Marijuana Business Magazine January 2019

Marijuana Business Magazine | January 2019 30 Industry Developments | International & State Ohio An Ohio judge struck down a provision in the state’s medical cannabis program stipulating that 15% of licenses go to minority-owned groups, saying it’s uncon- stitutional. Franklin County Judge Charles Schneider said the provision denied Greenleaf Gardens, one of the cultivation license applicants, of its rights because two lower-rated, minority-owned firms were picked ahead of it. Some growers have argued the “racial quota” included in Ohio’s MMJ regulations violates the state constitution’s equal protection clause by giving preference to companies owned by minorities instead of basing winners on the state scoring process. Oklahoma The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority removed the addresses of MMJ growers and processors from its online commercial license database in response to security concerns. The authority published the addresses of dispensaries, growers and processors on its website Oct. 31 in response to multiple Open Records Act requests. A cannabis grower’s property in Norman was ransacked after the state released the locations of MMJ businesses. The information can still be acquired through a public records request or the Okla- homa Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control’s database. Oregon Rampant overproduction in Oregon’s market for legal, recreational marijuana has produced a 50% drop in prices, according to recent estimates by state econo- mists. The new state analysis found the price collapse sparked a large uptick in marijuana purchases and a corresponding increase in associated tax revenue. Recreational marijuana sales in Oregon were forecast at nearly $543 million in 2018, up 29% from 2017 and well above economists’ expectations. Pennsylvania The state medical marijuana patient count continues to surge, boding well for MMJ sales. More than 80,000 patients have registered for the program since the state registry was launched in October 2017. The 2018 Marijuana Business Factbook projected Pennsylvania would see $50 million-$80 million in MMJ sales in 2018. Utah Advocates in Utah are suing to block a compromise agreement legalizing medical cannabis, saying it wrongly guts a measure approved by voters in November. The compromise bill, which was signed into law by the governor, has more restrictive business provisions than the voter-approved measure. The lawsuit asks a judge to set aside the overhaul and keep the ballot initiative, which won with 53%of the vote. Note: Entries sourced from Marijuana Business Daily and other international, national and local news outlets. These developments occurred before this magazine’s publication deadline, so some situations may have changed.