MjLink Cannabis Business News and Press
CBT focuses strictly on the business of legal cannabis for medical and recreational use and aims to provide timely information—through its website, e-newsletter, mobile app, print magazine and annual conference—to help the reader make timely, informed decisions to help them run their businesses better and more profitably. In 2018, Cannabis Business Times was named Magazine of the Year by the American Society of Business Publication Editors.
GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico (June 16, 2022) –PRESS RELEASE-- Wana Brands has expanded its international presence to the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, launching with Wana Quick Fast-Acting Gummies, the company’s innovative and popular fast-onset infused cannabis edible line featuring “happy hour”-inspired flavors.
Providing a novel edible experience with an onset time of 5-15 mins and Delta-9-THC effects (similar to an inhalation effect) lasting up to three hours, the new Wana product line features an all-natural recipe, with no high fructose corn syrup. Each gummie offers 10mg of THC, with 10 gummies per package. Traditional edibles have an onset time of up to two hours, with effects lasting up to six hours.
“Launching a cannabis edible in a new market serves up a host of challenges, including identifying the right manufacturing and distribution partners,” said Nancy Whiteman, CEO of Wana Brands. “Fortunately, we are partnering with BioCann Caribbean, which has a very strong team dedicated to quality and consistency, making them an ideal partner. The BioCann team possesses a keen attention to detail that can be seen in all aspects of their operation, which ensures that patients of Puerto Rico will enjoy the high-quality products Wana fans expect.”
In a multicultural nation where English and Spanish languages are both official languages of the country, it is critical that any brand entering the market offers respect and inclusivity. For a cannabis brand, that means not only ensuring that customer-facing materials are offered in both languages but that retailer and manufacturer training information and materials are also available in both languages, according to Whiteman. Recognized across the industry for its comprehensive printed and video training materials, Wana Brands completely revised its video training tools and marketing material specifically for Spanish-speaking audiences in the island nation.
“Both BioCann and Wana Brands share a passion for making clean, high-quality products available to patients,” said Nicolas Moreda Algeria, Senior Project Manager of BioCann Caribbean. “We are grateful to have a partner whose commitment to quality is as strong as our own, and we can see Wana’s commitment in their approach to training and working with partners. We are looking forward to a long relationship together to serve the communities in Puerto Rico.”
The first fast-onset gummie available in the country, the following Wana Quick Fast-Acting Gummies are now available in Puerto Rico, including:
WNBA player Brittney Griner’s detention in Russia on drug smuggling accusations has been extended again, this time through at least July 2, according to a CNN report.
Griner, a center for the Phoenix Mercury, has played in Russia for the last seven off seasons. She was taken into custody in February for allegedly carrying cannabis vape cartridges in her luggage at the Sheremetyevo airport, near Moscow.
RELATED: Top US Basketball Player Detained in Russia for Cannabis
Griner’s alleged offense could carry a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
In March, TASS, a Russian state-owned news agency, reported that Griner’s pretrial detention would be extended until May.
After Illinois’ craft grow cannabis licensees’ operations were placed on another hold in the wake of litigation brought by unsuccessful applicants, a judge has lifted a temporary restraining order and allowed the licensees to proceed with their business plans.
Winnebago County Circuit Court Judge Stephen Balogh issued the order June 6 to block all craft grower licensees from operating until a settlement was reached in a new lawsuit, which was filed June 3 by Sustainable Innovations Inc. and 11 other unsuccessful craft grow license applicants.
The lawsuit challenged the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s (IDOA) licensing process, which the plaintiffs alleged violated the state law that authorized the craft grow licenses in the first place.
The IDOA issued the first round of craft grow licenses last year, and state law required the department to award the second round of licenses by Dec. 21, 2021.
Unsuccessful applicants then filed litigation to challenge the licensing process, and subsequent court orders mandated that the additional licenses could not be awarded until the lawsuits were resolved.
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, June 16, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE - Trulieve Cannabis Corp., a leading and top-performing cannabis company in the United States, announced the opening of a new medical dispensary in New Port Richey, Fla., located at 5422 US Hwy 19.
The dispensary opened at 9 a.m. Thursday, June 16, 2022. Grand opening festivities will run all day and include numerous partner giveaways, music, food trucks, deals and specials, and all registered medical cannabis patients will receive a 25% discount. Trulieve also offers statewide home delivery, convenient online ordering, and in-store pickup. As always, all first-time guests are eligible for a 50% new customer discount at any Florida-based location.
"Trulieve is proud to expand access to medical marijuana for Florida's patient population," said Trulieve's Chief Executive Officer Kim Rivers. "Trulieve is committed to investing in communities where we operate, as well as offering patients access to high-quality products and providing exceptional customer experiences."
Trulieve's retail employees are trained to provide personalized patient care and support individuals at every stage of their cannabis journeys. Trulieve dispensaries throughout Florida offer on-site consultations to help patients obtain appropriate medical products and dosages to ensure optimal cannabis experiences.
Trulieve patients across Florida can choose from the largest selection of THC and CBD products available in a variety of consumption methods, including smokable flower, concentrates, edibles, capsules, syringes, tinctures, topical creams, vaporizers and more.
Designed to meet every patient's needs, Trulieve's portfolio of in-house brands includes Alchemy, Co2lors, Cultivar Collection, Momenta, Muse, Roll One, Sweet Talk and Modern Flower. Patients also have access to beloved brands such as Bellamy Brothers, Bhang, Binske, Blue River, Black Tuna, DeLisioso, Love's Oven, O.pen and Sunshine Cannabis, all available exclusively at Trulieve in Florida.
]]>WAKEFIELD, Mass,, June 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --PRESS RELEASE-- CuraleafHoldings, Inc. (CSE: CURA / OTCQX: CURLF), an international provider of consumer products incannabis, today announced the opening of its Lancaster dispensary. Curaleaf Lancaster is the company'sfifth new location to open within the Keystone State this year, expanding itsretail presence to 17 locations in Pennsylvania and 134 nationwide, with moreexpansion planned in the state for 2022.
Curaleaf Lancaster offers a curated selection of products across its brandportfolio spanning Grassroots, Select and Curaleaf. Patients can choose from awide array of premium cannabis products, including Select Elite, Select EliteLive, Grassroots full-spectrum and strain-specific RSO, Grassrootsfull-spectrum and strain specific RSO capsules, Grassroots pre-packaged flower,Curaleaf pre-packaged flower, Grassroots concentrates and Grassroots THCtablets.
The company will celebrate the dispensary's soft opening on June 16,followed by a grand opening event on June 23.Curaleaf also commemoratedits latest dispensary opening by making a $5,000 donation to the LancasterCounty Food Hub, a local nonprofit that offers free food, clothing and shelterto community members.
"Pennsylvania has become one of the fastest growing medical markets inthe nation and we are proud to be able to widen access to patients across thestate," said Matt Darin, Chief Executive Officer of Curaleaf."Curaleaf Lancaster is the company's first dispensary in Lancaster County.It will allow us to introduce ourselves to new communities while supplyingquality products and helping patients make informed decisions about incorporatingmedical marijuana into their lives."
In addition to Curaleaf's latest locations, the company also serves patientsin Altoona, Bradford, Brookville, City Avenue, DuBois, Erie, Gettysburg,Greensburg, Harrisburg, Horsham, King of Prussia, Lebanon, Morton,Philadelphia, State College, and Wayne. This summer, Curaleaf plans to open alocation in Allentown, further expanding its footprint in Pennsylvania to 18locations.
]]>Sacramento officials have introduced a measure to create a fund for children and youth services using city local cannabis tax.
The ‘Sacramento Children / Youth Health & Safety Act,’ introduced by Sacramento Kid’s First, a youth advocacy coalition, in conjunction with Mayor Darrell Steinberg, and Sacramento City Councilmembers Mai Vang and Jay Schenirer, would “require the city to invest the equivalent of 40% of revenues generated by the city’s local cannabis tax from our unrestricted general fund into the Children’s Fund,” the proposal states, adding that the measure would not increase local residents’ taxes.
According to Engage Sac, the City Council is expected to vote in July to put the proposal on the November ballot. If approved by voters, it would go into effect July 1, 2023, with roughly $10 to $12 million allocated towards children and youth services annually.
“Just as we use tobacco tax revenue to support tobacco prevention and health services, we are asking the city to use cannabis revenue to fund youth substance abuse prevention, youth mental health and support for homeless and foster youth,” the proposal states.
]]>Grown Rogue COO Tom Fortner has retired.
Fortner, who came out of retirement to join the multi-state operator in June 2021, completed his one-year contract and will return to a life of sailing, according to a company release. Grown Rogue says this departure will reduce corporate expenses by more than 10%.
“Tom came out of retirement to help us streamline our operations by creating efficiencies, disciplines and standardization across our approximately 200,000 square feet of cultivation in Oregon and Michigan,” said Obie Strickler, CEO at Grown Rogue. “I want to thank Tom for all his efforts over the past year and wish him well as he goes back to his love of sailing full time.”
RELATED: Grown Rogue Looks East
Adam August, CFO of a Grown Rogue subsidiary, will transition to senior vice president of Grown Rogue.
Medical cannabis patients throughout Brazil may soon have the option to supply their own needs in a country where home cultivation has been repeatedly denied by the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA).
The Sixth Panel of the Superior Court of Justice—the country’s top court—issued a 5-0 ruling June 14 to authorize three patients involved in litigation to grow cannabis and extract its oil for medical treatment, The Associated Press reported. The decision will likely set a precedent for patients throughout the most populated nation in South America: Brazil has roughly 212.6 million people.
The majority shift in supporting medical cannabis legalization began nearly a decade ago in Brazil: A 2014 survey indicated that 57% of the population was in favor of legalization, according to the International Drug Policy Consortium.
Judge Rogério Schietti said the Brazilian government’s failure to take a scientific approach to medical cannabis prompted the court panel’s action, according to the AP.
“The discourse against this possibility is moralistic. It often has a religious nature, based on dogmas, on false truths, stigmas,” Schietti said. “Let us stop this prejudice, this moralism that delays the development of this issue at the legislative [level], and many times clouds the minds of Brazilian judges.”
While the AP reported Tuesday that Brazilian law currently limits the medical use of cannabis-derived products to imported goods, other reports contradict that statement.
Cannabis data and business intelligence company New Frontier Data has released a new report titled, “Millennials as Cannabis Consumers: Attitudes & Behaviors of America’s Largest Generation.”
There are about 72 million Millennials in the U.S., according to a press release from New Frontier Data. Members of this group were born between 1981 and 1996, and many of them have children and are in the workforce.
“Millennials came of age when cannabis-related social attitudes and policies were changing rapidly,” Gary Allen, New Frontier Data’s CEO, stated in the release. “As young adults, they watched the normalization of cannabis use mitigate negative stereotypes, and they have played a leading role in the emergence of the legal cannabis economy, both as participants in the market and as champions for change.”
Here are some findings from the report, which is available for free download here:
Nearly half of Millennials spend who purchase cannabis between $50 and $200 per transaction.More Millennials choose cannabis over sleep medication compared with other age groups and recognize what New Frontier Data calls “sleep-related minor cannabinoids” such as CBN and THCP.Sixty-six percent of Millennials state that cultivar identification is a key determination when making purchasing decisions, with that percentage being more than 20% higher than the share of Gen X consumers that do the same.
BOCA RATON, Fla. and NEW YORK, June 15, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PRESS RELEASE -- springbig, a provider of SaaS-based marketing solutions, consumer mobile app experiences, and omnichannel loyalty programs to the cannabis industry, and Tuatara Capital Acquisition Corporation (“TCAC”) today announced that they have completed their previously announced business combination (the “Business Combination”).
The Business Combination was approved at a special general meeting of TCAC shareholders on June 9, 2022. In connection with the closing of the Business Combination, TCAC has changed its name to SpringBig Holdings, Inc. The ticker symbols for TCAC’s common stock and warrants have been changed to “SBIG” and “SBIGW,” respectively, and will begin trading today on the Nasdaq Global Market.
springbig is the largest customer loyalty and marketing platform in the cannabis industry and is the provider of choice and trusted partner to many leading cannabis retailers and brands across North America. The company serves over 1,300 clients with more than 2,400 retail locations, through its suite of category-leading solutions designed to increase customer retention, build customer loyalty, and boost brand awareness through digital marketing and communications and industry-leading reporting and analytics.
Jeffrey Harris, chief executive officer and co-founder of springbig, said: “We are thrilled to close this Business Combination and further springbig’s evolution – not only as a public company, but as a trusted and distinguished technology and software leader serving the growing North American cannabis ecosystem. Looking ahead, we will strategically position and adapt our industry-leading offering alongside the maturation of the cannabis sector, including expanding our engagement with major brands. Additionally, we will continue exploring avenues for growth, both organically and through M&A.”
Harris concluded, “I would like to congratulate and thank all those involved in this transaction, including our passionate and dedicated team. I could not be more excited for the future of springbig and look forward to generating sustained value for our shareholders, customers, and consumers, as we accelerate our growth strategy as a newly public company.”
Arkansas retailers recorded over $22.4 million in medical cannabis sales for May, averaging roughly $724,200 spent daily across 38 dispensaries.
Scott Hardin, a spokesperson for the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), told News 5 that May sales were lower than April, which brought in $24 million.
"Although sales in May were slightly lower than April, the state surpassed a significant milestone as more than 100,000 pounds of medical marijuana have been sold since the first dispensary opened in May 2019," Hardin said, adding that patients collectively purchased 3,917 pounds of cannabis in May alone, bringing the total number of pounds purchased since 2019 to 102,710.
The total number of pounds sold in May also decreased compared to April, which recorded 4,213 pounds. State tax collection on medical cannabis sales also dipped slightly from nearly $3 million in April to $2.7 million in May; however, May's number is up from March, which banked $2.4 million in medical cannabis sales tax, according to the news outlet. The 4/20 holiday was one factor that may have attributed to the medical cannabis sales increase in April.
Despite May’s slight dip, Hardin told the news outlet that if Arkansas' medical cannabis sales continue at this pace, they will be comparable to 2021 sales, "which totaled $264 million at the end of the year."
]]>Montana’s adult-use cannabis law automatically grants licenses to each of the state’s tribal nations to cultivate and sell cannabis, but new guidance from regulators prohibits tribal grows from expanding beyond tier 1 licenses.
Brendan Beatty, director of the Montana Department of Revenue, sent a letter June 2 to the Economic Affairs Interim Committee declaring that tribal cannabis cultivation operations must remain within the smallest grow size, which allows for a maximum of 1,000 feet of grow space, according to the Montana Free Press.
This differs from confirmation that the Economic Affairs Interim Committee received from the Department of Revenue after House Bill 701 passed during Montana’s 2021 legislative session to implement the state’s adult-use program. At that time, the committee verified with the department that although the legislation defines tribal licenses as tier 1, the licensees could scale up over time like the other license holders in the state, the Montana Free Press reported.
“During the last legislative session, a lot of the tribes and the legislators saw this as an opportunity, finally, for the tribes to get in on equal footing on the ground floor of the marijuana industry, and start bringing in additional revenue for themselves,” State Sen. Jason Small, R-Busby, a member of the Northern Cheyenne tribe, told the news outlet. “Unfortunately, it seems the Department of Revenue has been trying to hamstring our efforts.”
No tribe has applied for a cannabis license to date, and Small told the Montana Free Press that some are wondering if they should now that regulators have capped the licenses.
Illinois officials awarded 48 new craft grow cannabis licenses earlier this month, after a lengthy delay sparked by litigation from unsuccessful applicants, but the licenses are now on hold once again under a new court order.
Winnebago Associate Judge Stephen Balogh issued a temporary restraining order June 6 that bars all craft grower licensees from operating until new litigation is resolved, according to the Chicago Tribune.
The order says that “all craft cannabis licenses are locked in place and can’t start operating by Defendants issuing preconstruction permits, security plan approvals, site plan approvals, final construction approvals, label/packaging approvals, granting extensions to the operational requirements, or any other affirmative action that would permit craft growers to operate,” the news outlet reported.
Balogh’s order covers all craft grower licenses, according to the Chicago Tribune, including not only the 48 issued this year, but also 40 that were awarded last summer.
Balogh issued the order last week after a hearing that was not attended by representatives of the state or the craft grower licensees, according to the news outlet.
ANN ARBOR, Mich., June 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --PRESS RELEASE-- C3 Industries, a multi-state,vertically integrated cannabis company with headquarters in Ann Arbor, MI,today announced an exclusive partnership with Red White & Bloom, a multistate cannabis operatorand house of premium brands, to license their Platinum Vape brand in Missouri and Massachusetts.
Red White & Bloom boasts a wide portfolio of brands, including PlatinumVape, one of the leading vape cartridge brands in the United States. Platinum Vape utilizes acustom, pure terpene separation process, harvesting premium flower with a focuson quality and potency. Among Platinum Vape's core offerings include productslike vape cartridges, disposable vape pens, infused chocolates and gummies,premium flower and pre-rolls.
C3 Industries will exclusively license the full line of Platinum Vapeproducts in Missouri and Massachusetts, with items available for sale in High Profile Cannabis shops and third-party retailersacross the states. The initial offering will include the following flavors ofcartridges: Grease Monkey; Sour Dub; Lime OG; Fire OG; Grape Ape; Paris OG;Maui Wowie; Super Lemon Haze; and Cush.
"C3 Industries is intentional when it comes to selecting our brandpartners, and our commitment to Platinum Vape is no exception," said AnkurRungta, CEO and co-founder of C3 Industries. "Platinum Vape has provenitself as a powerhouse brand, out-performing all other cartridges in the stateof Michigan and gaining popularity around the country. Our team is thrilled tointroduce such a staple offering in multiple new markets this year. We areaiming to achieve a top 5 market share in each market, with additional flavorsintroduced over time as we ramp up our presence."
GATINEAU, Quebec, June 14, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PRESS RELEASE--HEXO Corp (TSX: HEXO; NASDAQ: HEXO), a producer of cannabis products, today reported its financial results for the fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2022 (Q3’22). All amounts are expressed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.
“HEXO is committed to streamlining our operations across all functions, allowing our top-selling brands to remain competitive in the marketplace whilst aligning to our long-term financial objectives of becoming cash flow positive and driving growth,” said HEXO CEO Charlie Bowman. “As we move forward, we remain keenly focused on our financial objectives and taking the necessary steps to achieve them, including maintaining a lean organization and concentrating on operational excellence.”
Significant Financial Results & Events
On April 12, 2022, HEXO entered into definitive agreements with Tilray Brands Inc. to restructure the terms of the Senior Secured Convertible Note. Amongst other amendments, the notes maturity will be extended by three years and the equity condition clause will be removed, relieving the company from the punitive dilution pressure under the notes current structure.Concurrent with the definitive agreements, HEXO entered into a definitive equity purchase agreement with an affiliate of KAOS Capital Inc, which when completed, will provide HEXO access to an aggregate $180 million over a 36-month period.During the quarter, Management announced the closure of the centralized processing and manufacturing facility in Belleville ON. The decommissioning and phase out process is expected to be finalized by the end of July 2022. The company has begun to transition these operations to other existing sites to further streamline operations and capitalize on production efficiencies.Net sales decreased 14%, quarter over quarter, led by a reduction of international and adult-use sales.Total impairment losses of $83,171 were recognized in Q3’22, pertaining to the company’s property, plant and equipment, due to the above Belleville closure and due to new estimated recoverable amounts of certain redundant assets.Loss from operations improvement of 80%, quarter over quarter, as the result of the Q2’22 realignment of the balance sheet and the $616 million of previously recognized impairments to goodwill, intangible assets and property, plant and equipment.$34,924 of total Senior Secured Note redemptions occurred during the quarter, resulting in the issuance of 72,257,022 common shares.The loss on the company’s Senior Secured Note was reduced by $61,556 due to less volatility in the valuation approach. The Senior Secured Note continues to be valuated at the default demand amount of 115% of the outstanding principal.The company’s total Assets held for sale increased to $22,450 from $13,404 from the previous quarter as the result of closing operations of certain, previously announced, cultivation and research facilities as well as a manufacturing facility.Subsequent to the quarter-end and concurrent with a transformation of the company’s management structure, HEXO appointed Joelle Maurais, former Assistant General Counsel who joined the organization in April 2018, as General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, effective June 15, 2022. The company would like to thank departing General Counsel, Roch Vaillancourt, for his contributions and dedication to HEXO through this pivotal period. Mr. Vaillancourt will remain with the company in an advisory role through to July 1, 2022 to facilitate a smooth transition.Key Financial Results for Q3'22
| For the three months ended | For the nine months ended | ||||
| April 30, 2022 | January 31, 2022 | April 30, 2021 | April 30, 2022 | April 30, 2021 | |
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |
| Revenue from sale of goods | 63,590 | 72,014 | 33,082 | 205,101 | 120,059 |
| Excise taxes | (18,021) | (19,251) | (10,482) | (56,808) | (35,219) |
| Net revenue from sale of goods | 45,569 | 52,763 | 22,600 | 148,293 | 84,840 |
| Ancillary revenue | – | – | 60 | 225 | 168 |
| Total revenue | 45,569 | 52,763 | 22,660 | 148,518 | 85,008 |
| Cost of goods sold | (55,179) | (61,302) | (18,281) | (199,463) | (57,391) |
| Gross profit/(loss) before fair value adjustments | (9,610) | (8,539) | 4,379 | (50,945) | 27,617 |
| Fair value adjustments1 | 4,335 | 5,979 | 4,437 | 11,134 | 17,997 |
| Gross profit/(loss) | (5,275) | (2,560) | 8,816 | (39,811) | 45,614 |
| Operating expenses | (127,704) | (667,296) | (24,906) | (918,139) | (71,186) |
| Loss from operations | (132,979) | (669,856) | (16,090) | (957,950) | (25,572) |
| Other expenses and losses | (19,723) | (66,248) | (4,621) | (48,288) | (20,175) |
| Loss before tax | (152,702) | (736,104) | (20,711) | (1,006,238) | (45,747) |
| Current and deferred tax | 7,697 | 25,218 | – | 33,070 | – |
| Other comprehensive income/(loss) | (1,658) | 20,632 | 3 | 19,339 | 3 |
| Total Net loss and comprehensive loss | (146,663) | (690,254) | (20,708) | (953,829) | (45,744) |
| 1 The combined realized fair value amounts on inventory sold and unrealized gain on changes in fair value of biological assets. | |||||
Select Balance Sheet Metrics
| Q3'22 | Q4'21 | % Change | |
| $ | $ | ||
| Cash & cash equivalents | 14,221 | 67,462 | (79%) |
| Restricted cash | 142,174 | 132,246 | 8% |
| Biological assets & inventory | 152,385 | 149,611 | 2% |
| Other current assets | 226,089 | 476,485 | (53%) |
| Accounts payable & accrued liabilities | 62,220 | 63,557 | (2%) |
| Current debt | 322,394 | 421,264 | (23%) |
| Working capital | (6,102) | 189,920 | (103%) |
| Property, plant & equipment | 296,634 | 393,902 | (25%) |
| Assets held for sale | 22,540 | - | n/a |
| Total Assets | 848,984 | 1,311,803 | (35%) |
| Total Liabilities | 478,160 | 579,538 | (17%) |
| Shareholders' Equity | 370,824 | 732,265 | (49%) |
Adjusted Earnings before Interests, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”)
Just days after the North Carolina Senate gave final approval on a medical cannabis legalization bill, the House passed legislation that would legalize only THC medications that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The House voted, 92-9, on June 8 to approve Senate Bill 448, which would allow FDA-approved prescription drugs containing cannabis and THC to be sold and used in North Carolina, according to The Carolina Journal.
S.B. 448’s passage could signal that a separate Senate-approved bill to legalize medical cannabis—regardless of FDA approval—is dead for the year.
That bill, Senate Bill 711 or the Compassionate Care Act, would allow North Carolina officials to license 10 businesses to grow and process medical cannabis, as well as 80 dispensaries to sell it to qualifying patients with a short list of medical conditions, including cancer, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Sen. Jim Burgin, R-Harnett, one of the S.B. 448’s sponsors, told The Carolina Journal that his legislation will help the public more quickly access FDA-approved drugs.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear issued an executive order June 14 to create a 17-member advisory board to assist his office on a path forward for medical cannabis legalization in the state.
The Team Kentucky Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee will be co-chaired by Secretary of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Kerry Harvey and Secretary of the Public Protection Cabinet Ray Perry.
Other committee members have relevant experience in health care, treatment of opioid use disorder and other diseases of addiction, law enforcement, criminal justice, and advocacy for medical cannabis. (See the complete list of members below).
“Polling suggests 90 percent of Kentucky adults support legalizing medical cannabis, while at the same time, far too many in our state who could benefit from it are suffering. It is simply time that something more is done,” Beshear said in a press release announce the advisory panel. “I want to make sure every voice is heard as I am weighing executive action that could provide access to medical cannabis in the commonwealth.”
Specifically, a February 2020 Kentucky Health Issues Poll showed that nine out of 10 Kentucky adults favored legalizing cannabis for medical purposes.
Beshear’s executive order comes roughly two months after weighing his executive authority on effecting policy changes following the Kentucky Senate failing to act on a House-passed bill that aimed to allow doctors to prescribe medical cannabis to patients for six qualifications: cancer, chronic pain, epilepsy/seizure disorder, multiple sclerosis, chronic nausea or cyclical vomiting syndrome, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Missouri regulators and a group of medical cannabis licensees have reached an agreement in a legal dispute that will ultimately result in three cannabis cultivators destroying their products and surrendering their business licenses.
The eight-page compromise, signed in May, settles alleged regulatory violations in an effort to end legal proceedings, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
The medical cannabis licensees tangled up in the dispute—Perrysville-based Archimedes Medical Holdings, FUJM and Holistic Health Capital—had been accused of “pervasive irregularities” that ultimately kept state officials from confirming that products from the companies’ cultivation facilities had been tested, as well as not reporting “numerous outages” on security cameras to regulators, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
Two of the facilities also allegedly had employees using pesticides without proper training or personal protective equipment (PPE), according to the news outlet.
Regulators with the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services (DHSS) also accused one of the licensees of leaving medical cannabis products “unattended, unsecured, and in unsanitary conditions,” the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
A Michigan cannabisdispensary has added a twist to its operations: a drive-thru.
Located at 920 American Rd.in Lansing, Mich., Bazonzoes Provisioning Center can now serve consumers cannabis products fromtheir vehicles. This is Bazonzoes Provisioning Center’s second retail locationin Lansing and third overall. However, according to the Lansing State Journal, consumers cannot place an order at the drive-thru.Instead, they must place an order online ahead of time.
Anthony Virga, BazonzoesProvisioning Center founder and president, told the Lansing StateJournal that customers will be required to show a valid ID at thedrive-thru window before receiving their order. He also adds that thedrive-thru will help strengthen worker’s safety.
He told the news outlet thatopening a dispensary with a drive-thru has been his goal.
“Everywhere around us hasdrive-thrus, so it’s just like a perfect fit to come on through,” he toldthe Lansing State Journal. “We’ve been so good at ourcurbside at our other two locations. It’s kind of the same process, we just don’thave to go outside.”
]]>AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PRESS RELEASE--Fluence, a global provider of energy-efficient LED lighting solutions for commercial cannabis and food production, today launched RAPTR, the company’s latest high-output lighting solution built to replace 1,000-watt, high-pressure sodium (HPS) fixtures and maximize energy efficiency.
Greenhouse and indoor growers are increasingly seeking more efficient, higher-output lighting solutions to reduce installation, operating and maintenance costs while increasing yield and plant quality. Recognizing the importance of maintaining consistency in harvest schedules while accommodating specific energy requirements, Fluence designed RAPTR to help enable cultivators to seamlessly retrofit their lighting solutions. In most cases, existing HPS electrical infrastructure such as cables or distribution panels can be reused for RAPTR—making it a true plug-and-play solution.
“Retrofitting a facility with LED technology opens the door to more light, creates opportunities for greater yields and ultimately increases revenue,” said Jordon Musser, chief product officer of Fluence. “RAPTR is designed to lower operating expenses for cultivators, increase light levels or even achieve both without changing the existing facility layout.”
Fluence’s ongoing global research exploring the effects of LED lighting on cannabis and produce crops has consistently shown that higher light intensities boost production at a nearly one-to-one ratio. Multiple Fluence research studies and customer trials found that, for every 1% increase in photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), growers are achieving a corresponding 1% increase in yield. For commercial produce growers, increasing light output is certainly desirable but cannot come at the expense of energy efficiency. RAPTR achieves higher light levels than its HPS equivalent—boosting yields for cannabis and produce growers—while helping to optimize a facility’s energy usage.
“We are in the business of meeting a grower’s goals, whether through a 100% LED lighting strategy or a hybrid approach,” said David Cohen, CEO of Fluence. “Adding RAPTR to our suite of lighting solutions gives growers yet another option to optimize their facilities based on what retailers and consumers want. We look forward to collaborating with our global cultivators to design best-in-class lighting strategies tailored to their environments using RAPTR.”
Purposely designed to mitigate surface dirt and dust collection, RAPTR fixtures are IP67-rated and feature powder-coated surfaces for easy cleaning and chemical resistance. RAPTR will be featured inside Fluence’s booth (No. 05.524) at GreenTech Amsterdam from June 14 to June 16.