Andrew Brisbo, executive director of Michigan’s Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA) within the state’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), plans to transition to a new role within the department next month.

Brisbo, who has led the CRA since 2019, will leave his position to take over as the director of Michigan’s Bureau of Construction Codes, according to the Detroit Free Press.

“We are proud of the incredible team at the Cannabis Regulatory Agency for establishing Michigan as one of the top cannabis markets in the country,” Bobby Leddy, a spokesperson for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office, told the news outlet.

Brisbo is a graduate of Central Michigan University and began his career in state government in 2004 as a regulation officer with the Michigan Gaming Control Board, the Detroit Free Press reported. He later ran a branch for the secretary of state’s office, worked as an analyst and manager in LARA’s Bureau of Commercial Services, and served as a licensing division director for LARA until he was appointed to lead the CRA.

Whitmer’s office will now start looking to fill the executive director role within the CRA, the Detroit Free Press reported.

LAS VEGAS – Aug. 9, 2022 – PRESS RELEASE – The Source+, an award-winning cannabis company with dispensaries in Nevada and Massachusetts, has introduced CAMP Solventless Gummies, a chef-driven line of edible gummies available now at The Source+’s five Nevada dispensaries. Nevada’s first solventless cannabis brand, CAMP partnered with renowned chefs Becky Quan and Ricky McCormick, who together have led teams in Michelin-rated restaurants in New York and Las Vegas, to develop the new gummy edibles.

The first edible to join CAMP’s expansive list of concentrates, flower and vapes, the new gummies are made with high-quality and chemical-free ice water hash, resulting in a clean experience. CAMP Gummies are available in an array of fresh flavors including peach, orange and blackberry. Each gummy is dosed at five milligrams each and comes in a pack of 20, priced at $25.

“When we met the CAMP team, there was an instant meeting of the minds for what infused products should be in the market,” said McCormick. “Joining the team was one of those lucky coincidences where fate and circumstance brought us together to ignite our passions and deliver a product that offered an elevated taste and sensory experience.”

RELATED: How CAMP’s Irene Villanueva and Aaron Nino Work: Cannabis Workspace

Since its debut in April 2019, CAMP has produced Nevada’s first solventless products. Known for its unique extraction process, CAMP’s solventless collection is extracted using only ice, water, heat and pressure creating an authentic flavor. It now boasts a collection of live rosin, flower rosin and ice-water hash rosin. As concentrates become more popular, CAMP rises to the occasion with handpicked, hand-trimmed and terpene-rich products. In April 2021, CAMP launched its redesigned solventless disposable.

Following Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., filing the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA) in the upper chamber July 21, one hemp advocacy organization is recommending changes to key provisions of the measure that would hurt the hemp industry.

The U.S. Hemp Roundtable (USHR), a national hemp advocacy organization, sent a letter addressed to Wyden, Booker and Sen. Chuck Schumer, the lead sponsors of the CAOA.

The USHR states in the letter that it appreciates the CAOA being introduced and that most of the drafted legislation “would advantage hemp commerce.” However, the organization added that “progress for the industry would be significantly undermined by a few of the provisions in the legislation as introduced.”

The USHR included the following changes to key provisions in the measure:

The USHR said it is concerned that the current language under Section 504 of the measure “subjects hemp-derived CBD to a uniquely onerous and unprecedented regulatory regime.” The organization added that it believes nonintoxicating, hemp-derived CBD “should be regulated like any other botanical ingredient.”

As listed in the letter, below are the USHR recommended changes to Section 504 in the CAOA:

After fearing signature shortfalls in two key congressional districts just two weeks ago, activists from Legal Missouri 2022 received certification from Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft on Aug. 9 for an adult-use cannabis ballot measure.

If all goes according to plan for the initiative’s proponents, Missouri will become the 20th state to legalize adult-use cannabis in the U.S. when voters go to the polls this November.

State officials certified 214,535 voter signatures—of roughly 400,000 submitted by Legal Missouri on May 8—from across Missouri’s eight congressional districts. That mark exceeded the required minimum of 184,720 valid signatures needed to appear on the ballot.

“Our statewide coalition of activists, business owners, medical marijuana patients and criminal justice reform advocates has worked tirelessly to reach this point and deserves all the credit,” Legal Missouri campaign manager John Payne said in a press release. “Our campaign volunteers collected 100,000 signatures, on top of paid signature collection. That outpouring of grassroots support among Missourians who want to legalize, tax and regulate cannabis made all the difference.”

The group’s victory on Tuesday came after early signs in the verification process indicated potential signature shortages on July 26. To qualify a petition for the ballot, an initiative effort must include valid signatures from 8% of voters in at least six of the eight congressional districts. Legal Missouri’s effort had only crossed the finish line in four districts at that time.

RELATED: Twice the Required Signatures Not Enough (Yet) For Missouri Cannabis Ballot Initiative

After past adult-use cannabis legalization initiatives in Florida failed to reach the ballot, Trulieve, one of the state’s largest medical cannabis operators, and The Bellamy Brothers, a country music act, have filed a new proposed constitutional amendment to legalize cannabis for adults 21 and older.

The measure was filed Aug. 8 at the state Division of Elections, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

The proposed constitutional amendment, the “Adult Personal Use of Marijuana,” would allow those 21 and older “to possess, purchase, or use marijuana products and marijuana services for non-medical personal consumption by smoking, ingestion, or otherwise,” the news outlet reported.

Also included in the measure is language to allow “medical marijuana treatment centers, and other state licensed entities, to acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, sell and distribute such products and accessories,” according to the Sun-Sentinel.

The proposal could also remove vertical integration requirements that have governed the state’s medical cannabis industry and mandated that Florida’s “medical marijuana treatment centers” control the entire supply chain from cultivation to retail, the news outlet reported.

Glass House Brands acquired the remaining equity ownership interest of The Pottery, a Los Angeles dispensary.

Glass House previously owned 50% of the business, which is located on Venice Boulevard in Los Angeles, and has now acquired the remaining 50% of the dispensary. Under terms of the agreement, Glass House acquired all equity interests of The Pottery and N.R.O. management, The Pottery’s management company, in exchange for 500,000 equity shares of Glass House at a fixed price of $6 per share, according to a company release.

In addition, Glass House also acquired The Pottery’s three active state cannabis licenses in retail, distribution, and cultivation, as well as six city-level adult-use and medical cannabis retailer, distributor and cultivation licenses.

RELATED: Graham Farrar: 'Surviving is Thriving' in California's Cannabis Market

Glass House’s full acquisition of The Pottery expands the company’s retail footprint to four dispensaries in California.

LAS VEGAS – August 9, 2022 – Cannabis Conference, the industry’s leading educational and expo event for plant-touching cannabis businesses, taking place Aug. 23-25 at Paris Las Vegas, is pleased to announce the Day 2 Keynote: “From Pioneering Founder to Foundational Investor: Mitch Baruchowitz Shares Crucial Strategies for Building a Successful and Long-Term Cannabis Company.”

Baruchowitz is the founder and Managing Partner of the private equity firm Merida Capital Holdings, which has deployed more than $275 million, and has ~$450 million in assets under management (AUM) across the cannabis ecosystem. Since its inception in 2016, Merida has completed more than 100 transactions in 70 portfolio companies that include leading ancillary companies and legal operators alike. In addition, Baruchowitz has founded seven cannabis companies that have achieved exits of more than $100 million and currently sits on the Board of several leading cannabis technology companies. He is also the former Chairman of public SPAC Merida Merger Corp. which merged with leading cannatech company Leafly (LFLY).

In this candid Cannabis Conference Keynote Presentation on Wednesday, Aug. 24 at 11 a.m. PT, Baruchowitz will share his passion for building companies that are structurally prepared for wherever the cannabis market is headed. Attendees will come away with:

“We’re thrilled to be hosting Mitch Baruchowitz at Cannabis Conference 2022. Mitch’s experience in the cannabis industry, both as a founder in the earlier years of adult-use legalization, and now as an investor of successful cannabis companies across the supply chain, has provided him lessons learned, as well as a unique perspective on the broader cannabis market that our attendees—the majority of whom operate plant-touching businesses—will certainly find valuable,” Noelle Skodzinski, Cannabis Business Times and Cannabis Conference Editorial Director said.

"Having read CBT religiously for several years and admired the varied paths the cannabis operator can take to success, it’s incredible to be able to share our insights on systematizing success gleaned over the past 10-plus years with the very people featured in those pages, and continue the evolution of cannabis to a normalized industry,” Baruchowitz said.  

Maine officials announced Monday the launch of a new program to reimburse municipalities that host cannabis businesses.

The Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP), a division of the Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services (DAFS), is offering cities and towns up to $20,000 to cover the costs associated with opting in to the state’s adult-use cannabis program.

The OCP launched an online portal Aug. 8 to accept submissions from municipalities seeking reimbursement.

The move stems from a law passed during Maine’s 2022 legislative session that mandates that cities and towns that have opted in to the adult-use cannabis market will be eligible for the reimbursement of qualifying expenses.

RELATED: Maine Governor Signs Legislation to Reimburse Cannabis Municipalities $20K

BOULDER, Colo. (August 8, 2022) – PRESS RELEASE – Wana Brands, one of North America’s top cannabis-infused brands, and the Wana Brands Foundation, an organization working to enhance the world by supporting a wide variety of nonprofits in Wana’s communities, have partnered with the League of Women Voters to bring voter registration drives to cannabis dispensaries across the United States as part of the 2nd annual Wana Brands Summer of Quick tour. The Summer of Quick tour is making more than 50 stops across the country through the summer and leading up to the midterm elections on Tues., Nov. 8.

RELATED: Wana Brands and The Green Solution Host Pop-Up Vaccination Clinics in Colorado

The Wana Wanderer is visiting dispensaries to offer education about voter registration status and how to register to vote. At select stops on the tour, local League of Women Voters representatives will be on hand to register voters and provide voter and election information. Information on how to register to vote, verify voter registration and find out what’s on the ballot can be found at Vote411.org/wana. The Wana Brands Foundation has donated $25,000 to support the League of Women Voters Education Fund, which educates voters on elections and registration information.

“Voting is one of the most powerful tools that we have as Americans. Wana Brands and The Wana Brands Foundation consider this partnership with the League of Women Voters an essential initiative leading up to this year’s critical midterm elections,” said Nancy Whiteman, CEO of Wana Brands. “Through this voter registration effort, we aim to ensure that anyone who has the right to vote knows how to get registered and has the ability to fulfill this civic duty. One of the most powerful things we can do for our communities is to register to vote and educate ourselves on the issues.”

Despite pandemic concerns, the 2020 U.S. election saw the highest voter turnout of the 21st century, with 66.8% of citizens aged 18 and older voting, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. However, the average voter turnout during midterm elections—such as this year’s upcoming election—typically hovers around 40% of eligible voters. Leading up to elections, all voters—particularly younger voters such as Generation Z—need trustworthy information about how to register and vote. According to CIRCLE at Tufts University, 34% of young people ages 18-29 said they did not know if their state offered online voter registration going into the 2020 election, suggesting massive untapped potential to broaden its use.

After a lengthy legal argument between the Kentucky Hemp Association (KYHA), the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA), and Kentucky State Police regarding the legal status of delta-8 THC in Kentucky, Boone Circuit Judge Rick Brueggemann has declared the substance to be a legal derivative of hemp.

KDA sent a letter to hemp license holders in April 2021, stating that delta-8 was prohibited under federal law, which led to law enforcement raiding retailers who sold the product, using the KDA’s letter as grounds. According to a press release, the raids led the KYHA to file a lawsuit against the KDA and Kentucky State Police, arguing that delta-8 is legal under state law and that the raids were unwarranted.

On Aug. 3, hemp license holders in the state got long-awaited clarity on the issue when “Boone Circuit Judge Rick Brueggemann declared delta-8 to be a legal derivative of hemp and issued a permanent injunction against law enforcement which prevents them from charging retailers and producers with criminal activity for selling delta-8,” the release states. 

According to the release, the injunction against the KDA was dismissed “due to a lack of standing, leaving hemp processors at risk of losing their hemp licenses.” 

Katie Moyer, president of the KYHA, sent a letter to members stating that Brueggemann’s ruling is a big win for hemp farmers and retailers in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, adding that banning such products would be a big step backward.

Tate Hall, vice president of KYHA, also released a statement on the issue.

Canada is on pace to spend $200 million this year on cannabis for veterans, as the federal government is reimbursing a record number of veterans for medical cannabis.

Ottawa spent more than $150 million in the last fiscal year, which is more than double the amount spent three years ago, according to a CBC News report.

The anticipated $200 million spent this year comes as thousands more veterans ask the government to cover their medical cannabis expenses, the news outlet reported.

The increased demand for medical cannabis likely stems from a 2008 court decision that required the government to provide “reasonable access” to cannabis when its use is authorized by a health care practitioner, according to CBC.

New Mexico’s total cannabis sales have hit another record high for July, bringing in $40.3 million, and “show no signs of slowing down,” according to a press release.

Medical sales accounted for $16,813,947.36 million, while adult-use sales accounted for $23,491,184.55 million, bringing the total cannabis sales to $40,305,131.90 million for July.

According to the release, New Mexico’s July cannabis sales have surpassed every other month, including April, which was the state’s first month of commercial adult-use cannabis sales.

Licensed retailers brought in $22.1 million in adult-use sales and $17.3 million in medical sales for April, bringing the total combined to nearly $39.5 million, Cannabis Business Times previously reported.

According to the release, these ­­five cities had the highest total cannabis sales for July:

“These numbers show that the impressive sales generated in the first month of legalized recreational cannabis sales were no fluke–-and this is only the beginning,” said Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. “We’ve established a new industry that is already generating millions of dollars in local and state revenue and will continue to generate millions more in economic activity across the state, creating thousands of jobs for New Mexicans in communities both small and large.”

Various government agencies in Washington, D.C., plan to visit cannabis businesses starting in September to verify compliance.

The Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA) announced Aug. 5 that after a 30-day grace period, its Joint Cannabis Task Force will launch the inspections next month.

Cannabis businesses operating within the District must comply with regulatory requirements outlined by DC Health, the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA), the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department (FEMS), and the Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR).

DC Health requires that edibles and other manufactured cannabis products must be approved by the agency, and that businesses comply with D.C.’s food safety and hygiene laws.

DCRA mandates that businesses operating in the District must be registered with the department, and those businesses must comply with D.C.’s general business requirements.

Viola is recategorizing all of its flower products in an effort to simplify the cannabis-shopping experience for consumers.

The new Viola Vibes System (VVS) categorizes all Viola flower products into one of four different ”vibes”: Get Up and Go (sativa), Good Times (sativa-hybrid), Kick Back (indica-hybrid), and Lights Out (indica).

Viola’s decision for a brand refresh was spurred by feedback from consumers and company employees alike, according to Viola Director of Marketing Najee Tyler.

“We were doing a lot of consumer research and talking to a bunch of the Viola family and we got the same consensus from a lot of them, which was when they go into stores, they're looking for a certain reason and a purpose between why they're consuming [cannabis],” Tyler said. “The reason why Viola even started was a purpose, which was [Viola Founder and CEO] Al's [Harrington] grandmother and the certain things that she was dealing with at the time. Each one of the vibes is something of a callout as to why people are consuming cannabis. There’s a little bit of something for anybody who's consuming cannabis.”

In addition to providing a ”purpose” for cannabis consumption, the VVS will also simplify the shopping experience for consumers both experienced and new.

“That was the idea behind it: being able to make people feel comfortable with their cannabis-buying experience,” Tyler said. “That was a really big focus for us, just to make it easy for people to identify the products. We still are using our strain names, so it's not like we're going away from that in a sense. The connoisseurs that were into the Viola products before, they still have those strains that they love and are able to pick from those, but [we] definitely wanted to help with the with the buying experience for consumers.”

Responsible Growth Arkansas is fighting back after the state Board of Election Commissioners rejected its adult-use cannabis ballot initiative last week.

The group submitted more than 190,000 signatures—more than double the 89,151 signatures required—to the secretary of state’s office last month to get its adult-use cannabis legalization measure before voters this fall.

RELATED: Arkansas Voters Likely to Decide Adult-Use Cannabis Legalization in November

The ballot initiative, a proposed constitutional amendment, would legalize the possession of up to one ounce of cannabis for adults 21 and older.

State officials announced July 29 that Responsible Growth Arkansas met the signature requirement, and the Board of Election Commissioners was tasked with approving the proposal’s popular name and ballot title to officially qualify the measure for the November ballot.

New Jersey regulators took steps last week to allow cannabis delivery in the state.

The Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) proposed amendments to the state’s existing regulations, including licensing processes for delivery, distribution and wholesale businesses, according to a WHYY report.

Under the proposed rules, cannabis retailers and delivery services would not be able to sell or deliver more than one ounce of usable cannabis, 5 grams of solid cannabis concentrate or 5 milliliters of cannabis oil, as well as vaporized formulations containing more than 5 milliliters of cannabis oil, multiple ingestible cannabis products containing more than 1,000 milligrams of THC, or more than one ounce of any combination of usable cannabis and cannabis products, the news outlet reported.

RELATED: New Jersey Regulators Propose Permanent Rules for Adult-Use Cannabis Industry

The CRC’s proposal would allow cannabis deliveries in municipalities that have opted out of hosting dispensaries, according to WHYY.

BOCA RATON, Florida, August 08, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE - Jushi Holdings Inc., a vertically integrated, multi-state cannabis operator, announced that it entered into a confidential settlement agreement with Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. and with Jushi’s former Chief Financial Officer, Edward Kremer to resolve claims Jushi asserted in a lawsuit filed on July 15, 2022, including a claim asserted against Kremer for breach of his employment agreement and a claim asserted against Curaleaf for tortious interference. Under the terms of the settlement agreement: 1) Kremer has reaffirmed and agreed to abide by his other continuing obligations to Jushi under the terms of his employment agreement in exchange for a limited waiver of his non-compete to allow him to accept employment with Curaleaf, and 2) Curaleaf has made certain commitments to strengthen the commercial relationship between Jushi and Curaleaf.

RELATED: Jushi Announces Management Change

“We are pleased to resolve this matter promptly and reach an amicable agreement which strengthens our commercial relationship with Curaleaf,” said Jim Cacioppo, Jushi CEO, chairman and founder. “This agreement strengthens some of our core markets and gives us access to an even greater group of consumers across our footprint.”

NORWOOD, Massachusetts, August 8, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE - MariMed, Inc., a multi-state cannabis operator, announced it signed a definitive agreement to acquire the ownership interests in a conditional adult-use cannabis dispensary license in Illinois. The dispensary license is for the BLS District #16, which is situated in the Central-Eastern part of Illinois, bordering Indiana. The closing of the acquisition is dependent on certain conditions, including the resolution of any remaining legal challenges affecting nearly 200 social equity dispensary licenses and regulatory approval for the acquisition.

Upon closing the acquisition, MariMed will commence operation of its fifth Thrive adult-use dispensary in Illinois, which is expected in 2023. MariMed owns and operates four adult-use dispensaries in Anna, Harrisburg, Metropolis, and Mt. Vernon. Additionally, the company is constructing a state-of-the-art craft cultivation and processing facility in Mt. Vernon, Ill., making MariMed a full vertical operator in the state when completed. The Mt. Vernon facility can house up to 14,000 square feet of canopy, an extraction lab to produce concentrates, and a production kitchen to manufacture edibles and other derivative products.

“I am excited to announce we have acquired our fifth dispensary license in Illinois, which will further bolster our market share in that state,” said Bob Fireman, MariMed CEO. “Acquiring another dispensary in Illinois aligns with our strategic growth plan and delivers on another shareholder commitment. We continue to explore acquiring an additional five dispensaries, as Illinois allows up to 10 for a single owner. “

MariMed intends to manufacture and distribute its proprietary brands and products throughout Illinois. That includes its Betty’s Eddies fruit chews, Nature’s Heritage flower and concentrates, Bubby’s Baked soft and chewy baked edibles, and more.

Item 9 Labs CEO Andrew Bowden, a native of Sioux Falls, S.D., is passionate about providing local entrepreneurs with the resources to launch their cannabis businesses, a passion that drives Item 9’s Unity Rd. franchise model.

B.J. Olson and Adam Jorgensen, South Dakota natives and best friends, opened their Unity Rd. franchise in the Sioux Falls suburb of Hartford on July 27, marking the first day of medical cannabis sales in the Mount Rushmore State.

“We’re offering one of the safest and most direct routes for entrepreneurs looking to get into the industry,” Bowden tells Cannabis Business Times. “As these entrepreneurs walk into the industry with us, we have every single thing that they need, … from the licensing process all the way down to construction and SOPs for the actual shop itself. So, that’s really what we’re trying to do, … to get local people into business.”

RELATED: 'The Future is Franchising': Item 9 Labs Corp.'s Plans for Cannabis Expansion

It was important for Bowden to set up shop in South Dakota and provide medicine to patients in his home state.

(August 8, 2022) Timonium, Md. — PRESS RELEASE — Far & Dotter, the inclusive cannabis dispensary franchise model from Curio Wellness, today announced the signing of its first franchise agreements with the goal to expand into two new states once licenses are secured. Since the 2021 announcement of the Far & Dotter franchise model, the company has received nearly 800 applications from potential franchisees.

These highly-qualified individuals are the first recipients of support from Curio Wellness’s Investment Fund, which expands diverse ownership and enables economic empowerment through start-up capital for minority business owners to open their own Far & Dotter.

The inaugural class of franchisees include Sederia Gray (Mississippi) and Haider Rizvi (New Jersey). Each candidate participated in an extensive, mutual vetting process and demonstrated their drive, community leadership and commitment to wellness. Far & Dotter will assist these franchisees with the dispensary licensing process in each state.

“We are thrilled to officially announce our first licensing agreements with these very deserving entrepreneurs—a highly anticipated milestone that we have been working on since the Fund was launched,” said Greg Miller, president of Far & Dotter. “In a complex industry that is fast-moving and constantly evolving, we have solidified ourselves as a highly sought-after partner for those looking to bring a unique dispensary and wellness center model to their community. These individuals represent a highly motivated class of entrepreneurs that will pave the way for national expansion of the brand.”

Far & Dotter is providing entrepreneurs with the opportunity to enter and hold stake in the fast-growing cannabis industry, while continuing to grow the brand’s mission of bringing best-in-class products and holistic health services to patients across the country. These engagements also support diverse dispensary ownership and the economic opportunities ownership brings. Far & Dotter and its parent company, Curio Wellness, believe diverse representation and ownership are critical to realizing the full potential of the cannabis industry.