Ganjapreneur.com

Iowa Democrats Propose Cannabis Constitutional Amendment

12/22/2021

a word from our sponsors:

Three Democratic Iowa state senators are proposing a constitutional amendment to legalize cannabis possession in the state for anyone 21-an-older, Radio Iowa reports. Sen. Joe Bolkcom is also calling for broad reforms for the state to regulate cannabis like alcohol, noting that in 2020, 4,300 Iowans were convicted of cannabis possession, which costs state taxpayers millions of dollars to cover the costs of their incarceration.

“Marijuana prohibition has been a costly failure. It’s ending across America because it’s caused far more harm than good. … A lot of Iowans will see some benefit from essentially eradicating those expenses from our tax bills.” — Bolkcom, during an online news conference, via Radio Iowa

Sen. Janet Petersen cited a March 2020 Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa poll which found, for the first time, a majority of Iowans — 53% — support cannabis legalization in the state.

“Iowans are tired of filling our prisons with nonviolent offenders, traumatizing families with separation, and taking away opportunities for too many young adults for something that is legal in nearly half the states in our country,” she said during her remarks.

The proposal is also supported by state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriot, who said that “the world is changing around us and Iowa is getting left behind.”

Cannabis legalization does not have the support from Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds or Republican lawmakers who control the state Legislature. Reynolds last year vetoed a bill to expand the state’s very limited medical cannabis program.

State Sen. Brad Zaun, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he has “no intentions” of bringing the bill up for a vote, calling it a “gimmick” that does “a better job of illustrating the lack of ideas Senate Democrats have to solve the problems of Iowans than any response” he has.

End

Michigan Judge Denies Request to Reverse Decision on Latest Cannabis Recall

12/22/2021

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

A Michigan judge has denied the state Marijuana Regulation Agency’s (MRA) request to reconsider limiting the scope of the cannabis recall of products tested by Viridis Labs saying that the agency failed to prove that an error misled the court to block part of that recall, the Detroit Free Press reports.

The MRA said it had gathered more testing data in the weeks following Court of Claims Judge Christopher Murray’s decision and found that 26% of Viridis North recalled and retested products failed microbial retesting for total yeast and mold, including for aspergillus and/or total bacteria. The agency suggests that some moldy cannabis could have made its way back to store shelves.

Murray, however, ruled that “the evidence upon which the motion is based does not relate to any testing justification existing before the recall decision … and otherwise would not change the court’s balancing of interests.”

Murray had ruled earlier this month to allow products tested by Viridis North to go back on store shelves because all of the randomly selected retested samples – which had a 60% failure rate – came from Viridis Laboratories, which is based in Lansing, and not Viridis North, which is based in Bay City.

In a statement to the Free Press, Viridis Laboratories CEO Greg Michaud argued that the samples that failed MRA testing had cleared the company’s “point-in-time testing” and that the products go through a variety of uncontrolled environments which could cause the contamination which caused the failed retests.

Viridis has indicated that the recall affected about 64,000 pounds of flower worth about $226 million.

End

What to Consider When Choosing Cannabis Product Packaging

12/21/2021

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

If you use cannabis for medicinal or other reasons, there’s a pretty good chance that you are purchasing products from third-party vendors — and that the items you buy come in some sort of container. While most of us are focused on what’s inside the package, how cannabis is stored can play a significant role in its quality and in the customer experience. As it turns out, there are a lot of factors to consider when packaging cannabis products, ranging from loose flower to pre-rolls, to beverages, to edibles.

Why is packaging important? If you think about it, cannabis is an agricultural product and, as a natural item, it is susceptible to external conditions including cold temperature, moisture, heat, and light. Any one of these factors can negatively affect the quality of cannabis, or even completely ruin it. That’s why it is critical for merchants who sell cannabis to make sure that the items they sell are carefully stored to prevent spoilage and negative user experiences.

Opacity

As a starting point, let’s look at light. While many cannabis retail stores show items in glass, they are almost never directly exposed to sunlight. A little bit of light from LEDs and other sources is usually not a problem, but blasts of direct sun can not only dry product, but also cause THC, terpenes, and other compounds to leech out of the leaves. The last thing you want is for people to purchase cannabis products only to discover that they have lost their effectiveness because they were improperly stored. As a result, most products sold in cannabis stores come in opaque containers, and even glass vessels could be heavily tinted to prevent damage. So why do so many people store cannabis products in clear glass jars and bottles? The simple reason is that it looks really good — it has the classic “apothecary” feel, and it’s also easy to tell how much product is left.

Anti-moisture

Another major source of damage comes from moisture. It takes surprisingly little water to cause a batch of cannabis to get moldy very quickly — and there’s nothing less pleasant than opening a container to discover that one’s supply is unusable because it is spoiled. Keeping cannabis products in airtight containers is extremely important because of the potential for water damage. On an industrial scale, licensed producers keep their picked cannabis in sealed canisters, then eventually this goes into progressively smaller containers that keep moisture out. By the time these products get to the store and are ready for sale, they are generally in small containers that contain only a few grams of cannabis, or a few pre-rolled joints.

Convenience

Not only does the storage type need to protect the cannabis, but it also needs to be convenient for retailers and customers. That’s why there’s been a movement away from clear Ziploc bags to more sophisticated packaging that is durable enough to withstand some jostling of the contents. This is actually where modern packaging pouches are playing a critical role in meeting the needs of everyone in the cannabis supply chain.

Of course, there are plenty of other options for storage. Most Canadian retailers sell cannabis in plastic containers that are approved by the government and are childproof to maximize safety. Tin containers are also sold, although they tend to be less common than they were even a few years ago. They are incredibly convenient and durable, but the problem comes when they are open because it is difficult to fully seal them to protect the contents from heat and moisture. Zipper pouches are also very common, although most of them are sold separately from cannabis. These are unbelievably convenient and are popular among regular cannabis users. One of the biggest problems with zipper packages, however, is that they don’t fully seal and it is easy to detect the smell of cannabis if someone happens to be carrying a zipper pouch. This might be OK at a rock concert, but there are definitely circumstances where you would not want to draw attention to the fact you are carrying cannabis around.

End

Top Illinois Cannabis Official Joins Marijuana Policy Project as President & CEO

12/21/2021

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

Illinois’ top cannabis official, Toi Hutchinson, last week announced her departure as senior advisor to Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) and has joined the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) as its new president and CEO. Hutchinson replaces MPP Executive Director Steven Hawkins, who will focus his efforts on federal cannabis reform as executive director of the United States Cannabis Council (USCC).

MPP will remain a member of the USCC and the organizations will share staff, board members, and resources.

Hutchinson described Hawkins’ work at MPP as “stellar,” adding that she looks forward “to working with him in his new capacity along with legislators and partners across the country to advance the goals and mission of MPP by harnessing our collective power to advocate for changes to federal cannabis policies.”

“I’m pleased to be joining the team at MPP, where I will continue my years-long effort to develop and support cannabis legalization legislation that centers on equity and repairing the harms of the past. We are incredibly proud of the hard work and lessons learned in Illinois, standing up programs to invest in equity entrepreneurs, reinvesting in communities, and clearing hundreds of thousands of arrests and criminal records.” – Hutchinson in a press release

MPP Board Chairman Sal Pace said Hutchinson’s “unique resume is perfectly suited to lead MPP” as the organization finishes their “reform work state-by-state across the country.” He noted that the organization worked alongside Hutchinson in her previous role and as one of the initial authors of Illinois’ adult-use legalization bill. Pace said that collaboration ensured the state’s law “contained a strong social justice framework that included decriminalization in addition to legalization.”

Hawkins described Hutchinson as “an incredible leader.” She is also a member of the Chicago Federation of Women, the Illinois Women’s Institute for Leadership, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Hutchinson also served as an Illinois state senator and an attorney at the law firm of Chapman and Cutler.

End

Ohio Legalization Campaign Submits Signatures Needed to Force Vote

12/21/2021

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

Cannabis legalization advocates in Ohio on Monday submitted 206,943 signatures to the secretary of state in their bid to force lawmakers to pass the reforms in the Buckeye State, the Columbus Dispatch reports. Once the signatures are verified, the Legislature will have four months to act on the legislation and if they don’t pass the bill, or an amended version, the campaign must collect another 132,887 valid signatures to put the measure on ballots in the next general election.

The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol proposal would allow adults 21-and-older to buy and possess 2.5 ounces of cannabis and 15 grams of concentrates and cultivate up to six plants individually or 12 per household. Cannabis products would be taxed 10% with revenues earmarked for program costs, addiction treatment programs, municipalities that allow dispensaries, and social equity and jobs programs.

Tom Haren, the campaign spokesman, noted that 18 states have legalized cannabis for adults, including Ohio’s northern neighbor Michigan.

“Ohio is behind the curve on this issue and can’t afford continued inaction.” – Haren to the Dispatch

Last week, the state Senate approved a bill to expand the state’s medical cannabis program, including letting doctors make program recommendations for any patient, regardless of condition; increasing the number of dispensary licenses; establishing a new cannabis division within the Commerce Department to more efficiently regulate medical cannabis; and award cultivation licenses to businesses that were rejected in the first licensing round, including two companies that sued the state over the denials. The legislation still needs House approval.

The cannabis legalization signatures still require verification by Secretary of State Frank LaRose before lawmakers are required to act.

End

Utah Enacts New Medical Cannabis Rules to Help Patients

12/21/2021

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

The Utah Department of Health has announced plans to speed up some key updates to the state’s medical cannabis program, Fox 13 reports. Known as the “Limited Medical Provider” (LMP) program, the new rule allows physicians, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare providers to recommend medical cannabis to qualifying patients.

The DOH only told the legislature in November they had missed an October deadline to begin the new program, blaming the delays on technological issues and staffing shortages. At the most recent Cannabinoid Product Board meeting, however, the agency said it will have the program live by January, according to Fox 13.

“That’s a critical change to the program we’re excited about to increase patient access,” Rich Oborn, bureau manager of the Department of Commerce, told the board.

The Utah legislature passed the LMP program to address a shortage of qualified medical providers during the 2021 session. Under Utah’s original medical cannabis framework, such providers were required to go through extensive training and be approved by the DOH, which led to a provider shortage.

Predictably, a “pop up” industry of qualified medical providers who overcharge patients for medical cannabis authorizations has flourished as a result of the shortage. The LMP certification requires less training and is expected to increase access for patients, the report says.

Senate Minority Whip Luz Escamilla, (D), who passed the LMP updates and spoke out against the DOH delays, told Fox 13 the new timeline is an improvement and the legislature wants medical cannabis “available as soon as possible.”

Oborn said the DOH plans to require providers to publish their prices on a website in order to monitor any fee gouging and extend a patient’s card renewal deadline from three to six months in addition to the LMP streamlines.

“The LMP program is an important step to educating doctors and keeping patients with their personal medical provider. Extending deadlines allows established patients to spend less time renewing their cards,” said Desiree Hennessy, executive director of the Utah Patients Coalition, in a statement. “These changes are big wins for Utah’s patients, but they are also necessary, and another step toward treating medical cannabis like any other medication.”

End

UArizona Partners with Green Flower on Cannabis Certificate Program

12/21/2021

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

The University of Arizona is partnering with cannabis education company Green Flower to offer three noncredit Cannabis Certificate Programs, including the Business of Cannabis, Cannabis Law and Policy, and Cannabis Healthcare and Medicine.

Each certificate includes three eight-week, online courses which will be taught by Green Flower instructors, which include industry entrepreneurs, board-certified physicians, attorneys, and public policy specialists.

Arizona voters approved a cannabis legalization bill last year and the program has already generated more than $150 million in tax revenues for the state. Arizona is expected to surpass $1 billion in total annual cannabis sales this year, according to state Department of Revenue projections.

Dr. Craig Wilson, vice provost of Online & Distance Education for the university told Arizona Public Media that cannabis industry jobs “require people with these skill sets to really be successful.”

“Understanding multiple viewpoints like business, law and policy, and health care and medicine as it relates to the cannabis industry will help our learners establish a solid foundation.” – Wilson in a press release

Rebecca Cook, director of UArizona Continuing and Professional Education, said that changing laws nationwide “has created a tremendous need for credible cannabis education, not just for producers and distributors, but also for health professionals, legal professionals, law enforcement, and many others.”

Green Flower now lists 14 partner colleges and universities on its website.

Registration is now open on the UArizona website with the first cohort expected to start March 7.

End

Willie’s Remedy Wildflowers CBD-Infused Tea Review

12/21/2021

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

It was a real treat — not just because the tea is so good but I’ve been a Willie Nelson and Tom Petty fan for many years — to review Willie’s Remedy’s new Wildflowers tea blend, appropriately named after rock legend Tom Petty’s “Wildflowers” album. A collaboration between the Nelson and Petty families, the tea is a blend of whole chamomile flowers, lemon myrtle flowers, and peppermint leaves and is infused with hemp-derived CBD. The ingredients are sourced from small to medium farms across the U.S. and all proceeds go to benefit MusiCares, a charity that provides people who work in the music industry a support system and human services. MusiCares named Tom Petty their person of the year in 2017.

“My father was a believer in the mission of MusiCares,” Adria Petty said in a recent press release. “It’s a dream come true to have our two families who share so much mutual admiration in both generations of listeners and fans to collaborate together.”

A clean peppermint with an undercurrent of chamomile smell hits you when you open the package. The tea sphere that comes with the blend worked perfectly to scoop up a healthy helping of the Wildflower mix. As I hooked it on the mug decorated with a wild-flower drawing, I was impressed with the mug’s thickness and overall sturdiness. When I poured the boiling water in on the tea, I could already tell it was going to steep up nicely. For some extra sweetness, I added a little WA mountain wildflower honey we’d won in a recent auction and let it cool while I went and put on a Willie Nelson vinyl to enjoy as I sipped my freshly brewed treat. Since Willie’s Wildflower has taken its place on our tea shelf, the frequency of ritually drinking tea and relaxing has increased at my house. Thanks, Willie for making such a great tea in tribute to the great Tom Petty.

“Hemp offers a comforting way to expand on a natural wellness routine,” said Annie Nelson, Co-Founder of Willie’s Remedy. “Wildflowers Tea is an example of the connections that are possible when we share the culture of cannabis and music.”

The limited-edition batch comes in bio-degradable pyramid box packaging or loose leaf. It also comes in a reusable cylinder tin with a tight-fitting lid for later use as a bud container or to stash your roaches. Willie’s Wildflower tea and other products can be found at the Tom Petty Store and Willie’s Remedy website. Enjoy!

End

California Cannabis Community Urges Government to Save Industry from Collapse

12/20/2021

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

Nearly 30 California cannabis companies have sent a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and legislative leaders warning the state’s “unwillingness to effectively legislate, implement, and oversee a functional regulated” industry has brought cannabusinesses to their knees. The signatories warn that the state’s legal cannabis industry “is collapsing.”

“The California cannabis system is a nation-wide mockery; a public policy lesson in what not to do. Despite decades of persecution by the government, we have been willing and adaptable partners in the struggle to regulate cannabis. We have asked tirelessly for change, with countless appeals to lawmakers that have gone unheard. We have collectively reached a point of intolerable tension, and we will no longer support a system that perpetuates a failed and regressive War on Drugs.” – Letter to Newsom, Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins, and House Speaker Anthony Rendon

The companies argue that California’s regulatory environment “threatens the viability” of the state’s “legacy cannabis operators” and that the craft cannabis farmers “are literally killing themselves, trying to find ways to survive on a chessboard” that lawmakers “mandated them to join but is rigged for all to fail.”

The signatories further argue that social equity licensees in the state “are being assaulted, burglarized, and left without recourse or protection from law enforcement.” The companies further claim that such applicants and operators “are forced to incur expenses and costs associated with a licensing regime that has no timelines and no respect.”

The operators contend that the state’s “excessive taxation” of legal cannabis products has made them 50% more expensive than unregulated cannabis, which they say still represents 75% of all cannabis consumed in the Golden State and is “untested and unsafe.”

“Illegal grows often use banned pesticides that poison our streams, rivers and lakes,” the letter states, “and illicit products put consumers at risk as they often include fentanyl, synthetic cannabinoids, and other potentially deadly chemicals.”

The letter points out that just 32% of the state has access to adult-use cannabis as 68% of the state has opted out, effectively recriminalizing cannabis through local control.

The companies are asking lawmakers to eliminate the cultivation tax, enact a three-year holiday of the excise tax, and enact legislation requiring that municipalities in which the majority of voters approved the reforms allow adult-use cannabis operations.

“We need you to understand that we have been pushed to a breaking point and we will not remain on our knees. We will not stand for political interests to the detriment of our own livelihoods, the health of our citizens, the prosperity of our families, and the state of California’s economy,” the authors said in the letter. “For some of us, this has been our craft since back when the world thought it was a crime. This industry is California’s to lead globally. Listen to us. Hear us. Respect us. Represent us. Work with us. We are behind you. Act.”

End

New Mexico Issues First Adult-Use Cannabis Licenses

12/20/2021

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

New Mexico last week issued their first three adult-use cannabis licenses, KOB4 reports. The three licenses went to a producer and two micro-business licensees. Regulation and Licensing Department’s Cannabis Control Office Superintendent Linda M. Trujillo said the state’s adult-use cannabis system is now “officially up and running.”

“In the coming days and weeks, we look forward to licensing more cannabis businesses and micro businesses so that entrepreneurs, communities and the state can maximize the economic opportunities created by a thriving cannabis industry.” — Trujillo via KOB4

“We got our license, like, we were screaming at the top of our lungs in here,” said Matthew Muñoz, a co-licensee from Carver Family Farm, one of the micro-business awardees. “It was a big, big deal for us.”

Muñoz shared he was arrested as a youth for possessing five grams of cannabis. He spent ten days in jail and served one year of probation but said the arrest changed the course of his life. The new licensee believes in many states he would not be issued a cannabis license due to the arrest.

“Small amount of marijuana, but it’s enough for you to lose scholarships,” he said.

New Mexico passed its adult-use cannabis bill this year in a special legislative session. The law included an expungement provision and later, the state announced a special loan program for cannabis micro-businesses.

End

Malta President Signs Legalization Bill Despite Opposition

12/20/2021

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

Malta President George Vella has signed the cannabis legalization bill passed by the Parliament last week while shutting down calls by those opposed to the reforms, saying the nation’s constitution prevented him from rejecting the lawmaker-approved bill, Malta Today reports. His comments, which did not mention the cannabis bill directly, came during an event commemorating the Republic in Independence Square in Victoria, Gozo.

“We hear calls that the president should do this and that but we need to be informed of what is possible… The head of state cannot capriciously create a constitutional crisis and cause instability… there is nothing in our Constitution that gives the president the final say on a law, otherwise we will create a dictator who decides what becomes law at a whim.” — Vella, in remarks to Parliament, via Malta Today

The law, which was approved in a 36-27 vote, was opposed by the nation’s conservative party and by more than 50 church-led organizations. The reforms allow adults to possess up to seven grams in public, grow up to four plants for personal use, and will eventually create a system to regulate sales.

“Laws passed in Parliament according to the Constitution, have to be signed by the President almost immediately,” Vella said during his speech. “Otherwise, they will be taking on all the power and until now, the president has no power to ignore a law passed by Parliament irrespective if he agrees with it or not… unless he has a serious moral objection in which case the president will have to call it a day and resign.”

In a statement, Malta’s Minister for Equality, Research, and Innovation Owen Bonnici, who promoted the legalization law, said that the government “urges people to make the best choices for their wellness and therefore will keep investing in programs of prevention against all substance abuses” but that the government should also “respond to the realities in society and terminate the constant and unjust hardship and humiliation which the criminalization of adults who choose to make responsible use of cannabis brings about through their arrests and/or arraignments in front of tribunals or courts.”

“The entry into force of this robust legislative framework underlines this government’s willingness to make bold decisions by implementing wise and unprecedented reforms in order to bring about change and social justice in the best interests of society as a whole,” he said.

End

Former MLB Pitcher Scores Retail Cannabis License Amid Partner’s Scandal

12/20/2021

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

Former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher Matt Garza has received approval for a retail cannabis dispensary in his hometown of Fresno, California, the San Joaquin Valley Sun reports. Garza, the 2008 American League Championship Most Valuable Player for the Tampa Bay Rays, was one of four licensees approved in the round.

In an interview last week with GV Wire, Garza — who pitched at Fresno State — said he is “just going to enjoy this moment.”

“I’ve been patient. . . . We’ll see how it goes. We’ll open as soon as we can and we’re looking forward to helping this city and community.” — Garza to GV Wire

His application was for Authentic 559, for which Garza is a 51% owner. A stake of the company is also owned by the Shryne Group and its former CEO Brian Mitchell — who also serves as Authentic 559 co-owner — is currently facing felony charges in Alameda County for his involvement in an alleged scam perpetrated by a Bay Area painting and construction company, according to the Sun.

Mitchell resigned from his position in the Shryne Group after being charged in September with one count of conspiracy to commit a crime, two counts of workers’ compensation fraud, and six counts of felony insurance fraud, the report says.

If Mitchell is convicted, it could run afoul of Fresno’s city ordinance for cannabis company operators. The city is also being sued by Catalyst Cannabis who claim that a number of applicants who received city approval were led by “front men.”

Garza also holds a 19% share in Beyond Rooted which received a social-equity license in Fresno. Garza’s cousin, Issac Fonseca, is a Beyond Rooted partner.

End

Illinois Earmarks $45M from Cannabis Taxes for Community Development Grants

12/17/2021

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) on Wednesday announced another $45 million in cannabis tax-derived Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) grants, which are earmarked for communities most impacted by the war on drugs. The round includes $40.5 million for organizations that provide civil legal aid services, economic development, re-entry from the criminal justice system, violence prevention, and youth development. Another $4.5 million is made available for capacity-building grants to help small organizations expand, the Governor’s Office said.

The program is funded using 25% of adult-use cannabis tax revenues.

“As we launch applications for the second round of R3 grants, I know our recipients will keep transforming lives with their work, and in turn transform our cities and state. Because when we reinvest in the potential of our people, we invite the economic activity that creates resiliency. When we renew hope in communities historically left out, we inspire the next generation to pursue a brighter future. And in public service, that is our obligation.” — Pritzker in a statement

Of the available funds, 75% will be dedicated to organizations that have been in operation for less than five years or have a budget of less than $2 million, according to the Governor’s Office, which notes that the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) — which manages the program — offers an online, self-guided technical assistance course and online webinars for the program.

ICJIA Acting Executing Director Delrice Adams said the agency continues to “prioritize equity-centered grant-making and ensure much-needed resources are distributed fairly and efficiently.”

“We also recognize our responsibility to provide technical assistance to build community and organizational capacity within small organizations, not only to apply for and access grant funding, but also to manage those funds successfully in alignment with the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act,” Adams said in a statement. “Technical assistance is crucial to local programs working to achieve their goals.”

In July, the state appropriated $31 million in funds collected from the state’s cannabis tax for the program.

End

More Than 1.5k Applicants Vie for 26 Arizona Social Equity Licenses

12/17/2021

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

More than 1,500 applications have been filed for Arizona’s 26 social-equity dispensary licenses, which are valued at over $10 million, the Associated Press reports. The state Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) indicated the random selection process for the licenses will be conducted next spring.

Under the state’s social equity requirements, principal officers or board members of the applying company holding at least 51% ownership in the entity must meet three of four criteria, including having an annual household income, in at least three of the years from 2016 through 2020 that, for the respective year, was less than 400% of the poverty level; has — or had expunged — a prior state or federal cannabis-related conviction; a close relative who has a prior cannabis-related conviction; and has lived for at least three years from 2016 through 2020 in an area that has been identified by the Health Department as being disproportionately affected by the enforcement of Arizona’s previous cannabis laws.

Marijuana Industry Trade Association founder Demetri Downing explained that the license winners could immediately sell the licenses if their organization is picked. Applicants have to pay a $4,000 non-refundable fee to enter the lottery. The state has made $6 million from these applicants, the report says.

Arianna Munoz, who has two applications in the lottery for herself and two for her mother told the AP that while “operating a dispensary would be ideal,” selling the dispensary license could create “generational wealth.”

In October, DHHS identified 87 zip codes that qualify for the state’s social equity licenses. The localities include parts of Phoenix and Tucson and some in the smaller border communities of Nogales, Douglas, and San Luis. There is also a heavy focus on areas on or near Native American reservations.

End

New York Cannabis Opt-Out Rates Reach 24%

12/17/2021

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

Twenty-four percent of New York municipalities, or 365 localities, have opted out of adult-use cannabis operations, NPR-affiliate WBFO reports. During Thursday’s meeting of the Cannabis Control Board, Chris Alexander, executive director of the state Office of Cannabis Management, said the figures “are relatively consistent with the experience of other states” that have legalized cannabis and he expects those numbers to “increase a bit” as the opt-out deadline of December 31 nears.

The Rockefeller Institute of Government, an independent think tank, has the opt-out rates slightly higher — reporting 462 municipalities have decided not to allow dispensaries and 523 opting out of on-site consumption businesses. Alexander told WBFO that the board “cannot speak to Rockefeller’s numbers.”

The Office of Cannabis Management said that just six cities — or about 10% — have opted out, along with 259 towns (28%), and 100 villages (19%).

Under the New York law, municipalities have until the end of the month to opt-out, otherwise, cannabis operations will be permanently allowed within their borders; however, municipalities can opt back in at any time.

“If a municipality could opt out at any time, it could have created instances where businesses received a license and set up operations in a municipality, only to find out that the municipality later voted to prohibit this activity. And so that was the justification for this order of operations.” — Alexander to WBFO

On Thursday, the agency also approved a resolution for the office to begin seeking long-term office space in Buffalo and New York City. The state’s legalization law requires that the Office of Cannabis Management have a main office in Albany and branch offices in Buffalo and New York City.

Adult-use sales are not expected to commence in the Empire State until at least the end of next year.

End

Washington’s Transition to State-Run Seed-to-Sale Platform ‘Less than Smooth’

12/17/2021

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

Washington state’s transition from Leaf Data Systems (LDS) to a state-run seed-to-sale system has been “less than smooth,” according to a Marijuana Business Daily report. The State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) made the announcement to abandon the failed LDS project earlier this year in favor of a new state-operated database, known as the Central Reporting System (CRS).

Legal cannabis operators say the new system is buggy, costing licensees thousands of dollars in revenue in extra employee hours.

“The idea that this was all magically going to come together in the matter of a few months was just a pipe dream,” Bob Ramstad, owner of OZ Recreational Cannabis, said in the report. “Doing all of this during the holidays is just downright cruel.”

In a press release, the LCB said that “as with any new system, there can be challenges that arise when using a new technical resource.” The agency said it “appreciates the patience and partnerships happening now as employees and licensees move forward on the new reporting system.”

Ramstad, however, is not as optimistic, telling MJ Biz Daily that “the new system isn’t working at all.” He added that retailers have confided in him that they may have to spend upwards of $20,000 extra per month in labor costs to fix CRS problems. Some processors, he said, have quit shipping orders because their third-party traceability software is not working.

David Busby, CEO of Seattle-based software company OpenTHC, agreed, telling MJ Biz Daily that “the new system is not working that great”.

“Everything takes longer, there are more mistakes, processes have to be repeated, we’re all stuck waiting for the LCB system to get online.” — David Busby via Mj Biz Daily

Leaf Data systems will go dark on December 18 at 5 p.m. The LCB’s most recent notification indicates that “once Leaf is decommissioned, the state will receive the system’s final data backup.

“If licensees need to access Leaf data to complete their initial CCRS uploads,” the agency said, “the window to gather that information from Leaf closes on Saturday.”

End

Beard Bros: Turning Obstacles Into Opportunities in Cannabis

12/16/2021

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

Bill and Jeff Levers are brothers from Florida, but you may know them as the Beard Bros. Bill has a green thumb and Jeff has a mind for business, so it’s no surprise that the pair decided to venture into the cannabis space. They set out West just over a decade ago to learn the best cultivation methods with the original goal of creating an effective cannabis sleep aid for Florida’s elderly population. That goal may still happen someday but the path there has been anything but linear. From licensing gauntlets to a brand shift from cultivation to media, the Beard Bros have found the fortitude to continue to pivot into a bright future.

The brothers spent a year in Colorado attempting to join the legal market, but changes in regulation only allowed licensed dispensaries the ability to cultivate. They made their way to the San Fernando Valley in 2011 and despite only knowing a few people, set out to contribute to the tight-knit Southern California cannabis community. They took what they learned from activist and self-proclaimed mentor Mickey Martin to help put down roots in California, which was to put their energy towards causes that they believed in. They dedicated their time to supporting returning combat veterans and freeing cannabis prisoners. They were active in the community by 2012, providing veterans with cannabis medicine while also corresponding with cannabis prisoners and protesting for their release.

“The people doing life without parole for non-violent cannabis offenses has always just struck us as so egregious and it’s something that gets left behind in every one of these new states that are coming up, they don’t have expungement as part of it. And they don’t give people their rights back to make them equal citizens. So even though we get legalization we still don’t get all the rights that everybody else has,” said Jeff Levers. The brothers grew a small, reliable network by engaging in this work, and that community is growing exponentially around the world.

*Photo credit: Jordan Badran, @scooch_lifestyle*

In those first years in Los Angeles when they weren’t championing important causes, the brothers were building their footprint as cultivators. As they grew their own brand, they never stopped asking Mickey if they could bring his Bay Area-made Compassion Edibles line to Southern California. Eventually, Mickey agreed just so they would leave him alone, and they started visiting Southern California dispensaries with a suitcase of the Compassion Edibles line. Dispensary buyers were fickle about new flower vendors in those times, and having a suitcase of Compassion Edibles often served as their foot in the door for Beard Bros Pharms flower. Their work as a sales team for Compassion served as their first step to growing esteem among Southern California’s elite growers.

Less than five years after Beard Bros established their brand, the California cannabis industry moved from Prop 215’s medical regulations to Prop 64’s adult-use laws. Regulators assured brands like Beard Bros that Prop 64 would honor legacy growers like them, who had been to jail for doing what would now be considered legal cannabis business. But like most other legacy operators, they were written out of legislation that favored giving licenses to large multi-state mega stores.

“Prop 64 was sold with the idea of keeping the small farms that created this industry alive, and then they modified what was already written right before 2018 and allowed the big guys to come in. And that’s what is still ruining all of the little guys. The fact that there is a ridiculous amount of extra product in the California market right now,” said Bill Levers.

The brothers, despite being long-time cannabis cultivators, were only awarded licenses for distribution and manufacturing in Los Angeles due to the restriction on cultivation licenses within city limits to only pre-ICO dispensaries with attached grows. They offer two RSO products under their manufacturing license, one is THC-heavy and the other is CBD-heavy. But these are their only offerings to California’s Prop 64 market. The brand is completely self-funded, so each step into the market must be deliberate and well-planned to stay afloat. The amount of time it has taken to gain a foothold in California has been frustrating but it did lead the brand into a completely new space.

As they navigated the early days of Prop 64, the brothers poured over the recent news and regulations to find their niche space in a quickly developing landscape. They would learn and then inform their fellow legacy growers and shop owners of relevant news. Soon the pair realized they had a gift for being the first to know what was going on. The brothers started sharing various stories with fellow legacy operators that were also attempting to preserve their market share. They quickly grew a following of engaged like-minded entrepreneurs looking for guidance in an opaque regulatory framework.

Their continued California coverage picked up followers from all over the world, so the news that they shared started to reflect that geographical diversity. Their pages continued to grow, and eventually, in April 2018, they founded Beard Bros Media as a direct extension of Beard Bros Pharms. The media outlet sits on the honest foundation built over the years through its social platforms. It has now grown to include original articles and organic submissions from industry writers. This pivot into news and media is a far cry from that old goal of providing sleep medication to Florida’s elders, but helping people access cannabis medicine remains at the root of their mission.

“We didn’t realize that our attraction to people was our authenticity. We weren’t speaking to the industry, we were speaking from and for the industry. A lot of people want to speak to it but they don’t live it, they don’t understand it, and they’re not actually walking the walk they’re just writing an article. I think people realize that we live this shit so when we say something they realize that it has more weight than… a random person writing a cannabis article,” said Bill.

The Levers brothers will honor that authenticity as they grow Beard Bros Media, which will continue to evolve. At the moment, they’re helping other brands with social media, branding, and marketing. They’re also excited to explore video content creation, which still blows their minds as former legacy cultivators who had to conceal their work for so many years. For their first step into video, Jeff and Bill are hosting the “Beard Bros News Hour” on Social Club TV.

Fans of Beard Bros Pharms don’t need to fret: venturing into the media space hasn’t extinguished their drive to develop effective cannabis products. In fact, their journey back to the East Coast may soon begin with entering the emerging Midwest cannabis market.

The Beard Bros story is one of resilience as they continue to navigate a path that has been a challenging experience for many cultivators without private funding. Their story is an example of how to maintain ethical standards as you persist in the cannabis space, and they believe that staying true to the culture is part of their success.

As Jeff rightfully put it, “We’re at the confluence…The confluence of the community and industry is where you’ll find us.”

End

Pfizer Enters Cannabis Space with $6 Billion Acquisition

12/16/2021

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

The pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has announced plans to purchase Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a San Diego-based bioscience firm with a dedicated cannabinoid research and development arm, for $6 billion, Benzinga reports. The two companies made the announcement on Monday, detailing that Pfizer will pay $100 per stock share in an all-cash transaction.

The acquisition includes Arena’s investigational drug Olorinab, an oral, full agonist of the CB2 receptor formulated to treat symptoms associated with gastrointestinal disorders and other drugs that treat immune-inflammatory diseases.

“The proposed acquisition of Arena complements our capabilities and expertise in Inflammation and Immunology, a Pfizer innovation engine developing potential therapies for patients with debilitating immune-inflammatory diseases with a need for more effective treatment options.” — Mike Gladstone, Global President & General Manager, Pfizer Inflammation and Immunology, via Benzinga

“Pfizer’s capabilities will accelerate our mission to deliver our important medicines to patients,” Arena President and CEO Amit D. Munshi said in a statement. “We believe this transaction represents the best next step for both patients and shareholders.”

Pfizer is not the first large pharmaceutical company to stride into the cannabis space. In early 2021, Jazz Pharmaceuticals acquired GW Pharmaceuticals along with their Food and Drug Administration-approved cannabinoid therapy Epidiolex — a treatment for children with severe seizures.

In 2018, Tilray made a medical cannabis distribution arrangement with drug giant Novartis AG. Johnson and Johnson, in 2017, brought Avicanna onboard into their 40,000 square foot life sciences innovation center in Toronto, Canada.

End

Federal Study Finds Youth Cannabis Use Has Plummeted

12/16/2021

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

U.S. adolescent cannabis use dropped significantly in 2021 despite ongoing legalization efforts, the opening of more than a dozen state-legal cannabis markets around the country, and a spike in mental health concerns related to the pandemic, according to data from the Monitoring the Future survey released on Wednesday.

The data shows a 38 percent year-over-year decline in self-reported cannabis use among eighth and 10th-graders, and a 13 percent decline among 12th-graders.

The Monitoring the Future survey, which is funded by the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), also found that the plummeting rate of youth cannabis use coincided with a decrease in the underage use of other drugs, including drugs commonly sought by teenagers like alcohol and vaped nicotine.

“We have never seen such dramatic decreases in drug use among teens in just a one-year period. These data are unprecedented and highlight one unexpected potential consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused seismic shifts in the day-to-day lives of adolescents. Moving forward, it will be crucial to identify the pivotal elements of this past year that contributed to decreased drug use – whether related to drug availability, family involvement, differences in peer pressure, or other factors – and harness them to inform future prevention efforts.” — Nora Volkow, NIDA director, in a press release

The Monitoring the Future survey is an annual check-in with eighth, 10th, and 12th graders around the U.S. that asks students to self-report their substance use behaviors and similar information, including their perception of drug-related harms, approval or disapproval of their use, and perceived availability. The data from each survey is released at the end of the year during which it was collected.

“These latest findings add to the growing body of scientific literature showing that marijuana regulation policies can be implemented in a manner that provides access for adults while simultaneously limiting youth access and misuse,” said Paul Armentano, the deputy director for cannabis advocacy group NORML.

U.S. students across all age groups also reported “moderate increases” in experiencing “boredom, anxiety, depression, loneliness, worry, difficulty sleeping, and other negative mental health indicators” since the COVID-19 pandemic’s outset.

End

San Diego Weighing Rule Changes to Increase Dispensaries by 40%

12/16/2021

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

Officials in San Diego, California are considering a proposal to eliminate city rules that prevent cannabis dispensaries from opening near churches, parks, libraries, and playgrounds which would increase the number of dispensaries by as much as 40%, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. Supporters say the proposal would allow the opening of the 36 dispensaries envisioned by officials when they were legalized nearly eight years ago, the report says.

Currently, there are 23 dispensaries operating in the city because of the zoning rules that prohibit the businesses from opening within 1,000 feet from locations considered of “sensitive uses.” The plan would still include schools, childcare centers, and minor-oriented facilities on that list of sensitive uses, but it would shrink that distance from 1,000 feet to 600 feet.

Last week, the city Planning Commission and council’s Land Use Commission deferred decisions on the proposal until February in order to gather feedback from residents and community leaders; however, members of both panels indicated they were open to adjusting the rules dictating where dispensaries could open, which have been in place since 2014.

Council President Sean Elo-Rivera said he doesn’t “have a reflexive opposition to creating a more nuanced approach to where cannabis businesses operate.”

The proposal would also allow dispensaries to expand their hours from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Since 2014, San Diego has made at least three changes to its cannabis law to the benefit of the industry. Scott Chipman, head of San Diegans for Safe Neighborhoods, told the Union-Tribune that each of those changes has reduced “the protections of the public.”

End

Colorado Average Market Price Decreases Among Five Cannabis Categories

12/16/2021

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

In the Colorado Department of Revenue (CDOR) Average Market Rate report for retail cannabis, flower prices decreased $948 per pound, trim fell $354 per pound, bud and trim for extraction dropped $345 per pound and $253 per pound, respectively, and wet whole plant prices decreased $172. The price per seed increased to $4, while the price for an immature plant stayed steady at $10.

The rates are effective from Jan. 1, 2022, to Mar. 31. 2022 quarter.

The Average Market Rate is the median market price of each category of unprocessed retail cannabis that is sold or transferred from licensed retail cannabis cultivation facilities to retail cannabis product manufacturing facilities or retail shops, according to CDOR in a press release. The state’s cannabis law requires the CDOR Office of Research and Analysis, in coordination with the Taxation Division and the Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED), to calculate average market rates quarterly for use in levying the required excise taxes.

The new quarterly rates are based on transactions from Sept. 1, 2021, through Nov. 30, 2021, that originated from retail cultivators are recorded through METRC, the state’s seed-to-sale tracking system.

According to Revenue Department data, as of Oct. 1, 2021, the average market rate for flower was $1,316 per pound, trim’s rate was $425 per pound, bud and trim for extraction was $405 per pound and $302 per pound, respectively, wet whole plant prices were $181, while the price per seed was $3.

The lowest average market rate price in the state’s industry was seen in October 2018, when bud was $759 per pound. In July 2018, the average market prove for immature plants was $1.

End

USDA Approves Updated Virginia Hemp Plan

12/16/2021

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) plan to regulate hemp production in the Commonwealth, allowing the agency to continue serving as the primary regulator of hemp production in the state.

VDACS must regulate hemp in accordance with the 2018 federal Farm Bill’s hemp provisions and VDACS Commissioner Brad Copenhaver said that while federal rules “require some adjustments” to the Commonwealth hemp program, the agency intends “to continue the productive, supportive relationship” it has had with Virginia hemp producers since its program was established.

“By operating this program under USDA’s new requirements, we aim to provide our hemp industry with certainty and parity, as all of the nation’s hemp producers are now expected to comply with the same set of rules.” — Copenhaver in a press release

Under the rules, each hemp industry applicant must submit a criminal background check to VDACS; growers must have their crops tested by private laboratories for THC concentrations 30 days prior to harvest and report certain crop information to the USDA Farm Service Agency.

The rules include testing exceptions for institutes of higher education researchers and certain growers producing hemp for fiber under contract with processing facilities.

According to the WVTF report, VDACS indicated there were 891 registered industrial hemp growers in Virginia as of Aug. 31, 2021. For the 2020 growing year, there were 1,091, and about half of those submitted planting reports to federal regulators.

End

AlphaRoot Launches Management Liability Insurance Program Calibrated to the Cannabis Industry

12/15/2021

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

New York, 15th DECEMBER 2021 – BRP Group, Inc. (“BRP Group”) (NASDAQ: BRP), an independent insurance distribution firm delivering tailored insurance solutions, is pleased to announce the launch of the AlphaRoot management liability insurance program calibrated to the cannabis, hemp and CBD industries within its specialty indirect subsidiary, Millennial Specialty Insurance, LLC dba AlphaRoot* (“AlphaRoot”).

Given the rapid development of the cannabis sector and the continued trend of state legalization, insurance will play a key role in ensuring responsible growth. With the new program, AlphaRoot aims to empower cannabis companies to focus on expansion, bridging the gap between comprehensive coverage and the right price point for private-held cannabis operators.

Management liability refers to a package of insurance policies intended to protect a company, its directors, and its officers. The program which is exclusively available to AlphaRoot clients includes:

Directors & Officers Insurance (D&O): This protects both the company and the individual directors and officers of the company from claims brought against them for the management of the company.
Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPL): This protects the company from claims alleging mistreatment of their employees (i.e., HR-related claims).
Fiduciary Liability Insurance: This protects from legal liability should a benefit plan administrator miscalculate, mishandle, or practice improper plan care¹.

AlphaRoot’s strategic partnership with their in-house Managing General Agent (MGA) provides the capacity to write management liability insurance for private cannabis operators. This program will be exclusive to AlphaRoot’s clients and offer unique coverage features, including:

Up to $5M in limits for D&O
$1M in limits available for EPL and Fiduciary
Flexible policy customizations with the ability to tailor to the insured’s needs from a pricing and coverage perspective
Policies written on Am Best A rated paper
Expertise with underwriting emerging industries and disruptive technologies outside of cannabis

“Over the past six to 12 months, we’ve seen a number of new entrants try to solve the problem that many private cannabis operators face with management liability insurance—it’s too expensive and the coverage is too restrictive,” says Isaac Bock, Managing Director and Head of Strategy at AlphaRoot. “We feel our Management Liability Program pushes the industry toward a solution that offers flexible coverage with the operator’s budget in mind.”

“We believe this will be revolutionary for the industry and we are excited about this development. Coverage options are generally limited in the cannabis industry so we’re thrilled to be able to present a new program to our clients,” says Eric Schneider, Managing Director and Head of Growth of AlphaRoot.

ABOUT ALPHAROOT

AlphaRoot is part of a tech-enabled insurance brokerage focused exclusively on the cannabis, hemp, and CBD industries. Our mission is to strengthen and legitimize the cannabis industry as we believe that cannabis, agriculture, and the supporting technology ecosystem are critical parts of American society.

For more information, reach out to the AlphaRoot team at info@alpharoot.com

*Millennial Specialty Insurance, LLC dba AlphaRoot is used subject to regulatory approval.

ABOUT BRP GROUP, INC.

BRP Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: BRP) is an independent insurance distribution firm delivering tailored insurance and risk management insights and solutions that give our clients the peace of mind to pursue their purpose, passion and dreams. We are innovating the industry by taking a holistic and tailored approach to risk management, insurance and employee benefits, and support our clients, Colleagues, Insurance Company Partners and communities through the deployment of vanguard resources and capital to drive our growth. BRP Group represents over 700,000 clients across the United States and internationally.

NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release may contain various “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which represent BRP Group’s expectations or beliefs concerning future events. Forward-looking statements are statements other than historical facts and may include statements that address future operating, financial or business performance or BRP Group’s strategies or expectations. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as “may”, “might”, “will”, “should”, “expects”, “plans”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “estimates”, “predicts”, “projects”, “potential”, “outlook” or “continue”, or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, developments and business decisions to differ materially from those contemplated by these statements.

Factors that could cause actual results or performance to differ from the expectations expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those described under the caption “Risk Factors” in BRP Group’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and in BRP Group’s other filings with the SEC, which are available free of charge on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at: www.sec.gov, including those risks and other factors relevant to BRP Group’s business, financial condition and results of operations of BRP Group and factors related to the potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on BRP Group’s business, financial condition and results of operations. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated. All forward-looking statements and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to BRP Group or to persons acting on behalf of BRP Group are expressly qualified in their entirety by reference to these risks and uncertainties. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and BRP Group does not undertake any obligation to update them in light of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable law.

1 Program availability is subject to underwriting eligibility and may require coverage exclusions and subjectivities. D&O, EPL and Fiduciary Liability policy language and terms are available upon request.

End

MainStem: Simplifying the Cannabis Supply Chain

12/15/2021

a word from our sponsors:

become a sponsor

advertise here

Despite decades of activism in favor of safe cannabis access, the regulated industry remains in its infancy. The space is expanding rapidly but with that comes growing pains, many of which have been long-solved for other industries but represent significant challenges for cannabis companies. One such concept that is typically dialed-in for other industries but can be an absolute mess for cannabis businesses is the B2B supply chain. MainStem, co-founded by cousins Alen and Long Nguyen, is an integrated purchasing platform built specifically for cannabis businesses. Alen spoke with me about the platform and what drives him to enter emerging industries like cannabis and tech.

“Coming in with tech, I think it’s a great opportunity to provide solutions, streamline. All the standard stuff that tech does, but really sink your teeth into forming the foundation of this industry,” said Alen.

Long Nguyen was already a medical cannabis operator in Washington when he approached his cousin about stepping into the cannabis industry in 2014. At the time, Alen was an aerospace engineer at a business where he was regularly drug tested, so it had been some time since he’d been even tangential to cannabis. Even so, as Long showed him the processes from seed to sale, Alen realized that while he didn’t know much about weed, he did see solutions for creating more streamlined standard operating procedures in the cannabis industry.

“What I do know is B2B infrastructure,” explained Alen, “and I know that really, really well, and there’s something here that’s got a really big gap: the picks and shovels of where these soon-to-be large farms, large processing sites, and dispensaries… where would they procure all of their supplies. The existing way it was beforehand was really not scalable, so that was our napkin note. We decided that we were going to attack the supply chain.”

Before entering the space, Alen wanted to learn more about the industry and understand how MainStem could bring real value to the space. To do this, he joined the Washington chapter of The Cannabis Alliance, where he met growers, extractors, and processors who were building brands in Washington state. There, he learned that some businesses have five different accounting systems, three ERP solutions, and, if they’re operating in multiple states, multiple bank accounts. Some tech companies have entered the space with tools established outside of cannabis, but they tend to overlook the nuanced issues facing the industry. Alen believes this is the wrong approach: “When you’re in tech in cannabis, not only do you have to create these new innovative solutions, but you also have to really understand the nuances and fragmentations of the industry.”

Once they found the value point, the cousins launched the MainStem marketplace and Supplier Core, which is a platform built out with everything a brand needs to sell its products to businesses that need them. These products go into the MainStem marketplace where retailers, processors, and cultivators who need things like papers and packaging can buy all of their supplies in one place. The platform integrates with the supplier’s systems, providing live pricing and true inventory. If something is sold out, buyers can easily find other viable options waiting in the Marketplace.

MainStem has strategically built out its supplier base to stock diverse products. Their first step was to find a wide breadth of brands and product types; the second was to find brands across many locations. This way, a buyer can find the right product and then also select the option closest to their location, which can cut shipping costs. Each supplier is subject to a specific vetting process which can be intensive but, once they’re onboarded, they get the benefits of having all of their invoices and buyers in one place.

In MainStem’s first year, the brand consolidations started in the plant-touching side of the business. Multi-state operators (MSOs) were acquiring small businesses across all plant-touching sectors. The newly established brands were running companies the size of an enterprise but without the standard operating procedures or built-out executive staff necessary for running an enterprise. Because of this, new companies were spending too much time putting out fires to properly scale and grow — in response, MainStem built and released Purchase Pro to extinguish some of those fires indefinitely.

There are currently 10,000 products from 400 suppliers available in the Marketplace. If a beloved supplier isn’t on the platform yet, the buyer can create a private supplier or product, do their purchasing order through the platform, and then send it out to the supplier. They can also do punch-outs, a common practice in most businesses but not cannabis. A punch-out allows a buyer to bring the purchasing experience from a supplier into the platform — once the buy is complete, the information is re-routed into Purchase Pro. This brings the buyer supply chain into one single ‘pane’, meaning that the platform removes the need for an ERP or accounting data migrations. The buyer’s last option is to write the purchase order in MainStem before sending it out to the supplier, which keeps all bookkeeping in the same place.

The Purchase Pro platform can be used by businesses of all sizes and in each state of maturity. The company will build out a package that is appropriate to help a client scale to the next phase of operations. They could be working with an MSO that has a low maturity in terms of standard processes, a standardized platform package wouldn’t work for them. In response to this nuance, Alen views businesses in three categories when deciding how to customize a package for a new client. The first category is a brand that is putting out fires, which naturally leads to the second category, which is developing business practices. This must happen before reaching the final category: when a brand can start to collect and analyze data in order to scale further up. MainStem stepped into the cannabis space while most regulated, plant-touching businesses were stretched pretty thin putting out fire after fire after fire. Now that more companies are smoothing out their operations, the platform is looking forward to how the data that they’re collecting can be used and leveraged for growth and enterprise for their clients.

At this point in cannabis, most of the data companies are focused on the consumer and there is very little insight into the ancillary B2B space. This data is spread across various software platforms for many brands, but MainStem brings them into a single pane. Currently, ancillary cannabis suppliers and buyers are both in need of access to digestible data. The MainStem purchasing platform provides this access for easy accounting and to create insights to help a company scale and grow. With access to this type of information in an easy-to-understand format like the MainStem platform, a B2B supplier can start making informed, effective, and strategic decisions.

Alen is excited to watch the industry grow from its current state, as more companies get access to things like the true purchasing behavior of a B2B customer, and he believes that this new frontier in cannabis will lead to growth and innovation.

In the coming year, MainStem plans to release features that will start to format the data for their clients. The company also just completed a round of funding, so internally they will be focused on company culture and building out an executive suite in the coming year. Alen is looking forward to hiring more talent as the company approaches this new phase.

“Everywhere along the way, I think one of the most important things is, you’ve got to check your ego at the door,” he said. “There’s a lot of things you’re really good at but there’s a lot of things you don’t know if you’re good at because you’ve never done them before. So my take on it has always been, let’s enlist some really good expertise from folks that have done it before so I can not necessarily trip on myself from the get-go and I can bring a lot of value to our team and customers along the way as we grow.”

End

Opacity

Anti-moisture

Convenience

Get the daily briefing