The Ogala Sioux Tribe approved a referendum March 10 to legalize medical and adult-use cannabis on South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Reservation, according to an AP News report.

The official results of the vote will be certified by the end of the month, the news outlet reported, but according to results announced March 11, the medical cannabis legalization measure passed with 82% approval and the adult-use measure passed with 74% approval.

The tribe is the first to establish a regulated cannabis market in the state, where both medical and adult-use cannabis remain illegal. Earlier this year, South Dakota became the first state to place medical and adult-use legalization measures on the same ballot, leaving voters to decide on statewide legalization this November.

The tribal council will take up cannabis legalization March 31 and will work to enact laws to regulate cannabis within the tribe’s jurisdiction, according to AP News. The tribe will not take ownership of cannabis production or retail outlets, according to its initial plans, but will instead license individuals and levy a retail tax on cannabis sales, the news outlet reported.

(SARASOTA – 3/11/20 – PRESS RELEASE) As the U.S. legal medical and recreational marijuana market continues to explode with nearly $30 billion in sales projected by 2023, hobby and commercial cannabis growers are searching for safe and effective ways to keep their plants healthy. To support home and commercial cannabis and hemp growers, Florida start-up Sarasota Green Group (SGG) has recently launched a product line of OMRI Listed pest and disease control solutions that help maximize yields.

Grower’s Ally product lines are FIFRA 25(b) exempt and leave zero residual, preventing disease and protecting outdoor grow operations, greenhouses and hydroponic crops during all stages of growth, using safe and natural ingredients like rosemary, clove and peppermint oils and citric acid.

As Sarasota Green Group prepares to sell to growers, hydroponic retailers and garden centers, and directly to consumers through its Amazon storefront, veteran business leader Scott Allshouse has been tapped as SGG’s first chief executive officer. The former CEO of Buddy Fruits has over 20 years of experience in the consumer-packaged goods industry and looks forward to growing the new company.

“Consuming and growing in a healthy manner is becoming more important to today’s recreational and medical cannabis consumer as further research is done on the risks of contamination in products,” Allshouse said. “Sarasota Green Group is on a mission to support cannabis and hemp growers in providing safe, chemical-free products that maximize yields and maintain healthy crops.”

Grower’s Ally products, available in both ready-to-use and concentrate forms, are specifically formulated to control and eliminate the most common pests and problems that cannabis growers face, like spider mites and powdery mildew. Proven effective through extensive testing by independent labs, Spider Mite Control and Fungicide leave behind no residual and can be used up until the day of harvest with no sensory effect on yields.

The Iowa House has approved legislation that would change the THC cap in the state’s medical cannabis program, according to a Des Moines Register report.

The bill, House File 2589, would replace the state’s current 3% THC limit for medical cannabis products with a limit of 4.5 grams of THC in a 90-day period. Patients could access more than 4.5 grams of THC within that timeframe if a doctor determines that 4.5 grams is insufficient to treat their condition or if they are terminally ill, Des Moines Register reported.

The legislation, which follows the recommendations of the Iowa Medical Cannabidiol Board, cleared the House in a 52-46 vote, according to the news outlet.

The bill would also add more qualifying conditions to the program and allow more health care practitioners to recommend cannabis to patients, Des Moines Register reported. Under the legislation, post-traumatic stress disorder and “severe, intractable autism with self-injurious or aggressive behaviors” would be added, and physician assistants, podiatrists, advanced registered nurse practitioners and advanced practice registered nurses could recommend cannabis to patients.

Earlier this year, lawmakers introduced two additional legislative proposals to raise the state’s 3% THC cap on medical cannabis products.

The Missouri Senate approved a bill March 9 that would ban cannabis-infused candy in the state’s medical cannabis program in an effort to protect children, according to an AP News report.

The legislation would prohibit candy, lollipops, cotton candy, and fruit- and animal-shaped edibles that could appeal to children, the news outlet reported, and it would require that all cannabis-infused food or its packaging bear a stamp with dosage information.

A similar bill already passed the Missouri House, AP news reported, and the Senate’s 28-1 vote sends the revised version of the legislation back to the House for consideration.

The Washington Senate approved legislation March 9 that would allow regulators to bolster social equity in its cannabis licensing process, according to The Spokesman-Review.

The bill, approved by the Senate in a 28-20 vote, would allow the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) to award previously revoked or canceled cannabis retail licenses to social equity applicants, which are defined as minority applicants who own at least 51% of a cannabis dispensary business, the news outlet reported.

The legislation requires applicants to submit a “Social Equity Plan,” which would outline their business goals, experience with the enforcement of cannabis laws, plans to work with organizations impacted by law enforcement and reasons why they deserve a retail license, according to The Spokesman-Review.

The bill also establishes a grant program through the Washington Department of Commerce, the news outlet reported. Applicants awarded grants could use the funds to cover the costs associated with the licensing process, financial management and compliance training, and mentor programs.

Sen. Curtis King has added an amendment to the legislation that would mandate that the license fees for social equity applicants are not lower than the state’s regular licensing fees to ensure equal treatment of all applicants, according to The Spokesman-Review.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont has renewed his push for cannabis legalization this year, and while advocates say the concept of legalization has support in the legislature, Lamont’s proposed bill will likely require more work on the granular details before it has the support it needs to pass both chambers.

Lamont called for legalization during last year’s legislative session, as well, and although lawmakers worked on three separate bills to legalize and regulate adult-use cannabis, the session ended without any of the legislation advancing to the governor’s desk.

Lamont announced this year’s renewed push for legalization during his State of the State address in February. He then worked alongside the chairmen of key legislative committees to draft comprehensive legislation that would not only legalize cannabis for adults 21 and older, but also support the social and criminal justice components of legalization.

Senate and House leadership ultimately introduced S.B. 16 to realize the governor’s goals.

The legislation would legalize the possession of up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis starting July 1, and in July 2022, the state would launch retail cannabis sales.

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PRESS RELEASE--Left Coast Ventures (LCV), a manufacturer, marketer and distributor of premium cannabis products, has announced that it has closed an acquisition of cannabis extraction company Sisu Extracts (SISU). SISU is based in Humboldt County and has successfully scaled its business around the founding mission to secure sales pipelines for local farmers while delivering the highest quality cannabis extracts and flower to leading brands. The acquisition, which strategically expands Left Coast Ventures’ value chain, will be complete upon final regulatory approvals.

As California’s leading extractor, SISU works with an expansive network of farmers to produce more than 20% of the total legal distillate sold in California. Their unique business model supports more than 300 local California cannabis farmers by paying them 70% of the profits generated from their plants, which is up to 50% above standard prices paid to farmers.

“Our company grows because farmers believe in us,” said Joe Wynne, SISU's vice president of sales. “Farmers believe in us because we support them in the way that matters most. Simply, we pay more. We are happy to have joined a team that contributes to this philosophy with great brands and retail access, allowing SISU to bolster farms in this rapidly emerging market.”

SISU owns and operates manufacturing and distribution facilities in Eureka and Arcata in Northern California, as well as a distribution hub in downtown Los Angeles. In addition to these centers, SISU also has wholesale flower showrooms in Los Angeles and in Eureka, providing a dynamic conduit between farmers and buyers in locations where the largest California cannabis brands procure top quality flower and distillate. This model has opened doors for farmers who would not otherwise see their product on retail shelves in California.

“SISU has a strong strategic and cultural fit with Left Coast Ventures. Since its inception, SISU has profitably built its business by providing consistent, high-quality cannabis distillates and other extracts while prioritizing small farmers through its grower-focused model,” commented Brett Cummings, CEO of Left Coast Ventures. “This acquisition strengthens our supply chain with one of the largest and most respected cannabis extraction companies in California, and we look forward to working with the founding team to continue operations.”

WAKEFIELD, Mass., March 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (CSE: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) ("Curaleaf" or the "Company"), a leading vertically integrated cannabis operator in the United States, today announced that Khadijah Tribble will become Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility effective March 16, 2020.

Khadijah Tribble is a respected expert on equity and inclusion in the cannabis industry. She has advised cannabis investors, government regulators, entrepreneurs and businesses on policy, business development and community impact. In partnership with Chief Marketing Officer Jason White and the marketing team, Tribble will oversee the Company's efforts to build an eco-system of impact, policy and business that aligns with the greater good of the cannabis industry and the communities in which Curaleaf operates and serves. She will also lead the company's diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

"As we lead the way to a world where cannabis is welcomed and understood, our corporate social responsibility grows congruently with our business. We recognize the positive impact we can have on the lives of not just our employees, our customers and our shareholders, but also on the communities and the environment in which we operate our business," said Joe Lusardi, CEO of Curaleaf. "We are thrilled to have Khadijah join our team to lead the charge."

Prior to joining Curaleaf, Tribble founded Marijuana Matters (M2), a cannabis education and advocacy incubator. She is also the founder of the Marijuana Policy Trust (MPT), a think tank providing expertise toward building an inclusive and diverse cannabis industry. Prior to MPT she was Chief Executive of Ground Game, LLC, a consultancy focused on health technologies and also was a co-founder and director of business operations for United Medical Center's Rose Clinic, the first hospital-based clinic in the epicenter of the Washington, D.C. HIV epidemic.

"It's truly exciting to be joining Curaleaf and its talented and passionate management team at a time when the industry is on the brink of its next phase of growth, impacting and shaping the world as we know it," said Tribble. "I believe the cannabis industry can be a force for good, and I'm proud to join an industry leader that is committed to transparency, social equity and diversity and inclusion, particularly as regulation, policies and opinions are still evolving."

Tribble has served on many boards and advisory groups, including Women in the Life Association, CTF Diversity and Inclusion Taskforce, Human Rights Campaign's Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board, United Medical Center Board of Directors, the Community Wellness Collective, and was a founding member of the National LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce Supplier Diversity Committee.

The Ogala Sioux Tribe will vote March 10 on whether to legalize medical and adult-use cannabis on South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Reservation, according to an AP News report.

If the vote passes, the tribe would become the only one to establish a regulated cannabis market in the state, where cannabis remains illegal, the news outlet reported.

Advocates for legalization hope a regulated cannabis industry will bring economic development to the area, which is one of the most impoverished in the country, according to AP News. Opponents say the move could conflict with state and federal authorities, however.

Earlier this year, South Dakota became the first state to place medical and adult-use cannabis legalization measures on the same ballot, leaving it to voters to decide on statewide legalization this November.

New Jersey’s cannabis advocates are forming a campaign coalition, called NJ CAN 2020, to support the state’s adult-use ballot initiative this November, according to an NJ.com report.

A legislative effort to legalize adult-use cannabis failed to garner enough support to clear the New Jersey Senate last year, prompting lawmakers to place a legalization question on the state’s 2020 ballot.

NJ CAN 2020 will bring together diverse voices to support a racial and social justice approach to cannabis legalization, the news outlet reported. The group is made up of members from various organizations including New Jersey United for Marijuana Reform, the ACLU of New Jersey, Doctors for Cannabis Regulation, the Latino Action Network, the American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp, Law Enforcement Action Partnership, the NAACP New Jersey State Conference, and the NJ CannaBusiness Association, according to NJ.com.

Alberta has announced that it will increase its excise tax on cannabis vape products to 44.3% this spring in a move that Alberta Cannabis Council Executive Director John Carle said will likely drive consumers back to an already thriving illicit market.

The Alberta Cannabis Council, an industry association dedicated to ensuring the safe consumption of properly regulated cannabis products in the province, is speaking out against the new tax, which is an additional 20% tax on all vaping products in addition to the 24.3% excise tax that Alberta has already levied on adult-use cannabis sales.

Most provinces have established a 7.5% excise tax on cannabis products, Carle said, but Alberta chose to impose a 24.3% excise tax. This is in addition to the federal government’s 2.5% tax. With the additional 20% tax on vape products, Alberta is effectively imposing a 46.8% tax on those items.

"Alberta has the highest excise tax in the country of the provinces, and this additional 20% just drives it to the point of being unbelievable,” Carle told Cannabis Business Times.

The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Control Board (AGLC), which regulates the province’s cannabis market, has indicated that the increased tax is aimed at discouraging minors from purchasing vape products in the wake of last year’s outbreak of vape-related lung illness, Carle said.

A lack of consistent industry regulations surrounding vaporizers has left cannabis businesses more vulnerable than ever. As of January 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed over 2,600 cases of vaping-related illnesses in all 50 states—including 59 fatalities. The outbreak has pushed the issue of product liability to the forefront of the cannabis industry.

“In 2019, we saw a dramatic influx of product liability claims associated with exploding vaporizer batteries, vaping lung injuries, CBD and THC testing, labeling, and compliance issues,” said Jodi S. Green, partner at Nicolaides Fink Thorpe Michaelides Sullivan LLP, a law firm serving the insurance industry.

Product liability claims are especially burdensome, but fortunately cannabis businesses now have the ability to protect against the catastrophic losses associated with these lawsuits. It is important to note, however, that not all standard product liability insurance policies provide this coverage.

“Most cannabis businesses are not only unaware of what they need, but also of what they actually have after they buy it,” Phillip Skaggs, assistant counsel of the American Association of Insurance services, said. “There is definitely a tendency for wishful thinking—younger companies buying whatever policy or package is available and within budget, and then just hoping it stands up when they need it to later. This results in most businesses being underinsured, or even completely uninsured, for a potentially ruinous loss or claim for liability.”

Business owners need to understand that in regards to products sold, the legal theory of “strict liability” may apply—meaning that everyone in the chain of distribution is considered liable, and thus if named in a suit, all parties have to lawyer up and show up in court. The first step in managing this exposure is to obtain a solid policy providing the carrier’s Duty to Defend. Such a policy must also be free from exclusions that would strip out this very necessary coverage.

Not all product liability policies provide the same level of coverage, even among those marketed specifically to the cannabis industry. Let’s take a closer look at what constitutes the right coverage for this main pillar of a proactive risk management plan.

TORONTO, March 3, 2020 /CNW/ - PRESS RELEASE - SLANG Worldwide Inc., a global cannabis consumer packaged goods company with a robust portfolio of popular brands, has announced that it has entered into an acquisition agreement dated March 2, 2020 to acquire Cultivate Brands Corp.

Cultivate is a privately-owned company with a portfolio of brands and other intellectual property which are complementary to SLANG's portfolio. Its assets include extraction equipment and other machinery which SLANG intends to use within its network, cash of approximately CAD $4.5 million, and a strategic investment in a company within the supply chain. Cultivate is not currently consuming any cash in its operations.

The acquisition is expected to further strengthen SLANG's position in Oregon, which the company has identified as a core market for growth in 2020, due to its status as one of the most mature recreational markets in the United States. SLANG's O.penVAPE Craft RESERVE and Bakked Dabaratus products are strong performers in the state, and the company recently announced a strategic partnership in Oregon with Cookies, a third-party brand that the company expects to launch in Q2 2020. The Oregon market had retail sales of $810M USD during 2019 and grew 27% year over year as of December 2019 (per BDS Analytics).

The acquisition is structured as an all-stock transaction in which SLANG will issue a non-material amount of common shares in exchange for all the issued and outstanding shares of Cultivate. The majority of the SLANG Shares issued pursuant to the acquisition will be subject to a lock-up period with rolling expiration dates.

"We are pleased to execute a deal that contributes brands, IP, equipment, and capital to the already robust SLANG portfolio and balance sheet," said SLANG CEO Peter Miller. "The acquisition of Cultivate will provide a unique opportunity to generate value in several ways including new production assets, supply chain efficiencies and potential new products. This acquisition is consistent with our disciplined growth strategy and our focus on capital efficiency."

HERZLIYA, Israel - March 5, 2020 – PRESS RELEASE – InterCure has announced that wholly owned subsidiary, Canndoc, has entered into a strategic partnership agreement with Super-Pharm, Israel's largest drugstore chain. Under the term of the agreement, Super-Pharm commits to acquiring 10 tons of Canndoc's GMP medical cannabis products during a three-year period. Canndoc's products will be securely transferred from its manufacturing facilities array to Super-Pharm’s distribution center, who will be responsible for the distribution to its 41 medical cannabis authorized pharmacies.

“We are looking to provide our patients with the best service and highest quality to meet the growing demands for medical cannabis products,” said Super-Pharm Chief Executive Officer Nitzan Lavi. “I welcome the strategic partnership with Canndoc which will enable us to increase our GMP standard medical cannabis inventory.” 

“We are honored to partner with Super-Pharm, Israel's leading drugstore chain,” said Canndoc’s chief executive officer, Alon Granot. “The collaboration between Super-Pharm and Canndoc supports the growing medical cannabis patients community in Israel with access to our first-in-class medical cannabis products through the nationwide drugstore chain of Super-Pharm. This is another significant milestone in Canndoc's growth strategy. "

Moshe Gavrilov, who recently joined the Board of Canndoc after 18 years in senior management positions at Teva Pharmaceutical industries, said, “This is a significant achievement which positions Canndoc as the leading company in the growing GMP standard medical cannabis.”

As part of the partnership, Canndoc will provide Super-Pharm and its pharmacists with professional and clinical expertise gained throughout its 12 years of development and treatment thousands of patients with medical cannabis. Canndoc will begin supplying its products to Super-Pharm immediately.

VANCOUVER, Feb. 26, 2020 /CNW/ - PRESS RELEASE - Harvest One Cannabis Inc. has announced that it has entered into definitive agreements to sell its interest in Burb Cannabis Corp., a cannabis retailer located in British Columbia, as well as its interest in the 398-acre site in Lillooet, British Columbia.

Pursuant to the Burb Transaction, Harvest One has sold its 19.9% equity stake in Burb back to the founders of Burb and has forgiven a shareholder loan with a face value of $250,000 in exchange for total cash consideration of $1,512,600. In addition, Burb and Harvest One have concurrently agreed to terminate Harvest One's option to purchase a majority equity interest in Burb as well as outstanding warrants in the capital of Burb held by Harvest One. The Burb Transaction closed on Feb. 25, 2020.  Upon the closing of the Burb Transaction, Grant Froese, CEO of Harvest One, has resigned from the Board of Directors of Burb.

Pursuant to the Lillooet Transaction, Harvest One has entered into a contract to sell the Lillooet Property for cash consideration of $770,000. The transaction is scheduled to close on March 31, 2020.

"The sales of our equity interest in Burb and the Lillooet Property are part of our ongoing review of non-core assets, which we initiated as part of a broader enhanced strategic plan announced in November 2019," said Froese. "Cash proceeds from these transactions will have an immediate positive impact on our financial position and will support our continued branding and distribution efforts related to Cannabis 2.0."

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 09, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PRESS RELEASE -- Emerald Health Therapeutics, Inc. has signed a letter of intent under which Sigma Analytical Services Inc., a full-service GMP-compliant testing laboratory for cannabis, hemp and derived products, may acquire Emerald’s Avalite cannabis analytical testing operation. The companies also intend to establish a preferred partner relationship. Terms of the deal have been agreed to in principle and will be announced upon completion. Execution of definitive agreements is subject to due diligence and board approval of both companies and is expected to occur on or before April 19, 2020. Completion of the transaction will be subject to a number of conditions including settlement of final documentation and receipt of applicable regulatory and third-party approvals.

“We are very pleased to expand our testing services in Western Canada. We see many benefits in being physically close to our clients (licensed producers and processors) and building true partnerships with them to enhance the quality of products. This is the main reason why we also started expanding to Colombia in 2019,” said Dr. Kaveh Kahen, president and CEO of Sigma. “We believe having a complete analytical and microbiology testing lab for cannabis in BC would give us the opportunity to establish similar partnerships with the thriving craft cannabis sector, as well as large producers, in British Columbia and Alberta.”

Riaz Bandali, president and chief executive officer of Emerald, said, "We believe the analytical marketplace has excellent growth dynamics based on the positive global trend to legalize cannabis. However, it is necessary to have a critical mass of scientific expertise and scale. In our view, the best growth opportunity for our Avalite operation is to integrate it with a dedicated analytical services company. We are very pleased with the opportunity to move forward with a constructive relationship with Sigma and its group of experts in this segment."

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 03, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PRESS RELEASE -- Emerald Health Therapeutics, Inc. has entered into a settlement agreement with Village Farms International, Inc. and Pure Sunfarms Corp. regarding disputes between the parties. On completion of the settlement, the arbitration process involving the parties will be discontinued.

“We are pleased to have reached a comprehensive settlement agreement that resolves all disputes among the parties," said Riaz Bandali, president and chief executive officer of Emerald. "The settlement agreement allows Emerald, PSF and Village Farms to put their previous disputes aside and work together toward building on the tremendous performance of PSF to date.”

Pursuant to the settlement agreement, the supply agreements entered into between Emerald and PSF dated Dec. 21, 2018, which was for the 40% supply provision by PSF to Emerald in 2019, at a guaranteed price for 2019, and March 29, 2019, which was for the 25% supply provision by PSF, at a guaranteed price adjusted on a semi-annual basis to Emerald from 2020 to the end of 2022, respectively, will both be terminated effective as of Dec. 31, 2019, and Emerald will be released from all previous, current, and future obligations, liabilities and payments thereunder. The termination of the supply agreements removes the uncertainty regarding the potential obligation of Emerald to make any payments to PSF under the terms of those agreements and provides Emerald with full flexibility regarding future access to, and supply of, wholesale cannabis.

In exchange, Emerald will forfeit all amounts due from PSF pursuant to a shareholder’s loan of $13 million plus accrued interest of $1.1 million that Emerald previously advanced to PSF, and it will issue a promissory note to PSF in the amount of $952,237.

Emerald will cancel 5,940,000 of its common shares of PSF (currently held in escrow), fully resolving all issues in the arbitration process related to Emerald’s decision to offset a $5.94 million payment against its shareholder loan in November 2019 regarding Delta 2. Emerald has also agreed to transfer 2.5% of its PSF equity to Village Farms.

March 3, 2020 – New York, NY –  PRESS RELEASE – The Board of Directors of the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) has selected the acclaimed drug policy reform activist Kassandra Frederique as its next executive director. Frederique, who is now the organization’s Managing Director of Policy Advocacy and Campaigns, will assume the role in September after completing projects to which she is committed to in her current position.

“We could not be more excited that a leader with Kassandra’s strategic vision, integrity, and passion will take the reins at DPA,” said Board Chair Derek Hodel. “By any measure, Kassandra is a force to reckon with – she has significantly influenced drug policy reform in New York, and has helped to shape the national drug policy conversation. She will be a terrific executive director.”

“There is a lot at stake in this moment, and to be afforded the chance to lead the Drug Policy Alliance is a responsibility I do not take lightly,” said Frederique. “I’m looking forward to drawing on the rich tapestry of ideas represented by DPA and the drug policy reform movement to build humane and compassionate solutions. I am humbled by this opportunity and am excited to do my part to shape the next chapter in drug policy, one of the most important issues at the intersection of autonomy and justice.”

As executive director, Frederique will be at the helm of the nation’s leading organization fighting to end the war on drugs and replace it with policies grounded in science, compassion, health and human rights. DPA has played a critical role in promoting sentencing reform, marijuana legalization that repairs the harms of prohibition, harm reduction measures such as naloxone access and supervised consumption sites, and decriminalizing simple drug possession.

Frederique will succeed Maria McFarland Sanchez-Moreno, who announced in January that she will step down as executive director on March 6 to join Human Rights Watch. Richard Burns, who most recently served as interim executive director at Lambda Legal and has extensive experience leading organizations through transition, will take on the interim role until Frederique takes the helm in September.

GREENWICH, CT, and DENVER, March 9, 2020 /CNW/ - PRESS RELEASE - BR Brands LLC, a house of brands within the legal cannabis sector, and Dixie Brands Inc., one of the cannabis industry's most recognized consumer packaged goods companies, have signed an exclusive, binding term sheet to merge. Under the terms of the deal, BR Brands will combine operations with Dixie by assuming the publicly traded platform via a reverse takeover. This transaction, expected to be completed by the third quarter of this year, will create one of the cannabis industry's most comprehensive established house of brands.

BR Brands is the owner of Mary's Brands, a portfolio of cannabis products that includes the acclaimed medical and topical brand Mary's Medicinals. BR Brands' portfolio also includes three California-based brands: Defonce, Beezle and Rebel Coast. With an ecosystem of operating assets and an infrastructure that currently spans 11 states and Puerto Rico, BR Brands is a market leader in geographic reach and product diversity.

"BR Brands and its affiliates have had a long-standing relationship with Dixie, rooted in a deep respect for its platform and product portfolio," said Andrew Schweibold, chairman of BR Brands. "BR Brands was established to unite premium and emerging cannabis brands under one umbrella, offering unparalleled access to top-tier operating talent and capital expertise. With the consummation of this transaction, the resulting entity is poised to build upon our product portfolio, develop best-in-class IP and expand our geographic footprint, all while remaining laser-focused on continuing to meet the needs of our consumers."

Dixie Brands has been involved in the infused-cannabis industry since the launch of its THC-infused Elixir in 2010. Recognizing early that the future of the cannabis industry lay in embracing CPG principles, the company focused on developing industry leading product development, production, distribution and marketing capabilities, leading to the creation of one of the industry's broadest 'house of brands.' The portfolio includes established brands such as Dixie, Synergy, AcesoHemp, Therabis and a strategic partnership with Herbal Enterprises, LLC, an affiliate of the AriZona brand.

"The challenges of the current cannabis related capital markets have guided Dixie to look for a strategic partner in order to solidify a platform we can leverage for long-term, stable growth for our shareholders. This strategic combination brings two of the most trusted and iconic brands together on one of the broadest manufacturing and distribution platforms in the industry," said Chuck Smith, president and CEO of Dixie. "We are very pleased with the fundamentals of the deal as they will strengthen our balance sheet by decreasing debt, improving our cash position, and providing opportunities to enhance revenue growth and capture greater margin."

Before Geoff Whaling was the chairman of the National Hemp Association, he had his hands in numerous other ventures related to hemp, cannabis and, before that, sports car racing.

It was in those days out on the race track where Whaling met and partnered with famed actor and philanthropist Paul Newman, who years ago gave Whaling a resounding piece of advice: “Dreams never die, just the dreamer” (perhaps quoting a song by Canadian band The Coopers Brothers). 

To this day, Whaling credits Newman for inspiring his dream of bolstering the industrial hemp supply chain in the U.S. 

It’s a dream that may soon be realized by Collective Growth Corp., a company Whaling recently formed with two cannabis industry veterans he worked with in his time at Canopy Growth.

Collective Growth Corp. is a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), meaning it was formed to raise funds through an initial public offering (IPO) to invest into other companies, whether through acquisitions or other partnerships. The Austin, Texas-based company recently filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to raise up to $150 million in its IPO.

Whaling tells Hemp Grower the idea behind Collective Growth Corp. is to build out the U.S. industrial supply chain for a means to use the entire hemp plant to its full potential.