Employees at one of the country’s largest cannabis companies have reportedly fled their union amid a dispute over wages and dues.

The outlet MJBizDaily reports that workers at one of Cresco Labs’ cannabis cultivation facilities in Massachusetts “voted to de-unionize earlier this month,” which it said was “believed to be the first instance in the U.S. of a regulated cannabis workplace exiting organized labor.”

The move comes after workers at the facility in Fall River, Massachusetts “had joined the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 328 in November 2020,” according to MJBizDaily.

“Their first contract was set to expire in June. But rather than negotiate a new deal, the workers elected to ditch the UFCW entirely, Cresco employee Wyatt Brissette told MJBizDaily,” the outlet reported on Tuesday. “Sore points among the formerly unionized workers included scheduled wage increases that didn’t keep up with inflation and ‘arguably worse benefits’ than what nonunion workers received, he said.”

“We felt as if (the union) didn’t match what we needed,” Brissette told the outlet. “We were pretty much paying them for nothing.”

Another outlet, The Dales Report, reported that the exit from the union was “driven by employee dissatisfaction with union dues.”

“The Cresco Labs union situation underscores a significant challenge in unionized sectors, especially in emerging industries like cannabis. Although it is widely believed that unionization protects workers’ rights and ensures fair treatment, the recent events at the company reveal a gap between union efforts and member expectations. This situation sheds light on the complexities of union dynamics in newer, rapidly changing markets,” the outlet said. 

“Cresco Labs’ employees’ decision to leave their union is not isolated but reflects broader sentiments about the effectiveness and utility of such organizations in certain sectors. As the company continues to grow, the impact of this union departure could influence union strategies and employee relations in similar companies. The Cresco Labs issue may lead to a reassessment of union strategies across the industry. Unions might need to adapt more flexibly to the unique challenges and expectations of workers in non-traditional fields like cannabis cultivation. For Cresco Labs, this change could also prompt updates in their human resource policies and employee engagement strategies to more directly address worker concerns without employee mediation.”

According to the company’s official website, Cresco Labs is “one of the largest publicly traded, vertically integrated, multistate cannabis companies in the U.S.” Its stock was trading at below $2 a share on Wednesday, although it is up more than 46 percent year-to-date.

Last year, Cresco Labs called off a planned $2 billion merger with Columbia Care, a deal that would have created the largest cannabis company in the United States.

“In light of the evolving landscape in the cannabis industry, we believe the decision to terminate the planned transaction is in the long-term interest of Cresco Labs and our shareholders. We want to express our sincere gratitude to Columbia Care for their valuable collaboration and dedication during this transaction,” Charles Bachtell, CEO and co-founder of Cresco Labs, in a statement at the time.

“Moving forward, we remain committed to our Year of the Core strategy, which involves the swift restructuring of low-margin operations, improving competitiveness and driving efficiencies in markets where we maintain leading market share, and scaling operations to prepare for growth catalysts in emerging markets. A strong core will enable us to take advantage of the margin accretive, growth opportunities we foresee within this tough economic time for the cannabis industry. While this is not the outcome we originally hoped for, we are confident Cresco Labs is in a stronger position moving forward.”

Nicholas Vita, CEO and co-founder of Columbia Care, said that, “after careful consideration,” his company was “confident in the mutual decision to move forward as separate, standalone companies.” 

“This is the best path forward for Columbia Care’s employees, customers, and shareholders. We are thankful for the collaboration and partnership with the Cresco team throughout this extensive process,” said Vita. “Over the last 16 months we have reviewed every aspect of our business, remained decisive and have made substantive changes that significantly improved our operations — positioning us with significant strategic and operational strength at this inflection point in the company’s history. We are looking forward to realizing the benefits of these changes as well as focusing on the opportunities in our outstanding footprint in markets with embedded upside; diversified portfolio of brands; our award-winning national retail brand, The Cannabist; recently implemented operational and organizational efficiencies; proactive balance sheet management activities; and meaningful equity capital markets initiatives that will propel Columbia Care into one of the most profitable and resilient companies in the industry over the next several years.”

The companies also used the announcement to provide an “additional update”: “the definitive agreements dated November 4, 2022, to divest certain New York, Illinois and Massachusetts assets of Cresco and Columbia Care to an entity owned and controlled by Sean “Diddy” Combs have also been terminated, effective July 28, 2023.”

In the rapidly evolving cannabis industry, there are few platforms for brands to display their products and services in a professional format. Flower Expo, taking place in Massachusetts and Michigan this year, stands out as a beacon of innovation and connection. Flower Expo is the Premier B2B Cannabis Trade Show where brands meet buyers. This unique event is not just a trade show; it’s a movement towards creating a more efficient, high-vibe platform for the cannabis economy.

Flower Expo’s 2024 events, which include Massachusetts on June 5-6 and Michigan on August 7-8, will draw out some of the highest profile names in cannabis. Flower Expo is set to be one of the most important events for top brands and retailers while maintaining the perfect balance of business and culture. 

Flower Expo Massachusetts is set to host more than 150 brands in 2024, including Cresco Labs, PAX, Fernway, Select, Green Thumb Industries, Holistic Industries, Kanha, Nova Farms, and MariMed.

Also set to attend are the purchasing groups from more than 250 Massachusetts retailers, such as Theory Wellness, Rev Clinics, Bud’s Goods & Provisions, Insa, Garden Remedies, and Resinate.

For the Michigan event’s inaugural year, brands such as Bloom, NOBO, Cloud Cover, Glorious Cannabis, Lion Labs, and Pro Gro are set to exhibit, with top retailers Lume Cannabis, High Profile, Joyology, GAGE, Exclusive, and many others set to attend.

Photo Download: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pOZ1L_-QqlZA85CgcBAFsdeeZFhwFdIR/view?usp=sharing

Jason Bello, founder of the event grew up in Las Vegas, NV, where his father climbed the corporate ladder beginning with the infamous computer trade show COMDEX until its 1996 acquisition, then transitioning to the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, which boasts the largest private convention center in the US, where he opened world renowned hotels in Vegas, Macau, and Singapore. His father was also a founding partner of Hall of Flowers, a California-based cannabis trade show, the event where Bello also got his start in the event business. Following his time at Hall of Flowers, Bello led sales at Source Cannabis and Green Street Festival prior to launching Flower Expo in 2023.

The success of Flower Expo lies in its unique approach to business events. While the show curates the perfect cast of attendees made up of top brands and retail decision makers, its focus on creating an authentic cannabis event with consumption and sampling sets it apart from the field. “What’s a cannabis event without the cannabis?” said Kai Brady, Flower Expo’s Director of Business Development. 

Flower Expo’s fixation on top brands and vetted buyers creates the most ideal sales and marketing opportunity for budding brands to expose purchasing decision makers to their products, packaging, brand values, team members, and culture. “It’s like the biggest farmer’s market you’ve ever been to,” Bello said, “And it’s incredibly important in any industry to procure products with a focus on the consumer — who they are, and what they like.”

After its blockbuster 2023 Massachusetts event, which brought out upwards of 70% of the state’s dispensaries and over 150 of the hottest brands, Flower Expo is set to launch the second iteration of its Massachusetts event on June 5-6, 2024. Additionally, a brand new event is scheduled in Michigan on August 7-8, 2024, set to shake up the Midwestern market. Flower Expo plans to continue its expansion to offer its superior platform to cannabis brands around the country.

About Flower Expo:

At Flower Expo, our mission is to connect and transform the cannabis industry through a professional, high-vibe, and efficient platform. We foster meaningful connections, strategic partnerships, and knowledge exchange to propel the industry forward. With a focus on professionalism, positive energy, and streamlined processes, we empower businesses and individuals to showcase their offerings, inspire innovation, and shape the future of cannabis.

Contact:

ops@theflowerexpo.com

This article was published by CFN Enterprises Inc. (OTCQB: CNFN), owner and operator of CFN Media, the industry’s leading agency and digital financial media network dedicated to the burgeoning CBD and legal cannabis industries. Call +1 (833) 420-CNFN for more information.

About Ryan Allway

Mr. Allway has over a decade of experience in the financial markets as both a private investor and financial journalist. He has been actively involved in the cannabis industry since its inception, covering public and private companies.

Massachusetts legislators held a joint legislative committee hearing last week to consider an initiative to legalize the therapeutic use of natural psychedelics. At the hearing, lawmakers heard from both supporters and opponents of the proposal, which can be approved by the legislature or referred to voters to decide the issue this November.

The proposed ballot measure is supported by Massachusetts for Mental Health Options (MMHO). The group is affiliated with New Approach, a political action committee that supported successful bids to legalize psychedelics in Oregon and Colorado. If passed, the proposed ballot measure would legalize “naturally occurring” psychedelics such as psilocybin mushrooms, peyote (mescaline), and ibogaine for consumption in “therapeutic settings through a regulated and taxed system.”

MMHO has already submitted nearly 100,000 signatures on petitions to support the ballot measure, sending it to the state legislature for consideration. If lawmakers do not approve the measure by May 1, supporters will be given until July 3 to collect an additional 12,429 valid signatures. If the signature drive is successful, the initiative will be placed on the ballot for the November general election.

Advocates Speak in Favor of Psychedelics Proposal

On March 26, the Massachusetts state legislature’s Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions held a hearing on the psychedelics therapy legalization ballot measure (Bill H.255). Emily Oneschuk, a military veteran and MMHO’s grassroots campaign director, told lawmakers about the mental health challenges she faced while serving in the U.S. Navy, including sexual assault, bullying and sexual harassment. After Oneschuk left the Navy, she took psilocybin at a retreat in Jamaica, where the psychedelic compound is legal.

“The whole of my psychedelic experience and the community associated with it has profoundly improved my quality of life,” Oneschuk told the committee, according to a report from the Commonwealth Beacon. “It brought me exactly where I needed to be to become a healthier and happier person.”

Dr. Franklin King, the director of training and education at the Mass General Center for the Neuroscience of Psychedelics and an instructor at Harvard Medical School, researches the effects of psychedelics. He told the joint committee that there is substantial evidence showing that psychedelics have therapeutic value for mental health conditions. He also noted that studies have repeatedly shown that the drugs can be taken by patients safely and effectively.

“The current legal status of psychedelics as dangerous drugs…is egregiously incorrect,” said King. “[For this] class of psychedelics, particularly psilocybin, the medical risks are extremely minimal and potential for abuse is close to zero. Millions of patients who need access to the benefits of psychedelics likely do not require the strict controls of the medical model.”

Franklin continued by saying that the current prohibition of psychedelics is hindering research and denying people with mental health challenges an alternative to less effective drugs.

“The criminalization of psychedelics not only impedes scientific progress, but also denies individuals access to potentially life changing treatments,” King told lawmakers, according to a report from New England Public Media. “We must adopt a more rational approach, one that prioritizes evidence based policies over outdated stigmas and prohibitions.”

Massachusetts Psychiatrists Urge Caution

Not everyone at the hearing, however, was there to support the psychedelics therapy legalization proposal. Dr. Jerrold Rosenbaum, a psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital, told lawmakers “We really don’t know what are the potential harms.”

Rosenbaum agreed with testimony from supporters about the potential benefits of psychedelics. But he also warned about the potential for people to misuse the powerful compounds.

“Psychedelics are not something people can use casually at full doses,” he said in testimony cited by Boston’s NBC News affiliate. “They really require being in a safe place with support for most people.”

The psychiatrist acknowledged similarities between the campaign to legalize marijuana, which succeeded in Massachusetts in 2016 with the passage of a ballot measure that received more than 63% of the vote. But he added that reforming policy governing psychedelic drugs should be approached with more caution.

“The psychedelics are used very intermittently, not continually the way marijuana can be. The effects are much more profound,” he said.

Dr. Nassir Ghaemi, a professor of psychiatry at Tufts Medical Center and the incoming president of the Massachusetts Psychiatric Society, also testified before the committee. He told lawmakers that there has not been enough research on the public health outcomes of legalizing psychedelics.

Democratic Senator Paul Feeney, a member of the legislative committee, noted that psychedelics are already being used recreationally by many people and asked Ghaemi if it would be better if lawmakers adopted regulations governing their use. The witness agreed, but only if the ballot measure is approved in November. Otherwise, he said the legislature should wait until additional research has been completed.

The joint committee will now review the testimony given at the hearing before voting on whether to advance the proposal.

Standard Farms Dubbed Best Vape Cartridge in Massachusetts

PHOENIX, March 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TILT Holdings Inc. (“TILT” or the “Company”) (Cboe: TILT) (OTCQB: TLLTF), a global provider of cannabis business solutions including inhalation technologies, cultivation, manufacturing, processing, brand development and retail, announced today that its subsidiary Standard Farms won first place for best vape cartridge in the 2024 NECANN Cup with the Mimosa Liquid Live Rosin “All-in-One” Vape using the Jupiter/CCELL Voca Pro hardware.

“Being awarded the best vape product at one of the nation’s leading cannabis competitions with our sought-after Mimosa live rosin strain helps solidify TILT’s position as an industry leader in product and hardware innovation,” said Tim Conder, Chief Executive Officer of TILT. “Our team deserves recognition for their commitment to delivering the best cannabis products across the markets we serve.”

Standard Farms’ Voca Pro Liquid Live Rosin “All-In-One” Vape combines the functionality of a high-quality hardware device with the potency and efficacy of a solventless cannabis input material. The Voca Pro device, provided by Jupiter Research and powered by CCELL technologies, is calibrated to ensure the rosin is heated to the perfect temperature for optimal flavor and vapor production, guaranteeing a smooth and flavorful draw from the first inhale to the last.

Massachusetts patients and consumers can find Standard Farms products in-store at any of the Commonwealth Alternative Care, Inc. locations across the state or place an online order for pick-up or delivery at commonwealthaltcare.org.

Dispensaries interested in Standard Farms or any of our other brand partner portfolio products can contact our wholesale team at wholesale@tiltholdings.com.

About TILT
TILT helps cannabis businesses build brands. Through a portfolio of companies providing technology, hardware, cultivation and production, TILT services brands and cannabis retailers across 40 states in the U.S., as well as Canada, Israel, South America and the European Union. TILT’s core businesses include Jupiter Research LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary and leader in the vaporization segment focused on hardware design, research, development and manufacturing; and cannabis operations, Commonwealth Alternative Care, Inc. in Massachusetts, Standard Farms LLC in Pennsylvania, and Standard Farms Ohio, LLC in Ohio. TILT is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. For more information, visit www.tiltholdings.com.

Company Contact:
Lynn Ricci, VP of Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
TILT Holdings Inc.
lricci@tiltholdings.com

Media Contact:
Madison Mullis
Trailblaze
TILT@trailblaze.com

This article was published by CFN Enterprises Inc. (OTCQB: CNFN), owner and operator of CFN Media, the industry’s leading agency and digital financial media network dedicated to the burgeoning CBD and legal cannabis industries. Call +1 (833) 420-CNFN for more information.

About Ryan Allway

Mr. Allway has over a decade of experience in the financial markets as both a private investor and financial journalist. He has been actively involved in the cannabis industry since its inception, covering public and private companies.

Last year in October, a group of cannabis companies filed a federal lawsuit claiming that a federal ban on cannabis is unconstitutional, but the suit was dismissed in January. On Friday, March 15, a new federal lawsuit was filed in court as Canna Provisions, Inc. et al v. Garland.

The case is represented by Boies Schiller Flexner LLP, is pursuing the rights of Verano Holdings Corp, Canna Provisions Inc., Wiseacre Farm Inc., and Gyasi Sellers, who owns a delivery service—all of which operate cannabis businesses in Massachusetts. The plaintiffs claim that the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) has hindered their businesses and prevents them from accessing legal, reliable banking services, and requires that they operate under constant threat of federal prosecution.

The new lawsuit claims that the intention behind the CSA was to prevent illegal cannabis from being moved across state lines, but now that so many states have implemented cannabis laws, legislators are no longer trying to enforce that. “Dozens of states have implemented programs to legalize and regulate medical or adult use marijuana,” the lawsuit stated, and continued on to explain that this has led to “safe, regulated, and local access to marijuana” for consumers, while also having “reduced illicit interstate commerce, as customers switch to purchasing state-regulated marijuana over illicit interstate marijuana.”

“The ground-shaking shifts in marijuana regulation… together with the nation’s long history of marijuana cultivation and use prior to the CSA, demonstrate the widely-held understanding that Plaintiffs’ marijuana activities implicate a liberty interest that requires protection,” the lawsuit continued. “Today, almost every state permits some form of marijuana that is illegal under federal law, and the majority of the nation’s population lives in states where both medical and adult-use marijuana is legal.”

Both the dismissed lawsuit and the newly filed lawsuit hinges on the 2005 court case Gonzales v. Raich in order to demonstrate how the CSA is outdated. “The federal criminal prohibition on intrastate marijuana remains in place, an unjustified vestige of a long-abandoned policy,” the 2023 lawsuit stated. “This unjustified intrusion of federal power harms Plaintiffs, threatens the communities they serve, and lacks any rational purpose.”

In January, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) called the original lawsuit a “transparent entreaty.” “Neither Plaintiffs’ contention that they are harmed by other federal laws and policies whose constitutionality is not challenged here, nor Plaintiffs’ allegations that some third parties have independently chosen not to transact with them, suffice to provide Plaintiffs with standing to challenge the CSA,” wrote the DOJ.

In response to this, the new lawsuit added text alleging that Congress was trying to prevent interstate cannabis. “Congress was intent on eradicating interstate marijuana, and the factual circumstances that existed in 2005 supported the Government’s position that banning intrastate marijuana was necessary for achieving that goal,” the lawsuit stated. “That legislative and factual landscape no longer exists. It has changed in the proceeding 18 years in ways that even the most ardent advocates of marijuana reform in 2005 would never have imagined possible.”

Law 360 spoke with Joshua Schiller of Boies Schiller Flexner LLP, who explained that the newest litigation more directly challenges the Gonzales v. Raich case. He explained that the government has made recent movements contradicting the policy since October 2023.

One of the plaintiffs, Verano Holdings Corp, is a multi-state operator. While its business spans multiple states, Schiller explained the importance of its inclusion. “We like having a multistate operator just to show a different business, to show a different story about a different business,” Schiller told Law 360. “And even though it’s a multistate operator, each of its markets are intrastate. They’re not even allowed to bring a seed [across state lines].”

The news outlet inquired about why there was no mention of tax code Section 280E, which is a tax policy that prevents deductions and credits from being utilized by “illegal” businesses. “It’s a different case,” Schiller said. “That’s not to say [280E] is not punitive and damaging and therefore unfair. But it’s not the harm we’re seeking to redress. It’s a separate harm that would have to be litigated in a separate case.”

The timing of this case aligns with the recent shifts in federal policy. Last August, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) called on the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to reclassify cannabis as a Schedule III substance. NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano responded to the announcement with hesitance. “It will be very interesting to see how DEA responds to this recommendation, given the agency’s historic opposition to any potential change in cannabis’ categorization under federal law,” said Armentano. “Further, for decades, the agency has utilized its own five-factor criteria for assessing cannabis’ placement in the CSA—criteria that as recently as 2016, the agency claimed that cannabis failed to meet. Since the agency has final say over any rescheduling decision, it is safe to say that this process still remains far from over.”

It’s been approximately seven months since that HHS recommendation. Although there hasn’t been any updates from the DEA regarding the recommendation, Vice President Kamala Harris recently held a roundtable conversation about cannabis reform, alongside rapper Fat Joe, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, and more. “I cannot emphasize enough that they need to get to it as quickly as possible, and we need to have a resolution based on their findings and their assessment,” Harris said.

Calling it a “nation-leading effort,” Massachusetts Gov. Maura T. Healey on Wednesday announced her intention to take executive action to pardon misdemeanor marijuana possession convictions in the commonwealth. 

If it is approved by the “Governor’s Council,” Healey’s office said it “would be the most comprehensive action by a governor since President Joe Biden pardoned federal marijuana possession convictions and called on governors to take similar actions in their states,” and “could impact hundreds of thousands of people.”

Per the official state website, the Massachhuestts Governor’s Council is “composed of eight individuals elected from districts, and the Lieutenant Governor who serves ex officio,” and it “provides advice and consent on gubernatorial appointments, pardons and commutations, and warrants for the state treasury.”

The governor’s office said that, if approved, the pardon “will apply to all eligible convictions, and most people will not need to take any action to have their criminal records updated,” as well as “to all adult Massachusetts state court misdemeanor convictions before March 13, 2024 for possession of marijuana (sometimes referred to as possession of a “Class D substance”).”

“Nobody should face barriers to getting a job, housing or an education because of an old misdemeanor marijuana conviction that they would not be charged for today,” Healey, a Democrat who is serving her first term after being elected in 2022, said in a statement on Tuesday. “We’re taking this nation-leading action as part of our commitment to using the clemency process to advance fairness and equity in our criminal justice system. We’re grateful for President Biden’s leadership on this at the federal level and proud to answer his call to take action in the states.” 

Other top state officials in Massachusetts, including Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, hailed the announcement of the pardon.

“Marijuana laws have significantly changed over the past decade, and it’s essential that our criminal justice system adjusts with them. Governor Healey’s proposed pardon represents an important step toward righting historic wrongs, particularly around our country’s misguided War on Drugs,” said Driscoll. “We thank the Governor’s Council for their careful consideration of this recommendation and look forward to continuing our progress to make Massachusetts a more fair and equitable home for all.” 

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell applauded the “Healey-Driscoll administration’s efforts to rectify historic racial disparities, including with this proposed pardon, and President Biden’s leadership at the federal level on the same issue.”

“Convictions for simple marijuana possession – which someone could not be charged with today – have led to the disproportionate incarceration of Black and brown people and made it nearly impossible for them to obtain a job, housing, educational opportunities and more. As the AG’s Office also works to address injustice and close the racial wealth gap, this proposed pardon meaningfully moves the Commonwealth in the right direction,” the attorney general said.

Democratic House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano, meanwhile, said the “decision from Governor Healey to pardon certain marijuana convictions is the right one, as it is another step towards rectifying decades of injustices stemming from the criminalization of cannabis.”

“This announcement is consistent with the Legislature’s intent during the passage of the 2018 criminal justice reform law, which was updated in 2022 when the Legislature passed further cannabis reforms, that allowed residents to seek expungements for convictions that are no longer crimes following voter-approved reforms,” Mariano said. 

As the statements from Healey and other officials referenced, the pardon takes a cue from President Biden, who in the fall of 2022 issued a pardon to thousands of Americans who were convicted of violating federal cannabis laws.

“Sending people to prison for possessing marijuana has upended too many lives and incarcerated people for conduct that many states no longer prohibit,” Biden said in a statement then. “Criminal records for marijuana possession have also imposed needless barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities. And while white and Black and brown people use marijuana at similar rates, Black and brown people have been arrested, prosecuted, and convicted at disproportionate rates.”

At the time, the president also urged governors to take their own action to clear the records of such individuals at the state level.

“In October 2022, President Biden issued a presidential proclamation that pardoned many federal and D.C. offenses for simple marijuana possession offenses. In December 2023, the President expanded that pardon to include more offenses He also issued a call to Governors to take action to pardon marijuana convictions in their states and, in the State of the Union last week, the President directed his Cabinet to review the federal classification of marijuana,” Healey’s office explained. “Governor Healey has already taken historic action on pardons. She became the first Massachusetts Governor in decades to recommend pardons in her first year in office. She has pardoned a total of 13 people to date. She also issued new clemency guidelines to center fairness and equity in the criminal justice system.”

According to a press release from United States Customs and Border Protection, a traveler arrived at Boston Logan Airport from The Democratic Republic of the Congo on January 8 of this year. An Airport security dog that goes by the name of K9 Buddey (pictured below) smelled something unusual in the traveler’s bag during routine inspections of Delta flight 225 incoming from Paris and alerted customs officials to the suspicious nature of the luggage, presumably by barking.

The traveler claimed he was only carrying dried fish in his suitcase when asked by customs, but further inspection revealed he was in possession of four dehydrated monkey carcusses. The monkeys are considered to be “bushmeat,” which is a term denoting raw or minimally processed meat from wild animals in Africa often dried, salted or smoked. This includes bats, monkeys, cane rats, antelope and other African animals, none of which are allowed entry into the United States on account of the risk of communicable disease transference.

“The potential dangers posed by bringing bushmeat into the United States are real. Bushmeat can carry germs that can cause illness, including the Ebola virus,” said Julio Caravia, local port director for Customs and Border Protection.

According to Customs and Border Protection, airport authorities immediately contacted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, because apparently that’s the government agency tasked with regulation of mummified primate materials. The CDC reportedly told Delta Airlines to either seize and destroy the four kilograms of monkey meat or return it to France and thus, the primate mummies were marked for destruction.

Apparently a fair amount of illegal monkey meat, among other unsavory and illicit meat from Africa is routinely smuggled into the United States. One estimate from the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance proposed that roughly 15,000 pounds of illegal wildlife meat are smuggled into the U.S. every month, though this figure is very difficult to verify. 

Another report from United States Customs and Border Protection concerning illegal bushmeat smuggling into the state of Minnesota from 2022, customs officials seized over 104 pounds of bushmeat in the last week of 2021 alone.

“Just last week our agriculture specialists stopped a passenger returning from Liberia,” said Augustine Moore, Area Port Director-Minnesota. When officers asked if he had any bushmeat, he said he had “parts of a monkey; turned out it was two primate arms and primate rib material.”

In the 2022 release Customs and Border Protections attested that much like the recent mummified monkey smuggler accosted in Boston, many travelers attempting to smuggle bushmeat into the United States do so by hiding it amongst dried fish, often wrapped in multiple layers of newspaper, plastic, foil and tape. Travelers would often mark fish on customs forms even when specifically asked about bushmeat.

“The intermingling of fish and bushmeat in the same package is common,” Chief Agriculture Specialist Lauren Lewis said in 2022. 

Customs said in the same release that they had a big problem at the time with travelers coming in with bushmeat from Liberia specifically. A private investigator took reporters from ABC news to an open air market in New York in 2009 where cane rat meat was being sold for $20/pound, but with time passed and post-COVID inflation it presumably costs much more in 2024 though I could was not able to verify current bushmeat prices with any reputable source.

“Minnesota’s CBP agriculture specialists are focused on their mission to prevent entry of prohibited items from entering into the United States,” said LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, Director, Field Operations-Chicago in 2022. “The sheer volume of bushmeat our specialist[s] intercept clearly shows how they play a critical role in preventing diseases from entering the United States.”

The saga continues for four Massachusetts-based business owners who filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Justice Department in an attempt to overturn cannabis prohibition.

The plaintiffs include owners of Canna Provisions, Inc., Gyasi Sellers, Wiseacre Farm, Inc., and Verano Holdings Corp., who are represented by David Boies and Josh Schiller of Bois Schiller Flexner LLP. The lawsuit was first issued in October 2023, and used the results of a court case from 2005, Gonzales v. Raich, to showcase how federal prohibition of cannabis is outdated. “The federal criminal prohibition on intrastate marijuana remains in place, an unjustified vestige of a long-abandoned policy,” the lawsuit states. “This unjustified intrusion of federal power harms Plaintiffs, threatens the communities they serve, and lacks any rational purpose.”

According to a news report published by The Boston Globe, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland filed a motion to dismiss the case on Jan. 23, stating that the plaintiffs have no standing on which to sue, and have presented no evidence that prohibition has caused them injury (such as being arrested or prosecuted). The motion stated that “Even if the court were free to disregard Raich ’s holdings (it is not), Plaintiff’s attacks on that holding are unpersuasive,” that the “Plaintiffs lack standing to challenge the CSA [Controlled Substances Act],” and “Courts have consistently, and correctly, held that no fundamental right exists to distribute, possess, or use marijuana.”

The Boston Globe noted that the Department of Justice declined to comment, as of Jan. 29.

In defense of the business owners, Schiller described how there is evidence that the longstanding illegality of cannabis from a federal standpoint is “well-established.” Schiller cited examples such as cannabis businesses being heavily taxed, forced to pay insurance premiums, cannot take credit cards as a form of payment, and usually pay a higher price for rent or mortgages, “Almost like they are illegal businesses.”

James Smith, of Smith, Costello, & Crawford, commented on the lawsuit and told The Boston Globe that winning a case like this one is a “high hill to climb.” Even still, Smith described Massachusetts’ regulatory framework for legalization as “pretty pristine.” The federal government has yet to make a move on federal legalization and has made no constructive decisions regarding major industry issues, such as banking. Smith added that with a lack of action from the federal government, that leaves state legislators to act—and courts are waiting for them to do so.

Another comment was provided by Boston University professor and author, Jay Wexler, who told the news outlet that if legislators lose interest in regulating cannabis federally, then expecting the federal government to take on the role of cannabis business in all states “falls apart.” Wexler also stated that this current case could eventually reach the Supreme Court. “These are cases where plaintiffs are aiming for the Supreme Court because there are precedents,” said Wexler. “It’s pretty unlikely that lower courts will feel comfortable agreeing with the plaintiffs.”

Schiller estimated that the lawsuit could take two years to reach a conclusion. But one of the plaintiffs, Gyasi Sellers, who owns a delivery service called Treevit, explained that it’s worth the wait. The opportunity to freely and legally take credit cards as a form of payment would improve his entire business, making delivery quicker and also maintaining a safe work environment for employees. Sellers described how prohibition would be “like getting our training wheels taken off, or our handcuffs taken off, depending on how you want to look at it. It’d be nice to say our fate is actually in our hands, and we have the ability to reach our true potential.”

The support for putting an end to prohibition continues to grow. Following the recommendation to move cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III substance by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the industry eagerly awaits the decision of the Drug Enforcement Administration. Meanwhile, multiple House representatives and Senators are calling out to President Biden to make a move as well.

In a High Times exclusive interview, New York Senator Kristen Gillibrand called for an end to prohibition. “Studies show that legalizing marijuana could help reduce violence in international drug trafficking and generate billions of dollars for the economy,” Gillibrand said. “The vast majority of Americans agree that marijuana should be legalized—that’s why I’m calling on the Attorney General and the Drug Enforcement Administration to swiftly deschedule marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act.”

Many predict that rescheduling cannabis could give Biden a huge boost in the upcoming election later this year. A survey conducted by Lake Research Partner showed that Biden could benefit from an 11% boost from younger voters (based on the opinions of 900 voters used in the survey, spread out across the U.S.).

In September, Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission Treasurer Deborah Goldberg suspended Chairwoman Shannon O’Brien from her position, just a year after she was chosen to take on the role. Three people have held the chair since the commission was first created in 2018, though there was limited information as to why O’Brien received the suspension — until now.

Last week, court filings revealed an October letter authored by Goldberg to O’Brien, where she accused her of making “racially, ethnically and culturally insensitive statements,” CBS News reports.

On Tuesday, O’Brien was scheduled to appear in a hearing that could have potentially led to her firing, though a judge made the decision to suspend the meeting to a later date after O’Brien’s team indicated they were unprepared for the meeting and objected to some of the stipulations surrounding it.

Goldberg is now enjoined from holding the meeting until the court holds a hearing on O’Brien’s motion for a preliminary injunction, which is prompting the court to outline procedures for an eventual meeting between the two, “and until further order of the court.” Superior Court Judge Debra Squires-Lee requested that the clerk schedule a hearing on the injunction motion in 20 days.

“The ruling by the court today is the first step in getting my good reputation back after ten weeks of being smeared by the actions of Treasurer Goldberg in suspending me with no process in place for a fair and impartial hearing,” O’Brien said in a statement Tuesday. “The Treasurer wanted a private meeting with little or no procedural safeguards where she would be the judge, jury and executioner. The Treasurer, in her own words to me in a private meeting before nominating me as Chair, told me I needed to clean up the mess and dysfunction of the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC). Instead, the Treasurer has plunged the CCC into even more chaos.”

Goldberg’s communications director Andrew Naplitano said that the offices “respect[s] the court’s ruling” and indicated that the treasurer is ready to hear from O’Brien as soon as possible.

Allegations Made Public

New details emerged on Friday, Dec. 1. Goldberg claimed O’Brien made a remark referring to an Asian person as “yellow.” Goldberg also alleges that O’Brien yelled at her executive assistant, along with inappropriately referencing a former executive director as “missing in action” while he was on paternity leave.

Goldberg also claimed that other staffers made allegations against O’Brien, referencing her behavior and creating a hostile work environment, at which point other investigators were called in. O’Brien had allegedly said, “I should have cleaned it up. It’s difficult sometimes to know how to say the right thing.”

O’Brien, who previously served as state treasurer and was a Democratic nominee for governor, said she is seeking a fair hearing process after her suspension. In September, she sued Goldberg over the suspension and claimed it was without merit.

O’Brien says that her career and reputation are on the line and sought an injunction to stop the private meeting on Tuesday to challenge her suspension, claiming the procedure is unfair and that the state treasurer should not be in charge of making the decision. She also objected to the hearing being private.

In court filings, O’Brien’s attorney Max Stern wrote, “under the circumstances the only likely outcome, unless relief is granted by this court, is that she will not only lose her job, but will go down in history as the former treasurer and commissioner who was fired for making racist statements and she will probably never work again.”

Considering a Delayed Hearing and Restraining Order

On Monday, Squires-Lee heard about 45 minutes of arguments surrounding the hearing’s potential delay, NBC Boston reports.

During the Monday hearing, Stern also indicated that O’Brien’s team is unprepared for the meeting, which was originally scheduled for early November and delayed to Dec. 5, and asked for another “two weeks or so” to prepare. Had the meeting carried on as planned, Stern said O’Brien’s team was not prepared to do anything more than make a statement on its position. 

In her latest court filing, O’Brien said that “none of the accusations have any merit,” and Stern also remained confident that the allegations wouldn’t hold weight.

“If you look at what she’s charged with and look at what really happened, I think you will find that these are laughable actually,” Stern said.

The court documents indicate O’Brien was removed because of accusations of “gross misconduct,” “causing turmoil” and “creating a hostile work environment,” along with making “racially insensitive comments.”

Arguments From Both Sides

Stern suggested that O’Brien’s suspension “accompanied by suggestive and harmful public justifications by the Treasurer” has harmed O’Brien’s reputation, and that she’s entitled to a “name clearing” hearing.” Squires-Lee then pointed out that O’Brien and her legal team wanted to put the details of the allegations against her into the public domain by including them in last week’s court filings.

“The treasurer did not make public the nature of the allegations, you did,” Squires-Lee said.

Assistant Attorney General John Hitt said Monday that Goldberg intends to hold the hearing as scheduled unless Squires-Lee issues a temporary restraining order. The treasurer’s office also argued that it is within the public’s best interest to hold the meeting Tuesday, as taxpayers are paying O’Brien’s $181,722 annual salary during her suspension. 

“The Treasurer takes these allegations very seriously, which is why she wants to provide Chair O’Brien with the opportunity to address them without further delay, and with a fair process that provides an opportunity for her to do that,” Andrew Napolitano, Goldberg’s communications director, said Monday.

“In October, Chair O’Brien was so adamant about having this meeting that she went to court to demand it,” Napolitano continued. “Now, despite knowing about the allegations since September, she is asking to delay the meeting again. It is in the best interest of the taxpayers and the CCC that this meeting proceed.”

Squires-Lee refuted this argument. The judge argued that O’Brien would have continued to receive her salary as the Tuesday hearing could have potentially been the first of multiple hearings, adding that no decision surrounding O’Brien’s removal would have been rendered at this initial hearing. The judge argued that the public interest in a fair hearing was more important than a slight delay in proceedings.

Almost two years following the death of a 27-year-old worker in a Massachusetts cannabis production facility, state and federal investigators said that work-related occupational asthma was the cause of death during the January 2022 incident. The first case of its kind “illustrates missed opportunities for prevention,” according to an analysis published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Nov. 17 “Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.”

The CDC report “represents findings of an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspection, which included a worksite exposure assessment, coworker and next-of-kin interviews, medical record reviews, and collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.”

While the report does not identify the deceased worker or the cultivation employers, the details correspond with the case of Lorna L. McMurrey, who died Jan. 7, 2022 while working at a Trulieve production facility in Holyoke, Massachusetts. According to the OSHA report, the employee was grinding and packaging pre-rolled joints when she complained that she couldn’t breathe. 

She went into cardiopulmonary arrest before emergency responders arrived, while staff attempted CPR. She was transported to a hospital where she shortly died after arrival.

After the incident, OSHA investigators conducted an inspection including a worksite exposure assessment, interviews with flower production coworkers and family and medical record reviews. The investigation found that four of 10 coworkers with similar responsibilities also had respiratory tract or skin symptoms, despite that particle dust concentrations and other potential airborne hazards were under permissible limits.

However, the new CDC report says that OSHA analyzed air quality only after the grinder was connected to a new shop vacuum with HEPA filtration.

According to McMurrey’s family, she smoked cannabis recreationally but never had asthma until she began working at Trulieve. Her mother had also told NBC about an incident two months before her death where she was rushed to the hospital after having trouble breathing at work.

“That’s where it all came out that she was developing asthma, and she had never had any breathing problems through her whole life,” her mother Laura Bruneau said. “She took her concern to the supervisors.”

According to the CDC report, dust from the grinder was collected by a shop vacuum, though the vacuum had no high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, allowing for visible dust to escape. Additional dust generated through open handling of ground product, like transferring product from the grinder to pre-rolls.

The report also notes that McMurrey’s coworkers reported that her cough increased when the grindr was on. To reduce her coughing, the outside of the grinder vacuum that became coated with dust was covered with plastic and McMurrey’s workstation was moved outside of the grinder room. She also used her own N95 respirator and wore the required long sleeves and gloves while working.

CDC begins the report noting that “occupational allergic diseases, including asthma, are an emerging concern in the rapidly expanding U.S. cannabis industry,” adding that “occupational asthma is generally associated with a latency period of months to years between first exposure and symptoms.”

The CDC concluded that prevention of such incidents is best achieved through a “multifaceted approach, including controlling asthmagen exposures, such as cannabis dust, providing worker training, and conducting medical monitoring for occupational allergy.” The report also suggested that the evaluation of workers with new-onset or worsening asthma is “essential,” along with prompt diagnosis and medical management. This could include “cessation of work” and allowing for workers’ compensation when symptoms are related to work exposures.

“It is important to recognize that work in cannabis production is potentially causative,” the report states.