North Dakota lawmakers are considering legislation to update the state’s medical cannabis program, according to The Bismarck Tribune.

Legislators heard several bills Jan. 26 that would expand the list of qualifying conditions, allow edible products, and permit registered patients and caregivers to grow their own plants, among other changes.

Rep. Matt Ruby’s (R-Minot) H.B. 1359 focuses on patient advocacy, and would restructure the state’s medical cannabis advisory board to include members from cannabis manufacturing and retail facilities, as well as patients, The Bismarck Tribune reported. The bill would also increase the number of designated caregivers for each patient from one to three, and would eliminate the state’s $50 designated caregiver application fee.

Another bill, Rep. Gretchen Dobervich’s (D-Fargo) H.B. 1391, would allow North Dakota’s medical cannabis patients to access edible products in the form of soft or hard lozenges, the news outlet reported. A similar proposal from Dobervich was defeated in 2019, according to The Bismarck Tribune.

The House Human Services Committee also heard Rep. Marvin Nelson’s (D-Rolla) H.B. 1400, which would expand North Dakota’s list of qualifying conditions to include those that “a health care provider determines is appropriately treated by the use of medical marijuana,” The Bismarck Tribune reported. The legislation would also allow patients to submit medical records to qualify for the state’s medical cannabis program, rather than obtaining approval from a medical provider, according to the news outlet. The bill would also create a temporary medical cannabis card for qualified out-of-state patients, as well as establish a program for unannounced inspections at cannabis retailers, The Bismarck Tribune reported.

In Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s fantastic book titled Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder, he explains the concept of gains made through volatility (negative events). For example, he describes airplane crashes as making the airline industry stronger. Each crash is studied (via its fragility) and lessons are learned and incorporated into the industry as a whole. These lessons have led to dramatic drops in airplane crashes (antifragile) over the past 50 years.

Taleb also addresses the economy head-on by showing that our political leaders consistently make decisions to smooth out every bump in the economic road, creating complacency with risk taking that allows fragility to build up in the system (think the 2008-2009 financial crash). Complacency and 100% stability can be a killer.  

How can we apply this antifragile concept to cannabis given that the cannabis industry is hyper-volatile? The intention is to create a situation where the very nature of the fragility within the cannabis industry can benefit your firm when big, negative events occur. Looking to other industries can give us valuable insights into how companies can benefit from negative events.

Here are some negative events that can affect your cannabis business:

The price of cannabis flower crashes due to overproduction.The regulatory scheme in a particular state becomes more rigorous and/or expensive.A product category crisis. (The vape crisis is a good example.) An economic crisis that results in the drying up of investment capital.A key counter-party or relationship goes kaput.  For example, the wholesaler you’ve been relying on is suddenly out of business as a result of financial mismanagement, poor execution or, as recently happened to some farms in Oregon, a fire burning your business to the ground.

These examples are enough to illustrate the potential for negative events and to use in setting up a framework to thrive from the resulting chaos. Some of this may seem counterintuitive, but stick with it and know that this article is meant to jumpstart your thinking as it relates to upping your game in cannabis business risk management.

As French philosophers like to say, knowledge is historically contingent and based on power relations at any specific time. If this is so, then your knowledge of how to be successful in cannabis is also historically contingent and may just be historically out-of-date or just plain historically irrelevant. And needless to say there is always a firm more powerful than yours trying to set the agenda.

Annapolis, MD — PRESS RELEASE — On Jan. 26, the Maryland Cannabis Policy Coalition held a virtual press conference in support of Del. Jazz Lewis’ (D) comprehensive legalization bill, H.B. 32 — The Cannabis Legalization and Regulation, Inclusion, Restoration, and Rehabilitation Act of 2021. A recording of the press conference is available here.

H.B. 32 would legalize personal possession and home cultivation of cannabis for adults, automatically expunge past cannabis offenses, establish a social equity program to ensure inclusion in the industry from disproportionately impacted communities, and reinvest a significant portion of tax revenue to endowments to Maryland’s four HBCUs and communities hardest hit by the war on drugs.

"This legislation will mark a turning point in Maryland history and signify a new way Maryland handles social equity and restorative justice. And hopefully, it will help frame racial equity for other states contemplating legalization,” said Lewis..

Fifteen states and Washington, D.C. have legalized marijuana for adults 21 and over. According to a February 2019 Goucher poll, 57% of Marylanders support cannabis legalization.

Coalition members supporting HB 32 include: Progressive Maryland, National Working Families Party, 1199 SEIU, Maryland NORML, Marijuana Policy Project, Law Enforcement Action Partnership, Clergy for a New Drug Policy, Doctors for Cannabis Regulation, and Casa de Maryland.

Florida Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith and Sen. Jeff Brandes have filed complementary bills to legalize adult-use cannabis in the state, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

Smith’s H.B. 343 would legalize cannabis for adults 21 and older, while Brandes’ S.B. 710 revises “the sales tax exemption for the sale of marijuana and marijuana delivery” for cannabis purchases, the news outlet reported.

The legislation would allow adults to purchase up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis or products containing up to 2 grams of THC, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel, but smoking cannabis in public would remain illegal.

Florida Sen. Tina Polsky and Rep. Nicholas Duran have filed legislation to protect public employees who use medical cannabis, according to a local WMFE report.

The bill would bar public employers from firing, demoting or suspending employees who test positive for cannabis, as long as they are enrolled in the state’s medical cannabis program, the news outlet reported.

Employers would still be permitted to take punitive action against employees who use medical cannabis on the job, WMFE reported, as well as those whose job performance suffers as a result of their medical cannabis use.

Polsky introduced similar legislation last year to protect private employees enrolled in Florida’s medical cannabis program, according to the news outlet, but the bill did not receive a hearing.

Kentucky Sen. Steve West has introduced a medical cannabis legalization bill, according to a local WMKY report.

West’s Senate Bill 92 would allow practitioners to recommend medical cannabis to their patients, and would legalize the cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, sale and delivery of cannabis products in the state, the news outlet reported.

West’s proposal joins Rep. Jason Nemes’ House Bill 136, a separate medical cannabis legalization proposal that was reintroduced earlier this month after stalling during last year’s legislative session.

NOVATO, Calif., Jan. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Trym, a pioneering cannabis cultivation software company, is pleased to announce the release of Touchless Harvesting, a patent-pending technology that allows cultivators to compliantly and expeditiously scan, weigh, and record plant tags while harvesting cannabis plants via a mobile device.

Touchless Harvesting saves cultivators time by providing the most efficient method for recording each plant's weight in accordance with state regulations without touching their mobile devices.

Touchless Harvesting helps growers:

save hours harvesting and remain in strict compliance with CDFA.scan plant tags via a phone or tablet without touching the device.complete harvests without ever logging into METRC.automate weight recording via Bluetooth scale integrations.keep sticky, trichome-covered fingers off their mobile devices.

"At Trym, we're all about helping cultivators save time and streamline their operations. That's why we created Touchless Harvesting. It's a burden to harvest cannabis plants in California due to regulations that require tediously weighing each plant and reporting the weights to the state via METRC. Touchless Harvesting is the fastest way to harvest cannabis plants and report to METRC," says Trym CEO Matt Mayberry. "The feedback so far has been fantastic and we look forward to expanding our reach in 2021."

Trym launched Touchless Harvesting with longtime partner and customer FloraCal Farms in Santa Rosa, CA. Using Trym, FloraCal Farms was able to harvest, weigh, and report 680 plants all before lunch. Efficiency and compliance are top priorities for the FloraCal team who harvest every week in their 20,000 sq.ft. cultivation facility.

"The Touchless Harvesting feature is a great convergence of efficiency and compliance," says Andrew Rayl, director of compliance for FloraCal Farms. "It allows us to remain in full compliance with even the most conservative interpretations of harvest regulatory requirements without sacrificing any time."

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After a judge ruled that cannabis billboards are illegal on California roads that cross state borders, the Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC) has issued a notice announcing new rules for the advertisements.

Under the new regulations, cannabis companies cannot place new billboard ads on any interstate highway that crosses the California border, and businesses must remove any current billboards placed along these roads.

The new policy affects about three dozen state and interstate routes, according to an ABC 10 report, but cannabis billboards are allowed to remain on highways that are entirely within California’s borders.

North Dakota Rep. Jason Dockter has sponsored an adult-use cannabis legalization bill, despite his opposition to legalizing cannabis in the state, according to The Dickinson Press.

Dockter believes legalization is inevitable as more states regulate cannabis within their borders, the news outlet reported, and says lawmakers should draft a legalization proposal instead of leaving the issue in the hands of a ballot initiative campaign.

North Dakota voters approved medical cannabis legalization in 2016, but rejected a 2018 measure that would have legalized adult-use.

Legalize ND backed a 2020 campaign to get adult-use legalization in front of voters last year, but ultimately refocused its efforts on the 2022 election after the COVID-19 pandemic largely derailed its signature gathering efforts.

Dockter’s House Bill 1420 would allow adults 21 and older to use, possess and transport up to one ounce of cannabis or an equivalent amount of edible cannabis products, The Dickinson Press reported. Cultivators and dispensaries would be licensed under the bill to produce and sell cannabis products, according to the news outlet, and the state Health Council would ultimately establish rules to regulate these businesses.

New York, New York - January 26, 2021 - PRESS RELEASE - Green Check Verified (GCV), a regtech provider of compliant cannabis banking solutions, has announced a partnership with Laika, an enterprise-ready compliance platform, to provide financial institutions with an extra layer of compliance oversight in the rapidly-growing cannabis banking space. 

Legal in 37 states, of which GCV is currently operating in 22, this $13B industry is of particular interest to banks and  credit unions looking for low cost deposit growth, increased fee revenue and strong commercial partnerships with local business owners. As financial institutions increasingly capitalize on this huge market opportunity, GCV’s partnership with Laika will help streamline its own internal compliance and security programs, providing additional assurance for all Green Check clients and partners.

"Having led vendor risk management for one of the largest financial institutions in the world, I am in a unique position to help fast growing technology companies build scalable security practices," said Eva Pittas, founder of Laika. "We're excited to be working with Green Check Verified - their seasoned team of entrepreneurs coupled with its innovative regtech platform will be pivotal for FIs looking to enter the legal cannabis banking space."

“At GCV, everything we do is hyper-focused on compliance,” said Kevin Hart, CEO of Green Check Verified. “We continue to identify ways to reduce risk and allow FIs to bank cannabis confidently and securely. By partnering with Laika, we are not only leveraging our internal regulatory technology expertise, but banks and credit unions will benefit from having the additional oversight from a third-party vendor, adding an extra layer of compliance associated with cannabis banking.”

Laika is an enterprise-ready compliance platform that enables growing companies to compete on the same level as any large organization. The collaboration between Laika and GCV empowers financial institutions entering the highly regulated industry of banking cannabis to satisfy internal vendor due-diligence requirements. Board and examiners are increasingly demanding that cannabis programs not only satisfy specific regulations but that individual firms showcase they are a fully compliant vendor, from top to bottom.

DENVER, Jan. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PRESS RELEASE -- GrowGeneration Corp., a national chain of specialty hydroponic and organic garden centers, has announced the acquisition of Indoor Garden & Lighting, a two-store chain of hydroponic equipment and indoor gardening supply stores serving the Seattle and Tacoma, Wash., area. The company will be consolidating its current Seattle operation into the acquired stores. This acquisition brings the total number of GrowGen hydroponic garden centers nationwide to 40 stores.

"We're thrilled to kickstart 2021 with our acquisition of Indoor Garden & Lighting, which boasts a strong commercial customer base and a talented team of grow professionals," said Darren Lampert, GrowGeneration's CEO. "This deal expands our footprint in the Pacific Northwest and puts us in close proximity to Tacoma's large commercial operators. With the addition of Indoor Garden & Lighting, we expect Washington's thriving adult-use market to generate annual revenues of $10 million for GrowGen."

Founded in 1995, by Mike Long, Indoor Garden & Lighting has operations in Tacoma and Mountlake Terrace. GrowGen plans to close its current Seattle storefront and consolidate it with Indoor Garden & Lighting's Mountlake Terrace location. GrowGeneration also plans to operate out of Indoor Garden & Lighting's 10,000-square-foot warehouse in Tacoma. As part of the deal, Long and his team of cultivation experts will join GrowGeneration. 

The Indoor Garden & Lighting acquisition is the company's first acquisition this year, and follows yet another quarter of record earnings. Earlier this month, the company pre-announced fourth-quarter revenues of $61.5 million, bringing full-year 2020 revenue to $192 million, up 140% from 2019. Same-store sales increased 63% for full-year 2020, compared to the previous year. The company also raised its 2021 revenue guidance to $335 million-$350 million, and raised its 2021 adjusted EBITDA guidance to $38 million-$40 million. GrowGen plans to have 55 garden center locations by the end of 2021.

LEAMINGTON, ON, Jan. 26, 2021 /CNW/ - PRESS RELEASE - Aphria Inc., a global cannabis-lifestyle consumer packaged goods company, has announced the addition of topicals to its award winning adult-use brand Solei. Known for its occasion-based offerings, our Solei Topicals will join a range of other formats currently available, including whole dried flower and pre-rolls, smoke-free oils, oral sprays, soft gels, and vapes.

Solei is the first brand from Aphria's portfolio to enter the topicals market with its lineup including three of its popular Moments: Unplug (Lavender), Balance (Orange Citrus), Free (Cucumber Mint) and Free Unscented. Solei Topicals have been carefully formulated to provide consumers with the highest potency topical currently available in the Canadian market (500mg of cannabinoid per container) and a superior texture comparable to a premium non-infused cream - rich to the touch. 

"Adding topicals to our Solei brand product line up is a natural expansion, and an exciting format offering for Aphria. Topicals are one, if not the most, accessible cannabis format available today, making it appealing to a large segment of consumers," said Irwin D. Simon, chairman and chief executive officer of Aphria Inc. "We are listening to the needs of our consumers. The team worked hard to create a cream with a range of premium scents, providing a compelling and relevant product for consumers."

Solei Balance and Unplug topicals are currently available online and in select retail stores across Ontario and will be rolling out in other markets in the coming months. Solei Free and Free Unscented topicals will be available in select markets starting February 2021.

Solei Topicals will be available in the following variants:

Free Unscented – 500mg CBD Free (Cucumber Mint) – 500mg CBD Balance (Orange Citrus) – 250mg THC, 250mg CBD Unplug (Lavender) – 350mg THC, 150mg CBD

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has filed proposed emergency regulations with the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) to implement Assembly Bill 1525, which became law in September to provide the state’s licensed cannabis businesses broader access to financial services.

The new law provides a safe harbor for banking institutions doing business with cannabis companies and essentially makes it easier for cannabis businesses to start relationships with banks.

A five-day public comment period on the proposed rules began Jan. 22, according to a CDFA press release, and written comments must be mailed, emailed or faxed to both the OAL and the CDFA:

U.S. Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) has reintroduced the Marijuana 3-to-1 Act to federally reschedule cannabis, as first reported by Marijuana Moment.

Stuebe’s proposal, which is identical to a measure he put forth last session, would move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).

Although rescheduling would lift the burden of tax code 280E and make cannabis research easier, per Marijuana Moment, the move would not end federal prohibition entirely.

Los Angeles, CA -- January 25, 2021 -- PRESS RELEASE -- GKUA Ultra Premium, the cannabis brand co-founded by Lil Wayne, the artistic giant and connoisseur of cannabis, has announced that its cannabis products and strains will be available across Colorado in select dispensaries starting on Jan. 27.

"GKUA is about inspiring people, it’s about a feeling. Now Colorado will get to experience the quality and potency of that GKUA,” said Lil Wayne.

GKUA Ultra Premium first launched December 2019 in California. GKUA Ultra Premium flower is sourced from the most experienced growers, who produce strains that are very limited and incredibly potent with some of the highest natural levels of THC available. GKUA partnered with award-winning Harmony Extracts, in Colorado to bring these potent, terpene rich strains, along with incredible oils, live sauces and live concentrates to the state.

“We are thrilled to bring GKUA Ultra Premium to our third state,” said Beau Golob, president and co-founder of GKUA Inc. “Harmony is known for their incredible portfolio of cannabis products. They are the perfect partner for GKUA in Colorado. Their cultivators and expert lab teams know exactly what specific qualities, purity and potency are needed to produce GKUA products. Colorado is the oldest adult-use market in the U.S., and we’re excited to bring an ultra-premium product to customers who know and appreciate quality.”

The Products

EDMONTON, AB, Jan. 21, 2021 /CNW/ - PRESS RELEASE - Aurora Cannabis Inc., a Canadian cannabis company, has announced that it has entered into an agreement with a syndicate of underwriters led by BMO Capital Markets and ATB Capital Markets, under which the underwriters have agreed to buy on bought deal basis 12,000,000 units of the company at a price of US$10.45 per unit for gross proceeds of approximately US$125 million. Each unit will be comprised of one common share of the company and one half of one common share purchase warrant of the company. Each warrant will be exercisable to acquire one common share of the company for a period of 36 months following the closing date of the offering at an exercise price of US$12.60 per warrant share, subject to adjustment in certain events.

The company has granted the underwriters an option, exercisable at the offering price for a period of 30 days following the closing of the offering, to purchase up to an additional 10% of the offering to cover over-allotments, if any. This option may be exercised by the underwriters for additional units, common shares, warrants or any combination of such securities.  

The net proceeds of the offering will be used for general corporate purposes, which may include opportunistically reducing debt. The company believes that the offering fits with its broader strategy to have a strong balance sheet while maintaining maximum flexibility to invest and build towards being a leader in global cannabinoids.

The closing of the offering is expected to take place on or about Jan. 26, 2021 and will be subject to customary conditions, including approvals of the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange.

A prospectus supplement to the company's short form base shelf prospectus dated Oct. 28, 2020 will be filed with the securities commissions or securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces of Canada, except Quebec, and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) as part of the company's registration statement on Form F-10 under the U.S./Canada Multijurisdictional Disclosure System. The Prospectus Supplement, the Base Shelf Prospectus and the Registration Statement contain important detailed information about the company and the proposed offering. Prospective investors should read the Prospectus Supplement, the Base Shelf Prospectus and the Registration Statement and the other documents the company has filed for more complete information about the company and this offering before making an investment decision.

New York legalized medical cannabis in 2014 and started its formal marketplace with only five licensed operators in the state.

The limitation on the number of licensed operators made it difficult for medical cannabis to make a notable impact in the state.

 

"As the author of the original Compassionate Care Act, which is the medical program, I'm not surprised that it hasn't had that great of an economic impact, simply because the governor at the time was not a big fan," New York State Sen. Diane Savino said of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has been in his executive role since 2011. "He was very skeptical about legalizing cannabis for medical purposes and he was greatly concerned that the program could lead to all sorts of problems, but he's obviously changed his position since then."

Savino said that the program's original limitations created restrictions on a whole host of things—most importantly, patient access.

With only 20 operating medical dispensaries in a state with over 19 million people, it is no surprise that there was limited patient access at first. Since 2016, it has been expanded to 10 license holders, with 40 dispensaries statewide, she said.

Among other things, the 2020 U.S. election cycle ushered in another wave of cannabis legalization.

Five states—Arizona, Montana, Mississippi, New Jersey and South Dakota—voted in favor of legalizing cannabis in some form, adding to an already growing list of 33 states and further demonstrating that attitudes are becoming more progressive and less taboo.

The advertising industry is eager to do its part to ensure this billion-dollar business can thrive to its fullest potential. However, the barriers to entry are significant. Many media channels, particularly online, still will not accept cannabis ads.

With options limited, brands have turned to out-of-home (OOH) advertising, which has enjoyed a disproportionately large percentage of the cannabis advertising share. Nearly half of all ad spend to promote cannabis businesses went to this sector in the first four months of 2020. To place this into context, the industry average share for OOH is just 4%.

RELATED: In the Face of Restrictions and Limited Channels, Cannabis Marketers Turn to Out-of-Home Advertising–Here’s the Right Way to Do It

This week, lawmakers in New Mexico, Virginia and Connecticut set to work considering adult-use cannabis legalization proposals, while a Nebraska lawmaker introduced legislation to legalize medical cannabis. Elsewhere, in Massachusetts, a group of dispensaries has sued the state over its new delivery regulations.

Here, we’ve rounded up the top 10 headlines you need to know before this week is over.

Federal: A diverse group of North America’s cannabis cultivation and manufacturing experts has announced that they have come together to form the Sustainable Cannabis Coalition (SCC). The SCC will work proactively with industry cultivation and manufacturing peers and vendors to promote proven sustainability best practices that can be implemented at scale across the cannabis market. Read moreNebraska: Sen. Anna Wishart has introduced legislation to legalize medical cannabis in the state after supporting a medical cannabis ballot initiative that was ultimately rejected by the Nebraska Supreme Court for violating the state’s single subject rule. Wishart has also introduced a constitutional amendment to clarify the single subject rule and help eliminate uncertainty for future ballot initiative campaigns. Read moreNew Mexico: Democrats in the state legislature are planning an adult-use cannabis legalization proposal as the state’s 60-day legislative session kicks off. Although the legislature has failed to pass adult-use legalization bills the past two years, voters did not reelect some more conservative Democrats who opposed the issue in the 2020 election, and lawmakers now see a path forward for policy reform efforts. Read moreCalifornia: Vertically integrated cannabis operator Harborside has announced the departure of Chief Operating Officer Greg Sutton, effective Jan. 15. Peter Bilodeau is now the company’s interim CEO. Read moreThe California Cannabis Industry Association (CCIA), a statewide nonprofit that promotes the growth of a responsible and legitimate cannabis industry, is offering its members exclusive access to banking through the North Bay Credit Union (NBCU). CCIA’s 400 cannabis industry members will qualify for membership in the credit union and access to banking services such as checking accounts, online bill payment, wire transfers and ACH processing, and employees of CCIA members are also welcome to join as individual members of the credit union. Read moreArizona: Beginning Jan. 21, the Arizona Marijuana Industry Trade Association (MITA) will offer a free, weekly, virtual course for prospective social equity applicants looking to enter the state’s forthcoming adult-use cannabis industry. MITA’s course will focus on specific aspects of Arizona’s medical cannabis program and the cannabis industry more broadly, while welcoming speakers from in and around the industry. Read moreColorado: Colorado-based, cannabis-focused payroll and HR solutions company Wurk has announced the passing of its founder and CEO, Keegan Peterson. “Keegan will be remembered for his fierce advocacy in the cannabis space and the company he built to support the industry that he cared about deeply,” the company’s executive chairman, Scott Kenyon, wrote in a letter announcing Peterson’s death. Read moreMassachusetts: A group of cannabis dispensaries is suing the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) over the state’s new delivery rules, arguing that the regulations, which allow only social equity applicants to receive cannabis delivery licenses for the first three years, violate state law. The Commonwealth Dispensary Association filed the lawsuit in Suffolk Superior Court Jan. 13 to ask the court to declare the regulations invalid. Read moreVirginia: The Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services Subcommittee voted this week to approve an adult-use legalization bill, advancing it to the nest committee for consideration. The legislation is sponsored by Sen. Adam Ebbin and Senate President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas, and backed by Gov. Ralph Northam. Read moreConnecticut: Gov. Ned Lamont has introduced a draft bill to legalize adult-use cannabis in the state, following an announcement in his Jan. 6 State of the State address that he is making legalization a priority this year. Lamont’s administration is currently seeking feedback on the legislation, and it remains to be seen whether Lamont will incorporate the proposal into his state budget, which is due to lawmakers next month. Read more

Curaleaf CEO Joe Bayern puts focus on opportunities in growing marketplace. 

To have the biggest footprint, one must lace up the biggest shoe. 

In the cannabis industry, multistate operator Curaleaf spent the past five years building itself a massive network with a 23-state foundation, and has no plans on slowing down as it continues to acquire licenses and increase capacity. Based out of Wakefield, Mass., the vertically integrated company’s operation includes 96 dispensaries, 23 cultivation sites and more than 30 processing sites.

This past July, Curaleaf closed on an approximately $700-million deal to acquire Grassroots Cannabis, making it the largest cannabis company in the world, based on its anticipated $1 billion annual revenue at the time. 

Based out of Wakefield, Mass., Curaleaf operates in 23 states with 96 dispensaries, 23 cultivation sites and more than 30 processing sites. 

With that groundwork established, Curaleaf is now gearing for its next wave of growth by putting focus toward executing on that platform, said new CEO Joe Bayern, who started his role Jan. 1.  

“One of the things that’s tied to my transition into the new role is going and looking at what we’re calling Curaleaf 2.0, which is really the next growth spurt for Curaleaf,” he said.