Marijuana Business Magazine February 2020

February 2020 | mjbizdaily.com 37 Montana A judge cleared the path for Montana to enforce a temporary emergency ban on flavored vaping products, including those containing THC. The 120-day ban began Dec. 18. District Judge Jennifer Lint ruled against vape shop owners who sued to block the emergency ban from taking effect. Business owners argued that the rise of the lung injuries linked to vaping appears to be caused by black-market products. Nevada The state Department of Taxation shut down Cannex Nevada, a marijuana testing laboratory in Las Vegas. The department, which found yeast and mold three times the allowable limit on two strains of marijuana, also issued a public health warning for several tainted cannabis products approved by the lab. The action comes after regulators launched an investigation into marijuana testing labs last September and in November suspended the license of Certified Ag Lab for what was described as “inaccurate and misleading” potency in cannabis products. New Hampshire The state House of Representatives voted to add insomnia and opioid-use disorder to the list of qualifying conditions for medical marijuana, though the latter would carry significant restrictions, including a requirement that certifying providers have specialized knowledge in addiction treatment. That limitation could curb any potential sales boost. An earlier version of one of the bills also sought to add anxiety and Lyme disease to the list, but those provisions were removed. Meanwhile, the state Senate voted against making medical marijuana available for any condition for which treatment is determined to be necessary by a provider. New Jersey A two-judge panel ordered a state agency to halt its review of almost 150 applicants seeking to operate new medical marijuana businesses after some licenses were denied because of application technicalities. Attorney Joshua Bauchner, who filed a motion on behalf of five medical marijuana groups, called the decision a “big win.” Bauchner is appealing the state health department’s decision to deny licenses based on technical errors, arguing the businesses deserve a merit-based review. New Mexico Officials of events company Expo New Mexico agreed to drop a pending appeal and pay $69,600 to medical marijuana company Ultra Health as part of a lawsuit settlement. The legal dispute began after Expo New Mexico told Ultra Health it could not display marijuana or any paraphernalia related to cannabis use or cultivation in its proposed educational booth at the 2017 State Fair. Ultra Health executives said they sued to preserve free-speech rights to display marijuana and advocate for its use.