MjLink Cannabis Business News and Press
With so many dehumidification and HVAC offerings on the market for cannabis cultivators, it may be difficult for growers to select the system that is right for their specific situation.
For Geoff Brown, VP of Technical Solutions for Quest, learning as much as possible about what happens in a client’s grow room and how the cultivator expects to operate that room is critical when guiding growers in equipment selection.
Quest’s IQ Series of dehumidifiers, for example, each represent a different offering to the market that is largely based on what a specific cultivator or facility requires.
“In order to determine that accurately, we really need to become partners with the growers,” Brown says. “[We must] learn everything they’re going to do with that system, how they’re going to do it [and] how they anticipate operating their facility.”
In order to determine what equipment might be best, Brown encourages growers to consider these factors:
Vermont lawmakers are considering legislation that would expand cannabis expungements in the state by automatically expunging criminal records involving the possession of two ounces or less of cannabis, according to a VTDigger report.
The move comes as lawmakers in the House and Senate work on a final bill to tax and regulate cannabis sales.
House and Senate leadership say they support the expungement provisions, which would also decriminalize the possession of up to two ounces of cannabis, VTDigger reported. Under current law, possession of up to one ounce is decriminalized, according to the news outlet.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Sears (D-Bennington) told VTDigger that passing the expungement measure in the coming weeks, while the legislature reconvenes for a special budget session, is a priority. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Maxine Grad (D-Moretown) has also indicated support for the proposal, according to the news outlet.
“Criminal records are a barrier to employment, serving in the military, student loans, housing, and it’s very important to help folks with these criminal records get justice and clean their records,” she told VTDigger.
Expanding the canopy at Amplified Farms had been a longtime goal of Zachary Goodin, co-founder and director of cultivation of the Sacramento, California-based cannabis cultivator.
Amplified Farms has the space to grow – the indoor facility is 12,000 square feet. But the challenge had always been the electrical requirements of additional grow lights needed to power such an expansion.
“When we started out, we were using all HPS everywhere,” Goodin says. “We were kind of maxed out on adding more lights in the building.”
It wasn’t until the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) reached out to him and other Sacramento-area cannabis companies that he considered using LED lights. SMUD was offering to pay for the equipment for one growing room as part of a study measuring how cultivators could run more energy-efficient operations. Amplified Farms installed Fluence SPYDR Series LED lights, designed for both single and multiple growing tiers, in one of the flowering rooms as part of the trial, converting Amplified’s 1,000 watt HPS lights to 660-watt LEDs, according to SMUD.
“We were kind of excited to work with SMUD and do a research project. [Cannabis cultivators] have been working in the shadows for so long doing the medical market thing that to work with a local utility was kind of exciting. And we actually anticipated going back to HPS lights after the trial was over,” Goodin says. “We just happened to really like the lights. And then when we were able to increase production, it was like a no-brainer after that.”
Goodin and the team at Amplified noted several benefits when they started working with LED lights.
Maine announced last week that adult-use cannabis sales will launch Oct. 9, nearly four full years after voters approved legalization in November 2016.
Despite the years-long rollout of the adult-use market, Jim Henry, CEO of Sweet Dirt, a medical cannabis operator that holds multiple conditional licenses in the adult-use program, says Maine’s cannabis industry will be worth the wait.
“They’ve done their diligence and … they’ve been incredibly thoughtful about this,” Jim says. “The length of time that the rollout has taken has certainly been challenging and sometimes, to some individuals, frustrating. But I think the state has done a really nice job and they’ll actually have a really nice program.”
Sweet Dirt was founded in 2015 by a married couple, Hughes and Kristin Pope, who were registered caregivers under Maine’s medical cannabis program. Operations ramped up near the end of 2018, when they opened their first storefront for medical sales.
Then, at the beginning of 2019, the company began preparing for the forthcoming adult-use market by submitting its licensing applications and raising capital to acquire and build out additional cultivation, extraction, manufacturing and retail facilities.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has certainly put a strain on many businesses, and while the cannabis industry has fared better than most after being deemed an essential business in many states’ shutdown orders, cannabis and hemp businesses are not immune to challenges stemming from the coronavirus crisis.
Ashley Grace, founding chief marketing officer (CMO) for Charlotte’s Web, says the recent rise in business, while positive, can create tension for cannabis and hemp brands.
“A lot of brands’ growth has been pretty phenomenal, so being able to fulfill the expectations of consumers that the brand has set is where I think most of the industry is focused right now,” Grace says. “Brands are really focused on delivering and making sure that they’re there for their consumers.”
Grace, who has worked on the “I’m Lovin’ It” campaign for McDonald’s and the “You’re Not You When You’re Hungry” commercials for Snickers, is no stranger to successful branding and marketing strategies. After finding relief in THC and CBD for pain management after suffering an accident in 1997, he helped to found the Charlotte’s Web brand in 2015—which has since become one of the most well-known CBD companies in the United States.
During these uncertain times in the age of COVID-19, a well-thought-out branding strategy can help businesses assure their current customers that they’re able to safely meet their needs, Grace says, while also helping the brand reach new clientele.
In the latest installment of a two-part webinar series in collaboration with InSpire Transpiration Solutions and Fluence by OSRAM, the companies will outline key lighting and HVACD decisions for retrofitted cannabis cultivation facilities.
The webinar, titled “Lighting and HVACD Part 2: Key Lighting and HVACD Decisions for Facility Retrofits,” will be held at 11 a.m. CT on Sept. 10.
The two-part webinar series details the important decisions that growers or facility designers need to make in both a new build facility and when retrofitting an existing facility. The series will focus specifically on the decisions made with LED lighting and HVACD planning, and will discuss the following topics:
Key metrics every decision maker should know when choosing a manufacturer of lighting and HVACDRecommended steps when building a team and choosing your equipmentEvaluating your return on investmentThe webinar series aims to arm growers with the tools to evaluate and analyze their space to choose the appropriate equipment that is right for their cultivation and business strategy.
Part two of the lighting and HVACD webinar series with InSpire, titled “Part 2: Facility Retrofits – HPS to LED,” will discuss how growers can make the most out of limitations when planning to retrofit cultivation facilities from HPS to LED lighting. There are several strategies growers can take when transitioning equipment, and this session will review the options and evaluate the pros and cons so cultivators can make the right decision based on their business goals.
Minnesota’s White Earth Nation has voted to legalize medical cannabis, according to Red Lake Nation News.
Tribal members voted 994-150 to approve the measure, which legalizes the production, regulation and distribution of medical cannabis within the reservation’s borders, the news outlet reported.
The Tribal Council will be responsible for creating a regulatory framework for the medical cannabis program.
The White Earth Reservation is the state’s largest, according to Red Lake Nation News, and is the second reservation to legalize medical cannabis after the Red Lake Nation passed a medical cannabis referendum in May.
Earlier this year, the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) suspended expiration dates on patients’ medical cannabis registration cards due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but this temporary extension is set to expire on Sept. 30, according to an ArkLaTexHomepage.com report.
Cards with an expiration date on or before Sept. 30 will expire on that date, and patients must complete a renewal application by Sept. 11 to allow for processing time, the news outlet reported.
Physicians will still be allowed to certify patients via telemedicine until further notice, according to ArkLaTexHomepage.com.
Arkansas has reported that medical cannabis sales have reached $131 million, with the state’s dispensaries selling more than 20,000 pounds of product since the program launched in May 2019, according to the Arkansas Times.
Sales in the last two weeks alone have averaged $590,000 per day, the news outlet reported.
The state has nearly 76,000 registered patients and 28 operational dispensaries, according to the Arkansas Times, with nine more retailers expected to open.
JEFFERSON CITY, MO – PRESS RELEASE – On Nov. 6, 2018, Missouri voters passed Article XIV of the Missouri Constitution, establishing a medical marijuana program in Missouri. Article XIV requires the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) to protect the trade secrets of medical marijuana businesses as well as patients’ information by keeping that information confidential.
Article XIV Section 1.3.(5) of the Missouri Constitution states, “The Department shall maintain the confidentiality of reports or other information obtained from an applicant or license containing any individualized data, information, or records related to the licensee or its operation, including sales information, financial records, tax returns, credit reports, cultivation information, testing results, and security information and plans, or revealing any patient information, or any other records that are exempt from public inspection pursuant to state or federal law…”
The Administrative Hearing Commission, the administrative agency charged with hearing the medical marijuana licensing appeals, recently ruled that the confidentiality provision in Article XIV did not prevent litigants from compelling DHSS to disclose trade secrets or other proprietary information submitted by other businesses.
“As most people know, there were many more applicants than there were medical marijuana facility licenses,” said Lyndall Fraker, Director of the Section for Medical Marijuana Regulation. “Some of those applicants are now pursuing their competitors’ business and proprietary secrets through the appeal process. It’s our responsibility to implement the Constitution, and we want to be sure we’re doing exactly that.”
DHSS initiated an action in Cole County Circuit Court seeking a judicial order regarding whether it should continue protecting the confidentiality of business and trade secrets.
This week, Maine’s Office of Marijuana Policy unveiled new details on its planned launch of adult-use sales, announcing that retail sales can launch Oct. 9. Elsewhere, in Vermont, lawmakers are revisiting legislation that would tax and regulate adult-use sales in that state.
Here, we’ve rounded up the 10 headlines you need to know before this week is over.
Federal: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is moving forward with plans to understand and oversee the booming CBD industry. A new call for bids is seeking a contractor to collect and assess samples of products containing CBD and other cannabinoids (outside of the state-legal cannabis market). Read moreThe Cannabis Certification Council plans to release a draft of its Organically Grown Cannabis (OG) Standard for public comment. The draft standard is available via request and via the organization’s website, and it is set to be published this fall. Read moreMaine: The Office of Marijuana Policy has unveiled plans for the issuance of Maine’s first active licenses for adult-use marijuana establishments. The Office intends to issue the first active licenses to recreational cannabis businesses on Sept. 8, and retail sales to consumers 21 years of age or older will be permitted starting on Oct. 9. Read moreA federal judge has ruled that Portland cannot prioritize local cannabis businesses in its adult-use licensing process. U.S. District Judge Nancy Torreson sided with Wellness Connection of Maine in the cannabis operator’s lawsuit over the city’s residency requirement, which Wellness Connection called “unconstitutional” and “discriminatory” to non-local businesses. Read moreColorado: The Department of Agriculture has added six products to the list of approved pesticides that can be used on cannabis. Captain Jack's Neem Oil Ready to Use, Heligen, Magic Flower Bud Finisher & Pest Control, Pride Lands Defense, Protection Plus and Seican can now be used without violating the Pesticide Applicators’ Act. Read moreCalifornia: Cities across California are creating and expanding equity programs with the help of grant funding from the state. While some of the $40 million flowed as far south as Coachella, Palm Springs and Long Beach, one of the locales it reached wasn’t very far from the state government, as Sacramento received more than $5 million of the funds distributed by the BCC and Go-Biz. Read moreOregon: Actor and comedian Jim Belushi has made his way back to the silver screen—this time by documenting the trials and tribulations of owning and operating his state-legal cannabis farm in Oregon in the new reality series “Growing Belushi” on Discovery Channel. The series, airing on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET, will provide a snapshot into the daily life of Belushi and his “ragtag team of farmers” as they “follow their passion and find success in something they believe in,” according to a Discovery Channel press release. Read moreGov. Kate Brown received recommendations this week from the Vaping Public Health Work Group to address the epidemic of vaping-related illness and youth vaping in Oregon. A ban on flavored products and harmful additives, increased prices, tobacco retail licensure, and banning online sales are among the top recommendations to address vaping-related illness and the youth vaping epidemic. Read moreVermont: Earlier this year, the Vermont House and Senate approved separate versions of S.54, legislation that would establish a taxed-and-regulated system for legal cannabis sales, but the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic kept lawmakers from working out the differences in their proposals before sending a final bill to Gov. Phil Scott. Now, the bill is again moving forward in the legislature, as the House and Senate started a meeting in a Committee of Conference this week to reconcile the differences in their versions of the bill. Read moreNevada: Clark County has approved a new zoning ordinance that allows cannabis dispensaries to create drive-thrus. The change will take effect Sept. 3 and apply to both medical and adult-use retailers. Read moreThe U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has proposed amendments to the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) for hemp and cannabidiol (CBD) to bring its enforcement into compliance with current laws.
The DEA’s proposed interim final rule modies the agency’s scope of control over cannabis and hemp as laid out in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (the 2018 Farm Bill).
The four main amendments include:
Adding language stating that “tetrahydrocannabinol” (THC) does not include “any material, compound, mixture, or preparation that falls within the definition of hemp.”
Removing any CBD drug product from Schedule V status that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and contains CBD “derived from cannabis [with] no more than 0.1% … residual tetrahydrocannabinols.”
Removing import and export controls over hemp and its derivatives.
While hemp is now federally legal, the inability to distinguish it from its illegal cousin marijuana—cannabis that has more than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)—has posed issues for both law enforcement and hemp industry participants. But a new field test kit may soon change that.
Hemp Synergistics LLC, a Pennsylvania-based hemp biotechnology company, has partnered with Purdue University Northwest to develop a new THC rapid field test kit for law enforcement to distinguish hemp from marijuana in less than five minutes.
The test, called TRU (THC Recognition Unit), has the ability to measure the amount of THC in a cannabis sample up to 1%. Ron Fazio, a former forensic scientist and the current chief operations officer at Hemp Synergistics, says the test also indicates if the sample contains more than 1% THC, although it cannot detect the specific amount beyond that.
Field test kits exist that can aid in distinguishing hemp from marijuana, but they often need additional lab testing for confirmation. TRU builds off the existing chemistry used for the Duquenois-Levine reagent test, which is a PH test commonly used in the field that simply indicates whether THC is present in the sample. Another test that has been used by law enforcement in Virginia, called the 4-AP test, measures the ratio of cannabidiol (CBD) versus THC to indicate whether the sample is likely hemp or marijuana.
The new test is different because it provides both identification and quantification of delta-9 THC and delta-9 THCA. While it may still require law enforcement to send samples to the lab for additional testing, TRU’s developers estimate it will cut back on that need drastically.
“This product is not designed to replace full forensic laboratory testing—rather, it is designed to give a rapid, accurate field test that can identify what doesn’t need to go to the lab. We estimate it can lower forensic laboratory submittals of suspected marijuana cases by 50 percent,” said Purdue University Northwest’s Christian Westring, Ph.D., who served on the board of directors for the American Society for Crime Laboratory Directors, in a press release.
Salem, OR—PRESS RELEASE—Gov. Kate Brown received recommendations Aug. 20 from the Vaping Public Health Work Group to address the epidemic of vaping-related illness and youth vaping in Oregon. According to the Oregon Health Authority, youth e-cigarette use jumped 80 percent between 2017 and 2019.
The work group’s membership includes doctors and experts in pulmonology, pediatrics and public health, as well as state legislators and state agency representatives. Over the course of the last 8 months, they met to discuss the health risks of vaping and public policy recommendations for long-term solutions.
“In the middle of a worldwide pandemic, it might be easy to forget that less than a year ago, we faced a nationwide epidemic of vaping-related illness,” said Brown. “Now, though, as we are facing the spread of a disease that attacks the respiratory system, it’s even more important that we take steps to protect the health and safety of Oregon’s youth, who have been using vaping products at increasingly high rates.”
“I would like to thank the members of this work group for continuing this important work even as many of them were also on the front lines responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on these recommendations, we can take long-term steps to ensure that we do not see another outbreak of vaping-related illnesses and deaths, as we did last summer.”
Among the health experts on the Vaping Public Health Work Group is Dr. Brian Druker of the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, a pioneer in the field of precision medicine whose research has helped to revolutionize cancer treatment. Dr. Mary McKenzie, the Director of Pulmonology at Legacy Health, also brought her direct experience working with patients with vaping-related lung injuries to the panel.
Clark County, Nev., has approved a new zoning ordinance that allows cannabis dispensaries to create drive-thrus, according to a local KSNV report.
The change will take effect Sept. 3 and apply to both medical and adult-use retailers, the news outlet reported.
Dispensaries interested in establishing a drive-thru at their location must submit their plans for county and state approval, and the plans must include a certified review from a licensed land surveyor, according to KSNV.
Earlier this year, the Vermont House and Senate approved separate versions of S.54, legislation that would establish a taxed-and-regulated system for legal cannabis sales, but the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic kept lawmakers from working out the differences in their proposals before sending a final bill to Gov. Phil Scott.
Now, the bill is again moving forward in the legislature, Burlington Free Press reported, as the House and Senate started a meeting in a Committee of Conference Aug. 19 to reconcile the differences in their versions of the bill.
The committee members working on the final legislation include Rep. John Gannon (D-Wilmington), Rep. Robert LaClair (R-Barre), Rep. Janet Ancel (D-Calais), Sen. Richard Sears (D-Bennington), Sen. Jeanette White (D-Windham) and Sen. Joseph Benning (R-Caledonia), the news outlet reported.
Once completed, the bill will be sent to the House and Senate for majority vote, and if approved, it would then be sent to Scott to be signed into law or vetoed, according to Burlington Free Press.
Last night, actor and comedian Jim Belushi made his way back to the silver screen—this time by documenting the trials and tribulations of owning and operating his state-legal cannabis farm in Oregon in the new reality series “Growing Belushi” on Discovery Channel.
The series, airing on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET, will provide a snapshot into the daily life of Belushi and his “ragtag team of farmers” as they “follow their passion and find success in something they believe in,” according to a Discovery Channel press release. “Joined by his cousin Chris and with appearances from Dan Aykroyd, Judy Belushi and a cast of misfits (including Jim’s own family), as well as a musical appearance by The Blues Brothers, ‘Growing Belushi’ will take Discovery’s audiences inside Jim’s world and show the incredible effort it takes to build a legal cannabis operation.”
In the first seven minutes of the series premiere, viewers got a peek into the backstory of what inspired Belushi’s journey into cannabis, including the passing of his late brother John Belushi, as well as his humble beginnings of learning a complicated industry. “Jim knew nothing,” Megan, a land use consultant, reflected while laughing. Viewers see first-hand via sprawling drone footage over the farm that he’s come a long way since then.
Alternating between comedic relief (like Belushi’s daily skinny dip into his pond) and the history of the cultivars that make up Belushi’s genetic line-up (i.e. Captain Jack, whose namesake Jack, famously known as the ‘weed dealer’ on Saturday Night Live in the 70s, now works with the farm)—"Growing Belushi" has all the elements classic to reality TV: quick edits, interview soundbites with music and sound effects to match the moment, and, of course, a little bit of drama. The first issue presented is the report of two cultivation employees, Ben and Alex, who plan to skip out of work at 4 p.m.—knowing full well that the Captain Jack plants need sprayed at 5.
“We are always looking for a show that takes you by surprise and this one did - it’s fun and funny and has a lot of heart. I think people will see Jim Belushi in a whole new way after watching,” said Nancy Daniels, Chief Brand Officer, Discovery & Factual, according to the press release.
Cannabis Business Times profiled Jim Belushi’s operation in its March 2020 cover story. In it, he said, “We all try to throw a pebble into the pond to make a ripple,” reflecting on the impact individuals can have in their various circles. “When you have celebrity status, you bring focus to the pond, and you have the ability to throw a boulder into the pond and make a big wave. That’s a responsibility, and you’ve got to step up to it.” Read the full story here.
]]>PRESS RELEASE - With an efficacy of 3.3 μmol/J, the HortiLED TOP 2.0 delivers energy savings by reducing energy consumption by as much as 40% versus traditional HPS systems to deliver the same light levels. The optional remote dimming allows for integration with compatible control systems, where light output can be dimmed on a relative scale, based on lighting schedules and/or variable light requirements, enabling control of light levels and energy consumption.
The HortiLED TOP 2.0 offers two spectrums designed for optimal spectral efficiencies in both supplementary and sole source lighting applications. Constructed from aluminum and LEDs, the HortiLED TOP 2.0 requires minimal maintenance and is designed for the harsh conditions of indoor growing. The HortiLED TOP 2.0 is thermally and mechanically engineered to dissipate heat through conduction and convection paths, minimizing LED junction temperature and maximizing light output, lifetime and reliability. The product’s design features an integrated driver, reducing the amount of equipment to be installed and further minimizing shadowing in greenhouse applications, so plants will receive the maximum amount of light.
Luminaires can be daisy-chained to save on wiring and installation costs in both new and retrofit applications, while the specially designed mounting brackets allow for quick and secure mounting of the luminaires on both track and truss systems.
The HortiLED TOP 2.0 is certified to the rigorous standards of CSA and is DLC listed, providing growers with performance validation and enabling them to take advantage of energy conservation rebate programs.
“We believe the introduction of the new HortiLED TOP 2.0, will be a game changer for growers who have so far been hesitant to adopt the use of LED technology. The phenomenal efficiency of the luminaire, along with the new spectrums, which are optimized for either supplementary or sole-source lighting applications, means growers can achieve the same lighting performance as traditional sources with all the benefits of LEDs,” explains Todd Philips, president of P.L. Light Systems. “Designed for maximum flexibility, the HortiLED TOP 2.0 can used either as a full LED solution, or in combination with HID luminaires as a hybrid lighting system."
Cities across California are creating and expanding equity programs with the help of grant funding from the state.
The California Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC), state regulatory agency turned recipient of the DEA's wrath, and the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) have issued $40 million to cities and counties across the state to support equity programs. These programs are meant to help people who have been harmed and disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition establish businesses in the industry.
In July, the BCC sent a nearly 500-page report to the state legislature that includes documents submitted from city and county officials expressing the need for equity programs and plans for creating them. Cannabis Business Times and Cannabis Dispensary are speaking with recipients of the BCC and GO-Biz funds.
While some of the $40 million flowed as far south as Coachella, Palm Springs and Long Beach, one of the locales it reached wasn’t very far from the state government: the capital. Sacramento received more than $5 million of the funds distributed by the BCC and Go-Biz. It’s not the most any city received but also not the least; Oakland received the most with more than $8 million, and Stockton received the least with an even $60,000.
Sacramento officials, through the Cannabis Opportunity Reinvestment and Equity (CORE) program, work in tandem with state regulators on equity efforts in working to help launch and support equity businesses.
Davina Smith, who started as Sacramento’s cannabis program manager in January, said 13 equity businesses are up and running in the city. Storefront dispensary licenses remain capped at 30 for both the adult-use and medical markets, though Smith said that number could soon increase to 40. For now, the city’s 13 equity businesses are mostly cultivators, manufacturers and delivery dispensaries. Below are some of her thoughts on CORE she shared with CBT and CD.
Failing a test for a banned or disallowed pesticide can happen to any agricultural producer. But such failures seem to be more common in Colorado’s cannabis industry than more conventional products because there aren’t federally approved pesticides specifically for cannabis cultivation, according to John Scott, the section chief of the pesticides program at the Colorado Department of Agriculture.
“We certainly see a higher misuse rate in cannabis,” Scott says. “That is mostly due to the fact that as far as federal regulation and approval of products, cannabis still isn’t on pesticide labels. It is not that we don’t still see misuse occur in conventional products, it is just the core fact that the regulatory approval process has not caught up with cannabis just yet.”
That can create confusion for cultivators, who must do more legwork before applying a pesticide to be sure it is approved for use on cannabis.
The team at the Colorado pesticides program determines which pesticides are allowed for cannabis cultivation and tests to ensure compliance, as they do for all crops. The program has a list of pesticides that are allowed for use on all types of cannabis, regardless of THC content or intended use. The program can issue cease and desist orders for the use of an unapproved pesticide or report a producer to the Marijuana Enforcement Division, which may take additional steps and can issue a recall.
As states’ testing pesticide testing protocols are implemented, it is likely they will see a spike in recalls and fines, as Colorado did, before the industry adjusts.
