Marijuana Business Magazine August 2019

Marijuana Business Magazine | August 2019 38 Ohio Half of the 42,000-plus medical marijuana patients registered in Ohio haven’t purchased cannabis since the program went live in January, citing the high cost of product. A tight supply as a result of a lack of licensed cultivators, processors and dispensaries is keeping prices steep at retail stores, though costs have fallen by roughly 15% since the first dispensary opened. In other news, the Ohio Medical Board delayed a vote on adding anxiety and autism spectrum disorder to the state’s list of qualifying conditions for medical marijuana. Oregon U.S. Sen. RonWyden and U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, both from Oregon, introduced congressional legislation that would allow states to export cannabis to other states with legal marijuana programs. The legislation, called the State Cannabis Commerce Act, is an effort to remove the federal government’s ban on interstate shipment of marijuana, a prohibition that currently stands in the way of an Oregon cannabis export bill, which was signed into law in June. The Oregon law is seen as a possible solution for a state desperate for ways to ease its massive cannabis glut. Pennsylvania The state’s department of health approved three medical marijuana companies in Pennsylvania to grow MMJ for research in partnership with three universities. The three approved research growers are PA Options for Wellness, partnering with Penn State College of Medicine; Agronomed Biologics, partnering with Drexel University College of Medicine; MLH Explorations, partnering with Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University. The companies, which are covering the research expenses, will collect patient data and share the infor- mation with the health systems. Rhode Island Amid complaints that Rhode Island’s three medical cannabis dispensaries control the market—making it difficult for stand-alone cultivators to succeed— the state’s lawmakers released a budget that would license six vertically integrated companies to cultivate, manufacture and sell cannabis products. Cultivators would like to see more stores permitted to sell to the state’s 18,200 registered patients, but not if those retailers are also allowed to grow. Utah The names of businesses that applied for medical marijuana licenses were kept quiet past the July 1 application deadline. State officials leading the licensing process said they wouldn’t make applicant information public until licenses were awarded in mid-July. The state will allow up to 10 growers, including out-of-state cultivators. Assistant Attorney General Paul Tonks, who is helping coordinate MMJ license applications, said releasing applicants’ names once licenses are awarded will increase transparency. Marijuana dispensaries are set to open in Utah next year. Industry Developments | International & United States