MjLink Cannabis Business News and Press

It will be quite some time before we understand the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. But history tells us one important thing: during times of crisis, how an industry is regulated often affects its ability to adapt and survive or even gain advantage.

Take payments and banking. While most brick-and-mortar retailers have been instituting contactless transactions to meet changing customer expectations and prevent the spread of the virus, cannabis dispensaries in the U.S. are still largely operating with cash only. They cannot accept major credit cards because marijuana is illegal under federal law. And now they’re facing a nationwide coin shortage.

With the coronavirus crippling economic activity in the U.S., the circulation of coins has dropped off significantly. Hardest hit has been restaurants, laundromats, convenience stores, arcades, and supermarket chains—businesses that rely on the flow of paper currency and need to make change. Yet unlike dispensaries, these businesses can more easily accept alternative forms of payments. 

“We still can’t operate like other businesses, unfortunately,” says Jerry Millen, owner of the Greenhouse of Walled Lake, a fully licensed medical and recreational cannabis dispensary in Michigan.

“First we ran out of pennies,” Millen says of the coin shortage. “We didn’t want to gouge the patient or the customer, so we rounded [transactions] down, which didn’t cost us a whole lot. But then we started running out of quarters, and suddenly we started to feel an impact.”

Seeing the coin shortage affect his bottom line, Millen took note of how other local businesses were responding to the crisis. Some were simply encouraging customers to pay with exact change or with credit cards or debit cards, he says, while others were turning the crisis into a marketing opportunity. Why not Greenhouse of Walled Lake, too?

SACRAMENTO, CALIF. – PRESS RELEASE – California’s three cannabis licensing authorities – BCC, CDFA and CDPH announced today 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. The need for a unified search was identified through conversations with, and surveys of, licensed businesses, local governments, and law enforcement conducted in late 2019 and early 2020.

“This unified license data search tool will make it easier for the public to access cannabis license information without having to inquire with each licensing authority separately,” Bureau Chief Lori Ajax said. “This will also help consumers identify licensed cannabis retailers near them.”

Some features of the new license search include an interactive map and geolocation tools. There is also a survey where users can submit usability feedback to the licensing authorities as they continue to refine the search tool. The unified license search tool can be accessed at https://search.cannabis.ca.gov/.

The unified license search will be updated every 24 hours; however, the most recent data will still be available through each licensing authority’s existing search tool on its website.

In January 2020, Gov. Newsom announced plans to consolidate the three cannabis licensing authorities into a single Department of Cannabis Control, in an effort to improve access to licensing and simplify regulatory oversight of commercial cannabis activity. Today’s announcement is part of that overall plan.

Editor's Note: Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers spoke at Cannabis Conference Virtual on Sept. 15 during a Fireside Chat with Cannabis Conference Editorial Director Noelle Skodzinski on "Monitoring and Improving Company Performance and Capital." For more information, please visit www.CannabisConference.com.

TALLAHASSEE, FL, Sept. 16, 2020 /CNW/ - PRESS RELEASE - Trulieve Cannabis Corp. has announced that it has entered into definitive agreements pursuant to which Trulieve has agreed to acquire cultivator and producer PurePenn LLC and Pioneer Leasing & Consulting LLC, as well as dispensary operator Keystone Relief Centers LLC, doing business as Solevo Wellness.

Key Transaction Benefits:

Kim Rivers, Trulieve CEO, stated, "We are extremely excited to announce the acquisition of PurePenn and Solevo as these companies are proven and profitable operators with strong management teams, state of the art facilities, a premium product portfolio, and strong patient base."

Rivers continued, "We believe Pennsylvania is one of the most attractive cannabis markets in the United States and these acquisitions align with our focus on expanding within the northeast. The combination of these companies, coupled with Trulieve's supply chain expertise, customer and brand-centric approach, and ability to profitably grow will propel us into a strong leadership position in the state."

Portland, OR -- PRESS RELEASE -- At its regular monthly meeting on Sept. 11, 2020, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) 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.

Shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic started, the OLCC approved temporary rules designed to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The change encouraged social distancing by allowing licensed marijuana retailers to conduct limited transactions outside but close to their physical location. Under the permanent rule, licensed retailers can continue to take orders and deliver product to a person outside the store and within 150 feet of the retailer’s licensed premises.

The commission believes this has proven to be an effective approach to limiting interactions and exposure to COVID. Although this rule is being made permanent due to the pandemic, commission staff will revisit this rule at a later date.

The permanent rules take effect Sept. 18, 2020.

On Sept. 18, 2020 the daily purchase limits for Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP) cardholders and caregivers return to 8 ounces of usable per day, with a limit of no more than 32 ounces of usable marijuana per month.

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, according to The Kansas City Star.

The memo alleges conflicts of interest and other issues with a consultant the state hired to score medical cannabis license applications, according to the news outlet, 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.

The investigation into the roll out of Missouri’s medical cannabis program reached Parson’s office in May, when the House Special Committee on Government Oversight sent a letter to the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) requesting records of the department’s interactions with cannabis industry stakeholders and insight into how key decisions were made in the medical cannabis licensing process.

The committee’s chairman, State Rep. Robert Ross, received a whistleblower complaint in March in the form of an unsigned letter from someone claiming to be a DHSS employee, who alleged that the department lied to legislators during public hearings related to the investigation.

The new report, written by Casey Millburg, counsel for the Missouri House Democratic Caucus, is a review of findings from the records sought by the committee, The Kansas City Star reported, and cites “ a frustrating series of departmental obfuscations and obstructions in response to warranted concerns and questions about the state’s medical marijuana licensure process,” according to the news outlet.

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) announced plans Sept. 15 to “review questions” raised about its licensing process before setting a date for its cannabis dispensary license lottery, according to a Belleville News-Democrat report.

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.

The 21 applicants, chosen from 1,667 total applications submitted, all received perfect scores, according to a Chicago Sun-Times report, but the licensing process has drawn criticism from those denied access to the lottery.

“Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s ... supposedly created a system that prioritizes social equity applicants, but what really was prioritized?” Vincent E. Norment, founder of Marijuana Hall of Fame and CMO of Parkway Dispensary, told Cannabis Business Times and Cannabis Dispensary Sept. 4. “It didn’t identify or represent race as one of the deciding factors, but it did identify social equity as one, [although] that only gave white men who had been convicted by the war on drugs a push to the front of the line automatically.”

Earlier this month, both industry stakeholders and lawmakers asked Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration to temporarily stop the process, the Belleville News-Democrat reported.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has announced that over $2 million of funds from the state’s medical cannabis program will be transferred to the Missouri Veterans Commission for health and care services, according to an OzarksFirst.com report.

Lyndall Fraker, director of the Section for Medical Marijuana Regulation, told the news outlet that medical cannabis facilities are now operational in the state, with the first testing laboratory set to open soon, and that medical cannabis will be available for patients later this month.

The state’s 2018 medical cannabis law includes a provision that requires fees and taxes collected by DHSS to be directed to the Missouri Veterans Commission once operational expenses are covered, OzarksFirst.com reported.

Advocacy group Together for Responsible Use and Cannabis Education announced plans Sept. 14 to drop its lawsuit challenging the Utah Legislature’s decision to replace Proposition 2, the voter-approved initiative that legalized medical cannabis in the state, with its own law in 2018, The Salt Lake Tribune reported.

The group initially sued Gov. Gary Herbert and Department of Health Director Dr. Joseph Miner in December 2018, shortly after lawmakers’ compromise bill, which made several key changes to Proposition 2, cleared the legislature and was signed into law by Herbert.

The lawsuit sought to declare the legislature’s replacement for Prop. 2 unconstitutional, but Together for Responsible Use and Cannabis Education spokeswoman Christine Stenquist told The Salt Lake Tribune that the group decided to drop the case because it was unable to continue paying legal costs.

“While this lawsuit is coming to an end, the fight for a real medical cannabis system for the state of Utah, which will meet all patient needs, continues,” Stenquist told the news outlet, adding that the case did force lawmakers to remove sections of the revised law that advocates for Proposition 2 said would curtail cannabis distribution against voters’ will.

Although Together for Responsible Use and Cannabis Education does not have the funds to continue fighting its legal battle, Stenquist is urging a “broad coalition” of other interest groups in Utah to unite and pick up where the case left off, The Salt Lake Tribune reported.

Washington, DC - PRESS RELEASE: Members of a Congressional committee have, for the first time, advanced legislation to facilitate clinical cannabis research by allowing scientists to access marijuana and marijuana products manufactured in accordance with state-authorized marijuana programs.

Members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee voted Sept. 9 in favor of a substitute version of Congressman Earl Blumenauer's HR 3797: The Marijuana Research Act of 2019. The substitute language amends the original bill by expediting the approval process for federal cultivation applicants and by providing scientists with the option to utilize products manufactured by state-licensed sources. Under current policy, FDA-approved protocols involving cannabis are strictly prohibited from utilizing cannabis grown under a state license.

“This proposed regulatory change is necessary and long overdue,” NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano said. “In fact, NORML submitted comments to the US Federal Register in April explicitly calling for this change.”

He added: “Rather than compelling scientists to access marijuana products of questionable quality manufactured by a limited number of federally licensed producers, federal regulators should allow investigators to access the cannabis and cannabis-infused products that are currently being produced in the legal marketplace by the multitude of state-sanctioned growers and retailers. Doing so 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.”

Under the existing regulatory system, which has been in place for some five decades, there is only one federally licensed entity--the University of Mississippi--that is permitted to cultivate marijuana for use in FDA-approved clinical studies.

CHICAGO – September 9, 2020 — PRESS RELEASE — Cresco Labs, one of the largest vertically integrated multistate cannabis operators in the United States, announced the launch of its newest cannabis brand to its growing portfolio of national cannabis brands, Good News. With a unique and differentiated positioning from offerings in the market today, Good News embraces cannabis’ ability to address the responsibly fun and social occasions that are typically associated with alcohol consumption. The product line delivers a quality, safe and consistent cannabis experience through easy to use and benefit-forward forms, including pre-rolled shorties, disposable vape pens and gummy edibles focused on occasion and mood benefits.

“Our goal at Cresco Labs is to create a portfolio of brands that meets the unique needs and preferences of all types of cannabis consumers,” said Greg Butler, Chief Commercial Officer at Cresco Labs. “There are many social occasions that exist today where cannabis is currently not playing a major role and has historically not been marketed to socially-minded consumers like beer, wine and spirits have always been. With Good News, we’re focused on making cannabis part of the consideration, approachable and fun. Cannabis is increasingly becoming a part of our daily lives and playing a larger role during occasions where we want a little ‘me time,’ to laugh and find ways to have a break during these difficult times. After a successful soft launch in Illinois and California, we’re excited to expand Good News availability to all of our operational states.”

Good News does not require a consumer to understand the complexity of terpenes and strains, and instead relies on formulations with specific, easy to understand mindsets and benefits. The product line includes pre-rolled shorties (3.5g total: seven, .5 gram joints), disposable vape pens (300mg per pen), and gummy edibles made with oil that retains the inherent effects that only cannabis can deliver (100mg total: ten, 10mg gummies per pack). Each product is sold in approachable packaging and crafted with consumers’ desired mood in mind—Me Time (Indica), Brunch (Hybrid), Friyay (Sativa) and Vegas (Sativa).

“Even in the time of COVID-19 when we are practicing social distancing and deprived of our typical social routines, consumers are still looking for an outlet for responsible fun. More than ever, we need a brand with optimism in its DNA that celebrates the togetherness we all miss,” said Cory Rothschild, SVP of Brand Marketing. “Good News is just that, while embodying the mindset of today’s modern recreational consumers. Many consumers do not want to understand the ins and outs of terpenes and strains to access the benefits of cannabis and enjoy more of life. That’s why we’ve segmented Good News products by occasion—Me Time, Brunch, Friyay and Vegas—to help recreational customers shop for forms by their benefit, taking the guesswork out of the retail experience.”

Good News is available in Illinois and California, with expansion to Cresco Labs’ seven other operational states coming soon.

NEW YORK, N.Y., September 8, 2020 – PRESS RELEASE – Columbia Care Inc. has signed a definitive agreement to purchase Project Cannabis, an award-winning cannabis company based in Los Angeles, Calif., for approximately $57 million in Columbia Care stock and approximately $12 million in cash from the proceeds of a concurrent sale of Project Cannabis’ real estate assets. Columbia Care’s acquisition of Project Cannabis is expected to close in the fourth quarter, 2020.

Project Cannabis is one of the leading cannabis cultivators, wholesalers and retailers of highly recognized, award-winning, branded products, including Triple Seven and Classix, in the world’s largest cannabis market. In Los Angeles, Project Cannabis operates a 32,000-square-foot cultivation facility, along with three adult-use retail dispensaries in prime locations in North Hollywood, Downtown Los Angeles and Studio City. In San Francisco, it operates one adult-use retail dispensary in the Soma district, close to both professional baseball and basketball stadiums. This location also houses one of the only permitted consumption lounges in San Francisco.

The acquisition of Project Cannabis enables Columbia Care to materially increase its scale throughout California and position its wholesale and manufacturing operations as one of the leading suppliers in the state. Going forward, Columbia Care’s new state of the art 45,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in San Diego will manufacture and package all extracted products and concentrates for Project Cannabis. Leveraging its distribution network of more than 100 dispensaries throughout the state, Project Cannabis will continue to sell its entire brand portfolio while simultaneously cross-selling Columbia Care’s medically focused products, recently acquired products and brands from the TGS acquisition, and several new consumer oriented product lines such as the Amber Live Resin portfolio, Columbia Care’s fastest growing product in California.

“Project Cannabis perfects our operating model in California, enables us to maintain supply chain continuity, optimize profitability and gives us the full suite of capabilities, products and brands needed to be a market leader in the state,” said Nicholas Vita, CEO of Columbia Care. “In addition to being immediately accretive to Columbia Care’s adjusted EBITDA and cash flow, Project Cannabis expands our portfolio of unique products, nationally recognized premium brands, wholesaling expertise and adult use knowhow, all of which are scalable into the rest of our U.S. markets. Since its founding, the Project Cannabis team has developed the well-earned reputation for cultivating the highest-quality products and award-winning genetics resulting in an extensive distribution network of over 100 dispensaries state-wide. The uniqueness and depth of this distribution channel will enable us to access and serve much of the state’s addressable market. We also expect to benefit from operating synergies, for example, by bringing in house the manufacture of Project Cannabis’ finished goods, including processing and packaging. The expected impact upon gross margins on targeted SKUs should be approximately +10% to 15%. At a price of approximately 1.3x current year revenue (excluding synergies), Project Cannabis is growing substantially faster than the overall market and  materially adds to Columbia Care’s critical mass and scale in California, while immediately a contributing to state level and consolidated cash flow and Adj. EBITDA. We look forward to leveraging the strategic advantages our combination will bring to the California cannabis market. Consistent with our recently closed acquisition of TGS, the acquisition of Project Cannabis serves as a concrete affirmation of our commitment to operational and fiduciary discipline and strategic focus to drive profitability and shareholder value in a manner consistent with our mission and corporate values.”

Commenting on the acquisition, Project Cannabis EVP Cameron Wald stated, “Joining Columbia Care, one of the largest and most experienced MSOs in the U.S., is a pivotal next step in Project Cannabis’ growth trajectory. Although we have been approached by virtually every conceivable strategic partner, we believe our culture, focus on producing the highest-quality products through the most effective brand architectures and extensive distribution network aligns perfectly with Columbia Care’s vision to grow its footprint into the market leader in California. Our team has done a tremendous job cultivating and building sought-after brands, while making our Project Cannabis dispensaries trusted destinations for a consistently excellent retail experience. I could not be prouder of the entire team. Together, we plan to immediately capitalize on synergies in our wholesale business and expand our product offerings by leveraging Columbia Care’s state of the art pharmaceutical-grade GMP manufacturing facility to accelerate our profitable growth. We are all very happy to be long term shareholders and contributors to building the best company in the industry.”

The Vermont House voted Sept. 11 to approve S. 234, legislation that would automatically expunge low-level cannabis convictions involving the possession of two ounces or less, according to VTDigger.

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, the news outlet reported. Under current law, the possession of up to one ounce is legal, but possessing between one and two ounces is a misdemeanor.

RELATED: Vermont Lawmakers Consider Legislation to Expand Cannabis Expungements

The legislature’s push to expand cannabis expungements is part of the House and Senate’s deliberation on legislation that would tax and regulate cannabis sales in the state, VTDigger reported.

The legislation, which lawmakers have lauded as an important step for social justice, gives Vermont courts until Jan. 1, 2022 to expunge all records involving misdemeanor cannabis possession, according to the news outlet.

Arkansas’ average daily medical cannabis sales for the 20-day period ending Sept. 9 reached $600,000, according to a Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette report.

The new daily sales average is an increase from the previous 16-day reporting period that ended Aug. 20, which saw $592,000 in daily average sales, the news outlet reported.

The state’s 29 operational dispensaries are averaging $20,698 in daily sales, according to the Northwest Arkansas Democrat, and total sales during the last 20-day reporting period reached $12 million, or about 1,766 pounds of product sold.

Arkansas has 80,314 registered medical cannabis patients as of Sept. 11, the news outlet reported, which is a 6% increase from just three weeks earlier.

Editor's note: This article was originally published during the 2018 wildfire season. Read "California Wildfires Continue to Ravage State Agriculture, Including Cannabis Farms," published in September 2020, here.

As more than a dozen wildfires continue to burn across California, cannabis cultivators affected by the blaze face challenges ranging from the health and safety of their employees to the potential destruction of their facilities and crops. Consumer safety and lab testing will also become significant concerns as cannabis grown in affected areas hits the market.

“When you start getting into how [it’s] going to affect product and manufacturing and production, this is the big variable,” Jon Vaught, CEO of Front Range Biosciences, a Colorado-based agricultural biotech company, told Cannabis Business Times. “It depends on where the wind’s blowing, what your situation is, where you’re located. You could be right next to a fire and have no issues at all, or you could be ten miles from it and have your building filled with smoke. It really just depends on the weather.”

Smoke can stress or even kill the plants—especially those in outdoor or greenhouse operations—and the residue left behind can pose problems for lab testing and consumer health.

“Smoke taint is the most obvious and the most apparent threat to cannabis as [it’s] exposed to these forest fires, and that’s something you’re going to be able to readily tell from just qualitatively examining the cannabis,” said Josh Wurzer, president of SC Labs, which has operations in both California and Oregon. “So, that’s certainly a concern—just ruining the flavor of the cannabis.”

Smoke from municipal fires that burn buildings and other man-made structures can be more harmful than forest fires that burn trees and foliage, Wurzer added. “[When] cannabis [is] growing indoors in city limits or near other buildings and the fire comes into the city like it is in Redding or like it did last year in Santa Rosa, you have concern that when you have buildings on fire, the smoke … has a lot more potential to contaminate the cannabis with toxic chemicals.”

It’s been a heartbreaking week (and then some) for the cannabis industry out West, where wildfires have raged like never before. It’s a widespread problem for so many families and businesses. The Cannabis Business Times team extends its thoughts and support to cannabis growers caught in the path.

We published a feature on the evacuation of Sweet Creek Farm in the hills above Santa Rosa earlier this month. Keala Peterson and her family shared tips for fire defense, including good firebreak practices and infrastructure burial.

With that in mind, here’s a roundup of wildfire stories we’re following and cannabis industry stakeholders whom we’re wishing well.

- Sweet Creek Farm: Peterson and her family returned to their property, safely, and provided updates to followers on social media. “Now we are replanted two weeks after the burn and it all feels like a dream,” the family writes. “What a difference the safety net of community has made on our mental health and our fortitude to keep our heads high and never give up.” Read more  

- East Fork Cultivars: This CBD-rich cannabis and hemp farm in southwestern Oregon was beset by encroaching fires as the week wore on, and still the road ahead is cautious. “The fires have surrounded Takilma and the Illinois Valley, appear to have crested Hope Mountain yesterday, but remarkably have not yet made it the to valley floor where most of the community is,” the team writes. “Quite miraculous given that just last night we thought everything might already be gone.” Read more (And read our cover story on East Fork Cultivars here.) 

- Okanogan Gold: This Washington farm set up helpful fire lines to stave off the worst destruction in the central part of the state. Read more 

Illinois regulators will award additional cannabis business licenses later this month, with 21 social equity applicants advancing into what the state is calling a lottery system for 75 licenses.

The state received 1,667 applications for this process, totaling in sum more than 4,000 individuals connected in one way or another to a prospective cannabis firm. Now, a group of companies behind some of unsuccessful bids has filed a federal lawsuit that alleges political motivation behind the surprising number of businesses moving forward.

Read the full lawsuit below.

“[The state] promised that this round of new licenses was specifically designed diversify the cannabis industry and open it to Social Equity Applicants who had traditionally been excluded. Members of communities in need of economic development were encouraged to apply,” according to the lawsuit. “Many did, investing considerable money, sometimes their entire life savings.”

Southshore Restore and Heartland Greens, two Black-owned businesses, are leading the call for injunctive relief in court. The plaintiffs argue that the 75 available constitute at least $1 billion in value, and that to close off the lottery to otherwise apt businesses defies the intent of this latest round of cannabis market expansion in the state.

It’s unclear why so many of the applicants were not deemed eligible. According to the state, requirements for this phase of licensing include “social equity status” and “veteran status,” both of which, have been achieved by Southshore Restore and Heartland Greens as two primary examples in the suit.

Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana pulled off what many state cannabis legalization campaigns struggled with this year – collect the number of valid signatures needed to qualify for a ballot initiative in the middle of a pandemic.

Jared Moffat, who has worked on the campaign for more than a year through his role with the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), knew there would be opposition to the measure. But he said he was shocked when he learned Thursday afternoon that the Nebraska Supreme Court had ruled that the ballot initiative violates the single subject rule as outlined in the state constitution.

After getting the green light from Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen, who certified the initiative in August, and collecting nearly 200,000 signatures – well above the roughly 122,000 valid signatures needed to qualify for the initiative, Nebraskans will not be voting on medical cannabis legalization in November.  

Opponents had submitted similar arguments that the ballot language included more than one question, but Evnen disagreed and said the initiative met the legal requirements to go before voters. The state supreme court disagreed, and their decision is the final word.

“This is an outrageous and deeply flawed decision by a group of activist judges,” Matthew Schweich, deputy director of the MPP, said in a written statement. “This ruling means that sick and suffering medical marijuana patients, including veterans, will continue to be criminals in Nebraska when they try to live healthier lives. This ruling tramples on the constitutional rights of over 190,000 Nebraskans who signed the petition and deprives the voters of Nebraska of their opportunity to decide this issue at the ballot box.”

The ballot language, which would have amended the state constitution, would have legalized possession, consumption and the purchase of cannabis for individuals with serious medical conditions if recommended by a licensed physician or nurse practitioner, and granted access by also allowing private entities to cultivate, process, produce, test and sell medical cannabis products, among other details.

To quote Kenneth Morrow in his piece “What to do with Surplus Cannabis” from Cannabis Business Times' August 2020 issue:

Health Canada, the federal agency that oversees the country’s cannabis producers, reported that as of April 2020, licensed producers (LPs) held in excess of 600,000 kilograms of unpackaged dried cannabis and an additional 46,413 kilograms of packaged flower. (This is not counting what is being held in stock by distributors and retailers) … I spoke about this surplus with multiple Canadian sources (who asked to remain anonymous), all of whom explained to me that the overstock cannabis held in storage by Canadian LPs is over a year old. They expressed that most of it would be considered undesirable to potential customers … If I were hoarding old cannabis, I could investigate the possibilities of profitably extracting or isolating alternative cannabinoids and research all potential alternatives for various applications. Otherwise they will end up disposing of it or turning it into compost because customers in the current adult-use cannabis market will not buy it, nor will it pass testing standards.

Cannabis producers in Canada and the U.S. alike may have read these proposals for the use of surplus cannabis and thought they sounded extremely appealing. With cannabis inventory still far outmatching (legal) demand across the continent, utilizing surplus stock before its shelf life is up would be ideal. And now, the move represents an even more important tactic in a time when many are facing financial constraints and calls for increased revenues.

But if manufacturers are to invest in the development of products that tap into this inventory, will consumers respond? Are these products, in fact, appealing and in demand? The short answer is: they appear to be, insofar as consumers know they exist.

According to Brightfield Group’s 2020 Canadian consumer survey data, minor cannabinoid awareness is on the rise among cannabis consumers, despite  few products being available or advertised.

Furthermore, consumers have indicated a keen interest in a variety of minor cannabinoids, with 81% of those aware of each cannabinoid indicating they would be likely or very likely to purchase CBD and THC versus 67% for CBN and CBG, were it to be available. There is disproportionately strong interest among regular users in Canada—particularly experienced medical patients.

Maine’s Office of Marijuana Policy (OMP) today issued the state’s first six adult-use cannabis business licenses, paving the way for retail sales to begin in October. The businesses include three cultivation facilities, two retail storefronts and one testing facility.

As the Portland Press-Herald reported, the two retailers are Theory Wellness of Maine in South Portland, just outside the state’s largest city, and Sweet Relief Shop in Northport, farther up the coast.

Room 5, Gele and Grass Roots Marijuana each received a cultivation license. Nelson Analytics received the state’s first testing license.

More licenses are expected to be issued prior to Oct. 9.

RELATED: JAR Cannabis Co. Prepares to Launch Adult-Use in Maine with Optimism Despite State’s Setbacks 

“Maine will have the unique distinction of being the only state to launch its adult use marijuana program during a pandemic,” OMP Director Erik Gundersen said in a public statement. “Public health and safety are themes that have been part of the Office of Marijuana Policy’s mission statement since day one. Accordingly, our highest priority remains the wellbeing of this new industry’s employees and consumers.” 

Now that many of us have settled into our work-from-home routines, we’re also discovering new ways to take advantage of virtual experiences, such as industry conferences and events. Rather than catching a flight, booking a hotel and blocking off multiple days to hobnob with fellow attendees face-to-face—nowadays, all you need are an internet connection, web camera and email log-in to create meaningful industry connections and expand your market knowledge.

Cannabis Conference Virtual (taking place Sept. 15, 22, and 29) is making this possible by bringing together hundreds of industry professionals for the highest quality networking and education the cannabis market has to offer, all from the safety of your home or office.

It's a little different than attending a conference in-person, of course, so the Cannabis Conference Virtual staff put together a few tips to help you make the most of your experience at events like this.

You can read the full list here.

Here's one, for example:

1. CHECK OUT THE EDUCATION SCHEDULE EARLY

Cannabis Conference Virtual’s education program includes most of the line-up from our originally scheduled in-person event. That means you’ll have your pick from dozens of sessions, with 65+ experts at the top of their game ready to share their insights with you. Just like an in-person event, you’ll want to peruse the program ahead of time to make sure you’re attending the sessions most relevant to your professional development. Our intuitive platform also includes a personalized schedule, so you can add your most desired sessions and networking breakouts in a streamlined calendar.