The city of Boston currently boasts 14 licensed dispensaries, but a proposal from the mayor’s office may allow a rush of new retail businesses to set up shop.

Mayor Michelle Wu recently announced plans to cut the city’s Zoning Board of Appeal (ZBA) from the cannabis dispensary approval process. Typically, both the ZBA and the Boston Cannabis Board would offer local approval (or not) to prospective business owners. From there, the business would proceed onto the state level.

Under this proposed code amendment, the Boston Cannabis Board alone would decide the local fate of eager cannabis retailers.

At a public hearing earlier this month, officials from the mayoral administration insisted that this change will streamline the overall licensing process. Business owners and neighbors alike would have a clearer understanding of how cannabis might fit into the local economic development landscape. The main idea, according to Bryan Glascock, a deputy director at the Boston Planning and Development Agency, is to simplify the regulatory context for this emerging market within the city.

Prospective business owners, by and large, support the move.

“Please, end the system of double jeopardy,” equity applicant Jody Mendoza said at the hearing, according to the Boston Globe. His dispensary plans were rejected by the ZBA after his business had already won a license. “Equity applicants have the highest hill to get over, but when [we’re] faced with going in front of the ZBA, it’s another opportunity for people to come out and stop us. Please end the confusion and give us a chance.” 

More than 94% of California’s existing cannabis cultivation area is at risk of experiencing wildfires by year 2100, according to a report published by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley.

The report, “The threat of wildfire is unique to cannabis among agricultural sectors in California,” was published in the journal Ecosphere.

“Nearly all of the state's cannabis cultivation area (94.40%) was located in areas identified as projected burn pattern hot spots (new/intensifying, historical/persistent, sporadic/oscillating, or diminishing hot spots) for the prediction period 2020–2100,” the report states. “No other agricultural type exceeded 25% of cultivation area in these burn pattern categories.”

Furthermore, the report states that the geography of California’s cannabis cultivation may only inflame wildfire issues for cultivators, saying the “remote, hilly, forested areas” that the state’s legacy operators have long held are more fire-prone than other areas.

Even in more populated locations across the state, such as the Central Coast, the threat of wildfires still remains of high concern.

The report notes that the top three cannabis-producing counties on the Central Coast have a majority of their farms located in zones classified as persistent, new or intensifying wildfire hot spots. Santa Barbara County, in particular—the top cannabis-producing county in California, per the report—has more than 95% of its cannabis farms located in new or intensifying hot spot zones.

Missouri voters will have their say on adult-use cannabis legalization this November after the state’s Supreme Court decided Sept. 13 it won’t interject.

The Missouri Supreme Court’s decision to remain on the sideline comes after Joy Sweeney, a resident of Jefferson City, Mo., who serves on the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, filed a lawsuit Aug. 19 in an attempt to remove the measure from the state ballot. The suit claimed Legal Missouri 2022 (LM22) did not gather enough valid signatures and that the group’s initiative deals with too many policy changes in violation of state law.

The lawsuit was supported by Protect Our Kids, a political action committee (PAC) formed by Luke Niforatos of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), a notorious prohibitionist group.

Missouri’s Supreme Court justices denied taking on the case after Cole County Circuit Judge Cotton Walker dismissed Sweeney’s lawsuit, and after the Missouri Western District Court of Appeals ruled Sept. 12 that Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft correctly certified the initiative petition as sufficient, and correctly directed that the initiative appear on the Nov. 8 ballot. 

RELATED: 6 States That Could Legalize Cannabis Through 2022 Ballot Measures

The initiative’s organizers submitted roughly 400,000 signatures for their petition, and state officials certified 214,535 of them—well exceeding the 184,720 valid signatures required to appear on the ballot.

LONDON, England, Sept. 14, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE -International medical cannabis platform company Akanda Corp. announced an exclusive license agreement with international cannabis lifestyle brand Cookies. The multi-year agreement enables Akanda to pursue the current medical and future adult-use opportunities in Europe with one of the best-known cannabis brands and highest quality genetics in the world.

Under the terms of the license agreement, Akanda gains the ability to cultivate, manufacture and distribute Cookies strains, and the rights to sell Cookies branded products, including non-cannabis merchandise, in Portugal.

Akanda intends to initially produce EU good manufacturing practice (GMP) certified Cookies branded high THC medical cannabis products at its flagship indoor premium cultivation and manufacturing facility in Sintra, Portugal. Additionally, Akanda can exclusively open and operate flagship Cookies branded pharmacy outlets throughout the country.

Cookies currently has over 53 retail locations spanning five total countries, including 12 states in the U.S., selling lifestyle apparel as well as recreational and medicinal cannabis products as regulations allow.

“Adding the iconic Cookies brand and their high THC strains to Akanda’s platform is an important catalyst in our quest to lead the cannabis industry in Europe. Cookies premium genetics are an essential pillar to have in our portfolio as these markets begin to open up. We can’t wait to introduce the brand to consumers in Portugal, and strains to patients throughout Europe,” said Akanda’s CEO Tej Virk.

“The fact that Portugal decriminalized drugs back in the early 2000’s and people in the U.S. are still being locked up for cannabis 20 years later, shows the world, especially the U.S., that we can learn a lot from their forward thinking. The partners we chose in Portugal have one of the most advanced facilities I’ve seen and will be producing some of the best cannabis in the world. It’s partnerships like this that keep me excited about the growth and expansion of Cookies worldwide,” said Berner (Gilbert Milam), American rapper and entrepreneur and co-founder and CEO of Cookies.

Troy University's Center for Materials and Manufacturing Sciences in Alabama and the National Hemp Growers Cooperative (NHGC), a Mississippi-based hemp organization, have partnered to research and develop using hemp fibers in biodegradable plastics.

The partnership will help NHGC create more market opportunities for its members, as well as open the door for the university to develop similar partnerships in the future.

"The use of bio-based plastics is full of potential, in particular for the U.S. automotive industry. Industrial hemp is already proven to be an excellent source for bio-based plastics, but we need to create even more uses by blending with recyclable plastics," Nick Walters, NHGC managing partner, said in a press release.

Walter also expressed that the cooperative is excited to develop a long-lasting relationship with the university, as it works "to create more market opportunities for [its] grower-members while developing biodegradable plastics."

Steven Taylor, Ph.D., dean of Troy University’s College of Arts and Sciences, also expressed his excitement for the partnership, stating that it helps the Center for Materials and Manufacturing Science achieve its ultimate goal: "to offer solutions to real-world problems."

"It's not so much about what the NHGC leadership needs; it's what their members might need. Their goal is to try to help the farmers grow the product and have a market for the product; therefore, they need products to make," Taylor said. "This also gives us the possibility of multiple partners, a place to start and branch out from. It's the first step toward the center having real connectivity outside of the university and may give us synergy beyond what projects we alone can generate."

Oregon’s mature cannabis market appears to be slimming down in a correction from the fat-and-happy trends of late 2020 and early 2021.

In August 2022, the state’s adult-use cannabis flower prices hit an all-time low at retail and remained near an all-time low at wholesale, displaying no indications for a meaningful comeback anytime soon. 

The median retail price for dried flower was $118 per ounce last month, a 27% decrease from the $161 per ounce that was commanded during COVID-19 pandemic peaks in September 2020, according to data from the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC).  

And Oregon’s median price for dried cannabis flower sent from an adult-use wholesaler (non-producer) to an adult-use retailer was $493 per pound last month, representing a 62% decrease from the $1,299-per-pound pandemic peak in September 2020.

“One thing that I’d point out is that producers in Oregon can self-distribute,” OLCC Director of Analytics and Research TJ Sheehy told Cannabis Business Times earlier this year, shortly after state officials implemented a licensing moratorium in April. “So, the wholesaler to retailer would not capture that self-distribution, which, if you look at producers, that’s at a higher price point when they’re going to retailers.”

Adding self-distribution into the mix, Oregon’s median wholesale price of dried flower sent from non-producers and producers to adult-use retailers was $696 per pound in August, representing a 53% decrease from the $1,470-per-pound median price in September 2020. While Sheehy said that price point is more representative of the overall wholesale market, the same general downward trend remains.

New Frontier Data promoted Dr. Amanda Reiman as its new chief knowledge officer.

Reiman, who joined New Frontier Data in January as vice president of public policy research, is a social ethnobotanist with more than 20 years of experience studying the relationship between cannabis, people and society, according to a release. She earned her PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, and her experience also includes roles with Berkeley Patients Group, the Drug Policy Alliance, and Flow Cannabis Co.

“I joined New Frontier Data because I believe in the team’s work to bring unbiased, vetted data to an industry that needs it,” Reiman said. “I look forward to the opportunity to oversee the amazing team responsible for this research and help further the cannabis industry with actionable insights that inform key stakeholders at every level.”

Reiman assumes the title of chief knowledge officer following the appointment of John Kagia as director of policy for New York’s Office of Cannabis Management.

“New Frontier Data is in the fortunate position of being able to promote Amanda Reiman to chief knowledge officer following her exemplary tenure as VP, Public Policy and Research,” said Gary Allen, CEO of New Frontier Data. “Amanda is one of the few who could follow in the footsteps of John Kagia, an original employee of New Frontier Data and an esteemed industry thought leader whose appointment at this historic moment in New York’s industry will continue to pay dividends for the cannabis industry for years to come.”

SAN DIEGO, California, September 13, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE - Hempacco Co., Inc. (HPCO), a vertically integrated hemp manufacturing company, commenced sales of Cheech & Chong-branded hemp smokable products during the third quarter of 2022 under its previously announced 50/50 joint venture.

In January 2022, Hempacco entered into a joint venture agreement with Cheech and Chong's Cannabis Company (CCCC). Hempacco debuted its initial line of Cheech & Chong-branded hemp smokables and hemp blunt wraps products, as well as a Cheech & Chong-branded kiosk vending machine, with Tommy Chong, at the Tobacco Plus Expo in Las Vegas in January.

Tommy Chong exclaimed, "Throughout my career, I've always been against cigarette smoking, and now I'm proud to release the next best thing to smoking cannabis, and that's hemp!"

"We are thrilled to begin sales under this JV with Cheech & Chong," said Sandro Piancone, founder and CEO of Hempacco. "We are working with CCCC's CEO, Jonathan Black, to develop several unique products, including three blends in smokables and our hemp blunt wraps, and look forward to ramping sales as we leverage Cheech & Chong's well-known brand."

"Attracting partners like Hempacco with great products is one of the many great outcomes of working with an iconic brand like Cheech and Chong," Black said. "We are excited about the potential of this partnership and look forward to working together to develop and deliver more exciting products to the market."

"Sandro and I always dreamt of working with Cheech & Chong," said Jorge Olson, co-founder and CMO of Hempacco. "We thought from the very beginnings of Hempacco that a Cheech & Chong Hemp Smokable would be an incredible product, marketed to a baked-in customer base, and now we've brought that vision to reality."

Canadian MMA fighter and medical cannabis patient Elias Theodorou, the first professional athlete to obtain and compete with a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) for medical cannabis in North America, passed away on September 11 from Stage 4 colon cancer. He was 34.

Theodorou obtained his TUE in January 2020 after a four-year fight to prove how opioids and other prescription painkillers negatively impacted his martial arts training. He fought two fights, one in Victoria, British Columbia, and the other in Greeley, Colo., under this exemption.

Theodorou’s family released the following statement on Sept. 12 via the fighter’s publicist, Jessica Moran:

“Elias ‘The Spartan’ Theodorou answered his final bell yesterday, September 11th, 2022. He passed peacefully at home with his family and loved ones in his corner after a hard-fought fight with colon cancer that metastasized. He faced his end as he lived his life: eternally, irrationally, and infectiously optimistic.”

Beyond his personal use, Theodorou was an ardent supporter of medical cannabis access for athletes. He was a member of Athletes for CARE (A4C), a nonprofit organization advocating for the health, safety and wellbeing of athletes globally by improving health and wellness options for those living with mental and physical illnesses including chronic pain, depression, anxiety, PTSD, CTE, TBI, substance abuse and opioid dependency.

“Elias paved the way for future athletes,” A4C shared in a statement to Cannabis Business Times. “A4C is built off of mostly retired athletes who were pretty hurt by the sport they were in. Elias was one of the few active athletes working with the organization. Everyone at A4C believes in cannabis as a therapeutic option, and he was the leader of the pack with that group. He’ll be sorely missed as a base case.

SANTA ANA, California, Sept. 13, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE - Unrivaled Brands, a multi-state vertically integrated cannabis company with operations in California and Oregon, named Patty Chan as interim chief financial officer effective Sept. 12, 2022.

The appointment of Chan is a powerful addition to the executive team that Sabas Carrillo promised when he was named interim chief executive officer on Aug. 12. “Patty brings the talent and leadership required for this moment at Unrivaled. Her extensive forensic accounting experience will be instrumental in effectively addressing certain litigation and claims alleged against Unrivaled,” Sabas said. “Once again, per the company’s engagement with Adnant, we are able to add to the puissance of a formidable team at no additional cost to the company.”

Chan has over 14 years of accounting, financial reporting, compliance, and operational experience across the cannabis, real estate, and financial services industries. Before entering the cannabis and CBD industries, she accrued nearly ten years of experience managing forensic accounting engagements for business litigation, supervising and conducting fraud investigations, and preparing forensic analysis of complex financial transactions.  

She is also a seasoned chief financial officer having previously served as CFO for Upexi Inc. f/k/a Grove Inc., a manufacturing, distribution, wholesale and retail company in the CBD industry. Prior to that company’s initial public offering, she was part of the team overseeing their business model transition, equity fundraising, and go-public efforts.

Chan now serves as a manager at Adnant, LLC, an accounting and consulting firm advising cannabis companies on technical and operational accounting, strategic transactions, and the public offering process. At Adnant, she focuses on advising hypergrowth clients on their operations and audit preparation, as well as managing the accounting and reporting for cannabis investment funds. She has also implemented financial controls and infrastructure for cannabis clients in various stages of their business development. She and the Adnant team will bring strategic finance, accounting, and operational experience to Unrivaled.

“Patty has the experience to make tough decisions and the foresight to capitalize on opportunity. Her instincts and fearlessness will be part of Unrivaled’s transformation story," Sabas said.

NEW YORK, Sept. 13, 2022 – PRESS RELEASE – Azucarera El Viejo announced that it has entered into an agreement with Merida Capital Holdings LLC, a leading cannabis private equity firm with more than 75 companies in its portfolio, to build a world-class medical cannabis cultivation, manufacturing and finished goods production facility on its land in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

With the passage of Expediente No. 21.388, Costa Rica has legalized the use of cannabis for medical and therapeutic purposes and is in the process of creating regulations around medical cannabis as well as hemp as a food additive. Expediente No. 21.388 is designed specifically to offer Costa Rica’s population an alternative to traditional pharmaceuticals by allowing patients access to medical cannabis as a treatment for a variety of ailments and conditions, as well as therapeutic use for those suffering from chronic conditions. 

By partnering with an established leader in medical cannabis investments, El Viejo will bolster its leadership position in the agricultural production industry by adding medical cannabis to its diverse portfolio that includes both sugar and other finished goods. 

“We are thrilled to partner with Merida and to bring premier industry knowledge and experience to our production in Costa Rica,” said Alfonso Gomez, vice president of Azucarera El Viejo.

Tapping El Viejo’s leading cogeneration and carbon-friendly methods as well as Merida’s vast experience in building medical cannabis facilities, El Viejo and Merida intend to create a sustainable cultivation and production campus that aims to help smaller operators bring products to market for the benefit of Costa Rican patients. 

“El Viejo’s presence as a well-respected and established operator in both the agricultural and finished goods industries is a perfect complement to Merida’s medical cannabis focus,” said Mitch Baruchowitz, managing partner of Merida Capital Holdings. 

Should New Approach North Dakota advocates succeed with their 2022 adult-use cannabis ballot measure this November, the state’s medical market would pretty much disappear.

While North Dakota officials have issued more than 8,200 medical cannabis ID cards to qualifying patients since voters approved Initiated Statutory Measure 5 with a 64% majority in 2016, the number of active patients would likely dwindle to fewer than 2,000 following adult-use legalization, The Associated Press reported.

North Dakota Medical Marijuana Division Director Jason Wahl told a legislative panel Sept. 12 that the state’s medical cannabis registry could shrink by more than 80% because, in part, New Approach ND’s 2022 measure would allow adults 21 and older to purchase greater amounts of cannabis or cannabis products, tax rates would remain the same and edibles would be allowed under adult-use legalization.

RELATED: Tracking the Number of Registered Medical Cannabis Patients by State

Under current medical cannabis law, North Dakota patients are limited to purchasing 2.5 ounces of dried cannabis flower in a 30-day period, but the 2022 ballot measure would allow those 21 and older to purchase up to 1 ounce of cannabis, 4 grams of concentrate or up to 500 milligrams of THC in an infused an infused product—the possession limit—in a single visit.

Under the 2022 measure, adults 21 and older could potentially visit numerous dispensaries and purchase the 1-ounce possession limit multiple times in one day because “none of that is tracked,” Wahl told the legislative panel.

U.S. sales will grow from $25 billion in 2021 to $42 billion in 2026, which will make up 75% of total global cannabis salesDespite concerns surrounding inflation and economic and regulatory headwinds, legal cannabis sales in the U.S. will reach $27 billion by the end of 2022, a jump of 7% over 2021 sales of $25 billionNewer markets continue to see rapid sales growth and will be the primary driver of sales until 2026A slowed adoption rate in U.S. established markets will leave firms competing on high supply and low pricesWhile the U.S. will continue dominating global sales over the next few years, there is potential from emerging global markets such as Germany and Mexico

LOUISVILLE, Colo., Sept. 13, 2022 – PRESS RELEASE – BDSA announced an update of its cannabis market forecast, a five-year rolling global forecast by country, state, province, channel, and category. The report projects annual global cannabis sales to grow from $30 billion in 2021 to $57 billion in 2026, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of almost 13%. In the United States, cannabis sales will grow from $25 billion in 2021 to $42 billion in 2026, which will make up 75% of total global cannabis sales. Despite an inflationary environment and concerns about recession that dampened consumer spending, legal cannabis sales in the U.S. will reach $27 billion by the end of 2022, a jump of 7% over 2021 sales of $25 billion.

“The ‘hockey stick’ trend of sales growth seen in the early years of legal cannabis has passed, and economic and regulatory headwinds are exerting pressure on legal cannabis markets,” said Roy Bingham, CEO of BDSA. “Still, our updated forecast predicts that steady gains in developing U.S. markets will continue to drive single-digit annual growth in total U.S. legal sales in 2022, with continued growth prospects out to 2026.”

Adjustments to mature market forecasts stem partly from the continuation of the erosion of price in environments with high retail per capita numbers. Governments in Oregon and Washington have taken steps such as moratoriums on new licensing to combat chronic over-supply.

While sales have plateaued and even fallen in some of the most mature markets such as California, Colorado, Washington and Oregon, driven by declines in retail prices and a challenging macroeconomic situation, newer markets continue to see brisk sales growth. An example of this is the Illinois market, which is expected to bring in approximately $2 billion in total sales in 2022, a 14% increase over 2021 sales.

RELATED: Illinois Cracks $1 Billion in Adult-Use Cannabis Sales So Far in 2022

The total U.S. market continues to see topline growth, though some of the most established markets are starting to see sales slow. These markets may soon face saturated consumer penetration as BDSA data reports that the past six-month adult adoption topped 50% in fully legal markets in the spring. A slowed adoption rate will leave firms competing on high supply and low prices. Actual losses have come for the first time in some mature markets, such as Nevada. The first-mover advantage has been negated by access in newer markets, prices receding, and regulatory reforms stalling.

Three people were shot earlySunday morning in an attempted robbery at an indoor illicit cultivationfacility in San Leandro, Calif.

Officers responded after 4a.m. to the reported robbery located at 2000 Adams Ave., the San Leandro PoliceDepartment (SLPD) said in a news release Sept. 11. 

Officers discovered there wasa shootout between the facility workers and the burglary suspects, which leftthe site manager and one suspect in critical condition, and a facility securityguard in stable condition.

Matthew Barajas, criminalinvestigations division commander and lieutenant with the SLPD, confirmedwith Cannabis Business Times Sept. 12 that the cultivationfacility did not have a license to operate, as law enforcement was stillinvestigating the grow’s legal status at the time of the release.

Barajas says the facilityhoused roughly 7,000 to 8,000 illicit cannabis plants in various growth stagesand that the SLPD believes the suspects may have been attempting to take “processed,manicured cannabis, which was strewn all over the inside of the businesscomplex.”

He adds that law enforcementwill investigate who oversees the facility and that there may be a link betweenthe grow owners and the East Coast.

Florida-based cannabis giant Trulieve recently doubled its contribution to the Smart & Safe Florida political committee with another $5 million toward a 2024 ballot initiative to legalize adult-use cannabis.

Now with $10 million invested in the reform effort, Trulieve’s second financial input came less than a month after the multistate operator contributed its original $5 million to the ballot campaign. So far, the committee has not received any other monetary contributions as of a Sept. 2 filing period, according to the Florida Division of Elections.

Smart & Safe Florida, chaired by David Bellamy of the music duo the Bellamy Brothers, filed its campaign measure Aug. 8 with the Division of Elections and received approval Aug. 23 to circulate the petition.

HED: Trulieve, The Bellamy Brothers Back Adult-Use Cannabis Legalization Measure for Florida’s 2024 Ballot

The Adult Personal Use of Marijuana—the ballot measure’s title—will need 891,589 valid signatures by early 2024: The deadline for signature verification is Feb. 1, 2024, with election officials needing 30 days to check signatures before that deadline.

The measure aims to legalize the possession, purchase and use of cannabis products and accessories for adults 21 and older, including up to 1 ounce of dried flower or 5 grams of concentrate. The measure would allow Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers (MMTCs) and other state-licensed entities to acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, sell, and distribute such products and accessories.

The New Mexico State Fair has teamed up with The Verdes Foundation, a New Mexico-based cannabis dispensary, to add a “Discovering Cannabis” educational exhibit to its events list this year.

The event is designed to educate adults 21 years and older on the state’s “newest agricultural industry” and “provide a safe space for the cannabis curious to ask questions, get information, and learn more about how the recent legalization of recreational cannabis will impact the state’s economy.” (New Mexico legalized adult-use cannabis in April 2021.)

Celeste Melchor, project manager at The Verdes Foundation, said the company is “honored to be an exhibit sponsor,” adding that Verdes has been dedicated to educating the community and its clients about cannabis for the last decade.

“We are so excited to have the opportunity to share our knowledge and our passion around cannabis with our New Mexico community at the state fair,” she said

The exhibit is set to take place in the Manuel Lujan Building on the fairgrounds at 10 a.m. on each day of the fair, which runs Sept. 8-18. Experts cover various topics such as cannabis cultivation, how the plant affects the body, and more.

The exhibit contains numerous cannabis vendors and distributors; however, products are not available for consumption on-site. In addition, the exhibit includes an educational gallery that is designed to help “people navigate the available products on the market, how to find targeted relief, speak with local cannabis brands, learn about the plant, and the advocacy behind New Mexico’s newest industry,” according to the release.

In its upcoming field day, the North Dakota State University (NDSU) Department of Plant Sciences is giving individuals an inside look at its most recent research and advancements in hemp, fruit and vegetables.

From 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. CDT Sept. 15, NDSU is hosting a field day event at the NDSU Horticulture Research Farm and Arboretum located at 14850 29th St. S.E., Amenia, N.D., to showcase the research and projects the department has been working on.

Harlene Hatterman-Valenti, NDSU Department of Plant Sciences professor and field day organizer, said the event will allow individuals to see how some of the projects the department is working on “might be suitable for their gardens, orchards or farms.”

“The field day will include presentations on caterpillar tunnel research, high tunnel automated watering, renovation of old/unproductive apple trees, hydro-mulching for weed control, evaluating new brassica cultivars for yield and stress tolerance, evaluating black currant, cantaloupe, and haskap cultivars and their health attributes, evaluating allium species and their cultivars for health attributes, floral hemp research, grape breeding research, juneberry research, and raspberry research,” the release states.

Individuals can register for the event here.

NORWOOD, Massachusetts, September 12, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE - MariMed, Inc., a multi-state cannabis operator, announced an agreement that will bring the company’s portfolio of cannabis-infused edibles to Missouri. As part of the agreement, MariMed will develop and manage a state-of-the-art production kitchen. MariMed anticipates completion of the facility in the first quarter of 2023, with wholesale sales to commence thereafter.

“I am delighted to announce our management contract in the state of Missouri that will facilitate the distribution of our products in this emerging cannabis market,” said Bob Fireman, CEO of MariMed. “Expanding our operations to increase distribution of our award-winning brands aligns with our strategic growth plan and delivers on another shareholder commitment. We, as well as the polls, expect voters to approve adult-use sales on the ballot initiative this fall, which we believe will catapult Missouri to become a leading cannabis market in the U.S.”

MariMed intends to manufacture and distribute a select variety of its brands and products throughout Missouri, including its Betty’s Eddies fruit chews, a top-selling edible in every state where it is sold, its Bubby’s Baked soft and chewy baked edibles, and its Vibations: High + Energy powder drink mixes.

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, Sept. 12, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE - Trulieve Cannabis Corp., a multistate cannabis company, announced the opening of its first Trulieve-branded dispensary in Tucson. Located at 4659 E. 22nd St., the new dispensary is now open, with ongoing hours of 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

"We are excited to add a third location in Tucson, the state's second largest market," said Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers. "We look forward to expanding our reach to serve the community with our high-quality products and customer-centric approach to cannabis."

Grand opening festivities on Saturday, Sept. 17, will include partner giveaways, deals, DJs, food trucks, specials and discounts. The new location will offer a wide variety of popular products, including Trulieve brands such as Alchemy, Avenue, Co2lors, loveli, Modern Flower, Muse and Roll One. Customers can also choose from a broad assortment of products from partner brands, including Alien Labs, Connected, and El Blunto.

Trulieve entered the Arizona market in October 2021 as part of its acquisition of Harvest Health & Recreation, Arizona's largest cannabis retailer. Over the course of the next year, existing Harvest locations will be rebranded to Trulieve. Harvest and Trulieve-affiliated dispensaries in Arizona are located in Avondale, Casa Grande, Chandler, Cottonwood, Glendale, Guadalupe, Lake Havasu, Mesa, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, and Tucson.

For more information on store activations and locations in Arizona, please visit www.trulieve.com/dispensaries/arizona.

SAN FRANCISCO, California, Sept. 12, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE – Pistil Data, a cannabis market intelligence platform, is now operating in every legal U.S. state with plans to expand to Canada by the end of the year. The company, which crunches billions of data points daily to help clients sort through the complexity of their local markets, also announced two new market intelligence products for retail dispensaries and brands, Pistil for Retail and Pistil for Brands. 

Founded by executives from Google and Baker Technologies, Pistil’s unique IP makes vital market intelligence accessible to cannabis companies of all sizes, helping a sector that previously struggled with the complexity of industry data. The company’s growth stands apart in an industry sector that has been affected by recent recession fears and layoffs.

Announcement highlights: : 

“There is a shakeout happening in cannabis right now, and there is no longer any room for error. Brands need to use their resources efficiently, position themselves strategically, and make sure they are in the stores that can make them money. For retailers, it means taking a hard look at their shelves and their pricing, to find a way to stand out to new and existing customers in their local markets”, says Jeffrey Graham, CEO of Pistil Data. “This is why even in the face of an industry downturn, demand for Pistil has never been stronger.” 

Backed by cannabis venture firm Casa Verde Capital, Pistil Data has built a customer base of 1,000+ North American industry leaders with clients such as Connected, Herbl, Raw Garden, and Revolution Cannabis. Pistil has developed a catalog of more than 3 million cannabis products which are used like a UPC code to match products across stores. Pistil analyzes products in more than 90% of stores in North America.