Update on Cannabis and The CoronaVirus Covid-19

RIVERSIDE, Calif. - April 1, 2020 - PRLog -- The coronavirus outbreak causes activists in Nebraska to suspend signature-gathering efforts in their campaign to get a proposed constitutional amendment legalizing the use, possession, purchase and cultivation of medical marijuana on the November ballot. An initiative to amend California's cannabis program has also stopped collecting signatures, while adult-use legalization in New York will most likely be delayed as well.

In Massachusetts, the state's Cannabis Control Commission orders all adult use marijuana stores to cease operations until April 7th in response to Republican Governor Charlie Baker's stay-at-home mandate regarding the coronavirus pandemic. While MMJ dispensaries are allowed to continue operations, many in the industry are criticizing the move, pointing out the liquor store exemption to the order.

In Maine, Auburn-based recreational cannabis business license applicant Wellness Connection alleges in a federal lawsuit that the state's residency requirement violates the 14th amendment, which prohibits restrictive, discriminatory commercial regulation between states. The company, which is 49 percent owned by Delaware-based High Street Capital Partners, claims their entry into the market is being delayed by the stipulation because of their need for additional outside investment.

In Alaska, cannabis cultivator and retailer Greatland Ganja becomes the first marijuana company to sponsor a participant in annual thousand-mile sled-dog race the Iditarod. Seven-time racer Monica Zappa, from Kasilof, where the business is based, provided a creative way to market to the local community, and finished 31st in the March 22nd event.

The SBA reiterates cannabis companies are not eligible for the 50 billion dollars in disaster relief aid through low-interest loans, allotted by the Trump administration in response to COVID19. A similar situation persists up north, despite federal legality, with 10 billion Canadian dollars in loans from Export Development Canada and the Business Development Bank of Canada not being made available to the marijuana sector. While the U.S. policy is unlikely to change due to federal prohibition, Canadian regulators may reevaluate program eligibility.

Health Canada limits on-site inspections in wake of the coronavirus, leading to concerns over licensing delays. Although the federal agency has assured businesses that the cannabis licensing process will continue, albeit slowly, they're considering temporary three-month license extensions as well as special security clearance provisions to mitigate industry disruption.

Ghana legalizes medical and industrial hemp for production and use, establishing a THC limit of .3 percent, the same as the U.S. The move has prompted a partnership between the Hemp Association of Ghana and Portugal-based, Ghanian-owned cannabis company Soringa, in which they plan to open a hundred acre cultivation site anticipated to generate 56 million dollars in revenue and over 10 million in taxes.

Written by Jacqui Verdura and Micah Tatum
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