OneRouge Community Check-In - Week 108

The topic will be a continuation of our ‘Cannabis Industry in Louisiana’ with a focus on economic impact of the growing, processing and retail distribution of cannabis and hemp as well as updates on policy at the Capitol with featured speakers:
• Kevin Caldwell (Southeast Legislative Manager, Marijuana Policy Project)
• Royal Hill (Owner, Black Farmers Hemp)
• Leah Simon (Owner/Processor, Pot Townsend)
Enlight, Unite, & Ignite!
#OneRouge Week #108
Cannabis Industry in Louisiana
HB 298 Passed the Louisiana legislature and we can end slavery in November 2022!
Notes
Royal Hill (Owner, Black Farmers Hemp)
We are located in Lafayette and grow industrial hemp. We’ve had 6 harvests now. We look at the advent of the agricultural commodity of industrial hemp. We have a test plot in place with the limited resource farmer there who is converting 2 acres of his farm to create a test plot in St. Tammany. We’re looking to see what can sustain the Louisiana humidity and storms. It’s the 2018 farm bills we’re taking advantage of to grow this. We have to change our mindsets as it relates to how we do business as it relates to building materials, clothing and the food we eat.
John Ford, co-owner of Black Farmers Hemp - This past session was not very friendly to the industrial hemp industry and CBD that are allowing this industry to have some sort of legs. There's be a lot of attacks on the industry by certain groups in the state that are making it hard for us to scale our businesses. We are creating a $400 million industry in Louisiana. Local entrepreneurs are being intentionally shut out of the medical marijuana industry as well as the dispensary side of the industry. There are 9 dispensaries in the state and the patient load is increasing. Supply and demand continues to increase and only a few people controlling the supply then you have the high price point. I’m hoping that we can make it a lot more affordable for people who are looking to access this medicine.
Leah Simon (Owner/Processor, Pot Townsend)
I have been in the marijuana business for about 9 years in the state of Washington. We left Louisiana to go outside and learn marijuana. I have a masters degree in marijuana. I had to go away to learn everything I learned to come back. We formed a company there called Pot Townsend in upstate Washington and we would go to a farmer and buy cannabis. We bought 700 pounds in the first year. We have a processor license. We sold $50,000 joins and all kinds of products. We had a plant, Blue Dream, and that ended up being more of a CBD, and that was the introduction we had to CBD. We couldn’t sell it in Washington at the time. I got my introduction there through that product. We started to sell topicals and now we make an edible. My husband is Dave Brown, a well known marijuana activist. We came here to try and be one of the growers for Louisiana but those were awarded to other companies. The ones picked are now owned by non Louisiana companies. We have one of the 9 dispensaries in Louisiana. We think the program is garbage. We are hoping to change the program. We are not embarrassed to say it. We are not serving patients the way we should. We’re also going to Mississippi. We bought three buildings there and we’re going to make the edibles we make in California. Louisiana this week is going to have joins this week. We’re going to do the same thing in Mississippi. We’re trying to do a grow. We believe marijuana should be grown under the sun, but Louisiana and Mississippi won’t allow that. We are fighting for that.
Kevin Caldwell (Southeast Legislative Manager, Marijuana Policy Project)
We’ve had an incredibly active session this year. We had over 20 bills put in. 14 bills made it to the senate floor. We had the good the bad the ugly. There are a few bills that would have regressed and would have criminalized for people under 18. Luckily we had bipartisan support to kill that. There’s another that would have made it illegal to vape or consume cannabis in a moving vehicle. We worked ith the author to make it a secondary offense. Consuming cannabis is not a crime, it’s possessing it that’s the crime. We’ve never supporting consuming it in a moving vehicle, but we don’t want it to be an excuse for profiling. On the medical side we have a slew of bills. One restructures the medical bill. We would have liked to see more cultivator. We have two bills on reciprocity. So many of our Louisiana residents had to go to other states. We have a lot of hopes. We’re really glad to see a lot of bipartisan support on these bills. On the criminal side there is a bill that bans the search of a home based on the smell of marijuana. We have over 43,000 patients in the medical program. We have people consuming hemp.
Black Farmers Hemp - might be the only black farmers advocating for changes. Help me understand what it means and how it works for black farmers to get into this industry.
Not only do we want black farmers, it’s important for all farmers to have a processing facility for their end products. Without that there’s no reason to grow it. We submitted an application for capital outlay for funding to create a processing facility to get their product to commerce.
Royal Hill - We advocate for black and brown and poor people who are still incarcerated and paying the price. We’ve been shut out of very legal products like sugar cane, we’re not at the table in growing rice or crawfish, so why not take a shot at industrial hemp from that biomass that we can collect.
Can you speak on behalf of women
Leah Simons - There's a 1% participation from the Black community in the marijuana industry. We don’t see that inequality for women. There are no jobs in Louisiana. If there are only 2 growers, that’s the only jobs. Then you have the dispensaries, and those are not many jobs and they are limited. There was a black marijuana jobs expo in New Orleans last year and I was wondering where they were getting these jobs. They don’t want any competition. They don’t want to let anyone else in. More growers mean more employment and you can spread it across the state. Of the 9 dispensaries there’s only one woman. A lot of the front desk receptionists are women, but the owners are not. I don’t feel like there’s a barrier in the industry because it’s very open to women.
Can you speak on where the winds of change are to open this up to the private industry?
Kevin Caldwell - I think most of the speakers have hit on this. It’s going to be very challenging over the next couple years to open the medical program to competition. At the same time what we have seen in the last 10 years is more bipartisanship. I think we really need to pivot to what adult use is going to look like. There’s a more free market approach in Mississippi. The most diverse cannabis industry in America is in Oklahoma because there’s a lower barrier to entry. We saw on the senate floor yesterday a lot of aversion to the free market in the medical program. I’m going to be keeping a close eye on the Mississippi industry and if we see what we see in Oklahoma, then that might be the most effective strategy. Diversity and inclusion is an important part of our organization. https://www.mpp.org/ We are going to see legal cannabis in the next couple years in Louisiana but we have to be strategic.
What is adult use and how is that different from medical use? How do you get medical use if you want/need it? What is the criteria?
Kevin Caldwell - Adult use is what we say for legalization. With medical you have to be certified by a physician. We have expanded the qualifying conditions. Last year they tried to apply taxes to patients. If you want to tax cannabis, bring on legalization. Our patients are paying the highest in the country. The tax is cruel to add more to those patients. Google how do I get my medical marijuana recommendation in Louisiana.
Now they let you use telemedicine, so you can do it from your house and get your recommendation and get cannabis in the same day.
Is your dispensary a true dispensaries with a pharmacist?
Leah - In Louisiana, on site a pharmacist has to be onsite. There are 13 states not in it yet. None of the other states require a pharmacist. You get your recommendation and any doctor in Louisiana can write you a recommendation. You can decide what you want at the counter. Flower is cheaper. The business started out with tinctures and it was like $800 for that. Now you can get an 8th and it’s $21, so it’s much more affordable. The state does have a limit on the amount you can consume. There’s a limit on the amount per month that you can consume.
Can you explain why doctors only recommend it?
Kevin - The courts have decided because of the fiesta amendment doctors have the right to recommend cannabis to a patient and that happened back in the 90s. Since cannabis is a schedule 1, which means there’s no redeeming qualities, the only way in which doctors cannot lose their license is to recommend it. It’s semantics.
Where are the sheriff’s associations on this?
Kevin - We’ve seen a shift in a few years. They’re not actively opposing it. I do think we will see a spirited discussion when it comes to legalization. Where is the revenue of marijuana going to go. Everyone is shuffling to see who is the beneficiary for legal cannabis in Louisiana.
We will be working on a tax bill off session. I would like to see the revenues from legal cannabis to getting our court systems away from a fine and fee based way of funding the courts. In the end it will be up to the legislature to pick what tax structure they want.
What are you growing now?
We’re growing both textile and for flower. Our facility is leaning toward training and education into the industry as part of the labor force. We’re trying to start up the seed to sale program to give that individual of the plant and the history and to go into the workplace.
Royal - what most people don’t understand is the verticality of the industry. It’s about if you’re going to grow inside you’re going to need electricians, you’re going to need medium, you’re going to need pots, you’re going to need nutrition. You’re going to need all of these things to make it grow. They don’t see the entire industry. They just look at one caveat of what this plant does of smoking and getting high. There are so many things that can come from this.
What sort of opportunities are there for formerly incarcerated people?
Leah Simons- you cant’ have a felony on your record. It’s a check the box issue. That’s why all of these possession crimes need to be misdemeanors. With less felonies there can be more people open to the jobs.
Kevin Caldwell - HB553 would get rid of the background check.
Do any of the presenters want to comment on Gary Chambers campaign will help or hurt?
Kevin Caldwell - John Kennedy and the other democratic candidate, I don’t think they would want to talk about cannabis, but MR. Chambers has made it to where we have to talk about it. Kudos to him.
Royal - I think it’s a positive regarding voter engagement. He’s bringing people in who wouldn’t ordinarily vote.
Leah Simons - He broke the mold. In this next presidential election cannabis is going to be one of the top issues. Cannabis is going to be a major topic. If this administration is going to move along, they are going to have to legalize it or make a major step. It’s the largest growing industry in the United STates. It has to be dealt with. Fun fact: in 2021 cannabis sales surpassed energy drinks, milk, and OJ
Zoom Chat
From Kim Mosby to Everyone 08:31 AM
Good morning, All! Hope everyone is well today.
From Aimee Moles to Everyone 08:31 AM
Hi Kim!
From Rev. Alexis Anderson to Everyone 08:33 AM
Good morning One Rouge family
From One Rouge to Everyone 08:33 AM
Good morning, All!
From Alexis Phillips (she/her) to Everyone 08:38 AM
The price point keeps so many people out of the program
It’s ridiculous
You need the medicine but you can’t afford it
And then you have to keep up with a membership fee
From morgan udoh to Everyone 08:38 AM
Industrial hemp threatens to disrupt cotton, paper, and construction industries. Its enemies are economic first. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/dope/etc/cron.html
From One Rouge to Everyone 08:39 AM
Agreed, @Alexis. So many people dont' have access because of price point.
From Aimee Moles to Everyone 08:39 AM
I had hemp seeds on my oatmeal this morning
From Alexis Phillips (she/her) to Everyone 08:41 AM
Crazy
From One Rouge to Everyone 08:42 AM
@Morgan, Yep. Hemp used to be *the* industry, but racism and prohibition
From Alexis Phillips (she/her) to Everyone 08:44 AM
Yaaaay
From morgan udoh to Everyone 08:44 AM
Interesting read. Racism and Its Effect on Cannabis Research “Historians continue to debate whether the anticannabis campaign leading to the passage of the MTA was for the economic benefit of William Randolph Hearst, the Dupont Corporation, and Andrew Mellon, one of Dupont's investors.6,7,‡,§ Even putting economic interests aside, Hearst and Mellon were at the center of a vicious anticannabis campaign based on racism, sensationalism, and social control of racial minorities. Racism and sensationalism are strong allegations, but consider the roles of Hearst, Mellon, and Harry Anslinger…” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7173675/
From Casey Phillips to Everyone 08:45 AM
And everyone that has ever eaten at Tsunami you can thank Leah Simon for that as well
From One Rouge to Everyone 08:48 AM
Dr. Bell, I see that legal wheel turning!
From Alexis Jones to Everyone 08:49 AM
I would love to continue this convo but I have to go! This topic is one of my favorites to learn and talk about and I’m sorry I have to miss it today. Thank you all for your continued activism and support of the state of Louisiana
From Alexis Phillips (she/her) to Everyone 08:49 AM
That is really neat
People need their medicine no matter where they are
From Me to Everyone 08:52 AM
Can we get a list of the bill numbers so we can add that to the notes
From Rinaldi Jacobs Sr to Everyone 08:53 AM
black farmers get plowed under in all Ag
From One Rouge to Everyone 08:54 AM
^^^ That part!
From Kevin's Phonep to Everyone 08:54 AM
I will send Pepper a list of bills and outcomes tonight to share
From Rinaldi Jacobs Sr to Everyone 08:55 AM
3% of LA farmers. hemp is probably less
From Stacie, Chandra D to Everyone 08:55 AM
Way to go Laura!
From Rinaldi Jacobs Sr to Everyone 08:55 AM
this goes back racial equality
From One Rouge to Everyone 08:56 AM
@Rinaldi, you are speaking the truth!
From Rinaldi Jacobs Sr to Everyone 08:57 AM
How can I reach these black farmers groups please. working with an Ag Tech support for Black farmers
From Alexis Phillips (she/her) to Everyone 08:58 AM
Insane
From Rinaldi Jacobs Sr to Everyone 08:59 AM
where and what time and I am There. 225. 803 8740 Rinaldi Jacobs Sr
From Alexis Phillips (she/her) to Everyone 08:59 AM
And does that mean that the prices of the cannabis will be more affordable for patients? If we had more dispensaries and processors here?
From Rinaldi Jacobs Sr to Everyone 09:04 AM
cool 😎
this is crazy If cotton or soy beans were being blocked the good old.folks would at the Capital with pitch forks and torches
From One Rouge to Everyone 09:05 AM
From Rinaldi Jacobs Sr to Everyone 09:05 AM
many conservatives are fake capitalist not real small business people
From Alexis Phillips (she/her) to Everyone 09:06 AM
As a cannabis patient, I can say that when I visit the dispensary, you can see the racial inequity so clearly- there is a very large group of amazing people who just can’t afford the extremely high prices.
From Ava Smith to Everyone 09:07 AM
If we can decriminalize possession of small amts of drugs then we can eliminate deaths and arrest. With attention to the medical and mental root of the problem.
From Casey Phillips to Everyone 09:07 AM
Please begin putting your questions for our speakers in the chat
From leah simon to Everyone 09:07 AM
From One Rouge to Everyone 09:07 AM
Poor people and uninsured people cannot afford to pay for cannabis outof pocket
From Alexis Phillips (she/her) to Everyone 09:07 AM
And does that mean that the prices of the cannabis will be more affordable for patients? If we had more dispensaries and processors here?
From leah simon to Everyone 09:08 AM
yes, alexis
From Alexis Phillips (she/her) to Everyone 09:08 AM
Thank you
I’m happy to answer any questions anyone has about getting into the program alexismakesart@gmail
From One Rouge to Everyone 09:09 AM
@alexis, thank you!
From Alexis Phillips (she/her) to Everyone 09:10 AM
My pcp at Baton Rouge clinic referred me
I was so afraid to mention It my doctors but I found that there was ZERO SHAME involved
I appreciated that
From One Rouge to Everyone 09:11 AM
@alexis, the stigma involved in wanting or even needing cannabis to treat health conditions is real!
From Rev. Alexis Anderson to Everyone 09:12 AM
Some of the members of the Louisiana Sheriff's Association came out super big against any change in the law. Can any of the presenters speak to whether there has been any movement in this area?
Thank you Pepper. I wondered the same thing.
From Alexis Phillips (she/her) to Everyone 09:12 AM
You have to choose a dispensary with your doctor while at your appointment and they send it in and that is the only dispensary you can visit as a patient
With your cannabis doctor
From Rev. Alexis Anderson to Everyone 09:13 AM
Since federal law still makes it illegal doesn't that open the door for any law enforcement agency to continue arresting?
From One Rouge to Everyone 09:14 AM
@rev. anderson, that answer is complicated. Yes, it puts folk at risk for usage because you don't test positive for medical vs. black market cannabis
From morgan udoh to Everyone 09:14 AM
And yet oxycontin/codone is the go to for medical intervention…
From One Rouge to Everyone 09:15 AM
but that is much of the reason to change the policies for how and when people can be arrested, detained for the smell of it
From Rinaldi Jacobs Sr to Everyone 09:15 AM
hey yall got another call keep it moving
From One Rouge to Everyone 09:15 AM
👋🏾
From Rev. Alexis Anderson to Everyone 09:15 AM
Is there any legislation on the horizon either statewide or federal to allow formerly incarcerated persons to participate in the legal industry?
From Royal Hill to Everyone 09:16 AM
Rinaldi ggoodconsult@yahoo.com 6015970257
From One Rouge to Everyone 09:16 AM
@rev. anderson, yes; there are several bills to change the limitations or prohibitions on FIP participation.
From Alexis Phillips (she/her) to Everyone 09:16 AM
For pain management doctors who prescribe oxy and codone require you to take a urine sample before the appt and then if you have thc in your system they will not prescribe the harsher pain drugs.
From morgan udoh to Everyone 09:16 AM
I would wager that marijuana stops are the easiest drug bust/stop to make based on "smell” so removing that gotcha would cut into budgets
From leah simon to Everyone 09:16 AM
join in the fun! www.cannabiscounciloflouisiana.org
From morgan udoh to Everyone 09:17 AM
as opposed to more targeted drug prevention/intervention work.. (cough cough OPIATES)
From Alexis Phillips (she/her) to Everyone 09:17 AM
I broke up with my pain management doctor when I became a zombie from those harmful drugs. I because even more depressed. It’s just a profitable industry and it’s sickening
Vote vote vote!!!
From morgan udoh to Everyone 09:17 AM
addiction is profitable
From Rev. Alexis Anderson to Everyone 09:17 AM
VOTE!
From morgan udoh to Everyone 09:18 AM
my bad lol
From Alexis Phillips (she/her) to Everyone 09:18 AM
Good health is real wealth
Couldn’t imagine becoming a doctor and choosing to do more harm
From One Rouge to Everyone 09:20 AM
About to open up for Q/A - y'all have any more questions???
From Rev. Alexis Anderson to Everyone 09:20 AM
Do any of the presenters want to comment on whether Gary Chambers campaign will help this movement or hurt this movement?
From Alexis Phillips (she/her) to Everyone 09:20 AM
How can reparations become the forefront of this
From morgan udoh to Everyone 09:21 AM
^^^QTNA
(questions that need answers)
From One Rouge to Everyone 09:21 AM
@alexis, being able to leverage cannabis completely CAN BE the reparations. but we are using programs (that can be defunded, ended, gutted) as the way to provide social equity.
From Alexis Phillips (she/her) to Everyone 09:22 AM
So many barriers to break down. Thank you Pepper
From Ava Smith to Everyone 09:22 AM
Put the revenues into medical substance abuse clinics
From One Rouge to Everyone 09:22 AM
until we are serious about centering BIPOC populations, we will continue to overlay the existing system of oppression over every burgeoning industty
From Rev. Alexis Anderson to Everyone 09:22 AM
Where is the employment opportunities in Louisiana? Mrs. Simon pointed out that it is very limited at this time.
From Alexis Phillips (she/her) to Everyone 09:23 AM
@onerouge yes
From leah simon to Everyone 09:23 AM
no employment opportunities in LA at this time
From Alexis Phillips (she/her) to Everyone 09:24 AM
Must right the wrong.
Must get cannabis out of schedule 1
From One Rouge to Everyone 09:24 AM
@alexis THAT is the goal!
From Alexis Phillips (she/her) to Everyone 09:24 AM
Start there
From Rev. Alexis Anderson to Everyone 09:25 AM
Still wondering how this works if it isn't changed at the federal level?
From Alexis Phillips (she/her) to Everyone 09:27 AM
Taking it out of Schedule 1 will make a trickle down effect and open doors that are blocked by gatekeepers
From Casey Phillips to Everyone 09:28 AM
Thank you to our distinguished speakers for the knowledge drop this morning & years of passionate advocacy. I must depart for a celebration of life, sending love to you all.
From Alexis Phillips (she/her) to Everyone 09:28 AM
Those in power know that modern day slavery ie prison industry will take a major hit once you change that scheduling
From Kim Mosby to Everyone 09:28 AM
Thanks all for the great convo and hope for a better future.
From Ava Smith to Everyone 09:28 AM
Watch what Vancouver Canada does in a 3 year experiment of possession of 2.5 grams, who will not be charged or arrested.
From One Rouge to Everyone 09:29 AM
Fun fact: in 2021 cannabis sales surpassed energy drinks, milk, and OJ
From Alexis Phillips (she/her) to Everyone 09:30 AM
Thank you everyone, have to go as well
From One Rouge to Everyone 09:30 AM
👋🏾
From Kim Mosby to Everyone 09:30 AM
sending love your way Casey!
From Alexis Phillips (she/her) to Everyone 09:31 AM
And for mental health
Yes
ThNk you
From Rev. Alexis Anderson to Everyone 09:31 AM
Thank you Casey!
From morgan udoh to Everyone 09:32 AM
13th Amendment Teach-In and Public Art Install Join visiting Philly artist Akeil Robertson so a teach-in on the 13th amendment, the current end the exception campaign, and contribute to a parachute cloth mural installation on site.
https://www.thewallsproject.org/events-1/13th-amendment-teach-in-and-public-art-install
Tomorrow Jun 04, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM CDT
Walls Project Office, 458 America St, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, USA
From Rev. Alexis Anderson to Everyone 09:32 AM
HB 298 Passed the Louisiana legislature and we can end slavery in November 2022!
From Cheri Soileau to Everyone 09:33 AM
LYNX by CATS begins revenue service in Baker beginning Tuesday, June 7, 2022. It's the first of its kind in the state!
From Rev. Alexis Anderson to Everyone 09:33 AM
YEAH!!!!!
From SK Groll to Everyone 09:34 AM
Sow Good Saturday is tomorrow at Baton Roots! We’ll be harvesting & giving away summer produce, doing yoga w TK Abuwi, and have a cooking demo + taste test w Chef Traci! All free!
We’d love to see everyone there!
Register here: https://healthybr.givepulse.com/event/287784
And if you check out Morgan’s event, we’d love to see you afterwards at the Climate Justice and Joy rally at the downtown BR plaza tomorrow til 7p!
From Krystle D. Veals to Everyone 09:34 AM
School & Community Expo @ Southern University F.G. Clark Activity Center. Next Saturday-- June 11, 2022 10am-2pm.
From Rev. Alexis Anderson to Everyone 09:36 AM
YEAH!!!!!!
From Krystle D. Veals to Everyone 09:37 AM
Forgot to post the link: www.enrollbr.org/expo/
From morgan udoh to Everyone 09:38 AM
The ancestors will rejoice when that bill finally codified into the law.
From SK Groll to Everyone 09:39 AM
So grateful for your leadership and care Rev Anderson
From One Rouge to Everyone 09:39 AM
@morgan and ya right!
From morgan udoh to Everyone 09:41 AM
The fight for nationwide livable wages will forever be held back by the option of prison labor.
Their fight is our fight.
From One Rouge to Everyone 09:41 AM
^^^ Say that!
From Kelli Rogers to Everyone 09:43 AM
Great information today. Thanks so much everyone!
From Sydney Epps to Everyone 09:43 AM
https://m.facebook.com/237762270110611/
Community Announcements
Sow Good Saturday is tomorrow at Baton Roots! We’ll be harvesting & giving away summer produce, doing yoga w TK Abuwi, and have a cooking demo + taste test w Chef Traci! All free!
We’d love to see everyone there!
Register here: https://healthybr.givepulse.com/event/287784
13th Amendment Teach-In and Public Art Install Join visiting Philly artist Akeil Robertson so a teach-in on the 13th amendment, the current end the exception campaign, and contribute to a parachute cloth mural installation on site.
https://www.thewallsproject.org/events-1/13th-amendment-teach-in-and-public-art-install
Tomorrow Jun 04, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM CDT
Walls Project Office, 458 America St, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, USA
LYNX by CATS begins revenue service in Baker beginning Tuesday, June 7, 2022. It's the first of its kind in the state!
School & Community Expo @ Southern University F.G. Clark Activity Center. Next Saturday-- June 11, 2022 10am-2pm. www.enrollbr.org/expo/
Climate Justice and Joy rally at the downtown BR plaza tomorrow til 7p!
Caravan honoring Sadie Roberts-Joseph.
.48 cents of every dollar we spend in taxes goes to the prison system. We are all paying for what’s going on.
Expungement clinic next Friday at Southern University.
Webinar on June 16 for the legislative wrap up.
https://m.facebook.com/237762270110611/ - that's the page for ebrpprc