The new marijuana testing guidelines required for all Arizona dispensaries, which started on November 1, 2020, also further caused a supply shortage. With the mandatory testing, there were fewer medical cannabis products on the shelves in stores. It happened as dispensaries wait for products to get through the testing phase.

Another issue, even before the mandatory testing began, was the potential that not all medical marijuana products would pass. The increased chance that many cannabis wouldn’t pass as some growers couldn’t meet the pesticide regulations will lower the number of available products.

Although there was a reassurance from the Department of Health Services that the disruption in supply, if there is any, will be limited and is only temporary, it wasn’t enough to curb the concern for some.

However, a new bill aims to fix Arizona’s cannabis supply shortage when the mandatory testing began. One of the critical issues during the original testing law was that it launched before many testing labs were ready for operation. There wasn’t an adequate amount of labs to handle the huge amount of marijuana ready for testing.

As testing labs failed to test a massive amount of cannabis promptly, it caused shortages throughout Arizona. It greatly affected medical marijuana patients as it became more challenging to get the medicine they require.

In part, the new Arizona bill reads that if an independent third-party testing laboratory couldn’t provide necessary test results within seven business days, they are to remit the supposed payment to the department of deposit. The test results include those for usable marijuana and other marijuana products intended for medical use sent to the testing labs by nonprofit medical marijuana dispensaries.

In other words, laboratories will be forfeiting their revenue for tests that they cannot complete promptly or in seven business days as required in the regulation. The forfeited revenue from the third-party laboratory will be under the medical marijuana fund established by Section 36-2817.

Meanwhile, Arizona’s recreational marijuana sales, which only began on January 22, 2021, are booming at most cannabis dispensaries. The recreational marijuana market in Arizona is growing following the cannabis legalization passed during the election in November. Arizona joins 14 other US states to move towards broadly legalizing cannabis use.

Early this year, the state’s Department of Health Services started accepting license applications from businesses wishing to dip in the recreational cannabis market. Many businesses and facilities already received licenses to begin adult-use cannabis sales.

Cannabis companies in the state are reporting long customer lines and increasing sales weeks after the market launch and a couple of months after the approved legalization of recreational cannabis for adults.

Dispensary operators who received the first recreational licenses from the department report two up to three times of boost in adult-use sales. Dozens of existing medical cannabis dispensaries already opened their stores to recreation shoppers, sparking new concerns about supply problems.

With many dispensaries opening to sell cannabis recreationally, medical cannabis patients start to worry about supply shortages.

The number of states that moved to legalize cannabis, whether for medical or recreational use or both, is rapidly increasing. 2020 saw a boom in the cannabis industry, and a wave of legalization increased, with states including Arizona, Mississippi, South Dakota, New Jersey, and Montana all made a move. There are now 36 states that legalized medical marijuana, while 15 already legalized medical and recreational cannabis. Other states are also showing signs of legalizing cannabis use in 2021.

With more states considering cannabis use as legal, physicians are keener on explaining the importance of discussing the effects of cannabis on patients, especially those with asthma. A new survey published in ACAAI’s Annals of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology shows that around half of those who used cannabis and a third of those who vaped it will harm their lungs.

The study’s principal researcher, Dr. Joanna Zeiger, said that it surprised her that more than half of the cannabis users involved in the study who suffer from asthma are smoking cannabis. Also, there was around half with uncontrolled asthma who reported cannabis use. Zeiger also explained that the study found that people experiencing asthma don’t receive routine questions and advice from their physicians regarding cannabis and its use.

The anonymous survey was with the help of the Allergy & Asthma Network. It involved individuals who are 18 years old and older.

There are 489 adults with asthma or allergy involved in the survey, and 88 individuals, or 18% of the participants, reported current cannabis use. The majority of these 88 cannabis users with asthma or allergy are under 50, white, and female.

Meanwhile, 2.5% of the non-cannabis user participants in the study reported allergy to marijuana. Also, two-thirds of those currently using cannabis did so for medical or both recreational and medical purposes.

The study looked closer at individuals’ cannabis knowledge, their attitude towards the substance and its use, and their patterns of use of cannabis.

The study’s co-author, allergist William Silver, commented that it’s striking to find out that only 40% of participants reported having their physicians ask about cannabis use. He said there are also around the same number of patients actively inquiring and discussing cannabis with their physicians.

Dr. Silvers also stated that allergists should look into cannabis and inquire about its use and effects to manage their asthma and allergy patients. He likened cannabis smoking to cigarette smoking and expressed that there may be potentially safer routes to consume cannabis like tinctures and edibles for asthma patients.

The study’s findings also included a frequent report of positive effects from using cannabis like calmness, improved sleep, and reduced pain than reports of adverse effects like anxiety and reduced appetite. Meanwhile, 20% of those in the survey reported coughing after smoking cannabis, with 60% of respondents reported current asthma and 40% with uncontrolled asthma based on the Asthma Control Test.

Thomas A. Hurd, DDS, a Lompoc resident with a degree in Psychology, showed his strong opposition to the legalization of pot by addressing alarming issues and concerns about the effects of continued marijuana use. Hurd also talked about the negative effects of pot during his speech as a guest commentary speaker in the city of Lompoc.

He narrated his experiences while in UCLA for his Pre-Med as he witnessed marijuana abuse and other recreational drug use, and how it altered people’s normal state of mind into something destructive and violent. He also mentioned that he saw some of his friends lose their normal self after consuming weed and entering an altered reality based on hallucinations and paranoia caused by the drug.

Hurd said that not many people understand the negative effects of marijuana as nobody can really justify or conclude the real effects of the drug on our brain. All the clinical studies and tests conducted to learn more about using the drug as a medicine often end up with futile results when it comes to the real effects of it on a person’s well-being.

But the main concern of Thomas Hurd as he addressed the audience at UCLA is that once marijuana is legalized and regulated, people who are high on pot and continue to work in a dangerous area such as those who operate heavy machinery or handle dangerous weapons could get into fatal accidents, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of weed.

The impact may not be seen immediately after the implementation of weed legalization, but Hurd is sure that the people will notice the drastic negative impacts of it in the long run. Hurd ended his speech by telling the audience that marijuana and other illegal drugs continue to end and ruin the lives of the users and other innocent people who collide with these substance abusers. He urged the people to vote against the legalization and use of recreational marijuana to save lives and continue to live in a more peaceful environment.

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“On this auspicious day, we’ve got a dangerous bill,” said the bill co-sponsor Sen. Jonathan Singer. There’s no cure for PTSD. Exercise routines, medications, diet programs, and therapy sessions are no silver bullets. Moreover, Colorado has one of the highest suicide cases in the country, according to research.
Military veterans are the primary focus of this bill because they are the ones who get this disorder. Most veterans have PTSD after getting out of the military due to their experiences while they were still serving the country.

But the topic of using marijuana for PTSD patients under 18 years old took the stage on Thursday. The State of the House had an evaluation on whether or not they should let minors with PTSD take marijuana to cure their illnesses.

Before the second reading, the sponsors of the bill had a meeting with concerned parties. These include pediatricians, psychiatrists, and physicians. The purpose of the meeting was to create an amendment that would compromise both the patients and the doctors.

In the said bill, every PTSD patient must have one or two physicians. It can be a licensed family physician, a pediatrician, or a licensed child and adolescent psychiatrist.
However, a counter amendment was proposed on Thursday. Rep. Timothy Leonard, who sponsored the mentioned bill, said that marijuana could affect the brains of children. Moreover, he is alarmed about the increasing opioid addiction rate among teenagers.

According to the government’s research, 40 percent of teens have tried weed. Twenty percent of them are current users, and 10 percent tried it before they reached 13. Meanwhile, tobacco consumption has increased among college students. Still, children aged 12-17 years old believe that marijuana is safe to take.
Earlier this year, the American Academy of Pediatrics gave a warning about the effects of cannabis on children. According to research, the use of marijuana for PTSD patients could affect the memory and the brain’s ability to plan. The frequent use of pot could lower the IQ level and could lead to addiction.
Nonetheless, not all teen users developed an addiction. It still depends on the user’s genetics and other factors.

For this reason, The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine called for more marijuana PTSD medical research. Despite conducting multiple studies on marijuana, they want to know how cannabis can affect a developing brain and other areas.

Rep. Leonard didn’t want this to happen. He didn’t want to use children in experiments; hence, the proposal of the counter-amendment. However, Leonard failed, and the House is one step closer to allowing marijuana for PTSD. All they need to wait is for the Senate’s final approval.

Meanwhile, Leonard’s worries were repeated by Dr. Jennifer Hagman, a child psychologist. According to Dr. Hagman, the conversation about medical marijuana is surfacing around Colorado. She added that she’s also optimistic and enthusiastic for the progression of the study. She even mentioned the latest Senate Bill 275, which would let cannabis growers and sellers use their crops for research.

Since Colorado implemented the medical marijuana bill in 2001, no new sickness has been added to the list. (The list consists of cachexia, HIV/AIDS, muscle spasms, glaucoma, nausea, cancer, and severe pain.)
Colorado has rejected medical marijuana for PTSD treatment multiple times. The last request to add PTSD as a qualifying disorder was in 2015. The said petition was filed by four veterans and one sexual assault victim. But like any requests, the Colorado Court of Appeals rejected the request.

However, the Senate Bill 17, which allows veterans and children to use cannabis for treating PTSD, is another story. Compared to its previous petitions, this one has experienced smooth sailing. Earlier this year, the bill was cleared by the Senate Committee, allowing PTSD to be in the medical marijuana list. It got a unanimous vote from the senators.

A few days later, it got a 34-1 vote from the GOP. Last month, the House’s voted 8-1 to move the bill to the House floor.

The newly revised bill has the following amendments:

The patient’s PTSD diagnosis must come from a board-certified mental health professional.
Parents who live in Colorado must write a letter of consent to the state health department. The letter must ask for permission to use marijuana dosage for PTSD. The parent must also include his/her name and ask if he/she could be the caregiver of the patient.

The patient must build a real patient-doctor relationship. This means that the resident physician must have a full evaluation of the patient’s physical examination and medical history.

Minor patients must receive PTSD diagnoses from two doctors. One of the physicians must explain the risks and benefits of marijuana for PTSD to their parents. However, this is only implemented if they reside in Colorado.

This is the best time to focus on what’s coming in the marijuana industry.

Among the primary areas of concern in 2017 include Jeff sessions and California. The recreational marijuana market in California is still in the building phase, many are watching the progress, and expect some good news towards the end of the year.

Another center of focus is the appointment of Jeff Sessions as the Attorney General of the United States. This is a huge milestone because the industry will be kept on check, as far as marijuana laws are concerned. Apart from the above themes, the following are some of the prediction in marijuana industry this year:

LA is set to become the marijuana capital

Many marijuana experts across the country have a strong belief that Los Angeles will become the hub for all the marijuana activities. It will definitely beat Mile High City and others. There are several reasons for this deduction. First of all, the medical marijuana market is almost hitting the $1 billion mark, and sooner the figures will overtake those of entire Colorado market. Secondly, the city is yet to pass the ordinance in 2017. This enactment will put in place the right licensing program and introduce the recreational market. Thirdly, many investors are shifting their attention to the city, thanks to the promising emerging market.

 A marijuana sports league will be introduced

Experts argue that there is a possibility of a major sports to green light marijuana. The league will approve the use of cannabis for medical reasons. Athletes from all areas have shifted to using marijuana to treat head injuries and pain and are now avoiding prescribed opiates. At the moment, medical cannabis is legal in 29 states, and athletes are fighting to be treated like other people.

A TV talk show with a marijuana theme will be introduced

According to various studies, many Americans want marijuana to be legalized. And sooner, a major network will be using a marijuana backdrop. It is now more than ten years since a TV program had a weed drop. The series featured a mom who sold weed to earn income. At that time, all this was considered ground breaking. Today we have Mary Jane on MTV and High Maintenance on HBO and so much more.

 Recycling marijuana failures

the Cannabis Business Alliance is one of the major bodies in the country that handles all the marijuana issues, and it hopes to work with legislators to come up with various options for cannabis that fail to pass the pesticide testing. At the moment, marijuana producers are supposed to get rid of crops that don’t pass the test. The body is also working on a new law to allow the failed cannabis to be converted into concentrates that are safe to use.

This would give PTSD patients the opportunity to openly discuss the option of using cannabis as part of their treatment program. In turn, physicians are also allowed to prescribe medical marijuana. The approval was based on medical background review and consultation.

With this, Colorado joins other US states allowing the use of medical marijuana in treating PTSD. There are at least 20 other states, two US territories, and Washington D.C. that permits this medical treatment. PTSD becomes one out of nine medical conditions to qualify for the medical marijuana treatment program in the state of Colorado.

Cannabis is legal in Colorado for recreational use. The need for including PTSD in the medical program involves the widening of available strains for patients which can only be obtained from medical dispensaries. Some patients may prefer to use cannabis strains with higher CBD or cannabidiol.

CBD is a non-psychoactive component of cannabis. This substance can help in the regulation of the patients’ moods. It helps in alleviating stress and anxiety. Moreover, it can help to calm the panic and nightmares caused by PTSD.

Also, patients claim that buying the quantity necessary to treat their condition is considered expensive.
Based on SB17, users of medical marijuana for the treatment of PTSD will have to act in accordance with the rules and regulations for medical marijuana in the state of Colorado. As such, they are allowed to have up to 2 ounces of products to use. Also, they can have up to six plants, only three of which can be flowering and in maturity level. However, they can petition for more from their primary caregiver as deemed necessary.

The approval of the inclusion of PTSD in the medical marijuana treatment program was a long and painstaking battle for veterans suffering from the condition. In July 2015, the Board of Health declined the petition with the basis of insufficient scientific evidence to justify the inclusion of PTSD.

Because of this setback, petitioners were motivated to bring the bill to the Capitol and earn support from state lawmakers. They also filed a lawsuit against the state of Colorado for the rejection. The case is currently pending in Colorado Appeals Court.

The lawsuit is being handled by Hoban Law Group pro bono to represent veterans suffering from PTSD. Adam Foster, the attorney handling the case said that it will likely be dismissed.

SB17 was worked by Colorado legislatures through legislative assembly. It was passed by the senate in February while the House passed the bill on April 20, also known as “marijuana holiday.” Amendments with the bill were settled on April 25 and enacted on Monday.

With the recreational use of cannabis being legal in Colorado, including the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder in the medical marijuana program, it has given patients the option to discuss the treatment with their physician and to choose the suitable cannabis strain for their condition. Do you agree with Colorado with these changes?

However, the lawmakers have put a limit on the number of businesses that would be allowed to produce and distribute medical marijuana. On June 7, 2017, the house and the senate came up with an amendment to the Compromise Bill for the medical marijuana program.

The bill mentioned that it would award licenses to 10 additional treatment centers that will control the facilities and the auxiliary support. Currently, the state has seven licensed distributors. There will be 17 licensed and fully-operational businesses within the state by July 1, 2018.

According to Matt Grinder, a medical marijuana lawyer based in Florida, this setup does not give enough market competition because access is still limited. Nonetheless, this would open doors to auxiliary partners such as legal counsel, security companies, accountants, and more.

The amended Compromise Bill also reiterates that the statesmen agree to add four new licenses for every 100,000 patients. These participants must be officially enrolled in the medical marijuana program.

Advocates of the program are delighted about the progress of the bill, which is due on July 3, 2017. This will then be forwarded to the Florida Health Department and must be implemented by October.

The state lawmakers have added the rule on limiting dispensaries to 25 per licensed business. This will also be divided into respective regions to avoid monopoly. The legislators also agreed to give an expiration date on caps. For this newly-amended program, the limit will expire on April 1, 2020.

Conversely, none of the licenses can be acquired by new applicants. Some of the licenses that will be issued will be awarded to the applicants who were not qualified on the previous application. Three licenses are already reserved. One will be awarded to the minority group Florida Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association. The other two, meanwhile, will be given to facilities that process citrus fruit or molasses.

The medical marijuana program shows promising improvements as the deadline for the Compromise Bill implementation draws near. This reassures not only the business community but the patients who rely on cannabis as well.

Edible marijuana is still controversial, despite the legalization of the medical and recreational use of cannabis. While some consumers prove that marijuana inclusion in their diet helps improve their condition, some supporters do not like this idea. They worry that putting cannabis in food can be harmful to children, but the authorities allow them – once lawmakers create rules.

Surterra sent this petition on September 29 with a draft regulation. Legislators have no obligation to follow Surterra’s guidelines, but the requirements are standard-fare. In the proposed rule of Surterra, food manufacturers and restaurants should include ingredients, conditions, and expiration dates on their products.

However, Jason Cetel, Gray Robinson’s attorney, warned that it would not be easy to make rules for edible marijuana. According to Cetel, combining heavily restrained marijuana plants with regular food to create a hybrid meal is complicated. Therefore, it will take time to develop rules for it.

The rulemaking process is a comprehensive procedure that has specific deadlines for delivering proposals, getting public comments, and concluding drafts. Once this is done, the proposed rule is subject to approval or denial of the administrative court. Therefore, it took two years for Florida to legalize the medical marijuana proposal.

Cetel also said that some states have experimented with the efficiency of edible cannabis, but the methods vary. Cetel even compared this to the legalization of alcohol. According to him, the ban on wine was stopped in 1833, but alcohol laws are continually changing. He predicted that it would take a century or more to control the marijuana industry.

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The Department of Health Office of Medical Marijuana Use controls the growing cannabis industry of Florida. Their spokesperson refused to have an interview, but she said that the office is working on applying new rules – including new regulations for edibles.

There’s an indefinite timeline for edible cannabis policies to be implemented, but there is a time frame for adding ten new cultivators. The initial deadline should be on October 3, but due to litigation and Hurricane Irma, the work was delayed. They have chosen only five licensees as of today.

Medical marijuana accounts for about three-fourths of the market. Meanwhile, recreational marijuana commands the remaining one-fourth of the market. This skew is not surprising in view of the fact that there are only a handful of countries in the world where ingesting recreational marijuana is legalized. In order to understand where investors can look to propel growth, it is best to look at the consumption patterns of the recreational cannabis market.

Trial Rates and Usage Levels of Recreational Marijuana

According to the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime, only 4% of the global population have used marijuana for recreational purposes at least once. In the United States of America, despite the fact that rising usage rates are monitored, usage levels in 2009 are still much lower than those monitored in the 1970s. Of the 10 people who ingest recreational marijuana on a regular basis, at least two ingest recreational marijuana daily. Recreational marijuana users spend an average of $1,869 per year.

Demographic Picture of Users
Marijuana users are both male and female. Several studies show that the young adults in their mid-twenties to their mid-thirties are the more active users of recreational marijuana.

Usage rates taper down as the age group gets older. A possible reason could be that older people still tend to equate marijuana with hard drugs. A majority look at recreational marijuana as a substance positioned in between alcohol and hard drugs in terms of health benefits and social impact.

Reasons for Using Recreational Marijuana

Consumers of recreational marijuana claim that they use it to help them sleep and relax. It is also ingested as a stress reliever and helps minimize anxiety and panic attacks. This contributes to an overall feeling of fun and well-being after ingesting recreational marijuana. Some users claim that it helps improve moods and disposition. Recreational marijuana also helps the user concentrate and meditate.

Purchase Habits

Users usually purchase recreational marijuana legally through pharmacies and dispensaries that are either government owned or privately owned but government supervised. The usual form of marijuana purchases is dried flower buds. The second popular variant is the pre-rolled joint, followed by vapor pens, various edibles, and concentrates. It is remarkable to note that marijuana users do not drink alcohol while “high” on the drug.

Findings show that marijuana is ingested recreationally primarily to help the user relax and feel good. For whatever it is worth, a number of mindful cannabis users claim that marijuana is their substance of choice over alcohol to unwind with after a long hard day while hanging out with friends. Based on the consumption patterns of the recreational cannabis market, it appears that drivers for market growth is to appeal and be relevant to the young upwardly mobile adult’s lifestyle.

On Monday, March 6th, the state of Pennsylvania is looking to be added to the list of those that intend to go beyond medical marijuana use. The primary reason, like the other aforementioned territories, is rooted to likely financial growth.

The Potential for Economic Growth

The first two states in the US that opted to legalize recreational marijuana are Washington, Colorado and Oregon. According to this report, the revenue from taxes that the two states have raked in in 2016 alone were $220 million, $129 million, and $65.4 million, respectively.

Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale is looking to put the same approach in place. He admitted that he was initially unconvinced about how it could turn out, but after seeing how it all fared with the three states, he was eventually persuaded to consider legalization and how it could benefit them “fiscally and socially.”

DePasquale foresees a huge jump in state revenue if the state goes beyond just medical marijuana. Specifically, he is projecting earnings that could reach up to $200 million per year by regulating and taxing cannabis use.

Recreational Marijuana in Other States

Colorado legalized the recreational use of cannabis in 2012, and since then, it has done wonders for the state, in terms of revenue. In the past year, it was reported that sales soared up to more than $1 billion, both for medical and recreational marijuana.

It was already an impressive enough feat from their 2015 earnings, which reached up to $996 million in total. In October of 2016 alone, the state raked in earnings of $82.8 million in retail and $35 million for medical cannabis. Annually, Colorado collects $40 million in taxes, which in turn go to school projects.

In another early 2016 report, the Washington state also experienced monthly revenue of $75.3 million in December 2014, and $18.8 million in January 2015. These numbers come from sales of edible cannabis and extracts.

Repercussions from Trump’s Stance on Cannabis

Upon taking office in January, President Donald Trump made it clear that he was not going to interfere with state laws on medical marijuana. As stated in this report, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer clarified that the president had nothing against medicinal cannabis, particularly for individuals who are suffering from terminal illnesses. Spicer says President Trump “understands the pain” of these patients and how medical marijuana could be of great help to them.
The state of Pennsylvania is now looking to capitalize on this standpoint of the president, as investors are now more confident with where their money is going. And since Pennsylvania’s business model for dispensing and regulating medical marijuana is similar to that of New York and New Jersey, they are expecting for the Trump administration to be supportive.

This, however, has made them look away from considering venturing into the business of recreational marijuana.

For a state like Pennsylvania that is looking to head towards that route, President Trump’s polarizing point of view on both medicinal and recreational cannabis use could be more of a hurdle to deal with. According to constitutional law professor Stephen Wermiel, the current administration should be able to set priorities and figure out how to iron out such laws.

In conclusion

Rightfully, a state like Pennsylvania that has legalized medicinal cannabis for a long time now would consider decriminalizing recreational marijuana as well. The proof is in the pudding, as the saying goes, just by looking at how other states have benefitted from it, in terms of monetary gains.

The main thing to consider would be regulation, if this new law gets enacted. Just like how President Obama’s administration put more focus on prohibition among minors, it would only be logical for the state of Pennsylvania to head towards a similar direction.