Marijuana Business Magazine March 2019

Marijuana Business Magazine | March 2019 32 Pennsylvania Gov. TomWolf, a former opponent of adult-use marijuana, opened the door to legalization in one of the nation’s most populous states with the announcement that a series of town hall-style sessions will be held on the issue. Pennsylvania would represent a potentially huge new market for cannabis entrepreneurs, although rec legalization would face key political hurdles in the state. Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman will hold a listening session in each of the state’s 67 counties. Virginia Seven companies are challenging a CBD licensing process in Virginia that resulted in multistate operators getting a majority of available licenses. The appeals called the process “wildly prejudicial.” Out of 51 applicants for five vertically integrated CBD and THC-A licenses, multistate operators received three. Applicants filing the appeals complained the review process lacked transparency. The five winning applicants have a year from winning the licenses to become operational. Washington state State regulators will consider allowing small cannabis farmers to sell directly to consumers, similar to what’s allowed for wineries, breweries and distilleries, according to Washington’s top marijuana regulator. The move, if approved by regulators, would give smaller growers a financial shot in the arm through increased sales—and could spur other states to follow suit. Washington also would be following the lead of a few Canadian provinces that allow licensed producers to sell marijuana to consumers at cultivation facilities. West Virginia State financial institutions face risks when providing banking services to medical marijuana businesses because cannabis is illegal under federal law, West Virginia’s attorney general, Patrick Morrisey, wrote in a new opinion. Banking has been a sticking point in the rollout of West Virginia’s medical cannabis program, which has been delayed by disagreements over rules. According to Morrisey’s opinion, the state will have to consider banking as it looks at how to implement its 2017 medical cannabis law. Note: Entries sourced from Marijuana Business Daily, Hemp Industry Daily and other international, national and local news outlets. These developments occurred before this magazine’s publication deadline, so some situations may have changed. Industry Developments | International & State