This story first appeared at Marijuana Business Daily. Cultivation facility design and engineering firm Urban-Gro priced an initial public offering on the Nasdaq exchange to raise $54 million before expenses. The IPO put up 5.4 million shares of the Lafayette, Colorado-based company at a price of $10 per share. Urban-Gro also works in the non-cannabis… Continue reading Indoor grow facility designer Urban-Gro goes public on Nasdaq
Category: Briefs
Texas smoke shop owner accused of selling MJ says products were legal hemp
A coastal Texas smoke-shop owner facing criminal marijuana charges after a police raid Tuesday says the cannabis flower, vapes, gummies and other products taken were legal hemp, not illegal marijuana. Faded Smoke Shop owner Alexandra Degollado faces charges of manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance, the Victoria Advocate reported. One of her store employees… Continue reading Texas smoke shop owner accused of selling MJ says products were legal hemp
Drug possession charges against Minnesota hemp farmer dropped
Prosecutors have dismissed charges against a Minnesota hemp farmer whose plants had elevated THC levels, saying that they had trouble locating witnesses because of delays in the case. Fillmore County prosecutors filed felony possession charges against Luis Hummel in March 2019 after seizing his plants. They tested at 3% THC, 10 times higher than the THC… Continue reading Drug possession charges against Minnesota hemp farmer dropped
Parent company of embattled CBD firm files for bankruptcy
A land-development company that includes an Arizona CBD firm battling investor fraud claims has filed for federal bankruptcy protection. Integrated AG is a private equity investor that redeveloped farmland in the western U.S. Integrated AG is a private equity investor that redeveloped farmland in the western U.S. Integrated AG, parent company of Integrated CBD, filed… Continue reading Parent company of embattled CBD firm files for bankruptcy
California labor board shuts down hemp seed company for workforce pay, insurance violations
A California hemp seed company was closed by the state labor board following complaints that the company hadn’t paid more than a dozen full-time workers since mid-December. The California Labor Commissioner’s Office shut down Castillo Seed Company, based in Half Moon Bay, in late January. The company had sent a letter to its workforce in… Continue reading California labor board shuts down hemp seed company for workforce pay, insurance violations
Oregon hemp-drying companies fined nearly $600K for air violations
Two associated hemp drying companies and their chief executive have each been fined nearly $200,000 by state environmental regulators in Oregon. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued fines of $198,786 to Columbia Hemp Trading Company and $196,288 each to related company Columbia 410 and CEO Jacob Crabtree. The firms were operating out of the… Continue reading Oregon hemp-drying companies fined nearly $600K for air violations
Former NBA star Isiah Thomas invests $3 million in his hemp and marijuana company
NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas is investing $3 million in his company One World Pharma, which grows hemp and marijuana in Colombia. Thomas, who played 13 seasons for the NBA’s Detroit Pistons, became CEO of One World Pharma in July. The company is located in Las Vegas but has a 30-acre regional cultivation facility… Continue reading Former NBA star Isiah Thomas invests $3 million in his hemp and marijuana company
Vancouver company locks down water rights for hemp construction plans in Colorado
A Canadian hemp producer says it has acquired the water rights necessary to pursue its plan to grow hemp in northwestern Colorado and process the hemp into construction components for affordable homes on the same land. Global Hemp Group says it has acquired control of Western Sierra Resource Corp. of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and its… Continue reading Vancouver company locks down water rights for hemp construction plans in Colorado
USDA: Slowing bailout payments will cause farm income to fall in 2021
U.S. farmers could bring home almost $10 billion less in annual income in 2021 because of slowed federal pandemic payouts to farmers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture projects that farm income in 2021 will decrease $9.8 billion, to $111.4 billion. The falling income forecast comes as Congress pumps the brakes on pandemic-related relief funds for… Continue reading USDA: Slowing bailout payments will cause farm income to fall in 2021
Broad-spectrum extract tea maker accused of false THC claim
A Michigan company making broad-spectrum hemp teas is battling claims that its products falsely promised 0.0% THC content. Total Life Changes LLC of Fair Haven, Michigan, has been sued by a New Jersey man who says the company’s instant Iaso Tea is “intentionally misleading the general public” by carrying a label that says it “contains… Continue reading Broad-spectrum extract tea maker accused of false THC claim
CBD brand hires former FDA executive to oversee regulatory initiatives
North Carolina CBD maker cbdMD has hired Sibyl Swift, a former U.S. Food and Drug Administration official as a consultant to lead the company’s regulatory efforts and prepare products for certifications. Swift served in various roles at the FDA from 2014 to 2020, most notably as the associate director for research and strategy in the… Continue reading CBD brand hires former FDA executive to oversee regulatory initiatives
Bipartisan legislation directs Congress to regulate hemp-CBD as a dietary supplement
A bipartisan bill that was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives Thursday could push legal CBD through Congress, providing consumer access and protection while clearing the supply chain bottleneck. The Hemp and Hemp-Derived CBD Consumer Protection and Market Stabilization Act of 2021 is sponsored by Representatives Kurt Schrader, a Democrat from Oregon, and Morgan… Continue reading Bipartisan legislation directs Congress to regulate hemp-CBD as a dietary supplement
New Mexico judge repeals hemp regulations that revoked licenses without notice
A New Mexico district court has invalidated the state’s hemp production rules that allowed regulators to revoke or suspend licenses without notice and imposed strict testing requirements. Santa Fe District Court Judge Bryan Biedscheid said the New Mexico Department of Health’s rules were invalid because the agency failed to consult with the Medical Cannabis Advisory… Continue reading New Mexico judge repeals hemp regulations that revoked licenses without notice
New USDA hemp rules: Find out what you need to know to succeed
The U.S. Department of Agriculture kicked off 2021 with the release of federal regulations that will govern hemp production going forward. Find out the key elements of the new rules with a free webinar with leading industry professionals who will provide an overview of what hemp operators need to succeed. There is still time to… Continue reading New USDA hemp rules: Find out what you need to know to succeed
AOSCA review board clears 4 new CBD-dominant seeds
A publicly traded California biotech company announced Tuesday that four of its hemp seed varieties have been aproved by the national variety board of the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies. Davis-based Arcadia Biosciences received eligibility for certified seed production for its GoodHemp brand varieties including Rogue, Umpqua, Santiam and Potomac. All four varieties are… Continue reading AOSCA review board clears 4 new CBD-dominant seeds
EU market regulator updates cosmetics guidelines to add CBD as legal ingredient
A key market regulator for trade in the European Union has updated its guidelines to add plant-derived CBD as a legal ingredient in cosmetics. The change comes after the European Industrial Hemp Association pointed out that the European Court of Justice recently ruled that CBD should not be classified as a drug and can be… Continue reading EU market regulator updates cosmetics guidelines to add CBD as legal ingredient
USDA coronavirus relief to hemp farmers on hold – for now
Hemp farmers getting federal pandemic assistance will see those payments frozen because of the changed administration. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says that payments under the latest round of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program are on hold “until further notice” — though interested farmers can continue applying through Feb. 26. The latest round of coronavirus… Continue reading USDA coronavirus relief to hemp farmers on hold – for now
Senate to consider new ag chief Tom Vilsack
The Senate Agriculture Committee talks to an experienced hemp regulator Tuesday when it considers the confirmation of Tom Vilsack for Secretary of Agriculture. Vilsack, an Iowan, is President Joe Biden’s nominee and served in the same role for all eight years of the Obama administration. He oversaw the USDA during passage and implementation of the… Continue reading Senate to consider new ag chief Tom Vilsack
USDA official touts hemp rules as ‘fair, consistent, science-based’
A top official with the U.S. Department of Agriculture praised the agency’s work on hemp this week, putting into doubt any plans to make additional changes. Sonia Jimenez, deputy administrator for the Specialty Crops Program in the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, talked up the rules in a newsletter the agency sends to farmers. “The work… Continue reading USDA official touts hemp rules as ‘fair, consistent, science-based’
FTC officials weigh in on CBD crackdown on false ads, urge caution
Federal regulators that go after companies for false advertising recently weighed on sanctions against CBD companies, with one urging the agency to focus on opioid manufacturers and another warning against a chilling effect on legitimate cannabis research. Rohit Chopra and Christine S. Wilson, two of five members on the Federal Trade Commission, recently published statements… Continue reading FTC officials weigh in on CBD crackdown on false ads, urge caution
Thailand legalizes hemp production for all uses
Thailand’s public health minister has approved regulations legalizing hemp production beginning Friday. The new rules allows hemp cultivation for commercial, medicinal, and research purposes, the Bangkok Post reported. Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul approved the rules Thursday. The regulations will allow both exports and imports and the plant can be cultivated for extracts, beverages, cosmetics,… Continue reading Thailand legalizes hemp production for all uses
Oregon hemp farmer to lead Farm Bureau’s young growers committee
Jon Iverson, a 34-year-old grower whose family farm grows industrial hemp and other crops, has been elected to serve as chair of the American Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee. The third-generation farmer and graduate of Oregon State will act as spokesman for the YF&R program and will sit on the American Farm Bureau… Continue reading Oregon hemp farmer to lead Farm Bureau’s young growers committee
DEA asks judge to toss lawsuit from hemp operators challenging extraction rule
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is asking a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit from the Hemp Industries Association over an extraction rule that meany fear will wrongly criminalize temporary byproducts of the plant during production. The DEA says in a filing Tuesday that HIA is challenging “a hypothetical regulation or policy concerning manufacturing byproduct”… Continue reading DEA asks judge to toss lawsuit from hemp operators challenging extraction rule
New cannabis beverage council drawing inspiration from alcohol prohibition to boost segment
The American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp, an industry trade and advocacy organization, has formed a new Cannabis Beverage Council to connect cannabis industry and beverage industry leaders focused on expanding the cannabis beverage segment. Hemp-derived CBD beverages will be a growing segment among consumers, accounting for up to $1.3 billion in sales by… Continue reading New cannabis beverage council drawing inspiration from alcohol prohibition to boost segment
Biden moves on climate change have hemp industry seeing opportunity
Hemp advocates say the plant’s carbon-gobbling properties position the crop to play an important role in plans outlined by President Joe Biden to tackle the climate crisis. Biden created the White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy Wednesday and signed a series of executive orders aimed at tackling the climate crisis. After signing an order… Continue reading Biden moves on climate change have hemp industry seeing opportunity
Swiss CBD company accuses Juul of stealing patent
A Swiss CBD company is accusing e-cigarette maker Juul of infringing on one of its patents. SwissX alleges in a lawsuit that Juul pods copy a nicotine vapor delivery system that SwissX bought the rights to last year, according to Law 360. The lawsuit was filed in Delaware federal court. SwissX, which is owned by… Continue reading Swiss CBD company accuses Juul of stealing patent
L’Oreal, Neutrogena alumna tapped to lead California CBD maker Papa & Barkley
A cosmetics executive has been tapped to take over California CBD manufacturer Papa & Barkley. Evelyn Wang replaces Adam Grossman as CEO. Grossman will lead the company’s board of directors. Wang comes from Milani Cosmetics. She was formerly an assistant vice president for L’Oreal Paris, and before that was Product Director for Neutrogena Cosmetics, part… Continue reading L’Oreal, Neutrogena alumna tapped to lead California CBD maker Papa & Barkley
FDA withdraws pending CBD enforcement proposal
U.S. drug regulators have withdrawn their proposal to regulate over-the-counter CBD, handing the industry another setback after years of delay from the Food and Drug Administration. The proposal in question appears to be on pause because of the changing administration. The delay was widely anticipated but still frustrating for CBD operators awaiting the rules. The… Continue reading FDA withdraws pending CBD enforcement proposal
USDA: Final hemp rules aren’t on hold — but new administration will review
Nationwide hemp rules released in the closing days of the Trump Administration aren’t on hold, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. But the agency will be reviewing all programs implemented by the previous administration, as is common when there is a new president. USDA spokesman Matt Herrick told Hemp Industry Daily in an emailed… Continue reading USDA: Final hemp rules aren’t on hold — but new administration will review
First Big Tobacco cannabis player backs out after bankruptcy
The first Big Tobacco company to join the hemp and marijuana industries is getting back out. Pyxus International, one of the world’s largest tobacco suppliers, said Thursday that it will focus on its more profitable tobacco and liquid nicotine products after filing for bankruptcy in June. Based in Morrisville, North Carolina, Pyxus was growing hemp… Continue reading First Big Tobacco cannabis player backs out after bankruptcy