Lantern of the Hermit: 2018

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

thelittleweedwife@gmail.com - Julia

Thank You.

Image Link: https://studybreaks.com/news-politics/cbd/

Lantern of the Hermit

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Wednesday, November 7, 2018

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