Few Using Services Provided Under Oregon’s Drug Decriminalization Law

9/27/2022

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Following the drug law reforms in Oregon – which decriminalized possession of all drugs and sent millions of dollars to drug treatment programs – few individuals are utilizing services to help them with their addictions, according to an Associated Press report. According to Oregon Health Authority (OHA) figures, of 16,000 people who accessed services during the first year of decriminalization, only 0.85% entered treatment, 60% received “harm reduction” like syringe exchanges and overdose medications, 15% got housing assistance, and 12% obtained peer support.

Steve Allen, behavioral health director of the OHA, said during testimony before lawmakers last week that the state has sent more than $302 million to facilities to help people with their addiction or help them use drugs safely, such as needle exchanges.

The voter-approved law is the first of its kind in the nation and supporters argued that decriminalization would keep people out of prison and urge them to seek treatment; however, since the passage of the reforms, fatal overdoses increased by nearly 20% over the previous year, the report says.

Under the law, people caught possessing drugs receive a citation, with the maximum $100 fine waived if they call a hotline for a health assessment. However, an investigation by Oregon Public Broadcasting found that most of the more than 3,100 tickets issued so far have been ignored and few people have called the hotline.

During his testimony to lawmakers, Tera Hurst, executive director of Oregon Health Justice Recovery Alliance, which is focused on implementing the voter-approved law, called the millions of dollars in funding – which comes from cannabis taxes – a “pivotal moment” and that as the program is still in its nascent stages it’s important to focus on “just building a system of care to make sure that people who need access can get access.”

“Measure 110 is launching,” he said, “and will provide critical supports and services for people, families, and communities.” 

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Nation’s Largest B2B Event for BIPOC Cannabis Professionals Returns to New Orleans

9/27/2022

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From November 3-5, Black CannaBiz Expo will feature 40+ influential speakers and welcomes company partners including Curaleaf, Wana Brands, 5th House Farms, Cresco Labs, and others

NEW ORLEANS, September 27, 2022 – Black CannaBusiness Conference LLC is pleased to announce the third annual Black CannaBusiness Expo & Conference (“Black CannaBiz Expo”), the only B2B conference for Black and Brown professionals in cannabis. The event, which attracts the largest gathering of BIPOC cannabis professionals, takes place November 3-5, 2022 in New Orleans to focus on the Southern Gulf Coast as regional changes in cannabis legalization take hold.

Black CannaBiz Expo & Conference is a first-of-its-kind networking, education and career-advancing conference and expo specifically curated for BIPOC individuals in the cannabis space. The business community-focused conference will feature keynote addresses and fast-paced workshops and break out sessions presented on an open platform for quick, tangible takeaways. More than 40 influential speakers will take the stage for enlightening and educational discussions focused on the state of BIPOC cannabis business, from social equity and policy, to capital funding and cultivation.

Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with solution providers and go-to experts in cannabis during the Black Cannabiz Expo, the largest expo for BIPOC exhibitors.

“As we head into our third year, we are excited to be introducing new speakers as well as unique and exciting networking and educational opportunities for our exhibitors and attendees,” said Kristi Price, Founder and CEO of Black CannaBiz Expo. “Our goal every year is to create a safe and productive place not only for people of color, but for everybody in the cannabis industry that believes in inclusion and justice.

“At Curaleaf, we are looking for ways to continue expanding access to our company and the cannabis industry at large,” said Raheem Uqdah, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at Curaleaf. “Minority communities have shouldered the burden of cannabis’ prohibition and deserve to reap the benefits of regulation both medically and financially. We are honored to be a part of the Black CannaBiz Expo and its continued success as a hub of learning and networking for BIPOC professionals who are looking to be a part of this incredible industry.”

Adding to the depth of the event, is the list of keynote and featured speakers that includes some of the best and brightest BIPOC voices in cannabis. The conference is excited to announce Chris Ball, the Founder of Ball Family Farms, Inc., the first vertically integrated, minority-owned, Social Equity commercial cannabis facility in Los Angeles, Toi Hutchinson President and Ceo at Marijuana Policy Project and Gary Chambers Jr., US Senate candidate and , native son of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The event will also welcome Mr. John Bailey, CEO & Principal of The Bailey Consulting Network, Chair of the Colorado Black Round Table and the Founder and Lead Convener of the Black Cannabis Equity Initiative (BCEI).

Black CannaBiz Expo will be hosted at the recently renovated, state-of-the-art Ernest M. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased on the Black CannaBiz Expo website. To learn more about attending, exhibiting, sponsoring or speaking at Black CannaCon, please visit https://blackcannabizexpo.com or email support@blackcannabusiness.com. Submissions for speaker proposals close September 30th, 2022 and applications can be found here.

About Black CannaBusiness Magazine
Black CannaBusiness Magazine is a subsidiary of KRMA Media Inc, a Black woman-owned multi-media company helping Black professionals accelerate their involvement in the cannabis industry through the distribution of curated B2B content, the production of experiential events and the development of original video programming. Our sponsors prioritize diversity and are committed to doing their part to create a more inclusive industry.

About Curaleaf
Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (CSE: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) (“Curaleaf”) is a leading international provider of consumer products in cannabis with a mission to improve lives by providing clarity around cannabis and confidence around consumption. As a high-growth cannabis company known for quality, expertise and reliability, the Company and its brands, including Curaleaf and Select, provide industry-leading service, product selection and accessibility across the medical and adult-use markets. In the United States, Curaleaf currently operates in 21 states with 136 dispensaries, 26 cultivation sites, and employs over 6,000 team members. Curaleaf International is the largest vertically integrated cannabis company in Europe with a unique supply and distribution network throughout the European market, bringing together pioneering science and research with cutting-edge cultivation, extraction and production. Curaleaf is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol CURA and trades on the OTCQX market under the symbol CURLF. For more information, please visit https://ir.curaleaf.com.

Media Contacts
Black CannaBusiness
Octane PR
Sophia Thay, Director of Business Development
media@OctanePublicRelations.com

 

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Bloom Announces 90% Increase in Cannabis Trimming Speed

9/27/2022

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Artificial Intelligence Doubles Human Processing Capabilities

WOBURN, MA – Bloom Automation Inc., an agri-tech company specializing in cannabis trimming equipment, today announced a 90% increase in their trimmer’s processing speed, as enabled by new artificial intelligence algorithms.

The Bloom trimmer — which uses a robotic arm and visual sensors to trim leaves from cannabis flowers — incrementally improves its capabilities using machine learning. The leap in performance is a culmination of a larger dataset of images, thousands of hours of software R&D, and a faster graphic processing unit (GPU).

“Our updated machine processes cannabis at approximately twice the speed of a human trimmer, moving us that much closer to Bloom’s vision of hand-trimmed-quality at an industrial scale,” said Jon Gowa, CEO and Founder of Bloom.

Bloom Automation’s system requires little attention from the operator, allowing personnel to perform additional tasks while the machine runs. Gowa estimates that a single technician can operate six Bloom trimmers — effectively performing the work of 12 employees.

“The AI has expedited the analysis of a frame of data from 15 seconds to 1 second, now down to just 0.1 seconds,” said Gowa. “It can distinguish flower from leaf almost instantaneously — hence the advancement in speed.”

Unlike other machine trimmers and standard hand-trimming processes, the Bloom system trims without detaching the flowers from the stem. Each stem is suspended vertically while a robotic arm shears away leaves. Gowa reports that this method prevents damage to the valuable flowers and preserves the plant in a form that is as close to its original state as possible.

For more information about cannabis trimming or the science behind Bloom Automation, contact Shannon Hagerty, Marketing and Business Associate, at info@bloomautomation.com.

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Georgia Awards Two Medical Cannabis Licenses

9/27/2022

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The Georgia Commission for Access to Medical Cannabis has awarded its first two medical cannabis production licenses, The Current reports. The licenses to cultivate, process, and sell low-THC medical cannabis oil was awarded to Trulieve Georgia Inc. and Biological Sciences. Trulieve is building its cultivation facility in Adel and Biological Sciences is building west of Savanna in Glennville.

The announcement comes seven years after Georgia lawmakers decriminalized low-THC oil in the state. While the bill legalizing the oils was originally passed in 2015, it provided no legal way for producing the product. In 2019, the Legislature addressed the issue by creating a licensing structure and, more than a year ago, Georgia awarded six of those licenses. However, the licenses were put on hold after some applicants claimed the selection process had been unfair and arbitrary, the report says. Gov. Brian Kemp (R) ultimately set aside $150,000 from the governor’s emergency fund to hold hearings for those applicants who were not awarded licenses.

Trulieve Georgia President Lisa Pinkney told The Current that the company will begin work immediately to provide oil to patients. 

“The Georgia team is hard at work to begin operations as soon as possible to ensure those in need have access to Trulieve’s line of products. We’re also excited to share that Trulieve’s operation and its ancillary business partners are projected to create a wide range of jobs in the state as the business grows.” — Pinkney to The Current 

The company plans on initially opening five dispensaries throughout the state.

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Michigan State Police Refuse to Elaborate On Faulty Cannabis Blood Testing

9/26/2022

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Michigan State Police (MSP) are not offering any comment or follow-up after halting blood tests for cannabis late last month after discovering false positives for THC in the protocols. In a statement following the initial report, Shanon Banner, manager of the Public Affairs Section for MSP said the agency was “immediately halting the processing of all THC blood samples” out of an “abundance of caution” as the agency worked “to learn more” or “institute another validated method of testing to ensure accuracy.”

On August 31, the agency halted the testing following an interview with MSP Toxicology Unit Supervisor Geoffrey French by freelance reporter Eric VanDussen in which French confirmed that his department’s testing for THC levels in blood samples was unreliable and that the MSP Forensic Science Division had been using the faulty testing process for more than 20 years.

Last week, MLive asked Banner for an update, to which she responded that the “August 31 statement is still the most current information” the agency has to share.

In the statement, MSP estimated that there are more than 3,000 cases that could be impacted by faulty THC blood tests but that any drug tests that confused CBD and THC prior to March 28, 2019, are moot because hemp remained outlawed in Michigan.

“CBD, which is structurally similar to THC, was illegal in Michigan until March 28, 2019,” state police said in the statement. “Since that date, however, CBD, which is reported to have no psychoactive properties, has been legal under Michigan law.”

Arthur J. Weiss, president of the Criminal Defense Lawyers of Michigan, told MLive that he is “troubled by the way this was rolled out and the lack of transparency and information that’s been given to us.”

“There have been a number of people in the defense community for years that have indicated the crime lab should be an agency and department independent of the Michigan state police, because we’re concerned about the potential institutional bias and wondering whether this is the type of situation that reinforces that belief,” he said.

Criminal defense attorney Michael Nichols told MLive he has been “calling this to the attention of judges all over the state” for years and he doesn’t believe the state police crime lab first learned about the problem last month. He theorizes that judges and juries have ignored the problem because “they want to make their criminal justice partners… happy.”

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Guam Approves First ‘Responsible Official’ Cannabis ID Cards

9/26/2022

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Guam cannabis regulators have approved the island’s first credentials for its adult-use cannabis industry, the Pacific Daily News reports. The Cannabis Control Board today approved the “responsible official” cannabis identification cards for David Cruz, from Pacific Cultivation, and Stephen Roberto, from Green Flash Guam. 

Revenue and Tax Director Dafne Mansapit Shimizu, who also serves as the vice chairwoman of the cannabis board, told the News that businesses must still obtain cannabis establishment licenses, operating permits, and a cannabis business license before the businesses can start in earnest.  

Cannabis businesses can’t receive a license or an operating permit unless there is a government-approved “responsible official” in charge, and businesses will need government-approved “designated transporters” to move cannabis and cannabis products throughout the island. The U.S. territory is using Metrc as its seed-to-sale tracking system.

Guam legalized adult-use cannabis in 2019 and the industry rules and regulations took effect on May 29. Regulators began accepting applications for responsible official identification cards in August.

Currently, adults 21-and-older can grow, possess, and consume cannabis but it is illegal to sell it or trade it for anything of value unless the transaction is conducted by a licensed and permitted cannabis business. There are licenses for cultivators, manufacturers, testing labs, and retail stores; however, residents are barred from owning more than one type of cannabis business license.

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Rick Ross Launches Smokable Hemp Brand

9/26/2022

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Rapper Rick Ross is launching a line of smokable hemp products, including hemp cigarettes, smoking paper, and alternatives to nicotine tobacco. Ross made the announcement last Thursday. 

“This Hemp Hop right here. This the combination of the game right here. Something some of the finest, healthiest rollups. It’s about doing something that last forever, cause we gon’ live forever. It’s history.” — Ross in a video posted to Instagram

In a statement posted to the Hemp Hop website, Ross said he truly believes “in the health benefits of hemp-derived products.” 

“Having had my own health scares, and through my healing process, I decided I would develop a line of smokables to help others with the benefits of hemp cannabinoids,” he said.

The line is a partnership with Hempacco who first announced the collaboration during Ross’ Boss Up Conference, which was held Sept. 17-29, according to a Hip Hop DX report.

Jorge Olson, a co-founder and chief marketing officer for Hempacco, told Hip Hop DX that the company is “ready” to start offering the brand to wholesale distributors.

“With Rick Ross and James Lindsay spearheading the sales, distribution, and marketing, it will be a wonderful consumer experience for the consumers,” Olson told Hip Hop DX. “James Lindsay is also a wholesale distribution veteran and is ready to present the products to all of his Rap Snacks network of distributors all over the country.”

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Las Vegas Votes to Allow Cannabis Social Consumption Lounges

9/23/2022

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The Las Vegas City Council voted on Wednesday to allow cannabis social consumption lounges within city limits, KSNV reports. The 5-1 vote was to reject a motion to opt out of the state’s consumption lounge program — if the city had done nothing, it automatically would have been added to the state program.

The lone “no” vote came from Councilwoman Victoria Seaman, who said her constituents were wary of lounges in residential neighborhoods. Councilman Stavros Anthony did not participate in the meeting, according to the report.

The Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board (CCB) plans to issue 20 lounge licenses in October. So far, Clark County and the city of Las Vegas are the only localities to allow the lounges in southern Nevada. North Las Vegas, Henderson, Mesquite, and Boulder City all have opted out of the program, City Attorney Bryan Scott said in the report.

Before awarding any licenses, Las Vegas must amend the city code and craft ordinances regulating the new businesses, meaning it’s likely that the city won’t start accepting applications until early 2023.

The CCB approved the social consumption regulations in late June of this year. Half of the first round of licenses are set to go to social equity applicants. Businesses are required to submit diversity plans outlining how they will be inclusive.

Lounge patrons will be limited to 3.5 grams (or one eighth of an ounce) and cannot take unused cannabis from the lounge. Edibles or tinctures containing more than ten milligrams of THC are required to carry a warning label that reads: “Caution — this product is very potent and is not recommended for inexperienced users.” Lastly, lounges must have dedicated smoking rooms although outdoor lounges are also allowed.

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Canadian Government Launches Review of Cannabis Legalization

9/23/2022

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Four years since legalizing cannabis at the federal level, the Canadian government announced plans this week for an official review of its cannabis program and resulting national industry, CTV National News reports.

The legislative review is long-overdue — it was originally expected nearly 12 months ago — and looks to investigate the effects of cannabis legalization on the health of Canadian citizens and analyze its effects on the economy and illicit cannabis marketplace, which has continued to thrive. The review will pay careful consideration to the effects of cannabis on Canadian youth, according to Health Canada.

Participants in Canada’s cannabis industry have consistently called for changes amid hefty tax rates and strict regulations, which they say help facilitate steep competition from the unregulated marketplace.

George Smitherman, president of the Cannabis Council of Canada, said in the report that the “playing field” between legal cannabis companies and unlicensed operators is “nowhere near level,” especially given the popularity of unregulated retail shops and delivery services.

“There’s a significant body of regulation, but there isn’t enough law on the books to stop obvious illegal operators and no one is doing anything about it.” — Smitherman, via CTV National News

Canada federally legalized cannabis for adults in October 2018 and was only the second country in the world to pass the reforms at the national level.

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Denver May Give Social Equity Companies Exclusive Right to Cannabis Delivery

9/23/2022

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The Denver City Council is set to consider a new plan to make cannabis delivery licenses permanently exclusive to social equity companies, according to an Axios report.

Per city regulations, any business owner considered to have been disproportionately affected by cannabis prohibition can qualify for a social equity license. The proposal is being pushed by the Department of Excise and Licenses in an effort to facilitate a more diverse cannabis industry after the first eight years of regulated cannabis led to an industry largely dominated by white males.

“Everyone should have a chance to find opportunity in Colorado’s cannabis industry. The barriers to entry can be really, really high — especially for social equity entrepreneurs.” — Marijuana Industry Group Executive Director Truman Bradley, via Axios Denver

Denver established its social equity-based delivery regulations last year alongside a similar plan for social consumption lounges but, while the plan was initially to sunset the social equity requirements in 2024, the new proposal would see them extended indefinitely. Experts, however, warn the city may already be so saturated with adult-use retailers that there might not be a significant market left for delivery services. According to city data outlined by Axios, delivery transactions account for less than 0.5% of Denver-based cannabis industry sales, and of the city’s 208 licensed dispensaries, just nine offer delivery options.

The proposal will appear before the Denver City Council for consideration sometime in the coming weeks, a Department of Excise and Licenses spokesperson said.

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German Officials Visit California Cannabis Businesses

9/22/2022

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A delegation of officials from Germany recently took a closer look at California’s cannabis market, Marijuana Moment reports. Consisting of multiple German lawmakers and a top federal (German) drug official, the group toured cannabis businesses and heard from California regulators, experts, and advocates about lessons learned from launching a regulated cannabis industry.

The officials “examined products of dispensaries with equity licenses” to better understand “cannabis legalization opportunities and risks,” according to a tweet from the German consulate in San Francisco.

“It was a really expansive conversation,” said Hirsh Jain, founder of the consulting firm Ananda Strategy.

“What they had said is like, ‘Look, we want to legalize cannabis and we want to do it in the name of public health.’ That’s how they kicked off their conversation with us and that was kind of the framing for the conversation.” — Jain, via Marijuana Moment

During the meetings, California officials shared the importance of a regulated cannabis market where products are tested and age restrictions are enforced, the report says.

“As someone who interacts with a lot of American politicians, I was astounded about the extent to which they at least seemed to be engaged in a policy sense,” Jain said.

In addition to the dispensary tour, the delegation visited Sacramento and met with Nicole Elliott, California’s top cannabis regulator. They also toured a Lowell Farms cultivation facility and an SC Labs testing laboratory.

The California tours come two months after a historic meeting between officials from Germany, Luxemburg, Malta, and The Netherlands where they discussed how Europe could move forward in legalizing adult-use cannabis.

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Florida Finally Licenses Its First Black Medical Cannabis Farmer

9/22/2022

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Florida officials have finally licensed the state’s first Black medical cannabis cultivator, according to the News Service of Florida.

Terry Donnell Gwinn, the 69-year-old owner of Gwinn Brothers Farm in Suwanee County, received a “written notice of intent” on Tuesday from the State Department of Health signaling their intent to award him the license. In his application, Gwinn named his prospective cannabis farm ‘Gwinn Brothers Medicinals’ — he and his brother Clifford have farmed together for more than 40 years, growing watermelons, soybeans, peanuts, corn, and peas on their 1,137-acre farm, the report said.

“Mr. Gwinn is very pleased that his application was selected for licensure and is grateful for the hard work by the Florida Department of Health, Office of Medical Marijuana Use, to complete the review of the applications received. He looks forward to working with the office to complete the final steps to licensure.” Jim McKee, Gwinn’s attorney, via the News Service of Florida

The license was a long time coming: when the state’s first cannabis licenses were awarded in 2015, the rules were decried for containing discriminatory elements that favored white farmers. Then in 2017, lawmakers passed a law that was supposed to see new licenses awarded as the number of medical cannabis patients continued to increase.

Gwinn’s licensing could signal that health officials are finally set to honor that law, under which the state is required to double its number of cannabis operators from 22 to 44. Earlier this month, Florida First District Court of Appeals Judge Ross Bilbrey criticized state officials for having not issued any additional medical cannabis licenses: “Almost five years after the emergency rule was issued, the MMTC license application window remains closed,” Bribley said.

Meanwhile, multiple Florida senators formally questioned the head of the state’s medical cannabis licensing department last Fall about the delay in awarding a cannabis business license to a Black farmer.

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Carlos “Los” Arias: Bringing a Massive Cannabis Cultivation Campus to Coachella, California

9/22/2022

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Whether due to the popular music festival or because of its status as an agricultural beacon for the state, Coachella Valley is well known in California. Green Horizons is an upcoming California cannabis brand seeking to add cannabis to the list of crops associated with the region.

The company is offering a special product drop this October through a select retailer and is on track to expand its massive cultivation campus throughout next year. We recently connected with Green Horizons CEO Carlos “Los” Arias to speak about the company’s upcoming first product drop, why they are building such a large cultivation footprint, the support from their surrounding community, and more!

Keep scrolling to read the full interview.

Ganjapreneur: When was Green Horizons founded and what is your role at the company?

Los Arias: Green Horizons was founded in 2018. My role at the company is Chief Executive Officer. In that capacity, my primary charge is to spearhead the strategic synchronization of world class scaled infrastructure, with a global CPG house of brands platform. I also lead on capital raising initiatives and invest considerable time developing substantive relationships with strategic partners throughout the value chain.

What was your experience with cannabis cultivation before establishing Green Horizons in Coachella Valley?

I honed my commercial cultivation chops with RiverRock in Colorado, which I joined in 2015 upon raising $2M in growth capital for the enterprise. I then went on to become a first mover licensee in California in 2017, securing one of the first cultivation licenses in Cathedral City. I was also able to raise seven figure financing for this venture and built a 20,000 sq. ft. indoor craft cultivation campus that became synonymous with top shelf flower in the state. I then went on to co-found Green Horizons with my partner, Michael Meade; and later Tommy Hilfiger and Star Branding Investment Group, which is my sole focus in the California marketplace today.

Is the campus on track to be open in Fall 2022?

Yes, completion of our Phase I (101,787 sq. ft. of high tech, automated light deprivation greenhouse) will be delivered in the Fall. We’ll look to commence nursery operations at that point to propagate proprietary genetics, and then look to initiate full cultivation operations in Q1 2023.

What inspired the company to build a one million square foot campus? Will facilities be built in phases over time?

Michael and I shared a thesis years ago about the inevitable commoditization of the California marketplace, and what it would take for companies to survive (and thrive) in that environment. The undergird of our vision was segueing low COGS scaled infrastructure to a house of brands portfolio. Michael did the heavy lifting on purchasing the real estate, entitling it, working hand in glove with the city to situate the proper utilities and the like. Years of work and millions of dollars later, Green Horizons was able to secure long term tenancies on these adjacent parcels and in turn establish staying power to precisely time our market entry.

Due to our low COGS and track record of cultivating premium flower, commoditization in the marketplace is a third mover opportunity to take market share. In pairing this competitive advantage with a compelling brand portfolio, in alignment with a mogul like Tommy Hilfiger, Green Horizons becomes a global IP play out the gate that is strategically buoyed by infrastructure. This is important because it allows for consistency and margins, which is what the asset light brands are missing; and why they are (quietly) hunting for cultivation assets of their own. We saw this dynamic years in advance. We are set to commence construction on our Phase II by early 2023, which will bring on another 125,000 sq. ft., inclusive of 25,000 sq. ft. of corporate offices, distribution and co-packing capabilities.

We feel comfortable starting with this initial footprint, given our expectation that our brands will connect with consumers in a meaningful way. We’re of the mindset to then gauge the marketplace in real time thereafter and ascertain when it’s appropriate to bring more square footage online – or not. That is a core differentiator for Green Horizons, i.e. the alignment between the real estate and the operating company. We’re on the same team. That’s an unusual dynamic.

Does Green Horizons do any outreach or mutual aid for the surrounding Coachella Valley community?

Green Horizons has an entrenched relationship with the surrounding Coachella Valley community, and recognizes the privilege to work in the legal cannabis space. The Company is partnering with the City of Coachella in launching the Build the Valley Initiative, which will consist of two prominent initiatives: first, building infrastructure for the community; and second, advocacy for expungement and job creation for which Green Horizons will create a dedicated Coachella Valley program.

Where can people find more information about the Build the Valley initiative? Is there a timeline for enacting the initiative?

The Build the Valley initiative is being incubated internally at this moment with city of Coachella officials and local community leaders. We are assessing what the primary needs of the community are and how we can best contribute to produce transformative outcomes with lasting impact. Our vision is to be precious and meticulous with this process, with an eye towards enacting the initiative once our facilities are fully operational and sufficiently generating revenue.

How many jobs has Green Horizons created? Do you prioritize hiring area locals?

With the advent of the cultivation operations, Green Horizons is slated to create over 100 jobs. In service to the local municipality, Green Horizons will also be hosting two job fairs in Coachella in Q1 2023, one of which will be limited to Coachella residents only. We are passionate about hiring locally and creating value for the families in the valley, as a means of paying it forward for all the love and support they have graced us with.

What temperature and humidity controls are used in the greenhouses to keep the optimal temperature?

The facility is outfitted with equipment operation and environmental controls by Link4. There are four stages of cooling/temperature control: (i) a state of the art greenhouse evaporative cooling system; (ii) a micro cool misting system, which also will control humidity and keep VPD ranges optimal; (iii) a shade cloth system outfitted by NextG3N; and (iv) a roof peak venting system.

How does the facility source water?

The facility’s source of water is obtained from the Coachella Valley Water District. According to DWA estimates, Coachella Valley sits on top of an aquifer containing some 40 million acre-feet of water in just the top 1,000 feet of what is believed to be a 13,000-foot-deep underground reservoir filled with water, rock and sand. The facility also has an option to source water from a well located on property.

How has sustainability been considered in greenhouse engineering and operations?

Our IPM program is completely and 100% OMRI listed, naturally occurring, or living predatory insects sourced from companies that farm these. We have also sourced the highest grade, most technologically advanced systems for our water treatment, fertigation, and irrigation protocols.

The facility utilizes state of the art, high efficiency evaporative cooling controlled by a variable frequency drive, with the incorporation of a cool misting system to hit VPD targets, as opposed to high energy and water use applications, i.e. HVAC, and/or large water chiller units.

Our water treatment R/O utilities are as efficient as possible, insofar as product vs. waste generation. All water used in the facility is collected into an all-encompassing capture drainage system, which is ported to remediation before being released back for any other uses. We have incorporated a top-of-the-line H.E. Anderson fertigation system, which brings the highest efficiency utilization of nutrients within our program. We have also completely outfitted our irrigation with a Rivulis drip irrigation system, which will direct all water to the contained medium.

Coupled with a robust crop steering program, we will be able to have complete control of our water/nutrient usage rates, guaranteeing remarkable water usage efficiency, with little to no water waste. All our used medium will head to a remediation site, which will put it through a specialized process and then be recycled for further use.

On the electrical front, all our electrical and equipment has been wired to incorporate the most efficient voltage uses in order to minimize our electrical loads on the grid, and ensure highest usage efficiency. We have incorporated VFD for all exhaust fans to further support this aspect. We will moreover implement a waste management program that will encompass the complete needs of operations, to further ensure cleanliness and minimize environmental impact. All operations are contained within the walls and roof of the facility, and on top of a non-permeable floor to ensure nothing can leak into the earth’s surface.

You’ve mentioned that Green Horizons will build multiple CPG brands. What will the brand family look like, and who will the target consumers be?

We’ll be making a dedicated announcement about our inaugural brand in Q1 2023, but what I can say now is that the debut is a crossover of an existing apparel brand that will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2023. The brand has its roots in tennis culture, and is steeped in an ethos of celebrating rebels and icons. It is a heritage brand that is ripe for modernization, and we feel the cannabis industry is a very organic extension of what the brand has stood for all these years. In fact, the founders of the brand always intended for it to be a wink towards cannabis culture, which we’re really excited to turn a new leaf with. The confluence of cannabis, sports and fashion is an exciting lane that we think appeals to both legacy and cannabis curious consumers alike.

We’ll be debuting a specialty line of infused pre-rolls to birth the brand in commerce, paired with limited release drops of the apparel. Our second brand is more value driven, in homage to our sun grown roots in the Coachella Valley. What I can also say is we’re particularly keen on elevating creative design within the packaging sphere across all segments of the value chain. Even our value driven brands will feel and smoke premium, as we’re extra precious about both processes, respectively. We employ a conscious and inspired sensibility of artistry into everything we do, driven by a desire to bring people together. In the truest sense, we are all one. Our brands will connote that in their own unique way.

This business started with an investment from your best friend. Do you have advice for entrepreneurs who get into business with their friends on maintaining a healthy friendship and business relationship?

Yes, my journey in cannabis started with a leap of faith from my best friend. The dispositive factor in my experience has been unfettered honesty. The terrain is never going to be perfectly linear, be it in a business venture or in life. I’ve had the pleasure of navigating highs, lows and everything in between with someone that has been by my side for 30 years. That’s a rarity that I don’t take for granted. Even in our most difficult moments, we found a way to reach common ground because of the bedrock of our friendship. Adversity is a blessing, and if we surrender to it, the alchemy that manifests is far more powerful than the original divisive energy that tests friendship in the first place. Succinctly, my advice to entrepreneurs is to not be afraid to be vulnerable. The vibration of vulnerability imbued with integrity will always carry you to a peaceful conclusion, no matter the circumstances. Ultimately, that’s all that matters anyway.

Thanks, Los, for answering our questions! Readers can visit GreenHorizons.io to learn more.

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Oklahoma Supreme Court Delays Cannabis Legalization Vote

9/22/2022

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Oklahoma voters will not get to consider a cannabis legalization question on their November ballots after the state Supreme Court voted on Wednesday to delay the ballot initiative, KOCO News 5 reports.

In its unanimous 9-0 ruling, the court said the legalization campaign ran out of time before the election despite having submitted enough signatures to qualify the ballot initiative. But the campaign’s director Michelle Tilley said in the report that state officials had simply taken too long to certify their signatures in the first place.

While voters will not get to consider the legalization question this November, the court also rejected challenges seeking to defer the ballot initiative entirely, meaning voters will still get their shot at legalizing cannabis but it will have to come later. That could possibly be as early as next year if Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) calls for a special election but if the governor chooses to do nothing, voters may have to wait until the next general election in November 2024.

Tilley told KOCO News 5 that the campaign had hoped to qualify for the November ballot because they believed a bigger turnout would improve the initiative’s chances at winning. Barring that, however, they hope to see the issue go to voters as soon as possible simply because ending cannabis prohibition would be good for Oklahoma.

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Municipality Opt-Outs Are a Trick Bag for Cannabis

9/22/2022

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Editor’s note: This editorial was contributed by Frederika McClary Easley, Director of Strategic Initiatives at The People’s Ecosystem, with market research assistance provided by Alec Estevez.

When states regulate adult-use cannabis consumption, the feeling of many is that the work is over and the floodgates for cannabis will be opened. There are ideas and dreams of being able to purchase plant medicine with the same ease that one can purchase a cup of coffee or tea. The reality is that in many places, that dream has not and will not be realized, and purchasing ease will remain aspirational. In many states, deserts exist that force consumers to drive in some instances two to three hours from home to acquire cannabis. Why is this the case, you wonder? Well, you have opt-outs to thank for this.

These maps by CannDev show the opt-ins vs opt-outs in California, New Jersey, New York, Michigan, and Mississippi. The red indicates opt-outs and the green indicates areas that opted-in.

What are opt-outs?

Opt-outs are a municipality/county’s ability to choose not to allow adult-use (recreational) cannabis businesses to operate within their jurisdiction. Opting out requires an official action declaring that cannabis businesses will not be allowed to operate. This action must be taken within the timeframe set by regulatory bodies. Failure to do so means automatic inclusion. Now it’s important to note that these decisions are often made in direct opposition to the sentiments and voting trends of constituents and thankfully, opting out does not prevent consumption.

Reasons for opting out oftentimes center around fear of the unknown. How will these businesses, especially retail and consumption lounges (if included), impact the community? There may also be a want for additional time to flesh out zoning and other governance issues. Whatever the reasons, the option is taken often and data shows that opt-outs are skewed to be the preference of rural areas, those outside of major cities and urban environments.

Take California for example, where adult-use cannabis consumption has been regulated since late 2016. Six years later and after many lessons learned, as of May 2022, only 38% of counties/cities in the state allow retailers. And this is with the flexibility of being able to opt-in at leisure, without penalty. And almost 20 years post the first state-regulated cannabis adult-use consumption we are seeing similar trends. In February of 2021 New Jersey passed legislation to regulate adult-use and a super majority, over 70% of municipalities opted out of allowing businesses to operate.

What does this mean for communities and entrepreneurs?

An additional “canna tax” was one of the first things mentioned by Keith Mosley when asked about opt-outs. Keith is an entrepreneur working to operate in the cultivation space within Michigan and New Jersey. “Opt-outs drastically impact real estate. We’re dealing with supply and demand here. When you combine them with zoning restrictions available spaces are limited and property owners know this. This allows them to charge premium prices that they know you pretty much have to pay because what else are you going to do. They know they have the leverage.”

The reality is that in some areas, property costs are already through the roof. Think of California and New York. Adding cannabis, a substance that is still federally illegal, into the picture increases the complexity. When questioned about the claim of premium prices being attached to spaces, Keith said, “This is easy. When you go to a space and see its condition versus what’s being asked, sometimes it doesn’t make sense. When you do your research and look at comps in the area and the difference between those that are in green zones compared to those that are not, you’ll see.”

“And the additional challenge will be securing funding,” he said. “If you are able to get a bank to bite, they’ll have an assessment done, and often the number from that will be drastically different from the asking price and banks typically lend up to 70% of the assessed value. So now you have to figure out where to get the rest of the money from.”

For Michael Diaz-Rivera, owner of Better Days Delivery, being away from family is a big part of his story. Originally from Colorado Springs, where he received a felony cannabis charge, Michael moved to Denver initially to reinvent himself but wound up staying in order to engage in an industry and with the plant he was criminalized for. Unfortunately, Colorado Springs, an area known to be religious and military-centered, opted out of the adult-use industry and Denver is the only city that not only opted in but created a pathway for social equity with exclusivity. Michael wants the extent of opting out to be fully considered: “What does it mean comprehensively, who really winds up impacted? I know people who need this medicine back home and I’m unable to get it to them… I can’t deliver in that area. And maybe they don’t have a vehicle or the means to travel. They are technically able to consume but access is denied.”

Cornell Fairley, Founder and CEO of Lazy Pistolz, is a resident of Rochester Hills, Michigan, and gives an extreme account of harm caused by medical and adult-use opt-outs. Being both a patient and aspiring entrepreneur he is dealing with the impact on multiple fronts. As a patient, “I’m being double taxed. I have to drive close to an hour away from my home to reach a dispensary and my preferred medical dispensary location has been without my medicine for nearly six months. This has led me to purchase from Adult-Use only retail options that do not honor the medical discounts I am qualified for as a card-carrying patient”. As you can imagine, as an industry applicant, he will have to go outside of his area maybe just to do business, or relocate.

Solutions

It’s not enough to talk about the problem. We must put forth solutions. The following are possibilities that interviewees and I would love to be considered.

  • Set opt-out periods after the regulations are fully written, or at least a substantial amount of them.
  • States should incentivize early opt-ins with tax revenue and/or other needed support.
  • Give citizens the opportunity to vote.
  • Ensure that municipal meetings are held at times that make participation for the masses more feasible.
  • Institute a system where decision-makers have to report back to constituents on progress made pertaining to the reasons given for opting out.

Opt-outs, after nearly a decade of adult-use cannabis regulations around the country, are as much of an issue now as they were then. And contrary to what many believed in terms of opt-outs being temporary and based on uncertainties about the industry, many municipalities have yet to reverse their initial decisions and accept the adult-use industry. One must ask, why not allow constituents to be educated without bias and with data on where things are, and for opportunities to be created for them to weigh in on what comes next? If not, we will continue to have a thriving legacy industry and will ultimately be doing a disservice to people in need.

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PuraVerde, Inc. Opens First Public Offering for Investment

9/21/2022

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Innovative Cannabis Company Stands Out Providing Private Label Services, Licensing Business Models, and the Production of Its Own Premium Products as PuraVerde Looks to Grow on the National Level

TULSA, Okla., Aug. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PuraVerde, Inc., a cannabis company and operator that produces premium products, today announced the launch of its streamlined Regulation A, Tier 2 public offering for both un-accredited and accredited investors. Driving innovative research and development, PuraVerde is formulating products for the future of commercial cannabis. The Company plans to become a national leader in the pharmaceutical cannabis space; PuraVerde is welcoming investors to join in the journey.

The Company encourages all interested investors to visit puraverdecannabis.com/investors/ for a link to the Offering Circular and to learn how to invest in the offering.

A recent study reports cannabis sales in the U.S. increased 40% in 2021 to $25 billion. In 2020, Oklahoma dispensaries generated between $720 million and $880 million, with sales expected to top $1.1 billion by 2025.

One of Oklahoma’s top private label manufacturers, PuraVerde’s goal is to use the latest in available technology and analysis of production efficiencies to formulate, test, and package its medical cannabis products from its vertically integrated facility. Additionally, PuraVerde’s operations allow it to bring new products to market in Oklahoma. The company also serves as a leader in private label design, formulation, and manufacture. PuraVerde’s private label division has 13 distinct brands and 150+ total SKUs.

In 2021, PuraVerde completed a multi-million dollar expansion that included a new R&D Chemical Lab, Commercial Kitchen and Automated Manufacturing Facility. The company’s white labeling program aims to bring operational efficiency and increased margins to cannabis companies. As the demand for high-quality medical cannabis continues to increase, PuraVerde has secured a number of supply agreements and partnerships in Oklahoma that have served to increase revenues and position the company. The company intends to bring its business model to other states as the industry, as a whole, is poised for growth.

The Company is offering 33,333,333 shares Class C Common Stock, plus 3,333,333 Bonus Shares, for maximum gross processed of $50 million.

PuraVerde’s existing product line is sold and distributed to medical dispensaries throughout the state. The Company’s products include: Buffalo Roze Fine Cannabis, White Tail Extracts, Verde Pür, Zino Extracts, Pürshot, and the Bud Bar.

From 2020 through 2021, PuraVerde has seen $10mm+ total gross revenue, a 250% square footage increase in its manufacturing facility and a 4x increase in its brand portfolio. With these brands created specifically for certain market appeal, PuraVerde believes it has the makings of an industry success.

The Company encourages all interested investors to visit puraverdecannabis.com/investors/ for a link to the Offering Circular and to learn how to invest in the offering.

For more information on PuraVerde and its brands, visit PuraVerdecannabis.com.

View the offering circular directly by clicking here.

About PuraVerde, Inc.
One of Oklahoma’s top private label manufacturers, PuraVerde is planning to bring its A-game business model to other states. PuraVerde’s R&D lab has worked with new technologies like Nano Emulsion and Synthetic Cannabinoids that take PuraVerde’s growth to a new level. From PuraVerde’s technology to its brands to its private label program, learn why PuraVerde is one of most innovative companies in the cannabis industry.

Forward-Looking Statement:
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, risks and effects of legal and administrative proceedings and governmental regulation, especially in a foreign country, future financial and operational results, competition, general economic conditions, proposed transactions that are not legally binding obligations of the company and the ability to manage and continue growth. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those indicated. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make in this news release include the introduction of new technology, market conditions and those set forth in reports or documents we file from time to time with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to revise or update such statements to reflect current events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

For press inquiries, please contact nicole@capitalraiseagency.com or (512) 925-3171.

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Lawsuits Send ‘The Blacklist’ Into Turmoil Amid Divorce & Ownership Disputes

9/21/2022

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The owner of The Blacklist is suing her former partner and soon-to-be ex-husband, as well as a former brand representative and the person who first publicly attached their name to the notoriously anonymous publication, The Daily Beast reports.

Powered primarily by anonymous insider leaks, The Blacklist and its widely followed Instagram page have in recent years presented some of the juiciest cannabis industry rumors, gossip, and consumer product reviews. But while popular, The Blacklist has also faced significant criticism including by Bay Area rapper and Cookies CEO Berner, who called the publication a “well-known extortionist” in an interview last year with SF Weekly. The Blacklist disputed his claims.

According to the lawsuit outlined in the report, the company’s registered Los Angeles-based founder and owner Shalon Doney is suing Adam Campbell, her husband (the couple filed for divorce in 2021 but those proceedings are ongoing), and Matthew Wagner, a man who worked alongside the married couple to help monetize the publication, for “unlawfully misappropriating [Doney’s] federal intellectual property rights.” Doney said she learned of the infringement after somebody she did not recognize DM’d The Blacklist in reference to a conversation she did not have, with a message along the lines of “nice meeting you,” according to the report.

Wagner is a former adult nightclub owner, consultant, promoter, and performer. Campbell is a cannabis cultivator originally from Montana who said that, due to having a federal cannabis-related charge on his record, he decided against formally involving himself in the company’s founding. And indeed, none of the parties dispute the fact that on paper, Doney is and has always been the sole owner of The Blacklist. But while Doney is the legal owner of the publication, because she and Campbell are still married and the company is considered a community asset of their marriage, Campbell will be entitled to one-half ownership when the couple’s divorce is finalized.

But Wagner has alleged in his response to the suit that, “At the time Wagner was hired (and continuously thereafter), Doney promised that if Wagner could figure out how to monetize TBO [The Blacklist Online], he would be given a 1/3 ownership interest in TBO. This promise was confirmed repeatedly by both Doney and her husband Defendant Adam Campbell.” Wagner’s filing also suggests he started to land five-figure sponsorship deals for the publication in 2019, eventually even renting part of the couple’s home where he “literally and figuratively worked day and night, side by side, with Doney and her husband.”

Wagner and Campbell say the team experienced their falling out following Doney and Campbell’s separation. Doney claimed that she let Wagner go from the project after she allegedly discovered he had been linked to an underage sex trafficking incident in Thailand — but Wagner had already returned to the U.S. months before the incident took place, “It’s just not true, and that’s why I’m not afraid to face it,” he told The Daily Beast.

In his own suit, Wagner said that Doney had grown “physically and verbally abusive” towards him by the end of things in November 2021.

Editor’s note: This article was updated for clarity on 9/21/22.

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Report: Handheld Vaporizer Market to Reach $15.9 Billion by 2031

9/21/2022

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The handheld vaporizer market is expected to reach $15.9 billion by 2031, Transparency Market Research (TMR) suggests in a new report. The shift would represent a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.4%.

The report credits the expected growth to the growing popularity of dry and conductive vaporizers as well as the introduction of new innovations involving wax and oil vape pens. Additionally, the market is expected to see significant funding for improving the vaporizers’ design and function, and these innovations will further help grow the devices’ popularity and use among consumers.

The researchers said in a press release that other factors contributing to the market’s expansion include the easy cleaning of handheld vaporizers, the ease with which one can use and carry the devices, and the fact that vaporizing is a more discreet option than the traditional methods of smoking cannabis, like a pipe or joint. The report also says the increased acceptance of medical cannabis by consumers and their governments around the world would be a driving force for growing the handheld vaporizer market.

Lastly, researchers suggested that while the North American vaporizer market is expected to uphold its position as the current global leader in terms of market size, the market is “expected to gain sizable avenues for growth in Europe during the forecast period [of 2022-2031] as marijuana is technically legal in several regional nations such as Italy.”

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Cannabis Community College Launches Revamped Education Platform

9/21/2022

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The Cannabis Community College (CCC) has launched its new online education platform, which it describes as “one-of-a-kind, teaching every legal state’s educational requirement to work in a licensed marijuana establishment.” 

The CCC is launching its updated platform with the Cannabis Essentials 5 Course Bundle which includes compliance essentials, cultivation essentials, dispensary essentials, production essentials, and cultivating a cannabis career.

In a statement, Christi McAdams, CCC Chairman, said the courses were “developed by some of the top names from several of the largest public and privately held, vertically integrated, multistate operators in the country.” 

“We did this specifically for two reasons: first, to provide leverage to job seekers applying in a highly competitive market where a single job post easily produces hundreds of applicants, and second, to offer employers a simple and streamlined way to train newly hired staff.” — McAdams, in a press release 

The five-course bundle runs $270 and students and course graduates also have access to their online community, various clubs such as the Global Cannabis Industry Networking Group, and live educational webinars. They can also participate in the Cannabis Intern Project, which helps place students at licensed facilities across the U.S.

According to the CCC website, the courses cover compliance certifications in all 40 states that have legalized cannabis for either adult or medical use. 

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Cannabis Companies Led By Women Have Harder Time Finding Business Financing

9/20/2022

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Female-led cannabis companies have a harder time raising capital compared to their male counterparts, Yahoo Finance reports.

“What has ended up happening is that as states have adopted more limited license models, it’s become much more expensive to get in the game,” Nancy Whiteman, CEO of Wana Brands, recently told Yahoo Finance. “And so, it favors the people who’ve traditionally had access to capital, which are men — white men.”

According to a 2021 MJBizDaily report titled Current State of Diversity in the Cannabis Industry, only 19.9% of cannabis businesses are owned by women, only 8% of cannabis CEOs are women, and only 5% of executives at cannabis-focused investment firms are women. Additionally, female cannabis business executive representation in the industry dropped from 36.8% in 2019 to 21.1% in 2021, which is below the 29.8% women executive count found in 2020 across all other industries, Yahoo Finance notes.

“It’s a little disheartening. You have this brand new industry. You’d think that it really has the opportunity to set a new path but unfortunately at this point, it looks very much like a traditional industry.” — Whiteman, via Yahoo Finance

The diversity report said that starting a plant-touching cannabis business can run into the six figures and “the networks of investors that can provide that amount of money — such as high-net-worth individuals and venture capital firms — can be hard for women to tap into.” The report found even if women do secure major funding, “women-owned businesses often receive less funding and fewer resources — such as mentorship and strategic guidance — than their male counterparts.”

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CannaCon Brings Virginia’s First Major Cannabis Expo to Richmond Oct. 14-15

9/20/2022

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On October 14th-15th, the industry-leading cannabis business exposition, CannaCon, is heading to the Greater Richmond Convention Center. Over the years, CannaCon has established itself as the premier destination for cannabis industry professionals, with unbridled opportunities for business-to-business networking on its exposition floor.

As the first major cannabis exposition to come to Virginia since legalization, CannaCon will once again provide a place for the community to shop, learn, and network. The event will feature exhibitors from across the US selling everything you need to grow in the cannabis space from the latest in soil, nutrients, and lighting, to packaging, processing, and more.

Each CannaCon expo is uniquely catered to the needs of the local industry — the upcoming event will feature seminars including Legalization to Licensing: Opening Virginia’s Adult-use Retail Market by JM Pedini Executive Director of Virginia NORML, Managing Your Plants’ Nutrition by Joel Perkins of Key Grow Solutions, How to Permanently Reduce Your Cost Per Pound with Jim Walker of CanGrow Solutions, and so much more.

About CannaCon
CannaCon is dedicated to creating and strengthening lifelong partnerships within the emerging cannabis industry. It is our mission to provide a global B2B venue for cannabis businesses, marijuana entrepreneurs, investors and community partners to showcase industry products, people, innovations and technology. We are committed to cultivating business values within the cannabis industry through education and responsible community involvement.

 

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West Virginia Cannabis Advisory Board Rejects THC Caps for Medical Cannabis

9/20/2022

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The West Virginia Medical Cannabis Advisory Board declined to enact a proposed cap on THC on medical cannabis products, saying they need more information before making a decision, WV Public Broadcasting (WVPB) reports. The rule was proposed by the board’s Health and Medical Workgroup and would have capped THC in medical cannabis products in the state at 10%. 

Dr. James Berry, a psychiatrist and the leader of the workgroup, claimed that medical evidence supports the cap, saying the evidence supports “the possibility of using THC potencies of 10 percent or less to help with any medical condition.”  

“And at the same time, there has been a preponderance of evidence associating higher THC content with a number of public health concerns, such as suicide, psychosis, in addition, depression, anxiety, these sorts of things.” — Berry, via WVPB 

Dr. Cody Peterson, a pediatric pharmacist who practices in California, didn’t appear to support the cap, although he said he does “see problems with cannabis” in his role as a medical practitioner. 

“The most problematic products I see are from the black market and setting THC limits, especially those THC limits well below the products that are currently available on the market and people are accustomed to will create more demand, more incentive, and more profitability in the illicit market,” he said, “and you create more issues than you’re intending to correct.” 

The West Virginia Medical Cannabis Advisory Board will meet again on January 5 and could reconsider the cap at that meeting.  

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Cannabis Arrests Plummet In New Jersey Post-Legalization

9/20/2022

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The number of people arrested for low-level cannabis dealing in New Jersey has plummeted post-legalization from in the thousands to fewer than three dozen, Politico reports. According to state Judiciary figures, from March 1, 2021, through August 15, 2022, just 34 people were arrested statewide for manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing less than an ounce of cannabis. In the two years prior to legalization, New Jersey police arrested 2,117 people for the same offense.  

Post-legalization, there have been 556 arrests in the state for the same offenses of between one ounce and five pounds, compared to 1,492 in the two years prior to legalization, according to the Judiciary data outlined by Politico.  

Under the state adult-use law, people caught selling less than an ounce of cannabis issued a written warning for the first offense; second offenses can lead to a fourth-degree crime charge. 

Prior to legalization, possession of less than 50 grams of cannabis was a disorderly person offense, a misdemeanor, and New Jersey police arrested 37,000 individuals (about twice the seating capacity of Madison Square Garden) for that offense in the two years before legalization, according to the Judiciary data. During that time, there were 2,837 arrests for possession of more than 50 grams, a fourth-degree crime. Under the new law, it’s a fourth-degree crime to possess more than six ounces of cannabis, and police are not allowed to conduct searches based solely on the odor of cannabis. Since March 1, 2021, there have been 317 arrests for that offense, according to the data. 

In the two years leading up to adult-use legalization, there were 100 arrests for manufacture or possession with intent to distribute more than 25 pounds of cannabis and 172 arrests for between five pounds and 25 pounds. From March 1, 2021, and Aug. 15, 2022, there have been 79 arrests for more than 25 pounds and 102 arrests for between five pounds and 25 pounds, the data shows. In the two years prior to legalization, there were 429 arrests for operating a drug production facility; Since legalization, there have been 298 arrests, according to the Judiciary. 

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Poll: Most Maryland Voters Support Cannabis Legalization

9/19/2022

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A recent Goucher College Poll found that most Marylanders are planning to vote yes on an upcoming adult-use cannabis legalization question on this year’s ballot, CBS News reports.

In the poll of 1,008 Maryland residents, 59% of Marylanders said they would vote yes on the ballot question while 34% said they would vote no and 7% were still undecided.

The legalization question is bound for November ballots after state lawmakers passed House Bill 1 in April, which created the Constitutional Amendment that voters are set to consider. If approved, the amendment would legalize adult-use cannabis starting July 1, 2023, with a transitional period from January 1 to July 1 where possession of up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis would be considered a fineable offense.

Lawmakers also approved companion legislation in HB 837, which would begin implementing the program following the ballot measure’s passage. That bill also includes automatic expungement of any previous simple cannabis possession charges, resentencing for anyone currently held in a jail or state prison on a cannabis-related conviction, and would establish a study to investigate potential public health concerns including patterns of use and impaired driving statistics. The bill also contains a foundation for social equity opportunities in Maryland’s cannabis industry, according to the report.

Medical cannabis is legal in Maryland although legislative efforts to legalize the plant for adults have repeatedly stalled in recent years, which led lawmakers to put the issue to voters. Maryland shares its border with two jurisdictions with legal cannabis, Washington D.C. and Virginia.

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