DENVER (June 23, 2022) – PRESS RELEASE – Native Roots has officially launched its Gold, Onyx and Green cannabis labels, comprising 25 strains and now available at the leading independent dispensary chain’s 20 locations across Colorado. Each strain is hand-picked and thoughtfully cultivated using strain-specific growing methods to maximize potency, flavor and quality. All strains undergo Native Roots’ proprietary curing process that eliminates rapid terpene evaporation and discoloration, maximizing cannabinoid content.

Gold and Onyx label strains are hung dry and hand-trimmed to preserve trichomes where high concentrations of psychoactive compounds reside, maintaining the natural beauty and potency of the flower. After the curing process, Gold and Onyx strains are hand packed to preserve trichomes.

The Gold Label strains are packaged in glass drams that block UV rays and are non-porous, smell-proof and airtight, preserving the bud. All Gold Label strains are grown from seed and offer a minimum of 24% THC potency. Hand-selected by the cultivation staff, all phenotypes are exclusive to Native Roots.

“Our cultivation team is constantly researching, growing and testing new potential strains. The result is the debut of these new flower options that incorporate a thoughtful revamp to the post-harvest process,” said Jason MacDonald, director of cultivation operations at Native Roots Cannabis Co. “All strains grown at Native Roots facilities are grown with the same high standards, and each is tested extensively before becoming eligible for the Gold or Onyx labels.”

Accompanying the launch, budtenders will lead customers through a flower selection using the Mood State Matrix, a guide created from scientific engineer-led research at Native Roots. Rather than simply classifying a strain as Sativa, Indica or Hybrid, customers can pick a product based on effects such as sleep, relax, focus, energize and uplift. The Mood State Matrix was designed after a comprehensive digital analysis on cannabis effects descriptions, extensive group testing on each strain, and mathematical modeling around results to ensure consistency and accuracy with the final five descriptors. The Mood State Matrix is a suggested guide and effects cannot be guaranteed.

Thailand is fine-tuning the regulations for its cannabis industry after legalizing cannabis cultivation, sales and possession earlier this month.

The Lower House Scrutiny Committee on the cannabis and hemp legislation has opted to limit home cannabis cultivation to 10 plants, according to a Thai PBS World report.

The committee has also moved to limit the size of the land on which cannabis can be commercially cultivated, the news outlet reported. The bill would mandate that small growers cannot exceed 0.8 hectares for cannabis cultivation, medium-sized growers cannot exceed 3.2 hectares and large-scale growers cannot exceed 3.2 hectares, although there would be no limits on plant count.

The legislation, initiated by Bhumjaithai, the second largest government party, passed its first reading June 8, according to Thai PBS World. The bill will now be debated and voted on in the Lower House in its second and third readings, the news outlet reported.

Since the Public Health Ministry announced that cannabis and hemp would be removed from the Category 5 narcotics list, effective June 9, nearly 900,000 people have registered to grow cannabis, according to Thai PBS World, although there were initially no restrictions on home cultivation.

Barely three weeks following peak optimism, a group of medical cannabis legalization advocates in Nebraska now have dashed hopes of hitting their signature benchmark ahead of a July 7 deadline to appear on the state’s November ballot.

Proponents of Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana (NMM), a grassroots initiative effort, announced June 22 that they’re about 50,000 signatures short of putting a pair of complementary legalization measures before voters this year. The group has 60,000 of the roughly 87,000 valid John Hancocks it needs for each measure but is hoping to gather north of 110,000 signatures for each measure to provide a cushion for those that are not validated.

State Sen. Anna Wishart, D-Lincoln, a co-sponsor of the petitions, announced earlier this month that the ballot campaign was on track after NMM had raised $50,000 and doubled its signature count to approximately 40,000 for each measure in a two-week period. The group had qualified 15 of Nebraska’s 93 counties at that time.

RELATED: Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana Picks Up Signature Steam For Ballot Initiative

This week, Wishart wasn’t so confident.

“The reality is we need 50,000 Nebraskans to sign the petition in the next two weeks,” she said, NBA-affiliate WOWT reported. “Now it’s on Nebraskans. The volunteers and patients have carried the water this far. It’s on Nebraskans to go out and find a place to sign it.”

New Mexico Cannabis Control Division (CCD) Director Kristen Thomson, who became the division’s first director in November 2021, resigned June 16, according to NM Political Report.

“Yesterday, June 16, 2022, Kristen Thomson submitted her resignation from the position of Director of the Cannabis Control Division of the Regulation and Licensing Department (RLD),” Bernice Geiger, an RLD spokesperson, told the news outlet. “Her resignation was effective at that time. We thank Kristen for her service to the Cannabis Control Division and the State of New Mexico and wish her success in her future endeavors.”

Geiger did not say why Thomson resigned, but revealed that Thomson did not plan to work at the CCD for the remainder of her career, according to NM Political Report.

“I am a creator, not a regulator,” Thomson told the news outlet. “That just was never going to be the role for me.”

She added that she is “honored” to have worked with the CCD.

The Hemp Feed Coalition (HFC) and National Hemp Association (NHA) announced they have partnered to accelerate a shared goal: to obtain approvals for hemp as an animal feed ingredient.

"The hemp industry is at a critical point where we need regulators and policymakers to recognize the existing, well-documented science surrounding the safety and efficacy around hemp ingredients for feed," HFC Executive Director Morgan Tweet said in a press release. "We need them to work collectively and proactively with the industry to open the U.S. feed markets, many of which are open in other places in the world. We believe a strategic partnership between NHA and HFC will provide the leadership needed to have constructive and informative discussions with these parties as well as continue the effort of supporting research and applications."

Since 2017, HFC has been actively working to advance hemp as an animal feed ingredient; however, it's been a challenge, as the process of including any new ingredient in animal feed requires "an abundance of data and approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Center for Veterinary Medicine (FDA-CVM)," Cannabis Business Times previously reported.

HFC submitted an application in February 2021 to the FDA to gain approval for hemp seed cake and meal to be used as commercial feed for laying hens. The submission included research and data from a two-year study "consisting of an ingredient investigation of hemp seed cake and meal and a clinical trial to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of hemp for laying hens," according to a press release.

In addition, NHA and HFC organizers have also worked together on projects centered around advocating for hemp as an animal feed product, according to the release.

The partnership will allow each organization to come together and share its resources and knowledge, creating a "team that is greater than the sum of its parts.” The HFC brings its knowledge of animal research and animal feed ingredient applications, while NHA provides "administrative support, advocacy, and outreach,” the release states.

Even with ongoing momentum from six passages in the U.S. House, the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act was dealt another defeat June 23.

The act, which many advocates hope will provide clarity and safe harbor to financial institutions servicing state-legal cannabis industries, was removed Thursday from the America COMPETES/USICA Act—extensive legislation that involves a historic investment to surge production of American-made goods and tackle supply-chain vulnerabilities to increase global competitiveness, among other priorities.

Passing SAFE Banking would improve safety and opportunities for hundreds of thousands of people and foster economic development in a majority of states, reform group NORML’s Political Director Morgan Fox said in a news release Thursday.

“It is mind-boggling that this is now the sixth time that SAFE Banking has been approved by the House but stalled by the Senate,” Fox said. “This narrowly tailored, incremental, and necessary legislation has broad bipartisan support in both chambers, and it is incredibly disappointing that politics continue to get in the way of saving lives and helping struggling small businesses disrupt and ultimately replace the underground cannabis market. If there is a legislative version of the Twilight Zone, the SAFE Banking Act seems to be stuck in it at this point.”

SAFE Banking passed the U.S. House five times between 2019 and 2021, including twice as a standalone bill, but stalled before making headway in the Senate each time. That’s despite the bill’s author, Rep. Ed Perlmutter, receiving broad bipartisan support in his chamber each time, including a 321-101 roll call vote in April 2021.

Most recently, House members approved SAFE Banking a sixth time via an en bloc amendment package to the American COMPETES (Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology) Act, which the lower chamber passed in its entirety on a 222-210 vote Feb. 4.

Green Dragon, a multistate cannabis operator, has opened two new locations in Tampa and Boynton Beach East, bringing its retail presence to five dispensaries in Florida and 21 nationwide.

Green Dragon Chief Development Officer Alex Levine said in an email that population demographics drew the company to open locations in Tampa (12807 W. Hillsborough Ave.) and Boynton Beach East (2201 S. Federal Hwy).

“Tampa is the third-largest city in Florida. ... Boynton Beach, a popular South Florida city, has seen a major influx of residents over the past few years,” Levine said. “We carefully select the locations in which we want to open dispensaries based on demographic research.”

RELATED: Expanding Your Retail Footprint Via the Acquisition of an Existing License: Q&A With Green Dragon Chief Development Officer Alex Levine

According to Levine, the company now has locations online in Boynton Beach East and West, Tampa, West Palm Beach and Lake Worth, and has plans to open four additional locations in Merritt Island, Titusville, Ocala and Stuart by the end of July.  

Green Dragon is also building out a 400,000-square-foot manufacturing, cultivation and distribution facility in Palatka, Fla., which is expected to come online this fall, Levine said. 

Major League Baseball (MLB) and teams within the organization can now sell CBD sponsorships, according to the Sports Business Journal (SBJ).

In a June 21 conference call, according to SBJ, MLB officials notified team marketers that CBD is now considered an “‘approved category’” under certain conditions involving certification by NSF, an auditing, testing and certification organization.

According to the Associated Press, sponsors need to be certified by NSF to not have psychoactive levels of THC.

Neither news organization noted whether the THC limit would be based on the federal hemp THC limit of 0.3% or whether sponsors could additionally be involved in state-legal adult-use or medical cannabis operations under the same brand name or vertically integrated cmpany.

RELATED: Former NFL Stars Living Dream as Adult-Use Dispensary and Cultivation Business Owners

“We've been watching this category for a while and waiting for it to mature to the point where we can get comfortable with it," said MLB CRO Noah Garden, according to SBJ. "We told the clubs if you want to do a deal in the CBD category, it will require two things: One is NSF certification—and none of them are there yet, although around three to five (brands) are in process. The other is to get approval from the commissioner’s office. ... Our fans are very much the kind of customers they are looking for, and we like being first. It's a good opportunity for us and the clubs. The last few companies that came to see us about this, the process of NSF certification was embraced. That gave us a comfort level to be able to move forward.”

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CALGARY, AB, June 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - PRESS RELEASE - Sundial Growers Inc. has announced that, in the context of the initial order pursuant to the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada) (CCAA) pertaining to the Zenabis Group (as defined below) rendered on June 17, 2022, it entered into a purchase agreement, in the form of a "stalking horse bid" (the "Bid Agreement"), pursuant to which the shares of Zenabis Global Inc. and the business and assets of its direct and indirectly wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the "Zenabis Group") would be acquired by Sundial. The Bid Agreement is subject to the approval by the Québec Superior Court supervising the CCAA Proceedings, and to potential alternative bids pursuant to bidding procedures that will follow. All amounts are denominated in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted. Subject to the Court's approval of the Bid Agreement and of bidding procedures that will be sought on July 5, 2022, the Bid Agreement will set the floor, or minimum acceptable bid, in a sale and investment solicitation process, which is designed to achieve the highest and best offer for the Zenabis Group's business and assets and is under the supervision of Ernst & Young, acting as CCAA Monitor.

The assets covered by the Bid Agreement include the 380,000-square-foot indoor growing facility located in Atholville, New Brunswick with an annual production capacity of approximately 46,000 kgs of dried cannabis and 15,000 kgs of extraction capacity. The facility received EU GMP certification, providing a license to the facility to export internationally to Israel, Malta, the United Kingdom, and the EU. Zenabis Group also has a joint venture agreement with ZenPharm Limited, based in Malta, allowing for commercial bulk imports into Malta from the facility in Atholville and subsequent exports of finished medicinal cannabis products to countries of the EU and United Kingdom. The Bid Agreement also provides for the acquisition of a decommissioned 255,000-square-foot indoor facility in Stellarton, Nova Scotia, that was used as a packaging, processing, and value-added cannabis product manufacturing facility.

Based on HEXO Corp.'s ("HEXO") publicly filed financial statements and MD&A, contribution from the Zenabis Group to consolidated net revenue was $11.1 million in the second fiscal quarter of 2022. HEXO's international net revenues increased by 36% to $8.2 million in the second fiscal quarter of 2022 and by 312% relative to the prior year. Zenabis Group's international net revenues consisted of 54% of HEXO's overall international net revenues, increasing by 91% in the second fiscal quarter of 2022 when compared to the prior quarter.

More than 100 employees currently work at the Atholville facility, and Sundial's assessment is that the total capital invested in both the Atholville and Stellarton facilities to date is approximately $108 million. The Atholville facility utilizes state-of-the-art technology, including a fully computerized monitoring system, the latest HPS and LED lighting technology and seed-to-sale tracking systems, and grows several different strains with an extensive library of strains currently under trial which would further enhance Sundial's existing and expanding portfolio.

History of the Investment

PHOENIX Ariz. (June 16, 2022) --- PRESS RELEASE --- Established Arizona cannabis entrepreneur Shansan “Chance” Chambers has announced the launch of the new 501(c)3 nonprofit, the Arizona Black Cannabis Trade Association (ABCTA). The nonprofit provides cannabis education, empowerment and equity in an effort to support a community previously targeted by the War on Drugs.

The nonprofit’s educational resources encompass an eight-course program beginning with Cannabis History 101 and concluding with How to Invest in the Cannabis Industry. The comprehensive business modules teach attendees about the industry, the cannabis plant, and how to start a plant-touching operation or ancillary business.

The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) recently announced the winners of the coveted 26 social equity licenses. With predatory practices reported and ongoing criticism of the social equity program rules, Chambers designed the ABCTA to help social equity applicants and winners receive the best cannabis consulting, guidance and resources.

Chambers was inspired to join the industry after alternative medicine helped his grandmother during her cancer chemotherapy treatments. Chambers now has over seven years of experience in the cannabis industry and owns two companies aside from ABCTA, 420 Ultimate Tours is one of the first Arizona cannabis tourism experiences, and Mwisho Blunts is a tobacco free blunt line providing the community a healthier alternative to chemical filled blunt wraps.

“It all starts with one person who wants to make a difference,'' said Chambers, “I have made the conscious effort in any business venture I dive into, to always make sure I am positively impacting the community and do all I can to assist people in need."

PORTLAND, Ore. (June 20, 2022) — PRESS RELEASE — Resource Innovation Institute (RII) has hired Elyse Greenberg, who has a long track record as a communications expert in the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) sector, as its new Marketing and Membership Director.

In this position, Greenberg will lead RII’s efforts to encourage CEA stakeholders to collaboratively advance resource efficiency via RII’s publicly funded tools and resources, including PowerScore and CEA Best Practices Guides. She will be the point person for RII’s communications and media relations, as well as the chief liaison between RII and its members.

“Elyse brings years of experience communicating with growers about the benefits of efficiency,” said Derek Smith, executive director. “She knows how to scale marketing efforts to drive rapid adoption of efficiency practices, and we are thrilled to leverage her expertise.”

Greenberg spent five years rising through the ranks at Fluence, a leading manufacturer of LED horticulture lighting solutions for commercial food and cannabis production, to become that company’s Director of Marketing Communications. Fluence is one of RII’s Sustaining Partners.

“Resource Innovation Institute and their partners are leading the way the industry defines sustainability and efficiency in controlled environment agriculture,” says Greenberg. “I am honored to join a team who is dedicated and focused on the farmers and their businesses as we work towards creating change conscientious of both the environment and commercial farming. I am eager to work closely with the members of RII, they are true innovators, working collectively to progress the industry forward in a more sustainable way.”

MIAMI, Florida, June 23, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE - Ayr Wellness Inc. (Ayr), a vertically integrated U.S. multi-state cannabis operator (MSO), announced the opening of its 48th Florida dispensary, located in Longwood, a northeastern suburb of Orlando.

The new dispensary spans 2,300 square feet of retail space, including an active drive-thru station. Product offerings will include Ayr’s full line of concentrates, edibles, vapes, and a growing selection of high-quality flower, including the recently launched Kynd whole premium flower and Later Days whole flower.

“We’re excited to continue our expansion in Florida, celebrating our 48th store opening,” said Jonathan Sandelman, Ayr founder, chairman and CEO. “Since acquiring Liberty Health Sciences just last year, we have added 17 new stores across the state and provided more choice to the market via the introduction of a wide selection of products from our national brand portfolio. We will continue to grow our presence during the second half of this year.”

In February 2021, Ayr purchased Florida-based Liberty Health Sciences (LHS), which included 31 dispensaries across the state. Since then, the company has opened 17 additional locations. Ayr is in the process of relocating its Dania Beach dispensary, which is expected to re-open in early July.

In 2021, Ayr relocated its U.S. headquarters from New York City to Miami, underscoring its commitment to the region. 

For more information about Ayr Wellness or to locate your nearest dispensary, please visit https://ayrwellness.com.

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NEW YORK, TORONTO and HERZLIYA, Israel, June 23, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE - InterCure Ltd. announced the successful opening of the first flagship Cookies store in Austria located in the Neubau district of Vienna. 

The flagship location offers Cookies’ unique CBD menu, available for the first time in Europe, as well as clothing and lifestyle products. In the future, as regulations are evolving, pharmaceutical-grade medical cannabis will be available for Austrian patients, including Cookies EU-GMP THC products.

The Vienna launch represents the spearhead of expanding into additional European countries, following the successful collaboration between the two companies in the global pharmaceutical-grade medical cannabis markets, including Israel.

“We are proud to make another big advancement in the expansion of our winning model into Europe and deliver on our promise to supply the highest quality and reliable cannabis products to every territory with a supportive regulatory framework,” said InterCure’s Chief Executive Officer, Alexander Rabinovitch. “We look forward to welcoming Austrians and the millions of tourists who visit Vienna to the first Cookies location in the country. I am grateful for the amazing work of our teams in Europe and partners at Cookies who helped make this successful launch and look forward to the many more to come across the continent.”

“Bringing the Cookies brand and its products to Vienna is a core part of our global expansion strategy. By partnering with a global partner like InterCure, we can share cannabis-based medicine and culture from California to Europe,” said Parker Berling, Cookies president.

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Louisville, Colorado, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PRESS RELEASE -- CEA Industries Inc. (NASDAQ: CEAD, CEADW) (“CEA Industries” or the “Company”) subsidiary, Surna Cultivation Technologies LLC (“Surna”), a controlled environment agriculture (CEA) systems engineering and technologies company, today announced it has entered into a letter of intent to provide products and mechanical engineering services over five phases with Greene Brothers Farm, Inc., a family owned and operated farm that is developing a 26-acre site exclusively for indoor cannabis cultivation. CEA Industries anticipates contract revenues of approximately $10 million over an estimated two to three-year period. The initial contract, valued at $1.2 million, is for the first phase of products and services and is planned to be completed by early Q4 2022.

The project builds out a new all-indoor Cannabis Park, located in Lockeford, Calif., between Stockton and Sacramento, on a 26-acre property once used as a vineyard and wine distribution center. The Greene Brothers Farm Cannabis Park is an ambitious major expansion of the Greene Brothers’ operations that are currently located at a 200-acre farm in Mendocino County. The Cannabis Park will be the new headquarters for the Greene Brothers and will include cultivation, manufacturing, non-storefront retail sales and distribution. Once complete, the Cannabis Park will utilize 371,918 square feet of new structures.

“After a couple of years of planning and working with San Joaquin County, we are beyond excited to realize the dream that started back in 2020,” stated Aaron Greene, co-founder and CEO of Greene Brothers Farm, Inc. “We look forward to creating hundreds of jobs and funding various community improvements that will be enjoyed by our new neighbors with revenue generated from our Cannabis Park and Farmacy Phactory brands. We partnered with Surna because we know they can provide the outstanding engineering, design and equipment that we require in a quick and efficient manner throughout each phase of development.”

Phase 1 is estimated to be online by Q4 of this year. For this first phase, Surna will perform mechanical engineering services that will include the design of exhaust air filtration systems to eliminate odors as well as to provide climate controls systems, its EnviroPro air handling equipment and Surna by Anden dehumidifiers. Phases 2 and 3 are planned for completion in 2023, while phases 4 and 5 are planned for completion in 2024.

“We are proud to have been chosen by Greene Brothers Farm for this multi-million-dollar, multi-phase development project,” said Tony McDonald, chairman and CEO of CEA Industries Inc. “We expect this to be a winning relationship for both of us and we will strive to make this Greene Brothers Farm Cannabis Park an exemplary representation of these types of projects for others in this industry.”

Editor’s note: CBT’s June cover story, “California Cannabis Market at a Crossroads,” prominently features MD Numbers Founders Allen Hackett and Marie Montmarquet, who are on the cover of the print issue. Read it here.

For MD Numbers, it’s been six years of growing—and six years of rolling with many industry changes.

Greenhouse grower Allen Hackett, a founder of the California vertically integrated business, points out that it opened its Salinas grow in June 2016, in the state’s Proposition 215 medical days.

“We never had to stop cultivating while we were getting our license in the county because we had been here paying and abiding by their medical laws [and] rules that they had in place,” Hackett says.

As expected, MD Numbers has dialed in its practices over those years.

“Each plant needs its own amount of space and a certain amount of time in the sun to be able to [meet] whatever goal that you have in your cultivation facility—because people have different goals—whether you're growing for weight or you’re growing for look, smell, terpenes, things like that,” Hackett says.

Pennsylvania dispensaries can once again sell vape products that the state’s Department of Health recalled from its medical cannabis program in February.

The decision came from a Commonwealth Court judge on June 15, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

And it follows a lawsuit that a broad coalition of cannabis industry members, patients, doctors and others called Medical Marijuana Access and Patient Safety brought against the department.

Hundreds of Vape Products Recalled From Pennsylvania’s Medical Cannabis Market: UPDATED

“We are thrilled about this decision,” said Judith D. Cassel, an attorney for the group and partner at Hawke McKeon & Sniscak LLP, according to the paper. “The vapes can go immediately back on the shelves, and the grower processors can continue or commence producing these vapes.”

In a press release, industry group Pennsylvania Cannabis Coalition (PCC), claimed that Pennsylvania’s Department of Health could not find an example of a single person who had been harmed during the state medical program’s five-year run.

DENVER, CO - PanXchange, the industry market structure solution and benchmark price provider for US hemp, and the Washington DC-based National Industrial Hemp Council of America announced that they have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will support the growth of financial incentives for carbon sequestration for the US industrial hemp market.

“NIHC is a leading and unifying voice for the industry, particularly in regulatory issues for industrial hemp,” said Julie Lerner, founder, and CEO of PanXchange. “Partnering with a strong hemp membership and advocacy organization like NIHC will help grow industrial hemp markets and related climate-smart agricultural practices across the supply chain,” she added.

The two companies said the partnership would allow hemp farmers to take advantage of PanXchange’s deep knowledge of commodity trading and the potential impact of implementing climate-smart practices specifically for hemp growing and processing.

PanXchange is rolling out a transparent carbon program that provides farmers a viable path toward financial rewards for implementing regenerative agricultural practices.  Moreover, Lerner explains that the PanXchange program gives farmers full ownership of the carbon credits earned and full agency to market the credits directly to buyers through its online trade platform.

The company already has 31,000 acres of croplands committed to the program for the 2023 crop year.

“We aim to be the most accessible, economical path towards remuneration for carbon smart agricultural practices for smaller-scale farmers who face barriers to participate in the voluntary carbon credit market,” Lerner said.

FORT SMITH, Arkansas (June 14, 2022) --PRESS RELEASE-- Wana Brands is now available to medical marijuana patients in Arkansas with the launch of Wana Sour Gummies, the company’s classic vegan and gluten-free gummies enhanced with a proprietary blend of more than 30 terpenes. In partnership with River Valley Relief, Wana Brands provides a wide range of gummies in various classes, ratios and doses to help meet the needs of the state’s growing medical cannabis community. 

Both Wana Brands and River Valley Relief share a focus on providing patients best-in-class cannabis products, in terms of innovation, ingredients and flavors. Both companies are committed to utilizing high-quality, organic ingredients. And both focus on developing products with an emphasis on terpenes. Now available in Watermelon Hybrid, Blueberry Indica, Mango Sativa and Blood Orange 20:1 CBD/THC, Wana Sour gummies offer Arkansas patients a variety of consistent and potent options for wellness management. 

“No two patients are alike, and no two patients experience the same concerns even when managing the same condition. It is very important for patients to have options they can trust,” said Nancy Whiteman, CEO of Wana Brands. “That is just one of the reasons Wana’s Sour Gummies have become a preferred choice all over the country for patients seeking a consistent, reliable effect from an edible. We are very happy to be bringing them to Arkansas patients through our partnership with River Valley Relief.”

Wana products available through Arkansas medical marijuana dispensaries include:

Wana Sour Gummies Watermelon (Hybrid): These refreshingly fruity gummies are infused with a terpene-enhanced hybrid blend to deliver a mild, balanced experience. 10mg THC per piece, 100mg THC per package (10 pieces)Wana Sour Gummies Blueberry (Indica): Infused with a terpene-enhanced indica distillate, these not-too-sweet, not-too-tart gummies can evoke feelings of relaxation and calm. 10mg THC per piece, 100mg THC per package (10 pieces)Wana Sour Gummies Mango (Sativa): Infused with a motivating sativa blend, these tropics-inspired gummies contain notes of refreshing sweetness, elevated by a tangy citrus burst. 10mg THC per piece, 100mg THC per package (10 pieces)Wana Sour Gummies Blood Orange (20:1 CBD/THC): These succulent Blood Orange gummies are infused with only 1 mg of THC, which works within your endocannabinoid system to unlock the full therapeutic benefits of 20 mg CBD... without intoxicating effects. 20mg CBD/1mg THC per piece, 200mg CBD / 10mg THC per package (10 pieces)

The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission allows for patients with 18 specific conditions to qualify for a state-issued certification card. Those conditions include cancer, HIV, AIDS, PTSD, Tourrett’s Syndrome and Alzheimer’s Disease, among others. River Valley Relief is dedicated to making high-quality, safe and affordable medical cannabis products available to the patients of Arkansas. 

“Partnering with Wana Brands not only allows us to bring the best edibles in the nation to Arkansas, but our mutual goals and missions also make us the perfect fit” said Ryan Kenaga, VP of Extraction and MIPS for River Valley Relief. “Both Wana and River Valley Relief are driven by their missions to help make this world a better place. Wana supports the Last Prisoner Project with the goal of releasing prisoners who sit in jail for cannabis charges that are no longer a crime. Similarly, River Valley Relief is working with Arkansas lawmakers to help bring cannabis crime expungement to those who languish right now in Arkansas jails.”

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On June 14, the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office in Kansas released two statements addressing the legality of delta-8 THC in the state.

Both letters are from District Attorney Suzanne Valdez. The first letter addresses Valdez’s opinion on delta-8, while the second letter is designed to be sent as a warning to businesses selling such products.

In Valdez’s first letter, she states that the office will not prosecute businesses for possessing small quantities of THC products; however, she adds that there still “appears to be a great deal of confusion and misinformation regarding the legal status of delta-8.”

Valdez cites in the first letter an opinion released Dec. 2, 2021, by Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, which declared that “delta-8 THC is illegal to possess or sell in Kansas under specific circumstances,” Cannabis Business Times previously reported.

RELATED: Confusion in Kansas: State Attorney General Says Delta-8 THC is a Controlled Substance

Schmidt’s opinion reads: “Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta-8 THC) comes within the definition of a Schedule I controlled substance and is unlawful to possess or sell in Kansas unless it is made from industrial hemp and is contained in a lawful hemp product having no more than 0.3% total tetrahydrocannabinols (THC). Unlawful hemp products include cigarettes, cigars, teas, and substances for use in vaping devices. Delta-8 THC derived from any source other than industrial hemp is a Schedule I controlled substance and unlawful to possess or sell in Kansas. Other federal and state laws and regulations place additional limits on the legality of products containing THC and other cannabinoids.”

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Many New Yorkers are waiting with bated breath to legally purchase adult-use cannabis  once the NYS Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) gives the go-ahead. I’ve seen it a few times, in Colorado and Massachusetts: the anticipation, comradery, exhaustion and simultaneous annoyance of higher prices due to taxation and waiting on line the first day of legal cannabis sales. But do consumers know what those first 200 retail dispensaries across New York will actually look like? Well, look to our northern trés chic neighbor, Montreal, and their government-operated stores.

Following the April 9 New York state (NYS) Budget Bill, which provided $50 million in public funds and statutory powers to the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY), NYS published a Request for Proposal, ending June 13, for prevailing contractors to provide fully furnished, “turn-key” dispensaries, fully equipped with POS systems, security, safes, cameras, bathrooms, offices, etc. For those envisioning funky, innovative and unique stores, DASNY will likely render these first 200 dispensaries fairly uniform inside and out, with the exception of a so-called “Branding Wall” for the license holders to get creative with.

Retail Details

DASNY’s May 13 Design-Build Services for Select Retail Cannabis Dispensaries Request for Proposal RFP #7586 offers a sneak peek at the first 200 NYS adult-use retail dispensaries.

According to the RFP (request for proposal), DASNY will act as agent for New York’s Social Equity Cannabis Investment Fund, LP (NYSECIF) to identify suitable commercial retail properties for dispensaries, and design and outfit these leased premises based on forthcoming retail dispensary security regulations. NYSECIF will then sublease these properties to prevailing retail license applicants to operate. Prevailing proposers should be selected by July 11 to start the design and construction of cannabis dispensaries throughout New York state.

These dispensaries will be “equitably dispersed across” 10 geographic regions throughout New York state, according to NYSECIF, with New York City being Region #1. DASNY “anticipate[s] that approximately 150 dispensaries will need to be completed across the State," with the heaviest concentration in the NYC metropolitan area, including Long Island and Westchester. Rough approximations in other parts of the State include 20 to 25 in Western New York, 15-20 in the Hudson Valley/Capital District region, 5 to 10 in the North Country, and 5 to 10 in the Southern Tier region of the State.”