MjLink Cannabis Business News and Press

September 23th, 2020 - Maryland. - PRESS RELEASE - Ethos Cannabis, a multi-state operator with operations and investment interests in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Florida and Arizona, has officially acquired the right to manage and ultimately purchase Maryland medical cannabis dispensaries of 4Front Ventures Corp., which are currently operated under the Mission brand. Ethos is acquiring the rights to manage and ultimately own three operational dispensary licenses in Rockville, Catonsville and Hampden, Md., which are all in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. areas.

RELATED: Ethos Cannabis to Acquire Seven of 4Front Ventures’ Mission Dispensaries

Ethos is focused on serving mainstream consumers and further developing the health and wellness market to help individuals feel and live better through their experiences with cannabis. The transaction for the rights to manage and ultimately own the Maryland dispensaries had been pending final regulatory approval from the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission, which is now complete. All existing locations will be rebranded from “Mission” to “Ethos.”

The transaction regarding the Maryland dispensaries comes following the raising of over $50 million in debt and equity completed by Ethos. To date, the company has raised approximately $90 million of capital predominantly from investors based in the Philadelphia area. Ethos has a strong focus on the strategic deployment of capital with prioritization of execution and the development of its platform in several core markets, including Maryland.

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The Vermont Senate voted Sept. 22 to approve a deal on legislation that would tax and regulate cannabis sales in the state, according to a Seven Days report.

The House and Senate agreed on a compromise proposal earlier this month that would create a legal cannabis market, and the House approved the legislative conference committee report last week in a 92-56 vote.

The Senate’s 23-6 vote to accept the report sends the final bill to Gov. Phil Scott for consideration, Seven Days reported.

Sen. Dick Sears (D-Bennington) said the legislation is a good compromise that he hopes Scott will sign into law, according to the news outlet.

“I would be surprised if he didn’t, quite frankly,” Sears said. “In many cases, the conference committee kept his positions in mind.”

CHICAGO – September 22, 2020 — PRESS RELEASE — Cresco Labs, one of the largest vertically integrated multistate cannabis operators in the United States, has announced the approval and the location of its tenth Illinois dispensary in Naperville. The adult-use dispensary is located in one of the busiest shopping areas in Naperville, the third largest city in Illinois with approximately 150,000 residents.

“We have been consistent in choosing locations for our dispensaries in Illinois, focusing on high traffic areas in traditional retail enivronments. Sunnyside* Schaumburg, which is adjacent to Illinois’ busiest mall and our new Naperville dispensary, which shares a block with Costco, Walmart and Starbucks, are great examples of this strategy,” said Charlie Bachtell, Cresco Labs’ CEO and co-founder. “Our approach of meeting the consumer where they are and providing a normalized cannabis shopping experience is allowing our dispensaries in Illinois and all Sunnyside stores nationwide to outperform industry averages.”

Upon final approval from the State of Illinois for the Naperville location, Cresco will operate the maximum allowed ten dispensaries in Illinois. Cresco’s dispensaries are located in some of Illinois’ biggest cities, busiest shopping areas and most strategic locations to introduce new customers to normalized and professionalized cannabis and take an outsized share of the Illinois market. Total Illinois cannabis retail sales were $95 million in August, while total sales through the first eight months of 2020 were $600 million in the state.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has announced that cannabis dispensary applicants will get a second chance to qualify for the state’s licensing lottery following backlash over the licensing process, according to a CBS Chicago report.

Earlier this month, regulators announced that 21 social equity applicants would be included in a lottery to win the 75 dispensary licenses.

The 21 applicants were chosen from 1,667 total applications submitted and all received perfect scores, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Shortly after the winning applicants were announced, a group of companies behind some of the unsuccessful bids filed a federal lawsuit, alleging political motivation behind the businesses chosen to advance in the process.

Last week, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) announced plans to “review questions” raised about the licensing process before setting a date for the cannabis dispensary license lottery, which was initially scheduled for a to-be-determined date this month.

The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) has announced that it has signed a contract with Metrc to implement a statewide seed-to-sale system to track cannabis plants and products in the state’s medical cannabis market.

“The seed-to-sale system will greatly expand our compliance capabilities and improve the effectiveness and speed of any future recall efforts,” OMMA Interim Director Dr. Kelly Williams said in a public statement. “It will also allow us to detect unusual patterns that may indicate product diversion.”

The system will track medical cannabis plants and products from a plant’s growth stage through the sale to patients, and is part of OMMA’s broader efforts to ensure accountability and safety in the state’s medical cannabis market, according to the announcement.

Metrc is a national company with a presence in 14 U.S. states, and offers integration features with many seed-to-sale software systems already in use by individual cannabis licensees. All Oklahoma licensees must now either integrate with Metrc or input their information into the new system.

Full implementation of the system is expected to take up to six months, according to OMMA’s announcement.

DENVER, Colo. - September 21, 2020 - PRESS RELEASE - The Colorado Department of Revenue (CDOR) today released the Average Market Rates (AMR) for retail marijuana effective Oct. 1, 2020 until Dec. 31, 2020.

Three of the seven AMR categories increased this quarter, specifically bud ($1,316), trim ($350) and seed ($8). Three of the seven AMR categories decreased this quarter, specifically bud allocated for extraction ($502), trim allocated for extraction ($175) and wet whole plant ($175). The immature plant rate ($9) stayed the same.

The AMR is the median market price of each category of unprocessed retail marijuana that is sold or transferred from retail marijuana cultivation facilities to retail marijuana product manufacturing facilities or retail marijuana stores. CDOR’s Office of Research and Analysis, in coordination with the Taxation Division and the Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED), calculates AMRs quarterly for use in levying the excise tax as required by Colorado statute.

The Oct. 1 AMR was calculated based on retail marijuana transactions from June 1, 2020 through Aug. 31, 2020 in MED’s marijuana inventory tracking system. AMR is an estimate of the typical prices of each category of unprocessed retail marijuana that is sold or transferred from marijuana grows to product manufacturers or stores.

Visit the Taxation Division’s website for more information, including the methodology of the AMR calculations and current and prior AMRs: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/tax/marijuana-AMR.

ome people like flower, some people like extracts. Some people like to mix them for combined effects.

The latter group makes up the audience that Scott Sundvor and Libby Cooper, the founders of Space Coyote, are trying to reach with their extract-infused prerolls.

Space Coyote’s website doesn’t mince words: these products will get you “glazed.” “Gone are the days of tasteless prerolls and mediocre highs,” it reads.

“We both consider ourselves stoners,” Sundvor told Cannabis Business Times and Cannabis Dispensary. “Libby has really emphasized being proud of using that terminology and embracing that heritage culture in the market.”

But there’s also a science behind the stoniness—data to which Cooper paid attention in her last job at Eaze. The numbers showed customers’ purchasing behaviors reflected the value of “price-to-THC ratio,” she told CBT and CD. She also noticed that the preroll segment continues to grow, but these products are often made with trim or shake, and turn off some more experienced users.

“There was a disconnect between people who considered themselves connoisseurs, or stoners that really enjoyed strain-specific flavors, [and people] buying prerolls,” Cooper said. “Prerolls were for more of the canna-curious, the newer to the weed scene.”

Marlborough-based Puro received a license Sept. 17 to grow New Zealand’s largest medical cannabis crop to date, according to a Radio New Zealand report.

The license, granted by the Ministry of Health, allows Puro to grow up to 90,000 low-THC cannabis plants, which will be exported internationally, the news outlet reported.

“It's essentially just a hemp crop,” Puro Director Sank Macfarlane told Radio New Zealand.

Puro has additional cultivation applications under review, according to the news outlet, including one for a recently completed indoor research facility in the Waihopai Valley.

The Vermont House approved a deal Sept. 17 on a bill to tax and regulate cannabis sales in the state, according to an AP News report.

The House and Senate agreed on a compromise proposal Sept. 15 to create a legal cannabis market, and the House approved the legislative conference committee report in a 92-56 vote, sending it to the Senate for a final vote, AP News reported.

Gov. Phil Scott said at a press conference Sept. 18 that lawmakers have addressed many of his concerns about a legal cannabis marketplace and have “come a long ways” in creating a bill to allow legal sales, VTDigger reported.

“They’ve come a long ways and we’ll see what happens,” Scott said at the press conference, although he did not say whether he plans veto the measure or sign it into law, according to the news outlet.

Scott has indicated in the past that he would support legislation to tax and regulate cannabis sales if the measure supported education and drug use prevention programs, included a requirement for municipalities to opt in to allowing sales within their jurisdictions, and allowed law enforcement to use saliva tests to screen drivers for impairment without a warrant, VTDigger reported.

This week, cannabis operators in Oregon and Washington continued to work to save their businesses and homes amid wildfires as the ongoing crisis stymies the industry. Elsewhere, the U.S. House postponed its floor vote on the MORE Act, scrapping plans for a vote sometime next week.

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

Federal: Plaintiffs in the Washington v. Barr case, which seeks to declare the federal law that criminalizes marijuana unconstitutional, have received impressive support in the form of several amicus briefs from cannabis industry organizations, researchers and current federal lawmakers. Eight industry organizations and seven members of Congress all wrote in support of Marvin Washington’s appeal to the Supreme Court. Read moreWildfires on the west coast continue to threaten and destroy some cannabis businesses, forcing evacuations and causing growers to work to save their operations and homes as the ongoing crisis stymies the industry. This week, Cannabis Business Times checked in with Okanogan Gold and East Fork Cultivars to see how they were faring in the wake of the fires. Read moreIndustry stakeholders by and large support the House Committee on Energy and Commerce passing on a voice vote a modified version of the Medical Marijuana Research Act of 2019. While there is no scheduled vote on the bill in the full House as of now, the fact that the bill made it out of committee on a bipartisan vote signals a political tide change for cannabis research. Read moreThe cannabis industry has been awaiting a U.S. House vote on the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, legislation that would federally decriminalize cannabis by removing it from the Controlled Substances Act, but the floor vote, which had been slated for the week of Sept. 21, has been indefinitely postponed by House Democratic leaders. The delay comes after some lawmakers indicated reluctance to take up the legislation before tackling a COVID-19 relief package, which they view as must-pass legislation. Read moreVermont: The Vermont House has voted to approve S. 234, legislation that would automatically expunge low-level cannabis convictions involving the possession of two ounces or less. The measure, which the House advanced in a preliminary vote of 113-10, would also decriminalize the possession of between one and two ounces of cannabis. Read moreThe Vermont House and Senate reached a deal this week on legislation to legalize cannabis sales and create a legal marketplace in the state. The bill, S.54, would allow dispensaries to open May 1, 2022, and would impose a 14% excise tax and a 6% sales tax on cannabis sales. Read moreIllinois: The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation announced plans this week to “review questions” raised about its licensing process before setting a date for its cannabis dispensary license lottery. Regulators announced Sept. 3 that 21 social equity applicants would be included in a lottery to win the 75 licenses, with the lottery to be held later this month, but the licensing process has drawn criticism from those denied access to the lottery. Read moreMissouri: Counsel for Missouri House Democrats have alleged in a new memo that the agency responsible for regulating the state’s medical cannabis industry obstructed an investigation into the program. The memo alleges conflicts of interest and other issues with a consultant the state hired to score medical cannabis license applications, and also claims that Gov. Mike Parson’s office was able to influence the state’s medical cannabis program, particularly with how applications were scored. Read moreOregon: The Oregon Liquor Control Commission has approved permanent rules allowing licensed recreational marijuana retailers to continue curbside delivery transactions, and increased the marijuana flower purchase amount for OMMP cardholders and caregivers. The commission also approved ten marijuana violation stipulated settlement agreements at its regular meeting. Read moreCalifornia: The state’s three cannabis licensing authorities—BCC, CDFA and CDPH—have announced the launch of a unified licensing search platform, the culmination of a collaboration between the California Department of Technology, the California Health and Human Services Agency Office of Innovation, the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), and the licensing authorities. The unified license search tool allows the public to search for cannabis license information from all three licensing authorities by using one search tool. Read more

The cannabis industry has been awaiting a U.S. House vote on the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, legislation that would federally decriminalize cannabis by removing it from the Controlled Substances Act, but the floor vote, which had been slated for the week of Sept. 21, has been indefinitely postponed by House Democratic leaders.

“This delay by the House does not change the fact that the overwhelming majority of voters support ending the federal prohibition of cannabis, including majorities of Democrats, Independents and Republicans,” NORML Political Director Justin Strekal said in a public statement. “This delay does not change the fact that 33 states and the District of Columbia regulate the production and distribution of medical cannabis in a manner that is inconsistent with federal policy, and that one out of four Americans now reside in jurisdictions where adult-use is legal under state law. This delay does not change the fact that voters in several states, including key electoral battleground states for both control of the Presidency and the Senate, will be passing similar state-level marijuana measures on Election Day.”

The delay comes after some lawmakers indicated reluctance to take up the legislation before tackling a COVID-19 relief package, which they view as must-pass legislation, according to The Hill.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) did not include the MORE Act on the floor schedule for the week, and it is unclear when the vote may be rescheduled.

Hoyer told The Hill that Democratic leaders are “committed” to scheduling a vote on the bill before the end of the year, and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-NY), the primary sponsor of the MORE Act, said the vote may occur after the November elections.

Ohio set a new medical cannabis sales record in July with the state’s dispensaries selling roughly $21.4 million worth of products, according to a Crain’s Cleveland Business report.

Sales grew to about $5 million per week at the end of July and through mid-August, the news outlet reported, compared to weekly sales of $2 million to $3 million from January through March.

The state has seen $120.1 million in total medical cannabis sales to date in 2020, according to Crain’s Cleveland Business, compared to $56 million in total sales in 2019.

West Virginia is preparing to announce the winners of the state’s 10 medical cannabis cultivation licenses, according to a MetroNews report.

Jason Frame, director of the West Virginia Office of Medical Cannabis, said Sept. 17 that regulators plan to issue the licenses within the next week, the news outlet reported.

Thirty-nine applicants are vying for the 10 licenses, and once they are awarded, licensees will have six months to develop their operations, according to MetroNews.

Once the state issues its cultivation licenses, it will begin scoring dispensary applications, the news outlet reported.

The Office of Medical Cannabis continues to register physicians for the program, and 29 physicians have been registered to date, according to MetroNews.

Industry stakeholders by and large support the House Committee on Energy and Commerce passing on a voice vote a modified version of the Medical Marijuana Research Act of 2019. While there is no scheduled vote on the bill in the full House as of press time, the fact that the bill made it out of committee on a bipartisan vote signals a political tide change for cannabis research.

“Whatever our views on marijuana legalization as legislators, we all ought to support the collection of scientific data to guide our decisions,” tweeted Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA), a cosponsor of the bill, following the Sept. 9 committee vote. “This bipartisan legislation would make long-overdue improvements to the Fed Govt’s policies on marijuana research. It would advance the work of scientists and provide more reliable information about any benefits and harmful consequences that result from medicinal marijuana use.”

The Medical Marijuana Research Act would amend the Controlled Substances Act to establish a new, separate registration process to facilitate research with cannabis for medical purposes; direct the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue guidelines on the production of cannabis from authorized researchers and manufacturers; ensure all medical cannabis researchers are in compliance with FDA drug development standards; and make available cannabis from state-authorized cannabis programs, under certain conditions.

According to the amended bill, the Secretary of Health and Human Services “shall offer to qualified marijuana researchers marijuana products available through State authorized marijuana programs that are consistent with the guidance issued under subsection (c).” That guidance shall be issued no later than 180 days after the enactment of the bill, according to the proposed law.

“There is a strong need to better understand the medicinal benefits of marijuana, but researchers don’t have the tools necessary to conduct proper, science-driven research,” said rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) in a statement. Dingell is another cosponsor of the bill. “That research [r]equires us to remove outdated barriers that prevent research. Doing so will improve our understanding of medical marijuana and provide additional treatment options for millions of patients.”

In a press release, NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano said that granting researchers access to cannabis products produced in state-sanctioned markets “will not only facilitate and expedite clinical cannabis research in the United States and provide important data regarding the safety and efficacy of real-world products, but it will also bring about a long overdue end to decades of DEA stonewalling and interference with respect to the advancement of our scientific understanding of the cannabis plant.”

On Aug. 31, a judge dismissed all claims in a lawsuit brought by plaintiff Charles Wilcoxen against Canna Brand Solutions for allegedly causing a vaping-related lung illness in a case that shows the implications from last summer’s vape crisis are still plaguing the industry.

The lawsuit, brought in September 2019, centered on CCELL products.

Canna Brand Solutions was founded in 2015, and operates as a custom packaging supplier and an authorized distributor of CCELL vaporization technologies for licensed cannabis cultivators, extractors and retailers.

“What sets us apart is our expertise in the cannabis and manufacturing industry,” Canna Brand Solutions Founder and President Daniel Allen told Cannabis Business Times and Cannabis Dispensary. “The majority of our employees have had an extensive work history, working for extraction facilities, cannabis retailers [and] managing cannabis retailers, so we speak the language and really connect to our customers and understand their needs very well.”

Last year’s outbreak of vaping-related lung illness impacted the company’s sales, and those of its partners, heavily, Allen added, but Canna Brand Solutions stayed afloat due to CCELL’s reputation as a manufacturer of safe, high-performing products.

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) named David Lakeman as division manager for the Department’s cannabis division.

Lakeman comes to IDOA from Massachusetts, where he assisted the launching of the state’s cannabis industry. Lakeman represented the Massachusetts Municipal Association during the state’s cannabis legislation negotiations. He then joined the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission and worked on the initial set of cannabis regulations as well as the state’s social equity program.  

“We are excited to welcome David to the IDOA team,” said Jerry Costello II, IDOA acting director. “His work on all facets of legalization in Massachusetts, including the growing process will be invaluable as we continue to build out our cannabis department at IDOA.”

Lakeman will oversee medicinal and adult-use cannabis, as well as the Department’s hemp program. To reach David Lakeman regarding IDOA’s cannabis and hemp programs, email him at [email protected] or call 217-524-2267.

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On a dire Labor Day in the Okanogan Valley of Washington state, Terry Taylor and four family members fought the Cold Springs Fire away from Okanogan Gold. Taylor, the cannabis farm’s CEO, and the group diverted the fire away from his fenced-in crops Sept. 7. 

Plaintiffs in the Washington v. Barr case, which seeks to declare the federal law that criminalizes marijuana unconstitutional, have received impressive support in the form of several amicus briefs from cannabis industry organizations, researchers and current federal lawmakers.

The case, brought by former NFL player and current cannabis business owner Marvin Washington, along with other petitioners, is currently waiting for consideration at the U.S. Supreme Court. The complaint claims that the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) is unconstitutional by blocking patient access to the medication and sits in contradiction with the U.S. government’s own statements.

In total, nine amicus briefs have been filed as of Sept. 16. NORML; the American Journal of Endocannabinoid Medicine, a publication led by Dr. Ethan Russo; the International Cannabis Bar Association; Athletes for Care; the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) (with The Arcview Group); The Last Prisoner Project; Americans for Safe Access; and the Minority Cannabis Business Association all submitted briefs with the Supreme Court.

Additionally, U.S. Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Jamie Raskin (D-MD) filed a joint amicus brief in support of Washington.

The seven representatives’ amicus brief notes that “Congress’s ability to act in this arena is made nearly impossible by various political and logistical causes. And the DEA, the only empowered federal agency, is simply ill-suited to address these constitutional claims; and, in any event, grievances would have to be part of yet another rescheduling petition, which average nine years [original emphasis] for resolution.” This is especially notable as the Second Circuit Court argued in its rejection of the case that the plaintiffs failed to try to convince the DEA to reclassify cannabis, a necessary step before judicial remedy.

In a press release, Michael Hiller, lead pro bono counsel for the plaintiffs, said:

CHICAGO – September 17, 2020 — PRESS RELEASE — Cresco Labs, one of the largest vertically integrated multistate cannabis operators in the United States, has announced it has expanded its leadership team with the promotions of David Gacom, Melissa Wagamon and Sean McAlister to regionally focused president positions. These dynamic individuals, who bring a depth of experience in operations, marketing and sales through previous leadership roles at top CPG companies like MillerCoors, PepsiCo and The Kraft Heinz Company, will be focused on accelerating growth across the company’s geographic footprint. As the organization continues to scale, they will be accountable for driving the company’s strategic agenda across its nine states, delivering top-line growth and finding new ways to drive cost synergies in regional operations. In addition, these individuals will serve as the face of Cresco Labs amongst key state and local community leaders to ensure the company is investing in what matters most to its stakeholders.

“Coming off of a record-setting second quarter of growth and seeing the massive growth potential across all of our markets, we are excited to have these exceptionally talented individuals help lead our efforts at a regional level and identify opportunities to further accelerate and diversify our growth,” said Charlie Bachtell, CEO and co-founder of Cresco Labs. “In continuation of our stated organizational redesign developed to drive growth and scalable operations across the platform, we continue to enhance and strengthen our leadership team and put the right people, with the right experience, in the right roles to drive results and long-term value for our stakeholders. David, Melissa and Sean have the knowledge, skills and expertise to be our leaders on the ground in markets, constantly focusing on operational execution, creating efficiencies, solving the needs of our customers and launching our brands in markets the right way.”

David Gacom has been appointed Regional President, West Region (California and Arizona). His leadership of the California market to date resulted in 41% sequential growth in Q2 and Cresco Labs taking market share in the largest, most competitive cannabis market in the world. Gacom brings more than 20 years of experience in leadership roles across B2B and B2C channels to the company, serving most recently as the Chief Commercial & Optimization Officer of Grecian Delight Foods after 13 years in various management positions at The Kraft Heinz Company.Melissa Wagamon has been promoted from VP of Brand Marketing to Regional President, Great Lakes (Illinois and Michigan). Wagamon previously managed the development of Cresco Labs’ wholesale brands, including Cresco, Remedi, Mindy’s, High Supply, Reserve and Good News. She joined Cresco Labs from MillerCoors where she oversaw the retail and recruitment strategy for the Coors Light brand and communications strategy as Director for the Miller Lite brand. She also worked in various marketing roles at The Kraft Heinz Company and PepsiCo and started her career in territory sales with Pfizer Inc.Sean McAlister has been promoted from EVP Sales to Regional President of Sales, Emerging Markets (Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Maryland) and National Accounts. With the company for over four years, McAlister has led the wholesale sales organization with a proven track record of success, getting Cresco Labs’ House of Brands into over 800 dispensaries across nine states and overseeing $55M in wholesale revenue in Q2—making Cresco Labs the largest wholesaler of branded products in the cannabis industry. McAlister previously led sales for global gaming technology producer and operator, Novomatic Americas.

Greg Butler, Chief Commercial Officer at Cresco Labs, added, “These individuals were added to our leadership team based on their knowledge of the cannabis industry, their ability to bring a best-in-class CPG experience to our P&L management and proven ability to develop and lead teams. Looking ahead at our industry, we see many opportunities emerging from both a wholesale and retail perspective. Having regional leaders will not only help us ensure that we create a scalable foundation from which to capture every opportunity within our markets, but also help us drive a superior capital agenda across our footprint. They all have a history of success—both in terms of building brands, developing strategic plans and providing leadership to our teams—and they are people you generally enjoy working with.”

Effective immediately, Wagamon and McAlister will be based in Illinois and Gacom will reside in California.

The Vermont House and Senate reached a deal Sept. 15 on legislation to legalize cannabis sales and create a legal marketplace in the state, according to a VTDigger report.

The bill, S.54, would allow dispensaries to open May 1, 2022, according to VTDigger, and would impose a 14% excise tax and a 6% sales tax on cannabis sales.

Lawmakers finalized the compromise proposal after reaching an agreement on how the state would establish advertising regulations for the industry, the news outlet reported.

Under the bill, the Cannabis Control Board, which is responsible for regulating the industry, will collaborate with the Vermont Health Department and the Attorney General’s office to recommend advertising restrictions that would have to be approved by the legislature next year before becoming law, according to VTDigger.

The legislature also reached an agreement on how cannabis revenue will be granted to municipalities, the news outlet reported, ultimately deciding to give towns funds from cannabis licensing fees.