Page 1 - Cannabis News Florida January 2019

GrowHealthy CANNABIS
Opens SPOTLIGHT:
in West Palm Emily Wood
Beach Social Media and
Content
Marketing Manager,
page 35 Trulieve page 39

New Portal Provides Valuable

Resource for Cannabis

Treatments and Efficacies

BY DANIEL CASCIATO

Thanks to Arfinn Learning Solutions, Inc. physicians
now have the most up-to-date information regarding
cannabis treatment best practices.
The organization recently created the website
www.arfinnmed.com, an online peer-to-peer portal for
Jennifer Aros Nichole Geary
medical professionals to share HIPAA protected patient
treatments and efficacies for cannabis and other non-tra-
ditional practices, while also gaining valuable analytics The Shady
Forward regarding their own practice.
The way it works is that physicians add cases for their Legal Status of
Thinking patients in order to track their efficacy outcomes on the
platform’s dashboard. James West CBD in the
Since the information is HIPAA compliant and only
Accounting focuses on general demographic and treatment specifics like dosing and type of delivery
mode, this information is then available to any physician registered on the portal. The Sunshine State
Expertise portal allows physicians to see real-time data and outcomes for the effectiveness of med-
ical marijuana. The platform allows physicians to pull reports based on any number of
filters and/or data points. The portal database can be used to statistically infer outcomes
BY BARBARA R. FALLON for any patient demographic resulting in more informed treatment options. BY NICHOLE GEARY
“This means that if you have a new patient who comes in with Parkinson’s disease,
A significant and growing recognition you can run a report based on that patient’s demographics to find what the most effective There has been a prevalent myth in the
of the endocannabinoid system and the cannabidiol (“CBD”) industry that any
therapeutic benefits of CBD cannabis Continued on page 37 product containing less than 0.3 percent
products vs traditional treatment has tetrahydrocannabinol (“THC”) is legal.
been embraced by physicians, entrepre- The truth is far more complex. Lax
neurs, clinicians and patients and some 2018 ...The Year CBD Escaped enforcement by state and federal regula-
law enforcement officials and legislators. tory agencies has allowed this myth to
As such it has been instrumental in the the Controlled Substance Act prosper and CBD products to proliferate.
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growth of a new cannabis industry since But, the recent raids of Natural Life ,
2014. have raised questions as to the legality of
However, as with many infant indus- BY SCHERIL MURRAY POWELL, ESQ. CBD products.
tries, the business side of the practice is
not always front and center in the plans The headlines are everywhere! "Hemp is A Complex Web
or bank of expertise of those seeking to legal"..."CBD is going to be a 20 Billion Dollar of Regulatory Statutes
help treat and heal. Industry". People who did not know what hemp was CBD products are regulated on both a
One of those crucial business tasks just six months ago are now trying to figure their way federal and a state level. Not surprisingly,
often overlooked is all facets of record into the industry. Business is booming for an the state and federal laws conflict.
keeping, report filing, bookkeeping, Agriculture and Cannabis Attorney such as The Controlled Substances Act
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accounting, financial auditing, compli- myself. But this win is bittersweet. The rumor mill (“CSA”) provides that CBD products,
ance, tax planning and tax preparation. while we were waiting was that Hemp would be JUST derived from marijuana, are illegal
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Additionally, laws and regulations vary like tomatoes and strawberries ... but the reality is regardless of the level of THC . However,
according to state which presents a host much, much different. there is a carve out for products derived
(4)
of financial compliance challenges. Don't get me wrong, the passing of the Farm Bill from the stalks and seeds of the plant .
Moss, Krusick & Associates (MKA), with Hemp legislation provisions in it is a good news To complicate things, resin, even if
are certified public accountants and story. Our Cannabis industry is about to be on extracted from the seed or stalk, is ille-
members of the BDO alliance, a nation- steroids. More patients (and pets) will have access to Scheril Murray Powell gal. So, technically, CBD originating
wide network of accounting firms that cannabinoid nutrition and medicine than ever from the exempt areas is legal at the fed-
help build and match firm capabilities before. However, there are other consequences that need to be considered. 1) Big eral level. But, the Drug Enforcement
and experience to client needs. They Tobacco and the alcohol industry have been "chomping at the bit" to get involved Administration’s (“DEA”) position is
were tapped to work with a California in this lucrative industry, but without the risk. Now is their chance to play, and play that it is impossible to extract significant
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accounting firm versed in the cannabis in a big way. The capital at their disposal far exceeds the access that traditional levels of CBD from the exempt areas .
industry to be positioned on the ground cannabinoid enthusiasts who painstakingly built this industry have available; I hear you in the back yelling, “what
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floor to assist the Florida cannabis indus- 2) Felons who have already paid their debt to society are restricted from participat- about the Farm Bill?” . The Farm Bill,
try regarding state, investor, banking ing. It is as if they are being re-victimized after "The War on Drugs" which in exe- contrary to popular belief, did not legal-
guidelines and compliance requirements. cution became "The War on People of Color and the poor"; 3) The Farm Bill ize all hemp products. The Bill legalized
Continued on page 34 Continued on page 34 Continued on page 36