Marijuana Business Magazine October 2019

Marijuana Business Magazine | October 2019 32 Industry Developments | International & State California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order related to widespread vaping illnesses. Newsom’s order: • Requests the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) develop recommendations for warnings on vaping products and at retail locations. • Requests the state Department of Tax and Fee Administration to examine a possible tax increase for e-cigarettes. • Instructs the CDPH to allocate at least $20 million to fund a vaping- awareness campaign. The recommendations from the CDPH are due to Newsom by Oct. 14; the deadline for the CDTFA’s recommendations is Oct. 29. Colorado State regulators are requiring medical and recreational marijuana concentrates to be tested for mycotoxins. The Marijuana Enforcement Division sent a notice to the industry that, beginning Sept. 15, any concentrates made from marijuana on or after that date that failed microbial contaminant testing will be tested for mycotoxins. “Mandatory medical and retail marijuana mycotoxin testing is a matter of public health, and safety and full compliance is expected,” according to the notice. Florida Lawyers for Gov. Ron DeSantis asked the state Supreme Court to rule on whether the medical cannabis program’s vertical integration requirement for MMJ businesses is unconstitutional and should be opened up to new licensing opportunities. The filing came just days after an appellate court declined to revisit a decision that ruled the state’s restrictions are unconstitutional. So far, courts have agreed with the plaintiff, Tampa-based firm Florigrown, that the state law requiring vertical integration created an oligopoly that runs counter to a voter-approved constitutional amendment that legalized MMJ in 2016. Illinois State regulators announced the first five medical marijuana dispensaries where residents will be able to buy small amounts of recreational marijuana products starting Jan. 1. The first group of licensees are all owned by Chicago-based Green Thumb Industries, with three in Chicago’s suburbs (3C Compassionate Care Centers in Joliet and Naperville and The Clinic Mundelein) and two in Southern Illinois (The Clinic Effingham and Salveo Health and Wellness in Canton). The state is expected to license dozens more stores in the weeks ahead, and existing MMJ operators get first crack at the rec cannabis market.