MjLink Cannabis Business News and Press

The California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) filed an emergency rulemaking action Dec. 14 to implement Assembly Bill 195.

The legislation, which Gov. Gavin Newsom signed in June, requires all cannabis products leaving licensed dispensaries via delivery to be recorded in a statewide track-and-trace system, according to the DCC website.

In addition, A.B. 195 would have required the DCC to incorporate cannabis delivery into the state's existing track-and-trace program by Jan. 1, 2023. However, under the measure, the DCC is permitted to "adopt and readopt emergency regulations to implement that requirement, as specified," according to the bill text.

The DCC has filed the emergency rulemaking action with the state’s Office of Administrative Law (OAL) to immediately implement the new track-and-trace requirements under A.B. 195.

The department wrote in the emergency filing that the public's safety and protection is its "highest priority" and that the proposed regulations would allow the DCC to monitor the movement of cannabis products in California effectively and reduce the risk of illicit cannabis products entering the legal market.

Moreover, the DCC wrote that the "increased tracking would allow the department to collect more detailed data regarding the purchase of cannabis goods through delivery. This data will likely be useful in making decisions related to the proper regulation of cannabis businesses within California."

A cannabis research center is coming to the Windy City.

Illinois and Chicago officials and the Discovery Partner Institute (DPI), which is part of the University of Illinois system, announced Dec. 15 that a Cannabis Research Institute (CRI) is opening in the city to “further boost Illinois’ global standing as a science hub,” according to a press release.

The CRI’s goal is to provide the cannabis industry with “evidence-based” and “research-driven” data that covers various topics related to social equity, crop management, and the medicinal and health benefits of cannabis consumption, according to the release.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said this is an opportunity to “expand the breadth of knowledge and science needed to shape policy.”

The center plans to partner and collaborate with industry stakeholders to ensure that the cannabis research “will inform regulation and policy to protect public health and safety; stimulate medical, scientific, and technology advancement; and address societal questions about the impacts of new markets and policies.”

RELATED: UPDATED: President Biden Signs Bipartisan Cannabis Research Bill

A 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck the western edge of Humboldt County, Calif., overnight, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The epicenter was located off the coast, about 14 miles due west from the city of Fortuna.

The area is well known in the cannabis industry as a thriving region for cannabis cultivation. Part of the Emerald Triangle, Humboldt County boasts hundreds of cannabis cultivation licenses and untold numbers of illicit grow operations.

A search of the California Department of Cannabis Control database reveals more than 2,000 annual and provisional licenses have been issued to growers in Humboldt County since 2019, though some of those have expired. 

A 6.4-magnitude earthquake is relatively strong. "Generally, earthquakes of magnitude 6 and above are the ones for concern," according to the Los Angeles Times. "When nearby, they can cause shaking intensities that can begin to break chimneys and cause considerable damage to the most seismically vulnerable structures, such as non-retrofitted brick buildings."

More than 70% of Pacific Gas and Electric Company customers in Humboldt County are without power this morning, according to poweroutage.us.

NEW YORK, Dec. 19, 2022 – PRESS RELEASE – Curaleaf Holdings Inc., a leading international provider of consumer cannabis products, announced the addition of two members to its board of directors, effective Dec. 31, 2022.

Michelle Bodner is a Wall Street-trained entrepreneur with expertise in operations, real estate and executive coaching. She has delivered advisory services to government agencies, banks, large corporations, nonprofits and early and mid-stage companies in multiple disciplines. In 2015, Bodner was engaged by Curaleaf (then Palliatech Inc.) as a consultant responsible for the company's New York State license application. Since that time, Bodner has held multiple positions at Curaleaf including tenures as board member, first chief operating officer, and the president and CEO of Curaleaf's New York and Florida operations. She is a member of the advisory board of Treehouse Global Ventures and was named one of the 2019 CBE Power Women in cannabis. Prior to joining the cannabis industry, Bodner's former positions include COO of the New York City Opera, director of Project Development for the Empire State Development Corp., and strategic consultant for Women's World Banking.

Shasheen Shah, CEO of Coherent Strategies Consulting and Coaching, is a leadership development coach and trusted adviser to global executives and organizations. He helps develop high-performance teams achieve successful business outcomes and navigate the personal challenges that go hand in hand with the journey. He has worked with executives from Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs, Barclays, Tesla, ButcherBox, and LinkedIn, among others. He is the author of the Kid and the King: The Hidden Inner Struggle High Achievers Must Conquer to Reignite and Re-engage with Life. Shah holds a bachelor’s in philosophy from Colgate University and is presently a candidate for a master’s in clinical psychology from Antioch University.

"I am thrilled to welcome Michelle and Shasheen to the Curaleaf board of directors to deepen our bench and add talent to our board as we further develop governance,” Curaleaf Executive Chairman Boris Jordan said. “Michelle is a seasoned entrepreneur and savvy adviser in the financial services, government, real estate and cannabis spaces, and delivered impressive results for Curaleaf in our early days. She will be a valued and strategic voice as we move into our 2023 plan and beyond.

"Shasheen is a talented executive coach and progressive thinker who has delivered breakthrough results to global business leaders for 20 years. I know that his business insights, approach to leadership culture and unique perspective will be instrumental in guiding the board and our company forward in its next evolution of growth."

Shah and Bodner were appointed by the board of directors to serve until the next annual general shareholders meeting of the company, at which the shareholders will vote on the constitution of the board of directors going forward. The company's board of directors now consists of eight members. Shah joins the board as an independent director, which brings the total of independent directors on the board to four.

DENVER, Dec. 19, 2022 /CNW/ - PRESS RELEASE - Medicine Man Technologies, operating as Schwazze, a vertically integrated, multi-state operating cannabis company with assets in Colorado and New Mexico, reaches company milestone of 40 dispensaries across both states. On Dec. 15, Schwazze closed the transaction to acquire certain assets of Lightshade Labs LLC. The transaction included the adult-use Lightshade dispensaries located at 503 Havana St. in Aurora, as well as 2215 E. Mississippi Ave. in Denver's vibrant Washington Park neighborhood. The consideration for the acquisition was US$2.75 million which was paid as all cash.

On the same day, Schwazze's New Mexico retail banner, R.Greenleaf, located in Albuquerque, N.M., opened yet another adult-use dispensary – the fifth in 90 days. The newest location at 110 Yale Blvd SE in Albuquerque officially opened its doors for business on Dec. 15. Store operating hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.

The R.Greenleaf Yale store opening continues the deliberate expansion throughout the state of New Mexico. This brings R.Greenleaf's total number of New Mexico retail dispensaries to 15. All locations serve the needs of medical patients as well as recreational adult-use consumers.

R.Greenleaf Yale will offer introductory pricing on flower, edibles and vapes. Enrollment in the Gratify Rewards customer loyalty program is already open.

The majority of Missouri’s medical cannabis operators have applied for a new license to serve the adult-use market since the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) started accepting applications Dec. 8.

Regulators have received applications for comprehensive licenses from 318 of the state’s 322 medical cannabis licensees, according to an OzarksFirst.com report.

A comprehensive license will allow medical cannabis cultivators, manufacturers and dispensaries to serve the broader adult-use market in addition to registered patients.

The DHSS has 60 days to approve the applications.

A spokesperson for the department told OzarksFirst.com that state officials are currently focused on finalizing the state’s adult-use cannabis regulations, which must be completed by Feb. 6, 2023.

The Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act may be in peril as Congress works to approve a federal spending deal that may or may not include the cannabis banking reform legislation.

The omnibus spending bill is set to pass in the coming days, with some lawmakers pushing to include SAFE Banking in the deal to allow federally regulated financial institutions to work with state-legal cannabis businesses.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., tried to tack the SAFE Banking Act onto the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) earlier this month, but Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., ultimately scrapped that plan.

Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., the new chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) and the lead Republican backing the SAFE Banking Act, is now leading the charge to insert the cannabis banking provisions into the spending package, according to The Hill. Daines noted that 28 attorneys general back the SAFE Banking Act and argued that the legislation would increase public safety, the news outlet reported.

RELATED: Independent Community Bankers Association, Affiliated State Associations Call on Senate to Pass SAFE Banking Act

The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) is adding cannabis education to its state driving curriculum.

The RMV, in partnership with the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) and AAA Northeast, will implement “Shifting Gears: The Blunt Truth about Marijuana and Driving” in January 2023 to educate teens on the risks of cannabis-impaired driving.

Massachusetts becomes the first adult-use state to mandate this education for new drivers, according to a release.

“Today’s young drivers in Massachusetts are the first generation to get behind the wheel since cannabis became legal in the state. Considering that, it is critically important they also understand how THC can impact the body, including the risks associated from cannabis impaired driving,” said Cannabis Control Commission Commissioner Kimberly Roy. “With today’s announcement, Massachusetts takes the lead in prevention and increasing awareness around this issue by providing every driver’s education student a comprehensive, evidence-based cannabis-impaired driving information curriculum to help them understand those risks and make safe decisions.”

“Blunt Truth” is taught through a 22-minute educational video and features research-based information on cannabis, including how THC affections cognition, perception of time and distance, reaction time, and vision. The curriculum will be taught to approximately 50,000 young drivers per year across 460 Massachusetts driving school locations, according to the release.

“Adding information about cannabis to the Massachusetts’s Registry driver education is important for the safety and wellbeing of tends that are just learning to drive,” said Gov. Charlie Baker. “The new cannabis instruction will help individuals make informed decisions and I am pleased that Massachusetts is leading in including it in driver education.”

LAS VEGAS, Nevada, Dec. 16, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE - Planet 13 Holdings., a vertically-integrated Nevada cannabis company, announced that it has launched an exclusive collaboration with Lil Wayne’s GKUA Ultra Premium.

Planet 13’s in-house brand, Trendi, and Lil Wayne’s brand, GKUA, together, have launched Trendi Superblunts+, available exclusively at Planet 13 Las Vegas.

Trendi Superblunts+ are loaded with 2 grams of top-shelf flower, infused with .5 grams of premium indoor crumble, sealed with .1 grams of live resin terp sauce, sprinkled with .15 grams of indoor kief, all packed in a hemp wrap with an engineered wood tip for proper airflow.

“That GKUA and Planet 13…Superblunts,” Wayne said.

RELATED: Planet 13: The Dispensary Disruptor

“We’re very excited to add Trendi Superblunts+ to our line-up of premium cannabis products from GKUA, and what better place to do it than Planet 13’s SuperStore in Las Vegas,” said Beau Golob, GKUA president.

The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) suspended Port Angeles-based Dank Inc.’s cannabis producer/processor license Dec. 14 for a period of 180 days while it seeks permanent revocation of the company’s permits.

The suspension came as an emergency measure following multiple violations issued by state regulators and alleged criminal activity by Dank. The company has held active Tier 2 cultivation and processor licenses since November 2015, both of which weren’t up for renewal until October 2023, according to the Washington Department of Revenue.

The emergency suspension also followed LCB’s joint investigation with the Washington State Patrol’s Cannabis Enforcement Response Team into Dank, which allegedly uncovered criminal cannabis growing and distribution activity that resulted in roughly 5,000 cannabis plants being seized by state regulators in November, according to an LCB press release.

Through a search warrant issued for Dank’s Port Angeles location, investigators allegedly found untagged cannabis plants and cannabis plants whose tags had previously been used—both violations of state laws and rules written to prevent potential diversion to unregulated cannabis markets—according to the release.

In addition, Dank allegedly violated Washington’s “true party of interest/financier” law, which outlines who must be listed on a cannabis license with residency requirements applying. LCB officials claimed in the release that Dank allowed undisclosed and/or unapproved persons affiliated with a criminal enterprise to control the day-to-day operations of the business.

“Based on the seriousness of the violations and the conduct of the licensee, including traceability, true party of interest, criminal conduct, probable diversion into the illegal cannabis market, and the likelihood the licensee will commit these violations in the future, the board found that these activities constitute a direct and immediate threat to the public health and safety,” the LCB release read. “The board therefore approved an emergency suspension of the license. The license will remain suspended for a period of 180 days during which the LCB will seek permanent revocation.”

The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) suspended Port Angeles-based Dank Inc.’s cannabis producer/processor licenses Dec. 14 for a period of 180 days while it seeks permanent revocation of the company’s permits.

The suspension came as an emergency measure following multiple violations issued by state regulators and alleged criminal activity by Dank. The company has held active Tier 2 cultivation and processor licenses since November 2015, both of which weren’t up for renewal until October 2023, according to the Washington Department of Revenue.

The emergency suspension also followed LCB’s joint investigation with the Washington State Patrol’s Cannabis Enforcement Response Team into Dank, which allegedly uncovered criminal cannabis growing and distribution activity that resulted in roughly 5,000 cannabis plants being seized by state regulators in November, according to an LCB press release.

Through a search warrant issued for Dank’s Port Angeles location, investigators allegedly found untagged cannabis plants and cannabis plants whose tags had previously been used—both violations of state laws and rules written to prevent potential diversion to unregulated cannabis markets—according to the release.

In addition, Dank allegedly violated Washington’s “true party of interest/financier” law, which outlines who must be listed on a cannabis license with residency requirements applying. LCB officials claimed in the release that Dank allowed undisclosed and/or unapproved persons affiliated with a criminal enterprise to control the day-to-day operations of the business.

“Based on the seriousness of the violations and the conduct of the licensee, including traceability, true party of interest, criminal conduct, probable diversion into the illegal cannabis market, and the likelihood the licensee will commit these violations in the future, the board found that these activities constitute a direct and immediate threat to the public health and safety,” the LCB release read. “The board therefore approved an emergency suspension of the license. The license will remain suspended for a period of 180 days during which the LCB will seek permanent revocation.”

Colorado regulators issued a Health and Safety Advisory Dec. 15 over potentially moldy cannabis flower produced by adult-use licensee 240 Arthur Avenue LLC, which does business as Rivus Fine Cannabis.

The advisory, issued by the Colorado Department of Revenue (DOR) in conjunction with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), stems from potentially unsafe levels of total yeast, mold and aspergillus in two harvest batches of adult-use flower produced by Rivus Fine Cannabis, Retail Marijuana Cultivation License 403R-01197.

Dispensaries sold the potentially contaminated products between Sept. 17 and Oct. 12. A full list of affected harvest batches, as well as the retailers where they were sold, can be found below.

Regulators urge consumers who have the affected products to destroy them or return them to the dispensary where they were purchased for proper disposal. Those who experience adverse health effects from consuming the potentially contaminated products should report it using a MED Reporting Form.

Total Yeast and Mold and Aspergillus Contaminated Harvest Batches:

PRESS RELEASE - Parabola Center, a nonprofit cannabis policy think tank based in Massachusetts, is announcing a partnership with small cannabis organizations from around the country. Collectively, the group believes federal legalization should support small businesses and the historically disenfranchised.

Fifty cannabis businesses, service providers and nonprofits are teaming up to end cannabis prohibition fairly and equitably without the influence of big money. The group’s goal is to create a model of legalization that centers small businesses instead of large corporations.

“The best way to push for a model of national legalization that protects small cannabis businesses is to listen to the thousands of them who already exist,” said Shaleen Title, founder and director of Parabola Center. “Our organization believes that social equity, craft and disadvantaged business operators should be driving the discussion on how to design a national regulatory framework for cannabis. That’s why we reject the monopoly model and the money behind it.”

The initial list of partners supporting Parabola Center can be found here. Fifty additional partners will be accepted, with a launch event for all 100 partners taking place in Boston on June 10, 2023. Any organization interested in learning more or becoming a partner can contact Parabola Center here or at [email protected].

Tennessee Democratic lawmakers Sen. Heidi Campbell and Rep. Bob Freeman have announced plans to introduce a bill in the coming days that would legalize adult-use cannabis.

Campbell noted that many states surrounding Tennessee have already legalized cannabis either recreationally or medically. “Let’s not delude ourselves that people aren’t crossing the border and getting cannabis from other states. Of course, they are,” Campbell told WKRN News. “So, that’s just income we’re missing out on.”

The lawmakers also noted that in the event of federal legalization, which they both believe will eventually happen, the state would “theoretically miss out on tax revenue more than it is right now,” the news outlet reported.

Freeman also said he wants to pass the bill to help low-income communities negatively impacted by the war on drugs.

“If you live in a wealthy part of the state and a wealthy community in our city, the odds of you getting a slap on the wrist and nothing happening is pretty high,” Freeman said. “If you live in a [low-income] neighborhood, and you get picked up with cannabis, you’re going to jail.”

When asked how confident they were of the bills passing on a scale of one to 10, Freeman said 7 or 7.5, while Campbell was less convinced. “I’m pretty low. I won’t give you a number, but I have no delusions that we’re going to pass it this session,” she said, adding, “Regardless, it’s important to keep the conversation around cannabis alive.”

As adult-use sales are approaching in New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul introduced a cannabis dispensary verification tool Dec. 15, which will allow consumers to know they are purchasing from a state-licensed dispensary.

The verification tool is a seal that will be posted on licensed dispensary windows and will contain a QR code that says “scan to verify,” which consumers can scan to confirm the dispensaries license status. New York also plans to introduce a similar tool for cannabis delivery sales in the future, according to a press release.

Dispensaries must also have a universal symbol on all product packaging, which will help consumers verify they are purchasing regulated and tested products.

Tremaine Wright, chair of the state’s Cannabis Control Board, said having dispensary and product verification tools in place is “critical” for consumers to “know and trust that the new, legal cannabis market offers tested products and follows protocols designed to protect public health. These efforts, combined with rigorous enforcement, will help build a stable, legal marketplace.”

Moreover, the state plans to launch a public education campaign titled “Why Buy Legal New York” in Q1 of 2023, which will discuss the risks of purchasing illicit products, the benefits of purchasing regulated products from licensed dispensaries, and how buying illicit products undermine New York’s goals building the “most equitable and inclusive cannabis market in the nation,” according to the release.

“It’s critical for New York’s cannabis consumers to understand the risks of buying untested, illicit products and to have the tools to guide them to the safer, legal market that’s poised to open,” Hochul said. “These tools will help to protect public health and strengthen our ability to deliver the equitable cannabis market our law envisions. We will continue to work with our partners in municipalities across the state to enforce the law and shut down illicit operators who are selling products that put New Yorkers at risk.”

As New York works to roll out its adult-use program, the NYU School of Professional Studies (NYU SPS) is implementing a certificate in the Business of Cannabis in spring 2023 to stay on top of market demand and support cannabis career pathways.

The certificate in the Business of Cannabis will consist of various courses designed to give students an in-depth understanding of the industry. Industry professionals will teach the courses.

The certificate will consist of an introductory course: Overview of the Cannabis Industry and four core foundational courses: Managing a Cannabis Dispensary and the Regulation of Operations; Cannabis Sales and Marketing; The Chemistry of Cannabis: Medicine, Wellness, and Product Use; and Cannabis and Social Equity Policy, according to a press release.

Students will also be required to take one elective course.

"NYU SPS developed this program in collaboration with industry professionals and thought leaders in the field, many of whom will also teach our courses,” said June Chin, MD, an adjunct professor at the school who will teach The Chemistry of Cannabis: Medicine, Wellness, and Product Use in the Spring. “This certificate provides a distinctive credential for those seeking to develop the skills to transition into this thriving market.”

As the United States Congress looks toward its end-of-year checklist, high in priority is the need to pass a new appropriations bill to fund the federal government for another fiscal year. Lawmakers recently passed a one-week extension to pass the bill, with a new deadline of Dec. 23.

Part of that bill may enact a change to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) spending that would in practice allow cannabis companies to advertise on FCC-regulated television and radio broadcast networks, such as CBS and Clear Channel.

In July of 2022, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill as part of its appropriations package that included a provision prohibiting the FCC from spending federal funding to stop cannabis companies from advertising in states with state-legal marijuana markets. The bill contains other provisions specific to the FCC approval process for broadcast companies and their advertising, but in short, the bill allows for advertising by cannabis companies on FCC-regulated television and radio networks.

The National Association of Broadcasters, a trade organization representing television and radio broadcasters, praised the bill when it passed. This is unsurprising given its passage would almost certainly unlock new advertising dollars for broadcasters.  Advertising dollars spent on television and radio ads combined have fallen to about half the value spent on digital advertising in recent years. According to a report from PricewaterhouseCoopers, digital advertising in the U.S. is expected to be a $200 billion industry in 2025, while TV will account for just $81 billion, and radio a meager $19 billion. And the gap between digital ad spend and broadcast ad spend is only expected to widen. 

Broadcast networks, however, will not have much competition for cannabis advertising dollars from digital advertising services, as the major players currently prohibit the marketing of drugs and paraphernalia. Amazon, Alphabet (the parent company of Google) and Meta all have advertising policies that block the cannabis industry from tapping into their platforms, which are currently some of the most popular advertising platforms. Amazon recently reported it increased its global ad revenue from $19 billion to $31 billion from 2020 to 2021, and the three platforms are estimated to receive nearly 50% of all advertising dollars, according to reporting from Digiday.

Given the restrictions on digital advertising, the cannabis industry is likely to welcome further advertising opportunities. Currently, not only are cannabis companies prohibited from advertising on federally regulated channels, but also states with legal recreational marijuana markets impose their own state-level advertising restrictions, and often local towns and cities further restrict marketing activities. This leaves a lot of the cannabis industry resorting to advertising techniques that have not been popular since the 1990s–local radio, pamphlets and billboards. Yes, some brands manage to use social media to a certain extent, but many brands have horror stories of getting locked out of their accounts or kicked off social media platforms. So, the addition of traditional FCC-regulated TV and radio as an advertising platform would indeed be the start of a major shift for advertising in the cannabis space.

TORONTO - December 15, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE - RIV Capital Inc., an acquisition and investment firm with a focus on building a leading multistate platform with one of the strongest portfolios of brands in key strategic U.S. markets, today announced that it has completed the final closing of its previously announced transaction involving Etain, LLC–owner and operator of a legally-licensed Registered Organization with cannabis cultivation and manufacturing facilities, and retail dispensaries in the state of New York–and Etain IP LLC.

RELATED: New York’s Women-Led Etain Health Acquired by RIV Capital for $247 Million

“With four dispensaries, including a Manhattan flagship store and locations in Kingston, Syracuse and Westchester, as well as a cultivation and production facility in Chestertown, we believe Etain is a strong foundation and a scalable platform for future growth,” said Mark Sims, president and CEO of RIV Capital. “We plan to continue Etain’s collaboration with diverse New York-owned brands, optimize Etain’s attractive retail footprint, and augment Etain’s four premium product lines with high-performing west coast brands. The ongoing expansion of Etain’s Chestertown cultivation facility, which is nearing completion, and our planned flagship indoor cultivation facility in Buffalo, will enable Etain to better serve medical patients and, eventually, adult-use consumers in New York.”

Final Closing Transaction Details

Under the terms of the transaction, RIV Capital paid the remaining purchase price through a combination of approximately US$42 million in cash and the issuance of 5,273,084 Class A common shares in RIV Capital. Following the final closing, the former owners of Etain hold approximately 16% of the issued and outstanding Class A common shares of RIV Capital.

After protests and litigation derailed Georgia’s medical cannabis program, state regulators issued licenses to two companies in September to allow them to produce low-THC cannabis oil for the state’s registered patients.

Now, the Georgia Court of Appeals is set to take up new a legal challenge to the licensing process, again stalling the program.

Georgia passed a law in 2015 to allow registered patients to possess low-THC cannabis oil, but the statute did not establish a regulated system for cultivating, processing or dispensing cannabis in the state.

RELATED: How Are Georgia’s Medical Marijuana Patients Supposed to Access Cannabis Oil?

It wasn’t until 2019 that Gov. Brian Kemp signed legislation into law to set up a regulatory framework for the production, processing and sale of medical cannabis oil that contains no more than 5% THC.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Dec. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PRESS RELEASE -- Trulieve Cannabis Corp., a U.S. cannabis company, announced their partnership with California-based Connected Cannabis and AlienLabs. As part of the announcement, Trulieve is the exclusive provider of Connected Branded products throughout Florida.

"Trulieve consistently seeks ways to introduce new products and better serve our patients," said Kim Rivers, CEO of Trulieve. "Connected and AlienLabs represent a portfolio of top-shelf strains that have benefited medical patients in other states, and we're now excited to exclusively offer these products exclusively in Florida."

AlienLabs is well-known for its flower strains with a focus on top-shelf, exotic, indoor cannabis. As one of the first California cannabis brands, AlienLabs has established a reputation for pushing quality to new heights in cannabis and takes pride in creating new, unique strains with a menu where each strain is distinct. Two strains, Xeno and Kryptochronic, will be available at select Trulieve Florida locations beginning Dec. 15.

Connected Cannabis offers high-quality cannabis by developing different cultivation techniques to create the strains they are now best known for in the California market. Three strains, El Jefe, Gelonade, and Nightshade, will be available at select Trulieve Florida locations beginning Dec. 20.

As the state's leading medical cannabis provider, Trulieve patients across Florida can choose from the largest selection of THC and CBD products available in a variety of consumption methods, including smokable flower, concentrates, edibles, capsules, syringes, tinctures, topical creams, vaporizers, and more.

For more information, or to learn how to become a registered patient, please visit Trulieve.com and connect on Instagram or Facebook.