Criminal Histories Slip Through The Cracks In This State's Cannabis Market; Alabama Official Faces Controversy Over Board Seat & Latest Regs

Arizona Regulator Recalls Tainted Products

• The Arizona Department of Health Services has reportedly issued a recall for products sold by two cannabis businesses: Grow Sciences and Soothing Options.
• Those who have purchased Divinity and MAC products from Grow Sciences and Gelato 41 from Soothing Options are advised to dispose of them due to Aspergillus contamination.

Las Vegas To Get Weed Consumption Lounge

• Nevada's cannabis regulators recently approved LA Lounge LLC as the first independent location to not be connected to a dispensary. Once the owners pick a location, the Cannabis Compliance Board will inspect the property before the opening.
• Three other businesses that were earlier approved to open such venues are Sol Cannabis in Washoe County, MM Development Company which is doing business as Planet 13 Holdings Inc. PLNHF and Cheyenne Medical Sammy Davis, doing business as Thrive Cannabis Marketplace, both in Clark County.
• Proposals to establish cannabis lounges in Washoe County have been dashed recently as the board of commissioners has rejected implementing regulations to permit such venues in the county's unincorporated areas, leaving Sol Cannabis without the permit.

Minnesota Officials Warn Driving High Is A DWI

• The Minnesota Department of Public Safety and the DNR warned cannabis users that possessing and using recreational cannabis may be legal come Aug. 1, but driving while impaired remains prohibited.
• "This is similar to the laws around alcohol," Col. Matt Langer, chief of the Minnesota State Patrol, said. "You can't have an open bottle of alcohol in your vehicle or drink while you are driving or riding in that vehicle. The same is true of marijuana and cannabis starting next week."

Criminal Histories Slip Through The Cracks

• Those applying to run a cannabis business in New Mexico are not getting a federal FBI criminal background check, Linda Trujillo, superintendent of the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, said.
• Unless an applicant explicitly discloses their extensive criminal history from another state, authorities would be oblivious to such information when assessing their eligibility for joining the state's cannabis market.
• "The only records that we technically (can) get are state criminal records," Trujillo said. "You could have someone from out of state who attempts to get a cannabis license and we won't get information about their criminal history in other states."
• The officials became aware of the glitch in the statute upon the legalization of recreational cannabis in April 2021.
• FBI background checks were one of the provisions of the bill that legalized cannabis statewide, but during the 2021 special session, they were not conducted.

Controversy Over Seat On Medical Cannabis Commission

• The validity of Steven Stokes' position as chairman of the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) is being challenged.
• Kimberly Holcomb filed a complaint in Montgomery Circuit Court regarding Stokes' appointment as AMCC chair. Additionally, she requests that the court effectively oust him from his current position.
• Stokes is a member of the University of South Alabama Board of Trustees. According to Holcomb, this violates the provision in the medical cannabis law, which bars "any public official" from serving on the commission.
• The news follows weeks of uncertainty surrounding Alabama's cannabis industry, which faces controversy over its licensing program.

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Photo: Benzinga edit of photos by Tingey Injury Law Firm and Matthew Brodeur on Unsplash on Unsplash