Search Results for "connecticut"

Vermont Cannabis Regulators Investigating Curaleaf’s Ties to Russian Oligarch

Cannabis regulators in Vermont are investigating the links between Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich and multi-state cannabis operator Curaleaf, VT Digger reports. The inquiry follows a report by Vice that found Abramovich invested $130 million and provided $194 million in loans to US cannabis firms between 2016 and 2018, with Curaleaf as the main beneficiary.  

In Vermont, Curaleaf owns Phytocare Vermont in Bennington and Vermont Patients Alliance in Montpelier. 

According to the Vice report, which come from the leak of 30,000 files from Cyprus-based accounting company Meritservus, of which Abramovich was a customer, onto the non-profit Distributed Denial of Secrets website last month, Abramovich allegedly invested $225 million into Curaleaf, then known as Palliatech, between 2015 and 2017 via a British Virgin Islands-registered company called Cetus Investments. Abramovich was allegedly referred to by Cetus staff as “Mr. Blue.” Abramovich owns Chelsea Football Club which is nicknamed the Blues. 

Vermont Cannabis Control Board chair James Pepper told VTDigger that he was unaware of the Vice report but following a VTDigger inquiry, he instructed board staff to contact Massachusetts and Connecticut to find out what they had learned. Pepper told VT Digger that Curaleaf had not mentioned Abramovich when it applied for a license to operate in Vermont’s adult-use cannabis market.  

Applicants in Vermont are required to disclose individuals with an ownership interest of 10% of more and that being dishonest could lead to a revocation of a license, Pepper told VT Digger. 

A Curaleaf spokesperson has previously told Barron’s that Abramovich “is no longer a creditor to or investor in Curaleaf.” 

Representatives for Phytocare and Vermont Patients Alliance have not commented on the allegations, while Curaleaf spokesperson Stephanie Cunha told VT Digger that the company has “fully complied with all requirements regarding disclosure of our ownership and financing in the state of Vermont.”   

According to the Curaleaf website, the company operates in Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Vermont.  

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Ayr Wellness Hosting Expungement Clinics in Five States Next Weekend

Multistate cannabis company Ayr Wellness is holding expungement clinics in five states on February 25 and 26. The Changing Legacies series is part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility Program and the company is partnering with community and non-profit organizations on the endeavor.  

The event in Hartford, Connecticut on February 25, in partnership with Councilwoman Tiana Hercules, Lady Jane, UConn Law, and Rooted Community Education Group, will be held at Capitol Community College from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Massachusetts event on February 25, in partnership with MassCultivatED, will be held from noon to 2:00 p.m. at the Connexion United Methodist Church in Somerville. 

In New Jersey, the event will be held in partnership with Blaze Responsibly on February 25 at 1579 Irving Street, Rahway from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. In New York, the event is a partnership with Center for Community Alternatives which will be held at BKLYN Commons on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Pennsylvania clinic is in partnership with Cannabis Noire and will take place on February 25 at Cedar Works, located at 4919 Pentridge Street, Philadelphia.

Participants must pre-register for the Connecticut and New Jersey events, while walk-ins are permitted at the Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania clinics.

In a statement, Khari Edwards, head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Ayr Wellness, said the Changing Legacies program’s goal “is to empower those most harmed by the War on Drugs with a fresh start.”

“Despite shifting public sentiment in favor of cannabis and an ever-evolving legislative and regulatory landscape, far too many individuals continue to face significant barriers to housing, employment, social services and more because of non-violent cannabis convictions.” — Edwards in a press release

Each expungement clinic will provide attendees with access to legal services, connect individuals with re-entry and wrap-around programs and, where applicable, offer financial support for obtaining critical documentation and processing fees. 

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Report: Zero Medical Cannabis Markets Are Fully Meeting Patients’ Needs

In its annual “State of the States” report, Americans for Safe Access (ASA) issued 13 failing grades to state medical cannabis programs, with Idaho and Nebraska both receiving a zero as the last two remaining states with no medical cannabis access. 

In the report, ASA gave failing grades to Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. 

No state received an “A” grade, with Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, and Rhode Island earning B-pluses – the highest grade given on the ASA report card.  

The ASA also issued grades for the medical cannabis programs of U.S. territories, including the Commonwealth of the Northern Marina Islands (D+), Guam (C-), Puerto Rico (D), and the Virgin Islands (D+).

“While we can acknowledge that we have come a long way since the first medical cannabis law passed in 1996, we must also recognize that none of the state laws adopted thus far can be considered ideal from a patient’s standpoint.” — ASA, “State of the States” 2022

The group notes that “even in states with full medical cannabis programs, each state differs greatly in how patients can access their medicine, where they can access it, or even what types of products they can access.” Adding that because medical cannabis remains prohibited federally “most state programs leave out millions of potential patients due to issues with affordability, patient rights, and civil protections, or product safety standardization.” 

None of the states earned above a B-plus grade by the ASA because none “include the entire range of protections and rights that should be afforded to patients under the law, with some lagging far behind others.”  

“Because of the differences and deficiencies in legislation and regulations in the states, patients argue that the laws do not function equitably and are often poorly designed, poorly implemented, or both,” the ASA says in the report. “Even well-organized programs can fail to deliver safe or legal access in states with laws that allow local governments to ban medical cannabis businesses from operating, leaving thousands of patients without the access state laws were intended to create.”

The ASA estimates the number of medical cannabis patients in the U.S. exceeds 6 million, an increase of about 1 million from its 2021 report.   

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Jim Belushi to Give Keynote at NECANN’s 2023 New England Cannabis Convention

America’s most well-known cannabis cultivator, Jim Belushi, will join NECANN’s New England Cannabis Convention for a fireside chat on Saturday, March 11.

An accomplished actor, comedian, and musician, Jim will be sharing the lessons and skills he’s learned as a commercial grower and owner of Belushi’s Farm.

Jim joins a lineup of over 120 cannabis industry expert speakers at the convention, which features 2 sold-out exhibit halls with over 300 displays, 5 daily programming tracks, and 4 workshops over 3 days. NECANN will also present the 5th annual New England Cannabis Community Awards on Friday night, and the winners of the 2023 NECANN Cup will be announced on the exhibit floor on Saturday.

The convention will be far and away the largest B2B cannabis industry event ever presented, with over 10,000 industry professionals coming together for the 3-day event at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston.

NECANN has been developing engaging conventions for the cannabis industry since 2014, and now produces the largest convention in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Vermont, Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia, and Maine, expanding market opportunities for businesses, entrepreneurs, investors, educators, patients, advocates, and consumers. NECANN conventions hold a unique place in the event space, taking a collaborative approach with the local industries and communities, which has resulted in consistently high returns for exhibitors, sponsors, attendees, and the local cannabis market as a whole, allowing everyone to benefit and grow.

“We’re happy to say that The New England Cannabis Convention continues to defy industry norms by growing yet again in 2023,” said NECANN Founder and President, Marc Shepard. “Both exhibit halls sold out over 2 months before the show and we had the highest number of speaker applications we’ve ever seen. This event has truly become ‘The Annual Meeting of the Northeast Cannabis Industry.'”

If you’d like to see what NECANN conventions look like, click on one of the links below for a short highlight reel:

NECANN Boston
NECANN New Jersey

To learn more about joining the NECANN community as an exhibitor, sponsor, speaker, or attendee, please visit us at NECANN.com

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Vermont Cannabis Regulators Recommend Dropping THC Potency Caps

The Vermont Cannabis Control Board is recommending the state remove its THC potency caps for cannabis concentrates, VT Digger reports.

The three-member board issued a draft report highlighting the following primary issues with the THC potency caps, which lawmakers have set at 60% THC:

  • The use of THC caps will give the illicit market a monopoly on highly potent concentrates.
  • Forcing operators to create only low-potency concentrates would necessitate the use of filler for the products.

“There is no knowing for certain what manufacturers would use for filler if forced to dilute their products to meet potency limits.” — Cannabis Control Board, in its report

Potential filler products could include fats, oils, terpenes, or other cannabinoids, according to the report. But there is no guarantee these fillers would be any safer than allowing high-potency THC products and, in fact, they could prove to be more dangerous, “as seen with the EVALI crisis,” the Board said, referring to the once-widespread vaping-related lung disease that federal regulators traced back to unregulated vape cartridges, which used vitamin E acetate as a filler for product consistency.

Vermont‘s THC potency caps were originally included as a last-minute change by House lawmakers to a Senate-approved bill — the amendment followed an abrupt change in stance by the Vermont Department of Health.

Senators said they would move the bill back to a conference committee but the legislative session was ending soon and the House’s amendment ultimately stayed.

The Board, which has previously recommended dropping the Legislature’s added THC caps, suggested the following steps in its report:

1. Remove the potency cap for solid concentrates.
2. Authorize consumer education campaigns and youth prevention programs.
3. Use a portion of the revenue at the Department of Health for substance misuse prevention programs to fund these education programs.
4. Make public health information, including safe dosage information, readily available.

Of all the U.S. states which have legalized adult-use cannabis, only Vermont and Connecticut have enacted THC potency caps for concentrates.

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Canopy Growth Announces ‘Fast Track’ Plan Into U.S. Market

Canadian cannabis company Canopy Growth Corporation last week announced it plans to “fast track” its entry into the U.S. market. The company said it is consolidating its U.S. assets into a new holding company, Canopy USA LLC.  

David Klein, Canopy CEO, said the strategy enables the firm to “take control” of its own destiny “and capitalize on the once-in-a-generation opportunity in the largest cannabis market in the world.” 

“We expect to unleash the full power of Canopy’s scalable and ideally-positioned U.S. cannabis ecosystem to unlock potential expansion opportunities. This strategy and positioning are true differentiators, which we expect to enable our investors and brands to realize value in the near term while positioning Canopy for profitable growth and a fast start upon U.S. federal permissibility.” — Klein in a press release 

The U.S. cannabis market is expected to reach $50 billion by 2026, according to MJBiz data outlined by Canopy. 

Canopy’s U.S. portfolio includes Acreage Holdings Inc.; the option to acquire Moutain High Products LLC and its Wana brand; and the option to acquire Jetty, a top 10 California brand. 

The firm also has the option to exercise warrants on approximately 13.7% of TerrAscend Corp.  

Constellation Brands, the spirits giant that acquired a stake in Canopy in 2017 for $190 million, said it planned to transition existing common shares ownership interest in Canopy into new exchangeable shares, which would protect “Constellation shareholder value while retaining an interest in Canopy Growth through non-voting and non-participating shares.”     

Bill Newlands, Constellation’s president and CEO, said the company believes the conversion “will maintain Constellation’s ability to realize the potential upside” of its investment in the cannabis firm. 

“At the same time, this transaction and the surrender of our warrants are expected to eliminate the impact to our equity in earnings, mitigate risk to our organization, and further reinforce our intent to not deploy additional investment in Canopy aligned with Constellation’s previously stated capital allocation priorities,” he said in a statement. 

Collectively, Canopy’s footprint currently spans 21 states, including Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Oregon. 

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NECANN’s New Jersey Cannabis Convention Coming to Atlantic City September 9-10

Innovation, opportunity, investment and inclusion highlight NJCANN programming

Atlantic City, New Jersey – The New Jersey Cannabis Convention is returning to the Atlantic City Convention Center for two days of cannabis business, networking, and education September 9-10, 2022. The event will mark the largest gathering of cannabis industry professionals, businesses, and advocacy groups ever in New Jersey In addition to an exhibit hall with over 120 companies, the event will feature two locally-focused education programming tracks concurrently running each day, giving attendees access to over 50 expert speakers covering every facet of the New Jersey cannabis market.

“We’re very excited to be back for our 3rd New Jersey Convention, it’s very exciting to see how much the maket has evolved since our first event in 2019”, said Marc Shepard, founder and President of NECANN. “In the spirt of inclusion and accessibility for all, we’re also very pleased to be able to announce that we are once again making ALL of our speaker content open to everyone who registers for the event at a cost of just $20 a day, a small fraction of what most cannabis industry events charge”.

Programming highlights include:

Chirali Patel, Founder of the Blaze Law Firm hosts a session called “Blooming in the Garden State”, a guide to navigating the challenging legal licencing process in New Jersey.

Jennifer Bassuk, an agricultural expert from Fluence Bioengineering leads a session for growers titled “What Cultivators Need to Know to Navigate New Jersey’s Burgeoning Cannabis Market”.

Jennifer Cabrera, Esq. of Vicente Sederberg LLP’s session, “X Marks the Spot: Which Garden State Municipalities Are Still in Play” covers all things municipal from municipality choice to property search, becoming a good community partner, and explains the steps for preparing a competitive local application.

“This convention is specifically designed for industry leaders, advocates, entrepreneurs, career and knowledge seekers, and the canna-curious to come together to learn and meet the people paving the way for the New Jersey cannabis industry,” said Marc Shepard, founder and President of NECANN. “With the cannabis industry heating up in the Mid-Atlantic, it’s also a timely opportunity for operating and new businesses alike to engage with and learn from consumers, promote their businesses, and their products.”

All programming details are available at: https://necann.com/new-jersey-convention/programming/
Registration: Advance registration available at: https://bit.ly/NJ22tix
Location: Atlantic City Convention Center, 1 Convention Blvd, Atlantic City, NJ
Hours: Friday Sept 9th, 10am-5pm | Saturday Sept 10th, 10am-4pm
Admission: $20 for one-day pass; $35 for two-day pass; Children under 18 MUST be accompanied by an adult

About NECANN
Since 2015, NECANN has hosted the largest, most comprehensive Cannabis Industry event series in the nation. Our schedule includes conventions in New Jersey, New York, Boston, Maine, Vermont, Chicago, Virginia, and Connecticut, making it the largest series in the country. For more information: go to necann.com, email info@necann.com or call: 774-254-5073.

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Curaleaf Removes Thousands of New York Products With Unapproved Potency Labels

New York medical cannabis company Curaleaf has been forced to pull tens of thousands of units of cannabis from dispensary shelves after it switched to a new way of labeling product potency without approval from state regulators, Syracuse.com reports. Curaleaf began using “dry weight” measurements on its products in July but the company had not received Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) approval.  

While all medical cannabis products sold in New York show “wet weight” measurement, the “dry weight” method shows significantly higher THC percentages, the report says. For example, using wet weight measurement, a product could show a 20% THC percentage but that same product could show a THC percentage as high as 37% using dry weight testing.  

Stephanie Cunha, a Curaleaf spokesperson, told Syracuse.com that dry weight “is considered the most accurate metric for THC content on any type of cannabis sample.” She added that Connecticut, New Jersey, and Maryland also use the dry weight method.  

Bob Miller, the COO of ACT Laboratories, told Syracuse.com that from a laboratory perspective, dry weight allows more accurate product-to-product or lab-to-lab comparisons but said the “downside of the approach” is that the method inflates potency which “is misleading to the patients.” 

In late July, the OCM said that dry weight measurements “are for informational purposes only and cannot be applied to approved product labeling until such time an approved method is available.” The agency ordered the removal of the products that used the dry weight method but said they could be redistributed “with the New York mandated wet weight measurement,” Cunha said.     

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University of New Haven Launches Cannabis Certificate Program

Connecticut’s University of New Haven is partnering with cannabis education firm Green Flower on four online-only cannabis certificate programs covering business, healthcare and medicine, law and policy, and agriculture and horticulture. The college is the first in the state to collaborate with Green Flower for a cannabis education program.  

Danielle Wozniak, MSW, Ph.D., provost and vice president for academic affairs at the University of New Haven, called the partnership “a unique opportunity for the university to collaborate with an industry leader in the cannabis education industry to offer in-demand certificate programs that enable individuals from a variety of fields and interests to develop specialized knowledge and skills in some of the most important areas of the cannabis industry.”  

“Trained professionals are needed to fill the jobs that are being created now and that will be created in the future. Students will receive cutting-edge preparation in these certificate programs to prepare them to excel in this emerging and highly competitive growth market while applying ethical business practices and quality standards to the Connecticut cannabis industry.” — Wozniak in a press release 

Each certificate program consists of three eight-week courses and students receive online instruction in their chosen area of study from expert faculty members vetted and selected by Green Flower. The education programs are developed by board-certified doctors and lawyers along with experts in engineering and agriculture. 

The program costs 2,950 and students who sign up for multiple programs will be eligible for a 33% discount on each additional program. The programs begin on September 5. 

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Medical Cannabis Now Tax Free in New Jersey

Medical cannabis is now tax-free in New Jersey as provisions of the Jake Honig Compassionate Use Medical Cannabis Act implementing the tax cut took effect on July 1, NJ Biz reports. Prior to the final reductions, medical cannabis was the only medicine in the state subject to tax.  

Before July 1, 2020, medical cannabis in New Jersey was subject to a 6.625% tax, which is the state’s sales tax. Jake’s Law reduced that tax to 4% on July 1, 2020; 2% on July 1, 2021; and fully reduced the tax on July 1, 2022. 

Honig was a 7-year-old New Jersey boy with brain cancer whose symptoms were partially relieved by medical cannabis. He passed away in 2018 following a five-year cancer battle and state lawmakers passed the bill with his namesake on July 2, 2019.  

Adult-use cannabis taxes are not affected by Jake’s Law.  

Several other states, including Alaska, Delaware, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, and Washington do not levy sales taxes on medical cannabis sales. Medical cannabis sales in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia are either subject to state taxes, excise taxes – or a combination of both – or businesses are required to pay gross receipts taxes and that cost could be passed on to patients. 

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Charlotte Hanna: Building a Vertically Integrated Social Impact Cannabis Brand

Massachusetts was one of the first East Coast states to legalize cannabis for adult use and companies like Community Growth Partners are setting the industry standard as they grow alongside the developing industry. With Community Growth Partners’ first entry into the space, the Rebelle retailer located in the Berkshires, the company is carving out its own corner of the industry through its community-first, woman-focused philosophy.

In this Q&A with Founder & CEO Charlotte Hanna, we talk about her corporate background from before entering the space, how the company learns about and responds to consumer habits, plans for renovating historic Berkshires buildings for the cannabis industry, what the future looks like as they vertically integrate, and more!

Read the full interview below:


Ganjapreneur: After decades in finance, real estate, and philanthropy, why were you drawn to the developing cannabis space?

Charlotte Hanna: Well, there are a lot of reasons that make cannabis appealing — we’re helping shape a completely new industry here on the East Coast and helping change peoples’ hearts and minds about this plant. I see all of us in the cannabis industry as change-makers — and as a woman and a mother, I feel I have a special place in the public discourse about cannabis. We’ve used this plant as a weapon to hurt communities — I’ve seen it first hand in my decades working on homeless and hunger issues. So the prospect of being able to bring a significant focus on social equity and social justice to this emerging industry was a big part of what drew me to cannabis. Conscientious capitalism is our way of doing business — it’s hard work but we’re all dedicated to our social purpose and I’m so fortunate to have a great team all committed to our corporate values.

The Rebelle retail shop is in a renovated, 100-year old farmhouse on a scenic half acre. How did you find this property and what aspects of the space were attractive to carrying out the Rebelle mission?

The Berkshires and other neighboring communities like Litchfield County in Connecticut and the Upper Hudson Valley all make up a big growing region in the Northeast. It has always drawn artists, wellness seekers and more recently many entrepreneurs have started decamping to the area to set up or expand businesses. I wanted to be part of not only this new industry — cannabis — but also a broader growth story that I saw emerging in the region. For example, Miraval spa — which is based in Sedona, AZ — recently joined Canyon Ranch to open a luxury spa not far from our store. For all these reasons, I felt the area was a perfect location to put down roots and share the wellness attributes of this plant that has been celebrated by cultures around the world for centuries. We bought an old farmhouse — in need of some TLC — and transformed it into what I’m proud to call one of the most beautiful, warm, and inviting dispensaries in the Northeast. I love finding something that hasn’t had the proper attention paid to it and bringing it back to life and giving it a purpose. We’re doing the same thing with an old mill building we’ve renovated and are turning into our cultivation and manufacturing site too.

The Danish concept of ‘hygge’ is the inspiration point behind the interior design at the Rebelle retail shop. How have you leveraged a comfy, cozy interior design to influence consumer habits?

I’ve found that many dispensaries often have a sterile feel — probably vestiges of the original medical marijuana days. But as the times change and more consumers enter the market it’s important to present alternative types of design aesthetics to appeal to different types of consumers. I’ve always been attracted to the Danish concept of hygge which refers to finding comfort, pleasure, and warmth in simple, soothing things such as a cozy atmosphere or the feeling of friendship. This was the vibe I wanted to create in the store to further normalize cannabis and show what a welcoming part it can be to anyone’s life. I felt this would make us memorable. In addition, it really does influence the way people shop — being able to browse and interact with the products while feeling comfortable has resulted in customer loyalty. The overall feel and experience support our philosophy that we are not here just to transact, we are here to help, educate and serve. We are your friends in cannabis.

Does the retail store map consumer habits to improve the overall experience? What kind of changes have you made as a response to consumer feedback both in-store and online?

Our retail store is definitely consumer-driven, we try to let our customers speak to us and do our best to listen and put the feedback into action. For instance, we’ve remodeled our browsing station to reflect consumers preferences to both shop the shelves and a digital menu. We continually gauge reactions to interior displays and evolve with the customer. We believe the experience is just as important as the product, so we encourage customers to reach out through our digital platforms, our call center and of course by just stopping in and speaking with one of our experienced sales associates.

Community Growth Partners (CGP) plans to be a vertically integrated cannabis company. What kind of cultivation methods will you use to grow Rebelle flower?

We’re completing construction at our 28,000 square foot cultivation, manufacturing and delivery distribution facility in Northampton, MA which we expect to open this spring. We’ll be initially growing indoors since high quality exotic indoor strains command higher prices even when markets mature and prices decline. We’re also introducing some new form factors we’ve been developing with a partner in California. I’m most excited about new product development — and designing ways to consume that feel socially acceptable to newer consumers. More to come on this front this spring. Check back in with us online to learn more!

What inspires your community-driven philosophy as you grow Rebelle into a vertical operator?

I believe that by helping people as part of our growth initiatives and as a way of doing business, you not only help communities but also become part of a new way of doing business. We need to shatter the stigmas that have unjustly crippled so many. Our mission is to make social justice and equitable practices the new norm and to shift the perception of cannabis as a whole. To really understand this approach, we first need to examine the types of changes we want to see in the industry. By becoming ingrained in these communities that have been most affected by the unjust laws and helping to build back from the ground up, we will give people the skills and opportunity they will need to succeed and make a serious change. Our grow operation is closer to Springfield and many other areas of disproportionate impact and will give us the opportunity to provide more jobs, more opportunity to earn stock in the company and make our small contribution to improving the communities where we operate.

Has the Rebelle brand launched any cannabis products? What vertically integrated products are currently in development?

We currently have a team working on product development for a line of wellness products that we anticipate launching this spring. I’m not ready to reveal too many specifics about the product line just yet, but I will say that it will definitely help fill the current gap in the MA market for a thoughtful and expertly engineered wellness collection of cannabis products. I have always believed in the healing powers of this plant and am very excited to expand into this category.

Rebelle sells a line of accessories like ashtrays, rolling trays, and stash bags, how are these products designed and/or sourced?

Rebelle has a wide variety of accessories that we source from multiple vendors from all over the country. They include hand-made bongs, specialty pipes, custom branded rolling papers, and high-performance portable smoking accessories. In addition, we offer a limited edition collection of handmade bags designed by founder Charlotte Hanna. This collection is made right in the heart of New York City and sources the finest materials for the perfect odor-resistant carry case. Travel in style with your favorites ready at all times. It’s the ultimate accessory for an elevated cannabis lifestyle.

CGP identifies as a conscientious capitalist business model, a just capitalist enterprise. What does a just capitalist model look like in application, and why is this distinction essential to the brand mission?

The key differentiator between these two models is that ours aims to truly teach our employees how to generate personal wealth, and aims to make an impact in the community. This also means putting programs in place internally which support these goals. For instance one of our primary components of this is our employee stock program, where all employees can qualify to receive company stock regularly in addition to their paid compensation. Not only does this instill a more tightly knit and committed mentality among the company, but provides a real tangible asset to the workforce. One which they can leverage for their benefit across their entire time at the company.

How does CGP contribute to the surrounding Berkshire County, Massachusetts community?

We have a couple of interesting initiatives we participate in which are aimed at connecting and supporting the community. One of which was our charity donation and accompanying donation match program for our neighbors, Volunteers in Medicine who provide healthcare to those who normally would have limited or no access to it. Beyond our general charitable work and commitments, we also work with a nonprofit called Roca. They provide job placement, support services, and an access point to the industry for young people who have been negatively impacted by the war on drugs. We partner with them as an employer to help open up opportunities in the cannabis industry and aid in establishing career paths for those young people.

Why did CGP establish a partnership with the diversity and equity-driven organization Roca?

Apart from the fact that everything they are doing is everything we believe in, our team and the team over at Roca just meshed on a personal level. We really have values and objectives that are in sync. When you find a partner trying as hard as they are to do the right thing you partner with them, and quickly! I see Roca as an essential piece of the puzzle for us, if we didn’t partner with them or somebody like them we wouldn’t truly be doing our part.


Thank you, Charlotte, for answering all of our questions! To learn more about Charlotte and/or Community Growth Partners, visit CommunityGrowthPartners.com.

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Report: Cannabis Industry Employment Grew 33% In 2021

Leafly, in partnership with Whitney Economics, has published its sixth annual cannabis jobs report, the Seattle-based cannabis technology company shared in a press release.

The Leafly Jobs Report 2022, which looked at the 11 states with legal adult-use cannabis and the 27 states where medical cannabis is permitted, found that cannabis industry jobs increased 33% in 2021. Leafly says 2021 was the fifth year in a row the sector saw an annual growth rate greater than 27%. Additionally, the analysis found the cannabis industry currently employs 428,059 Americans and generated nearly $25 billion in sales last year, or about one-quarter of the country’s predicted total cannabis market. The report also predicts that the U.S. cannabis industry will someday employ about 1.5 to 1.75 million people — nearly four times many as today — and that the industry will be generating about $45 billion in annual sales by 2025.

“Since 2014, when the nation’s first adult-use cannabis stores opened, the industry has created hundreds of thousands of new American jobs – and there are still plenty more yet to be created. We know the potential cannabis has as both an economic driver and force for good, and it’s heartening to see employment numbers continue to reflect this strong growth. Leafly is proud to step up and fill the gap created by a lack of federal reporting, and to advocate for federal legalization that’s equitable and accessible to all communities.” — Leafly CEO Yoko Miyashita, in a press release

One of the main issues currently facing cannabis employers — like any other industry during what is being called the “Great Resignation” — is finding applicants to fill open positions. This issue could be exacerbated with states like New York, New Jersey, New Mexico and Connecticut opening their first stores in the near future, the press release says.

Other fun facts included in the report:

  • There are more people employed in the U.S. cannabis industry than there are hairstylists, barbers, and cosmetologists, combined.
  • There are three times as many cannabis workers in the U.S. as dentists.
  • The industry’s impressive hiring numbers pencil out to 280 jobs created per day and someone was hired for a cannabis-supported job every two minutes of the workday.

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Green Thumb Industries Acquires One of Two Minnesota Vertical Licensees

Chicago, Illinois-based Green Thumb Industries Inc. last week closed on its acquisition of LeafLine Industries, marking the firm’s expansion into Minnesota. The deal gives Green Thrumb one of two vertical licenses in Minnesota, an operating cultivation facility, and five open retail locations.

The takeover also increases Green Thumb’s national presence to 15 states with a total of 73 operational retail locations. The deal gives Green Thumb the opportunity to open up three more additional retail locations in Minnesota.

In a statement, Green Thumb Founder and CEO Ben Kovler noted that Minnesota regulators had recently approved infused cannabis products, including gummies and chews, for the state’s medical cannabis program. State officials have also indicated that rulemaking for flower products is currently underway.

Green Thumb said there are about 29,000 registered medical cannabis patients in the state.

“We are excited to enter the Minnesota medical market and broaden access to cannabis products for Minnesota patients. We look forward to caring for LeafLine’s existing patients while ensuring a seamless transition.”  Kovler in a press release

Green Thumb indicated that, with the acquisition, the company has cannabis operations to serve more than half of the U.S. population, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia.

Last summer, Green Thumb acquired Dharma Industries one of Virginia’s four medical cannabis processing companies.

The terms of neither the LeafLine nor the Dharma transactions were disclosed.

End


Cannabis News

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Ganjapreneur: your source for daily cannabis news and business insights.

Welcome to Ganjapreneur, your go-to platform for the latest cannabis industry news. Our mission is to provide operators in the legal cannabis space with the information they need to succeed in this rapidly-evolving industry. Since 2014, we have been dedicated to keeping cannabis founders, activists, and investors up-to-date on the latest policy news from the US and internationally, as well as providing a wealth of resources to help them navigate the complex landscape of legal cannabis.

At Ganjapreneur, we believe that the legalization movement is about much more than just generating profits. Cannabis has been used as a medicine for thousands of years, and its legalization is an important step towards correcting the historical wrongs of cannabis prohibition, and could provide safe and affordable relief to people around the world suffering from a wide variety of health conditions. In addition to keeping the product accessible and affordable for those who need it, we believe that cannabis commerce should be accessible to people who have been persecuted by the War on Drugs, and that cannabis prisoners around the world should be released and have their records expunged.

Want to join the cannabis industry? First, understand its context.

The history of cannabis prohibition in the USA is a long and complex one, with roots stretching back to the early 20th century. One of the earliest attempts to criminalize cannabis in the US came in the form of the 1915 Harrison Narcotics Tax Act, which regulated opiates and cocaine but also included cannabis as a taxable drug. However, it wasn’t until the 1930s that cannabis began to be widely demonized in the media, with newspapers like William Randolph Hearst’s San Francisco Examiner publishing sensationalized stories linking the drug to violent crime and insanity.

Around the same time, Harry J. Anslinger, the first commissioner of the US Treasury Department’s Federal Bureau of Narcotics, launched a campaign to criminalize cannabis on a federal level. Anslinger noted that cannabis use was more common among minority communities and stated that their appreciation of “Satanic music” (i.e. jazz and swing) was a direct result of marijuana use. He also believed that marijuana use could cause white women to “seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers and any others.” In 1937, the Marijuana Tax Act was passed, which effectively made cannabis illegal on a federal level.

Despite these efforts, cannabis use continued to be relatively widespread throughout the 20th century, particularly among marginalized communities. In the 1960s and 70s, the counterculture movement helped to popularize cannabis use among a wider swath of the population, leading to increased pressure to decriminalize or legalize the drug. However, it wasn’t until the late 1990s and early 2000s that the first states began to seriously consider legalizing cannabis for medical use.

Cannabis Legalization Timeline:
  • 1996: California becomes the first state to legalize cannabis for medical use
  • 2001: Canada legalizes medical cannabis for authorized patients
  • 2012: Colorado and Washington become the first states to legalize cannabis for recreational use
  • 2013: Uruguay becomes the first country to fully legalize cannabis
  • 2014: Oregon and Alaska legalize recreational cannabis; Illinois becomes the 20th state to legalize medical cannabis
  • 2015: Puerto Rico legalizes medical cannabis
  • 2016: California, Nevada, Maine, and Massachusetts legalize recreational cannabis; Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida legalize medical cannabis
  • 2017: West Virginia and Louisiana legalize medical cannabis
  • 2018: Vermont becomes the first state to legalize cannabis for recreational use through the state legislature, rather than a ballot initiative; Oklahoma legalizes medical cannabis
  • 2019: Illinois becomes the first state to legalize recreational cannabis through the state legislature; New Jersey, New Mexico, and New York legalize medical cannabis; Colombia legalizes medical cannabis exports
  • 2020: Arizona, Montana, New Jersey, and South Dakota legalize recreational cannabis; Israel legalizes medical cannabis exports
  • 2021: Virginia becomes the first southern state to legalize recreational cannabis; Mexico legalizes recreational cannabis, becoming the world’s largest legal cannabis market by population; Ireland legalizes medical cannabis
  • 2022: France legalizes medical cannabis

Despite the growing momentum towards legalization, the US federal government has yet to fully embrace the movement. Cannabis remains illegal on a federal level, and businesses operating in the industry face significant legal and financial hurdles as a result. However, with more and more states legalizing cannabis each year, it seems only a matter of time before the federal government takes action as well.

Want to stay informed about the latest legalization news?

Subscribe to the Ganjapreneur community newsletter for our daily cannabis news updates and start getting your briefings!

Editor’s Picks

Social Equity: What Is It, And Is It Working?

In the cannabis industry, we often read about “social equity” and we see countless headlines discussing cannabis prohibition, America’s long history of injustice against marginalized communities, and thoughts for rectifying the past through equity programs. But while understanding our past and providing solutions for the future is core to change, I often wonder if a… Read More

How to Get the Most Out of B2B Cannabis Events

Business-to-business (B2B) cannabis conferences are an extremely useful resource for cannabis entrepreneurs at any stage of launching and/or operating their business. Whether you are attending your first-ever cannabis conference this year or you are returning to the events circuit after a pandemic-driven hiatus, this is a guide to help you get the most out of… Read More

Live Resin vs. Live Rosin: What’s the Difference?

Cannabis concentrates have proven to be one of the most rapidly-growing segments of the cannabis industry. Over the years, discoveries in cannabis extraction have largely driven industry expectations when it comes to determining a high-quality product — for example, the first CO2 extracts were praised as a replacement for butane-based products, while those same butane… Read More

Virginia Couple Selling Cannabis “Stashboxes” to Keep Drivers Safe From Open Container Laws

This article was written by Gaspard Le Dem (@GLD_Live on Twitter) and originally published by Outlaw Report.

Consuming cannabis may now be legal in Virginia, but getting caught with pot behind the wheel can still get you in trouble.

Under the commonwealth’s new laws, which went into effect on July 1, having an open container of cannabis in your car is considered a Class 4 misdemeanor. That’s Virginia’s lowest-level criminal offense, meaning you won’t get jail time, but you could receive a penalty of up to $250.

And here’s where things get tricky: An open container gives a judge “permissive inference”—the right to assume that you’ve consumed cannabis. That could lead to far more serious charges, such as driving under the influence.

But one Virginia couple from Suffolk wants to protect drivers from open container violations.

Sarah Morton and her husband, Ron, recently launched LOCKGREEN, a Black-owned company that sells cannabis “stashboxes” designed to prevent drivers from getting open container charges. Roughly the size of a lunchbox, the containers are equipped with a 3-digit locking mechanism, and are carbon-lined to prevent any cannabis odors from seeping out, according to the company’s website.

“Our mission is to educate people about the law and provide these stashboxes as a way to help them stay compliant with the law, and stay out of trouble,” Morton told The Outlaw Report.

A former consultant turned entrepreneur, Morton says she’s long been a cannabis advocate. Since 2017, she’s sat on the board for the Virginia chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). In the lead-up to July 1, Morton participated in many forums on legalization and organized educational events in her Hampton Roads community on Virginia’s new laws. She said she hopes the stashboxes can help pot users avoid unnecessary interactions with law enforcement.

“We know that the Black community has been so disproportionately affected by the War On Drugs,” she said. “If there’s any way we can stop these violations, we’re going to do it,” she continued.

Before moving to Virginia, Morton’s husband worked in the cannabis industry in Maryland and Colorado. He’s now pursuing a degree in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics at the University of Maryland’s School of Pharmacy, the nation’s first graduate program dedicated to studying medical pot.

Virginia code defines an open container as “any vessel containing marijuana or marijuana products, except the originally sealed manufacturer’s container.”

Whether or not a lockbox fits that definition is unclear. In general, experts agree it’s safer not to travel with cannabis in your car. But if you need to, NORML recommends keeping cannabis in a locked box or in your car’s trunk.

At around $50 a piece, LOCKGREEN stashboxes are now available for pre-order on the company’s website. Morton said she hopes to start shipping them by late August, though the pandemic could lead to manufacturing delays. She and her husband designed the stashboxes themselves, including the print on the front, a commemoration of legalization in the commonwealth.

“We went through so many different prototypes and different designs,” she said. “There was a lot of research, love, and intention that went into it.”

End


Leafly to Go Public on NASDAQ

Cannabis technology company Leafly Holdings Inc. announced on Monday plans to go public via a reverse takeover with Merida Merger Corp. Once finalized Leafly will trade on the NASDAQ under the “LFLY” symbol.

The transaction values the combined company at a fully diluted enterprise value of about $385 million and equity value of approximately $532 million, subject to any redemptions by Merida stockholders, the companies said in a press release.

Leafly CEO Yoko Miyashita said the transaction moves the company into its “next phase … creating more personalized consumer experiences, driving more value to [its] retail partners, amplifying brands on [the] platform, and further scaling [its] presence in local markets as legalization continues.

“For the past decade, we have focused on building a unique, legally compliant marketplace with an equal emphasis on educating consumers and enabling them to reserve cannabis products from legal, reputable providers. …  Our consumers recognize Leafly as one of the most trusted brands in cannabis, and we do not take that trust for granted. We are excited to partner with Merida’s deeply experienced team to create even more value for our consumers, partners and shareholders.” Miyashita in a statement

Leafly said that about 55% of North American retail cannabis licensees are currently subscribed to its marketplace and advertising services and boasts an audience of 10 million monthly unique visitors.

The company says it expects projected revenue of approximately $43 million in 2021E and $65 million in 2022E, representing about 52% annual growth with gross margins of about 88% as it further penetrates current markets and capitalizes on its position in newly legalized states on the East Coast, such as Connecticut and New York.

End


Roanoke, Virginia Bans Cannabis Use in City-Managed Housing

The Roanoke, Virginia Board of Commissioners has voted unanimously to prohibit cannabis useboth adult-use and medical usefrom public housing managed by the city’s Redevelopment and Housing Authority, WFXR reports. Current tenants will have to sign a lease addendum acknowledging the cannabis ban or face eviction if they refuse to sign it.

The policywhich takes effect 30 days following the votecomes less than a month after portions of the state’s Legislature-approved cannabis law took effect. Individual violations will be treated on an individual basis, the report says. The new rules ban cannabis consumption and possession, which are both legal in Virginia as of July 1.

Mark Loftis, a commercial litigation attorney, told WFXR that there “is a process to determine whether [a] violation is of sufficient seriousness to warrant an eviction” and the new policy is “subject to that same grievance procedure.”

A memo has already been sent to tenants warning them that the board was considering the new policy and a second memo detailing the newly-approved policy will also be provided.

The cannabis law also prompted some colleges in the state to update their code of conduct to ban cannabis use and possession on campus. In June, prior to the law taking effect, Virginia Tech officially banned cannabis use and possession over concerns not making the official change would put the university at risk of violating the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act, which could put their federal funding at risk. Off-campus cannabis use and possession is not included in the directive, so students 21-and-older who use or possess cannabis off school property would not be in violation of the new rules.

End


Chicago’s Green Thumb Industries Acquires Virginia’s Dharma Pharmaceuticals

Chicago, Illinois-based Green Thumb Industries (GTI) last week acquired Dharma Industriesone of Virginia’s four medical cannabis processing companies. Dharma is the only cannabis producer in Southwest Virginia, according to the Bristol Herald Courier.

GTI CEO and Founder Ben Kovler said that the acquisition in “a limited-license market with a population of nearly 8.5 million people … is a major win” for the company’s shareholders. The firm trades on the Canadian Securities Exchanges under the “GTII” symbol.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Expanding into the first state to pass adult-use cannabis in the Southeastern U.S. is an important milestone for Green Thumb and we are excited for the future.”Kovler in a press release

The deal increases GTI’s national presence to 13 states and 59 retail locations. The acquisition includes a production facility and dispensary in Abingdon with the opportunity to open five additional dispensaries in the Commonwealth.

Under Virginia’s adult-use cannabis law, existing medical cannabis operators will be able to obtain multiple recreational licenses by paying a $1 million fee to the Virginia Cannabis Equity Loan Fund, and the Virginia Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Fund, and if they submit plans for diversity, equity, and inclusion, according to the Herald Courier. GTI received approval for the deal from the Virginia Board of Pharmacy. The planned takeover was first announced in May.

Jennifer Dooley, GTI chief strategy officer, told the Herald Courier that Dharma’s previously announced plans for a dispensary in Salem are continuing.

Portions of Virginia’s adult-use cannabis law took effect on July 1, but, under the Legislature-approved law, sales are not expected to commence until January 2024.

End


Cannabis Possession, Use, and Cultivation in New Mexico Now Legal

Portions of New Mexico’s adult-use cannabis law take effect today and adults 21-and-older can now possess up to two ounces of cannabis flower, up to 16 grams of concentrates, and grow up to six plants at home under the legislation passed earlier this year in a special session called by Gov. Michelle Lujan (D).

By September, the state must form the Cannabis Regulatory Advisory Committee and begin issuing licenses by Jan. 1 with retail sales expected by April 2022, which will carry a 12 % tax, which will eventually rise to 18%. Cannabis businesses will pay 5 to 9% tax on gross receipts.

The reforms also include automatic expungement provisions for low-level cannabis crimes, which, according to state records, will benefit over 150,000 New Mexico citizens. The legislation includes a process allowing those in prison for cannabis crimes the possibility to appeal their convictions, NORML reports.

On the day House Bill 2 was signed, NORML State Policies Manager Carly Wolf said, “New Mexico will greatly benefit from this new revenue stream and the creation of thousands of jobs.”

“Most notably though, legalization will spare thousands of otherwise law-abiding residents from arrest and a criminal record, and the state’s new expungement law will help provide relief to many who are suffering from the stigma and other collateral consequences associated with a prior marijuana conviction.”Wolf in a blog post

With New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Virginia, and New Mexico all passing adult-use cannabis legislation, 2021 is shaping up to be a banner year for adult-use cannabis legalization. Provisions of Virginia’s and Connecticut’s cannabis reforms are set to take effect on July 1.

End


Rhode Island Senate Votes to Legalize Cannabis, House Vote Expected in Special Session

The Rhode Island Senate on Tuesday voted 29-9 to legalize cannabis in the state, moving the legislation on to the state House of Representatives, WPRI reports. The bill includes a 20% tax on adult-use cannabis sales and allows for home cultivation.

It marks the first time either chamber of the Rhode Island Senate voted on a broad cannabis legalization proposal.

House Speaker Joe Shekarchi (D) has already indicated that the body will not consider a cannabis legalization bill before the current session ends, but it could consider it in a special session in the fall, according to the report.

The bill did not include provisions submitted by Gov. Dan McKee, including removing language creating an independent Cannabis Control Commission. McKee called the creation of the commission “the main thing” he and lawmakers disagree on citing his opposition to “adding additional costs to government.” McKee proposed tasking the Department of Business Regulation’s Office of Cannabis Regulation overseeing the industry.

McKee took over as governor in March after his predecessor, Gina Raimondo, was confirmed as commerce secretary in President Joe Biden’s Administration. McKee had served as Raimondo’s lieutenant governor. In January, McKee said he thought it was time legalization happened in the state after opposing the reforms as recently as 2019.

Rhode Island and New Hampshire are the last two New England states that have not passed adult-use cannabis law reforms. On Tuesday Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) signed the lawmaker-approved bill, portions of whichincluding adult-use and possessiontake effect July 1.

End


Edmund DeVeaux: Pushing for Equitable Cannabis Opportunities in New Jersey

New Jersey’s cannabis legalization bid was a long-sought and hard-fought victory, only achieved through the collaboration of advocates, lobbyists, and lawmakers. As President of the New Jersey CannaBusiness Association — which works to promote jobs and growth in a sustainable, responsible cannabis industry — Edmund DeVeaux was closely attuned to the process.

In this episode of the Ganjapreneur.com podcast, Edmund joins our host TG Branfalt to discuss his life and work as a cannabis industry lobbyist, New Jersey’s exciting industry prospects, and his efforts to ensure fair and balanced cannabis industry opportunities for all. This interview also covers legalization in neighboring states including New York, the nature of political compromises, his advice for budding cannabis entrepreneurs, and more!

Note: This interview was recorded after New Jersey’s cannabis legalization initiative was approved by voters and lawmakers delivered a cannabis regulations bill to the governor, but before the governor officially signed the bill into law.


Listen to the podcast:


Read the transcript:

Commercial: Ganjapreneur is excited to announce the launch of our new YouTube series, THE FRESH CUT, hosted by Cara Wietstock.

Cara Wietstock: Hi, I’m Cara Wietstock, host of THE FRESH CUT by Ganjapreneur. In this interview series, we get straight to the source and speak with the real people working in the industry. In our first episode, I spend time with Nancy Southern, whose current mission is to educate seniors on cannabinoid medicine. She lets us know how to facilitate a comfortable retail setting for older adults and provides product recommendations directly from her own experience. Catch this and all future episodes on YouTube.

TG Branfalt: Hey, there. I’m your host, TG Branfalt. And thank you for listening to the Ganjapreneur.com podcast where we try to bring you actionable information and normalize cannabis through the stories of ganjapreneurs, activists, and industry stakeholders. Today, I am joined by a very, very interesting guest. His name is Edmund DeVeaux. He’s the president of the New Jersey CannaBusiness Association. He previously served as its policy director and worked in the New Jersey Treasury Department. He was also a commissioned officer in the US Army and is also a partner at the lobbying firm, Burton Trent Public Affairs. How are you doing this afternoon, Edmund?

Edmund DeVeaux: Oh, I’m doing great, Tim. Thanks so much for having me.

TG Branfalt: It’s really a pleasure. You have such an interesting background that I want to get right into it, man. Tell me about your background and how did that bring you to the cannabis space?

Edmund DeVeaux: Oh, wow. Well, public policy is my first love and I have always been in public policy. In fact, when I say that, I even include my years as a commissioned officer because that’s public policy. You get your orders from Washington, ultimately. So, I’ve always been in public policy and spend a number of years in the private sector and in the public sector. So one day, I decided to join a very good friend of mine at Burton Trent Public Affairs. I walked in the door as its executive vice president.

TG Branfalt: Wow.

Edmund DeVeaux: You fast forward, and four years ago, Burton Trent accompanied New Jersey‘s legislative delegation out west to pick out cannabis legalization. We were with senators and members of our assembly in Colorado and in Nevada. When we came back to our Trenton office, we sat around the coffee table and we said, “Look, this is going to be big. We have to get in this in a big way. What are we going to do?” So we co-created the New Jersey CannaBusiness Association, the state’s first and largest trade association built on the cannabis industry.

But it’s funny, Tim, even before we all agreed to do that, we went home for the weekend. I always like to share this part because look, I’m not a real cannabis user and so people will question, “Well, why are you doing this?” And so, we went home over the weekend and I shared it with my daughters that I was thinking about doing this, shared it with my parents.

TG Branfalt: Wow.

Edmund DeVeaux: I even went to a dear friend who’s a member of the clergy. I said, “Look, if you don’t think that this is a good idea, please do share it and I’ll make my decisions accordingly.” And my good friend simply asked me one question. He says, “Well, why are you doing it?” And I replied, “Because I want it done right. I want it done right because I am a parent. I want it done right because I am an officer in my church. I want it done right because I am active in my community.” I can’t leave such serious policy up to just anybody, right? It’s the old adage, “If you don’t vote, you can’t complain.”

TG Branfalt: Yeah.

Edmund DeVeaux: So if I’m not part of this policymaking, then how can I complain about what occurs? That was the decision, Tim.

TG Branfalt: How did those very important people in your life react? What was the reaction? Did anyone say you’re out of your mind?

Edmund DeVeaux: No. No, in fact, it was funny. I got cool points with my youngest daughter. And so, it was my oldest daughter who followed me into the policy world, she said, “Wow, that sounds neat.” And my parents, they just said, “Look, we grew up at a time when it was reefer and you were smoking dope.” They said, “Look, if you think it’s a good idea, we like the fact that… Look, you’re our son. You’re pretty smart. Yeah, we trust you.” And when it came to asking my good friend in, in the clergy, he basically said, “Look, whether you know it or not, we’ve had members of our congregation who were cancer patients-“

TG Branfalt: Wow.

Edmund DeVeaux: “… who are seniors who got their medical cards.” And sure enough, I’m thinking back about them, we lost one or two of those members, but their last days were improved. Their quality of life was improved because of cannabis. So he was just like all over it. And so it made it simple. When we got back to the office and I think my partners were waiting for me to say I was in and I said it. So we were good to go. Thus, the New Jersey CannaBusiness Association.

TG Branfalt: When you say, “I wanted this to be done right.” What is done right look like to Edmund DeVeaux?

Edmund DeVeaux: When we look at policy and done right, first and foremost, for me being a man of color, I’m African-American for those folks that can’t see me and can’t tell by my voice. I’m African-American. And I do know because of family members and friends that were victims of the war on drugs, they weren’t victim of drugs, they were victims of the war on drugs. And I saw the unfair treatment of my friends and family. I saw what happened to certain people when they didn’t have a choice of cannabis versus other substances. So getting it done right clearly was expungement, long answer to expungement and reversal of the policies that not only demonized cannabis, but weaponized cannabis. And so, that’s getting it done, right.

But getting it done right means because I am a parent and because I am active in my community with members of the youth groups, I want to make sure that, number one, that they can wait until they’re 21 to make a reasonable decision about what substances they want to choose to use. And then when they choose, it’s got to be safe. You know, I remember back when it was really dangerous, and it’s only gotten more dangerous if you were buying your cannabis in the black market. You just really didn’t know what you were getting. It went the spectrum, Tim, from either it was weak and it was stemmy, right, or seeds and was no good.

TG Branfalt: Yeah.

Edmund DeVeaux: Or it went in the complete other direction and it was dangerous, right? Whether it was embalming fluid or something else. And so, I want it done right because I want it safe. So even if you’ve got it, God forbid, you should be a minor and somehow get ahold of it, at least we know it came from a regulated market.

TG Branfalt: You talked about the weaponization of cannabis laws and I got chills just because I am a white guy and we got away with a lot. So to hear it with such strong sort of terms is chilling to me. In the legislation that was approved, and we’ll talk about sort of where that process is kind of a mess right now, talk to me about the social equity provisions that are included in that legislation. What is the opinion of your association with regard to those proposed rules?

Edmund DeVeaux: Well, it’s funny, this was an evolutionary process. When Governor Murphy first took office back in 2017, he said, “First 100 days, right, we’re going to legalize cannabis in New Jersey.”

TG Branfalt: Yeah.

Edmund DeVeaux: Well, we got to 100 days and the 100 days turned into 200 days, turned into 365 and so on. In those early days, the conversation did circle around social equity, social justice, economic parity. And believe it or not, the early iterations of the legislation didn’t touch it. And it wasn’t until …

TG Branfalt: Wow.

Edmund DeVeaux: Well, it wasn’t until we got to this last iteration. I know a lot of people were unhappy because it didn’t quite go far enough. Look, I get that. But being in public policy in my whole life, you got to start somewhere. So fortunately, what did occur in the current legalization bill is that we do have a class of future applicants, minority, women, and veterans. So we got that in there. We got expungement in the bills as well. We got legalization up to six ounces. Then anything after that… And you’re talking about it’s something on par with a traffic ticket, right?

TG Branfalt: Yeah.

Edmund DeVeaux: We took away the criminality of the substance. So when we start talking about social equity, could it have gone farther? Absolutely. But are we angry that it didn’t go further? No, we’re not because we can always pick it up from there.

TG Branfalt: You are a lobbyist, and in this industry, that is a dirty term. What role do lobbyists have in the cannabis space and moreover, what role should they have?

Edmund DeVeaux: You know, that’s a great question because I do get that a lot especially with speaking to high school students who ask, “Well, what is a lobbyist?” Right? And so, you have the fun telling them, “Well, the term actually was generated because people were waiting in lobbies, right?

TG Branfalt: Yep.

Edmund DeVeaux: That’s how you stoke the conversation. But more importantly, and I know this is a bit of a digression, I asked people, I said, “Do you realize that you were a lobbyist by the age of two? You were negotiating for that cookie, right? You were negotiating getting that sweet. You were negotiating. And that’s what you did by the age of two, you are certified lobbyists.” And that’s what everybody is.

TG Branfalt: Waiting in the hallway.

Edmund DeVeaux: Waiting in the hallway. Right. Waiting in the doorway of that kitchen, right? So being a lobbyist, it’s all about getting to yes. It’s how do you get to yes. And that is the positive aspect of being a lobbyist, right? If the answer’s always no, then that creates challenges, it creates hurdles, it creates hard feelings. My opinion and many of the other good lobbyists, try to figure out how do we get to yes. Compromise is not a dirty word, and so you get to yes. And so, with the cannabis space, it has always been about getting to yes. It’s always been about how do we get to legalization. How do we get a medical program? How do you get to yes? You’re talking to legislators who many are my age and older who grew up thinking that all drugs are bad, right?

TG Branfalt: Yep.

Edmund DeVeaux: We have younger legislators and policymakers who were part of the D.A.R.E. Program, right? The Drug Awareness and Resistance Education. They were part of D.A.R.E. and D.A.R.E. said, “All drugs are bad.” right? “Don’t do it.”

TG Branfalt: Meanwhile, it made me more curious about them, right?

Edmund DeVeaux: Right. Yeah. So much for the D.A.R.E Program and the D.A.R.E. dog, right? So, you got that stuff going on and so in the lobby space, in the cannabis industry, we have been successful nationally by getting to yes. In over 30 states, we got to yes. In our medical programs, we got to yes. It makes sense, right? We’re getting to yes in terms of the federal government, right? You get the Sessions Memo which shocked everyone which was the successor to the Cole Memo, where even though the AG of the United States, the Attorney General of the United States says, “Back off of cannabis convictions. You’ve got better things to do.” So we’re getting it right. We’re getting to yes.

TG Branfalt: The legalization bill of course was basically approved by voters after lawmakers approved that bill to go to the ballot. Since then, it’s had an up and down. We expected it to be signed. And then it went down again when there was some issues with penalties for children or lack thereof. They put out another version of the bill. And then the sponsors, Scutari, who’s been a big player in this since the beginning, him and another lawmaker and I’m forgetting the name right now, but they pulled that bill. So where are we right now? How are members of your association weathering this legislative rollercoaster?

Edmund DeVeaux: Well, it’s interesting. Go back two years and everyone thought that it was never going to happen. We had members of the association who more or less were trying to figure out if they should stay as members of the association.

TG Branfalt: Interesting.

Edmund DeVeaux: They were saying, “Look, New Jersey isn’t going to do it. New York and Pennsylvania are going to beat us to it. We had requests for applications go out. We had applicants get held up in court. Things really weren’t looking good.” The fact that the legislature punted to the voters was still yet another challenging sign. But look, the voters overwhelmingly said, “Cannabis is a legitimate business. Get it up and running, get adult-use up and running.” So here we are, got the legalization bill passed through both houses, gets to the governor’s desk and the governor doesn’t sign it. Governor doesn’t sign it and he says, “Well, look, talking about not going far enough, you’re not going far enough with respect to making sure that there are penalties in place for minors because there are penalties if a minor gets caught with alcohol, there’s got to be penalties if a minor gets caught with cannabis.”

TG Branfalt: Yeah.

Edmund DeVeaux: We have to make it clear from the governor’s perspective. And he’s not wrong, that just because we use the term legalized, it’s not legalized for everybody, right?

TG Branfalt: Yeah.

Edmund DeVeaux: It’s legalized for 21 and older. In fact, we just had a recent conversation when you read the summary of the bill, the legalization bill. And the bill uses the term certain adults. Somebody asked me, “Well, what’s a certain adult? I said, “When you’re 18, you’re legally an adult.” Therefore, see, the nuances of the political language, nuances of policy, certain adults, 21 and older. The governor wanted to make it clear that legalization was not going to be this tossed around term, much like recreation, right? We’re learning not to use the term recreational because it takes away the seriousness of what you’re about to do.

Here’s the dilemma. The short of it is, governor wants something in place protecting the kids, right? It’s all about the kids, it’s all about the children. Now, the legislature says, “We’ve done enough. Sign the bill,” right? “Sign the legalization bill. We’ve done enough.” And so, now we’re at this stalemate. And they’re not wrong. They really have. They’ve worked on this thing. They fought in both houses. They fought in the Senate. They fought in the Assembly scrambling to get votes. They kicked it to the voters, gets done, and you’re still fighting to get the language. You get it through with both houses, so they’re not wrong either. So we’re at this point now where everyone is principled on this, which is kind of odd, right? But everyone is principled, and so, we’re stuck.

Now that being said, here’s a little technical put the dime in the meter, after the bill passes, after any legislation passes, if the governor doesn’t sign it within 45 days, it automatically goes to the books. It automatically becomes a law.

TG Branfalt: Yeah.

Edmund DeVeaux: But the exception to that is if the governor vetoes the legislation. So now we started the clock and we’re just a couple of weeks away from 45 days. Does the governor not sign it, not veto it and just allow it to become legislation or law? Or does he veto it? In which case, that’s really not a good look. Look, the bookies are out from who you’re betting on.

TG Branfalt: In New Jersey to override a veto, does it require 2/3?

Edmund DeVeaux: Yes.

TG Branfalt: Do you know if the appetite is there for 2/3 of lawmakers?

Edmund DeVeaux: You know what? Let me rethink that. Because in New Jersey, it’s kind of interesting. The governor can veto… Yeah, I believe it is 2/3 as opposed to a simple majority.

TG Branfalt: Yeah.

Edmund DeVeaux: Right, to change it. I think the willingness will be there. I think they could. I think they would.

TG Branfalt: Okay. In a previous interview, you said that the New Jersey CannaBusiness Association will work to support an industry without “artificial barriers”. I found that to be a very interesting term that I hadn’t really heard from anybody before. Can you explain what you mean by the term artificial barriers and what the association is advocating with regard to these barriers?

Edmund DeVeaux: The New Jersey CannaBusiness Association is, I’ve dubbed it the Cannabis Chamber of Commerce. We represent all of the businesses, not just the people who touch the flower, but all of the ancillary businesses as well. As the Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, what we have to make sure is that everyone has an opportunity to be part of this responsible, sustainable, and profitable industry. When we talk about artificial barriers, you look at the application processes where just currently under the medical program, it costs thousands, tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars to muster an application based on the way things are now. It doesn’t need to be that way. You’re stifling the industry. You’re clearly stifling communities of color and disadvantaged communities when you create these financial barriers that just don’t need to exist.

Look at Oklahoma. Oklahoma, you apply for a license, it costs you a couple of thousand dollars and you get a license, of course, after background checks. But why can’t New Jersey be that way, right? Why can’t we just say a cannabis operation is like a CVS. You don’t put CVS through the ringer like this, right? You don’t put any food chain through the ringer. Stop creating these hurdles that are just unnecessary. We are missing out on the possible tax revenue. We’re missing out on regenerating neighborhoods. We’re missing out on doing all of these great things because we think we need to do these financial hoops and financial hurdles. Those are artificial barriers. They’re barriers to entry into the industry.

TG Branfalt: Keeping on the subject of businesses, how important is keeping the industry in the hands of small businesses or putting cannabusinesses in the hands of smaller entrepreneurs specifically in New Jersey? How will the New Jersey CannaBusiness Association work to this end? I think that’s what a lot of people worry about when we’re talking about lobbyists and we’re talking that it’s only the big companies that can afford the big guys to go in there and get that yes. What’s your take on that?

Edmund DeVeaux: No, that’s great. In fact, my predecessor, Scott Rudder, he was also my partner at Burton Trent. Scott came up with the phrase, “Main Street before Wall Street,” right? We definitely have to support local business. We have to make sure that the person living in a community has the opportunity to bring that investment to their community. They have to be able to keep that dollar circulating in that community, right? You can’t have a dollar or $5 come into the community and then exit that community in a short period of time because a larger out-of-state operator is sending its profits back to Illinois, or back to Nevada, or back to Colorado. It does not benefit New Jersey. It doesn’t benefit the neighborhoods that we’re trying to positively effect.

What we really need to do as an association and we’ve taken this stance, we’re talking about, number one, lowering that financial bar to entry. Lower it, get people involved. Number two, Main Street before Wall Street — make sure that if I’m in a neighborhood, I can invest in my neighborhood, that I can get to the storefront and I can rent that storefront or buy it and raise my business, stand up a business, especially cannabis. Why not? And so, when you look at the landscape of New Jersey and you see vacant strip malls now.

TG Branfalt: Yeah.

Edmund DeVeaux: The large shopping malls are going away. There is a need to create opportunity locally and make sure that we benefit the local participants before we start benefiting the out-of-state participants.

TG Branfalt: You now gave me this vision of strip malls full of dispensaries or indoor malls full of dispensaries in New Jersey. That would be really exciting. Is it surprising to you that New Jersey beat out more liberal Eastern states to the punch on this? You had said earlier such as New York, right? We’ve had Cuomo for decades now it seems. Connecticut, which has had democratic leadership since 2010. And I mean, New Jersey has only had one Republican governor since 2002, but it was Chris Christie who hates cannabis.

Edmund DeVeaux: That’s right.

TG Branfalt: What was it like for you to watch, dude, small New Jersey beat out their big liberal counterparts?

Edmund DeVeaux: You know, Tim, I use the phrase, “We’re the tortoise that beat the hare.” People looked at us and we were the last… No one was betting on us to pull this off, right?

TG Branfalt: Yeah.

Edmund DeVeaux: It was a perfect storm. You had New York and the fact that the governor-

TG Branfalt: They tried three times in a row?

Edmund DeVeaux: I mean, look, I was involved with discussions in New York. I appeared on panels in New York, and I’m sitting there next to governor’s aides. And they’re like, “Look, it’s in the budget bill. It’s going to happen in April. It’s going to happen in April.” Never happened. It never happened. At least in New Jersey, we kept plugging along like the tortoise, right? Sometimes, we got tucked in our shell, but by and large, we just kept plugging along. And so when we kicked it over to the voters, when the legislature did that, what better way to take your chances, right, if you can’t get the votes.

And so, all of the work that was going into the polling, the pre polling was telling us, “The voters are for this.” And so, even if you were opposed to cannabis being legalized, the voters were telling you through all of the polling data, conservative communities, liberal communities. And sure enough, cannabis legalization passed in every single town. Passed in every town.

TG Branfalt: In every town?

Edmund DeVeaux: Every town. Every town voted yes by majority.

TG Branfalt: Wow.

Edmund DeVeaux: And so, when you look at that, New Jersey beat New York, beats Pennsylvania to the punch simply because we just kept going at it.

TG Branfalt: I mean, you guys are fortunate to have a ballot initiative process. I mean, in order for a ballot initiative to happen in New York, it has to be a constitutional amendment. It’s impossible, basically.

What is your vision and that of your organization for the New Jersey cannabis industry? You get the headstart on New York. You’re definitely going to get a lot of downstate New Yorkers coming over the same way that our sub-staters go to Maine and Massachusetts. What does it look like to you?

Edmund DeVeaux: Here’s what I think. I never stopped thinking, of course, being a New Jersey executive, right? I worked for multinational corporations and I totally understand, well, I try to understand business, right? We are a regional economy, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania.

TG Branfalt: Yep.

Edmund DeVeaux: Whether you like it or not, everything is based on what happens in our region. Our hub, our Tri-state area is what drives the nation. And so, you can’t just think in a vacuum, Tim. This has got to be a, “Well, what happens when New York gets it across the finish line? What happens when?” So from a New Jersey standpoint, the things that I think we do is we definitely have to be careful with the tax issue. Don’t overtax the product. You have to be creative with respect to standing up the industry, making sure that groups like my membership, like the association’s membership, everyone gets a shot. Whether you’re in IT, whether you’re in engineering, architecture, whether you’re in real estate, everybody’s got to get a shot.

And so you create the opportunities for everyone to get a piece because all of those companies in New Jersey will probably have some footing in New York. They’ll have some footing in Pennsylvania. And you know darn well that New York companies are looking and they’re trying to figure out ways to get in. It’s really creating a platform, making sure that the scaffolding is there when you’re building this thing so that all of these companies, not just the people who touch the flower, but the ancillary businesses are getting a shot at growing their businesses. And you do it from a regional perspective, right? Knowing that you’ve got to be competitive.

TG Branfalt: In your role with the cannabis association, are you seeing a lot of sort of inquiry from more traditional, it could be ancillary companies, coming to you and saying, “Hey, what could I do here?” Are you seeing a lot of that?

Edmund DeVeaux: Mm-hmm (affirmative). We are. We’ve gotten calls from people from out of state who were looking and they have said, “Look, I want to do cultivation. I want to do manufacturing. I want to do retail.” And then I do get the calls, “I’m in security. I’ve got a security firm. I do delivery. I’ve got all of these great business models.” And so yeah, they are here and they are joining the association, which is really neat. We are getting this interest. As the Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, it’s making it great, because we actually get to talk business. I would say up until November of last year, the social justice discussion, the economic parody discussion and the commerce discussions were all being done mutually exclusive. People were either talking about social justice or they were talking about commerce.

Thank goodness, as of November 3rd, 2020, these conversations are now inclusive. So now, I get the benefit of talking about commerce and social justice and economic parody, not or. And so, when all of these companies are calling and reaching out trying to figure out if New Jersey, not if, but how they do New Jersey, I get to have that conversation. “Are you a Black-owned business or a woman-owned business? If you’re a veteran, let’s talk about our history,” right? And so, we get to talk about that. Also, from a policy, from a lobbying standpoint, how do I create the framework? How do I get to yes so that these businesses can get in, get stood up and be profitable.

TG Branfalt: I love your energy, man. You’re just smiling the entire time you’re talking. It might seem some sort of like benign to a lot of people, but to me, who does a lot of these conversations, I mean, it’s really something special to see the joy in your face. You can tell you’re very excited about building this industry and working towards these goals that you’ve set throughout. When somebody comes to you from the industry or from outside the industry and says, “Edmund, how can I be successful in the cannabis space?” What’s your advice for those people?

Edmund DeVeaux: Number one, be patient because it is a brand new industry. I do smile because this is just an amazing time. Tim, we’re making history. When was the last time this country saw an industry from the ground up? It’s been decades. And so, here we are. So number one, be patient, because there’s going to be several iterations as to how we create the industry. Patience is number one. Number two, and I do love this about being a lobbyist and having friends that are in the lobbying industry and business consultancy space. It’s exciting because create teams, create networks, be able to pivot. We’re talking cannabis today, tomorrow, we might be talking hemp.

TG Branfalt: Yeah.

Edmund DeVeaux: Let’s be able to pivot, create these relationships. Because look, as a lobbyist, I love relationships, right?

TG Branfalt: That’s how it goes, but yes.

Edmund DeVeaux: Especially ones you don’t have to pay for. So yeah, be patient, build your networks, build your business wisely and be flexible.

TG Branfalt: This has been really enlightening and fun conversation, man. I really appreciate you taking the time to be on the show. I was fortunate with having a great conversation with you prior to this. It’s really great to meet you and to have you as a guest. Where can people find out more about the New Jersey CannaBusiness Association and more about you?

Edmund DeVeaux: Oh, well, the website is www.newjerseycannabusiness. You spell out New Jersey, and cannabusiness is C-A-N-N-A, business, newjerseycannabusiness.com. My email is ed — ed@newjerseycannabusiness.com. Please, feel free to reach out, check out our website. In fact, we’re going to be redoing it. I got an intern. I got a college intern. I’m going to let her redo the website. It’s going to be cool.

TG Branfalt: That’s great for the resume. I’m going to send some of my students your way. They could be your communications interns. I know a couple.

Edmund DeVeaux: Yes, feel free.

TG Branfalt: That’s Edmund DeVeaux. He’s the president of the New Jersey CannaBusiness Association. He previously served as its policy director and worked in the State Treasury Department. He was also a commissioned officer in the US Army and is a partner at lobbying firm, Burton Trent Public Affairs. Edmund DeVeaux, thank you so much for being on the show. I look forward to seeing what role you play, which probably going to be an out-sized one, in building New Jersey’s industry. Really appreciate it.

Edmund DeVeaux: Tim, thank you for having me. A pleasure.

TG Branfalt: You can find more episodes of the Ganjapreneur.com podcast in the podcast section of Ganjapreneur.com on Spotify and in the Apple iTunes store. On the Ganjapreneur.com website, you’ll find the latest cannabis news and cannabis jobs updated daily along with transcripts of this podcast. You can also download the Ganjapreneur.com app in iTunes and Google play. This episode was engineered by Trim Media House. I’ve been your host, TG Branfalt.

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UConn Offering Online Cannabis Cultivation Courses

The University of Connecticut this summer will offer non-degree online courses in basic and advanced cannabis cultivation. The offering comes after the university launched an introductory online cannabis horticulture class in 2019.

Gerald Berkowitz, a professor of plant science in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, said the UConn students “see career potential and want to gain experience” in the field, while “businesses need highly trained scientists to support the growth” of the industry.

“By offering more and more targeted courses, we can help both groups. It’s a win-win. … It’s a great opportunity for UConn to capitalize on an area of academics that’s really just developing. We’re blazing new ground.” – Berkowitz, in a press release

Indrajeet Chaubey, dean of the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, said there was “tremendous demand from students and industry” for the courses, noting that the university’s faculty have “expertise across the cannabis spectrum.”

Matthew DeBacco, the lead instructor of UConn’s courses and an adjunct plant science instructor, described the program as a “choose your own adventure” model that allows students to dig deeper on the aspects that most interest them, give them greater insight into certain parts of the process, including allowing how to propagate from seeds or clones, and aspects of growing indoors versus outdoors.

The Advanced Cannabis Horticulture: Production and Industry course will be offered during the summer session from July 12 to August 13. They require no pre-requisites and are accessible to anyone in the world.

The Connecticut Legislature’s Judiciary Committee last week approved an adult-use proposal offered by Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont, who had called for the reforms during his January State of the State address.

Connecticut is bordered by Massachusetts, which legalized cannabis for adults in 2016, and New York which approved the reforms last month.

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Cannabis/Hemp Drinks: Intersecting the ‘Consciously Sober’ and ‘Drinks with Benefits’ Macro-Trends

Americans’ beverage preferences have always changed over time but never quite as rapidly as they have in recent years. Today, people of all ages choose different drinks depending on varying “use occasions.” Consumers are open to trying new beverage options and entrepreneurs have become increasingly adept at tapping into this flexibility through creative marketing.

There are several current trends within the overall beverage market but two of the most relevant to the cannabis/hemp industry are the growing number of people who are becoming “Consciously Sober” and the even greater number who opt for “Drinks with Benefits.”

The term “Consciously Sober,” also sometimes called “Sober Curious,” describes individuals who are more mindful about the decision to drink alcohol. These consumers are not alcoholics who have a dangerous problem and must completely abstain from alcohol. Instead, the Consciously Sober are people who choose to question the need to consume alcohol at every social occasion and have discovered personal lifestyle benefits from drinking less or not at all.

The term “Drinks with Benefits” references beverages that deliver desirable ingredients along with hydration. Originally simple, plain bottled water was the ultimate healthy drink without artificial flavors, heavy sugar, and lab-generated colors. But eventually, consumers and the entrepreneurs who serve them realized water could also be the ideal vehicle for delivering added benefits. Why not deliver good stuff with the water you need to consume anyway?

These social movements began small but gained momentum as consumers experimented with the burgeoning variety of beverages. They started choosing different beverages depending on whether they wanted a certain taste, health benefits, more energy in the afternoon, or a good night’s sleep. They also began to read labels. More knowledge about what was in beverages led a growing number of consumers to look for products with ingredients they wanted — or wanted to avoid.

How can Cannabis/Hemp brand owners position their products to benefit from these trends?

Hemp can be creatively positioned in a variety of ways to appeal to the non-alcoholic crowd. Bar and restaurant owners do not want to lose the revenue from alcohol but can charge more for drinks delivering flavor, function, or fun. Perhaps a bartender uses a hemp powder to enhance a mocktail in a “sober bar?” Maybe they prefer to use hemp in a liquid format like bitters where a dash is added for an additional charge. Shouldn’t the designated driver enjoy a good drink as well? Maybe something to help her chill while the alcohol drinkers tell bad jokes?

Cannabinoid-infused beverages are a rapidly growing segment in this new and explosively popular industry.

Hemp could also be the featured ingredient in a premixed beverage format for use at home or at a restaurant. Not surprisingly, a few enterprising brand developers are already pioneering this nascent market. Aplós is a new premixed hemp-based beverage which describes itself as a “plant-based, non-alcohol spirit, that calms and uplifts, without the negative side effects of alcohol.” Another take on the market from Oregon is Aurora, which was “created for an inspired aperitif experience that evokes balance and restoration without intoxication.” In other words, both of these woman-owned brands are delivering a fun, good-tasting social experience without the alcohol.

Rather than alcohol-free, what about “alcohol alternative” beverages with cannabis extract containing THC? A growing number of consumers seek the relaxation or recreational effects of alcohol but want to avoid hangovers and other unhealthy side effects. There are certainly more than a few companies exploring this market, most notably Constellation Brands with their investment in Canopy. It is certain other wine, beer, and spirits purveyors will jump into the fray once the regulatory environment is deemed safe. But the competition from established beverage giants shouldn’t prevent smaller companies from being successful long term. After all, craft breweries have been giving the beer giants fits for years and small distilleries are having success competing with the international liquor powerhouses.

An early “trend within the trend” appears to be making beverages with small or “micro-doses” of THC. Part of this is consumer preference as people want cannabis to elevate their social experiences and not hinder their good time. The other driving force for adding a small amount of THC to a beverage is brand owners want to sell multi-packs and bar owners prefer having the opportunity to sell several drinks instead of just one.

The first significant marketing influencers for cannabis drink brands are “celebrity mixologists” as well as famous users who initially became noted for reasons other than cannabis. Mixologists are known for their ability to create great-tasting cocktails and their followers rely upon them to “curate” their drinking experience. This trust should naturally translate to cannabis drinks as well. Many famous users ranging from Snoop Dogg, Willie Nelson, Tommy Chong, and Seth Rogen are already in the market with a variety of products. And Martha Stewart of all people has a CBD line!

How big is the opportunity?

Currently, the global cannabis beverage market is heavily fragmented due in part to the absence of larger traditional beverage companies from the segment. But even without the participation of the CPG giants, the market is estimated to reach $2.8 billion by 2025 on the basis of consumer demand.

The market will draw users from the pharmaceutical industry who will use hemp and cannabis to replace both over-the-counter and prescription pain and sleep medication. Users will also migrate from the alcohol market. Early data indicates beer and wine purchase orders have declined by around 15.0% in the last 10 years due to consumers’ use of cannabis.

A study jointly conducted by the Universities of Georgia and Connecticut suggests millennial populations are currently the primary consumers of cannabis beverages but the use should spread to more age groups with time. After all, Baby Boomers are the cohort with the most aches and pains and who have the most trouble sleeping! Boomers are currently frequent users of marijuana in other formats and the development of beverage formats appealing to the older demographic will likely be the key to reaching more of this group.

Making a Successful Beverage Brand

The most important and perhaps the trickiest part of creating a successful cannabis/hemp brand is formulating a functional beverage that also tastes great. This is because both hemp and cannabis react differently with varying flavor components. Carbonation can heighten the “peppery” effect of the cannabinoids. Glass, aluminum, and PET packaging have plusses and minuses. Getting it right requires coordinating all the moving parts so entrepreneurs will find there is a real benefit to working with professionals with practical beverage experience in this relatively new market.

Your hemp/cannabis extract supplier must be ready to work closely with you to “mass customize” their offerings because a certain formulation that works wonderfully in one type of beverage can be a total dud in another. Farmington Research has worked with entrepreneurs on an amazing range of applications including juices, teas, drinks shots, natural spring waters, sparkling waters, and drink powder sticks. Every single format has required a custom solution – even among flavor variations within a product lineup. We’d be glad to send you a sample of extract used in hemp/cannabis drinks but, more importantly, we’d love to work on your project in its earliest stages so we can help you create a great product!

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