A former state senator and ex-member of the Nebraska State Board of Health, John Kuehn, has filed a legal challenge aimed at blocking two medical cannabis ballot petitions from appearing on the upcoming November 5 ballot. As Business of Cannabis reported earlier this month, Nebraska is set to vote on two cannabis initiatives during the November presidential elections after each passed the threshold of signatures needed to place them on the ballot. Among these are the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Patient Initiative, and the Nebraska Medical Regulation Initiative. The former would seek to protect medical cannabis patients and their caregivers from facing legal recourse due to their medical cannabis usage. Meanwhile, the second initiative seeks to create a state Medical Cannabis Commission to regulate medical cannabis businesses across the state. Kuehn, a long-time opponent of cannabis legalization, argues that the petitions—backed by Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana—violate state constitutional procedures and federal law. The lawsuit, filed in Lancaster County District Court, outlines seven key complaints, including the alleged invalidity of signatures and procedural violations. Kuehn’s challenge seeks to prevent Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen from certifying the petitions and, if they make it to the ballot, seeks to nullify any election results related to the measures. These petitions aim to legalize and regulate medical cannabis, defining patient protections, caregiver roles, and medical provider guidelines. Kuehn, represented by attorney Steven Guenzel, claims that many signatures were improperly accepted, pointing to a lack of public access to signature records and other discrepancies. This marks the third attempt by Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana to place the issue on the ballot after previous efforts were blocked or failed to gain enough valid signatures. The legal battle comes amid increasing national momentum for cannabis reform, with 38 states already allowing medical cannabis use and the federal government considering rescheduling marijuana under a lower classification. The case could ultimately head to the Nebraska Supreme Court, with a tight timeline before early voting begins on September 20. Source link

Cannavigia, a leading Swiss tech start-up specialising in compliance and process management for the cannabis industry, proudly announces a strategic partnership with Aroya, the industry’s premier cannabis cultivation platform. This collaboration combines the Swiss precision of Cannavigia’s compliance and quality management platform with Aroya’s advanced cultivation software, sensors, networking and data analysis capabilities. Together, Cannavigia and Aroya create a synergy that brings unparalleled efficiency, compliance, and quality to cannabis cultivation. Under this exclusive partnership, Cannavigia will distribute Aroya throughout Europe, Switzerland, the UK, and Israel, providing cultivators with unparalleled accuracy and reliability akin to Swiss clockwork. Together, these two innovators will elevate the standards of cannabis cultivation, offering data-driven insights that ensure the highest levels of compliance and quality across the entire growth cycle. Aroya, trusted by over a thousand North American cultivators, combines sophisticated software and research-grade sensors into a seamless system that enables growers to see, analyse, and control root zone conditions with absolute precision. With this partnership, European cultivators can now access these cutting-edge solutions. Aroya’s suite of sensors, known for their accuracy and reliability, collect and wirelessly sync critical cultivation data to the AROYA app, which can be used to inform decisions. Parameters measured include air temperature, relative humidity, vapour pressure deficit, CO2 levels, substrate temperature, substrate moisture, electrical conductivity, and volumetric water content. A highlight of Aroya’s offerings is the Teros One substrate sensor, renowned for its accuracy and effectiveness in providing crucial insights, even in extreme substrate conditions. For smaller operations like cannabis cultivation clubs, Aroya Go offers the benefits of Aroya’s full-scale platform with a much smaller initial investment, ensuring that every cultivator, regardless of size, can benefit from these industry-leading tools. This partnership enables Aroya’s sensors to function independently or as part of an integrated system with Cannavigia’s comprehensive compliance and process management platform. By seamlessly incorporating sensor data into Cannavigia’s platform, cultivators gain a complete, real-time overview of their operations, ensuring every detail is tracked from seed to sale. This integration streamlines the cultivation process, enhancing efficiency, ensuring compliance, and ultimately improving the quality of the final product. “We are eager to work closely with the Aroya team. Our product offerings are very complementary, and I am certain that this partnership will bring additional value to our clients, from big-scale medical cannabis cultivators to smaller-scale cultivation clubs,” said Timo Bongartz, CEO of Cannavigia. “By integrating Aroya’s cutting-edge sensor technology with our compliance platform, we are setting a new standard for data-driven cannabis cultivation.” “This partnership goes beyond compliance—it’s about equipping cultivators with the tools they need to truly excel,” said Christian Hertel, VP of Marketing of Addium, Aroya’s parent company. “By combining Aroya’s precise cultivation monitoring and data-driven insights with Cannavigia’s strengths in compliance and process management, we’re enabling European growers to push the boundaries of what’s possible in cannabis cultivation. This collaboration is not just about meeting standards; it’s about setting new ones, driving innovation, and helping cultivators of all sizes achieve optimal growth, superior product quality, and ultimately, a more competitive edge in the market.” Cannavigia’s global presence, with a stronghold in key markets across Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia, positions it as a leader in delivering innovative compliance solutions to the cannabis industry. With a foundation in Switzerland and growing influence across multiple continents, CANNAVIGIA continues to advance industry standards, helping cultivators navigate complex regulatory landscapes with ease and precision.  Cannavigia and Aroya will present their integrated solutions at the upcoming CB Expo, part of InterTabac—the world’s leading event for the tobacco industry—taking place from September 19-21, 2024, in Dortmund, Germany. Attendees are invited to visit booth CB.A08 to experience firsthand how these technologies work in harmony to deliver unparalleled value to both large-scale and smaller-scale cannabis cultivators.   Source link

Missouri cannabis brands, manufacturers and retailers are adjusting to plain packaging rules enacted this month, adding to concerns about potential inventory shortages fueled by a statewide product recall. Though licensed operators have had months to meet the latest marketing requirements, which went into effect Sept. 1, compliance challenges persist, industry sources tell MJBizDaily.  Many licensed operators also are bracing for a widespread fire sale affecting thousands of products packaged under the previous set of rules as a key regulatory deadline looms. The latest packaging guidelines include: A requirement of only one primary color. An allowance of two logos or symbols in different colors. Mandatory design approval from the Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation, a process that takes roughly 60 days. You can read the full story on MJBizDaily here.  Source link

As the Czech Republic’s efforts to launch a fully regulated adult-use cannabis market continue to hang in the balance, numerous efforts to convince government ministers and the general public that it would be beneficial for the country have now been launched. Last week, the Faculty of Business Economics at the University of Prague published an indepth study into the potential costs and benefits of the different models of cannabis reform currently being proposed in the country. It concluded that a ‘comprehensive model’, which includes self-cultivation, cannabis clubs and a full commercial market could bring ‘total net social benefits of CZK 5.5bn (€218m) per year’ Meanwhile, the Rational Regulation Association (RARE) launched a new media campaign, which aims to ‘open a debate between experts and the lay public’ about cannabis regulation, while urging politicians to deal with the issue. The study The analysis published by the University of Prague on September 12 explores each of the current models proposed by the former National Drug Coordinator, Jindřich Vobořil, who is now an independent advisor to the government, In late May, Business of Cannabis reported that Mr Vobořil, who was was officially commissioned by the Czech government to prepare a law for the regulation of cannabis in November last year, had completed two separate versions of the bill. One bill proposed a comprehensive legalisation model including a commercial market, the other a paired back model akin to Germany’s current framework, whereby home cultivation and cannabis social clubs would be legalised but citizens would remain unable to purchase cannabis openly in dispensaries. As such, the study explored four separate variants of legalisation, examining the social and economic implications of each, including the maintaining the current status quo. The research suggested that if only self-cultivation was legalised, the country would see a net social benefit of CZK 1.2 bn per year and CZK 16.5bn over the first 11 years. Assuming that a portion of the cannabis currently supplied by the black market will shift into the legal sphere, this strategy would see CZK 0.1bn annually and CZK 1.5bn over 11 years from taxes and fees for public budgets, though these would be offset by costs of registration and enforcement. In the second scenario, where both self-cultivation and cannabis clubs were legalised, the study projects higher returns: CZK 1.5bn per year and CZK 20.8bn over 11 years in social benefits. Public budgets would benefit by CZK 0.2bn annually and CZK 1.8bn over the same period, and the inclusion of cannabis clubs would act as an important step towards more organised cannabis consumption while maintaining low implementation costs. A comprehensive model, including a regulated market as well as self-cultivation and clubs, promised the highest returns by a significant margin, with the net social benefit forecast to be CZK 5.5bn per year and CZK 77.2bn over 11 years. It would also bring an estimated CZK 2.6bn annually and CZK 41.2bn over the first 11 years through taxation and fees, minus collection and administrative costs. The study highlights that legalisation in any form would lead to improvements in the quality of cannabis production and distribution, ultimately reducing the power of the illicit market and improving consumer well-being. “The conclusions are very simple. All evaluated options appear to be socially and financially more beneficial for public budgets than maintaining the status quo,” said one of the authors, Patrik Sieber However, it noted that consumers’ willingness to transition away from the black market would depend on the pricing and regulatory burden. Lucia Kiššová, Director of the Drug Policy Department of the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic, added: “The government currently agrees on allowing self-cultivation of cannabis for personal use and also on the need to increase the availability of medical cannabis. Although the introduction of a comprehensive variant of a regulated cannabis market is the most economically advantageous, I would also like to point out that the study confirms that any variant of regulation of the cannabis market is more advantageous than the current situation” Media campaign Days before the study was published, RARE officially launched its nationwide campaign in support of the proposals for a fully regulated commercial market. The initiative was met with widespread coverage in the local media, and has seen a number of leading voices on the subject voice their support for both the legislation and the campaign publicly. Dominik Stroukal, a member of the Government’s National Economic Council, and Matěj Hollan, spokesperson for the civil initiative Family Against Prohibition, support the regulation, citing the excessive costs of criminalizing cannabis and the need for more balanced sentencing. The group will be publishing a string of short videos aimed at educating the public on the policy propositions and their potential impacts on society. In a video published on September 10, highlighting the harsh consequences of cannabis prohibition in the Czech Republic, drawing attention to individuals who have received excessively high prison sentences for cultivating cannabis—penalties that sometimes exceed those given for serious crimes like murder or rape. The video tells the story of Lukáš Ch., sentenced to 8 years in a maximum-security prison for growing nine cannabis plants. Although there was no evidence he intended to distribute the cannabis, the court assumed he planned to sell it, leading to the harsh sentence. His case illustrates a broader issue in which law enforcement and courts often presume guilt in cannabis cases, imposing severe penalties based on assumed intent rather than proven actions. According to estimates, around 2,000 cannabis-related crimes are investigated annually in the Czech Republic, with up to 45% of prisoners incarcerated for drug offenses linked to cannabis. The association aims to bring these issues into public discourse and push for change that will prevent further unnecessary criminalization of cannabis users. The campaign, dubbed ‘It’s OK’, has also launched a crowdfunding initiative in order to raise funding for further media promotion of the complex regulatory proposals, further support victims of cannabis prohibition, and continue to carry out legal analysis of the legal changes currently

The Japanese government has released long-awaited guidance on THC limits for CBD products, enabling brands hoping to launch into the market to begin devising their strategies. In May, 2024, Japan officially launched a public comment period for draft legislation meant to regulate the country’s emerging cannabis and CBD industries. While the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) has made some minor changes to the initially opposed limits, they still represent the strictest in the world. Dr Yuji Masataka, MD, Japan’s first specialist in medical cannabis, told Business of Cannabis these strict limits could still significantly impact the industry as it is rolled out. What happened? Late last year, Japan made a major step towards cannabis reform after approving a bill to amend its 75-year-old Cannabis Control Act. After passing the bill in November, 2023, the Japanese authorities launched a public comment period and got to work on ironing out the details of these reforms. The initial proposals for THC limits in CBD products proposed severe restrictions, raising numerous concerns that the industry would therefore be dominated by isolate-based products, that the entourage effect would be done away with, and that CBD prices would remain high. At the time, Dr Masataka suggested this would ‘make parallel imports of products difficult, potentially keeping CBD product prices high’. He added: “Cannabis products are characterised by their diversity. Stricter THC standards will homogenise products, leading to the loss of the entourage effect.” The suggested limits were as follows:  Oil (10mg/kg = 0.001% = 10ppm)  Beverages (0.10mg/kg = 0.00001% = 0.1ppm)  Others (e.g., food) (1mg/kg = 0.0001% = 1ppm) Now, after receiving a swathe of public comments, many of which warned against these strict limits and the impact they could have on the industry, the government has released new guidance on their proposed thresholds. In response to these concerns, some adjustments have been made to the draft: Oil/Powder (10mg/kg = 0.001% = 10ppm) Aqueous solutions (0.10mg/kg = 0.00001% = 0.1ppm) Others (e.g., food) (1mg/kg = 0.0001% = 1ppm) Dr Masataka explained that the threshold for raw materials, including isolate powder, have now been raised from the initially proposed 1ppm, to 10ppm. While this represents a tenfold increase, and is a ‘significant step in the right direction’, it remains the strictest limit in the world and will do little to negate the concerns of the industry. Notably, the MHLW states that they plan to launch a clinical study ‘to ensure that patients with intractable epilepsy can continue to use products containing cannabis-derived ingredients’. Issues remain With such trace amounts of THC permitted, there are concerns around the ability of current testing labs to be able to detect them without investing in High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) but also a Mass Spectrometer (MS) equipment. This, explained Dr Masataka, would ‘complicate the process and lead to increased costs’ of testing, and unnecessarily ‘raise product prices’ given that trace amounts of THC do not present any health risks. Furthermore, products like broad-spectrum or vape products would struggle to comply with the new regulations, forcing a shift towards isolate products or synthetic CBD. In turn, this would lead to a reduction in the efficacy of CBD products and impact potential market growth. As is being seen in markets across the world, it could also encourage the proliferation of synthetic cannabinoid products, which technically do not contain any THC, but still have intoxicating properties. This could be seen as a ‘self inflicted’ issue by the MHLW. Given the concerns around testing capabilities, it could also lead to fraudulent component analysis certificates being issued, and it would be ‘virtually impossible’ for the government to conduct spot checks on all products on the market, making the regulations ineffective. Patients using CBD products are also concerned about these new proposals, and have launched a petition calling for a review which has now received over 35,000 signatures.   Dr Yuji Masataka, MD, is a graduate of the Faculty of Medicine, Kumamoto University. After meeting medical cannabis specialist Dr Jeffrey Hergenrather in California in 2016, he decided to become Japan’s first specialist in medical cannabis. In 2017, while working in the Department of Neurology at Kumamoto University, he, as Representative Director, established the nonprofit organisation Green Zone Japan, which aims to raise awareness about medical cannabis. Currently, he also holds the position of Vice Chairman at the Japanese Society of Clinical Cannabinoid Research. Dr Masataka also acts as a Key Opinion Leader for Astrasana Japan Co. Ltd., providing support to create a progressive and inclusive landscape in Japan, where CBD products are not only widely accepted but also celebrated for their potential health benefits and recognised as a valuable market opportunity. Source link

The Yardley Clinic officially launches MARUCANNA, a pioneering medical cannabis clinic offering safe, effective pain treatment through online consultations for UK residents. MARUCANNA, the trading style of The Yardley Clinic, is proud to announce its launch as a trusted provider of medical cannabis prescriptions nationwide across the UK. Specialising in cannabis treatment for pain management, MARUCANNA offers a full range of online services designed to make medical cannabis treatment accessible, safe, and efficient for patients across the country. With a focus on providing relief for patients suffering from chronic pain, MARUCANNA’s licensed medical cannabis prescriptions are available to all UK residents following an online consultation. The Yardley Clinic, operating under the MARUCANNA brand, is fully registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), ensuring the highest standards of care and patient safety. Accessible medical cannabis prescriptions across the UK As part of its commitment to accessibility, MARUCANNA offers a free online eligibility check, allowing patients to quickly determine whether they qualify for medical cannabis treatment. All consultations, follow-ups, patient check-ins, and prescriptions are handled online, streamlining the process for patients while ensuring they receive the care and support they need. Through this comprehensive approach, MARUCANNA provides end-to-end services, including consultations, repeat prescriptions, and personalised treatment plans. Patients can expect continuous support, with regular check-ups and feedback sessions to monitor progress and adjust treatment as necessary. An Insight into The Yardley Clinic The Yardley Clinic has a long-standing commitment to delivering high-quality healthcare services in the UK. With the introduction of MARUCANNA, it expands its reach into the field of medical cannabis treatment, offering a trusted solution for those seeking alternative pain management therapies. Key Features of MARUCANNA: Medical cannabis prescriptions available to all UK residents via online consultations Treatment for common pain ailments such as arthritis, sciatica, fibromyalgia, cancer-related pain, and more. Free eligibility check online Comprehensive patient care: consultations, follow-ups, check-ups, prescriptions, and more Fully registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) Contact Information: For media enquiries or further information, please contact:Name: Mohammed AyazTitle: Business ManagerEmail: info@marucanna.co.ukPhone: 0121 5372393Website: https://marucanna.co.uk   Source link

Indiana could become the next US state to legalize medical and adult-use cannabis if Democratic candidate Jennifer McCormick is voted in as governor. In a statement made today (Thursday September 12), McCormick unveiled a comprehensive plan to legalize medical cannabis, with aims of transitioning to a full adult-use market at a later date. She suggested her proposals reflect the will of Indiana voters, and asserted that her plan takes the ‘common sense approach by first introducing a well-regulated medical marijuana industry, allowing us to address potential regulatory challenges and ensure a smooth transition to well-regulated and legal adult-use cannabis’. Under McCormick’s proposals, a new independent regulatory body, the Indiana Cannabis Commission, would be founded to oversee licencing, safety and compliance within the industry. A medical cannabis industry would be the priority, with plans to establish a framework in a phased approach, which would seek to learn lessons from neighboring states and allow regulatory challenges to be addressed before moving to adult-use legalization. Alongside plans for a clear pathway to a full adult-use market, McCormick would also seek to regulate the flourishing intoxicating hemp industry, which is causing growing controversy across the country. She goes on to suggest that her plan would bring an estimated $172m in annual tax revenue for the state, which could be put towards supporting public services. There have been numerous attempts to legalize cannabis in Indiana, but these have invariably been shot down by the Republican controlled General Assembly. “Indiana is an island of prohibition surrounded by states with legal cannabis industries,” she noted. “By taking a responsible, phased approach, we can ensure that our state is prepared for full adult-use legalization while immediately providing relief through medical marijuana.” Source link

The Last Prisoner Project (LPP) has launched the #Countdown4Clemency campaign urging President Joe Biden to make good on his promise of granting clemency to thousands of US citizens still incarcerated for cannabis convictions. The initiative, launched alongside the 420 Unity Coalition and other cannabis industry advocates, calls on Biden to ‘fulfill his promise that no one should be in jail for cannabis.’ To date, Biden has only granted 1.6% of clemency petitions submitted during his presidency, and with only weeks left in his tenure, the LPP has called on his administration to release around 3000 people who remain incarcerated federally for cannabis related crimes, many of which have been made legal in states since they were imprisoned. While the president has issued categorical pardons, advocates point out that no individual has been released from prison for cannabis offenses under his administration’s clemency efforts. It goes on to highlight the glaring racial disparities seen in cannabis-related convictions, with nearly half of LPP’s clemency petitions involving individuals who identify as black. The #Countdown4Clemency campaign encourages the public to join the movement by sending letters to President Biden, urging him to grant clemency before his term ends. Supporters are also asked to raise awareness on social media using the hashtags #Countdown4Clemency and #CannabisClemency. For more information, visit www.cannabisclemency.org. Source link

Ananda Developments    The Aquis Stock Exchange-listed CBD life sciences company announced this week that it has successfully raised £2.1m through a new subscription of shares. Ananda, which is currently involved in two UK Phase II clinical trials into the effectiveness of its proprietary CBD formulation, MRX1, in the treatment of Endometriosis and Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN), secured gross proceeds of £2,145,861. The fundraise was supported by both new and existing shareholders, with the company’s Chairman and long-time financier Charles Morgan supplying the bulk (£2.04m) of the investment, purchasing shares at a price of 0.3p. Alongside this, Ananda announced plans to launch a retail offering on the Winterflood Retail Access Platform (WRAP) to allow existing shareholders to purchase additional shares, expected to raise a further £100,000. According to the company, these funds will be used to continue the production of its flagship compound, MRX1, and help fund a further pharmacokinetic study of MRX1 in Australia. It also says the funds will be used to continue discussions with UK regulatory bodies like the MHRA, NICE and the NHS as it prepares for future clinical trials. Subject to shareholder approval, Ananda’s directors have also chosen to capitalise unsecured debts owed to them by the company, meaning they are converting the amount the company owes them into equity in the company, instead of receiving repayment in cash. The debt owed to Charles Morgan stands at £1,898,832, while Melissa Sturgess is owed £10,096. If the debt capitalisation is approved, 636,309,333 ordinary shares will be issued, with Mr Morgan receiving 632,944,000 shares, bringing his total shareholding to 57.43% of the company’s enlarged share capital. Ms Sturgess will hold 9.94% following the issuance of 3,365,333 shares. As part of its Enterprise Management Incentive (EMI), Ananda has issued a further 256,666,666 options over ordinary shares to its directors, key personnel, and consultants, which will vest over the next three years. “This significant equity investment from the Chairman and other investors places us in a very strong position to progress our clinical trials and achieve key value accretive milestones. We remain committed to advancing our MRX1 drug candidate through the trials, obtaining licenses, and eventually getting it into NHS and other licensed drug markets,” Ms Sturgess commented. Celadon Pharmaceuticals   Celadon Pharmaceuticals announced this week that it has now successfully raised  £1.05 million through a placing of 2,625,000 new ordinary shares, just weeks after announcing that it has been forced to weather numerous delays in funding. In mid-August, Business of Cannabis reported that it was now managing a precarious cash position, with just £48,000 in liquidity as of August 09, 2024. Despite reporting ongoing shipments of product to clients as part of multi-million pound supply agreements, Celadon said that payment from two separate sources of credit had been delayed, forcing it to ‘manage its cash position’ even more tightly. In a reprieve for the company and its investors, Celadon has now raised new funding through the placing of 2,625,000 new shares at a price of 40p per share, representing a 23.8% discount on the previous day’s closing price. Global Investment Strategy UK Limited facilitated the placing and will receive a cash fee as well as warrants over 131,250 new ordinary shares, exercisable until 10 September 2027 at the placing price of 40 pence per share. The company says that it launched the fundraise to ensure it had sufficient cash for short-term requirements, but that it remained in discussions with the two other lenders who have reconfirmed their intention to pay the committed funding. However, the board noted that the delayed timeframe for these payments ‘raises uncertainty that the funds will be received at all.’ Following its latest fundraise, the company’s cash position has improved significantly and now stands at £1,046,000, enough, it says, to see it through to December. “Celadon is grateful to the investors who have participated in the fundraising and to the Subscriber and lender for their re-confirmed commitments to the Company. The Group’s ongoing conversations with alternative potential lenders continue with a view to securing the long-term future for the business,” Celadon’s CEO James Short said. Meanwhile, the company announced that it has now entered into a strategic partnership with Valeos to Boost High-THC Medical Cannabis Supply, a deal the company says will ‘significantly accelerate Celadon’s production and supply’ of medical cannabis to Europe. The new partnership will see Celadon licence its proprietary genetics to Veleos, which will then produce pharmaceutical-grade Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) on its behalf, increasing production capacity by 100%, allowing Celadon to cultivate 3 tonnes a year, potentially generating up to £30m a year. Celadon will recieve 50% of the profits from Valeos’ facility, worth a potential £1.7m a year, and will have the option to choose cash or equity as compensation. It will also enable Celadon to establish a subsidiary in Denmark, easing its access to the flourishing mainland European market. Production is due to begin in Q1 2025, subject to attaining the necessary import and export licences. Chill Brands   CBD and vaping brand Chill Brands has announced that cannabis industry veteran, former Chill Brands director and founder of Voyager Life, Nick Tulloch, will be joining the company as a Non-Executive Director. In an update to investors last week, the company welcomed Mr Tulloch to its board of directors while announcing its upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) on September 30. Mr Tulloch was credited with overseeing the transition of Chill Brands from an oil company into a CBD focused operation. He remains the CEO of Voyager Life, which recently announced plans to exit the CBD market amid numerous failed takeover deals over the past few months, most recently with embattled UK medical cannabis cultivator Northern Leaf. Its two failed acquisition deals over the space of two months would have significantly expanded the company’s foothold in the industry, seeing the newly expanded company valued at £5m. According a trading update in June, the last-minute cancellation of a deal with Northern Leaf had taken its toll on Voyager’s financial position.

A biopharmaceutical company is suing the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) over what it called unjustified delays to its application to launch clinical trials into cannabis treatments for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Huntington’s Disease (HD). MMJ BioPharma Cultivation has filed a lawsuit against the DEA, its administrator Anne Milgram and the Attorney General for allegedly violating the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act. In its lawsuit, filed on September 10, MMJ BioPharma says that prolonged inaction by the DEA caused significant financial harm to the company, and unduly delayed research that could alleviate patient suffering. MMJ says that despite meeting all the regulatory requirements to begin research, including submitting two Invetsigational New Drug (IND) applications with the FDA, the DEA failed to process its application in a timely manner. Going beyond its own financial losses, the case also brings the use of DEA Administrative Law Judges (ALJs), who handle disputes, into question. The company, which is being represented by attorney Megan Sheahan and Associates, claim that the use of ALJs undermines their right to a fair trial, referring to the process as a ‘kangaroo court’. Furthermore, in a notable reference to the ongoing debate surrounding the DEA’s role in US cannabis rescheduling, the suit accuses Milgram of personal bias against cannabis research, citing its own case as evidence. In response to the accusations, the DEA and Department of Justice (DOJ) have stated that as the DEA is yet to come to a decision on MMJ’s application, the case is not yet ready for judicial review. The regulator also argues that MMJ has failed to demonstrate that their registration would serve the public interest, a key requirement in obtaining approval for cannabis research, though MMJ contends that it is certainly in the interest of those suffering with the conditions it is researching. On the use of ALJ’s, the DEA states that these judges only make recommendations, and that it retains final authority to make decisions, so any claims of undue process are irrelevant. Source link