MjLink Cannabis Business News and Press
Voters in Los Angeles County approved Measure C, which sets a tax rate for yet-to-come cannabis businesses in unincorporated areas of the county, by a 59% to 41% margin in this week’s midterm election, according to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.
Today, all cannabis business types are prohibited in unincorporated parts of the county. In February, the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs’ (DCBA) Office of Cannabis Management began the process of developing regulations.
Based on recommendations submitted in December 2021 by the county’s Board of Supervisors, the program will launch “with a low number of licenses (up to 25 retail, 25 delivery, 10 cultivation, 10 manufacturing, 10 distribution, and 10 testing licenses) with a priority for equity applicants.”
RELATED: California’s Cultivation Tax Cut: ‘A Step in the Right Direction’
In the meantime, the county’s Board approved the tax measure for inclusion in the Nov. 8, 2022 midterm elections—the revenues from which would go toward the county’s General Fund.
According to the DCBA’s website, “If Measure C is approved by voters, cannabis businesses would be taxed at the following rates starting July 2023:
The debate amongst cannabis enthusiasts is ongoing: What determines ‘quality’ cannabis? Is it THC percentage? Is it the terpenes? Or is it something else?
The answer is right in front of your face: Your nose. Smell and/or aroma are the defining characteristics of ‘quality’ cannabis, according to newly published research.
The report, “The Nose Knows: Aroma, but Not THC, Mediates The Subjective Effects of Smoked and Vaporized Cannabis Flower,” was published this month in the journal Psychoactives and authored by Dr. Ethan Russo, Jeremy Plumb, Shaban Demirel, Jeremy Sackett, and Adrianne Wilson-Poe.
The report sought to define what “quality” cannabis means, noting that “studies have shown that cannabis consumers are willing to pay more money for higher-quality products … THC potency has been adopted as the primary marketing-driving feature of cannabis products.”
The research studied 276 volunteers, who each randomly received a sample kit containing eight to 10 random samples of cannabis flower, weighing about 1 gram each, in sealed glass jars. Volunteers were given 30-plus days to consume the samples, and were encouraged to abstain from cannabis use for 48 hours prior to consumption in order to normalize baseline sensitivity to cannabis’ subjective effects.
The research measured subjective appeal via two domains: raw enjoyment and mood, ranking both on scales from one to seven, equating to a total of 14 possible points.
Wana Brands, an international cannabis-infused edibles brand, announced it is donating $3 million to Johns Hopkins University to fund cannabis and psychedelic medicine research through its recently launched Wana Brands Foundation (WBF).
WBF is a $50-million charitable organization dedicated to providing individuals with the necessary resources to live happy and healthy lives. The organization’s areas of focus “include research & education, food security, shelter, safety, mental health, sustainability, connection, and social justice,” according to a press release.
WBF is donating $2 million to the university’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences to support cannabis and cannabinoid research led by Ryan Gregory Vandrey, Ph.D., a professor in the department. The research will also explore the potential use of cannabinoids to treat autism, according to the release.
“The Foundation’s gift will give us resources we need to take our research to new heights,” Vandrey said. “An unrestricted gift like this provides us the opportunity to get creative in our research and conduct studies that we believe will be most impactful, rather than trying to fit our ideas to the priorities of other funding agencies. The Johns Hopkins Cannabis Science Laboratory is committed to the conduct of objective science that expands our basic understanding of the behavioral pharmacology of cannabis and informs policy, patient-provider decisions regarding medicinal cannabis, and the prevention and treatment of potential harms associated with cannabis use.”
WBF is also donating $1 million to the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, “which focuses on how psychedelics affect behavior, mood, cognition, brain function, and biological markers of health,” according to the release.
Moreover, future research will look at the benefit and effectiveness of using psilocybin, or “magic mushrooms,” to treat Alzheimer’s disease, opioid addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder, post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, anorexia nervosa and alcohol use in people with major depression, according to the release.
Minnesota hemp growers and processors can now apply for a license for the 2023 growing season.
Individuals must apply or renew their licenses by April 30, 2023; however, individuals actively cultivating hemp after Dec. 31 must renew their license by the end of this year, according to a press release from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). The minimum cost for a grower license is $400, and the minimum cost for a processor license is $500.
Growers must complete and submit a Farm Service Agency (FSA) form to the agency for all hemp varieties and locations planted within 10 days after planting. Growers must also submit a planting report to MDA within 10 days after reporting lots by variety to FSA, and must submit a harvest report to MDA no more than 30 days after and no less than five days before harvest, according to the release.
Moreover, “a grower license no longer includes one regulatory sample for pre-harvest THC testing. Each official regulatory sample collected by MDA will cost $100,” according to the release. The MDA will also continue to conduct random inspections of processor locations.
This year, Minnesota has 245 licensed hemp growers and 56 licensed processors. Those numbers are down from 2021, which recorded 348 licensed growers and 77 licensed processors, according to the release.
Louisville, Colorado, Nov. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Surna Cultivation Technologies LLC, a subsidiary of CEA Industries Inc., has entered into a non-equity strategic alliance, combining its controlled environment agriculture (CEA) systems engineering and technologies with Hydrobuilder Holdings’ expansive commercial-first omnichannel platform.
The alliance combines the strong architectural expertise, MEP design services, and curated line of HVACD products from Surna with Hydrobuilder Holdings facility programming (layouts) and deep catalogue of related consumables and equipment.
“Solidifying this relationship with Hydrobuilder Holdings is a breakthrough achievement for Surna,” stated Tony McDonald, chairman and CEO of CEA Industries Inc. “Our combined offering can fully serve our customers with every conceivable service and product they would need to build out or refurbish an indoor cultivation facility. I am confident this will not only be of great value to our customers but will be a great source of growth for both our companies.”
“We have worked closely with Tony and the Surna team over the past few months to establish this value-added alliance that brings quality, convenience and simplicity to our customers,” said Dustin Bertram, Hydrobuilder Holdings’ chief commercial officer. “Hydrobuilder Holdings brings decades of experience and a broad and deep catalogue of leading cultivation products, and we’re excited to expand our offerings to include Surna’s leading design services and HVACD products. The strength of our brands, combined with our technical expertise, industry knowledge and channel coverage will be a huge benefit for our customers.”
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PRESS RELEASE -- According to the CDC, 70 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep problems, so STIIIZY knew it could make a big impact in its fans' lives by developing products to help you unwind and relax. Now, after a lot of time and effort in the lab, the company is finally ready to unveil its new line of CBN Gummies.
Available now in three delicious berry flavors--Crimson Berry, Midnight Berry, and White Berry--and retailing for $14, each package is segmented into 10 servings of 10 mg THC and 5 mg CBN (2:1 THC to CBN). The CBN gummies are now available at California STIIIZY retail locations and other cannabis dispensaries.
These delectable edibles are precisely formulated to harness the potential relaxing properties of cannabinol (CBN) and are packed in a delicious gummy to deliver a long-lasting and peaceful high that may help combat restlessness, nausea, and stress.
As STIIIZY has written about in-depth, while peer-reviewed research on CBN is limited due to the federal designation of cannabis as a Schedule I controlled substance, anecdotal evidence shows a wide variety of promising benefits, and initial studies around CBN as a sleep aid and neuroprotectant have been promising.
In addition, there's mounting evidence that cannabinoids work best together in the "ensemble effect," which is why STIIIZY developed its CBN gummies to offer a 2:1 THC to CBN combination and help unlock the full healing potential of the plant.
Visit STIIIZY's CBN product page to learn more and find a delivery or retail option near you.
]]>Heat and Control, Inc., an equipment manufacturer and food/non-food processing industry supplier, will be exhibiting at MJBizCon 2022. The tradeshow will be held Nov. 16-18 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Visit Heat and Control at Booth 9649.
SAN DIEGO and TORONTO, Nov. 10, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE - StateHouse Holdings Inc., a California-focused, vertically integrated cannabis enterprise, announced that the sungrown craft cannabis brands, Swami Select and Sonoma Hills Farm, will be available beginning Nov. 10 and Nov. 21, respectively, at Harborside Oakland, Harborside San Jose and Urbn Leaf San Diego.
By its very nature, sungrown is the most natural method of cultivating cannabis, especially when paired with regenerative farming techniques. Prioritizing soil health and energy efficiency yields cannabis that is not only good for the environment but is also of the highest sustainable quality. With a focus on California–one of the few states in which outdoor grows are feasible–StateHouse is committed to supporting small-scale sungrown cannabis farmers and believes offering sungrown products provides a platform for the company's growth and success.
"Sungrown is an integral part of California cannabis, so we are thrilled to support small-scale outdoor growers and bring California sungrown craft brands like Swami Select and Sonoma Hills Farm to Harborside and Urbn Leaf," said Ed Schmults, StateHouse CEO. "As with wineries that have cultivated complex, full-body wines with notable varietals and stellar vintages, sungrown craft cannabis brands focus on rich flavors, terpene profiles and terroir. We celebrate the integrity and stewardship that craft outdoor cannabis growers stand for. With regenerative practices, organic farming principles and a passion for enduring strain diversity, craft growers like Swami Select and Sonoma Hills Farm uphold the standard for sustainably produced cannabis that offers enjoyable consumption experiences like no other."
Angela Pih, StateHouse's head of marketing added, "Harborside and Urbn Leaf respect the commitment of regenerative craft growers; the quality of premium award-winning cannabis; and the experience that comes from consuming plants that have reached their full genetic potential because they have been grown in living soil and under full-spectrum sunlight. Similar to organic farming, regenerative farming is a healthier option for both the environment and consumers, so if you care enough about your health to buy organic in the grocery store, you should be looking at cannabis the same way. Not only is the overall flavor markedly better, but so are the plant's cannabinoid and terpene levels."
Swami Select cannabis is grown outdoors in living soil and full sunlight, using only regenerative and responsible methods. Swami Select has been certified for growing with pure organic methods by the Clean Green Certified program since 2011. Dragonfly Earth Medicine (DEM Pure), which recognizes cultivators who set the standard of regenerative sustainable farmers, has also certified Swami Select since 2017.
"The thing about growing outdoors, growing in the sun, is that it teaches you how to grow; your life is enriched just by having that live plant in your garden," said Swami Chaitanya, founder of Swami Select. "At Ganja Ma Gardens, we employ proven techniques like hugelkultur and composting so our plants develop more florid terpene profiles; produce richer aromas and flavors; and attain stacked cannabinoid profiles for potent effects."
Outdoor cannabis cultivators in California can now apply for up to $2,500,000 to fund in-field studies.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is accepting grant applications through Dec. 30 for the Sustainable California Grown Cannabis (SCGC) pilot study, according to a recent CDFA announcement.
The grants will fund projects throughout the state to help determine best management practices for outdoor cannabis cultivation in a pilot program authorized by Senate Bill 170, which appropriates $9 million to the CDFA to create the program.
Eligible applicants—including non-profits, Resource Conservation Districts, federal and California-recognized Native American Indian Tribes, and public and private academic institutions—may request up to $2,500,000 to fund in-field studies that investigate and analyze best management practices for sustainable outdoor cannabis cultivation.
The funds awarded through the competitive grant process will ultimately support in-field studies on practices that reduce the environmental impact of outdoor cannabis cultivation.
After being awarded a $9.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), the city of Decatur, Ill., will plant 2,000 acres of industrial hemp to improve water quality and remediate soil as part of its water quality improvement plan.
The grant from RCPP “seeks to reduce sediment and nitrates in the Mississippi River Basin Critical Conservation Area, including Lake Decatur watershed. The program aims to reduce up to 50% of the sediment and 20% of the nitrate nitrogen annually flowing into Lake Decatur, which costs the city tens of millions of dollars to dredge every few years,” according to a press release.
The five-year, climate-smart hemp pilot project will consist of planting fiber industrial hemp seeds—donated from TigerFiber, a hemp processing company in Missouri—within targeted sub watersheds and land parcels, according to the release.
“We want to plant this hemp in areas where it can be seen from the road by farmers driving past,” said James Forbes, TigerFiber COO and co-founder.
The project will also receive technical assistance, cash and in-kind partner donations from the National Hemp Association (NHA) and Hemp Innovations Foundation. In addition, the NHA is working alongside the City of Decatur and the Illinois Hemp Growers Association (IHGA) to develop the project.
The NHA said in a press release the project will “accelerate the hemp industry in Illinois and demonstrate the positive environmental and economic benefits.”
]]>A U.S. district judge has dismissed Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried’s lawsuit challenging the federal laws that govern medical cannabis and firearms.
Judge Allen Winsor granted the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) request to dismiss the case, which claimed that current regulations that prohibit medical cannabis patients from buying and possessing guns violate Second Amendment rights, according to a CBS Miami report.
Winsor issued the 22-page ruling Nov. 4, the news outlet reported.
Fried announced her plan to sue the Biden administration in April, taking aim at a conflict between state and federal law. While Florida’s 2016 medical cannabis law allows registered patients to legally purchase and use cannabis in the state, it remains illegal at the federal level, and federal laws prohibit those who use illegal drugs from buying and possessing firearms.
“No patient should have to choose between their medicine and employment, or a roof over their head, or access to capital—or their constitutional rights,” Fried said in a public statement upon filing the lawsuit earlier this year. “While we continue to call for full cannabis legalization to resolve the many issues caused by irrational, inconsistent, and incoherent federal cannabis policies, we are here today to announce we are filing suit against the federal government over its violation of patients’ Second Amendment rights due to federal law deeming it illegal for a medical marijuana cardholder to purchase a firearm.”
When cannabis MSOs Cresco Labs and Columbia Care announced their $2 billion M&A agreement at the end of March, many in the industry wondered how they would sort out their overlapping cultivation and retail footprints in key markets like New York and Florida, where current regulations would require them to sell off certain licenses and assets for the blockbuster deal to go through.
After more than seven months, Cresco and Columbia Care have moved forward in three of those states, which have some of the most lucrative market potential in the U.S. On Nov. 4, the companies announced they would sell 9 dispensaries and three production facilities in New York, Illinois and Massachusetts to Sean “Diddy” Combs, better known as “Puff Daddy,” a cultural icon to the generation of listeners who grew up with his music in the 1990s and early 2000s. His well-known spirits brand Ciroc Vodka is just one component of Combs Enterprises, which includes fashion, television, music and fragrance brands and investments. The transaction is expected to close at $185 million.
Nick Vita, CEO of Columbia Care, said the decision to sell the licenses, which are a mix of both Columbia Care and Cresco facilities, to Combs in the divestiture process was multifaceted, and Vita called the deal “a massive, massive feather in the industry’s cap.”
“Ultimately, the decision was made that we did not want to go to the usual suspects. We didn’t want to go to another cannabis operator. We wanted to bring in a new entrepreneurial spirit,” Vita told Cannabis Business Times during a call the day the deal was announced Nov. 4. "We really wanted to sort of focus on the concept of diversity and bringing that into cannabis.”
In a press release, the companies said the transaction would create “the first minority-owned and operated, vertically integrated multistate operator,” something that was a focus for the team, according to Vita and Charlie Bachtell, CEO and co-founder of Cresco Labs.
CBT spoke with Vita and Bachtell about how the deal came together, how they are approaching other markets that will require them to divest and what might come next as Cresco Labs and Columbia Care work to make the acquisition final.
Despite Texas law forbidding citizen-initiated measures from appearing on statewide ballots, voters took action to decriminalize cannabis at the local level in five cities on Election Day.
Voters in Denton, Killeen, San Marcos, Elgin and Harker Heights—with a combined population of more than 400,000 residents—approved initiatives Nov. 8 to reform their laws, restricting local police departments’ ability to enforce low-level cannabis offenses.
At the state level, possessing 2 ounces or less of cannabis is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days of incarceration and a maximum fine of $2,000, according to reform group NORML. Possessing more than 4 ounces is a felony offense.
“Texans have shown that they want major cannabis law reforms in Texas via polling, legislative engagement, and now at the local ballot box,” Texas NORML Executive Director Jax James said in a public statement.
“This will have a positive impact on the almost half a million people living in these cities,” James said. “While these local advancements are important in mitigating harm on citizens and reprioritizing law enforcement time, they result in a patchwork of differing marijuana enforcement policies based on location. It is time for lawmakers to take steps to enact statewide reform when they convene in January 2023.”
The five cities where voters approved decriminalization measures on Tuesday follow in the footsteps of Austin, Texas, where voters approved a similar decriminalized measure with an 85.5% majority in May, according to the city’s Office of the City Clerk.
South Dakota voters have a second chance to make their voices heard on an adult-use cannabis legalization measure, after the state’s Supreme Court struck down the adult-use initiative that passed in the 2020 election.
If passed, Initiated Measure 27 would legalize the possession, use and distribution of up to 1 ounce of cannabis or 8 grams of concentrate for adults 21 and older. It would also allow adults to grow up to three cannabis plants at home, with no more than six plants allowed per private residence, but only in private residences located in jurisdictions where there are no licensed dispensaries.
Measure 27 does not set a foundation for a commercial adult-use cannabis cultivation or retail program; there is no mention of a regulatory authority, licensing system or taxation structure in the initiative. That was by design.
South Dakota made history in 2020 when voters approved medical and adult-use cannabis legalization on the same ballot.
The state’s first medical cannabis sales launched in July, but litigation ultimately overturned the adult-use measure, Amendment A, which was a constitutional amendment that aimed to legalize cannabis for adults 21 and older.
North Dakotans are voting today on Measure 2, the state’s 2022 adult-use cannabis legalization initiative.
Polls close at 7 p.m. CT / 6 p.m. MT.
Make sure to refresh this page, where we will provide updates on North Dakota’s Measure 2 throughout the night. Read the full initiative here.
If supported by voters, the 2022 ballot proposal will legalize the possession of up to 1 ounce of cannabis, 4 grams of concentrate and up to 500 milligrams of THC in an infused product, as well as the personal cultivation of up to three cannabis plants at private residences.
The initiative also aims to establish a licensed industry for cultivation, processing, retail and testing laboratories, requiring the Department of Health and Human Services, or another department or agency designated by the state Legislature, to establish a licensed program by Oct. 1, 2023. Under the measure, seven cultivation facilities and 18 retailers would be licensed.
A July poll from The Dickinson Press surveying southwest North Dakota readers found that 39% of respondents said they supported the measure, 43% were opposed and 18% were apathetic. Sentiments in the area may have changed over four years, the newspaper suggests; a similar poll the paper conducted in 2018 saw southwestern North Dakotans supported that year’s adult-use legalization measure 60% to 40%. That 2018 poll result reflected the inverse of the ultimate statewide vote outcome, a 59%-to-41% defeat, for adult-use legalization that year.
Missouri voters have their first shot at adult-use cannabis legalization this Election Day via Amendment 3, a proposal that has drawn myriad support and opposition from throughout the state leading up to the Nov. 8 election.
Polls close 7 p.m. CT in Missouri, which is one of five states where adult-use reform is on the table.
Stay tuned to this page, where we will provide updates on election returns throughout the night as well as reactions from stakeholders on the ground in Missouri, including the amendment’s backers: Legal Missouri 2022.
In 2018, Missouri voters approved a medical cannabis initiative with a 65.6% majority. Now, recent polling for Amendment 3 suggests the state is on the brink of expanding upon that reform to full legalization.
An Emerson College Polling/The Hill survey of likely voters conducted Oct. 26-28 showed 47% in support and 39% opposed to the measure. And a SurveyUSA poll conducted Oct. 27-Nov. 1 showed 61% of likely voters “certain to vote yes” and 28% of voters opposed.
If passed, the 39-page proposal would enact the following provisions:
Missourians 21 and older could possess and purchase up to 3 ounces of cannabis flower or an equivalent amount in other forms.Individuals convicted of nonviolent cannabis-related offenses could petition to be released from incarceration and/or have their records automatically expunged.
Adults 21 and older will be allowed to home cultivate up to six mature cannabis plants after obtaining a noncommercial registration card (with no more than 12 mature cannabis plants per residence).
A lottery to randomly select new businesses for adult-use licenses would be established.
The state’s Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) would regulate and oversee the adult-use cannabis market, including the licensing of cultivators, manufacturers, dispensaries and microbusiness facilities. Department officials would also promulgate regulations for testing, packaging and labeling.
The state would impose a 6% tax on adult-use cannabis sales at retail, which is projected to generate more than $40 million in annual revenue, while local governments could assess local sales taxes of up to 3% on adult-use sales.
Municipalities would have the option of limiting or banning adult-use cannabis sales within their jurisdictions if approved by voters in a local referendum.
Upon the effective date of the adult-use portion of the amendment (Dec. 8, 2022), an existing medical facility licensee may request its license be converted to a “comprehensive facility” license to participate in the expanded market. Conversion requests not processed within 60 days will be deemed approved.
Over time, Missouri’s adult-use market will add a minimum of 144 licensed facilities equally distributed among eight congressional districts. At least six of those new businesses in each district must operate as dispensaries, while the remainder will be designated as wholesale facilities, allowing operators to both cultivate and manufacture cannabis products.
Changes Missouri’s existing medical cannabis law by:Allowing nurse practitioners to issue medical cannabis recommendations to patients; Extending the amount of time that medical cannabis patient and caregiver ID cards are valid, from one year to three years, while keeping that cost at $25; Reducing the current $100 fee in half for Missourians who choose to grow medical cannabis at home, with the expiration period also extended to three years; Protecting patients from loss of parental rights, employment discrimination and “unduly burdensome” administrative penalties; andExtending reciprocity to out-of-state residents with valid medical cannabis cards. ]]>
Today could be the day that Maryland legalizes adult-use cannabis.
Voters in the Free State will have their say on Question 4, which proposes legalizing adult-use cannabis, in today's elections. The measure, which was certified in August by Secretary of State John Wobensmith, asks voters: "Do you favor the legalization of the use of cannabis by an individual who is at least 21 years of age on or after July 1, 2023, in the State of Maryland?"
Polls close at 8:30 p.m. ET.
As CBT Associate Editor Tony Lange reported, "Question 4 appears to be a shoo-in for passage with 63% of likely voters surveyed Oct. 20-23 supporting the measure, according to a poll from Baltimore Sun Media and the University of Baltimore.
That 63% figure, while a clear majority, is less enthusiastic than a Sept. 22-27 poll from The Washington Post and the University of Maryland which says 73% of registered Maryland voters approve of cannabis legalization while just 23% oppose and 4% have no opinion.
If Maryland approves of Question 4, it would become the latest East Coast state to legalize adult-use cannabis, joining New Jersey, which launched adult-use sales in April, and New York, which is expected to launch sales before the end of the year.
Arkansas voters will have their say today on Issue 4, a constitutional amendment to legalize adult-use. The state is one of five with a shot at legalization in this election.
Polls close at 8:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. CT.
Stay tuned to this page, where we will provide updates on election returns throughout the night—as well as reactions from stakeholders on the ground in Arkansas. (We'll also be following along with THV11's coverage of the Arkansas election, if you're interested in some local news angles.)
Read the full initiative below.
In 2016, Arkansas voters approved a medical cannabis initiative with 53% of the vote. Recent polling from the past few weeks suggests about 50% support for the 2022 adult-use legalization amendment, however, a notable decline from polling conducted just a few weeks prior. In part, that's because a suite of vocal opponents has come out against Issue 4 (while being fervently in support of cannabis legalization in the abstract), including Arkansas NORML, which had a hand in its own 2020 effort to legalize adult-use cannabis.
"When you control the industry, you can set the prices to whatever you want to and make people pay it," Melissa Fults of Arkansas NORML said. "[Issue 4] would also destroy the medical industry we worked so hard to build. It’s worth the risk to vote ‘No'. Something is not always better than nothing. This is not better than nothing. This is actually worse." (Fults helped write the original 2016 medical cannabis amendment.)
DETROIT, Michigan, Nov. 7, 2022 - PRESS RELEASE - JARS Cannabis, a privately held, multi-state operating cannabis brand and retailer, announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Euflora LLC, a premier collective of boutique recreational cannabis dispensaries in Colorado. Adding one cultivation center and greenhouse, along with 6 recreational storefronts to its portfolio, the completion of the transaction will increase JARS' retail operations to include a total of 26 storefronts across three states and solidify its positioning as a purveyor of affordable and accessible cannabis products in the nation's second and third largest cannabis markets.
"Since the inception of JARS Cannabis, it has been our mission to deliver only the highest quality of products and service to our community and customers," said JARS Cannabis COO, Raymond Abro. "In this evolving industry, the move to acquire Euflora demonstrates a strategic opportunity for JARS to service new customers as we continue to expand our retail footprint across the nation while aiming to create new jobs and increase access to affordable and accessible recreational cannabis products for all," Arbo said.
The timely announcement comes one day after cannabis advocates and industry leaders commemorated the 10th anniversary of when voters in Colorado moved to pass Proposition 64, legalizing the sale, possession, and consumption of recreational cannabis under the state's constitution.
"We are pleased to join forces with JARS Cannabis to pursue a shared vision for the future of cannabis retail through sustainable expansion in core recreational markets," said Euflora COO, Scott Rybicki. "Today marks a transformative moment in the evolution of Euflora, and we anticipate this acquisition will drive significant leadership, operational, and retail opportunities amongst both parties to better meet the varying needs of our combined staff and loyal customer base."
]]>With cannabis reform becoming more of a bipartisan issue in recent years, some of the more traditionally conservative states are taking a stab at adult-use legalization in the Nov. 8, 2022, election.
Voters in Arkansas, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota will decide the fate of cannabis reform this Election Day. In addition, Maryland’s Democratic-controlled General Assembly prepared an adult-use cannabis question for its voters, too.
Since the 1980s, voters in 22 states have decided 73 cannabis-related ballot measures.
That stretch includes Oregon’s unsuccessful decriminalization proposal (Measure 5) in 1986; California’s passage of medical cannabis legalization in 1996; Colorado and Washington’s adult-use legalization wins in 2012; and a clean, five-state sweep of reform in 2020.
To date, voters in 13 states have approved adult-use legalization measures since 2012 (although South Dakota’s 2020 passage was overturned). Another five states have the opportunity to do so this Election Day (including, once again, South Dakota).
Arkansas, where voters passed medical cannabis on a second attempt with a 53% majority in 2016, will be voting on Issue 4 this Tuesday. While early signs showed a majority in support of the initiative, pollsters from the University of Arkansas revealed Nov. 3 that 59% of likely voters surveyed Oct. 13-31 opposed the measure.
