Farmers still making sense of long-delayed nationwide rules for growing hemp in 2021 and beyond got another wrinkle Wednesday when the incoming administration of President Joe Biden ordered a “freeze” on new regulations. The memo instructed federal agencies — including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees hemp production — to consider additional 30-day comment… Continue reading Biden transition leaves hemp operators wondering about new USDA rules
Category: Briefs
Reports: French energy startup nets €18.8 million to launch hemp-fueled plant
Qairos Energies, a startup with aspirations of using agricultural biomass to produce methane and hydrogen in northwestern France, has raised nearly €18.8 million ($23 million) to build and launch a facility that will use local hemp to make fuel for buses, trains and France’s chief natural gas distributor. The eight-figure support for the project, reported… Continue reading Reports: French energy startup nets €18.8 million to launch hemp-fueled plant
Investor lawsuit against NY hemp biotech company tossed
A federal judge in New York has dismissed an investor’s lawsuit accusing a hemp biotech company of lying to promote its stock price. Based in Williamsville, 22nd Century Group researches the genetics of tobacco and cannabis plants and was accused of trying to manipulate its stock price through misrepresenting its business. Plaintiffs were seeking class-action status.… Continue reading Investor lawsuit against NY hemp biotech company tossed
Phytol cited as potentially dangerous cannabis vape ingredient
This story first appreared at Marijuana Business Daily. As cannabis vaping pens grew in popularity in late 2019, concerns grew about the safety of the products, spurred by reports of <a href=”https://mjbizdaily.com/vaping-crisis/”>illness, and even deaths</a>, of tobacco vape users. Vape manufacturers rushed to assure regulators and consumers their products were safe, despite having no clear… Continue reading Phytol cited as potentially dangerous cannabis vape ingredient
Indiana warns hemp farmers of unscrupulous seed vendors
Indiana regulators are warning hemp farmers to watch out for predatory hemp seed vendors that are currently active within the state. Along with a growing number of hemp growers are more reports of faulty seed and untrustworthy vendors, said Donald Robison, seed administrator at the Office of Indiana State Chemist. Robison said some farmers are… Continue reading Indiana warns hemp farmers of unscrupulous seed vendors
Circle K wants to block hemp trademark that resembles its own
Circle K Stores Inc. wants to block a California hemp and marijuana holding company from using a design mark with “K” inside a circle. In a filing first reported by Law 360, the convenience-store chain is asking the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board to oppose a registration application from Medical Marijuana Inc. of Poway,… Continue reading Circle K wants to block hemp trademark that resembles its own
NIHC chairman appointed to board advising U.S. on trade policy
The chairman of the National Industrial Hemp Council, Patrick Atagi, will serve on the U.S.’s Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Tobacco, Cotton and Peanuts. Members of the committee provide guidance and recommendations on trade policies to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. “It’s an honor to… Continue reading NIHC chairman appointed to board advising U.S. on trade policy
USDA, Interior tapped for new interagency subcabinet to more effectively manage wildfires
After wildfires ravaged the West Coast in 2020, scorching millions of acres of land and damaging businesses and crops, including countless farms and businesses in the cannabis industry, the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Interior will lead a new Interagency Wildland Fire Subcabinet, focused on wildfire management. According to the USDA, the Executive Order on… Continue reading USDA, Interior tapped for new interagency subcabinet to more effectively manage wildfires
Clint Eastwood files third suit against CBD companies, saying they’re falsely claiming endorsement
Clint Eastwood has filed a third lawsuit alleging CBD companies are falsely claiming he’s endorsing their products. The legal action is the second the legendary actor has filed against Los Angeles-based Norok Innovation Inc. and its CEO Eric Popowicz but includes a different set of defendants, according to Law 360, which first reported the case.… Continue reading Clint Eastwood files third suit against CBD companies, saying they’re falsely claiming endorsement
USDA approves Rhode Island, Luiseno Indians hemp plans
With just a few days left before changing oversight, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved the hemp-regulation plans of Rhode Island and the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians in southern California. Rhode Island will charge interested hemp producers: $250 application fees. $2,250 license fees, with a license valid for two years. Rhode Island doesn’t limit… Continue reading USDA approves Rhode Island, Luiseno Indians hemp plans
Texas hemp company acquires Kentucky-based processor
Dallas-based Generation Hemp Inc. has acquired a processing company in Kentucky with a 48,000-square-foot facility for $5.1 million. The acquisition of Halcyon Thruput LLC will be payable in $2.5 million of restricted common stock, $1.75 million in cash and a $870,000 promissory note, Generation Hemp said Tuesday. Generation Hemp will also take over $1 million… Continue reading Texas hemp company acquires Kentucky-based processor
USDA: Latest payments for pandemic-affected hemp farmers coming soon
Some $13 billion in additional agricultural aid for pandemic-impacted farmers should start going out by end of month. Agriculture Undersecretary Bill Northey says the funds could go out even before the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden on Jan. 20. “We certainly have some things we would like to be able to get out very quickly,”… Continue reading USDA: Latest payments for pandemic-affected hemp farmers coming soon
GW Pharma expects fiscal 2020 sales to reach $526 million
This story first appeared at Marijuana Business Daily International. United Kingdom-based GW Pharmaceuticals expects to report annual sales of approximately $526 million for the year ended Dec. 31, 2020, it said in a preview of its fourth quarter and full-year results. Fourth-quarter net sales will be approximately $148 million, based on preliminary unaudited financial information,… Continue reading GW Pharma expects fiscal 2020 sales to reach $526 million
Molson Coors, HEXO launch CBD drinks in Colorado
Molson Coors Beverage Co. says it has launched CBD drinks in Colorado through TRUSS CBD USA, its joint venture with HEXO Corp. The beverage line will be available in three flavors – Grapefruit Tarragon, Strawberry Hibiscus and Blueberry Lavender under the name, “Verywell,” Molson Coors and HEXO said Wednesday. The companies first partnered in 2018… Continue reading Molson Coors, HEXO launch CBD drinks in Colorado
California lawsuit over hemp destruction on hold
A federal judge in California has tapped the brakes on a lawsuit from a hemp grower who saw the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife bulldoze 500 acres of his plants. Apothio LLC is suing the state and also Kern County authorities for $1 billion after the plants were razed in 2019. Apothio argues that… Continue reading California lawsuit over hemp destruction on hold
FDA says it seeks ‘real world data’ to fill in CBD research gaps in ‘end of administration’ update
Federal food and drug officials said Friday that they plan to fill in current CBD research gaps with “real world data” — but industry advocates are frustrated that regulators haven’t done enough to clear up the rules, which has caused supply-chain bottlenecks while leaving consumers to navigate an increasing field of unregulated products. An update… Continue reading FDA says it seeks ‘real world data’ to fill in CBD research gaps in ‘end of administration’ update
Venture capital firm Canopy Rivers sells 49% stake in Italian processor to RAMM Pharma
RAMM Pharma, a cannabis-based pharmaceutical company with products in several Latin American countries, has bought a 49% stake in the Sicilian CBD processing company Canapar. Based in Toronto, RAMM purchased the shares from the cannabis venture-capital firm Canopy Rivers. Under the agreement, RAMM paid $7 million cash to Canopy Rivers to buy a little more… Continue reading Venture capital firm Canopy Rivers sells 49% stake in Italian processor to RAMM Pharma
Vermont to conduct ‘contactless’ inspections of hemp operators during COVID
Vermont will be conducting contactless inspections of hemp operators to limit person-to-person contact during the pandemic. The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets says the inspections will begin with a phone call, followed by an email and an online form to gather information about number of harvested lots, yields, and results of contaminant testing,… Continue reading Vermont to conduct ‘contactless’ inspections of hemp operators during COVID
Private investment in Puerto Rico needed for hemp industry to thrive, official says
Puerto Rico’s agriculture secretary says private investment is needed to build the infrastructure for the hemp industry to thrive in the U.S. territory. Secretary Ramon González told a local news outlet, Noticel, that without hemp processing plants, “the business of investing in the fields is for nothing,” “I believe that a lot of expectations were… Continue reading Private investment in Puerto Rico needed for hemp industry to thrive, official says
Denmark medical cannabis sales post a positive quarter thanks to Epidiolex
A longer version of this story appears at Marijuana Business Daily International. Sales of medical marijuana in Denmark posted healthy gains in the third quarter of 2020, coinciding with the launch of GW Pharmaceuticals’ CBD drug Epidiolex. Overall sales of all medial cannabis products grew from about 13 million Danish Krones ($2 million) in the… Continue reading Denmark medical cannabis sales post a positive quarter thanks to Epidiolex
Biden to tap Merrick Garland for attorney general, who oversees DEA
Read more about Garland’s nomination at Marijuana Business Daily. President-elect Joe Biden has settled on Merrick Garland as his nominee for U.S. attorney general, multiple news organizations reported Wednesday, tapping a federal judge to oversee the Department of Justice, which includes the Drug Enforcement Administration. Garland, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals in… Continue reading Biden to tap Merrick Garland for attorney general, who oversees DEA
Texas smokable hemp lawsuit delayed until March
A looming legal challenge to Texas’ ban on smokable hemp sales has been delayed until March. Travis County District Court Judge Livingston rescheduled the smokable hemp ban hearing back to March 22, 2021. The hearing had been scheduled for Feb. 1. The delay was first reported by the Texas Cannabis Collective. It comes at the… Continue reading Texas smokable hemp lawsuit delayed until March
Bankrupt GenCanna drops suit against MedTerra, calls CBD company ‘long-term partner’
GenCanna, a Kentucky hemp and CBD company that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February, has dropped a suit against CBD company Medterra for unpaid invoices worth $4.5 million. GenCanna, now known as OGGUSA Inc., had sued Medterra last month, alleging that the latter failed to pay for shipments of CBD extracts and other products… Continue reading Bankrupt GenCanna drops suit against MedTerra, calls CBD company ‘long-term partner’
Aurora Cannabis breach exposes personal data of former, current workers
This story first appeared at Marijuana Business Daily. A data breach at Aurora Cannabis has exposed the personal information of an unknown number of the Canadian company’s current and former employees, Marijuana Business Daily has learned. An email sent to a victim of the data breach cites a Dec. 25 “cybersecurity incident during which unauthorized… Continue reading Aurora Cannabis breach exposes personal data of former, current workers
Cannabis firm Canopy Growth sues GW Pharma, claiming patent infringement
This story originally appeared at Marijuana Business Daily. Canadian cannabis producer Canopy Growth Corp. is suing UK-based GW Pharmaceuticals in U.S. federal court, alleging that GW is knowingly infringing upon Canopy’s intellectual property. GW used a Canopy-patented method to extract the CBD that’s the active ingredient in its Epidiolex medication, according to a complaint filed… Continue reading Cannabis firm Canopy Growth sues GW Pharma, claiming patent infringement
Alabama hemp company launches new fiber processing plant
BastCore, an Alabama-based hemp fiber company, has turned a former steam plant outside the capital of Montgomery into a processing facility, one of the first in the United States to offer a key link in the supply chain between Alabama’s farmers and hemp-derived product makers. Final electrical work was underway inside the processing facility last… Continue reading Alabama hemp company launches new fiber processing plant
New Michigan law lets veterinarians discuss CBD options with pet owners
Michigan’s governor has signed legislation to allow veterinarians to talk with pet owner about giving cannabis to their animals for therapeutic use. Michigan lawmakers approved the proposal in December and lets veterinarians “consult” with pet owners about the use of either marijuana or hemp products for their pets, the Oakland Press reported Friday. Sales for… Continue reading New Michigan law lets veterinarians discuss CBD options with pet owners
Charlotte’s Web says another labeling lawsuit should wait for FDA
Charlotte’s Web Holdings says that labeling lawsuits against CBD makers must wait while federal regulators consider how to regulate the hemp extract. The company made the argument last week in a federal court in California, where it is asking a judge to follow the direction of other federal judges and dismiss CBD labeling suits as… Continue reading Charlotte’s Web says another labeling lawsuit should wait for FDA
Dutch biocontrols giant acquires Brazilian precision-farming firm
A Dutch biocontrols giant that has flexed into the cannabis space, Koppert Biological Systems, has acquired a Brazilian drone company in a bid to use drones to apply its sustainable biocontrols in Brazil. Koppert said its acquisition of Geocom will help it “accelerate precision agrifarming, which is crucial for bringing biologicals to the fields,” according… Continue reading Dutch biocontrols giant acquires Brazilian precision-farming firm
EU drug agency flags CBD market issues in report on low-THC cannabis products
The European Union’s drug agency has signaled that it is mulling the legal and commercial status of CBD and cannabis-based products in Europe in a new report. The Lisbon-based European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction published the report on Monday, detailing the results of a study that kicked off in 2018 and aimed… Continue reading EU drug agency flags CBD market issues in report on low-THC cannabis products