promise and give younger voters another reason to support him.  But according to Pew Research Center, an overwhelming 88% of U.S. adults say either that marijuana should be legal for medical and recreational use by adults (59%) or that it should be legal for medical use only (30%). Only one-in-ten (10%) say marijuana use should not be legal. It is a popular decision and is widely used in blue and red states and in legal and illicit states. Key experts have weighed in on whether Germany’s move will push for the DEA to act soon.

    “We do not see Germany’s progress having much impact on the DEA.  Our thesis is we are witnessing a coordinated democratic effort to advance cannabis reform ahead of the election to mobilize and sway younger voters. We continue to believe it is unlikely that the head of the DEA (a Biden appointee) will go against the HHS recommendation in an election year. So, we remain optimistic that we’ll land on Schedule III, but do not see Germany as a major driver of US reform.” says Jesse Redmond, Managing Partner, Water Tower Research.

    Andrew Cooper, partner at Falcon Rappaport & Berkman LLP, one of the top cannabis law firms believes “Consequently, if anything, the fact that Germany legalized adult-use cannabis despite all the hurdles (including not only the Single Convention, but the Schengen Convention of 1985, the EU Framework Decision 2004/757/JHA of 2004, and the Narcotic Drug Act (BtMG), when the U.S. only really needs to address (and likely ignore) the Single Convention, may provide some impetus to the DEA to follow suit”.

    RELATED: Maine Is Getting It Right About Legal Weed While California And Others Struggle

    Tom Zuber, Managing Partner of Zuber Lawler whose west coast firm has a robust cannabis division states “It’s exciting to see Germany making history by legalizing cannabis at the recreational level as the largest economy in the European Union. I hope that Germany’s leadership on this front will inspire other countries throughout the world to do the same, including the United States.

    Time will tell if will Germany’s legalizing marijuana push the DEA to act.

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    Terry Hacienda

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  • What Is Taking The DEA So Long To Rescheduling Marijuana

    What Is Taking The DEA So Long To Rescheduling Marijuana

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    The Biden administration has been slow in fullfilling the last campaign promise of helping the cannabis industry….is the DEA waiting

    In 2012 Colorado and Washington legalized recreational cannabis. Science, public opinion, how we consume, and support from groups as varied as HHS to Fox News watchers have already moved to supporting federal legalization. In the last election, the Biden administration committed to helping the industry.  A key factor is his support of veterans. Veterans, along with federal and medical research, has shown cannabis is a solid help to PTSD.  Also, as the country struggles with an opioid crisis, expert believe medical marijuana can be part of the solution.  But the administration and dragged it’s feet and now it seems another agency is lingering on change.  What is taking the DEA so long to reschedule marijuana. Experts weight in.

    Related: California or New York, Which Has The Biggest Marijuana Mess

    Terran Cooper, a leading cannabis expert at Falcon Rappaport & Berkman Law shares his thoughts. “While we have comparable examples of controlled substance rescheduling, the ramifications of cannabis rescheduling are beyond anything we’ve ever seen. There are a number of policy issues to be navigated by the DEA, including the existence international drug treaties, which may have delayed the DEA’s review (though Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove and others have argued that applicable treaties shouldn’t prevent rescheduling). The widespread consequences of potential cannabis rescheduling may have also muddied the water, as numerous parties have sought to influence the DEA’s review in various ways. “

    “While it is possible that the DEA is attempting to navigate denying the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) recommendation for cannabis to rescheduled, many are skeptical of this likelihood. The HHS recommendation is binding on the DEA (21 USC 811(b)) as to scientific and medical matters, meaning in order to deny cannabis rescheduling the DEA would have to rely on other relevant data to outweigh HHS’ recommendation. This is a tall order, even for the historically cannabis-averse DEA.”

    Jesse Redmond, Managing Director at Water Tower Research and a keen analyst for the industry has this take. ““It’s critical to realize the rescheduling process is occurring during an election year and it is possible democrats are coordinating efforts for maximum political impact. Many are pointing to the week of 4/20, which falls on a Saturday this year, for the DEA’s response to the HHS’ recommendation. This would give time for the public comment period and final rule before the elections in November.”

    RELATED: Science Says Medical Marijuana Improves Quality Of Life

    “There is no easy explanation of the delay. Some factors are the fact that the DEA and the FDA have different interests in cannabis regulation, the lack of clarity regarding how the DEA would regulate the rescheduled drug, how rescheduling and varied state cannabis laws would intersect, the loss of federal tax dollars when cannabis business expenses become deductible, and political considerations in a presidential election year.” said Lonnie Rosenwald from Zuber Lawler.

    The industry is in need of support as consumer demand increase, but the cost of doing business is becoming prohibitive.  President Biden and Vice President Harris have been traditionally anti-marijuana, so you wonder if their lack of urgency or support is weighing in on the DEA’s slow walk of a decision.

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    Terry Hacienda

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  • Cryptocurrency Has Not Changed The Cannabis Industry

    Cryptocurrency Has Not Changed The Cannabis Industry

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    It was the buzz of the marijuana world as legalization become the normal for more states. Everyone wanted to jump on the bandwagon. Cryptocurrency was offered as the answer for dispensaries who couldn’t take mainstream credits. Plus, weed aficionados could make money with “pot coins”. At the time, the industry was flooded with conferences and crypto was a topic on stage and at the wrap around events.  Mainstream and marijuana media ate it up. But, cryptocurrency has not changed the cannabis industry.

    The biggest example cyptocurrency isn’t solving any major cannabis industry problem is the excited around the slow-moving Biden administration moving to reschedule and the Senate embracing SAFER Banking.  Both will have a significant impact on the entire industry generating jobs, investment and hope. Together they will create an atmosphere for mom and pop businesses and large operators to have a fair chance at success.

    RELATED: Yacht Rock Pairs Perfectly With Cocktails

    One of the most high profile boom and bust crypto moments was in 2018. High Time just on the early coin moment and announced they would accept it as a way to invest in their IPO. Days later, theyremoved bitcoin as a payment option for its the yet to happen IPO.

    Photo by MichaelWuensch via Pixabay

    Multiple firms wanted to exploit a perceived loophole to sell cannabis by credit card. Each company got close and then the effort failed. Posabit, now a specialized point-of-sales system for dispensaries, tried and made it work for a short period. In fact, the site updated its FAQ with a statement, saying “Why is credit card processing illegal? (…) Simple: Cannabis is categorized as a Schedule 1 controlled substance at the federal level, which makes it illegal. This hinders credit payment processors from deliberately working with cannabis businesses.”

    Eaze, tried to find a workaround to be able to charge credit cards, by obfuscating the nature of the charges.  Then, Smoakland tried to do the same thing but surrendered when their process partner terminated the relationship.

    RELATED: Yacht Rock Pairs Perfectly With Cocktails

    “Crypto has not changed the legal cannabis industry. It is not an accepted payment method at dispensaries, and I have not seen vendors using it either. However, crypto is popular for making black market purchases, as it is global and harder to trace.” stated Jesse Redmond, Head of Cannabis for Water Tower Research.

    And how are the marijuana crypto companies doing?

    PotCoin (POT) is trading at $0.00083517.

    Tokes (TKS) is trading at $0.001874.

    CannabisCoin (CANN) is trading at $0.004641.

    Cryptocurrency has not changed the cannabis industry, but federal action will.

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    Terry Hacienda

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