Cannabis & Sustainable Agriculture NOFA event in Shutesbury, MA
Cannabis Forum @Shutesbury Elementary School - “Cannabis & Sustainable Agriculture”
Marijuana & Hemp in Western Massachusetts
(public forum) - September 27th, 2018
Sanford Lewis, moderator:
Question 4 passed by voters in 2016
May 5 -voted moratorium, later exemption for small operations
Legalizing & normalizing market: Federal gov't restrictions. Entering market is at risk; stigma is still connected to it.
Healing, Artistic, & Spiritual - sustainable agriculture traditional - how to connect this to the cannabis industry
Speaker: Aimee Burke (Phylos)
What sustainable opportunities?
Goals, opportunities, & challenges:
Sustainable Cannabis Project of Western Massachusetts
Phylos - sequences DNA of Cannabis plants
Full Research & Development programs
how Phylos? is listing
wholesale value: hemp is valued below $100 per lb. of CBD buds
hemp seed: .50 to $9 per lb
marijuana - $6000 to $9000 per lb.
(legal market, US East Coast)
Massachusetts- legal
Maine & Vermont have decriminalized use of marijuana
Heavily used: electric “grow" lights (for indoor cultivation, i.e. contained within buildings)
LED - low voltage (indoor) or grow outside
Downsize electricity demands - water (for irrigation), pesticides, security/vandalism
Outdoor growing is a sustainable option for New England with right genetics.
Imported seeds, which do well in a wet environment need good drainage - cannabis is adaptable.
Hemp in upstate NY is similar to in MA
Which plants do well in Northeast, and which do not.
Mixed gender hemp
Hemp from female clones
Cross-pollination of Marijuana and Hemp/THC content
9 pesticides prohibited in Marijuana
Low pesticides - Hemp can be hermaphrodite
Too much THC? Where do the seeds originate?
High CBD potential: How plants are cured - varies the content
R & D stunted by past prohibition - early growing pains of an emerging industry.
Allowing recreational use - needs defined areas for pubic adult use
How far from purchase area are you allowed to consume? - bar/alcohol model - adult use on premises.
“cannabis club” - State allows use on premises
private clubs - loophole/sources unknown
Outside regulatory scope:
What determines a consumption zone?
2 pronged - package store vs. bar
Illegal to transport over state lines
hemp/marijuana
outdoor growing is favorable
Scenarios of cultivation -
4 acres/small back lot
15 miles (to prevent cross-pollination)
Stick to female clones
No off-season (greenhouse) growing
Indoor cultivation:
Sustainable -
Host community agreement
Zoning/Health boards
Micro-business:
canopy can hold 5000 mature plants
Vertical growing - Morton buildings (corrugated building)
Host community agreements/5 year plans
Use “by right” - accepted use?
Outdoor grow: odor/security (zoning context)
Cameras w/minimum lighting at night
Light trespass? (no bright lights)
Out of sight/out of mind (indoor cultivation)
Security fencing - setback distance
Instances of CBD hemp theft
Marijuana (yes)
Hemp (no)
“niche market” (craft co-op approach)
system in place (perimeter barrier)
deer fencing
game scenario (motion detector)
lighting to illuminate fencing
Creative w/zoning - limit land clearing
changeover from hayfield/pasture to cannabis/hemp cultivation
Hemp growing - needs site plan approval
?mixed gender or female plants only
Site plan approval - particulars of what is where on a site
(Complete application for State Cannabis Commission (benchmark: Shutesbury need not be that rigorous)
Easthampton model -
Home occupation? Vehicular traffic? Number of employees? Pick a building size? traffic impact? indoor vs outdoor cultivation
?Town benefit for cannabis/hemp growth
talking w/investors about commercial cloning CBD hemp at Farmer's Market in town
While 6-12 plant option in our own back yards
Workshops create:
mindful cannabis consumption
regional - not just a Town question.
ELEVATE NORTHEAST
Cannabis And Your Community
November 1st, 2018
6:00 to 8:30 pm at The Black Sheep, Amherst
Speakers include:
Geoff Kravitz, Town of Amherst
Economic Development Coordinator
Rebecca Hanlon, owner:
Limb by Limb Bodywork
Seth Frappier, owner:
Chronic Trips
Daniel Attella, Dispensary Manager
Rise Massachusetts, Amherst
Master of Ceremonies:
Julia Agron, The Little Weed Wife
CANNABIS AND YOUR COMMUNITY
Julia Agron, Master of Ceremonies
Research for recipe sales (1st) baking CBD infused cookies (2nd); Initiate “Joseph's Magic Cookies” product line - 1st kind offered: Peanut Butter CBD Cookies: 1st) recipe, 2nd) video, 3rd) product distribution
Elevate Northeast - Julia Agron, “The Little Weed Wife” Cannabis Consulting
Legal in the Town of Amherst
Seth Frappier, Chronic Trips; outdoor wellness
Rebecca Hanlon, Limb by Limb; massage & bodywork
Daniel Attella, MA operations: RISE dispensaries in N. Amherst & Holyoke - medical marijuana operations
Jeff Kravitz, Amherst Economic Development - 2 years ago, referendum vote, legalization for adult use (recreational); more dispensaries
Seth: Chronic Trips (blend nature & medical cannabis, elevated experiences
Rebecca - dancer, connects with cannabis, kinestheology, working with patients every day
Intention: working with cannabis; how to feel comfortable
? Hospitality - Johnny's Tavern in Amherst
Julia - legal medical team, opened 1st dispensary; working as a consultant - sees people's lives change
Mass DPH - oversees medical aspect of marijuana law
1st - Dispensary Rx, medical marijuana
2nd - Recreational, adult use (21 & older)
Amherst Select Board to oversee “community agreement”
Recreational: Community Outreach/sign-up for participation - difficulty getting people into dispensaries
Medical - “ground floor” medical, moving into loadult use (recreational) Doctor's Rx - $200. to get Medical Card (red tape)
Consumption - Public (indoor private use)
?Safe place to consume - limiting (recreational & medical). New Laws (2015) - more stigma is reduced/open talk to doctors -
Advantages of having a Medical ID -
Consultation time in Medical business space
More of this is available.
Getting people in N. Amherst (both Medical & Recreational). Tax for Recreational use higher than Medical. Marijuana has high THC content
Rebecca: Hemp CBD) has been cleared for massage therapy use - full spectrum CBD (not THC) is more popular, as it does not go in the bloodstream; Hemp does not have effects like marijuana - lower THC content in Hemp than Marijuana. Full Spectrum - more plant matter
CBD is Hemp derived, works for inflammation. Separate plants: Cannabis is the same plant: Hemp (male) & Marijuana (female)
3% or less THC level - classified as Hemp
Over 3% classified as Marijuana.
Dispensary - More CBD products coming out.
20% - Tinctures to Edibles
8 producers in MA - Synergy Effect
THC & CBD - Learning Curve
Sharing information Elevate brings us together
Hemp is legal w/agricultural license
Individuals may grow up to 12 plants in one's house
In 20 years: Amherst could be epicenter of “craft” cannabis cultivation
Federal law: Marijuana is still illegal
Property owners are still hesitant
Farm Bill: on the road to legally growing Hemp
w/Federal government - nothing changes fast
Hemp: paper, rope, & other products derived
What is greatest hurdle for legalization of Cannabis?
How to shape a timeline for legal Cannabis?
Amherst: 5,000 new residents coming into 5 College area.
(Amherst) How to use marijuana safely & well.
Towns interested in pilot programs -
No place to legally consume at present -
i.e. smoking (tobacco products) Marijuana is illegal in Federally funded housing
Not allowed anywhere in Amherst presently.
Social consumption? The longer it takes - the harder it is to get into the industry -
3 more years for rollout -
People smoke Cannabis in their cars due to
nowhere to smoke/illegal to consume & drive.
Edibles - take longer to “come on” - can knock you for a loop when they kick in -
Medical Practitioners - are not in the loop w/edibles because training didn't cover use of marijuana/i.e. edibles
moderation is the key - i.e. dosing
Public Consumption Lounges?
Market is changing
Fine tuning: THC in Edibles
More normalized w/other forms of intoxication
NORML - 4 laws for responsible consumption.
Alex Gray (NY based artist - Ben's contact?
What if one gets too elevated?
Seth - “Take people into the woods to get stoned?” How is a town to be approached?
1st - Educate the Public/reduce the stigma -
Increase awareness (gray area in the law)
Important to stay away from gray areas -
Act as a filter - Reading the Laws
Negative impacts felt by local governments
No breathalyzer test for Police on Cannabis
Need Police Academy training to deal w/this -
Government has a “long horizon” - takes a long time to change laws - No industry; 3% to towns, 17% to state (i.e. host agreements)
This can hurt startups. State compliance - under restrictions (stay within the law)
Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) - state level. Adult Use- always asking for feedback
Go to the MA websites - Voice will be heard!
Bring yourself to table - be heard
Rebecca: Massage Therapy w/Cannabis
Will eventually be regulated? Laws are in flux.
Research & Testing - Amherst very interested.
potency/edibles - THC vs. CBD/More research is needed - $ barrier - research has to be paid for -
Medical research papers/28 articles on topical Cannabis (Rebecca).
÷
Who wants to start a lab in W. part of state?
Sourcing: 8 different MA sources - patients need feedback on products/packaging/how are they being produced? Medical patients have larger inventory available- dispensary (Medical) - vertical (in house only).
w/recreational use - horizontal model - vertical integration keeps one on same product line - Wholesale product market (non-vertical approach). Western MA Farmers Markets
Artists, etc. How does Cannabis “bridge” into our local market?
Seth: Profound experience w/nature - W. MA - Trove of recreational resources - new industry fosters new respect for Nature -
Rebecca/works w/local farmers - using this in how plants work together. Oils, grow alongside other plants.
Holyoke has empty factory spaces ‘ ideal for Cannabis related industries -
Amherst: Tourism & Cannabis Industry coming together/opportunities to experience - MA is surrounded w/states - NY, CT, (VT or NH?) 3 medical use approved - Cannabis is potential “goldmine.”
Why jump into an industry that is still illegal?
But laws are changing -
? Family business (Johnny's Tavern); is leaving to be part of a corporate entity in the Cannabis industry.
Rebecca - starting in a dispensary, moving - has a co-op background. Hard to be in such a gray area - Frustration w/Hospitals -
Seth - Creation of Chronic Trips; presents the sacred plant we all love so much -
Rare: we have a “blank slate” with a new industry opening up, Ground Floor opportunity.
Interface w/Medical Professionals - negative consequences of opioids.
Economic Empowerment/Julia
Amherst: People who want to do business here/move to the front of the line, so to speak.
Reach out to the only law school in W. MA - get records expunged so people can be more employable/get housing, etc.
Social Equity? Licenses for Medical expensive yet Recreational use is much lower threshold to get into field of Adult Use in MA. People get priced out of the industry. Medical (dispensary model)
Job Opportunities - How to pursue starting a small business - plug into a lawyer/What is needed legally to get this off the ground?
So much creativity in this industry - Go to the CCC website. Read the Law & Comprehend it.
Bootstrap: Find/Read/Learn/Collaborate -
Work together - It will only help. Go to Events, Meet People, Build Network- Jump in & talk about Cannabis - Bounce ideas off other people. CCCC - Social Equity Program
Cookies, Yes!
Cannabis Community Network available for students.
Full Spectrum in the industry
MA based corporation - at least 1 resident of MA in corporation.
Micro businesses/Craft operations
Work w/Veterans, local farmers doing Hemp growing, i.e. farmer (5 generations knowledge, wisdom re: Hemp cultivation).
Growing Hemp is less expensive than growing Marijuana - Outdoor cultivation of Cannabis - Hemp Mazes? - Yes!
Lack of Facilities - Can't cross state lines - Be a Political Advocate in area.
Recreational Use open to Edibles (CBD, THC)
Green Nurse Group - access to full spectrum of use/get people ogg opioid addiction -
Woodstock Nation - tip of the iceberg/the more focus, the closer we get to succeeding -
Get info from vendors - CCC guidance
Regulations are different at DPH - Read the regulations. CBD Laws are changing -
Research diligently the CCC -
Thanks Julia, for bringing us all together!
Looking forward to Social Consumption -
Important to stay current w/evolving laws. The data is there, but we “have to pretend it isn't there” - Safely share ideas on this topic. Spread the Word!
Rebecca - Cannabis & Massage: amherst.ma.gov - marijuana
Be active/Be Vocal/Support small business-
Lots of difficulties/hurdles -
Medical Card - RISE
Conversations are important
We advocate for Cannabis/Spread the Word -
Come home & smoke a joint/not take a Tylenol
Thank You.
